Temecula St. Patrick 15k

Holy hot as hell Batman! This was the 2nd Annual Temecula St. Patrick 15k held at Cougar Winery.
The weather started out at 67 & quickly went up to 78 degrees.

The race had same day bib pick up at 8:00 a.m. There was no long lines for anything including the porta-potties because only 167 runners showed up. This might be due to the late start time of 9:00 a.m. Might has well start at 1200 p.m. because there really isn't a difference. Hot is hot!

I sat in my car & changed out of my cute compression socks into short socks. There was no doubt I was going to sweat buckets today.

About 10 minutes prior to the race, I walked over and stood under a tree for shade, closer to the start line. A very nice girl approached asking me to take her picture & before the race, she found me again, told me her goal was to finish the race, explaining she had lost a lot a weight after she began to run. I was so excited for her! We have that in common. During the race, at about mile 2.6, after one of many steep hills to follow, she ran by me. She powered up the steep hills, but it was getting hotter. Mile 3.5, I caught up to her on a flat & didn't see her again until the finish. Awesome race whom ever you are!
Almost everyone had green on. Some wore costumes. *applause* running with a costume is truely difficult!

It was quiet. A guy gave last minute instructions to follow the man on the bike. Early, I hear the man on the bike tell some women some of the hills are so steep, his bike wheel comes up off the road! I kept waiting for him to say 'bazzinga'!  This was the first time I could actually see the timing mat before the start! The race started on time at 9:00 a.m.
The course starts out on a paved road for about half of a mile, turning into a dirt roads for most of the race. There's a lot more sand on the roads then dirt.  Mile 2 & 4 for only a half a mile at most, has trees for shade. In the past, I ran a 10k on this similar route, so I knew to bring a hydration belt because the water stations seem to follow no real incremented pattern.  I was glad to have the water when I needed it! I did take water frofrom the water station, drank a sip & dumped the water over my head. Thanks to the volunteer who met me out on the road. YOU WERE my best friend in the moment!

The course is tough with more butt lifting hills than San Dieguito. I am not a fast runner so when I hit mile 3, I was amazed, I didn't see any runner's heading back yet. At mile 3.3 I finally see the 2 runner's heading back. It's seemed something was coming up! Turning left onto Los Alamentes Rd, I found out why. Miles 4.5 through 7.3 are hills going up! Yes, hills on top of hills! No water stations through here. There were a few trucks on the roads too but were cautiously going around runners.
On final stretch, up to the finish line, I cheered the girl with braids on, "c'mon now get up that hill! You're the shizzle!" I know, I'm a dork or the heat stroke kicking in!

The finish line, has no metals, but even better, some wonderful volunteer asking me if I'd like some water! Yes please! The race theme was Go Green 2014. Instead of giving out metals or t-shirts, you had to BYO t-shirt (or purchase one) for screen printing. This didn't last long because the screen was clogged and wasn't printing the complete design. See mine!

The race ends & starts at Cougar Winery. The new building is beautiful & offers a race logo commemorating stemless champagne glass filled with green champagne. Cougar staff are amazing & tolerate the smell of sweaty runners. Service with a smile & knowledge of their wines/champagne.

Time: 1:53:15

Overall: 107 of 167

Gender: 65 of 115

Age: 3rd of 5

If the sponsor Sandy Feet changes this race to an earlier start time, I might come back next year.

Gym Membership

Over the last several days we had enough rain for mud slides, flooding, over filling the water in our pool, keeping me indoors, & unable to RUN! It wasn't enough to end the drought in SoCal, but thank you God for that miracle.
I have text my husband twice in a year, claiming I was going to drive over to the nearest gym and join up immediately! Can you guess what the weather was like when I text him?
My husband has a gym membership & takes my son with him most of the time for basketball workouts. I'm not a fan of a treadmill, because I find myself running up onto the stupid cover in front of me so I raise it up to in incline. The elliptical, I found I didn't get the same impact as the treadmill. *sigh*
There's no crying in running, so my whiny ass did some half hearted videos, cried over spilt milk, and drank diet Coke. Tomorrow, watch out! I'm back JACK!

Coronado Valentines 10K 2014

My first race of the year! Surgery can SUCK IT! I had a great time. It would have been better if I could have ran with a friend.

Gear prep!

I've come to the conclusion that all races, no matter what time of year, if it's in Coronado, California, once the sun comes up, it's HOT! The Silver Strand Half in November, HOT! The Coronado Independence 15k, HOT! The Coronado Valentine's 10k, you bet, HOT!

Wait for the sun. Cute mile markers, Candy hearts!

This race is follows the similar course as the Coronado Independence 15k. It starts on the road, but less than 0.10th mile, runners are ushered up onto the lawn of Tideland Park. Weird. It's wet grass, facing the sun, & I already begin regretting wearing a pullover. It came off during the first mile.

861 runners & walkers! #runstrong!

We head onto a bike path about 4 person wide across for first mile. Folks are already beginning to walk & becomes bottle necked through here. The route opens up after mile 1 where we run onto Glorietta Blvd which turns into Pomona Ave which turns into the Silver Stand. This course is primarily flat with no real incline. It rolls gently through by the golf course and around the boat yard. Did I mention it was hot?

Prerace. Love #runningskirt !

The turn around is at mile 3.2, the volunteers were great!  The sun is now at my back. We run up onto the grass lawn of Glorietta Bay Park for a short distance back onto the bike path by the City of Coronado Aquatic Center. The Coronado High School Cheer group pumped me up with "wtg runner, you're almost done" at Mile 3.7! So awesome!
There were NOT a lot of spectators. The volunteers at mile 2.1 and mile 5.6 cheer wildly for all runners! Y'all made this race so enjoyable!
 Mile 5.9 back onto the grass at Tideland Park toward finish line. The announcer gives your name a shout out. That was nice!

Salty and post race smile!

Thanks to the volunteer who hung the medal around my neck. It's crazy I know, but it's my pretend Olympic moment! Hahaha!

Matches my outfit!

This was the first time I've been in a race where the Overall & Gender results were based on the Gun Time and not the Chip Time. I was a little taken back & a good lesson to learn for future races.

Gun: 1:11:37

Chip: 1:10:23

Pace: 11:17

Overall: 606 out of 861 (based on Gun Time)

Gender: 330 (based on Gun Time)

Age: 34 (based on Chip Time)

February, March, April Races 2014

On February 16th, 2014, I'll be running the Coronado Valentine's Day 10K. Sounds like a blast and an easy run to get me back into the swing of things. This race supports the Stephen J. Wampler Foundation & the Island Sports Foundation.

March 16, 2014, running the Temecula St. Patrick Day 15k fits in well with my marathon training for the RockNRoll San Diego Marathon in June. Sandy Feet always puts a well organized races.

Sandy Feet Events always operates by a set of 10 core values, at all of our events we strive to:

1. Be crowd pleasers.
2. Always exercise integrity.
3. Think positive.
4. Take ownership.
5. Embrace change.
6. Enhance our community.
7. Be creative problem solvers.
8. Create fun and a little weirdness.
9. Be passionate and determined.
10. Be classy!

The Avocado Half Marathon was suppose to take place at the end of February, but event planners were unable to secure the road closures. This was changed to April 12, 2014. I like that it's on a Saturday, but hopefully they will have same day bib pick up. It will run in conjunction with the 28th Annual Avocado Festival.
Charities include:
Wounded Warrior Regiment, Boys & Girls Club of North County & Jeremiah's Ranch.

Happy racing & run strong!

Go To The Mattresses Germs!

What is it like to run with a cough hopped up on cold medicine? Preeeeeeeeeetty GROSS! I save y'all from the selfie that would compose of boogers, watery eyes, sweaty hot mess.

My throat feels like hot lava & thank you baby Jesus for Puffs with Lotion!

Germs can go suck it! What the heck! Now I'm sneezing? What a crock of poop! I've consumed every Airborne, Emergen C, multiple vitamins with orange juice. No chance I'll get scurvy any time soon. Oh & NyQuil is da shizzle! That stuff made me pass out last night! Today, I am going to tell you I feel better because I need to feel better. Son of donut hole. I do NOT do sick!

60 Minutes of Exercise

On Saturday morning, after watching the weather & NFL analysts pick apart the playoff teams, hubby & I went hiking for 4 miles on the Santa Rosa Plateau : http://www.rivcoparks.org/education/santa-rosa-plateau/santa-rosa-plateau/ .

Burrrrrrrrrrr!

It's in the 70's in California!

Hubby feels he wants to exercise more routinely, but chimes "I'm not going to run any marathons!"

I pointed out differences between exercising daily to maintain a healthy body & training workouts for a race.

Walking on sunshine!

Training for a race for me :)

1. A training schedule is a must. There's is no option for skipping a workout. I learned the hard way, later on the skipped workout caused an injury. Listening to my 40+ body was a hard lesson. 

2. Core workouts are an absolute must to prevent injury and build muscle. It's sit-up city & butt lifterville!

3. Dietary changes involving foods with more fuel use & loads of protein makes my runs easier. Without these foods, my mind focuses on my hunger instead of my running mechanics.  Peanut butter & jelly in the morning before a long run last a lot longer than a bagel with cream cheese.

4. Electrolytes such as Gatorade is my bestie!

5. Morning/night runs; I own a LED light for my running cap for night runs. Winter training equals running in the dark!

6. Cadence work is not my favorite. Shorter strides & try to keep at 70 to 75/min heel strike, run natural, head up, shoulders relax, hill runs, & stairs takes a lot of effort. This comes after my endurance has build and the miles get longer. 

Coyote is reminding me we are sharing this space!

Running to exercise for me :)

1. No set distance. 

2. Easy peesy no cadence, no pace run.

3. More down time with less pressures.

4. Diet changes to calorie counting. 

5. Yoga videos to do at home are one of my favorites things. It allows me to really relax rather than doing yoga in a gym where I'm worried if I have a camel's toe or my shirt has hitched up!

6.  What ever the exercise, the NFL summed it with it's Play 60 Programs: http://www.nflrush.com/play60/programs . 

 Any form of exercise is good exercise!  

Christmas Reflections 2013

At 0630 I was up, put on my fuzzy socks & began reviewing again how to roast a stuffed goose. After many videos, blogs, and how to sites, I settle for this one: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/roast-goose-with-chestnut-and-leek-stuffing.html . I used my own stuffing because I don't have chestnuts nor leeks and my recipe is better. *smiles*  Calculating the cooking time to the number of pounds,  I realized I didn't have to get up this early!  So I washed off the dry rub, left on the goose over night, placed it back into the refrigerator, poured a cup of coffee, then sitting on the couch began to look back and reflect.

Dang it, you mean I could have slept in?

 

There's been so many good times this year even though I've had two surgeries, both successful by the way. Here are some awesome moments. Merry Christmas y'all, peace, love, and goodwill to all!

Carlsbad Marathon 2013, Crazy hair, fever, and still smiling. See what running does to you?!

April 2013, We will always remember Boston!

San Dieguito Half Marathon 2013, After several attempts to get pic with my running pal's eye's open,...well, I tried!

Girls On the Go Half Marathon 2013, a Saturday race, created brain a fart & I had to write a message to myself to

to "Get Bib" so I would remember to pick it on after work on Friday!

La Jolla Half Marathon 2013, My running pal & I goofing & Mac Cheesing! 

Rocks & Roll San Diego Half Marathon 2013, Tutu strong!

Whaaaaaaat cookies aren't on my runner's diet???

Coronado 15k 2013, I smile with my mouth open because I'm like a dog & need to pant!

October 2013, Must be the heat because I'm seeing a giant weenie!

Nike Women's San Francisco Marathon 2013, I'm nervous & giddy.

I'm clutching the Gatorade pouches because that's how I roll!

Nike Women's San Francisco Marathon 2013, My last race of the year!

Thanks to my running pal for an awesome time!

Bring on 2014 and Happy Health Running!