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.

Socialite for a Night

I had the pleasure of playing "socialite for the night" again this year at the Lunafest Film Festival in La Jolla. Lunafest is put on by Luna (a Cliff Bar brand for women), and is focused on films made by women, about women, and for women. (As you guessed it, the attendees were mostly women.)
 

Last Year

Last year I attended the event for the first time and didn't know what to expect. I was surprised by how nice the venue was (it backed up to the ocean), loved the cocktail hour on the patio, nibbled my way through the various food and treats that were out, and got to spend a nice evening hanging out with some friends. 

 

Our Photo in the La Jolla Light Newspaper

The films were surprisingly good too! I'm not really into artsy fartsy films. I like romcoms and stupid funny movies. While I can appreciate a good action film or drama now and then, I really just like movies that make me laugh and leave me smiling. Movies to me are an escape, and I want to escape to a happy place! (My worst movie escape ever was watching Marley & Me. GREAT movie, but I was completely unprepared for the storyline and found myself sobbing during several sections of the movie, left the theater totally depressed thinking about the day my own dogs will die, and since seeing that movie I've had several flashbacks to the scene where they are putting him down which bring me to tears. That movie has scarred me for life!)

But back to fun things like drinks and desserts!

Enjoying a Dressy GOTR Event

 

The Reception

The evening began with a two hour reception on the patio of the Museum of Contemporary Art with a nice spread of salads, appetizers, dips, cheese (ewe), desserts, and an open bar. I didn't get there until about an hour into the reception because of work, but still had enough time to mingle with some fellow GOTR friends before the movies started.

 

Dessert Table

While we were on the patio I tried to get a few good pictures of the ocean behind the building, but none of my pictures turned out too well. They didn't capture the beautiful San Diego evening! 

 

Sunset Over the Pacific Ocean

Lunafest is a traveling film festival with the Breast Cancer Fund designated as the primary beneficiary. In addition to the Breast Cancer Fund a local charity is chosen in each city that hosts a Lunafest, and in San Diego its GOTR San Diego! Both organizations had info tables set-up where attendees could find out more about each group. Let me just say I have never been happier to see a GOTR table ... that I wasn't standing behind! I've worked a large share of the Marketing events this year out in the community and it was really nice to get to just enjoy the evening for a change as an attendee. :o)

GOTR Table at Lunafest

The Films

The films started around 7:30 and were kicked off by speakers from Luna, the Breast Cancer Fund, and Girls on the Run. There were 10 films total which ranged from ~ 4 - 12 minutes. You can find a list of the films and where else they have been screened here. Overall I thought the films were great! Some were cute, some were inspiring, but ... several were fairly depressing! 

Our GOTR Board Chair

My favorites were "Getting a Grip" which was the story of the first female Cable Car operator in San Francisco and "Love on the Line" which was a funny cartoon about two lovers exchanging steamy notes via telegraph. Most depressing? "Touch" a movie about two strangers who meet while waiting for the subway and make a connection and one tells the other she was about to commit suicide. Another was "Thembis' Diary" which was an animation to real life recordings of a 19 year old in Africa who records and audio diary of her struggle with AIDS. On the bizarre and disturbing side there was "Mother of Many" which was an animation about a mid-wife. Um ... tooo graphic! Water birth and a fishnet scooper. Nuff said.

 

Schwag Bag

The evening was so fun and the opening reception with the food and wine was a great treat ... but guess what? We got a goodie bag too on the way out! Was this the best event or what? 

Schwag Bags in Mass

Goodies!

If you want to see when Lunafest will be in your town, check out their site here.