Category: Run!

A Run by the Bay

Disclaimer: I received free entry to Monterey Bay Half Marathon 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!

In 2015 I ran a half marathon up in Monterey along the bay. Back then it was still called the Big Sur Half Marathon. By either name, it’s a gorgeous course.

It had ocean views, it had little rolling hills, it had a bike path, you ran down Cannery Row and through a tunnel! There was music playing throughout the course via bands or DJ’s, the aid stations were some of the best I had ever seen at the time. Actually, looking back- they still are.

Did I mention the elites? I literally ran passed Kara Goucher. Well, she was like an hour ahead of me and on her way to the finish line but she was still only a few feet from me.

When the opportunity popped up to run the race again with BibRave, I felt like a little kid. Pick me, pick me! Yay!!!!!

I am so looking forward to running Monterey Bay again. Both for the views and hoping for a better last half of the race. Last time I had some severe GI issues so miles 8-13 were a little rough, haha.

Also, if I miss my PR goal on San Jose, this a good second chance to try again. Not that I want to miss but it’s good to have a backup plan.

Want to join me??? Register here- https://bsim.info/MBHMbibrave
Use code BIBRAVE10 to save 10 on registration!

Ever run Monterey Bay?

Week 29/ Rock n Roll San Jose Training Week 1

That was a mouthful. All right, when I said things were getting serious, I wasn’t exaggerating. So let’s do this-

Upcoming Races-

Vintners 5 Mile-7/28
SLO ULTRA 5K-9/2
Rock n Roll San Jose 13.1 (Thank you BibRave!)-10/8
City to the Sea 13.1-10/14
Rock n Roll Los Angeles 13.1 (Thank you BibRave!)- 10/29
Monterey Bay Half Marathon (Thank you Bibrave!)- 11/12

Still with me? Ok, that tired me out just typing that up. But I have a game plan. I really do.

Remember how I mentioned in my San Jose post that I wanted to get as close to a PR as possible? That is still my hope. So with that in mind, I know I need to change things up. Oh, so many things.

The real title of this post should be Shit Just Got Serious.

As my social handle suggests sometimes I lack motivation. In my “about” section I mention that it was a competition with my mom that got me into the best shape of my life. Well, outside of high school but we can never go back right? 🤣

So I put my money where my mouth is and joined a challenge group. Now I have a partner I don’t want to let down as well as getting my jiggly butt back into PR shape. So how did week 1 go?

*If you’re interested, I am using Hal Higdon’s H3 training plan.

Monday- AM- Liift4/ PM- 3.77 miles
Look who worked out in the morning??? 40 minutes of weights and a little bit of HIIT. Who am I?

However, I may have hydrated way too much during the after that because I kind of bottomed out right before my run. That and my run was extremely uncomfortable as I felt like I needed to pee the entire time. It was supposed to be 4 miles but I could not hold it any longer. I needed to be done and I needed a bathroom. Lesson learned- don’t consume almost 200 oz of water in 9 hours.

Tuesday- Liift 4
More weights. However I woke up with a headache so I snoozed for another hour so this workout was done after work.

Wednesday- 2.5 miles
It was a rest day from Liift4 and even though my next running day wasn’t supposed to be until Thursday but it seemed perfect to move it up so I didn’t have to double up. I didn’t feel sore and the plan only called for 3 miles so easy peasy right? Haha! My legs quickly let me know they were not on board, all the soreness I had been missing suddenly showed up. I could barely move and was just getting slower and slower. I figured I wasn’t doing myself any favors and called it at 2ish laps of the lake path.

Thursday- Liift4
I slept right through my alarm- first and second ones- so that meant my workout was pushed until after work. However, my family ended up texting me asking if I wanted to join them for dinner. I am never one to turn down free food. 😛 Instead of being my usual Slacker self, that meant I was doing a shoulder workout at 9:30 at night. But I got it done.

Friday- Liift4
Once again, I hit snooze one too many times plus I had an early morning lab appointment. So after a long day of work, some slacking in the evening, I was again completing the workout after 10PM. Part of that was also due to some animal drama outside though.

Saturday- Rest
I thought about getting my long run in. I thought about going to the fair. Did I mention the Fair is in town? It’s chaos, just chaos. In the end, I did neither. I had the beginnings of a bad headache that I really didn’t want to turn into a migraine. So got my errands done, hydrated and just tried to rest.

Sunday- 6.2 miles
My fight to stave off the migraine failed. My alarm went off to get up and run and any movement made me either want to cry or hurl. I set the alarm for another hour and hoped for the best. Nope. Another hour and repeat. Nope. Finally I gave up and decided to push my run to the evening hoping the temps would drop enough- we’re under a heat advisory for the next week.

I headed out a little after 5 when the temps dropped to around 90. I knew I was going to be moving slower than normal and I was ok with that. That turned out to be true and it was hot but it was actually a decent run.

12.7 miles of the 13 on the plan. All Liift4 workouts completed. My training plan starts out on the lower mileage side and I am fine with that as I incorporate cross training in for the first time in years. Only time will tell if this pans out.

How was your week?

Week 28-Of Birthdays and Bears

Anyone notice that I went from week 26 straight to 28 last week? No? Good.

Oops. 😛

Even with the posts to refer back to, it’s inevitable I goof every year.

Ok, last week. What happened? Oh right, I was in a funk most of the week and it was my birthday. Great timing there. No real reason why, just feeling funky, my goal was dig my way out and not inflict it on anyone else.

Monday- Rest Maybe? I don’t know, I don’t remember anything special. Blame the funk.

Tuesday- Rest I had good intentions of running but I had a late afternoon neurologist appointment and I didn’t leave the Dr’s office until almost 6. I was still 3 towns south of home and traffic was not my friend. Combine that with the 100+ temp when I finally made it home and things just didn’t pan out.

Wednesday- 4.26 miles It was 86 degrees when I started running that evening but it felt ok. I was super tired and kept bartering with myself. Just run 1 mile. Ok, how about 2? Then it was you can turn around at the 5K mark. In the end I ran the majority of my original river path route. I make some adjustments these days due to increased homeless activity in the river bed. I do realize I am running by myself.

Thursday- 3.5 miles Birthday miles! I was meeting my family for a late dinner at a local burger joint so I was planning on squeezing in some miles at the lake path. I almost bailed on the first lap. The heat has created an algae bloom on the lake and certain sections are ummm, a little ripe. In the end I just tried not to breath in those sections. 😛

Then it was off to calorie heaven.

Friday- Nada Like most Fridays.

Saturday- Birthday shopping. I spent some time bumming around SLO with my mom doing some shopping. Did I mention that I have awesome coworkers and they gave me a gift certificate to the Running Warehouse for my birthday???? New shoes! I also ate way too much food.

Sunday- 5 miles Had a rough start to the morning due to the over indulgence the day before. It also felt way warmer than it should have for only being 80. I had hoped for 6 but my stomach and internal temp just wasn’t having it. I stuck with a slow 5 and was cool with that.

I was not cool with finding out after my run that there had been a bear sighting in the area less than 12 hours before. A BEAR! Apparently it strolled right up to a doorbell camera.

I ended the week by going to see Skyscraper.

So, 12.8 miles for week. Not great but less crap-tastic than last week.

And now it’s time to get serious in so many ways.

How was your week? Last movie you saw?

Rambling On 36

Join me for a ride on the funk train. 🚂

If only I timed these posts better, that number up there would be funny. Welp, it still kind of is.

I’m in a bit of funk this week. Not sure why. It could have something to do with that number up there. If this post goes up on time, it will be going up on my birthday. Sometimes I really forward to my birthday, this year? Meh.

That same funk delayed some comment responses- sorry!

The fair starts next week. How is that even possible?? It should not be fair time yet. However, I am not complaining that fair food is almost here. Funnel cake- yes please. Now if I could just pull off the Florida Georgia Line tickets…

I’m debating a race on Saturday- just a 10K. But it’s on the beach. Remember that last beach race 2 years ago? The half? Asthma attack city. I’m on the fence. Thoughts?

I miss reading. I used to read all the time but lately every time I pick up a book, I don’t seem to finish it. This is something I really need to work on. Well I read plenty of fanfic online but I don’t think that really counts.😛

I have a training plan for San Jose, woo hoo! But more on that next week… errr, the week after next.

I really should have asked for Friday off, why didn’t I do that? Silly Slacker.

Share something random!

Week 28-Holiday

Oh I am glad that training for San Jose doesn’t start for another week or so.

Last week was an odd duck. Anyone else experience that? A holiday in the middle of week just really threw me for a loop. I didn’t expect that as I don’t have that problem with Thanksgiving?

I also made a medication change last week that may have wreaked a little more havoc than I had planned. I was freakin’ exhausted- like so tired if I sat down and dozed off, it became more like a coma.

For example- the weather was perfect on the 4th of July and I meant to go for a long run in the afternoon but after a short nap. Yeah, that “short” nap turned into almost 3 hours. On the floor. At one point, I apparently got up, walked into the garage, said something to someone and walked back inside only to go back to sleep. I don’t remember that.

I also slept through all my alarms over the weekend. I could not seem to make myself get up, out of bed and go for my long run. Which was not good as it was over 105* both days. So running took a backseat to sleep this week. However after a week, I think I’m finally over the odd hump and can hopefully get back to something resembling normal next week. As well as less caffeine consumption.

So what did I do?

Tuesday- 3.1 miles I was so damn tired, I almost bailed on the run. Even once I started, I didn’t think I was going to make it past a mile. I got a little more alert along the way and managed to finish 5K. Then I went home and crashed.

Thursday- 3.5 ish miles This run was odd. It started out feeling super sluggish then the last 2ish miles felt pretty good but it just brought all my recent doubts and drama out and was not head clearing at all. You can read about all those thoughts here.

So a little over 6 miles for the week. Bleh. Maybe I just needed a holiday.

Now if only the temps would drop a little at night.

How was your week?