Category: Run!

Week 34- Bad Pavement

I had such good intentions last week, I really did.

You know what the say about good intentions? Yep.

The week started of good with an easy 5K run on Monday. After the previous 4 days off, I knew it could feel a little bumpy but it felt pretty good. Granted, I am running slower as I am toying with heart rate training. Y’all that crap is hard.

Then the poor paving started.

I meant to run after #bibchat on Tuesday but instead I spent a couple hours cleaning my car. Yes, it was that dirty. I am ashamed. But I also finally put on my current registration tags and a new 26.2 sticker to replace the magnet that mysteriously disappeared.

Then Wednesday, I had a van certification class for the high school after work. So much fun. However there were some questions asked during class that made me glad I don’t have kids in high school sports because I would Never let them ride in a car driven by those people. Seriously.

Thursday was rough, I was feeling horrible all day but I knew I had a mixer after work. I made myself get through it all. The only thing I could keep down was curly fries, ha! It was also kind of a rough day at work.

Friday was still a little rough. I maybe have downplayed how rough my GI disorder has been treating me the last few months. It’s been so awesome, ha! But I do have a doctor’s appointment coming up.

Saturday and Sunday were a hot mess. The weather man lied and the weekend temp was around 10* hotter than he said. You would think after Saturday was so wrong, I wouldn’t have trusted Sunday’s… but I did. And it was 106 so yeah, I was super lazy this weekend. Oops. Wait, does going to the movies count as activity? Nope. Oh well, at least Angel Has Fallen was good.

So yeah, 5k for the week and 0 MM100 workouts. Double oops.

How was your week?
How long does it take for you to change your tags?

Week 33- Recovery

I did something last week I haven’t done since my first few half marathons.

I took the week off.

Well mostly, I jogged a short 2.5 mile run, did 5 Morning Meltdown workouts and took the puppy on a walk.

So not completely lazy.

I planned on running more but then I started to think about it. I used to take time after a race, then as I started running more and spending time on social, I started taking less time off post race. Even of after my first and second marathons, I was running by day 2 or 3. Why?

And I’ve been in a constant cycle ever since. So last week, I said Nah.

Don’t get me wrong- I still have 3 half marathons in October and I realize that I need to train for them. But one week wasn’t going to hurt me. Well, at least I hope so. If not, I’ll let you know in a few months.

So I was completely lazy but I did manage to catch up on some things on my DVR. Is it weird that I felt like it was cluttered?

How was your week?

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

Random Rambling 5?

Happy Friday!!!

I forgot to tell you about the run I had last week where I was chased by a peacock! Don’t know how I forgot that. And I now know that peacocks sound like a cat in heat times 10.😂

We had pizza for lunch this week at work. It was awesome. The next day we had donuts. I’m not mad at all.

I had big race plans for October. A month packed full of races and fun times. Now, half of that has changed and I am not sure how to fill the hole yet. But I have thoughts. Lots of thoughts.

I am still fighting a losing battle with the ants. I get that it’s 107 outside and they just want the water but I don’t want them in the house!

Anyone else in denial that summer is almost over? I mean school started for crying out loud. There’s already talk of Pumpkin things. No, make it stop! Not that I will miss the 104 degree days.

I was thinking about getting bangs but then I saw someone on tv who made a bad bang choice. Is that bad of me?

I need running buddies. If I had someone to meet in the morning I might actually get of bed when the alarm goes off. Ha!

What are you up to this weekend?

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?