The Best Friends in the World--A Carlsbad Half Race Report

Several months ago, I wanted to register for the Carlsbad Half Marathon. I sent an email out to the herd and was met by deafening silence from Betty, Elsie, and Mik. Apparently, after Nike, they'd decided to not run another half for awhile, and instead dedicate themselves to cycling.

But I felt like I was just on the precipice of running really, really well...so when Alberta said she'd run, I went ahead and registered for it, knowing that Alberta and I have very different schedules and I'd end up doing much of the training on my own.

But have I mentioned that I have really good friends? So good that they: trained with me anyway, went to an expo which was an hour a way, and even cooked up a plan to go for a ride up the coast from Carlsbad as I ran down the coast, causing themselves to have to get up at the Butt-crack of dawn on race morning

So, either my friends are saints,  or I've completely inherited the Italian-Catholic guilt thing from my mother, and I've mastered it really, really well.

I'm pretty sure it's the former! I have great friends.

Saturday - Expo Day

Betty, Millie, DramaGirl, and I drove up to the expo to pick up my gear. Carlsbad is about 45 minutes north of San Diego, so it was more than nice to have some company for the drive. And even better, DramaGirl and Millie decided to join us. I think they must have been bored. 

The expo was held in a tent outside in a mall parking lot. It'd been raining all morning, so when we finally got there (around 1pm), the tent was pretty stuffy. So much so that when I was in the back part of the tent, I started to feel dizzy and thought I was going to faint. So we didn't stay long. But I did stay long enough to take a few shots of some of my fave T-Shirt saying.

What I've been telling people all along...

For Elsie and Walter...who say they are done with the half

I hate to admit this...but I do think this.

And we all know what this stands for.... 

What were you thinking?

After the expo, Betty and I took the girls to lunch at The Beach House in Cardiff.

I think its very cool that DramaGirl and Millie call each other sisters...

One of the things I wanted to do at the expo (or before or after) was meet up with some of my blog-friends, but on that front, I was an epic failure. I arrived at the expo just as Meg and Jill were leaving. Judging by Penny's tweets, I was leaving as she arrived, and Irene sent me a text later on telling me that she was on her way... FAIL. I missed all of them. Later I read on FB that Yaz and some other bloggers who I've known and met over the years were running at Carlsbad. I didn't even know! What a lame blogger I've been...

Sunday - Race Day
I slept really well the night before the race. Usually, I wake up every hour because I'm nervous about sleeping in. But this time, I only woke up once! The plan was to meet the riding-herd at Betty's house and take two cars to Carlsbad. Two cars, five girls, four bikes, and a runner.

Me, Mik, Betty, and Anitra...Wilma was the smart one and took the photo. It's still very dark at 5:30am. Betty was thrilled to be awake.

Lousy picture of Wilma figuring out the bike rack.

The road to the race was uneventful...despite me taking the wrong exit and Wilma being super happy about following me through the back roads of Carlsbad in BBJ's pretty car. I mean, I had the GPS, so I knew where I was going, and I still say that three right turns does NOT equal a U-Turn!

What I will say is that at 6:30, when we got into the parking lot, it was COLD. I checked the weather Ap on my phone and it said that it was 39F. YIKES! I decided to start the race with a few layers...an old Underarmor compression shirt, some new dayglo-neon-lime-green arm warmers (awesome!) and the dayglo-neon-lime-green race shirt! Can you say HAWT.

We'd parked at the far end of the lot, which was probably 1/2 mile from the start, but really close to the exit. In what will probably turn out to be one of the smartest moves of the day, I decided to not check gear and just leave my a change of clothes in the car.

I waited in the car with Mik as long as I could, but I needed to use the potty and wanted to get to the start, so I said goodbye to my riding friends, and jogged up to the starting area where I pretty quickly found Alberta...also HAWT and glowing in her lime-green race shirt and green arm warmers, then I literally almost ran into Irene and Michael.

After the jog up to the race start area, I was actually getting warm and I wanted to get rid of the Underarmor shirt, and I'd forgotten my chapstick (very essential in a long run because in a pinch, it can double as GLIDE). So Alberta and I jogged back to the car, picked up the chapstick and jogged up to the Wave 4 area just in time for the start.

Resplendent in Dayglo-neon-lime-green, no?

As we were moving up, I realized I still had my Underarmor shirt tied around my waist...bummer! The ensuing conversation went something like this...

Me: Ah shiz...I still have this shirt. Should I (finger quote) donate it? (finger quote)
Alberta: Is that supposed grey or white?
Me: Uh...white? Theoretically.
Alberta: (laughing) if it's supposed to be white, you should give it up. Time for a new one.

Alberta and I think we've started about 10 races together in the last 5 years. Mostly we run about the same pace (or at least we start at the same pace). She is certainly my starter girl.

So the race started... Here's the route...

Small map, but you get the drift

Here's the report.

Miles 1-4 - The Easy Miles
I love this race. Sure, it starts in a mall parking lot, but pretty soon, you are running above the Pacific, watching the surfers and the waves break. When I did this race in 2009, three years ago, I was hurt and all of it after the first mile was a struggle. However, even then it was fun. I had Betty with me and we talked and laughed most of the way... Along the way I could remember a thousand things from 2009 that made me smile (more COWBELL!).

I ran with Alberta the first mile...then had her in my sights for the 2nd and lost her somewhere around the second water station...from there I could see her dayglo lime-green ahead of me, but she was just rockin' and I already knew I was going faster than I thought I should have been.

Along the way, I saw Penny (yay!) and Irene and Michael again. At the turn around Michael yelled out "Go Heffers!" and I waved like a crazy girl at him. I always wonder what people are thinking when they hear that. I hope it makes them smile. It certainly works for me!

My splits show that I ran Miles 1-4 faster than I really should have, but not too much. It certainly could have been worse. I could have tried to stay up with Alberta!

Split	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
1	10:27.8	1.00	10:28
2	9:46.9	1.00	9:47
3	10:02.7	1.00	10:03
4	10:03.4	1.00	10:03

Miles 5-10 - Out-Back-Up-Down-and-Around
I always think ahead of time that Carlsbad is going to be a flat course...maybe it's because the Carlsbad 5000 is, but the half is anything but, there's lots of rolling hills.

No enormous climbs...but there are plenty of up and down.

I tried to keep a pretty even pace. At the 2nd Turnaround (around mile 7), I saw Alberta right ahead of me. She must have thought I was farther back because I could see her looking for me behind me.

I could also feel myself running out of energy. Unlike some of my long runs, I decided I needed a Gu around mile 6 or so and I thought I'd get more around Mile 9 (never saw it). I drank the energy drink at every station it was available. I'm bummed I didn't bring a 2nd Gu, I could have used it.

Around the 8th mile I caught up with Alberta and we chatted a bit. She had been tearing it up and I am so darn impressed with her. Her longest training run was something like 6 miles, but she's been boxing and training at the gym and is a complete beast! She said she felt really good. We must have looked fabulous, because right about then the Reno 911 guys ran buy and yelled something like "GO GREEN" and swatted our butts with their batons.

Yes, I fumbled with my camera and no doubt lost several seconds, but there was NO WAY I was going to miss this shot. Can you say chafe?

Wait...you need a closer shot? Let me offer this...

You're welcome!

Oh yeah...my splits, still not bad, right?

5	10:15.1	1.00	10:15
6	10:10.2	1.00	10:10
7	10:51.5	1.00	10:52
8	10:19.7	1.00	10:20
9	10:32.0	1.00	10:32
10	10:24.0	1.00	10:24

BTW...While I was running...somewhere between miles 6 and 8, Betty, Mik, Wilma, and Anitra were somewhere in the middle of Camp Pendelton

Hey Girlz...

Miles 11-13.1 - I Hate the 11th Mile
The WORST things about Mile 11

• I just hate the 11th mile. That's it. 
• Throughout the race, my calf had been bugging me. I took one step around mile 11 my lower-leg almost gave out. I thought for a moment, I was going to fall.
• I drank too fast at the mile 11 water station and almost threw it back up. 
• At the end of Mile 10, I really thought I had 2:15 within reach...yeah, it would have taken three consecutive 10 minute miles to do it, and then I just felt it just slip away

The BEST things about the last three miles.

• Thinking...its only three miles and hell...I can run three miles
• Seeing Betty with less than a mile left 
• The finish...yep, I still had a sprint at the end and I gotta be happy with that.

Betty's working on her photography skillz... I may look happy, but really, I was only happy to see the end in sight

It's sorta ugly at the end...I agree.

11	11:14.0	1.00	11:14
12	10:25.2	1.00	10:25
13	11:12.5	1.00	11:13
14	2:38.9	0.28	9:29

I really gave it my all. 2:18:17 (official) 10:33 pace. That's a PR, almost 5 minutes faster than last summer's Rock 'n' Roll Half and almost a whopping 22 minutes faster than the last time I ran Carlsbad.

I am completely happy and proud of myself for the race. My goal was to come in under 2:20. I did that. My super-secret-don't-tell-anyone-dream-race-goal was 2:15 and I know now that I will finish a half in under 2:15. I really didn't think it was going to happen yesterday, but I also didn't think I'd be as close as I was...

WOOT!

Post-Race - Get Me OUT of Here!
I have almost no idea what I did after I crossed the finish line. Someone handed me a medal. I almost hugged a woman who handed me a bottle of water. I snarked at an woman in a red shirt from Elite security who was YELLING at runners to keep moving as I was holding onto a fence in my attempt to stretch my screaming-aching calve muscles. ("uh...I just need a second here to stretch...or I could throw up on you"). I may not have said this loud enough so that the woman could hear me, but I guess I was loud enough because I made a young girl who was also trying to stretch next to me laugh.

Some angel handed me a carton of chocolate milk and a bag of food. Then there was a huge cluster-@!*& just to get out of the runners area, but I managed to get out. Then I found a curb to sit down on and I did.

Cell phone service was (of course) a nightmare due to the high density of texters, callers, FBers, Twitters, and the suckiness of ATT, but eventually I elegantly (hahaha) got up off the curb and started my long walk back to the car. By then my snot-rags arm-warmers were pretty soaked and I started to feel chilled (where were the post race mylar blankets? Probably with the GU). I wondered why we thought parking near an exit was such a good idea.

Once back at the car, I threw the keys to Betty and said, "please drive," and as we decided where to go to eat I said "not it" first, so I didn't have to decide. I crawled into the back seat and started seeing the slew of messages from all my friends who were stilli in the runners aread. Once again, I missed Meg and Jill (GAH!) probably within minutes, but I just wanted to sit in the back of my warm car and eat pretzels.

I'm really happy I decided to not check my gear as I'm reading some reports that the gear check was a cluster-@!*& (I already did that once at Long Beach about a year ago, thank. you. very. much. and don't ever again want to wait for gear after a race)

It was a great run. The weather was perfect. It's a beautiful route on the ocean. The hills are challenging, and of course, I have great friends who, even if they don't run with me, come along for the ride.

But of course we did

Carlsbad, Here I Come

Well...so much for that resolution to be a better blogger...GAH!

Just wanted to check in with this:

You can completely see the months where I did a significant number of bike miles...no?

And also with some pre-race thinking related to running the Carlsbad 1/2 this Sunday...some thoughts brought on because Clarence posted a link to this article on her FB page this morning. It's mostly about raising children and the author's annoyance with the Carpe-diem or "Sieze-the-Day" philosophy she often hears from people who see her with her three young children. Those of us with kids often hear things like this...your kids are doing something that you find particularly annoying and some stranger says something like "enjoy every moment, it goes by so quickly!"

Uh...yeah. I hate that too.

I agree with the author. She compares raising children to climbing Mount Everest and notes that there are moments during a climb that are sheer joy, but most of it is hard work. Mona would agree. She climbed Kilimanjaro a few years ago and her tale is full of "it was the hardest thing I've ever done." and that much of it was painful and difficult and just plain hard work. She tells about how there were moments when it was all she could do to take another step.

I've certainly compared long runs to childbirth, how there's a lot of hard work, but finishing the marathon was one of the best moments of my life. There were lots of moments during the race that were not fun. at. all. BUT, I really enjoyed finishing the race, and there were parts of the race that I remember with great clarity because I was having so much fun...

Or like childbirth, maybe I just remember it that way. That kind of rose-colored-class 20/20 hindsight is certainly what leads many of us to thinking we could have two or more children.

The author notes that mountain climbing (and I say running) and raising kids are like this--lots of hard work and repetition broken up by both little and big moments of complete amazement at life and the joy of raising kids.

These moments of hard work mixed with joy and beauty will undoubted be part of the story I end up telling about running this year's Carlsbad Half

The other story I will end up telling will be adventures related to some of the herd (Mik, Elsie, Betty, Wilma & possibly Clarence and some other friends) riding their bikes from Carlsbad to San Clemente and back as I run Carlsbad that morning and the ridiculousness that will ensue as we try to meet up with each other.

In any event, regarding the race, I feel quite prepared for it. I have some time goals in mind, but I really don't want to write them out because I have an ego the size of Montana and on the chance probability that I don't make a time goal, I don't want to admit it or explain it or justify it.

But I have been running really, really, really well lately and I think I can PR. No matter what, I'll take on the Mt. Everest/Childbirth/Childrearing philosophy - there will be some difficult moments during the race, punctuated by moments of fun and absolute joy, and at the end, I'll be really happy that I ran the race!

I thought you might need a photo of San Diego bay to make your day. I took this one a couple weeks ago when I met Irene and some SDTC peeps for a long run from Glorietta Bay Park (near Coronado, on the strand). It was a beautiful morning!

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Decision ONE

Well...I went and did it.

About a week ago...or sometime between the last post and now. I decided to register for the Carlsbad Half Marathon despite the fact that neither Betty, nor Elsie, nor Mik will run with me (disclaimer...Alberta is also registered...but as much as I love her like a little sister, let's be honest, she's way more into punching people in the face right now than she is into logging miles).

I'll admit...I just can't get enough of Alberta, the boxing home ec teacher,  knocking this girl down about 40 seconds into the video. I don't even LIKE boxing and I LOVED this!

In any event, I suspect my the majority of my training miles will be on my own. So part of the challenge will be to see if I can train for an event on my own. Even so, I'm excited about running Carlsbad. Last time I ran the Carlsbad Half was in 2009 when I'd pretty seriously pulled my ITB, but I ran anyway, feeling like someone was beating on my thigh with a bat. 

LOL...me, lying on the sidewalk, stretching my ITB at Carlsbad in 2009...really, it' didn't help much.  Such class...

Running Carlsbad with ITB issues and some serious massage, led to this hip bruise and a 9 month battle with Plantar Fasciitis...something I still deal with to this day.  Take it from me...if you're hurt, rest! (yeah...I never take my own good advice either).

Anyway, Carlsbad is known to be a flat, fast, course. I've really wanted to run it and not be hurt. This year is my chance...I just have to train for it....solo. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I want to finish in under 2:20.

Decision TWO

After a fair amount of discussion, The Herd has decided to do a century ride this winter or spring. We think it'll either be this one in Solvang in March, or this one in Palm Springs in February. So, come January, for the first time in four years, we I may not be doing the RnR training program with the San Diego Track Club...at least I won't be doing the long runs in January or February. 

Lest you think we are not serious about this bike riding thing...we had a cycling jersey logo done a few years ago...nice, huh?

Instead, The Herd will be doing some long rides with the local Trek store's Century Training Program. The problem with doing both the RnR training program AND the Trek Century program is that both the long ride and the long run are on Saturday mornings, so I'd have to choose. Also, I would be running more miles in January than the track club runs. (January runs lead up to the SuperRun on Superbowl Sunday weekend...a 10K).

It's a tough decision. 

I'm still going to renew my membership in the track club so that I can continue to do the Tuesday night track workouts, and I'll miss the camaraderie of the RnR training program.

In the meantime, Elsie decided to buy a road bike to train for the century. So after we ran last Saturday, I went with her to ensure that she spent enough money on a bike, so we are committed to the effort now.

Elsie getting fitted...SUHWEEET RIDE! YES? Elsie promised to practice clipping in and out of her pedals for the remainder of the weekend.

Decision THREE

This is a decision I haven't made yet, and I hesitate to even write about it, but since very few people who I work with actually read my blog, and since the ones who do read my blog, already know about THE BIG DECISION, I'll just briefly say that I'm currently trying to make a big real-world-professional-life-decision this coming week, and that I'll write more about THAT decision later. (how incredibly vague and obtuse could I possibly be?)

Quite frankly, it'd be easier to just run 13 miles....or ride 100.

Foto Friday & Carlsbad 1/2

Can't help but make one last mention of last Sunday's Carlsbad 1/2 marathon...I may end up dwelling on it for awhile as it appears that it was my last run for a couple weeks ((weep, weep, weep)).

That being said, for NikeMom's Foto Friday, I've got some pix from Brightgroom (which posted their photos quite quickly earlier this week), and since I'm shameless in "borrowing" from any race photographer, heeeeeeeere's the herd.

Betty and me, all smiles.

We did get lots of face time from Brightgroom phtographers, which I suspect is due in part to the fact that we I tend to wave like a dork whenever we I see a camera, AND that we were wearing the day-glo lime green shirts. Alissa asked where they came from. They are Race Ready shirts and in addition to being obnoxiously bright, they are really, truly comfortable, lightweight running shirts. None of us would have worn them through all these races if they weren't also comfy, that's for sure (well...BBJ didn't wear his, but I think that he doesn't like the color; not the shirt itself). I also have their running shorts...which have a bunch of pockets on the outside. Not very flattering, but extremely useful.

Betty and I purchased these at the 2007 AFC 1/2 Marathon expo, but they're also available online. AND they'll do custom made shirts. During the race Betty and I talked about getting some personalized shirts made for the herd. We had some t-shirts made about a decade ago, so we have a really cool heffer-logo that we can use...stay tuned. (Soooo, since I've given them a huge shout-out, do you think the'll send me some freebies? Gosh, I hope so).

Our speedy Mik

Alberta, on her way to a PR

Me...I am happy :-)

Betty, with long sleeve shirt on...

Honorary heffer-dude, BBJ - no lime green for BBJ today.

Alberta, me, Betty...end of race (hmmmm, Alberta must have taken her compression shirt off as well??? Am I the only one who keeps her shirt on during a race?)

Hip Update: The hip is feeling better. The bruise is turning a really pretty deep-purple color, and the edges are starting to green, which is a good thing, I think. Here's the really strange part (as if all of this isn't kinda odd). I wore jeans yesterday, and they seem to have left their mark on my hip as well.

Can you see that lovely vertical mark going up the center of the bruise? I'm pretty sure that's a mark left by the inseam on my jeans (and no...I'm not wearing hottie, skin-tight jeans. They're just regular jean, but they certainly made an impression !).

I had NOOOO idea that I bruised this easily. Still...I'm doing lots of icing, stretching, more icing...I'm also noticing that I need to clean my mirrors :-))

There's a 10K tomorrow that I'm registered for with the track club...No, I'm not going to run. I've learned my lesson. The PT said bike riding is OK, so I think I'll take my bike to the bay and ride there while the herd is running...I can also be an unofficial photographer

I also went back to RoadRunner Sports yesterday and exchanged my shoes...back to the NB 1224's...Unfortunately, they only had the really obnoxious fuscia-pink color. I won't be using them for a few more days. I'm hoping on Tuesday to start back in with some easy walk/run/walk therapy.

On a side note: This will be my 15th post this month. That's a record for me and probably occurred as a result of me having most of the month off. I'm sure I'll be back to my twice a week schedule now that I'm back to teaching. I have no idea how some of you, who work full time (some of you even teach) and post every day or every couple days or so, do it. (But I'm glad you do!)