With the past two weeks being relatively mild here in the Bay Area, rain loomed on the horizon for the weekend. This was not just the typical forecasted rain we receive throughout winter here...you know, the kind that meteorologists can predict to the very minute, from start to stop. No, this was the second BIG storm of the season...the second big storm in six weeks. So this meant 60 to 70 mile per hour winds, several inches of rain, and possible thunderstorms to accompany it. Now, I am not complaining. After all, we need all the water and mountain snowpack we can get. Rain this time of year is typically always welcome, even the heavy stuff.
The only time I don't welcome it, however, is when I am supposed to be running...especially running long. This past Sunday was a scheduled 22 miler and the main front of this storm was set to come in Saturday afternoon and basically be done by Sunday morning. This is where the forecasters got it wrong. All was calm and quiet Saturday night...no wind, no rain, just clouds. So I went to bed thinking, "Good, we dodged a bullet!" When I woke up at 5:00 am Sunday, I realized my thinking was only wishful. Outside it was coming down in buckets...sideways...with the branches of the trees moving in every which direction from the wind gusts.
My thoughts: "Looks like it did for last year's Boston Marathon...just maybe not as cold!"
So I met the gang over at Starbuck's...and the crowd was much thinner than normal. Can't blame them though, I was so tempted to stay in bed myself. Those who did show up, ran inside Starbuck's so they would not have to wait in the downpour.
We just stood there...gazing at the sideways rain...waiting for someone to say "Go!" or just "go home".
Well we suddenly took off and were hit with gusts, showers, downpours, and even small breaks of pure calm. The first 11...not so bad, most of those gusts were at our back helping us shuffle along. The second 11...an entirley different story! With fatigue setting in, we were hit with the harder part of the run and now turning into the wind was no help. The conversation slowed as we hit the first big hill...mile 15...we were getting closer. Then as we hit the second big hill, the infamous Morgan Drive hill, the clouds began to clear. It didn't matter at this point anyway, we were downright soaked. Coming up to the crest of Morgan Drive the sun broke through, but soon dodged behind the clouds for other heavy downpour. We started to feel good though, with the end of the run just a few miles away.
So, three hours later and completely water logged, we finished. I think we all felt good, just fatigued. It was futile to try an change into dry clothes right there in the parking lot, as the downpour started once again. So into Starbuck's for a quick change int he bathroom, and a Venti coffee it was! "This run will be talked about for a long time!", Michael said, "a LONG time!" And he is right...it certainly will. Boston could be like that again this year...or it could be perfect weather...but the training and preparation will go a long way no matter what.
What a great day to run!
