Psalm 91:1 NKJV He who dwells in the secret place

Sorry for the delayed report, but I’ve been busy since I got back from California.

This race contained a very interesting course that I would never run again. Most of the course is run on a small two lane bike trail path around a park that you really never see, because of blocked concrete fences around you or large trees (it’s a Creek Trail across the Old Town Bridge in Los Gatos). Then you loop back around and run on the other side of the bike lane facing slower half marathon/marathon runners that haven’t finished the loop yet which was probably 90%. This was crazy! Also recreational runners and bikers were still allowed to ride/run on the path while the race was going on, which I had to dodge a few. I ran into a couple of them at miles 15 and missed my water at the aid stations which I think hurt me at the end miles of the race. Also a couple of times in the race I went the wrong way because it wasn’t marked very well at times. The second time was because a volunteer pointed the wrong way and then realized her mistake and yelled at me to “comeback!”. The first time it was my fault taking a turn off but not far. It’s almost if they set the course layout for only Californian’s who knew the route.

Originally, I thought I would be running the course on the downtown streets which is why I wanted to run this marathon. The course was like running in a subway hall it just wasn’t fun or exciting. I really had a lack of motivation before the start and during the race. I don’t know if it was the exhausting hours of work training which is why I was here, or if I just was ready to be home. I had no friends or family there to motivate me or cheer me on. I don’t know what it was, but if I would have focused more in the first half I would have won the race. I didn’t realize the course was going to be the way it was so many turns. I don’t know I just can’t explain what happened.

Okay, enough excuses lets get to the race. The first few miles I felt real sluggish for some reason. I was very tired when I woke up this morning and just felt sluggish before the start. I really never knew who the leaders were in the race because half marathoner’s also started at the same time. This course had many turns that you could never see 800m’s in front of you so I would have no idea who was ahead unless I was close, or entering back into the city streets the last three miles. By mile 3 I needed to pick it up a bit it, and get something going. I felt okay and was trying to get in a groove, but my times were still okay up through mile 9. Mile 10 to 14 is where I don’t know what happen I really just wasn’t running that fast and really didn’t know why (if you look below). In these miles there were so many turn offs that I might have been scared that I might go the wrong way. By mile 15 I tried to go another gear and things were starting to finally come together but I missed a water spot, because I ran into one of the recreational runner’s. I really wanted some water at the point. But I didn’t want to waste anymore time either. At mile 18 I passed one of the head runners who was struggling, and at that point I was in 5th place. I started to think I could make a late comeback, and I was feeling great and really gaining on the top runners which I didn’t know at the time, because of what I mentioned previously about the course. I past another runner at mile 20 and I was in 3rd place. Finally, halfway in mile 23 I could see the top two runners and I was gaining, but I started cramping a bit at mile 24, but still gaining. I was still gaining on mile 25, but I just ran out of distance if you look at the times below.

Really the only thing I can takeaway that felt good from this marathon is my late comeback, but I really just wasn’t into the race. With the work training I just was mentally exhausted and really tired before the race which never happens to me.

1. 966 Michael Abrams 2:44:45 San Jose, CA

2. 803 Joshua Small 2:45:12 San Jose, CA

3. 918 Kory Wheatley 2:45:33 Pocatello, ID

Link to the route
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4368215

1. 6:31 (Just getting into the run)

2. 6.22 (Thinking maybe I should have run faster this mile)

3. 6:19

4. 6:15

5. 6:16 (Getting into the worst section of the course a horrible bike path)

6. 6:13

7. 6:16

8. 6:16

9. 6:13

10. 6:20

11. 6:25

12. 6:26

13. 6:22

14. 6:20

15. 5:53

16. 6:04

17. 5:57

18. 6:05

19. 6:15

20. 6:13

21. 6:14

22. 6:18 (finally coming out of the ugly bike path route)

23. 6:17 (Back into the city stretch and I was trying to push to close in on the top 2 runners

24. 6:19 (Really closing in a hurry but felting some crapping in my legs)

25. 6:21 (felt a little tired but closing on the top two runners)

26. 6:20 (still closing fast but ran out of distance)

What I’ve learned from this race.

1. I’ll never run this horrible marathon course again.

2. I need to learn to start faster and not negative split all the time.

3. If I would have had anytime I would have toured the course.

4. I need to be more aggressive in the first 13 miles.

5. I was not prepared for all the turns in the course at all. I’ve never seen so many.

I decided to run 5 miles in recovery mode at a 7:47 pace. I was sore after this marathon and I think its because of all the turns that I wasn't ready for. It felt nice to be able to run back home.

I was still sore but I decided to run 4 miles at a 7:39 pace. Both days I've ran

with the dog so he can get some exercise too. I will take tomorrow off I think,

because I've ran quite a few days in a row now so its time for a day off. Sitting

in the hot tub last night felt really good.

I decided to take a day off since I never took one off from the marathon Sunday. I'll probably do my standard 100 push-ups and 400 situps tonight though.  I do these everyday.

Today my legs felt real fresh even after the marathon Sunday, but not quite all back yet. I don't have any soreness to speak of. I ran 7.2 miles at a overall 6:47 pace and did sort of a mini marathon pace run in the in-between miles (6:13, 6:06, 6:14) felt really good. I'm glad to be home and running. I tell you that the San Jose marathon route was the worst route I've ever ran. I still can't get over all the sharp and frequent turns with not a lot of room to run, and dodging people, being told the wrong way. Enough complaining already... sometimes you need to type out your frustration.

I emailed the San Jose race director and asked if I can exchange my 3rd place Amtrak round-trip tickets for the wireless heart monitors that they were giving to the top three local runners. Because the round-trip tickets are good only on the San Joaquins Amtrak which is a route around California, and obviously I don't live there. He said that I could make the trade.

 I'm really excited to train hard this winter and have some fine races next year.  My motivation is really high.  I know I have a lot left in me.  My key runs for this year is doing longer tempo mile runs.
 

Nice 10.3 mile run this morning in 27 degree weather. I wanted to be below 7 minute miles and it was an easy effort. I ran at a overall 6:49 pace in 1:10 on pretty much a flat course with very small hills in the city. I really feel pretty good after last Sunday's marathon, but I know not to push it too so. I'll start focusing on some tempo's after next week. No need to push too soon.

Today I ran 9.50. at a 6:33 pace in a 1:02 on a hilly course. Run some miles in (6:22, 6:18, 6:11, 6:02)..  Very please with recovering from the marathon last Sunday.  I won't say I'm totally fresh but a good pace that felt good.