Malibu Marathon Turned Into A Boston Qualifier

[This blog entry is also featured on The Coyote Call blog - check it out!]

The Malibu Marathon was an amazing experience for me.

Let's be honest here, I've only run one other marathon and that was Long Beach in 2007. I ran around a 3:55 something or other and never trained more than 13 miles. I say "trained" lightly. I signed up for the Malibu Marathon back in June (or earlier) because my assistant cross country coach from back in high school wanted to run his first marathon and suggested this one. I was excited because A) I wanted to beat my time, and B) It was the very first Malibu Marathon...and I always like being one of the first to try things.

Then something happened a few months later - I got really, really sick of running alone with headphones, the same route, all the time. I frantically searched online for different running groups (see previous blog posts) and found some amazing people who helped re-ignite my passion for running. I actually put in the distance, and started putting in real mileage, and enjoying it like once upon a time.

Let's fast-forward to the MM 2009. The point of the last two paragraphs was just to point out that I actually trained this time around, and put in the appropriate long runs where I was supposed to put them in. I started running with the Coyote Trail Running Group, and I also started doing some running fitness classes with Jimmy Dean Freeman, and in turn, felt a noticeable difference in body strength. So, onto the fun stuff, the race re-cap:

4:30AM - Ken and I pull up to Zuma Beach bright and early. My car tells us it's 48 degrees outside. Brrr.
4:45AM - We board the 2nd bus. En route to the start line at the Camarillo Airport.
6:45AM - Split half a PB&Banana Bonk Breaker with Ken. Drink water.
7AM - The race begins. I am cold, I have a handheld water bottle filled with Cytomax + water and 4 packets of GU, my pace cutout (thanks Jimmy) for 3:36 wrapped visibly around my water bottle, and I am happy and very excited. It's now light out, and a beautiful start to the day!

Miles 1-8: Beautiful! I never knew there were farms in Camarillo, and the roads we were on are simply gorgeous. I chat with another runner about how hard it is to slow down to an 8:20 pace at the very beginning of a race. He agrees. Nearly everyone passes me, and I continually resist the urge to speed up. I am very good to my pace chart. Ken is trying to stick with me, but he too passes me by eventually.

Sticking to 8:20 Pace!

Miles 9-13: We pass through the Naval Base and head up closer to the coastline, approaching HWY 1. We start to feel a headwind that gets particularly bad as we run thru the Mugu Rock tunnel. I can't wait to see pictures of this, because I was covering my head for fear of getting knocked out by some rock debris and saw a race cameraman as I exited the tunnel. Hahaha, should be amusing.

Mile 14: Who's this guy running toward me with flaming arms? Jimmy! I was REALLY surprised to see him and really happy to have someone to run with. He is a breath of fresh air. I re-cap him about the headwind and talk about how I've only eaten one packet of GU. But I am almost dead on pace, and for that fact I am really proud.

Jimmy with the "Flaming Arms"

Mile 15-19: Jimmy helps me a ton. He helps pour water on my head, pace me, tells me to pick it up to give my legs a boost, and is just an awesome support system and coach. I have found some really GOOD people! This is also about the time I start passing everyone who blew by me during the beginning of the race. It's an awesome feeling, and I'm still feeling relatively good.

Mile 20: Ankur shows up to help pace me, and his legs are crazy energetic. I am starting to get a little tired and Jimmy helps me out by having me do a short burst of a slightly faster pace to wake my legs up. I pass by Ken at this point too. It's getting tougher to keep at a 8:20 pace...

Mile 21/22/23: These miles are a bit of a blur for me. Katie shows up, which is another awesome surprise. I start to feel the effect of the past 20+ miles, and dry heave because my stomach is pissed at me for mixing GU with Cytomax with Zico Coconut Water. I start to feel my legs cramping, but I just hear my mantra given by Jimmy "This is what it feels like to qualify for Boston" and keep going.

Mile 24: I think around here is when Kate appears, and I have a posse of Coyote Runners by my side. I am stoked they are there, but the miles are getting tough, and I start to feel some pressure that I may miss the qualifying mark. I don't want to let myself down, but at this point, I don't want to let everyone else who came out to support down either. I am taking it mile by mile.

Mile 25.5: My legs are shot, and I feel like shit. I know that I didn't have enough to eat throughout the race, but the past few miles my stomach wouldn't really allow me to eat anything without gagging. I don't know if I am going to make it, but I feed off the energy of my fellow coyotes, and I focus on my one goal for the race: qualifying for Boston.

Mile 26: Somehow my mind separates from my body. I know I am cutting it close, so I block out all pain sensors and go. for. it.

Mile 26.2: I collapse in a heap after the finish line in SUCCESS: 3:39:43!!!!