Heart of Oakland

I am in in agony, lying face down on a massage table following the Oakland Running Festival half marathon. My masseuse April had everything under control until she bent my legs at the knee after loosening my hamstrings. When she did this, my right calf calcified into a fist of pain. April has done what the course could not: put me in a state of complete submission.

This is a much different condition that I was in a few minutes earlier.

Here's Larry Witte from Alameda. He's 45! Believe me, running keeps you young," said the public address announcer as I crossed the finish line. It was a strong race for me. I finished 13th overall in 1:22:08, my best time in 11 months and my highest age-graded performance since the Long Beach half marathon in October 2008.

The result was not expected since I had a digestive illness early in the week that limited my eating and caused me to drop four pounds in three days. The ailment prevented me from following up the previous Sunday's run at the Emerald 12K Across the Bay until Wednesday, and then rain on Thursday eliminated a training session. I ran less than 25 miles the week leading into today's run.

The course was flat and fast, which worked in my favor. It was also one of the most anticipated races I've ever run. Oakland hadn't hosted a major race in more than two decades. As one who returned to running in Oakland after a 16-year layoff, I wanted to run a race in the East Bay's biggest city. Oakland has a mix of natural beauty and urban grittiness, along with great weather and challenging hills. It's a great place to run, but the running community has always had to travel to Pleasanton, Danville, San Ramon, and other cities including Alameda for races in the East Bay.

The absence of races probably let the San Francisco Chronicle to devote significant coverage to the marathon, even more than it gives to its city's own marathon. Nice features before the race included a mention of Len Goldman, president of the Lake Merritt Joggers and Striders (LMJS).

Back in the massage tent April gets assistance on my calf, which has tightened into a ball the hardness of an orange. After several minutes of therapy, my leg loosens up and I relax my death grip on the cushioned table. I've been lying down there way more than my allotted nine minutes. Having recovered, I proceed to the post-race activities.

To my surprise, Debra Cramer (F52), my carpooling companion for the second race in a row, calls my name as she approaches me. I thought I'd be waiting for her, but Debra ran a very strong 1:40:26, another PR. Debra is the only friend in my age range who is getting faster, and she's knocking off significant time over the months. It's quite amazing. Debra has been running for many years, but only now is she reaching her potential. She's getting close to a score of 80% on the age-graded scale, which is a national-class standard. No one knows how fast Debra can run, and it's fun to watch her progress.

Results haven't been posted and Debra and I decide to use our drink tickets and get a beer.

The race itself was fast, but lacking in scenery. The half marathon course missed the recognizable parts of Oakland. We ran past the Fruitvale neighborhood, but not on its main drag, International Boulevard. The course went no further east than uptown, so we didn't hit Piedmont Avenue. We avoided the heart of Chinatown and ran several blocks away from Jack London Square. The course avoided the busy parts of town to limit disruption of commerce and recreation. The result was a race that did not showcase much of Oakland's charm and provided a visitor with little opportunity to appreciate its unique characteristics.

Nevertheless, there were highlights. An arch with flames broke up the monotony at mile six. This work was a creation of the Crucible, a collaborative community arts and industrial center that features heat-related art like glass making and metalworking. Even though the arch was on fire, it was the coolest mile marker I'd ever seen.

There was no question which singlet I would wear. It was my new LMJS jersey, which has the club's logo on the front and back. The double exposure may be a mistake. It makes me look like a running sandwich board.

The race ended with a loop around Lake Merritt and a final leg back to downtown. Lake Merritt is my Yankee Stadium, Augusta, Wimbledon and Hayward Field. This is where I soaked up the natural setting a brief stretch from the cottage Mandy and I rented in the late 1990s. Lake Merritt inspired me to run many afternoons before I began to race. Here I ram a few LMJS 10Ks and 15Ks, and four Couples Relays. But this is the first time running around the lake in a big race. Anticipating the lap around the lake, I almost lose control of my emotions. This is a big deal for me, but I take couple of deeper breaths--if that is possible on the tenth mile of a half marathon--and return to the present.
There were a few more spectators around the lake than at other sections of the race, many cheering for me based on my LMJS top. I needed every bit of encouragement. At mile 11 I saw Tony Fong (M50), who rant the marathon in a blistering three hours on a hilly course. I could never have run that fast. Tony is definitely in good enough shape for out Tahoe Relay team, and a few days after the race he says he'll run the relay with us in June.

Debra and I continue to wait for our results, passing more time than we spent running the race. We are enjoying the beer and the sun, but the beer is Miller Genuine Draft and we want to return to our real lives. A 20-foot sign spelling RESULTS in vertical letters overshadows a four-sided display that is completely blank at 12:30 p.m., three and a half hours after the race started. This is inexcusable. The race is chip-timed, and generating results requires nothing more than pushing a button on a computer to print the outcome. Apparently no one can do this.

With the information booth being no help at all, Debra and I leave, not knowing whether we won an age-group award. We're a little frustrated and a little miffed that we waited two hours after the race and don't know how we fared.

After getting home, I find out from the race web site that Debra and I both won our age groups, Debra by more than a minute and me by more than three. We're satisfied with the results. Even better, the next day the San Francisco Chronicle published the above photo of Debra and several runners at the start. Debra's famous! Seems like the paper has an eye for talent.

Does This Hill Make Me Look Fat?

"What's in the cooler?"

"Heart and lungs."

The above exchange between a friend of ours and Mandy is taking place at East Ocean Seafood restaurant in Alameda, where we are meeting this Sunday morning for dim sum. Debra Cramer dropped me off at the restaurant after we raced the Emerald Across the Bay 12K in San Francisco.

The cooler contains bagels and cream cheese for after the race, but Debra made some gourmet muffins with chocolate chips and coconut before we left from her home at 6 AM. The bagels never saw daylight.

I wouldn't mind if the cooler did have replacement parts for my cardiovascular system. It was a difficult but rewarding race. An elite 800-meter runner described the sensation after a race as having every cell in your body on fire. I don't feel that bad, but I am exhausted.

Conditions for the race were perfect. There was no wind, no sun, and no rain—just a soft blanket of cloudy sky. Last year we endured a deluge that dampened my spirits and drained my energy. Today those of us who ran last year were a lot more eager to run from Marin County to San Francisco.

The race features a sharp climb from sea level to the Golden Gate Bridge. Last year the hill turned my legs into jelly. I mentioned this to Suzette Smith in an email a few days before the race. She replied that hills are your friend. I would agree that hills are excellent to train on, but not to race on when you only run in pancake-flat Alameda. I used to love hills when I ran on them in Oakland, but now I consider them a weakness.

I got another email from Tony Fong, urging all West Valley Track Club (WVTC) masters runners to show up at the race. We haven't fielded a masters team since I joined the club in 2007. If we can't get five guys to race at one of the most popular PAUSATF races of the year, it will probably never happen.

I assured Tony that I would run even though I hadn't run on a hill since June of last year, but I could probably run a 6:30 per mile pace. Tony said we'll have 10 masters runners, enough for two teams.

I then asked if he would be able to run on our Tahoe Relay team. He responded that he would join us in June if he could run a 10K in a six-minute per mile pace by the end of April. That's very ambitious and well beyond the ability that we need. I called Tony. He said he was fat.

The potential loss of one of my Tahoe runners made today's race a recruiting trip. I got Karen Andrews to join our team at the Couples Relay, but this morning I didn't see anyone that would fit our lineup. I even saw a lot of WVTC runners, but they all appeared to be under 40 years old.

After warming up, Debra and I squished in amongst several hundred runners. The course features a right turn and steep descent. Running fast on a winding road in a close pack makes for perfect conditions for a pileup, but the stampede of runners managed to navigate the start without an accident. I was dreading the hill, but the climb up it wasn't nearly as bad as I remembered it. I kept waiting for pain to set in, but as we hit the bridge, my legs felt fresh. In 12 minutes I had run two miles.

While crossing the bridge Carlos Castelo (M40) of WVTC, pictured above, passed me. Once past the bridge we hit Crissy Field and the Marina. About five miles into the race Jeff Teeters (M50) said hi as he caught up with me along my left side.

"Heyyyyy Jeff, how's it going?" I asked. Jeff said something inaudible. Trying to think of something positive to say I said, "Just a few more miles, and there's no wind." I was glad Jeff wasn't in the mood for talking, because I sure couldn't keep up a conversation. Jeff has a chicken wing style of running, so I faded to the right to avoid his elbows. I have never finished ahead of Jeff in a race, and today would be no different. After running together for a quarter mile or so Jeff continued past me.

A few more people passed me on the trail to Fort Mason. Among them was Peter Hsia (M49), who hadn't finished ahead of me in a race since 2005. But Peter is having a renaissance. In late 2009 he posted a great time in the Run Wild for a Child 10K, placing in his age group in a very competitive field. I also heard a number of people cheering for Lisbet Sunshine (F46), a popular Impala whose name describes her personality. I managed to hold her off as we climbed and descended the last hill.

As I turned to the right a woman in the crowd yelled, "Go, Larry!" I had no idea who it was, but I would find out the following Sunday that it was Carol Turner, who was skipping the race while recovering from a detached retina. I finished in 46:19, 24 seconds behind Jeff, four seconds behind Peter, and five seconds ahead of Lisbet. I was 12th in my age group and 112th overall.

My pace was much better than I hoped for, 6:13 per mile. The performance was unexpected and my best since the Long Beach Half Marathon in 2008. I beat my predicted time by more than two minutes. It was my second-fastest time on that course in five races.

At the finish I met Chris Knorzer (M41), a West Valley runner on the right who paced all masters runners with a time of 40:22, a 5:25 pace. I was the oldest and slowest of the 14 West Valley runners. That didn't bother me given how I exceeded my expectations. On the other hand, I am disappointed that West Valley only had three masters runners. Chris, Carlos and I would have placed well as a team if we had two more runners. My time was good enough to contribute to the third-place masters team, but West Valley wasn't able to get a quorum. The long non-streak continues into its fourth year.

Super Sub

A few weeks ago Jane Watson informed me that a hamstring injury would keep her from running the Couples Relay with me. Too bad, I was looking forward to running with her in this rare relay opportunity. Then again maybe I should have expected it. This race is unpredictable, but fun.

• In 2006 Diane Dove was injured (we won the race).
• In 2007 Diane had the flu (we came in third).
• In 2008 I had the flu and had to cancel on Suzette Smith. It also rained like crazy.
• Last year Jane was injured, but we place second in our age group in a downpour.

Besides Jane's injury, early in the week I was limited to bed after catching some 24-hour bug. Upon learning of Jane's condition, I called my friend Holly Starr. Holly said she'd run with me, after all she ran six miles recently. Holly is very fit and a good athlete, so I'm happy to be able to run with her.

Holly calls my name as I finish changing our registration at the race. During a warmup run we discuss family and the winter Olympics. Holly can figure skate, and I watched the women's long program on the DVR last night, so we have a good conversation.

Weather is way better than the previous two years, dry with plenty of sun. The women run first, and Holly gets a good position in front. While waiting with the guys I catch up with Jeff Teeters, who's teaming up with Maria Chapon of the Tahoe Redondo team from the Tahoe Relay. I had asked Jeff if he'd be on our East Bay Flyers team, but he says he won't be available.

About 23 minutes after the start Holly tags me in 49th place. She ran a solid time, and I set on gaining on a lot of teams in front of us. As I begin someone yells, "Nice pace, 203!" Thanks to Brian Collett for the photo of me. He skipped the race, but did an excellent job as photog. My lap around Lake Merritt is like a handicapped race. I'm well back of the lead, but there are a ton of slower teams ahead. I pass 23 teams and we finish in 42:03. My split is about 18:30, which is about as fast as I've run this course. Even though it's flat, I get slowed by the numerous turns, narrow sidewalks, and countless pedestrians. I'm really pleased with our performance. A record 174 teams finished the race, and the days when Diane and I could win the whole thing with a time of 38 minutes are long gone. Holly and I managed to finish third in our age group (100-119 combined age), and our time would have won the age group last year. The competition keeps getting tougher, and Jeff and Maria snag first place in our category, the prize for which is a gift certificate to a restaurant or running store. Officially Holly and I are fourth in the age category, but one team ahead of us is two men. It's a coed race, so I don't count them. After the race I lend Mike Rossi the ice pack keeping the cream cheese in my cooler fresh for his leg. I also purchase a Lake Merritt Joggers and Striders singlet, men's small in red, after seeking one of that color for a few years. Finally, I chat up Karen Andrews to see if she can run on our Tahoe Relay team. She says she'll get back to me. It's been a productive morning.

Hit and Run

The Davis Stampede half marathon may be my favorite of the Superbowl Sunday races. It’s winnable, the long drive to Davis is less of a hassle than parking at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, and Davis is a wonderful college town. Last night Mandy, Maylee and I stayed overnight in Sacramento, about 30 miles to the east. We had a great Thai dinner with Suzette Smith and her son Michael, daughter-in-law Alicia, granddaughter Izzy, daughter Caitlin, and son Tim. Suzette and Tim are the only Smiths from last night who don’t live in the Sacramento area, so she considers it a second home.

This morning Suzette, Caitlin and I drove to Davis from Sacramento together, and will meet our families at the finish line.

We pull into downtown and find parking about four blocks away from the start. We have plenty of time to get our numbers and race shirts, and stow our belongings back in the car. Mandy will later find a parking spot right at the starting line. This is so much better than the Kaiser San Francisco Half Marathon in San Francisco, where once I was blocked in a parking spot for more than an hour after the race and another time sprinted to the starting line due to finding a spot minutes before the race.

My goal is to run a 1:24 half marathon, the slowest I’ve run since coming back from plantar fasciitis in my left foot two years ago. It is a flat course with a lot of turns and dips through bicycle and pedestrian tunnels under roads. The minor ups and downs are not imposing, but they do slow the runners.

I finish in 1:23:51, second in my age group (M45-49) and 21st overall. This was my slowest time since recovering from an injury in 2008, but any significant training adjustment wouldn’t have made any difference. The first place finisher in my age group ran two minutes faster than my PR and the person who finished after me was three minutes behind.

Suzette has an eventful race, with a time of 1:46:20, third in her age group (F50-54). The excitement occurred at the end where the street has posts to keep out motorized vehicles, as Davis is a bicycle friendly town. As Suzette navigates between two of the posts, a guy runs into her as he tries to pass her.

Some guys have a problem with women beating them, and others just want to finish ahead of every possible person. This isn’t the Olympics. This is like flying Southwest. There is no first class. Finishing 186th is no different than 191st.

As it happens, Alicia Smith is on the scene with her camera and catches the hit-and-run culprit. It’s Omir Torres, who’s 22 years younger than Suzette. We’ve got his license plate number: his bib is 3291.

Mandy, Maylee and I head back to the hotel after the race. We drive to Old Sacramento, which is right out of a Hollywood western. I’ve never been here, and it’s really neat. The streets are preserved in their 18th century motif, even if every store sells candy, ice cream or t-shirts.

We have lunch and visit the California State Railroad Museum. What a wonderful place. The Louvre of railroad museums: the trains are beautifully restored and displayed. Our original plan was to visit the museum on Saturday, but fortunately we went today. Yesterday was free admission and the museum had a record attendance of 15,000. Waits were long for all the train exhibits and the museum’s ventilation system couldn’t handle the vapor from all the people.

Today everyone is watching the Super Bowl, and we have the place to ourselves. Here’s Maylee next to a monster freight train. The wheel is bigger than her.

10 on the 10th in 2010

"A lot of these runners look fast."

I don't know if Suzette Smith or Debra Cramer said this, but both of my traveling companions are psyching themselves out before the California 10 in French Camp, Ca. I try to reassure them that they'll do fine while we stay warm inside the San Joaquin County Hospital, the site of the race. The California 10 used to be the first race in the Pacific Association (PAUSATF) season, with a very competitive field. In 2006 it lost its relationship with the PAUSATF and now draws a smaller and slower field. I expect the three of us to win medals today.

The three of us made the trip through the fog because there's not many other races in January, and 10 miles is a good training distance. Debra's running the Boston Marathon in April, and I haven't raced anything longer than 5K since July. I have a half marathon coming up in a few weeks, and would like to run something between three and thirteen miles.

The temperature is in the low 40s and the air is moist with fog. We're glad to start and get warm. The course is on rural two-lane roads. The limited vehicle access in the area requires the roads to stay open, so we have to stay on the shoulder as much as possible. I see an Impala ahead of me, but can't catch her. It's Liz Gottlieb, the same woman who finished ahead of me at the Run Wild for a Child 5K in November.

I make the turn at the midway point of the out-and-back course in about 31 minutes. Within a mile I get a big cheer from Suzette and Debra who are running a relaxed pace amid a pack of runners. From time to time I get cramps in my hamstrings, which I think is caused by not racing much over the last six months. I push hard and finish in 1:03:10, which translates to a 1:24 half marathon. I haven't run that slow since 2005, but it is a PR for me for 10 miles. This is the first flat 10-mile race I've ever run. I finish 13th overall and second out of 11 in my age group (M45-49).

The real excitement is with the women. As Debra describes it, "All I can say is that I have some sick satisfaction beating those younger than me. Suzette and I smoked a group from a Sacramento running club, plus a 27-year old from Berkeley. While they were panting behind us, we were chatting away."

Suzette says that if you run in a group with Debra you will learn everyone's life story. Debra and Suzette finished first and second respectively in their age group (F50-54), nine minutes ahead of the competition.

After the race we relaxed and talked mostly about running in the cafeteria where we were offered soup. I had a bowl of minestrone, but it was a little too tasty after squeezing my digestive system with my respiratory system for an hour, and downing a Cliff Bar and Luna Moons from friend Jane Watson. We preferred the bagels and cream cheese that I brought because the race started relatively late.

The morning was a comfortable start to the running year, sort of like waking up in a warm bed after a good sleep. The logistics were excellent, with plenty of indoor access for restrooms and a place to hang out, and the soup was a nice touch. At $25 the race costs about as much as a small 5K, and is one of the best bargains I've found if you don't mind making the drive.

I'm very encouraged by my performance and look forward to the next race on Super Bowl Sunday, the Davis Stampede Half Marathon.

Best and Worst of 2009

This was a non-Olympic year, but there were still a lot of highlights in 2009 as well as some low points. For me the year contained more ups and downs than any other. I got off to a great start before injuries slowed me in July. I had to miss the half marathon of the San Francisco marathon and all of my favorite races in the fall. Maybe my new stretching and strengthening routine will keep me healthier in 2010, although I think injuries will remain a threat. Best wishes, and a healthy 2010 to all.

Best Race: I had hoped to one day be on a team for the Tahoe Relay, and this year a group of friends made it possible. By far this was my favorite race I’ve ever run. Besides the pleasure of competing, I had a great time assembling a team, setting a lineup, preparing logistics before and during the race, and planning activities. Somehow everyone I wanted to run was able to make it, and we won our division in the sixth fastest time in our age group since 2000. I estimated that we could finish the 72-mile course in 9:20. This looked ambitious by past results, but we beat that mark by three minutes. We had four women and three men, took the lead in the third of seven legs, and never let up. It was a first-class weekend, with great accommodations in a cabin large enough for six team members and their entourages. Because I only had to run one-sixth of the race, I was able to experience the race as a spectator as well and enjoy the interaction with familiar faces on other teams. I can’t wait for next year.
Best Pre-Race Meal: Part of the Tahoe experience was terrific food. Mandy made a great entrée for a large group, pasta with pesto and potatoes. It’s as carbo-loaded as it sounds. Boil one box of penne pasta, steam a bunch of asparagus and cut into bite-sized pieces, then boil and cube three Yukon Gold potatoes after peeling them. Combine the cooked ingredients, add pesto (store bought or homemade), and top with fresh basil. Eat and run at least 10 miles fast the next day.

Best Athletic Performance, Five and Under Division: She earned her white and yellow belts in kung fu, can swim at least 25 meters unassisted, and can skate around an Olympic sized ice rink on her own. Maylee also became adept at the monkey bars after years of Daddy holding her feet. Daddy would like her to join the swim team, but it’s a big commitment and Maylee is probably correct in resisting. Next up: learning to ride a bike.

Best Athletic Performance, Open Division: For the second consecutive year, Usain Bolt broke the world records in the 100 meters and 200 meters, chopping 0.11 seconds off each mark that he set in the Beijing Olympics in 2008. These margins of improvement are the largest since the age of digital timing. The previous record in the 200 meters stood for 12 years. Bolt’s performance at the Berlin world championships in 2009 was so overwhelming that Tyson Gay ran the fastest time ever by an American in the 100 meters and still finished 0.13 seconds, or more than four feet, behind Bolt in a sport where photo finishes are common. Bolt’s iconic lightning pose during competitions will remain prevalent as he is just beginning to dominate his sport. He no longer surprises, although he continues to amaze. Bolt’s 200 record eclipsed that of Michael Johnson, who holds the record for the 400 meters set in 1999. I think Bolt could be the world champion at that distance, but he has indicated that he wants to branch out into the long jump.

Worst Runner: On July 2, I opened my Runner’s World to see Sara Palin profiled. Within a few days she resigned as governor of the second-least populated state in the country. Like everything with Palin, the story had legs, pun intended. Newsweek ran a photo of her from the Runner’s World photo shoot on its cover for its article, ‘What Do You Do with a Problem Like Sarah?’Palin complained that the photo was sexist, about a year after she complained that another Newsweek cover photo of a closeup of her face was unflattering. She was offended as a woman. I was offended as a runner. Runners don’t quit.

Lucky 13 and Nifty 50: Despite my limited activity in the fall, I managed to win 13 medals, eclipsing my previous best of nine, which brought my total since 2004 to 50.Running 5Ks later in the year helped since I didn’t have to train too much for them and was still able to place. I would take health over medals, but I’m thankful for the good luck. Some of my main competitors didn’t appear at a few races, and I managed to take a medal at the Tilden Tough 10 even though I posted my slowest time since 2004.

Best Excuse to Cross-Dress: I received a women’s jacket for completing the California Dreamin’ half/marathon combination this February. Anyone who runs either the half or full marathons at Surf City (Huntington Beach) in February, San Francisco in July and Long Beach in October over two years receives a nice jacket and large medal. The men’s small jacket was too large, so I took the smallest women’s. Other than the zipper being on the opposite side, it’s indistinguishable from a men’s jacket, and it’s the best free clothing item I’ve received in running.

Best Medal: If they ever change the design of the medal, I’ll try to get the California Dreamin’ one again. It’s a trek to go to southern California twice, but we have relatives that we enjoy visiting in the area, and the two races are scenic and well-managed.

Best Running Coverage: St. Louis is not a big running town, but the two races I ran there received extensive media coverage. The St. Louis Post Dispatch gives impressive features on returning champions and race previews of the Go! St. Louis running weekend, does a full writeup on the marathon and half marathon, and then the top five in each age group in both races are listed in the sports page on Monday, along with several stories. Compare this to San Francisco’s coverage of Bay to Breakers, which is a much more prominent race, with several professional runners. The San Francisco Chronicle didn’t even mention the winners of the race, either in print or on its web site, which had a collection of photos of the costumed runners. Amazing that I had to check the race web site to find out what happened, no different than a local 5K.

Worst Magazine Covers: Sex sells, but Runner’s World needs to sprinkle some diversity on its covers. The normal cover for the monthly magazine shows a young woman from southern California running in a jog bra. On occasion the cover will feature a young man from southern California without a shirt, and maybe every other year a running star like Ryan Hall. Runners in general are a pretty decent looking group, so Runner's World should be able to find unlimited subjects of different ages, in all parts of the country, running in a variety of weather conditions, wearing any type of running apparel.

Best Celebrities: I had a brief encounter with Ceci St. Geme, but Jane Watson had her photo taken with Kara Gaucher at the Nike Women’s Marathon. Kids might idolize Peyton Manning or Derrick Jeter, but they will never play catch with either of them, and they will never be on the same field competing with them. That’s not true in running, where everyone lines up with the elites at marathons, and the stars are very accessible. As Jane says of Kara, she’s as nice as she it fast. I saw a video of an interview with the Asics women’s team that won the Bay to Breakers centipede championship as it regularly does. While Heather Gibson and her teammates were answering questions, Deena Kastor jumped into the picture and said she wanted to be part of the next centipede team. The women loved it, and the idea is almost plausible. Kastor genuinely admired the Asics amateurs, and who wouldn’t want an Olympic medalist and the current US marathon champion on their team?

Worst Weather: The normal perfect Bay Area weather deserted me on several races, as I slogged through four downpours and one brief heat wave. Prior to this year I dealt with rain once in five years. The weather didn’t affect my outcomes in terms of placement, but the heat slowed me considerably.

Injury of the Year: Eli Manning’s got it, so does Kobe Bryant and Albert Pujols. I thought I got rid of it in 2008, but plantar fasciitis helped keep me on the sidelines for most of the latter part of 2009. Six years of running and the advance of middle age have made this a persistent pain in the foot. I’m not cured, but only rarely do I feel any discomfort. It seems that certain injuries become fashionable. Remember pulled hamstrings from the 1970s and the high-ankle sprain from a few years ago? Now plantar fasciitis is 'in' injury. This one is persistent, as I write this with a stinger in my heel.

Best Non-Running Workout: When I was injured swimming didn’t do it for me, nor did the stair master elliptical machine, or spinning class. I’m not good enough at swimming to exhaust myself, the stair master and elliptical are too easy, and I don’t know how hard to push myself in spinning. For me the stationary bike is the best substitute for running. Forty minutes at the maximum setting on a hill course challenges my legs and gives a pretty good cardio workout.

Best Use of TARP Funds: I felt obligated to run this race because I was my office’s team captain, but I was still battling recurring pain in my right leg and foot when I ran the JP MorganChase Corporate Challenge in September. I hadn’t run fast for two months, and was pleased to discover that my leg didn’t snap off at the knee when I managed to complete the 3.5 mile course in a 6:15 pace. This race made me realize that I still could compete without seriously injuring myself. I knew that I had to get healthier, but I wasn’t ready to quit. I managed to race three more 5Ks, which was a limited schedule, but very gratifying. Sure, JP MorganChase didn’t use its TARP infusion to stage the race, but the TARP funds kept JP in business so that they could host it.

Best New Running Locale: Unfortunately I injured myself on a glorious 12-mile run on this wonder in mid-July. The Chicago Waterfront boasts a network of paths that pass the museums, aquarium, Soldier’s Field, yacht clubs, and parks. I was most impressed by the packs of runners. Some were sponsored by running stores, and others were independent running clubs. Running in groups of 20 or 30, their enthusiasm helped dull my pain and lifted my spirit on that day. I eagerly await my next visit to Chicago and opportunity to run without injuring myself.

Perfect Carma

"Your backpack's got naked people on it!"

Someone from my party at the Run Wild for a Child race has called me out for something that I realized this morning. The backpack that I received for running the 2008 Napa Marathon has a bottle of wine with a coed couple streaking on the label. The backpack was the right size for today's race, and it elicits a string of comments about stripping, going green by going nude, and Bay to Breakers.

We stay fully clothed, but reluctantly peel off our long outerwear in the brisk morning air. The weather is beautiful but enjoyed better with more layers. With 25 miles to be run between the five of us, shoulders, arms and legs are exposed twenty minutes before race time.

Suzette Smith (at left) drove the group of us, which includes her son Tim, Jane Watson (second from right), Debra Cramer (on the right) and myself. We carpooled in Suzette's Prius, which must give our fivesome one of the smallest carbon footprints at the race. Thanks to Suzette I was able to enjoy what I consider one of the most spectacular entrances to any city, the westbound Bay Bridge emerging from the Treasure Island Tunnel. I've made this commute daily for 10 years. I tried to include a clip of it here, but the video file was too large.

The girls run the 10K and the guys the 5K. This is a tough field, and I finished fifth last year when I was in better shape. I would have placed in last year's 5K, and given that I haven't run anything longer in four months, I decide not to torture myself. Tim has run once in the previous three weeks, so he's not going to exert himself either.

I start fast and pass two Impalas whom I planned to pace against. As with most 5Ks there's not much to talk about. Fatigue hits about halfway through the race and one of the Impalas, Liz Gottlieb (F334), passes me and wins the women's race in 18:05. I finish in 18:30, 17 seconds slower than at the Primo's 5K in October, but good enough for third in my age group. I never seem to run well in Golden Gate Park, which is a shame since it's such a great setting.

The course may be a bit more difficult here, and last year's 10K was only six seconds better when adjusting for the distance. My knee and foot held up better than in any race since the Run to the Lake in July, and I ran the first mile only five seconds slower than normal. My main problem is that I am a bit out of shape, and can't sustain a max effort over much more than a mile.

My brother Martin greets me at the finish line. His wife Kathy is running the 5K as well. The last time I saw Kathy was at the St. Michael's Day Dash in St. Louis on September 27. This time Kathy has different attire, as she's dressed as a Lego block for the costume contest.

The women in our group clean up in the 1oK. Jane (F45) takes third in her age group in 43:56, Suzette (F54) is second in 46:21 and Debra (F52) is right behind Suzette in third. The medal winners all had pretty similar performances when adjusting for age and gender. Suzette's run ranked 76% (of the world record) in the age-grade scale, and the other three of us were within 3% percent of her. We're pictured below with our medals. Tim, the glue that holds us together, is right in the middle.

My medal was the 13th of the year, a new high. It was also the 50th since I resumed running in 2004. The big winner was Kathy. She won two nights at a swanky hotel for finishing fourth, first among individual competitors, in the costume contest.

Great weather, friends and family, great place for a race, and tons of fun. Perfect carma.