I just started training for the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon on June 5, 2005. Has anyone else run this race or planning to this year? I’m doing it with Team in Training, which is a group that raises money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
i am in awe of anyone who runs marathons. i don’t run unless there is extreme danger involved.
team in training sounds great… good luck and may the road be soft on your feet.
Thanks, Rocking Chair. I guess your name is fairly descriptive?
It’s true that marathons are daunting, but really most people could do them, if they don’t have injuries or weak knees that prevent them from running. The commitment to training for several months is the hard part. I ran the Mission Bay Marathon in San Diego many, many years ago and beat four hours, which was my goal. I’m older, slower and fatter now, so it’s more of a challenge. And I do love my rocking chair, too!
In the “old” days (1970s-1980s), if you didn’t run under nine minutes a mile, you were not really considered a “runner.” That’s changed. A lot of people walk/run marathons now and don’t care at all how long it takes. Jeff Galloway, a well-known runner and coach, has written articles and books about the run/walk approach, and advocates running four minutes followed by walking for one minute (and if you’re a beginner, walking more and working up to that). He says it prevents injuries while finishing just as fast and staying just as fit. If anybody out there is considering starting to run, I recommend his basic running book (I can’t remember the title right now, but I’m sure it has “Running” in it…).
I ran this race in let’s see…2001, I believe. It happens to be my personal best time of the 5 that I’ve done. I ran a 4:22 that year, and just for comparison’s sake, the marathon I ran in Long Beach in October was a 4:43. I blame it mostly on my own training and fitness level, since the races are rather comparable.
Living in San Diego, the race is a good one because much of the course covers areas I’m already familiar with. Mission Bay? Balboa Park and downtown? Those are places I typically train on anyway, so my level of familiarity with the course is stupendous. Also living in San Diego, the real factor on what kind of race you’ll run that day is the weather. Sometimes it will cooperate and be overcast, which is good. But there have been years where the clouds disappear early on, and you’ll be cursing the sun.
But if I recall properly, you’re probably used to more extreme weather than I am, and so it won’t be as big of a deal. 
Since I did the race in 2001, I haven’t felt the need to do it again. Some of my running buddies do it every year, but it just doesn’t excite me that much. There are plenty of other races out there I’d like to experience. What that means is that every year I’ll go out to Friars Road at about mile 12-13 and cheer people on. And I’ll see at least 20 people I’ll actively know, and countless more I recognize from the running community. It’s kind of fun to be on the other side of things and provide the support that I’m usually receiving.
So all that to say that I’ll probably be out cheering on, but won’t be running it. I’m in the San Diego Track Club’s Rockin’ & Runnin’ Program right now, and the goal of that group is the R&R marathon you’re training for, too. So I’ll know lots of people out there.
It’s a huge race, and there will be a major TNT contingency - lots of purple. I think you’ll have a great trip with them, and they provide lots of support on the course.
As for the course itself, it’s pretty flat throughout. There is a bit of a hill at mile 22, but it’s short. If you normally train on some sort of hilly terrain you won’t have an issue with it. The last couple of miles is terrible scenery - Pacific Highway into the base where you’ll finish is pretty industrial and barren, but otherwise you get a good view of Mission Bay, Sea World, and cute parts of downtown San Diego.
Anything else you want to know about it?
I ran it last year, and will be running it again this year.
It’s a fun marathon, not stuffy like the NY, Boston or Chicago ones. I don’t know what sort of speed you are planning, but you will find someone at whatever pace you choose.
Plus, it’s kind of neat that they have cheerleaders along the way. I’ve never had cheerleaders cheer for me before, and it was a lot of fun.
The people watching pack the streets in some places, and yell for you (and hand out orange slices, which is VERY welcome at around mile 19!). It’s a kick.
Fiveyearlurker, are you in San Diego?
Do you train with a group?
[It may turn out to be quite a small world]
I’m actually in the Bay Area as of a few months ago, but I travel around to run marathons a few times a year. San Diego will be a regular for me, as it was enjoyable. But, I don’t concern myself with times at this one, as it is not “competitive”, which is a good thing, but not if you have a time goal.
Not that I’m going to beat those Kenyans and Ethiopians!
(as an aside, this is not racist! Kenyans and Ethipians accounted for 100% of the top 20 male finishers last year:
1 Joseph Ngolepus Kenya 2:11:04
2 Jomo Kororia Kenya 2:11:24
3 Tekeste Kebede Ethiopia 2:11:48
4 Ondoro Osoro Kenya 2:12:22
5 George Okworo Kenya 2:13:26
6 Noah Bor Kenya 2:13:28
7 Stephen Ndungu Kenya 2:17:09
8 Belay Wolasha Ethiopia 2:18:47
9 David Busienei Kenya 2:20:21
10 Henry Tarus Kenya 2:21:49
My doctor ran the RnR marathon last year and his complaint was that the run is mostly in neighbourhoods and not along the sea. The Mission Bay course back when I ran it was along the sea which was nice, but was too loops which is not ideal. When you come up on 13 miles, you don’t like to think about doing that same thing again. But I had a great time and probably could have run it faster, though being able to walk the next day is probably a good enough goal.
I run a couple of half-marathons a year and am generally ready to quit at 13.1. I know, however, that this is mostly in one’s head. If I set out to run four miles, I’m ready to quit after that, too. Although I did my first marathon in 3:55, I’ll be happy to finish in under five hours this time. In some ways, I think it’s even harder on the body to be out on the course for so long, compared to the faster runners!
Nice to know you guys. We should plan to meet when I get there.
Oh, and I recommend the Tucson marathon the first week in December if you’re interested in some different scenery. Mostly a flat/downhill course, view of the Catalina mountains, and a nice place to visit in the wintertime.
Jill
too = two, of course. Sorry about that and any other misspellings. I don’t preview (in fact, I rarely look back in any way now that I think about it).
And the mind!
I have NO idea how those people who finish in seven hours do it! I would go absolutely batshit insane.
[[as an aside, this is not racist! Kenyans and Ethipians accounted for 100% of the top 20 male finishers last year]]
Nothing racist about that statement. What has always seemed somewhat racist to me is how rarely Africans or African Americans appear in Runners’ World magazine, even though they dominate most running events. There’s usually a skinny blonde woman on the cover. And sometimes that magazine will do an in-depth interview with the white guy who came in 5th place after four African runners. Other than postage stamp size pictures of the group of front-runners in a big race and a list of their names and times, there will rarely be any coverage about them as people.
In Albuquerque where I live, a number of world class Kenyan and Ethiopian runners live and train for part of the year because of our high altitude and moderate weather. I would love to know more about these guys - what it was like for them growing up and running in Kenya and now what it’s like to live and compete in such foreign places. I can’t imagine how anyone interested in running would not be very curious and interested to know more about these amazing athletes. Maybe if I ever catch up with one of these guys, I’ll interview him myself.
Highjacked my own thread, but this is one of my (57,331) beefs.
A friend of mine was on the cover of Runner’s World a few months ago. Skinny brunette. Never run in her life, and smokes a pack a day…
I have about 57,331 beefs with Runners World, which is why after subscribing to it for a couple of years I gave it up. Bleh.
Whatsamatter? You don’t need new tips from a self-absorbed, obsessive, emaciated white guy in Boulder, Colorado about how to go faster, farther and avoid injuries, while toning your midsection? You already have enough smoothie recipes? You don’t have an opinion in the debate about dual layer vs polypro socks for cold weather? You wouldn’t benefit from a list of “best fall 10K races in Wisconsin and Indiana”?
Dang. Cancelled a few months too soon. IDIOT!
It’s a good magazine, but you hit the nail on the head. Read it for a year, and you’ve pretty much seen everything they are ever going to print of any importance.
Though, the annual shoe reviews are nice. But, now I just stick with Mizuno, and I’m good to go.
i’m in training for the rocking chair marathon. high arches and running usually don’t go well together.
there aren’t any rocking chair mags. i think i have found a new market for a magazine.
the marathon goes by balboa park??!! i would get derailed by the zoo, and wee mei sheng. i can just picture a group of runners thundering into the zoo instead of finishing the race.
Gee, maybe we could form a straightdope runner’s club?! I had no idea anyone else here regularly ran marathons. I prefer trails, and haven’t run a road marathon since London in 2000, but the more the merrier.
I also don’t read Runners World, but mostly because I don’t have time because I’m on this board too much. I think you are being a little unfair. They do cover pretty much only American distance runners, but I know they had an article on Meb a few years back, and more than one on the most recent American world record holder in the marathon. They cater to the bulk (ahem) of American road runners: white, middle of the packers and behind.
I guess this was a total hijack. Sorry. I just got excited when I saw there were other runners around here.