Running the C.I.M.! Yahoo! I made it!

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me, the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. - Acts 20:24

A day after running the California International Marathon and I’m delighted to report that I both survived and finished! It was a wonderful experience, one that I’d recommend to any runner. After crossing the Finish line, my wonderfully supportive wife Janet and amazingly supportive girls asked how the race went, I said “great!” Then proceeded to say, “I have to sit down…” I was spent; I was drained. Later I would think about running the marathon as being the highlight and culmination of six months of training for the marathon. Six months of expectations, reading magazines, books & internet sites about training regimes; six months of fund raising for the Ishimwe Center; six months of blogging and tracking miles run in training; six months of talking about it, thinking about it, dreaming about it. So in retrospect, the marathon was an outstanding six month success!!

My gratitude and thanks goes out to everyone who sponsored me through the fundraiser, encouragement and/or prayer. Thanks to everyone who asked about and patiently listened to my patter about running. Thank you to my family for encouraging me to ‘go for it!’ And thank you God, for granting my prayer for health and non-injury for the training and for giving us great weather the day of the race.

Janet, Beth, Amy and I left San Jose mid-Saturday morning, Dec. 4, and drove to Sacramento to attend the Race Expo. The Expo is the race’s pre-gathering to distribute racer’s bib numbers, t-shirts, timing chips and race goodie bags. Held downtown in Sacramento’s Convention Center, the Expo also has vendors selling race apparel (including humorous t-shirts such as “Will run for coffee!” or “chocolate” or “tequila”, energy stuff (GU, snacks, etc.), and a number of up-coming races were represented such as the Big Sur Marathon next May. If you were staying in Sacramento, there were signups for special shuttle busses to take you to the start ($10 tickets). There is no Starting Line parking for spectators, so bussing was pretty much the only way to go. People watching at the Expo can also be fun. The running community is a sub-culture all itself. If you have ever actively been part of your kids’ lives in soccer, theatre, dance, voice, or other sports, you understand what I’m talking about when I mention sub-culture. It has a look, feel and vernacular unto itself. There are hard core athletes, marathoners as thin as a twig, casual runners like me, and every body type, shape and style in between. Conversations are about running using running terms (negative splits, hydration strategies, chafing, etc.). We enjoyed our time there, but hunger overcame us, so we left looking for lunch at Old Town Sac.

Old Town is always fun to walk through with its shops, live steam train and the river view, but we found nothing enticing for fast food, so headed toward Folsom, following the race course out of town. We thought this would benefit both the family’s driving around on race Sunday, and me in seeing what the course looked like. My first impression was clearly that there are a lot of rolling hills to run. My second impression held the same as the first (and my viewpoint didn’t change during the race either). The course is a net downhill course, starting at the Folsom Dam in the foothills and running down to and ending at the State Capitol. Now I understand why hill training is important…. race’s like this one. And course is absolutely beautiful!

We made it to our hotel, the Marriott Courtyard, Folsom and checked in. In connection with the Folsom Chamber of Commerce, the Marriott had their customer service hats on for marathon runners. Discounted rooms, breakfast bags in the morning (bagel, banana, water bottle) and coffee! And the hotel and Chamber sponsored free (as opposed to $10) bus shuttles to the start. All to encourage patronage of Folsom area hotels and shops. Saturday evening was rainy. Before the race we met our friends the Bonne’s at the Old Spaghetti Factory (Rancho Cordova) to get caught up on family and to carb. load! I could carb. load every day! Trust me, I could. I recommend the Garlic Mizithra pasta! It was a great evening of fellowship and laughter! Then back the hotel to try and sleep! We all prayed for no-rain during the race!

Sunday dawn cool, crisp, cloudy, gorgeous and no rain! The school bus picked up runners at 5:15am and headed toward the starting area. Here is where staying in Folsom paid off big time! The C of C also sponsored a VIP tent with heating, lights, chairs, private port-o-potties. We arrived at the start line at about 5:45 (the race doesn’t start until 7am) so a warm tent was well appreciated. It was the only tent for runners. We had maybe 200 runners in the spacious tent! The other 8300 runners could only dream in the cold steel gray dawn about the luxury we enjoyed. I me two guys who flew in from Mexico City to run and another guy from Cape Town, South Africa.

At about 6:40 I finished stretching and headed out to find the pace group that I wanted to run with. The group’s leaders (a guy & a gal) were both experienced runners who said they guaranteed a finish time of 4 hrs 15 min. if we stuck with them. They carried small dowels with red signs identifying their pack of runners as 4:15. This was my fantasy goal. I chatted with a couple of runners who had the same fantasy as me. The announcers identified some runners including a runner who had run all 27 previous Calif. Intl. Marathons! Amazing!! And before we knew it the Star Spangled Banner had been sung and the starting gun fired at 7am sharp! It took our group maybe two minutes to cross the starting line. My timing chip later confirmed that. We were off with only 26.2 miles to go with a gorgeous pink and gray sunrise filling the eastern sky. In hindsight I liked the one way route of the marathon (as opposed to routes run out and back or in a loop). Everything on the way was new. The ground was wet from the night’s rain and as the sun warmed small patches of ground fog formed.

As we ran, the two pace leaders called out encouragement, identified each mile accomplished getting us to yell and even led runners in shoulder and neck exercises on downhill stretches! They did a great job. I ran behind each for stretches of miles. Each had a bit different style. They even bantered back and forth as old friends do. Janet, Amy & Beth observed that as our group approached them, it was a little pack of runners crowded around the leaders. Before and after were runners spaced out. I think the girls enjoyed people watching as they debated which guy runner was cute, etc. done in the spirit of fun while waiting for me to run by! They were waiting near the 15 mile marker as I ran by and waved, yelled and gave high fives to them as I went!

Then the miles continued to mount. I started feeling the distance tiring me. At the 20 mile mark, the pace team started to pull ahead. The race committee had fun putting up a painted ‘wall’ for us to run through. Twenty miles is considered ‘the wall.’ In theory, this is when the body’s store of glycogen is all but used up and you are running on empty. I could feel the energy starting to fade even with all the training, the energy gels, carb loading, drinks and water to keep me hydrated. At around mile 23, I hit my ‘wall’ and was running on empty. Here’s where the race truly begins. Here’s where training, prayer and mental toughness helps carry you through.

In retrospect, I feel that I didn’t go out to fast. My training times had been a little faster. I was very happy with my marathon split times. Following readings and advice, I hydrated and consumed carbs. (Gu) at appropriate rates. It just wasn’t enough to carry me through at my fantasy pace. I wasn’t disappointed. Hey! I finished a marathon! And lived to tell about it!!

Those last 3.2 miles were just plain long, hard and slow. The crowds that lined the streets along the route were great and extremely encouraging. I would walk for a couple minutes then would run to the next mile marker. Eventually the 26 mile marker appeared! Two tenths of a mile to go! “Never give up, Never surrender” I told myself. All the runners around be felt a lift in there step and pace! Turning the last corner and heading for the Finish Line I saw Beth, Amy and Janet yelling encouragement and waving! Only a hundred yards to go! The Finish Line is so close. The State Capitol building in the background and thousands of spectators and runners everywhere! I remember thinking “Pick up the pace! ... Don’t trip now.” Crossing the Finish Line felt great! Although thousands finished ahead of me (and thousands after), I knew that I’d finished the race, that I completed the course! Victory!! It was all good. After volunteers relieved me of my timing chip (they actually have volunteers on stools, with tiny stools for runners to lift their shoe onto then cut off the running chip for later re-use), I received the finisher’s medal then hobbled to where I might find Janet and the kids. After their greetings, my sweaty hugs and obligatory family photos, I just had to sit down.

Sitting down was probably not the best thing to do. I felt light headed. Maybe it was hydration, maybe low blood sugar or salt / electrolytes imbalance. I have to do some research, but the cause was probably one of these three. I didn’t experience this is practice (but only ran 22 as my longest practice run). After eating part of a bagel, banana and water, I felt better. Janet and the kids were patient with me, letting me rest until I was ready to stand. Then it was off to retrieve my sweats bag to warm me up. We then walked to the car and relaxed! Janet drove us back to the hotel to allow me to shower and us to check out. After a quick lunch, we headed home, stopping by Manteca to see my Mom! After the visit, Janet drove home while I napped! What a great feel that was. Great finish (of a day) to a great finish (of a race)!

Here’s my split times:


5.9 mile    split 0:56:41
13.1 mile  split 2:06:49
20 mile     split 3:18:10
26.2 Finish      4:29:34

Once again, let me thank everyone who encouraged and supported my run! Thank you to all who sponsored the fund raiser for Ishimwe! As I wrote in several emails: every dollar of support goes directly to Faith and Roger Shaw’s ministry, and in God’s economy is applied directly to the bottom line of His heavenly balance sheet. God is good! Actually, He is so much more than good; He is Awesome!

Happy Running! - John

I am grateful for God’s blessing on my run!
I am grateful for a supportive family!
I am grateful for supportive friends!
I am grateful for my health!I am grateful for completing a marathon!

Running Big Sur… well, kind of…

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. - 1 Peter 4:10-11

This could have been my key verse for running for Ishimwe Center. It’s actually what I put forward to my 10th grade World History class. Use your talents, whatever they are for the glory of the Lord! We are each given multiple talents and scripture is clear in its command to do so. What are your talents? Big or small, God wants to use them! How? Start by praying about how God might use you. Don’t tell Christ how He should use you, but rather listen to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Maybe just ask for an opportunity that you might have overlooked or missed. Then see God open doors for you. Be humble in asking. I will never be a world class runner, or even terribly competitive, but He can use me with each step of that 26 miles in advancing the kingdom of Christ!

Last year was the year of the Tiger? Tom (le Tigre’ to some) and I enjoyed two races together. The first was the Wharf to Wharf with Amy (see earlier blog from July), and the second was the Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay http://www.bigsurhalfmarathon.org/ . This year I ran the Big Sur Half without my wonderful daughter Amy or my trusty, not rusty, friend on Sunday, Nov. 14 (paint a sad face on John here). I used this as (a) my weekly long run, (b) a tempo run and 3) a fun run. It worked great for all three and was completed with a finishing time of 1 hr 56 min. 33 sec.! Yahoo! ...and yes, those 33 sconds count! :)


The Big Sur Half is both a beautiful course and a very well organized race. With the exception of having to pick up your race packets the day before (not very time and energy efficient… not green at all), and the start time of 7am (which means leaving San Jose at 4:45am!), the race is a favorite. The pre-race Expo is well organized and well staffed for bib and t-shirt pickup as well as cruising through the vendors for running ‘stuff’. On race day the organizers have plenty of port-o-potties, sweats’ bag drop-off, signage and uses starting corrals to control crowds of runners on the course. The start is staggered by using the corrals, grouping runners by estimated finish time. I never felt overwhelmed with bodies crushing me and hampering me from running during the entire race.

The course is spectacular starting on Del Monte Ave (near the Monterey Wharf), then runs around the Dennis the Menace Park, through downtown Monterey and through ‘the tunnel’. As we emerged from the tunnel there was a bagpiper playing! No wonder I like this run!! The course turns and runs down Cannery Row, past The Monterey Bay Aquarium http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/ (check out their cool web cams), then continues down the coast road until we reach Pacific Grove where we run up a hill through their downtown, eventually running past Lovers Point, and heading down the coast road once again past breaking waves, and amazingly blue sky against an even bluer ocean. This part of the course matches the “Together With Love 10k” that Amy and I have run mid February in years past (Tip: this is great run for a tune up race early in the year). The course continues along the coast past the lighthouse and down the coast to just past the Asilomar State Beach and Conference Center http://www.visitasilomar.com/ where the course turns around and heads back up the coast to Pacific Grove, then on to the finish at Custom House Plaza in Monterey.

Along the way are entertainments such as garage bands, New Orleans Jazz, Monterey Brass, Taiko drums (Taiko in Japanese means drum or great drum, so ‘great drum drums’ entertain you). One of my favorites was this guy playing an upright piano in the back of his pickup truck. It was parked very near Toasties Restaurant in Pacific Grove. All of the entertainers were well received by the runners! This race even encourages you to BYOB. Yup, Bring Your Own Bottle (not THAT kind of bottle!).

Instead of using thousands of small paper cups for water stops, this race has a special filling station at the turnaround point. Great idea! After finishing and catching your breath, you can stop and take a ‘Finisher’s Photo’, and there’s a post run party in a nearby plaza with a rock band, food, massage, water, beer, sweats bag pick-up, etc. A new add this year was a computer set-up that allowed you to type in your bib number and see ‘instantly’ what your time was. Then on to lunch with friends Tom & Shelly! Next year Tiger!
Happy Running! - John

I am grateful for crisp fall running weather!
I am grateful for God’s blessing on my friend’s families!
I am grateful for technologies that help spread the Gospel!
I am grateful for the Holy Spirit’s prompting in my life!
I am grateful for the Godly men and women who stand for Christ!

30 days and counting…

I have seen something else under the sun:

The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong,

nor does food come to the wise

or wealth to the brilliant

or favor to the learned;

but time and chance happen to them all.

- Ecclesiastes 9:11

With 30 days to go until the Calif. Intl. Marathon, I am amazed, blessed and humbled at the journey of preparation that I’ve been blessed to experience. God blessed me today with a great 22 mile run; the longest run until the Dec. 5th run in Sacramento. For the next weeks I’ll be tapering the lengths of runs, with one highlight being next weekend’s Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay.

I’m certainly amazed at how the past 5+ months have flown by with the running; amazed at the blessing of health, support and encouragement from family and friends; and amazed at how God has worked within our family with the challenges of jobs, school, friends, and the everyday challenges of life. The blessings have been many. From the progress made with training schedule, the blessing of the money pledged for Ishimwe, with a new job, with the ongoing blessing of my family and serving at church! Humbled? I am continually humbled by the blessings of a faithful God who provides for our daily needs. He never fails! I’m humbled by the task ahead. Last week a friend asked how the training was going, to which I replied that the marathon is a long, long run! Duh!! Until you have hiked or biked or run 26 miles it may be hard to appreciate the distance, and the effort it takes to run such. Early on I estimated that I’d run 500+ miles in training. But I’m approaching 1000! And I’m delighted! I write this not to boast at all, but with respect for the many dedicated runners whose efforts to run well take them well beyond whatever my finish time will be. Keep running! - John

PS - A new record was set at the 2011 Boston Marathon, even before the starting gun goes off. Registration for the 2011 Boston Marathon opened on October 18 at 9am (EDT) and closed at 5:03pm (EDT) — that's right, in 8 hours on the very same day. In 2009, registration closed approximately two months after opening.

I am grateful for God’s blessing on our nation!
I am grateful for a country where we can worship freely!
I am grateful for a country where we can criticize our gov’t!
I am grateful for powerful teaching by our church’s Pastor David!

I am grateful for my wonderful Sister and Brother!

Statistically Speaking...

I have seen something else under the sun:
    The race is not to the swift
    or the battle to the strong,
    nor does food come to the wise
    or wealth to the brilliant
    or favor to the learned;
    but time and chance happen to them all.
    - Ecclesiastes 9:11

Let’s start with a few statistics… According to MarathonGuide.com, 397 marathons took place in 2009 compared to the estimated 372 the previous year. “nearly 468,000 marathon finishing times were recorded in the USA in 2009 - almost 43,000 more than the number of finishers from 2008. The number of male finishers increased by 9.8%, while the number of female finishers grew by nearly 10.0%” The average age for male finishers was 40.2 and for women it was 36.5. The average finishing time for males’ was 4:24.17 and for women it was 4:52:31.

How about men’s records? The winning time for the 1896 Olympic Marathon was set by Spiridon Louis of Greece at 2:58:50; in 1908 London Olympics, John Hayes of the USA won with a time of 2:55:18. It’s not until 1925 that a sub-2:30 marathon is won in New York by US’s Albert Michelsen. Then, not until 1963 when USA’s Leonard Edelen will break the 2:15 marker with a time of 2:14:28. Four years later on Dec. 3, 1967, Australian Derek Clayton won the marathon in a world record time of 2:09:36, becoming the first man to run a marathon at a faster pace than 5 minutes/mile. 2003 saw the first man to break the 2:05 mark. Paul Tergat of Kenya won the Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:04:55. 2008 saw the record lowered to 2:03:59 by Haile Gerbrselassie of Ethopia. The question is not will this be broken; merely when? How long will it be before a man breaks a sub 2 hour marathon?

Before 1966, it was generally believed that women were physiologically unable to run marathon distances. The longest Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)-sanctioned race for women was one and a half miles. Yet on April 19, 1966, a young women name Roberta ‘Bobbi’ Gibb challenged the status quo of the then male dominated sport of marathon racing. Read her own words at: http://www.runningpast.com/gibb_story.htm She was denied an official entry in the race for the above AAU reasons. Undaunted, she donned her brother’s bermuda shorts and wore a blue hooded sweatshirt, and then jumped midway into the throng of runners as an unauthorized runner. As the May 2, 1966 Sports Illustrated magazine (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/) reported, she finished “fast enough to finish ahead of no fewer than 290 of the event’s 415 starters.” She would return in 1967 and 1968. On February 28, 1970, Caroline Walker, age 16, set a new world record for women of 3:02:53. Other women followed in her path. In 1978, Greta Waitz of Norway set a world record at the New York Marathon with a time of 2:32:30. Although she vowed never to run another marathon, she returned in 1979 to break her own record with a time of 2:27:33. She would win the NY Marathon seven more times. Joan Benoit of the USA won the Boston Marathon in 1985 with world record of 2:22:43 beating the second place finisher by seven mnutes. It would be Naoko Takahashi of Japan at the Berlin Marathon in 2001 to break the 2:20 mark at 2:19:46. Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain is the current world record holder at 2:15:25 set in 2003 at the London Marathon. How long will it be before a woman breaks a sub 2:15 hour marathon?

One last statistic: The 2009 average marathon finisher in my age category ‘55 – 59’ (I’m 56!) is 4:40:27 and composes 3.62% of all marathon runners. Please keep praying that I will remain uninjured as we come into the final month of training. With God's help, I will finish strong.

I am grateful for completing a 20 mile run!
I am grateful for the blessing of a Godly wife!
I am grateful for the grace God shows me daily!
I am grateful for the talents God has gifted my nieces and nephews!
I am grateful for the students in World History!

60 days to go!

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
   where does my help come from?
   My help comes from the LORD,
   the Maker of heaven and earth.
   He will not let your foot slip—
   he who watches over you will not slumber – Psalm 121

60 days until the C.I.M. (Calif. Intl. Marathon)! Unbelievable! It seems like only yesterday that Amy and I were kibitzing over the challenge of doing 26.2 miles. What race to enter? Should I prayerfully consider doing a fund raiser for the Ishimwe Center? Are we crazy? Now, four months and 600 plus training miles later, there have been some lessons learned.

• Start early and start often.
• Marathon training means miles of running (duhh!).
• Family & friends make all the difference in the world.
• Chafing happens, sometimes in the oddest places.
• Weight will come and go. Don’t obsess. Eat healthy.
• Practice with gels, drinks, clothes, etc. No surprises on race day.
• Run for the joy of it.
• Keep your toenails clipped.
• iTunes inspires running performance.
• Hill running helps with strength training & mental toughness.
• On fundraising: People will surprise you with their generosity. THANK YOU!

I am grateful for Fall weather!
I am grateful for the Holy Spirit dwelling in my children!
I am grateful for walks, hand in hand with Janet!
I am grateful for coffee time w/ friends & family!
I am grateful for the BSF study of Isaiah!

Delta Running

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. - Proverbs 18:10

Rio Vista Bridge

This past weekend, Janet and I enjoyed an overnight in the Delta with special friends at a cottage on the water. It was an enjoyable trip down memory lane remembering sailing times past with my Mom, Dad, and family time on both our sail boats Misty Eagle and Parallax. To get to the island we were staying on we drove up 680 then over to Pittsburg and Antioch crossing the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers on increasingly narrower roads. After reaching Rio Vista we turned off the highway and drove our car on road topping levees (Ok, sing with me now… “So… Bye, bye miss American Pie, Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry…”). We then took a ferry across a waterway and drove three more miles on top of a levee (keep singing… “And good ol' boys were drinking whisky and rye? Singing this will be the day that I die. This will be the day that I die.”). Just to get away from San Jose, and go to a wonderful retreat setting was amazingly relaxing. We enjoyed a lovely candle lit dinner, Martha Stewart style, al fresco, watching the orange moon rise over the far bank of the river, topped by a feeding frenzy over a delicious coconut cake (double dipping allowed!). Lots of laughter!!

Up at 7am, Sunday morning dawned cool and beautiful. Just right for a run on the levee road (OK… stop with the singing already!). I was out the door in no time, leaving everyone asleep. Here was one of those Rave Runs. The sun had yet to rise, the clouds were the colors of brilliant pinks and oranges. I ran out the gravel road and up to the levee road and ran down the three miles to the Ryer Island ferry crossing (named “The Real McCoy Ferry” I kid you not!). Running without iPod was perfectly wonderful. I heard birds in trees, and others flying down to feed on bugs near the river, fish jumping to catch their own breakfasts, roosters crowing as I passed farm houses standing next to groves of pears and peaches as well as acres of vineyards; only one fisherman’s boat quietly passed by on the water. The air was as fresh as you’d ever imagine, with scents of river, and farm orchards occasionally wafting by. As I ran, the Sun finally peaked over the Sierra flooding the Valley with light and coming warmth. At the ferry, I stopped just to take it all in and walked near the water. Several worship songs came to mind as I walked. Times like that are as precious a worship time as any spent in a church sanctuary. Then I was ready to kick up my heals and run back to the cottage and our friends, ending my run in a happy contented sweat. So what if the run was a little slow, and so what if I missed my long run for the week.

Take the time to get away. Take time to re-charge your batteries. Take time to spend time with your spouse and loved ones. Take time to read God’s Word. It’s worth every second, and I’m praising God for those precious moments! – John

I am grateful for my NEW JOB!
I am grateful for my old job at So-Lite!
I am grateful for beautiful sunsets
I am grateful for sharing dinner w/ friends
I am grateful to serve an awesome God!

Swag; not swagger

"What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Swag – noun 1. a suspended wreath, garland, drapery, or the like.

Every race that I have run has swag. It may be a t-shirt, a finisher’s medal, discounts to a running shop, announcements to upcoming races, a water or Gatorade sample bottle, Cliff Bars, Gu, etc. The last race even included tiny sample bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar (we used them on our backpacking trip, thank you very much!). The bag that it all comes in is even called a swag bag. At the SF Half Marathon, the bag was made of cloth with cording to draw it closed and printed with the race logo and a place to write the bib number and could be used to store and drop off sweats before a race.

The finisher medals are cute. Most display the year, the name of the run and maybe the race's logo. Most are made of metal hung on a wide ribbon to fit over the head. The finisher's medal at the upcoming Big Sur Half Marathon (Nov. 14?) is a unique ceramic piece. ...but a medal for finishing? ... really?…why? We received the t-shirt. We have the memories and the stories to share. I guess… to each his own. To one person, the medal represents the accomplishment, to another, just a ribbon and cute medallion. T-shirts from a race are a much more visible representation of running the race and are practical to run practices in. Oh, we may have our favorite shirt because of its color or t-shirt design, or because we completed some special ru; it lifts our spirits reminding us of what all the hard work is about. T-shirts also are small mile markers (no pun intended) of the distance we have come since getting off of the couch and walking out the door many months ago.

So whatever your motivation, enjoy the fellowship, enjoy the moment, enjoy the swag, enjoy the run, but know that at the end… you may stagger but for heaven’s sake don’t swagger. (swagger – verb 1. To conduct oneself with an arrogant or pompous manner.) – Johnny B

I am grateful for worship services

I am grateful for family dinners

I am grateful for the Holy Spirit’s promptings

I am grateful for morning runs

I am grateful for music – all kinds

The Secret

“I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” - Psalm 119:32

"What was the secret, they wanted to know; in a thousand different ways they wanted to know… The Secret. And not one of them was prepared, truly prepared, to believe that it had not so much to do with sports drinks, eating well, sleeping more, running blogs, iPod tunes, hip techno clothing and cool mental tricks as with that most un-profound and sometimes heartrending process of removing, molecule by molecule, the very tough rubber that comprised the bottom of their training shoes."

I was reading about marathon training one day last week and came upon the above anonymous quote. It hit me as summarizing the way much of today’s culture and generational attitudes are. We’re looking for the quick fix, the next thing to buy or to have or do to make us appear that we have the secret to life. If we drive the right car, wear the right clothing, work the right job, buy the right house, etc. we’ll make it to the finish line of life ahead of most everyone. We all (including me) fall prey to this mentality at times. The worldly attitude even carries over into our exercising, or even marathon running. Is there a short-cut to get me across the finish line? Nope. Sometimes I think that I need that amazing GPS tracking / heart monitoring watch or the technical, sweat wicking, ultra cool, wind and water resistant, reflective striped, eye catching color, ultra form flattering, stand out in a crowd, looking like a winner, piece of running clothes.  But do I? …just to run in a race?

Real life doesn’t really work that way. There are no short cuts; just a marvelous journey for those who know Jesus as Savior and Lord. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with any of the things individually above, as long as our attitude is focused rightly; as long as we don’t fixate on things as giving us lasting satisfaction. Things can become the idols of our times, taking our eyes off of the true secret to peace, contentment and satisfaction: Jesus. We forget that these earthly blessings flow from an almighty sovereign God. Sometimes, we feel “But I deserve this, or I deserve that.” Thankfully we don’t get what we deserve, with the exception of God’s grace and His outstretched arms of love in our lives. Prosperity is something God wants to bless us with, but it flows from Him, and not of ourselves. In both good times and bad, out of obedient hearts we should give praise where it’s due. Christ wants that prosperity, peace, success and contentedness for each of us and scripture is full of that coming to those who praise and follow Him. I’m reminded in Galatians 5 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” That’s the true ‘secret’ to be shared with the entire world, and, is most certainly what I need. – Johnny B

I am grateful for a loving Savior

I am grateful for ocean breezes

I am grateful for my Mom

I am grateful to be alive

I am grateful for tuxedo kitties

The need for speed...

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." - 1 Corinthians 9:24

Amy and I have added Wednesday track work. It called Yasso 800’s. Bart Yasso (see his blog at: http://www.mylifeontherun.com/about ) is a marathon runner who came up with the idea of a marathon time predictor. The theory is to practice running 800 meter intervals (880 yards, or twice around a track) at a time in minutes and seconds that you want to run your marathon in hours and minutes. For example: You want to run a 3 hr. 50 min. marathon. Practice running 800’s in 3 minutes 50 seconds with a recovery jog of the same time between interval runs. The goal is to work up to running 10 of these intervals in a training session.  Incremental improvements are the name of the game. Also, stop these training sessions at least 14 days before the marathon to aid in recovery. Amy and I are at 4 intervals of 3:58 and next week we will do 5! Is running a 3 hr. 58 min. marathon  our goal? Duhno. Time and practice will tell. This training sounds a bit odd, but according to several running books and websites it works. This doesn’t change our other training runs and especially not the weekly long run. It just focuses you on running faster, building confidence, etc. We’ll see after the marathon just how it worked. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

I am grateful for our awesome creator

I am grateful for our amazing 3 children

I am grateful for chocolate ice cream

I am grateful for waterfalls

I am grateful for Bible Study Fellowship

Backpacking Yosemite!

"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." - 1 Timothy 4:8

If this is your first time to the blogosphere... Welcome! Ishimwe Running is intended to raise awareness and funds for the Ishimwe Center in Rwanda, a home for orphaned children. It is following my daughter Amy's and my efforts as we prepare to run the Calif. Intl. Marathon in Sacramento this coming Dec. 2010.

Amy and I took the end of the week off from running to backpack Yosemite (http://www.nps.gov/yose/).  We backpack annually (this was our 8th year) with any number of friends and / or family. This year we trekked with Megan, Jordan and Mark Biasotti from Tuolumne Meadows to Happy Isles on the valley floor over a three day period. Here is a short recap.

Leaving Sunrise Camp Site

Leaving San Jose late Weds. morning, we drove across the Central Valley to Merced picking up Highway 140 and entered Yosemite through the Arch Rock Entrance near El Portal. We were in the Valley mid-afternoon and headed straight for the Wilderness Center. There we picked up our reserved Wilderness Permits and Half Dome Permits (something new this year for anyone wishing to climb the rock). On the way back to the car we stopped by the Yosemite Village Store for that evening’s dinner of chili hot dogs. Then we drove to the Backpacker’s Camp. Aptly named, only those with Wilderness Permits are allowed to use a special walk-in camping area on the valley floor. It is located (almost hidden really) next to the North Pines campsites and near the Riding Stables. After a pleasant evening together laughing, listening to Jordan's stories of his cross America bicycle ride and playing card games, we slept (fitfully) under the stars with a minimum of two late night interruptions of “bear!”, clanking of pots and pans, yelling, clapping, etc. as a bear entered the camp (far away from us).

Megan B and Amy B

In the morning, it was up at 6am. We have all backpacked together before, so everyone knew the drill. As soon as I was packed, I walked to get the van. We were out of there in no time. We headed over to Yosemite Lodge for a lovely breakfast in the cafeteria. I love the shared memories of Yosemite. Every family we know has enjoyed the park in one fashion or another. The cafeteria is one such shared memory. It remains looking much like it did in the ‘60s with only upgrades in the food services area, yet remains filled with snippets of childhood memories for each of us. We drank coffee, picked up our bus tickets and chatted of Yosemite & hiking memories past as we waited for the bus to Tuolumne Meadows.

Once on the hiker’s bus, we kicked back, joke a bit about our driver’s spiel of years past and rested until Olmsted Point (just before Tenaya Lake) where we got off the bus for a Kodak moment with Half Dome in the distance; then on to the Cathedral Lakes trailhead where we were dropped off.  The hike starts off quickly gaining altitude with a series of switchbacks that eventually lead past the two lakes hidden below Cathedral Peak, named for its craggy rock outcroppings resembling a medieval cathedral. After the “reasonably” severe initial climb, the hike levels out (relatively speaking) and follows the John Muir Trail westward to Sunrise High Sierra Camp to where we set up camp for the night. Our milage: for 7.8 miles. This is one of our favorite camp settings as it overlooks a large pristine meadow reminiscent of the Plains of Rohan from Lord of the Ring trilogy.  Mark outdid himself in his culinary arts with a one pot meal of pasta salad with spam, fresh tortellini, fresh yellow and red bell peppers, fresh mushrooms, butter and tossed with Italian dressing. Dessert of Poptarts Flambe’! Yum! This camp site also allows for camp fires, so Jordan and I set about successfully starting a fire with his flint and steel (no matches) taking only a couple hundred strikes of both.  The night was crystal clear, and once the moon set, stars, shooting stars, satellites, airplanes and the Milky Way gave an impressive show of God’s majesty of creation. But it was cold that night. We woke up to the meadow as a ‘fairy land’ of frost and a wisp of smoke wafting over from the High Sierra Camp. When you sleep outside, you rise with the sun. In this case, I could lay in my bag and wait for the sun to crest the far mountains and eventually reach us with its encouraging warmth. One of our breakfast traditions is ‘eggs in a bag’ where you create an omelet of egg, cheeses, bacon, salt ‘n pepper ‘scrabbled in a sealed baggie, then placed in boiling water to cook. Once done, it’s an easy pour of cooked egg into a tortilla to make a breakfast burrito / hand warmer. After breakfast we packed then had a 20 minute quiet time which we each spent in thought, prayer, reading, or reading God’s Word. Fantastic way to start the day!

Amy & John on top of Half Dome

Our next hiking segment (as all our days should) started with a prayer, then we set off for a 7.9 mile hike to Little Yosemite Valley campground. We arrived early afternoon, found our campsite (w/ bear box) and set up camp. After a swim (all of us) in the Merced River, we prepared hor d’ourves of fried Spam and sourdough bread with olive oil & balsamic vinegar followed by a dinner of beef stew and dessert of cookies.  As the campsites filled up fast, Megan cheerfully offered to share our campsite & bear box with Jeanna and Dillon from Chicago. Neat people, but both characters. We shared our evening meal with them. Then, after our evening ablutions, we hit the hay early as we were to awaken at 2:45am Sat. in order to hike to Half Dome under a starry canopy, climb the cables and be on top for sunrise. Hiking uphill, in the dark makes for a cool and amazingly quick transit. Ok, maybe we were way early, and there was a freezing cold wind, but we were there when the Sun crested the Sierras around 6:35 while y’all were still in bed.  But wait, that’s not all… we brought a camp stove, water and fixings for coffee with 1/2 & 1/2, hot cocoa and oatmeal for breakfast. The view from the top is absolutely 360 degree AMAZING! No matter how many times climbed, the thrill of accomplishment combined with the breathtaking, never to become monotonous views is truly awesome. After breakfast, we paused to give thanks and honor Christ by partaking in communion on top of the Dome. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!

Jordan, Megan, Amy & Mark
Just down off  the cables

We then headed down to camp, packed up and hit the Mist Trail to trek down to Happy Isle. Ask Amy and Megan about their desire to help a couple of wayward hikers find their way to Merced Lake. We stopped at Emerald Pool at the top of Vernal Falls for our final trail meal, then headed down the trail, fighting our way through the Sat. crowds all heading up to Vernal and Nevada Falls. What a delight it is that a park such as Yosemite can be accessible to so many people from literally around the world.  I heard French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and even a bit of the Queen’s English plus American dialects. And every shape, size and age of visitors could be seen. It would have been more fun  people watching had we not been on our last miles of our 31 mile trek through the Sierras. We enjoyed a bus ride through the valley back to Yosemite Lodge where the car was parked. A quick change into clean clothes, and shoes; bought a Diet Coke, mailed a postcard to Mom (Hi Mom!) then on to Oakdale for Pizza & Starbucks and home to San Jose by evening.A great trip with wonderful friends. We look forward to going back next year! – Johnny B

I am grateful for my Savior, Jesus

I am grateful for bold coffee

I am grateful for hill running

I am grateful for clean sheets

I am grateful for inspiring artwork

Can you say RFID?

Step with Mr. Peabody, his boy Sherman and me once again into the Wayback machine for a visit to running history. The first running competition was probably by accident between two men outrunning a dinosaur trying to eat them. And it probably wasn’t too much later that teenage boys began racing each other as one dared the other to slap the backside of a T-Rex then “run for it” (laughing all the way back to their cave). Running competitions in recorded history date back to the Tailteann Games in Ireland in 1829 BC, and the first Olympic Games in 776 BC.

Now take the Wayback forward to the early part of the 20th century. Running had become a gentlemen’s sport. Rules became an increasingly important part of the game, racers trained for specific events and expected organizers to be more, well …organized. Enter time keepers, starting guns, numbers on jerseys identifying athletes, finish line tapes, photo finishes, and record books. Athletes began wondering how to best capture and standardize the athletic performance. Stop watches, certified and standardized running distances, etc. all became part of the game.

In the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s running hadn’t changed a whole lot. Technically things improved, running tracks, timing abilities, etc. (oey! If they can send a man to the moon…) Yet, as more runners entered races, capturing times (not just Olympics) became more and more important. A runner registered for a race, had his name written down and a bib number assigned and handed to him (or her) to wear. Computer tracking eventually became an essential part of the event (and an evolving business). On TV, the Wide World of Sports even devoted segments to scientific methods of timing. In the 80’s, hundreds, if not thousands of runners entered events. As you approached the finish line you were encouraged, forced, nay... herded into finishing chutes that funneled runners into single person lanes. As you cross the finish line, someone with a device attached to a computer clicked your finish time (a time stamp) into a computer of the order finished, unassociated with who crossed the line. Multiple finishing chutes; multiple computers.

This was a great improvement and the best that could be done at the time. As you finished you were herded into the chutes (yes, you did hear an occasional ‘mooing’ along the way) where your order of finish was determined. If you finished with great effort and right behind you someone else finished but stepped in front of you as you entered the chute, your time was given to the interloper... and you got his (or hers, “after you; oh no, I insist!”). The bottom of your numbered race bib was torn off and put onto a stringer in the order you finished. There was no ability for individual timings. Your race time was from when the gun sounded until you crossed the finish line. In a race such as the SJ Mercury News 10K, there were 10 – 15,000 runners. It might take 5 (or more) minutes to cross the Starting Line. You timed it yourself and often subtracted time “until I crossed the starting line” when exchanging bragging rights with fellow runners.

In the 70’s, I was employed with Memorex (then one of the big names of pre-personal computing Silicon Valley) and was involved with their employee activity group (MAG). We decided to run a 10k (6 miles) for employees and their families and I called on some techy friends to help with the timing. We purchased numbered bibs (w/ tear off bottom), trophies and a friend put together a rudimentary finish line timer using an Apple IIe. We held our run at West Valley College in Saratoga, and had approx. 200 registered runners. Twice around the perimeter road we ran, finishing in a (one) chute in front of the Admin. Building. Luckily, the winners were easily determined and no one came in close to each other. We compiled our finishers’ timing list for publication and counted our blessings that the timers worked without hiccup.

Now take a quantum leap forward to 2008 and the use of passive RFID (just say the letters individually like you know what you’re talking about) transponders. RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. Have you ever thought about those little metallic ID strips in new DVD’s, CD’s, books and clothing that activate the door buzzers unless deactivated by a sales clerk at checkout? That’s the same principle I’m talking about! Each runner is now given a chip or tag with the runner’s unique identification number (bib number). The chip / strip / tag (called a transponder) is inactive until moved into a magnetic field generated by a sending antenna in a mat or stand (see picture above of blue and red mat ). The transponder (strip) then transmits its unique identification number to a receiving antenna in a stand or mat whose software creates a time stamp of when the strip passed by. Although a RFID tag might transmit its number several times while the athlete is crossing the mat, software is used to eliminate all but the first time recorded for each chip at each timing point. Very cool technology.

Over the past several years I’ve experienced two different RFID tags. The first from ChampionChip, an early leader in the field. They created a hard, enclosed waterproof capsule containing the chip and energizing coil. Race organizers rented them from the race timing company and assigned one per entrant. Following the race staff helped remove the tags from runners’ shoes, and if not returned, runners were charged $25 – 30 per tag lost.

Then came along D-Tags (see picture at left) which are disposable transponders. The runner gets it with his bib number and easily attaches it to his shoe with attached removable tape. These tags need not be returned and are very efficient. Now runners can have their cake and eat it too ….errr… have their gun time and chip time too. Runners get the full elapse time from when the gun fires and their personal time from when they cross the RFID mat at the beginning and end of the race. Some distance races are now also including a RFID mat mid way through the course to provide both a split time (how fast the runner ran each half of the race) and insure that runners don’t take short cuts along the route. To complete the run they must cross a) the Starting Line mat, b) a midway mat and c) the Finish Line mat to prove they ran the full course. Races are even now offering automatic text messages as well to be sent to cell phones of spectators and runners alike when a runner crosses the midway mat. How excellently far we’ve come!

- John B

I am grateful for beautiful sunrises and sunsets
I am grateful for running at 56
I am grateful for serving at church
I am grateful for walks with Janet
I am grateful for backpacking with friends

120 days to go!

My musings today (Saturday, 8/7) are short. 120 days to go until the marathon. It’s going to take a lot more training to be ready for the Calif. Intl. Marathon! This morning I went for my longest ‘long run’ to date: 16 miles in: 2 hr, 26 min, 20 sec.! By most peoples’ standard that’s one definition of obsession. Well not obsession really; more like craziness! This I have to agree with. Add to that 10 more miles! No matter what your passion in life, the pursuit of a goal, or dream, can and will take over part of your life. I am trying not to become obsessed (OK, maybe a little, but shhhhh! don't tell anyone). Amy and I do have a goal of completing a marathon. That by itself is one major big deal. So to accomplish this we have to put in the time and effort to prepare to as Nike says “Just do it!” As an old guy it takes a bit more to get to a physical level of endurance, and more time to recover in between training sessions.  

Quick  aside:

The Boston Marathon (http://www.bostonmarathon.org/) qualifying time for:

56 yr old males: 3 hrs 45 min

21 yr old females: 3 hr 40 min

           ..…go figure...so don’t look for me qualifying any time soon!    ;)

Yet the goal of completing is important to this 56 year old’s fund raising efforts. Thank you one and all for your pledge cards! Keep ‘em coming!! The more I run, the more I look not at myself, but to Christ who strengthens me. I’m learning about pacing oneself, about the need for hydration, mid-run nutrition and above all, the encouragement and support of Janet, the kids and our stalwart friends!

My current long run starts Saturdays at 6am in Campbell, at the park on the Los Gatos Creek Trail. I cross the creek and head down the creek toward San Jose, turning around at Meridian Ave and trace my steps back to Campbell. That breaks up my run into the first segment of 5 miles. I then run out 5.5 miles toward Los Gatos, turn around and head back to Campbell for the total 16 mile run. Then it’s home for coffee with Janet, job search, work on refinishing the kitchen cabinets, AND take a nap! Yahoo! One more week at 16 miles then on to 17 miles!

I’ve also been reminded lately that we are a blessed people, and have much to be grateful for. So I will be adding a few thoughts on what I’m grateful for each week. What are you grateful for? Let me know and I can include them!

 – Johnny B

I am grateful for close friends

I am grateful for family

I am grateful for Bible study time

I am grateful for my wife

I am grateful for my work

Running with perseverance!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.- Hebrews 121-2

Before I start, let me just shout "Happy 21st Birthday!" to my running buddy and beautiful daughter, Amy!


What does it mean to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us”? Is this just a saying we may sometimes casually make because it sounds cool and ties in with running? Maybe. To me it says a lot about life and running. Every runner knows about running with perseverance. One definition of perseverance would be to act or undertake something in spite of having to face difficulties, obstacles or discouragement. Ask anyone about preparing for a race. Each of us knows what it takes to do our best; work; practice; dedication; sacrifice; effort; perseverance and reliance on family and friends for support. Some practice days are good; others not so good. For the Christian it is much the same. Yet, with steadfastness we are to honor Jesus in our beliefs holding true to God’s teaching through His Word. Are you daily preparing to follow Christ and do His will?

In preparing to run, many of us may look at a map of a race course, look at a map of the elevation changes or we maybe even drive the course beforehand to get a picture of what to expect. Some larger races (like the SF Marathon) even provide YouTube video of the race course (http://www.thesfmarathon.com/the-course/course-video.php). When you are running in the pack, in the thick of a race, you are relying on others who came before and who marked out the route with signage, traffic cones and race staff who help direct. We all follow the same course. As Christians we have the Bible to show us the path ahead, what to expect in life and how to be a winner. Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path." Am I picking up the guide book daily to see the course my life should take? Not always, but I (we maybe?) need to keep trying.

Even before speaking of running, the writer in Hebrews speaks of “a great cloud of witnesses”. In life, I see this ‘cloud of witnesses’ as those who went before us and testify of what they have seen, and also those presently watching us. When running a race, I see many bystanders watching us and cheering runners on. I also would say that I am witnessing from within the race itself. I love to people watch. I bet everyone running has a story to tell. From a Biblical perspective watching us may be Christians residing in Heaven who went before us giving testimony of the goodness of Christ, or the angels serving God, or, witnesses could just be the man on the street… our neighbor, co-worker or family member. You and I are being watched to see just how we handle our struggles, challenges, victories and disappointments. This is not said boastfully, as many people are so wrapped up in their own lives that they may not even care about what you or I do. And what you or I or we do, frankly, isn’t that impressive. But others are watching as we try to battle or surmount life’s challenges and to see if we are real / true to our beliefs. Do we walk the walk? It is a reminder to rely on our preparations so as to minimize stumbling and maximize what we know to be true and right.

Pastor Jon Courson (http://joncourson.com ), writes in his Bible commentary of the Christian walk (run?), “The race before us is not a sprint. It is a marathon. We’re in it for the long haul, gang.” This is so true. Our training (for life, as well as running) is meant to give strength and endurance for our full run of life in service to God. Our physical training and study of God’s Word prepares us for service and running that marathon. If you are running a long distance race (I’ll let you define what long is), then the physical training may be what is primarily on your mind as it is our bodies that must carry us through. And yet there is also a great mental aspect in running. There’s an old saying ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going.’  It doesn’t say ‘the tough bail or give up.’ The tough keep going. Mental toughness is part of the preparation for long runs. Most of us don’t wake up one day and say, “I’m now mentally tough enough to withstand the pressures of this world.” It takes preparation, training, experience, perseverance and reliance on God to see us through the toughest times in life.  Are you prepared to go the full distance?

One key element and way to accomplish the marathon is seen in the next passage of Hebrews. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. We need to pick and focus our efforts on the proper goal. To the runner, it may be the finish line and the accolades in crossing that line. To the Christian it should plainly be Christ Jesus. To the Christian runner, our focus should not be just the physical accomplishment, but the running can be a way to honor and draw closer to God. And lastly, in focusing on Jesus, we will appreciate His great sacrifice on the cross in order to give you and me the free gift of eternal life in Him. I give Him praise and honor each time I set foot out the door for a run.

Take the time to do something in His and for His name. Maybe even run to Him as He runs to you!!– John B

Five Stars for San Francisco Half Marathon!

Amy and I had a near picture perfect San Francisco Half Marathon on Sunday, July 25, as we ran with 25,000 other runners over the hills of SF. Yes, there was the whole 3am wakeup, 3:30 drive, etc. But everything went so smoothly! No complaints here. To a Dad, few things bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart more readily than to see my adult children succeed in doing hard things. I can see and delight in the accomplishments of all three of my kids’ lives (the proud Dad that I am), but on Sunday’s run, my focus was on Amy. Despite a challenging pain in her knee, by the strength and help of God, she ran and finished the 13.1 miles!! Yahoo! OK, I ran and finished too, AND was exceedingly pleased at both of our efforts and results. Matter of fact, we were both delighted as to how the day went. We ran the course in a little over two hours; slower than when we ran the Santa Cruz Half in April (a relatively flat course), but Sunday’s was a great run none the less! And we felt good in conquering the hills of SF.

In my description of the course (my prior blog entry), I said there was a hill to run in rising from Bay level at Crissy Field to the deck of the Golden Gate Bridge. True, this was a killer hill of effort. Yet before reaching it was another hill that rose from Aquatic Park to climb over Ft. Mason and down to the Marina Green. After that was the hill to the bridge. Running the bridge (each direction) was also like running a hill as it slopes up to the center point of the span, and then back down. As the picture above shows, it was a foggy morning so visibility from the bridge was poor. By the time we reached center span we could see our breath! It was chilly; we were sweating and it was chilly. The picture also shows how the race had one lane closed for us to run north, a second lane to run south and a third as a safety buffer between us and the cars. After the bridge was the hill running through the Presidio, and after that was a series of hills leading to Golden Gate Park, where one more hill needed to be surmounted before the final slope down to the finish line.

   

Just as we were rounding the corner to enter the park, I noticed something. I'll call it an “OZ” experience. We had been running along streets of houses; the houses were non-descript in color, the pavement and sky were the same shade of gray. But as we entered the park everything turns “Technicolor”; the trees and bushes are vibrant greens, the walking paths dark brown, flowers were blooming, even the sky seemed to lightened as we headed toward the finish line.  I wouldn’t have been surprised to hear Munchkins giggling along the route… actually, I would have been surprised. J One can really appreciate the thoughts and great efforts behind designing, creating and maintaining civic parks. Good job SF!

My rating for this race would be 5 stars out of five stars. Great destination race! Scenic course! Professionally organized! The organizers have it down cold. From the plentiful discounted parking opening at 4:30am, to the organization of the starting waves, to the upbeat announcers, to the ginormous glow stick illuminated balloon arch sculpture, to all the wonderful volunteers along the course cheering us on, to the plentiful water / aid stations, to the finish line organization (water, Cytomax (Gatorade like drink), finisher metals, food, busses & even a first for me: Irish Coffees for those over 21! …I don’t actually see the point of this, but it did bring a smile to my face … and no I did not imbibe). Add to all this the cool weather made for a great running environment. Amy and I both said, “We hope to run it next year!” Then, after getting back to the Embarcadero and the start line… it was off to Blue Bottle Coffee.

… Ahhh time to savor the taste of victory!

Running San Francisco – Sun. 7/25

This coming weekend Amy and I will be running a ‘fun run’ – The San Francisco Marathon!   Well… S.F. Half Marathon, actually.   (http://www.thesfmarathon.com/). The Wall Street Journal calls the course “one of America's most beautiful marathons.” I totally agree. What other race allows you to run the SF waterfront (without worrying about traffic ) and across the Golden Gate Bridge (and back), then end in Golden Gate Park? I ask ya! Sounds like a beautiful day in SF! Many races combine events to attract runners and pay for the logistical support needed to run events such as the SF Marathon. Races also contribute a portion of their net proceeds to local charities supporting athletics. The organizers in SF must have thought, “Hey! Why not attract some extra runners by running our marathon, two half marathons, a 5K race and a running event for kids (Munchkin Fun Run) on the same weekend?” So they did just that! The first half marathon will start with the marathon runners; the second half marathon will start 13.1 miles away finishing with the marathoners. In itself the marathon and two half marathons will attract 20,000+ runners AND will bring millions of dollars spent by these runners to the local economy, a win-win for everyone.

The Marathon and “first half” Half Marathon start at the SF Ferry Building (ahh… Blue Bottle Coffee! http://www.bluebottlecoffee.net/) on the waterfront at 5:30am. Yes, I said 5:30 in the morning!! We plan on leaving the house at 3:30am (as in: oh dark thirty), drive, find parking, find the start line, then stand in the cool of the morning waiting for the gun (as in I wish I had a gun (well maybe just a rubber band gun) to shoot someone for such an early start!... just kidding!). The elite runners start first. These bad boys and girls are fast and will compete for cash prizes. Then the rest of us begin one ‘wave’ at a time. A ‘wave’ describes starting the race in groups of runners who self estimate their finish times. We’re hoping to complete the 13.1 miles in around two hours.  So we are in Wave #3 and should start about 5:42. Using chip technology, each runner’s start and end times are captured on computer for later web publication. More on chip timing another time for the techie readers among us.

So we’ll be off and running north along the Embarcadero, past Coit Tower, Pier 39, and past Fisherman’s Wharf and the Aquatic Park. We’ll continue running NW along the Bay, through part of Fort Mason, past the Marina Green, through Crissy Field and up a hill (and oh, what a hill!) to the deck of the Golden Gate Bridge. Here’s the real reason the race starts early. With thousands of runners, the organizers have arranged to have lanes of the bridge closed for runners’ use only. Having walked the bridge before, the views of the Bay are spectacular with oodles of sailboats, ocean freighters and views of the City, Sausalito, Bay Bridge, and, Alcatraz and Angel islands in the distance. The total length of the bridge (one way) is 1.7 miles! The race turns around at the bridge’s Marin side Vista Point (we’ll be a little over 7 miles into the run at this point) and heads back across in a second closed lane. Once off the bridge and back in SF, we will run heading SW, continuing up a hill, skirting the Presidio and run through the headlands of SF where if you turn around and run backwards (being careful not to trip) you might see the Golden Gate from the Pacific side. We then run past (and above) Baker Beach (remember the movie The Princess Diaries with Anne Hathaway?), then down onto 27th Ave. for a straight shot into Golden Gate Park where the Half Marathon ends on John F Kennedy Dr. at 8th Ave. near the de Young Museum (http://deyoung.famsf.org/). An aside: Check out the "Birth of Impressionism" exhibit that's at the de Young right now. Janet, Amy, my sister Cindy, my Mom (Hi Mom!) and I went last weekend. It was marvelous! Wonderful day of art, laughter and special family time. OK, we're back...The full marathon continues further through the City ending back near the Ferry Building. Amy and I, having completed the Half, will hop an event sponsored bus for a ride back to the Ferry Building.

…Then we get coffee and savor the run and shared victory.

PS – What is also amazing is that while 20,000 folk are running in a SF Marathon event (like us), there are another 15,000 people running the Wharf to Wharf this same day. That’s a whole lot of runnin’!