Race 2: San Francisco Half Marathon California

Roughly two weeks prior to the race and only a few days after my Gold Coast first ever half marathon, I was some what optimistic and eager to beat my Gold Coast time of 1hr 52m, my target was 1hr 30m, and I googled some of the nicer cities in the world for half marathons and seen San Francisco, since there were a few openings, I instantly signed up, a day later I bought my flight, than was quiet about it for a week, not telling a sole just in case I backed out some not finding out till it was over.

Before you know it race week had come about and I mentioned to a few people I was going to do another half marathon, people were a little surprised but not shocked, they than said but where? well I quietly muttered “San Francisco” and I think most people who hadn’t known me from say a few years ago thought this was crazy, what was even crazier was that I was going to fly roughly a 15/16 hours each way jammed on a Qantas jumbo, overcome jetlag, prepare and acclimatise for a serious crack at this…….

On the plane, sleep 14 hours, than off to the hotel, I was pumped and ready, I dumped my bags at the hotel and headed straight for the expo to collect my Bib and Shirt and than I had assumed back to the hotel and rest but no, this Expo thing was great, a few speakers were on, on the Friday lots of exhibits, some caught my attention more than others.

One was an inspiring guy that I was so thrilled to hear speak, Dane Rauschenberg (No idea who what etc he was prior to this), this guy ran 52 Marathons in 52 Weekends in a row!!!!!!!!! , he had a positive attitude that was contagious, his obvious passion for running, people and excitement for life, sent light bulbs in my head going off, everything that I had been thinking and was starting to think no, impossible, stupid etc instantly went away and he said a couple of things that caught my attention:

1.“Chase your dreams, you will catch them!” and

2. "There are many things in life I cannot do, trying is not one of them"

With the train wreck of a last year, that was exactly what I needed to have said to me fate hey.

The following day I headed back to the expo, I heard Bart Yasso and Dean Karnazes speak two great inspirations but Dane still had the light bulbs ticking in my head.

I posted on my face book about the coming run, and Steve come back in response rather quickly “If it is to be, it is up to me” how very true! on a side note: Without Steve there is no way on earth that I would have ever gotten my body to this point, he is truly a great leader and someone who will tell it how it is……. Steve and Dane in my books are in the same class truly remarkable people.

Come midnight I couldn’t sleep so I’m up wide awake, downloading itunes to my ipod, looking at the course map, anything but sleep, the mornign eventually broke well all of 4am so headed to the start line, lined up in wave three with all the others, the first groups went off than us…..

Still dark we started down near the bay bridge, very cool in the dark with the lights on, even nicer as the day started to break.

I headed out feeling sluggish but was passing many people even a lot from Wave 1 & 2, I felt my knee tweek I let out a big red fire truck??? (ITB thingy) a little so out come the Voltaren Tablets, 4 later and thought it seemed ok.

I let it rip, (only thing is the Americans use miles instead of kilometres so was a bit lost as to how far I was in) made a steady pace for the hills and found myself quoting the phrase “If it is to be, it is up to me” thanks Steve! but after a while this was really shitting me in my head, As things got harder it pushed back into my head.

I recall thinking there is no way on earth I cannot beat my last time, but the reality of 1hr 30m dawned on me was no way on earth it was going to happen for me yet……….

The hills took it out of me, the golden gate bridge was fantastic, the entire event was sensational, I will be back next year!!!!

I finished in 1hr 45m not thrilled with the time, but happy I beat my last, even happier when I compared my placing race on race of a similar sized field from the Gold Coast and I instantly brightended up!

I was so so tired by now, I’m not sure if it was the jet lag, the intensity of me pushing my self harder than the last, staying awake almost all night, but I was buggered, back to the hotel shower, change and headed out for the race precinct keen to support others finishing and be part of the energy.

I ended up doing some shopping in the after noon before just having to crash, around 11pm went out to a café for some food, gee I was hungry but I took Danes book with the starting chapters a few things come about after sitting in this café till after midnight.

I’m doing another half marathon, I went back to the hotel out come my credit card and I’m registered for Chicago in September, around 6 weeks from now.

Stay Tuned! – I might even have some San Francisco Paparazzi Photos to share in the coming weeks.

And thanks for the supportive emails so far they are just great!

Cheers,
Jeff

Race 1: Gold Coast Half Marathon Australia

Yet again I have decided to do something really silly, run 21 Kilometres.

I have been training for a few months now, and you have seen the other things I have taken on but here comes best of all, about 3-4 weeks ago I managed to wreck my ITB muscle, a really painful thing that gives you excruciating pain in your knee, so needless to say I haven’t been doing all that much distance running of late, and getting to my Physio guy a few times a week, he’s a miracle worker.

Anyway late Friday I decided to give it a crack so I jumped on a plane and headed north to Queensland for the 6.20am start on Sunday morning (Ignoring all the advice of the Physio and Medical docs).

Armed with my runners, and anti-inflammatory creams and tablets off I went.

2 klms in the knee tweaked a little, my iPod stopped working and I thought it was going to be over.

Another 2 kilometres of hearing myself breath as I run, the iPod started working again so back on track, I set myself simple goals of a kilometre at a time than half way, than 15klms till I decided to let it rip at the 15/16 kilometre mark.

Than the joy for the first time runner of drinking water from a cup on the run, slam it just went splash in my face, how do they do it.

Anyways good news is I made the finish, in what I consider a respectable time with a ITB injury and for my very first crack at running 21 kilometres and half marathon 1hr 51min.

I am thrilled to just make the end, now if I can just get my leg fixed I’m aiming for a 1hr 30min target at my next attempt! maybe Auckland in November.