Race Report: 2011 Los Angeles Susan G Komen Race for the Cure 5k

With Will before the race

Today is my 1 year Runiversary!
I went back to the very first race I ran: The Susan G Komen Race for the Cure in Los Angeles.  This was at Dodger Stadium.  It was a beautiful day, great weather!

We got there at 7:45 am.  I was a team leader this year and I wanted to meet with everyone before the race!  They had a gate up to separate the runners from the walkers.  That was a good idea but one of the woman "in charge" was drunk on power and she was yelling at the runners to go lined up 20 minutes before the start so we had to take our pictures minus 3 people.  Sorry Julie! :(

My TEAM minus a couple people, I am in the middle with the hat.

All of these fine people walked except me and Rebekah my wonderful babysitter.  She is on the far left in pink top.  Shana, in the pink survivor t-shirt is the reason we did this!

After that I headed to the starting line with Rebekah:

Lot's of people at this race.  Lot's of pink everywhere, lot's of survivors, this is a special race.  I was feeling OK, not great, thanks to the allergy season in action here in California.  Right at the start we had to go up  a nasty HILL.  I remembered from last year.  That was hard.  It is long and steep.  I had trouble breathing during that but I kept telling myself that it would go down eventually!  And it did!  Rebekah and I stayed together for the most part.  First mile pace faster then I thought.  I was wondering if I could keep this for another 2.  I don't like 5k I am so not a sprinter.

They had 3 water stations on the course and I decided to skip all of them, I did not want to walk and I cannot drink and run.  Rebekah stopped at one but she caught up with me at the end.  At the second station some guy took a cup and tripped on someone and his water ended up on me making me look like I had peed on myself! Thank you dude in the black hat!



Nice look I know!  Jonathan said " Mom you KNOW they have toilets here!!!"

I finished 6 minutes faster then last year: 29:52.  I placed 10 in my age group.  This is my first time under 30 minutes for a 5k.  I am happy with that considering the HILL at mile 1 and that I am not 100%.

   



With Rebekah at the end.  She beat me by 22 seconds! I am OK with that.  She is 16 yrs YOUNGER then me!!!



With Julie from The HotLegs Runner

Julie it was so nice to meet you today!  I look like a giant next to you!!!

Jonathan working on his quads!!!



2010 RACES

Today I ran 5 miles and I felt like I could have gone a lot longer so that gives me hope for my Half coming up very soon....
I have been able to run outside a lot more because I have my parents here to watch the boys I feel this is helping me a lot to prepare for my half also.

Went to see a movie with Bill...a rare thing for us!  We saw The little Fockers.  It will not win any Oscars but funny like the other 2, just what I needed!

Tomorrow movie again but with my boys : Yogi Bear this time!!


I am done racing for 2010.
I started in March with my very first race and ended up running in 12 races this year!
I did not have this blog for most of 2010 so I wanted to have a post to recap the year.

1. March 2010: Susan G Komen Race for the Cure: 5k.:
I will be back for this one as long as I can walk so for a long time hopefully.  It started it all for me and also it is for an important cause! If you are in California and you want to join a team you are welcome to join mine!

2. April 2010: Carlsbad 5000:
A very popular and fast 5k.  I loved it! I would do it again but not in 2011 because I am doing the half marathon in Carlsbad in January.

3. May 2010: Cucamonga Challenge:
A 5k Race, will not do this one again.  It was the worst organization ever.  No time, no real start or finish.  We had to wait for the lights at crossing streets.  I am not paying for this race again!

 
4. June 2010: Fontana Days of Running:
I loved that one! First I PR for 5k by a lot, it was a fast course, very popular, very organized, they also offer half marathon at that race.  I would have done it again, the half this time but I will be in Quebec in June this year for my 25th High School reunion (yep I am that old!!) !

5. July 2010: Claremont July 4th 5k race:
I loved having a local race on the 4th of July! I will do it again even though not perfect as far as organization goes.  They had a really crazy start...walkers in front, strollers in front...not good for the runners...hopefully they learned something...but I will be back for that one.

6. August 2010: Angel Stadium 5-10k race:
Loved that one! We got to run inside Angels Stadium twice! The second time the team was practicing and it was really cool!  I am doing the 10k next year!

7. September 2010: Disneyland 5k run:
Loved it! My kids ran the Kids race also.  It was the best, running inside both parks, really fun.  Next year I am doing the Half Marathon!

8. September 2010: Rose Bowl 5k:
Fun race. Beautiful place. loved the course.  I won my first top finisher medal!  I will do that one again!

9. October 2010: LA Cancer Race:
This was a Halloween Race, I did the 5k and the kids ran the Kids race.  We liked it a lot, it was on the Veterans Ground, really nice place but VERY HILLY, will be back for the 10k next year.

10. November 2010: Mission Inn 10k:
My first 10k.  It was hard.  Hilly and also very windy that day.  I want to do it again to do better!  They do offer a half marathon so maybe....but at least 10k for sure.

11.  December 2010: Universal Studio backlot 5-10k race:
I ran the 5k.  If I do it again I would still do just the 5k.  This is a really hard course, the HILLS are killer.  It was the hardest course for me of all 12 races.

12. December 2010: Make Room for Santa 10k in Tustin:
My second 10k. I PR by 5 minutes so I was really happy.  I would do it again for sure!
Fun Holiday Race everything was great for me that day!

Say No to Drugs Universal Studio 5k race- Race Report

This morning was my 10th race since I started running in March of this year.  It was 5k #9 and by far the hardest course I have ran so far.

This was in the race info: "course will wind you through the back lot, up and down several steep hills and through some of Hollywood's most famous sets."

Well they did not lie about the hills!  Wow...I don't think I knew what a hill was before that!

So the whole family got up super early to head to Universal Studio for my race.  It is about an hour drive so we left at 5:30 am...thank you husband and kiddos! 
There were over 2200 runners total, they had a 10k race also.  Found a parking and went to get my bib and goodie bag.  They had a really nice bag with lots of samples in it, pretty cool.

Next stop, the always fantastic porta potty...boy I hate those...:(  They had a group warm up set up but I decided to skip it and I headed to the starting line to avoid being  to far back.  Found a spot and I waited..it was pretty chilly at 8 Celsius so I was happy to have my gloves and warm hat!  I was next to some people who had ran the race last year and they were telling someone that the hills were the worst they had ever seen on a course.  I wanted to ask where they were to be prepared but I did not and decided to take it as it comes.

First mile went by fast, fairly flat, lots of people to pass before getting to a good pace.  I looked at my watch at mile 1 and I ran it faster then my usual pace, wasn't tired so I kept going at that pace thinking the hills would slow me down when I get to them and a minute later there they were.....A whole mile of super steep hills with lots of turns and no flat section.  That was really hard, I felt my age for that mile!!! I had to walk for a few minutes, I fought as much as I could but it was just too hard for me.  At the top there was the house from the Alfred Hitchcock movie Psycho and Norman Bates, with a dead woman in his arms, came out of the house to scare the runners !  I thought we were done with the hills after that but no, no....more were to come after a short flat section.  Then we went down for a little bit and I knew the finish line had to be close because Lance Armstrong (via Nike + app) told me I was done and he always lie to me but usually not by too much.  One more turn and there it was: the finish line and yes of course at the top of the last hill!!!!

I saw my family and good thing I did because they would have missed me!!! My husband thought I would come in slower because the course was so hard so he was not paying attention!!!  I crossed the line and almost puke on one of the guys there...but I didn't!  I got a medal so that is always really cool and my kids think I won!! So cute!

Looks like I am skipping instead of running!

I finished 322/1587 overall, 119/1032 women, 14/119 in my age group.

After we went to  Universal Studio city walk looking for a Starbucks!

That place is usually very crowded but it was still very early so we were able to take some pics of the boys with the huge Christmas Tree they have in front of the Hard Rock Cafe.

And my guitar fanatic sons saw this thing so we had to take a picture in front of it!

And one last one at the Universal Studio entry.

Decisions, decisions...

I don't have a fuel belt or bottle.   I never carry water with me on my runs.  I have yet to go long enough to need fuel while I am out.  Now as I move down the weeks on my training plan the miles increase (shocker I know!) so I will need to have a solution for fuel for the long runs.  Since I am a total novice I don't know what to get.  I will need one of these:

I think I belt would get on my nerves and carrying a bottle does not sound good either..I am afraid I would get cramps in my hands or something.  At the half marathon they will have water station at each mile (big race 10000 runners) and GU at mile 4 and 9.  GU,  that is another thing I need to figure out.  I have never tried it and I have major gastric issues so I am afraid of trying it and getting sick.  I know I have to try BEFORE the race.  They are giving 2 flavors:  Chocolate Outrage and Vanilla Bean..I already know I cannot take the chocolate one so that leaves Vanilla.  If my stomach does not like that one I will have to carry my own.  I could use safety pins and pin it to my shorts at the waist and not carry any bottle or belt.  Is that a good decision? Will I regret not carrying my own water?  Even if I decide not to on race day I still need something for the long runs starting next weekend...

What to do, what to do?  I am open to all advices and suggestions if you are reading this and have something to say please do, it will help a novice runner like me!!!

Today was rest day so that is what I did.  Still not sure about tomorrow..I think cross training is what I will do...

Sunday = 5k race day!

Week 5

A new week already
On to week 5 of training plan!

This is what I have to do this week

Mon: Stretch and Strength:
Tue: 4 miles
Wed: 2 miles or cross
Thu: 4 miles + strength
Fri: Rest
Sat: 40 min cross
Sun: 6 miles
total: 16

Sunday I got my next race and it is a hilly 5k at Universal Studios backlot so wont be running 6 miles that day.  I will have to adjust a bit I guess.


Today I did 20 min bike and Strength training.  Back to running tomorrow, 4 miles on the treadmill...would much rather do that outside...but my youngest will be with me so...the gym it is!

Tips for my Susan G Komen team!

All right ladies here are some tips for you !

First of all remember you have PLENTY OF TIME to get ready to walk or run this thing
If you are going to try to run the 5k and you are not a runner right now this is for you.
I am no expert on running so these great tips come from a real expert: Jeff Galloway.

• Start by Walking.
  Everyone needs to feel comfortable and successful right from the start. Begin by walking for 30 minutes. Keep doing this until it feels easy.
• Walk Briskly.
  When normal walking becomes easy, walk briskly for 30 minutes and monitor your heart rate every 5-8 minutes. If it seems below the target zone, pick up the pace. Many people will never want or need to go beyond a brisk walk, provided they can maintain their target pulse rate.
• Insert a Few "Jogs."
  When you are comfortable walking briskly and want to step up the pace, simply insert 3-4 "jogs" of 100 yards or so (about the length of one football field or a city block) into your 30-minute walk. Warm up by walking slowly, build into a brisk walk and then do the short jogs when you feel ready.
• Increase the Running as Desired.
  Increase the running segments as you feel stronger, always avoiding discomfort. You may eventually fill in the 30 minutes with slow running - or you may keep your walking breaks. You're using the running to push the heart rate above the threshold and the walking to keep from getting uncomfortable.

Right now it is still too early to start a training plan but it is a good time to start moving a couple times a week!  The Holiday season is almost here so perfect timing to burn a few calories right?  So all you need is wakling/running shoes and off you go!!!

Training plan for my Susan G Komen team!

All right LADIES!
I wanted to offer this running plan for you to help you prepare for our race.  You have PLENTY of time to get ready for this trust me:  If I can do it,  you all can!!!


I want to thank you for joining our team and please if you have friends who want to be a part of this great event tell them to join!  This race started it all for me, I ran it thinking that will be it and well I never stopped.  9 5ks races later,  I am getting ready for the next step and will run my first 10k next week and a half marathon in January.  Who knows what this will do for you!!!!


One thing for sure, you will be inspired by all these survivors and I dare you not to cry that day!  You will see lots of pink, lots of shirt with messages honoring loved ones who fought the battle and sadly lost it and for the ones who are still fighting and for the survivors who represent hope for all!


You will not forget this event and I bet you will want to come back with me every year!


Ok so here is the link to the running plan called:
The Couch-to-5K ® Running Plan
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

The hills were the enemy- LA Cancer Challenge 5k benefiting the Hirshberg Foundation

Yesterday was the LA Cancer Challenge 5k benefiting the Hirshberg Foundation.  A 5k race that I thought would be hard only because I had not been well recently.....not because of all the hills on the course! Clearly my legs were not prepared for it and neither was my head!
The first mile....well I lost my mind and started way too fast because too many slow people in the front made for a difficult start.  I felt like I was running my first 5k back in March...and that was hard on the mental aspect of that race. By mile 2 I got things somewhat under control but I was still feeling the pain and I knew I was in trouble as far as what was left in the tank....mile 3 was a killer...all uphill and my quads were feeling it...burning and burning....all the way to the finish line...did not do my best time but I placed 540 out of 2045 runners...not too bad.  Now all I  can think about is in 2 weeks I got to race again and twice the distance.....and today I feel a little nervous about this...
and lets not forget I have the main goal still ahead of me...complete my fist half marathon...yesterday I know I was nowhere near ready for 13.1 miles...good thing I still have several weeks to go....must focus on building more endurance.

They had a kids race and the boys ran it! It is a great way to teach them to 1. move and 2. give back.  They are still very young but I did try to explain why we were there and that it was about more then just putting one foot in front of the other.

Getting to the finish line!!

The boys before their race!