Wednesday, December 10, 2008

CIM 2008: One Long A$$ Race Report

I keep having flashbacks of the moment where I crossed the finish line on Sunday and I get choked up. You know, the whole teary eyes with stingy nose thing. And I revel every moment of it! And it's still so fresh on my mind. It all culminated into that one point... As soon as I saw that my sub-4 hour finish was within grasp, I sprinted toward the finish line. Well, I *think* I sprinted. Not quite sure. Everything felt slow. Very slow.

So here are the official stats:

Gun Time: 03:59:18
Chip Time: 03:58:17
Half Marathon Split Time: 01:56:40
Pace: 9:08
Age Group (30-34): 151
Athena Category: 6

Yes, I actually qualified for the Athena weight division, which I have very mixed feelings about. I knew I had gained weight but seriously, that much? Of course, I did weigh in fully clothed with shoes but still! Actually, how 2 people know how much I weigh. SLB (for the Swap Beat) and that guy who weighed me at the Expo. :-/

But, even with the weight gain, I was still able to beat my best time by over 11 minutes!

D and I headed drove up to Sacramento after the Lollipop 5k (more on that later) and just barely made it to the Expo by 3pm. It was crisp and sunny down in the Bay Area but as soon as we crossed the the Sacramento city line, it was all gloomy and foggy. The weather forecast did call for overcast skies but it felt much more ominous. But then, I was glad. What runner doesn't love cold race weather? The expo was just ok, I still think the Rock n Roll Marathon series have the best race expos! But the best part of the day was that I got to meet Leslie, KK and Stacey.

Leslie & me


Leslie, KK & me


Stacey & me
I was excited to meet Leslie because she's my pseudo blog mom. She always dispenses great advice and watches out for me. How awesome is that? And she's so beautiful in person! Even Duane commented on how pretty she was. KK was just as lovely and it's so nice to finally put a face to a name! Oh and Stacey, she is a hoot. Full of life, energy and great sense of humor. Tina, please have your phone handy next time! ;-)

Oh and I didn't realize I signed up for the long-sleeve tech t-shirt but I was sure happy I got one. I was worried that medium wouldn't fit but good thing those shirts ran big.

We later met our running group at Lucca for our big pasta dinner and had a great time. There were 8 full marathon runners (including me) and one relay team. Half of us PR'd and the other half BQ'd during the race!

After a delicious parpadelle pasta dinner and decadent chocolate cake dessert, I got back to the hotel and set out my outfit and gear. 2 bottles of water/Gatorade combo, 4 packs of Gu and some mini energy bars for well... energy, of course. I don't like regular Gatorade so I usually dilute about half with water. I also decided to go with Gu instead of the Luna Moons. I need to preserve every iota of energy, which also includes chewing! I watched a little bit of CSI Miami and then promptly passed out at 10:30pm.

Sunday morning, I woke up with trepidation and excitement. It was still overcast which was a great sign. I looked out our hotel window and saw dozens of school buses ready to transport the runners to the starting line. It felt like the entire city center was jammed with runners in line for the buses and the buses themselves! I was lucky that Duane was driving me to the starting line. The strategy was for Duane to drop me off at the starting line and he was going to meet me every 5 miles or so to cheer for me and to do some gear swapping, if needed. I got the starting line and saw the swarm of runners near the starting line and I got excited. Really really excited. There's nothing like 5000+ runners huddling about getting ready for a run in the cold and darkness! If i remember correctly, the temperature Sunday morning was 37 degrees. Brrrr! I did my usual Porta-Potty thing and felt READY. I don't think I ever felt that ready for a race! (Seriously, thank goodness for training plans!)

5 min before the start! Decided to run with my long sleeve tech shirt last minute...
And then the gun went off! And it was downhill. I told myself to start slooooow and not fall into the downhill start trap thing. The first mile came really fast! I heard a guy by the mile 1 marker yell out the pace time and I was a bit thrown off. I have never run a race where someone tell you your pace at the mile marker and the time, too. I think I clocked in at a 10:00 min pace at mile 1. The first 5 miles were a blur, really. All I remember thinking was, this isn't too bad! I first saw Duane around mile 5, i think. I remember handing him my gloves because my fingers were getting sweaty. Which I regretted the entire race! It was really cold. It was also around then that I saw Tara and Maritza! Ok, more like Tara saw me and screamed my name! It felt SO great to see them cheer for me and gave me a boost of confidence and energy. I felt like I wasn't doing it alone. My friends were there. And I saw them a few more times on the course, which was a total treat! *sniff* Ok, I'm getting teary eyed again!

Ugh, this is my fat photo...
Between mile 6 and 18 were uneventful... They were marked by rolling hills (more than I thought) and my beautiful husband who popped up faithfully at mile 9, 14, 17 and 21, I think? Thank goodness he did undergrad at Sac State. He says he knows Sacramento like the back of his hand! I really did love the crowd support. For a small race, the cheering squads were frequent and ardent. It was great. Early on with my slow start, I was skeptical about a sub 4 finish. But as more miles were behind me and more consistent my pace was very consistent, I knew I was going to be close. I was consistently hitting 9:00 min pace! After the half way point, I decided to kick up the notch a little bit and I think i was running about 8:50 pace. I was even thinking I might even finish sub 3:50!

Me on the far left of the photo...
Oh and this is my first marathon in a running skirt and I LOVED it!! I didn't feel tired until about mile 20. But once the wall hit, I was really tired. I remember seeing Duane around mile 21 telling him I was really really tired. And that I had to go to the bathroom! (Actually, I had the urge to go #2 starting around mile 8!) I knew I had to run and not stop. No matter what. i knew I was so close to my goal. I knew I had all the time to rest and relax AFTER the race. Mile 22 to 26 were sheer torture. I think I even slowed down to a 10:30 pace for a mile or two. I don't even know how I got there but finally I was down to the numbered streets. Counting the street numbers from 51st to 8th was again, sheer torture. At each mile marker they shouted out my pace and race time, I knew if i kept up my pace of 9:10 ish, I knew I could finish sub 4. I don't know how I put one foot in front of the other but somehow, I got to the end. I saw Duane about quarter of a mile before the finish and I knew I had the race in the bag. And when I approach the finish line and saw that I was STILL under 4 hours, I was elated. It took every ounce of energy to pick up the little pace I had left in me. I crossed the finish line with so much emotion. I can't even tell you how proud I was of myself. I saw my coach and training group. They were all clapping for me. Wow. So that's what it feels like...

26th Annual California International Marathon Finisher Medal
I still can't believe I ran a sub 4 hour marathon. With a 10 lb weight gain, I still ran 11 minutes faster than the SFM. So I know I can't use my weight as an excuse to run slow anymore. Now, for 2009. I just signed up for the Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon on Feb 1 since the Surf City Marathon is officially sold out. And then, maybe Napa Valley Marathon on March 1st. I'm thinking, if I lose that extra 10 lbs, I can shave off another 9 minutes. *wink*

I have now finished 6 marathons and one under 4 hours.

I know I can do anything I put my mind to. It's official!!

43 comments:

  1. huuuuuuge CONGRATS julianne!!!! you did SO awesome and i am so proud of you and happy for you :) what an awesome report too :) great job again!!! cant wait to run KP with you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations! That was an awesome PR!!!! Great race report. I am so happy for you that you accomplished your goal.

    ReplyDelete
  3. CONGRATS!! You DID it, you ROCKED it!!! What a great report of a great experience, filled with support of a loving hubby and bloggy friends. Now I am getting teary. Way to go, Julianne. I am so happy for you.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Congratulations!!! You did an awesome job. I LOVE the medal! I'm so jealous. That's the coolest marathon medal I've ever seen.

    Definitely do Napa. It's similar to CIM, I think (some rolling hills with overall net loss of elevation). I got a 15 minute PR there last year.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A huge congratulations to you Julianne! You did amazing and should be very proud. I didn't understand the Athena thing, but that's ridiculous. You are beautiful and FAST!! I always think the 10lb thing too, in fact thinking it now, but really it comes down to heart and training. You blew this one away, so you have both! Really inspritional and very well done!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congrats, girl! Excellent race report. Nice PR by the way! Rest well.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's official...that you're awesome!!

    big Congrats and you inspire so many of us little people out here.

    E

    ReplyDelete
  8. Aww, Julianne, what a great report! It's so wonderful that you had the support of family and friends.

    My first half had the lettered streets at the end, and going from A to R street was indeed torture. They really shouldn't do that.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Congratulations on your PR! You rock! Great race report. Only bigger and better races for 2009!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Awesome!!!!!!!!!

    Great race report. Makes me have hope about my weight gain...that it won't stop me from having a PR.

    I'm trying to corral people into running the San Diego RnR with me!

    Awesome PR! I hope to someday break 4:30...maybe...just maybe...4:00 someday.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Way to meet your goal. I am so very happy for you! You rocked this way and pushed through the tough patches. You should be very proud of yourself.

    My goal for the marathon on Saturday is sub 4 it. I am going to remember your post when I need extra motivation during the race.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Congratulations! That's fantastic!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. GREAT race recap! Just what I needed to push me into doing a full next year!
    Congrats on the PR as well! Oh, and I can't believe you ran in a skirt! I was freezing in pants, a shirt, long sleeve shirt, and running fleece!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Awesomeness, girl! You are 100% inspiring awesomeness :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. AWESOME job Julianne! Great PR! you ROCK!! I'm so glad were facebook friends now!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. You ROCKED! Way to get out there and complete the whole thing too, seriously, it's all you girls who get me in the mood to run a marathon! I love your race report and it makes me so happy that you finished sub 4... buttttt I'm so bummed you arn't doing the hb marathon. :( Oh well, we will meet soon enough!

    ReplyDelete
  17. A great race report! I love when people put lots of pictures. I can feel your excitement just by reading it! Really great job - you should be very proud of yourself. :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. YAY JULIANNE!!!! I'm so proud of you!!! And SUPER STOKED!! You did a fantastic, fantastic job! What's next? Gonna try for Boston? ;-) You should! You can TOTALLY DO IT! ;D

    ReplyDelete
  19. AWESOME JOB!!! Man, you did sooo well!!! I love the metal, too!

    Weight, schmaight!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great race report. You did AWESOME!!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. SIX marathons??? WOW! I didn't know that!

    So do they make you weigh-in at the expo, or only if you want to compete in the Athenas? I saw the results and I know the person who came in first, she's a dietitan here in Santa Rosa! (she's very tall 6 ft - and thin). Crazy, huh?

    ReplyDelete
  22. love your race report! the action pics are definitely cool. congrats again on a great race, your sub-4, and a huge pr! keep working hard, i know your times are going to continue to fall!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Great Report:) Congrats again on finishing in under 4hrs! NOWWW you should probably rest!

    ReplyDelete
  24. WHOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!

    HIP HIP HOOORAAAAAAAY!

    You are one rockin sub 4-hour chicka! I am so, so so happy for you!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Congratulations on the super time! You look great in all your pics, too.

    Rest up and enjoy your accomplishment!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Congrats, now you know you can do anything! So exciting, and a great report!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great job on the PR. Great race report also. You touched on everything. Makes me feel like I was there with you now.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Awesome job! Congratulations like crazy! :) A new PR - that rocks!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Big, giant congratulations to you!!!! It was a joy to cheer you on and I can't wait to hang out and run KP with you!!!!

    Go team ROHO!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I don't feel worthy to be mentioned with all you Speedy Gonzaleses! Great job out there!

    I love your report and your pictures! Your skirt is ADORABLE and you look like you are having a blast!

    Yeah, I sure wished I had my gloves to. The aid stations had to open my bottles for me from Mile 16 on.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Awesome stuff sub 4 is such a milestone, way to go you rockstar!

    ReplyDelete
  32. AWESOME JOB with your PR!! That is amazing!!

    Gotta love Sac for its fog :( - BUT it is ideal for running.

    Enjoyed reading your report.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Congratulations Julianne on an awesome race. You know what...LV marathon was the 6th one for me this weekend too, so we had that in common. And yes, you are a rock star for shaving time and getting a PR!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Great report, Julianne! I got a little teary eyed! Way to hang on during those last miles and NOT let your dream slip away. Congratulations!!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. That is AWESOME! Sub-4, wow, I am so impressed. You're so speedy. I can't even run 8:50's for one mile, let alone maintain it for parts of a marathon. AHHH! You're my hero!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Your race report gave me shivers! You ROCK! I can only imagine how difficult those last miles were. Wow! I also think it's SO sweet the way Duane met you so frequently along the course. What a loving husband you have. (Or maybe he just wanted to check up on you in that skirt, haha-- so cute!)

    ReplyDelete
  37. Add me to the list of those who thing you are just "The Bomb" (isn't that what all the cool young'uns say?

    Seriously, great race and great race report!

    ReplyDelete
  38. amazing job!!!!!! congrats on meeting your goal!! soo happy for you!!! KP with all of us bloggers is going to be too much fun...can't wait!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Aww you are so cute in your pictures! Congrats again on a sub 4 hour finish! You are awesome!! I love your finishers medal design! That thing looks heavy!

    ReplyDelete
  40. you are so lucky to have had so much support during the race!! way to go on your age group too

    ReplyDelete
  41. Congrats on an awesome race!!! Finishing under four hours rocks!!! WHOO HOO!!!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Great job woman! 26.2 under 4 hours! I'm jealous. LOL about needing to go #2 around mile 8 8-)

    ReplyDelete