BIG SUR INTERNATIONAL MARATHON 2013

Outside the Health & Fitness Expo on

Saturday about to pick up our Bibs.

BIG SUR INTERNATIONAL MARATHON

April 28, 2013

Dear Family & Friends,

First of all, thank you for your thoughts and prayers as we tackled our biggest "couples" physical challenge since climbing Half Dome in Yosemite back in June 2001. This time around it was the Big Sur International Marathon -- considered one of the best and toughest marathons in North America.

Questions abounded as we packed our things and made the drive up from San Diego. First, the kids! How would they do with a babysitter all weekend long? (They did great, of course.) Then all the typical pre-race jitters of did we pack the right clothes? The right pre- and during-race nutrition? Should we run with water packs or just use the on-course water stations? How cold was it going to be? Should we run with jackets? Long sleeves? All of the above? We committed ourselves to running together from start to finish, would we be able to run a pace that was manageable for both of us? Would we still love each other in the morning? Could our marriage of 15.8 years survive 26.2 miles? After all, this was my first time running more than 20 miles (which I only did once three weeks prior to race day). Maria, the more experienced runner, had done one other marathon back in 2011.

After a one-hour shuttle ride down our course on
Highway 1 (in the dark), we're ready for a chilly
44-degree start!

Well, a 4:30 AM shuttle ride to the start line and 26.2 miles later, all our questions were answered. And so were our prayers.

Our Big Sur Marathon was a resounding success! We stuck to our race plan of a 3:1 run-walk ratio. Doing this Galloway style of run-walk-run kept us fresh for the entire race and allowed us to really enjoy the entire experience and the incredible scenery along the way.

The marathon began in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park with a very comfortable mostly downslope run through the sheltering redwoods. After Mile 5, we burst out of the redwoods and have our first view of the spectacular, rugged central California coastline. Along with the awesome view came an equally awesome headwind with occasional gusts of over 20 miles per hour. The scene here was one of hats flying off runners' heads and jackets emerging from waist packs all around us. The wind was pretty vicious at times, so much so that I called for an early walk break or two just because I felt like I could walk faster than I could run into the wind, especially when going uphill.

First view of the course's major

challenge -- Hurricane Point.

At Mile 10, we came around a bend and were greeted by one of the more beautiful and daunting sights we'd see all day -- Hurricane Point. It's a 520-foot climb over 2 miles, the course's biggest challenge and we weren't even half way through. We stopped for pictures at this point, took more pictures with the Taiko drummers at the base of the climb, and started our uphill battle. Surprisingly it wasn't as bad as we had feared, perhaps because we had feared it so much. The top of the hill was marked by Mile 12.

A mile down the hill was the iconic halfway point of the race -- crossing the Bixby Bridge. For me, it was one of the more emotionally charged sections of the course. This was where we crossed the spectacular bridge accompanied by the music from a tuxedo-clad pianist playing a grand piano at the other side of the bridge. It was so inspiring that I may have even shed a tear, but I wouldn't know it since the wind was blowing so hard. We stopped and took our requisite photo with the piano.

Hurricane Point with the mouth of the Little Sur River

in the foreground. Another example of the stunning

postcard scenery of the Big Sur International Marathon.

The mile markers started ticking by, albeit slower with each passing one. When we got to Mile 20, it was all new territory for me, and not exactly old hat for Maria, but it was definitely more than we had ever run during training. So now it was time for one-foot-in-front-of-the-other determination. As we entered the Carmel Highlands, we started to see signs of habitation as small groups of residents came out to cheer us on. They had nothing better to do on this Sunday morning as they were completely blocked in by the Highway 1 road closure for us runners. Thank goodness for those trapped and cheering residents as the last six miles were really tough. This section had a number of twisting hills and descents that were extremely cambered (slanted). When you add the fact that the winds continued to be as strong as ever, this could easily be considered the most technically difficult part of the course. Plus, it was murder on my already-tired knees and ankles.

Just beyond Mile 23 was another iconic Big Sur Marathon moment -- the strawberries across from the Carmel Highlands General Store. Beautiful, big, and tasty strawberries were the perfect solution to a worn and tired body needing an extra umph! to finish strong. We grabbed a couple handfuls and finished them off before going even a hundred feet. Delicious! Finally, we could truly taste the finish line!

The Taiko Drummers add some

much needed inspiration as we

begin our ascent to Hurricane Point.

In short time, the course straightened out and a psychedelic hippy band was camped out by the beach below the Carmelite Monastery, which we didn't even know was there since we were so focused on getting to the finish line just a mile and a half down the road. But of course, this wouldn't be the Big Sur Marathon if there wasn't one final hill to climb -- at Mile 25. Granted, it was a short half-mile long hill, but it was unwelcome nonetheless. We agreed to walk the last part of the hill so we could power ourselves through the final three-quarters mile to the finish line. An angel disguised as a marathoner came up alongside us and said, "The finish line is just to the left of those flags up ahead." It was all we needed to buck up and fight to pass at least a few other runners on our way to glory!

Some final thoughts (you can do it!)…. During my training for the race, I had wondered if this might be my first -- and last! -- marathon. I had fully expected to not want to do this again in the moments immediately following the finish. But oddly, I felt much different. Sure, I was tired and my right knee was hurting, but I was already thinking about when and where my next marathon would be. I'm thinking once every two years would be sufficient for me, due to all the training involved. If anyone's thinking about doing a marathon and wants some pointers for how to do it and feel good doing it, please let us know how we can help. With the right run-walk ratio and some serious mind-over-matter determination, you can do it! It's amazing to think that we finished this tough course without ever running more than 30 miles per week. So it is completely possible to finish a marathon with minimal weekly mileage.

The Grand Piano at Bixby Bridge.

Some thoughts from Maria… It was so wonderful to run a marathon without any major injuries and truly enjoy every minute. My dream of running a marathon with my amazing husband has been realized and I will cherish these memories forever. I was so amazed how great I felt the entire race, even at Mile 26. I have gained so much confidence and am no longer intimidated by the full marathon. It feels so good to check one off my bucket list of dream marathons, I can't wait to run my next one!

Maria especially wants to thank the following for their critical roles in her running… Katie Johnson, In Motion Fit running coach, for being a constant and weekly inspiration. Victor Runco, chiropractor, for being a true runners' doctor who knows how to treat runners because he's been there himself. Nikki Miller, doctor of physical therapy, for helping tweak her running form to avoid injuries that had plagued her in the past. 

And super-duper extra special thanks to Jen Adkins… for staying back home in San Diego with our three kids the entire weekend and caring for them like they were her very own. It's only because of Jen that both Maria and I could train together on our increasingly longer Saturday runs during the six weeks leading up to race day. God bless Jen!

Happy Running,

Dan

Here are a couple more pictures we took along the way on our Big Sur Marathon…

Seriously, doesn't it look like one of those cheesy

green-screen tourist photos? But the scene and

colors are for real!

At the finish line with our medals. Hooray!!!

Race for Autism — (March 27, 2010)

Today our whole family participated in the Race for Autism in Balboa Park, San Diego. We ran for a cause that is near and dear to our hearts as our oldest child, Nolan, is autistic and has been wonderfully served by the community—including programs which have been directly or indirectly assisted by the National Foundation for Autism Research (NFAR), the lead sponsor of this annual event.

We believe that exercise is a crucial component to minding our health and we want to influence our children by helping them see its importance. Here’s the story about how it all went down…

Dan’s Story—

I set the alarm for 5:30 a.m., knowing it was mostly unnecessary because our kids have this blessed habit of waking by 5 o’clock. Sure enough, by 5 the boys were awake going through scenes of their favorite cartoons and stories, each taking their roles from the comforts of their own beds. Of course, since they sleep just across the hall from Maria and me, I heard every word of it. Nice.

I tossed and turned a little, trying to block their voices from my head to soak up the final half hour of sleep due to me, but mostly failed since I was worried the whole time they’d wake their sister earlier than she needed to be awoken.

The clock turned to 5:26… :27… :28… :29… and I thought, ah, forget it… I let the alarm ring, hit the snooze to give Maria an extra ten minutes, and got up to release the hounds.

I started on breakfast for the boys. We needed to be out of the house by 6:45 to make the 8 a.m. start time for the race without having to worry too much about parking. Berkeley woke up about 10 minutes later, followed by Maria. Our house was at full steam and it was still pitch black outside! (Typically morning in the Lai household, actually.)

“What are we doing today?” they asked.

“We have to eat breakfast and get dressed! Today’s—“ I started, when Jackson finished my sentence.

“We’re racing?”

That’s right. As soon as we changed over the kid’s hallway calendar to March, we immediately marked today’s date, Saturday, March 27, 2010, as “A Special Day.” Everyday they’d point to the marked day and ask what it was. And everyday we’d tell them, “That’s the day we’re running in a race. And if you finish, you’ll win a medal.” Everyone would get that wonderful, beautiful smile on their face.

Breakfast was done and it was time to get dressed. Each of our kids was entered in the 1-Mile Family Walk and had official bibs. They were so excited to get to put on their shirts with their numbers attached because they all remembered that morning back in January when mom was dressed and ready to go for the Carlsbad Half Marathon. They, especially Jackson, saw her number and her finisher’s medal and wanted nothing more than to get a medal of their own. The Vancouver Winter Olympics then followed, and they were raring to go with medal fever!

Today was their day. And—what do you know?—it would also turn out to be our day too.

The kids got to hang out with their aunt Elsa (Maria’s sister) at the resource fair, doing crafts and picking up all sorts of free stuff, while we ran the timed 5K race. The course is a loop through beautiful Balboa Park. It’s an interesting loop, however, because it truly feels like it’s entirely uphill—impossible for a loop, but it really feels that way! It was a great day for Maria and me. We both ran our hearts out to our own personal records. Sure, she beat me by 34 seconds, but who’s counting? I blame the final hill. (She must have found a short cut or tunnel or something!)

After finishing, we met up with Elsa and the kids and walked over to the start line for the 1-Mile Family Walk. As we started out, Jackson wanted to know why nobody was running. I told him we were saving ourselves for the end. He seemed okay with the explanation.

By the half-mile mark, we could tell the kids were getting antsy walking so slow. So I started prepping them for our final dash to the finish. That seemed to perk them up a little and the excitement was starting to build. I found a suitable “start” line for me and the kids halfway across the Cabrillo Bridge and lined us all up.

Ready—set—GO!

Surprisingly, Nolan, our laziest, err, “mellowest” of the three immediately bolted to the lead, weaving between walkers and strollers and leashes and dogs. We turned the corner where the route flanked a grassy slope. It was too much temptation for a spectacular morning in San Diego, so Nolan went off course and straight down the hill, doing laps around a giant oak. Jackson went chasing after and Berkeley, who was running beside me, started that direction when I called down for the boys to get back on course.

It took about three or four tries, but I finally got them back on course. Jackson and Berkeley took off and rounded the hairpin for the finish line. Nolan took his time returning to the course and ended up squandering his early lead, finishing in third. For him, I blame the temptation of a grassy slope.

It was truly an awesome morning running for Autism—running for our son—and running for our own health and the health of our children.

We believe in setting an example for the importance, fun, and excitement of exercise and physical fitness.

Throughout the week, they see their mom get dressed and ready for her pre-work morning run on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Then on Saturdays, we usually all go out to wherever it is she’s training for her long run. I usually take the kids out to breakfast after dropping off Maria and then we mess around wherever it is she’s running (hopefully, the beach!) that day. We hope our children are developing an appreciation for the discipline involved with exercise and being healthy while also finding it fun and invigorating.

Maria’s Story—

There I stood at the start line with my Moms in Motion (MIM) buddy Michele and my hubby. I was so excited to be running with Dan but also terrified since I had not been training for a 5K distance. I’m usually trying to pace myself for longer distances like half marathons (13.1 miles) and haven’t practiced getting a fast time for the shorter 5K runs (3.1 miles). As the National Anthem played, I have to admit I got misty-eyed thinking about my son Nolan. He has come a long way and I am so proud of him. During the race I encountered other fellow MIM gals and exchanged some words with them as I huffed and puffed my way to the finish line. I know I didn’t set any course records today, but I ran my heart out and set my own personal record.

I love running because it is such a rewarding sport—with hard work you can always improve. I love the thrill of going faster and farther.

My kids know that running is very important to me. Every morning Berkeley asks me, “Where are you going today?” as I stagger to the kitchen to fetch my morning coffee. She knows that I will either be getting in my car to go for a run or heading to the back house to weight lift and cross train. She always wants to play with me first thing in the morning but never gives me a hard time for leaving to go exercise. Nolan was actually baffled when I didn’t run for almost the entire month of February when I was recovering from pneumonia. He even ordered me to go run several times, saying things like, “But you like running, mommy.” It is nice to know that my children understand the importance of exercise and adhering to a training schedule.

As parents, our most important task is to set a good example for our children. The best thing I can do to help ensure my kids will live a healthy active life is to SHOW them how to do it. Do as I do, not only as I say.

Thanks—

We’d like to give a special thanks to everyone who joined our team—House of Lai—by running with us, making a donation on behalf of our team, or doing both. Thanks to Elsa Chira (Maria’s sister) for walking with us and watching our lovely kids while Maria and I ran. It’s rare that we ever get to run together; so it was a real treat and blessing to get to do so. Thanks to Michele Price, our son Nolan’s first Sunday School teacher and who also is part of the Moms In Motion running group that Maria’s a part of, for her running with us and donating to the cause. Michele also got a personal record today—great job! Thanks to Adrienne Wadel and her daughter Madeline for joining our team in the 5K walk. What a beautiful sight to see mother and daughter walking together. Thanks to Jace David Hilemon who had to miss the race—after all, he’s just 364 days old and needs his sleep whenever he can get it. Your grandparents Kevin and Sylvia Miller have great expectations for you, buddy! And thanks to our newest nephew and youngest team member at four months of age, Lucas Romo. We’re sure you have your mom (Maria’s sister Diana) and dad doing enough running around for all of us.

For more information about the Race for Autism, see their website at www.raceforautism.org or the website for the National Foundation for Autism Research at www.nfar.org.