Target Marathon : Big sur trail marathon
fundraising target: $2600
another year, another marathon; every year i think about getting more organized and getting this exercise started at the outset and by the time i act on it, half the year or in this case 8 months have gone by.
it has been an eventful year starting with Om Run, punctuated by the dipsea run in june and nice eventful summer.
This one's 2nd in the trail run series for me; started out as an interesting challenge to run in unpaved terrain, has become a mainstay and makes roads seem rather boring. There is so much to explore and the risk of getting lost is very real and present, that's also the allure, me thinks.
Fundraising support is once again for the good folks at Asha for Education.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Trail race: 2xdipsea
doubledipsea.com
Finally, a trail race; I have been meaning to get onto something with significant elevation ever since the Big Sur. 2010, the year started off busy with the Om Run, so didn't get much by way of training.
When I started looking and found the Dipsea - it was already too late to register.
So double-dipsea it had to be :); the elevation chart looked intimidating, 4300' net elevation.
Training is key, started about 6 weeks ago. that was mostly true except for the stairs - all 900+ of them.
The race starts on a foggy Stinson Beach and immediately there is a climb to "Insult Hill ".
The thing about the race is there are shortcuts and early on found a group of former runners, so just followed them for the first mile. What goes up must come down and that was joy to go down on; I surprised myself on the descent, passing some of the earlier handicap runners in the process.
In sequence the points along the way,
The turnaround point was when everything slowed down for me. The steps were just brutal on the knees. And after Muir Creek, I felt like the cramps would get the better of me. Slowed down and walked for a substantial portion up to Cardiac Hill. Sachin came up with cramps too and so we both walked for a bit more.
The awesome volunteers all along were the backbone of the race. Made a challenging run very do-able. Got a taste of the special treats, like PB cliff bar, potato chips that I had heard of on trail runs.
Close to 4hours after the start, Sachin and I made it back to beach. It was great race, that will require a lot more disciplined elevation training.
The handicap system makes for a very interesting mix - since we started in the penultimate group, within the first mile the faster scratch runners were passing us.
Around mile 4.5, I saw the 68-year old Melody Schulz, who came in 2nd in the Dipsea 2010 - she was running up the stairs.
Very happy to have done it; a unique experience for sure.
MK Balaji pointed out the slowness of my run, "the first runner came back an hour and a half ago, where were you?". He did wonder aloud in the morning, "what again is the point of driving 2 hours early saturday? to run in the hills !"
doubledipsea.com
Finally, a trail race; I have been meaning to get onto something with significant elevation ever since the Big Sur. 2010, the year started off busy with the Om Run, so didn't get much by way of training.
When I started looking and found the Dipsea - it was already too late to register.
So double-dipsea it had to be :); the elevation chart looked intimidating, 4300' net elevation.
Training is key, started about 6 weeks ago. that was mostly true except for the stairs - all 900+ of them.
The race starts on a foggy Stinson Beach and immediately there is a climb to "Insult Hill ".
The thing about the race is there are shortcuts and early on found a group of former runners, so just followed them for the first mile. What goes up must come down and that was joy to go down on; I surprised myself on the descent, passing some of the earlier handicap runners in the process.
In sequence the points along the way,
- Insult Hill, el:600'
- Stepp Ravine, el:520'
- Swoop Hollow
- Cardiac Hill, el:1360'
- Hogsback Rise
- Dynamite Hill
- Muir Creek, el: 130'
- Suicide Hill, el: 440'
- Windy Gap, el: 760'
- 671 steps down to Mill Valley turnaround
The turnaround point was when everything slowed down for me. The steps were just brutal on the knees. And after Muir Creek, I felt like the cramps would get the better of me. Slowed down and walked for a substantial portion up to Cardiac Hill. Sachin came up with cramps too and so we both walked for a bit more.
The awesome volunteers all along were the backbone of the race. Made a challenging run very do-able. Got a taste of the special treats, like PB cliff bar, potato chips that I had heard of on trail runs.
Close to 4hours after the start, Sachin and I made it back to beach. It was great race, that will require a lot more disciplined elevation training.
The handicap system makes for a very interesting mix - since we started in the penultimate group, within the first mile the faster scratch runners were passing us.
Around mile 4.5, I saw the 68-year old Melody Schulz, who came in 2nd in the Dipsea 2010 - she was running up the stairs.
Very happy to have done it; a unique experience for sure.
MK Balaji pointed out the slowness of my run, "the first runner came back an hour and a half ago, where were you?". He did wonder aloud in the morning, "what again is the point of driving 2 hours early saturday? to run in the hills !"
Monday, May 03, 2010
Om Run 2010
A long hiatus and then Om Run 2010
After the marathon in July; no running on the calendar. missed all the fall marathons. Kept cheering the likes of Ganesh for completing his 2nd run for the year, the guy's on a roll here.
Then the fall started the planning for Om Run 2010.
The training
Started on January 16, 2010 and by the end of February we had begun to see a collection another determined bunch of runners. This was nothing new, having followed the TeamAsha tried and experienced model and mentors - getting here was not a surprise, the pleasant surprise gift basket was whole set of new runners who were saying things like,
kept sending out the oft-repeated
Starting on February 20, 2010 - Lochan assembled a set of kids for a 5K boot camp; the enthusiasm of the likes of Shashank, Shivum, and many others I can't recollect names of was infectious. Before I knew it we were looking at mileages of double digits.
By this time the first timers were already in the zone; charting their own course in a manner of speaking. First time for organization meant a lot of learning on the job,
water station were limited in the city of campbell - didn't mean that the runners couldn't go past city limits
too little, too much gatorade needed at stations 2, 3
in time runners had their preferred bars - not enough fruit and nut bars at finish line
mentors
Ranga, a new acquaintance through Om Run carried the sway with the runners; he is the Zen of running for Om Run, calm, composed, answers for all. He helped balance the load with Ganesh, Meyyappan in carrying the training load. Then there were VP Shenoy, Ram who led the Fremont group together.
walkers
There was a quite a following for the walking group. Rohini did well to hold them together and instilled a sense that walking is not inferior to running; it is. It was interesting to me how the walkers in particular paired together and would be walking briskly and holding interesting conversation; not that i was party to the conversation, the fact that they came back together week after week, led me to label it as such.
Races
The day arrived - the races started and it seems a lot of fun was had. I was on top of the world when several of the finishers in the final stretch waved back to say,
we must do this again
we had a great time
And my response all along,
the smiles and the sense of accomplishment was a joy to watch. You had to be there and if you missed it, here are some pictures that I think tell a great story. Thanks to Mark Lin for some wonderful finish line pictures. I wasn't at Helm Field for the 3 hour period during the races and the pictures told quite the story.
A long hiatus and then Om Run 2010
After the marathon in July; no running on the calendar. missed all the fall marathons. Kept cheering the likes of Ganesh for completing his 2nd run for the year, the guy's on a roll here.
Then the fall started the planning for Om Run 2010.
The training
Started on January 16, 2010 and by the end of February we had begun to see a collection another determined bunch of runners. This was nothing new, having followed the TeamAsha tried and experienced model and mentors - getting here was not a surprise, the pleasant surprise gift basket was whole set of new runners who were saying things like,
it's just 4 miles today!Week in and out, Radesh
Rain or shine, be there to trainEveryone came, warmed up, stretched and then broke into different pace groups. It was quite a joy to watch this come together. We improvised on things from water stations, to after-the-run snacks, electrolytes. The assembled crowd was quite understanding and that made for a fulfilling experience.
Starting on February 20, 2010 - Lochan assembled a set of kids for a 5K boot camp; the enthusiasm of the likes of Shashank, Shivum, and many others I can't recollect names of was infectious. Before I knew it we were looking at mileages of double digits.
By this time the first timers were already in the zone; charting their own course in a manner of speaking. First time for organization meant a lot of learning on the job,
water station were limited in the city of campbell - didn't mean that the runners couldn't go past city limits
too little, too much gatorade needed at stations 2, 3
in time runners had their preferred bars - not enough fruit and nut bars at finish line
mentors
Ranga,
walkers
There was a quite a following for the walking group. Rohini did well to hold them together and instilled a sense that walking is not inferior to running; it is. It was interesting to me how the walkers in particular paired together and would be walking briskly and holding interesting conversation; not that i was party to the conversation, the fact that they came back together week after week, led me to label it as such.
Races
The day arrived - the races started and it seems a lot of fun was had. I was on top of the world when several of the finishers in the final stretch waved back to say,
we must do this again
we had a great time
And my response all along,
you just made my day, right here, right now.
the smiles and the sense of accomplishment was a joy to watch. You had to be there and if you missed it, here are some pictures that I think tell a great story. Thanks to Mark Lin for some wonderful finish line pictures. I wasn't at Helm Field for the 3 hour period during the races and the pictures told quite the story.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Artichoke Half Marathon
Team Om Run fielded 55 runners and walkers at this event. The conditions were trying - wind gusts of 25mph and constant downpour and the highlight was freshly minted marathoners, all finishing strong and with a smile.
here's a few pictures to tell the story,
their mentors truly proud of the team
the Narayanan - who made it even more memorable with Tiruamal bus services with Annapoorna's idli-vadas to boot.
the finishing bunch
the walkers
the honor roll
more picture links
Team Om Run fielded 55 runners and walkers at this event. The conditions were trying - wind gusts of 25mph and constant downpour and the highlight was freshly minted marathoners, all finishing strong and with a smile.
here's a few pictures to tell the story,
their mentors truly proud of the team
the Narayanan - who made it even more memorable with Tiruamal bus services with Annapoorna's idli-vadas to boot.
the finishing bunch
the walkers
the honor roll
more picture links
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