One Year Swimmiversary

This year's trip to Paris marks my one year swimmiversary! Well, okay I actually went to Paris in July last year (and got back two days before the SF Marathon  not ideal!) and its only May, but still – its been roughly a year since I started swimming as a means of working out. Its crazy to see how much has changed in a year!

Hating the Water

Growing up I always hated swimming, mostly because swimming equaled lap swimming which always seemed to equal a frigid pool. I can’t think of any worse sensation that jumping into a cold pool. I think I’d rather have my armpits waxed or a cavity drilled! Anyways, because that first cold shock in the water has always been so daunting, I’ve avoided pools at all costs unless it’s a resort pool in a warm area and I’m on vacation and ‘swimming’ really means frolicking.

Polar Bear Swims Aren't My Thing

I learned to swim at the YMCA when I was in elementary school and although I progressed quickly through the levels from Guppy, to Minnow,  to Fish, to Flying Fish – I never considered myself a great swimmer. Mostly because I hated swimming (and I swear the water temperature at the YMCA was 65F which made it more miserable), but also because I could never come even close to being able to do the Butterfly, meaning I never reached the highest swim level, the Shark. Fail. :o(

 

Trips to Paris

In the summer of 2009 I took my first trip to Paris as an adult to visit my mom. I arrived with a suitcase full of running clothes and pictured myself running through the streets of Paris. My hopes were soon dashed though when I saw how crowded the streets were around my mom’s place. I’ve never been a city runner and find running one block, stopping for a light, running a block dodging people, stopping for another light, and then running 2 blocks before stopping for some other reason totally infuriating. My running clothes grew stale in my suitcase as my trip progressed, and the following year when I came back I knew I needed to find an alternative method of working out.

Trip to Paris - Summer 2009

I came to Paris last year without running clothes, but armed with my new MBT shoes! We had walked a ton the first year, and I figured if I wore my MBT shoes the second year I’d supposedly get a butt firming workout in. Well, last year it was SO HOT out that I couldn’t bear to wear pants, tennis shoes, and socks, and I ended up wearing mostly dresses and skirts and sandals instead. Two days into the trip my mom invited me to swim with her at the local pool and I thought sure, why not! I didn’t bring a suit with me so she lent me one of hers. The only one big enough to fit me was cut for a grandma. Sexy. Haha.

Can This Be Considered a Unitard?

Starting to Swim

The first time I tried swimming last year I was doing great with the breaststroke but somehow couldn’t get my breathing right with my freestyle. I managed to get water in my nose or mouth constantly, and couldn’t even make it through two freestyle laps in a row without having to stop. Over the next few days that I swam I was able to slowly go from one freestyle lap to 5 and to 10, but the majority of my swimming was done with the breaststroke. Although my progress with the freestyle was frustratingly pitiful, I noticed right away how strong I felt swimming otherwise. I felt like I had the endurance and strength to be a pretty good swimmer! Who would’ve known!

Considering a Triathlon

When I got back home to San Diego after my trip I continued to swim, and then something crazy happened. I started wondering if I could do a triathlon! The timing was just right for this thinking since I had just sworn off full marathons after a poor performance in my twelfth and worst marathon that past June.  My friend Todd was also currently training for a triathlon and in between reading his training blog and becoming more comfortable in the water, I decided to go for it. I signed up for my first tri!

First Open Water Swim at La Jolla Cove

Swimming Gear

I owned several bikinis but nothing cut properly to allow for flash-free lap swimming. I looked at one-piece suits online and was shocked by how much they cost. $80 for an ugly bathing suit? I’d barely pay that much for a bikini! I ended up finding a Speedo one-piece on sale online, and David quickly bought it for me to encourage my transition into the tri world. 

 

Next up I needed goggles, a swim cap, and ear plugs. I bought three pairs of goggles before I found a pair that worked with my facial anatomy and eyelash length. :oP (I had started using Latisse and my eyelashes were super long and smashed into the first few pairs of goggles I tried out.)

These Aquasphere Goggles Smashed My Eyelashes

These Speedo Goggles Fit Just Right 

I also ended up buying several different swim caps before finding one I liked. I tried both latex and silicone swim caps in a regular size before finally finding a “long hair” swim cap online which seemed to be the best solution.

Speedo Long Hair Swim Cap

 

One day when I was swimming with a fellow GOTR coach I noticed that she had a fabric swim cap by Speedo. What a great idea! Not like the other kinds kept my hair dry, so why bother with the discomfort of trying to get a tight balloon over your head? Sadly, it turns out she got the swim cap in Brazil and they didn’t sell them here in the US as far as she knew.  Well as luck would have it, this past trip to Paris I noticed that they sold polyester swim caps in the vending machine at the pool for 2.5 euros. Score!

My New Fabric Swim Cap - LOVE IT

The final gear I needed for the swim portion of a tri was a wetsuit. Even with the Tri Club discount bringing the basic $400 wetsuit down to $200, it was still more than I was willing to spend up front. I borrowed a friend’s wetsuit for my first race. I totally lucked out during a clinic for that first tri and won a free Xterra wetsuit! Unfortunately (I know I shouldn’t even complain) it only covered their sleeveless model, and I’m such a wimp about the yucky cold water that when the long sleeve suits went on major sale earlier this year I purchased a long sleeve suit as well. 

Xterra Full-Sleeve vs. Sleeveless Vector Wetsuit

I now feel totally geared up for swimming, and now all I need  are some swim lessons to improve my technique! The Tri Club has group workouts twice a week at the JCC, but from the one workout I went to I don’t think that’s enough personalized attention for me. I’m looking into semi-private lessons now, and maybe this summer I’ll be able to find something that works with my schedule that can help me improve my stroke.  I’m on my flight back from Paris right now thinking about how much has changed since I flew back last year, and I wonder what big changes I’ll encounter in this coming year? I guess only time will tell!

GOTR Sparkle & Shine 5K

This past weekend marked the end of the Spring 2011 season of Girls on the Run in San Diego. This was my fourth time serving as a Head Coach at Carmel Valley, with my first three seasons coaching for Girls on the Run (elementary school age) and this past season coaching for Girls on Track (middle school age).  The 12-week GOTR program leads the girls through a series of lessons where they learned “All About Me”, “All About My Team”, and “All About My Community”. Throughout the season they played different active games and went  through a variety of exercises, all while running more and more each week until they reached the day when we had a Practice 5K. At this season’s Practice 5K I was amazed to see that every single one of the girls ran *at least* 3 miles! Some ran a little bit more. I know these girls would be in great shape for our season end 5K and was really looking forward to this day.

Carmel Valley Girls on Track ROCKS

Season End Celebration

During our last session together before the 5K, we always have a season end party that includes craft time, awards, and treats! Throughout the season each girl gets one bead for every lap (1/4 mile) that she runs. At the end of the season she gets the beads back to make a necklace, keychain, bracelet, etc.  In total the nine girls in my group ran 1000 laps equaling 250 miles! (Weird how it came out to exactly 1000.)

Craft Time at the Season End Party

The girls also receive “Molly Awards” named after Molly Barker, the founder of Girls on the Run. This season’s Molly Awards were: Funny Firecracker, Athletic Superstar, Super Sweetheart, Smiles for Miles, Mega Miler, Future Marathoner, Ready to Run, Shining Spirit, and Ray of Sunshine.

Girls on Track Molly Awards

Running For a Reason

Side Story – A few months ago I decided to sign up to be a GOTR Solemate while I trained for the San Francisco Marathon. Solemates is the charity leg of Girls on the Run, and fundraising from Solemates goes directly back into the program helping it grow and reach more girls. I had raised money for Solemates last year while training for the Rock N Roll Marathon, and prior to that David and I had raised money for Back On My Feet while training for the Marine Corps Marathon. A couple years prior to this I also raised money for the American Cancer Society while training for the Chicago Marathon. Do you see where this is going? I’ve asked my friends and family for donations several times by now, and felt bad going back and asking for money again. 

GOTR Solemates Goodies

Glam Runner

I noticed that some other friends who had raised money repeatedly for Team in Training did so by selling things and holding fundraisers. I was talking to my friend/fellow coach & Solemate Tara about this and we agreed we needed to sell something. But what? After kicking around  few ideas, Glam Runner was born! We’d sell tutus!  A week or so after deciding this our first order came in, 12 pink tutus for the GOTR Ragnar Relay team. We were in business! (More on the GOTR Ragnar Team on my blog: Girls on the Ragnar Run.)

Glam Runners Tara & Monika

Glam-Bonanza

Back to the race – Tara and I decided that we’d sell tutus  at the race. We sent out an order form to fellow coaches and the parents of our girls to get preorders, and also worked on an inventory of tutus to sell at our table. Since we were both pretty busy race morning tending to our coaching duties, the wonderful men in our life agreed to man the tutu tables. It takes a real man to sell tutus! (Or to wear one for that matter! We had three Glam Men at this race!) We weren’t really sure if we’d sell all of the tutus we had brought, and were amazed that not only did we sell out, but people were buying sizes that didn’t even fit them just to have a tutu!

Ben & David Prepare the Glam Runner Table

Line Forming at the Glam Runner Table

Running Buddies

There were nine girls in my group this season and we were just 1 of 15 teams across San Diego County, with a total of 180 girls completing this program. At the 5K each girl is paired up with a Running Buddy who can either be a parent, a coach, or a volunteer from the community. (For more information on becoming a Running Buddy click here.)

Niki & Her Running Buddy Mary

Girls on Track & Moms

Ready, Set, Run!

The morning seemed to whiz by and soon it was time for the race. The girls had  stretched, warmed up, and were ready to go!  The race was at Embarcadero South (located behind the San Diego Convention Center) and was an out and back course. 

Running Lead in a Glam Runner Tutu

 

GOTR Coaches Show Their Spirit

I maintained my usual position of course cheerleader and was armed with signs, cowbells, and my seasoned cheerleading scream.  :o) David was lucky enough to get to hold one of my two signs and cowbells himself, and did a great job cheering the girls on too! (While trying not to go deaf from listening to me scream for 45 minutes.)

Former Coach Heather Served as MC

As the girls ran by we waved our signs, rang our cowbells, and I screamed my head off. Some of the girls smiled at me, a few waved, others who knew me looked embarrassed when I yelled their name, and a few girls just went by in a daze.  It was fun to see all of our tutus going by on girls, moms, coaches, and a couple men! We definitely helped put the sparkle and shine in the day!

Little Glam Runner Girls

Glam Runner Adults

After the race we hung out for a bit and said our goodbyes to the girls. So sad, but one of the girls from my group is moving to Utah this summer after being a part of GOTR for five seasons. Her mom (a PE teacher) was instrumental in helping me start the Girls on Track group in Carmel Valley this season and helped fill 6 of the 9 spots on the team! Its hard to imagine GOTR without her, and I hope she settles in well with her family in her new town. 

We'll Miss You Stella!!

They’ve told me that Mt Pleasant, Utah doesn’t have GOTR  … um .. yet!!  GOTR  was started in San Diego a few years ago with one site and 6 girls. When I started coaching 2 years ago there were 6 sites and 80 girls, and now we have 15 sites and 180 girls! Maybe someday we’ll catch up to some of the mega-chapters like San Francisco (1700 girls) or Chicago (3500 girls)

Cousins Giselle & Sophia Came Out to Run

Summer Break

Now that the season of GOTR is over whatever will I do with my time?? Oh yes, work, focus on running, enjoy the summer with David, and build up the next inventory of Glam Runner tutus.  Interested in running your next race in a Glam Runner tutu? Fan us on facebook and check out our website for available styles and colors. 

Thanks to our Glam Runner Men!

2 Runs + Some Fun

This past weekend marked the end of my two week recovery period from the OC Marathon. (Race recap on my blog 26 Point Tutu) There wasn't too much time to lounge around though because next up I have the San Francisco Marathon on July 31st! I haven't done much running over the past two weeks since the OC Marathon and have felt super lazy, but realize that I do need time to recover. Recovery time makes me so antsy! Luckily a trip for work ate up 5 days in the past two weeks (more on my blog Domo Does Boston), and with the Spring season of Girls on the Run wrapping up this weekend, I have been super busy!

 To commemorate the end of my 'rest' period and the start of some high mileage, I planned on doing two short races this past weekend. On Saturday I was running the Liver Life Walk 5K for the 2nd time, and on Sunday I ran the Bay Bridge Run (4 Mile) Run for the 1st time.

Liver Life Walk

Last year David and I ran this race after a long break in racing together. The Zoo is only a mile from my house and the race was "free" with a donation to the Liver Foundation! When we got to the race I was surprised that it was so small and unofficial and appeared to be made up mostly as walkers. David and I started out  towards the front of the pack and maintained that position through most of the race. I actually ended up coming in as the first female last year and received high fives from a liver mascot AND the Padres friar along with an announcement from the MC. Hey, that felt good!

High Five from the Liver

(Photo courtesy of ALF Pacific Coast Division)

Going into this year I had joked to David that I was out to defend my title. But honestly, who is joking?

I'm competitive and love to win. Must be because I'm an only child and I'm ALWAYS number one. haha I noticed that there were more people than last year at this race, but it appeared to be mostly a walking race. There was a start and finish line but no race bibs or a timing clock. No pressure! I set a goal on my Garmin for a 7:00 pace which would come out to  21:45 finish over 3.1 miles.

The Padres Friar!

(Photo courtesy of ALF Pacific Coast Division)

I started the race at the front of the pack and was pleased to see that I was able to hang with the front 5 guys for the first one .. wow wait, TWO miles! The course wound through the deserted zoo and we passed a lot of animals, many of who looked up in surprise as a group of runners charged by. The giraffes who perked up and then started running around in circles made me smile. :o) The course was poorly marshaled like last year and with several route options per turn it really felt like a crap shoot each time we hit an intersection. There were a lot of volunteers but they seemed bunched up. 6 people standing by one intersection but no one by another? I get it, kids want to hang out together. Still, it made navigation challenging.

At a couple points we all had to stop and decide which way to go, and towards the very end when we hit an intersection we'd been at before, the marshalls said "short way this way,  long way that way". The lead pack immediately headed towards the long way. Um wait, we were at like mile 2.5. I figured it was time for us to exit the zoo not redo a loop. I stopped and said wait, we're ready to finish. Long way like first lap? Short way to the finish? They said yes, okay go that way. I noticed the lead pack was disappearing off towards the wrong way and suddenly it was me and one other guy heading towards the exit. We looked at each other, shrugged, and kept running towards the finish. As we kept pushing at a pretty good pace (I was exhausted from running so hard at this point) the guy said to me "Hey, you know you have a chance to take this. There's no one in front of us." I looked at him like he was crazy and thought, ME? Win a race? I said um, I don't think so. About when I said that a couple guys passed us, and then the original lead pack corrected their course and darted back in front of us. (Um, cutting!)

As we approached the finish line I noticed with excitement that there were no women ahead of me. I could be first female again! And wow, not bad overall! As we held on strong through to the finish, I felt truly accomplished! I had run hard, beat the hills, and finished strong! As it turns out, I came in 1st female overall again! And 5th overall. Not too shabby! Granted the race field wasn't huge (maybe 100-200?), but I still felt great about my finish. The course came up shorter than 3.1 on my Garmin and measured at 2.87 miles. My total time was 20:56 (on an 2.87 vs 3.1 mile course) meaning I missed my goal of a 7:00 pace, but finishing with a 7:18 pace on a hilly (incline down, then up) course was just fine with me!

Mile 1: 6:49 pace
Mile 2: 7:14 pace
Mile 3: 7:55 pace

Course Elevation Profile vs Pace

Bay Bridge Run

The next day I was racing again. On Sunday I ran the Bay Bridge Run which starts downtown and goes over the Coronado Bridge. It seems like almost all of my San Diego running friends did this race last year and loved it! In addition to the coolness of running over the Coronado Bridge, each runner who completes the race also gets a free ticket to a Padres game the following weekend. What a great deal!

Bay Bridge Run Start

My goal for this race was to stick to a 7:30 pace and finish in 30:00 even. I figured that even with the slow incline up and over the bridge I'd be okay holding this pace since the course was only 4 miles long. I started out towards the front of the 10,00 person pack thinking that I was up front enough to be running with the 'serious' competitors. Wrong! I spent the first two miles dodging walkers and  baby strollers. 

Yet Another Sexy Race Photo

It was really cool to run up and over the bridge (but not as cool as running over the Golden Gate Bridge in the San Francisco Marathon!) and tons of people were stopping along the bridge to take pictures. There was a navy band playing at one point on the bridge which was pretty cool. I didn't have too much trouble pushing on the way up the incline of the bridge, and loved flying down on the other side. I totally love running downhill! I know some people complain that its hard on their knees but for some reason it doesn't bother me at all. I ended up finishing the race in 30:28 which is a 7:37 pace. Only 7 seconds off per mile? I'll take it! Maybe if I had started closer to the front and didn't have to dodge people so much I could have made my 30:00 goal. I smell a challenge for next year!

Bay Bridge Run Profile vs Pace

Mile 1: 7:46 pace

Mile 2: 8:31 pace

Mile 3: 6:59 pace

Mile 4: 7:14 pace

I looked up my results after the race and was shocked to see that I came in 10th in my division out of 900+! Granted there were a lot of walkers, I still did amazing! (Funny, but 2nd and 4th in my division were two other former GOTR coaches.) Overall I came in 233 out of 10,000. Wow!

If you are local to San Diego and are considering this race I totally recommend it. The course is great, there's a big family expo event at the finish in Coronado, getting a free Padres ticket is a total plus, there is ample parking at the convention center at the start line, and there were plenty of shuttle buses back from the finish to the start.

Cool Collapsible Water Bottle Gift

I was worried about the logistics of getting back to my car quickly (I had to be somewhere right after!) and did something I rarely did .. I ran with my phone. My big Blackberry is not my ideal running friend (how do people run with an iPhone??) but I wanted to have my phone with me at the finish just in case I was going to be really late. I put my phone, car keys, and some cash in my Spibelt (which claims to not bounce) and was impressed that this time it actually didn't bounce! I had worn it once prior in a race and put my gloves in it and that ball of contents seemed to bounce around the whole time. Maybe you need something flat inside to keep it close and tight to your body.

Spibelt with Blackberry Inside

Shoe Dog

Soon after the Bridge Run I had to jet home, shower, and then get up to Road Runner Sports for a Girls on the Run event. RR Sports was nice enough to host us in their back room and support a "Shopping Party" to help participants in our Sparkle and Shine 5K "Gear up for the 5K". Attendees of the event were given 10% off all merchandise (20% if you were VIP) and were entered into a drawing for a free pair of shoes. In addition to this we had a table with information about the GOTR program  and ..... a couple of us got to dress up as their mascot Shoe Dog!!

Shoe Dogs on the Run

Stylin' as Shoe Dog

I have always wanted to dress up as a character! (Wait, is that weird?) My first choices of course are Hello Kitty or Minnie Mouse, but a cute spotted dog is quite alright too!  

Oh No! Not my head!

Christine & Todd Came by to Conga

The costumes weren't too hot if you were just sitting around, but once we started jumping around to take pictures it became an oven inside. Fake fur doesn't breath! :oP

Hurray for Girls on the Run!

(I'm in the middle showing off my cheerleading skills. Still got them!)

Having Fun with Girls on the Run

Overall the weekend was packed with fun, new things, and I can't wait for this coming weekend! On Sunday Girls on the Run San Diego will be having their Spring 5K, the Sparkle and Shine 5K! Want to see 180 girls ages 8-13 run their hearts out in a 5K race? Details on how you can join us can be found here. Have a great weekend!

One of our Girls on the Run

(Proudly wearing a Glam Runner tutu)

GOTR Community Projects

As another season of Girls on the Run approaches its finish, its time once again for our community project. This is my fourth time coaching Girls on the Run and in my first season we made cards for Make a Child Smile and Holiday Mail for Heroes (more on my blog GOTR Community Service Project), in my second season we had a bake sale with proceeds benefiting the Helen Woodward Animal Center, (more on my blog Another Season Ends), in my third season we again made cards for the military through the Holiday Mail for Heroes program (more on my blog GOTR Gives Back), and now in my fourth season the girls decided to do a toy/book drive for the Polinsky Center for Children and to also make cards for the kids there.

Holiday Mail for Heroes

The Polinsky Center is an emergency shelter for abused and neglected kids, and it turns out that one of my GOTR girls stayed there prior to joining her new family who has now adopted her. The girls had an easy time bringing books and toys to donate, but then struggled a bit coming up with cards to write for kids at the center. I suggested that they keep the cards light and upbeat, with general phrases like "Hope you have a good summer" and "Thinking about you". At one point the girl who had stayed at the center said to me "I just don't know what to write". I didn't want to make her uncomfortable by letting her know that another coach had told me she had confided in them about having stayed there herself, so I said "Well, what is a nice thing you can say that someone there might want to hear? Maybe something general?"  She said something that broke my heart for a second and made me just want to hug her (I restrained myself) ... she said "Um I don't know ...  'It gets better'?) Aww. :o( Tear. I hope that's the case for most of the kids!

Cards for the Polinsky Center

The girls ended up making some cute cards and brought a nice pile of their own toys and books to donate.  In addition to my site, there are 14 other groups of Girls on the Run in San Diego county! I reached out to the other coaches to see what their girls came up with. It was heartwarming to see the variety of projects that the kids had decided on. Some of the other projects were:

• Carving soap for a nursing home
• Picking up trash and recyclables at a school
• Collecting donations for an animal shelter
• Creating a lemonade stand with proceeds to benefit an animal shelter
• Making signs for the police, fire department, and border patrol
• Making bracelets and cards for Make a Child Smile and Love Letters
• Trash pickup and signs to encourage recycling

Cards for Make A Child Smile & Love Letters

Donation Drive for the Rancho Coastal Humane Society

Carving Soap for a Nursing Home

Appreciation Signs for the Police, Fire Department, & Border Patrol

Cards for the Polinsky Center

Help the World - Recycle!

Lemonade Stand/Bake Sale with Proceeds Towards the Humane Society

Track Pickup at a Community Center

I love this part of the Girls of the Run curriculum and it seems that the girls really enjoy it too. Is it ever too early to learn to give back? I don't think so! Philanthropy should begin at an early age to not only help us appreciate what it is that we have, but to put in perspective what we  and others don't have, and to help us find joy in the simple ways we can help others.  As far as Girls on the Run goes, I joined so I could give back to girls in my community, but by way of volunteering I have found that the program has enriched my own life  as well. Funny how that happens right? Give back and you'll get so much more back in return. :o)