Big Sur Marathon Race Report

(that sometimes falls into the ocean)

I've heard you're supposed to add anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes onto your marathon time to project your finish time for Big Sur. Because it's hard....SO... because 1)The course was altered this year to omit the two mile climb to Hurricane Point, and 2) Having done only one marathon previously- that was done after running a half marathon the day before, with a lot of pit stops and sometimes waiting in line to take pictures- I decided to actually *subtract* time to set my finish goals.

Don't worry, I wasn't even halfway through before I felt like an idiot.

We camped in Carmel at the Saddle Mountain RV park that had cozy campsites and was only a few miles from Carmel Middle School where I had to catch the bus to the start.

I left about 4:30am, and Staci, Jim, and GeNene didn't have to be at the 5k start until 7:45. I hung out in the (warm) car as long as I could at the school, until about 5, knowing once I got to the start area I'd be standing around (in the cold) outside until 6:45 when we started.

Arriving at Marathon Village, I was greeted with a sight I've never seen before at any other race ever: Porta Potties as far as the eye could see and no lines for any of them. I heard one woman say, "ARE WE IN THE RIGHT PLACE?". It was the first of many magical moments I would experience that day at the Big Sur Marathon.

So we all hung out in the freezing cold morning and then finally they began calling us in corrals to the start. And when we walked past Safeway, we saw the hundreds of really smart people hanging out inside the warm store. I got in the herd moving toward the sweat truck and dropped my bag off just as the National Anthem began to play. And everything got real.

I saw a couple of volunteers, military men, standing motionless. Everyone was standing facing the bright rising sun, some with tears in their eyes, and then everyone erupted in applause. We are here to run a marathon today.

 My goals were: Plan A- Finish under 5 hrs, and the real Plan A: Finish in 4 and a half hrs.

Bart Yasso counted us down and we took off running. I ran the first 8 or 9 miles at 9:30 pace. Like a fool.

I decided not to take any pictures on the way out, because I wanted to focus on having a good time and getting into my groove...plus, I'd be passing all the same things on the way back. Here's the turnaround, just before the Bixby Bridge...which felt great, but wasn't actually the halfway point.

There was a lot of grief about changing the course, but this was my first Big Sur and I absolutely feel like I got the Big Sur experience and then some. This is a closed course, meaning no spectators, no one out there except you and the other runners (and the crashing waves and the cheering section of barking sea lions down on the rocks) and the aid station volunteers. I ran behind a couple guys who were reading names on the bibs of runners coming in the opposite direction and yelling things like "KELLY YOU'RE MY INSPIRATION" "AMANDA YOU'RE AMAZING" making them smile. I know I appreciated every runner or volunteer who took the time to say "good job Lia". It makes a big difference when you've been running for hours, talking to yourself in your head and then someone looks you in the eye and says "Go Lia!". I would have to say 90% of the volunteers I got water or Gatorade from were calling out people's names. The volunteers were incredible.

The views were incredible

And the Taiko Drummers were incredible!

this guy was getting all the chicks.

So, I could hear this piano for at least a mile before I got up to where I could see it. On the approach he was playing Wind Beneath My Wings. (I know, right?) As I took this picture he started playing Imagine. I ran on, looking out at the ocean, hearing the music, and got a little teary. It was completely surreal and the whole thing was worth it for that moment.

I remember hitting 13 miles at 2:15 solid. Around 16 I still had hopes for "in the 4:30's". At 19 I believe I sent a text message that said "F Dis".

I had bad words in my head in response to this. 

At this point, with 7 miles to go I was running on empty. I was negotiating with myself, re-evaluating my goals and even my life's purpose. The hills throughout the entire course were killers. My legs were feeling the burden of keeping a steady pace up and down the hills for the first 8 miles. I should have run more conservatively, and now I was tanking. So, I refocused on the plan, finish under 5 hours....just keep moving.

I ran/shuffled on. It was really really hot, my legs were really really done. And the hills kept on coming. People were dropping left and right with leg cramps.A man who was running with/coaching another man in front of me stopped to help a guy on the ground "toes to the nose! toes to the nose!".  It wasn't until a few more miles that I started to feel those familiar twitches. At every aid station I downed Gatorade, Gu, bananas...stretched my calves, willed my muscles to relax. Around mile 24 I really got worried...everything was seizing up, twitching...at any moment, I could be down on the ground.

The wonderful women with these wonderful strawberries. Somewhere around mile 25. The best tasting stuff I've ever had in my life. 

This was probably near the point I gave up on my sub 5 hour finish. And I was ok with it. Not because I gave up, but because I knew I gave my all. Also, the last mile was big uphill. Kind of like one final reminder you should never underestimate Big Sur.

With a half mile to go to the finish all of a sudden there were all these people lined up on the side of the road. All of a sudden there was cheering and clapping and people yelling my name. I had just survived this thing and now here's all these people. It was amazing. I saw the finish. I almost didn't hear GeNene yell for me and then I turned my head and there she was, smiling at me. I think I smiled back, at least I tried. I know I was so glad to see her face.

That's me coming into the finish...it looks like I'm WINNING!

And here's me being FINISHED....double fisting the recovery beverages...

I think I'm really happy right now! Because I'm done! Tag time 5:11:47

And they did the 5k!

And this is the coolest medal ever. 

On the drive home I decided, I'd experienced what I came to experience. I ran Big Sur...even though I never *technically* was in Big Sur.

Now, a couple days later...everything has changed: when does registration open for next year? Not because I feel I need the "real" Big Sur Marathon course...but because I don't want to miss this feeling again next year. I want to run another marathon on the edge of the western world.