Lauren Lamonica

So I didn’t make my goal time of 3:40 (got a 3:53 - and could have been a 3:50), but it’s now pretty apparent that shaving 20 minutes off my San Francisco Marathon time will NOT come from just changing my course and adding speedwork. I think it’s going to take a few more marathons, better preparation for new course types and weather, better diet before the race, and a few more races in general. For myself and anyone who wants to hear it, here are some California International Marathon (CIM) tips:

1. If you’re not used to running in the "cold," which to me is anything less than 60 degrees, wear a hat, gloves, and a long-sleeved shirt—all made from a material that will not absorb moisture. You need to be warm, but once sweat gets into your clothes, it gets cold and miserable. Running in cold weather seems to expend as much energy as running in hot weather. Just the prep is different.
2. Just because a course is flat doesn’t mean it won’t be tough in other ways. In fact, I found the lack of range required for my leg muscles caused my hamstrings to get a lot tighter, a lot earlier than usual.
3. Be realistic about your pace and race goals. Even if you hear the course will be "25 minutes faster," it’s best to assume you’ll finish 10 minutes faster than you would on a hilly course like that of the SF Marathon.
4. OH YEAH! If you’re planning to run a lot faster…YOU ALSO NEED TO EAT A LOT MORE…both along the course and beforehand. I only carried 3 GU packets and had to find 2 more along the course, as well as bananas, oranges and hippie bars. You’ll need more glucose if you’re pushing harder aerobically. Also, I should have eaten a much larger breakfast, which requires getting up at least 2 hours before the race to begin eating…and digesting. And THAT food should be rich in protein, something you can’t replenish along the race.

In the end, the race was educational although not the most fun race. There were high school cheerleaders in every town along the way, lots of suburbanites waking up early with their kids, and some very serious pace team leaders.

Another cool tip: A bit disappointed and definitely hitting a wall at around mile 20, I found a partner in crime (Eric from Modesto) who was also getting burnt out, stretching alongside the road. We were both hurting bad. We ran the last 6 miles together, walking for 30 seconds at each mile. We pretended we were doing a casual Sunday jog and asked each other questions about school, family, etc. When you’re super sore and no longer pushing for top aerobic activity (meaning: you can have a conversation), finding a "jogging partner" in the last few miles is a great way to take your mind off the pain and motivate.

Hope this gets linked to somewhere. I was looking for CIM info prior to the race and couldn’t find much. Feel free to message me or comment with your CIM story!