On the Run with Karen

Big Sur Marathon Weekend

My intention for the Big Sur 21 Miler was to have fun, experience the beauty and majesty of the scenery and nature that this course is famous for.

I woke up at the ungodly hour of 3:50AM (anything with a 3 in it is sleepy time in my opinion…). All the race participants – marathoners, 21 mile power walkers, 10 milers alike – prepared to board the bus and take the hour long ride to the start line. The course hugs the California coast with its 2 lane highway introducing us to expansive ocean views, cliffs with neighboring flower fields and fog-filled head winds. The wind did whip and a few fog banks descended but considering that one year it hailed, I found the weather to be quite pleasant.

The Big Sur marathon is rated in the top 10 of the most scenic races in the U.S. Can we add HILLY to that description? Despite the challenging terrain, I found myself enamored with the beauty and enjoyed the camaraderie with my fellow participants. I walked the up-hills, ran the down-hills and stretched my hamstring cramp any time it talked to me J. In addition to the crashing waves and steep craggy shoreline, nature’s animal kingdom abounded. I saw a pack of llamas and herd of sheep, heard boisterous cattle, shrieking quail and neighing horses, even a very resourceful gopher made his way across Pacific Coat Highway. He needn’t have worried, I sure wasn’t running fast enough to trip over him!

Though many marathons have entertainment on the course, Big Sur matched its out-of-the-box reputation with the performers. Reggae bands crooning Bob Marley hits, high school bands up at the crack of dawn playing Hello Dolly renditions, drum corps and even a solo electric keyboardist provided musical power when our legs wanted to quit. Belly dancers were a welcome sight as was the “Hugger” giving service to all who wanted it. I think I may have cried on his shoulder, I can’t quite remember.

At the end of the famous Bixby Bridge, a concert pianist performed and greeted each runner with familiar tunes. “Linus and Lucy” of Charlie Brown Thanksgiving fame was the song I was entertained with. As I huffed passed the pianist. That song put a skip in my step (hey, it was only mile 4 or so…).

I also sang to myself which manages to propel me forward and soothe me all at once. If I can’t remember the words I just make them up. Or I’ll repeat a song over and over (“High Hopes” comes to mind). I guess I am my own little iPod.

My friends Susan and Therese and her boyfriend Randy finished the marathon as I was chowing down on Doles fruit cup and hot soup. We all were a bit blurry-eyed and weary yet so proud and inspired by the accomplishment. I especially felt encouraged with the completion of such a challenging run meant my training for Berlin marathon (Sept. 30) was do-able. I’ll brush up on my Beatles songs by then.

Birthday Fun

I ran La Jolla Half marathon on my 56th birthday. This course runs along Torrey Pines Park past Del Mar and into the village of La Jolla. Many people saw my birthday race shirt (Today is my 56th Birthday. Cool, huh?) and wished me a Happy Birthday which made the celebration even more special.

I took a nice long bath at my friend Cathy’s house and was later surprised by the gathering of my buddies waiting to wish me good cheer! Yummy food, great friends, blessings all around!

Dublin City Marathon

Dublin, Ireland, October 25, 2004. My first international run. In fact, my first time in 25 years to step foot on international soil. What an exciting, potentially life changing adventure!

Marathon Expo day, October 23, 2004
As in all marathons, the expo is where the merchandise is displayed, the race #’s are distributed, the computer chips to record our times are dispersed and vendors can sell their wares. Saturday morning, October 23, bus #7 left outside the Gresham hotel and off to the suburb of Ballsbridge we went. The convention hall was huge and suddenly reality came swooping in…I am halfway across the world about to run my 22nd marathon! At the ‘declaration desk’, my computer chip was scanned and up popped on their computer screen: KAREN ELIZABETH EMBREE AGE 53 #4211 AMERICAN Yup, that’s me! I am ready to rock and roll. With our goodie bags in hand (consisting of a ‘Shreddie’ cereal bar, a Power Bar water bottle, a bag of cracked pepper ‘crisps’ and a box of spaghetti!), we perused the aisles for other merchandise of interest. I bought a Dublin marathon zipped hoodie and Steve bought a really stylish windbreaker jacket. At one point we saw the predicted Irish marathon winner being interviewed for the local news and also heard that a Brazilian Olympic marathoner was slated to run as well. Such company we shall have! The camaraderie of marathoning was in full force on the bus ride home. A group of Americans stationed in Heidelberg, Germany were gathered together with families in tow. One gal had done the Berlin marathon a month ago and reported that 38,000 runners participated in that race. Guess we’ll put that on our future race list. A bite to eat at the friendly Frasier pub, a cheery conversation with our Scottish waitress, a bit of souvenir shopping on O’Connell Street and our day came to a peaceful, productive close.

International Breakfast Run, October 24, 2004
The day before the marathon, Steve and I suspended several of our pre-race rules. Instead of leisurely eating breakfast, drinking plenty of fluids while reading in the hotel and resting our legs, we gobbled a bowl of ‘porridge’ (oatmeal to us…) and wandered out to the cab loading area. Destination? The International Breakfast Run and T-shirt Swap! Several fellow runners from the Joints in Motion group were gathered so we split up into 2 cabs and made our way over to Fairview Park. Margo from Ohio shared our cab and three of us were entertained by our gregarious Irish cabbie. He had much to tell us about the local political scene in Dublin as well as the housing changes occurring on the outskirts of the downtown area. Upon our arrival, I gave Margo my extra t-shirt to swap as I had brought along 2 for sharing purposes. There was a solid crowd of runners assembled to run the International race. Always weather-aware, I wondered what tomorrow would bring. The tights I wore today were clearly too warm so I began to re-think my race-day clothing choices. I spotted Rob McNair (my electrician from home) near the start line and quickly convinced him of the necessity to snap a photo with me. He does not have an affinity for cameras but was gracious to allow the shot nonetheless. Once the run began, we were surrounded by the wonder of the world of foreign languages! Citizens from France, Rotterdam, Canada and more joyfully took off for parts unknown. The topic of conversation soon turned to the actual length of this race. Was it a 5K or a 3K? The Dublin marathon website had conflicting reports. I had no watch, I saw no mile markers and frankly my legs were not cooperating anyway so I just RAN. You know what? It was fun! I received a good dose of what I had to look forward to tomorrow. People of all nationalities wearing their country’s colors, speaking in their native tongue, joyfully using their God given ability to run just like me. After the run, we all received our complimentary International Breakfast Run t-shirt and headed into the Westwood Hall. It was a very fancy sports club with an awesome Olympic sized pool, climbing walls, virtual bowling, pool tables and a sports bar with 20 TV’s (Steve counted!). Our complimentary breakfast consisted of a brown bag filled with orange juice, a muffin and a fruit. Oh, and check this out! Guinness glasses filled to the brim with cool fresh water were available along with tea and coffee beverages. Once inside the center of the hall, our mission was to swap our USA race t-shirts with 2 European runners. I found Wendy and Laura from England “straight away” and gleefully handed over my AFC (a race in San Diego) shirt. Wendy regaled us with tales of London marathon (put that on our list too) while Laura shared that tomorrow was her first marathon. The room was noisy with exuberant runners sharing their tall tales of past races and soon we wished each other good luck and see you tomorrow while snapping a digital picture or two. Next stop was the Snail’s Pace Gang. Gathered in a huddle was Rob with several other Orange County, California runners. We met Jerry, Pamela and Irish Mike, chatted about friends we had in common and gave Rob a quick digital travelogue of our last 10 days in the Irish countryside. This was his first trip “across the pond” as Steve puts it and he had not yet experienced the magnificence of the Irish country and friendly, lovely people. Though the 2’ digital screen didn’t do it justice, I believe he got a real feel for the adventure we had just experienced. Before we headed out to the bus, we made a quick stop to enjoy the entertainment. Several of the runners were joyously doing their version of the Irish jig. Fast paced, rhythmic and lots of revelry, the clapping and the exuberance was infectious indeed. The show was so lively, rigorous and fun to experience, I wondered how those dancing runners would feel approaching mile 22 tomorrow! New friendships were forged on the bus ride back to the hotel. A group from St. Louis chatted with us as well as Nancy and husband from New Brunswick. We recognized a Seattle couple from the Gresham hotel and made acquaintance with a family from Calgary as well. Once back at the hotel, we stopped in the restaurant and visited with Linda, Cathy, Margo and Sara, all runners with Joints in Motion. It was time to talk race day strategy, sip some tea and continue more carbo-loading. We agreed to meet up post race to celebrate our individual and group victory! We eagerly read the affirmations Steve and I created to anchor our mental preparation. Our marathon shrines with our clothes and race gear in order, then rest, rest, rest was the theme of the remainder of the day, early to bed with visions of running sugar plums dancing in my head.

Marathon day, October 25, 2004
Did I mention how dark the mornings are here? It’s a good thing the race starts at 9AM. Steve and I ate our oatmeal in relative silence, peering over at the other subdued runners, lost in their own mental preparation. As we walked down O’Connell Street, we wondered where all the other runners were. We didn’t relax until we crossed the River Liffey and began to see various marathoners warming up (marathon nightmare being late to a race…). As we got closer to the gathering for the start, the faint sound of Britney Spears’ TOXIC song came from a radio truck, as well as the welcome sight of festive balloons surrounding the start line staging area. As we milled about, the announcer over the loudspeaker proclaimed that 34 legacy runners (they had run all 24 previous Dublin marathons) were participating in today’s 25th year race along with some 10,500 other runners. Happily dressed in our high-tech wind protected jackets, Steve and I snapped some pictures of the crowd, a shot of us looking fresh and eager and a picture of me with the Guardia (to continue the theme of Karen-and-the-Police started at the NYC marathon in 2000). No Irish national anthem was presented so we sang the Star Spangled Banner to each other (though Steve says he can’t carry a tune if you put it in a bucket and hand it to him), the gun went off promptly at 9AM and off we went. What happens when 10,000 plus runners venture out for 26.2 miles, laughing, crying, eating, running and even whining together. It doesn’t really matter where we travel to, what language is spoken, the color of skin, the age, size or shape of the people. A marathon is a marathon is a marathon. We become a united community for hours at a time. What made Dublin a delight and so unforgettable were the people (spectators and runners alike), the weather (sunny, cool and clear), the combination of rural and urban scenery, as well as the unique events that only happen when we all gather to experience the magnificence of committing to, working toward and completing a goal together. Yes, we eat together. A feast in runner’s language consists of Gatorade, Mars Bars, an occasional Jolly Rancher, a bite of orange, banana or PBJ sandwich at mile 20 and even a few shoe string potato sticks with vinegar. Spectators handed out homemade snacks and runners carry their provisions in their waist packs. The weather surely cooperated and this encouraged a steady stream of spectators. Every cheer and sign becomes a personal generic supportive gesture! “You are Heroes” by the Aids Foundation group, “Whey hey” (our version of Whoo hoo), “I love Linn” with a 4 leaf clover attached to the name, even the Adidas billboard announcing, "Impossible is Nothing” provided the much needed visual boost mile after mile. A caring wave, a “Brilliant ” and “Well Done!” greeting lifted our spirits in powerful ways. Long distance runners are especially sensitive to sights and sounds that characterize the marathon course. Dublin’s marathon scenery boasted a variety of picturesque sights to behold. Majestic trees forming an autumn canopy as we ran through a residential district, ancient monuments, cathedrals and even the ominous Kilmainham jail lined the course. Acres of Phoenix parkland with its own Dublin zoo(all I saw was a sign for guinea pigs…) was a welcome sight indeed. The round Parliamentary building that houses the local government business led the way to the infamous wax museum (did you see that monster hanging from the stone rafter?) as well as the National Art Museum. Certainly Dublin has many interesting intriguing historical points to explore and we got a ring side seat for it all. A marathon is, however, for the most part, a fraternity of sorts, a group drawn together somewhere between the experience of the Titanic and a team of NASA space explorers ready to land on the moon yet again. My fellow runners share band aids, stories, a “God Bless You” when needed and even occasionally make fashion statements. We met an English lady with a stylish NYC marathon jacket who announced she was gearing up for the Nov. ’04 race “a week Sunday next” as she put it. Even the volunteers’ red jackets were impressive – I wanted one. We all begin to recognize each other on the course as we settle into our perspective pace. I greeted several runners we had met yesterday on the bus and at the international run. Several times on the course I even had the privilege to hug Laura, my t-shirt swap buddy! As a group we are unique, resourceful and exceptional. A few noteworthy examples were as follows: Perry, a sight-impaired gentleman from Canada who got engaged at a previous NYC marathon, a troop of young military gents formed a united front and several soldiers pulled a mock army buddy on a gurney to make their war statement. And of course no marathon is complete without music and Dublin was no exception. A multi-talented runner with the t-shirt http://www.walkasong.org/ even carried a songlist and took requests as he sang his way through 26.2 miles. It wasn’t long before a gaggle of feisty teenage spectators begged to borrow his drum and his spoon instruments to join in the fun. Mr. Walkasong and I sang "Doe a Deer" from Sound of Music but he wouldn’t sing Steve’s request of “When Irish Eyes are Smiling”. A few gracious spectators on the course selected a number of motivating radio tunes such as “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen, “Walk 500 miles” by the Proclaimers. Though we were running by and couldn’t enjoy the music for long, it certainly put a spring in our step for the moment! A pack of enthusiastic girls running behind us at mile 23 gave us their rendition of “We’ll be Coming around the Mountain". I am sure the Guinness drinkers at the local pub we ran past would have gladly raised their glasses in song had we asked. Note to self: 1 pot of Irish tea a day for a week tends to be dehydrating! Inbetween the numerous porta-loo stops (don’t you just LOVE some of the unique differences in the English language?), I did notice a few items I sure wish I could have carried home with me. I am not above picking up interesting discarded clothing along the course (this time it was bandanas, lovely pair of gloves, a shirt and a pair of socks). As strands of loose hair kept falling in my face, I was hoping to spot a headband or two. But what I really looked for is cold hard cash. Don’t laugh, I found a $20.00 bill on the course in Washington DC last fall! Alas, Dublin had coins scattered here and there but once I had the wherewithal to bend over and try to pick them up, I realized they were actually imbedded in the asphalt. There does come a point in all marathon distance races when the joviality and fun wears thin. In fact, the last few miles begin to resemble a weekly episode of Comedy Central. You laugh, we don’t. My lower lip began to protrude at mile 19 (“This isn’t much fun anymore”) and while Steve steadfastly assured me of his support, I knew he had long ago turned off the timer that was to assist us in our pacing. All around us, the herd began to grumble. One gal stopped to stretch every few yards, holding onto a brother and father who popped in for encouragement. A funny English gal kept teasing anyone who’d listen with “Are you complaining AGAIN?” Well yes, kinda. I did almost get blown off the road near Busby Park by an overeager bus. But to be honest, I’m not sure I was running in a straight line by then and I am sure I couldn’t have picked myself up had I been knocked over! Was I completely losing it? A block full of discarded water cups began to resemble horses clip clopping behind me! One blessed volunteer asked me if I wanted to sit down at mile 20 and I said “No thanks, I’m just feeling a little loopy.” Sit down? NO! I will not concede defeat! The race directors had their sense of humor when they designed the last sector of the race in a square with the finish line in full view for most of the last ½ mile! Steve proclaimed several times he’d like to “take off but (he) didn’t want to show off” and once the end was in sight he announced “I’m gonna sprint to the finish line” though his legs helped him to quickly reconsider. I did cross the finish line with a smile on my face, our full names were called and we snapped a few final pictures with our bright shiny medals around our necks. Our finisher t-shirts would need to be mailed since they ran out of everything but small sizes. The wind began to pick up on our way back to the hotel as we watched more runners come into the finishing area. And a rather inebriated gentleman kept congratulating us by saying “fair play.” At least I think he meant congratulations! We were hungry, cold, tired, our feet ached yet our spirits were happy and strong. “I’m getting too old for this” became “When can we start training for our next one!”