Mark and I have committed to running in the Big Sur Marathon, a trial run that includes 5,700 feet of climbing and descending.

The course follows Old Coast Road (a wide dirt road) north from Highway 1, to Bixby Bridge. Then it winds through the beautiful coastal forests and hills surrounding Big Sur River, with redwood groves, oak and bay forests lining the path. Parts of the course will take us along the bluffs high above the Pacific Ocean, where we’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the Big Sur coastline. I hope the scenery doesn’t distract me!

We have five months to train. This week I plan on going to the Runner’s High in Menlo Park to have a professional assist me with shoe sizing, as I had some issues with my shoes (I think they were too small) this last weekend at the half marathon. I’ll take today off (I’m still a little sore), then I’ll return to training tomorrow. I’ll step it up a level, too.

Twenty four hours after my first half marathon, I am in lots of pain.  My legs are very sore; it hurts to walk downstairs. It’s the kind of soreness I used to get after running up and down the bleachers at the old Stanford Football Stadium.

The distance of the run wasn’t the cause of the pain, it was the hills. In all, an elevation change of 1600 feet.  Mark had me convinced that it would be easy because the 1600 feet is spread out over 13 miles.  He was wrong. It was brutal!  Physically, it was the hardest thing I have ever done.  I finished 3rd in my age group, and 42 out of 96 overall.  Mark came in first in his age group, and 9th overall! http://www.envirosports.com/results/event/1759/results.php

This is incredible. Runners can go to www.usatf.org and, using google’s incredible mapping technology, map out any route and get the mileage AND elevation (total climbed and the total elevation change).  This tool is especially useful for trail running, for you can use Google’s satellite view and draw your route along the trail (street addresses are not necessary). You’re given the option of saving and naming your routes, as well as adding attributes and a route description. You can even add your water stops! You can also do a search for routes already calcualted. There are 118 routes already mapped out in Palo Alto!

Today I received my bib number (#5155) for the Skyline Ridge Half Marathon, which is only 15 days away!

Tomorrow morning Mark and I are running nonstop to the top of Windy Hill, something I never thought I’d be able to do. However, I think the 700 foot climb on the Chamise Trail at Rancho San Antonio has prepared me for it. I’ve been tracking our times at http://ourruntimes.googlepages.com

After playing around with the idea of running a marathon, Windy Hill and Skyline Ridge are not so intimidating. I’m a little concerned, however, on the damage a marathon might do to my body. It can’t be good for it!