So on my long run yesterday, I got to talking to a guy who is running an ultra this coming weekend. In San Fran. Where I'll be this weekend. And where they also have a full marathon being held.
My schedule calls for 18 miles. I was struggling to figure out how I would work out the logistics of that. Water, route, timing, all of it seemed tough in a city that I don't know well.
The seed was planted in my mind -- what if I did the race? What if I ran 18 (or even 19) as a training run, and then walked the rest?
But the race is sold out.
My friend doing the ultra suggested I bandit the race, but that doesn't seem right since I really want to take advantage of the water stops. There are charity entries still available, but on a Sunday, I figured it would be hard to get answers about how much I'd have to fork over for one of those. Buuuuut there are bibs for sale on Craig's List.
So I think the wheels are in motion. I think I'm buying a bib from a woman on Craig's List. She's in the next age group up from me (which will be my age group in less than 6 weeks). She wants to keep the shirt, but will give me her bib (actually a friend will since she'll be out of the country).
I'm trying to decide ethically if I can count this toward 50 states. I think so. I just have to finish in under 6 hours, which should be okay with about 3 hours of running and 3 hours of walking.
I can't believe I'm really maybe going to do this. I don't want to psyche myself out -- while it would technically be doing the marathon, it's really just an 18 mile training run.
I'm concerned that 8 miles is a very long way to walk. But I really love the idea of doing this, not missing a week of training, getting to be among runners, buying my own shirt at the expo.
This is definitely crazy.
The other option is to do the half -- they actually offer the first half of the race as one event (sold out) and the second half as another (not sold out). And then just add on 5 more miles.
But I think I'm leaning toward a 6 hour 26 mile morning...
I'm heading out of town tomorrow so I need to decide for certain today. It's going to be a long week, mediating in New Mexico and then near LA before finally getting up to San Fran. I think I really want to do this.
Oh - I love it! I am opposed to banditing, but I think buying a bib shouldn't be such a big deal so long as there are no added entries. I mean, the race director should be equipped for 'number of bibs sold' ... and while there is always fall-off, well - if someone shows up with a bib there should be resources.
ReplyDeleteI know last year when I had registered for a race and then it ended up we were going to head to Boston for college tours and it was after any sort of refund cutoff and they didn't do deferments, I still let the RD know so they could re-sell the bib or whatever.
Either way it sounds like awesome fun ... plus it is SanFran, which is already awesome ... and baby time :)
Do it! It all makes sense and is a great way to get your 18 miler in and then do some sightseeing for the last part. I think you can definitely count it toward your 50 states. The only unethical thing in all of this is that the woman wants to keep the shirt! Why would someone even want a shirt from a race they didn't run? Can't wait to hear how it all goes!
ReplyDeleteYes definitely do it! I do think it's odd that the woman wants to keep the shirt. I just can't wear a shirt of a race I didn't compete in like Vermont last year when I was injured. Even though I let the RD know I wasn't going to be racing, I still got a shirt, but I've never worn it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jennifer. I think if you complete the distance then it counts toward your goal of 50 states.
Safe travels!! Looking forward to reading this race recap!