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June 04, 2005
thursday (1/2) salmon run
today was the last organized salmon run. there are about 4 of these runs every other week leading up to the famous dipsea race. they are practice runs/races that help prepare folks for the dipsea race or even just allow people who don't get into the race a chance to see/witness the course in action.
they always start at 5 pm at the depot in mill valley (the start of the dipsea). you run the course and then out at stinson there's a great big pot luck dinner w/grilled salmon! thus the name of the runs--salmon runs. they are always so much fun b/c tons of people come out and especially when you are finished w/the run the socializing at the finish (stinson beach) can not be beat!
this evening...i planned on seeing the documentary "Dipsea Demon" at the Rafael theater. the fact that the documentarian would be at the theater to answer questions after the viewing (58 minutes or so)...combined with the captivating nature of Jack Kirk (the dipsea demon)--96 years young--he's run 68 consecutive dipsea races--a World record!!! really compelled me to want to go out to the show tonight. anyhow the movie was starting at 7 pm and there would be no way i could make it all the way to stinson and get back to san rafael in time for the movie...
so i decided to run to halfway rock and back.
halfway rock is the half way point (time wise) on the dipsea. it's in the middle of one of the longest climbs in the race. i decided i would run out to halfway rock as a time trial and then jog back as a cool down. lots of students i coach who are running in the dipsea decided to do this same workout...as did my brother in law.
it was a very warm evening! i went out a bit faster than i should have. there are ~650 steps at the start of the race...the race is never won here...but it's lost here a lot. the key is not to waste your energy racing like hell up these steps. usually i walk fast...skipping every other step...it's still hard...but it saves my legs for all the other climbing in the race.
tonight i made the mistake of running portions of the steps to keep up with some folks i knew. this tied me up a bit on this steep hill called dynamite. once i made it passed dynamite it was a slow gradual grind to halfway rock. i made it there in exactly 30 minutes. that was my goal. so that was good. i waited there for my band of companions and then we jogged every so slowly back to mill valley.
i was very tired after this run. my legs in general have been tired lately!
Posted by liz at June 4, 2005 12:41 PM