Long Run Sunday: Racers and Pacers

This morning, I volunteered to take my cousin out for his first double-digit run (yes, I realize the LA Marathon's only 3 weeks away). I've been trying to give him a good kick in the arse to get his training ramped up since we signed up, but it's been one excuse after another in avoiding the long run (usually 4-8 milers here and there). So this morning, I decided to get him out there and pace him for a planned 12-14 mile run.

Now leading up to this run, it hasn't exactly been a stellar week for me either. In fact, it's been downright abysmal. A 3 day layoff from running following my 50K DNF debacle and a 3+ and a 2+ miler to my name so far. But with my focus of running well in the Santa Barbara Wine Country 1/2 marathon next week, I wanted to give my body all the rest it screamed for. Either way, a new PR might be a stretch at this point.

I picked him up at 7:30am and set out towards Venice Beach. After parking the car about 4-5 blocks from the beach, we started off in the direction of the Santa Monica Classic 5/10K nearby since I knew a couple of friends running in it. We get there almost simultaneously as the gun went off for the 10K at 8am and soon, several elites are blowing by us. I half contemplate trying to run along with them at their speed to see how long I can keep up, but I'm already not feeling that great in spite of the slower paces I'm running with my cousin.

Soon after, the rest of the runners are coming down and I spot my friend Price who's jamming in his Newtons near the front pack. And a little bit later just after the 1 mile mark, I spot Cody who is running in his first ever 10K. I run alongside him briefly and ask what time he's shooting for. He tells me he's trying to maintain about an 8 min/mile pace. I told him to shoot for a sub-48, tell him I'll try to rendezvous near the finish and wish him luck.



My cousin and I then broke away from the street of the race and headed down a block or so to the bike path. From there we ran towards the pier and the climbed up the Palisades Park where the 5 and 10Kers would be finishing. We proceeded to run opposite the direction of the race on the dirt path just next to the street where the race was taking place. After about a mile and a half, we turned around to head back the way we came, not before my cousin took his very first GU shot.


From here, it's a straight shot to the finish and after spotting Price again, I see Cody a little while later right on schedule for a 48 minute finish. From about mile 5 to 6, I decided to run alongside him for some moral support. I offered up a couple of words of encouragement but I can tell he's kind of hurting at this point, so I just remained quiet most of the way and ran alongside him on the park side, but careful to remain off the actual course. He was really jamming at this point, running at about 7:00 pace for the final stretch and at mile 6, I stopped and waved him home (think he finished right around 48:XX).



Once my cousin caught up, we kept running back the way we came and briefly chatted with Cody after the finish before continuing on. Now even though we were running at his paces (9:15-9:30 mile), my left leg started to bother me. Probably a carry over from last week's race, but also a lingering problem with my left orthotic I think. My left hip and ankle was bothering me and gradually grew worse as the miles wore on. Adding to my left leg issue was my cousin complaining about a 'hot spot' growing on this right foot.

So we decided to cut the run a bit short, finishing at 10.3 miles for the morning (still a mileage PR for him). He's got a tall task ahead of him in the remaining 3 or so weeks to get his butt in gear before his 1st marathon, no doubt. But if he's smart about pacing and focuses on just finishing, he should be able to make it out alive.

But I will say that I most certainly would not want to trade places with him that following morning after the marathon. Oh yes, he'll learn. And I'll be right there to say I told you so.