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May 4th, 2010
01:13 am - Big Sur Marathon - D-Day
So, I have been a bit late in posting this - blame it on the mental and physical awe that follows a marathon. Rather than just signing it off with just the timing, I was collecting my thoughts on how the event/race went and also update whether I am up for another one or not.
I completed the stipulated 26.2 miles in 4 hrs and 24 minutes. Do I hear some applauses and whistles? :P .. no on a serious note, it is not such a bad timing for a first timer. This being my first marathon, I had imaginations of it being special and me completing it strongly, and, well well, things were all nice and pretty upto 11 miles. I ran non-stop, which is how I wanted to run, not even halting at the water stops. I had wild imaginations of the marathon being similar to the half-marathon I had run last October in San Jose. In that case too, it was my first one, and I had run the whole course non-stop. Oh, before all that, me and my two friends planned well, and we reached the Pfeiffer Big Sur Station by around 5 AM. There was lot of energy around. The MCs were bubbling with energy, and beginning each sentence with "this is the 25th Big Sur Marathon" and ending it with "life changing experience". There were people who had run the race 24 out of 25 times, such marathon/big-sur fanatics. After the bag checkins, we went and stood with out appropriate group of runners bunched by expected completion times - my goal being 4:10.
Things were super-smooth, and very soon I was at mile #9, at the start of the climb to Hurricane Ridge. People say that this is the killer, but, frankly they are lying. There is not one killer, and certainly this is not one of them. Well, lets call this a silent killer. The 2 mile climb wasn't that bad at all. Just when I was rejoicing reaching the top of the hill, and starting running downhill did my woes start. A knee injury I sustained during snow-boarding a month and a half ago decided to say Hello to Big Sur, and the pain as I pounded my knees while running downhill was well, lets call it unbearable, and I am not even half way through. I moved to the side to do flex my knee for a few seconds and continued. The greatest moment of the run, I had imagined to be running on the Bixby bridge, but, ironically, looking back, I don't even remember when I encountered the bridge. The prognosis wasn't looking pretty. I was doing quite good on timing. In fact, the halfway mark was done by 1:57 - which by the way, included that supposed killer. It is probably not too interesting to write more regarding the reminder of the race but suffices to say that I took regular stops, and kept running the mini-hills, and each of them felt like a killer. When the Sun decided to come out, it got worse. The only great memory I have is probably the last mile and a half, which I ran non-stop - so, technically I probably still finished strongly. On a funny note, some of the thoughts I was getting were whether I should hop on a passing cop car and get off at the end of the course. Even worse, when I heard the siren of an ambulance, I was secretly wishing that I could probably hitch a ride too :)
Some of the good pix:
 
So, I guess, the question is if I am doing another one. Of course, but not anytime soon, and will only happen with better training. Don't want to dream of ambulances and cop cars again :)
Peace y'all!
Current Location: Sunnyvalu
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April 24th, 2010
12:27 pm - Big Sur Marathon training - Week #13, #14
Total othla/slack weeks. But, probably good for me. Hope I complete in the 4:30 target.
 manjunaths is here. Will be leaving in a few mins with Prasad Gopal and Krishna Kanth. We are heading to Monterey to pickup the goodie back, before heading to Salinas where we have a hotel room. The D-day starts tomorrow at 3 AM, and the race begins at 7.
Glory to the runners! :)
Can't wait to run on this stretch of the course:
Current Location: Sunnyvalu
Current Mood:  excited
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April 11th, 2010
11:49 pm - Big Sur Marathon training - Week #12
Finally, got the 20 miler done today. Though the rain since yesterday threatened to dampen everything, I kind of thought that the rain might be good for my first 20 miler, it would keep me cool. But actually, running in the rain sucks big time. The slushy trails by the bay waters, and the hidden sun just make running miserable. I want to run a statistic to see if there are any runners from the Seattle area at all.
I am done with my long runs now, and the taper starts with two weeks to go. Met a girl on the way back who was already in the taper phase of her training, and going by her advice, will probably do a 12 miler next weekend, before doing a 10k midweek and then the D-Day! Man, can't want to run on the Bixby bridge overlooking the Pacific ocean. I just wish, hope, pray that there's no rain during the race. That would be a big bummer. Amen.
Gory details of the 20 miler:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/29798980
Gory details of a 10k:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/29238024
Many thanks to manjunaths for tips and encouragement, and those special 3-4 who pat my back :)
Current Location: Sunnyvalu
Current Mood:  sleepy
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April 4th, 2010
09:48 pm - Big Sur Marathon training - Week #9,10,11
Phew, there was nothing much to update, except for that 2 weeks ago I got shit scared about doing 26 miles, when I realized that the D-Day is in a month, and the max I've done is 7-8 miles. Put my head down, and did a couple of 6 milers, before jumping to a 12 miler last weekend, and a 15 miler this weekend. So far so good, and a decent pace too - ~8:30. But, each time I do these long runs, I feel like I am about to hit the wall. Somehow I put my head down and keep running as if to tunnel through the wall or something. But, it's been a good experience doing this, without any injuries. Am planning to do a 20 miler this week, before the taper.
Meanwhile, I don't even know who of my friends read this blog now, since LJ and blogging seems to be a done thing among the twitterati and the buzz-ati, but, feel free to come see the marathon. Here's the link to all the details you need to know. Me and my friends running that day will probably finish around 12. So, do show up around 12, and enjoy seeing runners gasping for air, water and the finish line!
- Gory details of the 6 milers:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/27907540
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/28112718
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/28759289
- Gory details of the 12 miler:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/28318638
- Gory details of the 15 miler:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/28881947
Current Location: Sunnyvalu
Current Mood:  bored
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March 14th, 2010
10:10 pm - Big Sur Marathon training - Week #8
Hola amigos!
Weekly update again. Couldn't get to the to 16 mile run I had planned for yesterday and today due to other attractive commitments, well, slacked off and also ended up catching up with friends, so I guess that is a reasonable excuse for not running. Its funny how I feel that there's nothing interesting to post when things are smooth :) For the record, I did about 15 miles, including a 7 mile run today evening on total flat course. But, a running mate made a huge difference and it is always good to talk and run!
I thought I'll also post a few things, links and pointers to things I found out of the way during the week gone by. I might add my 2c to it, but let's see how it goes:
- Lost in the blur of slogans" by Ishmael Khaldi
The author is an israeli diplomat of palestinian origin and is the Consular General of Israeli embassy in San Francisco. Gives a unique perspective to the otherwise cliched opinions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Of late, I have been having a lot of respec' for these diplomats. They friggin' have so much power.
- Bengaluru's newspaper's editorial on Freedom of Expression
Really, DH, have you guys gone so bad? Hasn't the IT buzz rubbed off in the right way in anyway at all?
- Rajdeep Sardesai on Fair & Balanced journalism.
There's a point, but seems inconclusive ... seems like a message to someone. Oh well, is the dude so good to write a comprehensive piece is another question :)
Current Mood:  tired
Current Music: Duur - Strings
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March 9th, 2010
09:32 am - Big Sur Marathon training - Week #7
This week's update comes a tad late. I'll blame it on the 13 mile hill run on Sunday :)
The momentum built up during week #6, got carried over quite smoothly to last week. Did three runs, a Stanford dish, 8 mile flat, and a 13 mile hill. No surprises. The Mizunos I bought last week have held up really well. It seems like a worthy successor to the New Balance 8515 I had earlier.
That's it for now. I'll probably re-edit this post with more information in the evening. For not, gtg.
Current Mood:  energetic
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February 28th, 2010
09:35 pm - Big Sur Marathon training - Week #6
Me's posting this a day earlier than my usual schedule. Would like to think that it is the eager for posting something good :)
Did about 25 miles over the past week, and feels helluva good! Did a couple of 6.4 mile loops, and to cap it all, did the Sports Basement 5k today. joshmachine and his better half showed up too, and it was nice to hang out. Upon his recommendation bought a new pair of running mates - Mizuno Alchemy 9. Had resisted buying a Japnese car, but gave into a Japnese shoe :). The 4 mi run to break into the shoe on Stevens Creek Trail this evening was decent. Met up with a nice talking guy, and was fun to run and talk about running evangelism with him. Just keeping my fingers crossed about this shoe now. Taking it slow, and hoping that slow and steady helps me complete the marathon! (ok, please excuse the cheese :))
Current Location: sunnyvalu
Current Mood:  calm
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February 22nd, 2010
10:10 pm - Big Sur Marathon training - Week #5
Yet another normal week, last one. Have been running about 3 miles alternate days. Doing 9.5+ min pace. At this rate, chances of hitting the 26 mile mark looks rather doomed. But, lets see .. there's always hope :)
Looking forward to the Sports Basement 5k this Sunday.
Current Location: sunnyvalu
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February 15th, 2010
10:44 pm - Big Sur Marathon training - Week #4
Hola! Back again.
Last week has been banal, but I did manage to get a couple of runs. The pain in the shins is still there, but it is not deterring me from running. I am not running amok, but taking it easy and doing mostly a 9+ minute a mile pace. Did about 4 miles today, and about 2 miles last Thursday, partly inspired by a friend DR whose snow-running has made him famous and Baltimore Sun couldn't stop publishing a story about it!
Optimistic about this week's prospects. I am just telling myself to take things easy. 9+ minute is decent, and the immediate milestone is to do the Sports Basement 5k on the 28th.
Spent the weekend trying to snowboard on the slopes of Kirkwood. Still a long way to go before I can make some claims .. but, enjoying it now for real!
Ciao!
Current Location: sunnyvalu
Current Mood: sleepy
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February 8th, 2010
09:14 pm - Big Sur Marathon training - Week #3
Not much to talk about in training over the last week. As mention in the previous post, I seem to have got a shin splint. Haven't gone to the doc yet. Have been icing the injury, and glad that it has gotten better. Thanks to my friends Rajesh Jadav and manjunaths for generous tips.
Was at Lake Tahoe snowboarding on Saturday, and surprisingly it seemed to have helped heal the injury. My guess is that snowboarding specifically stretches the calf and other muscles in the region, without really putting strain on them like the way running does. So, it helped. Have pledged to board this weekend too.
Just hoping that I can start running again from next week. Let's see. The immediate milestone is to do the Sports Basement 5K on Feb 28th at a satisfactory pace. Apparently, only 200 people got through the mad rush for the race, and I kind of feel lucky. More details here. There's going to be a free Tshirt and will be meeting a bunch of runners in the local community. More than anything, the satisfaction of a decent finish should override every other incentive.
I bumped into the Palo Alto Run Club while looking for something online. Plan to join it soon. Should be fun.
Nothing more interesting this week. Will have something (hopefully good) to say next week.
Ciao!
Current Location: Sunnyvalu
Current Mood:  full
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