Community Corner

Marathon Profile: "The Fatigue Magically Disappeared"

If you ran in the race, we'd love to hear from you via email at albany@patch.com. Click the "Keep me posted" button below to stay updated about running in Albany.

This is part of a series on Albany runners who took part in the  last weekend.

Full name: Gary Tang

Age: 54

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Profession: Real estate

Albany connection: Lived here since 1990, office in Albany, children born and raised here.

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Why did you run: Challenge

How did the race go? Very crowded and very good event

What was your favorite part of the race? The spectacular views of the bridge, the hills, the water, the piers, the beaches, the historic homes, the different parts of the city, and the crowd running. One of the aid stations served bacon! 

How do you feel now? Slight walking issues from overworked muscles

What was your training routine? I ran around town 10 to 30 miles per week for the last 13 weeks. Since January 2011, I ran over 1,000 miles.

Are there places around Albany that are good to run? The Bay-front bike path from the end of Emeryville all the way beyond Richmond Marina; up Moeser Lane, up Thousand Oaks, up Marin to Tilden Park; under the BART track; over the Berkeley bridge and the streets of Albany and Berkeley.

Anything else you want to share? I never liked running but am doing it for challenge and health issues. I had been prescribed medications, but they are all history. I started running when I was 53, starting from my one-mile limit in January 2011, I ran my first Bay to Breakers. I prepared myself by running two half-marathons. I continued wanting to surprise myself by running the marathon in Sacramento in December. This time I beat my personal record in the marathon. Running is still not my favorite hobby, but I have an objective to meet.

Between miles 18 and 23, my thighs were hurting, my calves were about to shut down; and the internal debate about if I should walk or run to the finish line took the whole five miles. Somehow I ran all the way to mile-26.1 without a decision. At the last 0.1 mile, the pain, the hurt, and the fatigue magically disappeared, and my physical condition was superior than to before the race. I sprinted the last 0.1 mile, passing everyone in sight, to the finish line.

OTHER 2012 SF MARATHON PROFILES

If you ran in the race, we'd love to hear from you in the comments below. Click the "Keep me posted" button below to stay updated about running in Albany.

If there's something in this article you think , or if something else is amiss, call editor Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325 or email her at albany@patch.com.


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