Oakland Friends:
The Oakland Marathon… my first!... is upon us. On Sunday, March 28, I’ll be running this 26.2 mile event through a diverse array of neighborhoods and terrain.
As you likely already know, I’ll be running to support a trip to bring 11 students from Urban Promise Academy to Washington DC exactly one week from race day! You can sponsor me on this run (if you haven’t already)… more info is here http://sites.google.com/site/upamarathon/
If you are in the Bay Area and want to check out the race you can find out more information at http://www.oaklandmarathon.com
A very cool Google Maps generated video of the course is at http://www.racemyrace.com/Oakland/
And a street map of the course (.pdf) is at http://www.oaklandmarathon.com/Assets/Oakland+Marathon/MarathonCourse.pdf
Although it is difficult to know exactly what time I’ll hit any certain point, I am pushing for a 8 minute 30 second pace. If I hold that pace, I will be at the following spots at approximately the time below. However, if I were you, I would plan on showing up early and staying later if you want to be sure to catch me. Don’t worry… I’m not embarrassed by huge signs, loud noise, or pom poms.
7:00 AM: Oakland City Hall (14th & Broadway)… Race prep
7:30 AM: Oakland City Hall… START!
7:46 AM: Piedmont Ave & 41st St. ~ mile 2
7:49 AM: 41st & Telegraph (2 blocks from our house!)
7:55 AM: Temescal (Telegraph & 51st) ~ mile 3
8:04 AM: “Top” of College Ave (@ Broadway) ~ mile 4
8:10 AM: College b/w BART and Claremont (running out and back… see us 2x!)
8:21 AM: Lake Temescal (pretty!) ~ mile 6
8:38 AM: Montclair Village (Mountain Blvd.) ~ mile 8
8:55 AM: Mormon Temple (Mountain and Lincoln) ~ mile 10
9:12 AM: Fruitvale (Foothill & Fruitvale) ~ mile 12… UPA Aid Station!
9:29 AM: Fruitvale & International ~ mile 14
9:54 AM: Jack London Sq (Jackson & 2nd St.) ~ mile 17
10:11 AM: West Oakland (7th St. & Mandela Parkway, W.Oakland BART)
10:37 AM: Lake Merritt (start clockwise loop @ Grand & Bay) ~ mile 22
11:02 AM: Lake Merritt (end loop @ Lakeside & 19th) ~ mile 25
11:12 AM: FINSH! @ Oakland City Hall (14th & Broadway)
I hope to see you out there celebrating the inaugural Oakland Marathon!
~ Dennis Guikema