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!

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!

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!

My first attempt at an Ultra Distance Race: A North Face Endurance Challenge California 50k 2014 Review

After a couple years of running, I found reasons to attempt the 50k distance. I was coaching my high school cross country team and wanted to push myself to new adventures as they would be pushing themselves during the season. I also wanted to get my off season started on a high note. I wanted to use this 50k to build mental strength for when I attempt the Wildflower long course (again!) and hopefully beat the course (at least in my heart)!

Anyways, months ago, I signed up for the North Face Endurance Challenge 50k in San Francisco, California. Its a race that's basically in my own backyard! Extremely accessible and I would be able to train on the same course as race day.

Race Outfit

Race day outfit!

I am including this piece because in my own search, I couldn't find many people's outfits for running a trail race of this nature. So here is my own 50k race outfit and my experience:

• Nike Dry-Fit Tee - The weather at that time was unpredictable. It rained a few days prior and I had no idea if it would be warm or cold, so I opted for a short sleeved t-shirt (which was nice when the sun came out to cover my shoulders from any burns). I kept it loose - which is different from my normal style but again, I was trying something new and it actually was not bad. It did mess with the fit of my race belt though.
• Victoria Secret Sports Bra - Fantastic running bra! Kept me from bouncing all day long. While I love it for running marathons, there were so many down hills that there was a bit of chaffing. Next time, I'll make sure to use some bodyglide for the anti-chaff.
• Running Skirts Arm Warmers -  These have great cuffs that I was able to wear over my hands at the beginning of the race, so i didn't have to carry any gloves. These are size small but were not as tight as I would have liked. But they did provide the warmth that I needed. I eventually took them off as the race heated up and progressed.
• Salomon S Lab Advanced Skin Belt - GREAT! It was my fault that I began the race with it fitting weird. By the first down hill, the belt was flopping around everywhere! My mistake was that I wanted to wear it on my hips. I think that could have worked but I figured out this belt works best on my waist. I just needed to tighten it up and loop a little knot on the side. Once I figure that out, this baby was sweet! It kept me hydrated when I needed a bit of water between aid stations. There was really no need to wear a huge hydration pack when there were aid stations about every 3-5 miles. The last time I ran a trail race, I used my hiking hydration pack and found that holding that much water was not necessary and just caused my shoulders and lower back to ache. This belt was fabulous! Held a couple gus, a flexible bottle of water, as well as my arm warmers that I had taken off mid-race.
• Running Skirts Run Buns (shorts) - Super cute! Sparkly! Colorful! Everything that I like about shorts! As for running in them, they were okay. Maybe I was just having a chubby leg day but I definitely got some chaffing on my inner thighs. But nothing that a little bit of bodyglide couldn't help. Would I wear them for other races? Absolutely!
• CEP Compression Socks - Purpose of these were to protect my legs from the inevitable mud on my calves as well as for warmth - again, the weather was a bit unpredictable. Compression was probably not necessary for this distance (as it was so long). I would have actually preferred to wear my Injinji Women's Trail Midweight Micro toe socks, which possibly could have prevented the blister that I got on my big toe. But that blister healed within a day, so its no big deal. But these socks did a great job for the race. My calves felt totally fine the next day and the following week. So maybe they really did help me during the race!
• Newton Boca Sol Trail Running Shoes - LOVE THESE SHOES! I've been training on cross country trails with these shoes. I've been training in the Marin Headlands in these shoes. I've loved them! They are fairly light (compared to other trail shoes I have tried) and they give me the bit of burst that I have become accustom to when I wear Newtons. Though I will always love my Newton Gravity's for road racing, these are my definitely pick for trail shoes!

Start of the Race
The weather was brisk in the morning and I was glad that I wore a couple layers. The shuttle to the start was extremely convenient. Living only 3 blocks from the Marina Middle School shuttle pick up allowed me plenty of time to get ready at home and hop on a bus very easily by 5:40am. The ride was dark and quiet, as everyone was mentally preparing for the race. A few people were chit chatting but I kept to myself. It was just too early and cold to make conversation with anyone just yet. As we got closer to the start, it was fantastic to see the 50 milers running through the hills with their headlamps on.

Taken Thursday Night before the race - The ground was soaking wet and I was nervously anticipating the crazy race ahead.

The race start was a bit nerve-wrecking. I didn't know anyone and there were no seats. The ground was wet, so sitting on the grass wasn't going to happen. At that point, I reminded myself to bring 2 small camping chairs for tomorrow's race - I would be watching my husband complete his half marathon on the same course. With all the rain from earlier in the week, I could barely fathom the effects of the downpour on the trails but there was no turning back now. I, fortunately, found a couple familiar faces before the start of the race, which really eased my nerves. I didn't quite know why I was so nervous, it is not like I was looking to win at this race. I simply wanted to see if my body could endure a 50k.

After greeting a few people at the start line, the long race began. We raced down the first hill and after about 2 miles of running, I forced myself to slow down. While I knew that I had energy, I didn't know how I would feel after all of the hills and miles of this course. My body wanted to go faster and my mind knew it could go faster, but I chose to keep a steady pace. The weather was nice and soon after the start, I regretted wearing my arm warmers. I took those babies off after the first hill and they stayed in my Salomon S Lab Advanced Skin Belt for the rest of the race.



Steep and Wet Hills
The day went on with many uphills and down hills. It was comforting to go up hills that I have already seen previously. It helps the mind know that this is a possible feat as I had done parts of this race before. I ran up many of these hills during the Mt. Tam 30k (which was also a great race!).

The trails were extremely muddy and puddles were lengthy. The first quarter of the race, I attempted to keep my feet dry. I was worried that wet, muddy feet would give me blisters. But by the time I got to Cardiac Hill, there was no way to get out of the water. There were a couple super speedy 50 milers and 50k-ers already descending as i (along with a huge group of other runners) was making my way up the switchbacks. So as they came down, the people heading up hill made way for them (since we wanted to help them get to their super fast times). But the only downfall was the slippery mud that we tried to stick to when the speeders made their way down the single track trail. There were definitely many falls and I took part in it.

Top of Cardiac Hill with all the muddy gloriousness! Yup, I was happy!

I tried to keep my cute new running skirts shorts clean but with all of that mud, there was little hope. I slipped in the mud and got my side all muddy. But after that fall, I realized that what we were doing as racers was ridiculous. It was so silly how I would try to run and the ground was still holding onto my shoe! Maybe I'm crazy but I thought this whole thing was hilarious! We were out in the Marin Headlands running through the mud! A jolt of energy came from that and it kept me sane(?)... or kept me crazy cause from then on out, I was giggling from how silly we all were and how fun it was to be running straight through all the muck and mud! There was no longer time to dwell on staying clean and dry. That hope was long gone and now it was time to just have fun and get dirty!

The Aid Stations
Passing through the aid stations was the best! These folks were out there all morning and afternoon (and even night) to help us runners endure this course! They helped boost our morale when they dropped and kept supplying us with fantastic nutrients. There was never a time where there were limited supplies at any of the aid stations. My go-to's that day were saltine crackers and pretzels. First of all, I love crackers and pretzels! And second, I definitely had enough salt and electrolytes to get me through the race. They offered so many things! They had cups of m&ms, white potatoes, soup, and so many other treats! It was pretty amazing!

Seeing some familiar faces at mile 18 and 23 were kind of the best moments! When my eagerness dropped, a new aid station popped up and my homies were there to cheer me on! It was incredible how those few seconds and bouts of cheers truly helped me get through this race! As a result, I came out the following day and made sure my husband (and many friends who were doing the half marathon, 10k and 5k) got as much support as I could provide.

Mud!!! And lots of it!!! *See shoes... I swear they were teal when i started!

Second Half
By the time I got to the turn around point (mile 18), I felt great! My friend, Rich was up at the top and ensured that I was feeling good and ready to conquer the final portion of the race. The downhill felt amazing! There were bits and pieces of muddiness but as the sun shown down on us, the puddles were slowly drying up and I was able to race past them.

My major slow down happened after the mile 26 aid station. It was a long uphill that my body was just not happy about. But, fortunately, there were a couple other folks out there who were struggling up the hill with me. This made me realize how trail races were a completely different type of racing for me. People that I met were all rooting for each other. We were out there talking to each other and rooting for the other person to push and give their best. The people that I met out on the course were all fantastic and I am so glad I got to spend a bit of time getting to know them which helped loosen the focus of the pain of the uphills.

But as the hill went on, the competitive side of me jolted and told me that it was time to run. I got through those last few hills with some jog-walks. I would make little markers in my head of when I would start jogging and how long I needed to endure that pace, then I would give myself a bit of time to walk.

After many miles of uphills and down hills, it was sheer determination that was pushing me. Once I hit the final aid station, I knew it was basically all down hill from there. I took in a couple potato chips and a swig of cola and made my way down the long hill. I felt great and I knew there was a little less than 3 miles left of the race. I knew I could run in the final bits.

It was about 2 miles of down hill, half a mile of flat terrain and the final half mile was up a very gradual hill. By the time the final mile approached, I told myself to suck it up, and run the entirety until I hit the finish line. I finished with a time of 6:28:24. While I am so competitive with myself that I would want to get a faster time, I am thoroughly happy with my performance. I am proud of myself for sticking with this distance even when I kept telling myself to change it to a more accessible race that I knew I could do. I challenged myself and I am thrilled that I came to do what I said I would do.

This race was pretty incredible. I felt great at the end and could not wait to find my husband! There was no cell phone reception up there, so I just had to hope he would find me. But since I wasn't going anywhere soon, I piled a bunch of amazing food on my plate and chowed down while I waited for Patrick to find me.

All in all, the 50k was amazing! The views during the run were absolutely spectacular! The terrain was difficult. And the experience of running the trails and meeting new people was absolutely worthwhile. While I don't know if I would do that distance again, I am so happy that I pushed myself and completed it.

Muddy Muddy Ice Bath that felt soooo soooo good! Probably one of the reasons why I wasn't sore the second day out. (who knows how many other racers' feet have been in this little tub of water... yeeuck.)

p.s. Post Race:
A couple things that hurt but definitely made my legs happy the next couple days were:

• Foam Roller Stretches! They hurt so bad but they honestly help your muscles feel great the next day!
• Massage Stick: What you can't reach with the foam roller, massage it out with The Stick! My calves hated it at the time but there was a huge difference in how I felt the day after compared to my husband, who hates both the Foam Roller and the Stick.
• Eat healthy following the race: Though you will want to eat as much junk as you can (cause, hey, you deserve it) don't do it! Your muscles are like little hungry animals and they feed off of the nutrients that you are putting into your body. The more veggies and good stuff you eat, the better your body will feel post-race.

Pretty simple, right? I don't go crazy with any of my training demands - this could possibly be a downfall but I don't think so. I am a believer in moderation in everything. You need to make sure that you aren't going too crazy in training, or else your spouse will despise you. And you also can't go too crazy with your nutrition, cause your body (and your spouse!) will not like you. You gotta know whats good for your body but also take in some treats... cause you deserve it! Enjoy racing! And HELLO Off-Season!!! 

Bonus Pic: So proud of the hubster for doing a fabulous job on his race on Sunday!

My Hubby finishing his half Marathon (3 weeks after his wrist surgery!)!

Mt. Tam 30k trail race

My first attempt at a trail race and man was that tough!!!

Throughout my run, I kept realizing that the only similarities to road racing and trail racing are that you wear running shoes and you are moving from point a to point b with a bib number. Other than that, they are in worlds of their own!

I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into, so at the start of the race, I positioned myself at the back of the pack. The first 2 miles or so, just followed what the people in front of me were doing. When they walked, I walked. When they jogged, I jogged. But after a while, I realized that I needed to go off on my own and really feel out this whole trail race.

The course was tough. 4200 ft of elevation gain and no forgiveness. But through it all, it was absolutely beautiful! The day warmed up and I started to realize that maybe I actually like this.

The first 3 miles just kept going up and up. Buy once the first aid station appeared, the course was downhill and glorious. I definitely had to have loose knees with the terrain but it was a great change compared to all of the uphill climbing. But you never get to go too long without more climbing.

The part that really got to be was the last uphill climb. It was endless. There were  parts where I felt like I could just cry, especially being out in the middle of nowhere with only occasional people insight. But once I arrived at the last six station, I grabbed some chips and a sip of soda and I had all of the energy in the world! Knowing only 3.1 miles were left in front of me, I had a new jolt of motivation!

The race was fantastic and the volunteers were great! 4 hours and 5 minutes was a long day out on the course for me but its a great prep for my upcoming The North Face Endurance Challenge 50k! Now that will be a long day but I'm feeling ready for it!