Recap on Oakland Running Festival

On March 27, 2010, I ran in the Oakland Running Festival's Half Marathon. The race began at 14th and Broadway in downtown Oakland. The course meandered through Oakland's China Town, by Laney College, near Jack London Square, through West Oakland on Mandela Parkway (going right by the famous Brown Sugar Kitchen) and ended with the last three or so miles around Lake Merritt.

From start to finish, the race was a joy! The course included dozens of live bands; a large scale metal-work piece of art with flames on Mandela Parkway that you could run underneath; a group of Oakland A's fans cheering on the runners near Laney College; as well as Oakland Raiders fans in what I believe were gorilla costumes and masks! The water stations were incredibly well staffed and all the volunteers very helpful and enthusiastic. One water station also included free energy gels. At the finish line, there were orange slices and bananas, beer stands (race registration included two free beers), free massage tents for runners (which I took advantage of), and various food carts. Whether you are a local Oakland resident like me, or traveling from another part of the state, or traveing from out-of-state, I highly recommend the Oakland Running Festival. Hopefully one year I'll run the full marathon.

While I trained on a regular basis for the US Half in San Francisco last November, I had less time to train for the Oakland Half Marathon. Yet, I still managed to beat my time from November. My goal for the US Half was to finish in 2 hours or less. Whether it was the pouring rain, the poorly staffed water stations, overtraining, or nerves, I didn't make my goal and finished that race in 2:06:14. But, I was happily surprised when I finished the Oakland Half Marathon in 1:59:38. The other pleasant surprise was how great I felt. During the US Half, I vividly recall feeling exhausted at mile 10, like I had slammed into a wall. During the Oakland Half, I did not have the same experience. However, the US Half has several hills in and around the Presidio and Golden Gate Bridge, whereas the Oakland Half did not have any serious incline at any point during the run.

US Half San Franciso - Nov 2010 (First Half Marathon)
2:06:14
Overall: 1071/2978 (35.9%)
Gender: 379/1624 (23.3%)
Age Group: 131/475 (27.6%)

Oakland Running Festival - Half - March 2011 (Second Half Marathon)
1:59:38
Overall 1013/3409 (29.7%)
Females 396/2096 (18.8%)
Age Group: 97/379 (25.6%)