Holualoa Tucson Marathon

I'm doing the half.  I was shooting for 2:30 (it's my first half), but given a slight injury and now something revolving around a sore throat/ear ache/cough/sneezing thing, I'm going to be revising that estimate.

If you pick up your packet on Saturday, I'll be there in the afternoon (scheduled 3-5, probably come in earlier) with a TTG shirt on!

I am in for this and my goal is to Run Sub-3. (Under a 3 Hour Marathon)

I ran this race last year and qualified for Boston and hope to return to the scene of the crime and recapture some of the magic.

I don't have a lot of time just now but will come back later and post something about the course. Note that they changed the course last year and from the map, it looks like we will be running the modified course again.

See you all in Tucson

A hundred miler is no excuse to bail!!

Less yapping and more signing up!!! It's downhill.....I think!!

I would be up for it.

I found out too late that my friend Dane is the Keynote speaker that the Pasta Feed but I did not get tickets in time.

I have to check with a friend I am meeting out there but I would be up for something. Post race brews for sure!!

I, like waterdog, have run before (the run goes by my neighborhood) and when I have more time I will give a full report with suggestions about temperature, pace, etc.

Dinner looks fun, I hope the my wife and I can join you. 

Emerson

Peg and I are up for dinner with any combination... If there is clarity on a location or time, let us know... If it is at someone's house, let us know what to bring... All I like is that it is early... I eat early and go to be early before races...  I north of Catalina so I am pretty far out but I know the restaurants pretty well so if Carrabba's is falling off the radar screen we can look for others...  let's see if there is any consensus so we all can plan accordingly... Emerson

PS:  More to come on the race later... EK

OK, so here is what I remember from last year: Note that they changed the course last year and it is not the same as previous years

They bus you into the start and is actually a relatively long affair since they have to bus you up 20+ miles up to Oracle where the start is. (Race is Point to Point)

The first few miles are either downhill or slightly rolling and is a great place to get in a good warmup. The first mile is some of the steepest downhill of the course and the mile marker is usually not there. (I just happen to notice something painted in the shoulder) I think this is because the road is pretty narrow and there are a lot of runners.

Otherwise, the mile markers are all there and very well placed and water stops are as advertised.

As you wind through town, it will probably be quite cool but there will be a few folks from the little town out there cheering for you including the firemen at the local station.

At mile 7, the course spills out onto the highway (Oracle Road) and you will be running on the shoulder and sharing with oncoming traffic. (Plenty of cones and barriers to keep things separated) The views are spectacular and by this point, you will be in a groove and running at your optimal downhill pace. Just settle in and enjoy the ride.

Just past mile 10, the course detours down the road toward the Biosphere and this little out and back has some pretty steep rollers. I throttled back on the hills and took it easy because it's way too early in the race to burn up on the hills. I cruised up the hills and pushed the pace going down them. (Shorten up the Stride and increase the turnover on the way up and then open up the stride on the way down)

The turn at mile 12 is tucked back in the canyon and getting here is cool because you get to see some of your faster friends run by the other way. On the way back, you already know what the course looks like and it's easier to manage the pace.  Don't forget to cheer for your friends who are running behind you.

Just before the completion of the little out and back, you will pass the Half Marathon start and you should have a good idea of what your first half split looks like. For me, I ran a negative split last year but I will still very pleased with my results up to that point. I was right on target for my goal time. (Almost to the second)

Then, back out onto Oracle to resume the gentle downhill and the key is to get back into the groove that you established in the first part of the run down the hill. (If you hammered the hills too hard, this is where your likely to start paying for it.

As you pass about mile 21, (heading into Catalina) the course flattens out and there are a few shorter very gentle uphill sections of the course that may or may not be a welcome break from the downill, but be warned your pace here is going to be slower.

The crowds start to steadily get thicker from here all the way to the finish and if your ahead of your goal pace by a bit, your surely going to make your goal. At mile 24, we turn into the driveway of a shopping center and head up a short steep hill behind the store and run around behind it and onto Golden Ranch. Keep it together here and don't get discouraged if your pace slows up a bit through here.

As you turn out onto Golden Ranch, There is steady uphill section (This does appear in the profile) and the key is to minimize the damage. I pushed the pace on this hill wit h the goal to throttle back on the downhill and recover for the finish.

At mile 25, it is all over and is a gentle downill to the finish. If you paced properly, you should be able to kick through here and charge the last mile to the finish. You make a turn onto Wilds road with about .5 miles to go and you won't  be able to see the finish.

With about 100 yards to go, you turn onto the school grounds and then you can finally see the finish line. I blew it in that I did not make my final charge until I could see it last year. This year, I am going to visit the course again and pick a better point to make my final kick for the finish.

Last year, I ran right on the ragged edge of my goal for the majority of the race and finished with about 23 seconds to spare. (I ran a 3:20:36 for a BQ and needed a 3:20:59 or faster to Qualify) I will likely be running on the ragged edge of my goal again this year too. (Although my Sub-3 goal is quite a bit more agressive)

Overall, don't get freaked out if your early downhill miles are quite a bit faster. The key is to find a groove that has the correct RPE and don't focus so much on pace. (Unless you do a lot of downhill running and know what your pace should be for a given grade) 

See you all in Tucson

The course -- Part II

Tim just gave an excellent review of the course, here are few more tips.

1)  It may be a very cold 35 - 40 in the AM when you start at 5,000 feet and 65 - 70 and sunny when you finish at 3,000 feet at the bottom.  If you ride the bus, stay on it, they are warmer.  Be ready to shed layers as you go down.  Some throw away stuff is a good idea.

2)  For the guys, it is pretty "rural" along the road you will be running so don't worry about over hydrating, a quick pull off and pee will not be a problem.

3)  Start SLOW and steady.  It is a down hill race and you will feel good going out fast.  Stick to your race plan!  Many a friend has done a record pace until mile 22.

4)  Keep in mind you are running down hill a long time.  If you have not practiced a lot of down hill, your quads may be singing to you at the end -- and it may be loud.  I have done lots of down hill running and I will still take some Advil at the split.

5)  Because of the cold and the down hill, we tend to feel very good and may go light on the water.  It is VERY dry out here, be sure to drink a lot.  It is far better to pee a few times than cramp up.  Be sure to take your electrolyte/salt pills if that is part of your normal long run plan.  The cool air and dry air may mislead you as to how dehydrated you may become running in the desert.

When you get your water at mile 21 (Saddlebrooke Blvd.) that is the entrance to my neighborhood.  Many members of my neighborhood running club will be manning that water station.  If you finish around the 4:00 to 4:15 mark and see a lady in a wheelchair with another lady pushing her, say hello -- that will be my wife, Peggy, looking for me.

This is a day when Peg and I went up to Phoenix to cheer another BT'er on.

When I think of more, I will add them.

Any decision on dinner???