Tag: travel

Looking to Santa Rosa

My bad. (Do people still say that?) I swear I published this back in February. A search of my blog history told me I was crazy. Then I found it in my drafts. Oops. And now things have changed drastically.

This was supposed to be a post where I cagily announced I had my third marathon on the calendar. Actually I am still registered for the full but let’s be real here, the events of the last few months have changed so many things and least of all was my running. Like I kind of just stopped. I had less then 30 miles in March and April.

So instead- I really hope this race will be my next in person race and my 41st half marathon. I even have a real training plan for it. Like, real real. And if we have to go virtual- which the race is prepared to do if needs be- I will still run the 13.1 miles. Prove to myself that I can follow a training plan.

As for the original post or parts of it—

Disclaimer: I received an entry into the Santa Rosa 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 the spirit of running new and different things this year, enter Santa Rosa Marathon. So far every race I am running this year is north California- changing it up!

Also for a person who doesn’t drink, my favorite types of runs are those by vineyards. Or through them.

Santa Rosa Marathon offers a full weekend of fun. There is a full marathon, a half, a 10K and a 5K. The 5K and 10K are on Saturday and the half and full on Sunday. Who knows, be crazy- run 2 races! The full marathon gives runners the chance to run through the barrel room at Deloach Winery. Ok, kind of bummed to miss that. Oh, and the full and half runners get a hoodie instead of a tech tee. I love hoodies.

Santa Rosa takes place the last weekend in August. Fingers crossed for good weather, but really, isn’t north cooler than where I am? Now fingers crossed it’s small enough to happen.

Also I need to find a hotel. Scratch that, that was true the first time I wrote this, I have booked a hotel since then… in February.

If you want to join me in August use code SAVE10 to save 10%.

What are you looking forward to?

Oaktown Half Recap

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.

Do you like out and back courses?

Rain or Shine? Run

Disclaimer: I received an entry to Oakland Running Festival 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!

Wait, it’s February? How did that happen?

That means 2 things- Super Bowl and Surf City. Now I could care less about the Super Bowl but Surf City is always the same day so I just pretend the excitement is for the race not the game.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am no where near race ready. When I toe the line on Sunday I will be fully prepared to take it easy and take my time. I have run/walk intervals set on my watch and ready to go. But I am looking forward to revisiting the race that started me down the path of (longer) distance running. The crowds are awesome, the beach view is great, I get to (hopefully) see a bunch of other BibRave Pros.

I posted this 3 years ago at my second Surf City

Now if the weather will cooperate. Granted, it is absolutely nothing compared to what is happening in most of the country but a rain filled Saturday and Sunday wasn’t exactly what I was looking forward to. I can roll with it though and have just changed most of everything I was going to pack and wear.

So, fingers crossed for a fun filled weekend that’s only slightly wet.

Week 44: Monterey Bay Half Prep

Upcoming Races-

  • Monterey Bay Half Marathon (Thank you BibRave!)- 11/12
  • Oakland Turkey Trot- (Thank you BibRave!) 11/22

Another week on the road and I admit I was mentally fried.   I spent the week feeling like I was fighting something and just overall very tired.   I liked working in the San Diego office and the people I was working with but I missed home.

Monday- Rest
I had thought about running on the treadmill after work- I really needed to do laundry but I wasn’t feeling well after work.  I went back to the hotel and just kind of zoned out.

Tuesday-2ish miles
I did laundry in the hotel laundry again and hopped on the treadmill for a bit while I was waiting on the wash load.   Seriously less than impressed with those washing machines.  And my mileage. I was also feeling sorry for myself missing the Kip Moore concert back home.

Wednesday- Mes de Mas
Well, kind of.   I was modifying things so as to not sound like a herd of elephants to hotel room below me.  Then I was about 20 minutes in when I had a repeat of Sunday and was running to bathroom. Yay.

See you later, SD office

Thursday/ Friday- Nothing
My stomach was an asshat for the next 2 days.   Fun.  I kept a smile on my face and just kept working.

Saturday- Driving
I left San Diego early in the morning and arrived home in the afternoon.  Home!   After laundry and some errands, I was so happy to sleep in my bed.

Sunday- 3.1 miles
I slept in.  I did wake up and follow the New York Marathon on Twitter but I did not get out of bed.  😛    I headed out in the afternoon for a short run, I knew I should probably do a long run but didn’t want to.   Could someone tell me where the fall weather is?  It was 85*- why?  This run was not easy, it felt so much harder than I had hoped.  I guess after a week of slacking that was to be expected.
5.1 miles for the week.  Go ahead, laugh- I’m laughing too.  If I travel like this again, I will be better prepared.

How was your week?

Week 42: Monterey Bay Half Prep

Upcoming Races-

  • Rock n Roll Los Angeles 13.1 (Thank you BibRave!)- 10/29
  • Monterey Bay Half Marathon (Thank you BibRave!)- 11/12
  • Oakland Turkey Trot- More to come!

Oy vey.  I thought I was prepared for this week.  I wasn’t.

I had it planned when I was going to run, when I was going to pack and I when I was going to run to the store for last minute road trip supplies, but you know….life.

Then Friday through me a curve ball with some hotel issues that didn’t get squared away until Saturday afternoon so I wasn’t able to make the long run that I had planned with Mai and Nicole.   Oh, and I got stuck in the hotel elevator.    I was more than a little stressed and may have had something in my eyes.😛

Monday- 3 miles
The one day that went according to plan.  I ran the the river path and just it super chill for a few miles.   I ended up negative splitting but then that’s not hard to do when you start uphill.  The weather is confusing as I could have run in shorts but I needed my Knuckle Lights.  What?

Tuesday- Nothing
I was supposed to get in my second run of the week but it was also my little brother’s birthday.  We ended up doing a family dinner at a local steakhouse and I never turn down tri-tip.   Except maybe I should have as I was super sick all night after dinner.

Wednesday- Laundry
It was a coworker’s last day- boo and donuts were involved.  Probably not the best idea for my stomach.  I headed straight home after work to get in all my laundry in an effort to make packing easier.  It didn’t help.  How do you pack for 10 days?

Thursday- Packing
I finalized packing and tried to make sure that I didn’t forget anything.  I filled my car with gas and tried to get to sleep early as I knew I had an early morning.  It didn’t work.

Friday- Travel/work
I was on the road by 6 and arrived in San Diego a little after 1.  The Bibrave podcast kept me company and I stopped at the largest In n Out I’ve ever seen for lunch along the way.   This office is in a high rise so I kind of feel like a country bumpkin.  We worked until 7 ish an then it was off to the hotel where I had some drama.  And the elevator incident.   By the time I got into my hotel room, I was fried and the thought of going back out for food was not appealing.  I was glad was one of the last minute “supplies” I had picked up at the store the night before had been some EzMac.  Yes.

Saturday-Nothing
The hotel situation finally got squared away and I left for some groceries and water.  Why is there no water dispenser???? I found the fitness room but just wasn’t feeling it after missing the planned long run.  I had been so looking forward to running with people.   I ended up taking a long nap, oops.

Sunday- 4.8 miles
I worked until 1ish- again more elevator drama, this time the work building.  The lobby is under construction so the elevators were off.  The guard sent me up in the service elevator but later one of the employees got stuck in the service elevator on the way down.   Yikes!   I came back to the hotel and fell asleep again. Oops!  I finally made myself get up and head down to the fitness room and try out the treadmills.
I hate treadmills but the area around the hotel is not run-able.   I tend to be wobbly on treadmills and hurt myself so I either have to run really slow or run really fast and I didn’t think these could handle really fast.  Ok, I wasn’t feeling really fast either.  I started out walking for 10 minutes while I adjusted to the belt and then ran for 50 minutes.  That brought me to 4.8 miles.  It didn’t suck.

7.8 miles for the week.  Not the plan but better than I thought it was going to be on Sunday morning.

How was your week?