Category: Recap

March Recap

I kind of feel like March was a runaway train. It knocked me around some and then sped off. Between 2 crazy weeks at work and then trying to give myself a concussion, I am ready to say hello April! While the month may have been insane, I did manage a few things.

Races– Wine Country 13.1 – 2:07:08 Course PR

Training– Unofficial 5K PR- 26:35

I also joined the Around the World Running Blog Relay for March and April with a goal of 200 KM (which also means I have to do the conversion each week when I send in my numbers. 🙂 )

So-

74 Miles, sweet! I’ll take it. Taking 5 days off last week put a dent it what could have been my highest mileage month ever. I had also planned on running yesterday but a crazy rain storm came in and I just could not bring myself to go to the gym instead. Daylight savings time has really spoiled me. 🙂 Instead I drove straight home. Which was probably better because between the pouring rain and water coming off the tires; visibility was crap. I was just thankful to get home.

While Saturday’s run was rough, I got in another 4 miles on Sunday. While I may brought the pace down by the end on Saturday, my legs never felt right. Sunday’s average pace was similar to Saturday but it felt so much smoother. My legs remembered how to work 🙂 Woo hoo! I had a little trouble with my Garmin, though. I thought I hit start but half a mile later I was wondering why I hadn’t felt the slow pace alert buzz. I always walk the middle part of the first mile on my neighborhood route. (Hill denial) I looked down and it had never started, boo!

I thought about starting it then but saw an opportunity. Earlier in the month I had signed up for the virtual kickoff run for the Rock n Roll Las Vegas Marathon. I have been wanting to run this race for years and any chance to win a race entry, I was taking it! I needed to run a 5K and submit photo proof as part of the deal, and it had to be in by April 2. The incident with my head had pushed my original planned run back. Since I had my Nike+ app tracking the whole run and I was planning on doing 4 miles, I didn’t start my Garmin until around the .9 mile mark. From there my only goal was to get that 3.1 in under 30, which I knew may be tough because I figured I would need a walk break or 2. It was tough but mission accomplished! 3.1 miles on the Garmin and overall 4 miles in 39:20 on my Nike+ app. Then I took a photo and a less than great selfie so I could submit my time.

Man, I have no talent at these :) — Man, I have no talent at these 🙂

My bruise has faded and the welt is gone, and so is the tightness in my head, woo hoo! I have worked out a little training plan for the next 26 days leading up the SLO Marathon and 1/2. I have 2 race options for the weekend before as well. I am deciding between a 10k on the beach and pretty tough 5k that kicked my ass last year. Decisions, decisions. I have a week or so to decide.

Also, race pictures are finally up and one doesn’t suck! In the other I look like an 80’s reject, but this one isn’t bad-

Who wants to race SLO with me? I have a discount code that’s good until registration closes on April 11. Odds are good for great weather and a beautiful course!!

Any good April fool’s pranks? Either done by you or to you? My coworkers tried this one on me today-

Apparently April is race month! Who else is racing and what are you racing?

Hope you’re all having a good week so far!

2014 Wine Country Half -Recap

Previously mentioned jitters aside, I knew going in that I was not feeling this race for some reason. I was tired, I’ve had a crazy few weeks and I just wasn’t looking forward to that last hill. I knew under 2 was a shot in the dark and was iffy about beating my previous PR of 2:05:57. I managed to get to sleep at a decent hour last night but I hated my alarm this morning. 🙂 I had everything laid out last night so getting ready was pretty easy. A plus about this race is that it had an 8AM start but I didn’t have to leave my house until after 7:20. And that was just so I could deal with parking. I hung out in my car until about 5 minutes to start time. Which was good because it was cold.

I look tired and I haven't even started running yet — I look tired and I haven’t even started running yet

I checked the weather yesterday and this morning and it said high 40’s to start, high 50’s at the end. I thought about not wearing my arm sleeves, but I put them on anyways. Which turned out to be a wise choice because the weather man lied!!! It never made it to the 50’s and the sun never came out. I never took my arm sleeves off; usually they feel too hot by mile 3. My legs were cold to the touch the entire race. When did I get so wimpy? People are running in snow and ice and I have issues with the 40’s? Sad, sad.

Took these the other day when it was sunny

Miles 1-3 felt pretty good, I tried to keep my pace around 9:00. I hit the first bigger hill around mile 2.5, it led with a down hill, so I picked up the pace down it. Mile 4 brought a slow down, I got stuck behind another runner and couldn’t pass due the line of cars driving by! There must have been 6 or 7. It was slower but I was still feeling pretty good. Miles 5, 6, and 7 were another story.

Partway into mile 5, I noticed a tightness in my lungs. Seriously again? I was a little wheezy at City to Sea in October and then February’s Super Fun Run 5K was so cold, I had troubles breathing. I don’t think I have used an inhaler since high school, I don’t even have one anymore. I hadn’t felt like I was pushing it and I felt like my breathing was under control but I slowed down anyways. By mile 8 I was feeling a little better. There was little out and back here that I swear felt longer than last year.

In mile 9, my Garmin went wonky. Every mile leading up to 9 I would pass the race mile marker and then my Garmin would beep about 1/10th of a mile later. Mile 9 beeped but I never saw the mile marker. They were on wine barrels so I didn’t think I had missed one. Quarter of a mile later, I found it. WTH- my pace was making sense for how I was feeling but nothing was lining up. I was getting tired and my arms were chafing and it was making me fussy. I wanted to take a walk break (or 2) but I had a feeling I was walking the hill at the end so I just kept running. There was a man running with his dog, a big dog, so I used that to distract me. The dog looked like he was out for a morning stroll, he was just trotting along in front of his owner, not even running.

Mile 12 and I hit the dreaded hill. I managed to run 1/3 of the way up before saying F* it and walking. Once at the top, I still needed to walk. After about a minute of that i told myself I was almost done and to get a move on. Mile 13 was the slowest over all at 10:44. The finish line was in sight. As I got closer, I could see my mom and Zoey at the finish line. When I ran passed them, I gave her a thumbs down sign to show how I felt. I crossed the line and received my medal, I then headed over to pick up my wine glass. Finishing time- 2:07:08. Not a PR or sub-2 but it was a 7 minute course best.

Want to know what happens when you finish a race that you are half happy about, partially disappointed and just tired? You hug random strangers at the finish line. And I am not a hugger. She wasn’t a complete stranger but now I feel like a total creeper. She was a newer work colleague from another location who I have had a few meetings with in the past few weeks. How’s that for a welcome to the team- here let me share my sweat with you. Like I said- creeper status.

While a part of me wishes I had done better, but the course was nothing to be sad about. I finished it and barring a few issues, I felt strong for at least 1/2 of it. 🙂 I beat last years time of 2:14 and according to my Garmin, the overall elevation gain for the race was 1,617 feet. How accurate are these things? I celebrated with a tri-tip sandwich, and another trip to the theater to see Divergent again. This time included movie popcorn, yum! Oh and the sun finally came out-

Now it’s off to bed for me and I get to sleep in tomorrow!!! I am taking a vacation day, which will hopefully be restful.. Except I have tons of laundry to do and I should work on a paper that is due soon. And apparently I need to make an appointment to get another inhaler.

How was everyone’s weekend?

Who else raced this weekend?

February Recap

February ended with a whimper. I did not get in a run on Thursday like I hoped. I decided that another rest day was smarter than just trying to add to my monthly mile total. Plus by some freak chance of nature, the mileage came out perfectly even and I decided that was pretty cool-

The numbers geek in me is smiling :) — The numbers geek in me is smiling 🙂

Mileage- 70 Miles
Races- Super Fun Run 5k and Heart & Soles 10K both of which ended up being way harder than planned.

Friday I was prepared for a 12 hour work day but it only ended up being 10ish. No complaints here. 🙂 Everything got done (hopefully) and we were home free. Our area has been pummeled by rain the last few days. While I’m not complaining because we desperately need it, driving in it is not so much fun, even less so at night. Turn on your headlights people!!!

Today’s weather was more of the same but that didn’t stop me from heading to SLO for a little shopping, good food, and a trip to the Running Warehouse. Lunch was the usual yumminess, and I was able to show restraint when shopping. For the most part, I did buy two new pairs of running shorts. 🙂 You can never have too many right? Plus it occurred to me that I didn’t own a pair of black shorts, how did I let that happen? Problem resolved.

The Warehouse was packed. I had hoped that the rain would keep the crowds down, but I should have know better. We runners are crazy, right? I knew I was going to take awhile, so I was ok waiting. I had come prepared and I had both my Inspire’s and my Wave Rider’s with me. I explained everything to the guy who helped me. I am pretty sure he has helped me before and he seems super knowledgeable and friendly. I then ran on the treadmill in both of my current shoes. I still over-pronate but only on the right foot. The shoes didn’t make a giant difference either. Apparently I do things backwards, my right foot is smaller than my left and also has a higher arch. But it is my left that hurts. Truthfully, it feels like my shin splints used to, so I know ramping up my mileage and pace were factors. I am also come to realize that my left glute is weaker than it should be. Which is kind of hilarious actually, not only am I a Slacker but I have a lazy ass to prove it. 🙂

After the treadmill test it was time to try on shoes. All the shoes!! Haha, just 4 pairs. I tried on the following- Mizuno Wave Inspire 10, Asics Something or other, Brooks Transcend and Brooks Adrenaline 14. I guess that tells you how the Asics worked out. 🙂 The toe box pinched in a way I did not think I would get used to. Whereas the toe box in the Transcend felt huge, plus the price tag was a little steep. The Inspire’s felt ok but not great. The Adrenaline’s felt loose but more cushioned. Each time I tried on a pair of shoes, I ran up and down the concrete walkway outside the building. I am sure the people in the cycle store thought I was looney. I have seen people doing it before but never have. I felt like a weirdo but it was better than the treadmill.

I mentioned that the right Adrenaline felt very loose. He tied my shoe in a way I had never seen that made it super snug. They called it shoe-doo (shoe +voodoo). I was torn, I wanted to stick with Mizuno out of principle and I had a knee jerk reaction to the Adrenaline’s. Probably because the very first pair of running shoes I ever owned were Brooks Adrenaline. In the end, I went with the cushioning and chose the Brooks. As long as they work out, my shoe rotation will now be the Adrenaline’s and the Wave Rider’s. So long to the pink Inspire’s that have not been so friendly.

My mother was with me and I took so long that the new Brooks Cascadia caught her eye. She’s had the previous two versions. She tried them on and loved them, so she left with shoes too. I then treated her to dinner at Woodstock’s. Today was my cheat day, so yum!

I didn’t make it home in time to run today. It was already dark and my gym closes early on Saturdays. I am anxious to finally get back out there tomorrow. Both because I am getting twitchy and to try out the shoes. I am hoping for a break in the rain because I would like to test them outside and not have them turn into a giant mud ball. I need to get back into training!

Who raced today?

Anyone else ever feel like they are cheating on their shoes?

Heart & Soles 2014 Race Recap

I was originally planning on running the Buzz 1/2 marathon today but scaled back to a 10K in SLO for a few reasons. Now, I am completely bummed because I just saw that Run Eat Repeat ran it and I could have tried to track her down, except I am slow, hehe.

Anyways, on to the race. After my great run on Wednesday, I was super pumped but I also knew I had pushed harder than planned, so I ended up taking Thursday and Friday as rest days. Friday was also a vacation day for me, so woo hoo! I made sure to spend some time stretching and working with my foam roller yesterday so this morning I felt pretty good and ready to go.

Heart and Soles is a series of races put on by the Cal Poly Triathlon team. It works as a fundraiser for them and the local food bank. The race takes place entirely on the college campus. They offer a 5K, 10K, and 15K and a kids race. I was a little concerned about hills as the campus is pretty much on the side of a big hill, but there weren’t any big ones thankfully. I really wanted to do the 15K but thought the 10K was a smarter choice. 😦 This turned out to be a good choice, because I would not have finished a 15K, at least not running. Maybe crawling.

The race had 9:00 AM start so I didn’t have to leave until after 7:30. My race photographer (thanks mom!) and I headed out. Getting there was easy, finding parking was a little trickier, luckily runners tend to move in herds! Check in was fairly quick, picked up the bib and goody bag and headed back to the car since it was a bit cold. While not required, a Valentine’s themed costume contest was suggested. My mother had fun laughing at some of them, including the pace bikers. The 2 males were dressed in diapers and wings…and that’s it. Just like Cupid. One thing about a college race, I felt old. I won’t deny stalking last years race results to make sure I wasn’t the oldest one. As it was I was running solo in a couples race. Luckily it was mostly other solos as well. 🙂

All 3 races started at the same time so the start line was a little congested. A guy stopped to play with his girlfriends iPod, I went left to avoid them, and 2 people behind me ran into me and I into the first couple. Oops! Maybe that was when the problem started or I just hadn’t noticed because I just started running. A quarter mile into the race, my left lower calf was so damn tight it was painful. I figured I would run it out around mile 1. No such luck. I actually considered turning around at the 5K mark. But I kept going. I was so happy to hit the first 10K turnaround. The course had two out and backs. I kept running but the pain was turning into my couples partner for the race. I told myself if the pain ever got above a 4 to take a walk break. The first came at just shy of 3 miles. Mile 4 was the roughest, not only did I take a walk break, I stopped completely and tried to stretch it out. The end of this out and back had a little loop on a dirt path and my leg felt better there. After that if I could run on dirt by the side of the road I did. While we were in the Ag section this was possible but once we were back in the center of the school, it was all roads and sidewalk. 😦

I felt like mile 6 had the steepest section of road but my Garmin disagrees. It was a little past mile 5.5 that my leg finally loosened up. Seriously? Now? But there was no way I was sprinting to the finish, I was just trying to maintain. I hadn’t really been paying attention to my time because I was more focused on breathing through the pain. All in all, I took 4 walk moments plus that stretch. I was so thankful to see that finish line. I was done. Apparently it showed too, because my mom said I looked gimpy coming up to the line.

Once I caught my breath, I let my mother know how close I was to texting her that I was chucking it and walking the damn thing. Then I checked my Garmin, 55:44. I’m sorry, what?!!? I flippin’ PR’d on what may or may not have been my worst feeling race?! I checked Nike to verify (Yeah I used both), and it agreed. I was a little shocked. Once I processed that, I was super stoked, still hurting but excited!! I was brought a little back down to earth by the first 15K finisher crossing the finish line 4 minutes later.

Other than my stupid leg, it was a good race. With all three races starting at the same time, I was concerned that it might be easy to be confused by the route. But they had people at every corner and turn around who made things very clear. The finish line was clearly marked as well. All in all, I would run it again, maybe the 15 next year?

I stretched as best as I could before leaving the campus. After changing and eating a yummy lunch, we did a little shopping around town. I kept my compression socks on and hoped that the walking would help ease the tightness. It helped a little but most of the evening has been spent RICE’ing. Tomorrow will probably be a day off as well, I have to see how it feels in the morning. I am not sure what set it off, if it was tennis practice yesterday or maybe the fact that I sat cross-legged on the floor for most of last night. I just want it to go away.

And as per usual, I was unable to leave SLO without purchasing some new running gear, now if only my legs weren’t so pale!

How is everyone’s weekend so far?

Who else raced?

Super Fun Run 5K- Recap

After Thursday’s recap, I took Friday as another rest day. Attempted Runner asked if I had thought about just doing the last 3ish that I needed to hit 80 on Friday. But I don’t generally like running the day before a race plus work turned into a longer day than planned. After work I had the very exciting Friday night plans of making a new playlist and picking out the clothes for today’s race. I probably should have done laundry. Then I tried to get to sleep earlier. That never seems to go according to plan. Instead it was spent tossing and turning.

The Super Fun Run is a small 5k /10k that raises money for the local Boys and Girls Club. I ran it last year with a few friends and it was my official 5k PR and the first time that I know of that I age group placed. I was 1st!!! So I was excited going into this race. I was torn between running the 5K or the 10K and I admit it was pride that made me choose the 5K.

My goals going in were-
A- beat official PR- 29:36
B- beat unofficial PR- 27:41 (during HOB 10K)
C- shot in the dark- sub 27

Apparently I can’t handle the cold. My alarm went off and after turning it off I checked the temp. Mid 20’s. Ugh, so I went with the pants. At the last minute I grabbed a headband to cover my ears. Even though the race was within in walking distance of my house, I still drove down. Why? It was freakin’ cold and I had to have somewhere to put the shirt and goody bag after bib pick up. I waited as long as I could in my car after getting my bib before heading to start line.

There were a few pre-race announcements, a count down and then it was go time. We ran across a baseball field and up a driveway before hitting pavement. From there it is an out and back course with a few turns to add mileage. Knowing the course and the small hill in the middle, I was aiming for a 3 mile sandwich- fast, medium, fast. My toes were so cold, I could not feel them. I felt like I was running awkwardly. I kept hoping they would warm up but they never did. 😦 3/4 of a mile in, I had a tightness in my chest and breathing sucked. It hurt to breath. A little past the mile 1 marker and halfway up the hill, I had to walk. Ugh!!! The downhill that followed was great, though.

Mile 1 was actually a great pace but I felt like I was in trouble. I kept pushing but had to take another walk break on the next incline. Meanwhile, 2 women come flying past on the return and I think crap! I wasn’t even halfway and they were already headed back. The turn around point was about 50 yards past the only water station so I grabbed some on the way back.

I cranked it up and flew down the downhill. However my lungs were so very angry and when I hit the return uphill there was no way I was running it. Another walk. After that it was mostly flat and I tried to push it but I just felt like I could not get enough air and that I was crawling. I didn’t even look at my Garmin the last 1.5 miles. My toes were still frozen, my chest hurt but my head was suddenly too hot. I ripped off my headband and kept going. I took 2 more walk breaks. I rounded the final corner and crossed the finish line. I stopped the Garmin at 27:56.

Now I realize that more than half the country and Canada are dealing with sub zero temperatures, crazy windchill and mountains of snow, so today’s 30 should have been no big deal. However, I would rather run in 115 weather than cold. I have no training with cold running. It is dark and cold when I leave for work, but then I get a nice warm car for the next 45 minutes. I am always cold, I have a space heater under my desk that I run every day at work. Seriously. This race kicked my ass. Overall I took 5 walk breaks and they weren’t just at the inclines.

I met my mom and Zoey after crossing the finish line. I drank some water and tried to catch my breath. She and the puppy left and I hung around to try and get some clue of the official standings. I couldn’t remember seeing that many people coming back before I hit the turn around, but I was kind of on my own planet.

Official Time- 27:54
8th finisher overall
3rd female finisher, 3rd female age group

I have no reason to feel down. I made my primary goal but missed B by 15 seconds. I am proud of what I accomplished but wish I could run the course again about 15 degrees warmer. It was 30 when we started and it was still 30 when I left the race. The website said that only 1st age group finishers received a medal so I ending up leaving early. I could not handle the cold anymore. And those 2 women who flew past me? They finished in 18 minutes. Hot damn! I wish I could be that fast!

I was supposed to run another 9 miles after the race to complete my long run for the week but I made it home and ended up sitting on the ground by the slider in the sun until I could feel my toes again. I’m so weird, I know. 🙂 My legs felt stiff all day so I decided to push my long run back to tomorrow.

The shirt this year was actually really cute and much better than last years. This was an actual dri-fit tee and last year’s was all cotton and not football themed at all. I did treat myself to some post race frozen yogurt- 9 hours later when I was warmer. 🙂

How was everyone’s Saturday?

Am I just a big baby when it comes to the cold?