TIUX Compression Socks Review

I am so excited that I got the opportunity to review these super cute TIUX compression socks! I used these for during a training run, recovery after a hard workout and on a plane.

During my Training Run:

I don't typically wear compression socks during long training runs or races but for shorter races I love them. They help keep my legs and keep my confidence high in my legs stability. These TIUX compression socks did all of that! One of the major benefits of these socks in comparison to other compression socks is the material around the toes, sole and heel. In my other compression socks, due to the tight material, my toes always felt so squished and cramped. The bottom material of these Tiux compression socks is so soft and comfortable! My toes had room to move!!! 

The compression didn't feel crazy tight but they were nice. But again, I don't typically wear compression socks unless its really cold and need to warm up my legs. 

For Recover:

Though I don't usually wear compression socks for my training runs, I LOVE wearing compression socks for recovery! After a really fast and strong track work out, I put these babies on and let them do their magic. 

While wearing these socks, I felt (1) SUPER CUTE! and (2) comfortable compression! Because of the soft, purple material on the bottom of these socks, I was able to walk around with so much ease! I was getting my recovery compression that I wanted without the crampiness of my toes :)

The true testament to these socks was when I woke up the next morning. My legs felt fresh! And really, that's all that I am looking for in a pair of compression socks :)

On the Plane:

This past weekend, I took a red eye to New York for a wedding. Wearing compression socks on a long plane ride is a must! Without compression socks, a 5-hour plane ride leaves me with fat, swollen feet! 

These socks comfortably fit under my skinny jeans and without the slippage in my shoes. I left the Delta plane ride feeling limber, rested and (the most important) without swollen feet! :) The purple material on the bottom of the socks made these really easy and comfortable to wear (I can't say enough about that!).

Overall:

The TIUX Compression Socks are great! 

- Super cute! Cause obviously, if these were ugly, I'd never wear them!

- Sturdy compression - not squished but enough for a good, rested morning the next day

- Best part: The comfort of the toe/sole/heel material!!!

Smith Pivlock Arena Sunglasses Review + Smith Pivlock V2 Nose Piece Black (Asian Fit) Review

Its been a few weeks out since I received my pair of Smith Optics Pivlock Arena Sunglasses.

Before purchasing these sunglasses, I had been on a mission to find sunglasses that fit my face :) The bridge of my nose is smaller than that of others' so finding a properly fitted pair of glasses has been a long process. Not until I tried on a pair of sunglasses with a special nose piece did I realize that I had been wearing sunglasses "wrong". My sunglasses were always held up by my cheeks! My husband always wondered by I wore my sunglasses so low - but obviously his nose never had him deal with the same struggle!

My first fitted pair of sunglasses were the Tifosi Tyrant. I was so excited for these! Not the coolest looking glasses but they were so much more comfortable! I was better able to keep wind and sand out of my eyes!!! This was a new feeling since wearing sunglasses held up by my cheeks let in unwanted dust and debris when I rode my bike. While functional, these sunglasses did not look as cool as I wanted... cause, you know, if you look good, you will feel good - which makes you much stronger when out riding! FOR REAL!

During the Palm Springs Training Camp this past March, I was in awe of my friend's sunglasses. They looked soooo profesh! She mentioned that the Smith Optics Pivlock Arena Sunglasses were awesome because the nose piece was adjustable. I tried them on and I was instantly won over!

Vanessa, a super sweet and awesome friend, ordered me a pair and I was so excited to look amazing on the road! Unfortunately, the nose piece did not perfectly fit my nose bridge :( I was looking forward to the adjustability to accommodate my needs but sadly I was left with another pair of sunglasses that would be ill-fitting...

THEN!!! I found the Smith Pivlock V2 Nose Piece "Asian fit". Although I had the Pivlock Arena Sunglasses, I was hopeful that the nose piece would still work. I ordered it and was delivered the nose piece very quickly! I was worried that the style would not be compatible but fortunately it worked!!! Now, I have a fantastic pair of sunglasses that actually fits my face! I can't tell you how excited I was to finally wear some cool looking sunglasses that stayed up on my nose bridge!

fyi: my pink helmet is not actually this faded - it just looks that way in the pic! 

So, for any type of nose out there, I would highly recommend these Smith Optics Pivlock Arena Sunglasses! (and if you have the same nose bridge as me, definitely check out the Smith Pivlock V2 Nose Piece "Asian fit"!) Not only will they fit your face and look awesome, Smith Optics gives you 3 different replaceable lenses! One clear, one amber tinted and one tinted color of your choice!

*I purchased these sunglasses on my own and am in no way sponsored by Smith Optics - but if you want to be my sponsor, get at me! :)

Who did i think i was, Lance Armstrong?!

Leading up to the weekend, I was nervous for the fact that I wasn't nervous for my upcoming race. I had this master plan in my mind that doing the Boston Marathon then following it up with Wildflower 70.3 twelve days later would be great mental and physical training for Ironman Philippines 70.3 Cebu (coming up in August).

My husband and I arrived at the campsite midday Friday and set up camp. We absolutely love camping, so this weekend was an opportunity for us to enjoy 2 of our loves. The weather was beautiful and not as strenuous as previous years so I had a sense of excitement for a solid race.

The start of the race was pretty calm. I loved getting the chance to geek out when I saw 3-time Wildflower champs, Jesse Thomas and Heather Jackson, setting up their bikes. It was also great to see Yu Hsiao before the race. Just following his journey toward becoming an elite athlete has been so fun to witness (he did fantastic at the race by the way!) I had a great time getting ready with my husband and helping him strategize his day. It was such a good spirited, fun morning. Maybe it was the fact that I had been telling myself this was just a training race or that I had told myself not to expect much knowing that I just put my heart out on the Boston course less than 2 weeks ago. Either way, the swim began and I felt calm - not typical for me as swimming creates anxiety. The water conditions were exponentially better than last year's swim (which was black and muddy). But while this swim was calm, I had to really adjust my stroke since early on, I was having pain in my hip flexors. The pain was manageable so I just focused on keeping a calm pace. I finished with lots of energy and ran my way up the ramp.

BTW, I positioned my run transition stuff as far up as I could since having my transition stuff at the bottom of the ramp last year led to a really long run up the ramp. Breaking things up made a huge difference in how I felt. Again, could also be how calm I felt and made decisions such as sitting down and taking my time to get everything and catch my breath. But those actions lead to a strong 2.2 mile run to the bike transition area.

I was eager to get to my bike. My bike is typically my strength. I love crushing it on the bike, especially at Wildflower. But this day, my body was off.  I continued to feel pain in my hip flexor with every foot stroke. This was exaggerated when I was in the aero position, which was tough since I needed to be stay in that position since there was consistent headwinds throughout the day. I usually love the Wildflower bike course but this time I was in a dark place. I was worried that this type pain was the injury kind that if I do too much to it, it can possibly take me out of commission for a few weeks. I kept asking myself "WTF was I thinking? I just ran a marathon and now I'm doing Wildflower long course? Who did I think I was, Lance Armstrong?!" That, I am not! And this race let me know that!

By mile 30 of the bike, I let out a tear or two. Adjusted my race goal of a podium finish and reminded myself that this was supposed to be a practice race. It hurt watching a few ladies pass me but I just had to suck it up. There's no gain in this for me if I injure myself just to keep up with them. I decided to keep riding and hope for the hip flexor pain to go away during the run portion of the race.

Also, in the midst of this race was the excitement of the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight. So, whenever I needed a boost, I would sing Lupang Hiniran (the Philippine National Anthem) and think of what Pacquiao would do. That really helped me push through :)

Nasty Grade was not as terrible as it has been in past years but I'm sure it's because leading up to this point, I took the previous miles at an easier pace and then I was off on the run.

I was looking forward to this run! Finally, a leg of the race that didn't hurt my hips! I reminded myself that this race was meant to challenge my mind and body. I needed to accept the heat and learn how to move past it. I worked on keeping my heart rate low and continue moving at a good pace. There were some uphills that just aggravated my calves and ankle, so I walked.  Still, I'm happy with my run. It wasn't as fast as I know that I am capable of but I am glad that I pushed through most of it and felt strong especially in the last 4 miles.

Overall, I am happy with what I was able to pull off that day. This was my fastest Wildflower long course time (6:02) but it makes me eager to come back knowing that I can do so much more if I made this a priority race! I ranked 10th  in my age group and 26th overall female. The race was fun and I was incredibly excited to get the chance to cheer on my husband as he finished his first long course Wildflower! I am so proud of him and I was in tears thinking of how much he was able to push through for this race!

So, if there is a lesson to be learned here, it would be, think twice before signing up for a marathon and a challenging half ironman twelve days apart :)

We did it!

Great Share from Runners World Magazine

A few years ago, I used to think that my body was not a marathon runner's body nor a triathlete's body, so I always accepted that I just wouldn't be fast. Once I decided that my body was and is perfect for me and my sports, I have been able to get faster and am amazed of the abilities that I once thought I was incapable of!

Boston FIERCE RACE NAILS!!!

My Race Nails for Boston! Fierce as a Cheetah! 

Wet and Windy Boston 2015 Race Report

The Boston Marathon!!!

I remember back in high school, while playing on the tennis court, I would see the cross country kids start off on their long run and always thought "those guys are crazy!" "why would anyone like running like that?"

Airport photo as Patrick was fixing the camera (it was still on timer mode)

Oh how times have changed! hahaha Now, after years of dreading the final leg of triathlons, I have finally found a love for running! And somehow, with the amazing support of my coach, training partners and unconditional love from my husband, I qualified for Boston. 

Saturday morning in Boston - right after a red eye flight - super sleepy yet excited!

Last year, I was in so much shock that I qualified that I told myself that I just wanted to enjoy this race. Its Boston! I made it and just want to take it in. It was also my way of lowering my expectations of myself. But as training began this year, I found myself really embracing the training and built up confidence.

Super stoked to be at the expo!!!

Official swag!

The 2 week taper before Boston was truly the toughest part. I never really followed a taper plan before, I used to have taper week and just did nothing! Guess thats not really a taper, thats a drop off of training :) I was worried that if I worked out too hard or too much that my legs wouldn't feel loose for the race. But, fortunately, I had my coach telling me to get off my butt and do my workouts. I followed my training plan as close as I could, did an easy 2 miler the day before with my hubby and by Marathon Monday, my legs felt great! Its just worrisome thinking about the amount of fitness I was potentially losing from those 2 weeks - thankfully, my body loved the break and I felt fantastic for the race!

Just hanging with Elite runner, Amy Hastings. Just a normal day ;)

New fave: Desi Linden! 4th Place @ Boston 2015 (and fastest American woman), 2nd @ Boston 2011!

Autographs!!!

Days leading up to the race, well lets be honest - it was months, I was tracking the weather patterns in Boston. Everyone warned that the weather in Boston is unpredictable! The weather just kept changing! Even the week of the race! Accuweather was saying that the rain would be days before the marathon... then the day after... and on April 19th, it was saying rain on Monday, April 20 starting at 11am. Well, thats just 35 minutes after my wave start time :/ 

Leading up to the race, I changed my mindset. If it was going to rain, I decided that I just wanted to go out there and enjoy it. Its Boston, I might as well soak it all up!

Race outfit & Post-Race Outfit - Oofos Sandals are AMAZING!
(also thin socks and aquaphor = no blisters!)

I had about 3-4 hours of sleep, so I was exhausted! Nerves kept me up! I ended up listening to some meditation that calmed me down and I was knocked out.

4:30am! I can't believe the hubsters let me wake him up this early!

Morning came, I downed a bowl of oatmeal, a bit of coffee and loaded up the car with my husband. He dropped me off about a quarter of a mile away from the bus loading area (that was as far as the police would allow cars to go) and in a last minute decision, I threw on my super cute new vest. I was too cold and the rain was just getting to me. I knew that I needed it. And if it was too warm, my husband said I could leave it with him at mile 17.

I got to the bus loading area and found my friend, Diane. She is an amazing runner and I have been in awe of her abilities for the last year that I've known her! It was so great starting the race with her! She gave me so many tips, which in the end helped me out so much! I know the most helpful part was actually doing the race with her! 

The bus loading was so organized and quick! They were diligent about all safety precautions but they made the search extremely efficient. The bus ride was great! It was nice to just sit and talk. I am sure if Diane wasn't with me, it would have been so much more nerve-wrecking! The others around me were super nice as well. We all were slowly trying to embrace the cold and imminent rain. 

Me and Diane in our ponchos and layers as we entered the Athletes Village

Once at the Athletes Village in Hopkinton, we got to business quick, PORTOPOTTIES! errr port-o-johns as the east folk call em. Its a really calmer to know that you dealt with that business ahead of time so you dont have to worry about any stoppage during the race. Unfortunately, it was not the time! So instead, I grabbed a cup of coffee and found a nice spot on the ground to relax before our wave was called. The ground was so cold that Diane and I foraged for some leftover scraps from the first wave of runners who had just left the tents. We scored big with a cardboard box and 2 mylar blankets! With such items, we created a makeshift bed :) It was much warmer than sitting directly on the floor. We bundled ourselves up like 2 burritos and tried to think warm thoughts until we had to get up and go. This whole situation could have easily been super nerve-wrecking but again, having a friend to experience this with help TREMENDOUSLY! 

Once it was our time to go, we made one last potty break, and this time it was a success and I felt ready to go! (sorry, TMI!). Diane made sure that I didn't get too ahead of myself during the warm up. She reminded me that the start was still a quarter of a mile away. There were folks running to the start line but she said that it was not necessary. And she was right! We got to our corral start, chatted with some of the other runners and in no time we were off! The start was a complete blur. It seemed to just go by so quickly! The crowds were there cheering us all on and I smiled as a tear fell. I was really there! 

The first 5k was mainly downhill. Diane told me to try to keep a high cadence and short strides. We held back our time knowing that this was a tricky course. Many people go out really fast during the first 10k because of the downhills but they pay for it once they hit Heartbreak Hill at mile 21. The rain was definitely coming in and I was feeling chilly. Diane even kept her plastic poncho on for at least 6 miles! 

Wet and cold wont stop us! #BostonStrong

Vest was my last minute purchase... but I must say it completes the ensemble :)

I don't know how but this race just seemed to go by really fast! I was amazed that the mile markers were popping up so soon. It may have been the fact that the crowds were out, even though the weather was dreary. They made each mile seem easy! It was funny how at mile 12 or so, a woman told her friend "enjoy the quiet calm now cause once we hit Wellsey College, its going to be loud all the way to the end!" And boy was she right!

One tip that really helped me out was the placement of my family. I knew that my husband, mother and father in law, brother in law and his girlfriend would be somewhere at mile 17. And knowing that, it pushed me through those middle miles where I could have easily slowed down. Having them there at that point in the race helped me push through. It makes the course seem shorter since I had my own landmarks to get to. I also knew that once I saw them, I only had 9 miles to go! 

Once I hit mile 17, I was searching for them. There were so many people! It was so hard! I ran on the right side, hoping that they would be visible or at least they would see me coming. With all of those people running in the same pack as me and with the rain coming down, I knew it was going to be difficult. Fortunately they saw me (Kerry spotted my super bright orange vest!) but i was going a bit too fast that I just passed them and just jumped for joy that I saw them! I wish I had thought to stop and give my husband a hug but when I am running, I am a rocket not a rocket scientist :)Anyways, seeing my family there was so exhilarating! I was pumped for miles after that! 

Do you know anyone that looks this happy during a race? :)

Another tip: Know where they hand out GUs. I knew they were handing them out around mile 17, so I made sure to have the 2 Honey Stinger gels that I packed at mile 12 and 16. This went well with how I practiced in my own training. When I found the Cliff Bar Gel station, I took one and kept it in my hand for a good mile or two. I didn't want to put it in my back pocket because my hands were frozen. At mile 16, when I tried to pull out my last honey stinger, I almost couldn't get it because my hands were immobile. So once I got this GU, i just held it until I felt I needed it. By mile 20, I knew Heartbreak Hill was approaching so I tried to rip open the Gel with my teeth but the handle broke off. I tried the other side and the rest of the tab fell off. So, No Gel :( No use in getting worried though. They had gatorade every mile, so I just utilized those. One sip of gatorade at every other aid station was good enough for me, especially with the cold weather we had. 

Heartbreak Hill came. I was cold but I was feeling strong. I love running up hills so I felt good pushing a bit. I lost Diane here but I knew that she was a strong runner and was likely right behind. I wanted to just focus on my stride going up this hill. People were cheering all along the climb and it felt amazing! I got to  a man holding a sign saying "top of Heartbreak Hill" and I was so confused... that was it? that was not much of a hill! Compared to the hills I've been training on in San Francisco and Marin, Heartbreak Hill was a breeze! That boosted my confidence (as well as confusion) and I knew I basically had just 5 miles left! I had researched the elevation chart before the race and knew last 5 miles looked basically down hill. There were some rollers here and there but I knew, I was in a good place. 

Last year, at mile 22 I bonked. I just told myself that I needed to just make it through. I was stopping to walk every half mile and was dreading each step. I feared this was going to happen again at this race! You just don't know how your body will react after 22 miles. Fortunately, my body felt amazing! I wanted to run my heart out but the fear of reaching that bonking point kept me at a smarter pace. I am still learning about my body and how much I can push it. I wanted to make sure to finish the race and i just didn't want to be stuck on the side lines by pushing too hard these last couple miles. 

As I checked out my watch, I saw that I actually had a chance at winning the bet I had with my coach. I had a 10 minute handicap. And if he was having a rough day and I was feeling great, I could actually win! Well, that must have gotten me to have a jolt of energy because with 3 miles left, I picked up my pace and was feeling my strongest of the entire race! I ran past the amazing crowd. I ran past boys running without their t-shirts. I just ran! I even got to run past Team Hoyt in the second to last mile. Their journey inspires me and really pushed me to the end! I turned onto Boylston Street and could see the finish line. I was running really well but I looked to my left and the crowd was roaring! I couldn't believe how amazing this could feel. I wanted to run in but I also wanted to soak in that moment. I took a breath of that incredible feeling then ran into the finish line! I finished with a time of 3:19:33! I PR'd by 8 minutes! I don't know why or how my body held up like that! But I am realizing now that last years time was not a fluke (I was really worried about that). I had the most unbelievable support for this marathon. My training friends, my coach, my friends (especially at the high school), my family, and my husband kept me going this entire training season. Everyone believed in me, which really helped when I would be down on myself and worried about my own abilities. I have the most amazing people around me and they really help me better myself every day! The course was fantastic! My entire Boston experience was phenomenal! And I can't wait to can come back!

This actually happened!

I was SOOOOO HAPPY at this point! The cold hadn't set in just yet!

Oh, and one last thing: After the race, the cold really started to set in! It was cold during the race but once I stopped moving, I was unbelievably cold! I was soaked by the rain, my body temperature dropped quickly and the mylar blankets they gave us kept getting blown up from the wind. It was a miserable walk to the family meeting area. We literally looked like zombies roaming through the streets trying to find our way out. People kept saying congratulations and I could only say thank you as I gave a chattering smile. My body was shivering so uncontrollably! Thankfully, right after I exited the runners gates, my husband found me! He rushed over so fast!!! (They were at mile 17 and rushed to the finish line for me!!!) I was so excited to see him and wanted to tell him all about my race but I was also so eager to change my clothes! He had all of my layers ready and I just changed right there in the street (under my mylar blanket of course). My fingers were not functioning, so Patrick had to help me put my clothes on (while also making sure I didn't flash anyone - but by that point, who really cares?!). Once I had my layers on, my wet shoes off and my head covered I was set! After about 10 minutes, I felt fantastic again! Soon after, we hopped on the train and rode down to where our cars were located. The trains even let the runners ride for free!!! The city of Boston really made me (and all my fellow runners) feel like celebrities for a weekend! One of the most incredible experiences of my life :) 

Shout out to my mother and father in law, brother in law and Kerry for making this trip so calm and supportive!
Such a wonderful time in New England!

The Montani Family in Boston! I got to crack my first lobster on Sunday! And I am pretty sure that lobster made me stronger! :)

Post race eating with my love!

Fabulous Opportunity PLUS Promo Code for USA Productions events!

This year has already been quite amazing! I am so thrilled about my strides in run racing! I am now finding what I believed unreachable, I am now able to reach... and now, I've created new goals that I actually now believe that I have the ability to achieve!

At Wildflower training camp, I had a few people ask me how I got faster at cycling and running. While consistently training has played an incredibly large role, I believe that it all started when I changed my mindset of my skills. I used to believe that I was a mediocre swimmer, average cyclist and just in it to survive runner. I did triathlons to stay active but I was no competitor. I ran half marathons and marathons but always told everyone I was not a runner. But in 2013, I told myself that I was a strong cyclist.. and once I made that mental switch, my abilities increased (funny how that works!). And within the past year, I have been battling my brain between being a strong runner and lying to myself. Fortunately, the strong runner mentality has taken the front seat and I have been able to crush my previous PRs and truly surprise myself!


This year, I have also been asked to continue to be a member of the PACWEST Race Team! I absolutely love my team and am so grateful for Coach Jay! He was the one that always knew that I had the potential to be much faster that I was letting myself believe (my husband also always believed in me - but he has to do that, he's my husband ;) .

But one NEW opportunity that I am super excited about is the fact that I have been selected to be an Ambassador for USA Productions! I have been competing in their fantastic triathlons and now I get to actually be a part of it! I am already looking forward to the opportunities that I will get from this ambassadorship!

And as an ambassador, I am able to offer YOU (yes, you reading this!!!) a discount that can be applied to any and all of their races!!!

Promo Coupon Code: AnneMarie15

If you use the code, I'll be racing with you! I am currently signed up for Morgan Hill Sprint Triathlon (May 17, 2015), California International Triathlon (June 28, 2015) and Oakland Sprint Triathlon (August 30, 2015). I hope to see you out there!!!

No Sleep til Boston!!!

JK, absolutely there will be lots of sleep! And lots of taper before the race. This whole taper week is so mentally challenging. I've been struggling with it since last week!

Taper is difficult because you know you want to do well at your upcoming race but your mind has a hard time knowing how to get there. Do you limit the amount of training? Do you go easier on workouts? My coach said that the marathon taper is the time where you decrease mileage but you increase intensity. WHAT?! All of last week, I have been worried that I was burning out my legs! I am still worried about it! I ran 12 miles yesterday and a few today, as my training plan marked, but throughout it I have been bombarded by nervous thoughts about this taper and also about the race itself!

I'm a bit of a mess. But I am extremely excited to embark on this insane adventure! I can't believe that I am getting the opportunity to compete in this race! I've got my in-laws flying up to cheer me on! No matter how the race goes, I know for sure that I will love it and enjoy every second of it!

Since its taper week, I got the opportunity to enjoy a cup of espresso with the hubsters :)

Boston is Coming!

... so is Game of Thrones and I am super excited about both!!! April is going to be an exciting month!

Just received a Welcome package from the Boston Marathon with my Runner Passport and I am beyond excited! This is my last long training weekend before the final taper before the marathon!!!

SO SUPER EXCITED!!!!

Running Outfit

I've joked around about my running outfits a lot in the past months but in all honesty, I truly believe that it is important! Just like my nails, I want to look fierce to be fierce! I want to feel confident in my clothes which will resonate in my race results.

Its not just the look, its the whole outfit. Not only does the outfit need to be cute, it has to be extremely functional. For instance, I bought a couple adorable sports bras from Victoria's Secret and I used to love them. used to... That was before I started chaffing and scabbing around the bra band area. When enough was enough, I headed to the internet to do research on non-chaffing, high-impact supportive bras. I found a beautiful pair at Nike.com and I had to try it out. I purchased one at the Nike store a couple blocks from my home and ran the Oakland Half Marathon with it. I quickly fell in love with the Nike Pro Rival! It was all that I could ask for. I am hopeful that it keeps proving itself for the better.

But now I've got to think about my running shorts. I have tried out so many different shorts and I continue to go to the same pair for races. While I don't think they are the cutest set that I have purchased, they are definitely going to keep me going the entire duration of a race. One of the worst things to experience during a race is chaffing! Even if there's no chaffing or burn, if a pair of shorts needs to be constantly pulled down or adjusted, I just can't waste my time!

So, I like my shorts that I have been wearing but they aren't cute and I feel like my whole attire for my last race was just not put together well. Nothing was bright and nothing stood out! It was basic. And I hate being just basic!

Since Lululemon stopped making the style of running shorts that I adore, I decided to try out some Nike 5" Epic Run Lux shorts. I tried on the Epic Runs in the store and ended up ordering a pink pair (since they didn't carry the color that I wanted). I am nervous about this change. I am worried that this may have been another place where I have thrown my money out the window. But in 2 days, my shorts will arrive in the mail and I will have a go at a long run with them. I am hopeful! Crossing fingers for a nice fit, no chaffing and absolutely no riding up.

Once I get my shorts all settled, I'll finally get to throw some combinations together to figure out my Boston Marathon kit.

... but if it snows or the weather is dreary... I don't know what I am going to do! Aaaaaahhhhh!!!

Oakland Half Marathon Race Report

While the Oakland Half Marathon was supposed to be a practice race to tune up for the Boston Marathon, my heart was still set on trying to improve my times from the SF Kaiser Marathon that was a little over a month ago. Its actually really exciting to work hard during a race to see how much you can push your body!

The morning started off great! I had an amazing 9 hours of sleep! Unlike the marathon, my race start wasn't until 9:15am. My husband and I leisurely got ready for our race, had a nice oatmeal breakfast and were out the door with plenty of time to spare. We decided early on not to drive to the start knowing that traffic and road closures may be a hassle with the marathon already running. And being in San Francisco, we were just a short BART ride to Oakland. I highly recommend this option if you have the choice since both directions were very quick and easy! The bart didn't actually open their gates until 7:57am but that still left us plenty of time to travel.


Tips once you get to the start: 
Do all of your pre-race stuff early. The lines for the bathrooms were nonexistent when we got there but once we were done, there were so many people lining up to do their business! Same goes for bag check. We dropped off our stuff so easily but once we were done, the lines were massive! So plan ahead to come early and not waste time before getting ready - cause theres no reason to wait if you really don't have to.

The Start:
While at the expo, the pace team was greeting the racers and offered pace bands. They had 1:30s and 1:35s! I excitedly asked if they would have pacers for those times and one woman mentioned yes. So I started the race with the expectation of being able to follow and keep up with someone holding a pace sign. Unfortunately, on race day, there was no one for that time goal :( I was going to have to attempt this on my own. I was a little bummed but it is what it is.

The race began and the weather was fantastic. Not too cold and not too warm. I heard during the marathon, there were times of rain but we never experienced it during the half.

The first few miles of the race squiggled us through the downtown area. The great thing about this race was that they put up signs at the Start line with pace times and you plotted yourself in the pace you were going for. This really helped with the crowd issue that many races struggle with. I never had to worry about racer congestion on the streets as there was plenty of room throughout.

The first 6 miles, I was comfortably running 6:20s, 6:30s and 6:40s. I felt good but my mind was getting to me. I knew that I could run this pace for 6 miles but could I really keep that pace up for 13 miles? I was worried that I would blow up and not be able to complete the race. So, I decided to slow down and take the last 7 miles at a calmer pace. I really don't know how much I can push my body yet so this is all trial and error for me. So, each time that I run a race, I learn more and more what I can do with my legs. Its exciting yet scary! But with a course like the Oakland Half Marathon, you really can test it out!

It was funny running through the first and second mile. I had to jump over some shattered glass on the ground! But instead of getting frustrated, I felt like this was kind of appropriate being that we were running through Oakland. Cause sometimes Oakland can be hood like that... and I am okay with it!

The course was pretty flat throughout - until you get to the last three miles which travels along Lake Merrit. After not seeing hills for miles and miles, approaching one was daunting. But in actuality, to see the hill after the race, they are tiny itty bitty bumps that you would never consider a hill. But during a half marathon, anything of slight elevation can cause sadness. There were just about 2 or 3 little hills around the lake, small enough that before you can even contemplate if you should run or walk up them, you would already have gotten to the top! The only hill I would suggest you take note of is the last hill right before the finish line. You see can see the finish but that hill is the one thing keeping you from it. I didn't let the crowd push me too much - they are fantastic but I sure didn't want to blow up before finishing! Once I got to the crest, I started my sprint and sprinted as much as my legs could give for those last 200 meters.

Overall, this was a fun race where you can see just how fast you can run! I PR'd with a time of 1:34 and I am incredibly happy with that! I was super surprised to find that I got 2nd in the Women's 30-34 age group and 9th overall female for the race! I was glowing for hours!

About to run up the first hill of the course - Lake Merrit (don't mind my form! :)

I love that at each of these races, I get a chance to learn more and more about my body and what I am capable of. I am really looking forward to my next race and hope I can dig a little deeper and improve myself just a bit more!

Oakland Half Marathon Fierce Nails

To go with the green theme of the Oakland Running Series, here are my race nails for tomorrow mornings race!

Oakland is just a BART trip away :) Here's to my last training race before the Boston Marathon!

Palm Springs Training Camp 2015

After figuring out my work schedule, I finally got the chance to attend Pacwest Athletics' training camp this year! I was so nervous about the intensity of training for a full 4 days! This was our chance to basically eat, sleep and train all weekend. I was nervous but oh so excited!


Thursday
Long morning swim at the beautiful Palm Desert Aquatic Center.
I had not been swimming much prior to this training camp, so this was a major kick in the butt. It was a good week if I got 1 swim in... but with this camp, there were no excuses! But it also made me realize that swimming with a group is actually really fun! I can't tell you exactly what has been preventing me from going but I am just glad to be back at it!

We even got to get a video analysis of our swim and it has been incredibly helpful! I never had formal instruction on my swim stroke and had absolutely no idea what good form should be. Meeting with Jason Campbell has been so mind opening and extremely helpful as I continue to swim. I am constantly thinking about one major piece of my stroke that I should be improving. Its extremely motivating!

After swim, we went off on our first ride of the weekend. I fun (yet windy). I was pretty excited to be out of the pool and onto my bike as I was finally in my element. As a teacher, its actually pretty funny how I work hard on my strengths and put procrastinate on the areas of my weakness - since I see it in my students all of the time! Now, I completely understand! But it wont be an excuse for them but rather a reasoning for me to get into the pool!

Friday
Friday morning, we got the chance to swim in the 50m pool at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center and it was pretty awesome! I'm terrible at flip turns, so the less flip turns the better! Swimming in a 50 meter pool really makes you focus on endurance and not the reliance of taking a quick break at the ends of the pool (as I like to do!)

After the video analysis and conference, I was able to swim with a better idea of how my swim form technique should be! Sorry dad, guess your swim instruction to me as a kid was wrong :( It's okay, I still love you!

 With my friend, V! We are all smiles! - this was before we realized what was ahead type of course was ahead of us!

The trek up this climb was awesome! I love climbing hills! I was more worried about the downhill after we got to the summit! 

The BEAUTIFUL view that we earned after all of the work! It was such an amazing ride! But this was barely the start of our 60 mile ride!

The Pacwest Crew!

Riding through the sand storm aftermath - Dirt all over the face! I thought I had gotten really dark and realized that, nope, just dirt all over my body! That bath tub  was full of sand after I got done with it!

Saturday

Sunday (Race/ My "D" Race? - Practice Race? hehe)

While the weekend was rough and full of intense training, I absolutely loved it! I trained hard and had fun with friends! I think one of the best parts was the dance parties for 2 that I had with my hotel roommate, V! My training weekend experience would not have been the same without you!