Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon - 07/18/10

ANY HALF-MARATHON below 1:30 is a good run in my [log] book.  I decided that would be my minimum goal for the Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half-Marathon.  Wine country in July can be hot and dry.  I was also just getting over the stomach flu from a week and half earlier.  So, a modest goal was in order.  If I could break 1:27, even better.  That would get me the coveted seeded entry to the Bay to Breakers next year.  I ran this race in 2006 in the sun and with an injured leg.  I clocked in at 1:31:47 that year.  Aside from a trail race half-marathon I ran in the Santa Monica Mountains and the almost as challenging La Jolla Half-Marathon, the 2006 version of this event was my slowest half in ten years. 

The race is produced by a company call Destination Races.  Their goal is to produce races around which people can build a weekend or a whole vacation.  It is a high quality, well run event and it is very accommodating to the runners. 2004 was the first year of this race.  It has grown so much in popularity that the 3,000 registration limit is reached a month or two after registration opens and more than six months before the race.  I did not have any problem registering in 2006 and did not realize how popular the race had become since then.

This race was on the Pamakids racing calendar when I went to my first team meeting.  On a survey, I indicated I might be interested in running it.  I received an e-mail from the race captain telling me the race was sold-out and I should sign-up on the wait list for a lottery to allocate the last few spots.  It turns out the wait list is longer than the registration list.  So, the chance of getting one of the last few entries by lottery is pretty slim.  I did not get in.

Since it is necessary to commit to the race so far in advance, some runners find their schedules change.  One of the ways the organizer accommodates runners is with easy race entry transfers.  A Pamakid runner was no longer able to make the race.  I bought her entry and transferred it to my name.  The Destination Races staff was very responsive and accommodating.

BEFORE THE RACE

Twelve Pamakid team members ran the race.  A portion of that group, including me, rented a couple of cottages in Sonoma, near the finish.  In 2006 I drove to Sonoma in the dark on race morning.  The area is not well marked and Google Maps are often a little sketchy.  It was too early, I got lost and it was too stressful an experience.  So, I was all for staying in Sonoma the night before.

We met at the Pamakid House mid-afternoon on Saturday.  I stopped at the race expo to get my race number and timing chip on the way.  When I got out of my air conditioned car, it was hot and dry with a clear sky and bright sun.   Later, I bought a couple large bottles of water and made an effort to drink as much I could on Saturday to be fully hydrated for what could be a hot race on Sunday. 

The team planned a spaghetti pot luck dinner for that night.  We walked to the local Whole Foods for a few last minute supplies and came back to start dinner. My contribution to the dinner was a fruit salad and some sweets for desert.  A few other team members, some running the race and some not, joined us for dinner.  There were a lot of running stories and we had a good time.  There was speculation on whether sun and heat would be a factor in the race.

Sunday morning came early.  This is a point to point race.  Runners are bussed from near the finish line in Sonoma to the Cuvaison Caneros Estate Winery in Napa County.  The route follows back roads through wine country and is completely closed to traffic until the last half mile on Broadway into downtown Sonoma.  The race finishes at the Sonoma Plaza, an eight acre park with the 1906 Sonoma City Hall (pictured). 

The race starts at 7:00 AM.  Our alarm was set for 4:45 AM so we could head over to the buses around 5:15 to 5:30.  That would get us to the start at 6:00 AM or little after.  Plenty of time to get ready and to warm-up.  The Pamakids team met at the start line a little before the scheduled start. 

THE RACE

As it started to get light, we could see that the sky was overcast.  Low clouds or high fog, probably the result of a marine layer that was pushed inland.  There was a cool breeze.  As I stood near the start, I realized these were much better conditions than expected.  Just as the race was starting, another team member who was also aiming for a 1:30 asked If I was aiming for around 7:00 for the first mile with the race's biggest hill.  At that moment, I decided I was not going to waste these conditions on a 1:30 half-marathon and said I wanted to be 6:45 or better. 

I charged up and over the first hill, hitting 6:34 for the first mile.  I felt fine.  What I did not know is if I would have the stamina at 10 miles to close out the race, especially after being sick the prior week.  It is also possible the sky would clear during the race and the sun would beat down on the runners at the end. 

After the first mile, I caught up with another team member who was aiming for a 1:23.  The fact that I caught up to him probably means that goal was a bit aggressive for this day.  We ran together for about half a mile and then he fell back a short distance.  The course gradually falls after the first hill to about 2.2 miles and then has rolling hills to mile 4.  My watch timed 6:49, 5:33 and 6:30.  It appears Mile 2 was long and Mile 3 was very short.  I was probably running a little better than a 6:30 pace. 

Miles 4 to 6 are quiet and rural.  There are a lot of charity team walkers along the course at this point.  They started at a different time and were well into their event.  They were an enthusiastic bunch.  Mile 5 clocks at 6:34 and Mile 6 at 6:13.  Miles 6 to 7.5 wind through some sheep farms and cross Highway 12/121 with California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers for traffic control.  The traffic and flow of runners is light enough that I can run straight through without having to pause at the highway.  Mile 7 is 6:55.  That is not good.  Hopefully it is not a sign I am fading already.  Maybe another bad mile marker?

Miles 7.5 to 10 continue through vineyards with a few homes and farm animals.  There are a couple of hills just after mile 8.  Mile 10 comes just after crossing Napa Road.  Again, there is a CHP officer regulating the flow of runners and cars.  Mile 8 is 6:16, that is better.  Mile 9 is 6:52, oops, slipping again.  How will mile 10 come in?  I check the watch and it is 7:07.  Oh, no.  I have broken the seven minute barrier.  Am I on the fade?

I decide to chew on a Clif Shot Blok and push the effort to see if I have anything left.  The conditions are still favorable and the course is mostly flat to the last section along Broadway.  I am very relieved when mile 11 comes in at 6:29.  I am back on pace.  Mile 12 is 6:20.  Shortly after mile 12 we run on a bike path through a park and across the high school grounds.  We emerge on a side street that leads to the final half mile on Broadway and to the finish.  All of a sudden I am passed by a woman who looks to be close to my age.  It turned out to be Christine Kennedy, a nationally ranked 55 - 59 year old runner from Los Gatos.  Mile 13 is 6:22 and the last .1 is 0:43. 

I finished in 1:25:23 gun time and 1:25:21 chip time.  That ties my second best half-marathon ever (1:25:23).  My average pace was 6:31.  A very successful race.  I took first place in my age group (50-54) out of 76 total.  I was 33rd out of 2,639 finishers.  My age graded score was 81.1.  By that measure, my best performance of the year.

AFTER THE RACE

The Pamakid House was so close that I could go back, take a shower and change before the award ceremony, which I did.  After that we all gathered back at the Sonoma Plaza for prizes.  In this race,  everyone gets major bling.  Each finisher gets one of those monster medals pictured at the top of this blog.  They also get an engraved wine glass. 

Then there are age group (first through third in five year bands) and team prizes -- bottles of very good local wine (for those 21 and over).  I gave my prize bottle (personally signed by the wine maker) to a friend at work.  A pinot noir. 

It was successful for the Pamakids, too.  We had six members who took age division awards ... 

 ... and the team won the team competition.

The team prize was a case of wine.  With 12 members running, that means everyone got a prize.  

After the award ceremony, I headed back to THE CITY, through wine country.  This photo was taken in the early morning.  You can see the fog above the horizon.

Next up is ... well, you will have to wait for the next blog entry.  I decided on my fall schedule as I was leaving Sonoma.

 PHOTOS

ALL BRIGHTROOM PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOS (C) 2010, USED WITH PERMISSION.

1) NAPA TO SONOMA BANNER, BRIGHTROOM PHOTOGRAPHY.
2) NAPA TO SONOMA 2010 POSTER FROM EVENT WEBSITE, PROPERTY OF OWNER.
3) DESTINATION RACES LOGO FROM CORPORATE WEBSITE, PROPERTY OF THE OWNER.
4) NAPA TO SONOMA FINISHER MEDALS, BRIGHTROOM PHOTOGRAPHY.
5) PAMAKIDS TEAM AT THE START, BEFORE THE RACE.  PHOTO CREDIT UNKNOWN.
6) VINEYARD AT CANEROS WINERY START AREA, BRIGHTROOM PHOTOGRAPHY.
7) SONOMA CITY HALL, PHOTO CREDIT UNKNOWN.
8) RUNNERS GATHERING BEFORE THE RACE.  THIS IS ON THE DRIVE LEADING TO THE WINERY BUILDINGS.
9) RACE START, BRIGHTROOM PHOTOGRAPHY.
10) ME, EARLY IN THE RACE, BRIGHTROOM PHOTOGRAPHY.
11) ME, LATER IN THE RACE, I CAN TELL BY THE POOR PAVEMENT SURFACE, BRIGHTROOM PHOTOGRAPHY.
12) ME, ON BROADWAY IN THE LAST .1 BEFORE THE FINISH, PHOTO BY THEO J.
13) ME, CROSSING THE FINISH LINE, BRIGHTROOM PHOTOGRAPHY.
14) PAMAKID AGE GROUP PRIZE WINNERS, PHOTO PROBABLY BY MALINDA W.
15) PAMAKID TEAM RECEIVING THE TEAM PRIZE, PROBABLY MALINDA'S CAMERA TAKEN BY JEANIE J.
16) PAMAKID TEAM WITH THE TEAM PRIZE, PROBABLY MALINDA'S CAMERA AGAIN WITH JEANIE J.
17) SCENIC PHOTO BY BRIGHTROOM PHOTOGRAPHY.