America’s Finest City Half Marathon Race Report

As you may know, I headed to San Diego last weekend to run America’s Finest City Half Marathon. Though I’ve run this race many times, it had actually been 12 years since the last time. As I was training this summer I kind of remembered why I’d avoided it. Summer training is so hard! That being said, this a great race and I was excited to be heading back there.

Here's my recap of @afchalf, my 49th #halfmarathon! #running #racesandiegoClick To Tweet

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Saturday: The Drive, the Expo, Dinner in Oceanside

I had an inkling that it was going to be a tough weekend for the Amerca’s Finest City Half Marathon when, merely a half hour into my drive to San Diego, and in a somewhat desolate are of my drive through the mountains, I suddenly had to pull over because my stomach was severely upset and I was miles from the nearest bathroom. Not the way I usually start off a race report, but it was a clue to what was to come.

After that stop (and one other to, um, clean up), I made it safely to my friend Christina’s house in Oceanside where I was staying. This would be her second half marathon and I’d given her a program to do, that I hoped, even it was only six weeks, would help her have a better race than her first half, Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego. She’s a nurse, who not only works crazy hours, also had about a 90 minute drive each way to work. That definitely can put a crimp in your training. Fortunately, I say “had” because she is starting a new job this week, which is only about 15 minutes from her home.

From there we had to head into San Diego to pick up our race gear at the Expo. It’s a fairly small one, so, after picking up our bibs and shirts we wandered through, where Christina broke one of the ultimate rules of racing and bought a new pair of shorts to wear the next day.

I also bumped into my friends Dr. K. and his wife Tiaga! Dr. K. is the creator of the Intelliroll (and the one who gave me the awesome interview about Foam Rolling for Runners). We chatted a bit then we headed back north to Christina’s house.

Christina, her husband, Andy, and I had an early dinner at the same place as last time because they had not only vegan options, they have the Impossible Burger. I have mixed feeling about the burger, but it is tasty (and tastes very meaty, hence the mixed feelings). I had two glasses of wine, which may not have been the wisest thing I’ve ever done, but I also drank a ton of water. I guess I was hoping they’d offset each other, and actually, the wine was not my problem the next morning.

Can we talk like runners? I say that because I have had many heart-to-heart conversations about bodily functions with other runners that I hardly even know. And, well, I know you guys, right? While I woke up with no after effects from the wine, my stomach still felt “off,” much like it had the day before. I’m usually quite regular, but, well, not that morning. Nothing except a slightly bloated feeling (that would stay with me until well after the race).

America’s Finest City Half Marathon: The Report

We left the house at 4:10, only 10 minutes later than the time I’d told Christina we had to leave. Logistics always drive me crazy, so if I’m alone (or with Alan who is my “sole” mate), I would be where I needed to be well ahead of schedule.

For America’s Finest City Half Marathon we had to drive to San Diego, by Balboa Park, where we would park and be bused to the start line at Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma. The last bus was at 5:30, the race started at 6:30. I know that the traffic gets crazy as it gets later, so my goal was to get there by 4:30. We were close, 4:50, and that worked out fine. Very little traffic, plenty of parking, and we were on the bus by 5:15 or so.

We arrived at the Cabrillo Monument about 5:45, which was the perfect time to use the bathroom, grab some water, stow our gear and take some photos. The weather was quite humid, around 80%, but pretty cool, at least for me, at 70 degrees. We soon were lined up and then off, right on time.

The first five miles or so are mostly downhill as we run from the monument out of Point Loma towards San Diego. Though there were a few uphills thrown in there for good measure. Christina made sure that I noticed that, at about mile two, there was a good, fairly long, uphill. The first part of the course also runs through a military cemetery, so there is a bit of a solemn feeling.

Christina and I were running along pretty well, at about a 10-minute pace, which was perfect for the shape I was in. The heat has been a killer this year and my training was not what I’d usually want heading into a half marathon. My longest run had been 10 miles (once!), and not counting some hill training, my high-intensity training had been pretty much non-existent.  I had no doubt I would finish but I did not have high expectations about my time.

So it didn’t concern me too much when I realized, as we were in the first few miles, that at some point I was going to have to stop and use the bathroom. I don’t like to do that but, you know you have to make tough choices sometimes. I held off until about mile five. When Christina first began whining telling me that she needed to walk, I saw a portable toilet ahead and told her to meet me there. I ran ahead, had to stand in line for a couple minutes, and then we started up again. About three minutes gone.

Then only a few minutes later, Christina told me that she needed to use the restroom. Her stomach was giving her trouble too, so we pulled off to one of the bathrooms at Spanish Landing, where we were running. Another few minutes gone.

At mile six, we turned onto Harbor Island, which is about a two-mile loop. It’s actually kind of fun because it is one of the few times you get to see the runners ahead of and behind you on this point-to-point course. Christina was complaining that she was hot. The sun had come out and the air was very still in spite of running alongside the San Diego Harbor, so I had some sympathy. I, on the other hand, was feeling pretty good. The weather felt so cool compared to what I’ve been running in!

Christina kept telling me to go ahead every time she needed to walk, which kept happening more frequently. I told her I was going to make her feel guilty and stay with her! I used my coaching voice a few times, but I knew she was feeling pretty bad, so I wasn’t too tough on her. In mile eight that “nothing new on race day” rule came back to bite her on, well, her inner thighs as she started to chafe. She found some Vasoline at the mile nine aid station, so that helped.

Mile nine is actually my least favorite mile of America’s Finest City course, which I had last done in 2006. While it’s a great course, and surprisingly fast considering the hills at the end (I ran my second fastest half marathon time there of 1:34 in 1999), mile nine meanders through an airport parking lot, so it’s not very attractive. It also used to be loaded with diesel fumes, but that seems much improved since my last time.

Finally, though, we come off Harbor Island and out of the parking lot, turning to head toward downtown and along Harbor Drive. It’s a little cooler because there is a bit of a breeze (though not so much this year), and very pretty as you run past all the boats and ships that are anchored in the harbor.

I tried to keep encouraging Christina, even stopping to wait for her after mile 10 when she had fallen far behind (another three minutes, at least). When we started back up and she immediately started falling back again, I knew that I just had to keep going. Though all the walking and stopping and put an end to any kind of quality time I could have hoped for, at that point, I was ready to be done. I started running and didn’t look back.

America’s Finest City Half Marathon is known for the brutal final hill, that only levels out less than a half mile from the finish line. What I had apparently forgotten in the last 12 years was that the actual hill starts as soon as you head into the downtown area, then really kicks in right after you pass mile 11. So basically almost two miles of uphill at the end of the race.

By this time I was definitely tired, but I still felt pretty good, quite possibly because all of the slow running and stopping. I was able to keep running all the way up the hill with the exception of a short walk through a water station. I was quite pleased about that. I plugged along up that hill and was so happy when, about mile 12.5, the course takes a turn into Balboa Park where it levels out and finally finishes on a downhill stretch.

After I finished I found a shady place to sit down and wait for Christina. I’d received a text at about mile 12 and I was afraid it was from her, but it was from Alan, just checking up on us. I was soaking wet, both from the humidity and because I’d been pouring water down my back at each water station. Christina finished about 15 minutes later, so I hauled myself up and met her when she came out of the chute.

I think it’s kind of funny to complain about finish times when you’re 60 years old. But, I guess I’m still competitive, so all of the delays over the course of the race drove me a little crazy. I was determined to stay with my friend, and after a point, it really didn’t matter anymore time-wise.  But I also didn’t want to end up getting cut off the course (the race has a three-hour time limit)!

I finished the race with my worst time ever for a half marathon, but I felt great throughout, didn’t have any asthma problems, and I got to have fun with my girlfriend (though we’ll wait a day or two to ask her about how much fun she had, okay?). And there was beer and chips (with fresh guacamole) at the finish, so that makes things even better!

I ended up finishing in 2:31: 42, as I said, my slowest time ever. That being said, I was still 18th in my age group (out of 65), so at least I wasn’t last. And I’ll always have my memories of finishing that same race, on pretty much the exact same course, almost an hour faster way back in 1999, right? Which brings me to…

What’s Next?

If it’s weird to complain about finish times at 60, it’s weirder to feel the need for redemption. I mean, I have nothing to prove at this point in my running life. But, I do want to redeem myself, and I know Christina wants another try at a stronger half marathon. That is why we both are signed up to run the Temecula Half Marathon and 5k, which is on October 21! It will be my 50th half marathon!

I’m an ambassador for this race, though I became one after I’d already signed up. I just want to spread the word about this fun event which takes place in wine country Temecula in Southern California. In the FALL, where it will be MUCH COOLER!!!

What's next? How about cooler weather and wine at the #TemeculaHalfMarathon? Join me (for my 50th half marathon!) on October 21 and save 15% with the code AMBDEBBIE15! @sandyfeetevents #halfmarathon #runningClick To Tweet

Not only will the weather be cooler, this race is all about family, fun, and of course, wine! There is a wine tasting garden! Each participant receives a logo wine glass and tasting tickets! They have just added a one mile Wine Wobble, which sounds like tons of fun for anyone (21+) who isn’t up for a half marathon or 5k. And best of all, I think, are the finisher’s medals.

Yes! They are real wine stoppers!

I would love to see some of you at the Temecula Half Marathon. Temecula itself is a great destination location, with beautiful weather, many local vineyard, casinos, and within an hour of either the mountains or the beach. The price goes up on August 25, so today is a great time to enter! Don’t forget to use my code AMBDEBBIE15 to save 15%!

 

And Now It’s Time for the Running Coaches’ Corner!

Linkup with the #RunningCoachesCorner with @running_onhappy, @loramarie03, @MarcPelerin, and me! Bring your best #runningrelated posts, find new blogs to follow, and share your love of #running!Click To Tweet

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