2008 Big Sur Half Marathon: Recap

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

I found an old file folder last week that held results from my first 5K race – back in 1986.

My most recent race was last weekend up in Monterey for the Big Sur Half Marathon. Of all the run races, in all the years, this one stands at the top.

The pre-race expo had vendors that actually had a reason to be there and not just to get our attention and hand us some worthless trinket to remember their brand by. The staff was dressed in sport coats with the venerable Big Sur logo. The race – with a little rain before and a little rain after – was amazing. I have gone for workouts near the ocean in dozens of places here and abroad and I was mesmerized by the coastline on Sunday.

I would highly recommend you put this race on you calendar for next year. If you have a good training regimen in place consider the full which runs from Big Sur into Monterey. Sunday went so smooth I left the Central Coast with a profound respect for the organizers. I saw a lot of staffers that loved what they were doing. The start had all the pomp and circumstance one might expect of an older race. In the early miles the race heads into a long highway tunnel and at the end stood a bag pipe player that filled the tunnel with fantastic music. Brilliant. Energy drinks and water were placed in wise positions and staffed well. The turnaround area had so much energy from the water bottle filling gang that I gained momentum out of it. And after all of these high notes there was the finish. Unlike the LA Marathon family and friends can actually watch runners finish the race. And after you wave to friends, pickup your small children and carry them across the finish line you are met by race staffers there to help – not just push you through the funnel. I know I am excited but I was speechless when my wife and I walked thorough the food line. There was so much fresh fare I could barely stand it, muffins, apples, strawberries, cookies and even pineapple juice. Many thanks are owed by all of us to the race organizers for serving up a great race.
I think the advertisers in this race owe a lot to the organizers as well. Saab didn’t rename the race or graffiti the event shirt with their logo – but they did have cars on display, did have the pace car and did get a lot of positive attention. Kudos to all parties for having class.

And now for a recap of the LA South Bay crew in Monterey:
C. Daniels 1:36:43
M. Smart 1:51:39
B. Smart 1:53:20
D. Michaelis 1:53:15
K. Hart 1:53:50
J. Miller 1:55:55
N. Smith 2:10:16
A. Pregizer 2:20:11