Fontana Days Half Marathon Race Report

It was a PR kind of day.  There were PR’s everywhere!  It was actually pretty funny.  It was like gravity kicked it up a notch, helping us all run like the wind!


It was one of those days where everything came together.  Fontana is known as “the fastest half marathon in the world.”  It is pretty much all downhill.  My previous PR was set here last year and I always put a little asterisk on it, since it is such a downhill course.  Even so, I had my sights on yet another PR here.  I was hoping to take two minutes off last year’s time.


The weather was perfect.  It was chilly at the top of the course as we waited for the start.  I regretted not bringing my throw-away sweatshirt as I shivered in a garbage bag.  Even after we started running, I was a bit chilly in my tank top.  It was perfect, however, for the mid sixties at the end of the race.

Last year, I held myself back in the beginning of the race.  This year, I decided to go with the speed.  I didn’t want to accelerate down the hills, but I wanted to go with it.  The first part of the race, I had a tough time getting into a groove. I felt not one side stitch, but two.  It was almost like my chest was a little compressed.  I couldn’t breathe easily.  So when everyone else took off like bats out of hell, I chose not to push to follow.
Luckily, I got myself into a nice rhythm.  I had hoped to run the first half of the race around 7:45 and to slow to 8:15’s or so for the second half.  My goal was to run a 1:45 (8 minute miles). Those first miles flew by as I ran the first few miles in 7:36, 7:40 and 7:44.


The next three miles slowed slightly, but were still smokin’ fast (for me) and I felt like I was building up a comfortable bank.  Miles four, five and six were 7:50, 7:55 and 7:49.  That made sense to me, since the first three miles had the steepest grades.  I knew that my fastest splits would be in those first three miles.
The biggest surprise for me was that I didn’t slow down.  I got into a rhythm and was happy to look down and see a 7 in front of my pace.  Miles seven, eight, nine and ten were 7:41, 7:44, 7:44 and 7:54. At this point I knew my PR was in the bag!  And I was still feeling good!


I started to get a little tired toward the end.  I slowed down a bit.  Funny… my slowest miles were still faster than my average pace from last year’s race!  Miles eleven, twelve and thirteen were 8:01 (my only mile with an 8 at the beginning—CRAZY), 7:52, and 7:59.  I ran the last section at a 7:10 pace.  My overall time was 1:42:30, beating my goal by almost three minutes (and my previous PR by five)!


I caught up with the rest of the crew.  Everyone was at the expo getting various samples of recovery drinks etc.  I knew we needed to go and look for Sandra. With all of us having such great races, I knew Sandra would have an incredible PR as well.  In her first half marathon she ran a 2:25.  I had thought she would come in around 2:10, but I wanted to watch for her around the two hour mark.  We were there before two hours but didn’t see her.  At around ten after the two hour mark, I was starting to get worried.  Then suddenly I saw an ecstatic Sandra beaming at me.  “I ran it under two!!!!!”  I was so excited and we hugged and jumped up and down a bit.  She ended up running the race in 1:56:19!!! That is almost thirty minutes faster than her previous half marathon!!!


I should have been thrilled beyond words about my fantastic PR, but something ate at me a bit.  This next section are my personal feelings that I am NOT proud of.  I know I seem petty and overly-competitive.  I am more upset about my feelings than I am about the circumstances causing those feelings—if that makes any sense. As I was running along, I kept thinking I would catch up with Kelly. I knew that Marci, Kim and Rod would finish ahead of me, but I honestly thought I could catch Kelly.  I knew Kelly’s history and thought I knew how she would perform. They started super fast and I assumed that she would slow down as the course flattened out a bit.  I would look down at my Garmin, seeing 7:45 or 7:50, thinking that there was no way that Kelly could keep up that pace on the flats.  I should have been super proud and excited for her (she finished in 1:39:56!!!!!!).  Instead, I was upset with myself for not being able to catch her.


More than anything, I started doubting my ability as a coach. I research and read and try to be as informed as I can.  I use my RRCA training and pull from my own experiences (5 marathons and 16 half marathons).  I stress the importance of a race plan and pacing in order to finish strong.  I give my friends advice (solicited and unsolicited) on how to run their races.  When Kelly didn’t ask for or take any of my advice, I shrugged, thinking she would learn in her own way.  Instead of having a race plan, her only plan was to go “balls out.”  I warned her not to go out too fast.


Well, she went out very fast.  And you know what?  She didn’t slow down.  In fact, her average pace was as fast as her one mile time trial for Body Back. What the hell do I know? Why in the world would she every want to take my advice?  Had she listened to me, she would have run with me and finished over two minutes slower.  Not only will Kelly probably want to think twice about my marathon training advice, but Kim as well (who I am trying to coach to a Boston Qualifying time). It is probably just my own misconception, but it seems like they all look at me a little bit differently now.


In looking back, I still think I ran a smart race.  It went better than I could have anticipated. I think even knowing what I know now, I would have run it the same way.  Going “balls out” doesn’t work for me.  I like following a race plan.  It helps give me comfort. It also helps me finish strong.  Am I leaving some out there? Maybe. It just means I need to know my capabilities better.
 
I am thrilled that everyone did so well. Did I mention that our entire group had PR’s that day? Marci even took third in her age group!! Her time was an incredible 1:37:57! It was funny how age groups work.  Kim finished ahead of Marci in 1:37:52, yet in one age group higher she was 9th.  Ironically, she would have also been 9th in my age group, which is even older.  That tells me that we don’t necessarily get slower as we get older.  Or maybe the older runners sign up for more races? Whatever it is, it is unpredictable. 

 Marci with her medal!

This race was fun.  The combination of a downhill course and great spring weather made it a perfect half marathon. I will definitely be running this race again. Don't get me wrong.  I am super happy for my friends and we all did GREAT.  The purpose of this blog is to share my personal thoughts on my own running journey.  I am proud of myself as well as my friends (and so many others) who really killed it.


Happy Running…

Fontana Days Half Marathon Race Report

Destroyed quads=check
Toenail that is going to go=check
Fourth half marathon in thirty days=check
PR=CHECK!!

Sit back and get comfortable.  This one ended up being a long one.

For a while it seemed like the universe was telling me not to run this race.  I procrastinated on registering for this race.  I registered for the last several races the morning of, so why rush, right?  On Wednesday, I knew that I was going to definitely run the race and was excited about it, so I decided to go online and register.  While the website advertised online registration through Thursday night, it was closed on Wednesday afternoon.  Hmmm….  I decided to e-mail the race director and ask her about it.  As an afterthought, I added my phone number to the e-mail.  Within minutes, she called me and explained that for the first time in 55 years, they were on target to sell out.  They had about 100 spots left, so she had to close online registration.  They have to limit it to 200 spots due to it being a point to point and only having so many buses.  Also, it was a narrow road at the top and really couldn’t safely handle a huge crowd.  I asked her how I could get some (my friends hadn’t registered either) of those last spots.  She explained that they had to have the registration form via mail by the next day or I could register in person in Fontana.  Fontana is about 40 miles east of here.  That wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t for the fact that to get there, I would have to travel on the worst freeway around.  This freeway is a parking lot even on Saturday afternoons.  At three o’clock in the afternoon, I was already risking a horrible rush hour drive.  After a few quick phone calls I drove out into the heat of Riverside County* and registered four of us for Saturday’s race.

The second obstacle put in my way by the universe was my wardrobe.  We had planned a weekend trip to Canyon Lake with our very good friends.  It is located in Riverside County, about 40 miles south of Fontana (approximately the same distance to the race as my house).  As I was laying out my running gear the evening before, I realized that I had failed to pack my running bra!!!  I had my regular underwire every day bra and a no support sports bra that I sometimes wear under tank tops.  Neither would be appropriate to run in—let alone 13.1 miles!  My husband joked that we could use an ace bandage like male impersonators.  All joking aside, that was my plan B.  I quickly texted my friend Kelly (who was also running the race) and asked her if she possibly had a bra that might fit me (we are completely different body types, but I was hoping.  She had something that would work!

Then the air conditioner where we were staying wasn’t working.  It was really hot that night and I didn’t sleep well at all.  I woke up several times throughout the night.  At one point, I started getting stomach cramps and was convinced that I had eaten something bad.  I woke up twenty minutes before my alarm (I hate that), which was set for the ungodly hour of 4 a.m.

Still, somehow I was able to get ready and get on the road around 4:40.  They had no parking at the start and the last bus from the finish area left at 6:20, so I wanted to get there with plenty of time to get my bib, go to the bathroom and find my friends.  I wasn’t sure exactly how long it would take to get there.  I arrived a little after 5:30 and easily found parking and used a porta potty that was near the parking lot.  I think I was the first person to use it that day.  Score!

I met up with my friends and we got on the bus to go to the start.  After helping me put on the extra bra in the bus (over the light support one), Kelly started realizing how far 13.1 miles are.  The bus ride took a while and it drove straight up the course.  I have to admit, it did seem like a long ride.  It was nice to see the course before running it, so I knew what to expect.

It was comfortably warm before boarding the bus—too warm for 6 o’clock in the morning.  When we drove up 2000 feet in elevation, it was much chillier.  Rod had brought some garbage bags and I gratefully put one over me while I waited in line, one more time, for the porta potty (which was very, very long).




We hung out at the start for close to an hour (the race didn’t start until 7:30).  The sun rose over the mountains and it warmed up considerably.  In fact, we all commented that it was getting hot.  That is not a good sign before the race.












This was my friend Kelly’s first half marathon.  She and I have been running together for months and I have known that she could do it.  She was injured in January when we ran the Southern California Half Marathon and was ready to run on Saturday.  The best part was that it was her Runniversary!  She ran her very first run on June 5, 2009.  She ran two miles and thought she was going to die.  One year later and over thirty pounds lighter, she was excited to run a half marathon.

They made a few announcements through a bullhorn that sounded more like, “blah blah blah blah, mumble mumble mumble.”  I ascertained that they were making sure everyone knew to cross the mat so their chips would register the time.  It was the first year for chip timing for this long-standing race, so I guess they assumed it was our first time with chips too.   I wished Kelly the best of luck and gave her a hug.  After little fanfare, we were off.

My pacing plan was to keep it between 8:08 and 8:15.  I knew that my PR was 1:49, so if I kept the pace under 8:15, I would be sure to beat that.  I had quickly checked one of my pacing charts and misread it.  My top goal was to run the race in 1:45.  I mistakenly saw that the 1:45 pace as 8:08, when it is really 8:00.  Looking back, I wonder if my final time would have been faster had I had that 8:00 target in my head instead of 8:08.

I had planned on running with Rod.  Our goal pace was about the same and he is just a little faster than me, which could push me.  He and I started the Palos Verdes Half Marathon together and he pulled ahead of me on the killer hill.  He ended up coming in two minutes faster than I did.  As we started, the first mile was pretty fast (7:47), despite some congestion at the beginning.  I knew I could easily run down these early hills fast, but I had been warned about the latter miles being harder and it was getting warmer by the minute.  I wanted to pace myself and keep it closer to 8:00 per mile.  Rod started speeding up.  I told him that I didn’t want to slow him down and to go ahead.  He sped down the hill away from me.  Miles two and three were 7:42 and 7:55.    I was feeling ok and in good shape.

I relaxed into a good rhythm for the next few miles.  It was a beautiful windy road through a lovely canyon.  There was a lot of shade from the canyon walls as the sun wasn’t high yet.  Miles four, five and six were 8:09, 8:11 and 8:07.  

As we hit mile six, we left the canyon.  I chatted with a few runners and we all agreed that the shade was done.  I chatted with one guy for a few minutes about the race and the weather.  I had taken two Endurolytes at the beginning of the race, as I felt the sun beating down and the humidity sucking more and more sweat out of me, I took two more at the next water station.

Miles 7 and 8 (8:09 and 8:04) were uneventful.  Right around eight miles I saw Rod ahead.  I was catching up to him quickly.  I ran alongside him and he said, “I don’t do well in the heat.”   He told me that his heart rate had shot up pretty high.  Where his heart rate peaked around 180 during Palos Verdes, it was staying up toward 190 during this race.  He told me he sped up early because he knew he would need to bank the time.  I wished him well and kept going.  I hoped that he would be able to finish strong.

Things started getting more difficult once I hit mile nine.  I was so thankful that I had worn my hydration belt and brought four full bottles.  At the water stops I took water just to pour on me.  I stopped for a few seconds at mile ten to take my last two Endurolytes.  I was already feeling some cramps in my calf and had wished I brought a few more.  The rest of the race is pretty much a blur.  The course is straight as an arrow from mile six to the finish.  There isn’t much to see like there was in the earlier miles.  Miles 9-13 were 8:14, 8:17, 8:29, 8:24 and 8:19 (I was able to muster a 7:40 pace for the last .17 of the race).

Finish—1:47:06!!  (over two minutes off my PR)
Division—15/83
Gender—82/554

Rod came in not too long after me in 1:55:34.  Jeff, the speedster of the group, ran his race in 1:33:39.  I had given Kelly a race plan based on a goal of 2:15 (based on her 10K on Thanksgiving).  I made her a pace band and coached her on not going out too fast on the downhill course.  Imagine my surprise when she came running in at 2:05:18!!!!!  I couldn’t have been more proud!  She barely looked up when I screamed like a crazy woman.  I think she everything out there.  And just like the competitor she is, she told me not long after the race that she wanted to run a half in under two hours.

Kelly, Jeff, Rod and Me after the race.  Happy to be done!

I am definitely happy with my PR.  However, part of me feels that I could have done better.  This course is billed as “The Fastest Half Marathon in the World.”  It is basically downhill the entire time.  I keep wondering if I should have run the first cooler miles faster.  I keep wondering if I could have pushed it a little harder in the middle miles.  I am pretty sure that I did my best on the last four miles or so.  I was spent and couldn’t go any faster.  While the elevation profile looks like the last miles were downhill, they felt very, very flat.
 
On the other hand, it was 83 degrees at the finish.  I don’t know what the relative humidity was, but there was a haziness settled into the valley and I was really, really sweaty.  I saw two people (including the guy I talked to earlier in the race) being helped over the finish line and nearly passing out.  It was scary how many people were on the edge medically.  I know that heat makes it more difficult to run fast.  If I ran that race in 50 degree weather, I think I could run it several minutes faster.  I do know I want to run it next year!!

Thanks for reading!  Happy running!

*I live on the border of Riverside and Orange Counties, so the temperature was not that much higher.  However, it does get progressively hotter as you move east.

Let's Get It Started

Let's Get It Started by the Black Eyed Peas is the first song on my race play list.  For two years, whenever I play music during a race, that is the first song to play.  So when it plays, from a marathon to a 5K, I am already pumped up for my race.  The lyrics are perfect:

Let's get it started....in here
And the base keep runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and
runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and...

In this context, there's no disrespect, so, when I bust my rhyme, you break your necks.
We got five minutes for us to disconnect, from all intellect collect the rhythm effect.
Obstacles are inefficient, follow your intuition, free your inner soul and break away from tradition. 

Like Pavlov's dogs, when I hear that song now, my adrenaline increases.  I can feel my heartbeat start to increase a bit and I am ready to go.  The other day, I was driving in my car and it came on the radio.  I instantly felt that anxious feeling in my chest (that same feeling you feel right at the beginning of a race).

What song gets you going??

I am running another half marathon tomorrow.  It will be my fourth in 30 days and I am pretty excited about it.  It is in Fontana, which is east of here, toward the desert.  It is going to be HOT.  However, the course is all downhill.  I am hoping to run under 1:50 and hopefully a new PR.  We'll see how I do with the heat.  I am charging up my iPod, although I don't think I need Fergie to get me excited.  I am ready to get it started.

Have a wonderful weekend. 


Black Eyed Peas - Lets Get It Started Mp3