Miles And Miles

Capital City Marathon Race Report 2026

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 17 May 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Marathon #103 – The Body Remembers

Capital City Marathon 2026 – Olympia, Washington

3:40:55 (3rd AG M45-49)

Marathon #103 – After all that has been… a 71-mile week and a marathon (3rd AG).

The Capital City Marathon has quite a pedigree as the host of the first U.S. Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials, where Joan Benoit Samuelson qualified for LA84. This year marked the race’s 45th anniversary, and I managed to grab one of the special $50 anniversary entries. At the time, it felt like a no-brainer addition to the spring schedule and part of the buildup toward Comrades Marathon.

Then life happened.

Five weeks earlier, I had run the Rotterdam Marathon in 3:41 with a carefully controlled effort and relatively low heart rate. I came out of Rotterdam feeling optimistic about the road ahead.

But in the five weeks between Rotterdam and Capital City, almost three weeks of training effectively disappeared following my mother’s passing. There were stretches where running simply did not matter. When I finally tried to return to training, I struggled to get past eight miles. My heart rate was noticeably elevated relative to pace. I had two tendon niggles that worried me enough that I seriously considered skipping the race entirely.

My expectations cratered. If I could safely run somewhere between 3:55 and 4:00, I would have considered the day a success.

The night before the race, I slept barely three and a half hours. Part of the reason was that I did not want the dream I was having to end. My mother was there talking to me, and waking up meant returning to reality again.

Still, at 4:30 AM I got into the car and drove south toward Olympia, arriving around 6 AM for the 7 AM start.

Race morning itself felt subdued and peaceful. Temperatures hovered in the high 30s with fog and mist hanging over Olympia. Winds were essentially nonexistent. Standing around before the start felt chilly, but once running began, the conditions turned out to be close to perfect marathon weather. Over the course of the morning the temperatures slowly climbed through the 40s into the low 50s with calm winds throughout.

I wore my favorite lightweight black Brooks top — the one with the hood and foldable sleeves that I use constantly for cool-weather runs. Once moving, I was perfectly comfortable for the entire race.

The atmosphere at the start was low-key compared to the majors. No massive production. No overwhelming hype. Just runners quietly gathering before the gun. In many ways, it fit the personality of the Pacific Northwest perfectly.

I lined up conservatively behind the 4:00 pacer and just ahead of the 4:20 pacer. That alone says a lot about my mindset entering the race. I genuinely had no idea what fitness remained after the disrupted month.

As a pacer myself with Super Pacers, I quickly noticed something interesting: the pacing groups all seemed to be going out far too aggressively, especially considering the slightly uphill opening miles. The 3:35 group eventually finished more than three minutes fast. Even though I ultimately ran significantly faster than 3:45 pace, it still took me until around mile 15 to catch the 3:50 pacer.

My own strategy was the opposite — stay patient, stay relaxed, and let the race come to me.

The first mile clicked by in 9:14. Then things slowly tightened:

8:52
8:45
8:41
8:38

The deeper I went into the race, the more confidence quietly returned.

The course itself held no surprises for me. I knew exactly what Capital City was — a rolling but fair course with excellent support and strong community energy throughout. What I did not know was what shape my body would be in after the previous month.

The race organization itself was exceptional. Honestly, the aid stations would put some major marathons to shame. There were water stops every two miles throughout the course, consistently well staffed and easy to navigate. Water came first, electrolyte drink second. Some stations offered sponges. Two had Honey Stinger gels and chews. Later in the race there were oranges available as well. The mile markers were accurate and easy to spot.

This is clearly a race that has learned a few things over 45 years.

What struck me most was how runner-focused everything felt. There was none of the excessive sponsor clutter or giant piles of unnecessary race junk that increasingly accompany major marathons trying to market themselves as environmentally conscious while simultaneously generating enormous waste. Packet pickup was refreshingly simple: a paper envelope containing the bib and a really cool commemorative hoodie. Efficient. Functional. Thoughtful.

And slowly, the race transformed.

At 10K I sat 11th in my age group. By halfway I had moved to 8th. Then 6th. Then 5th. By the finish I had climbed all the way to 3rd in M45-49.

The pacing progression told the story perfectly:

First quarter: 8:42/mile
Second quarter: 8:33/mile
Third quarter: 8:21/mile
Fourth quarter: 8:09/mile

This was not survival running. This was controlled negative splitting.

My first half was 1:52:54. The second half was significantly faster in 1:48:01. I closed the final segment at approximately 7:40 pace.

What surprised me most was not even the finishing time of 3:40:55. It was the realization that despite weeks of disrupted training and emotional upheaval, the deeper marathon engine was still there. The body somehow remembered some of the earlier training.

The elevated heart rate was a clear sign that detraining had happened, but the durability remained.

Perhaps the biggest victory of the day was that both tendon issues behaved completely throughout the race. Huge credit goes to the Nike Alphafly 3. Ever since wear testing the shoe before release, I have loved it. One major lesson from this stretch is that I will probably only wear test carbon-plated shoes moving forward. People often say runners should not always train in plated shoes, but for me they have become less about speed and more about injury management technology. Since the advent of supershoes, my biomechanics have simply held together better. I recover faster. I stay healthier. For someone trying to balance high race volume, aging durability, and increasingly ambitious schedules, that matters enormously.

One of the genuinely delightful surprises of the race was the post-race massage area. This was not one of those token two-minute race massages. The therapists spent real time working through trouble spots, and there was essentially no wait. I ended up lying there for close to half an hour, exhausted but peaceful.

At one point while lying on my back looking up at the sky, I almost felt like I could see my mother smiling.

Afterward, I skipped the post-race pizza and instead drank my Ensure recovery shakes before eventually wandering into Costco where, in true marathoner fashion, I recovered primarily via free samples.

Then came the funniest twist of all.

I had not even bothered checking the age group standings because podiuming never remotely crossed my mind entering the race. Only later did I discover that I had finished 3rd in my age group. Even more amusingly, the awards turned out to be beautiful handmade pottery cups created by a local artist. Once friends started posting photos of them online, the FOMO became very real.

I eventually emailed race director Sally Elliott — someone I know through the local pacing community — mostly assuming the opportunity had passed. Instead, I got one of the warmest race director exchanges I have had in a long time. She explained that the awards had been handmade by a local artist and that they would figure out a way to get mine to Seattle eventually.

That entire interaction perfectly captured the spirit of Capital City Marathon itself:

local
understated
thoughtful
functional
community-oriented
quietly special

This race surprised me.

It started as a cheap anniversary entry and nearly became a DNS during one of the hardest stretches of my life. Instead, it turned into one of the most emotionally meaningful races I have run in years — not because of the time itself, but because it reminded me that despite grief, interrupted training, aging, and uncertainty, the foundation is still there.

Next stop: Cape Town Marathon and the continued road toward Comrades.

Rotterdam Marathon 2026 Race Report

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Controlled Execution in a City That Shows Up

I had been looking forward to the Rotterdam Marathon for a long time. My experience at the Amsterdam Marathon, especially the incredible crowd support, had made Dutch races particularly appealing. I also have a soft spot for anniversary races, and with this being the 45th edition, it felt like the perfect opportunity. This was also the first year the race moved to a lottery system, and I was fortunate to get picked - I suspect internationals had higher odds (I usually have awful lottery luck).

The original plan was to race this hard. However, as my Comrades training plan took shape, it became clear that this race fell too close to be run at full effort. With multiple races stacked together, this shifted from a goal race to a controlled effort marathon, part of the business end of the buildup to Comrades. I would like to come back for the 50th anniversary and race it properly.

The hotel situation ended up becoming one of the defining aspects of the trip. Almost a year in advance, I had booked a stay at the Stayokay Cube Houses, a non-refundable reservation that I had locked in even before getting through the lottery. Three weeks before the race, the hotel canceled due to renovations. That forced me to pivot, and I ended up booking the Rotterdam Marriott using my Titanium status. In hindsight, this worked our really well and completely changed the experience for the better.

I ended up with a top-floor suite for both nights, with lounge access on the same floor and a location within walking distance of both the start and finish. The convenience was hard to overstate. Even small things made a difference. I was able to get an ice bag delivered late at night, and simple amenities like dental and shaving kits were available on request. I loved having a panoramic view of the city from my room and the lounge. It reinforced a theme I have been noticing more and more: spending a little more in the right place unlocks a significantly better experience. It also contrasted nicely with the rest of the trip, where I was intentionally keeping things minimal.

The travel itself was very much on the opposite end of the spectrum. I flew Delta basic economy for about $653 round trip, which meant minimal luggage and the risk of getting the worst possible seat. On the flight from Seattle to Salt Lake City, I ended up in seat 28B, a middle seat in the second last row on a full flight. It was a very different experience from my usual priority boarding and premium seating, but it was manageable.

At Seattle, as usual I hit up the multiple Priority Pass restaurant credits. At Salt Lake City, I was able to get a 30-minute massage chair session at Xpresspa (again through Priority Pass). This was probably the best way I could have spent my layover time. I had also pre-ordered a special Indian vegetarian meal for the long-haul flight, which is something I’ve found to be a bit of a cheat code, especially when sitting at the back of the plane where options can run out.

The second leg to Amsterdam came with its own uncertainty. I didn’t have a seat assigned initially, and there was a real concern about whether I might get bumped. Eventually, I did get a seat, though not a particularly good one, and the flight filled up. By the time I arrived in Amsterdam, I had not slept and was already feeling the fatigue.

Getting into Rotterdam was more complicated than expected. Immigration was slow, with a single officer taking several minutes per person. I also made sure I verified how to tap my credit card for the IC Direct to Rotterdam (there were 2 taps required and I would have certainly missed the second tap for the supplement). On top of that, there were cancellations, and I ended up standing for the train ride. By the time I reached Rotterdam, I was quite beaten up from the travel.

I had originally considered doing a six-mile run on arrival, but that quickly became unrealistic. The better decision was to eat and rest. I also noticed some calf soreness, which I initially wondered might have been from the massage chair, but in hindsight was more likely from the strength work I had done on Thursday combined with the travel.

The expo was efficient and straightforward. It took about twenty minutes, and while I was able to pick up the race T-shirt, I didn’t find the 226ers gels I had hoped to stock up on.

Race morning was one of the smoothest I’ve had. The 10am start made a huge difference. I was able to have breakfast at 6:30am without rushing and still have plenty of time to get ready and walk to the start. Sleep also worked out surprisingly well. I slept for a couple of hours initially, woke up to do some light recovery work like icing, and then managed another five to six hours of sleep. I felt well rested by the morning.

The weather looked colder from the hotel room than it actually felt outside. It was sunny with some wind, but once moving it was quite comfortable. I ended up wearing a second layer that I didn’t really need, and I would have been fine in just a T-shirt.

The start atmosphere was noticeably mellow compared to the majors. Dutch runners come across as very humble and understated. You don’t see people showing off their achievements or drawing attention to themselves. There was some music and a rendition of a song, and then the race simply started. I positioned myself at the back of Wave 1, which worked well since I knew I would be running slower than most in that group and would have space from the beginning.

The plan was to run by heart rate, with a target of 140 (which usually is my easy long run and recovery target) and letting the pace take care of itself. I wasn’t chasing a specific time. Fueling was straightforward. I carried four gels, took the first 2 at six miles each (I normally do every 4 miles when I am racing), and picked up one more gel on the course around 35 kilometers. That brought me to about five gels total. I supplemented with sports drink and water, and late in the race a kind lady was handing out Coke, which felt fantastic. There were banana stations on the course, but I couldn’t bring myself to put in the mental effort to eat solids during the run. I noticed some sponge stops but it wasn't warm enough to require them. They however made for some interesting running on a surface littered by discarded sponges.

The early miles were not particularly engaging. There was a slight incline to start off and a headwind, and the crowd support was limited. However, soon we were in sections that were easier to get to and the support was amazing. Rotterdam is defined by its people and the crowds showed up in a big way. In many sections, people were lined several deep along the course. What stood out was how engaged they were. I had people cheering me by name at multiple points, which is no small feat given that my name is not the easiest to pronounce. There were kids lining the course with their hands out for high-fives, and one of the most memorable moments was passing a senior housing facility where residents were lined up in wheelchairs cheering the runners. I remember folks along the canal cheering from outside their homes. Loved the serenity and peace of sections of the course. A lot of similarities with some parts of the Amsterdam course.

There was also a lot of music on the course. Some of the live bands stood out, particularly a few that were made up of middle-aged women who were genuinely excellent and brought a lot of energy. There were also DJs and music playing at various points. I made a conscious decision to slow down mentally and take it all in, as the atmosphere felt special.

Compared to Amsterdam, the course itself is less visually dense. Amsterdam has more to offer in terms of scenery and feels more international, while Rotterdam feels more local. You still pass interesting spots like the cube houses and the Erasmusbrug, and there are some quieter, more peaceful sections, but what really defines Rotterdam is the people.

From an execution standpoint, the race went exactly as planned. I finished in 3:41, with a first half of about 1:51 and a second half of about 1:50, giving me a slight negative split. My average heart rate was 141, with most miles coming in below 140. I didn’t chase the pace, and yet it still ended up close to where I expected.

At the finish, I felt satisfied. The time was in line with expectations, and more importantly, I felt good physically. I was able to walk normally right away, with no quad soreness or any major fatigue. Given the back-to-back marathon weeks, the travel, and the lack of taper, this was about as good an outcome as I could have hoped for.

I briefly thought about running back to the hotel after the race, but that idea didn’t last long. My body made the decision for me, and in hindsight, that was the right call.

The race itself was extremely well organized. There were plenty of porta potties, the corrals were well managed, and everything ran smoothly. The medal was a highlight, marking the 45th anniversary and incorporating elements of the course and city, such as the cube houses and the Erasmusbrug. The overall design of the race stood out as well, with a clean blue theme and minimal sponsor clutter.

I also appreciated the approach to sustainability. Instead of a bulky race bag filled with items, everything was handed out in a simple paper envelope with the bib and T-shirt. Compared to races like London and Paris, which attempt sustainability but still generate a lot of waste, Rotterdam felt like it was genuinely reducing its footprint.

Logistically, Rotterdam is very straightforward. Realistically, you can take a train into the central station on race morning and be at the start within minutes. Compared to Amsterdam, which requires more planning and navigation through a larger and more complex city, Rotterdam is much more straightforward. Lodging also felt more accessible, as I was able to secure a very well-located hotel even relatively close to race day.

This race was the first in what will be a challenging stretch leading up to Comrades, with pacing duties at the Cherry Blossom race and Eugene coming up over the next two weeks. As a training effort, this was exactly what I needed. It was a controlled, well-executed marathon that delivered strong performance without unnecessary recovery cost.

I would definitely like to come back for the 50th anniversary and race this one properly.

Chuckanut 50k 2026 Race Report

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Chuckanut 50K – First Trail Experience

Build-Up

Chuckanut was going to be my first trail race. Up until now, both of my ultras had been on the road, so this was new territory.

I hadn’t done much in the way of trail-specific preparation. The only real trail run beforehand was about 8 miles on the Fort Ebey kettles trail. I also spent time on the Lord Hill trail while volunteering for Northwest Trail Races, including a long day of about 15 miles over 4.5 hours carrying and removing course markers. Beyond that, my training remained largely road-focused.

This race was always meant to be a training run for Comrades, not a race effort. I chose not to taper, aside from taking two rest days before the race. In fact, I did an 8-mile tempo run less than 36 hours before the race, which made it clear this was not about peak performance.

At one point in January, I had asked to withdraw from the race due to what I thought was a hamstring injury. Fortunately, that turned out not to be serious, and I was able to get my spot back in early February. Given how quickly this race sells out, I was grateful for that.

I expected muddy and potentially technical conditions, especially with recent rain and snow. I’m not particularly comfortable on muddy, rocky terrain, so that added some uncertainty.

For shoes, I chose the Columbia Trillium. They’re not particularly responsive or fast, but they felt stable and protective, which mattered more for this race. I had snagged a pair for $50 at the employee store in January (I was probably the only runner running this race in Columbia shoes, which were perhaps more suited for shorter runs/hiking).

I also planned to use this race as a test for my Salomon Adv Skin 12 vest. I carried Maurten gels, electrolytes, and even Pedialyte, though I wasn’t sure how much I would actually need given the expected effort level.

The field was strong and skewed younger. I expected to start near the back and take it easy. My initial goal was simply to finish within the 8-hour cutoff, with anything faster being a bonus.

This race also marked the start of a heavy block leading into Comrades—Rotterdam, Eugene, and several others—so the priority was to get through it cleanly and recover quickly.

Getting There

The trip to Bellingham did not go smoothly. What should have been a 90-minute drive ended up taking about four hours due to traffic. I missed packet pickup at Backcountry Essentials, which was disappointing. I had been looking to partake in the social pre-race vibe with the sponsors.

In hindsight, going up the day before was still the right decision. Had I tried to drive up on race morning, there was a real risk of missing the start given the highway issues.

By the time I got to the hotel, I was already quite tired. I stayed in, ate the food I had brought, and got to bed around 11:30pm.

Race Morning

I woke up at 4am after about 3.5 hours of sleep. Despite that, I felt reasonably functional given I had slept well the previous night.

I left around 5:50am and reached the Western Washington University parking lot by 6:05am. The shuttle was comfortable, and the cherry blossoms on campus were a nice touch.

At the start, things felt calm. There were heaters set up, which made a big difference in the cold conditions. I also used the warm restrooms at the Fairhaven Pavilion instead of the porta potties—a small but meaningful decision.

Looking around, most runners seemed younger and more experienced with trails. There were very few older runners, and I was likely the only person of Indian origin in the field. That didn’t matter much—it was just an observation.

Strategy

This was not a race effort.

The plan was simple:

Walk the climbs
Be cautious on technical terrain
Run the flatter sections
Keep effort controlled

I expected to run more of the first and last ~10.5 km and conserve energy in the middle. I also budgeted about five minutes per aid station but didn’t plan to linger.

Early Miles – A Peaceful Start

The first few miles felt surprisingly peaceful. There was no urgency—just settling into the trail. It was here that a runner wearing an olympic trails T ran by us - there would be other (likely elite/sub-elite) runners getting in their run during the day.

I stayed disciplined, walking the climbs and taking the technical sections cautiously. A lot of runners passed me here. They were power-hiking efficiently while I was mostly easy walking. On the technical terrain, they moved more fluidly while I stayed conservative.

I also found myself implicitly following other runners in deciding when to walk. If a group ahead of me started hiking, I would often do the same rather than making that decision independently. That cost time, but it was intentional.

Photo Credit: Tiare Bowman Photography

Middle Section – Cleator Road and Conditions

Cleator Road was easily my least favorite part of the course. It was a long, gradual climb on a gravel road that just kept going. It lacked the character of the trails and felt like a grind.

This was also when the weather turned. It started hailing, and the temperature dropped quickly. I tried to put on my gloves, but my hands were so cold that it was difficult to get them on. I am glad that the race director, Krissy, had mandated gloves (along with beanies, and a waterproof layer). It did warm up soon and the sun was out for the latter part of the race.

I also stopped a couple of times to take pictures. Since this wasn’t a race effort, I wanted to capture the experience. The overall vibe was so different from most road races.

Trail Learning

One of the biggest takeaways was how much more efficient other runners were.

They were:

Power-hiking climbs at a much faster pace
Moving seamlessly across technical terrain - almost gliding.
Transitioning smoothly between running and hiking

I was:

Easy walking climbs
Being cautious on technical sections

Over the course of the race, that difference added up significantly. Based on the results, about an hour would have moved me roughly 200 places up the field.

Looking back, that also meant I was reacting more than deciding—using others as a cue for when to switch between running and walking, rather than managing it based on my own effort or terrain.

Later in the race, I realized that on trails—especially in mud—you often need to be more aggressive rather than tentative. Being cautious can actually make things harder. I did take one fall while trying to be more assertive, but that seemed common for many runners that day.

Late Miles – Strong Finish

As the course became more runnable toward the end, I was able to pick up the pace significantly.

I never felt like I was fading. In fact, I felt stronger than many of the runners around me in the final miles.

Early on, the goal had been to stay within the 8-hour cutoff. But as I continued to feel good, that shifted to trying to finish under 7 hours.

Photo Credit: Tiare Bowman Photography

I finished in 6:57:57.

What stood out most was that I still felt like I could keep going. I'm also thankful for the time on feet. I'm targeting a 8:20 for Comrades (for the Bill Rowan medal). Of course, I am hopeful on the roads I will be a different being. My running on the trails reminded me of the Sea Lions I encountered on the Galapagos Islands - they were so clumsy on land but so carefree and graceful under water. I will also Have my Alphafly-3 and not my 11.9oz tank of a running shoes :)

Results and Splits

Finish Time: 6:57:57
Overall Placement: 396 / 521
Division: M40–49

Splits

6.2 miles: 1:01:39 (~9:57/mi)
12.9 miles: 2:44:32 (~15:20/mi for segment)
24.9 miles: 6:01:42 (~16:25/mi for segment)
Finish (~32 miles): 6:57:57 (~7:55/mi final segment)

Interpretation

The splits reflect how the race unfolded:

The opening miles were controlled and efficient
The middle section slowed due to hiking and technical caution
The final segment was the fastest of the day

This highlights a deliberate strategy—trading time early for control and finishing strength.

Garmin / Strava Data

Distance: ~32 miles
Elevation Gain: ~5,700 ft
Average Pace: ~13:00/mi
Average Heart Rate: ~137 bpm

Effort Profile

The heart rate data confirms that this was a controlled effort:

Average HR was significantly lower than marathon effort (~155+)
Effort remained largely aerobic
No meaningful late-race fade or drift

Fueling Context

Given the low effort level:

~4 Maurten gels were sufficient
Minimal use of carried fluids (500ml of 1l)
Supplemented with water, coke, and electrolyte drink at aid stations

Post-Race

The finish area was simple. The finisher gift was a choice between two hats.

I didn’t stay long. With a 4pm hotel checkout, I grabbed my checked bag and skipped the rest.

I had an $8 meal ticket but didn’t use it. Instead, I gave it to someone standing in line for food, and they seemed happy to have it.

The shuttle wait turned out to be one of the more uncomfortable parts of the day. I stood in the cold shade for about 45 minutes, and the first bus was completely full.

I got back to the hotel around 4:20pm. The hotel was very accommodating and let me stay until almost 5pm to shower.

The drive back was mostly uneventful—some traffic about 40 miles out, but much better than the drive in.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, I think the only reason I was able to pull this off—with just one non-technical trail run beforehand—was a combination of the course and my road fitness.

The roughly 13 miles of flatter terrain at the beginning and end made a big difference. I was able to take advantage of those sections.

Beyond that, it really came down to my overall road running base. Without it, I likely would not have made the cutoff comfortably.

The climbs and technical terrain exposed clear gaps in my trail experience—especially in power hiking and moving efficiently over technical ground.

For now, this race served its purpose. It was a controlled effort, a new experience, and a solid step toward Comrades.

Looking Ahead

I would like to come back and run this race again next year, but with a more intentional approach.

There are a few clear areas I would change:

Shoes: While the Columbia Trillium performed reasonably well in terms of protection and stability, they lacked responsiveness. I would look to use a more capable trail shoe that still offers grip and confidence but allows for better movement on runnable sections.
Trail Preparation: This time, I went in with minimal trail-specific training. Next year, I would include a few shorter trail runs over the summer—not necessarily as structured workouts, but to get more comfortable moving efficiently on trails and technical terrain.
Race-Specific Preparation: I would also consider running a trail marathon beforehand, possibly the Northwest Trail Runs Fort Ebey Kettles Marathon, as a way to build familiarity with trail racing dynamics.

The biggest takeaway from this race is that the gap wasn’t fitness—it was efficiency. That’s something that can be improved relatively quickly with the right exposure.

Honolulu Marathon 2025 Race Report

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Race Report: Honolulu Marathon 2025

Marathon #99 | Honolulu #2 | Hawaii #4 The Grand Finale of a 16-Marathon Year

The Lead-Up: Soak It All In

My Honolulu journey began Thursday morning, landing in the islands and heading straight to the expo at the Hawaii Convention Center to soak up the pre-race energy. Friday turned into an unintentional "legs-day" as I clocked almost 10 miles of walking around town.

Saturday was all about the community. I spent the early morning watching the 1-mile race before joining the Body Art Run Club for a pre-race shakeout run. The weekend weather was a preview of race day: a constant dance of heavy tropical rain mixed with bright, sunny breaks. Between the miles, I fueled (and eventually celebrated) with some truly fabulous meals at Hau Tree—the perfect beachfront backdrop for both pre-race prep and post-race recovery.

Race Morning: Drenched Before the Start

The 5:00 AM start was as electric as I remembered from 16 years ago. I ran to the start line in a torrential downpour, meeting and running with Iris and her friend along the way. We were absolutely drenched before the fireworks even went off, but the sight of the downtown streets lit up by Christmas lights made the soaking worth it.

The Course: A Tale of Two Climbs

Returning to this course for the first time since Marathon #20 (2009) was a trip down memory lane. The race remains a beautiful, seamless blend of Japanese and American culture—though I marveled at how the race pics have evolved into a Tokyo-like $200+ price tag! The views at the break of dawn are quite majestic. The highway out and back might feel like a little mental chore but you also get to see runners on the other side! I recall a lady passing out around mile 13 and runners rushing to help her - the head and humidity does make for relatively tough conditions abet the course being flat (compared to say Kauai) with a net 400ft of elevation gain…

The Conditions:

Atmosphere: 75°F+ and 90%+ humidity.
The Weather: A wild mix of torrential downpours, piercing sun, and everything in between.
The Strategy: My preventive Vaseline worked like a charm—no chafing despite the constant moisture!

I felt great for the vast majority of the run, but by Mile 23.5, the sun came out in full force. I made the executive decision that I simply did not want to run up that final hill in the heat, so I walked from Mile 23.5 to 25. No regrets! That tactical break made the ice-cold Coke stops toward the end feel absolutely divine.

The Finish & The Hardware

Crossing the finish line of my 99th marathon was a moment of pure gratitude. The finisher medal, crafted in Japan by SGC, is stunning, though I found myself feeling nostalgic for the bead of seashells I received back in 2009 instead of the conventional ribbon.

The Honolulu marathon does not have a time limit. The course is open till the last runner crosses. This year that was around 15 hours. It was inspiring seeing the final runners make it to the finish line in some cases amidst the torrential downpour - their joy and sense of achievement was contagious.

I did not expect to be running this again. In reflection I really enjoyed the vibe of Honolulu and the race. I signed up for 2026 using the super early race. This time around I will also run the 1 mile run the day before!!

2025: The Year of the Journey

This was my 16th and final marathon of 2025. People often ask "Why do we do it?" For me, it’s about the memories etched into every mile across 4 continents and 8 countries. This year was a whirlwind of 6 Majors (earning another 6-star + 7th star) and incredible cities:

Mumbai → Tokyo → Rome → Jersey City → London → JNJ → Tunnel Vision → Sydney → Cascade Express → Berlin → Chicago → Amsterdam → Marine Corps → NYC → Seattle → Honolulu

Milestones Hit

Marathon #99 (One away from the triple digits!)
2,500+ miles for the year 2025.
23,000+ total Strava running miles.

As I look toward 2026, I’m celebrating the health that allows me to chase these experiences. Next stop: The Big 100.

Here’s to health, wealth, and happiness in the New Year!

128th Boston Marathon – Notice of Non-Acceptance

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 17:55:00 +0000

Filing away as a reminder that you need to target beating the Boston Qualifying time by at least 10 minutes. In this case BQ - 2:27 was well short by over 3 minutes.

==========

Dear Subhasish Bhattacharya,

Thank you for submitting your entry application for the 128th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America. Regrettably, we are unable to accept your application due to field size limitations and the record number of applications received from qualified participants this year.

The B.A.A. recognizes what an achievement it is to have met the Boston Marathon qualifying standards. We understand the effort, training, and commitment that goes into this, and it is runners like you who have helped distinguish the Boston Marathon from any other marathon in the world.

Entries in all age groups were accepted through and including those who ran 5 minutes and 29 seconds (5:29) or faster than their respective qualifying standard.

Registration for the 128th Boston Marathon was not first-come, first-served, but rather allowed for a more systematic and orderly application procedure from September 11-15. Given the field size limitations, the fastest qualifiers among those who submitted entry applications were accepted.

Participation in April's race is still possible through the Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program. All 160 non-profit and charitable members of the Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program have begun accepting applicants. If you are interested in fundraising as part of a charity program, we encourage you to contact the non-profit or charity organization directly for more information.

129th Boston Marathon present by Bank of America

Qualifying performances achieved on or after September 1, 2023 will be eligible for 129th Boston Marathon registration. The 129th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 21, 2025. Registration information will be announced in the coming months.

We appreciate your dedication to running and our sport, and we encourage you to continue your pursuit of running in a future Boston Marathon.

Sincerely,

The Boston Athletic Association

International Yoga Day 2022

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 20:18:00 +0000

Global running day 2022 is my birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 04:22:00 +0000

Global Running Day 2022 = 1st June 2022 = My birthday 😃💥

Barefoot stairs workout

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 14:19:00 +0000

I had been talking time off running in India and wondered how I'd be able to get in a good workout. I didn't have access to a gym. I didn't want to take a chance in a gym since folks here seem to be a bit foolhardy with respect to COVID precautions. Then I realized that I had a perfect workout at home - a barefoot stair workout... It's ending up being an amazing workout option in terms of getting the HR up. It reminds me of the days of training for the Big Climb except that I did not have the luxury of time and a private staircase to run bare foot on then…

Talonavicular ligament sprain

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 21:46:00 +0000

Saving my MRI results on my right foot for future reference. It's been hampering me all year so hopefully can get this to closure soon!

Impression

1. No findings to suggest stress fracture.

2. Dorsal talonavicular ligament sprain.

I have personally reviewed the images and agree with the report (or as edited).

Narrative

EXAMINATION:
MRI FOOT W/O CONTRAST RIGHT

CLINICAL INDICATION:
chronic right foot pain, navicular and 5th MT; no improvemed from PT> 6 weeks; evaluate stress fracture.
Chronic pain in right foot

TECHNIQUE:
MSK MR 53 Metatarsal Stress Fracture.
No contraindications to MRI scanning were identified by the departmental screening protocol. Multi-planar, multi-sequence MR imaging was performed. Intravenous gadolinium-based contrast was not administered.

COMPARISON:
Feet radiographs 9/2/2021.

FINDINGS:
Bone: The bone marrow signal is normal. No acute fracture or dislocation. The previously seen possible avulsion fracture at the dorsal talar head corresponds to an osteophyte. No findings to suggest acute stress reaction.

Joints: Small ankle joint effusion.

Tendons/ligaments: The visualized flexor and extensor tendons are intact. Thickening with mild edema within the dorsal talonavicular ligament most compatible with sprain.

Plantar aponeurosis: There is no abnormal thickening of, abnormal intrasubstance signal involving, or perifascial edema about the plantar aponeurosis.

Plantar musculature: There are no findings of denervation involving the plantar muscles of the foot.

Subcutaneous tissues: Unremarkable.

New York Marathon 2021 Race Report

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 17:10:00 +0000

Background

I had eyed the 50th anniversary of the New York marathon for a long time. I wanted to run it and beat my time in my previous NYCM (the 40th anniversary). All was on track. I had started 2020 off in peak shape, running my PR of 2:58. I had Chicago and New York scheduled for Fall with enough time in-between to run well in both. Unfortunately, COVID happened and the race was pushed to 2021 along with all the other majors. I had a choice to give up some entries or try to run them all. I gave up Chicago but decided to do the rest. I came into NYCM injured and tired after running Berlin, London and Boston. My only realistic desire was to finish.

It was certain that I would have to walk. The question was how many miles would I be able to run. Thankfully, I also have an entry for the 2022 NYCM. Hopefully, it will be a case of 3rd time lucky. I do not know if I will be able to get another entry for the race.

I wasn't going to be in New York for long - red eye from Seattle on Friday, pick-up my number, eat, sleep, run the race, and head to the airport. In and out in a little over 24 hours.

The expo at the Javits center was fast and quick. A vaccination card check at the entrance, bib and T-shirt pickup. Like the other big races this season it was quite sparse. I did get my first view of the medal for the race. I really wanted it - it was so beautiful!

Race Day

I wish I had discovered Melatonin for pre-race night sleep ages ago. Despite jet lag and four hours of sleep in the afternoon, I slept like a baby. I woke up at 3pm after 7 hours of sleep. I was never more thankful for daylight savings time ending and getting an extra hour of sleep.

I had a 5:45am race start from the mid-town aka Public library (42nd & 5th) bus pick-up. I had strategically picked my hotel to be close to Penn Station, Jatvis Center and the public library. It would also be a quick subway ride from the finish - C line from 72nd to 34th. No-one was checking the bus board times so I really did wonder if I should have taken a later bus. There were some folks from the last wave (starting at 12pm) in my bus. I couldn't believe they were signing up to stay at the start area for so long instead of sleeping longer in their hotel. The bus was quite luxurious compared to the typical school bus fare. The bus ride was comfortable and uneventful. We were at the start in Staten Island/Fort Wadsworth by 6:45am.

At the start a couple of things stood out for me - the security and the organization. We had to get through metal detectors to get to the start area. There was a pretty significant presence of NYPD and other military. The start area was very organized with ample porta-potties - all over including in each start corral. I never had to wait in line. There were bagels, coffee, Gatorade, and water. It was frigid. I did my best to stay warm with a heat sheet. Next time I'll remember to bring warmer throw-away clothes. At the sun came out it became warmer. I felt for the folks in the later waves who'd likely be finishing in the dark/cold (the sun would be setting at 4:45pm).

The corrals for the first wave opened at 8:10am, closed at 8:45am, with a 9:10am start. I was in corral D. They were very strict about letting in folks into the corral as well as making sure everyone had their masks on. A lot of people were getting a scolding for not having their face covered. Around 10 minutes before the start the corrals separators were taken off and folks were able to jockey to get beyond their corrals. There was the singing of the national anthem and an official race start for the general wave.

The weather for race day was just perfect. A little chilly while waiting for the start, warming up to optimal running conditions once we started running.

Race

The first mile has the toughest climb and probably is one of the more iconic moments of the race going over the Verrazzano-Narrows bridge. Quite a few runners were stopping to take pictures and soak it in. For me it was the first indication of how the day would progress. I had hardly run in the 4 weeks since Boston. I felt my ITB in my left leg right away. The lack of power in my left leg and having to compensate with my weaker + already injured right leg would make for a slower pace. Thankfully, the amazing weather helped keep my HR in a safe range: low 160s.

For the next 11 miles or so we ran in Brooklyn, mostly along Fourth Avenue and Bedford Avenue. I appreciated the energy of NYC. This would continue for the rest of the race - it surely provided a lift. Irrespective of what would happen in the race this was making for a memorable experience. The Fall colors were lovely. The water stops were very well organized - Gatorade, the water, with some having the Honey Stinger gel.

I was thankful to be still running as we crossed the Pulaski Bridge into Queens. It was on the bridge that the race hit it's half-way point. I had a shoe lace malfunction here. My laces were too long and I did not triple tie them. I tripped over my laces and fell face down. Luckily, it looked worse than it was. Runners around me were amazing and were ready to help. I took a couple of minutes to properly tie my shoe laces before proceeding.

I had a wish to still be running on the Queensboro bridge and on First Ave in Manhattan. I did not want to be walking when I knew there would be such an incredible crowd support and ambiance. I was thankful that my wish was granted and I was running and soaking it all in. I lost GPS so my splits were impacted - in all fairness I was probably slowing down too.

I finally started run walking at mile 20 - perhaps the mental symbolism. I knew it could have been a lot worse so I had to be thankful. I'd be walking on the journey to Bronx and back over the Willis Avenue and Madison Bridges.

Through Harlem down Fifth Avenue and into Central Park. I made the most of the down hills in Central park while walking on the inclines. This was such familiar terrain. The last mile and the crowds in the final mile was incredible. The 800m to go sign and the finish in the park!

Finish line again incredibly well organized. The food packet had exactly what you'd hope for - a protein drink, gatorade, water and some food. The poncho was warm and high quality. You leave the race and the 72th Ave subway is right there for you! The walk to the exit was not overly long. The volunteers were great! I think I asked about the nearest subway stop at least 6 times. As runners entered the subway everyone clapped and cheered as can only happen in the NYC subway. I showered, rested for a bit and was on my way back home from Newark. Being able to sleep on my own bed after the race was priceless!

With a 4 hour finish you'd think I'd be disappointed but I was not. I was surprisingly happy and satisfied with the result. I was thankful for the finish and the experience. I was glad this ordeal was over. I was glad that I would finally get to rest. I am looking forward to recovering from my injury(ies). I'm looking forward to running New York again next year as my only and goal race for Fall. Time Target - 3:20 or better! That would be a BQ for the next year :) Thank you NYC for 2021 - I'll be back!!

Boston Marathon 2021 Race Report

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +0000

Background

I've had incredible bad luck with attempting to run the Boston marathon. I ran my first Boston back in April 2005, some 16 years back (that was marathon #3 and this was going to be marathon #60). I had since attempted to run it 3 times and missed out due to injury each time. Therefore, I was determined to get to the start and finish line no matter what! It was also the 125th anniversary of the marathon. I wasn't running when the 100th anniversary happened. I'm a big anniversary junkie. As luck would have it due to COVID Boston was moved to Fall in a crowded calendar with all the other majors. I had been injured this year as is. Coming in after running Berlin and London in the previous two weeks I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. My legs were quite thrashed. Thankfully, my 2:58 from Mar 2020 should get me into the 2022 Boston Marathon. So this one would be to finish somehow and I'd be back in 2022 to hopefully run a good race.

I took a red-eye on Saturday night into Boston. It would be the first time I returned to the city since I left in 2006. It would be a very nostalgic experience. Reminiscing down memory lanes and trying to compare the Boston of today to what it was when I left. For instance there was no Apple store on Boylston in 2006. The iPhone was not a thing yet. I went to pick-up my race number straight from the airport. The buzz around the finish line was quite palpable. It made for amazing people (runner) watching. I got my vaccine bracelet and picked up my race number from Hynes Convention center right at 9am. Similar to Berlin and London, the expo was very sparse and barely recognizable from what we were used to pre-covid.

Boston is a runner's city much like Seattle skews towards bikers. There were runners getting in their runs, at all times of the day, everywhere in the city. It was in Boston that I started running way back in 2004...

Pre-race

The weather for race day was not optimal - a tad too warm, too humid, and a little bit of a head wind. However, the cloud cover would help in the open course.

Buses to the start from the Commons for my bib color (white) was from 7:45-8:15am... The ride to the start was quite an adventure since our bus driver got lost and it was up to a runner to navigate him using Google Maps. We spent quite a bit of time meandering around the suburbs of Hopkinton. As a result, as soon as we reached it was time to get started (our start window was 9:24-9:48 am). I didn't get time to stretch, use the toilets or mentally get ready. The start was rolling... Folks were starting when they felt like and there was no official wave start. So I took of my mask, and started running when I crossed the starting line.

Race

The start and the first few miles was very anti-climatic. It almost felt like a club training run. There wasn't much in the ways of spectators... The signs were ominous for me. My heart rate was very high even going downhill in the first mile. My body had not caught up from the marathons in the past two weekends and it was going to be a long day if I was to finish. I ran till a bit beyond mile 8 before I started walking for the first time. Had it been any other circumstance I would have called it a day. Boston & the 125th anniversary of Boston meant that I had to finish no matter what. I've never started walking so early. It's almost unthinkable that you'd need to walk after 8 miles in a marathon. I run walked the rest of the race - I tried to run the downhills while walking most of the climbs. I noticed so many inspirational runners along the course - a pregnant woman running strong, older runners who were in incredible shape, a runner with a prosthetic leg,...

Some of my favorite memories from an otherwise tough day:

The Wellesley scream tunnel: It was still there and we could hear it a mile away. The energy inspired me to run for all of it.

Eating a Popsicle while walking up heartbreak hill: Someone handed me a popsicle at the bottom of heartbreak hill. I remember reflecting on how much I was enjoying eating it while walking up the hill. I don't think and I hope I will ever have the luxury to do this again. I hope I will be racing up every other time.

The beauty of the Fall leaves blowing in the wind - We're unlikely to have another Fall Boston marathon in my lifetime and it's unlikely to be something I'll get to experience again in a Boston marathon.

The incredible ambiance of the approach to the finish line - I enjoyed soaking in the atmosphere as I approached the finish line. When I lived in Boston and before I started running, I'd head to the finish every Patriot's day to watch the runners finish. Such an incredible experience!

Results

What can I say about my race? It was my personal worst by quite a bit. My standings/placement in the race was indeed humbling. It was a high quality and well-trained field. You had to beat the qualifying time by some 8 minutes to make the start line of this COVID reduced field. I placed in the bottom third. That's never ever happened before and hopefully will never happen again!

I'm looking forward to be back next year. It was a good refresher of the Boston experience and I'm sure will help me as a race next year!! See you in 2022 ... Boston...

London Marathon 2021 Race Report

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 16:40:00 +0000

Background

I was due to run my 4th consecutive London marathon and the 40th anniversary race in 2020. I was excited because I was primed for a good run. I was in my best running shape every, having just run a 2:58 PR. Then COVID happened and mass events world-wide ceased. The 40th anniversary race became a virtual event in October. I ran loops around Green Lake in Seattle to get it done. There was very little certainty on when we'd have another physical London marathon. The vaccines arrived and all races including London got pushed to Fall 2021. Meanwhile, I also got injured and out of shape. I decided to run London a week after Berlin. Difficult as it might have been it seemed logistically reasonable since I would already be in Europe.

My training was minimal to get be across the finish line. I ran Berlin in 3:34, which I though was pretty good for the weather and my training. I had a week to recover for London. My plan was to stay in Berlin (working remotely) and travel to London on Friday. This would also be optimal in terms of COVID tests since I would be able to combine the UK 2nd day test requirement with the US entry PCR test requirement. I didn't run in the week between Berlin and London but I did get in a couple of long walks after the soreness wore out. My left leg had taken the brunt of Berlin compensating for by right foot injury. I was lucky to get a spot with a massage therapist in Berlin. She had quite a reputation working with some famous elite athletes. Apparently, I snagged the slot right after she had a cancellation. Typically she's all booked up months in advance. The massage was great and surely helped with the recovery process.

Pre-Race

I had read about the long wait times at immigration at Heathrow. I prepped for a long wait by scheduling my 2nd day test 2 hours after arrival (I worried that this might not be enough of a buffer). I carried food and fluids. I was astonished to discover that there was absolutely no wait or manual check for folks from some 15 countries. I used the automated machines and was out in under a minute. Now I had the opposite problem. I had to wait at the airport until it was time for my 2nd day check. As I made my way from the airport to my hotel I observed the change in COVID culture in the UK. Folks seemed to have moved on from masks. There were very few wearing one in the tube. It seemed to have been replaced with self-administered lateral flow tests. These in itself seemed like an honor system. My first task in the hotel was to figure out how to administer one of these tests on myself. I would need this result to collect my number from the expo as well as on the race day morning. Thankfully, I was all done in 30 minutes. The number pickup from the ExCel center and the expo itself was pretty quick. There were no lines to get into the ExCel center but a vaccination check. At the number pick-up we had to drop-off a bag for pick-up at the finish. It was interesting to see them fill the bag with the race medal, race T-shirt and refreshments in front of you... The Expo similar to Berlin the previous week was very sparse.

The weather for race day was quite hospitable. The rains from the day before had subsided. It was windy but after the conditions in Berlin the previous week I could not complain!

The waves for the start was staggered into more waves than in previous years. I was thankful for the MarathonTours bus ride to the start. I was happy that this year they had moved to a bib based timing instead of the chip on your foot (which I had almost forgotten to wear in 2018). I wore my Berlin marathon poncho to stay warm. I killed time by standing in the porta potty lines until my start wave was open. I was in the Blue Start, wave 3 and a projected start time of 9:40-9:43am.

Race

As I started running, I was thankful that my legs seemed to feel good and my HR was in a good range. Maybe this would be a good day after all? Unfortunately, this exuberance would not last long. By mile 8 my legs felt fatigued and I knew that it was a matter of trying to run for as long as possible...

This race was also the inaugural edition of the World Age Group championships. I would see a lot of these runners throughout the race and during the weekend (including on the plane ride back). At the finish I was jealous of their medal. It was significantly better than the London marathon medal...

The crowds were as amazing as previous years. It was the return of the marathon after 800+ days and another sign of recovery for the city.

I ultimately started walking after mile 17. Mentally, I capitulated and ran walked the rest of the race through to the finish...

Results

I'm thankful and glad to have finished. Not my most spectacular race but it wasn't unexpected. This is a great and amazingly well organized race. The crowds are the best in the world - loud and energetic. They truly do get behind the runners. It's what makes the race given that you don't hit central London till the latter parts of the race. I'm glad to have run it 4 times (plus the virtual finish last year). I'll be back again someday but certainly not next year or the year after. 2024 or 2025 maybe?

Berlin Marathon 2021 Race Report

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 16:15:00 +0000

Backstory: I was surprised when I made it through the Berlin lottery last year for my 6th running of the race. Perhaps in the midst of the pandemic not too many folks entered. The field size was to be halved and there would likely be a lot of registered runners who would not run this year. Thanks to the vaccines running a marathon major was a reality again. My training was sub-optimal with a focus more towards finishing than an aggressive finish time. Add to that all the marathon majors were switched to Fall so this would be my first of a series of majors in close succession. A component of making the start line was the logistics aspect of a COVID world - documents and tests to transit through England and entering Germany. Then the vaccination documents for the race and the mask protocols before and after the race. I've realized that the best time to go to the expo is a couple of hours before it closes. I was there around 5:30pm on Saturday and it was a breeze. The expo was mostly empty with practically no vendors. All I picked up was my race bib and got my wrist band. There was no goody bag or any redundant material.

Race Day - The conditions for the race were to be sub-optimal. Warmer than average and humid. I knew I needed to run conservatively with a goal to not have to walk for as long as possible. At the race start there was a marked improvement in the porta potties - there were a lot more (abet some locked), they had toilet paper, separated for men and women, and short lines. I had a C corral bib and almost felt like an imposter. I stood towards the back of the corral and had a lot of space!

Race - I started off at a very easy pace. My avg HR for the first mile was only 144. It did feel warm. I did appreciate the amount of shade on the course - it definitely help shield from the sun. I was very careful about following the blue line so as to avoid running extra distance. As expected I was passed by a lot of runners. However, given the gap between waves, the field soon became very sparse. The crowd support while not dense was very passionate and loud - the music and cheering. There were kids out to high-five the runners, bands and music. It was definitely a boost for me. The nutrition this year was a major improvement and game changer with the high end Maurten gels and sports drinks. I held steady with pace through mile 19, before things got a little difficult. I noted the minor inclines and declines on course. I finally started walking at mile 24. From that point it was a mix of running and walking.

Results

Finishing a marathon always feels like an achievement. I hung around after finishing for a bit because I could not imagine putting a mask on right after finishing a marathon! I skipped the massage because I didn't want to stand in a line but I did pick up my poncho. All in all, another great Berlin experience. I hope to be back in 3 years for the 50th anniversary race!

2020 in 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 06:30:00 +0000

That's 2020 miles for the year - a little later than scheduled but better late than never! A lovely night with the moonlight glistening in the water. I reflected on how lucky I am to get to run on this trail by the waterfront everyday!

Productive June 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 06:22:00 +0000

431.1 miles/month

100.59 miles/week

14.37 miles/day

Total Distance (run + walk) = 587.9 miles

The best day of your life

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 07:32:00 +0000

I had to save this post by the great Lazarus Lake on the "The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee" page. So profound!!

During my transcon there were a couple of questions that seemed to come up all the time:

The first one was; "What is the strangest thing you have seen?" I always answered; "You." That seemed to leave people somewhat speechless.

The other one was a more serious question, and deserved a more serious answer; "What is the best day you have had on your journey?" And the answer was always the same; "Today!"

And it was the truth. It was the truth every day... Yesterday was done. It could never be changed. Tomorrow was not promised. Out there on the road, there was no way to know what tomorrow would bring. There was only one day that I could determine. I could make it the best day of my life. Or not. It was entirely up to me.

There was never a thought of quitting. How could I quit on the best day of my life. There was never a thought of taking a day off... How could I miss the best day of my life?

It really is not any different any day. Every day when we wake up, there is only one day we have the power to control. Today. The best day of our life.

We have an advantage over the dog runners. We can learn from the past, and we can plan for the future. But we turn it into a disadvantage. We regret the past and live for the future. The dog runner lives in a state of unmitigated joy., Every time you pick up their leash they are almost insane with joy. Why? because every day is the best day of their life.

I see a lot of people on here looking for motivation. When, really, they have all the motivation they need, Woody the dog finished yesterday. And that run was the best run of his race... just like the 50 runs that came before it. Just like the next run he will do tomorrow. That should be our runs, too. I know it will be great when I do that last run to reach 1000 km. The last run to reach 1000 miles. The last run on August 31, to get everything I can get and beat anyone left I can beat.

But, how can any of those be better than the run I will do today? When I woke up this morning, this was the only run I could control. When I go out the door, it will be the only run I can experience.

How would you run the last run you ever ran? Would you breathe deeper the air. Would you look at everything a little more closely. Would you drink in the sights and sounds and smells of the world around you? Would you look for animals in the clouds and stop to look at wildflowers in the ditch?

Would the aches and pains really just be a reminder that you are alive. Would the heat really just make your drink more satisfying, and the hunger make your meal taste better.

How could you need motivating to run the best run of your life? Try it today.

Wake up and hop out of bed. This is the best day of your life, and you don't want to waste a minute. Approach the whole day the same way. Yesterday is over. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Today, though, today has infinite promise.

When you go out to put in your miles, look at them like the last miles you will ever run. It does not matter if it is a route you have run a thousand times. Today is different. Today is the best day of your life. Do you really want to sit on your ass, and miss the best run of your life? Do you really want to slog through it like an automaton? Do you really want to waste the once in a lifetime opportunity that is today?

We let ourselves get old. And we let ourselves forget. We become trapped by inertia and dulled by repetition. We lose the wonder at the world that we had as children.

But, why? We can't help growing older. But there is no law that says we have to grow up. Go out there today with your eyes open. Suck all the living out of the day that it has to offer. This is the best day of your life. And you don't get another chance at it.

Weekly mileage PR?

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 06:38:00 +0000

I can't remember if I have ever run more in a 7 day period but this week's tally for the 7 days on Saturday (108.2 miles) and Sunday (108.3) was certainly right up there!!

COVID-19: The future of road racing and marathons

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 17 May 2020 22:23:00 +0000

CNBC has an interesting article today titled - "Marathon racing brings big money to cities across America. Some events may not survive the pandemic"

They outline some interesting economic impact numbers of running and endurance events in the US and beyond:

An average runner spends $1800 on running related items - I spend more!
The economic impact of the New York City marathon is as much as $415 million $ - I sure will be contributing to this number when I run the 50th NYCM this year or whenever it's rescheduled!!

They outline the future of racing (at least until a vaccine is available):

Density reduction, such as fewer race participants
Minimizing touch points with athletes throughout the race
Education and training to make sure people understand best practices
Promoting self-reliance, such as having athletes carry their own nutrition
Increasing pre-race screening

At this point I am sure all runner will agree to anything just to be back to racing our favorite marathons! I'm signed up for Chicago, London and New York this year. I don't hold much hope for either of them to take place this year.

COVID 19 Mile Social Distance Run: The Quaranteen Challenge!

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 10 May 2020 13:04:00 +0000

With all races on hold in this COVID-19 era, there have been a number of virtual challenges to keep us motivated. One of them is "The Quaranteen Challenge".

What are the rules?

Appropriate social distancing is absolutely mandatory
Run/walk/crawl
You can submit a result for any, or some, or all of the 7 distances (13,14,15,16,17,18 and/or 19 miles)
Multiple runs completed in a single day that add up to one of the 7 distances qualifies! If you break it up, please total it as a SINGLE result when you submit. (For example, if you run 7 miles in the morning, and another 7 in the evening, that should be submitted as one 14 mile run for that day.)
You cannot claim more than one 'teen' run per day. (For example, if you run a marathon, you cannot claim two 13 mile runs. Totally fine to claim that as a 19 miler though.)
Fractions of a mile should round DOWN to the nearest mile
The course will be open from 12:01am ET on 4/11/2020 through 11:59pm ET on 5/11/2020
Cough into your elbow
Honor system is in effect. If you are mature enough to handle working from home, you can handle this.
Read this: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

How does it work?

Simple... Find a treadmill or course that complies with your local social distancing guidelines. Run any of the whole-mile distances in the 'teens' (from 13 through 19 miles) as often as you would like in the 30 days that the race is on. Record the details and send it in! The more you run, the more points you earn! If you complete each of the 7 distances, you earn The Quaranteen Challenge bonus. Results are based on points, not speed. Times will be used to break ties.

What's up with the points?

Each 13 mile run earns you 13 points
Each 14 mile run earns you 14 points
Each 15 mile run earns you 15 points
Each 16 mile run earns you 16 points
Each 17 mile run earns you 17 points
Each 18 mile run earns you 18 points
Each 19 mile run earns you 19 points

If you run ALL of the 7 distances at least once, you will also earn The Quaranteen Challenge Bonus: an additional 20 points

My results:

#IRunWithMaud

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sat, 09 May 2020 01:30:00 +0000

Ahmaud Arbery, was a 25 year old black runner, gunned down while out for a run in his native Georgia, on Feburary 23rd. Today on his 26th birthday we runners run 2.23 miles to honor his life. We run for him because he no longer can.

He loved to run. It helped him clear his mind. It helped him make sense of the world. This is something all of us runners can relate to! RIP Ahmaud!!

The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 03 May 2020 00:44:00 +0000

The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K is created by Gary "Lazarus Lake" Cantrell of the infamous Barkley marathon. You have from July 1st to August 31st to traverse the length of the state of Tennessee. An additional challenge is to run an extra 1000K to return back as well. It has a registration fee of $63.80. I had promised myself that I won't be signing up for any more races this year but FOMO was real and I signed up yesterday. I will be going for the double!! It should be one for the ages - that crazy summer when we were locked home due to COVID - 19 and unable to run any real races!!

Milestones

May 27th - Half way across Tennessee

June 15th - Completed One Trip Across Tennessee (1021km)

June 29th - Moved into the top 1% (top 195)

July Stumbles

Gunning for the triple buzzard proved to be a bit much. I did get ahead of the triple buzzard but then encountered ankle/soft tissue issues. Thankfully, it wasn't a stress fracture.

July 15th - Finished 1000 miles

Took quite a while in the recuperating phase!!

August 3rd - Finished BAT

August 20th - Finished 1500 miles

August 25th - Back in the top 1%

This is my final goal for this challenge. I need to hold this position for 6 more days...

August 31st - The finish

While this was quite a 4 month adventure I sure am glad to be done! I ended up 182/19610 and top 1%. I finished 2.7 rounds of the length of Tennessee covering almost 1700 miles!

Tokyo Marathon 2020 Artifacts

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 03 May 2020 00:44:00 +0000

This week I received the artifacts from the cancelled 2020 Tokyo Marathon. I sincerely hope that the world will be back to a state where I will be able to run the Tokyo Marathon in 2021.

The Runners Poncho

Bib and Timing Chip

Official Program

Celebrating the London marathon with a COVID-19 run challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 05:13:00 +0000

I was supposed to be toeing the line at the 40th anniversary London marathon today (my 4th consecutive). Of course in a COVID-19 world this race was a non-starter. I set myself the following challenge to celebrate this event and give myself something to target.

Challenge:

Do the following in a week:

1) Run at least 100 miles
2) Race a 5k
3) Run 6 miles every 6 hours for 43 hours, totaling 48 miles.

Running 100 miles
I've done this multiple times but for a hobbyist runner it is always gratifying to be able to do so again. I am certain I won't always have the ability to do this.

Race a 5k

The 5k is my least fav distance to race. I am more a slow-twitch vs a fast-twitch runner. I don't like paying $30-40 for such a short run. The NYRR virtual 5ks have changed that. This is my 8th 5k in the last year. I've improved in each one. This one was my smallest improvement yet. I'm down to 20:02 which is just off my PR of 19:57. My marathon PR predicts a 5k in the low 18s so I hope to keep shaving those seconds off my 5k times. It also give me a quality workout and fitness check!

Run 6 miles every 6 hours for 43 hours, totaling 48 miles

This was a very interesting experiment. My scheduling during the lockdown has been kind of erratic. So this gave me some discipline. Very neat to be seeing 4 different times of the day. My last run was actually my strongest and felt the best!

12 AM runs: These were peaceful and the only runs in the dark. I was actually surprised to see anyone on the trail. There were a couple of people walking their dogs. There was also a surprising number of cars on the roads

6 AM runs: The run on the first day was the toughest of the 8. I almost gave up the challenge - it's not a fun feeling to wake up to an alarm after just 3.5 hours of sleep. It also poured during the second half of the run. The run on the second day was easier. I felt great after the runs and would eat, shower and get back to sleep.

12 PM runs: The trails weren't as crowded and generally made for easier runs.

6 PM runs: These runs were my fastest and easiest. Perhaps the fact that it was during the warmest time of the day meant that my muscles were looser.

All in all my legs feel pretty good. 6 miles is also a mentally palatable distance for me. It's now back to my wayward quarantine schedule!!

Dr. Anthony Fauci Is an Avid Runner, Even When He Works 19-Hour Days

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 19:13:00 +0000

Not that I needed more to join his fan club but now I'm sold! Hats off to Dr. Fauci!

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the 79-year-old longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is reportedly working 19 hours a day in the fight against the coronavirus. You’ve seen him; he’s the slight, bespectacled, plain-dealing Brooklynite at President Donald Trump's elbow during most recent press conferences, providing a voice of sound, science-backed reason.

Yet, while many Americans are hoarding toilet paper and cans of baked beans and contemplating whether or not a Mad Men marathon on Netflix counts as a workout, Fauci still finds time to hit the pavement for running workouts.

With his increased age and workload, Fauci has reportedly cut back his daily runs to 3.5 miles per day, as he told Yahoo! White House correspondent Alexander Nasaryan. But back when a younger Fauci was working a lighter, 15-hour day to contain the AIDS epidemic in the '80s and '90s, he would build a lunchtime seven-miler into his schedule, five or six days a week, to keep his weight down, get outside and relieve stress. His daily runs helped him to a personal-best 3 hours and 37 minutes in the 1984 Marine Corps Marathon.

Alexander Nazaryan

✔@alexnazaryan

· Mar 16, 2020

When he was in midst of the fight against HIV/AIDS, Dr. Fauci was known to run 7 miles daily.

I just asked him if he still keeps to that exercise regimen.

No, he says, noting that he is working 19 hour days to fight the coronavirus.

He is down to 3.5 miles -- at the age of 79.

Alexander Nazaryan

✔@alexnazaryan

And here is Fauci running during a lunch break in 1994. Photo via @NYTArchives.

1,728

7:18 PM - Mar 16, 2020

Twitter Ads info and privacy

123 people are talking about this

“I think the benefit for me is as a stress-reliever,” Fauci said in a 2016 interview. “I have a pretty high-stress job, so getting outside during the day and hearing the birds and smelling the grass is a very pleasing thing for me.”

Fauci has advised six presidents on AIDs, Ebola, Zika, MERS, SARS, malaria, tuberculosis and many other domestic and global health issues. However, it’s a good bet his cortisol level has never been higher as he struggles to diplomatically disseminate hard facts without undercutting President Trump.

“When you’re dealing with the White House, sometimes you have to say things one, two, three, four times, and then it happens,” he said in a recent interview with Science Magazine. “So, I’m going to keep pushing.”

At work, and on the road.

The Novel Coronavirus / COVID-19 impact to marathons in 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 04:00:00 +0000

The Novel Coronavirus / COVID-19, which originated in the Wuhan province of China in December 2019 has quickly moved from something that we followed in the news to something that impacts our daily life in Seattle and the rest of the US. The social distancing policies to cope with the virus spread is beginning to have a profound impact on runners as their goal races are either cancelled or at risk of being cancelled.

I was signed up for the Tokyo Marathon, to be held on March 1st, 2020. It wasn't until the final month that I started sweating about the race being cancelled. It would end up being cancelled for the mass runners only 13 days before the race. I lucked out in that I would be able to find a replacement race, the Napa Valley Marathon, that was being run on the same day. The Coronavirus was not yet an issue in the US. As we head into March that has changed and there are now numerous races being cancelled or postponed all over the world. Below are some of the major marathons in the COVID-19 path:

Tokyo Marathon - March 1st 2020

Cancelled
Runners get guaranteed entry into next year's race
No entry fee refund. Runners will need to pay an entry fee next year.
Runners get 2020 and 2021 medals next year. Some items will be mailed to runners in April

https://www.marathon.tokyo/en/news/detail/news_001582.html
https://www.marathon.tokyo/en/news/detail/news_001577.html
https://www.marathon.tokyo/en/news/detail/news_001576.html

Los Angeles Marathon - March 8th 2020

Kudos to the organizers and the city for allowing one of the largest marathons in the country and the world to proceed. Should it be determined that this race did not lead to a detrimental impact in terms of COVID-19 spread, it will encourage other marathons and races in the country to proceed...

Barcelona Marathon - March 15th 2020

Postponed to October 25th 2020

Runners have the option to run the rescheduled race or in 2021

https://www.zurichmaratobarcelona.es/eng/saladeprensa_i.html/2125/

Jerusalem Marathon - March 20th 2020

Postponed to October, 2020

https://jerusalem-marathon.com/en/home-page/

Rome Marathon - March 29th 2020

Cancelled

Registration with entry fee moved to the next year

Runners get 2020 and 2021 medal next year

You just got to love the passion in the cancellation message below. It's such a contrast to the cold Tokyo marathon message

https://www.runromethemarathon.com/en/2020/03/05/acea-run-rome-the-marathon-of-29-march-2020-cancelled/

Paris Marathon - April 5th 2020

Postponed - October 18th 2020
https://www.schneiderelectricparismarathon.com/en/event/news#news-275-the-schneider-electric-marathon-de-paris-2020-moved-to-sunday-the-18th-october

Vienna Marathon - April 19th 2020

Cancellation - entry fee for next year TBD.

https://www.vienna-marathon.com/?lang=en&surl=aaabf0d39951f3e6c3e8a7911df524c2

Boston Marathon - April 20th 2020

Rescheduled for Sept 14th, 2020
For the first time in 124 years the Boston marathon will not be run on Patriots day!! It had even been run through the two world wars!!
https://www.baa.org/124th-boston-marathon-postponed-september-14

5/28 Update: Now cancelled and a virtual race
https://www.baa.org/124th-boston-marathon-be-held-virtually

London Marathon - April 26th 2020

Rescheduled for Oct 4th, 2020. So all 5 majors are now clustered together!!
https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/en-gb/news-media/latest-news/item/2020-virgin-money-london-marathon-postponed-to-sunday-4-october/

Eugene Marathon - April 26th 2020

Cancelled

https://www.eugenemarathon.com/coronavirus-updates/

Vancouver Marathon - May 2nd 2020

Cancelled.

http://bmovanmarathon.ca/covid?fbclid=IwAR1t-j10HlCT0tBY6c0815wZhz-Lr5TU5SutsfygtnqePFf4O4ZnWY16Jv4

Newport Marathon - May 30th 2020

Cancelled.

Comrades Marathon - June 14th 2020

Postponed

SeaWheeze Half Marathon - August 2020

Cancelled.

Berlin Marathon - Sept 27th 2020

Cancelled.

London Marathon - Oct 4th 2020

Cancelled.

Chicago Marathon - Oct 11th 2020

Cancelled.

Victoria Marathon - Oct 11th 2020

Cancelled.

New York City Marathon - Nov 1st 2020

Cancelled.

Philadelphia Marathon - Nov 22nd 2020

Cancelled.

Miles And Miles

Capital City Marathon Race Report 2026

Marathon #103 – The Body Remembers

Capital City Marathon 2026 – Olympia, Washington

3:40:55 (3rd AG M45-49)

Rotterdam Marathon 2026 Race Report

Chuckanut 50k 2026 Race Report

Chuckanut 50K – First Trail Experience

Build-Up

Getting There

Race Morning

Strategy

Early Miles – A Peaceful Start

Middle Section – Cleator Road and Conditions

Trail Learning

Late Miles – Strong Finish

Results and Splits

Splits

Interpretation

Garmin / Strava Data

Effort Profile

Fueling Context

Post-Race

Final Thoughts

Looking Ahead

Honolulu Marathon 2025 Race Report

Race Report: Honolulu Marathon 2025

The Lead-Up: Soak It All In

Race Morning: Drenched Before the Start

The Course: A Tale of Two Climbs

The Finish & The Hardware

2025: The Year of the Journey

Milestones Hit

128th Boston Marathon – Notice of Non-Acceptance

International Yoga Day 2022

Global running day 2022 is my birthday

Barefoot stairs workout

Talonavicular ligament sprain

Study Result

Impression

Narrative

New York Marathon 2021 Race Report

Boston Marathon 2021 Race Report

London Marathon 2021 Race Report

Background

Pre-Race

Race

Results

Berlin Marathon 2021 Race Report

2020 in 2020

Productive June 2020

The best day of your life

Weekly mileage PR?

COVID-19: The future of road racing and marathons

COVID 19 Mile Social Distance Run: The Quaranteen Challenge!

What are the rules?

How does it work?

What's up with the points?

My results:

#IRunWithMaud

The Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1000K

Tokyo Marathon 2020 Artifacts

Celebrating the London marathon with a COVID-19 run challenge

Dr. Anthony Fauci Is an Avid Runner, Even When He Works 19-Hour Days

The Novel Coronavirus / COVID-19 impact to marathons in 2020

Tokyo Marathon - March 1st 2020

Los Angeles Marathon - March 8th 2020

Barcelona Marathon - March 15th 2020

Jerusalem Marathon - March 20th 2020

Rome Marathon - March 29th 2020

Paris Marathon - April 5th 2020

Vienna Marathon - April 19th 2020

Boston Marathon - April 20th 2020

London Marathon - April 26th 2020

Eugene Marathon - April 26th 2020

Vancouver Marathon - May 2nd 2020

Newport Marathon - May 30th 2020

Comrades Marathon - June 14th 2020

SeaWheeze Half Marathon - August 2020

Cancelled.