I had been wanting to run the Oakland Marathon since the first one 15 years ago, but there was always something coming up with life or other races that didn’t allow it. So when the calendar finally cleared way for it, I jumped at the chance and signed up. Having lived in the Town (as it’s affectionately called) in my 20s, it’s got a special place in my heart.

Wifey and I got there on a Friday morning and had plenty of time to cruise around and visit some old haunts and check out some new spots around the Bay before spending some good QT with our close friends across the Bay for dinner. Having lived in the Bay for 10+ years, it’s always a bit of a homecoming and I do my best to catch up with all the homies. It never seems like enough time, but we enjoy what we can.

Different run groups and sponsors were hosting shakeout runs towards the latter end of the week, but with our schedule, I was only able to make it out to the Under Armour Shakeout 5K on Saturday morning. It was an easy loop around Lake Merritt, which was also part of the race course. Got a chance to run into some familiar faces as well as meet some new runbuds.

After the run, wifey and I got busy with some breakfast and coffee and headed into the city to cruise around a bit. The day before a race, I like to keep it low key to preserve my energy for the big event. The weather was gorgeous around the Presidio and it was perfect timing to grab some grub at the best spot for tacos in Bay. We took the long way back to the East Bay where we stopped for Thai dinner to carb up one last time.

Gear Check! Ready to go for the morning!

It's been a long minute since I've ran a small size marathon. The last few years had me running the state side World Marathon Majors, so on race morning, it felt a little different pulling up to the race start without gobs of people and hours to wait until race start. By comparison, my last race was the New York Marathon with 50k+ runners and Oakland's race had 660 marathoners.

With a smaller race, it means things aren't set up as early as I'm used to. Me and the Mrs pulled up an hour and change before 7am and they were still setting things up. Now, it's not a knock to the race organizers, but with a bigger race like a Chicago or Boston, things have to be set up earlier because of the population of runners. Oakland has a little more leeway in set up schedules because of smaller crowds. The quaintness of the race also meant more room to stretch out at the venue, better access to porta potties, the chance to sleep in a bit more before the race, more access to street parking near the race and the chance to hang with your non-running fam and friends before the race.

Tring to stay cool inside, and warm outside pre-race

So we get to the race and hang out a bit inside the Kaiser Auditorium where it was nice and warm. Eventually, I go through my warm up routine, hit the porta potty one last time and line in my corral at the starting line.

The usual nerves, apprehension and excitement ensue. Did I train enough? Is my body ready? Did I bring everything? Do I need this beanie the whole race? A few more announcements from the race director and finally we're off!

Having lived in and around Oakland, I know enough of the course. But l wasn't a runner back then so it's different seeing the neighborhood without traffic, not in a car or on a bike. I feel a bit nostalgic running through the foothill neighborhood and back onto the east end of Lake Merritt towards Grand Ave reminiscing on life back then.

The early miles tick off fast before we start heading up the hills off Grand Ave and into Piedmont just before mile three. I forgot how steep these back road hills can be! Short, steep ascents that wake you up real quick! Oakland did not come to play! I take it in stride and do my best to not let it psych me out. Finally out on Piedmont Ave and things flatten out a bit. We're still climbing but it's not a rollercoaster. We u-turn back down Piedmont Ave and I'm enjoying the rest break and let the heart rate settle down from the climbing. It doesn't last long as we u-turn at the other end and climb up the avenue and turn back to the rollercoaster of hills. I saw this on the map, but didn't really realize it so I'm surprised. "Ok, don't trip, it was short and quick the first time, it's the same back. Stay calm." Finally we head down back onto Grand and back towards the west side of the lake. The hills are done. For now. It's all relatively flat as we get past the lake and turn into downtown Town. The blocks zip by pretty fast and we turn north onto Broadway and some dope dance hall music is banging from a guy providing cheer support from his DJ setup. We run past a bunch of familiar spots - bars and restaurants that look different in the morning hours. Aside from the music which fades in and out, the streets are quiet and peaceful.

Early miles got me watching for potholes in my lawn!

Eventually, we're near Jack London Square and heading towards the shipping yards and the famous shipping container cranes that inspired the AT-AT from Star Wars. We get to mile eleven and that’s where the half marathoners finally break from us fullers. I’m feeling pretty good and thinking about the bridge when boom! Down goes Frazier!

I clipped a bump in the road and take a hard fall. My left knee hits the pavement, right hand breaks my fall and I tuck and roll and end up on my back. I lay there for a hot second and sit up. “Well that’s a first,” I think to myself. My knee is scraped up and hand hurts a bit. I hear someone that I think is a volunteer ask if I need to go to the med tent. “Naw, I’m good. Just scraped my knee.” I get up and after the quick eval, get back on the road. Time’s a wastin’! The whole event took less than a minute.

The first few steps hurt. I feel it in my big toe from whatever I kicked when I push off, I feel it in my knee with every step and my palm feels sore. Hand isn’t bloody, just a bit red. My knee looks pink from the loss of skin and I’m beginning to see a bit of red seep to the surface. To be expected. I wonder if it isn’t anything more serious with the pains, but I let myself keep on a bit longer as I keep the systems check going. Eventually, the pain everywhere subsides and I fall back inline. Whew! Crisis averted. I look down occasionally and see blood running down my leg. I knew it would happen with my blood pumping fast from running, but I don’t think it’s anything beyond a normal amount so I keep on and try to get back on pace.

Eventually we hit a long stretch of the Lower Bottoms that lead to the Bay Bridge. It’s urban bleakness. No aid stations, a handful of teenage volunteers at intersections that don’t care one way or another, and barely any signs of cheer squads. I’m doing my best to keep my spirits up. It’s still early-ish in the race, so that’s pretty easy. But I take note of the scene as I’ll be heading back the same way once off the bridge.

Finally we turn left to run onto the Bay Bridge. It’s roughly mile fifteen and it’s somewhere I’ve ran before on past visits up north, so it’s nice to have some running familiarity. This stretch and the bridge is loud and noisy as you’re running next to the I-80 where cars are zipping in and out of San Francisco. We pass the mile sixteen marker and start heading up the bridge. It’s two miles of a steady climb and I’m reminded of all the training runs I’ve done up Otay Lakes Rd back home – a two mile steady climb. I downshift into second gear and settle into a comfortable pace up the pedestrian pathway. I expected the bridge to be cold and windy, but I’m surprised that it’s neither. Still solid running weather. I slowly reel in a few runners here and there along the way. I check my watch to make sure I’m not gunning it too fast. I’m not, and I feel good that hill training’s paid off. Train course appropriate!

Gorgeous view of the Bay Bridge takes your mind off the long climb.

Finally, we get to the end of the road at Yerba Buena Island. Turn around at the cul-de-sac and start heading back home! That was a workout! I’m looking forward to the downhill to recover. It should feel like in training where I’m cruising along down Otay Lakes Rd fairly fast, but not needing a lot of effort; letting the momentum carry me. But this time, it’s not. About halfway down, the legs are beginning to feel a bit heavy and sluggish. “No! Not yet!” I tell myself. I push on.

If the way up the bridge felt like forever, so did the way back down! I’m working on keeping the gait light and springy, slight lean forward to take advantage of gravity and that helps minimize the pounding on the quads. Finally I see the end and pass the twenty mile marker. About time! A 10K left! For most runners, this is where the marathon gets spicy! Are you gonna fall apart now? The next mile? When will you hit that proverbial wall? I always say, at some point you’re gonna have to pay the piper. The goal is to pay the least amount of miles. For me, in the back of my mind, I know it’s coming, but I’m trying to brush it off. I’m trying to get the legs to recover from the descent on this mile before we hit the shipyards. Right before I hit the aid station, my tells me, “You’re done.” Nooo!!!

I’m just past mile twenty one. This no man’s land section feels like a world away from the finish line. I walk through the aid station for a bit of a break for the legs and to let the heart rate come down a bit. I feel ready and start the engine again. Off we go to tackle these last five. I do running math in my head. Five miles at an eight minute pace is only forty minutes, you got this. I’m on the long stretch of shipping container road and I’m trying to push through. The legs don’t cooperate and I take another walk break. Shortly after, another runner runs past me, someone I had passed up on the bridge. “No pare, no pare. Vamonos!” I start running again with him and we start conversing a bit. I know he’s trying to help me get over the hump and for that I’m grateful. My new found run savior helps me out for a bit until it just doesn’t work. Conversation grows a bit silent as we’re both grinding it out. Slowly I trail off from him, unable to keep his pace. We’re near mile 24 and though it’s just over two miles to the finish, it feels like an insurmountable space to cover from West Oakland BART to the finish line.

I take another walking break through the aid station – more of an excuse to walk than actually needing water, rev the engine back up and get going one more time. “All you need is fifteen minutes. C’mon.” I run past the infamous spot where I crashed earlier in the day. I’m too tired and focused to give it much thought. Plus, having fallen earlier, I’m more vigilant with watching my footing less it happen again.

The sun’s starting to beat down on me. It’s roughly 10:30am and there’s no shade running down Third Ave into the sun. Thankfully, I know I won’t be out there much longer. But I know those behind me will feel that heat way more. Eventually, I plod my way past the mile twenty five marker in 9:09. By far, not my fastest mile. I’m telling myself, “Even a slow running pace is faster than walking.” And it is.

Finally, I’m seeing downtown building grow out of the ground as I run past Broadway. Still feels like eons from the finish line. But I know we’re almost there. Finally I take a left on Madison and enjoy the coolness of the shadows provided by the buildings. I’m counting the blocks since they’re numbered and they go by fast since they’re the short ends of the blocks. I’m trying to push, but I can’t. Another walk break. ONE LAST WALK BREAK, I tell myself. I’m probably on 6th or 7th street and I have to make it to 13th street before I make the final turn onto Lake Merritt Blvd and the home stretch. Just over a half mile. Running math tells me just about four minutes. 4 minutes, c’mon! I pick it up just enough to feel fast, it’s not, and the willpower to not stop takes over. Blocks zip by. Eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth! I take that final right turn and pick up the pace more. The adrenaline kicks in and I’m pushing as hard as I can. There’s a few runners close enough that I target as rabbits to chase down. I pass one up, another guy passes me up, I pass another. One more to try to catch before the finish line. This game helps forget about the pain. Can I catch him? Finish line! He stays ahead of me by a few feet. Oh well. I’m done!!! 3:17:13. Not what I was hoping for on a great day, but at least in the middle of my target for an off day. When I finally take a look at the results, I see that finished in fifth place for my age group! Had I had a better day, I definitely could’ve earned a podium spot. But it just wasn’t meant to be. This time. But I’ll take it!

I look down and my leg’s a mess from the fall. A dry river of blood is caked down my shin. Somehow, I tore the uppers of both shoes – older pairs that I knew were on their last legs. Yup they sure were. The usual post-marathon aches and pains creep in and I’m walking in circles a bit. It’s better to walk than to sit. Keep the blood flowing. Eventually I gather myself and scan for the Mrs. Finally I catch her eyes and hobble over to her for the congratulatory kiss. Next stop, med tent to rinse the knee off and get it bandaged up.

The med crew cleans it off and we can see that it’s nothing more than just road rash, thankfully. Now that I’m seated, I see that right hand’s got a little bruise, the right ankle’s got a scrape as does my right elbow. All from the tuck n roll. But all minor. A tough day at the office, but we got it done! A bucket list race for me checked off! Thank you Oakland!

Where we Ate

https://homeskillet-alameda.com/ - No frills mom & pop diner with a great French toast and tater tots. Great service.

http://www.topdoghotdogs.com/ - Been coming here since my days at Cal. Worth the trip every time! Not a bad item on the menu, but the calabrese, bratwurst, and hot link are my fave.

https://zacharys.com/ This place will stand up next to any Chicago style pizza. Feel like you’re eating healthy and get the Good Health pizza – stuffed with chicken and spinach.

https://www.instagram.com/alpastorpapi415 Constantly voted best tacos, burrito, food truck in the Bay Area, there’s a reason. Roaming food truck settles mostly in SF. Worth the price of toll to head across the Bay.

https://whitelotusthaialbany.com/ Thai food is my usual go to for pre-race dinner. Quaint, mom & pop restaurant had great flavors and options to choose from. The pumpkin curry samosas were delicious!

https://www.farleyseast.com/ Farley’s serves up great coffee at their Grand Ave location with plenty of space to take care of work and next door to Renegade Running so you can power up before getting a group run in.

https://blackdiamondcafe.wordpress.com/ Stumbled upon this joint when looking for some joe, this was a great find. Caramel latte was not too sweet, pastries were super fresh and tasty.

https://philzcoffee.com/ Once a hidden gem in the Bay Area, Philz has expanded throughout the state and into Chicago. Pour over coffee is all they serve, and every drink is handcrafted. Quality coffee for sure.

https://www.originaljoes.com/ An institution in the Bay Area, you’re gonna be pleased with whatever you decide on eating. Steak cooked perfectly to your liking, creamy fettucine alfredo, and drinks made to perfection await.

Oakland Marathon Recap

Find Your Inspiration. Be Your Motivation.

Oakland Marathon Recap

New York City Marathon

Find Your Inspiration. Be Your Motivation.