California International Marathon, December 5, 2021

Yesterday I pulled 9 minutes and 3 seconds off my previous marathon PR and went under 3 hours for the first time at the distance with a 2:54:03 chip time at the 2021 California International Marathon.

I started this race a bit late due to a personal need, which turned out to be a huge blessing. Playing Pac Man from the start to the literal end of this run was a joy, and I love the competitive approach of eating people, maneuvering frequently, and eating as many more as I can.

My coach Kris and I came up with a strategy to shoot for A through C goals: A - PR, B - sub-3, C - sub-2:50. To do so, I aimed for 6:40-45 pace for the first 16-18 miles or so. Any marathoner can tell you the race really starts there, and I planned to push everything I had left to move through the remainder from that point to the end.

The cold was a concern, but Magda Boulet herself telling me that it was to my benefit was a jewel I held close. I also bought a cheap hoodie to wear into the morning and donate right before go-time, too, which kept me calm and cool without freezing at the starting line.

Following the advice of my friend and teammate Jared Hixon I relaxed on the hills and made up for lulls on the downhills that followed.

I loved hearing that as my mom was tracking me and saw me come through the half at 1:29:07 she, knowing my goals, made a sound I’d describe as a nail-biting “Ooooo!”

I was thrilled to feel fully capable of boosting at the place we’d planned for, and it’s interesting to see my heart rate jump at this point, but also holding steady with the effort.

Anytime I was tempted to slow down from here I thought to myself, “Well, that’s a thought, but I’m interested in what I can do.

Ultramarathoning does wonders for perspective, in every capacity, and lots of time-on-feet on trails with heaps of vert gave me the most noticeable shifts in my marathon game. This race had a high body count, and I saw plenty of people start to walk and get sick on the side of the road. My heart went out to them, and did well to sharpen my focus on what was ahead of me.

I caught a little concern in my hamstrings in the final 5k, which has been an issue at this distance in the past. But I maintained and kept my focus on passing as many more people as I could, speaking directly to my muscles in a negotiating-begging voice to stay with me, we had the rest of the day to feel awful.

Designing races to take a final, dramatic turn in the end is a stroke of genius by any race director. It’s an opportunity to pour it on through a twist without the endless stretch that a straightaway presents, and it was physically, mentally, and emotionally blissful to deliver the last of what I had to punch through a hard left and into the finish line.

I appreciate the privilege of having parents who support me in every area of my life, and the energy she and my dad brought to race day in person, as well as so many friends and family who were present both physically and virtually, rode front and center as I pushed through my first official road marathon since Los Angeles 2019.

Brand-new-out-the-box HOKA Carbon X 2s checked every box, from absorbing the impact that came with these downgrades, to the lightness and energy-return I needed to put up the splits that I wanted.

My REI arm sleeves and HOKA tights met the temperatures well, Roctane by GU Energy Labs, Drymax socks, and Naked Energy Labs’ extraordinary belt took care of the rest.

The progress I’ve seen in my racing in 2021, from my first 100k at Timberjack100k on September 11th to CIM, and everything in between, has been the best I’ve experienced so far.

I’m thankful to all my family and friends and teammates who have been essential in giving me what I need to do what I love, including but not limited to my family, friends, everyone at HOKA, my coach Kris, and all my friends at Chaski, Drymax, Naked, GU, and NATHAN.