Our Journey to the San Diego Beach & Bay Half Marathon

Race Day: Embracing the Challenge, and Pushing Limits

Today was the big one—the San Diego Beach & Bay Half Marathon. We stood at the starting line at 6:30 AM, under heavy skies and cooler air. No blazing sun today, just a thick layer of cloud cover—a welcome gift for runners like us.

This wasn’t unfamiliar ground. We’ve run these paths over and over—Crown Point, De Anza Cove, Mission Bay, Pacific Beach. We knew every twist and turn. But that didn’t make it easier.

Michelle almost didn’t start. Her back pain had lingered all week, stubborn and unpredictable. But she showed up, like always. Quietly determined. By mile 3, she was locked in. By mile 6, she was flying.

But then came mile 10—the farthest we had ever trained for. That’s where things started to change. Breaths became heavier. Footsteps, slower. At mile 12, we hit the wall—hard. Every stride turned into a battle of will over body.

And yet, somehow, we kept moving. Michelle crossed the finish at 2:28. I followed just a minute later at 2:29. Exhausted. Grateful. Proud.

From sunrise training runs to post-run lattes, from aching calves to mummified knees, this journey has been about more than running. It’s about showing up. Week after week. Step after step. Together.

Week 7: The Last Long Run—No Wind, No Worries, Just Will

 

The sunrise painted the sky at 6:30am, but we didn’t rush. We savored the quiet morning before stepping into our final training run—12 kilometers, a route that’s become muscle memory: Crown Point to De Anza Cove, Mission Bay, SeaWorld, and back.

It was still, almost too still. No sea breeze, no cooling wind. Just the soft rhythm of our feet and the hum of anticipation.

I felt flat-footed today—each step heavier than the last—wrapped in my usual gear like a well-padded veteran. Meanwhile, Michelle moved effortlessly, light on her feet, gliding like the breeze we didn’t have.

We wrapped it up at Yipao Coffee, our ritual celebration—cappuccino for me, iced oat milk latte for her.

Next week is the big one. The San Diego Beach & Bay Half Marathon. No more countdowns. Just the start line ahead.

 

Week 6: Pushing Limits, Fighting Pain, and Closing in on Race Day

Two weeks to go until the half marathon. No turning back now.

Today was a big one—17 kilometers, the usual route from Crown Point to De Anza Cove, looping through Mission Bay, Mission Beach, and Pacific Beach before ending at our now-sacred finish line: Yipao Coffee. The weather was on our side, cool and perfect for a long run.

 

I had my usual compression gear, this time adding compression socks to help with the lingering heel pain. Meanwhile, Michelle was cruising—until 12K, when a sharp stomach pain hit just below her right rib cage. She slowed down, took deep breaths, and fought through it. No stopping. No turning back.

Despite the setbacks, we clocked a 6:52/km pace—an improvement from our last long run. Progress. Endurance. One step closer to race day.

And as always, the reward: a Colombian cappuccino for me, an iced oat milk latte for Michelle. The countdown is on. 13.1 miles is waiting.

 

Week 5: The Sun, The Struggle, and the 14K Showdown

We meant to start early. Really, we did. But somehow, the morning slipped away, and by the time we hit the pavement, the sun was already blazing, daring us to push through the heat.

The goal was 14K. The first few kilometers felt steady—Crown Point, SeaWorld, Mission Bay, and down toward Pacific Beach. I was wrapped in my usual layers of support like a mummified warrior, while Michelle cruised along, moving light and free.

Then, at 12K, the battle changed. Michelle’s heel pain set in, sharp and relentless. She tried to shake it off, to push through, but the body had other plans. Short of 2K to our goal, we called it. Some days, finishing strong means knowing when to stop.

And so, we walked—sweaty, drained, but undefeated—to Yipao Coffee. A Colombian cappuccino for me, an iced oat milk latte for Michelle. The usual reward, but today, it tasted like victory.

 

The half marathon is closing in, and every run brings a lesson. Some days, you push past the pain. Other days, you listen. Either way, we keep moving forward.

Week 4: 17K, the Wall, and the Mummified Man’s Last Stand

We knew this run would be tough—17 km, our longest yet—but we didn’t expect nature to throw in extra challenges. The rain from the night before had turned parts of the route into a flooded obstacle course, forcing us to weave around puddles and slick pavement. Add in a late start, the sun beating down, and the slow burn of fatigue creeping in—this was going to be a grind.

 

As always, I was wrapped up like a mummified man—knee brace, calf support, ankle brace—while Michelle ran free, light on her feet, like this was just another morning jog. Me? I was held together by compression gear and sheer willpower. We pushed through Crown Point, De Anza Cove, Mission Bay, and Mission Beach, dodging puddles and keeping a steady rhythm. Then, at 15 km, it hit—the wall.Legs like concrete, dehydration setting in, every step an argument between mind and body. Michelle powered ahead while I trudged behind, layers of braces barely keeping me upright.

But quitting? Not an option. One slow, steady step at a time, we made it to the finish line. And our grand prize? A Colombian cappuccino for me, an iced oat milk latte for Michelle at Yipao Coffee. Never has caffeine tasted so good.

Four weeks down, battle scars earned, and somehow, the mummified man lives to run another day. The half marathon is getting closer, and there’s no turning back now.

Week 3: Faster Strides, More Support, and Coffee 

The journey to the San Diego Beach & Bay Half Marathon continues, and today was another step forward—12K on the books!

The alarm went off early—6:00 AM, to be exact. The goal was to beat the heat, so we got up before sunrise and laced up. By just before 8 AM, we were off, starting from Crown Point, making our way past Paradise Point, down to Mission Beach, up to Pacific Beach, and finishing at our well-earned reward—The Grounds Bean Bar.

Today, I had the usual support gear—knee, back, and calf braces—but I decided to go all-in and add ankle support too.

The big win? Pace improvement!

We clocked in at 6:48/km, a solid improvement from last week. To keep things steady, we took 30-second breaks every 10 to 12 minutes—just enough to reset, shake out any stiffness, and keep moving forward.

The first few kilometers felt great. The cool morning air made it easier to settle into a rhythm. By the time we hit Mission Beach, my body reminded me why we usually do these long runs only on weekends. But the thought of cappuccino (for me) and an iced latte with oat milk (for Michelle) kept us pushing forward.

The final stretch to The Grounds Bean Bar was smooth, and as we finally sat down with our well-earned drinks, we realized—this training thing? It’s actually starting to pay off.

Next up: More miles, more recovery, and maybe one more support brace—just for good measure.

Week 2: 15K of Pure Determination (Ending with Espresso, of Course!)

 

Today was a big one—15 km officially in the books. The plan? A slow and steady run from Crown Point to SeaWorld, down to Mission Beach, up to Pacific Beach, and back, finishing at Elixir Espresso Bar. The goal? Beat the heat, survive the distance, and break in my brand-new Asics Nova Blast 5s.

With knee, back, and calf supports strapped on-basically one compression sleeve away from looking like a cyborg- We hit the pavement just as the sun began to rise.

The first few kilometers? Great. The shoes felt amazing, the weather was perfect, and my pace was solid. For a brief moment, I actually thought, This is like running on clouds! Then reality set in.

The final stretch back to Crown Point was pure willpower. My support gear was holding everything together, but my legs were filing a formal complaint. As the finish line came into view, only one thought kept me going: Cappuccino.

And just like that—15 km, conquered. We wrapped up at Elixir, where I claimed my well-earned cappuccino, while Michelle opted for an iced oat milk latte (the slightly healthier choice).

Elixir 

Next week: Down to 10k and possibly even more support gear.

Week1: The 12K Shuffle – Slow and Steady

The journey begins! With eight weeks until race day, we laced up our well-worn running shoes, strapped on our various supports (knee, back, calf—basically everything but bubble wrap), and set out for a 12K run—Crown Point to SeaWorld, down to Mission Beach, and back to Pacific Beach, finishing at The Grounds Bean Bar.

The morning air was crisp, the ocean breeze perfect, and the view? Stunning. But let’s be real—the real challenge wasn’t the scenery, it was our pace. We weren’t setting records, but slow and steady at least gets us across the finish line.

A few kilometers in, we found our rhythm—Michelle’s graceful, determined shuffle and my strategic survival jog. We exchanged knowing glances, the kind that said, Yep, we signed up for this willingly.

By kilometer 10, things got interesting. My legs started protesting, and I found myself negotiating with them. Just a little farther, I reasoned. There’s coffee at the end.

Finally, after what felt like a heroic effort, we crossed our finish line—The Grounds Bean Bar.

One week down, seven to go. Next up: increasing mileage and figuring out how many support braces are too many.