CIM Archives ~ TRAILMOMMA

December 13, 2024December 13, 2024

2024 CIM (California International Marathon)

Tis the season! The California International Marathon (CIM) season that is! Once again I toed the line because it is tradition. I am at the point where I no longer care about my finish time for this race. Maybe some day I will. I fully admit that the farthest I ran in training was 15 miles but I still had fun because this race is one of the most organized and well executed races I run. Like I said, it is tradition. 🙂

The 2024 CIM brought some new changes to the race start. The first of which was the bus shuttle situation. I think I am fan of the previous bus route only because it allowed me to sleep in a little longer and I had way less time waiting at the starting line. Before, I had to leave the house at 5:30 to catch the shuttle and had a little less than an hour of waiting time at the start. With all the uncertainties this year, I left the house at 4:50 and had 90 minutes of hanging out at the start. My friend Michele was gracious enough to offer me a ride and I am glad that I left earlier as I heard that a few of the later buses got lost on the way to the start. Yikes .

Lucky for me this year, my friend John was running the marathon too so I was able to connect with him at the start a little. With 90 minutes to kill, I was able to use the porta potties twice without issue (CIM is known for the bazillion porta potties at the start).

Finally it was time to line up at the starting line with 9,000 others and get this day started. The weather was predicted to be absolutely perfect for a marathon.

CIM starts in waves more or less but you can seat yourself wherever you want at the starting line (with some suggested areas based on finish times).

Once we started running I just settled in. This race starts off notoriously fast because it is a slight downhill and I inevitably get caught up in the speed. This year wasn’t much different but it felt good so I went with it.

Unlike last year I brought my headphones with me which in all my CIM’s I think I have only ever done once before (my second CIM I had a music playlist). I don’t normally like running to music but I will run to a podcast once in a while and I had spent the week saving up podcasts to listen to during this race just in case I needed to tune out.

I’ve run 15 CIMs, 21 marathons and a ton of ultra marathons but this is the first time I can recall having major gear issues during a race. Mind you, I trained wearing everything before so it wasn’t like I was trying something new on race day.

Mile 4 ish I had to stop to pee (that was new for me this year haha). Again, so grateful for all the porta potties on this race course.

Around mile 12, my sports bra started to burn. Like really burn. I knew instantly that I was having some chaffing issues and that come the end of the race, I was gonna be in some pain. I guess I could have stopped at one of the med tents along the way but it just never occurred to me. I also wore a waist belt (something I hate doing). After I crossed the finish line, I realized I had two big bruises on my lower back from the belt and my phone which was in the belt the whole time. Never again.

Mile 14 I had to stop again at the porta potties and then again around mile 21 I think? A new CIM record for me to have to stop so many times. Not ideal.

Mile 23 I was lucky enough to see my friend and coworker Stuart out there. I was just eager to be done so I stopped to chat with him much to his surprise. 🙂

The first half of my CIM was pretty speedy and the second half was a much slower effort. I decided to walk through some of the aid-stations just to soak in the energy and the signs. I high-fived some friends I saw along the course. Those two porta stops just had me lose any desire to keep a faster pace.

But I still ran with a smile the entire time. Ironically I was listening to a Dateline murder podcast in every photo. hahahaha

The finish line has changed at CIM over the years. I sort of miss the days when they had two separate shoots for male and female runners. Now we finish all under one finish arch. I can understand and appreciate the why but it I got stuck behind a group of people finishing hugging and holding hands kind of blocking the way.

Grateful for another CIM under my (non) belt. It truly is one of the most organized races out there and I love riding the bus to the start and meeting new people. I met a group of guys up from southern CA this year. The guy I sat with was doing his first marathon with his buddies. They were all new dads too and were super nice. He asked me how many of these I had done and was shocked when I told him this was my 15th. He asked for any inside tips. 🙂

For the first time since 2019 I had my entire family at the finish line waiting for me. The last few years I’ve had to bus back home alone because one of the kids had a game. It was so nice to have them with me this year especially since I decided it was wise to “sprint” to the finish the last mile or so and was hit with a wave of dizziness once I stopped walking and found them.

They were nice enough to sit with me while I ate something and then they walked me to the car and brought me home. The finish line weather was perfect, I just wanted to get home. One of these years I’ll hang out more at the finish line because it is one giant party. 🙂

Until next year CIM! Maybe I’ll train a little farther next time. 😉 Back to the dirt for me!

Happy Trails!

~Trailmomma

December 10, 2023December 10, 2023

2023 CIM (California International Marathon)

This year, the California International Marathon (CIM), fell just 4 weeks after I crossed the Rio 100 finish line. I wasn’t sure if I was even going to be able to run it, until marathon week arrived.

After a few short runs, I decided to go for it. So on race morning, I woke up at 3:30 am to get ready for the day and miles ahead.

Much like last year, I had my oatmeal and coffee and waited for Vans to wake up so we could hit the road at 5:30 am to get to the starting line.

My usual routine once I get to the starting area is like the 10,000 other runners, line up for the porta potties. This year though was a little different.

The distance between the next person in line and the actual porta potty is a few week. As I exited the porta potty and held the door open for the next person in line, a rogue runner tried to cut the line and jump into my porta potty!! I had to hold him back a little and told him, “Hell no buddy, you have to wait in line like everyone else. ” He turned and went to the back of the line and the whole line cheered me on. 🙂 One girl said “Thank you,” to me.

The race start is divided into a few different corrals. This year, I started on right when I really meant to start on the left but it was fine, I had made a deal with myself pre race.

Before the race, I told myself that I needed to run slow and easy because I really want to get back out on the trails and pavement, really just hits my body hard and requires a much longer recovery period.

For the first time in my 14 CIM starts, the race was delayed by 10 minutes. They never told us why, but I did find that to be very odd.

Once the race started, I tried not to get caught up in the early mile sprinting that always occurs.

My first few miles were sub 9 even though I didn’t feel like they were. I kept telling myself to slow down.

Around mile 10 or so, my stomach started to turn and not feel the best. I must have stopped at two different times on course. I hate stopping during the race but I told myself that I might as well, I had no one waiting at the finish line and it would give me a nice break.

Mile 12 or so, my ankle started to ache. The same ankle that I had issues with at Rio. It wasn’t unbearable but it did slow me down a little.

Eventually by mile 16, I started to feel good. My plan became, walk at the aid-stations (even though I don’t use the race aid-stations) and then run to the next one.

I met a nice man who was running his 20th CIM. He liked my pace so we chatted for a bit and then we lost each other at one of the aid-stations.

My mind did wander this year. I was bored at times. Not that the race is boring or the spectators, they are what truly make the race fun (I’ve run the race in the early years where some of those middle miles were quiet and boring because there were no spectators).

I just missed running with someone. This is the third year in a row that I have run it solo. I was going to bring headphones which is so unlike me, I never run with headphones but I really wish I had for a few of those miles.

Soon enough, I was at mile 20. I was getting texts from Vans who was at Squeaker’s soccer game. He was following me virtually online. That was a nice boost.

I texted my aunt who lives in East Sac to see if she was out there and I totally thought she was and waived very enthusiastically at someone I thought was her, only to find out post race, that she never made it out there.

The final miles for once ticked by much quicker than in years past. I kept my head down and just kept willing my legs to run.

I crossed the finish line which was entirely different this year. There are normally male and female shoots but they just had everyone finish under one arch this year which made the name announcing kind of funny.

The finish set up was different too. This was the 40th anniversary of CIM. The race shirt and the race poster I thought were super lame this year but all made sense when I crossed the finish line. We were handed really nice wind breakers and back packs!

Super sweet post race swag.

I wandered around the finish area looking for the Information tent because someone mid race told me there are now buses that can take you back to Folsom. Last year I took an Uber that cost me a small fortune.

Since I wasn’t racing off to a soccer game like I was last year, I decided to take the bus. It took me a while to find it and we had to sit on there for a while until the bus was full but it was great!

I had a great conversation on the bus with a woman from San Jose. I decided to take the first bus drop off location because Vans had called and said he wasn’t far from that spot so I only had to wait about 5 minutes.

Overall, I am thrilled with my CIM for 2023. I wanted to run 10 minute miles and I hit that number right on the nose.

This wasn’t my fast CIM by a long stretch but it wasn’t my slowest. I will say I am quite proud having been able to run it 4 weeks post 100 mile. I even wore my Rio shirt for the race which was awesome because some of the spectators knew what Rio was and would yell out “Awesome Rio! Well done!” 🙂 That felt good.

It wouldn’t be December with out CIM. Not sure how many I have left in me. I really love and appreciate trails so much more but running a marathon gives you a different kind of mental toughness. I will never be a speedy marathoner, but that’s okay. Sometimes it is more fun to enjoy the ride. 🙂

Congrats to everyone that ran the 40th annual CIM! It was my 14th CIM and my 20th marathon total.

Happy Trails!

~Trailmomma

December 7, 2022December 7, 2022

2022 CIM (California International Marathon)

The tradition lives on, even if things were a little bit different this year. One thing is for sure, there is no lack of “activity” for me or for my family the first weekend in December. Buckle in and grab a snack. If you like reading race reports, you are in the right place. If you don’t, you are probably way younger than I am! 🙂

The craziness starts with Friday and the California International Marathon (CIM) Expo and packet pickup in downtown Sacramento. For the first time in a very long time, Vans came with me.

The whole packet pickup process at CIM is super easy. They have kept the “airport line” method from 2021 which actually runs super seamless. Within a few minutes, I had my race bib, my race shirt and was checking out the expo.

After the expo, we hit up Pushkins Bakery (another tradition) for a gluten free vegan sandwich and headed back home.

Friday night we had basketball practice and then bright and early on Saturday morning, I left for Auburn for the Western State 100 Mile Lottery draw.

Despite having 16 tickets in the lottery, my name was not pulled this year but it was fun to watch friends get called and to hang out with S and C who were also there. Fingers crossed for next year!

With the new electronic name pull for Western States this year, the lottery moved pretty quickly and I was able to jet out of Auburn and head to Rocklin to catch game 2 of Squeaker’s basketball tournament.

The rest of the day was spent prepping for CIM the next morning.

I woke up at 4 am (more like 3:30 since I just could not stay asleep) and got ready with the help of my furry friend Jersey the cat. Both cats were actually quite interested in me being up that early. 🙂

I ate my usual breakfast of Picky Bars Can’t Beet Chocolate Oatmeal and a cup of coffee then sat with my legs up the wall.

I was not alone though ….

My other cat was keeping me company and wondering just what the heck I was doing!

Soon 5:30 rolled around and Vans was up (without me having to tell him!) and we were on our way to the race start.

For the last few years I have hitched a ride with TiggerT to the start but she decided not to run the race. Time for a new tradition!

Vans dropped me off at our usual spot and I stopped to use the bathroom and ran into Hassan who I see almost every year at this bathroom so it sort of felt like “old times” seeing him and getting a joyous “Hello!”

I quickly hopped the bus to stay dry and keep warm. It was misty and drizzly at the start but not really too cold (it has been way colder in past years).

Once the bus dropped us off, I made my way to what I thought was the shortest porta potty line. Some traditions never stop.

I had almost an hour before the race was going to start so I listened to the race announcements and tried to keep warm doing some activation exercises. I was also figuring out where I wanted to start.

Soon it was time to line up with 9,000 of my closest friends. I was actually quite a bit nervous this year mostly because I had not fully trained. The farthest I had run before lining up at the start was 15 miles the month before. Last year I actually trained for CIM and like a lot of runners, race week this year I started feeling all kinds of aches and pains which did not help calm my nerves.

I decided to just go with the flow and run conservatively. I had no real game plan other than I wanted to finish at a decent time (not race time, more like time of day) because my soccer team was down in Modesto playing game 1 of their State Cup game. I was SO bummed to miss watching these girls play in their first game but if they won, they were guaranteed a game 2 and I wanted to be there.

Promptly at 7 am the race started and I was moving. I felt pretty good and decided not to shed my layers just yet because I usually am still cold once we make the turn onto Oak Street.

I decided to run this year in my Rabbit Smashems because they have a lot of storage space to hold things. In hind sight and proven by my race photos, they are not the most flattering shorts when they are filled with all kinds of stuff. 🙂 They ARE quite useful though as they held ALL of my fuel which consisted of Unived Drink Mix and Spring Energy Gels as well as my ID and a credit card. I carried my phone in my left hand and my water bottle in my right.

Once I passed the timing mat, it felt like those 9,000 “friends” were just flying right by me but I paid them no mind and just kept doing my own thing …. which turned out to be running quite a bit faster than I planned on. My first mile clocked in at 8:15! Ooops. Miles 2 through 6 were all about 8:30 so I was moving (for me).

Some where in these early miles I ran into Mark who like me, is a glutton for punishment and tradition and runs this race every year no matter what. We chatted for a bit and then he was off.

At mile 6.5 I saw an open porta potty and decided to take it. The porta potty situation at CIM this year was perfect! I really try not to stop if I can manage, but I really needed to and since it was open, I was in and out in no time. After that, I still hovered around the 8:30 minute per mile range

After Mark, I ran into Maren who I used to work with. We ran and chatted for a bit. This was her first CIM and she looked amazing. I told her to just keep breathing. She was looking forward to seeing her family at mile 16.

I was still feeling pretty good for the most part but my pace by mile 13 had slowed to about a 9 minute mile and I was having a weird stomach issue that made me want to stop and use the porta potties again. I went back and forth mentally as to whether I really needed to when I came upon a set at mile 15.5 and saw Miss P in line and took that as a sign to stop too. I reminded myself that I was running faster than I had intended to. I only waited maybe 30 to 45 seconds before one opened and I was in and out.

From 15.5 on I slowed considerably and was between a 9 and a 9:30 mile which was fine. I was (crazy enough) still on track for close to a sub 4 hour marathon which was NOT my goal but once that thought settled in my brain, I could not let it go.

At mile 21 I let myself check my phone and received some texts from Vans on the game status. At mile 22, I really started to fade. The sun had come out early in the race and it was HOT. I saw people dropping like flies on the side trying to stretch out cramps or just walk. I became one of them. I never stopped, I kept moving but my legs were feeling super heavy and they also felt like they might cramp. I took two salt tablets during those final miles.

Around 22/23 I thought I heard my name and I looked over and saw my neighbor waving. That gave me a nice boost.

One thing that was bizarre to me, was the fact that during 26.2 miles, I never heard one Bon Jovi song! This was my 13th CIM (15th if you count the years I ran the relay) and I have always heard Bon Jovi being blasted on course. Ah well.

The final two miles to finish always seem like the LONGEST two miles of any race but I do love the crowds cheering and the guy dressed like Jesus with “The End is Near” sign. Cracks me up every year.

I crossed the finish line in 4:11. Not my fastest CIM and not my slowest CIM. I am actually quite proud of that time considering my lack of training. I also thought it was great Ultra Running practice to get comfortable being uncomfortable because I was definitely uncomfortable those last four miles or so. 🙂

This was my 13th CIM and my 19th marathon and for the first time ever, I had no one at the finish line waiting for me.

So I walked about 5 blocks and called an Uber to come pick me up and take me home. By then, I had heard that the soccer team had won their first game at 11 am and were going to play again at 5 pm in Modesto and I was going to make sure I was there.

Super grateful that Uber now exists. I got home, showered, did some recovery stuff, ate and then drove 2 hours to Modesto to make it in time for game 2 of our State Cup. Unfortunately, the outcome was not what we had hoped for but I was glad that I made it. The girls were excited to tell me all about game 1 and asked how many miles I had run. 🙂

All in all, it was a successful CIM considering all the new changes. Recovery is going well and I am looking forward to getting back onto the dirt and trails soon.

Happy ~~Trails~~ Road Running!

~Trailmomma

RACE DETAILS

Shoes : Topo Athletic Phantoms

Clothes : Rabbit

Watch : Garmin

Fuel : Unived Drink Mix and Spring Energy Canaberry gels

Socks : Injinji

Breakfast : Picky Bars Oatmeal

December 7, 2021December 7, 2021

2021 CIM (CALIFORNIA INTERNATIONAL MARATHON)

They called it the, “Comeback Year” and while it was a little different than prior California International Marathons, it still went off without a hitch and thousands finished, BQ’d or just had a blast. For me, it was my 12th CIM and my 18th marathon finish. It is also the ONLY road race I do and my goal this year was to finish strong, uninjured (after being sidelined by a calf tear) and to be able to walk and not feel destroyed at the end.

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PRE RACE: Why fix what isn’t broken right? So like my 2019 CIM, I woke up at 4:30 am, had my bowl of Picky Bars Can’t BEET Chocolate oats, a half a cup of coffee and water. This combo has seemed to work for me the last few races so I am sticking with it.

At 5:45 TiggerT my friend and ride to the start arrived and we laughed our way over to Folsom. We hopped on the shuttle buses that took us to the start and the minute I got off the bus, I realized that I had to pee …. like right then. I sort of rushed off from the group to get in the mile long porta potty line.

I almost ditched being in line when I saw that the race was starting in a minute. I was IN the porta potty when the announcer said, “We have 40 seconds until the race starts!” Even though I knew my plan was to start with a pace group and that all the groups start in timed waves, I was a little stressed and panicked. I made it though. When the “gun” went off I was standing with my pace group … and 9 minutes later I crossed the starting line with my wave. So yea, I stressed for nothing really.

I will say, that even though this is the only pavement race I do all year long, I did train more on pavement this year than I did in 2019. I ran all of my long runs on a bike trail and kept shorter distances or speed work on dirt (for my sanity). So truly, one run a week was on some form of pavement in an effort to get my body prepared for the pounding that pavement brings and also the mental aspect. Nothing is more boring for me mentally, than running on pavement and the same loop or bike trail over and over (which is what I did each week).

My last few long key training runs where a struggle though because I’d received some awful news that a friend’s 12 year old son had passed. Dylan Flinchum is the grandson, son and nephew of a family that I grew up next door to my entire childhood. They have been like my second family to me my entire life, so when I heard that Dylan lost his battle with MLD (metachromatic leukodystrophy) after 10 long years on the morning of my first real long run … I almost bailed on it entirely. However, I know that Dylan and his family never gave up during his 10 years battling this disease so I laced up and headed out running in between tears but running with Dylan and his family in my heart every single mile. I thought of them often during the race as well.

My final last long run happened to be during Dylan’s funeral which was held virtually because he’s touched so many lives and it truly would have been a packed church back in Jersey. Another long run met with tears but I found strength in listening to his service and all who loved him.

So when race day neared, my coach and I discussed pacing. One piece of CIM that was different this year than prior years, was the lack of lots different pace groups. Typically in years past, there were pace groups every 5 minutes. This year, they were intermittent. As I said earlier, my goal was to finish strong, uninjured, not destroyed and as close to 4 hours as I could manage. My CIM PR is from 2015 with a time or 3:54. That year I ran many many road races as CIM prep.

This year, my coach and I were deciding whether to run with the 4 hour group or the 4:05 group because after that, it jumped to 4:20. We decided to start conservatively and start with the 4:05 group. I found them and started with them but quickly was finding myself very frustrated. Pace groups tend to be crowded. No one wants to lose their pacer. The pacers in this group however were not holding up the 4:05 sign (I don’t envy that job at all – running 26 miles holding a wooden sign takes a lot of endurance and strength). Not seeing the sign every once in a while though frustrated me as I couldn’t find them at times and kept losing them in the crowd. Instead, I decided to run just in front of the 4:05 group and this led to me eventually pulling ahead of them.

The entire run I just focused on my breathing and keeping it even and steady: in through my nose and out my mouth. Basically, I just ran. I wasn’t expecting to see anyone really but I saw Todd and Nicole just before crossing the starting line, I saw Diane Hanes who ran out and gave me a hug (thank you Diane!) as I ran by and I saw April in Old Fair Oaks who screamed my name SO loud the runner next to me said, “Man! That’s cool! She’s SO happy to see you!” 🙂 And I saw got a boost from Jen from Fueled by Frosting IG fame near Watt Ave. All of those faces helped propel me.

Also while running through Old Fair Oaks, I heard a volunteer/spectator yell, “Don’t worry! It’s all downhill from here! I promise!” I turned and looked and it was Deirdre … a fellow trail runner. I chuckled and yelled back, “You lie!” and all the runners around me including Deirdre laughed. When it is your 12th time on this course, you know it well.

The weather was decent. It was foggy and cool. I prefer hotter temps but overall it wasn’t bad. I never took off my long sleeve. I could have but just decided I did not want to carry it. My calves and hamstrings were tight and I think in warmer weather they might not have been but they never got to the point where I was overly worried they’d cramp.

My nutrition was going perfect. I carried Unived in my handheld and sipped on that the entire first 11 miles. I refilled it at mile 12 and continued to sip and run. I had zero stomach issues the entire race and I never once stopped to use a porta potty (rare for me in this race).

Most of the race was uneventful. I was just running, keeping my pace steady each and every mile and focusing on my breath. Around mile 21 or so another spectator yelled, “It’s all downhill hill from here!” Wherein I sort of said out loud, “Except for that one hill up ahead. ”

The runner next to me goes: “I heard you tell another person they were lying for saying it was all downhill. How many of these have you run?“

Me: “This is my 12th CIM.”

Runner: “Oh! Wow! So you do know this course! You have looked solid and steady this entire race. You look really good. So is there another hill?“

Me: “Thank you! Yes, around between 21 and 22 there is the J Street bridge. It’s the last “hill” and then from there, it really is downhill or flat to the finish.”

She thanked me and I gave her some extra advice for when she was ran down L Street. Hint: Ignore the numbered street signs, they’ll mess with your head. 🙂

At the start of the race, I had decided that miles 24 and 25 is when I’d leave the pace group and try and push ahead but at this point, I was already ahead of the 4:05 group. I did however, look down at my watch at mile 24 and noticed the time … I was close to a PR. Dang it!

I started to slowly pick up the pace a little bit. My calves, hamstrings and quads were not loving this spontaneous decision but I just kept breathing.

I just focused on the road ahead. At mile 25 I looked at my watch again and realized a PR was out of the question but sub 4 wasn’t if I pushed it. I heard my name and glanced to my right and saw Vans and Squeaker smiling and cheering me on! They made it!!!! They’d spent the morning at some basketball tournaments in Rocklin and I thought for sure they’d miss the finish.

Squeaker racing to the street to try and catch me. Photo: Vans

I made the final left turn and tried so hard to sprint. My finish line photo is of me smiling I am sure as I was ear to ear with a goofy grin when I saw that my watch said 3:58. I’d done it, sub 4, I was walking (not hobbling) and I felt uninjured. Mission accomplished.

Best of all, my family, minus the Peanut (she had her own basketball tournament) were there at the finish.

Vans and Squeaker – her 10th CIM finish photo (she’s only 10) and Van’s 12th CIM finish photo (minus any relays we’ve done).

Super grateful to my family for being there, to TiggerT for the ride and laughs before the start of almost all of my CIMs and to my Coach for her continued support, direction, advice and encouragement.

It is a few days later as I write this, and I am feeling good. I am mobile and walking. Stiff and tired but no lingering issues that I can tell. I am taking the necessary recovery time and just enjoying the holiday season with my family.

And yes, I’ve already signed up for CIM 2022 … it is tradition. I can’t help myself. 🙂

Pretty steady pacing – but that finish sprint … ouch! 🙂

Happy (back to the) Trails!

~Trailmomma

Shoes: Topo Athletic Phantoms

Hydration: Unived Elite Drink Mix

Pre-Race: Picky Bars Oatmeal

Extra Fuel & training fuel: Spring Energy

December 12, 2019December 12, 2019

2019 CIM (California International Marathon – Race Report)

Normally I get my race reports up pretty quickly after a race when all the memories are fresh in my brain but this year, the California International Marathon just kind of came and went without too much hoopla.

For the first time in about 3 or 4 years, I ran CIM solo and I went to the race expo solo. Having just run Pine to Palm 100 a little over two months ago, I really had no “plans” for CIM other than to just enjoy the day, finish it and complete CIM #11.

This year, due to some construction downtown, the CIM race expo was held at the old Arco Arena. Not super convenient to get to but definitely much easier to park the car. I made quick use of the expo. I got my bib, a small massage on my calves and then visited Michael at the Sufferfest booth. Vans and I have run into Michael 4 or 5 times over the course of the year at various races or events. He was making hats for runners this year at the expo and assured me that Sufferfest would be at the finish line!

The Saturday before the marathon was a bit of a crazy day. I woke up early, attended the Western States Lottery (didn’t get called) and missed my daughter and team’s soccer game because it was at the same time as the lottery. The minute the last lottery card was pulled I jetted from Auburn to my other daughter’s three game basketball tournament in Rocklin. I spent the remainder of the day/evening there.

When race morning arrived, I felt rested but didn’t have that excitement that I normally have probably because I wasn’t sure what the day would bring since I was running alone.

My pre race breakfast was a half a cup of coffee and Picky Bars Can’t Beet Chocolate Oatmeal. This stuff is awesome and packed with calories for long distance running. Sounds crazy … beets and chocolate but it is SO good.

Like always, Tigger T came to pick me up and brought me to the race start. I love the laughs we have and the memories of past races we share when we do this. I’ve ran with Tigger T a few years ago during the coldest CIM in (my) history. We still laugh at the crazy fun we had that race. I also met her friend Tiffany who was doing her FIRST full CIM. I love meeting people who are running their first marathon. Their excitement is contagious and that is just what I needed.

The whole weekend had been dumping rain and most of the runners for CIM were anticipating a full 26.2 miles in the rain. Instead, the marathon gods shone down and we only had a few sprinkles at the start and then beautiful weather the rest of the race!

After saying goodbye and good luck to Tigger T and Tiffany, I made my way to the race corral. Here I had to pick a predicted finish time so I could place myself on the appropriate side of the corral.

As I was standing there listening to the conversations around me, I recognized a voice. I turned to my right and realized I was standing next to Tim Twietmeyer, the 3:40 pace group leader. Something flickered in my head … “Could I? … Could I hold a 3:40 pace with zero training…on pavement? … 3:40 would be a BQ I think … Could I?” I quickly shut those thoughts down, “Be smart. That wasn’t the goal. You don’t want to end up injured. Just run for fun.” The internal struggle was real. 🙂

Finally the race started and all the runners shuffled their way to the timing mats. Once I crossed the mat, I just tried to get a comfortable pace and avoid being stepped on by everyone jostling for position.

The first mile I clocked just below an 8:30 pace. I thought to myself, “That didn’t seem too fast. I feel okay. Comfortable. I’ll just sit at this pace for a while.” The miles seem to click by one by one and I just kept running. Every so often I would glance at my splits and somehow, I kept them consistently just under an 8:30 pace, “Wow. I wonder if I could hold 8:30 the entire race? If I could, that would get a me a decent PR!” This is what happens when I run alone. It is like I have an angel on one shoulder saying one thing and the devil on the other saying the complete opposite. Right about now, the angel must have been tying her shoe laces because I kept that 8:30 pace for the first 15 miles!

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Then, at mile 15 my shoe came untied, then I ran out of water and had to fill up and I took some fuel. That wast my first 9+ minute mile of the race … “That’s okay. See if you can bring it back to 8:30 … but man, I am starting to feel tired …. is that my hamstring that’s aching … glutes, think about your glutes. Sandi would say focus on your glutes!“

I got pretty close to bringing it back down to a sub 9 minute mile but I never got close to 8:30 again. The wheels as they say, were starting to come unhinged.

Mile 20 is usually where I see Vans and my kids but not this year. This year I was missing yet another soccer game because of CIM and they wouldn’t make it in time to see me cross mile 20. Mentally, that was a little tough because I love seeing them there. Actually, I only saw one or two familiar faces out there this year but I do think the crowds of cheering spectators, especially through those Carmichael miles was way bigger than in years past. Way to go spectators!

The climb up the J street bridge is tough but this year, the music was pumping and the cheering was SO loud it almost brought tears to my eyes. It gave me a little boost that quickly faded as my right ankle started to ache.

An old injury that I had surgery on in 2013, started to make itself known so in an effort to keep myself in check, I slowed my pace down considerably. There went my PR but I’d rather finish without an injury. Still, my ankle was screaming as I made my way down J Street.

When I made the turn onto Alhambra and knew that I had less than 2 miles to go. I tried to pick up the pace once again. I knew I was close to the 4 hour mark and the competitive (aka the devil) side of me would have loved another sub 4 finish but the realistic side (aka my angel) was reminding me that I had just run a 100 miler two months ago AND I had not even trained for this so don’t be greedy and stupid. The angel won but only because I couldn’t get my legs to move any faster.

I crossed the finish line and just smiled. I was happy to be done and the first thought in my head was, “Dang! That was tougher than my 100 miler!” 🙂 Road races are no joke and they can be extremely hard both physically and mentally. The pavement is not forgiving but CIM is tradition and I was so happy that I completed my 11th CIM (17th marathon total). While I much prefer running CIM with someone (ideally someone running their first marathon), I was pleased at what I was able to sustain out there even if it wasn’t my intended plan. It led me to … “What if? What if I actually trained for this? What if focused on a BQ?” I love the trails too much though I think to leave them. Who knows, maybe some day.

Once I got my medal and my CIM finisher’s water bottle (woot woot Sacramento Running Association for the NO single use plastics at the finish – I love it!), I made my way to the beer tent. Every runner is allowed a free finisher’s beer (Sierra Nevada) but this year, for the first time in 11 CIM’s .. I was able to partake in that finisher’s beer because they also had Sufferfest!

It was a good thing too because Vans and the kids took a while to get to the finish to pick me up so I just hung out in the beer garden chatting with other runners and trying to stretch out my incredibly tight and very tired legs.

My two girls showed up to bring me home!

I love the California International Marathon. It’s just a great race with the best volunteers and spectators but it isn’t as easy as many might think. Happy to have #11 under my belt and I am already looking forward to next year. Anyone want to run their first CIM with me? 🙂

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