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!
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!
It’s been a rough week. But it’s race week!!!
Also, this is going up late since I have been having WordPress issues. Anyone else?
This weekend should be seeing my 40th half marathon but I have a feeling it will be seeing a 10K instead. Maybe I shouldn’t have said I hate them?
I was looking forward to this weekend and the race, I was feeling good after last week’s peppy 8. Then I had an endoscopy on Tuesday. And hurt so bad I could barely move the next 2 days. I’ve talked to doctors and surgical centers on the phone so much this week. I had one years ago and was fine, we all have no idea why I reacted like this this time. Grrrr.
I am still looking forward to the race. I still get to race through San Pedro Square, errrr walk? I still get to enjoy the sights of downtown. And we never know I may just do something stupid.
No, I will be smart, I will be smart. If I repeat it over and over, I have to follow through right? Catch you on the flip side!
What’s a runner to do when she needs motivation to actually run her long runs? She signs up for a race! I saw that Surf City 10 fit in my schedule and there was a 10 miler. Even better was when I looked online and found a sweet hotel for cheap. Yes! So I registered. Then last week happened and I was doubting my ability for a 10 mile race in the dark. Could I finish it even after being sick all week? Yes but that didn’t mean it was the right choice. So I dropped to the 10K.
Oh 10K’s. We have a love/ hate relationship. Well, mostly hate.
My 10K times are either great (for me) or a total crap show. Good- 55 to 58 minutes. The rest all range around 1:10-1:15 because I blow up. There has never been an in between. I rarely run 10K’s for this reason.
I headed down to Huntington Beach on Saturday. Checked into the hotel and then headed back to find race parking. Yes, I used the distance from my car to the start judicisouly – warm up and cooldown and added 2+ miles to my total for the day.
The race was a lot bigger than I thought it would be but I did my best to line up in the proper pace area but it was damn crowded. The race started on time but it took me a few minutes to hit the starting line.
Who wants to take bets?
Mile 1 was decent- 10:22. Not too bad, not too bad.
Mile 2– Well, crap, I know what I forgot. My inhaler. Mother ….. 11:16 Know what Huntington Beach has? High humidity. What triggers my asthma? High humidity.
Positive split like a Boss
Mile 3- 4 Yeah no, straight running wasn’t gonna work. How about 2 run, 1 walk? Could my asthmatic lungs handle that?? 11:20, 11:49
This is a runner on asthma
Mile 5-6 Ok, can’t breathe, how about 1 run, 1 walk. Oh and I had decided to wear a new skirt, nope. I was less running and more waddling due the chafe I could feel, how I crossed the finish line not bleeding, I have no idea. It still hurts 4 days later.
Finish- 1:11:44
So maybe we should place bets on how long it takes me to run another 10K? Haha.
I did enjoy the race though. Running at night is kind of fun when you’re surrounded by people. A little more light might have been nice but guess who left her Knuckle Lights in the car?? Yep. Winner over here.
Think I am going to make my motto for the rest of the year to just roll with it. And roll and roll. And now I’m singing that song from Clueless.
Monday- 3 miles I headed out after work to get in some miles. I was still feeling a little bit of the migraine fog. By the time I felt like I was finally warmed up and moving my legs, I was already done. Maybe I should have run more but I also didn’t want to push it.
Mood
Tuesday- Thursday- Rough I knew I had off site training for work so I knew running was going to be tricky. I was hoping to get in a run or 2 in a new town but what I didn’t anticipate was the massive flare up my GI disorder. That was fun. Food and I were enemies. Even taking myself to Jamba the last day of training didn’t work. I was also starting to rethink my weekend plans.
*See, I thought I needed incentive to run 10 miles this weekend. So I looked online and guess what? There was a race in Huntington Beach! Nothing like drive 5 hours to run 10 miles. 😂
But I also was accepting that I was not ok. So I dropped to the 10k.
Oh-I did hop on the bike on Tuesday for a few miles.
Friday- Rest I felt a tiny bit better but still felt like I had made the right choice downgrading.
Saturday- Surf City 10! Recap to come.
Sunday- Shopping That counts as cardio right? I stopped at an outlet mall that I ‘ve driven past for years. It was amazing! I walked all over and shopped til I dropped. I bought running pants so fall weather, come on out!
11.7 ish miles for the week. I am winning at under trained. Ha!
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.
Start and finish
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.
Slacker Runner 