Marathon Day -- Event Cancelled

The Pasadena Marathon got cancelled because of smoke from wildfires to the southeast and northwest.

I may list later the ways in which this sucks, but I will start with this one: the official web site, one hour after cancellation, does not show that the event was cancelled. They instead relied on Email to let participants know about it. It took over an hour for some of us to receive this message.

I am going back to bed now.

Marathon Week 14, Day 6

The dreadful ache in my thighs, residual from Tuesday's Good Medicine workout, is steadily making its way out, but Thursday's 1-mile repeats left me with an injury in my soleus that will take a few more days to heal. Because of this, I did not run with the dozen people putting in 15 miles today.

I am not sure how good it was for my mental health, but I showed up this morning anyway to act as support crew for today's runners. It got me just close enough to the action that I really missed running with them!

Everyone looked so strong through the first six miles. After that 6-mile checkpoint, I separated from the course to avoid driving to the Rose Bowl (UCLA home game against Fresno State) and moved to the ten-mile mark. Everyone was still doing well when they got to me, but some of them, perhaps forgetting that they had been running for over an hour and a half, expressed concerned over fatigue setting in. But I am happy to report that they all finished the route in excellent form. I have got to get better soon so I can join them again.

One especially fun part of the morning: a lot of people from outside of our world are starting to run the route in preparation for the marathon. Our crew look at least as strong as any of them.

Also... Ted and Juanita rocked the course today!

Marathon Start Time Posted

Maybe this has been on the marathon's web site all along, but I just found the following at http://www.pasadenamarathon.org/forms/FAQrev.pdf:

Q: What time do the various race-day events start?
A: Bike Tour, 6:00 a.m.
  Marathon & Half Marathon, 6:30 a.m.
  5K & Fun Run/Walk, 6:50 a.m.

I like the fact that our marathoners and half-marathoners will get to start together.

Marathon Week 14, Day 5

It is supposed to be a CrossFit/Bootcamp day, but my legs are in as much pain as they were yesterday. So my workout: take the whippets on a walk. The small hills at the top of Lake Ave. were a significant challenge. :-(

Marathon Week 14, Day 4

Despite the fatigue still firmly in my quads, I met Jeff, Jim, and Ted this morning at the middle school to run four one-mile repeats. The stiff legs definitely held me back. Here are my times:

1. 6:33
2. 6:29
3. Did not finish
4. Did not even start

With about 300 meters left in my third mile, I started to feel pain in my right hamstring and calf. I tried to handle it by slowing down and adjusting my stride, but when that did not work, I thought it safest to walk the rest of the way. I am glad I stopped; I now have a sharp pain in my soleus and an ache in my hamstring. Time now for a few days of unscheduled rest.

I hear that Tommie is also injured, possibly in his Achilles tendon.

Marathon Week 14, Day 3

This is a Rest Day, and I am glad; those med-ball cleans from yesterday have my thighs extremely sore. I went for a couple of miles' hike this evening in the hope of loosening them up. Maybe it helped, but they are still in bad shape.