I’m now in the 6th week, post rotator cuff surgery and not quite cleared for running yet. But couldn’t resist showing up at Skyline to vibe walk the half marathon. I’ve ran the 50K there 5 times now and is one of my favorite August runs – just chill vibes, fun course (that keeps changing every year with trail conditions & permitting), not to mention the longest, continuously running ultramarathon in the US! Actually, I signed up to walk the 50K but decided to downgrade the distance thanks to my wife’s nudging 👀. I suppose 8 hours of walking could’ve been quite jarring on the shoulder. Here’s my Strava activity:

Skyline Half Marathon

By the time I showed up, the 50Kers were already out on the course. Said hi to Adam Ray and hung out by the start line. I haven’t run a sub-marathon race in a long while now and had to remind myself it was just a fast walk on beautiful trails, not to mention I was going to be in the back of the pack. Maybe not DFL (dead f$%&in last), but close.

Stayed at the back as we headed out on a gorgeous morning. Birds were out, weather was looking perfect and the lake trails pretty as always. I had my lightweight, mesh sling on and it gave me plenty of shoulder support. The first few miles were asphalt, but rolling right along the lake. Tried to run one of the short hills and found that if I kept my arm fully rested on the sling and held it against my body, the shoulder seemed to stay put with no jostling – just a whole torso movement. My first “itty bitty jog” in 6 weeks, brought out a huge grin to my face.

However, kept a strict policy not to even jog on the flats and especially on the downs. There were a few of us together in the early miles passing each other. Saw Amit at the aid station and headed down towards the stone bridge after a sip of coke and a few potato chips. Ah, the good old breakfast of the champions at the aid stations!

Methodically worked up Brandon trail and heard the call of red tailed kites above. Approaching the aid station right around mile 8, was expecting the lead 50K runner to pass me anytime and it happened soon after. Past the golf course, getting closer to the east side lake trails.

Pulled into the finish right around 2:45, much sooner than I thought I’d finish. No tripping, no falls, no poison oak, and shoulder still intact. I’ll take that as a good day out on the trails! I think with all the power hiking I’ve been doing, I might be able to pull off a 50K in 7.5 hours, maybe? Couple that with a little uphill running, ultras might be possible in the near future!