Race History

Here's a look back on my previous marathon performances over the years. There have been ups and downs, and I'm hoping for one big UP this weekend!

#1 - Rock N Roll Marathon (San Diego, CA) – 06/05/05 – 4:30:20

I was shooting for a 4:00-4:30 finish and JUST made it!

#2 - Nike Women’s Marathon (San Francisco, CA) – 10/23/05 – 4:30:15

I trained harder for this race and did weekly group track workouts. I felt stronger and was convinced I’d improve my time. Instead I was whipped by the hills and only improved by five seconds! Ahh!

# 3 - Rock N Roll Marathon (Phoenix, AZ) – 1/15/06 – 4:35:04

Long story, but I got lost and ran two extra miles. Amazingly though, I ran 28.2 miles in only 5 minutes more time than I had previously run 26.2. Sigh.

#4 - LA Marathon (Los Angeles, CA) – 3/19/06 – 4:11:12

I felt great in this race and cruised along the whole time. A 19 minute improvement in 9 months? I’ll take it!

#5 - SF Marathon (San Francisco, CA) – 7/30/06 – 4:24:17

I unwisely made the decision to return to San Francisco to run a race. Why? Not like I’d get my best time on a hilly course. It’s a great course though and I loved it being a SF native. Running across the Golden Gate Bridge was AWESOME! (But freezing…)

#6 - Long Beach Marathon (Long Beach, CA) – 10/15/06 – 4:11:27

Determined to not be beat by San Francisco, I jumped right into another training program and ran Long Beach. Another great course, but sadly a slower time by 15 seconds than LA. Sigh.

And now an interlude between races of …… eight months! I was training for the Rock N Roll in Phoenix Jan ’07 when I got sidelined for three months with tendonitis. Physical therapy did its magic and I was back to normal again after a couple months, but not running for three months almost drove me crazy!!

#7 - Rock N Roll Marathon (San Diego, CA) – 6/3/07 – 4:03:27

Back to where it all started! After not running and then slowly rehabbing I was ready! I felt great though this race and KNEW this would be the year I’d break four hours! Unfortunately though I had to stop at mile 10 to unload my bladder, and waited in line for three minutes. I timed it. Darn those three minutes!

#8 - Chicago Marathon (Chicago, IL) – 10/7/07 – 4:24:59

After missing 4 hours by just a few minutes, I was determined to achieve my goal in my next race. I set my sight on Chicago which was famed to be a flat, easy course. I managed to get in by fundraising for the American Cancer Society and was excited to finally beat 4 hours. Well, know what happened? There was a massive heat wave that weekend and race temperatures tipped past 100 degrees at some point in the course. Because of the heat thousands of people who registered for the race didn’t even start. And then .. because of the heat and the race organizers inability to accommodate racing needs for a wildy hot climate, the race was CALLED OFF :-O after about 4 hours. I was lucky enough to have passed the point where they were stopping people, and I did get to finish the race. But with a slow time. What a disappointment. Luckily (or unluckily) I was living in Arizona at the time so I had been training in 80-100F heat. It’s not ideal, but I knew how to handle it. Many others weren’t so lucky. Two people died and hundreds were hospitalized. I saw people dropping on the street like flies. Literally. What a crazy day.

#9 - Rock N Roll Marathon (San Antonio, TX) – 11/16/08 – 4:06:07

Since I love the Rock N Roll series I thought I’d try one of their other races. San Antonio was supposed to be a pleasant flat course. It was for the most part and I have no real excuse for not finishing faster. Hmm.. well there was a freak chill that came through and a freeze alert the night before and the race started in the 30’s instead of the normal 60’s, but I won’t blame that. I blame me.

#10 - Rock N Roll Marathon (San Diego, CA) – 5/31/09 – 4:00:32

Back to the homeland. I ran this race last year with the Foot Locker Challenge team. We were going so fast at first that I PR’d in my half marathon! But then I cramped severely from mile 16 on and walked walked walked. I still managed to not completely ruin my time overall and look at that finish time. Just SECONDS from a sub-4. Oh the agony!

#11 - Marine Corps Marathon (Washington, DC) - 10/25/09 – 4:17:24

David and I ran this race together which makes this one of my most special races. We stayed together the whole time and had a pretty good pace going. David started cramping really badly around mile 22 though and we walked a lot towards the end. It was still a decent finish and a wonderful experience. (more details)  Training with David all of those months and getting to race with him was like a dream come true. His family was the best support squad ever on the course and really helped keep us going.

#12 - Rock N Roll Marathon (San Diego, CA) – 6/3/10

Well here we go again, 4th time on this course, 12th marathon overall. I’m shooting for 3:55, but 3:59:59 and I’ll be happy. Fingers crossed, laces tied, and a heart full of energy and hope.

Here’s hoping the 12th time’s a charm. I’m tired of being what Einstein considers to be insane!