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!
Yep, I’m heading back to Rock n Roll San Jose in October. I feel like last years sciatica pain colored a course and crowds I would have appreciated in a not great shade.
San Jose has an impressive amount of cheer leaders out there cheering for you along the way. They did an amazing job by the way. They were the only thing that got a smile on my face by the last 6 miles. There were some neighborhoods that looked amazing in the back half of the race and I regret not taking pictures now. Running through San Pedro Square was awesome. And if there is a photographer there this year as well, I swear I am going to smile this time.
2018
Now, about the flatness. This race is pancake flat. Seriously. It’s touted as the fastest half in California. Well, for most runners. For me? Well, I just want to finish under 2:25- doesn’t sound like much but I have never finished a flat course fast. Never. Even back when I was so much fitter and faster than I am now. 🙂 Flat is my nemesis- it’s time for flat to lose. I just want to enjoy myself and not finish a flat race course saying ouch.
Also, I will finally earn the Cali Combo medal. My first year running Rock n Roll races I only ran one in California- you had to run 3 to earn the Cali Combo medal. Last year I did run 3 races in Cali (San Diego, San Jose, LA) but they didn’t offer a Cali Combo medal. Boo. But—- they brought it back this year and now you only have to run 2 Rock n Roll races. Yay!!
Want to run with me??? Use code 19RNRBRP16 to save $16 on the half!
Disclaimer: I received Sabre products to try 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!
If you run alone, you’ve likely thought about your safety on the run. If not, how?
I’ve run with pepper spray since I was attacked by a dog 9 years ago. I still have the scars on my butt to prove it. Before then my biggest concern running was how stupid I looked doing it. Nothing slams me a halt now quite like a dog off leash.
Then I started running the lake path. Which seems to be home to all of my creepiest encounters. From cars that follow too close around the path or men who just stop and stare.
There’s also the random but not so infrequent wild life occurrences in town. From roaming mountain lions to bears in cul-de-sacs and let’s not forget the time a wolf hybrid escaped from the rehab facility. It’s a riot out here.
I started carrying pepper spray way back when and am ost never without it. I’ve gone through a variety of different styles and brands. Partly because of the expiration dates and partly because I have a tendency to break them. How? If I am carrying it in my hand, it will get thrown at some point. It’s one of the reasons I don’t carry a handheld all that often.
So now I carry Sabre. Small, compact and complete with a strap! No more throwing it! Although in a worst case throwing it might not be a bad idea.
Never gonna let you go
Ok, so I don’t toss it around anymore but really makes Sabre rock?
MAXIMUM STOPPING POWER: Maximum strength formula is backed by in-house high performance liquid chromatography laboratory which guarantees maximum stopping power, eliminating the 30% failure rate experienced with other pepper spray brands (University of Utah study); plus UV marking dye aids in suspect identification
#1 PEPPER SPRAY BRAND TRUSTED BY POLICE AND CONSUMERS WORLDWIDE: Including New York, Chicago PD, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s & U.S. Marshals; made in the U.S.A. and ISO 9001:2008 certified with a 4-year shelf life from the date of manufacture
ENHANCED SAFETY: Pepper gel virtually eliminates wind blow-back and only affects what it directly contacts, plus it offers a 20% greater range (12 feet/4 m) for protection at a safer distance
EASILY ACCESSIBLE WITH PROTECTION AGAINST MULTIPLE THREATS: Adjustable hand strap provides police-strength protection at your fingertips; contains 35 bursts (up to 5x other brands) plus a locking top safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge
FREE TRAINING: Packaging includes link to free training video in addition to publicly available safety tips on blog
All the essentials- Gatorade and an alarm
Along with the pepper spray which I already felt comfortable with, Sabre offers personal alarms. Yes, there are a few apps that offer runner tracking and location information, however those seem less than productive to me. They tell someone where you were when there might have been a problem. Those people are usually never near you at the time and likely can’t get to you quickly. How safe is that? It’s not. It’s a road map for a worst case scenario. The Sabre personal alarm is there to alert those actually nearby that you need help. And/or maybe be a loud enough deterrent for whatever man or beast may be in front of you.
And it clips on anywhere. Seriously, I’ve it clipped to my pack, my pocket, a tank top strap, and my purse. I recently bought my first Coach purse and yes- I clipped the bright pink alarm to the outside pocket. Safety is always stylish, right?
Sabre is extremely low priced in my opinion for my peace of mind. But if you need more convincing- how about a discount? Use code SABRERUN to save 20%.
Everything’s safe until it isn’t and for that I have my Sabre. I can only hope I don’t have to use it.
This was my third time running Rock n Roll San Diego and I still find it to be an awesome race.
Disclaimer: I received an entry to Rock n Roll San Diego 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 had a horrible night of sleep so I was moving a little slowly as I got myself ready for the race. I headed out of my hotel to the shuttle stop around 5:30. Part of the reason I book this hotel is the proximity to the shuttles and the finish line. The lines seem so much longer this year but I was on a bus fairly quickly. Once dropped off I made my way to the BibRave Pro meetup.
📸 Nicole or Mai
Then I did a bad thing. I hadn’t noticed until I was preparing my flat runner the night before but my bib had my corral as 21. Wait, what? I know I’m moving slower than I used to but that didn’t make sense. Which was reinforced when I saw the 2:30 pacers in corral 14. Rock n Roll was enforcing corral assignments this time but I managed to sneak into corral 14.
Miles 1-3: 10:15, 11:07, 11:39 I love that .2 miles into the start there is a guy shouting on a bull horn. Every year. I was feeling rough from the get go. I was running but I knew it wasn’t going to last. I’ve never faded this fast before.
Miles 4-5: 11:34, 11:54 I was slowing, my pace does not show how much walking I was doing. I had nothing in the tank. The Mile 4.5 bar barely drew a smile from me. Then we entered the “Wear Blue” mile. All the signs of fallen military members and American Flags make me realize I should not be complaining. I went to pause my music so I could run the mile in silence when I noticed what was playing. The acoustic version of Papa Roach’s F.E.A.R- Face Everything And Rise. The timing of lyrics was eerie so I let it play.
Miles 6-10: 11:54, 12:41, 11:34, 11:46, 12:03 I knew I was done back in mile 3 and I stopped fighting it. My legs and body felt good, I just had zero energy. None. It was humid but not hot and while the humidity wasn’t as high as last year, my lungs were not having it. Asthma sucks. So I ran when I could and walked the rest. Miles 7 and 10? Lots of walking. A lot. I just tried to enjoy the neighborhoods I was running through, all the people who came out to cheer, and the literal cheerleaders every few miles.
Blurry tunnel selfie 😂
Miles 11-13: 12:39, 11:06, 11:57 There was a new blowup at mile 10 instead of the guitar guy. I love the last 3 miles- there’s a good uphill, amazing downhill and a party tunnel as we head back downtown to the finish. I felt like I picked up the pace but the stats tell a different story. Ha! I had to take a walk break at the bottom of the downhill- say what? I never have to walk after downhills. So in other words- the hundred or so people I just passed now all passed me. 🙂
Finish -2:34:12
My slowest San Diego to date! I am not sure what happened out there- I went in worried about a hurt foot and instead slammed into a wall of exhaustion. I texted a friend after the race and said I had zero get up and go. None. I still love this race though and would recommend it to anyone who asks.
Disclaimer: I received an entry to Rock n Roll San Diegoas 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!
Rock N Roll San Diego race weekend to be precise. I love this race. This will be my third time running it and I am looking forward to all the familiar sights and sounds. Especially now that I know San Diego better thanks to my work trip last year.
Prior to this week I would have said that outside of long runs I was feeling pretty strong. Long runs had me a little nervous as the farthest I’ve run since Oakland is 7 miles. That said I was still feeling good.
Then this week happened. I hurt my foot/ ankle and now I am concerned. I am trying to convince myself that it is referred pain from my right hip/ lower back. I talk about doing my PT exercises but rarely do them. I know better, I am just a Slacker. Until it slaps me in the face.
My previous plan was to run 7 miles as close to my long run pace as possible. 7 miles is what is on my training plan for the week. Then take the rest of the race easy. However I know I start too fast every single race. Even tired or slightly injured, my stupidity takes over.
So new game plan- don’t be stupid. Enjoy the sights and sounds I love. Maybe take a drink at the mile 4.5 bar. Ok we know I won’t do that but I think about it every time. I am hoping to meet up with other BibRave Pros. I hope to have less traffic to fight on the way down. And for the love of Pete, I hope for less humidity than last year. Fingers crossed.
I am still adjusting to all the changes. While last week I was better with food and water at work- it wasn’t a great deal better. I never before realized how relaxing those lunch breaks in the comfy chair were! Hindsight, right?
And to help matters out (insert sarcasm) allergies are beginning to bloom. People love to look at the wildflowers but they never mention the brown mess to follow. May 1 marks D Day when it comes to “weed abatement”. The city may be slow when it comes to fixing potholes but you can be damn sure they will mow everything in sight lickety split. Between the white, fluffy pollen blowing everywhere and the dusted, dry brown weeds left behind- allergies are packing a punch.
So let’s get to the week.
Planned vs Actual
Monday- 1.5 miles / 1.65 miles Headed for the river path after work. The weather was a bit chillier than I thought it would be so I was glad I packed a long sleeve layer. I didn’t really have time to get warm.
Tuesday- 1 up & down, 2.5 mile tempo/ .64 up, 2.5 tempo, .31 down I haven’t run a tempo since Hanson’s broke me in 2016. I was tempted to bail. I was considering a race on Saturday- so that would count right? But instead I told myself to grow up and just do it. Did I nail tempo pace? Nope. Mile 1 was too fast and mile 2 I ran out of steam but I wasn’t horribly off. And it didn’t suck! Woo hoo!
Wednesday- 1.5 miles/ 1.5 crawl I was feeling so tired, so very tired. I figured 1.5 would be easy… but it wasn’t. I felt like I was running through water. The run turned into a walk.
Thursday-3 miles w/ strides/ 3 miles with strides Again, I was feeling abnormally tired. However I went out and did the damn thing. Know how to really pick up the pace in your last set of strides?? Have a snake slither across the path.
Friday- 1.5 miles/ Nada Big fat fail. Based on how I felt Wednesday/ Thursday, I decided late Thursday evening that I was taking the day off on Friday. I still packed my gear- not sure why. I had also decided that I was not running the race on Saturday.
Saturday- 5 miles/ 5 miles When will I learn???? I was tired so I slept in. Which meant I headed out for my run in the afternoon, which for the first time in a week was 80 some odd degrees. However, I was slightly prepared this time and walked anytime I felt warm, even if I wasn’t tired per say. I didn’t make my paces but I think if you adjusted them for the temps. At least that’s I am going to lie to myself. And while I was hot, I didn’t feel defeated like I did in last week’s long run.
Sunday- Rest/ Rest!!!!! Keep me out of furniture stores! I was shopping with my mom for Mother’s Day and while I did get her her choice of tables- I also picked up a new end table for myself. Doh!
14.6ish miles for the week. Or something like that. 5 out of 6 workouts. I’m getting there!
Slacker Runner 