AREC had 24 members participating in the half or full marathon. My plan was to run 8 miles of the half with Liz Caporelli and then hand out beer with the hash at mile 22. I figured I’d get to see most of the runners. I drove down with Bob Beachler and Rich Satow and we barely made it to the start, but then couldn’t really spot anyone in the crowd. I figured I’d run really hard and then when I felt I’d overtaken Liz, I’d walk until she caught me. At 3 miles, I was at 8-minute pace (by my watch), so I walked. Noel Delaspenas, Rich, and Bob passed me. Then Dennis Murphy told me that they were running 9 minute pace (which is when I realized that I was not looking at race time and she was 2-3 minutes ahead of me. I finally caught Liz at Catalina Landing. As a result, I ended up staying with her until 11 miles, because I had a bit of advice to get out, but I was breathing hard, having sprinted to catch her! Next, I ran home (along the marathon course), about ¼ mile with Dennis, then cut over and found Laura. Finally, about 14 miles into my run, I got home, changed clothes and drove as close to the course as I could, and then parked myself at mile 22 for the rest of the day! – Emmett
2003 was the first time we were able to repeat the same course which made everything easier for the runners, police, staff and volunteers. Unfortunately, the heat caught us by surprise. It is highly probable that the race will start an hour earlier in 2004 to avoid finishing in the dead heat; however, the city looked great in pictures! After riding the lead car following the women’s leader, I checked into the VIP tent, handed out some prizes and awards, and was on my way to check things out at the finish chute, when I came upon a woman vomiting. I went up to her, patted her on the back and said, “Great job. Thank you for vomiting at my event. It must mean you really enjoyed yourself and ran a hard race.” She gave me a smile and a thumbs-up. Even after running in or organizing many races, the finish line never ceases to amaze and affect me. The whole race story is told there. I was passing out medals from 5:30:00 to 6:30:00 finishing time and was still moved when Team in Training runners crossed the line in tears for completing their first race. – Blair Cohn, Run ICR
I had put in the time, the miles, the speedwork. I had prepared. A half marathon was a bit of a comeback distance… but it wasn’t meant to be. On Wednesday, I felt pretty great on the 5-mile course, but the next evening, my throat and body were both aching (and I still blame Bernard!). I started knocking back the Vitamin C and E, Echinacea and Nyquil. They all helped but with my work schedule and pasta party at my house, I couldn’t beat it back. Saturday morning, I picked up my packet and set up the AREC canopy (thank you to my helpers), and then volunteered at registration. As busy as it was and as lousy as I felt, it was a lot of fun behind the long line of registration tables. AREC people were all over the place that day! On Sunday, I could barely talk and made it in time for the start, but instead of toeing the line with the rest of the crowd, I was watching from the sidelines. For an hour, Tracy and I clapped encouragement from mile 6. After that, my butt was in a chair under the canopy shade, seeing everyone finish the race I had highly anticipated. And you know what? It was a great day! Sometimes life just has different plans for you than you had thought. So roll with it, because, to quote a song I’m familiar with, “every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” – Todd Rose
I’ve never wanted to run a marathon; I don’t want to do something I LIKE for 4 hours. But after watching 27 of Connor’s soccer team and coaches, as well as my friends, acquaintances, former classmates, etc., go by, I left the Mile 18 water station thinking “I could do that. I wanna do that.” We really did see 27 people we knew – Eric – son of Ed – came whizzing by in the lead pack of cyclists at a very early hour. I was waiting for his father, with a mostly-cold beer hidden under the bus stop in a brown paper bag. The inline skaters were quite rude: “You have to go with me,” snapped a man, rolling by and missing our outstretched arms, holding cups. “Dude,” I thought, “if I were able to run alongside you, I wouldn’t be getting splashed HERE.” But Connor learned quickly to get in sync with the skaters, and perfected his handoff technique just in time for the runners to begin coming by. Could there have been a hotter day? Jeez. We actually got to see the lead runners, the two lone cheerleaders at Mile 18 (the water station a little further down). It was… awesome! And AREC runners came steadily through, looking haggard or cheerful, bedraggled or perky, depending. It was a terrific day to spend a half day. And all you AREC folks had better realize how much of an attestation to my love for you this was; I am NOT a morning person. Neither is my sweet sleepy son. You were tremendous. Congratulations to all. – Heather Stevens
I would like to thank Emmett for all his support and encouragement – you really kept me focused to finish and improve. The best part of participating in the hafl marathon was having the support of AREC members. It was great knowing we were out there on the course and would be there at the finish – Liz Caporelli
I enjoyed the day not so sure about the half marathon in the heat, but it made me realize when I saw the marathon/half marathon split signs that I was glad I was doing the half – the ideal distance for me. I am also glad at the 25 mile mark that I went out to support most of our AREC runners. I have some pictures to show you later. Also, I loved getting a thank you card from Tam for supporting her in her first marathon. That was very thoughtful! Hope everyone had as memorable day as I did! – Roberta Bonifacio
I appreciated seeing all the AREC volunteers at the Expo. It was great seeing Todd & Tracy at mile 4. As for the heat, after Maui, well… Elizabeth looked like she was having a great time pacing the 4-hour group. She really motivated me to finish ahead of her. I kept thinking if I slow down, she’ll pass me. The same for Laura. They were both close behind at a few turnarounds. Everyone I talked to struggled with the Studebaker stretch. My trouble last year in that same spot helped me realize this year that the end was coming up soon! The camaraderie at the finish as AREC people waited for everyone to come in is something I’ll remember for a long time, too. – Bob Beachler
This year’s race was extremely tough, given the relatively hot temperatures, but I was grateful to have enough gas in the tank to finish! I maintained my goal pace through 18.5 miles, and then had to slow or risk not finishing! In retrospect, it was valuable racing experience. If I were to get a “do-over,” I would definitely scale back my goals based upon the warm weather. My Top 6 Memories:
Limping into the beer check and having Emmett keep me company for awhile. Having ARECers stick around for 6 hours and cheering me in. Running, walking and crawling with Todd Byers. Truly a case of the blind leading the blind!- Rich Satow
Many many miles…as the race went on, each mile got longer and longer…
AREC supporters and fellow racers! You guys are the best! Thanks to Emmett for running with me for awhile… thanks to Bob and Rich who waited for me at the finish line! I got to run with Margaret for awhile and it was great to see Roberta at mile 25, who was also waiting for me to take a photo!
b>Running that long was the most intense experience for me, mentally and physically. Hmm… is it as difficult as dealing with thirty – 4th graders on a daily basis?
A lot of support… I could not have finished without my running buddy from my Saturday marathon training group, my dad and sister who came out to cheer me on at mile 10, my mom who came out at mile 18 to encourage me and refuel my sports drink, my former trainer/elite runner friend, who ran the last 2 miles with me and all of my friends who were thinking of me that day! I never realized how important my support group would be in conquering this great feat!
Tam’s first marathon! Over 6 hours, but I finished, which was the goal! (I did that purposely, so I can easily get a PR to boost up my points!)
Hella hot! (no, I’m not talking about me as a “hot chick” – talking about the weather!)
Overwhelming experience on so many levels… no wonder it’s so addicting! I never thought I would run a marathon… I started running about 2 years ago and the farthest I had ever run was a 10K… So this is pretty damn good for me!
Next marathon – LA!- Tam Premsrirath
My only “official” marathons are ones in which I do well. The rest are just “training runs.” I just barely finished another training run while others were completing the Long Beach Marathon on October 12. This long run was sabotaged by the two Todds. That’s right. Both recognized my god-given running talent might be developing too rapidly for my own good. Not wanting me to burn out too early in my senior running career, they conspired to slow my ascent into the stratosphere of the marathon elite.
I should have suspected something when Todd R. kept encouraging members to volunteer at the Marathon. “We are closely affiliated, as the ‘running club’ with the marathon,” he said, one night when I was slouching at Limerick’s front door, “and our presence should be strong!” There go my weekend plans to help by golf buddies end their gambling addictions at Big Rec Golf Course or carving out radical aerials on my 10-foot Robert August surfboard (is it possible to be blessed with 3 god-given talents? [ed. note – No.]
So, I showed up and on time. Perhaps, I thought, the volunteers will be not doing manual labor, but be more like “supportive personnel.” Yeah, like when I helped Todd R. carry cement bags to gird the AREC tent. Toting heavy weight on the eve of my marathon “debut?” And if that weren’t enough strain on my musculature, Todd then had the rest of us suckers raise the tent. Lifting and twisting was how I spent that warm sunny Saturday.
“See ya later,” I waved as I tried to extricate myself from this extracurricular exercise class and get some well-needed rest the day before the marathon! Then Ken Peterson interjected, “Yeah, let’s get over to the Expo and help Todd!” Ken is not the easiest person to slip away from in a parking lot as you are searching for some excuse to “check on” your car. Before I knew it, we were inside the Convention Hall with hundreds of runners and hundreds of volunteers. “Gee, Ken, I guess we’re not needed after all…” “Come on, let’s find Todd,” he said firmly but cheerfully.
Todd B. found us. Of course, Ken sat down and handed out timing chips. He looked content. “Let’s see… What would you excel at? Ah, Bib handout!”
“Gee, Todd, I don’t know,” as I looked over at the table, seeing volunteers moving rapidly back and forth along the back wall, looking for bib numbers, as he ignored my whining, “I get easily confused…”
Soon I was working the table. No one was sitting. They were working… and moving… But what hit home hardest was Bernard’s warning, “Remember, stay off your feet the day before the race!” I was standing on concrete, the hardest surface known to man! Moreover, I was irritating my fellow volunteers by my very real inability to find bib numbers rapidly. “Uh… are you sure you registered for…uh… Long Beach? Oh… here it is… Sorry, I must have dropped it on the floor earlier!”
After an interminable time (when you can’t take a potty break, time passes slowly!), I was told my shift had ended. My legs and feet were grateful. Everyone looked extremely grateful!
But, when I went to leave, my legs stayed behind. Rigor mortis, I think. I was in trouble. I called my longtime masseuse, Hue, fast. She’s quite good and has some Vietnamese ointments that the FDA really should approve. Sure, they burned the outer epidermis, but they had esoteric healing qualities. It would take a miracle, but I had faith. “Deeper, Hue, I can take it!” I cried as I swallowed the pain. Afterwards, I went home and slept like a baby. Dreamt good dreams. Woke up and drove to Shoreline Village. I walked to the starting line. Was this the day I became a marathoner? Would I beat Oprah’s time of 4:29? No. I started off cautiously. “Maybe 9:30 pace to start. Then I’ll pick it up… Negative splits… Sub 4-hours… I’m going to qualify for Boston!” Within a few minutes, it was all out the window. My legs were competely shot by 10 miles. They hurt bad. I was slowing down before halfway. It wasn’t my two month struggle with a lung infection – it was the Expo! It was the concrete!
The day wasn’t without its moments. I encouraged my friends as they passed me, smiling, obviously enjoying their race. And after a beer or two at mile 22, it seemed pleasant, in a surreal way. A nice day for a walk (starting at mile 18). I even managed to jog the last few yards across the finish line as the clock read “4:51.” Not bad, for a “training run.” Oprah’s record would have to wait, thanks to the two Todds.
Seriously, as I look back on Marathon Weekend, it was a lot of fun. Great pasta party at Todd R’s. Neat Expo. Wonderful experience as a volunteer and I met many nice people. The post-race pizza and beer at Stoneybrook was a good way to cap off the weekend. The “training run” wasn’t bad either! – Dennis Murphy