Ironman 70.3 & Carlsbad 5000

Last weekend I spent a lot of time in North County both volunteering at a race and running a race. I volunteered at the Ironman California Oceanside 70.3 race on Saturday, and then ran the Carlsbad 5000 on Sunday.

Ironman Oceanside

Oceanside, which is about 45 minutes north of San Diego proper, hosts an Ironman branded 70.3 race (aka a half Ironman) every March. I had heard about this race last year and it had crossed my mind to volunteer, but something must have come up and I forgot about it. As this race rolled around this year I contemplated volunteering again, but wasn't sure what role I'd want to fill and was a bit turned off by the long volunteer shifts. I shelved the volunteering idea again until my friend Kathryn asked if i wanted to volunteer with her. Sure! I took her request as a sign.

Ironman Transition Volunteer

We looked at various options based on time commitment, time start, and requirements. I wanted something that didn't start too early (so I could run first) and that wasn't messy or strenuous. I was instantly drawn to  aid stations (handing out water is easy right?) but Kathryn was attracted to the "finish line catcher" position. Um... exhausted and sweaty athletes collapsing in your arms as they cross the finish line? Are you kidding me? I am a major germ freak and didn't want to touch anyone! I mentioned wanting a less hands-off job and Kathryn found another one that seemed hands off and met her requirement of something that showcased the multi-sport aspect of the race .... T2 bike checkout!

With Kathryn at Bag Check

Essentially we'd be making sure that everyone leaving the transition area was taking their own bike out. The bikes are numbered as well as the athlete's helmets and body. Easy right? Look and match numbers? Aka stay clean and read numbers!  I could totally do that! I was excited for the position and was looking forward to race day. On race morning Kathryn ended up getting to the volunteer area first and told me she was actually in bag check not transition, and was helping unload a bag check truck. Hmm okay, no problem. I got there and instantly started helping people unload huge boxes with large bags containing smaller bags with the athletes' gear. We started unloading the "morning clothes" bags which were the dry clothes that the athletes had come in.

Organized Chaos

It seriously seemed like the bags were never ending. We'd unload and arrange a whole section, and then more came. And then more. And then more. I was exhausted and tired and totally unprepared for manual labor. After two hours of unloading bags when I thought the end was near ... the green bags suddenly turned blue. Every athlete had TWO bags for this area. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! We had to do this all over again? I felt bewildered, defeated, worn out, and sad. I didn't have long to wallow though, the bags were coming! We all started working to get this second set of bags out of the trucks and organized. The second bags by the way were WET and dirty since they contained wetsuits and such. Yuck!

Only Had Glimpses of the Racers

Around the time that we started arranging the second bags, we started getting athletes looking for the first AND second bags. Talk about stress! Trying to run around unloading new bags while searching for existing bags was organized chaos. Luckily I love scanning numbers (I was the fastest call number reader at the Stacks Services at the UCSB library in college!) and instantly switched into scanning robot mode. I LOVE organizing and was on a personal mission to help arrange incoming bags while finding outgoing bags.

Todd's Morning Clothes Bag!

Hours of this process ensued and myself and the other dozen or so volunteers were flying around the place. While setting out the bags I saw (well searched for) my friend Todd's bag and assumed I'd see him when he picked up his gear. Sadly I missed him but I did see Nicole and several others I knew doing the race.

Hello Kitty Tri Top???
(So embarrassing I chased this poor guy down
asking about his jersey and if I could take a picture.
Apparently he works at Sanrio!)

Let me just say that working bag check was crazy but fun. I was amazed by how many people picking up their bag made a point to thank us for being there. In their tired and cold state they thanked us! Not just "thanks" for my bag, I heard "thank you for being here" over and over again. I was surprised, flattered, and humbled. I was there to help support them and their awesomeness! Congrats to you! Forget us!  

Six hours later I was dead tired. My back hurt from all the physical labor, my feet hurt, I was tired, and I wanted to get home. Almost all of the bags were doled out and I was ready to leave. We checked out with the lead and found out that of the 5000 bags in our area only 15 were missing. Um, the airlines can take note. Very impassive! I headed home to relax and prepare to (drive all the way up there again.. ahh!) for the Carlsbad 5000 the next morning

Todd's race recap here.

Nicole's race recaps here.

Carlsbad 5000

I had never run this race before since the idea of driving 45 minutes to run for 25 minutes before driving 45 minutes home seemed silly to me. It seemed like everyone I knew who ran actually ran this race though, so when an Active Schwaggle came up for it I thought what the heck, for $15 I'll do it!

Representing the SF Marathon!

After working the bag check all day on Saturday though at the Ironman I was really hurting. My back was killing me from bending over and handling the bags non-stop for six hours, and I was just tired and unmotivated. I  really thought about just skipping the race but in the end decided to go and do it.

Another Beautiful Day to Run in San Diego

My division started at 9:23 so I drove up at 8:00, parked, and made my way to the start line. Along the way I was fiddling with my Walkman MP3 player which I had kind of broken a few days earlier. (I had broken one earpiece off a bit and it was loose.) As I fiddled with the earpiece it went from loose to a completely separate broken off piece. Crap. Bye bye Walkman. I stared down at the two pieces in disbelief before sadly throwing them in the garbage and accepting that I'd be ruining this race in silence. Sigh.

Freight Train - Coming Through!

I tried to find Tara at the start line but couldn't spot her in the crowd and before I knew it we were off! I knew my overall pace goal was a little over 7:00 and really tried to resist the urge to go sub 7:00 in the first mile. I started out in the beginning of the pack though and it was hard to hold back.  By the end of the first mile I was hurting .. and bored .. and so missing my music. The course went out from the village to the coast and had a down and back and out and back loop. I HATE out and backs! I get that they did this for crowd support but based on course alone I hated this race. I was hoping for a PR in this course (Trying to beat 22.26) but hadn't prepared with any speed workouts, was running unmotivated without music, and overall wasn't feeling it. Around mile 2 1/2 I gave up a bit and let a few people pass me, but then tried to reel it in at the finish. How can running 3.1 miles be so miserable when I've actually enjoyed the last few times I've ran 26.2??

This Face is Priceless! Worst Race Photo Ever!
(Click on the picture for a better view and notice the guy off to the right!)

As I approached the finish line all I could think about was how happy I was for this crap to be over. I saw in the final stretch that I wasn't going to PR and didn't even care. I just wanted the race to be over!

Official Results

Finish: 22:59

Pace: 7:24

AG: 37/275

Women: 85/1121

Overall: 122:1456

Mile 1 Pace: 6:56

Mile 2 Pace: 7:21

Mile 3 Pace: 7:42

Last 0.1: 6:28

After crossing the finish line I just wanted to go home and finish up with my day. I saw Tara and Ben soon after though and hung out with them for a bit (picture time!) before heading back to my car to drive home. I'm glad I did the race to see what I could do, but was bummed with my performance and the fact that I gave up before it even started when my Walkman broke, and then I totally gave up around mile 2 when my spirit died.

Uh-Oh - Glam Runners Out of Tutu!

Glam Runner Founders Monika & Tara

I really doubt I'd do this race again, but I'm glad that I did it at least once. Its really not worth it for me to drive more than 15 minutes for a 5K, and its stupid for me to race and expect a PR if I havent' been doing speed workouts. Lessons learned! 

Carlsbad 5000 Medals for the First 250

Next Up

After the Carlsbad 5000 my next race was the Hollywood Half which was this past weekend, and then this coming weekend I have the Gran Fondo 60 mile bike tour. This will be my first bike race to date and I'm super nervous! I'm hoping that the training I have done is sufficient, especially coupled with my aerobic base thanks to running. Guess we'll see next week! Keep your fingers crossed for me!