panchotri’s blog

Routes

There are three routes to choose from, all of them very hilly: 73 miles; 104 miles; and 112 miles.

The 73 mile route (5750 ft. climb) consists of the North (or morning) Loop. It climbs the east side of the Oakland-Berkeley hills via Pinehurst Road, then follows the ridge up and over Grizzly Peak and into Tilden Park. It then drops down alongside San Pablo Reservoir and heads north to the edge of the Bay and the Carquinez Strait. From there it climbs McEwen Road for a run down into Franklin Canyon and Alhambra Valley, then over Pig Farm Hill and through the hills around Briones Regional Park and Reservoir. Finally, one more short sharp climb on Rheem Blvd. takes you back to the start for lunch at mile 73. Here are links to the north loop map (PDF) and the north loop cue sheet (PDF).

The 104 mile route (roughly 8000 ft. climb) consists of the North Loop before lunch followed by the 31 mile South Out-and-Back. After lunch, you travel through Redwood and Anthony Chabot Regional Parks to the Proctor/Redwood rest stop at northern edge of Castro Valley, turn around, and follow the same route back. The 104 mile route is not mentioned on the registration form.

I signed in for GPC on May 2. Two weeks from now. My training has been on and off and my longest ride was last week, about 60 miles, I think…My computer broke and I am guessing based on previous rides. Here’s the linkhttp://www.grizzlypeakcyclists.org/century/

________________________________________
From: anaelvira [mailto:anaelvira@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 9:13 PM
To: ‘joaqui magana gomez’; ‘Magana, Mauricio’
Cc: ‘marco_magan@hotmail.com’
Subject: RE: Responder: Re: California Interntional Marathon

Oficial:

3:29:39

Nos VAMOS A BOSSSTOOON NOS VAMOS A BOOOOSSSTON. Canten conmigo NOS VAMOS A BOSTOON NOS VAMOS A BOSTONNNNNNN!!!!!

Enseguida abrí la pagina de Boston y las registraciones ya están cerradas, el cupo esta lleno para 2010.

Como mi carrera fue después de Octubre por lo que los organizadores de Boston y el comité de atletismo nacional respetan el tiempo a esos corredores que calificaron para el siguiente ano. O sea que voy a Boston in 2011!!!!!

Gracias por sus comentarios.

Pancho
CIM200932939

—–Original Message—–
From: joaqui magana gomez [mailto:marcoman@avantel.net]
Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 7:13 PM
To: Magana, Mauricio
Cc: anaelvira@sbcglobal.net; marco_magan@hotmail.com
Subject: Responder: Re: California Interntional Marathon

guuuuua a a a a uuuuu !
QUE TIEMPASO PANCHO FELICIDADES !
LLEVAS UN RECORD O ARCHIVO DE TODO LO QUE ESCRIBES ?
porque son increibles tus vivencias , en hora buena
joe

—– Original Message —–
De: “Magana, Mauricio”
Fecha: Domingo, Diciembre 6, 2009 7:44 pm
Asunto: Re: California Interntional Marathon

> Woooowwwww!!! Mr dejaste sin aliento!
>
> Asi se hace, estoy orgulloso de ti.
> Un abrazo muy fuerte
> Mauricio
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> De: anaelvira
> Para: Magana, Mauricio; marcoman@avantel.net
>
> Enviado: Sun Dec 06 19:23:06 2009
> Asunto: California Interntional Marathon
>
>
>
> Bros:>
>
>
>
> Primero: gracias a ustedes saque la carrera. Estuvieron siempre en
> mi mente y me ayudaron mentalmente a cumplir mi gol. La carrera se
> las dedique
>
> Segundo: Muy competitiva por que es rapida y sirve para calificar
> para Boston, Los Trail Run Nationals, ademas es selecta por
> primerizos y los que quieren un nuevo PR. Se cerro la inscripción
> hace tres meses
>
> Tercero: Mi acondicionamiento fisico no estaba de acuerdo a la
> carrera, me falto,”Speed training” Nunca lo pense que seria tan
rapida
>
> Cuarto: Vi mi tiempo desmoronarse en la milla 23 cuando los
> dolores del esfuerzo aplicado llegaron a un nivel anabolico que no
> pude contener por mucho tiempo. Ahí estaba marcando 7:35pace o
> para llegar en 3:20. Pare y me entro una angustia muy fea. No
> podia haber golpeado “the wall”, mi alimentación e hidratación
> estaba al dedillo. No aceptaba caminar pero no podia correr,
> entonces camine media milla cuando me pasaron tres que marcaban un
> paso justo y a tiempo, como buenos corredores, decidi pegarmeles
> para cargar su energia y para que me jalaran. Les aguante el paso
> hasta la 25 en donde me di cuenta que 3:30 estaba muy justo para
> terminar.
>
> Mi mente actuo rapido como buen coach y me empezo a repetir: mi
> dia es hoy y mi momento es ahora. No iba dejar mi esfuerzo de
> todo un ano irse por la borda. Los minutos pasaban y mi angustia
> crecia. Cuando di la vuelta en Main street vi el capitolio(muy
> grande) y el “shut” de llegada. El reloj marcaba 3:27. El dolor
> era parte ya de mi cuerpo y nada podia hacer por quitarmelo. No
> pense sino en “sprint” hasta cruzar el tapete rojo. Pare mi reloj
> en 3:28:53. Extraoficalmente habia calificado para Boston. Mi
> GOL del ano.
>
>
>
> Mis resultados son muy buenos llenos de experiencias que me
> serviran en carreras futuras.
>
>
>
> Un a abrazo
>
>
>
> Pancho
>
> CIM2009(3:28:53(no oficial))
>
>

The swim at The Bigh Kahuna triathlon was cancelled due to the fog. The organizers converted the tri in duathlon. This is my report:

I woke up at 3:30 am packed the bike and gear in the car and drove 1:30 to Santa Cruz. Once in transition I placed my self in a quiet zone and began the ritual of getting ready. By 6:45 all were standing in the beach listening to the last instructions, it was still dark. The strongest jumped into the sea to warm up. The night ended but the fog appeared keeping the sky shadowy. You could not see buoys and the lifeguards in the paddle tables. The organizers decided to cancel the swim and turn the event into a duathlon. There was a discontent among some but the word safety spread rapidly and they calmed down. By waves they let us go from the beach to T1. I was disappointed because this is the year that I have put more time training in the pool than ever and I wanted to see the results. While lining up in the beach I decided to give everything in the bike and hang though in the run. If I was going to break it was going to be in an “improved duathlon” and not in a tri. I was going to see how far I can push my limits.

Out of T1, as I mounted the bike I heard lots of cheering, the street was narrow, people was there next to me, it was great. Apparently many had the same intentions as me because we were still in the city streets and we were hammering 24mph, and turning sharp corners fast. Once in the highway we spread and tried to keep from drafting but not until mile 10, after I crossed the railroad tracks, I saw a justifiable distance between riders. At the crest of the first hill I narrowed my distance with a group of 4 riders, later I was going to find out they were going to be my competition, I passed them going down and I thought I was going to forget about them but quickly I got pass by number 125, then 380, a minute later by 85 a gal 29 years old with very strong legs, and by a big cervelo pc3, with a warrior on it. This guy was big but not fat, he had grayish arm warmers that look more like a pipelines, large legs and narrow hips, when I turned to look at him I didn’t see his face, I had to look up. All but Ms. 85 were in my age group. The race was on. At the turn around point, we meet again within seconds. I was second behind Ms. 85 who took a glimpse of me and took off. At that point all the pre-concerns of holding back to save fuel were gone. It was all about keeping up with the big gal and guys. The second half of the ride was the same but faster. Dangerously we rode road and many times blocking traffic. Now that I have a moment to reflect on it I realize how restricted my opportunities are in my day to day activities. Today when we live day by day with a stressed economy and a constant rhetoric of slump is hard to be happy, to feel free, to take a risk or two. Last Sunday’s ride provided me with the physical, psychological and spiritual edge of adventure to keep challenging myself and keep looking for a better tomorrow. Life is more than 9 to 5.
Bike time: 2:48

Out of T2 I bumped into the big cervelo guy who didn’t look so impressive any longer, he look heavier and was breathing heavy. I moved faster to stay away from bad vibes. My nutrition was close to perfect in the bike. In the run I carried my energy belt and I planned not to stop in water stations, may be in the portap but it was not my priority. Right away I knew I had to mark the pace from the beginning and let my running skills take control. So I did. I passed every single runner in front of me. I targeted one after the other. I stopped in the portap not because it was urgent but because I felt I need it to calm down and let my heart rate drop and take the pee as an excuse. I was marking 7:45 pace at mile 6. It was good timing. At the turning point marked by a wooden carved big kahuna head I made contact with Ms. 85, I glimpse at her while I was passing, never saw her again. The way to the finish line was sweet, down the hill trail to the railroad crossing tracks then to the city streets to the beach walk to the sandy beach to the FINISH!
Run Time:47:07

I placed the pics in the photo gallery

30 days out to my come back

Last tri was September 16 2007. In 2008 had the car accident, then back rehabilitation, then training again. Training has been long; I began training at the end of May. I saw spring go by, summer has come and gone, I’ve read all RR, updated my blog, participated in the forum, it’s dark out for my bike commute, fall is here and so is my peak training. I am tired, I feel tired, I want to not go for long rides on Saturdays or sneak out for a swim at lunch. I don’t know if my wetsuit fits anymore, ohoh! I need a wetsuit. 2009 began with the completion of a marathon, which sealed my doubts about my back issues. I can’t stop thinking about the triathlon . I’ve done Big Kahuna 3 or 4 times before, yea, 5 or more years ago when I had courage and bold attitude, I am softer now, think twice of what would be if. I am older, I dont recover as fast as back then, even two years ago. The long way of recovery and training put me in my best shape ever thou, my weight is up but have more muscle mass and more power in my legs, thank you to the hill repetitions and to the pool that I visited more often. I want to see how much I have grown. I will not know until after Big Kahuna is over, there is nothing I can’t control right know, I am rolling and everything seems to be set up and ready to go. The regressive count has started.

I had scheduled a 3 ¼ hours ride today but when I heard the thunderstorms at 6am I had to start thinking in plan b. The rain was steady, last night forecast called for dry skies so I went to bed planning the route for today. I made time hoping the rain stop, drink the usual mix, proteins and Gatorade, change the tube in the back tire. Not that the tire was flat but it was not full. Last Thursday ride back from work was a bit rough, a lot of debris in the road and I thought it was better put a new tube. I cleaned Rocinante, wash the cassette, ate a cliff bar and hour and a half later the rain was still coming down steady. So I changed the ride for the run. The schedule called for 100 minutes run. My goal for BK run is 100 minutes, a lot of ambitious there, but hey if I think I can run it I am not going to change it. So change biking gear for running gear, actually I run with the compression shorts on top of the tri shorts, the same way I am going to run in BK, put a t-shirt, hat, the kayanos, and water belt and off I went. The rain was harder than what I could see from inside the house. It was good decision not to ride. I run Saint mary’s trail down hill and back. I pretended it was race day, focus all the way, practiced eating and drinking at exact times. In two occasions I could had stopped to catch a breath, but no, I kept running. Got back home drenched, the right calf was hurting, that feeling that sooner or later the muscle is going to pull, the left knee was acting and complaining but the pain was manageable. Came right on time for breakfast with the family so took a quick hot shower and had two arepas with sunny side up eggs with Tabasco sauce and a large cup off hotmilk with coffe (latte!). Then the wife send me to do errands. I am looking at my chronometer and indicate 1:51.21, I am counting the miles and they are 14 all together and that my friend makes 7.9 pace average.

I’ve looking for this day since last week. I have completed the first 6 weeks of base training and I need a well-deserved rest. I have to say that I am rusty and it has been hard adapt to 6-8 hours week training. The last 3 long rides were slow, uphill and long rides.  Previous years I rode by skyline and said; this hill is not for me, it is a killer. Well the last three weeks I rode from Home to Grizzly Bear, throughout skyline and yes, it is a killer hill but it can be managed. I’ve put long, no so slow, hilly runs on Sunday. I got a nice sun tanning in my arms and shoulders in yesterday’s run. I have been trying to hit the pool twice a week but  I missed a couple of sessions. I am going to take this week extremely easy, rest, and sleep as much as I can.   

learn to swim, again and again, this time I realized that lifting a bit my head up water won’t go in my nose. 2 hours ride with hills, moraga-skyline-fish ranch and back, In my way back two riders passed my by and the chase began. I used the chase as a drill. I was catching up at the top od the hill, then at the traffic light I met the rodies, one gal and her partner. Downhill I took off, put myself in areo position, rested my harms and did not look back. Today I wook up with a running nose, may be because we went to see the fireworks at the golf course and it was cold at night. So I wated until noon to go for the long run. 60 minutes with hills. I like the street with the steep hill, the street before to get to sven eleven. BBQ again the left overs, took a nap and I feel sick. I think I cought the cold.

Yesterday’s swimming practice killed me. I went to the pool during my lunch break and when I was back in my office I did not stop sneezing and blowing my nose. It continued until late into the night until I took running nose suppressant.  I woke up this morning all stuffed up and worn out. I did not ride my bike to work and at lunch went to my car to take a nap. I am getting better as I write but man all the water that went thru my nose killed me.  I confirm that my swimming technique has not improved and that I need nose plugs until I learn to swim…:(