I got an email on Tuesday, February 16, from the Pasadena Marathon giving me all of the instructions about picking up my packet and where to park on race day and all of the other details that go along with participating in a race. Oh yeah, I signed up the Pasadena Half-Marathon. In fact, I had a blog post about it. Let’s see, I haven't been training at all. I have done a couple of two or three mile runs, but the last time I did anything over ten was before we got Rango and moved into our house. The race also falls on our twelfth anniversary. Should I even consider this? Okay, I’ll do it!
I went to the expo with Rango and there was much oohing and aahing over the cuteness of our puppy. I’m never sure whether I can bring a dog to a place or not, so I decided just to go and see what happens. It’s hard to resist Rango, so we had no problems. I picked all I needed and ran into my Ironman roommate, Tim Bomba, who was the race announcer for the Pasadena Marathon. Rango loved him and gave him many licks.
Last year there was very heavy rain at this event. This year it only sprinkled lightly, a much better way to run around Pasadena. Having not trained for this, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I though I might just walk the whole thing or run for three or four minutes and then walk the rest of the mile, I figured I would just do whatever felt right at the time.
When I arrived I saw a number of L.A. Leggers and there was a group from the thirteen minute a mile pace group that were going to do one-ones. That is run for one minute and walk for one minute. That sounded perfect. I joined up with them.
At about six miles in I was feeling so good that I thought about doing the whole marathon. About two seconds later I thought better of it. Six miles into the marathons I have trained for I felt great and there is always a point where it becomes very painful. Also, this being my twelfth wedding anniversary, if I came home three or more hours late, there might not be a thirteenth.
Unfortunately, everyone in the group I was running with was doing the full marathon. So at mile eight, when the half and full marathon split, I was on my own. It has happened many times to me, but I am still always amazed how much easier it is to run with a group than on one’s own. The first eight miles with the group were no problem. The last five were hard. The race course itself gets harder at that point too. There is a sustained up hill section and it is hotter the longer the race goes on. But I mostly continued with the run a minute, walk a minute plan and got through it.
At a certain point I realized that I could probably finish in less than three hours. This would be my slowest half marathon time by far, but considering the lack of training, I would be happy with that. I ended up at 2:56:48.
I am sore, but it is a good kind of sore. This should inspire me to start a regular training regimen again. After all, I have signed up for the New York City Marathon. If I get in I will need to train.
I went to the expo with Rango and there was much oohing and aahing over the cuteness of our puppy. I’m never sure whether I can bring a dog to a place or not, so I decided just to go and see what happens. It’s hard to resist Rango, so we had no problems. I picked all I needed and ran into my Ironman roommate, Tim Bomba, who was the race announcer for the Pasadena Marathon. Rango loved him and gave him many licks.
Last year there was very heavy rain at this event. This year it only sprinkled lightly, a much better way to run around Pasadena. Having not trained for this, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I though I might just walk the whole thing or run for three or four minutes and then walk the rest of the mile, I figured I would just do whatever felt right at the time.
When I arrived I saw a number of L.A. Leggers and there was a group from the thirteen minute a mile pace group that were going to do one-ones. That is run for one minute and walk for one minute. That sounded perfect. I joined up with them.
At about six miles in I was feeling so good that I thought about doing the whole marathon. About two seconds later I thought better of it. Six miles into the marathons I have trained for I felt great and there is always a point where it becomes very painful. Also, this being my twelfth wedding anniversary, if I came home three or more hours late, there might not be a thirteenth.
Unfortunately, everyone in the group I was running with was doing the full marathon. So at mile eight, when the half and full marathon split, I was on my own. It has happened many times to me, but I am still always amazed how much easier it is to run with a group than on one’s own. The first eight miles with the group were no problem. The last five were hard. The race course itself gets harder at that point too. There is a sustained up hill section and it is hotter the longer the race goes on. But I mostly continued with the run a minute, walk a minute plan and got through it.
At a certain point I realized that I could probably finish in less than three hours. This would be my slowest half marathon time by far, but considering the lack of training, I would be happy with that. I ended up at 2:56:48.
I am sore, but it is a good kind of sore. This should inspire me to start a regular training regimen again. After all, I have signed up for the New York City Marathon. If I get in I will need to train.
