Marathon #20: Big Sur Marathon, 2007

The Bixby bridge

I'm pretty certain that the Big Sur marathon will always be remembered as my favorite marathon. I can't imagine what it would take to surpass the beauty and magic of this course. Don't get me wrong, it's one of the hilliest marathons I have ever ran as well.

2007 was the chosen year to run Big Sur. For one thing, it was going to be on Kristen Smith's 50th birthday. Somehow we managed to rally up enough people for the 5 person relay that coincided with the marathon. I think our total head count was around 12 people or so. We took over a B&B in Monterey and made it our own!

Fast forward to race day "morning". The bus ride to the start actually went along the marathon route backwards, and even though it was mercifully dark, every time the bus went flying downhill I would get a sick feeling in my stomach, knowing there was yet another climb waiting for us.

We were dropped off in a parking lot where we waited for over an hour with no real place to sit. I remember sitting on a concrete curb for an eternity. This was my only complaint and real low moment of the day. Luckily it wasn't raining or too cold. At dawn we gathered for an unusually peaceful start, as 26 white doves were released into the air. Finally, the race was underway!

Laura Harvey and I started off with Kathy, who was running the first leg of the relay. We ran through Pfeiffer state park for about 5-6 miles or so, through giant redwoods and campgrounds. It wasn't until we left the park that the scenery opened up to views of the ocean on our left. It was so stunning that Laura and I kept bumping into each other from staring off at the scenery. We just kept repeating, "wow", "awesome", as if we had too few words to describe what we were seeing.

In the distance we heard the steady beating of drums, but it wasn't until we rounded a corner that we actually saw the Taiko drummers situated in a horse shoe bend in the canyon, with their sounds echoing up the canyon walls. To the left was the start of the 2 mile climb to Hurricane Point. As we headed up the climb the fog grew thicker and thicker. Laura went ahead and I was on my own for the rest of the race. I could hear the drums beating below me was I continued the climb into the fog. It was surreal! The approach to the summit was equally surreal. At this point the beating of the drums behind me changed to the sound of a piano coming from above. Sure enough, there was a man in a tuxedo playing classical music on a grand piano! With ridiculous swirling wind and thick fog at the summit I thought I might be dreaming it all. From the summit we plunged downward, reaching the iconic Bixby bridge at the halfway point of the race. I actually stopped running to go look over the edge and take it all in. It was amazing! A runner yelled out to me, "Don't jump!"

Back when clunky white shoes were cool

The second half of the course was more of the same, stunning scenery and relentlessly rolling hills. At one point I passed by a narrow glass casing, a little bit wider than a phone booth, and a woman was inside of it, playing a harp! Again I had to ask myself if I was part of some weird dream.  There were too many weird encounters for me to remember now, but it was part of what made this race magical.

As we approached Carmel there were more spectators on the course and a lot more crowd energy, which was much needed at this point. One rest stop had the biggest strawberries I've ever seen. Still, I remember cresting the final hill and was very relieved to see the finish line in the distance.

Phyllis is running to the left of me! She ran me in after her relay leg!

I was happy running a 4:05, and Toby ran a 3:11! I think Laura ran 3:57. All good times for such a hard course. Kristen, on her 50th birthday, won her age group! I can't remember her time, but it was pretty darn fast! I'm sorry, I don't remember the relay finish time or Dena and Richard's times.

The post race festivities were a bit blah, but we had a lot on our plate to do anyhow. Toby and I spent nearly an hour trying to find the rental car in the parking garage. It's funny now. We would be in one garage, lift the fob up to engage the horn and think we were hearing it in the other garage. I think we did this three times, with marathon legs, until we finally found it.

The magic continued for the rest of the trip with many great friends. I will treasure these memories forever.

Nepenthe at Big Sur the night after the marathon

Monterey

Awesome group of people!