I had not run the Bay to Breakers in over 20 years.  Then I just jogged it with the kids.  Today I raced it.  I went out easy but still hit the first mile in 6:27.  I was feeling just fine.   But I knew the Hayes Street hills were coming up just after the 2 mile mark.  I think at least 100 runners passed me on those hills as I posted a 8:12 mile.  I knew I could make up some but this was a lot.  And then there was some up hill left to run as Rich mentioned to me.  My next mile was like 7:13.  I now had a minute and a half to make up.  My goa1 was to get under 52 minutes.  I finished in 52:05 which is 6:59/mile.

Glad I got a sub seeded number.  Otherwise I would not have run what I did today. 

First to finish in my 60-69 age group was Joe Schieffer (1400).  We have battled it out several times this year (like at least four times).  I did beat Joe at the Oakland Half.  But today he toasted me big time running 50:10.  I was ahead of him for the first two miles. 

I finished third in my division (60-69).  Second place was someone I don't know named John La Claire from Austin, Texas.  He did not get a time at the top of the Hayes Hills.  I am assuming he ran the whole way?

Talking with Hans at the finish line.  He was about 30 seconds behind me.  Hans is 72-years-old and won that division.

With the winner, Sammy Kitwara from Kenya in the VIP area after the race.  His winning time was 34:40.

Had a chance to speak with Meb after the race too.  He placd 6th with 36:15.  He is getting focused for the London Olympics.

Dan Brown, from the San Jose Mercury News and friends at the finish line.

First to finish was Mamitu Daska from Ethiopia.  The elite women get a five minute lead start.  There is a $25,000 bonus for crossing the finish line first.  She also won $7,000 for being first female and another $5,000 for being the first up Hayes Street Hills.   Her time was 39:03 which was just 37 seconds ahead of Sammy.

With Mamitu Daska in the VIP area.  It was hard to communicate since she does not speak English, however.

Team Linkedin won the Centipede division (13 runners) in a time of 36:44. 

Peanut Harms came up with the idea for the Centipede competition over 30 years ago.  Peanut worked for me at Runner's World in our promotions department back in the 70's.

Our crew heading home.  We got some really good footage today.  Photos by Catherine Cross Ujena Fit Club

by Dan Brown 

It's 8:17 a.m., less than an hour before the starting gun, and Bob Anderson has made the rookie mistake of leaving himself too little time to warm up.

The founder of Runner's World ought to know better, having dedicated his life to unearthing strategies for just these occasions. Anderson's seminal magazine provided tips on what shoes to wear, what to eat and how to train -- but, alas, never a word about how to juggle a documentary film crew.

This article was featured on the front page of the May 12 Saturday edition of the San Jose Mercury News.  Right next to the article about Facebook going public...

Such are the hurdles awaiting this Los Altos resident on his audacious journey: Anderson is celebrating his 50th year in running by racing 50 times. He will consider his goal met only if he does them at a young runner's speed, averaging under 7 minutes per mile.

Sunday marks Race No. 22, the Bay to Breakers in San Francisco.

But on this morning, in the increasingly agitated lead-up to Race No. 12, in Palo Alto, Anderson is grumbling that a problem with the film crew has cut into his preparation.

There will be no time for a favorite trick, slathering his bare feet in Icy Hot.

Sitting in his family room speaking with Dan Brown after their run.  Photos by Gary Reyes/Staff

"I know that sounds weird," Anderson said. "But I want that burning sensation. It gives me that flying feeling."

Hidden gems like that are what Anderson, now 64, set out to discover as a high school cross-country runner in Kansas, when he sent letters to athletes and coaches around the country pleading for advice on how to train for a marathon.

The immediate flood of responses fueled the birth of Runner's

World magazine, which would soon move its headquarters to Los Altos, then Mountain View, and serve as the companion reading for the running boom of the 1970s.

Now, with Runner's World long sold, Anderson wanted a new way to spread the sport's gospel. Thus, the 50-races-for-50-years quest that will cover 350 miles and includes 10 half-marathons.

In the running formula known as age-grading, Anderson's mile pace is the equivalent of a 30-year-old running at 5:24.

"I wanted to do something special, something that would be very positive for running," Anderson said. "But I also wanted to do something that would not be easy."

Here is the link for the whole article: San Jose Mercury News

I have not seen the paper but I guess it was on the front page...been getting a lot of emails about it...thanks everyone for your support...means so much to me!
Bob Anderson 5/20/12 5:10 am

Plus now I have been dragged into the limelight too because I am mentioned and quoted. It was all I could do to fight my way into my house past the press and autograph seekers. ;-)
Richard Stiller 5/22/12 11:40 am

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