Three Weeks to Boston or...

Marathon Training Is Very Difficult And Takes a Long Time


I woke Sunday morning with the sneaking feeling that I had something important to do today. My first impulse was to roll over, ignore that thought, and go back to sleep. Then I remembered. It was Easter Sunday and the kids were coming over. And Amanda had scheduled my last long run for today. After paying customary homage to the Holiday, I now needed to prepare to make one big sacrifice to the running gods. Rolling out of bed and hobbling downstairs, I made my way to the espresso machine. While the machine was warming I dressed for the run and filled two handhelds with sports drink. Three single shots and a cup of water later, I slipped on my shoes and was headed out the door. In front of my house...on the sidewalk...some kids that have scooter races...had drawn a line...in chalk...and the word...Finish. I said, "I hope so."


I punched the start button on my watch and began my scheduled 2 hour and 45 minute run.


The intended route, not the easiest course I could have selected, was from my home to the Santa Rosa Plateau.  The start is at 1400' elevation and descends to about 1100' over 2.75 miles. Mile one was a very slow 8:30ish pace. It was about 52 or so degrees out. During mile 2 I started to relax a bit. At mile three I was in the valley and the lowest point on my run. I now began an uphill climb through the Copper Canyon neighborhood. I reached 1350' at mile 4, started a slight downhill to just under 1300', took a left on Clinton Keith Road for the climb to the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve. I passed the Bear Creek firehouse at about 5.5 miles and somewhere around 1400' elevation. A peloton was speeding down the road and gave me the Shaka sign. I felt like a real Californian.  There was a length of red and black rope on the road. Scared the heck out of me because it looked like a snake. The road into the canyon became steeper and finally, at mile 6.75, I arrived at the Plateau and the elevation was now roughly 1800' I was running by time and heart rate so I wasn't, up to this point, worrying about the pace.


I would need to do some quicker running on the return trip to get in some decent miles.


Miles 7ish and 16ish

Through miles 7 and 8 the terrain was rolling but averaged about 1800'. Miles 8 through 9.75 was a gradual climb to 2000'. I saw a group of about 20 runners on the trails, they started cheering me on. I started cheering them on. It was good times for all. It was starting to warm now and become humid. At mile 9.75 there was a "bump" in the road that rose roughly 100' over a quarter mile. I have run sections of this route several times and this is without question the toughest hill! Topping the hill at 10 miles and 2100', I did some quick calculating to see where I needed to be at the my halfway point, 1 hour, 22 minutes, and 30 seconds. I continued on passing and greeting the Ranger manning the Vernal Pools Trailhead entrance. At 11 miles I was at the corner of roads Los Gatos and Avocado Mesa. And I had been running 1 hour and 25 minutes.


I was kinda on plan.

Miles 9ish and 14ish

The sun was fully up now and it was beginning to get hotter. I made the turn around and headed for home. At mile 12 I reached the "bump" in the road that was much harder on the way down than on the way up. My quads did not enjoy that little session and started feeling squirrely around miles 15. I ran through and was feeling ok again by mile 16.  My two handhelds of sports drink were holding up. I haven't been consuming anything except liquid on my runs. That seems to be working out just fine. Including recovery weeks, I have been averaging some decent mileage.


Mile 19 had me back in the valley and off the downhills with just over a 5k to go.


I felt pretty good, despite a bit of tired in my shoulders. Checking my watch it appeared, even with the final hills, I would be within the 2:45 time frame. With my head down and eyes forward I checked my form and started grinding. I reached and made the right turn onto my street. The chalkline finish was in sight! I tried to raised my arms in celebration and said, "Good Lord that was a bit of work!"


1:25 out, 1:20 back, 22 miles. Close enough!


Happy Easter Everybody!