Rough day at SF (marathon race report)

Not sure where to put this. Not an NSV per se, so this is as good a place as any.

SF is a great race, you are all but guaranteed perfect (cool) running weather in the middle of the summer. Plus it makes for a great weekend getaway (even better because we ditched the kids). This was my 2nd time running SF, having done it 6 years ago.

The race starts crazy early (5:30 AM) with my wave going at 5:32. This is because they have to get all the runners over and back over the Golden Gate Bridge so they can reopen all the traffic lanes.

My goal was to run a little under 3:30 (~ 8:00 pace). My plan was to not push too hard early, and worry about even effort in the hills more than pace and then have enough left to drop the hammer at the end. I lined up with the 3:30 pace group, but they were going out a little too fast at the start, so I wisely let them go. I ran a few miles with my friend Nadia, then let her go as well.

We hit our first climb, followed by a down, then were gearing up for the run up to the bridge. I'll tell you all a secret about bridges, it is a code word for hills (I learn this at the NYC Marathon year ago). That said, it is cool to be running over this iconic landmark.

A quick out and back over the bridge, follow by a little downhill and we're climbing yet again. Once we crest the hill we are treated to quite a few more "rollers" on our way to Golden Gate Park. I hit the half just under 1:47, which seemed about right to me. I hung ok through all the rollers in park, but I was ready get out of the park (as the course twists and turns all around the park).

Once you finally leave the park, you are greeted by a long downhill on Haight St (~ mile 19). I really let it fly down the hill, I felt great at a 7:20 pace.

Somewhere around mile 21(?) there was a really short, steep down. Somehow I managed to strain my knee. The downs went from being my favorites (as usual) to pain and misery with every steep. After that, every step was painful and I could no longer run fast. I watch my pace go from MP, to LSD, to recovery and beyond.

Splits look like a bonk (last 10K was ugly), but this was a different deal (having bonked plenty of times). I came in at 3:43:01. Glad to be done with marathon #23.

Later in the day we had a few hours to kill before our flight, so we walked all over the city. No knee trouble until we had to walk a steep downhill (California St out of Chinatown), my knee hurt so badly I had to walk down backwards.

So now I will lick my wounds and get ready for the next one.

In hindsight, I think I forget exactly how hilly SF was (ran a 3:34 there in 2005). I think I was in 3:30 shape for an easy course, but not this hilly thing. No worries though.