Big Sur 2009 - Big Blow!

A clear sky waiting for the start line gave me goose bumps in anticipation of the view we were going to have of the Big Sur coast once we made it through the first miles of redwood cedars.

But approaching Andrew Molera Park, I knew the cloud hanging at the edge of the ocean meant one thing - wind. And blow it did during the 24th presentation of the Big Sur International Marathon. No sweat hanging around on this body! I wore a cotton (yes, cotton) throw-away until Bixby Bridge because that wind kept me so cool. When I finally took it off, there wasn't a drop of sweat on it. It was a day when dehydration sneaks up on a person.

This year my intention was to enjoy every minute of the course. No wind could stop my enjoyment of the heart-aching beauty of the coast. Having been in the area over the Christmas holidays, I am more conscious of the incredible privilege of walking the highway free of motorized vehicles. If there is no wind, it is possible to hear waves tumbling on the beaches and sea lions calling loved ones. On this day, the wind blocked out all those sounds. Even the motivating beat of the Taiko drummers was blown downwind after a couple of hundred feet up Hurricane Point. As you can see here that didn't stop me from getting into the groove of the beat.

The fierce beauty of Big Sur always makes me cry at some point in the race – or maybe it's the pain of rounding the summit of "Hurri-pain Point". Yes, we were expecting that hurricane!

Just take a look at this view we enjoyed after rounding Hurricane Point. It's a sublime journey down to Bixby Bridge and a bittersweet reward to hear Michael Martinez playing "I Did it My Way" on the grand piano.

Incredibly there are still 8 miles of coast like this before we have to dig deep into our reserves to cover the Carmel Highlands hills.

I have no photo from the finish line because I had not a calorie of energy left to retrieve my camera from my waist belt. And, I was in a hurry to find friends who had finished ahead of me. After that, I can tell you the first priority are those frigid steps into the Pacific for long suffering and very tired feet.

I look foward to next year - the 25th anniversary of the BSIM. Won't you join me?

Lee

p.s. Congratulations to all walkers back in Oakville who rocked the Mercedes 10K Power Walk in awesome time. Check out the results back on our website.