Big Sur Marathon 2007

Running News
May 3rd, 2007
Big Sur International Marathon April 29th, 2007
As we sat on the dark, cold curb waiting for the start of the race we passed the time talking about running. A police officer from Las Vegas asked me what makes me do these marathons over and over again. I think he knows, after all it is his second one, but I tell him my thoughts anyway. "It is the standing and waiting in a group while wearing a garbage bag to keep warm, it is the sound of the gun that says it's time to go, it is the releasing of the doves at the start and of course it is crossing the finish line." Something tells me there are other, deeper reasons, but I couldn't find the words right then.

At 6:45 AM we start running down a hill on a Redwood treed road at the start of the 2007 Big Sur Marathon. The day starts perfect, at about 50 degrees, no wind and low clouds, what a day. It already has been a long day since we had to be ready for the bus at 3:25 AM that took us to the starting line.

Hills, hills and more hills
Everyone is talking and having a great time running down hill for the first, crowded miles. About 5,000 start this race and today most will finish. As we breakaway from the protection of the trees it becomes very windy. It is strange to sweat and shiver at the same time. At mile 5 we run past a herd of cows, they see us and join the race from their side of the fence. Can you believe the cows are running faster than we are?
Two cows stay back and have their own kind of happy time. I guess it is true California cows are happy cows!
There are distractions from the constant running. This is the first time I have run a marathon where people are stopping and picking flowers and taking pictures. Maybe it’s California or maybe it is that beautiful. You usually don’t run this race for the fastest time.

Are you ready for Hurricane Point?
In mile nine you round a corner and start to hear the low pounding sound of 8 Tiki drummers. You can also look left and see the hill – it’s a good idea not to look. As hills come, this is a big one – some 500 feet elevation change in 2 miles. But I knew this was there and I am as ready as ever.


Hurricane Point is over 5 times higher and 5 times longer than the more famous Heart Break Hill from the Boston Marathon. You don’t look up, you just keep plugging along slowing to a more of a shuffle than a run or jog. I keep thinking about what Vegas had asked me this morning – why do I do this, again and again? Then all of a sudden, a small, simple sign announces that you are at Hurricane Point and the worst is over. I am treated with a two mile down hill – seems fair after two miles up hill.
The Scenery continues
Hurricane Point is the half way mark of the race. Though the hills continue (there are 17 hills in the second half), they are not as severe as the one just finished. And the views are almost unbelievably gorgeous. As I run and look to my left, I say again and again “oh my god”, it is that beautiful!
The End is in Sight
At mile 25 there is what they call D Minor hill at D Major time. I am at a point where I am mumbling almost continuously, “enough with the hills already”, and this bugger comes along. It is the same size as the Heartbreak Hill in Boston at about 90 feet elevation and only a half-mile, but it takes all I got to climb the damn thing.
But that is it; it’s all down hill from there. I finish. Amazingly, at least to me, I time out within 3 minutes of 5 other marathons I have run. If you wanted to see me cross the finish line, all you need to do is come there within a 5-minute range and you would be guaranteed to see me.
My thoughts come back to Vegas’s question and I think I know. I think running is natural when we get scared and some of us need to run away sometimes. For me, I have been running away from what my life was and what it had become that ended up lasting 8 marathons. But now I finally believe I am running to something instead of away. This marathon was a year from when my divorce was final in 2006 and now I can move forward and start running toward something that may be the best part ever and may be standing right in front of me at the finish line.