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Life is beautiful at the Palos Verdes Half Marathon

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Author	Topic: Life is beautiful at the Palos Verdes Half Marathon
dromedary Cool Runner	posted May-21-2007 08:42 PM I love this race for many reasons. The coastline is always gorgeous. It's a treat for me to be trotting down the road enjoying the scenery and not have to worry about a pack of flashy spandex clad cyclists mowing me down. The starting point is a special place for me, since my DH and I used to spend many hours at Pt. Fermin park during our courtship. We'd picnic by the Korean Bell and feed the seagulls. Then we'd walk around the park, look at the old lighthouse, admire the Harleys parked near the snack bar. As for the race, I just took it easy on Saturday. My new custom orthotics arrived a few weeks ago and I am still getting used to them. My allergies and asthma are really bad lately. And since I know and fully respect the hills on that course, I just did it as a training run and prayed the asthma wouldn't sideline me. Before the race, I met Huskydon, SLOJim, srlopez, Ileneforward and Mr. Forward, arc and a few more CR folks whose names I didn't know. Sherie found me at the start line where we also saw Huskydon. I also had fun getting reacquainted with my local running club friends, since I have been AWOL from the club for the past few months. Two of them asked me if they could run with me for a little while, which surprised me because no one has asked me that before a race before. One lady had an injury but wasn't going to let it stop her from running the Rock N Roll marathon. The other lady just got over the flu and had to take it easy. Guess that tells you I'm known for being slow and steady We stayed together and enjoyed each other's company until the injured one took off (endorphin rush), and the flu survivor got really tired and encouraged me to go on without her after mile 4. She seemed ok so I went on. I then hung around some hilarious L.A. Leggers since they were doing run/walk too. We gawked at the marathoners who were already turned around and zooming past us. We had a laugh when we all got to a cone, only to find out it wasn't the turnaround. The cliffs must have rang with the sound of kvetching. Around that time, Huskydon said hi to me, then Sherie waved at me during their journey back up the hill. It was nice seeing friendly faces around then because I was feeling wobbly (and sticky since I got Gu on my hands). At mile 8, a guy wearing a knee brace whined about the hills and wanted to stop, but then his running partner (possibly wife) said "You old fool, you get up that hill or else you will have a real pain in the butt." The poor guy slowly broke into a jog. I watched and heard that woman just kick his butt all the way up the hill to mile 9. I wanted to laughed, but I was so out of breath by then that I had to use the inhaler by mile 9. I walked for a few minutes until the meds kicked in. The last few miles were mostly down hill and less painful on the lungs. I was glad to see that Korean Bell in the distance since I knew it was the finish and that my DH would take me home to a nice warm house and lots of chicken soup. After the race, a lady came up to me and thanked me for wearing a red shirt. She said it helped motivate her since she was trying to catch me. I felt amazed and humbled by that. She also had asthma and told me she was weaned off the inhalers so I was interested in finding out if that could be possible for me too. I still finished the race one minute faster than I did it last year. Not a PR overall, but my PR for that course. I plan on doing the full marathon next year, and maybe getting a glimpse of hermosaboy, Ileneforward, and anyone else who might want to run a marathon in a place of rugged beauty. p.s. I don't have any race pictures these days because Mr. Dromedary started running 5Ks (he was 5th in his AG--SLOJim took 3rd in the same AG). He said meeting SLOJim and other Boomers at my races encouraged him to try running again. Also, the weather, terrain, mile markers, food were all covered by Huskydon Great meeting you, huskydon, and I hope to see you at a local race someday again. IP: Logged
cajohnson5 Cool Runner	posted May-21-2007 09:42 PM quote: Originally posted by dromedary: IAt mile 8, a guy wearing a knee brace whined about the hills and wanted to stop, but then his running partner (possibly wife) said "You old fool, you get up that hill or else you will have a real pain in the butt." The poor guy slowly broke into a jog. I watched and heard that woman just kick his butt all the way up the hill to mile 9. That is a classic! I really enjoyed your RR. You show real courage in overcoming obstacles to complete your run. The regard you place on others also comes through. I hope I have the privilege to meet you someday. cj IP: Logged
Ileneforward Cool Runner	posted May-21-2007 09:51 PM dromedary your race report is a hoot, just like you are in person. It was so nice to see you and I am so glad you and Lew had a great day. Those orthotics must have worked out well. I have also noted your committment to do the full next year, so I am definitely in for the full too. How fun, we can train together next year. Congratulations! IP: Logged
SherieRanier Cool Runner	posted May-21-2007 10:47 PM Great report Dromadary and super fun to see you at the start. I was glad you wore red too, it was easier to find you on the turnaround. I really liked the course. I told friends of mine that I got """"this""" close to Donald Trump - well.. at least it was """this close""" to his golf course! Looking at those MILLION DOLLAR homes were great and the weather was perfect. How lucky we are to run along such beautiful coastline courses for our 1/2 marathons (Carlsbad, Pacific Shoreline, Palos Verdes, La Jolla). Like, how awesome is that? I saw you finish, but I couldn't stay as I was meeting someone in San Pedro after the run. Hope you enjoyed the rest of the day and will see you again soon at another race! Sherie IP: Logged
huskydon Cool Runner	posted May-21-2007 11:15 PM Very nice report. I am glad you reported on the scenery as some of us are oblivious to that. You remember so much detail about the race! You are one tough runner, persevering through your allergies and asthma. It was my supreme pleasure to meet you and your DH (such a nice fellow!). No doubt we will have ample opportunities to run together in the future. (but maybe not at the PV marathon next year, my quads are still real sore today, I couldn't imagine what they would feel like if I ran 26!) Huskydon IP: Logged
Spareribs Cool Runner	posted May-21-2007 11:17 PM Another perspective on this beautiful race course. Congrats on your run and a special mention to your husband for his fiveK effort. Remind him he is very much a part of all the celebration here. Spareribs IP: Logged
Karl Rysted Cool Runner	posted May-21-2007 11:33 PM Good racing and report. Say hi to your hubby for me and congrats to him too! ------------------ My Profile IP: Logged
jura Cool Runner	posted May-22-2007 12:19 AM WTG Dromedary to overcome asthma and allergies and finish the race. I have so much respect for all of the runners who train and race with asthma. Not being able to breathe is one of the most frightening of feelings, and you live with it every day! Also, I got a good laugh about the guy in the kneebrace. Talk about motivation . Congratulations on a great "training run". j IP: Logged
dromedary Cool Runner	posted May-22-2007 12:17 PM quote: Originally posted by cajohnson5: That is a classic! I really enjoyed your RR. You show real courage in overcoming obstacles to complete your run. The regard you place on others also comes through. I hope I have the privilege to meet you someday. cj Thanks cajohnson6. I felt sorry for that guy since he had the meanest training partner. Thanks for the kind words and I hope to meet you someday too. IP: Logged
Elaine3112 Cool Runner	posted May-22-2007 12:23 PM DD I can't imagine what it must be like running with asthma, I think you and others with asthma issues do great. Well done on the course PR too. IP: Logged
tselbs Cool Runner	posted May-22-2007 12:50 PM It appears you had a great day, dromedary. The race was in a place with beautiful scenery and good memories and you got to run with other boomers and friends. Congratulations on conquering your asthma and running a fine race. Congrats also to mrdromedary on his 5K. TomS ------------------ My Profile IP: Logged
Canfit Cool Runner	posted May-22-2007 02:44 PM Congrats on completing your race and enjoying the friendships along the way. Sounds like a very scenic and fun race! It would be nice to do away with the inhalers, eh? Worth looking into. PJ IP: Logged
hollys4874 Cool Runner	posted May-22-2007 03:09 PM Thanks for a great report! I love the details you include, and your outlook. Wonderful, too, that you can see other Boomers and friends there. Great job on completing another half marathon! ------------------ Holly IP: Logged
John2635 Cool Runner	posted May-22-2007 07:44 PM Hi dromedary. Congrats on your race, overcoming your asthma and allergies. Nice to hear you met up with a bunch of boomers as well. I'm glad I stopped wearing my knee brace, just so I won't be chewed out at the bottom of hills. After doing Pacific Shoreline the last 4 years, I'm ready to schedule my annual So Cal pilgrimage around another one of those races like PV or La Jolla or Carlsbad. Hope to see you soon John IP: Logged
dromedary Cool Runner	posted May-22-2007 08:01 PM quote: Originally posted by SherieRanier: Great report Dromadary and super fun to see you at the start. I was glad you wore red too, it was easier to find you on the turnaround. I really liked the course. I told friends of mine that I got """"this""" close to Donald Trump - well.. at least it was """this close""" to his golf course! Looking at those MILLION DOLLAR homes were great and the weather was perfect. How lucky we are to run along such beautiful coastline courses for our 1/2 marathons (Carlsbad, Pacific Shoreline, Palos Verdes, La Jolla). Like, how awesome is that? I saw you finish, but I couldn't stay as I was meeting someone in San Pedro after the run. Hope you enjoyed the rest of the day and will see you again soon at another race! Sherie Hey Sherie, you really looked very slim in your black outfit on race day. It was your day to fly. I can't believe you haven't written an RR yet given the fact you PRd on a very tough course. What are you waiting for? Yes, we are very fortunate to run in some really beautiful places in CA and were lucky this year that it didn't rain on us at all. Good luck at Saddleback. I'm taking a break for a while, just training and working with my doctor on changing my meds, but we'll see each other again since the So. Cal. race place is a small world. IP: Logged
SLOjim Cool Runner	posted May-22-2007 08:10 PM Dromedary, It was great seeing you again You ran a very good race especially considering your battle with your asthma...... I sure hope you can get it under control. Lew did great....... he looked very strong when I saw him after the turn around. When are you guys going to run a HM together? JIm IP: Logged
tallrunner Cool Runner	posted May-22-2007 09:26 PM Dromedary, Congratulations on a great race. Sounds like a beautiful course. Happy to hear your DH has started running and is enjoying it. All the best Tall IP: Logged
Tetsujin30 Cool Runner	posted May-22-2007 11:03 PM dromelina - thank you for your rr. It's like a dream what you SoCal goddesses did to those otherwise daunting PV hills and mind-boggling to even try. Rest assured that running the PV half is much harder than we'll be doing on the coastal flat in the Bellingham Marathon even though it's twice as long. The PV probably already makes it too late but I'd really like to run with you in Bellingham so please, please do not do any marathon training this summer with ilene. In fact, go ahead and start your tapering now. thanks. [This message has been edited by Tetsujin30 (edited May-24-2007).] =================== ETA[QUOTE]Originally posted by dromedary: I just hope to be able to keep up with you in Bellingham [QUOTE] - arigatou dromi; don't worry, I'll take care of that. Just be ready to plug along with me for 26.2 miles at whatever pace is comfortable for you (or whatever pace you want to do, I'll do too) - taro okaasan ni yoroshiku. [This message has been edited by Tetsujin30 (edited May-24-2007).] IP: Logged
Labduck Cool Runner	posted May-22-2007 11:05 PM dromedary, I just love this report! It's such a positive affirmation of the many things that are important in life. I am so happy for you that you got a course PR. Great effort. I am already looking forward to your PV Marathon report for next year! ------------------ Labduck IP: Logged
smpankowski Cool Runner	posted May-24-2007 04:37 AM This sounds like a fun and beautiful run. Thanks for the RR. ------------------ Never regret anything that made you smile, SteveP My User Profile IP: Logged
rosecoloredglasses Cool Runner	posted May-24-2007 08:25 AM Dromedary, You never disappoint! Thanks for this report. I hope your respiratory status improves... I know how limiting that can be. And thanks for wearing that red shirt. ~ rose IP: Logged
hermosaboy Cool Runner	posted May-24-2007 08:59 AM A greta running day for the Dromedary family!!! IP: Logged
dromedary Cool Runner	posted May-24-2007 04:34 PM quote: Originally posted by Tetsujin30: The PV probably already makes it too late but I'd really like to run with you in Bellingham so please, please do not do any marathon training this summer with ilene. In fact, go ahead and start your tapering now. thanks. Taro-san, you crack me up! No need to worry. "Training" with Ilene usually means we warm up together and then she's off on her own which is fine with me (I like seeing her happy). Maybe on a turnaround I get to see her on the way back. I just hope to be able to keep up with you in Bellingham IP: Logged
ptsmantua Cool Runner	posted May-24-2007 05:10 PM Dromedary, Classic! - Such a nice read - feels like I am back in SoCal. Don't know when I'll get back but so glad to hear your running well again. Congrats - You rock! PTS IP: Logged

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