Five Year Wedding Anniversary Getaway and Big Sur Marathon

Five Years of Marital Bliss

One of the things I like about running is that it takes you to places that you may not normally go to.  Runners often call this “runcation” where you schedule a vacation around a run.  Running has brought Lance and I to Napa Valley, Florida, Texas, and most recently Monterey/Big Sur. 

The Big Sur International Marathon is one of the most popular races in America.  Due to its popularity, it is also very, very difficult to get in.  You have to win a random lottery, and I know several runners who have entered the lottery multiple times and have yet to be selected.  Last July, I entered the lottery.  I didn’t think I would be selected, but a few weeks later, I received the congratulatory email.  I got in!  The Big Sur Marathon was just 10 weeks after the LA Marathon.  I knew that it would be physically challenging because as soon as I completed LA Marathon, I would have to continue my training for Big Sur.  I am not one of those people who can run two or three marathons a month.  It takes a huge toll on my body, because I HAVE to train.  Unlike a half marathon, a full marathon requires consistent training/dedication. 

The LA Marathon in February was a hard lesson.  I was undertrained, and when I completed the 26.2 miles in 5:05, I was in agony.  The usual runner’s high that accompanies a finished race eluded me.  I just wanted to cry, and I began to seriously contemplate dropping out of Big Sur.  There was no way I could complete the more challenging course of Big Sur.  However, after a few days, I realized that I had to do Big Sur.  I was lucky to get in, and who knows when my next opportunity would be.  I had to be smarter though. I had to train better.  I diligently and consistently followed my training schedule.

Lance and I had our 5-year wedding anniversary in March, but we postponed the celebrations so it would coincide with our trip up the California coast.  It would be a five-day weekend with just me and him.  No kids.  No dogs.  Just us, and believe me, we needed it.

We started our trip on Thursday morning, stopping off at Solvang.  It is a quaint Dutch town nestled in the Santa Ynez valley.  We walked the streets, had  a buffet lunch at a Danish restaurant, and ordered goodies from a Dutch bakery.  We then headed to Morro Bay, which is a town along the California coast.  It is famous for Morro Rock, a 581 foot volcanic plug.  Lance and I renewed our vows at this site. We have a very silly tradition of renewing our vows in notable, worldwide sites.  It is incredibly sentimental, but I like this little tradition of ours.  Following Morro Bay, Lance and I continued to San Simeon, where we spent the evening devouring our Dutch baked goods and watching the OKC Thunder game.

Solveng

Morro Rock

Early Friday morning, we toured Hearts Castle, William Randolph Hearts famous estate.  I have never seen anything like it.  Hearst Castle is an estate that has 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 19 sitting rooms, 127 acres of gardens, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a movie theater, an airfield, and at one time, the world's largest private zoo.  Unfortunately, we did not get to enjoy the gardens as much nor did we take the tour of the three cottages located on the estate.  The weather was not our friend. A storm came through, and it began pouring.  The rain along with the strong winds did not create an ideal environment for touring.  I did not want to leave the castle and venture out into the grounds in that crappy weather.  We left early and decided to have lunch at Sebastian’s.  We returned to our hotel room in hopes the weather would improve, which thankfully, it did.  In the late afternoon, we headed to William Hearst’s State Beach and the elephant seals.  I LOVED the elephant seals.  I could sit there for hours watching them. 

San Simeon

Hearts Castle (just before the storm came through)

William Randolph Hearts Pier 

Elephant Seals

On Saturday, we began our drive to Big Sur and Monterey.  I cannot even begin to adequately describe the BEAUTY of Big Sur.  Seriously, no words.  When we drove through the Santa Ynez valley and San Simeon, I was in awe of the beautiful valleys, farmlands, and beaches, but these sites are incomparable to the majestic beauty of Big Sur.  I have never seen anything as beautiful as Big Sur.  The drive is sublime.  On one side, there are the redwoods or farmlands and on the other side is the ragged, rocky coast.  In some areas, the water was turquoise.      

                                   

W-O-W!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

When we reached Monterey, we immediately went to the expo to get my bib.  Afterwards, we checked into our hotel, which was in walking distance to Fisherman’s Wharf and the Monterey Aquarium.  Dropping off our luggage, we walked to the aquarium, passing the famous Cannery Row.  It was difficult to adjust from the quite beauty and solitude of Big Sur to the tourist crowd at the aquarium.  Lance and I spent a few hours at the aquarium, and though I think it is incredible, it was probably my least favorite activity of the trip.  It was difficult to maneuver through the crowds, and this was in April. I can only imagine how difficult it is during the summer.

Lance and I had dinner at Fisherman’s Wharf, and we ordered fudge from a confectioner’s shop before we headed back to the hotel.  I had to get to bed early as my wake-up time was to be 3 a.m. so I could catch a 4 a.m. shuttle to the start of the marathon.  It took 1.5 hours for the shuttle to reach Big Sur from Monterey.  I arrived at the marathon start line, nestled in the redwoods of Big Sur at 5:30 a.m. 

Big Sur Marathon is not only popular because of the incredible views along the course, but it is ,without a doubt, one of the most challenging marathon courses in the world.  It is 26.2 miles of hills.  Yes, with hills, you also have downhills, but the uphills were brutal.  Mile 10 – 12 was a steep - almost 9 percent climb up Hurricane Point.  I walked (as fast as I could) up this point.   Though I was walking, it was a strenuous walk.  In addition to the hills, the 15 - 25 mph winds were brutal.

The winds were so strong, they knocked over the port-o-potties. 

I had a lot of anxiety about the marathon.  There is a sweeper bus, and if you cannot complete the course within six hours, the bus will pick you up.  If you are not at mile 21.2 at a certain time, the bus will pick you up. This was communicated repeatedly through multiple mediums.   I was not confident in myself.  I never ran a hilly marathon with winds so I didn’t know how this would affect my time.  I was also nervous, because most of the runners at Big Sur are hardcore.  I looked at last year’s results and I thought I would be in the bottom 20 percent, which made me feel less of a runner.

At the start line

The thing about running is there is always a strategy.  You don’t enter a race and just run.  You have a strategy of how you are going to tackle the course, and I had my strategy. I knew where I was going to have to walk on some of the steep hills and when it was downhill,  I would make up time.  I knew I had to pace myself.  My only goal was to not get picked up by the bus.  Guess what?  I not only met my goal, but I kicked its ass.  While running, I always look at my Garmin, and I knew I could possibly beat my February LA marathon time (5:05), but as I kept running, I knew there was potential for me to get under five hours.  I just had to push myself, recognizing that at mile 25 (when you are about to collapse), there was a giant hill that I needed to tackle.  I found my inner strength, and I was able to complete the Big Sur Marathon in 4:54 minutes.  It is my second best marathon time.  I was in the top 50 percent overall, and for my gender/age group, I was in the top 40 percent.  Again, Big Sur runners are not novices to running. 

When I crossed that finish line, I was euphoric.  Lance commented that I was talking so much and so fast.  What a difference training makes!  The person who finished the Big Sur marathon was completely different than the one who finished the LA marathon ten weeks prior.  I was sore, but I was not dead.  I was tired early and it was not from the run, but from the fact that I woke up at 3 .m. We spent that evening walking along Fisherman’s Wharf. 

When we left Monterey Monday morning, we returned on Highway One and drove back on the course.  I stopped to take photos of the Bixby Bridge, which marked the 13.1 mile of the marathon.  It was at this point that the classical pianist played music on the baby grand piano.  It was hooked to speakers so you could hear the music from a half mile out in both directions.  I stopped my IPOD and just listened.  I have never experienced anything like it….running with that music, looking at all of nature’s wonder.  Magical.

Bixby Bridge 

We drove to McWay Falls and did a hike to the falls as well as through the redwoods.  I felt so amazing and so alive.  I had just ran a marathon the day before, but here I was hiking steep trails.  I am in great shape.  I am very proud of the dedication I have to physical fitness.  I am now officially done with marathon training and can resume lifting weights and doing HIIT.  It’s been a long time (six months), and I’m eager to pick up some dumbbells.

Lance can be seen hiking up the trail. 

McWay Falls

The beauty of Big Sur brings tears to my eyes.  I have lived in California for 30 years, and this was my first visit.  Why?  I cannot believe I neglected this gem.  I am definitely going back.  No question.  It was difficult for me to adjust back to reality and the fast-paced world.  I missed the serene tranquility of Big Sur.  It is probably one of my most favorite places on this Earth.  I could easily live in Monterey and go to Big Sur every weekend.  Big Sur—we will see you again next year. 

I am so in love with the California coast and Big Sur.

Thank you to my sweet husband who is always so supportive of me achieving my personal goals.  I love traveling with him.  He is my best friend.