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2008 Catalina Marathon Runumentry Part 2
Friends,
Part 2 is about the last 6 miles, the finish line, the awards, runner reviews, the after party and a special guest.
I hope to run with you too. Say hello, tell me you saw this I’ll try to get you in my next movie.
Watch Focused, Steve Mackel - Catalina Marathon Videographer
2008 Catalina Marathon Runumentry Part 1
Friends,
I still have no clue if it will be a two or three part Runumentry. I just wanted to get something up ASAP. The sub-plot is about a first time marathoner and Beach Runners, Christy, running this fantastic marathon. She is also running to win the American Trail Championship, in her Age Group, which is the lowest combined time of the Catalina Buffalo Run half marathon and the Catalina marathon.
I met some great people and some footage I had hoped would make the movie wound up MIA. If that was you, I am very sorry. This movie provides a great look at the course, the wonderfully kind participants, volunteers and staff.
Watch Focused, Steve Mackel - Catalina Marathon Videographer
The Buffalo Run – The Ultimate Trail Run Race Report by Steve Mackel
Podium Spots for Beach Runners L-R Sara, Steve, Gary, Mina, Christy, Duncan, Haley
WOW! What a race. This has got to be one of the most difficult Half Marathons in the US if not the world without going somewhere or doing something ridiculous.
The first 5 miles are up, tough up hill, followed by a screaming couple miles down hill, then back up and then back down. This race starts at sea level, climbs to the top of the mountain behind Avalon then turns around and brings you back to town. It is primarily on fire roads. You have nothing out of the ordinary to deal with except Mother Nature yet Mother Nature can always have the final say. Fantastic views are around every corner and we ran through some burn areas so we could see the hillsides starting to regenerate.
Here’s what I have to say about the race. The first hour is tough. You just figure how to get through without walking. Then the race gets steeper in both directions, up and down. I read somewhere that there is 4 times the amount of force exerted on the body going down hill. Whatever the number is we know it is more than running on flats and up hill. There are some steep down hills sections after miles 5.5 and the race finishes with 3 miles of steep down hills. You just get to the point where you can’t stop. These parts eat up your legs and my legs a feeling it today.
Beach Runners use ChiRunning® techniques. We train our athletes to run smart up hill and fly down hill. We use gravity. This is an area I have to continue to work on. I was passed by 7 people on the down hills. I was still running fast, sub 7 minute miles yet I was governed by some fear, fear of injury, protecting my back, fear of truly letting go. I watched these people motor past me on some very steep terrain. Maybe next year.
In the end it was Gary’s day. Catalina is like home court advantage for Gary. He has been training hard for this it paid off. I couldn’t keep up with him on the up hills and forget about it on the down hills. He finished 12th overall 1st in his age group. I still had a good day 30th overall and 2nd in my age group. I value this medal as much as any.
I want to congratulate everyone who made the trip over and participated in this great race. The Beach Runners had a fantastic showing bringing over 20+ athletes and finishing with 7 podium spots. We don’t train people to run fast, we train people to be successful and every Beach Runner finished, some quickly.
Now we are looking forward to the Catalina Marathon and Los Angeles Marathon. We have a couple more weeks before the big days. The Beach Runners are ready and we showed it yesterday. Our training programs work – “For your best marathon ever” join us.
A special congratulations goes out to Beach Runners Mentor Barb and Beach Runners Sissy, who never gave up.
Thank you to all the volunteers, race officials and the Catalina Conservancy for staging this wonderful race.
Steve Mackel, Head Coach – MarathonTraining.TV and Beach Runners
Many of the Beach Runners Pose for a Photo After the Race.
The Hidden Beach Runner Video by John Graham
You never know what you’ll find out in cyberspace. I just happened to find this on YouTube. It’s a 9 minute gem produced by Alumni Beach Runner John Graham. He actually did the 26 mile bike tour, got off his bike and started his marathon. Triathletes call this a very long brick workout. Wow!Train Focused, Steve Mackel - USA Cycling Coach
Snow Capped Run
Only in LA or Should I Say Long Beach
It was an incredible Saturday. In fact, it was the most beautiful day of the year so far. We have had rain, yet not on Saturdays. The rains last week brought snow and the cold temperatures lowered the snow levels to 2,500 feet. The mountains across the horizon were white. It was so beautiful. How how do long runs get better than that? They don’t.
Getting Ready to Go Long in Long Beach
Train Focused, Steve Mackel - Head Coach Beach Runners
ChiRunning in San Pedro
This Saturday was just an amazing run in so many ways.
The diehards showed up to run despite the rain all evening. The day actually turned out to be quite beautiful.
We had a good turnout at both PV and Long Beach.
Remember you have to get used to running in cold rainy weather for winter training.
Where are the rest of you? Those holiday pounds will not disappear in the warmth of your house. Come join us. It is sooooo much fun running this winter.
For example….
We got lost. Sort of. We were going to run a new course. From Trump golf course to the end of the fishing pier at Cabrillo Beach.
I told Matt and everyone to “Stay on the Coast.”
Matt led the PV runners practically to downtown San Pedro.
I was sweeping the course and funny enough only saw two runners, George and Janet.
Being the sensitive type, I was getting bummed out. Running with my pity pot…I felt like eeyore…”why didn’t I give clearer directions”….”I need to plan more”…”wah, wah, wah”.
Then out of the blue coming from downtown San Pedro comes this big group of Beach Runners!!!!
“Weren’t you guys supposed to follow the coastline?” I asked.
“We were just following Matt. Until it was obvious he was not heading to the coast but to downtown San Pedro. We thought you were being figurative.”
“Figurative?” Well even though I do like to scribble a poem every now and then, the coast is the coast in my books.
“Well, we might as well go to see the beach. It’s just a half mile away.”
So off we went like Plglet, Pooh, Eeyore, Christopher Robin, Tigger, and Ru to go see the waves. But we had no Matt and no George.
And my what big waves they were. The chi was surging through the ocean. The air and the company of these wonderful runners quickly purged my eeyore thoughts from my mind.
We ran back this time ALONG THE COAST. We even got on some trails and ran with two inches of mud on our shoes. Laughing. Stumbling away.
We were tired. We have been doing long hard trail runs here in PV lately and this was to be an easy week. Instead it turned out to be over a half marathon.
But we kept going.
When we arrived back to the clubhouse.
We all hugged. And did the most exquisite loving parking lot yoga.
And shared how with such a long adventurous run it was soooo much “fun”.
The mud, the waves, downtown San Pedro, the conversations, the clean air, and most of all, the company of wonderful travel companions on our adventure.
IMPORTANT NEWS : This week Saturday 1/12/08 EVERYONE IS MEETING IN LONG BEACH!!!!!
THE WEEK FOLLOWING 1/19/08 PV RUNNERS WILL MEET BACK IN PV.
IMPORTANT NEWS 2: Gary is feeling like eeyore again as he has lost his beloved green jacket last seen in this photo. Did anyone find it?
Yes, we are running tomorrow!
Despite the huge storms hitting the area…
Both Beach Runner groups will be running.
Rain or shine. We will be out there.
Bring rain gear, visors, and warm clothes for afterwords.
See you out there.
Great Run in Palos Verdes
An inpsirational blog post from Bernice, a Beach Runner and SoCalRunning.com member.
I love this post as it shows a process orientated apporach to accomplishing running goals.
Winter Beach Runners FAQ
I have had soooo many questions this fall about what the Beach Runners are doing for the Winter.
Here are some of them…
1. Are the Beach Runners training for the winter?
Yes. We are training runners for the Los Angeles and Catalina Marathons. But people are also training with us for the Pacific Shoreline Marathon and the Buffalo Half Marathon in Catalina.
2. Where are we meeting?
Good question. Here’s the lowdown I got from Steve. And my basic plans… There will basically be two groups.
Long Beach Beach Runners. Meets at Joe’s Crab Shack (same place as summer). Will meet in Long Beach every week but Steve highly recommends that you go up to Palos Verdes every other week for trail running.
Palos Verdes Beach Runners. (Gary’s Group.) Will meet in Palos Verdes every week. Will be running trails exclusively. This will be superb training for Los Angeles and Catalina marathon. But especially Catalina which is primarily trails.
3. When does it start?
First meeting is November 10th for everyone in Long Beach location at 7 AM.
First Palos Verdes trail run is Saturday November 17th at Trump National Golf Course.
4. How do I sign up?
Visit BeachRunners.org and sign up at active.com. (Easier for everyone)
Come to the first training sessions with a check.
5. How much does it cost?
$150. Which includes…
* 18-week professionally coached training program featuring the MaraYoga training system, using ChiRunning® techniques
* The book ChiRunning by Danny Dreyer
* 1 hour group ChiRunning® Lesson
* Official Beach Runners Team Shirt
* Weekly Saturday Group Run
* Weekly training schedule
* Weekly training articles
* Sponsor discounts
* And much, much more
5. Do I have to raise money?
No. But we will be suggesting you do try to raise some money this season for the charity of your choice. Even if it is just one dollar. Basically fund raising is completely optional and voluntary.
6. Do you practice yoga after the runs?
Hell yeah! A full yoga session after every run does the body mind and spirit Go(o)d.
7. How do you keep so many runners injury free?
We have created a training system we refer to as MaraYoga, that incorporates running and yoga with a scientific approach to conditioning the body. We teach everyone ChiRunning®. The best running system out there for injury free, effortless, softer running. We also have yoga sessions to keep muscles ligaments and tendons flexible and restored. Last of all, we coach to your body mind and spirit. When all are balanced in your running program, you will avoid injuries and perform better.
8. What’s the best way to prepare?
Come to one of our ChiRunning workshops so that we can teach you proper running form.
This will be the best investment that you can make in your running this year.
Our next workshop is November 18th in Huntington Beach. Perfect timing to develop a strong injury free running form for the whole winter session.
See you soon…
Assistant Coach
Gary
Beach Runner Long Beach Marathon Video
Thought you might be interested in seeing my video. It took some time to figure this out & get it posted. Anyhow when you have a moment (about 12 mins.) you can check out video from my race Oct 14th. My friend edited it pretty well. I’ll post on my socalrunning.com members page shortly, too…Gotta run…
http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=3994792485168094573&hl=en
Best wishes,
Betty
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