Tag: birthday

June Recap

Holy crap, it’s marathon month! Where did June go???

June started with ouches and whimpers as I iced and rolled and stretched and dropped my running days down to 3. I hated doing it but it’s what was needed. I switched to survival mode and focused most of my attention on my long runs. That said, my monthly mileage wasn’t too bad for a survival mode month. 😛

I did not run any races in June but did successfully complete my first 20 miler. And I liked it. Who knew? I felt pretty good after it too…at least for a few days. Now, I feel like I am learning to run all over again. I think I resemble a baby giraffe at the moment. But more on that in my week 14 training recap.

Oh, and I hit 502 miles for the year by June 30- sweet!!!

Now, it’s July. It’s marathon month. It’s also my birthday month. San Francisco will be my first race in a new age group. Truthfully, I can’t decide if I should be more alarmed at the speed that the race is coming or the reminder that I am getting older. 😛

How was your June?

Plans for July?

Happy 4th of July!!

Shoreline Half- Recap

Going into this race, I knew not to expect too much. Partly because I had such an off May and June and I haven’t caught back up yet. Also, the course description was flat and I don’t do so well on flat courses. Then there was the humidity factor. Humidity is a big trigger for my asthma and I haven’t had the best showing at races with high humidity levels. Case in point-

Rock’n Around the Pier– 2:20:something and the first race I considered DNF’ing
Ventura- 2:34:something Granted there were other issues too, but I walked from mile 6.5 on. I also felt broken at the end- I almost couldn’t walk back to the hotel.
Surf City– 2:19- 95% humidity? Seriously?

So of course, I head back to Ventura for more ~~pain~~ fun. Different course but 85% humidity at the start. I tried not to look but have finally learned I need to be prepared. I was aiming to run a comfortable race and finish around 2:15. I don’t know about you but humidity is never comfortable. So here we go.

Race morning-

After 4 hours of sleep I was up at 3. I had limited my carb intake since Friday and eaten less than normal pre-race on Saturday. I did this for Wine Country and it worked well so I tried it again. We were on the road by 4:15. My mom drove so I dozed off and on along the way. We arrived 30 minutes before packet pickup so headed to a nearby McDonald’s to use the restrooms and she and S had breakfast. That place was sketchy. Parking was easy and we headed out to the start. Packet pickup was actually easy. I think I had birthday luck and got everywhere before lines formed. I had good port-a-potty luck too. 🙂 Exited one to find about 60 people in line. They had a map of the course up and announcer going over it. There were pacers for every 15 minutes starting at 1:30. The start was self seeded with 4 waves- Sub 8, 8:00, 9:00 and 10:00+. In keeping with my plan to run a 2:15, I lined up with that last group. Here’s where I had to contain my inner fan girl. Earlier while hanging in the grassy area with my mom and S, a man walked past up wearing a McFarland singlet. I pointed him out to my mom and wondered if it was real or just something they sold in association with the movie. I then forgot about it as we headed to the start line. The corral at the start was very tightly spaced and I looked right then snapped my head back. The flippin’ McFarland running team was standing there! At least part of it. Say what!? They soon squeezed their way through to the sub 8 group. Then the gun sounded and we were off.

Miles 1-3- 9:14, 9:23, 9:34

So much for lining up with the 10:00+ pace group. I went out too fast!! The race has 3 or so miles on the boardwalk- at the start and end. This meant amazing scenic ocean views, but it also meant running on concrete. My left leg was pissed early on. Nothing alarming, I just knew I needed to shake it out. We switched to black top by the end of mile 1. I shook off the pain by mile 3. The next miles alternated between a black top bike path and busy roadside. I was feeling pretty good but I also realized I was going to positive split this race in a big way.

Miles 4-6- 9:36, 9:50, 9:47

There was a tiny incline for miles 5 and 6 and I loved it. It made my legs happy. 🙂 Nasty looking dumpster aside, the course scenery was still awesome. It was a clear, sunny day and the ocean looked amazing. It was high 60’s, low 70’s which normally I would love but I could tell the humidity was getting to me. It was no longer a question of if but when. We hit the turn around for this section a little past mile 5. Now I knew what I was getting on the way back so I was ready. The course leaders had also flown by when I was around mile 4- they were flying! I was pacing myself by following a tall man in front of me. I did that for about 4 miles before I passed him.

Miles 7-9- 10:32, 10:47, 10:07

I took my first walk break during mile 7. And another. Grrr. I was trying to make up my time in mile 8 when I had a breathing issue. I had used my inhaler 3x leading up to race start but it wasn’t enough. I haven’t mastered using my inhaler while running so that meant slowing to a walk, taking out the inhaler, using it and giving my lungs a minute or 2 to calm down. I need to work on that but I don’t train in humidity. Mile 8 is usually my favorite mile but I feel like I missed most of it. I did find someone new to ~~chase~~ pace though. Up ahead, I saw someone I thought I recognized but have never seen in real life- Hilary @ Embrace the Neon! I chased her for the next 5 miles. Running- the only acceptable way to chase people. 🙂 I promise I’m not creepy, I just find someone to pace off of. Miles 10-11- 11:13, 10:57

I had graduated to walking all the water stops. I would drink half the water and dump the rest on my head or down my back. I was so sweaty, it was hard to tell the difference. Heading back to the boardwalk something funny happened- the arms at the train crossing came down! I saw everyone ahead stopped but I didn’t want to stand still and wait so I slowed to a walk hoping the train would come through before I got there. They lifted without a train ever coming through- what? Then we were back on the board walk. This is where things got dicey.

The boardwalk wasn’t closed so we were dodging walkers, non-racing runners, bikers, surfers, dogs, etc. That took so much more energy, mental and physical, than I had. One woman got off of her bike and parked it horizontal across the path. I swear she looked at us racers like “deal with it” but that could have been the fatigue making things up in my head. Another hard part of mile 11? Running past the finish line. We had to run past the finish/ start area to head the other direction for a 2+ mile loop before the finish. Grrr.

Miles 12-13.1- 11:32, 11:00, 8:17 pace

And my lungs protested again. Once more I slowed to use my inhaler. I had troubles getting started after that. I knew I was so close to the finish but I was hot and tired. I was so sweaty, the shorties under my skirt started sliding- they have never done that. I took more than a few walk breaks those last 2 miles. Then it was back on the board walk for the final push to the finish- dodging people all the while. Somehow I mustered up energy for a final kick to the finish.

A thumbs up?

Finish- 2:14:39

We were given our medals and herded into the grassy registration area. This is where my only real race gripe came about. The race promised tacos and beer at the finish line. Which were there but all I wanted was water. I could not find a freakin’ water table! I looked everywhere, even my mom and S couldn’t find one when they met up with me. I had read about other bloggers having this issue at races but had never experienced it.

I was so hot and sweaty and I just wanted to cool down. I took off my shoes and belt and passed them to my mom. I went down the beach, climbed over the rocks and walked right into the ocean. I heard her yell that I had paid a lot of money for the socks I was now walking the beach in. 🙂 It was seriously amazing. If I didn’t have my bib or my Garmin on I may have just sat down in the water. I hung out there for a bit before heading down the beach to the stairs back to the boardwalk. I didn’t trust myself negotiating the rocks the a second time.

All in all, I really liked the race. Even with falling apart at the end (thanks humidity) I managed to come in under my goal time for the race. Granted it wasn’t comfortable but it was fun and a great way to start a birthday. 🙂 After changing at a nearby In n Out (fries- Diet Coke!) we headed up the freeway to Santa Barbara for some birthday shopping. S’s birthday was the day before. My legs were feeling pretty good after the race but I kept popping my toes out of joint, grrr. Sorry if you’re squeamish. This isn’t something that’s new, I’ve had the issue for years it just seemed to happen multiple times yesterday. I managed to restrain myself shopping wise but did come away with a new skirt and pair of shorts from Lululemon. Oh and a purse from Macy’s. A great but tiring day. I was in bed by 10pm. 🙂

How do you celebrate your birthday? I’ve yet to have any cake!

Ever had to dodge the public while running a race?

Suddenly Shoreline

You know you’re a runner when you find out that a local race you’ve run the last 2 years on your birthday weekend is a week later this year and you’re bummed out. 2 years ago I ran the Rock to the Pier 10K the day before my birthday. Last year, I stepped up to the half marathon that was now on my birthday. The 10K rocked, the half marathon kicked my ass. Both were still awesome. There’s something about running a race on/near your birthday that is kind of awesome. Well except for seeing the new age on your bib, that usually stings a bit. 🙂

I was still planning on running Rock’n Around the Pier this year but I just wasn’t feeling very into it. The race has 12+ miles on the beach. Add the sand and the inevitable humidity and I was preparing for a rough time. Throw in a lazier than planned June and I was starting to dread it. Plus, last year I ran it with NikeC, that’s not in the cards this year. So I decided to do the smart thing, I figured I would run the 10K instead. It would mean the loss of bling, but it’s not all about the medals. Right?

2 weeks ago, I got an email. California has a half marathon series every year, and you can earn an extra medal at the end of the year at one of the Series end races for a variety of challenge. Pretty cool but the odds of me running any of the end races are kind of small. The emails let you know of upcoming halfs in the series though. The race at the top of this email was Shoreline Half. In Ventura. On my actual birthday. Could I, should I? Nah, no, that would be crazy.

Call me crazy. I registered. I found a sweet discount online and committed. I also adjusted my training. I had been aiming to hit 4 days a week and up my mileage but I stuck with 3 days and upped my long runs. So my last 3 weeks looked like this-

14 miles overall- 5+ long
16 miles overall- 8 long
18 miles overall- 10 long

Dang, that looks sad. But after 2 Slacker months, I wasn’t trying to break myself by being in a hurry. Plus this race is strictly for fun. For more reasons than just not hurting myself. I am not getting a hotel, I am driving down on race morning with my mom and S (one of her tennis players- she tends to adopt them). So hello to my first ever 3AM wake up call for a race. And hello to packet pickup on race morning. Cuz that won’t be stressful at all. 🙂 The race is flat, which most people would love but I find flat to be my nemesis. Oh and it’s on the boardwalk…along the beach. Hello humidity. #sorrylungs

You know you're a runner when... you are looking forward to a girls weekend that includes a half-marathon!

So am I crazy? Well, that remains to be seen. 🙂 I am hoping for a fun, pretty race. Some shiny new bling and then a day spent shopping and eating around Santa Barbara. Hello Lululemon and Lorna Jane- please take my money. 🙂

So, seriously, am I crazy?

Ever registered for a race at the last minute? I have but not this late for a half.

Do you run on your birthday?

A Partial/ Awesome Fail

Had I written this yesterday I may have called it a major fail but I’ve had time to think on it. 🙂

I knew this past weekend was setting up to be a busy one. With that in mind, I moved my Saturday run to Friday and got in 7 miles. Which turned out to have been a very smart choice. Saturday saw a few errands in the morning and then getting ready to go celebrate NikeC’s birthday. Ever have one of those days when you just don’t feel comfortable in anything to the point where you skin feels like it doesn’t fit? Yeah that was Saturday… well, truthfully, that’s been the last few months but that’s another post. I finally just went with it and headed out. We went to a new-to-me restaurant. In fact my only association with it previously was that my mom had parked for there both times I ran City to the Sea. The food was so good, warm, fresh tortillas with apple cinnamon butter as a starter? Yes please. Plus you can’t complain about the view- It was a great evening with old friends and new ones that may have been capped by a milkshake at midnight. I party hard, right? Ha!

But that kind of leads into how running became a fail on Sunday. While I have kept my calorie count in a decent place while on vacation, I indulged too often in foods I know shouldn’t eat- like milkshakes, etc. And my stomach expressed its anger on Sunday, so running was out. However I did get in 3 solid running days last week for 23 miles. So, that’s not to shabby for me. 🙂Plus, Sunday ended on a cool note. There’s a local organization that rescues wild animals and uses them to educate the public. At my previous work location we would sometimes get random visits if they stopped in and had something cool in the truck. For example- a bobcat kitten, a reindeer, a spider monkey, a raven, and a brown thing that I think was a lemur? Sunday they had an event called Wild Lights. They strung up lights, had a bbq, Santa visits and the animals got presents. This was the first year and they seriously underestimated the draw- the place was jam-packed and they ran out of food quickly. The animals were awesome.

He was a fiesty one

Some engaged with the crowds and others looked supremely bored. Or like they wanted to eat you for dinner. 🙂 The monkeys were spoofing the kids and damn lemurs can make some noise. They all loved the presents, the lemurs tore the boxes open and enjoyed their popcorn and goldfish. The tiger, like most cats, looked exceedingly bored. That is until one of the workers walked by carrying a couple of gifts, he knew exactly what those were and wanted them, he stalked her through the fence.

It was sad seeing the ones that had been hurt but at least they had a home. There was a giant eagle who wasn’t even tied down and had no cage overhead. You could tell the one wing didn’t work anymore but he had branches and perches and ledges he could hop to and from. He also looked as bored as the tiger. Another bored one was my favorite and he was so big!!!

So the weekend may have brought fewer miles than planned but great experiences! And here’s a link to a video my brother made-

How was you weekend?

Ever visit a rescue type operation?

What’s your favorite animal? I love owls.

Did the tortillas make you hungry? I kind of want more. 🙂

And another one…

A little email alert told me that City to the Sea photos were ready. Yikes!!! I was really hoping for a good one this time 😦 Below is the least scary one, well, they were all pretty bad. And what is with my damn ponytail?! It is bouncing around like a dang cheerleader in every picture.

This morning, when I checked Facebook, I saw a familiar sight. Run The Edge had posted the following picture-

Photo: No political agenda here. Just a funny sign and a shout out to all those runners who still believe that they are slow or "no good." You guys are running and that is all that matters!Poster seen on From Fat To Finish Line - the documentary

That’s my race! That is the same girl and the poster I was talking about during the race. That was the halfway point, leading up to the overpass, the bridge in the background. Not sure how it got to their attention, but woo hoo for a little local shout out! And if you have never checked out their site, you should! I am currently reading their book, too.

Didn’t get in a run today 😦 but enjoyed lots of yummy homemade Beef Stroganoff and birthday cake with the family. Happy birthday brother! Have to figure out how to run that off tomorrow!!