Bay2Breakers 2008

I had wanted to run this race for the last ten years. Something always seemed to get in its way though. This year was going to be different. So I signed up early, lest the race filled up quickly. Not being familiar with their registration procedures, I did not know I could have ‘applied’ for a sub-seeded number. Alas, that meant I would have to weave though the partying hordes. This was okay since I was not there to punish my body.

But when I went to the expo to collect my bib, I saw a sign pointing to the solutions desk and decided on the spot to see if I could exchange the bib for a sub-seeded one. Lo and behold, it was a lot easier than expected and I walked away with number 611.

On Sunday morning, I left my hotel by Fisherman’s Wharf at 6:40 and jogged the two miles to the start. The weather-nauts had predicted headwinds from 7 to 14 mph, ouch.

The sub-seeded area was just behind the seeded and the elite areas, with plenty of space to walk around or to get a warm-up jog. Perfect.

Now that I was to have no revelers to blame for a slow time, it was only me and the demons who have haunted me of late. One of those demons is extra weight as I am 7-8 lbs heavier from my optimal weight. But there is very little I can do at this moment in time.

Not being able to hit some training benchmarks, I came up with a rather tentative goal of 7 mpm pace. I add an extra 30 seconds, ‘just in case.’ The goal is definitely on the conservative side as a lighter me should be able to run 6:45s for this distance; but that is just that, a what if? To break 53 minutes it is… and to beat my bib number.

I line up right behind two female centipedes and all the members look fast. To my right, Spiderman-one has running shoes that match his outfit. They all would leave me behind in their dust.

I start running at what feels tempo, and promptly I feel heaviness in my chest. Is it GERD acting up for having consumed a pizza full of jalapenos for dinner two nights ago, or the curry chicken I had for lunch the previous day, or both? I definitely cannot run for over 50 minutes feeling like this, so I must have backed off subconsciously. I hone in on a stocky female who is running strong, just a few steps ahead of me. It was in this first mile that I sighted the first of several naked revelers/runners. Mile one, 6:48. Cool, I banked some seconds.

I had devised a plan of running two seven minute miles, then run as slow as eight for the third mile and come back with 6:45-6:50s for the remainder of the race.

Several spectators are jumping into the race, some with bibs, some without them, many had customs. At this point Spiderman-two passes me. I momentarily think it was the seeded spider, but this one had white running shoes. The stocky female is getting a few steps farther away from me. Up until now the course is fairly flat. Mile two, 6:53. I am still within goal range.

We are now in Hayes Street and I can see the top of the last terraced hill. The Autodesk centipede is cresting it. Damn, those guys are fast; they have already put five minutes between us. I begin the hills and while the average incline is 11+% they are a bit steeper when you consider the flat intersections. My quads start to whine and scream at me. I actually gain some on stocky female. The hills are definitely tough and I struggle in spite of my short stride. I am using my arms. Fortunately, the crowds are fantastic. Several people are drinking and it is tempting to walk over and join them for a beer. I see two females covered with rep paint. That’s all they were wearing… and running shoes. I have drilled my body into not looking down at the pavement when I am struggling. But these damn hills force my head into submission. I really have to dig deep to not walk. I am almost to the top. The problem with these terraced hills is that it seems that you’re about to crest the last one, and ‘thump’ there is another one on top of this one.. and another one. Argh! Mile three, 7:52. I know; they royally kicked my arse.

The road flattens out to my delight. A female wearing a Hawaiian dress is running by my side. I welcome her company. We do not converse. The hills have left with us with beat-up quads... and egos. The pace seems right but I am a bit disappointed as I see I have ran the fourth mile in 7:05.

We are now inside the Golden Gate Park, on Lincoln Avenue. Hawaiian woman is still running with me. I shift to a higher gear as I need to get into the 6:45s. In the process, Hawaiian woman is dropped. So is Spiderman-two. Mile five, 6:53. Finally a sub-seven minute mile; not what I wanted to see but I am okay with it.

Luckily, miles six and seven have very nice down-hills. It is here where I can get back some of the time I lost in the Hayes hills. I manage to pass a few runners. Only one would pass me. I continue gaining on others. Spiderman stays behind me as I hear spectators cheer him up. Mile six, 6:28. That’s what I am talking about.

I pass a struggling bronzed-runner and encourage him to stay with me. He has very little in the tank and does not respond. I am feeling elated. The road seems almost deserted as only a few runners are pounding the pavement. The really fast folks have already finished and only some of us mid-packers occupy the road. I am feeling stronger by the minute. Mile seven, 6:28. Funny, both six and seven ‘felt’ identical, the splits confirm it.

There is just a tad less than half a mile to go. We exit the park and have a clear view of the breakers as we turn into the Great Highway; the finish banner is so close, yet so far. I increase the tempo a bit. Spectators cheer on Spiderman-two and I can hear him panting, getting close to me. Damn. The competitive instinct in me kicks in and I increase the effort even more. I manage to hold him off and the last 0.46 miles is clocked in 2:49! (6:05 pace) Final chip time= 51:19 (6:53 pace).

As I am walking to grab a water bottle a volunteer hands me a white hat. It would not be until later that I would notice it had ‘top 500 finisher’ embroidered on the back, right below bay-to-breakers 2008. Nice.

Now, from the last 2.46 mile splits one can see I still had gas in the tank. I believe the reason for that is that it took two miles for my quads to recover from the infernal Hayes hills. All in all, B2B is an excellent race. I had a blast and cannot wait for next year and perhaps a sub-50 minute finish. And being that this was the first 12K I have ran, it was also a PR :-)

By the numbers: 290th OA, 35th AG. Nude runner sightings: twelve Males, three Females.