My journey to Big Sur!

It all started after Chicago Marathon, when in runner's high Rajesh and me were in search of the next marathon to run. Arun higly recommended Big Sur.

Though taunting, the pictures looked extremely scenic and the very same day we registered. We talked to Chakri and Krishna and after the discussion at the party in Rajesh's place Krishna created the bigsur07 yahoo group.

The plan was to start traning in Jan, after all the december vacations. Chakri had the plan all chalked out and Chakri, Rajesh and Krishna started the runs at Rancho. After my recovery from bronchitis I joined them as well.

Each saturday morning my body would have a mini revolution. But then I would remember Chakri's email to bigsur07 and it would make me wanna be a big sur marathoner and run.
Example: Big Sur Marathoners : 10 -12 miles
Rest : :-)

The first mile at Rancho is the best part, where it is all flat and easy. We would usually stretch at the barn and then the hills would start.

The minute we started on the hills, vivid memories of running to the fallen tree (the only time I had previously run at Rancho) flooded me and I knew God did not make me to run uphills. :)
Rajesh was our hill king. He loved those hills and sometimes after reaching the top he would even come back down to run up the hill with me. Wheww!!! Soon Krishna started doing the same and of course I need not say about Chakri's strengths.....

I started realizing that if I did not do the hills, my chance of completing Big Sur was close to DnF (Did not Finish). I started walking all the uphills. If fallen tree was tough, doing the black mountain was a nightmare. Half the time I was either lost in the amazing scenary or in the constant whining going up the hills. Going down was my favourite part. After all I did not have to put effort in pushing my body. Gravity took care of that. :))

While running at Rancho, the favourite passtime was to compute the distances we did and the detailed elevation analysis. Krishna and Rajesh would have detailed discussions on the numbers and usually Rajesh sent an email with analysis of each and every section, the mileage and boy was he strict about it.

Usually the number game just makes me dread it the next time we do the hills. However, on comparing the Big Sur elevation, the realization that our training had more elevation, made me feel really happy. :))

During these runs, Chakri ran into Anil and the idea of running PCTR came up. Well believe it or not, we simply jumped into it and registered for the 30k at Pirates Cove. That run was a murder on the legs. I thought the elevation was infinite and though very beautiful, it was really tough. Between pictures and helping fainiting old ladies :)) we survived yet another milestone. We also ran into Coach Martina and Harry.

Some things I will always remember from the training:
1) When we did the 22 miler, Rajesh was away in Chicago. He comes back and completes the 22 miler at Rancho on a monday morning. Phenomenal energy and way to go Rajesh!
2) I have to definitely mention Coach Raman's infinite strength. Most saturday mornings he would do a easy 6-7 miler. Come back and do a 20 with us and go back to do some more. Thanks coach for all those runs with us.
3) The best part was the post runs. We would enjoy those delicious Sesame bagels Chakri always managed to bring, relishing the thought of conquering yet another double digit miler on the rancho hills. :)
4) Saving fainting old ladies on the hills and the fun we had.

On a final count, we had the following Asha folks running at Big Sur. Coahes Tony and Raman, Chakri, Arun, Rajesh, Krishna, Anusha, Simmy, Anush, Arul and me.

Come the race weekend, Arun and me started driving in the afternoon. Arun had decided to pace me for time. Well, though the thought of running it faster gave me a thrill when I was only hoping to finish the marathon. :( Anyways, I thought I will hang to Arun for as long as I can.

On the race day, We started at about 4:00 am, did a slow jog to get to the buses. Slept a little
on the bus. Rajesh wanted to survey the scene to decide how the hills look like. :) The race was to begin at 6:45 am.

We started slow and the plan was to do a 7 minute run and a 1 minute walk. We were cruising along until we hit the base of the hurrican point hill. My legs gave way and we walked up most of the hill. My best memory from Big Sur was coming down hurricane point (downhill, yahooo) and crossing the bixby bridge. Vast openness and sea on one side and the mountain and greenery on the other. It was simply phenomenal.

We kept going at a great pace and caught up with Karen (from Redback). Come mile 18 and my glutes caught up with me too and decided it is time to rest and went to sleep. I had real trouble getting them to run. Well, we walked miles 18 to 20. After that felt somewhat better and we did run a while. Though blurry on the detail, we crossed mile 25 (which was a mini hill). We saw the finish line and as always raced it to the end.

Some things I will remember about the race:
1) Well many times we kept passing back and forth one Mr.Gopinath, who was a 60 year old and was running big sur for the third time. He was a big inspiration for me to keep running.
2) I would want to give up and walk and Arun would constantly keep motivating me.
3) Stop eating all the food they have out there. The strawberries they had were the best I had ever eaten and they felt great.

Many times in the race, I simply wanted to get on one of those yellow buses and head home, but much thanks to Arun I run (hmmm walked?) all the way.

Last but not the least, a huge thanks to the Asha folks, Anush, Gayatri, Anurag, Arpana, Pankaj, Grishu and Rupal for showing up at Big Sur and cheering us.

Thanks Chakri for the awesome mentoring once more. I cannot put in words all that you have personally done for me. Thanks Rajesh and Krishna for everything.
Thanks Arun for making me realize yet again that moving mountains ain't so difficult after all.

My hope is I will keep running with these awesome people for the rest of my life. Well time to decide on the next marathon. Chakri, Rajesh, Krishna, Arun....????

By the way Flying Horse tasted much much better than the Sam Adams. :)

My first 22 miler

My biggest physical achievemnet. :) I ran my first 22 miler with Pam and Arun.
This saturday we ran the Sawyer Camp Trail. Well it is an awesome trail, till about 4 and a half miles. After that it is one treacherous hill.

We have done Sawyer camp a few times before and it was always painful. Surprisingly this time, the first 6 were a piece of cake. After we came back to the start line, we were a little sore and the tough of going back was daunting. Well, but we wanted to do the second tener. So tanked the fuel belt with gatorade and started on a trot. Miles 13, 14 and 15 went in a flash as we we were hailing all the returning Asha runners and it was not so bad. After that it started getting a little tougher. As alwasy my left hamstring started to twitch and I was getting a little worried. Pam is one strong woman and she kept going up while I was panting and trying to catch up. Arun of course, was just realaxing and having fun with us slow pokes.

Well once we completed 17 miles, it was another 5 miles before we head home and 18 and 19 were downhill. But downhill is not simple as your quads take quite a beating and we were in no shape for it. So I used the meandering technique similar to skiing when you want to go real slow down a steep slope.

Well some we passed Kalywan at the water stop with 2.5 more miles to go. After fueling, Pam decided that we should not stop and keep going till the finish. Well, it was a nice slow run. We relaxed and enjoyed the lake and were encouraging each other to keep pushing. The last mile was phenomenal as we decided to sprint and sprint we did. We did tracks in the last 800 and finished the 22 miles in 4 hours. Wheww, thinking about it as I write gives me a major kick.
Have I discovered runner's high yet? May be in Chicago... I wonder.



One other small note. I have not blogged for some time, but if you want to look at my running logs, see https://www.ashanet.org/siliconvalley/marathon/runnernet/admin/donate.php?2006TA246

Tuesday Track Workouts

Ran last nite really well. We did 4 milers at pace of 9:30, 8:50, 8:40 and then finally 8:30. Hurraah!!!

Also did a 10 mile the saturday previously. Was great. Did a run walk with Aamir. Had fun!

weekend run

Ran in the beautiful sawyer trail. Was awesome, but hilly, especially mile 5 to mile 6. But we did pretty good and completed 14 miles. It was an easy run and we were on the trail for almost 2-1/2 hours.

thursday run - baylands park

Ran about 5.5 miles. I lost track, needed to finish fast, but I did quick.

SF half marathon

Missed blogging a few other runs, mostly weekly runs and a small 8 miler on my birthday.

But ran the SF half. It was 13.1 miles and running on the bridge was fabulous. But after than the hills kept on comming. My knees I need to do something about them and I also pulled my hamstring at mile 11 and then I think it was all uphill.

I just felt bad that it was not my best, but it was a good lesson.
I need to remember.
1) Stretch well.
2) Take it slow in the beginning and maintain pace till the end.

-Chandramouli

Tuesday Track Workouts

It was tough as I was still a little sore, but felt strong and ran most 3 mile laps in about 9:15-9:25. So it was not so bad. :) But racing fast is what makes my mind go happy.