When Your Body Talks, Listen.

If my body had a voice, it would be asking for a vacation.  No, begging for a vacation.

My body is just plain angry with me.  Every run has been tough and unenjoyable.  Every single one, since the Surf City Marathon.  I took 6 days off after the race.  But, I got right back into the swing of things after those measly 6 days.  My pace is noticeably slower than usual.  My muscles are unusually fatigued, tight and tender.  My shin throbs, my Achilles screams and even the bones in my feet hurt. 

Every long run leading up to Surf City was highly anticipated.  I would look forward to running all day, every day.  It was fun!  I think I smell serious burn-out coming on.  I feel more dread about long runs than excitement and to me, that is a sign that I need to back off.

Yesterday, we set out for a 15 mile trail run.  Angela took us to this amazing place way out in Ramona.  I felt like we entered another state, even another country.  There wasn't anything in sight for miles upon miles.  The roads were windy and the hills towered above us, high in the sky. 

Snow-capped mountains in the distance.  Isn't that crazy?

We started off on a winding trail, completely off the beaten path.  The solitude of this trail brought about instant peace.  I felt like I could suddenly breathe deeply.  The fresh, clean air was infiltrating my nostrils in such a lovely way.

Quickly, things went from peace, love and happiness to swear words and frustration.  We had reached the stream that our trail running book had mentioned.  Due to the rain over the last few days, the stream was much deeper than usual.  The cement walkway was covered in water.  There was no way to cross.  I even tried to conjure up a way to create a raft that would help us get across.  No cigar. 

Our serene run in the great outdoors had ended abruptly.  We had 15 miles to complete and only managed to knock out 2 1/2.   Shoulders are nonexistant on the roads of Ramona so there was no way to run safely from there.  My spazztastic ways led Angela to drive us all the way back home to Hillcrest.  I wouldn't want to run with me either.  I had some serious attitude about running yesterday.

This is the problem.  Training runs feel like more of a job than a hobby right now.  I think I need a break from devoting my Sunday's to long runs.  I feel pressured to run a certain number of miles and I need to let that go for awhile. 

I finished up my run on the treadmill last night at the gym.  While watching the Oscars, I gave some serious thought to this upcoming trail marathon.  I decided that I will give myself another week or two to decide whether or not I will be running.  If I continue to dread training runs, then I will be back out in an effort to avoid long-term burn-out.  I do not want to be a quitter, but my body is telling me something.  I feel it is my duty to listen. 

That crack went way down to nowhere-land

I also think my iron stores might be low, once again.  My recent fatigue is similar to when I was anemic.  When my doctor back in Chicago said I need to take an Iron supplement, I obeyed.  Within a month, I was back to normal.  Of course, once I felt like my old self, I stopped taking iron.  Typical American; always reactive, never proactive.  On Saturday, I slept until 1:30 in the afternoon and yesterday I took a nap after sleeping in.  I could actually fall asleep right now if I laid my head down.  This just doesn't seem quite right.  Normal people just don't sleep this much.

Have you ever backed out of a race you registered for?

What were the circumstances?

On a positive note, Ang just sent me a text of someone at the gym.  At our gym, anything goes, and that is why we love it.  You are free to be whoever it is you are!

I give her a ton of credit for feeling brave enough to pair the Ugg-like boots with pink and purple spandex.  It's like Jane Fonda meets Britney Spears... or an eskimo. 

A to the B to the C

It's a rainy Saturday and I have been wracking my brain trying to come up with a blog topic.  I am feeling completely uninspired so I decided to take part in the ABCs like everyone else in the blogosphere.  I know you probably couldn't care less about these things but maybe you're equally as bored and uninspired today.



Age: I'm just a baby but I'll be a whole quarter century old on Cinco de Mayo!  Cha cha cha!

Bed size:  Queen and super comfy.  I can sleep all day on that sucker.  Case in point:  I didn't remove myself until 1:30 pm today.  I know, I have a serious problem.

Chore you hate: I hate chores and I despise cleaning.  I wish we lived in a world where nothing ever became dirty.  If I could have one wish come true, that just might be it.  Forget world peace.

Dogs: Not yet, but I am pushing for one.  If I showed up with a pooch, Ang might kick me to the curb.  

Frida could use a big protective brudder to keep her safe from the bad guys.

Essential start of your day: COFFEE w/ a splash of steamed soy and a squirt of Agave.  Yum.  

Fav colour: Yellow.  Warm and calming.  

Gold or silver:  I don't like real jewelry.  I prefer the $5 stuff at Forever 21. 

Height: 5'4", although I was under the impression I was 5'5" for years.  

Instruments I play: I wish I played the drums.  Great way to get out your aggression.  

Job title: Everybody's b*tch.  Jussst kidding.  Executive Assistant.  

Kids:  I think they are hilarious, honest and fun but I don't want any of my own.  

Live:  San Diego, where the livin' (truly) is easy.  

Mom’s name: She goes by Susie and she is one spectacular woman.  I was just reminded today how non-judgmental, understanding and open-minded she is.  I love her oh, so much!

Nicknames: My boss calls me Katie Bug.  My mom calls me Katie Kins.  My 2nd grade teacher called me Kate the Great.  I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that Ang calls me Kate-er-ator and Hot Buns.  Can someone think of a really cool nickname for me?

Overnight hospital stays:  Luckily, only one time, after a car accident.  I was very lucky to be alive and even more lucky that no one else was hurt in my accident.

Pet peeve:  I have a few that I won't mention in fear of being offensive.  I hate when people say "Aint", although I do say it jokingly from time to time.  I also get frustrated by people that walk slowly.  I'm not a New Yorker so  I have no reason to be rushing, but I walk at a very speedy pace and don't want anyone to get in my stinkin' way. 

Quote from a movie:  I am awful at trying to quote movies.  Whenever I try, Ang laughs hysterically at the number of attempts it takes for me to get it right.  I really know how to kill a joke or ruin a story too.  I love Amy Poehler in Baby Mama, everything she says makes me laugh. 

Best. Scene. Ever.

Right or left handed:  Righty tighty.

Siblings:  2 older sisters, 1 younger sister and an older brother.  I hated my older sisters growing up because they were such rotten b*tches, but I love them now.  We've made amends and now we're besties.

Time you wake up:  6:45 on weekdays (I know you want to kill me) and on the weekends, it's anyone's guess.  I've been known to sleep past noon.  Once I slept until 4pm after a night of drinking.  Those days are long gone, thank goodness.

Underwear:  Commando is best but I am a lover of the thong.  My cheeks like to be free.

Veg you dislike:  I ate green beans every single day for an entire summer so now I want to vomit at the sight of them.

What makes you run late:  What doesn't make me run late?  I get very easily distracted.  I think I have ADD.  I was tested but the results were inconclusive.  ??? 

X-rays you have had done: I have had a TON of x-rays looking for fractured bones, which usually end up being stress fractures that you can't see on the x-ray anyway.  I also had x-rays when I broke 2 bones in my lumbar vertebrae.  Ouchie.

Yummy food you make: Pre-vegan days, I was a master of the breakfast foods.  Nowadays, I make some kick-a** tofu scrambler. 

Zoo, favorite animal:  Zoos make me sad.  Seeing animals in captivity for our selfish enjoyment is upsetting to me.  I will now get off my soap box and say that my favorite animal is the sea otter and the penguin.  I have been obsessed since childhood.

Okay, now get back to your day.  Sorry for this completely mind-numbing interruption.

You Don't Have To Be A Hippie...

Last night I watched yet another documentary that kept me awake for hours. Angela and I both laid there in bed dwelling on the world’s problems as we so often do. This time, the issue is bottled water. We watched Tapped, a film I think every American should see because frankly, I think we all need to THINK before we DRINK.

Here are the issues and some facts about bottled water that you may be unaware of:

Big Business
Corporations such as Pepsi and Coca-Cola are extracting water from our communities at no cost. You read that correctly. They take it without paying a cent for it, then bottle it and sell it to us at 10,000 times more per gallon than tap water. The crazy thing is, it is tap water. We are paying billions of dollars each year for our own water supply. These corporations are taking our basic right to clean drinking water and turning it into a commodity.

The Safety of Our Water
Many of us actually think we are drinking cleaner, healthier water if it is from a bottle rather than our sink. This could not be further from the truth. Municipal water systems are tested multiple times a day (often 400 times each month) while about 70 percent of bottled water never crosses state lines for sale, making it exempt from FDA oversight. EXEMPT! The bottled water that is not exempt is only subject to tests done by the manufacturers themselves. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standards for tap water are more stringent than the Food and Drug Administration’s standards for bottled water. Independent studies have demonstrated that Americans are currently being exposed to dangerous levels of chemicals such as bisphenol A due to the consumption of bottled water. Think before you drink!

The Effect On Our Mama Earth
Nearly 90 percent of water bottles are not recycled and wind up in landfills where it takes thousands of years for the plastic to decompose. Our oceans are becoming filled with plastics, killing our marine life. This is a tragedy in itself. Approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil—enough to run 100,000 cars for a whole year—are used to make plastic water bottles, while transporting these bottles burns even more oil.

_______________________________________________________

Hopefully you find this information as heart-wrenching as I do. The good news is that there is something we can do. We are the ones purchasing billions of dollars worth of bottled water. We can stop. If we collectively choose to take a few steps we can solve this problem.

• Drink from a reusable water bottle
• Drink your tap water. If you don’t like the taste, buy a filter (such as Brita).
• Write to your elected officials and ask them to support a ban on bottled water. If you don’t agree there should be a ban, then at least request that they put bottle bills in place. http://www.congress.org/ is a great place to write open letters to public officials.

We only have this one earth and this one life. We need to stand together and do what is right. We can’t take our planet for granted.

Did that sounds like a poem!?   Either way, you don't have to be a hippie to want to take down these corporations and save our planet.  Let's all do our part.  :) 

What Did I Get Myself Into?

I was one of the lucky ones that was off of work today.  I spent my free day cleaning, eating, drinking coffee and oh yes, trail running.  Like serious trail running.  The kind with rocks, streams and 20% inclines.  Mission Trails, in case you're wondering.  It was the most technical run of my life!  We must have picked one of the hardest routes because we never encountered any other runners, just hikers.

Don't get me wrong, it was a fun run.  I felt like a kid again as we hopped over streams and dodged slippery rocks.  I spotted a lizard or two along the way.  We had no idea where we were headed so it was an adventure.  It was an exploration of unfamiliar territory.  This part of the trail run, I enjoyed.

However, I was not digging the fact that my calves were screaming, my achilles was aching and I rolled my ankle countless times.  By the end, I felt like I had beaten myself up.  And get this; we had only run 7.2 miles!  I still had to tack on 3 miles and my legs were toast.  I started to question my decision to run this trail marathon.  What was I thinking?  My body still feels sluggish since the marathon and I have to get through these next crucial weeks.

Besides the insanely hard trail run we did, we also saw The Vagina Monologues this weekend.  It was my first time and of course I loved it.  How could I not love an entire production devoted to the vagina?  I laughed, almost cried and thanked god for my vagina.  :)

Afterward, we went out for drinks and dancing which led me to make a fool of myself and sleep in my clothes.  The next day was spent recovering with the perfect hangover food: a tofu scramble with soy chorizo, spinach and potatoes.   It was so delicious that I had to make it all over again today.

So, I realize that looks like a nasty pile of dog food.  If I weren't vegan, I probably wouldn't eat it either.  Just trust me, it is incredibly delicious!

I am off now to stretch some more and take care of these beat up legs.  People say trail running is addicting.  I am not quite convinced.

Does trail running make anyone else feel like a complete wimp?  Or is it just me?

Crazed Woman On The Run

If you feel a nervous breakdown coming on, just...

RUN.

Most of you probably aren't quite as crazy or chemically imbalanced as I am, but when I say running is my therapy, I mean it.  The other night I suddenly felt that panicky, heart racing, anxious feeling coming on.  I knew I needed to go home and just be alone.  Once I got home, I put my shoes on and walked straight out the door.

No watch.  No music.  I just ran.  It was euphoric, as it so often is.

I haven't been running as much as I normally would because I am still trying to recover from the marathon.  My body feels fine and I'd love to run more.  My brain tells me otherwise.  I know that my muscles, tendons and ligaments all need time to fully recover before I can go out and safely run 20 miles again.

This may be the cause of my near panic-attack.   Who knows.  Maybe I'm just a whack-job.   All I know is that my run last night was one of the most incredibly therapeutic, mind-clearing runs I have ever had.   These runs stand out to me.  I can specifically remember the last run like this, and I wrote about it right here.  

After my run-therapy I was able to relax and unwind.  I felt like myself again.  Ahhh.

Can you believe I will be running the Skyline to Sea Trail Marathon in only 7 weeks?  Me neither.

I haven't shared my opinion about the new Boston qualifying standards yet.  I could write an entire post about how I feel but Chris K summed it up in 3 words: Fair and necessary.  I couldn't agree more.   Way to summarize my entire opinion, Mr. Manly Runner!

I think it is only fair that the faster runners get first dibs on entries.  Someone that ran a 3:15 should definitely have a chance to run it over someone with my 3:35 finish time.  That is what makes it competitive.  I also think changing the standards was necessary.  I originally qualified with 5 minutes to spare.  By the new standards I barely qualified (by 12 seconds)!  I'm glad I pushed it at the end so I can keep my BQ.  :)

That said, the chances of me actually getting an entry are slim to none.  I am okay with that.  I don't train with the hope that I can one day run Boston.  I love running.  Simple as that.  I suppose if someone had their heart set on Boston, it may be bad news, but is that the only reason some people run marathons?  To qualify for and run the Boston Marathon?  If so, I am not one to judge.  I can see the allure, but I can't see Boston being the driving force behind training for a marathon.  It just wouldn't cut it for me.

Oh crap.  So much for being short and sweet with my opinion.

Fair and Necessary.  That is all I meant to say about that.

It's rainy and gloomy in San Diego.  Very unusual for our neck of the woods.   Looks like I'll be running on the treadmill.  I need to keep those nervous breakdowns at bay!

Note:  I am not sure I know the actual definition of a nervous breakdown.  I've probably never quite had one, but I feel like a spazzy lunatic.  That may be a better way to phrase it.   

Last weekend I was laying by our pool...

This weekend, I'll be stuck inside at the gym where I will make Ang pose for pictures in the mirror while people stare.  :)

 Rain, rain, go away -- I need my Vitamin D! 

My "Sole-Mate"

It's Valentine's Day and although we don't partake in this "holiday" like most couples, I thought I would at least share the story of how Angela and I met and fell in L-O-V-E.   I also thought it would be a good opportunity to demonstrate how same-sex couples are just couples, like everyone else.  So if you didn't know any couples like us before, now you do. 

So, it all began one December day in the iced over city of Chicago.  I was in the midst of the daily grind at AthletiCo Physical Therapy when this tan blonde walked through the door.  She was greeted by the staff with hugs and excitement.  It turns out she had just returned from a grad-school internship at the National Training Center in Florida.  She also worked for AthletiCo and was returning after a few months in the sunshine state.  She reminded me of a surfer chick and I was instantly drawn to her.  We were introduced twice and the second time I giggled like a schoolgirl. Her names was Angela.

I wanted to talk to her and hear her story.  I did whatever it took.  Sometimes I even yelled across the clinic just to have a conversation.  We talked about our favorite books, fitness and running.  One day she was assigned the arduous task of boxing up charts from the previous year.  This girl had her masters degree and she was being completely underutilized.  I asked if I could assist her; after all 2 sets of hands are better than one. 

We spent hours working and laughing.  Some co-workers even mentioned that we "hit it off" as friends.   Little did they know...

We decided to go out for sushi at Coast, a fantastic sushi bar in my neighborhood.  In Chicago, you can bring your own wine, so we brought 3 bottles for 2 people.  Totally against the rules, but maybe I was slightly nervous.  We sat at Coast for 3 whole hours until they kicked us out.  I didn't want her to go home just yet.  I was having way too much fun.  I dragged her to a bar to dance and have a few more drinks.  Then they kicked us out too.  We then resorted to a 4am bar down the block.  Go ahead and guess.  We stayed until they closed their doors too.  It was now 4am and I still wasn't ready for the night to end.  So we went back to my tiny little Chicago abode and hung out listening to music until we finally fell asleep.

Since that day, we were joined at the hip.  That truly is the end of the story and the beginning of our life together.  We found such joy in running together, reading together and talking about our aspirations.  We shared the same love for neighborhood coffee shops and bookstores.  We spent months together in our little bubble of love.  We were both dreamers.  A move to San Diego was even talked about on our first date!  Less than a year later, we were here. 

Angela brought so much love and joy into my life when I was least expecting it.  Her love taught me how to love myself.  It may sound cheesy, but it's absolutely true.  In no time, I became comfortable with myself and my inner critic was starting to sound more like a cheerleader.  I think this had a lot to do with spending time with someone so clearheaded and optimistic.  She has the healthiest mindset and body image of any woman I have ever known.  Angela is a truly beautiful person.  I tell her constantly how lucky I feel to have her in my life.  I am grateful I was born this way.

Happy Valentine's Day to the most amazing woman I have ever met. 

You are my "sole-mate" and there is no one I'd rather run around this crazy world with.  :) 

XOXO

I See Naked People

No really, today we saw a lot of naked people.  It was such a beautiful day so of course we went to our favorite spot, Torrey Pines State Reserve.  We planned on doing a little hike but once we got there we decided to do our first run since the marathon.  Running in the sand, the ocean on my right, the cliffs on my left, sun on my face.  Perfection.  

Suddenly, Ang whispered "look, naked people."  As soon as she said it, I noticed two older adults bent over collecting seashells wearing absolutely nothing.   By older adults, I mean "early bird special" adults.

It was then that we realized we were entering Blacks Beach, the nudist beach.  We could have turned around right then but curiosity got the best of me.  I had to see this.  Left and right there were saggy body parts and I couldn't help but look.  It was like a terrible reality TV show that I couldn't turn off.  I would say that 95% of the nude beach goers were men over the age of 70.  Does your grandpa like to be nude? Maybe all of our grandpas secretly hang out at the nude beach.  You never know.

Being the spontaneous woman that I am, I considered tearing my clothes off right there and running naked.  Ang wasn't into this idea.  I'll try anything once but I think she was weirded out by the amount of male parts in sight.  I, on the other hand, found it somewhat liberating.  Why not celebrate our bodies and relax freely without garments?  I just wonder why more young, attractive, fit individuals don't partake.  Maybe this comfortability comes with age.  

So, I let her keep her clothes on and instead we headed back to finish up our easy run.  

We followed up our nude beach run with some excellent food from the one and only, Swami's.  Our favorite.  I had a spinach tofu scramble with potatoes and toast.  Amazing.  If you're ever in San Diego, take a ride up the coast to Encinitas and visit Swami's.  They have a killer acai bowl and an amazing basil vinaigrette.  

It feels good to be back on my feet again.  There are only 8 weeks until the Skyline to Sea trail marathon.  Ang and I are looking at it as an adventure, not a race.  I will walk portions of it.  I will stop to take pictures and to stretch.  I will soak up every moment and not worry at all about my finish time.  This run will be something I will never forget.

Rather than fly to Northern California like we would normally do, we decided to make a road trip out of it.  We are going to take the coast on the way back and stop in Big Sur.  I am completely ecstatic about this plan.  Not only will it save us some major dollars, but it will give us the chance to see parts of California we have yet to see.  April 10th can't come soon enough! 

Please analyze this picture for me.  It was an accidental picture but do you notice my knee?  This is not photo-shopped.  I think I am deformed.  HELP!

Brooks & Hideous Marathon Photos

I mentioned a few days ago that I received a box from Brooks, my favorite brand, as most of you know.  It was an invitation to be part of the Brooks I.D. program.  The I.D. stands for "Inspire Daily".  Of course I am honored to be among the many others that meet this criteria:

Brooks I.D. athletes use their athletic talent to help carry out the Brooks mission: To inspire people to run and be active. We look for athletes who have a passion for Brooks, race and train in Brooks' shoes and apparel, and enthusiastically evangelize the brand.

I love this mission!  In fact, it is my mission.  Encouraging others to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle is what my life is all about.  That is why I spent my undergrad studying community health education.  To do just that. 

I am proud to be a part of such a cool team of people.  I am also proud to evangelize a brand I believe in.  The reason I switched to the Brooks brand in the first place is because almost all of their shoes are vegan, with the exception of their walking shoes.  Cruelty-free shoes are the way to go!  Maybe it's the karma from the shoes that has kept me injury-free ever since I switched to Brooks.

I only know a few fellow bloggers that are part of the Inspire Daily team.  If you are an I.D. member, let me know! 

On a completely different note, race photos are up and ready to order.  No, I will not be ordering ANY because I just so happen to take the worst race photos known to (wo)man.  Here are a few I managed to snag off the website.

The race started at 6am!  It was still dark outside.

The very beginning of a 26.2 mile journey

...and this next one is so hideous, I have no idea why I am letting you see it. 

What the heck is that skin on my leg doing!?  Since when do I have saggy quads?  This is news to me!  And my hair is red?!  I thought I was blonde?  I need to have a talk with Isaac, my hair guy.  We have got to do something about that. 

Now you have seen me at my WORST, and in a way, at my best.  I may look gross but I just ran 26.2 miles for the very first time in my life.  I guess my appearance doesn't really matter.  Looking pretty isn't going to help me run any faster.

 

I have to give major props to BrightRoom photography for posting video of everyone's finish.  How neat is that?  I have never seen anything like that before. 

 

Another side note, my awesome group of lady runners just finished Week 5 of their 10-week 5k training program!  They are kicking butt and looking good.  I am proud of every single one of them.  Go Glenner Girls!

 

Do you have any hideous race photos?

If so, would you send them to me to make me feel better!?

 

Happy Thursday, everyone!  The weekend is just around the corner!

The Chicago Bandwagon, Jump On!

E-Mail from last night:

Dear Kate,

Congratulations! You are now registered for Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

 

It's official!  I registered for Chicago the day after my first marathon.  Way to jump the gun, eh?  Actually, Angela registered the both of us and then we suckered Nick into registering.  Remember Nick, my favorite Starbucks barista (or according to Pam, "Baristo") whose time I wanted to beat.  Well, I did and now he wants to beat mine.  That means we will battle it out in my home city of Chicago.  Feel free to take bets (as long as you are betting on Team Kate). 
 

Who else will be there!?  If you're even considering it, register now before it sells out!  I would love to meet you! 

If you haven't run the Chicago Marathon, you should before you die.  The crowd support is incredible throughout every single mile.  The course weaves through various Chicago neighborhoods allowing you to take a tour of the city that wouldn't be possible any other day of the year.  It's flat and fast and most importantly, FUN!  I only know this because I jumped in as a bandit and ran the second half with Ang in 2009.  It was the most fun I think I ever had.  I am pretty sure I smiled the entire 13.1 miles. 



When it comes to marathons, it is true what they say, "It's all about the journey."  Race day goes by in the blink of an eye.  We must enjoy those months leading up to the big day.  We should embrace those long runs on the weekends that keep us from doing laundry and everything else we SHOULD be doing.  We should savor those Friday or Saturday nights staying in so we can wake up at the crack of dawn the next day.  There are the ice baths, sore muscles and painful blisters to love (or at least endure).  If we don't, what is the point of all this?
 
I loved my training.  I looked forward to the long runs and was proud of the increasing number of miles I was running.  Like an old lady, I loved my Saturday nights at home watching documentaries and eating popcorn with Ang.  Two (nerdy) peas in a pod.  I felt stronger than ever and that feeling is priceless.
 
I can already see how marathons are addicting.  You finish.  You feel glorious.  Now you have a time to beat.  At least that's how my brain works.  Am I alone here?
 
As for right now, my feet are still healing from the bashing they took.  My evening looked a little something like this...

 

Jealous? My tootsies all wrapped in sterile gauze.  I need a tan.  Today I am wearing a white sock and only one shoe.  Not so sexy but oh, so necessary.

I received a BOX from Brooks today!  I will blog about it tomorrow, so check back in!  Very exciting stuff!

...and I just have to say, I LOVE MY READERS!! You are all so amazing.  Your comments bring so many smiles to my face.  My cheeks are actually starting to hurt.

Surf City Marathon: Race Recap

Pre-Race

Angela and I drove up to Huntington Beach on Saturday after picking up Fiona, the scruffy, lovable pooch I have been walking for the last 2 weeks.  I didn't realize I would be taking care of her on marathon weekend.  Whoops.  Luckily, the Hilton is super dog-friendly and I was able to bring her along.

We went straight to the expo which was pretty chaotic.  It was in a tented structure on the beach and there was a long line just to enter.  Luckily, they offered dog sitting, since no pooches were allowed inside.  We grabbed our garb, I bought some new Brooks shorts and we were off with doggie in tow.

We checked into our room at the Hilton, which is high class for us.  We usually stay in the cheapest hotel/motel possible.  In San Francisco we stayed at a complete dive called La Luna Inn.  I was afraid I would catch a disease if I touched anything.  The Hilton was so accomodating and they let us stay until 3pm on check-out day.  Free. of. charge.  Score!

Sorry to bore you with the details but I like to remember the little things when I look back.  Lets face it, I have the memory of a 90 year old with Alzheimer's so I need to write it down. 

We went to the all-vegan cafe, Native Foods.  I have to tell you, it was the BEST pre-race food I could ask for.   I haven't had any form of nachos since going vegan because typically they're smothered in that funky orange cheese and all sorts of ground up cow.  These were mouth-watering. 

This was actually post-race.

Yes, we ate there again the next day.  Don't judge me. I ran a marathon, okay?

My feet look like grated cheese according to my friend, Rebecca.  I deserve them, damn it!

Angela's "Meat"-Ball Pizza :)

We returned to the hotel that night after a Target run and were in bed before 9:00 pm.  Go us!  I would have slept soundly if Fiona didn't wake us up with her barking.  She was being protective so how could I be upset?

Right before bed, I ate my "Good Luck" cupcake that I got to-go from Native Foods.  That was actual name, so of course I had to have it BEFORE I ran the race or the luck wouldn't work.  I think it was magic. 

Race Day

I had some serious race day jitters that morning.  I popped out of bed, no problem.  I took Fiona for a walk and saw a handful of runners already gathered in the lobby for the shuttle.   This had me worried that we were running behind schedule.  We quickly got our stuff together and found out we missed the first shuttle.  The next one wasn't for 30 whole minutes!  We decided to forgo gear-check and go as-is to make it in time.

The bus ride was excruciatingly slow.  The starting gate felt so far away and we were packed like sardines on a bus full of half-marathoners.  Clearly we were the only slow-pokes that missed the first bus.  Stress. Worry. Anxiety.

Then we arrived.   The skies parted and angels sang.  We ran to the porta-potties, saw our fellow marathoners and sighed with relief.  We had to wait for a total of 5 minutes before the gun went off.  Perfect timing!

I started off with the 3:40 pace group, hoping I could hang.  Before I knew it, I had passed the entire group.  Angela was feeling excellent so she went even further ahead.  I watched her go and was hoping for the best.

Miles 2-8 went quickly through a quiet little park with a pond and plenty of cheering middle-schoolers.  They were cracking me up.  One little rowdy tween was yelling "I woke up at 3:00 this morning to cheer you on!"   I tried to thank every single one but that got tiring and besides, I don't think they really noticed me anyway.

Thanks to Hannah's advice, I kept reminding myself that this is my first marathon and I will never be able to relive it.  I was trying not to wish the miles away.  Instead I soaked in every second of that race.  That helped a ton!

I caught up to Ang around mile 18.  About 30 seconds before I caught her I felt the skin tear on my foot.  It was painful and hard to run.  I contemplated stopping to check it and adjust my sock but I knew that was a bad idea.  If I stopped, I would lose momentum and that was the last thing I wanted.  We ran together for about a mile and then Ang said "have a good race" and patted me on the back. 

I had no idea what had just happened but she signaled for me to go on ahead of her.  We decided early on that we would run our own race and wish eachother the best.  So I went.

The thought of Mile 20 consumed me.  I wanted to get there because it was the turnaround point to the finish line.  It signified so much.  Once I hit 20, I was entering unknown territory.  I had never before gone past this point.  It was terrifying and thrilling at the same time.  I had no idea what to expect and was praying I wouldn't hit "the wall". 

I hit the 20 mile mark and sighed with relief.  I was now in the home stretch.  Almost the entire race was right along the ocean and this portion was no different.  Surfers were now out and about by the dozens doing their usual Sunday things.  They were grilling out at the beach, waxing their boards and blasting music from their cars.  They call it Surf City for a reason.  I felt like I should be hitting the waves, not the pavement.  

I kept moving forward and telling myself not to stop or slow down.  I was so close.  This was it.  This was the day I had been waiting for.  I did long runs in the rain for this very race. 

At Mile 23, I suddenly started thinking about my brother.  I thought about his life of struggle and the hardships he has endured.  It made the marathon seem like a piece of cake.  It made me grateful and most importantly, it kept me moving.  I almost cried, but I didn't.  I don't think I had the energy, to be honest. 

Constistency was my goal so I tried to stay on pace.  I wasn't ready to speed up because I knew I couldn't maintain a faster pace for 3 more miles.  I waited until Mile 25 before I kicked it into high gear.  At that point, it was all guts.  My legs were toast but my mind forced them into motion.  The mind is such a powerful tool.

At this point, there was some substantial crowd support for the first time, which helped a ton.  The cheering and the shouting helped me tremendously to cross that finish line.  I ran it in way faster than I knew was possible to get a time in the 3:35 range.  I like odd numbers (I know, I'm a freak) so I didn't want a finishing time of 3:36.  That would just be wrong.

I crossed the finish line and stopped dead in my tracks.  I grabbed my medal and waited for Ang.  Now I was full of nerves for her.  She came in shortly after me (but it felt like an hour) and she looked beat.  This was her third marathon and her first time hitting the wall.  I know she was mad at herself for going out too fast but she still PRed by 5 minutes.   That is a huge accomplishment in itself. 

Fiona was diggin' my surfboard medal

At this point we were relieved that we didn't check any gear because we were able to hop right on the shuttle and get back to our cozy hotel room.  We napped.  It was awesome.  Then we proceeded to stuff our faces at Native Foods, again. 

Angela wants me to put down my phone so she can dig in.

I was hoping to finish in 3:40 but my ultimate goal was to beat my barista, Nick's, marathon time from RNR San Diego.   I did it.  I beat him.  He was even a good sport about it.  This is my coffee from this morning:

He still kicked my ass in the half-marathon, so we're tied. 

So, I BQed, to my own dismay, by a whole 5 minutes!  I was also 5th in my age-group.  Now of course I want to run Chicago in 3:30.  I think I can do it.  :) 

They called this course flat so I was expecting "Chicago flat".  I realized there is no such thing around here.  If you're from the midwest, be prepared for a few inclines if you run this race.  To these folks out west, it's nothing, but they don't know what flat is.  I can't wait for the truly flat and fast Chicago course. 

The Chicago Marathon is already HALF sold out!  If you're planning on running it, be sure to register soon.  I'll be signing up in the next week or so.  Who's with me!?



By the way, check out the temperature in San Diego right now on my sidebar.  Ahhh, this is the life.

** Apologies for this sickeningly long recap of race day.  I'm not even mad that you probably just looked at the pictures.  I would too.

Surf City Marathon - COMPLETE!

I did it!

I finished the Surf City Marathon!

 BEFORE

looking very much like a little boy

and...

AFTER

feeling victorious!

FINISH TIME: 3:35

a completely unexpected BQ time.  :) 

I would write more, but I have to soak my feet.  

Check out just one of my toes.  

You don't even want to see the rest.

Angela PRed and she's at the store buying ice-cream and salts for these bad boys.  

She is simply the BEST. 

Question: Do you race with music?

I don't and I can't imagine having music on during those 26.2.  

I had a mental conversation with myself the entire time and it would have seriously interfered.

Hope you're all having a fabulous Super Bowl Sunday.  Race report to come....

Channeling Greatness

In just 36 hours I will be standing at the starting line of the Surf City Marathon.

This is how I prepared:

I channeled Janae 

That Hungry Runner Girl loves her Skittles and Beta Alanine. 

She is shooting for a sub 3 hour marathon in Boston (I am shooting for the finish line.)  

I meditated

to become one with EMZ.  That girl has some mojo! 

I wore my SUAR sticker

I think my ass is the only place Beth would want it, anyway. :)

I ate

...and I ate

...and I ate some more.

I am pretty certain that the weight I mysteriously lost during training was all gained back this week.  Oh well.  A girl's gotta eat!

I want to say THANK YOU so much to all of you for your e-mails, comments and cards.  You have given me so much encouragement and confidence.  

T-h-a-n-k Y-o-u from the bottom of my heart.

And thank you EMZ for this awesome T-Shirt!