Marathon Journey

Marathon Journey: PRs, Setbacks, and a Big Goal Ahead

March 2025

My marathon journey continues to evolve – filled with highs, lows, and lessons along the way. Since my last update, I’ve hit a new half marathon PR, battled a frustrating back injury, and completed the Ventura Marathon with a PR—10 minutes faster than my last full marathon! Now, my sights are set on an even bigger challenge: tackling my first Marathon Major in Berlin this September, with the ultimate goal of joining the 7 Majors Club – which less than 20,000 people worldwide have done. Here’s the latest:

Santa to the Sea Half Marathon – A New PR!

Back in December, I ran the Santa to the Sea Half Marathon in Oxnard, CA. This race was special because I ran it with my brother – his first half marathon! While we didn’t run together (I wanted to push my pace), he had a great race, finishing in 1:49. As for me, I ran my fastest half marathon ever – 1:38, shaving a minute off my previous best!

That said, I still made a pacing mistake. I started too fast, which meant I had to work harder to hold on in the later miles. A key lesson I need to learn is starting slower to finish stronger.

A Setback: Back Issues That Almost Stopped Me

A month ago, I started adding leg day to my strength training routine, something I’d skipped before since I always considered running to be enough for my legs. Big mistake. While I didn’t notice it at the time, I now believe deadlifts aggravated an underlying lower back issue that had been there for a while. It flared up badly, and for a few days, I could barely walk.

The MRI confirmed the issue isn’t going away, but I can manage it with smart training. The biggest takeaway? I need to build stronger lower back muscles and stretch more. Rest helped, but I learned that staying too still actually made it worse – gentle movement like walking was key to recovery.

This setback completely wrecked my training for three weeks. Until a few days before the Ventura Marathon, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to run at all.

Ventura Marathon – A 10-Minute PR!

Despite my interrupted training, I made it to the Ventura Marathon start line ready to go. Standing around in the cold for two hours before a race is never ideal, but I was just relieved to be there.

I ran a bit cautiously, knowing my back had been an issue, but I still started too fast. The first 15 miles were strong, but in the final five miles, I really struggled. I also had to hold back because I could feel myself getting close to cramping – something that had cost me in my previous marathon.

Still, even with all those challenges, I crossed the finish line in 3:49 – 10 minutes faster than my last marathon! A great result, but also a reminder that pacing is everything. If I can hold back early on, I know I have an even faster marathon in me.

Looking Ahead: Berlin & The 7 Majors

With Ventura behind me, my focus is now on the Berlin Marathon in September. It’s my first Marathon Major, and since it’s known as one of the easier Majors, it felt like the perfect choice to start this next phase of my running journey.

But I’m not stopping there.

After running my first marathon in November, I decided on a big challenge: completing all 7 Marathon Majors. Fewer than 20,000 people worldwide have done it, and I want to join that list. It’s exciting, it’s fun, and it’s the kind of achievable challenge that keeps me motivated.

Berlin is the first. Then, there’s six more.

Lessons Learned & Next Steps

Pacing Matters – I need to start slower to finish stronger.
Strength Training Smarter – Leg day is important, but I need to be careful and build up gradually to avoid back issues.
Movement is Key – I recover better when I stay active, rather than resting too much.

The journey continues, and I can’t wait to see what’s next. Berlin, here I come!

Porto Marathon – I did it!

November 2024

If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon.

Emil Zatopek (Olympic Champion)

I Made It! 3:59:50—just under 4 hours!

Crossing that finish line was one of the most painful yet fantastic moments I’ve had. My internal goal was to finish under 3:45, but I always said I’d be happy with anything under 4 hours. Knowing I pushed through to meet that mark was an absolute win.

The First 19 Miles
The race started strong. I was averaging an 8:19 mile pace and feeling great, maybe even a bit too fast, but it seemed like I had plenty left in the tank. By mile 19, I was optimistic and thought, with a bit of luck, I might even finish under 3:35!

Then Came the Wall
At mile 19, everything changed. Massive leg cramps set in, and I shifted from chasing a fantastic finish to survival mode. My focus became one thing: make it to the finish line, no matter what. To keep moving, I slowed down and alternated between walking and a gentle jog—anything to avoid a complete seize-up. I almost crawled over the finish line. I think this picture near the finish shows it all 🤣:

Memorable Moments on the Course
Along the way, I saw plenty of runners being treated by ambulances, most dealing with leg issues. It was a reminder of how tough this was for everyone. A highlight was a sign that gave me a much-needed laugh:

Crossing the Finish Line
One word sums it up: Fantastic! I made it – and I still finished top 40%:

Post-Finish Realizations
Even in the finish area, I found that my arms had started cramping, likely due to fuel and hydration issues. My recovery has been manageable—though my legs are still sore. This experience is a reminder that I need to look at my nutrition and hydration plan, maybe starting a day or two before the race, to see if I can avoid cramping next time.

Looking Ahead
This race has fired me up for the next one. My goal? Beat my own time and continue improving for me.

Marathon Journey: Almost there!

November 2024

It’s very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit.

George Sheehan Tweet

It’s been a fun 2 weeks leading up to the marathon with runs in LA, Boston, NY and Porto! and some fun time with my kids in Boston!

I ended up walking around for 6 miles today… 😱

The marathon is tomorrow – No idea how I will do, but I’m as ready as I can be!🤞

Marathon Journey: 7 weeks in

October 2024

The benefits and opportunities of running are available to anyone. You don’t have to be born a natural athlete, and you don’t have to be uniquely gifted. A life-shaping experience is there for the taking, waiting right outside your door.

Donald Buraglio and Michael Dove

I’m enjoying the journey! I love that there aren’t too many long runs needed, so hopefully, my knees will be okay.

I am a big believer in cross-training. In addition to my 3.5 runs a week, I walk most days—anything from 1 to 5 miles, depending on time. A lot of my walking is on a treadmill at my standing desk! I also weight lift ~ three times a week and abs ~ three times a week.

I got my longest-ever run in (time) – and then a fun stair climb with my daughter – the tallest build west of the Mississippi!

Nice to get some fast runs in – I was surprised how marathon training is so many SLOW runs!

10k race in the morning with my brother and friends yesterday – followed by a nice evening walk!

Marathon Journey: 4 weeks in

September 2024

As I reflect on my first four weeks of training, I’m feeling pretty good—although the long runs are mainly coming up over the next few weeks!

I got lucky this last week as I had an IV on Monday for Osteoporosis, and I wasn’t warned how bad I would feel for the next 2-3 days. I tried running on Tuesday as normal and couldn’t make it more than half a mile – I literally couldn’t run… Couldn’t move! The rest of the next two days was like a nasty flu! I feel lucky because it wasn’t a long-run week! I still got in a small run on Thursday and my planned run on Saturday….

I believe in the runner's high, and I believe that those who are passionate about running are the ones who experience it to the fullest degree possible. To me, the runner's high is a sensational reaction to a great run! It's an exhilarating feeling of satisfaction and achievement. It's like being on top of the world, and truthfully... there's nothing else quite like it!

Sasha Azevedo

My longest run in the last 4 weeks was 14 miles and my favourite was probably running in Boston – Just 13.2 miles, but fun to run somewhere different!

Sometimes the only way to fit in a training run is on my indoor treadmill – I prefer outside if I can!

I did a speed test today. My 5 fastest 5k, which if you follow the charts, it puts me at a 3:35 Marathon – Anything under 4 sounds good to me!

I Said I’d Never Run a Marathon, But I Decided I’m Doing One

September 2024

Running a marathon wasn’t something I had planned for. I’ve spent the last few years running half marathons and Olympic triathlons. But shoulder issues have put triathlons on hold.

I recently ran one of my fastest half marathons during a regular Saturday run, which sparked an idea—why not take on a marathon? Just three weeks ago, I made the decision to go for it and signed up for a race in November in Portugal 🇵🇹!

Here’s the run:

My motivation for running really took off in the last ten years, and this marathon feels like the next challenge.

I reached out to a friend and coach who runs Ultramarathons for advice, and he’s helped me create a training plan for the next two months. One thing that’s surprised me is the idea of running slower to ultimately run faster—it’s counterintuitive, but I’m trusting the process.

I’m a bit concerned about my knees as I have had issued with them over the last ten years (the reason I said I’d never do a marathon). They’ve bothered me on long runs, so I’m taking steps to manage that. I plan to keep my shoes and orthotics in good condition to avoid wearing them out, and I’ll be trying compression gear to see if it helps on longer distances.

My goal is straightforward: I want to finish in under four hours.

I love challenges, especially ones that feel achievable. It’s pushing me physically and mentally, but at the same time, it’s a way to keep myself focused on an exciting goal.