This weekend I ran the Holiday 5k and Holiday Half Marathon in Pomona, CA. Together, these races completed the Golden Snowflake Challenge, which granted the finisher with a lovely golden snowflake medal, in addition to the 5k and half medals. Never one to shy away from extra bling, I put this race on my calendar early on in the year.
This was my second time running this particular half marathon. I think it was my 6th half marathon ever 2 years ago, and I remember hating every minute of those hills! The course starts at the Pomona Fairplex, loops through a neighboring residential area, back up through the Pomona Speedway, out around Brackett Airport, and then through Bonelli Park. Bonelli Park is lovely. But it has a lot of hills. They're not absurdly steep, but the number of them really does a number on you physically and mentally.
About half the race is spent in and around Bonelli Park, so when you finally leave, the Fairplex is in sight with only 2 miles to go. I forgot to turn my podcasts on until Mile 2, which is odd for me, but also nice to know I didn't absolutely need the distraction. I took very few pictures and although I tried to push through, both races ended up a bit slower than my most recent races.
I took a recovery week this week, on the advice of my coach. I do feel stronger as a runner overall, but I think all the racing the last 3 months has really done a number on me. With LA Marathon just two months away (EEK!!) and 6 races before then, I don't think I'll get much opportunity to rest. I've got no races next weekend and I'm super excited about it, because it means I finally get to do something I've been meaning to do for months now.....get a haircut!!! I have literally been too busy to do something as simple as get a haircut and although I love running, it's nice to take a breather every now and then.
Did you run any races this weekend? How'd you do?
Monday, December 14, 2015
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Lexus Laceup - Riverside, Half 27/29
The Lexus LaceUp Riverside half marathon was probably the most well put together race I've ever been to! I have a love/hate relationship with small races. Being a slower runner means that I almost always come in very near the end of the race. On the other hand, its really nice to see different parts of cities that aren't very touristy or even that are in my backyard and I never would have known existed! This was definitely one of those races. Overall I was 277/313. 14/17 in my age group. Luckily I do these things for fun!
This was my third race in Riverside in a month and I knew going into it that it was an out and back course along the Santa Ana River Trail, which means a pretty monotonous run in terms of scenery. I had never heard of this race series until I cancelled my Nebraska trip and found myself in need of a half marathon on one of the very few open weekends I had left in the year to make 29 half marathons on my 29th birthday. Let me tell you, this race series has quickly become one of my faves!
Because it was sort of a last minute entry for me, I didn't really look at what was included in the race entry fee. I knew a medal, and really that's all I cared about! Boy was I pleasantly surprised when I saw that it included a free beer AND food!! Not only that, they had plenty of seating so that we could enjoy our food and beverage. I always feel bad that my parents go to my races only to sit on the floor in the cold for several hours. This race had a small expo of vendors and plenty 
of tables, chairs, and umbrellas! My mom sat at one of the cloth-covered tables for the first 2 hours of my race and made friends with some other spectators. She even got a beer and free meal voucher one of the runners wasn't going to be able to use! Score one for madre! We always go out to breakfast after my races, but it was nice to stay in the venue and enjoy a really good meal.
of tables, chairs, and umbrellas! My mom sat at one of the cloth-covered tables for the first 2 hours of my race and made friends with some other spectators. She even got a beer and free meal voucher one of the runners wasn't going to be able to use! Score one for madre! We always go out to breakfast after my races, but it was nice to stay in the venue and enjoy a really good meal. 
As for the race itself, I was also pleasantly surprised to see that it was a section of the trail I had never been on before and was actually quite pretty! It was out and back, so while I saw everything twice, the road curved quite a bit and there was a good portion that was tree-lined with a small stream running parallel to the trail. Always lovely to be one with nature. (And since I was close to the end, there weren't a lot of other people around so I really was ONE with nature, hehe).
Definitely the best small town race I've ever been to and I look forward to doing more of their races next year!
Friday, November 27, 2015
Riverside Turkey Trot
I love small town, local races. Not gonna lie, sometimes they suck because I am usually closer to the end with very few people behind me. But its great to wake up at a reasonable hour, drive a short distance, run real quick, and be home early enough to still have your whole day in front of you. Especially on a holiday like Thanksgiving. I like working out in the mornings because it makes me feel like I've earned my food for the day, so Turkey Trots are perfect for me! Medals and a guilt-free slice of pie? Umm, yes please!
I hired a running coach two months ago and while I got through my crazy 11 week race binge healthy and strong, I felt like any progress was slow or barely measurable. Plane rides, hotel stays, and sight-seeing wreak havoc on my system, especially since I kind of went a bit crazy by doing that every single weekend. The Turkey Trot was my last race of the binge so I was super excited to have a relaxing few days off from running and work after it was done.
Have you ever been to downtown Riverside or the Mt. Rubidoux area? If you haven't and you're a fan of Victorian style homes, or homes with a ton of character, I suggest you take a trip out stat! The race was mostly residential and hilly. Luckily the gorgeous houses distracted me from the hills a bit! I finished the race on a mission to pass the 12 minute pacer and I did! (just barely, but let's not split hairs here.) I went through the finish line, got my water and snacks and got a hug from my mom. Her first words? "Wow, that was a lot faster than I expected!" Booyah! Progress. lol. Definitely not a PR, but much faster than I've been running in awhile. So I guess the training is paying off, even if its not always super obvious.
PS, the race entry included a beer, which I wasn't aware of but super stoked to have it. Recovery carbs, right?!
I hired a running coach two months ago and while I got through my crazy 11 week race binge healthy and strong, I felt like any progress was slow or barely measurable. Plane rides, hotel stays, and sight-seeing wreak havoc on my system, especially since I kind of went a bit crazy by doing that every single weekend. The Turkey Trot was my last race of the binge so I was super excited to have a relaxing few days off from running and work after it was done. Have you ever been to downtown Riverside or the Mt. Rubidoux area? If you haven't and you're a fan of Victorian style homes, or homes with a ton of character, I suggest you take a trip out stat! The race was mostly residential and hilly. Luckily the gorgeous houses distracted me from the hills a bit! I finished the race on a mission to pass the 12 minute pacer and I did! (just barely, but let's not split hairs here.) I went through the finish line, got my water and snacks and got a hug from my mom. Her first words? "Wow, that was a lot faster than I expected!" Booyah! Progress. lol. Definitely not a PR, but much faster than I've been running in awhile. So I guess the training is paying off, even if its not always super obvious.
PS, the race entry included a beer, which I wasn't aware of but super stoked to have it. Recovery carbs, right?!
Friday, September 25, 2015
Biggest Loser Half Marathon (#19 of 29)
Last Sunday I ran the Biggest Loser Half Marathon in Las Vegas, Nevada. I originally signed up for this particular race because 1) I love the Biggest Loser (although I stopped watching several years ago) and 2) because I knew I could convince my mom to do the 5k. My mom is super awesome and beyond supportive of my running, however she will be the first to tell you she doesn't understand the concept of paying to run when I can run for free anywhere I want. *shrugs*
Anyhoo, I knew I could convince her because she doesn't enjoy running, but she does like to walk, and will only consider doing a race if other people will be walking too (she doesn't want to be the last person coming in, which I totally understand!!). This is called the Biggest Loser Run/Walk Race series, and I've been waiting for one to come to California. When I found out this was going to be in Vegas, I figured it was close enough to not pass up and then I'd be guaranteed a travelling buddy, because #priorities. Well, my mom was all in until she got her retired butt a job!!! Its temporary, at the LA County Fair, but since she had to request off the last weekend of the fair due to my San Jose running trip (plane tickers already purchased) she felt bad asking for two weekends off in a row. Which I get, but I was bummed for sure.
Anyhoo, it was a super short trip and definitely not your typical "Vegas" trip, but I think that's what convinced my friend Mary to come with me in the first place. We spent Saturday laying around our hotel room watching Friends, after a delicious lunch of pizza and breadsticks. Yum. And then dinner was pasta and bread with pistachio chocolate chip cannoli for dessert. Yeah, she's got this carbo-loading thing down!
The race has a 7am start time, which concerned me since it was supposed to be a high of 100* that day. The race started and ended at Circus Circus, which is where I stayed, and that mean I got to sleep in a whole lot later than I normally do on race mornings! Yay! It was another out and back course (lame) which had a loop at the end, so you got to the end of the course, turned around and went back to the 5ish mile marker, got a bracelet, and turned around and went back to the end of the course, and then turned around again and could continue on to the finish line. Kinda weird, and possibly more boring because we saw that portion of course 4 times! And the race was down Industrial Rd, so while there was much more shade than there was at the Ventura Marathon, it was the backs of buildings on one side and the freeway on the other. Still better than last week, but not incredibly exciting. Oh well. The volunteers were all super nice and they had a ton of different flavors of Gu at the fuel station, so I got to try the caramel macchiato one. So good!
Side note: I like Gu's and gels, but tend to gravitate towards the chocolate and coffee flavored ones. The first one I had during the race was espresso, the second was mocha, and the third was the caramel macchiato. My coffee addiction has integrated itself into my running addiction!
I Periscope'd the last half mile-ish of my race which was super fun but also incredibly awkward to watch afterwards. Heavy breathing and shaky video aside, I totally messed up like half my words! I mean, it makes sense that my brain would go on strike after 12.5 miles of running, but I didn't realize just how many words I pronounced wrong, misused, or completely omitted! Haha, oh well.
Anyhoo, I felt so much better this race than last week. I don't know if it was the shade or just being better prepared, but I finished a good 30 minutes sooner than I did last week! Hopefully I can keep that up the next few races. While I don't necessarily race for time, I definitely want to get faster. In fact, I just hired a running coach! I love running and it is super fun, but I would like to be a more efficient runner, which means actually training. Races are fun and I enjoy talking to people and getting the most out of my entry fee, and I will continue to do that, but I know I've got some untapped potential somewhere in me and I want to explore where that takes me. Exciting things coming up and I can't wait to see where running takes me!
Anyhoo, I knew I could convince her because she doesn't enjoy running, but she does like to walk, and will only consider doing a race if other people will be walking too (she doesn't want to be the last person coming in, which I totally understand!!). This is called the Biggest Loser Run/Walk Race series, and I've been waiting for one to come to California. When I found out this was going to be in Vegas, I figured it was close enough to not pass up and then I'd be guaranteed a travelling buddy, because #priorities. Well, my mom was all in until she got her retired butt a job!!! Its temporary, at the LA County Fair, but since she had to request off the last weekend of the fair due to my San Jose running trip (plane tickers already purchased) she felt bad asking for two weekends off in a row. Which I get, but I was bummed for sure.
Anyhoo, it was a super short trip and definitely not your typical "Vegas" trip, but I think that's what convinced my friend Mary to come with me in the first place. We spent Saturday laying around our hotel room watching Friends, after a delicious lunch of pizza and breadsticks. Yum. And then dinner was pasta and bread with pistachio chocolate chip cannoli for dessert. Yeah, she's got this carbo-loading thing down!
The race has a 7am start time, which concerned me since it was supposed to be a high of 100* that day. The race started and ended at Circus Circus, which is where I stayed, and that mean I got to sleep in a whole lot later than I normally do on race mornings! Yay! It was another out and back course (lame) which had a loop at the end, so you got to the end of the course, turned around and went back to the 5ish mile marker, got a bracelet, and turned around and went back to the end of the course, and then turned around again and could continue on to the finish line. Kinda weird, and possibly more boring because we saw that portion of course 4 times! And the race was down Industrial Rd, so while there was much more shade than there was at the Ventura Marathon, it was the backs of buildings on one side and the freeway on the other. Still better than last week, but not incredibly exciting. Oh well. The volunteers were all super nice and they had a ton of different flavors of Gu at the fuel station, so I got to try the caramel macchiato one. So good!
Side note: I like Gu's and gels, but tend to gravitate towards the chocolate and coffee flavored ones. The first one I had during the race was espresso, the second was mocha, and the third was the caramel macchiato. My coffee addiction has integrated itself into my running addiction!
I Periscope'd the last half mile-ish of my race which was super fun but also incredibly awkward to watch afterwards. Heavy breathing and shaky video aside, I totally messed up like half my words! I mean, it makes sense that my brain would go on strike after 12.5 miles of running, but I didn't realize just how many words I pronounced wrong, misused, or completely omitted! Haha, oh well.
Anyhoo, I felt so much better this race than last week. I don't know if it was the shade or just being better prepared, but I finished a good 30 minutes sooner than I did last week! Hopefully I can keep that up the next few races. While I don't necessarily race for time, I definitely want to get faster. In fact, I just hired a running coach! I love running and it is super fun, but I would like to be a more efficient runner, which means actually training. Races are fun and I enjoy talking to people and getting the most out of my entry fee, and I will continue to do that, but I know I've got some untapped potential somewhere in me and I want to explore where that takes me. Exciting things coming up and I can't wait to see where running takes me!
Monday, September 14, 2015
Ventura (Half)Marathon Recap
Yesterday was the Ventura Marathon. This was my 8th half marathon of 2015 and my 18th lifetime half. That being said, no matter how many races you've done, every race is different and you never know what will come up or what to expect. Now, if I'm being truthful, I didn't train as well as I could have. I had a minor foot injury (irritation?) during my last half marathon so I took a couple weeks off. I've been back into it, but my long runs have definitely suffered. But I still felt pretty good about myself crossing the start line Sunday morning.
They always say not to trust the first mile of a race. That first mile is always a liar. You cannot judge a long run by the first mile, especially during a race. Your adrenaline is up, the energy of all the other runners starting is pretty contagious and you feel invincible. This was the case for my first mile. But then the second mile was pretty awesome too! And then the third mile wasn't too bad. And then BAM! It was downhill from there (figuratively of course, because literally would have made it super awesome).
The race was an out and back course, which means you go out for half the distance and then turn around and come back the same way. I'm not a huge fan of these courses because you see the same things twice. When I signed up, I figured I'd have ocean views, so it wouldn't be too bad. Well no. It was beach city for maybe the first 2.5 miles and then marsh-like land. With no shade. None.
Running is a mental sport. Your brain is yelling at you to stop torturing yourself and makes you think your lungs are going to give out and your legs will turn to jelly any minute. But if you can get out of your head for just a few seconds, running is peaceful. At least for me it is. I rarely get the "runner's high" people will tell you about. But on a good day, I shut off my mind so that I'm almost on autopilot. My legs are going, my asthmatic lungs are kicking butt, and everything falls into place. Granted, that feeling never lasts long. But its my own runner's high and when your brain goes at the speed of light at all times, its nice to have a break. This race though? Could. Not. Shut. It. Off.
It's hot. There's no shade. I forgot my sunglasses. I hope the cute guy doesn't see me like this. I have to go to the bathroom. Why is there no shade? Dude, that mile marker can't be right; my watch said I hit that mile ten minutes ago. Why is it so hot? I need water with my GU. My legs hurt. My feet hurt. Is my knee acting funny? How long until I have to check out of my hotel? I hope they have good beer. I think I have a blister. Do I need to retire these shoes already? OMG I have 9 more of these races coming up! UGH!!!!!
Yeah, those were just some of the thoughts going through my head. And if you thought those were annoying, trust me, it got 100x worse. I couldn't shut it off for the life of me, so I ended up walking quite a bit more than I should have.
Also, not to give TMI but I had some minor stomach issues. Have you ever tried to run when your tummy threatens to go on strike? Running is just about impossible.
FINALLY I got to the finish line chute and I was the only runner! As much as I like attention, being the only runner that last tenth of a mile was actually super intimidating. Lots of people cheering, which was great. But knowing all eyes were on me was weird! Probably why my eyes were down in this picture. And also, I was just super relieved to be done.
The race organizers sent an apology email with our pictures today. The turnaround spot for the half marathon was placed in the wrong spot so yeah, it was roughly one kilometer longer than it should have been. I know that doesn't sound like much. But I ran my required race distance. I wasn't looking to be on my feet any longer than I needed to! I don't have my official time yet, but I guarantee it will be slow. Next week will be better.
Things I learned from this weekend...
1. Eating a huge lunch the day before is a bad idea if it means your dinner will be small. Keep it balanced and more protein with dinner. (Secret: you actually don't need to carb load for a half marathon....usually).
2. Almond milk is not good pre-race food.
3. Remember to smile. I think I'm smiling in 1 out of 20 race pics. Yes, I was irritated. But I pay to do this to myself. I need to remember to enjoy the journey.
They always say not to trust the first mile of a race. That first mile is always a liar. You cannot judge a long run by the first mile, especially during a race. Your adrenaline is up, the energy of all the other runners starting is pretty contagious and you feel invincible. This was the case for my first mile. But then the second mile was pretty awesome too! And then the third mile wasn't too bad. And then BAM! It was downhill from there (figuratively of course, because literally would have made it super awesome).
The race was an out and back course, which means you go out for half the distance and then turn around and come back the same way. I'm not a huge fan of these courses because you see the same things twice. When I signed up, I figured I'd have ocean views, so it wouldn't be too bad. Well no. It was beach city for maybe the first 2.5 miles and then marsh-like land. With no shade. None.
Running is a mental sport. Your brain is yelling at you to stop torturing yourself and makes you think your lungs are going to give out and your legs will turn to jelly any minute. But if you can get out of your head for just a few seconds, running is peaceful. At least for me it is. I rarely get the "runner's high" people will tell you about. But on a good day, I shut off my mind so that I'm almost on autopilot. My legs are going, my asthmatic lungs are kicking butt, and everything falls into place. Granted, that feeling never lasts long. But its my own runner's high and when your brain goes at the speed of light at all times, its nice to have a break. This race though? Could. Not. Shut. It. Off.
It's hot. There's no shade. I forgot my sunglasses. I hope the cute guy doesn't see me like this. I have to go to the bathroom. Why is there no shade? Dude, that mile marker can't be right; my watch said I hit that mile ten minutes ago. Why is it so hot? I need water with my GU. My legs hurt. My feet hurt. Is my knee acting funny? How long until I have to check out of my hotel? I hope they have good beer. I think I have a blister. Do I need to retire these shoes already? OMG I have 9 more of these races coming up! UGH!!!!!
Yeah, those were just some of the thoughts going through my head. And if you thought those were annoying, trust me, it got 100x worse. I couldn't shut it off for the life of me, so I ended up walking quite a bit more than I should have.
Also, not to give TMI but I had some minor stomach issues. Have you ever tried to run when your tummy threatens to go on strike? Running is just about impossible. FINALLY I got to the finish line chute and I was the only runner! As much as I like attention, being the only runner that last tenth of a mile was actually super intimidating. Lots of people cheering, which was great. But knowing all eyes were on me was weird! Probably why my eyes were down in this picture. And also, I was just super relieved to be done.
The race organizers sent an apology email with our pictures today. The turnaround spot for the half marathon was placed in the wrong spot so yeah, it was roughly one kilometer longer than it should have been. I know that doesn't sound like much. But I ran my required race distance. I wasn't looking to be on my feet any longer than I needed to! I don't have my official time yet, but I guarantee it will be slow. Next week will be better.
1. Eating a huge lunch the day before is a bad idea if it means your dinner will be small. Keep it balanced and more protein with dinner. (Secret: you actually don't need to carb load for a half marathon....usually).
2. Almond milk is not good pre-race food.
3. Remember to smile. I think I'm smiling in 1 out of 20 race pics. Yes, I was irritated. But I pay to do this to myself. I need to remember to enjoy the journey.
Saturday, August 15, 2015
5k Sunday!
This past Sunday I ran the OC Fair One Big Fun Run 5k, in
Costa Mesa, CA. This was my first time
running the event, and to be honest, I mainly did it because it was inexpensive
and included a ticket to the OC Fair!
Because as much as I love my “free” shirt and bling, when those things
include a ticket to a place with exciting fried treats, it’s a must-do in my
opinion.
Now, full disclosure…Although my weekend runs have been
pretty on point, my weekday runs have been essentially nonexistent. Sometimes I skip my run because I have
homework to do, which, if I’m being honest, is usually left for weekdays
because I opted for something “more fun” on the weekend. Meh.
And other times it’s because it’s a Monday or Tuesday and I would rather
go shake my booty with my besties at the gym for CDP (search Bernadette Barber
on YouTube; best workout that’s not a traditional workout). So, since I only run one day a week, and even
though that run is usually a longer one, my body is starting to get used to
less mileage. This means that a 5k fun
run suddenly becomes something you dread because you have no idea how your
legs/lungs are going to react.
So the moral of the story is, it’s totally great to have a
fun time during a race. I’m not super
competitive with running. I have races
where I am aiming for a PR but for the most part, I aim to be within range of
my PR but allow myself to enjoy the experience.
There’s a balance there. 5k’s
should be fun, especially if the word “fun” is in the title of the race! But you should cross the finish line feeling
strong and proud of your accomplishment, not exhausted and feeling like you
just ran triple the distance.
Training runs have now been scheduled and put in my
calendar. =)
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
RnR Chicago
This past weekend I had the amazing opportunity to run the Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon. The Rock n Roll Marathon Series are a race organization that puts on 5ks, 10ks, Half and full Marathons all across the world. Part of their allure, aside from tons of extra medals for completing various challenges, is that they have a live musical act at every mile. So, if you think running 13.1 miles is tough, knowing you can have a mini dance party every mile helps break the monotony of running up just a bit.
I am currently in the midst of two running goals. The first is to run a half marathon in every state by the time I’m 35, which is about 6.5 years from now. I’ve run in 5 so far, with another 3 scheduled for this year (and if my magical Fairy Godmother comes through, then another 2 or 3. Let’s all keep our fingers crossed!!). The second is to run my 29th half marathon (the Operation Jack Half Marathon) on my 29th birthday. It’s currently scheduled as my 26th, so still need to add a few races to smash that goal.
I try to go into each race with an open mind. You never know what the weather will be like, how your body will react, or even who you will meet. As one of my best running buddies says, “Every medal has a story.” The best you can do is trust your training and approach the starting line with a smile. That being said, due to some unforeseen circumstances, I ended up crossing the finish line dead last. As in, they had turned off the timing mat and were starting to tear down the setup. Thankfully, everyone I passed on my way to the start had words on encouragement and assured me I wasn’t that late. The timing dudes even stopped me and made sure to take a picture of my bib so they could give me an official start time. I then proceeded to chase down the trail car for the first mile, and by the time I got to mile 2, I was exhausted.
Running is a mental sport. You can interpret that as 1) you must be mental to think that running 13.1 miles is any sort of fun (as many of my friends and family do), or 2) you really have to get out of your own head and push yourself through the tough times. I took a quick walking break, took and posted a selfie (because that cures everything), cranked up the music, and kept going. I did NOT fly all the way to Illinois just to have a crappy race.
Another factor that made this race particularly difficult was the heat. Towards the end of the race I noticed more and more people at the medical tents and being driven away on carts. Training for all weather conditions is super important and you need to be smart about it. It’s nice to PR (personal record) at every race, but not at the expense of your health. Here are some useful tips for running in the heat.
- Slow down!! You should slow your pace by 30 seconds for every 5 degree increase above 60 degrees. For example: Let’s say you run a 10 minute mile and it is 70 degrees race morning. You should aim for an 11 minute mile and adjust as the day gets hotter/cooler.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! I usually alternate between water and electrolytes at the water stations during a race. However on hotter days where you are sweating more, and thus losing more salt, you need to replenish that. So it’s especially important to include sports drinks as well. (There are great alternatives to sports drinks if that’s not your jam, such as energy bars or pretzels.)
- Listen to your body. If you are feeling dizzy, light-headed, or have a headache, STOP! While random heat waves do happen, most race directors have a general idea of what the race day weather will be like and will plan for it. Most hot races have ice, wet towels (RnR Chicago had ice-soaked sponges at mile 11 and I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to see a sponge in my life!!), or cooling busses. You know your body, learn to listen to it!
The last 2 miles was a straight shot to the finish line. I had a beautiful view of the Chicago skyline, including Soldier Stadium (which as a devout Dallas Cowboys fan, I was deeply conflicted about, lol!) and Lake Michigan. I struck up conversations with a few runners, which is probably the best way to forget you’re running for a few minutes. The last quarter mile is always fun. You’ve got people cheering on both sides of you and something about crossing the finish line can almost make you forget how much your feet hurt. My time was awful, but sometimes it’s just satisfying to know you gave it your all and truly earned that medal and free banana (and beer, of course).
Friday, June 19, 2015
I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions; I make Birthday
Resolutions. So I get a whole 5 day head
start on the process =P. Now that’s its
right around my half birthday (a week from today, in case you wanted to get me something, LOL!!), I thought I’d check in and see how I was doing
on my goals.
- Run at least 6 races in other states.I ran my first out of state race for the year this past April, in Nashville, TN. The city is lovely and I had a blast at the Jack Daniels Distillery. I even PR’ed!! I have also booked my race and/or flight for Chicago, IL; Seattle, WA; and Lincoln, NE. That puts me at 4/6, with Virginia Beach, VA; Denver, CO; Savannah, GA; and San Antonio, TX being penciled in and debated. There’s also two in Las Vegas that are looking like they’re going to happen, but I’ve already crossed NV off the list, so those are just for fun.
- Run 1000 miles in 2015.I am on track for this, but not where I would like to be. My summer race schedule is incredibly light, which means my brain thinks it’s ok to cut back on the running. Still working out, and have added weight lifting to my regimen, but definitely need to pick up the pace if I’m going to accomplish this goal. For the record, I’m just under 40% complete with this goal with 199 days left in the year (about 55% left). Totally doable. Need to stay focused.
- Take 1 picture a day (preferably a Polaroid).Here’s the thing. In a nutshell, no, I have not even come close to finishing this goal. I did the photo a day ting for the entire month of January and then realized that this was actually a very expensive goal, if I was to do a Polaroid. Also, I commute 3-4 hours a day and spend 8.5 hours in an office. This makes very little time for photography. And I did not want to end up with 365 selfies. That being said, I make an effort to take at least one picture on every run, and lots of pictures on every adventure. Baby steps. I may have to reintroduce this goal for the second half of the year, but definitely reimagine in some way. If you have any ideas, feel free to share!!
My race schedule has also changed a bit in 6 months, and I
have added a new goal. There is an
annual race (Operation Jack) held on my birthday that I’ve had my eye on for
several years now. So, what better way
to celebrate my 29th birthday than to run my 29th
half?! I was already looking at it being
my 25th-ish race for the year, so adding another 4 races really wasn’t
that difficult. In fact, I think it was
too easy, because there’s another 2 races I want to do and am not sure how to
fit them in, #runnerproblems. I’m currently
at 15 completed half marathons, with 8 more scheduled and 6 possibilities. (The ones with the asterisks have not been
signed up for yet).
|
18-Jul
|
RnR Chicago
|
3.1
|
19-Jul
|
RnR Chicago
|
13.1
|
1-Aug
|
Special Olympics World Games Half
|
3.1
|
6-Sep
|
RnR Virginia Beach**
|
13.1
|
20-Sep
|
Biggest Loser Half**
|
13.1
|
26-Sep
|
RnR San Jose
|
3.1
|
27-Sep
|
RnR San Jose
|
13.1
|
3-Oct
|
Pumpkin 5k
|
3.1
|
10-Oct
|
Fall City Half Marathon
|
13.1
|
18-Oct
|
RnR Denver**
|
13.1
|
25-Oct
|
RnR Los Angeles
|
13.1
|
1-Nov
|
Good Life Halfsy
|
13.1
|
7-Nov
|
RnR Savannah**
|
13.1
|
14-Nov
|
Captain America
|
6.2
|
15-Nov
|
Avenger's Half Marathon
|
13.1
|
15-Nov
|
RnR Las Vegas**
|
13.1
|
6-Dec
|
RnR San Antonio**
|
13.1
|
26-Dec
|
Operation Jack
|
13.1
|
Friday, June 12, 2015
So this is supposed to be a running blog, but it’s also a Nikkie’s Adventures-type blog, so I wanted to share my Great Horror Campout experience with you all.
In case you’re not aware, the Great Horror Campout is a 12 hour horror movie experience. You complete games/tasks to collect items (called S.C.A.G.) with the ultimate goal of surviving the night, of course, but mostly of being crowned Hell Master.
I’ve wanted to do this event for the past 2 years, so when I came across a Buy One Get One Free offer, I couldn’t pass it up. Especially since the price of those two tickets was somehow a lot cheaper than the price of a single ticket. Not sure how that’s a sound business practice, but it worked for me! Couldn’t find anyone to be brave with me, but not wanting to miss out (and lose out on ALL my money) I went alone.
All I knew going into it was that I was in the orange section. Each section was color coded and represented a specific fear. There was fear of monsters, blood, the woods, death, and fear. Team Orange was Terato- fear of monsters. (Fear of Fear, or Team Phobo, was the yellow “chicken” section which was off limits and therefore a safe zone).
I got to my tent and my tent-mates were already there. Two very nice gentlemen named George and Patrick. George was a previous Hell Master, so we decided to stick together through the night and began strategizing our evening. We briefly got separated before orientation, but I found them shortly after. I was told that when I left them, Patrick thought I may have been some sort of spy and they were sure they were not only never going to see me again, but that I was somehow going to try to take them out of the game. Crazy? Yes. Buy totally my kind of people. I replied to that with, “Well yeah, haven’t you ever seen a horror movie? A girl walks up to your tent and you just spill all your secrets? Amateurs!” Yeah, we were a great team, haha.
Our first stop was the Con-Tiki, which included dancing like a crazy person for a voodoo ritual and ended with a blood sacrifice (yes, the altar squirted us all with blood). Just a standard Saturday evening really.
Second stop was a bit more complicated. We made it to the Wolf’s Den line. And then promptly got separated. I failed to mention earlier that upon check-in, we had all been randomly assigned a horror movie stereotype. These included the Virgin, the Jock, the Cheerleader, and the Nerd. Each of these stereotypes may or may not have granted you special privileges during the tasks. George and I were both Jocks and Patrick was a Virgin. We were separated because a monster came to our line and took all the Jocks with her. She put us in line for the Pishtaco, for which the dossier instructions told us to get naked and paint ourselves. Um. Ok. We were specifically told to cover at the very least, our bikini areas, since the night before there had been a “Woodstock-type” incident. For the record, I was wearing a sports bra, so I took my shirt off. I may be brave for going to a horror-movie camp experience alone, but not brave enough to strip down to my underwear in front of anyone, let alone strangers. Just saying.
Anyhoo, we had to paint ourselves, which was actually pretty fun, and then chant to a priestess, and then there was a code-word thing that was super weird and made no sense. Pretty sure everyone failed that challenge. Those of us that failed had to line up with our hands above our heads while some monsters poured slime on the back of our heads. Yeah, it was that kind of night.
Met back up with my group and then got called out to do Vomit Toss. I had seen a picture on Instagram of the outcome of this game and the person looked like they had vomit poured on their head. I was terrified. Basically it entailed a line of people with a cup on their heads moving vomit from one end to another. The cup had to stay on your head. I don’t know what they used to make the vomit, but let’s just say each bucket was different but incredibly realistic. So much so, that I couldn’t help imagining a smell (it totally didn’t smell) and after the first time it got poured on my head by my overzealous neighbor, I was trying really hard not to make real vomit. So. Gross. By the end it was fine, but I had “chunks” all over my hands and in my hair. Again. So. Gross.
Next up was Ram Ball, which was super fun! Think Bubble Ball but instead of everyone running around, one person is in the ball and their 3 teammates have to roll them around the field to pick up various face masks. While blindfolded. And with Ram monsters in football jerseys running into you to throw you off course every few seconds. Because I was a Jock, my team got a 30 second head start and we had a Virgin, we automatically earned an extra mask. I wanted to go again, it was so much fun. And harder than it looked too, since “right” and “left” don’t work too well in a ball situation. Plus, I was strapped in, so you had to be right on top of the mask at just the right angle or else it was out of reach. I think we ended up with 4. Which I was pretty proud of. (The record for the night was 9, so I guess I shouldn’t be too proud, lol).
At this point, we went back to try our luck at Wolf’s Den again. This time we got in quickly and without any kidnapping. The point of this game was to get through the three levels and complete a puzzle. Each level had 3 tiles with a picture on it. The final task was to complete the puzzle in the correct order or get thrown into a cage. Our strategy was to have each of us memorize 3 tiles. Smart right? I forgot to mention that there were Wolf soldiers walking around. They would shine their flashlights and if you got caught in the beam you had to freeze and then do whatever they wanted. The first few times I got frozen, they just turned the light off and we were on our way. Then, they asked us for a volunteer because they were going to send one of us back to the beginning. Patrick volunteered, so of course they told George to go. Patrick and I got caught again shortly after and this wolf was a bit more demanding in what he wanted us to do. I had previously heard some yelling as I entered the Den but didn’t really hone in on what was being yelled. Turns out, they really just wanted to embarrass us. The phrase they made us yell repeatedly, for a good 30 seconds, was “I like to eat dog shit.” Yeah. He let us go after that, thankfully.
We completed the puzzle correctly, yay! But then he threw Patrick in the cage, boo! (Did I mention this was his 3rd time in that same cage?)
At this point, we were again separated, but the Headmaster had called everyone to the stage, so we met back up there. Every once in a while the Headmaster would call out a rule change or make certain teams go do a game. This time it was our turn for Blood Tag. This was pretty much as it sounds, except Big Foot was the one doing the chasing the first round. I managed to get through 3 rounds without getting hit, but the game went against every horror movie instinct I have because it required me to run around the woods in the middle of the night looking for a hiding place. Not smart, is all I’m saying.
By this point, it was roughly 2am and the game was set to end at 2:30. We passed by a creeper van and accepted the candy they offered (all part of the game, I assure you. We were rewarded with a toenail. Necessary SCAG item). Then we went to the Mass Burial. I am not claustrophobic, but I’m not so arrogant to think that being buried alive isn’t a terrifying prospect. They made us crawl about 100 feet into a tunnel. This tunnel eventually led to the mass grave and was quite long, with a turn in the middle that, if you were the first person in line (as I was) came as a lovely surprise to your head. I was the first person into the grave, and I was instructed to lay on my side against the wall of the grave. Each person behind me was instructed to spoon the person in front of them, until we were pretty much just a box of sardines. They closed the lid, told us we could use the safe phrase (“I want my mommy”) at any point but that it would take a while to get to us, so we shouldn’t bother. They definitely shoveled dirt on us since that box really amplified any and all sounds. Then they turned a fan on. Now, I was first in line, so I got to lay at the edge of the tunnel where it met the grave box while the group in front of me went. I knew they would turn a fan on since I had just experienced it in the tunnel. I was not prepared for being on that side of it though. It felt like the air was being sucked out of the box and they left it on for several minutes. Not a scary experience but an unpleasant one for sure.
This is where my rational brain kicks in. First of all, they’re not going to seriously bury you alive. Yes, you sign a waiver. But there’s still too much liability in that. The graveyard they did this in was dark, so I couldn’t quite “get” how they were going to bury us. After the experience though, it seemed like we were in some sort of garden box. They shoveled a couple scoops of dirt onto the top of the lid and then scraped the shovels on the sides and top of the lid. I know it couldn’t have been more than a few scoops of dirt because I could very clearly hear the shovel connecting with the top of the box. Had there been more dirt, the shovel wouldn’t have met with the lid. Again, too rational. This is why Knott’s and Universal Studio’s Halloween mazes don’t scare me. I know it’s not real and I am too curious about how certain effects are done. That being said, the fan thing was definitely put in place for people like me, because it was unsettling. It was not an airtight box; I could see outside while I was at the edge of the tunnel. But still. Definitely the creepiest thing I experienced that night.
At that point it was pretty much game over. We turned in our SCAG items, accepted that we didn’t win anything, and went to bed. They had arts & crafts, horror movie themed board games, and scary movies throughout the whole event. So I figured I’d take a nap and then go do something else. Slept for maybe 45 minutes and then George left to watch a movie. I put my jacket on and then decided I wanted to sleep more. No more than 5 minutes pass and suddenly there’s heavy metal playing over the PA system and the Headmaster comes on to announce which team won (collected the most SCAG). Really? 4:30am is the time to do this? Since 4:30am is when my first alarm goes off during the week, I was wide awake at that point. So, I took my blanket and went to watch a movie. Got through the end of The Descent (I hate that movie, btw) and then the sun came up. So you literally could not see the next movie. By this time, it was 6am and we knew none of us had won Hell Master. So we left.
Honestly, I had a blast. There were some things I didn’t like about it (too many people, too many sub-games/sub-rules) but it was like an extended haunted house experience with a bunch of random and slightly effed up things happening too. I never went to the tent while the game was in progress, so no, they didn’t drag me out of bed. It was messy and could have been messier (we didn’t get to everything; not enough time) but not really scary. In fact, I was a little disappointed by that. In the hours leading up to the event, I was really getting worried about what I had signed up for. But it was pretty tame. Now, I realize my threshold for weird and creepy is much higher than the average person, but you’ve just read everything I went through. Was any of it really that scary? They definitely liked to mess with us, but that’s about it.
So overall, super fun. I would totally do it again, although maybe at a smaller venue. There’s nothing scary about waiting in line for a half hour.
In case you’re not aware, the Great Horror Campout is a 12 hour horror movie experience. You complete games/tasks to collect items (called S.C.A.G.) with the ultimate goal of surviving the night, of course, but mostly of being crowned Hell Master.
I’ve wanted to do this event for the past 2 years, so when I came across a Buy One Get One Free offer, I couldn’t pass it up. Especially since the price of those two tickets was somehow a lot cheaper than the price of a single ticket. Not sure how that’s a sound business practice, but it worked for me! Couldn’t find anyone to be brave with me, but not wanting to miss out (and lose out on ALL my money) I went alone.
All I knew going into it was that I was in the orange section. Each section was color coded and represented a specific fear. There was fear of monsters, blood, the woods, death, and fear. Team Orange was Terato- fear of monsters. (Fear of Fear, or Team Phobo, was the yellow “chicken” section which was off limits and therefore a safe zone).
I got to my tent and my tent-mates were already there. Two very nice gentlemen named George and Patrick. George was a previous Hell Master, so we decided to stick together through the night and began strategizing our evening. We briefly got separated before orientation, but I found them shortly after. I was told that when I left them, Patrick thought I may have been some sort of spy and they were sure they were not only never going to see me again, but that I was somehow going to try to take them out of the game. Crazy? Yes. Buy totally my kind of people. I replied to that with, “Well yeah, haven’t you ever seen a horror movie? A girl walks up to your tent and you just spill all your secrets? Amateurs!” Yeah, we were a great team, haha.
Our first stop was the Con-Tiki, which included dancing like a crazy person for a voodoo ritual and ended with a blood sacrifice (yes, the altar squirted us all with blood). Just a standard Saturday evening really.
Second stop was a bit more complicated. We made it to the Wolf’s Den line. And then promptly got separated. I failed to mention earlier that upon check-in, we had all been randomly assigned a horror movie stereotype. These included the Virgin, the Jock, the Cheerleader, and the Nerd. Each of these stereotypes may or may not have granted you special privileges during the tasks. George and I were both Jocks and Patrick was a Virgin. We were separated because a monster came to our line and took all the Jocks with her. She put us in line for the Pishtaco, for which the dossier instructions told us to get naked and paint ourselves. Um. Ok. We were specifically told to cover at the very least, our bikini areas, since the night before there had been a “Woodstock-type” incident. For the record, I was wearing a sports bra, so I took my shirt off. I may be brave for going to a horror-movie camp experience alone, but not brave enough to strip down to my underwear in front of anyone, let alone strangers. Just saying.
Anyhoo, we had to paint ourselves, which was actually pretty fun, and then chant to a priestess, and then there was a code-word thing that was super weird and made no sense. Pretty sure everyone failed that challenge. Those of us that failed had to line up with our hands above our heads while some monsters poured slime on the back of our heads. Yeah, it was that kind of night.
Met back up with my group and then got called out to do Vomit Toss. I had seen a picture on Instagram of the outcome of this game and the person looked like they had vomit poured on their head. I was terrified. Basically it entailed a line of people with a cup on their heads moving vomit from one end to another. The cup had to stay on your head. I don’t know what they used to make the vomit, but let’s just say each bucket was different but incredibly realistic. So much so, that I couldn’t help imagining a smell (it totally didn’t smell) and after the first time it got poured on my head by my overzealous neighbor, I was trying really hard not to make real vomit. So. Gross. By the end it was fine, but I had “chunks” all over my hands and in my hair. Again. So. Gross.
Next up was Ram Ball, which was super fun! Think Bubble Ball but instead of everyone running around, one person is in the ball and their 3 teammates have to roll them around the field to pick up various face masks. While blindfolded. And with Ram monsters in football jerseys running into you to throw you off course every few seconds. Because I was a Jock, my team got a 30 second head start and we had a Virgin, we automatically earned an extra mask. I wanted to go again, it was so much fun. And harder than it looked too, since “right” and “left” don’t work too well in a ball situation. Plus, I was strapped in, so you had to be right on top of the mask at just the right angle or else it was out of reach. I think we ended up with 4. Which I was pretty proud of. (The record for the night was 9, so I guess I shouldn’t be too proud, lol).
At this point, we went back to try our luck at Wolf’s Den again. This time we got in quickly and without any kidnapping. The point of this game was to get through the three levels and complete a puzzle. Each level had 3 tiles with a picture on it. The final task was to complete the puzzle in the correct order or get thrown into a cage. Our strategy was to have each of us memorize 3 tiles. Smart right? I forgot to mention that there were Wolf soldiers walking around. They would shine their flashlights and if you got caught in the beam you had to freeze and then do whatever they wanted. The first few times I got frozen, they just turned the light off and we were on our way. Then, they asked us for a volunteer because they were going to send one of us back to the beginning. Patrick volunteered, so of course they told George to go. Patrick and I got caught again shortly after and this wolf was a bit more demanding in what he wanted us to do. I had previously heard some yelling as I entered the Den but didn’t really hone in on what was being yelled. Turns out, they really just wanted to embarrass us. The phrase they made us yell repeatedly, for a good 30 seconds, was “I like to eat dog shit.” Yeah. He let us go after that, thankfully.
We completed the puzzle correctly, yay! But then he threw Patrick in the cage, boo! (Did I mention this was his 3rd time in that same cage?)
At this point, we were again separated, but the Headmaster had called everyone to the stage, so we met back up there. Every once in a while the Headmaster would call out a rule change or make certain teams go do a game. This time it was our turn for Blood Tag. This was pretty much as it sounds, except Big Foot was the one doing the chasing the first round. I managed to get through 3 rounds without getting hit, but the game went against every horror movie instinct I have because it required me to run around the woods in the middle of the night looking for a hiding place. Not smart, is all I’m saying.
By this point, it was roughly 2am and the game was set to end at 2:30. We passed by a creeper van and accepted the candy they offered (all part of the game, I assure you. We were rewarded with a toenail. Necessary SCAG item). Then we went to the Mass Burial. I am not claustrophobic, but I’m not so arrogant to think that being buried alive isn’t a terrifying prospect. They made us crawl about 100 feet into a tunnel. This tunnel eventually led to the mass grave and was quite long, with a turn in the middle that, if you were the first person in line (as I was) came as a lovely surprise to your head. I was the first person into the grave, and I was instructed to lay on my side against the wall of the grave. Each person behind me was instructed to spoon the person in front of them, until we were pretty much just a box of sardines. They closed the lid, told us we could use the safe phrase (“I want my mommy”) at any point but that it would take a while to get to us, so we shouldn’t bother. They definitely shoveled dirt on us since that box really amplified any and all sounds. Then they turned a fan on. Now, I was first in line, so I got to lay at the edge of the tunnel where it met the grave box while the group in front of me went. I knew they would turn a fan on since I had just experienced it in the tunnel. I was not prepared for being on that side of it though. It felt like the air was being sucked out of the box and they left it on for several minutes. Not a scary experience but an unpleasant one for sure.
This is where my rational brain kicks in. First of all, they’re not going to seriously bury you alive. Yes, you sign a waiver. But there’s still too much liability in that. The graveyard they did this in was dark, so I couldn’t quite “get” how they were going to bury us. After the experience though, it seemed like we were in some sort of garden box. They shoveled a couple scoops of dirt onto the top of the lid and then scraped the shovels on the sides and top of the lid. I know it couldn’t have been more than a few scoops of dirt because I could very clearly hear the shovel connecting with the top of the box. Had there been more dirt, the shovel wouldn’t have met with the lid. Again, too rational. This is why Knott’s and Universal Studio’s Halloween mazes don’t scare me. I know it’s not real and I am too curious about how certain effects are done. That being said, the fan thing was definitely put in place for people like me, because it was unsettling. It was not an airtight box; I could see outside while I was at the edge of the tunnel. But still. Definitely the creepiest thing I experienced that night.
At that point it was pretty much game over. We turned in our SCAG items, accepted that we didn’t win anything, and went to bed. They had arts & crafts, horror movie themed board games, and scary movies throughout the whole event. So I figured I’d take a nap and then go do something else. Slept for maybe 45 minutes and then George left to watch a movie. I put my jacket on and then decided I wanted to sleep more. No more than 5 minutes pass and suddenly there’s heavy metal playing over the PA system and the Headmaster comes on to announce which team won (collected the most SCAG). Really? 4:30am is the time to do this? Since 4:30am is when my first alarm goes off during the week, I was wide awake at that point. So, I took my blanket and went to watch a movie. Got through the end of The Descent (I hate that movie, btw) and then the sun came up. So you literally could not see the next movie. By this time, it was 6am and we knew none of us had won Hell Master. So we left.
Honestly, I had a blast. There were some things I didn’t like about it (too many people, too many sub-games/sub-rules) but it was like an extended haunted house experience with a bunch of random and slightly effed up things happening too. I never went to the tent while the game was in progress, so no, they didn’t drag me out of bed. It was messy and could have been messier (we didn’t get to everything; not enough time) but not really scary. In fact, I was a little disappointed by that. In the hours leading up to the event, I was really getting worried about what I had signed up for. But it was pretty tame. Now, I realize my threshold for weird and creepy is much higher than the average person, but you’ve just read everything I went through. Was any of it really that scary? They definitely liked to mess with us, but that’s about it.
So overall, super fun. I would totally do it again, although maybe at a smaller venue. There’s nothing scary about waiting in line for a half hour.
Monday, April 20, 2015
In the 102 days since my last post I have completed 7 races, including one 5k, one 10k, three half marathons, my first Ragnar, and my first full marathon. That's a total of 89.54 miles of running adventures.
Its been an interesting journey so far, and with my first out of state race just 5 days away, it's looking like its gonna be a grat year of memories as well.
LA Marathon - 3/15/15: I decided to commit to LAM only in January, even though I had already been "training" for 2 months and had told a couple people that I really wanted to do it. Because I had quite a few busy Saturdays, I had to miss running club. This means I did the majority of my long runs alone on Sundays, and man was that brutal!! As if running for 4 hours straight wasn't bad enough, having to do so alone in my own brain was downright torture. On more than one occasion, I might add.
As it turned out, marathon day was super hot. So much so that the race directors decided to forego timing devices along the course, so that people would slow down and not worry about time. As a first time marathoner, I was guaranteed a PR so I took that as a gift and promised to really enjoy the race. And I did! I enjoyed a chili cheese dog at Mile 6, did a silent cheer at mile 16, which officially marked the farthest I had run up to that point, took pictures of funny signs, talked to fellow runners, and was ecstatic when I hit the IERC tent at Mile 20, where my parents were volunteering. I realize now that I barely remember anything that was said during those few minutes spent getting a snack, soda, and an icy towel, but I do remember my madre telling me that I looked really good and nothing like how I looked after my first half (where, TMI, I threw up Excorcist-style on the side of the freeway and couldn't walk for 2 days after). I think at that moment I knew I could finish the race. Yes, it took until Mile 20 for that to finally become a reality for me. I knew that I could walk the entire race and be fine. But if I did that then the course would be closed, and although I would get a medal, I wouldn't get that finish line experience that every runner lives for. Mile 20 was the high point of the race for me.
And then the race sucked until Mile 23, lol. There were some hills and no shade. I just remember those miles being completely awful. And then 23 hit and I ran my little heart out until the finish line. Turning that last corner onto Ocean Ave was one of the best feelings in the world. I crossed the finish line, got my medal, took my pictures, and then found a place to sit down and process. My parents were on their way to the reunion area and my best friend was on her way there as well. I took a few minutes to read all the text messages, Instagram and Facebook comments, which were so sweet and encouraging. I think during that half hour I was on auto-pilot. I was exhausted, but in the best possible way, and felt like i was still running on adrenaline.
I eventually met up with my parents and bestie. My dad gave me a hug, handed me some lovely roses, and asked, "So are you gonna do it again next year?" Umm, not the time to ask, Dad!!! I told him to ask me the next day. (PS, still don't have an answer for that...)
My bestie and her husband bought me a beer, which was probably the best thing I'd tasted all day. Also, it meant the world to me to have her there to congratulate me after such a huge accomplishment. I couldn't do all the races I do without the support and encouragement of my friends. They are my biggest fans and cheerleaders. They don't make me feel silly for dreaming big or ever ask, "are you sure you can do that?" I tell them I want to run a marathon, they're all for it. I tell them I want to run a half marathon in all 50 states, they say, "Awesome, what concert is in town that weekend? Let's coordinate!" If you don't have awesome friends like that then I suggest you reevaluate your friends. Seriously. I mean that with love.
<3
Its been an interesting journey so far, and with my first out of state race just 5 days away, it's looking like its gonna be a grat year of memories as well.
LA Marathon - 3/15/15: I decided to commit to LAM only in January, even though I had already been "training" for 2 months and had told a couple people that I really wanted to do it. Because I had quite a few busy Saturdays, I had to miss running club. This means I did the majority of my long runs alone on Sundays, and man was that brutal!! As if running for 4 hours straight wasn't bad enough, having to do so alone in my own brain was downright torture. On more than one occasion, I might add.
As it turned out, marathon day was super hot. So much so that the race directors decided to forego timing devices along the course, so that people would slow down and not worry about time. As a first time marathoner, I was guaranteed a PR so I took that as a gift and promised to really enjoy the race. And I did! I enjoyed a chili cheese dog at Mile 6, did a silent cheer at mile 16, which officially marked the farthest I had run up to that point, took pictures of funny signs, talked to fellow runners, and was ecstatic when I hit the IERC tent at Mile 20, where my parents were volunteering. I realize now that I barely remember anything that was said during those few minutes spent getting a snack, soda, and an icy towel, but I do remember my madre telling me that I looked really good and nothing like how I looked after my first half (where, TMI, I threw up Excorcist-style on the side of the freeway and couldn't walk for 2 days after). I think at that moment I knew I could finish the race. Yes, it took until Mile 20 for that to finally become a reality for me. I knew that I could walk the entire race and be fine. But if I did that then the course would be closed, and although I would get a medal, I wouldn't get that finish line experience that every runner lives for. Mile 20 was the high point of the race for me.
And then the race sucked until Mile 23, lol. There were some hills and no shade. I just remember those miles being completely awful. And then 23 hit and I ran my little heart out until the finish line. Turning that last corner onto Ocean Ave was one of the best feelings in the world. I crossed the finish line, got my medal, took my pictures, and then found a place to sit down and process. My parents were on their way to the reunion area and my best friend was on her way there as well. I took a few minutes to read all the text messages, Instagram and Facebook comments, which were so sweet and encouraging. I think during that half hour I was on auto-pilot. I was exhausted, but in the best possible way, and felt like i was still running on adrenaline.
I eventually met up with my parents and bestie. My dad gave me a hug, handed me some lovely roses, and asked, "So are you gonna do it again next year?" Umm, not the time to ask, Dad!!! I told him to ask me the next day. (PS, still don't have an answer for that...)
My bestie and her husband bought me a beer, which was probably the best thing I'd tasted all day. Also, it meant the world to me to have her there to congratulate me after such a huge accomplishment. I couldn't do all the races I do without the support and encouragement of my friends. They are my biggest fans and cheerleaders. They don't make me feel silly for dreaming big or ever ask, "are you sure you can do that?" I tell them I want to run a marathon, they're all for it. I tell them I want to run a half marathon in all 50 states, they say, "Awesome, what concert is in town that weekend? Let's coordinate!" If you don't have awesome friends like that then I suggest you reevaluate your friends. Seriously. I mean that with love.
<3
Thursday, January 8, 2015
The road to 1000 miles is a bumpy one
Happy New Year! We are officially a week into the new year. How are you doing with those resolutions? If you're kicking butt, then awesome! Keep up the good work! And if you're struggling a bit, that's OK too! It takes a little bit of time for an action to become a habit (21 to 30 days depending on your source of information), so don't beat yourself up if you haven't quite kicked that Starbucks addiction yet, or if you haven't gotten that bikini body you envisioned just yet. Get back on that horse and keep at it!
I started off my year by sleeping through my alarm and missing the 11 mile IERC Bandit Run. I jumped out of bed at 5am, ran into the living room where my dad was watching TV and blurted, "Why didn't you wake me up?!" Yes, because apparently I'm not a 28 year old adult capable of setting my own alarm(s). Needless to say, i went to bed at 8pm on New Year's Eve for nothing. I did eventually get my butt out of my blanket fort and proceeded on a 3.39 mile run. So not quite a total loss.
With the LA Marathon only 66 days away (eek!!!) I need to really make sure my training is on point! This week I've run 16 miles total. Not something to be proud of, exactly. But I've got my first half marathon of 2015 this Saturday, so that number will definitely be higher for week 2. I WILL reach my 1000 mile goal this year!!!!
Speaking of my 1000 mile goal, I realized that so far, I've reached my 10,000 step goal every day in 2015! This is definitely a direct result of my running goal, but I decided to make it a January goal as well; for a little extra motivation on those days I don't run.
My third birthday resolution was to take a picture every day. So far so "good". My intention with that project was to find something worth remembering in every day. I sit at a desk for 40 hours each week, and in traffic for another 15-20. The commute is definitely a choice, but I don't want it to define my life. I want to find something beautiful in each day. Unfortunately, out of 6 pictures (today's inspiration hasn't been discovered just yet), half of them are seflies. Now, in my defense, one of those selfies was me wearing a Dallas Cowboys jersey this past Sunday to commemorate the win over Detroit. But I don't want 100 (unnecessary) selfies at the end of the year. So I need to be more perceptive to my surroundings and more creative with my photos. That will be my mini-goal of the week.
Have a great week!
I started off my year by sleeping through my alarm and missing the 11 mile IERC Bandit Run. I jumped out of bed at 5am, ran into the living room where my dad was watching TV and blurted, "Why didn't you wake me up?!" Yes, because apparently I'm not a 28 year old adult capable of setting my own alarm(s). Needless to say, i went to bed at 8pm on New Year's Eve for nothing. I did eventually get my butt out of my blanket fort and proceeded on a 3.39 mile run. So not quite a total loss.
With the LA Marathon only 66 days away (eek!!!) I need to really make sure my training is on point! This week I've run 16 miles total. Not something to be proud of, exactly. But I've got my first half marathon of 2015 this Saturday, so that number will definitely be higher for week 2. I WILL reach my 1000 mile goal this year!!!!
Speaking of my 1000 mile goal, I realized that so far, I've reached my 10,000 step goal every day in 2015! This is definitely a direct result of my running goal, but I decided to make it a January goal as well; for a little extra motivation on those days I don't run.
My third birthday resolution was to take a picture every day. So far so "good". My intention with that project was to find something worth remembering in every day. I sit at a desk for 40 hours each week, and in traffic for another 15-20. The commute is definitely a choice, but I don't want it to define my life. I want to find something beautiful in each day. Unfortunately, out of 6 pictures (today's inspiration hasn't been discovered just yet), half of them are seflies. Now, in my defense, one of those selfies was me wearing a Dallas Cowboys jersey this past Sunday to commemorate the win over Detroit. But I don't want 100 (unnecessary) selfies at the end of the year. So I need to be more perceptive to my surroundings and more creative with my photos. That will be my mini-goal of the week.
Have a great week!
<3
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