A Trail Run Attempt

I'm doing THIS tomorrow.

In an attempt to get my feet wet in the world of trail running I signed signed up for this little race. The distance is short at just 7 miles, but the terrain scares the shit out of me.

Rocks, inclines, steep drops, snakes and of course the HUGE potential to fall down. Bloody knees are a common sight in trail running. Gulp. I am NOT looking to segue into trail running, but since I agreed to pace my buddy for 15 miles of his 100 mile Ultra attempt at the end of this month, so I better get my ass in gear.

This race will be sad and emotional as the Race Director and Founder of this race passed away earlier this year while doing some altitude training at Humphrey's Peak in Flagstaff. He was kind and funny and he was the one who really got me excited about picking out a full marathon last Fall.

But there is something I am excited about! My dad is coming out for this run. And not just to watch, he is going to hike/walk the 3 mile loop! This means so much to me for many reasons, mainly because he wants to get his health and his weight under control, but also, to spend time with me doing something I love.

Wish me luck!

RnR SJ Race Recap

I still have a bit of a wedgie about my performance at the RnR on Sunday. I've been stewing over my race the last few days and will chalk it up to this:

1. I was mentally lazy the last 5K
2. I got warm/sun in face half the race (bad excuse from a Phoenician)
3. I wasn't rested (traveling the day before isn't ideal + crappy night's sleep)
4. I was hungry

My biggest issue really....I just need to try harder. I need to make it hurt, push myself. And that means DURING training and DURING the race. Why put all these miles on my legs and then not see improvement? All of this stuff was purely "me".

Yes, I beat my PR from February by seconds, (1:53:41 vs. 1:53:12) but I have put in a lot of miles since then and I should be making strides (pun intended) in my goal times.

But I'm over it now and it's time to move on. To work harder. Maybe I need to run less miles and the ones I do run I need to really push myself on? Ideas anyone? I am happy I can do this, to run and all that jazz....but let's face it, we all want to be better for ourselves. I do anyway.

The race itself was well organized as all RnR's are. Fast and efficient expo, I picked up and my packet and bailed so I can't say how it was from that standpoint. My biggest beef with RnR...not an option to get your bib ANY other way but picking it up. We had to drive to San Jose twice and that could have been avoided if they had a paid option to mail your shit. 

The race start was uneventful...I freaked out a tiny bit when I saw I was in Corral #3 and super close to the start line. I have only ever run the RnR in Phoenix and I was in Corral #7, which was a HUGE corral for a HUGE race. Not that any of this matters. J-Johns were plentiful and it was kind of cold so I stripped my jacket off and handed it Gio right before the gun went off. 

The course was boring and fairly quiet (except all the cute and peppy cheerleaders lining the course) and my splits were pretty good until I hit mile 10 and then they kind of sucked. Looking at them just pisses me off as I could have hit my goal if I would have tried a little harder. I guess it wasn't my day. 

Now that I think about it, I have never had a TERRIBLE race. I read stories about people having horrible, painful (OK Ragnar hurt) or emotional races but I don't, I just have good or OK and I'm alright with that.

I think my mind was not in the race, but with my friend waiting at the finish line and with the streets of San Fran. I couldn't wait to be done. And when I crossed the line, I was done.

Gio asked me "do you want to hang out, sit down or rest?" and I said "nope, let's roll". She was the dream race crew. She woke up early, had my pre-race breakfast on hand, drove my ass around, cheered me on (I saw her 2x on the course and she yelled SO loud and took pictures and gave me the play by play on all the girls outfits and was very perplexed at the amount of makeup she saw on girls faces) and told me she was proud of me even though I was grumpy for like, 5 seconds afterwards.

The End. 

Actually we went and drank a few cocktails and ate some food...and Matt put up with us for 2 solid days, he is angel because I know we are annoying...

Walked around (Fleet Week in SF is awesome) and caught part of the airshow...

I felt super "fall like" (or Lumberjack-ish) in my plaid shirt and you are welcome for this high quality vanity shot...

I soaked up some Cali sun...

 We watched bad TV, I shopped (hello Lululemon), drank wine, ate pizza and ice cream cones on a street side cafe and laughed MY ASS OFF until I went home Monday night.

 And ya know what, good friends are better than "OK" races.

#8 Done

This will be quick because I have an amazing city to walk around in today (and shop, hello) but I wanted to post briefly and let you all know that I got er done.

Time: 1:53:12....a new PR by a mere 30 something seconds.

I am mad at myself for dropping the ball the last few miles, I need to work harder. I got tired and warm and I never really got into the race, and the course was beyond boring. I knew I had it in me, but it will have to wait until next month. That Sub 1:50 will be mine....

Off to check out more of San Fran!

4 Day Weekend

It all started with an 80 minute massage, champagne and the pool....not a bad way to start if I do say so myself. The JW Marriott Desert Ridge is a favorite of ours, so I couldn't pass this one up.

I bought a deal through TravelZoo.com and it did not disappoint!

My bags are packed, my Garmin is charged and I'm heading out to San Fran tomorrow am - can't wait! There is a TON of fun stuff going on throughout the weekend so I have a feeling we will be busy girls.

(From facebook RnR page)

Busy race weekend, best of luck to everyone running/racing!