Suddenly Shoreline

You know you’re a runner when you find out that a local race you’ve run the last 2 years on your birthday weekend is a week later this year and you’re bummed out.  2 years ago I ran the Rock to the Pier 10K the day before my birthday.  Last year, I stepped up to the half marathon that was now on my birthday.   The 10K rocked, the half marathon kicked my ass.  Both were still awesome.    There’s something about running a race on/near your birthday that is kind of awesome.  Well except for seeing the new age on your bib, that usually stings a bit.   🙂

I was still planning on running Rock’n Around the Pier this year but I just wasn’t feeling very into it.  The race has 12+ miles on the beach.  Add the sand and the inevitable humidity and I was preparing for a rough time.    Throw in a lazier than planned June and I was starting to dread it. Plus, last year I ran it with NikeC, that’s not in the cards this year.   So I decided to do the smart thing, I figured I would run the 10K instead.  It would mean the loss of bling, but it’s not all about the medals.  Right? 

2 weeks ago, I got an email.   California has a half marathon series every year, and you can earn an extra medal at the end of the year at one of the Series end races for a variety of challenge.  Pretty cool but the odds of me running any of the end races are kind of small.  The emails let you know of upcoming halfs in the series though.    The race at the top of this email was Shoreline Half.  In Ventura.  On my actual birthday.   Could I, should I?  Nah, no, that would be crazy.

Call me crazy.   I registered.  I found a sweet discount online and committed.    I also adjusted my training.  I had been aiming to hit 4 days a week and up my mileage but I stuck with 3 days and upped my long runs.   So my last 3 weeks looked like this-

14 miles overall- 5+ long
16 miles overall- 8 long
18 miles overall- 10 long 

Dang, that looks sad.   But after 2 Slacker months, I wasn’t trying to break myself by being in a hurry.  Plus this race is strictly for fun.   For more reasons than just not hurting myself.  I am not getting a hotel, I am driving down on race morning with my mom and S (one of her tennis players- she tends to adopt them).  So hello to my first ever 3AM wake up call for a race.  And hello to packet pickup on race morning.   Cuz that won’t be stressful at all.  🙂      The race is flat, which most people would love but I find flat to be my nemesis.  Oh and it’s on the boardwalk…along the beach.  Hello humidity.  #sorrylungs

You know you're a runner when... you are looking forward to a girls weekend that includes a half-marathon!

So am I crazy?  Well, that remains to be seen.  🙂   I am hoping for a fun, pretty race.  Some shiny new bling and then a day spent shopping  and eating around Santa Barbara.  Hello Lululemon and Lorna Jane- please take my money.  🙂

So, seriously, am I crazy?

Ever registered for a race at the last minute?  I have but not this late for a half.

Do you run on your birthday?

23 thoughts on “Suddenly Shoreline”

  1. I always run on my birthday!! Never a race, though. One of these days!! I definitely register for races last minute. I registered in the beginning of June for Grandma’s Marathon on 6/20, haha! You are my kind of crazy, sister!! Good luck and happy birthday 🙂

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    1. Since it’s on a Sunday this year, it will be a few years until I enjoy a race on my birthday again. I register late for 5K’s and 10K’s all the time but nothing longer. That late for a marathon?! That’s gutsy! Thank you!

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  2. I’d love to run a race on my birthday but it seems to be the weekend of everything else! Growing up, I’d always have a soccer tournament on my birthday weekend – I’ve had many birthday songs sung to me on the field 🙂
    Good luck and happy early birthday!

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  3. I don’t think you’re crazy 🙂 Though I’d certainly be second-guessing myself when my alarm went off at 3am… yikes! Sounds like it will be fun though, especially hanging around Santa Barbara. I wish I had had more time to explore while I was there!

    I’ve never raced on my birthday, but around it (my bday is near Thanksgiving, so allll the turkey trots are happening!) And last year was especially rough running post-birthday and moving up to a new age group! 🙂

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    1. Yeah, I may cry a little on Sunday morning. Luckily my mom is going to start the driving so I am hoping to sleep on the way down. 🙂 I am looking forward to the day trip, one day I will have to spend more time there. I would like to go to the zoo at some point.

      Turkey trots are fun though! Yeah, this will be my last year in this age group, so next year will be a little rough. Wah.

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  4. I don’t think you’re crazy at all! I’m a January baby so there are rarely any races on or near my birthday 😦 I do always try to run a special distance on my birthday to celebrate on my own!

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  5. If you’re crazy, then I am too!! I ran my first marathon the day after my birthday which made for an awesome double celebration when I was done! I love running on my birthday.
    And I think it’s awesome that you spontaneously registered for a half! I haven’t done that yet but I plan on doing it more often this season. I’m waiting for a cooler weekend to sign up for a 5k/10k now but so far no luck – and I’ve decided this summer I am not racing in the heat and humidity because it makes me miserable.
    Hope you have a great birthday race!! 😀

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    1. Birthday and a marathon?! That must have been awesome- more reason for more cake! 🙂
      Yeah, the weather is rough. I know the humidity will be high on Sunday, so I am just going to take it easy and have fun. I am debating the length of my next planned race due to the wacky weather this. I don’t want a 15 mile suffer fest.
      Thank you!!!

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  6. You’re not crazy!! I don’t really know if I run on my birthday or not. I feel like I probably do most of the time, but I haven’t really thought about it. This year my birthday is during my honeymoon so I’ll probably be taking the day off 🙂

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  7. I usually sign up for races in advance but have been at races supporting friends many times and almost did race day sign up lol.

    I usually try to run around my birthday, if not an official race, at least locally with some friends.

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    1. Spectating is awesome but also causes instant jealousy. I always wish I was running!

      I’m going to have to find ways to make it fun over the next few years until it falls on a weekend again. 🙂 Friends would be a good way!

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  8. I don’t think you’re crazy at all! I love birthday races, and I think you’ve been running consistently enough that you’ll be fine. You’ve already logged way more miles than me for July!

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  9. I think you are totally crazy, but I also know you can totally do it! I’ve logged 14 miles for July… that’s not bad considering when I started running in May I only logged 16! 🙂 So, you got this! Have fun!

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  10. Awesome – I’m running shoreline too!! Hopefully I’ll see you there! And definitely not crazy – you know your body and what it can handle. Races are fun! Plus they’re giving out free beers and tacos at the end. Tacos!!!

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  11. LOL. This is me reading this post:

    You: …And hello to packet pickup on race morning.

    Me: Oh good god, that would be so stressful to me!!!

    Then I go on and read You: Cuz that won’t be stressful at all.

    Me: Ba-hahaha – ok, she feels the same way!! lol

    Sounds fun though!!!

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