13 miles - June 27 (Sat)

Today I ran 13 miles which was the peak distance in the San Francisco Half-Marathon Training Schedule and the longest distance I've ever ran! It was a good course (see map below), but the challenge was the heat and the crowds of people along the Embarcadero. It was near 80 degrees so people were enjoying a beautiful day. So, was I!

Every running day has its own challenges and I'm starting to learn how to adjust to those variables that define those challenges such as terrain, weather, body condition, etc.. I really enjoyed today's run despite feeling sore in my ankles and feet afterwards! A nice soak in the bath tub relieves all the soreness!

This morning I meditated on the advice from Coach Alphonzo (Coach of the East Bay Group) who had ran 38 marathons, and was speaking at Thursday evening's Pasta Feed at the Sports Basement. He coined the term MOM = Mind Over Matter. He explained that the last 5K of the half-marathon and the last 10K of the full-marathon are the real distance of those races, not the entire race itself. Because the runner fights with him/herself the most at the last portions of the race as the body becomes exhausted. And, he said along comes MOM! Having knowledge of MOM is the key to running long-distance races. I'm finding out that it's a fact. Today, I really can't believe I did it! I'm so happy and I did said aloud mind over matter. That is surely a metaphor not just for running but for life.

Here's a map of today's running course:


Here are some pictures that I've collected over time:


We started January 24th and is near the end on July 26th!! One of the most unforgettable experiences I will remember besides teaching at Hong Kong. ;-) Thanks for dropping by!