Start slow – Finish fast

Yesterday I competed in the Stinson Beach 30k race, organized by Pacific Coast Train Runs (PCTR) – they are also the ones that organized Skyline to the Sea 50k race.   As usual there were funny and great stories along the way – but overall a fantastic day.

Kim and I carpooled down to Stinson and it was a bit of life imitating life.  After we got off the 101 at highway 1 (towards the ocean), we were headed the right way and I started to tell the story of “missing my exit” and other getting lost stories that we were comparing notes on.  Bad karma.  We came to a fork in the road (you know the Groucho Marx saying: “when you come to a fork in the road – take it” ).  There was a sign towards Stinson Beach and one towards Muir Beach.  So of course we headed to Muir Beach … I went to turn around and then turned back around.  Kim tried to call Dave and Scott who were meeting us there – and she started to get directions when – the phone went dead and we were out of coverage!  It was like such a perfect moment.

So we continued what I know is the back way – and it’s just a breathtaking drive with an absolutely clear morning, temps in the 60’s already, and the Pacific Ocean stretching out in the distance, SF city in the background and able to see the Golden Gate and Bay Bridge and everything in-between.

We found the start line area and proceeded to go through the normal getting-started-routine.  Sorting clothes, iPods, drinks, food, meds, etc.  And then go to wait in lines at the bathrooms.  And go back to getting ready, register and get back in the lines – without missing the start line.

It’s always the same at every race – you hear background conversations of people getting ready, laughing with friends, stressing a little bit, talking about past races, wearing their souvenir shirts advertizing some 50 mile or 100 mile race – and you always feel a little bit “less-than” – and always worry about your own performance.  A nervous stomach is there the night before, the morning of and until the start.

There were three races going on at once, a 20k, a 30k and a 50k.  This was supposed to be a training race for a longer 50 miler in the spring – another story.  The course profile is such that the first 5-6 is straight uphill on a single track trail and not really room to move around or pass another.  Right away everyone was bunched up and most walking and stopping and waiting and a few people moving around.  One part is a 10 foot vertical ladder with steps that kind of reminded me of some climbing (except without boots, altitude and massive pack   Kim got pretty far ahead of me during this stretch but I could make out her yellow shirt from a distance.

At one point, I came across who I thought was Scott and playfully tugged at one of the goo packets in his back pocket and playfully tugged at his butt.  Until the guy turned around and it was not Scott.  Dohhh!  I mumbled something like “oh I thought you were somebody else” and tried to get lost in the crowd

At the first aid station at the top of the hill, everyone fueled up with the great assortment of foods that PCTR puts on (everything from baked potato slices, candies, jerkey, pretzels, P&B sandwiches, bananas, chips and on and on.  First rule – eat what you know and don’t try anything new!  For some reason the baked potatoes work for me and I gobbled some of those down and took a handful of pretzels with me and downed some good quantities of gatorade to supplement my camelbak.

The next 10k or so was downhill and switchbacks and the turbo charged engines got into high gear.  We were running like a 15:00/mile pace to the first aid station and it was time to have some fun and stretch out the legs.  Crank up the music, burn some fuel, enjoy the view and boog on down the mountain.  I started passing people and running sub 7 and 8 minute miles for a long stretch and looking out at the Pacific and just wondering how something could be so beautiful and so enjoyable at the same time.  Of course I worried about peaking too early but it was so much fun to chase down runners and pass them on the trail.

Just before the midway part, people started coming back on the same trail in the opposite direction where things turn back.  That’s a little depressing but I decided when I got to the aid station and turned around I would count the number of people I saw still headed in (not out) for some mental boost.

Again, eat, drink and re-energize.  The next stretch was flat and rolling through the meadows and I knew there was a massive 6k up hill to contend with (part of the Dipsea trail) and it would kick my butt.  But I just wanted to keep going.

When I got to the big uphill part, it was around mile 11-12 and it would stretch to mile 15-16.  I still wanted to pass people and not get passed (ok it’s the competitive nature but it keeps one going as opposed to running by yourself against the clock.

Though I walked a lot, I would run stretches to make up time and slowly overtake runners.  No one passed me.  When I made it to the top of the mountain and could see the Pacific again, I knew the game was one and turbo-legs were going to start.

Bam – it’s hard to describe the feeling when it feels like you’re flying down the trail and passing people like they’re standing still.  (Some days are like this).  But we also came across hikers and walkers who you’d want to get out of the way unless you wanted to knock them down and yourself too and fall some hundreds of feet off the trail.

The deeper it got into the race, the stronger the runners were at this point and passing them took more energy and determination – plus the trail got narrower and tougher with rocks, branches, trees overhanging the trail and narrow drop off points.  But the energy remained and it got so that I could not see anyone behind me and thought I was lost several times until I saw the pink ribbons signalling the right way.

Coming up on the last mile I caught up with four guys running ahead of me and knew it would take a lot to pass them as they kept turning around and looking back.  When I caught up to them I did not want to be rude and was just digging the view and called out “WhooHooo!” – I think they said to “Mooove” and they all kind of moved over and I passed them

The thing is, that when you pass people in these kinds of races it puts more pressure on you to keep going and not slow down (kind of like passing another car).  So that fuels more determination.

Coming up on the last hundred yards, I had to cross highway 1 with another guy.  We talked for a few minutes and then I just edged ahead of him coming up to the finish line.  When – a massive cramp came into my leg for the first time and called out with pain.  Oh no!  Suck it up and keep going and get across first – which happened.

Then, check the time (3:35), eat food, drink Sprite and wait for Kim, Dave and Scott to cheer them over the finish line.

They all came in we compared notes on injuries and sores and blisters etc.  Then Kim had the idea of taking the short walk to the Pacific and getting some cold water on the legs to help the healing.  The beach was massively crowded (its a week before Thanksgiving!) and after some numbing water and breathtaking views and that satisfaction of finishing something it was time to head home.  (The results that they posted there showed I was in 2nd in my age group – which was a first, so that was really great).

So my conclusions:

1. Enjoy the run – take in the scenery and the situation and try to burn those images and feelings and sense of accomplishment into your brain and soul.

2. Starting slowly and going steady with enough energy to pass runners on the way in and remain with strength is way better than starting fast and finishing slow (or not finishing).