One week from my marathon "race" day and I think I have finally decided where I am going to run. I drive out to Point Fermin Park to scope out what used to be the start/finish line for the Palos Verdes Marathon!

When I started running marathons in 2008, I knew I shouldn't attempt PV as my first...so I ran the Half Marathon that also started from Paseo del Mar near Gaffey Street.

That run didn't go so well, partly because it was only my second half marathon...but more likely due to quick rising heat.

I will only be running a 10 mile out-and-back on the course this morning, mainly to verify that my detour around the collapsed stretch of Paseo del Mar is still valid. I am starting later than usual partly so I will be on the final 5 miles of the course roughly around the same hour I hope to finish the marathon next week. If this heavy fog persists, heat shouldn't be a factor.

Heading into the fog on Paseo del Mar

I emerge from the fog before I reach the detour. I need to enter White Point Nature Reserve and follow the southern stretch of the Grassland Loop Trail (which parallels the collapsed stretch of Paseo Del Mar). The detour only adds a couple of tenths of a mile to the 2008 course...so when I run the full course next week, I don't intend to cut any stretches short.

Detour is valid...I am now overlooking White Point Park

If I recall correctly, when I ran the half marathon in 2008, I made the mistake of going out too fast and trying to maintain that momentum by attacking the climb up Western Avenue to West 25th Street. This steep stretch is roughly a half mile long, but the climb actually starts on Paseo del Mar and continues for an entire mile with an elevation increase of 250 feet. I still have a tendency to start races too fast, but who knows what I'll do next week...since technically this will not be a race.

I don't recall running by this sign for Ocean Trails Reserve before, but, having hiked and run through the reserve a few times during the pandemic, I now recognize where this is relative to trails I HAVE run upon. This is likely the East Boundary Trail...which makes sense since this is the eastern boundary of the reserve and Rancho PV. West 25th Street has become Palos Verdes Drive South.

Since I'm only running 10 miles today, I'm turning back here...before I get to the roller coaster stretch of Portuguese Bend. While I consider the big climb up (and the return up to) Western the most significant challenge, there's still a considerable amount of elevation change packed into that rolling stretch and, since the full course is essentially an out-and-back, I will hit it twice.

It's a bit unsettling that Terranea Resort still seems so far away...because I will be running considerably further next week.

When I ran the half on the Point Fermin course in May of 2008, I was dying on this climb. I had started way too fast and, by the time I reached this point, the temperature was much higher. Today is much cooler and I am cruising up the hill at just under 10 minutes per mile.

This sign is less than 100 yards from the peak of the climb and 5K from the finish line, but it's a little too early to start a final kick for the finish.

This apartment complex is located at the actual peak, but there is a bit of a dip down to Anchovy Avenue followed by another climb before the 25th reaches Western. I figure it's best to save the kick for the next peak. POST-RUN NOTE: The final mile of Paseo del Mar is not flat...it will be a slight climb to the finish line.