Getting to know all about you
Today's run: Medium-Long Run of 16 miles at 8:25 pace
42 miles this week. Marathon is 2 weeks from today!
Before all this marathon training, I had never before run 16 miles at once. I've previously discussed the circumstance of this weekend: a 10K Saturday and then a run of some distance the next day. Would it finally be as Thomas had described? Let's see.
I took this opportunity to see the end of the course again, but this time, following Thomas' advice, running in the reverse direction. Actually, it was an out and back. I arranged to start at the same place as last week, run the end of the course but choosing the alternates this time, and then run back the main route. The theory is that, on fresher legs, it is harder to perceive the downhills (and hence be prepared for the oppressive effect they have on your legs when fatigued) than you would an uphill. Hence, running up a hill you will be racing down, you gain perspective.
[Alternates, you might ask? The San Francisco Marathon is apparently not significant enough to the City to make residents deal with the fact that a marathon is coming down their street, even at 5:30am to, say 11:30am on a Sunday. Hence, the course alternates at certain points to allow residents vehicular access in and out of their garages that morning. In some places, that makes a less desirable route than others. These alternates are shown with dotted lines on the course map.]
Arriving at Stanyan and Haight this morning before 7am, I first saw Galen, which was a total shock. All week long Galen had been saying he wasn't going to join this Sunday, as this part of the course is all concrete (and hard on the legs), and not particularly scenic. Nonetheless, he was there, apparently guilted into it by various K-Stars the day before. Also joining in the fun: Zach, who explained he was likely to run only half of our run, Meredith, who had limited time before she had to get to work, and Chris.
We started out with a back and forth pace: a little fast, noticing the pace and slowing down, then sliding back up again. We chatted amiably, which felt loud as we reached more residential streets where we were the only people or cars on it. After a half-hour, Meredith turned back so she would have time to get to work. At the half-way point, Zach left us to return via Muni. Chris, Galen and I kept together the rest of the way back.
Some observations from this week's preview:
This is the longest run I had left before the race! Tapering begins in earnest.
42 miles this week. Marathon is 2 weeks from today!
Before all this marathon training, I had never before run 16 miles at once. I've previously discussed the circumstance of this weekend: a 10K Saturday and then a run of some distance the next day. Would it finally be as Thomas had described? Let's see.
I took this opportunity to see the end of the course again, but this time, following Thomas' advice, running in the reverse direction. Actually, it was an out and back. I arranged to start at the same place as last week, run the end of the course but choosing the alternates this time, and then run back the main route. The theory is that, on fresher legs, it is harder to perceive the downhills (and hence be prepared for the oppressive effect they have on your legs when fatigued) than you would an uphill. Hence, running up a hill you will be racing down, you gain perspective.
[Alternates, you might ask? The San Francisco Marathon is apparently not significant enough to the City to make residents deal with the fact that a marathon is coming down their street, even at 5:30am to, say 11:30am on a Sunday. Hence, the course alternates at certain points to allow residents vehicular access in and out of their garages that morning. In some places, that makes a less desirable route than others. These alternates are shown with dotted lines on the course map.]
Arriving at Stanyan and Haight this morning before 7am, I first saw Galen, which was a total shock. All week long Galen had been saying he wasn't going to join this Sunday, as this part of the course is all concrete (and hard on the legs), and not particularly scenic. Nonetheless, he was there, apparently guilted into it by various K-Stars the day before. Also joining in the fun: Zach, who explained he was likely to run only half of our run, Meredith, who had limited time before she had to get to work, and Chris.
We started out with a back and forth pace: a little fast, noticing the pace and slowing down, then sliding back up again. We chatted amiably, which felt loud as we reached more residential streets where we were the only people or cars on it. After a half-hour, Meredith turned back so she would have time to get to work. At the half-way point, Zach left us to return via Muni. Chris, Galen and I kept together the rest of the way back.
Some observations from this week's preview:
- On the way back, we were able to appreciate just how long and steep the downhill section of Haight is. There are two very steep blocks, but there is one downhill block ahead of it, and two downhill blocks after it. Galen says that legs should still be fresh enough at that point to absorb the downhill impact and gain some speed there.
- The alternate that takes Waller instead of Haight seems about equivalent, happening after the downhills cease. It may appear that the small uphills towards the end are more visible than when on Haight, but they don't seem too different.
- At the intersection of Buchanan and Hermann, either way down is going to be painful (main route or alternate). At that intersection, you look down steeply to Market no matter which way. On the way back today, coming up that hill reinforced just how steep it is.
- Going South on Guerrero is a little bit downhill, but it really makes no difference cutting across 16th or cutting across the alternate, 15th Street, except for the surprise of the uphill that starts at Harrison. Knowing that the hill is there makes the two routes okay. On second thought, 16th Street is a nicer street, aesthetically-speaking.
- On the way back, I detected that 16th Street is actually heading a bit downhill in the race-direction, but probably not enough to notice.
- Cutting over on Florida Street to 17th Street is one alternate I'd rather not take: Florida heads a bit downhill at that point, and then 17th takes you back uphill. So instead of a three block hill from Harrison to Bryant along 16th, you'd get two blocks up, one down, and one up. Not necessary!
- There's a slight downhill after crossing under 101. This is the point where the course has no more uphills, is largely flat, and starts to get really ugly, scenery-wise.
- Turning North on Illinois starts to provide a nice view, if one looks in the distance. The ballpark and the Bay Bridge come into view, and stay largely in view until you reach the ballpark, at which point, there's only one mile left, and the route is pretty open and scenic.
This is the longest run I had left before the race! Tapering begins in earnest.
posted by Brent at
5:02 PM
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