13.1 Los Angeles Race Recap

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Yesterday I ran the 13.1 Los Angeles Half Marathon in Venice Beach.
This race was not planned for me, I was lucky and I won a free entry for this one.
It was just 3 weeks before Surf City so at first I had decided not to do 2 half marathons so close to each other but I will not turn down a free entry so of course I did it!

Saturday we went to Venice Beach to pick up the race packet.  It was at a gym, no Expo, very simple.  I got my bib and a nice tech shirt. 

If you read my previous post you already know that I dedicated my race to Sherry Arnold.  I pinned the bib I mad with her picture on my back.  Thank you to everyone who joined me, I know Terzah did in Houston.  She got a 6 min Marathon PR! Congrats Terzah!

The start was at 7 am so that meant getting up pretty early.  I got up with major sinus congestion so that sucked.  Allergies are back and meds are not working great. When we got there we decided to have Bill drop me not too far from the beach and that he and the kids would not come to the start, it was too crazy around the starting area.  So I went looking for the porta potty and found huge lines that were not moving and also cars trying to park in the middle of all those lines.  That was the PREMIUM parking.  CRAZY.

I made it to the start right on time but at the back but that is OK.  The race started 15 minutes late, I don't know why.  We started on the beach and had lots of homeless people lined up to watch the runners pass.  The weather was perfect for me.  Overcast and in the low 40s.

First 5 miles went fine, I was going faster than I should have and convinced myself that I could hold this pace for 13 miles.  Since this one was a "practice race" for Surf City, I thought I would see if I can, how else can I know if I don't TRY? Around mile 5.5 I saw my family and I tossed my gloves and armsleves to the kids.

Not long after that I started feeling a sharp pain on my pinky toe, like I had a cut or something.  I ignored it for a while but it was not going away and got worst.  I had to stop to take a look. My nail was broken but was still attached to the toe.  The broken part was pocking the side of my toe and that was causing me that pain.  I "cut" the nail off and got back on the course.  Waste of precious time :(.  I had checked my nails the night before like I always do and all looked fine to me after the toe inspection.

After mile 6 we got off the beach and back on the road.  That part was not flat but not terrible.  I was still feeling OK.  At around mile 9 or 10 we pass the sewer plant.  You read that right.  I don't get it.  Why do they have the course go there?  The smell was AWFUL.  My stomach is the worst as you know, it can barely tolerate food.  Now sewer smell....yeah not so much.  I tried to hold my breath, that did not work of course and only gave me stupid side ache.  The turn around point was not far from there so I knew we would pass the plant TWICE.  Crap. Second time I went in full dry heaves mode.  I had to stop for a second to get things to calm down.  After that I could not take anything to drink and I had to walk a few times because of dry heaving.  I know lots of people have complained about the sewer and I hope they will change the course for next year.  This was the first year that they had the course go in the area.
Finally the end came.

I thought about Sherry a lot during this race.  This woman I have never met, this woman I will never forget.

So no PR, one nail intervention and 2 sewer interactions does not lead to a Caro PR (or PW!).  It is OK.  I am happy I did this one.  I would do it again if the course changes. This was a smaller race, about 3000 runners, and I like those better than the huge ones, the people were nice, the weather perfect and check the medal, the 13.1 spins:

Good thing I had packed a warm jacket and hat for after because I was FREEZING!

6 Half Marathons done for me in less than a year! I need a Medal Hanger for these!

This one was for you, Sherry Arnold, I hope that you are peace and that you did not suffer.

LA Holiday Half Marathon Race Recap

Ho Ho Ho!!!!I am still in shock at how this one went down.  I swear I have been checking the race results at least 20 times to make sure they are not changing.  Still the same this morning, it was not a dream.

OK so this was half marathon #5 for me.  17th and last race for this year.
The weather was COLD..no no not just California cold, cold for real: 41 degrees.  Bill dropped me as close to the entry of the Fairplex as possible and I walked to the start alone.  We had decided that it was best for Bill and the kids to skip the start and just find a spot along the course to see me.  I got really cold while waiting for a mandatory bathroom (real ones! A+) and for the start. 

There were a lot of kids running that race, they were from this great group called Student Running LA.  The mission of Students Run LA is to challenge at-risk secondary students to experience the benefits of goal-setting, character development, adult mentoring and improved health by providing them with a truly life-changing experience: The training for and completion of the Honda LA Marathon. You can check their website here.

OK back to my race.  This course was HARD.  The most difficult I have ran so far.  Very HILLY.  Not just rolling hills.  The first 2 miles and the last 2 were flat.  That's it.  I had seen the elevation chart, I knew it would be hard.  I told Bill I would not PR and that I hoped to finish between 2:30 and 2:45 and I said if I go over 2:45 I will be in the worst mood and you may want to get a hotel room to avoid being around me!!! 

First 2 miles were on the Fairplex ground (home of the Los Angeles county Fair), to exit we ran on the drag race track, that was pretty cool, they had a band there.  That is where I saw the kids the first time. I am in the white hat, in the middle.

After that we ran near an airport and headed towards Bonelli Park.  That is where all the hills were.  For me, running hills is hard.  My strategy was keep steady pace for the rolling ones and run-walk the big ones, that's when I drank. I carried my own water and I skipped all the water stations.  They had plenty of those along course for those who needed them.  I looked at my Garmin at mile 6 and I realized that I was way ahead of what I thought would be my split there.  I started thinking that maybe I could break 2:30 after all.  That gave me a huge boost.  I still had hills ahead, I knew that around 7 or 8 there would be a big one.  I kept telling myself just get to 11 after that you are good to go. At mile 10 I started to feel tired and showing signs of dehydration.  I knew I was headed towards trouble, I tried drinking NUUN..that gave me major Acid Reflux....I tried water...that was a little better but I was close to getting a pukie....I  was also on my way to getting a PR.  I knew it would be close and now I wanted to get it.  I started to think of numbers...how much could I afford to suck and still get my PR.  That is how bad I was feeling.  At mile 12 a huge surprise: Bill and the kids! I had no clue they would be there, I told Bill to be at the finish NO MATTER WHAT.  When I saw them there I thought the finish line was too crowded.  People were lined up for the last mile.  THAT was so nice!

I look like a giant next to the others!

As soon as I turned the corner....I had to stop....I got sick..I did not want the kids to see me like that.  (They didn't)

One more mile to go.  I had almost nothing left.  Thank God for the people cheering on the runners! And at the finish there they were: Bill and the boys!!! I was just about the walk when I saw them and no way I am walking in front of my kids.

I crossed the finish...(that is not my time...I started at the back of the pack)

And then... I collapsed

Some guy came just in time to catch me and put me in a wheel chair. AGAIN. 

Major DEHYDRATION.

I did not stay in it long.  Bill came to get me and I went to get a banana and water.

I looked at my GARMIN, I never stopped it. CRAP.

Bill said "You did great you crossed way before 2:30!"...I wanted to know if I had crossed before 2:26 xx.  My PR was 2:26:39.  I would have to wait to see the results online later.

I was feeling like crap.  Darn stomach.  I had lost a lot of salt again.  I did take salt tablets during the race but my NUUN bottles were still almost full.  Not good.  My water bottle was empty. See the salt on my face...hard to see I guess...but near the nose..on the freckles..

I got a pretty snowflake medal!

I was so cold there...good thing I had packed some clothes to change...in this very stylish outfit..that's right Life is Good pj pants with Canadian flags!

They had this really cool trains exhibit there

We went back home, I was not feeling good at all.  Could not eat for at least 6 hours.  I had to lay down for 2 hours.  When I got up I went to look for the results....and they were up...
I started looking for my name around 2:25xx hoping to see it there...no
Then I looked around 2:26, still no, 2:27.still no.  On the picture Bill took the clock says 2:27xx so I thought they don't have my results, I did not touch the mat...
I typed my bib # to look it up and I saw that I did touch the mat. 
2:24:05.  That is my time.  2 min 34 sec PR.  I could not believe it.  It made all the pain and feeling like crap so worth it. 

Merry Running Christmas to me!
I am so happy, saved my best race of the year for last!

Still time to enter my GIVEAWAY

Also had to include this......
EMZ: Look what I got today:
Sports Illustrated: Best Magazine ever....clearly they can recognize GREATNESS

Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers 9-11 5K run in Los Angeles

Today I ran the Los Angeles Stephen SillerTunnel to Towers 9-11 5K run.

This is a race that is done all over the US.  Tunnel to Towers honors the courage and dedication of 9/11 first responders, our military men and women and their families.
On September 11th, firefighter Stephen Siller had just gotten off the late shift at Squad 1, Park Slope, Brooklyn.  He was on his way to play golf with his brothers on that bright clear day when his scanner told of the first plane hitting the Twin Towers.  When he heard the news, he called his wife Sally to tell her he would be late because he had to help those in need.  He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear, then took his final heroic steps to the World Trade Center.  When Stephen drove his truck  to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, it was already closed to traffic .  With sixty pounds of gear strapped to his back, he ran through the Tunnel, hoping  to meet up with his own company, Squad 1.  He never came home.

This run was not about time and PR.  It was about remembering and honoring the ones who paid the ultimate price that day.   I would have not missed it for anything. 

On September 11, 2001, I was home alone and still asleep when the phone rang.  It was Bill telling me to turn on the TV.  I did and I saw Matt Lauer and what I thought was a snow storm.  I said "Wow they are having a snow storm in September!"  Bill said "This is not snow Caro, it is ashes"  I remember that day I stayed in front of the TV all day.  And I cried.  Bill came home around 6 pm and I had not moved, if I did I don't remember doing it.  I still cry every time I see pictures or video of that horrible day.  I struggle with explaining this to my young kids.  At their age they don't understand.  They know something bad happened.  They know people died.  They know lots of people were brave that day.  They know they live in a great country.  For now that is plenty.

Here are some pictures of the Los Angeles 9-11 Run.

GIRL IN WHITE: FIRST FEMALE

WINNER, Running for Marine Corps

They came in right before me, they were singing the whole time!

That is Will holding the flag

I was the only one who ran with a flag.  I got a lot of cheers for it!

They had the nicest bib!

That is my time 29:55

9-11 Memorial

Picture I found on  Facebook page of the Race when we got home.

Disneyland Half Marathon race report part 1

 DISNEYLAND HALF MARATHON!

Yep this will need more than one post.  We had the kids race on Saturday.  That will be for another post with hilarious pictures...well I think they are funny but I am bias...
here is one for sneak peak...
Jonathan in action looking really pissed off!!!

Also more on the Expo where we met these people....the very svelte Drew Carey and Megan Price (from Rules of Engagement, yes we do watch this show, that is Bill's favorite)

More on this in part 2.

Half Marathon.
We stayed in Anaheim on the Saturday night.  Because of the fireworks I did not get to sleep until after 10 pm.  I was in bed long before that but it was so loud I could not sleep through it.  I had to get up at 3 am to catch the shuttle to the race, last one was at 4:30 am.   I got down in the lobby and saw 3 women, 2 of them with huge wings.  One asked "Are you going to the race?"  It was 3:30 am, I was dressed in running gear and I had the Disney check bag...yeah..  Got to the race really early, there were a lot of people there already.  It was well organized for this part: bags checking area was great, people were super friendly and plenty of porta potty.  Huge area for people to wait before the start, but not as close to the start as most people thought  (they had no sign to direct people, if they did I did not see any).  If I had known I would have headed to the starting line a lot sooner.  
The start was be far the worst part of the race.  For corals A to C it looked fine.  Anything above C: a mess.  I was in D and lots of people from G and up were lined up in Coral D.   They had told a bunch of D people (maybe 50 of us) to stay in a certain spot so we did and then 10 minutes before the start some other race people came and said we needed to go all the way to the back and come down to Coral D!! There were over 14000 runners lined up! Luckily some nice guy saw my bib and let me and a couple other girls get in by opening the gate in Coral D!

They had fireworks for the National Anthem, that was nice.  5:55 am the Wheel chairs start, 6 am coral A and every 5 min the following coral would start.  I started at 6:15 am.  First few miles were CRAZY.  Lots of walkers in coral D, some walking 5 people wide...that was really annoying.  I know this is suppose to be a fun race because it is Disney but people who walk should lined up at the BACK no matter where the race is.  It was hard to pass people for the first 3 miles.  I get that people stop for pictures and that it forces the runners behind them to slow down or stop.  We saw several Disney Characters that was fun.  Phineaus and Ferb, Russel from Up!, Princesses, Fairy Godmothers, Marry Poppins, Maleficent, Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast and he was lit up!  Lots of bands and Cheerleaders along the course, I loved that.  I had my Ipod but I turned it off for a good part of the race. 

The course was flat.  The weather was perfect.  My stomach no so much.  I had bad cramping.  For the first time in 24 races I had to make a restroom break, that lovely stop happened around mile 4.  I also had bad cramps on a calf. It was so bad I have 2 huge bruises on my leg.  Medic said was caused by cramps and having those darn varicose veins.  I knew that if I stopped I would not be able to continue so I never did stop (except for restroom but that was long before calf issue.)  I was feeling pretty good other than those 2 problems.  My stomach was OK from mile 6 to 10.  At mile 10 I almost threw up. ALMOST.  Mentally I was doing pretty good compare to my 2 previous half marathons.  When we got to HONDA Center (Home of the Anaheim Ducks) I had a second wind because I knew that ANGELS STADIUM was next and that was where my kids would be!  We had to choose between them being at the Stadium or the Finish Line and the Stadium was much easier for Bill because the kids could sit while waiting and for parking it was also much easier.  Angels Stadium is mile 9.5 so we did not know if they could make it on time to see me finish and sadly they did not see me cross the finish line.  But they saw me run in the Stadium and that was sooooooo GREAT.  For sure the best part of the race for me. 

3.6 miles to go after that.  I was not easy.  I had been doing pretty good drinking my NUUN and taking my Sports Beans.  But I was getting dehydrated.  AGAIN.  I had the chills.  I tried to ignore it as best as I could.  I did not stop.  I did not hit the wall.  When we entered the park to get to the finish line it was so nice seeing all the people that were lined up! All along the course people were great cheering for the runners, a lot of them called my name, it was fantastic to hear someone say "You are doing great CAROLINE!" I THANKED ALL THE NICE FOLKS  WHO CALLED MY NAME. I was so happy to see the Finish Line and this time I did not panic like I always do.  I did not sprint like I wish I did, I still need to work on that.  I was sad that my family was not there to see me finish.  If I do Disney again, I will want them at the Finish for sure!!!

I was really overwhelmed...I had done my best time so far for this distance.  By 12 minutes.   I think because I am slow and also because I have been running for 18 mos and I still have so much to learn;  the room for improvement is hmm huge.  This is why I got a12 minutes PR.  Yes I am getting a little better but I also learned from all the mistakes I made in January at my first half and in May for my second half.   In January my time was 2:42:xx (don't remember the sec) and this time 2:26:38.  I know I can do better than that. 

After the finish I went to the Medic station and they wrapped ice on my poor calf.  I got my HUGE Medal.  The nicest one I got so far.  They gave the runners a towel and water.  After that I had my picture taken, skipped the food and got my checked bag and looked for Bill and the kids.  Took me a while to find them but I finally did!  They had a tent with free massage so I decided to go get one while Bill took to the boys to eat at Goofy's Kitchen.  My first massage.  It will not be my last.  The guy said I had lots of muscle knots in my back and neck and asked if I am stressed! Ha Ha!!! I told him I was born stressed.  I saw a table where they were engraving the medals (I did not have my medal engraved..$25 extra..no thank you. :) ).  They had the official times, that is how I got mine, was pretty close to my Garmin.  (On the website, my time was different and I emailed them and they responded today that 2:26:38 is the correct one and they will correct it online)  After that I walked to go meet Bill and the kids.  They were having a feast but I could not eat anything.  My stomach felt like crap.  I knew I had to drink but even that was not going down easy.  It took 6 hours before I was able to eat some pretzel.  

So this was a fun race.  Lots of people running in costumes, lots of distractions along the course.  It is not the perfect race to set a PR or for serious runners.  Way too many people walking and stopping all the time.  I would do it again though, maybe try the Thinkerbell one next time!!!