Author: Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Excite-d

Disclaimer: I received an entry into Giant Race- San Jose as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

I briefly alluded to waning to do things differently in 2020 in a previous post. I also recently mentioned that I had registered for 4 races. So let’s talk about one of those!

I used to run short races. And they were fun. I also want to do new things and run new races…

So, I am running the Giant Race in San Jose! I am so excited.

The Giants Races first came on my radar a few years ago. There are 4- Scottsdale- Arizona, Sacramento, San Jose, and San Francisco. There’s even an extra medal for running the whole series. Yay for medals!!

The San Jose race takes place around the Excite Ballpark which is home of the San Jose Giants. I grew up playing softball and watching baseball with my mom and grandfather. We only got Denver news stations when I was younger so I did not grow up watching the Giants, oops.

It might sound odd that I’ve wanted to run these races for years but I really have. I’ve been telling everybody at work about it I am so excited, now I am telling you!

Want to come run with me? They offer a 5 mile, 5k, and a virtual option. I am running the 5 mile. My first non trail 5 mile race – that should guarantee a PR, right?? Who cares??? I just want to have fun.

Join me and use code GIANTS2020 for $10 off.

What sport did you watch or play growing up?

Week 4- Drag

Well, last week was interesting. Or more of the same depending on how you look at it.

Monday arrived and I was still feeling sick. So no exercise for me. However I was oddly productive as I did my taxes, vacuumed, grocery shopped and cleaned my closet. Not how I usually like to spend a day off from work.

Tuesday was back to work and one more day of rest after work.

I really did plan on running on Wednesday. Really, brought the gym bag into work and everything. Then my brother texted that he wanted to take the family to dinner. Running is awesome and all but I don’t turn down free food!

Thursday dawned and I was exhausted. Like dragging my feet, struggle to get out of bed tired. I did make it out for a slow moving 3.3 miles that evening but I was very sluggish. I felt better for having run but still so tired.

Friday was more of the same exhaustion. Even coworkers were commenting on it. I was hanging on by a thread.

I slept in on Saturday in hopes that I could kick the tiredness. I made it out for a miserable 3 miles in the afternoon between errands and laundry and running down to SLO for some dinner and wandering. The run was rough from the get go and the way my stomach cramped a mile in, I am honestly surprised I made it 3 miles.

A migraine started to roll in on Saturday evening and I just hoped sleep would keep it at bay. No such luck, I awoke on Sunday and knew I didn’t even want to open my eyes. Once again I was wondering why I don’t have blackout curtains in the bedroom. My hope that the pain would ease as the day went on did not come true. Instead of running, I napped. Oh and a trip to the emergency vet for the cat.

So, 6ish miles for the week….yay. Shockingly enough, even though my month has been rough going, I have surpassed the miles I ran in January 2019. Ha!

How was your week?

Ramblin On 65

Why are short weeks long?

Granted part of that could be the lingering sick. Mostly just super tired. So tired.

Did I mention that while I was sick, I may have spent too much time on the computer? The online purchases are starting to roll in. Oops.

Oh, and I may have registered for 4 races. Not oops but more on that later.

I did finally manage to get a run in and oh my god, I am so sore. It was only a week off?!?! Just gotta keep telling myself that it took more than a month to get this out of shape, it’s a long road back.

(insert that damn Miley Cyrus “Climb” song)

We had some amazing running weather this week. Of course when I wasn’t running. Ha!

I’m starting to think that meme that said January was just practice for the year was right.

Tell me something!

3-Sick

Well, this will be short.

Last week did not go according to any sort of plan. And it was not because last week was Quitting day- which ever of the many days that was or however it was referred to. I think I saw it referenced 3 or 4 different ways online.

Monday– I was a little sore from the weekend so instead of running I hopped on the bike for 8 miles. I used one of the pre-programmed workouts and yeah that makes a difference.

Tuesday– I was hoping to push my post work run to 4 miles instead I called it just before mile 2 and took the short route back to the car. My ankles and achilles were so sore. They would not loosen up and I was concerned I was going to hurt something. They hurt so much I took the shortcut to the car. Never again. It was complete blackness and kind of sketchy. 2.6 ish miles.

Wenesday – Intentional rest and I may have worn compression socks to work.

Thursday– Insane rain and wind. Besides another day of rest wouldn’t hurt right?

Friday– Ha

Then it fell apart. Even more than normal. Saturday was cold and I was feeling super tired. Then I ended up going to the phone store with my brother to upgrade his phone. I still have my entire family on my phone plan to save money but I’ve never added any of them as authorized users so any phone upgrades have to go through me. Maybe I should be less of a control freak? Nah. But the point is those things are never quick.

Sunday dawned and I was still really tired. Then I was nauseous and ill. My stomach felt like someone was trying to punch their way out. Instead of 7-8 miles, I slept for 3 hours. Actually think I spent a good chunk of 24 hours asleep, yay. I don’t have time for that.

So that was a useful week of training. And so far week 4 is starting rough too.

How was your week?

Castle to Coast 2020

What is a runner with a slacker mentality who has a long run on a cold day but likes to be lazy? She signs up for a local race of course.

Castle to Coast is a super chill, laid back 8 miles along the coast. No bibs, no medals, just running. Actually I was surprised with the timing chips this year. Those could have been around last year too but I DNS’ed. Oops.

Far away castle

The morning dawned early and cold as I made my way over to the coast. Things started a little rocky as the park rangers hadn’t gotten the memo and the gates to the park were locked. In an odd way I feel it made check in go faster. Eventually the gates were unlocked and we were all able to get parked and hop in the portapotty lines. We started a few minutes late due to gate snafu but like I said it’s all chill.

We lined up and we were off. Now here’s the maybe not chill part- the roads aren’t closed and we run along the highway. Highway 1 to be exact- from Hearst State Beach to Cambria. Hearst as in Hearst Castle.

I planned to take it easy and was aiming for my current long run pace around 12:00. Or my all around pace right now, like I’ve said, I’m out of shape.

Miles 1-4 10:57, 12:18, 12:30, 12:28
Started a little too fast but nothing crazy and I felt like I settled into a nice, easy maintainable pace. Due to the running along the highway portion, the race is limited to 300 people and usually sells out. We started out in a big pack, sort of, all in the bike lane. With no room to pass, it takes a few miles to thin out even with so few people. That said I was still feeling pretty ok.

Mile 5- 13:23
I have no idea what happened. I hit the only water stop around 4 and it was like my body quit. I went from feeling fine to being done. And I mean done.

I may have made this one the wallpaper on my phone

Miles 6-8 12:55, 12:48, 13:18
Yep still done. I turned on my headphones – didn’t help. Had a gel- didn’t help. I was basically walking and sprinkling in running. People were passing me right and left. What the hell? The previous week’s long run had gone so much better. If this had been a regular run I would have quit but my ride was at the finish line. Apparently I wasn’t the only one having a bad day, I was passing people who had previously passed me. One runner told me I walked fast.

Finish 8.2 miles- 1:43:51

Only 20 minutes slower than the last time I ran this race. And I thought I was out of shape then, ha! Even days later I am trying to figure out why I ran out of steam. The humidity was high but my asthma was manageable. Or I thought so. My stomach did flare that afternoon and it lasted about 3-4 days but I don’t think pre-tired is a thing. Is it a thing?? Ha!

It was slow but I showed up.