Big Sur Half Marathon on Monterey Bay

Inside the last two miles

I wasn't going to report this PW too widely but seeing as the Uni Road Race was cancelled, we need a race report of some sort!

Although the main purpose of my recent trip to California was in connection with my other hobby (cars), I couldn't go all that way without fitting in a race. Former Harrier, Jimmy Stewart, had suggested that following some car related meetings just north of San Diego, a race of about half marathon distance should be possible to fit in. The first suggestion was The Death Valley Half Marathon but this was going to involve thousands of miles of driving (and possibly death) so I had another look. Monterey, a beautiful seaside town a few hundred miles north of LA, seemed the best option as their half marathon was celebrating its 10th anniversary, had a good quality field of many thousands and was a scenic, non life threatening, out and back course along the edge of the Pacific.

All the preparations were in place well in advance except the training due to the back injury I picked up back in September. So on arrival in California, barring a miracle, I had no intention of running the race, only having run twice in the previous three weeks and being in some pain just walking about. This was just going to be a relaxing holiday for a change. Fortunately (or unfortunately), two days before the race I was going through my usual stretching regime when something clicked audibly in my back and the pain in my lower back and hip suddenly disappeared. A miracle! Clearly a trapped nerve had become un-trapped. A trial run proved that I could sort of run although the legs were stiff as boards and I was blowing out my ears at a reasonably gentle pace. But there was no pain. So race day saw an early start (7am race start California time, which equals 15:00 UK time so not too bad really). Jogging the two miles from the hotel to the race start in the pitch dark provided a good warm up in perfectly still conditions. The early morning forecast was for rain but this was clearly not going to happen as there were no clouds visible. The start line band (some old guys who were somewhere between the Beach Boys and the Eagles and who obviously knew what they were doing) built the atmosphere up nicely as the sun rose at 6:45 and the field of around 9000 gathered in their assigned "corrals". A smattering of Kenyans in the elite field promised a fast pace that I would clearly not be a part of, so when the hooter went, I eased away gently. This was going to be about getting around only.

An initial circuit around the quaint old town split the field up nicely before heading south along the coast. Every few miles there was a live band to spur you on and even a kilted piper giving it laldy inside a 400m long tunnel! There was no wind, the surf was crashing against the shoreline, the sun was shining and the temperature was perfect. This is what running is all about. I was quite comfortable until about 9 miles when the wheels started to fall off and then it was a case of hanging on to the finish. This was not a surprise given the lack of miles in the legs but I wasn't losing many places so I wasn't bothered. With one mile to go the crowd were lining the coastal path and cheering enthusiastically, including one particularly Californian shout which I shall use at the Club sometime ("half mile to go man, SPEND IT NOW!" Little did he know that I was already overdrawn.)

Race Winner

On crossing the line the impeccable US organisation kicked in with medals, goody bags, kit bags and refreshments all brought straight to me which was just as well as I couldn't walk, everything having seized up completely as soon as I stopped. Free beer and minestrone soup (separate cups) preceded the prize giving which was extensive to say the least, with prizes for the first 3 in every 5 year age group from 15 to 85 years old! My time, a PW by over 5 minutes, was 86:31 and 7th M45 in 68th position overall. The race was won by an American athlete in 64:45, leaving at least 3 Kenyans in his wake. His wife also won the ladies race in 72:18, so a big pay day in that household. Jimmy Stewart finished in 1:48:21 and was 9th M60.

To prove how wrecked my legs were, on walking back to the hotel along the perfectly flat cycle path, I was easily passed and dropped by the woman who had won the F75 age group (in just over 2 hours!). If this race was not thousands of miles away, I would thoroughly recommend it to the club.

One for Billy and Kenny - Special treatment for Kayakers in Monterey

Alan