Category: BibRave

Week 41/ Rock N Roll San Jose Recap

Because let’s be real, that’s the only thing that kind of happened last week.

Disclaimer: I received an entry into Rock n Roll 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 packed up on Friday and was ready to road trip on Saturday morning. Let’s do this!

I forgot how easy the drive is up to San Jose. Soon enough, I was parking at the convention center for the expo.

The expo is more a mid size expo for Rock n Roll expos but with plenty of good things. I spent money! But first, the important stuff. I checked in and picked up my bib. Then I looked for the solutions table- oh right behind me! I walked over and asked what I needed to do to drop to the 10k. They wrote my bib number down and that was it! Easy peasy.

Then I was off to wander around the expo. I love the first big section is the Brooks / Rock n Roll section. I always drool over all the things but never buy. Except this day. I fell for a hat and a magnet. So cute! Then I wandered and checked out the rest. I kept my wallet in my purse this time.

I was aiming to get a good race pic here

Then it was off to the hotel and dinner at the Spaghetti Factory. Yum, but maybe a little too much. I laid out my #flatrunner to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything. I was looking forward to running the 10K and knew that dropping down was the right choice after the past few weeks. My only goal for the race was to have fun and try to get an actual good race picture. I knew where one photographer was going to be so I figured I would try for a good one. We were being warned that it was going to be a warm morning but I was prepared.

Off to bed early, where I suddenly realized I had no safety pins for my bib! Oops! Then I tried to sleep. Key word- tried. I was just dozing off around 3 when it all changed.

The phone screamed into the night just after 3 in the morning. My dad was in the hospital and I was on the way back home in less than 30 minutes.

And that was how I DNS’ed Rock N Roll San Jose.

At the time I was writing this , I had more of hospitals than I would like but my dad is recovering. And that is what is important.

Sometimes life happens. There will be more races.

Keeping it Sporty

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Knockaround Sport Edition Fast Lanes 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 may have a problem. Maybe. But I don’t think so.

There were 2 missing at the time of this photo too😹

I didn’t need BibRave to introduce me to Knockaround, as you can see, I had a pretty extensive collection already.

I love Knockaround for a variety of reasons. The fun colors, the polarization, the comfort and the price point. Let’s face it- I am Destructo Girl I’m so many ways I don’t want to pay $$$$ for sunglasses I will inevitably break because I always do. Or drop down a port-a-potty but that’s another story.

The newest addition to the Knockaround line is the Sport Edition. The Sport Edition is all polarized and comes with those grippy nose pads so your glasses don’t slide down your face when you get all sweaty. The Sport Edition is currently offered for the Premiums and The Fast Lanes.

I was excited for my new shades to arrive. And maybe did a happy sunglass dance when they arrived. I received the Sport edition Fast Lanes in Clear Grey frames and Green Moonshine lenses. Love.

The Fast Lanes are one of the larger frames that Knockaround offers… at least in my opinion. I own other Fast Lane frames too and while I love them, I realized I forgot something at ordering.

I have a small head! Between my hats, my sunglasses and my Aftershokz, there is not a lot of space left on my head. Which is why I don’t usually run in my Fast Lanes. Oops.

That being said- these glasses do not move. I ran in them with a hat and without a hat. Wore in them 100 degree days without a hat when I turned into a nasty, sweaty mess and they didn’t budge. They also never fogged up on me either on some humid runs.

I’m sold! In fact, I’m probably going to buy a Sport Editon of the Premium’s too. Now if only they would make a Sport Edition of the Paso Robles, my favorite style. That’s ok, I’ll console myself with a new pair of Premiums while I wait.😂

Want your own? Use code BIBRAVEKNOCKS3 to save 20%!

What are your favorite sunglasses?

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.

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?

Safety Sunday- Sidekick

Disclaimer: I received a Sidekick ID from Road iD to review 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’ve been a fan of Road ID for years. I’ve had the Sport ID and one of the silicone Stretch ones. I loved the changeablity of the Sport ID but it’s no longer offered. And that’s ok. I’ve bought ones for both of my parents and recently upgraded Zoey’s dog tags.

What is Road iD? Road ID offers a variety of ways to carry ID outside of your actual license. Wrist ID’s, shoe ID’s, dog tags, kid’s ID, medical ID’s, etc. They offer a variety of band types for the wrist ID’s as well as decorative tags. As runners, it is important that we carry ID as we never know when we might need. We all hope that we never will but it is better to be prepared.

There was a time when I never ran without my RoadID. And I have proven that it does work, like the time I accidently dropped it getting into my car post run. A nice stranger found it and called my mother with the number on it. Which as you can imagine had her very alarmed until we worked it out.

Then came the last 6 months. Things I never forgot I was leaving behind. I forgot my hat numerous times. Water bottles were an afterthought, forgot my headphones numerous times, and my Sport Road iD? I started forgetting it so much I don’t even know where it is.

I started looking at the Sidekick ID a few months ago. I even went so far as filling in all my information and putting in the cart but never checking out. I should just look for mine right? Then the possibility opened with BibRave and I jumped on it.

The Sidekick ID is designed to slip right on the watch band of your Garmin, Fitbit or Apple Watch. I chose the 19mm size and was able to fit 6 lines of information on it. Name, Location, Emergency Contact 1, Emergency Contact 2, health info, and a motto.

It arrived and I eagerly opened the package. The Sidekick slides over a piece of industrial fabric with 2 bands to loop around your watch band. It also came with a secondary fabric piece for the just in case moments. It was super easy to slide onto my watch. Then I could just forget about it.

From then on I always had my Road iD on. At work, around town and on the run. Once it was on my watch, I never even noticed it- it didn’t add to the weight at all. I no longer had to worry about forgetting it, yay! I also no longer had to worry about dropping it when my hands swelled on hot runs. Like the above mentioned incident. My only wish is that I had purchased the Rose Gold faceplate instead of the black but I figured I was already pushing the limits on the professionalism of my watch, ha! So I made Zoey’s new tag Rose Gold. It all works out.

Want your own? Use this link to save 20%! https://road.id/BibRave
How do you carry ID on the run?

For other thoughts, checkout Corey – Jessica – Christine

Oaktown Half Recap

Disclaimer: I received an entry into Oaktown Half 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.

Oh, Oakland, for being a flat city (that I’ve seen) you sure give me my ups and downs.

After a rough night’s sleep or lack there of, I was up early and out the door to make my way to race start. The perk of my hotel was that the start was only 2 blocks up. I thought there would be more runners there or out and about but there weren’t. It was kind of odd.

Picking up my bib and shirt were fairly easy. I got the feeling I wasn’t the only person whose expo in a box hadn’t arrived. I folded my shirt as small as I could then shoved it in my pack instead of gear checking. I then stood in the longest bathroom line ever only to discover the port-a-potties had no TP. What?!?

I met up with a couple other BibRavePros before heading to the start line.

Miles 1-3 10:09, 10:24, 10:50
I had loosely planned on taking it easy and just trying to run consistently, pace be damned. I felt pretty consistent the first few miles as we headed towards the Jack London part of town before turning back. This is also where I took most of the mural photos.

Miles 4-6 11:16, 11:00, 11:28
I was feeling ok and only walking through aid stations but it was getting warm. It felt very muggy. We were looping around Lake Merritt and as much as I was looking forward to running around Lake Merritt I knew I was about to hate it.

Miles 7-9 11:22, 11:36, 11:53
Oh my god, get me away from this lake. The lake was the mother of all out and backs- run almost all the way around it on the street then move to lake path and run all the way back the other direction. As pretty as the lake was, I felt like I was losing my mind. I did wave at another Pro when we passed each other on parts of the out and back. These were also the miles that I realized I was going to be beat by a 7 year old. Not that we were really racing but I was torn between being impressed and slightly chagrined.

She was running with her dad- I’m guessing

Miles 10-11 12:00, 11:19
Finally off the lake, I never thought I would be so happy in my life. We were headed back towards downtown and I was lagging. My legs felt good, I just felt really hot. I also died a little inside when I saw the finish line but we turned right.

Miles 12-13 12:12, 11:47
Ok, no I really died inside when I realized there was another out and back…no make that 2 out and backs. I think this realization also slowed me down. I was so over the out and backs. I tried to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Fittingly enough, Skillet’s “Finish Line” came on with around 1/3 of a mile left to go. And I picked up the pace.

Finish 2:29:03

Fastest half in a year-not sure how I feel about that. Actually my body felt pretty good during the race despite the very flat terrain. I don’t know if I was mentally there. Also I felt really hot- I never checked the humidity but it probably wasn’t my friend. Especially now that I don’t work and run in a beach town. Ha!

While this route was more scenic than my last race in Oakland, the repeated out and backs messed with my head. Boo.

Do you like out and back courses?