Your best just got better: Debrief: City of Angels Half Marathon (2 December 2007)

The difference between "early bird" registration and "day before" registration was $20. As I paid my entry fee, I noticed the beneficiary of the proceeds of the event. I smiled, and gladly handed over the entry fees:

This philanthropic community event is proudly organized by Grove of Hope a 501(C)(3), nonprofit organization. The net proceeds raised from the 2007 City of Angels Half Marathon will be distributed in support of science education programs that promote science education for children in the USA and abroad.
According to their website:

Grove of Hope is a 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to providing science education to children around the world.

In celebration of the International Year of Planet Earth, Grove of Hope has assembled a team of dynamic scientists experienced in educational outreach to conduct science workshops in Africa from November 7th – 12th.

So, what follows is a "race report" as I ran in the 13.1 mile event yesterday...

I arrived at the starting site with 40 minutes to warm-up. For this distance race, that's exactly the point: To arrive on time, get and stay warm. I joined a group of 14 people in a circle doing light stretches and laughing. They were speaking an Asian language, so I couldn't understand what they were saying; but, laughter seems to break barriers and let us feel like we're all together in these things.

The 7:30am start time almost happened. By 7:37 we were off and running! I lined up 10 yards from the front of the pack, I did not want to get caught up behind too many runners. In these kind of events, I know everyone goes out too fast to start then by the first mile they radically slow down. I finished the first mile at right about 7 minutes.

At the two mile mark (a sharp U-turn to go back toward the starting line) I heard Jodi yelling, "Go Jason!" There she was with the camera; somehow, she had found her way around the "no entry" lines and arrived in time to get a short video of me running along! It was great to hear a familiar voice.

It warmed up quickly (starting temperature was right about 50 degrees F) and though I was wearing a short sleeve shirt, I felt warm in my running pants. Now I know: 45 degrees or warmer...running shorts and a short sleeve shirt will be fine as soon as I "get going."

The run through Los Angeles (Zoo, Griffith Park, along Highway 5, and more) was fascinating. I saw areas of LA I did not know existed. There was a couple of miles, even, where we were off road, on a nice, groomed dirt trail (great for the knees!).

My mile times where great, most in the high 6's. There were a couple of hills where I slowed down (maybe to about 8 minutes per mile) though that was fine because on the other side of an uphill run is ALWAYS (ok, almost always!) a downhill run where gravity helps to speed us up.

At 10K (6.2 miles) I was feeling great; I knew I would make the rest of the run, and it was just a matter of holding my focus, and holding my pace. The next few miles went by so quickly; I'd never experienced that before! Miles 7, 8, 9 ... I don't even remember those! Then, we got to the 10 mile mark.

"Ok, 5K to go!" I said to the woman running next to me. We had been running side-by-side for some time, and it quickly became apparent she was a stronger runner, she was just waiting to turn it up! And, this is when she took off, she must have been running 6:15/mile or so, and I just didn't push to keep up!

Ahhh, the sweet feeling of knowing the finish line is near! In a half-marathon, I have always found mile 12.1 to be an interesting place. One mile to go, over 12 miles behind, and it's all about to come to an end in anywhere from 6-8 minutes.

Talk about a LONG 6-8 minutes!

I had an interesting "work-related" observation at about mile 12.6 yesterday. Here it is:

Too many times, I wait until "later" to find out/realize/experience what is truly possible. I don't try as hard as I can, I don't spend the resources (time, energy, focus, cash) I have, I don't give it my all. As I was running in the City of Angels Half Marathon, I realized that what I really WANT to stand for is the following quote:
You Can Do This

I have a few more things to write about regarding this race. I'll get those up on this blog in the days to come...