This weekend I am heading up to Napa Valley for the Napa Valley Marathon. It should be my 40th half. 40. From a person who said they were a 1 and done. 40.
Disclaimer: I received an entry into Napa Valley 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!
I’m not gonna lie, I am a little anxious. Ok, a lot. If we’re keeping track, 40 should have happened last year. First in San Jose and then at Space Rock. The first became a DNS and the second became a 10k that tried to break me. So that means my last half was in August. That’s a long break.
Long.
And the last few weeks have been … a little rough. In so many ways.
My original plan was to just enjoy the scenery- I really do love running along vineyards- and just finish quicker than half marathon #1 all those years ago. Right now, that looks highly unlikely. Unless this leg pain is all my head??? I would be totally ok with that.
I want weather just like this too
Now, my hope is that I can just enjoy a weekend where I can shut my brain off. Run a few miles a few thousand new friends. Enjoy my first VIP experience (yay!), meet some new people. Bring it 40.
Disclaimer: I received an entry into Giant Race- 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!
I briefly alluded to waning to do things differently in 2020 in a previous post. I also recently mentioned that I had registered for 4 races. So let’s talk about one of those!
I used to run short races. And they were fun. I also want to do new things and run new races…
The Giants Races first came on my radar a few years ago. There are 4- Scottsdale- Arizona, Sacramento, San Jose, and San Francisco. There’s even an extra medal for running the whole series. Yay for medals!!
The San Jose race takes place around the Excite Ballpark which is home of the San Jose Giants. I grew up playing softball and watching baseball with my mom and grandfather. We only got Denver news stations when I was younger so I did not grow up watching the Giants, oops.
It might sound odd that I’ve wanted to run these races for years but I really have. I’ve been telling everybody at work about it I am so excited, now I am telling you!
Want to come run with me? They offer a 5 mile, 5k, and a virtual option. I am running the 5 mile. My first non trail 5 mile race – that should guarantee a PR, right?? Who cares??? I just want to have fun.
What is a runner with a slacker mentality who has a long run on a cold day but likes to be lazy? She signs up for a local race of course.
Castle to Coast is a super chill, laid back 8 miles along the coast. No bibs, no medals, just running. Actually I was surprised with the timing chips this year. Those could have been around last year too but I DNS’ed. Oops.
Far away castle
The morning dawned early and cold as I made my way over to the coast. Things started a little rocky as the park rangers hadn’t gotten the memo and the gates to the park were locked. In an odd way I feel it made check in go faster. Eventually the gates were unlocked and we were all able to get parked and hop in the portapotty lines. We started a few minutes late due to gate snafu but like I said it’s all chill.
We lined up and we were off. Now here’s the maybe not chill part- the roads aren’t closed and we run along the highway. Highway 1 to be exact- from Hearst State Beach to Cambria. Hearst as in Hearst Castle.
I planned to take it easy and was aiming for my current long run pace around 12:00. Or my all around pace right now, like I’ve said, I’m out of shape.
Miles 1-4 10:57, 12:18, 12:30, 12:28 Started a little too fast but nothing crazy and I felt like I settled into a nice, easy maintainable pace. Due to the running along the highway portion, the race is limited to 300 people and usually sells out. We started out in a big pack, sort of, all in the bike lane. With no room to pass, it takes a few miles to thin out even with so few people. That said I was still feeling pretty ok.
Mile 5- 13:23 I have no idea what happened. I hit the only water stop around 4 and it was like my body quit. I went from feeling fine to being done. And I mean done.
I may have made this one the wallpaper on my phone
Miles 6-8 12:55, 12:48, 13:18 Yep still done. I turned on my headphones – didn’t help. Had a gel- didn’t help. I was basically walking and sprinkling in running. People were passing me right and left. What the hell? The previous week’s long run had gone so much better. If this had been a regular run I would have quit but my ride was at the finish line. Apparently I wasn’t the only one having a bad day, I was passing people who had previously passed me. One runner told me I walked fast.
Finish 8.2 miles- 1:43:51
Only 20 minutes slower than the last time I ran this race. And I thought I was out of shape then, ha! Even days later I am trying to figure out why I ran out of steam. The humidity was high but my asthma was manageable. Or I thought so. My stomach did flare that afternoon and it lasted about 3-4 days but I don’t think pre-tired is a thing. Is it a thing?? Ha!
I made a few better choices while eating and still some bad ones. I ran a little more. I ran a race. I knew I was out of shape but wow…. but more on that next post. I forgot cross training. Oops.
Oh, and I learned that multi vitamins make me sick so that was fun. I am trying to make healthier choices here! Just don’t ask me about the Carl’s Jr. Sometimes a burger is just needed.
Monday– Vitamin fallout. What’s sad is it took me a few times to make the correlation, ha!
Tuesday– Nada
Wednesday 3.33 miles I changed as fast as I could to enjoy as much of the sunset as I could. Which wasn’t as much as I would have liked as I had to still drive to my running route but it was still kind of glorious. I feel like every day is getting so much brighter. I enjoyed a few easy miles with the sunset and the dark.
Thursday– Honestly have no idea what I did this day.
Friday– As if.
Saturday- Castle to Coast 8.2 miles. More to come on that. Oh and a 2 hour nap that may have resembled a coma.
Sunday- 2.6 miles Ooof. I was feeling tight post race and my stomach had hated me since Saturday after the race. I struggled out the door and managed to straggle out 2ish miles. Truthfully they ended up mostly a walk. My stomach let me know running was not an option. But I did something.
14ish miles for the week. Slowly going up but I am also coming to grips with just how out of shape I’ve let myself become.
I am 2 weeks into training for Napa Valley Half Marathon. Which makes me realize I forgot to tell you about Napa…
Disclaimer: I received an entry into Napa Valley 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!
Silly Slacker.
Napa Valley. People, I live in wine country but it’s not Wine Country. Prior to running, I actually paid little attention to the hundreds (not an exaggeration) of vineyards in my area. My first half marathon was lined with vineyards and vines. I learned harvest patterns thanks to a house I run past with a couple acres of vines. Vines grew on me you could say.
I am so looking forward to running in Napa. I’ve thought about it for years but for some reason, don’t go north as often for trips. Oops. Napa Valley Marathon has been running since 1979. In 2018, they added a half. Which is what I will be running. The race course runs down the Silverado Trail from Calistoga to Napa. The half starts around the midway point. I do love a good point to point race. Throw in rows of vines along the way and I am in!!
Now if only I spend more time running than taking pictures. It’s a toss up. I am a picture hoarder after all. Also this may be half marathon #40. Or 41…. I do have a tendency to throw races in at the last minute.
Oh, did I mention this will be my time trying the VIP experience at race?????? I’m excited!!
Want to join me on March 1? Use code BIBRAVE10 to save $10 on registration!
