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!

Back at it!

Today, I got out and did a nice long bike ride!

Throughout the entire week, I just haven't been feeling race ready for the Kaiser half marathon that is happening on Sunday. I debated how I should train during the week. Fortunately, I have a wonderful coach who reminded me that this race is for training. Its a race that will prepare me for my A race, the Boston Marathon. So, he suggested I train through this race.

So with the encouragement of my fellow PACWEST triathlon race team, I came out for a fun 3 Bears ride in the East Bay. And let me tell you, today was such a fantastic day! I was reminded how amazingly blessed that I am to be able to train and live in this amazing place! The sites were beautiful The hills were plentiful (and you know how much I love hills!)! And the chance to be around friends was exactly what I needed.

I needed this jolt. I have been so laissez faire with my training lately. I've been in the mode of get this done, get that done, that I totally forgot why I do triathlons. Today, I remembered that I absolutely love riding my bike, being outside and being active with friends! It was such a joy to get out on my bike and just let the everything in.

Thank you Pacwest and Breakaway for such an incredible ride today! I'll see you all at the next long ride next weekend (and many of you way before then!).


As for Kaiser... this ride really pumped me up. I am hopeful that my legs are comfortable tomorrow but either way, I am going to go out and just enjoy it... cause why not? Why would we do these things if we didn't love it?

I am a Run Commuter!

I have done this a couple times in the past but I have finally found the joy in run commuting. The main piece that I had to overcome was the waking up earlier and the BART/bus ride home. And to do this just once a week, its totally doable!

Here is my typical commute:
Morning:
3.5 mile run to the Bart station (dodging people and poop the entire run there)
0.5 mile run from Bart to the high school

Afternoon:
6.5 mile run from the high school to my apartment

Love running through this beautiful city!

The run home is my favorite part. While there are parts where the cars are just plentiful, I tend to get lost in the jogging that I care little about what the random onlookers think. This run is much more pleasurable than riding Bart to Muni. I started riding my bike to work because the muni buses just are too slow and give me headaches from all of the bumpiness! So the longer run is definitely worth it!

I not only am getting home but I am getting a nice long and hilly run into my week! As long as you plan for this 1 day a week, its completely do-able!

Tips:

• Plan ahead! 
• Bring clothes and shoes to work the day before. I have 2 pairs of shoes at my desk, just for these types of occasions!
• Have second set of makeup at work.

• Leave for work early/ get to work early!
• You really need to get to work with plenty of time to spare. Enough time to rest and dry off. Also enough time to primp your hair and get your makeup set for the day.

• Wipes! Wipes are your best friend! Portable towels that will keep you clean :)

• La Fresh Travel lite: Antiperspirant Wipes for Women: Your stinky armpits will thank you.

• Salomon S Lab Advanced Skin Belt or FlipBelt: I have successfully used both. I prefer the Flipbelt (especially if I dont have anything to carry except keys and cards). The Salomon Belt is great if you need to pack clothes that you may not have packed the day before.

That't pretty much all you need! Get out there and get your sweat on! You will feel so refreshed and awake that you wont even need a cup of coffee in the morning! :) 

Week 2 Update

It has now been 13 days since I have started my journey toward drinking more water. There has been some struggles with nights where I had to down a few more ounces then desired but I've gotten there. With the help of my water drinking app (which alerts me every 2 hours to drink water), I have been getting my fill of water every day! Ironically, being sick has actually helped me with my challenge. Since I have been terribly sick for the 2 weeks, I have been downing mugs of green tea throughout the morning, day and evening!

My lips feel so fresh and lacking their typical chappiness. And I have been feeling great! In addition, since I have gotten in the habit of drinking green tea every morning, I have also kicked my slight dependency on coffee! Now, I feel so fresh and awake in the morning. I truly hope this continues!


BTW I am feeling much better now that my cold/flu has gone away. My voice left me the first week back at the high school and I worried about how my students would react to my hoarse voice. But being the sweet kids that they are, I think they noticed my voice and have been acting so kind lately! :) I guess I should be sick more often! JK! I really need to kick this cold to the curb and get back on Boston Marathon training! The Kaiser half marathon is a couple weeks away and I don't know how this race will go :/

2015 Resolution

As many do each year, I have finally decided on a new years resolution. This year, I've chosen to do something that can truly help my body thrive.

1 day into my Water Resolution

I've decided to focus on drinking water. Enough water that my body had been needing for years!

I've been plauged by chapped lips and extremely dry skin for all of my life and never tried to do anything about it - other than apply ChapStick and buff off the dead skin. But after being reminded of the necessity of drinking water, especially as a female athlete, I am taking it upon myself to fill up on my daily dose (for my weight and activity level, I believe it is about 95 ounces a day).

My trusty water bottle that will help me keep track of my daily intake

Today and yesterday have not been too difficult but I need to really focus on this once I start back at the high school on Monday. I've been known to go through a whole workday having only had 1 cup of coffee as my sole source of liquids. Being in a different classroom each hour of the school day has made it pretty difficult to drinking any water, let alone carry water around with me throughout the school day. Hopefully, after a full month of conscious effort, drinking water will become second nature. With the help of the Water Your Body app, I am getting my body the optimal amount of water it needs. 

*So far, I've been peeing up a storm!!!

* Note to self: Don't try to compensate for the lack of water during the day late at night... It will lead to waking up multiple times overnight to use the restroom.