Tag: half marathon

Rock n Roll San Jose Recap

On By Fallon @ Slacker RunnerIn BibRave, Race Day, Recap, Run!7 Comments

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!

After the worst night of sleep or lack thereof, I was up and getting ready for the race.  I was also regretting the Spaghetti Factory dinner from the night before.  😛  I got ready and headed off to the start line.

The race started at 8 and while the Slacker in me liked that, every other part of me was worried.  That is late.  I knew I was going to be slower than planned.  I still had to check out of my hotel.  Rock n Roll had sent out a heat advisory email the night before.  Let’s get this show on the road!  Except we didn’t.  I can usually guess exactly what time my corral is going to start for Rock N Roll races but I would have been so wrong this time.  There was some delay for the trains? Buses? I don’t know but I was confused.   I didn’t cross the start line until almost 8:30 and it already felt warm.  I hate humidity.

Miles 1-3 9:58, 10:42, 10:21, 11:05
Irritation fueled the first mile.  I had a feeling I wouldn’t be able to maintain that.   My legs felt ok but the rest of me felt off- just kind of not present.    I was running and felt like I was pushing but I knew I really wasn’t.  I was realizing just how many turns this race course was going take.  We turned so many times.   We ran through the San Pedro Market area which brought us past the Spaghetti Factory- nope, nope.  Then it was another turn and we were coming back towards the start line.  I heard a woman tell her running partner that it was too hot for her.

Miles 5-8 11:05, 11:21, 11:31, 11:23
So much flat road.  We were running towards the SAP Center and into an area of apartments and strip malls.  I found the perfect apartment complex- an Orange Theory and Papa Johns were across the parking lot.  Replace the Papa Johns with Domino’s and I am sold!  The things we think about when trying to not think about running.  😜  So many more turns and we were in Santa Clara.   I felt like we were so far away the finish line.  I needed a hill.  Why was it so warm, it’s October!   There were some damn nice houses we ran by during this block as well.

Miles 9-12 12:58, 11:33, 12:26, 12:02
Oh, what the hell?  My right hip/ sciatica seized and I ground to a slow crawl.  I spent mile 9 mostly walking and punching myself in the butt.  🤣  I kind of wonder what I looked like to the runners behind me.   I ran more in mile 10 but 11 was more of the same.   Grrr.  My stomach cramps from the morning also returned.   Really?? What else?  I was taking more walk breaks trying to loosen up my hip area.  I was drinking water and Gatorade at every station and dumping water on my Buff then shoving it down my shirt to cool off.  Classy, right?  This course had an abundance of cheerleaders and they were needed as I was fading.

Mile 13 11:15
Around mile 11.5, the 2:30 pacer passed me.  Umm, excuse me?  I know they started after me and I was on pace for a 2:30 so they had no business passing me.  I picked up the pace a bit because I was so ready to be done.  Sure enough I passed the pace group in the last stretch to the finish line as they slammed on the breaks.

Finish – 2:30:00 on the nose

I was done, I was hot and my hip hurt.  I made my way through the long finisher’s chute, getting my medal and food before finally making my way out and meeting up with my mother.   In one good thing, the finisher chute pretty much dumped us out right at my hotel parking lot so I didn’t have far to hobble.

If you love flat, this is the race for you.  I did like running through the neighborhoods of San Jose and course support- aid stations, music and cheerleaders.   But I need hills.  I don’t know if they would have made much of a difference that day but I missed them.  Also, I haven’t been that sore post race in years- even after both marathons.  😛

Week 38:Upcoming Races-Rock n Roll San Jose Training Week 10

On By Fallon @ Slacker RunnerIn BibRave, Run!, Training2 Comments

Upcoming Races-

  • 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

Welcome to peak week.  Or at least I think it was peak week.

Part of me feels like this week was a hot mess and the other part feels like it was a moderate success.  I thought about trying to combine those terms in a catchy way and it just sounded inappropriate so, oops.

I feel like there is something I needed to tell you about work but I can’t remember what it was so we’ll push pause on that.

The plan called for two 6 mile runs, a 10 mile long run, and 3 cross training work outs of some sort.

Monday-3 miles
My legs generally aren’t fans of running the day after a long run but this was what fit the schedule.   That said I knew I wasn’t going to get the 6 miles the training plan called for.   Especially since work ran a little later due to being short staffed that day.   I kept the pace nice and easy and my legs actually weren’t as cranky as they could have been.

Tuesday- Nada
I was feeling lazy after doing what I needed to do.  Oops.

Wednesday- 6 miles bike/ 21 day Upper Fix
I planned on running however realized I had a problem when I changed into my running clothes after work.   My crops which had been with me for so many miles over the years had given up the ghost.   😂 No running was going to happen that night.  I knew I should have packed an extra pair of shorts.

Thursday- 5 miles
All right, let’s try this again.  I was feeling blah but I changed and headed to the river path after work to get in a few miles.  I told myself to at least get started.  I left my water in the car because I had a feeling I would be back soon.  Except at the 5k turn around point, I went left instead and kept running.   My brain was exactly on board but my legs were so I let them do all the talking.

Friday- Rest
I was lazy again.  Uh oh…the Slacker may be coming back more than I would like.

Saturday- Shopping
Yeah, I know not really exercise but I defenitlty put in my steps while getting some things done.  I thought about trying for my long run that evening but it was still above 90 until the evening so I passed.

Sunday- 8.5 miles
I ran in the morning!   I actually got up!  Granted a little later than I planned but still.  I headed out for my planned 10 miles.  The plan was to run 10 miles to a certain point- have my mother pick me up then go to lunch with her and my brother.  I had stashed a shirt change with her the day before in case I followed through with running in the morning.

About 1.5 miles in I heard my name being shouted- huh? Oh hey, I know you!  I ran into a friend watching her son play soccer so I stopped and chatted for a bit.   Between that conversion and a couple of lengthy stoplights as I made my way across town I was only able to fit 8.5 miles before the rendezvous time.   That said the miles I did fit in were surprisingly strong considering the struggle bus I’ve been riding lately.   I considered going out for another 2 later but once again it was 96.  Ummmm, Fall where are you?

16.5 miles for the week.  A not great peak week but not a bad one either.  Only 2 weeks to go to San Jose!

How was your week?

Week 30/ Rock n Roll San Jose Training Week 2

On By Fallon @ Slacker RunnerIn BibRave, Run!, Training14 Comments

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

So close, so close!  I almost hit every work out.  But I didn’t.  I tried rearranging to fit life, the heatwave and my leg and it just didn’t work.

The plan for the week was 4 Liift4 workouts and 3 runs.  The runs were originally laid out as an easy 4, a 30 minute tempo and a long run of 6 miles.  I knew I had a 5 mile race on Saturday so I figured that would be my tempo and I would just run another easy 4 to make up for the shortened long run.   Well, that was the plan.

Monday- Liift4/ Fair  Stupid mistake #1.  Possibly 1 and 2.  I should have done the Liift4 workout in the morning.  I didn’t- I did it after the fair, finishing around 11.  I wore flip flops to the fair- which might have been fine if it was just the fair but I also walked home.  Everything below my left knee was pissed.   The funnel cake was awesome though.

Tuesday- Liift4 I packed my gear to run but my leg was still pissed at me for the flip flops.   In the end I decided another day of rest was best and met my mother for dinner instead.  However that may have been a bad idea as I spent the rest of the night violently ill.🤢

Wednesday- 4 miles With the temps in hometown around 110, I opted to run in work town where it was a pleasant 66.  I always feel super awkward running in work town for some reason but usually settle into it around 1.5 miles in- around when I hit the eucalyptus grove.   I feeling good and running an easy pace but the 80% humidity was making my breathing sound like I was sprinting.  That said, this was a rare time I powered up the hill back and felt like I could have done it again.  I didn’t.

Thursday- Liift4 I wanted to run but it was another 110 degree day and a late afternoon doctor appointment in another town messed with my plan to run in work town again.   Traffic getting home due to the Luke Bryan concert irritated me and I really wanted to run but the temps didn’t really cool until after 9 PM and not really even then.   I don’t run at night let alone at night during the fair.

Friday- Rest The Liift4 leg workout was on the schedule but I remembered being extra sore last weekend afterwards.  Which normally would be fine but with a trail race on Saturday and my leg still feeling funky, I decided to push the workout until after the race.  Possibly mistake #3.

Saturday-Vintner’s 5 Mile Race Race recap to come complete with vines, dirt, rocks,  barns and medal snafus.  My Liift4 workout did not happen that evening.

Sunday- Rest Oh, what the??? Not only did I not do the Liift4 workout I missed, I did not run.   Without going into too many details from Saturday, there are some lingering issues and anything weight bearing sounded and felt like it would do more harm than good.  I wish I could say I made that choice easily but I kept telling myself that things were going to improve right up to 5PM.   Nope.  Crap.

So yeah, 9 miles for the week, 5 out 7 workouts.  Which on the surface might not look so bad but I am a little for how it going to play out this week.

How was your week?

A Run by the Bay

On By Fallon @ Slacker RunnerIn BibRave, Run!5 Comments

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.

IMG_3149

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Mile 2

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?

LA Redemption

On By Fallon @ Slacker RunnerIn BibRave, Run!2 Comments

Disclaimer: I received an entry into Rock n Roll Los Angeles 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!

Los Angeles.

City of Angels, largest city in California.  I’ve run races from San Diego to San Francisco but some how missed Los Angeles.

That’s not say I haven’t registered for a race in Los Angeles.  In fact Rock N Roll Los Angeles.  I have unfinished business with this race as the 2016 race was home to my very first DNS.  😯  It’s time to balance the scales.

The course for 2018 hasn’t been set yet but 2017 was an out and back with some hills.  I can get behind that.  Plus I get to see the sights of a city that I haven’t toured on foot yet.

LAHashtag2018

Plus there is still all the new upgrades that Rock n Roll made for 2018 that will make the race awesome-

To name a few-

  • New corral markers that light up!
  • Clearer aid station signage
  • You can rock out to on-course mile markers!
  • You can also take a quiz to pick your Rock ‘n’ Roll Spotify BPM playlist that will help inspire you to rock your next run: http://runrocknroll.co/5eux3X

Now it’s still a ways off but I have a couple of options come race day.  If my PR attempt in San Jose fails then this could be a another chance.  If I succeed, then I could just sit back, relax and soak in the atmosphere of “the world’s largest Halloween half marathon”.  Heck, maybe I’ll wear a costume.  Maybe. No promises.  I wore a tutu for 3 miles once and that thing was riding up into places it had no business being.  🤣

Either way I have something to look forward to!

Want to join me?  Use code RNRBRP2018 to save $15.00 on the half.

Ever run in a costume?

*** Ok, so I totally thought I hit publish months ago but cleaning out some comments and drafts on my blog told me differently. Slacker!!!!