So Boring
Authored by: lindsayT My first (and only as of publishing this story) 1/2 Marathon was in early November 2006. It was the San Francisco 1/2, and I was doing it because it was a good friend's birthday, and she wanted to do it. I decided to join her even though I had sworn off long runs like these due to past knee injuries.

The half promised to be a nice one, starting at Van Ness Avenue and the wharf, going through the Marina, Presidio, over the bridge and back. I had not run 13 miles before, but in the previous month I ran 7. My training consisted of terminating any social smoking the week before, running 8 miles on Sunday, and then 30 minutes everyday that week. It seemed like a good plan.

The morning of I was determined to complete the 13 miles without stopping. It was a really pretty day, and I had my iPod case filled with raspberries for quick energy boosts through the run. I did a good job pacing myself, and felt pretty good as I ran under the Golden Gate Bridge and came back up to return back into the city.

As I hit the 6 mile mark, still feeling good, I started to get bored. I wish I had my iPod, I thought, why do I always have to do the runs "professionally correct" by not listening to music? By the time I got off the bridge (another mile later) I started to keep track of my joint pain.

My right ankle hurt, then my left quad. My right knee went first, then my left. Then my right quad, then my butt - it started to feel like dead weight. I started to slow down around the Marina Dateway (read: nickname for safeway) but I was determined not to stop. I picked up the speed, felt good, and run up the hill through Fort Mason. I managed to sprint the last 50 yards, which was awesome, but that's about it.

All I have to say is someone suckered me in to doing another one of these runs in San Jose next November. Thank gd this one promises to have 14 bads for the 13 mile run because 1/2 marathons are BORING.

No comments have been posted.