^WHERE:  Downtown San Jose

We’re meeting in downtown San Jose at 6:15am. It’s dark. Robin has gone ahead on her bike, with lights, pulling Anna’s trailer.

Robin will be coaching 17 of her Moms in Motion athletes through the race today. Robin first coached a triathlon team earlier this year that culminated with the Southbay Triathlon.  Now, her running team has been a huge success and today's San Jose Rock n'Roll 1/2 Marathon is their big event!  And in 2 weeks, the rest of her team will meet their goal by running the Nike 1/2 Marathon.  I drive over with a couple of the Moms, Vanessa & Julie, and our friend, Liesbeth, who is also doing the race. We have a great meeting place. We’re all stretching and getting excited about the inaugural race. Anna is bright-eyed and enjoyed all the commotion. Robin takes the group on a warm-up run.

Today, I'm race-walking.  I started training 3 months ago as an altrernative to  running.  A long-time race-walker at work, Mike Esparza, helped me and I discovered quickly this new sport is a tough, but rewarding, workout!  It doesn't hurt my foot and it was great to feel my body heat up and sweat again.  I got my times down to almost 10 min/mi for 6 mi!  But I got pretty stiff and sore going into this 1/2 marathon.

My back has really been bothering me. I must really stretch good.  After a lot of stretching of my back and hamstrings, and then doing race-walking strides, I’m now ready to go. Robin gives everyone final tips and boldly offers some prayer time for anyone interested. About ½ stay behind and we pray together.

 There’s almost 10,000 people filling up 15 corrals! I make my way to #6, the 2:15 pace group. But I know that will be really hard to achieve.

Go! The race is on. Everybody’s running. I’m walking. Determined to be “legal” which means following the race-walking rules I read about. Yesterday, at the Expo, I was introduced to Susan, a champion 50k race-walker, who gave me some tips for my race. I need to keep my back straight; bend at the ankles, not the hips. And keep my arms low and my knees locked on impact.

 2mi: I’m on 10:00 pace but getting tired and stiff already. The bands are cool! I keep wondering if my form is right, if I’m not breaking the rules (can’t lift the rear foot before the front foot, front leg must be straight). It’s really encouraging when a couple people tell me, “Great race-walking!”, “Great form!”. Someone said, “..you guys impress me.” Really boosts my confidence. Robin is cheering every few miles. Anna’s there, too. I have to stay focused, it’s so easy to lose rythum. Slow down, find the rythum, and then pick it back up. I wonder, “can I go faster and still be within the rules?” Thoughts I’d never have running.

4mi: I have to use the bathroom. It takes me 1:19, hopefully I can make up the time. Hips are moving faster now. But it’s getting hard to straighten my legs at impact. Really working it. Going down the Alemeda we see the winners coming back already! Wow, all Kenyens and they are totally flying! Meb is here, trying to break an American record, but we don’t see him. ??

6mi: Going down University Dr., a road Robin & I have run many times in the past, it’s beautiful. There are a few uphills when we go under a bridge and they feel nice, drawing on some different muscles.

 7mi: Monroe St. Near our house. I’m losing time. The 2:15 pace guy has disappeared into the distance. I’m trying to go faster… but am I running? Form, form, focus.

9mi: Ouch, upper legs are really starting to hurt.  Slow it down for a bit. Next mile I hear a hard-rock band. There singing about Jesus! Gives me a boost.

 10mi: Christine, Sandy (MIM moms) pass me and I try to stay with them but my rt leg suddenly hurts!  I think a tendon has flared up.  I'm babying it, limping, even massaging it as I try to keep going. "Relax, relax..".  Now I'm going again.  I pass Christine & Sandy as they slow for the final aid station. Robin coached them to never miss a water station and it pays off as the final refreshment helps them pass me again on the way to the finish.  Around the last corner.  Cheerleaders.  Cameras.  Announcer says, "Troy Soares race-walking a good effort".  Good, it's confirmation that I am walking.. sometimes it feels like running.  The Finish!!