Let's start with the trip. Driving from Phoenix (when we left it was to be 117 as a high), it is barren and brown. There's not much to see along I-8 except the occasional farm town and cattle ranch (you can smell it long before you see it). My mom had committed to going just to escape AZ, but then at the last minute my aunt wanted to go. Very cool- they can entertain each other while I run and prepare to run. However, I did try to sign my mom up for the 5k online, and I missed it by two minutes. I told her that if there were any spaces left at the expo, she was getting signed up.

We got to the expo on Friday around 1. Parking was outrageous ($15).

It was easy to find where to go once we got out of the parking garage and started walking. As soon as we walked into the expo, I saw they had space left for the 5k... I signed them both up immediately.
They were reluctant, but I think they were also curious.

We went through the merchandise are, and I purchased my usual guitar magnet, and I bought a 26.2 car magnet since this is my first marathon. Then, we exited and went to the expo. Rock N Roll has THE best expos of the races I have been to thus far. The amount of free stuff and variety of brands has been unparalleled, and it has been consistent in every city thus far. They were having a blast. My mom got free sandals from the Toyota booth, my aunt was taking pictures with the Geiko lizard... and I was stocking up on Glukos. We all filled our bags with free trials and my aunt bought a Tube belt for her 5k and for the casino (HA!). After spending close to two hours in there, we checked into our hotel and then proceeded to the outlet mall. We stayed at a Days Inn, and the neighborhood was a bit drug-infested (as evidenced by the needle under the bed), but the staff was so friendly and we never felt unsafe and really weren't bothered. Moreover, it was an extremely convenient location to everything from Mission Beach, to the mall, to the expo, to the Zoo and Sea World.

Just before check-in, we realized that I had forgot my luggage in my garage (I'm insanely forgetful). So the mall gave us opportunity to replace some items. Under Armour had great deals on shorts and T's, and I already was wearing my running shoes. Nike had good enough socks and I figured I would just wear the race T's that were given for free. Not too bad. So, it was a long and drawn out process to arrive and prepare, but finally, it was time to get ready to get ready to run...

After a short sleep (got up at 4:45), we all headed down to Balboa Park for the race. We wanted to be early so that we would have parking... mission accomplished. There is such a difference in the production of the 5k's and the marathon events... my mom had seen me at the finish of RNRSF, and commented how there wasn't much going on at the 5k. I had to assure her this was just what a 5k was... a warm up for most people... casual runners just enjoying the atmosphere. As the music turned up, she and my aunt got excited and we all made our way to the start line, and found our different corrals.

The course was relatively flat, save two short, but steep, hills. I jogged a pace that would keep me loose for the marathon, but also prepare me. I finished at around 26 minutes, nothing to write home about, but I was careful to never look at my clock, but instead just listen to my body. After I finished, I started looking for my mom and aunt.

They were the last corral, being a late signee, so I found them at about the one mile marker. They had both met random people to walk and talk with (this is what's awesome about the running community). I started walking with my aunt, then my mom. I think they were both trying so hard to conserve energy because of the mental challenge... not the physical. At mile two, my mom was realizing she was going to complete a 5k, and she became visibly more energetic. I sent her on her own through the finisher's section, and she got her medal and the awesome free food and water. They were both excited and immediately talked of how they could have went faster and want to start doing more to get faster and do longer ones... I created addicts... just as planned. We left, and knowing I had 26.2 to prepare for and they had nothing, I went to the hotel and slept and stretched, they tore up San Diego.

I got up around 5:30 on Sunday, and mom dropped me off about a mile from the start line. As I made my way to my corral, I felt like maybe I doubted myself too much, just based on the eye test. And then I saw the pacers for 6 hours in the corral behind me... I thought it would take 5:30 when I signed up,,, at the time of sign up, my PR for 13.1 was 2:30... and I thought I would need another 3 hours for the back end. In my head this morning, I was thinking 5 was a possibility since 13.1 was now two hours.

It took a while to get to corral 29, but eventually, we were off and running. The course was very flat for the longest time. The neighborhoods were adorable and the amount of people on the course cheering us on was incredible. In the first couple of miles, we saw the elite runners coming back in the other direction... holy cow! Normal Heights was picturesque, and the amount of people in their driveways giving out snacks and drinks (even adult ones) was amazing. The weather was divine in my opinion, but the race had issued a heat warning and stated they were providing salt packs along the race. I laughed at this notion, considering the weather I just left and what I had become accustomed to.

I was running with my Strava app, and also completing the Phoenix Marathon 2016 virtual run. At mile 1, I was at 10-minute pace... and I was planning to start with a 10:30 pace. I felt fine, however, so I continued at that pace. I was taking Gatorade and water at stations and hydration was not going to be problem. I brought a bottle as well, and had six Glukos gel packs.

The course winds its way through neighborhoods, and eventually you get to the half way point, just before you head to mission beach and the bike path. I was at the 13.1 in 2:20, and felt like I was right on pace for the 5 hour mark. My body felt fine. And then, mile 15 happened.

At first, my right quad got that pre-cramp twitch, so I stopped to stretch it out. That was bad. When I stood on my left leg to stretch my right, my left calf cramped and wouldn't release. Meanwhile I dropped my right leg and that caused my right hamstring to cramp. In my head I was realizing my muscles were done. I never got out of breath, and felt terrific, but I just didn't have the ions for proper muscle function... let alone for 10 more miles. I was getting pissed at the situation. But, I was also in a beautiful place, with amazing weather, and on a course with a bunch of runners who were cheering me one. So, I started walking. The course limit is severn hours, so I thought, screw it... I WILL finish.

Apparently, walking uses completely different muscles than running. I could walk as fast or faster than some runners... I was actually passing people. I got to the medical tent, and they were handing out salt packets... I took four, and ate them. Again, I wasn't dehydrated, so it went down easily before I got to some Gatorade. About 30 minutes of walking went by, and I could feel my calf releasing and my quads were losing the painful twitch... I was wondering if it was rest of the sale that was helping them. So then, I started running again; slowly to feel it out. As you enter the freeway, right around the 35k mark, theres a steep downhill. I usually open my stride to take advantage of downhill running, but my quads couldn't support that, and so both cramped.

I did finish the race, however I was quite dissatisfied with the time of 5:43. I was really bummed out that I wasn't prepared to run the race I wanted to run. However, I will say that at mile 22, I caught myself getting teary- I couldn't believe I was going to finish this, yet I knew I was. Along the last couple of miles, people were being taken by ambulance and many others were stopped along the road... the physical toll too much. However, many others were cruising along at their own pace, enjoying each minute and each step- not worried about a time or impressions- just enjoying what they set out to do that morning. I want to be like them.