Author: Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Surf City 10-Recap

What’s a runner to do when she needs motivation to actually run her long runs? She signs up for a race! I saw that Surf City 10 fit in my schedule and there was a 10 miler. Even better was when I looked online and found a sweet hotel for cheap. Yes! So I registered. Then last week happened and I was doubting my ability for a 10 mile race in the dark. Could I finish it even after being sick all week? Yes but that didn’t mean it was the right choice. So I dropped to the 10K.

Oh 10K’s. We have a love/ hate relationship. Well, mostly hate.

My 10K times are either great (for me) or a total crap show. Good- 55 to 58 minutes. The rest all range around 1:10-1:15 because I blow up. There has never been an in between. I rarely run 10K’s for this reason.

I headed down to Huntington Beach on Saturday. Checked into the hotel and then headed back to find race parking. Yes, I used the distance from my car to the start judicisouly – warm up and cooldown and added 2+ miles to my total for the day.

The race was a lot bigger than I thought it would be but I did my best to line up in the proper pace area but it was damn crowded. The race started on time but it took me a few minutes to hit the starting line.

Who wants to take bets?

Mile 1 was decent- 10:22. Not too bad, not too bad.

Mile 2– Well, crap, I know what I forgot. My inhaler. Mother ….. 11:16 Know what Huntington Beach has? High humidity. What triggers my asthma? High humidity.

Positive split like a Boss

Mile 3- 4 Yeah no, straight running wasn’t gonna work. How about 2 run, 1 walk? Could my asthmatic lungs handle that?? 11:20, 11:49

This is a runner on asthma

Mile 5-6 Ok, can’t breathe, how about 1 run, 1 walk. Oh and I had decided to wear a new skirt, nope. I was less running and more waddling due the chafe I could feel, how I crossed the finish line not bleeding, I have no idea. It still hurts 4 days later.

Finish- 1:11:44

So maybe we should place bets on how long it takes me to run another 10K? Haha.

I did enjoy the race though. Running at night is kind of fun when you’re surrounded by people. A little more light might have been nice but guess who left her Knuckle Lights in the car?? Yep. Winner over here.

What race distance is your nemesis?

Week 38-Sundown

Think I am going to make my motto for the rest of the year to just roll with it. And roll and roll. And now I’m singing that song from Clueless.

Monday- 3 miles
I headed out after work to get in some miles. I was still feeling a little bit of the migraine fog. By the time I felt like I was finally warmed up and moving my legs, I was already done. Maybe I should have run more but I also didn’t want to push it.

Mood

Tuesday- Thursday- Rough
I knew I had off site training for work so I knew running was going to be tricky. I was hoping to get in a run or 2 in a new town but what I didn’t anticipate was the massive flare up my GI disorder. That was fun. Food and I were enemies. Even taking myself to Jamba the last day of training didn’t work. I was also starting to rethink my weekend plans.

*See, I thought I needed incentive to run 10 miles this weekend. So I looked online and guess what? There was a race in Huntington Beach! Nothing like drive 5 hours to run 10 miles. 😂

But I also was accepting that I was not ok. So I dropped to the 10k.

Oh-I did hop on the bike on Tuesday for a few miles.

Friday- Rest
I felt a tiny bit better but still felt like I had made the right choice downgrading.

Saturday- Surf City 10! Recap to come.

Sunday- Shopping
That counts as cardio right? I stopped at an outlet mall that I ‘ve driven past for years. It was amazing! I walked all over and shopped til I dropped. I bought running pants so fall weather, come on out!

11.7 ish miles for the week. I am winning at under trained. Ha!

How was your week?

Week 37- Little Late

Yeah, this is a little late but I had important things to say Monday!🤣

Last week was part awesome and part rough. So does that mean it was roughly awesome or awesomely rough? Choices.

So let’s get into it. Mostly because I can’t remember what else I did last week.

Monday- 7 miles
I was in a weird mood after work. Part of me wanted to run and part didn’t. I headed out and honestly thought I would turn around at the 5k mark. Except I kept running. And running. And ended up doing 7 miles after work. Who knew?!? I actually might have kept on running but I had a late start so it was getting dark and I was wearing all black.

Tuesday- 3 miles
I knew my schedule was a little wacky for the week so I headed out for some nice recovery miles on Tuesday. They actually felt pretty good.

Wednesday- mixer
Instead of exercising physical muscles, I had to exercise the social ones for work. So much harder.

After work on Saturday but pre 2 hour migraine nap

Thursday- Saturday
Here’s where things kind of derailed. I woke with a little headache on Thursday morning but it turned into a raging migraine by the end of work. Friday was more of the same. In fact by the time work was over, I had that watery eyed, teary look from the pain.

Sunday- 4 miles
I meant to run 8 miles for my long run but I knew my body wasn’t quite there. I was still feeling the migraine fog and just felt off. I headed out and told myself to do what I could. My legs felt ok but I was having massive heart burn issues that made everything uncomfortable. I am less than impressed with this medication change.

14 ish miles for the week. Better than last week but not great.

How as your week? Last week or this one?

Further, Farther

Disclaimer: I received Gatorade Endurance products to use 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 started the year with one BIG goal.

However I never shared that goal.

Then I spent the first few months of the year more sick than not and things got put on the back burner. Well, the race dropping my distance and changing locations and dates didn’t help either but that’s another story.

Then I circled back around. Why not? Let’s do this.

And that is a 50K.

Some of you are possibly saying hell yeah! While others are saying, yeah no, you just need to stop.

I do love dirt.

Don’t get me wrong- I am not aiming to run this thing tomorrow, or even next month. I realize this is going to take some time. I need time on my feet, miles under my belt, mountains to climb.

I also need to practice my fueling. Because well, I don’t. I may have been able to skate through 2 marathons that way but that won’t work if my aim is for dirty trails and steep climbs.

I will have time to practice my fueling over the next few months. As I have more than a few races planned that I’ve not yet mentioned.😆

At this point I am tossing around 50k races happening early 2020. Typing that year was kind of scary. Makes the race seem less frightening, ha! However that means I have a few months to get my act together. Which is good as some my options are BEASTS.

So, tell me your thoughts! Am I crazy? Any tips?

Week 36- Chaperone

To all those with kids or those who teach teenagers, I don’t know how you do it.

I felt broken after 2 days, ha!

However prior to that, I had a decent week. Well, except for the sudden bout of insomnia. How did I used to survive on so little sleep???

Also tried to change up my typical pic🤣

Monday- 3ish miles
I had not slept at all the night before. I had hoped to get my long run of the week out of the way but had zero energy. I ended up heading out for a few miles in the heat of the afternoon and it was rough. Partly due to the heat and partly due to the 2 days of no sleep.

Tuesday- MM100
Another night of no sleep. Yay. I headed home and just did a low key home workout.

Wednesday- 5 miles
Still no sleep. I thought about not running but I decided to just head out and see what happened. I wasn’t expecting much, especially when I realized I had no idea where my headphones or new sunglasses were. I just wanted to turn my brain off and tire myself out. Mission slightly accomplished.

Thursday- 4.5 miles
After a slightly better night of sleep, I briefly considered trying for my long run of 7-8 miles after work since the weekend was going to be busy. My body quickly let me know that was not happening. So instead I settled for 4.5 miles with a little push in the middle.

Don’t all high schools have massive diving platforms😮

Friday/ Saturday- California Classic Tennis Tournament
And the chaos started. Once again, I was chaperoning and driving for my mother’s tennis team. We left town around 5:30 on Friday morning and didn’t return until late Saturday. 3 matches on Friday and 2 on Saturday. I was fried and exhausted. I wasn’t even playing! At least the Expedition I was driving was better than last years Tahoe.

Sunday- Rest
I had planned for an afternoon run but everything caught up to me and I napped for 2 hours. Ha! I did feel mostly human after that though.

12.5 miles for the week. Considering I was running on fumes all week, I have no complaints.

How was your week?