News Flash: Training for the Inaugural Ojai 2 Ocean Marathon on June 5th!

Nothing better to get motivated to run a marathon than to commit to a race. Well I did last week. I'm running the inaugural Ojai 2 Ocean Marathon on Sunday, June 5th.

As many of you know, I compile local Ventura County area running events year round to help people find a local race quickly and easily. Most races are repeats from years past. Most races are 5Ks and 10Ks. So I was shocked to discover just a few weeks ago that a brand new full 26.2 mile marathon is planned in June.

The Ojai 2 Ocean Marathon (and Half Marathon) is the brainchild of Tom Taylor and Ben DeWitt, co-owners of eco-friendly local endurance event planning company, Complete Green. Both avid runners, they decided it would be great to organize local events that promote sustainability and environmental awareness.

I spoke with Ben about this new marathon and was impressed by his passion for creating something genuinely different for runners in Ventura County. Sounds like they have their act together and I decided it would be fun to run this inaugural event!

While I haven't been focused whatsoever in my training this year and in fact have not run a single race, at least I've been running consistently. I have base mileage of about 40 miles a week on my body. So why not, for fun, train for a marathon only 6 1/2 weeks away.

Motivated by the commitment, I went out last Thursday after work and ran my longest run since the Tucson Marathon last December, 15 miles. Then on Sunday, pleased to see cool temps and cloud cover above me, I slugged out an 18.7 miler over 2 hours, 21 minutes. So with a couple of 20 milers over the coming 3-4 weeks, I should be fine to run this marathon.

So I asked Ben what distinguishes the race in terms of being "green." Some interesting things were mentioned, such as awards made out of recycled materials, race shirts made out of recycled polystyrene (e.g. old water bottles), using a solar generator for finish line needs and salvaging old surfboards from Walden Surfboards for the mile markers.

This is a first year event and I don't expect a huge turnout, but I do expect it to be fun. Starts with a 10K loop in Ojai, then takes the bike path 10 miles, with a nice downhill grade, to the ocean, where it ends at the Ventura Pier. Starts early (6 a.m.), downhill and ends at the ocean. Sounds pretty good to me! The only negative (which for some is a positive) is that I suspect crowds will be very sparse.

So who's joining me? Or how about trying the half marathon (which starts/finishes near the Ventura Pier).  www.ojai2oceanmarathon.com

Revisiting My Experiences at the Boston Marathon 15 Years Ago

The 2 fastest marathons ever recorded occurred this past Monday at the Boston Marathon, yet Haile Gebrselassie's 2008 world record time of 2:03:59 at the Berlin Marathon is safe. Why? Because the Boston Marathon course, even with the infamous 88 foot climb Heartbreak Hill between miles 20 and 21, has a net downhill of 459 feet.

Geoffrey Mutai blitzed the course in 2:03:02, followed by Moses Mosop* 4 measly seconds later. They averaged just under 4 minutes, 42 seconds per mile...for 26.2 miles. And of course in 4th place was American stud Ryan Hall, who couldn't believe that while running 2:04:58 fastest ever time by an American, he couldn't even see the top 2 guys. Ryan was only 5 seconds away from 3rd place. Unbelievable times.

*Mosop was running his debut marathon. So while Mutai has the fastest recorded marathon time (yet not an official world record) in history, Mosop's claims to fame are 1) 2nd fastest recorded marathon time in history; 2) fastest debut marathon in history; and 3) world's fastest average marathon time (given the fact his average only includes one race).

Brings back memories. I've run 2 Boston Marathons, both "landmark" events.  My first Boston was the 100th Anniversary of the Boston Marathon in 1996. The centennial event was most memorable because it was (and I believe still is) the largest marathon ever run, with over 38,700 participants. It was a cold, cold day and I remember freezing my %^& off as we waited the several hours for the race to start at noon.

Me being the California boy, I wasn't prepared to stand around in the snow for 2 hours. My body must have sucked all the carbs right out to stay warm. But I was there for the festivity, not to run a personal best. In fact, I had run a 2:37 L.A. Marathon just 6 weeks prior, followed by a 16:18 5K and 16:23 5K 2 successive Saturdays prior to Boston. I gritted it out and with some effort and managed a 2:45 that day.

Although I was there "for fun" I kind of swore to myself that would be my once and only Boston as I didn't particularly enjoy the experience. Too crowded, too cold, too tired. Just not in my element.

But that negativity was forgotten as I decided to run the millenial Boston Marathon in 2000. What better way to start the new century than to run the Boston Marathon again!

I took this Boston race more seriously than the first time and was in somewhat comparable shape, having run a 2:36 at the Long Beach Marathon 5 months prior. About 2 weeks before the race I ran a decent 34:35 10K race.

But once again, Boston didn't quite go as well as I'd hoped for. It was freezing cold again and there was a strong headwind. I remember literally shivering, teeth shattering, at the end of the race. Just wasn't my day. I managed a 1:18 through the halfway point but at Mile 15 had to make a pit stop that lasted about a minute. From there on out I gradually slowed and finished in 2:43:49. Respectable, but not what I was looking to do.

I jotted down my mile splits from that 2000 Boston Marathon and am reminded, and all of you looking to do Boston should be mindful of, the first part of that race is majorly downhill, to the point that you feel like you're running a 10K. It takes a lot of focus and concentration to hold yourself back slightly over those first 6 or 7 miles of Boston as they are mostly downhill (mile 1 I believe is an exception). I highly recommend some downhill training in preparation for the early race pounding at Boston.

Well I'm gonna cut it off right here but plan to talk more Boston...in particular the new qualifying times and registration procedures. Over and out.

Perfecting the Art of Blowing Your Nose on the Run

Some call it the snot rocket. I don't really call it anything. But placing a finger on one nostril while forcibly expelling air out the other nostril while running is quite a regular occurence during my runs.

I remember way back when I first started running in 1993. When I started running with more experienced runners, there was one guy that I thought had a particularly nasty habit of blowing snot out of his nose what must have been every 5 minutes.  But it actually helped my training as it always pushed me harder so that I would always be running either on the side of or in front of him to stay out of range of his boogers.

To me it appeared quite a nasty, barbaric habit.

But things quickly changed as I started acclimating to the life of a real runner. Yes, runners do nasty things at times.

What made me think of this is the lingering phlegm buildup I've been encountering after my recent bout with the common cold. After taking a day off work and running on Monday, April 4th, the nasal buildup has been steady.

It took my body another 8 or 9 days to start feeling like I wasn't running with lead weights attached to my shoes, but getting out there and running makes me feel better in the morning after and while battling a cold. I wake up with my sinuses congested, but within 5 minutes there's a rapid flow of mucus that I'm able to expel on the run.

For those seeking instruction on snot rocket technique, it is pretty much common sense. While running, take your right finger and place on the outside of your right nostril. Twist and tilt your head to the left as best you can to steer clear of your clothing. Then blow as hard as you can. Ah! Doesn't that feel better? Now do the same using your left finger. Repeated as desired.

Of course it is nice to have courtesy and make sure no one is behind you while participating in this procedure. And if you're slightly vain like I am, try to do this when no one is around, as someone driving that car may know you and be repulsed by what you are doing. Unless they are a runner themselves.

At the end of a run, I feel invigorated and my nasal cavity is cleared of all that nastiness inside. I'm ready for a great day.

So join the crowd and blow those liquid boogers out when you need to. 'Snot anything to be ashamed of.

First Cold of the Year - Thought I Was in the Clear!

I made it to April Fool's Day without a single day illness this year, but that came to an end yesterday when my sneezing went haywire on a day out with the kids.

In fact, up until around 2 pm yesterday, I felt perfectly fine. We went to the Los Angeles Zoo and, BOOM, it hit me. Couldn't stop sneezing, over and over again. And these weren't allergy sneezes. These were followed up by massive drainage and nose blowing ever since. Yep, my first cold of the year.

So I decided to stay home today and keep my germs away from my coworkers. It also give me a chance to update how my training is looking year-to-date.

Through yesterday, I ran 550 miles this year, about 100 miles more than in the last several years, yet 130 miles less than the mileage I was putting in back in 2004, the last year I ran a decent marathon (a 2:48 at the Long Beach Marathon).

So I have a decent base that, after I get over this cold, hopefully I can put to good use. I was considering running the Pasadena Marathon in May, but I don't have enough time to get enough decent long runs in.

But at least I was able to get 2 hours, 20 minutes of running in this past weekend pre-cold, for a total of 18.5 miles.

Back to the drawing board....hope this storm passes through quickly!