This year, thanks to the efforts of race directors Fred & Yong H., the race was revived. Fred insists that many people supported and had a hand in reviving the Distance Classic. That is true, but Fred was the strongest proponent and agreed to serve as Race Director.
The race was moved to a 1.061 mile loop around the lagoon at Crissy Field. It is about 60% dirt and 40% paved. It has views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay. All of the park facilities are readily available. On the calendar, the race was positioned three weeks before the San Francisco Marathon, making it a good long run option for marathon training. As in the past, a companion 5K was held for those wanting a shorter event. 
DSE prides itself on producing low-key, informal races. This has to be the most casual of all the races they produce. Officially, it starts at 8:00 AM and ends at 2:00 PM. A little before 8:00, Fred called everyone over, made a few comments and gave a low-key "Go." The racers sauntered from the start line. With six hours to run, there is no need to sprint from the start. This race is the epitome of the DSE motto: "Start slow and taper." Consistent with the informality, runners can enter the race "in progress" during the set hours. Runners can temporarily leave the race to visit, eat, rest or anything else. Some runners left the race at 9:00 AM to do the companion 5K and then resumed the 6-Hour afterwards. Runners can also stop any time they want. So, if the goal is do a certain distance or a certain time, it all works.
Sunday is normally the day for my long run. A couple of weeks before the race, I saw a race reminder and decided it would be a good way to do a supported long run. I thought my pace should be slower than my normal 7:45 to 8:00 long run pace -- maybe 9:00 to 10:00. I also thought I should be prepared to eat and drink throughout the event. At the reduced pace, it is possible to eat on the run. Otherwise, I did not have a clear idea of what I wanted to accomplish. I was thinking I might run three to four hours. The longest I have ever run at one time is the marathon distance of 26.2 miles. I thought about setting a new personal distance record. I also thought that if I felt good at 26.2 miles, I might go for 50K. Any event over the marathon distance is an ultra. Although, there is some debate in the ultra community as to whether 50K or 50M should be considered the shortest standard ultra distance.
Several people expressed dread at the idea of running a 1.06 mile loop for hours on end. One way to deal with that is to break the task into smaller parts -- loop by loop, hour by hour. Every loop you go by the start line where the lap is tallied and people cheer. Immediately after that, you pass the aid station with food and drinks. The outbound leg is on a paved bike path along Old Mason Street. The return is on dirt paths through Crissy Field. For much of the event there were pink breast cancer event walkers to watch and dodge along Crissy Field. I also decided to stop every hour for a break, drinks and food. Finally, I decided this should be a social event, running and chatting with people I know. This is not plodding loops in isolation. In the end, I did not find the repetitive loops to be an issue. To a certain extent they are a comfort because you are never more than half a mile away from the aid station.
I ran the first two hours with Steve P. and visited. Steve is leading at the left, headed to the tally board, above. During the first hour I grabbed a cup of water and, later, a cup of Cytomax. At one hour, we took a break. I went to my car, left a jacket and retrieved a sandwich and Gatorade. After a certain point in long events I get tired of sweet energy foods and I had a couple of sandwiches to balance off the sweet. Edward H. (yellow shirt, below) joined during the second hour and we ran a few laps together before I took my second break. This time the food was a Clif Bar and more Gatorade. Edward and I figured we would meet-up again, but we must have stayed at opposite ends of the loop. During the third hour I ran a few loops with Vince F. before stopping for the three hour break. I think I grabbed more Gatorade at this point. I also ran a few loops with Jerry F. (white shirt, second photo, below). I don't recall when the fourth break came, but I think it was short of four hours. I retrieved the second sandwich. As I passed the aid station, I saw that they had peanut M&M's. I grabbed a handful on the next loop. After that, I was focused on finishing and did not take any more breaks.
At the start, I tried to record each loop on my watch, but kept forgetting to hit the button. So, I gave up. As the event developed, I realized that the 50K was practical. I knew that a 50K was a little over 31 miles. I figured 31 one-mile loops would do it with those little .06's adding up to whatever I needed past 31 miles. I completed the marathon distance of 26.2 miles at around four hours. I started checking my splits in the last hour to see how I was doing. They were 9:15 to 9:30. With the extra .06 that is very roughly a 9:00 minute per mile pace. The runners on the course were thinning out, but I was still saw people I know. Several times during the second half I saw Hugh B. We would chat for a quarter to half mile and then resume our own paces. 
I finished 31 loops a few minutes before five hours. I figure it was about 4:56. I had not realized the extent to which those little .06's add up over 31 loops. I actually ran about 32.9 miles and overshot the 50K distance of 31.07 miles by a lot. I could have stopped at 30 loops and still made it. After the race I went back to the aid station. I had two cookies, a brownie and a cup and a half of coffee. My total for the race was two sandwiches, one Clif Bar, 52 ounces (three bottles) of Gatorade, a handful of M&M's and a couple more cups of liquid. I took in about 2,400 calories but expended 3,540 during the race. The two cookies and brownie after the race probably evened it out. 
Hugh B. won the race with a total of 42 laps (about 44.6 miles) over the full 6 hours. Steve P. came is third in the men's race with 32 laps (just short of 34 miles). I was fourth. Noriko B. won the women's race with 36 laps (about 38 miles). My average pace calculated to 9:00 minute miles including the breaks. So, my actual running pace must have been a little faster, especially at the start and along the paved portion on Old Mason, at the right.I reduced my training miles on the week after the race and was back to normal after that. I ended up with a blister on my left big toe and a bruise on my right big toe. Other than being stiff and sore afterward, that was the extent of the damage I was still able to make the next Thursday night race and posted a respectable time.
Other than finishing out the DSE Summer Race Series, that is it for the summer. I will figure out my fall next month. Although, the Humboldt Redwoods Half Marathon is definitely on the schedule.
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| Good Bye |
PHOTO CREDITS
1. PUBLIC DOMAIN (STOP WATCH)
2, 4 & 9. NOE CASTANON
3. PROPERTY OF DOLPHIN SOUTH END RUNNERS CLUB (DSE LOGO)
5, 6, 8 & 10. PAUL MOSEL (c) 2011
7. JOE CONNELLY
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