26 Point Tutu

This past weekend I ran my 13th full marathon! I haven't run a full marathon since June of last year and was a bit nervous going into the race. I had such a terrible #12 and the feeling of disappointment from that race has haunted me for almost a year. I knew going into this race that I needed to go easy on myself and just have fun, so I set several goals prior to this race.
 

1. Complete the race without getting injured
2. Complete the race without a total emotional meltdown like last time
3. Complete the race with a smile
4. Complete the race feeling like I've pushed myself as much as I could
5. And as always... complete the race under 4 hours!

I managed to accomplish goals 1-3, but sadly not 4 and 5. Well hey, as I learned while getting my engineering degree, 60% counts as passing. Haha!

Race Expo

Christina and I planned on meeting at the race expo around 3pm, so at 1pm I kissed my dogs goodbye, told them not to have a party, and hid all of the good liquor that they usually get into with their friends. and drove up to Orange County. (Their mom #2 came over to watch them. Don't think you can rob me when I travel! My dogs and petsitter will get you!) The expo was held at the OC County Fair grounds and was a good size and not massively crowded like expos often are. (Maybe because we got there so late.) I arrived at the expo hungry and tasted about 6 different kinds of protein bars. Oink. I managed to hold back my inner shopaholic and only bought a pair of inexpensive polycarbonate sunglasses to wear when I bike.

 

Super Cute OC Marathon Race Shirt

Pre-Race Dinner

Christina and I were staying at a Residence Inn about 2 miles from the race finish and when I searched for restaurants in the neighborhood it looked like 85% of the restaurants were Japanese. While I love sushi and all Asian food, we actually had Japanese together the night before the Rock N Roll last June. I jokingly told Christina that I didn't want to do anything this time that I did last time, and she admitted that she had been thinking something similar. We ended up going to the same California Pizza Kitchen that we went to before the Surf City Half Marathon, had our usual soup and salad, and then headed off in search of a grocery store so we could stock up on food for breakfast. Let me just say I LOVE Residence Inns for trips like this! Their rooms are like little studio apartments and have a kitchen with a full sized fridge, stove, and microwave. Perfect for cooking up breakfast!

Race Morning

The marathon was set to start at 6am and since I was in Wave 1 I was assigned to a 4:15am shuttle from the finish (where we'd park) to the start. Um ... 4:15am?? Christina was assigned to a later wave with a 4:45am shuttle time so we decided to just go with her wave. I'm not into getting to a start-line super early and milling around. I like to eat within an hour of starting to run and didn't want to eat my full breakfast in the dark outside. We parked at the fairground around 4:30am, got in line for the shuttle, and and before you knew it we were over at the start line waiting in the dark with a sea of other runners.

 

Smiling at 4am

 

I'm always amazed how you can bump into someone you know in a sea of tens of thousands of runners at a race. When I ran the Rock N Roll in San Diego in 2006 and 2007 I bumped into my college friend AJ at the start line both times. What are the chances?? Anyways, as I was standing in line waiting for this race to start I looked ahead of me a bit and caught site of my friend and former carpool mate Suneel from my last job! This was going to be his first full marathon! We wished each other luck .. and then we were off! I didn't want to stress about my finish time so I set my Virtual Trainer on my watch to a distance/pace combo of 26.2 miles and 9:00 minute miles, but then switched the view to a mileage countdown and current pace.

 

The First Half

I tried to take the first few miles easy and realized that miles 1, 2 and 3 just flew by! Before I knew it I was up to mile 8 and feeling great! This was a mental win for me since my failure at the Rock N Roll last year started at mile 6. Every mile past 6 felt like victory! Soon we were coming up on mile 10, 11, 12... wow! I still felt great! The course for the first half was absolutely beautiful! We went along the ocean, passed countless beautiful houses, ran through neighborhoods with houses on little lakes/canals. I had never really been in Newport Beach before and with each street we turned down I thought man, I want to live here!

Feeling Good

 

The course was advertised as being "net downhill" and from the course profile it looked relatively flat. Um, it actually didn't feel relatively flat and had a LOT of rolling hills. Overall my Garmin said we covered a total elevation gain of 3118 and elevation loss of 3300. The crowd support was great and the first half really flew by. We split from the half marathoners at mile 12, and then .... hey wait, where did everybody go?

 

Pushing On a Small Hill

 

The Second Half

Almost immediately after splitting off from the half marathoners I noticed that there were very few people running the full marathon. The next few people were 50-100 yards ahead of me, there was a distinct drop off in crowd support, and suddenly we were running in an industrial office park area. The course went through the office parks around John Wayne airport, around the sidewalk of the South Coast Plaza mall, along the riverbed (think of the big flood ditch where they drag race in Grease), and then through a trail behind a neighborhood. 

 

Crossing a Bridge in an Office Park

At some point around mile 15 I got tired, and at mile 17 I succumbed to running and walking. I physically felt okay (nothing hurt or was cramping), I think I had my nutrition okay because my stomach felt fine (I had a 600 calorie breakfast and ate 6 gels on the course), but I just didn't have the will to keep running without stopping. I ran walked for the remainder of the race and tried to just be happy I made it this far without really hurting, and I resisted the urge to flip the display on my watch to start predicting when I'd finish. I had no idea if I was over or under a 4:00 projected finish time until mile 22 when someone came up behind me and said "You can do it! Let's go!" I turned around and saw the 4:00 pace leader and gasped OH NO! really loudly without thinking.  A guy behind me said "Yeah, I just said the same thing". I picked it up again and figured I could hold onto him for 4 miles, but a few minutes later I succumbed to my next walk break.

 

Floating in My Tutu

Girl Power

As you've noticed from the pictures I ran this race in a big pink tutu. I've never even worn a running skirt before, and made a bold jump to a more flamboyant outfit. I decided to run in the tutu to make the race more fun and to help me not take myself so seriously. Guess what? Running in a tutu is AWESOME! (BTW a friend and I are selling these handmade tutus as a fundraiser for Girls on the Run. Like us on facebook to see other styles and pricing!)

 

 Christina - aka Blue Tutu

I can't even count how many women yelled out "GIRL POWER" to me and pumped their fist. Dozens of people on the sidelines shouted out "I love your tutu", and the girls at the water stations and several of the friendly police officers manning the course gave words of encouragement as well. Every time someone cheered me on, it made me smile. In addition to support from the crowd I also had the support of fellow runners. A couple times on the trail when I started to walk I had people behind me shout "Come on tutu girl! You can do it!"
 

Approaching the Finish

A Small World

Somewhere around mile 23 (?) when I was walking, a girl just ahead of me turned around and said "Hey Monika, its Jenny". It was my dailymile friend Jenny who I knew would be doing this race and I had told her to keep an eye out for me in my big tutu. I am SO SO glad I bumped into her since we chatted and ran/walked the last few miles together and kept each other company. It turns out she works with one of my cousins and knows another. How crazy is that? We stuck together to the very end and crossed side by side.  

 

Finally Finishing

 

Blue Tutu

Christina had originally told me that she wanted to go to mile 22 to cheer me on, but as miles 22 and 23 passed and I didn't see her, I figured she'd be at the finish line instead. She actually had a spot right around mile 26 and when she saw me coming she started madly waving her two signs and jumping up and down and cheering. :o) It was a nice welcome to the finish of a long race and it really made me smile. 

 

Blue Tutu's Got the Spirit!

Soon after crossing the finish line I almost walked into Danica  from Chicrunner who gave me a well-appreciated congratulations hug. Luckily it was so hot out that I probably just had a nice salt mustache not wasn't channeling my inner banana slug like I usually am after a race. I went over to bag check and got my stuff and my phone and then managed to find Christina about 20 minutes later. We bumped into two guys in skirts (well, one was actually wearing a loincloth) who turned out to be from the San Diego Hash House Harriers who put on the San Dieguito Half Marathon which I ran earlier in the year.

 

Running in Costume is FUN

Post Race

After the race Christina and I went back and showered and then went to get lunch  ... where else? At a Mexican restaurant! Nothing hits the spot after a long run the way a burrito does! We had a nice relaxing lunch and then both hit the road to head home. I was soooo tired on the drive and felt even worse for Christina who had to drive all the way back up to San Francisco.

 

 Dog Tired

When I got home I thought about taking a nap, but instead I managed to motivate to head off to church to share my thanks for a successful race. At several points in the race when I was walking and running and trying to push myself but listen to my body, my mantra was "God, please guide me". I think that worked. :o)

Humbled and Grateful Crossing the Finish

Race Stats

For my running nerd friends out there who love looking at splits, here are my official stats for the race. You'll notice that I kept a nice 8:30 pace average through mile 16, but with constant walk breaks for the next 10 miles I ended up averaging a 9:30. Not my best race but not my worst. Notice how there were only 1658 people doing the full marathon! I think there were ~15,000 racers total, meaning 90% did the half!

 

Official Finish Time 4:09:26

Mile Splits

 

Later in the afternoon after I had finished the race my dad had emailed me my race stats from the website. He pointed out that of the three 32 year old women from San Diego, I had come in first. He ended his email with "YOU ARE A CHAMPION!!"  Aww... so cute.

 

Next Up

I have two shorter races planned for May, a triathlon in June, and then the San Francisco Marathon in July! Eek! I haven't put my training schedule together yet but will do so this weekend. I'm going to need to blend in some biking and running in the first half of this training round to prepare for an International distance tri, and I'm going to try to start going to the Tri Club's Tuesday night track workouts to work on my speed.  I also have a groupon for Bikram Yoga that I need to use to help work on my core. Overall this race was a huge success for me. Regardless of my finish time I finally believe in my marathon abilities again. I can do this! And I can do it with a smile.
 

Bending like Bikram After the Race

26 Reasons I Love Marathons

Reason #26
I can run down the street in a tutu and not everyone will think I’m crazy

Reason #25
I have a place where I can ring a cowbell and
in my head scream “More cowbell!”

Reason #24
I get to eat anything I want post-marathon (BURRITO!!!!) 

Reason #23
I get to collect medals which make me feel like a winner just for trying

Reason #22
I know that the cheers of a stranger really do make a difference

Reason #21
I’ve discovered that high fives from kids can make your day

Reason #20
I’ve gotten to read so many funny and unique signs on the courses

Reason #19
I discovered that sometimes it’s more fun to cheer
on a friend than run the race yourself

Reason #18
They’ve helped me meet new people and make new friends

Reason #17
I’ve gotten to explore new cities through different races

Reason #16
I have an excuse to be outside regularly

Reason #15
I’ve learned about my body and abilities

Reason #14
I’ve learned the importance of rest

Reason #13
Months of training gives me a reason to eat healthier

Reason #12
Running regularly keeps me healthy

Reason #11
I've been able to run in the footsteps of Olympians
and world record holders

Reason #10
I’ve learned how to be humble

Reason #9
I’m a more self-confident person in all aspects of my life

Reason #8
I’ve learned to deal with disappointment

Reason #7
I’ve learned how to plan to accomplish my goals

Reason #6
I’ve learned to set realistic goals

Reason #5
I get to challenge myself over and over again

Reason #4
They’ve made me do things I’ve said I’d never do

Reason #3
They’ve taught me what true determination is

Reason #2
They give me time to talk to God

Reason #1
They make me believe that what my
parents said when I was little is true:

"Anything is possible if you try"

Marathon #13 Here We Go!

This weekend I will be running my 13th full marathon! Let's hope that 13 is the lucky number! As most of you know I ran my last marathon back in June of last year. I ran the Rock N Roll San Diego for the 4th time, but due to circumstances beyond my control I had a terrible race and a miserable experience.  (More on my blog Dealing With Disappointment.) I felt so horrible during and after the race that I actually gave up full marathons all together. (More on my blog I'm Over the Marathon.) I suffered so much physically and emotionally during the race and never, EVER wanted to feel that bad ever again. My best way to avoid this disappointment was to give up trying. (Wait, who was that defeated girl? That's not ME!)

Avoiding the Marathon

After deciding to give up on full marathons I turned my sites on a faster half marathon, and an attempt at a triathlon. (More on my blog 2/3 of a Triathlete.) Since the RNR last year I've completed 4 triathlons and seven half marathons. Recaps can be found here:

San Francisco Half Marathon July 2010

Long Beach Half Marathon October 2010 (no recap)

Carlsbad Half Marathon January 2011

Surf City Half Marathon February 2011

Mermaid & San Dieguito Half Marathons February 2011

Painted Rocks Half Marathon April 2011

Fearless Triathlon October 2010

Tri Club Race November 2010

Tri Club Race March 2011 (no recap)

Super Seal Triathlon March 2011

Missing the Marathon

After competing in several triathlons and half marathons, I began to miss my true love - the full marathon. Back in November I received really exciting news ... I was named a Running Ambassador for the San Francisco Marathon! (More on my blog here.) While this didn't mean that I had to run the full distance race, after thinking about it for a few weeks I decided that this was a sign that I should. The San Francisco course is pretty difficult and I didn't want that to be my first entry back into marathon running, so I search for a flat, local race and settled on the OC Marathon ... which is this weekend! Eek!

Somewhere along the way I was also talked into running the Marine Corps Marathon as well, so now I've gone from NO marathons in 2011 to THREE. :o)

Marine Corps Marathon 2009

OC Marathon Training

Prior to getting back together with my love the full marathon, I had set a goal for myself to work my way up to an Olympic Distance triathlon in 2011, and to then work towards a 70.3 Half Ironman distance race in 2012. When I decided to run not one but three full marathons this year, smashing together a marathon training and triathlon training program became a bit challenging. Sure Ironman athletes do this, but I'm not an Ironman athlete! I have a busy job that requires travel, and I'm pretty busy outside of work with Girls on the Run. I ended up putting together a schedule that involved 1 day of swimming, 4 days of running, and 1 day of biking. 

Super Seal Triathlon 2011

Well.... I didn't quite stick to that schedule. After a zero-speed bike crash on my first attempt to clip into my bike, I was scared to bike. (More on my blog Facing Fears.) I managed to swim consistently up until my last triathlon in March, but overall my training has been primarily running. I've been training for this marathon for the past 14 weeks, running between 3-8 miles during the week, and up to 20 miles for my long runs on the weekend. (In total I've run 350 actual miles out of 394 planned. I'm 89% to goal!) In the first 7 weeks of training leading up to the Super Seal Triathlon I didn't take any rest days (using swimming as  a recovery day from running), but once the race passed I've been taking Monday as a rest day. Ahh, rest days are so glorious!

My Dogs Know How to Relax!

OC Marathon Goals

A friend recently blogged about how she sets multiple goals for a marathon. I thought this was a great idea! While my ultimate goal has always been to break 4 hours, there are so many other factors to focus on as well. For the OC Marathon my goals are:

1. Complete the race without getting injured
2. Complete the race without a total emotional meltdown like last time
3. Complete the race with a smile
4. Complete the race feeling like I've pushed myself as much as I could
5. And as always... complete the race under 4 hours!

I'm extremely nervous going into this race after my last poor race, but I'm going to try as hard as possible to enjoy myself and not stress out too much. To help me do this, I've decided to run in a BIG PINK TUTU! My friend Christina who is running the half marathon will be donning her own blue tutu! Hey, if nothing else, I'm going to go out there and have fun! (A friend and I are making these tutus for charity, to see all of our styles check out our GLAM RUNNER facebook fan page.)

Remembering to Have FUN!

If you want to track me on race day you can do so on the OC Marathon website. I'm bib number 1128 but you can also search for me by name. The race will provide live splits at the 5K, 10K, half marathon, and 30K locations and I will start running at 6:00am PST. 

Wish me luck this Sunday! I'm so nervous!!!

Top 10 Trail Running Tips

Let me start with a disclaimer that I'm by no means a trail running expert ... but I run 4-5 days a week on moderately hilly (and urban) trails and have completed 4 trail races to date. (10K, 15K, 10K, and a half marathon)  My most recent race was a trail half marathon (my first one!), and after the race I had several email discussions about trail running that lead me to put together a list of my own tips for surviving a trial run.

Tip #1 - Review the Course

I'm guilty of registering for a race and not looking up the course route or profile on the website, and then arriving race day 'waiting to see what the course brings' ... and then being majorly annoyed by a course I hate. Most courses these days have maps of the course and a course elevation profile. If they don't (thank you Internet), there's a good Chance you can find one online from a runner who has previously run the race. Review the course so you won't be surprised come race day.

Tip #2 - Train for the Course

Is the course hilly? Is the terrain rough? If you have never run on rough or hilly terrain, the race will be MISERABLE for you! I have always hated hills and was forced into hill training a year ago when I moved to a house on the top of  a hill that led down to my trail. Its fun on the way down, not so much on the way up. After walking (and grumbling) up the hill for several weeks, I finally decided it was time to conquer running up a hill. I made very slow (and unhappy) progress, but over time I improved. If you are planning on racing on a hilly course, train for it beforehand or you will not enjoy the race.

Tip #3 - Set Realistic Goals

I'm guilty of hoping every race is a PR. In reality this isn't going to happen. Every course varies - from direction to elevation to course support to aid stations to weather. One race can't be always be compared to another based on distance. I think trail races in general can't be compared to each other. Who knows what terrain you'll encounter! If you are doing a trail race for the first time your goal shouldn't be to beat your time on that same distance on a flat course. It just isn't reasonable. Maybe your goal can be your PR plus a buffer, or maybe your goal is to just run the whole race regardless of pace.

Tip #4 - Dress Accordingly

I've only done a few trail races, but each time I'm shocked by how much the temperature can vary from start to finish and from the peaks to the valleys. Dressing in layers is the best way to accommodate fluctuating temperatures. I love my Asics sleeve warmers and find that they're a great way to alternate between "long sleeve" and short sleeve. Sometimes I wear gloves as well and find them easy to just carry for the rest of a run or tuck into my waist band. Check the weather for the area that the race is in beforehand, and listen to the race directors suggestions for attire. If they say you're going to need to carry water since it "can get hot", prepare for cool temperatures that can really heat up.

Tip #5 - Carry Water

Don't rely on aid stations at a trail race. They're usually sparse and if you're not used to running on a trial you might need more water than usual. Carry your own water and refill at the aid stations.

Tip #6 - Don't Litter

In bigger race it (seems) okay to drop a gel packet on the ground and keep running. On a trail it just isn't right. Carry your garbage until the next garbage can. On a normal street there's a good chance that stray litter will be swept or picked up by someone cleaning the grounds. On a trail that most likely won't happen.

Tip #7 - Eyes on the Ground

If you are running on rocky, uneven ground keep your eyes on the ground!! Scan the ground for rocks to avoid stepping on and have a mental plan for each footstep. I spent my last trail race constantly scanning the ground to determine the best place to step. This was totally exhausting ... but I never tripped or fell. After reading the Yelp reviews of the course it sounds like many others weren't so lucky.

Tip #8 - Drink From the Side

If you are carrying water (per Tip #5) at some point you'll probably want to drink while you're running. If you stop to walk and drink then great! If not and you want to drink on the run, resist the urge to put the bottle to your mouth and tip it up with your eyes to the sky. Is there possibly a better invitation for tripping?? Put the  bottle to the side of your mouth and tip your head sideways so you can get the water in while keeping your eyes on the ground. (Tip #7)

Tip #9 - Push Branches Out of the Way

Not all trails are perfectly groomed. There will be many instances where a branch might extend into the trail., right in an area where it will smack into your face. If you see a branch or brush coming up that looks like it will hit your face, prepare by putting your hand out to prepare to push it away. Believe me, after being slapped in the face by many branches and leaves, one hand out in the Heisman is necessary!

Tip #10 - Enjoy the Downhills

In hilly trail runs there are uphills and there are downhills. If you labor UP the hills, enjoy going DOWN the hills. Let gravity do its work and enjoy heading down with less effort. Keep your heel strike even and continue to look where you're about to land. I find running down a trail to be one of the most fun parts of trail racing.

And .... I was going to give 10 tips but I have one more.

Tip #11 - Have Fun!

Remember that episode of Friends where Phoebe and Rachel go running together?

Have fun while you run! I grew up in a city and love the city life, but even I can enjoy nature and a  trail run. Take the time to enjoy getting to run on a natural trail. Enjoy your time outside and appreciate the course and the weather and the city you are in. Have fun! Isn't that why you signed up?

Painted Rocks Half Marathon

There is a 3-race series in San Diego called the Triple Crown that includes the Carlsbad (half or full) Marathon in January, the La Jolla Half Marathon in April, and the America's Finest City (AFC) Half Marathon in August. Complete all three of these races in a year and you will receive a Triple Crown medal. Almost all of my San Diego running friends ran the series last year, and I was so jealous of their extra-special series bling. After completing the Carlsbad Half Marathon earlier this year (race recap here) I decided that I'd go for the Triple Crown and run La Jolla and AFC as well. I'm a medal addict!

Bye Bye Triple Crown

I dragged my feet registering for the La Jolla race (I'm doing sooo many races this year that I need to spread the costs out) and by the time I was finally ready to register ... it had sold out two days prior. D'oh! I was bummed to be missing out on the Triple Crown and also sad to skip a race that I had planned for that weekend. Soon after La Jolla sold out though I received an email about a new half marathon that would be taking place that same day called the Painted Rocks Half Marathon. It was a trail race and an inaugural race, two things that interested me. The final selling point was that the race was only $50 and the email advertising it included a discount code. Sold! I had never done such a long trail race before but figured it wouldn't be too hard. The course profile was described as "mostly flat with rolling hills" and I figured it was probably similar in profile to the San Dieguito Half Marathon which I had no problem running. (San Dieguito race recap here.)

Course Overview

Race Countdown

As race day approached I received an email with the final race instructions and was bummed to see that the race director was strongly suggesting/mandating that every runner carry at least 12 oz of water on them. Shoot, I'd finally weaned myself off of my Fuel Belt for non-marathons and was disappointed to have to carry water for the race. (It is such a nuisance to have something heavy strapped to your body.) 

A few weeks before the race the organizers also held a course preview run and I heard from another runner that there was a "small creek crossing" which was "quite refreshing" to run through. Erm, I don't find getting my shoes wet in any occasion "refreshing". I have 3/4 length orthotics inside my shoes covered by an insole, and when my shoes get really wet the insoles bunch up over the orthotics. I was really starting to worry about having to run through water but was relieved when I heard that there were actually a few rocks in the water that you could hop across on if you were careful. Whew!

I picked up my race number and goodie bag the Saturday before the race and was really excited to see that we got race hats instead of race shirts. Yay! I have a million race shirts but I don't have enough running hats yet. 

Painted Rocks Half Marathon Hat

Race Day

The race was scheduled to start at 7am but the organizers wanted everyone at the race between 6:00 - 6:45am so they could check everyone in before they headed out on the trails. err.. why, would we get lost? The course was described as "a lakeside single track trail, a suspension bridge to cross the lake and single track ridge running with stunning lake views. The course is an out-n-back with mild elevation gain and well groomed trails." Keep in mind that previously the course was also described as "mostly flat with rolling hills". 

Course Elevation

UM.... there were barely any flats on the course, the trail was up and down and up and down on rocky ground, the single file trails were okay on the way out, but since it was an out and back it was dicey to be running head on into people at points. A few spots on the trail were just on the edge of Lake Hodges and I think if you stepped wrong and slipped you be in the water. While there was only one creek crossing that required having to run through the water or play leapfrog on rocks, but there were also two others spots where the trial crossed water and you had to carefully cross as well to stay dry. This means there were six opportunities to get your shoes wet. GROSS! Luckily though, I missed them all! 

Trail Racing is Dirty!

In the first few miles of rocky hills up and down and around I was moderately irritated by the course and felt completely misled by the description. The race organizers and I have waayyyyy different descriptions of flat. I was amused when I posted the course elevation on dailymile.com and one of my friends there said "I think they meant mostly hills with rolling flats". haha. :o) I was doing pretty well on the course but that's only because I run on a hilly trail 3 or 4 times each week. If I was a casual runner who only ran on flat ground or on the treadmill I'd be toast! This course was hard! In addition to challenge of the topography, due to the single file nature you were pretty much  locked into a pace. I was running the course with a fellow GOTR coach and we chose a spot pretty close to the front with a plan of running between 8:20-8:30 miles. Good thing we were able to keep that pace up pretty well, because there wasn't any room to slow down. If you slowed down you would have been bowled over by the string of runners behind you. 

Single File Down the Trail

 

The course was an out and back and I hadn't thought about  how this would work out on the way back until the first runners started coming back in the opposite direction ... right into us on the single-file trail. Ack! I almost ran smack into someone when rounding the corner of one bush and was glad that I was alert and nimble enough to miss any crashes or falls. As the miles ticked by I felt okay physically, but I was mentally exhausted by how alert you had to be while train running. I was tired of constantly scanning the ground for rocks and looking for places to put my feet to make sure I didn't roll my ankle. I'm completely amazed that I never tripped or fell, although I read that several others did from the race's Yelp review. In the last few miles of the race it was really heating up and I was soooo glad that I had decided to go with a singlet. 

Sporting my San Francisco Marathon Ambassador Gear

Approaching the Finish

I was so happy to be approaching the finish line in the end and made a mental note to myself to stay away from trail races in the future. The race was way harder than I expected, I felt that the description of the course difficulty level was a complete lie, and I was covered in a layer of dust. Yuck!

Official Finish Time: 2:04:47
Age Group Place: 6/39
Overall Place: 71/227

Painted Rocks Half Marathon - Check!

Painted Rocks Half Marathon Medal

A Change of Heart

After the race was over I felt tired, dirty, betrayed, but accomplished. I finished the half marathon in over two hours, and for the first time I didn't care. I thought I did great! I realized that doing a hilly trail course was liberating, because I couldn't compare it to my flat races and the pressure of a PR was off. Ooh, that felt nice! I complained a bit to some trial runners about the course after the race and was surprised when they said that this course really was flat .... compared to most trail runs. Okay, I think that disclaimer needs to be added in for the trail running naive: "This course is relatively flat, compared to Kilimanjaro." :oP

Crossing the Suspension Bridge

The race directors who put on this race also put on several other trail races which range from a 5K to a 15K. One of their races is called the Stairway to Heaven, and is a 15K course that climbs into the sky. Who was crazy enough to do this race? Uh oh ... maybe me. I am intrigued to see what such a ridiculous course profile will feel like to complete, and again, there's no pressure of a PR on a climb into the sky. I haven't signed up yet, but I think I will. I currently don't have any road races scheduled for June so heck, why not give something new a try? Who knows, maybe come July I'll be the kind of person who describes the San Francisco Marathon course as "mostly flat with rolling hills". ;o)

Girls on the Ragnar Run

Hot on the heels of Lunafest, 12 ladies from GOTR piled into two vans and drove up to Huntington Beach to prepare to run 200 miles over the course of two days. Are these ladies crazy? Yep!

GOTR Ragnar Relay Shirts

GOTR Ragnar Relay Team

What is the Ragnar Relay?

For those of you not familiar with the Ragnar Relay - its a 200 mile relay race that 12 people (or sometimes less) run over the course of two days. (More details here.)There are two vans which each carry six runners, and runners 1-6 in van #1 run one at a time, and then runners 7-12 from van #2 run one at a time. Rinse, then repeat. Twice. Each runner runs three times, and the race legs vary from ~2 to ~7 miles. 

Van #1 - Runners 1 to 6

Hood to Coast Movie

Recently Fathom Events premiered the Hood to Coast movie and it seemed relay fever was all around me. Soon after watching this film I was asked if I wanted to join the GOTR Ragnar team. Um.... I passed. The idea of running and not showering and sitting around in a van and then running again without sleep totally didn't appeal to me. In stark contrast though, after this movie came out both David and Christina started thinking of who they could include in their relay teams. They both of course included me in their mental lists. Does anyone really know me?? I'd never do this! (Okay, granted I'd "never" do a mud run or triathlon either. Hmm ... I see where their hope came from).

Team Van I Saw - Hilarious!

Lunafest to Vanfest

Lunafest (more on my blog Socialite for a Night) took place this past Thursday night and Ragnar started Friday morning in Huntington Beach. The brave ladies of GOTR attended the event, piled into the vans, drove up to HB, spent the night in a local hotel, and then were up and at it early the next morning. 

GOTR Van #1

The Course

The 200 mile course ran inland from Huntington Beach, down through San Diego, and ended on the beach in Coronado. Full details here.

Baywatch Team - So Funny!

Updates on the Run

When the ladies took off the next day they started emailing me and texting me pictures from the road. I started posting them as I got them to the GOTR Facebook page (ahem - LIKE US!) and was excited to see how much support these posts were getting from our Facebook fans. Our page was HOT HOT HOT.

Girls on the Run - in TUTUS!

Friday was an extremely hot day for the ladies, but they powered through. As Friday came and went, I thought about the team as I went to bed, and marveled at the fact that they'd be running all through the night.

GOTR in Reflective Night Gear

The next morning I got more updates from them, and continued to get updates and pictures throughout the day. I felt like I was there with them! But without having to sit around all sweaty and dirty in a van. ;o)

GOTR Runner Exchange

Finish Line Party

The team was predicting to finish around 6pm on Silver Strand Beach on Coronado. I planned on meeting the team down at the finish and cheering them on with my special pink GOTR cowbell. Parking was tight in the area so I decided to do something I haven't done in over 10 years... I used my bike as a form of transportation. I loaded my bike in my car and drove it down to Coronado, and then hopped on my bike with a backpack full of ice and beverages and headed to the finish line.

Bella Wants to be a GOTR

Moose Channels His Inner GOTR

Somewhere in my plans my math failed me. The beach was about 5 1/2 miles from where I parked which at my biking speed (with a backpack that weighed a ton) I ended up biking for 25 minutes. I was DRENCHED with sweat by the time I arrived! :o( Oh well, at least I made it there. I found the team in their pink tutus and took some pictures of them as the runners from Van #1 and Van #2 arrived. We all waited for about 20 minutes until the last runner came through. Poor Megan had run 40 miles total between her six legs and the additional legs she ran for a sick teammate who had to pull out at the last minute.

Ragnar Team Missing Allison

As soon as she arrived the team assembled as a group and ran in a pink flurry across the finish line.

GOTR Ragnar Team - DONE!

This event was SO much fun to track electronically throughout the event, and even more fun to watch the team cross the finish line. And it still gets better! After they finished we met back in the parking lot for some cake for Tiffany's 40th birthday. I brought a mini bar in my backpack and mixed some drinks as well (sadly nothing for me, I had a race the next day!)

Happy Birthday Tiffany!

Drinks And Cake - Awesome!

Want to run Ragnar next year? Here's where you can find info on signing up.