Mjellyfish

從台灣回美國之後，趁著暑假就想著多些跑步的時間，正逢朋友參加舊金山馬拉松破自己個人最佳紀錄，故激起自己也在這個暑假多跑步來破自己個人紀錄。開學的第一個週末有場在舊金山舉辦的比賽，想著時間恰好，故遂而決定這場Giant Race。

六月底開始恢復成一周至少跑三次的練習量，七月漸漸將距離從3 miles拉長到6 miles，到八月的時節也能夠跑9 miles的長度；速度的部分，則從最初的平均9分半/mile，縮短到在9分零幾秒/mile的狀態。到比賽前，內心期許在兩小時內完賽，以突破當年的兩小時關卡。

當初訂好機票回家之後，就想著要趁機參加一場台灣的比賽。恰巧就在自家的城市，遂而就找從前的同事一起參加。沒料到五月期末簡直就是個可怕的地獄週，在比賽和學業下，再度讓學業佔上風，只能默默讓跑鞋暗自低泣。

今天一早雖說不是陽光普照，但溫度倒也宜人。報到會場在香格里拉飯店，雖然不知道這裡的旅客一早見著這麼多跑者進出大廳的心情是甚麼，但自己正因為有種太久沒練習而充斥著緊張。整個動線出乎意料的順暢，興許限制名額的緣故，會場沒有出現許多比賽呈現的壅擠不堪。做完體檢、帶完熱身操，就在一旁看著男子組依序開始跑樓。約不到五分鐘，會場螢幕的終點就出現完賽跑者。接續就輪到女子組出發。實在是缺乏練習，出發的速度跑太快，跑十層樓左右，整個肌肉緊縮，呼吸也不太順暢，只好到水站稍喝一下水再度出發，不過肌肉尚未恢復的狀態下，只能硬撐著往上跑一會兒，默默只好在第二個水站再休息片刻，再一口氣爬到頂端。這算是生平第一次跑得丟三落四，不過也算順利完跑。看來跑樓這檔事，估計下次還是得乖乖做萬全準備。

今年度回台灣一直想著參加路跑，但遲遲因為許多不確定的因素而不敢報名，直到朋友Joy突如其來的邀約而且積極的幫自己報名，就想著不管如何也得參加。或許剛出社會的那幾年參加不少比賽，反觀朋友事前先去探路的用心，自己倒是有種放牛吃草的隨性。自從去年年底跑步的結果，身體早已不是不再年輕的體悟讓心情上倒也不敢太放鬆，每周硬是維持著三次的跑步的習慣。

跑步的當天天氣挺晴朗，清晨從朋友家中出發時，天空還看得到自己計憶中碩果僅存的星座：北斗七星和獵戶座。在7-11買以前比賽最愛搭的energy-in，配上忽然想吃的茶葉蛋及熱拿鐵。抵達會場的時候，其實挺晚的，距離出發只剩下不到30分，寄物之後就前往起點就定位。僅管多年之後，台灣的路跑特色還是一樣就是隨意地就定位。開跑之後，似乎彷彿要來個下馬威般的大上坡，不過後面的路程就柳暗花明地一路平坦。約在取第一個信物處，瞧見以前在成大田徑的學妹及學長，一無旁鶩向前跑著，就在那樣的當下，突然身體也獲得力量，步伐不再遲疑地邁開，自己的前十公里在55分內完成，讓自己有種對於兩個小時內完成比賽的目標出現一道希望。

This is my first time  to attend half marathon in US. At first, I want to keep my running in US, but when jogging with one friend and discussing half marathons, we decided to attend one competition. My friend actually wanted to attend a 10km competition, and then I conviced her to attend half marathon. Finally, we all made it. And in the finish line, they provide beer and wine.

Santa to the sea half marathon's route is to run from some area to the beach. And people can wear constumes. The weather is very cold. It amlost 3 degree C at our start time. Due to the cold weather, I wore two jackets to run the half marathon. 

This is a lake in the Kirkland, and I took the photo by my ipod touch. I ran along the lake and felt it was so graet. I ran around three miles around 6pm. Because I saw many beautiful sceneries, I didn't mention how fast I ran. When I stopped at the traffic light, I felt dazzled. Although this was not a good experience, I can still imagine the wind, the sunset, and the roads. I was so glad that I visited Seattle in Augest due to the weather. People say it always rains all day in Seattle, and only in Augest people can see the sunshine. I enjoy walking, jogging, and canoeing. 

When I came back to LA, it is little boring that jog on the road. There is not beautiful secenies for me to see, and the climate is so dry. Only funny thing is Youtube office bulit here. It is a part of Google. I ran in the Seattle and passed by the Google company. Now I run in the Los Angles and pass by the relative office. Kind of interesting.