2009 Healdsburg Wine Country Marathon
Shalimar was running in her first half-marathon race and my brother Greg, who came in from Chicago, was running in his first full marathon. They both did really well! Shalimar had never run more than 8 miles in her training so completing her first half-marathon was extra special. Shalimar finished great at 2:45.02.8. Greg not only completed his first marathon, but he also eked under the magic 4-hour mark finishing in 3:59:30.7. Amazing! A big congratulations to both of them!
The weather was unseasonably cool and overcast throughout the entire race, but it was perfect for running. The course was a little different this time around too. I found it was a bit more difficult than last year with quite a few more rolling hills, so I was pleased to have finished faster than last year's time by about 13 minutes at 4:04:37.1. I still haven't finish under the elusive 4 hours, but there's always the next marathon... I can't wait! :-)
Here I am proudly wearing my Healdsburg Wine Country medallion. This was my second running of the Healdsburg marathon and despite some "bathroom problems" during the race, I finished faster than last year. My official chip time was 4:04:37.1 with a pace of 9:20/mile versus 4:17:39.3 last year ( http://www.brianfukudaphotography.com/Running/Marathons/2008-Healdsburg-Wine-Country/6990747_w5zP7#449919110_fBvW4). I finished 8th in my age group (Male 45-49) and 74th overall. The course was changed in 2009 so it's hard to make an apples-to-apples comparison, but I found this year's course to be slightly more difficult. That elusive sub 4-hour marathon still escapes me, but there's always the next marathon. I can't wait for next year!
BrianGregHealdsburgHealdsburg Wine Country MarathonShalimarhalfmarathonmarathon417020091011
