Santa Barbara Wine Country Half Marathon: Chasing Julia with nothing to Wine about!

Manly Men!

The boys and I head over the hills this morning for a little grape action at the 2010 Santa Barbara Wine Country Half Marathon.   

All week I sported a pair of seriously fatigued legs.  I believe their words were, “Race and we will kill you.”  Of course they don’t speak English, but you get the idea.  Hence, the coach that knows gave me three options: 

a.  Run 6:25-6:20 to mile 7 and then race if feel good. 

b.  Run 6:25-6:20 to mile 7 and if feel not good stay on pace. 

c.  Run 6:25-6:20 to mile 7 and if feel terrible STOP at mile 8 and jog on home.  (To the finish line, not to Santa Barbara.  He is not that mean.) 

Wednesday afternoon I was crawling along the bluffs trying to run.  Thursday my calves were screaming.  Friday I sat on a roller.  I had no idea what to expect.  Ricky was along to race, but on the slightly conservative side.  Tim had to run a tempo and blast only the last two miles.  Mike was all business: go big or go home. 

I cannot help myself from scouring the crowds looking for fast stems as we line up.  “I wish I could blind fold you!” Rusty said, “Just run the workout!”  What?  Moi?  Compete when I am not supposed to?  Naturally I was shocked.  

I spotted Julia Stamps Mallon.  OK, I didn’t know who she was, but her bib said “JULIA” and her leggies said Watch Out.  “She’s fast,” I said to Tim and pointed at Julia who was wearing number 5.  I had number 9 which I liked a lot because it rhythms with WINE.  Nine…Wine…Nine…Nien?  No…Yes…Wine for number 9.  Catchy! 

Star Spangled Banner….rockets….glare…and we are off.  Julia is gone.  I reluctantly sink into my 6:20 pace with the help of Tim.  “Dre slow down,” Tim dictates the pace.  “But Julia,” I protest watching the black sports bra fade.  “You’re not racing,” he reminds me. 

I stay put.  Tim is supposed to drop to 6:10 pace at the 3 mile mark and he politely waves good-bye as he quickens his step.  I run along my pace.  It is easy running and the miles go quick.  Before I know it I am at Corkscrew Hill.  I got up it no problem and found the 7 mile mark waiting.  Options…options…a, b, c.  I pick a. 

Mile 7 to 8 5:45 mile split.  I already see Julia again.  Excited, I plant my eyes on her speedy self and pray that I can reel her in. 

Mile 8 to 9 5:55 mile split.  I am closer.  A lot closer. 

Mile 9 to 10 6:03 mile split.  I am the closest that I get to Julia.  A roadie on a bike following her keeps glancing back and relaying information.  I watch her drop the hammer.  I plug along and cover the remaining miles efficiently and in control.  Mile 11: 6:01.  Mile 12: 6:07.  Julia keeps looking back.  I see Travis standing on the side line.  “She keeps looking back Dre!” He shouts at me.  I give a little smile to both him and myself.  I am amazed that I do not feel tired.  Mile 13: 5:45.  I round the final turn and surge to the line: 1:21:33. 

I have a big smile.  I high five Julia.  We get our picture together.  I walk off to grab a water.  I am not so very tired.  That was awesome!  Mike Takeuchi of The Santa Barbara News Press finds me later.  “Do you know who that is?” Mike asks. 

“Yeah,” I answer, “Julia.”  He laughs with a bit of an eye roll and then explains.  Ohhhh!  I love being beat by bad asses!  Even better!  I later find Julia in the elite tent at the Wine festival.  A mother of a beautiful 16 month old girl, she is as sweet and lovely as she is fast and strong.  It is a pleasure. 

Speaking of……I said nine rhythms with wine right?  Therefore it only fair that I should sample the local selection.  Sampling got a little serious until Tim cut the fun off, “Um Drea, they are giving the awards.”  Oops. 

I run over to the stage late.  Just as Julia and the third place woman are walking off, I run up onto stage.  I mean, I heard I get a check $ and free wine.  “Wait a minute,” the announcer jokes, “Were you drinking?” 

Yes.  I had 64 ounces of regular H2O and recovery fluid first, but perhaps one or four sips of vino snuck in with the L-glutamine carbo protein tastes like junk-junk. 

The boys?  Oh they had good ones: 

Mike: 1:17:50  BAM! 

Ricky: 1:18: 50 (I think) 

Tim: 1:20:00 Running the first 11 miles at 6:10 tempo effort and making up time in the last two miles: 5:20!!! 5:15!!!!  Who does that?  By the way, one of those miles had a pretty good hill in it! 

Tim, Drea, Mike

~ by Drea on May 8, 2010.