CIM Race Report

Well, another marathon come and gone (#25 in 6 years). It was a nice clear day in Sacramento with temps in the 40-60 range. I did a full blown training schedule for this one and was shooting for about an 8:30 pace. I did nearly ALL of the training alone which was really tough. I usually have to work the tempo and interval training and love the long runs (and feel great doing them), but this time it was just the opposite, so I was not really sure how the day would go.

It went pretty well, in large part due to my support crew. Skip was at mile 5, 10, 15, 20 and the finish. Skip's brother Mike and girlfriend Terea were at 15, 20, and the finish. My son Kyle was at 15 and then ran me in from mile 22 to the finish. And my honoree Karianne and her friend Kristen were at the finish line. It was a huge mental boost to know that I was going to see them all along the way and they were expecting me to do well. It definitely helped me stay on pace.

Kyle did an awesome job running me in. He has never done this before and really doesn't run very much (although he is in great shape). He runs a couple of miles with us now and then so about 1 month ago I asked him if he would like to run the end of the race with me since he lives nearby (he is a freshman at UC Davis). He said sure and started to run a little more often. We talked about the goal pace and his duties in regards to keeping me going. I told him that really the most important thing was just to be there so that I could mentally steal his energy. He said he could do that and one of our friends said that it explained why Kyle looked tired after the race!

What was the result you say??? I really wanted to be under 3:45 total time and I finished in 3:43.50 with splits of 1:52.34 and 1:51.16, overall an 8:33 pace. I'm happy with that!

This picture is Karianne and me after the finish. Doesn't the medal look good on her?!?!?!? (Sorry for the poor quality - it is taken with Skip's phone because we left the camera at home!)

This is a good point for a little honoree update: Karianne is now 22 years old and happy and healthy. When she was 12 she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and underwent full body radiation, chemotherapy, and a bone marrow transplant. She is doing GREAT now, living and working in Sacramento and it was WONDERFUL to have her at the finish line!!!