Humboldt Redwoods Marathon

Quietly resting in my super-secret parking spot away from the buzz of race morning, I chat with my race buddy Bob. He tells me about the earthquake that happened just before I arrived. While he's describing the fear of being in a tiny car under a canopy of three hundred foot tall Redwoods, I smile a coy smile. Since an earthquake woke me up before the Santa Rosa Marathon, I thought, earthquakes seem to be my good luck charm. Couple that with the best pre-race sleep ever and my indifferent attitude toward today's race vanishes. A marathon could be fun. Sure, let's go. Barry spots me before the start and asks my goal. I tell him 3:40 or 3:45. He says he expects me to finish in 3:39:59. Huh, we'll see about that.

Y. Kim, SRRC photo credit.

I start too far back in the pack but focus on staying relaxed and calm. Since I typically run the half marathon at this race, I notice all my usual competition disappear ahead. Surprisingly enough, I'm not tempted at all to join them. By the first aid station at mile two, I realize that I've sweat through my outfit. Even though it's not very warm, a high dew point is making me sweat like crazy. I grab two cups of water at this aid station and every single one until the end.

Mile 1: 8:02
Mile 2: 8:00

The first half of this race coincides with the half marathon along the Avenue of the Giants. The freshly paved road allows me to lean my head back and gawk at the trees. Even though I'm considered a local now, this forest never ceases to take my breath away.

Mile 1. Not taken on race day. ;)

Mile 3: 8:03
Mile 4: 8:06
Mile 5: 8:10

Soon I pass the time cheering on my running club buddies making their return trip. I find Matt sandwiched between two of his usual competitors. It's funny how in a race of 1,000 runners, he ends up competing against the same guys.

Mile 6: 8:04

At the quarter marathon turnaround, someone calls out a number. It isn't my pace or elapsed time. "What does this number mean?" I say out loud to the runner next to me. We discover together that it's my bib number and chat together for the next mile or so, then he says he has to get back to work and runs off ahead. I eventually pass him. Maybe he should have stayed to chat after all?

Mile 7: 8:02
Mile 8: 8:19
Mile 9: 8:16

Mile 8. Not taken on race day.

A few miles later, I begin to hear a slapping noise behind me. I glance behind me to see who this annoyingly loud stomper is. Nobody is there. Then I realize it's my soaking wet shorts slapping me in the back of the legs as I run along.  Lovely. I'm glad that my pockets are filled with salt tabs, I'm totally going to need them.

Mile 9. Also, not taken on race day.

Near mile 10, I pull up behind a familiar runner. He's not a member of the local club, but he seems to end up right with me at every race on this course. In fact, he's the runner that threw a cup full of water on me two years ago...that's probably why I remember him at all. We begin chatting and he mentions that this is his thirtieth running of this race. I'm excited for the day I can say I've been doing things for thirty years. All I have so far is this: I've been breathing for 30 years!

Mile 10: 8:04
Mile 11: 8:11
Mile 12: 8:13
Mile 13: 8:15

Just as the marathon course splits from the half, I hear Matt call out my name. I slow for him to catch up to me. We run together through the halfway aid station. I ask about his race and he about mine. I mention that I'm gearing up for a fantastic positive split on my second half, still within my goal range. Then we part ways.

Halfway aid station. Double-fisting the water and Gatorade.

 Halfway: 1:46:57 (8:11/mi)

The second half of the course has a nice long uphill; it isn't until almost mile 20 that the course stops climbing. I make the decision to stop looking at my watch and instead I continue along at the same effort as the first half.

Garmin counted 1,500 ft. gain, it's actually closer to 1,000ft. We climb the same 100 ft. over and over again.

I soon find myself weaving through the trees with another runner. I can't tell if he's staring up at the trees or if his way of leaning his head back is just an element of his fatigued form, but soon I'm right behind him. He asks me to pass him but I refuse. "You're slowing down at the same pace as I am, I think I'll stay with you if you don't mind," I reply. He laughs and mentions he's thankful for the company. We climb through the trees, trading the lead back and forth.

Mile 14: 8:40
Mile 15: 8:42

Together, we pass half a dozen runners on the uphill portion, including one who's tree gawking aloud: "Can you believe this?! This is the most gorgeous marathon I've ever run!!" I beam with pride. I get to call this place home. How cool.

Mile 14 and 25, last year's race day.

Even though this race and its sister (Avenue of the Giants Marathon) are well-known for traveling on the scenic byway, Avenue of the Giants, the best section of redwoods is a country road on the other half of the course, of which only occur on the marathon, not the half. My favorite section of road is near mile 16. The rich, earthy smell and color are so dense here, I can almost sense their additional oxygen output.

Mile 16 taken in April. In the photo is our running club president, Gary.

Mile 16: 8:31
Mile 17: 8:52

My buddy and I walk through the mile 17 aid station, our first together. "Hey, I like this," he says. He goes on to explain that he never walks through aid stations. I mention that I get cups stuck to my face if I don't (see this spring's Avenue Half report). He must find me entertaining because he stays by my side.

Mile 18: 8:40
Mile 19: 8:35
Mile 20: 8:34
Mile 21: 8:14

Also taken in April. This is about mile 19.5. In the background you can see the mountain my trail race climbs.

We give a little woohoo at each mile marker and then resume conversation. I love having a race buddy. We are so evenly matched that it feels more like a training run than race. One quick turnaround and we're suddenly running downhill for the first time in almost an hour. It feels so effortless and my pace recovers...for a short time anyways.

Mile 22: 8:15
Mile 23: 8:27

With 5K left to go, I am surprised that time has passed so quickly. I'm having the best time!  Sure, the miles are slower and my breathing more labored, but I'm thoroughly enjoying my "fun" marathon day without a concrete goal.

This is my racing buddy, here all the way from Colorado! Y. Kim, SRRC photo.

My buddy pulls away at mile 24 and I'm left behind unable to kick along with him. My mind turns to this road racing year. It has been a pretty wild ride: several allergy-related meltdowns, a dangerous bonk marathon finish, and my first Boston-Qualifying time. Then there's the day I completely gave up on myself running this course in 2012. In almost every way, this race felt like a victory lap.

Mile 24: 8:41
Mile 25: 8:26

Here he's warming up before the race start.

A bagpiper playing the Star Wars Theme appeared at mile 25. If my day had been completely sucking, this alone would have saved it. I caught up with him later in the parking lot and told him his song made my day.

Mile 26: 8:18
Mile 26-finish: 1:49 (7:51/mi.)

Just after mile 26, club buddies, Paul, Jack, and Brett appear. They cheer wildly calling out something about fifth woman. Since I was having such a good time with my running buddy, I hadn't even noticed my placing.

Wendy and Wendy announcing the finishers. They sold t-shirts with me the day before and gave extra loudspeaker cheers for me at the finish. Y. Kim, SRRC photo.

The thought of fifth place ignites a finish kick I didn't know I had and I pass two people en route to the finish line. I could get used to having a kick like this!! Yoon snaps my photo, the Wendys wave and announces my name and I cross my fourteenth marathon finish line.

Y. Kim, SRRC photo.

3:39:22
8:22/mi.
5th woman

I collect myself for a few moments, letting the race sink in a little. That was fun! Since I ran the second half without peeking at my watch, my finish time was a pleasant surprise. I catch up to Barry, manning the water table in the finish chute. "How'd you do?" he asks. I smile as I reply, "3:39:22, just for you." Since I hadn't noticed any of the girls ahead of me, I couldn't know for sure, but I stood a good chance of placing in my age group. Nope. Three of the four girls ahead of me were in my new age group. No award, but I did make the leader board for the first time ever. Sweeeet.

Matt finished in 1:21:41, two seconds ahead of his club rival. To illustrate the level of competition in the half marathon (the USATF Championship), that earned him only fourteenth place in his age group.

Matt and his club rival, Reed. Y. Kim, SRRC photo.

Matt headed off to work and I stayed behind to help the club clean up. It was nice to be active for a few hours after the race to let my body cool down. What a fun weekend!