Running with "The Rocket" Rick Rodriguez

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Healdsburg Half Marathon Healdsburg, California October 25, 2008

I ran the Healdsburg Half-Marathon (13.1 miles) in 1:46:48 maintaining an 8:09 pace per mile.  That tops my pace in the San Francisco Half Marathon earlier this year, and sets my personal best for this year.  Even though, my race times have improved, I still believe I can improve.  My Official results: Overall finish: 132nd  Male finish: 86th Place in Division (45-49) 13th.

The Healdsburg Half-Marathon begins at the Rosso Bianco Winery in Geyserville.  Runners gather within the gates and exit under the arches (pictured) onto an adjacent road (Frontage Road) that is along Highway 101.  As the runners gathered along the vines, doing their best to stay warm, I wondered how I'd do in this test.  For some reason, running, as I've aged (45 now) doesn't seem to get easier, and I frequently fall in and out of love with running in races.  Nonetheless, I must still enjoy the challenge because here I was nestled among 1500+ runners, cold, but looking forward to a new discovery.

Once we were outside the gates, I found myself keeping a decent pace, and probably was clipping a 7:45, better than I usually do, and not surprising given the typical adrenaline rush getting out of the gate.  Try as I may, keeping focused on the task at hand is never easy; often I find myself drifting forward wondering if I can sustain my pace. 

Many of the runners were wearing Halloween costumes, and as I passed a few amusing costumed runners, I marveled at their skill and clever running abilities.  Meanwhile, I was also busy focusing on pace as the race turned right and away from Highway 101.  Here, I began to establish a pace that would carry me until mile 10.  The terrain was mostly rolling up and down small grades, and as I got further away from the Highway, a whole new expanse of small homes and wineries was availed.  I immediately wondered how parts of Europe probably are real similar to this segment of the race.  I'm not exactly sure why that came to mind but it did. 

As Lytton Springs Road turns into W. Dry Creek Road, we crossed a small bridge (Lambert), and I began to gather my legs.  Most runners, don't get a good warm up going for several miles, and I was just about there as we hit the 5 mile mark.  As we passed Quivira winery, along with water, the aid station was stocked with vino (treat?), and I stopped to grab a refreshing dose of H20. 

As we began a turn North toward our eventual destination, my paced had flattened out and I began to look toward each mile marker.  Once I hit the 8 mile mark, I began trying to fix in my mind a familiar 5 mile run at home, since I was on foreign turf, gazing my end point was impossible.   So, I began playing head games as my hamstrings began to stiffen with use.  I made sure I stopped at every aid station to replenish while still maintaining my pace.  Once I passed Mile 10, I was excited because the aid I had taken was kicking in and a renewed vigor was taking hold of my legs.  Then, out of nowhere, my layered clothing that I had strapped to my waist released onto the pavement, and from a full stride, I was forced to stop.  What a complete drag!

I fumbled around gathering my clothing in the street, and attempted to regain my form but was never able.  For some reason, this error, had caused me to stop in full motion, and I was never really able to reestablish my concentration or pace for the remaining miles.  The last 3 miles proved laborious and painful.  While I was hurting physically, I was a bit more distraught because my effort had been derailed.  While I managed valiantly to pass a few of the runners that had whisked by me at mile 10, I wondered if I could have done better had I not had the mishap.

I managed to sprint in at the finish line.  I collected a very nice finisher's medal with the Healdsburg logo, ate from the tables at the finisher's area, and then sat down for a minute to stretch in the grass.  My entry fee entitled me to a glass, and assembled all around were wine tasting booths.  So, after a short period of lying on the grass listening to live music, I walked around and sampled the wines.  I enjoyed labels I had never heard of, www.ruedwinery.com and www.ffcpresents.com stood out as wines I would purchase.  I tried the Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon (Director's Cut), respectively.

Overall, my experience in this destination race, I would rate high.  The race was well organized, save for a little delay at the start; the course scenic and enjoyable; well stocked aid stations, and a terrific post race gathering spot--Lake Sonoma Recreation area.  I'll probably be back next year for a return trip, and wiser from my little mishap at mile 10!