2:35:53

 A few weeks ago, I completed the Road to Tokyo Marathon 2021 Virtual Half-Marathon for 2020 Runners in 2:35:53.

The "race" itself was really nothing special.  It was a virtual event, free of charge, for runners who were supposed to run in 2020.  Not being a fan of virtual races, i would never have even considered doing it had it not been for the "prizes" - randomly-awarded entries to the 2023 marathon and some towels.  Unfortunately, i ended up not winning any of those prizes.  Oh well, it was free anyway so whatevs. 

Among other things, the past 12 months have been really bad for my running (if, when you read this, you immediately think about how other people have had it worse: stop reading right now and go someplace else).  After completing Napa, i was in limbo and had nothing to train for.  I ran random mileage here and there and somehow developed Achilles tendinitis (self-diagnosed, natch) in my left foot.  After going through a series of shoes and self-help methods, i think i finally figured out how to make it better and prevent it from flaring up, but it's been rough.  So rough in fact, that my goal for this run was to simply FINISH.  

What i've come up with: 

1.  Shoes matter a lot.  Despite what a shoe's marketing department tells you of its theoretical benefits, the only way to know if it works is to try it on for yourself and run a few miles in it.  Right now the only one that works for me it eh Nike Air Zoom Vomero 14.  It's a bummer because the model is a few years old and getting harder to find all the time.  One would think that i should just stockpile a whole bunch of these, which leads me to point number 

2.  Foot anatomy and running biomechanics probably evolve over time.  Whenever i've stockpiled certain models of shoes, i run into trouble (pun intended) somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd pair.  In fact, I have a few boxes of Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36s that may not even get used because of this very reason.  In this, the El Cheapo principle backfired.  I wanted to save money by buying several pairs of shoes in advance, only to end up not using them.  

3.  Shoes that do NOT agree with me: Hoka One One Clifton 6, New Balance 1080 v10.  The heel drop needs to be AT LEAST 10 mm, preferably with the heel flaring out so it doesn't rub against my Achilles.  

4.  As i've said before... the run-walk-run method is key.  

Onward to Huntington Beach.