13.1 for race number 13!

July 31st brought me to my 13th race!  Time is sure flying!  I headed to the San Francisco Half Marathon hoping to beat my time from last year which was 3:09. 


Our shirts are ready for race morning!



I was running this race with Matt, Sara, Rose and Adam!  We headed out of the house and towards the starting line before 4:30.  When corraling began we learned that we could not sneak Rose and Adam into our corral and they were a few back from us.  The year before we had jumped corrals easily, this year there was tighter security.  So Sara, Matt and I began to get ready for the race to start in our corral.


Before the race! We are ready to run!

 Before we knew it we were off and running!  I was feeling pretty confident as we started off, I was getting past the mental game where I can only think about the fact that I still have thirteen miles to go.  Before I knew it was on the ground and Matt was pulling me up and we were on the side of the course.  I had fallen less than half a mile into the race!!  I had turned my ankle and skinned my knee.

This picture was taken after the run was over!

I walked it off , took a peek, and stopped hyper ventilating and then took off once again.  I didn't want to stop at an aide station, I had already taken enough time off and I had a goal....less then 3:09!   Once Matt decided I was ok, he took off and I continued on my way.   I ran as much as I could and I walked hills.  About mile 3 there was a woman behind me that just wouldn't leave me alone..I figured out she was using me a pacer.  I decided I couldn't stop running because someone wanted to run like me!!  :)  Before mile 5 she stopped running, and I turned to her and said, "No!  We have to keep going!"   She told me she'd catch up to me. 
When I finally got on the bridge, I checked my watch and thought I was doing great, I started looking for Matt and Sara because I knew they were in front of me.  I had crossed almost half of the bridge and still hadn't seen them running back, that I figured they must have been way in front of me.  I started to become discouraged, because I had wanted to see someone I knew, but all of a sudden I saw Matt running, and shortly behind him I saw Sara, and then I got a new energy!  I was so excited that I wasn't that far behind them, (maybe like a mile and a half).  I kept running, and when I turned to go back across the bridge I kept an eye out for Rose and Adam, because they started after me I knew they'd be coming.  Before I knew it I saw Rose and then quickly after I saw Adam. 
I found some women before mile 8 that had a nice pace going so I ran behind them until we got off the bridge and then I passed them.   Somewhere between mile 10 and 11 I saw a marriage proposal, the guy started running next to the girl, she said yes, she grabbed the ring and left him in the dust.  She didn't stop for one second.
When I got to the last hilly street I got excited because I knew the end was near.  I had been checking my watch and my goals for my time had been changing as I hit each mile of the race. I would walk up the hill at the top run down , run the straightaway, walk up, etc.  until I reached the end of the street and started into the park.  I kept thinking the end would be there soon, but it just seemed like a mirage.  Finally there it was I took off in a sprint and crossed that finish line!

I finished the race in exactly 2 hours and 50 minutes!   I cut 19 minutes off my race time in 1 year, plus setting a great PR!

Once the race finished I went to the aide tent and got my knee cleaned and bandaged, the event staff couldn't believe that I had continued on without getting it clean.

I felt like I could have continued running once I was finished, which is good since I have that full marathon coming up!  I have never felt so good after a race!  Even though I turned my ankle and scraped up my knee.   I didn't feel sore after this race, except for my injuries, the rest of my body felt great!

After the race!!

San Francisco Half Marathon was a great run!
Up Next: Pleasenton Tri for Fun!

Race 12 at night!

Race number 12 brought me back to Davis to complete yet another half marathon!  The Davis Moonlight which started around 7 o'clock at NIGHT!

Rose joined me for this race! I was excited to have her running the night race with me. 

Getting ready to conquer Davis!

The sun was still shining as Rose and I started the race.  I decided I wanted to stick to the run 5 minutes walk 1 minute, to see if I could go longer and farther during my running sprints.  I like the idea of running intervals because you know you will have a chance to recover before your next sprint out.
I was feeling very proud of my time as I finished the first loop of the race.  This race had a few similarities to the Davis Stampede I did earlier this year, but different starting and stopping points.
As soon as it got dark it was dark!  There were many points where I was by myself and couldn't see the person in front of me or behind me!  I wasn't amused with that! 
As the race was nearing the end and I was checking my time I was ecstatic, as you will see by my face in the picture! :)  Race time 2:46!

Here I am crossing the finish line!

Yay! Rose we did it!!!

Davis  MOOnlight was another success in my book!

Next Race: San Francisco Half Marathon July 31!

Number 11

Race number 11 brought me to San Ramon to do the Run San Ramon 10K.  Matt and I entered this 4th of July race together. 

Here I am before race time!

This race was only a week after my last 10K so I knew what I could do as far as time, I wanted to at least finish with the same time, not worse.
The race started off and I was running, however I didn't feel as good as I did the last race. I started walking when I would feel like I couldn't run and the time between walking sessions became less and less.  A little before mile 3 a lady came up to me to ask me if I was doing intervals because she was and wanted to know if I wanted to join her.  I thought what the heck and jumped on board.  We started running 5 minutes and walking 1 minute.  Before long two more woman joined us.  I was starting to feel so much better that before long I was ahead of them and back on my own.  I continued with the   5 minute running and 1 minute walking until my sprint, where I passed two people, to the finish line.
I finished the race in 1:16! I improved my race time by 4 minutes!  Not bad for only a week!

After the race they gave out Popsicles!

I was very proud of my improvement!

Next race Davis Moonlight!

A 10K for my 10th!

Ok so I might be a little behind, but now it's time to catch up!

June 26th brought my 10th race of the year. In honor of it being the 10th I decided to do a 10K, the Summerfest 10K.  (Plus if I did the 10K I received a shirt that said in training for the Davis Moonlight!)

Dad and I traveled to Davis in order for me to run in this race. 

Here I am getting ready to start!

We arrived early enough for me to get rid of my pre race jitters.  When it was time for the race to start I realized there weren't going to be that many people racing with me, and the jitters set in again.  I told dad if he didn't see me after 1 and a half hours to send out a search party for me!

When the race started I set off to see what I could do!  Soon enough there was mile one right at 10 min! That was so exciting!  Then came mile 2 and mile 3.  I hadn't stopped to walk once I was doing really good.  I hit mile three at about 36 minutes. 

Here are some pictures of me!  Look closely I'm the dot in the bright yellow shirt!

My goal had become to hit the mile 5 marker at one hour....and I hit it right at 59 minutes!  I was thrilled.  I continued to run the next 1.2 miles, but I was a little slower than I had been the rest of the race. 

Just about to hit the mile 6 marker!

Dad I'm doing so good!

I finished off the last .2 miles of my race in a sprint. 

The finish line was unplugged! Soon after it was blown back up!

I finished the race in 1:20!  I was so proud of myself! 

I did it!

Since I am doing the Moonlight Run and I did Summerfest I recieved this shirt as well!

Summerfest was a great race to celebrate my 10th race of the year.
Next race: Run San Ramon, 10K 4th of July!

Numero Nueve

First off I can't believe it's already almost the end of June!  Man time sure does fly when you are having fun!  This past Saturday on June 18th, brought me to Pleasanton.  I had been anxiously been waiting for another Triathlon to come up in my race sequence.  This race was the first in a series of three Tri for Fun events.  Originally on my calendar I was going to do the whole series, however another race in July intrigued me a little more.  Although I'm still debating about doing both races next month...on the same day!

Getting ready for the swim!

I was feeling my usual butterflies as I headed towards the water, and I loved it.  As I headed to the starting area, I decided to feel the water, it was not very cold, but it was not bath water as a woman described behind me.  There were six waves that started the race, I was in wave  4.  There weren't that many people in wave 4, and I was actually towards the front of the pack for starting off the race, usually I stick to the back because I don't want to get kicked in the head. 

When the horn went off we started going, I was feeling great the first buoy seemed so close.  Next thing I knew I kicked someone in the head...it was very different as I'm usually dodging feet!

The water was so clear.  I turned and passed the first buoy and in no time I was to the second buoy.  Before I knew it I was getting out of the water.  The swim was 1/4 of a mile and I finished in 10 minutes.

This is actually me after the race. (I just felt a picture was needed here! :) )

I headed to my bike, threw my shoes and shirt on and was off!  I tackled the first climb and started riding as fast as I could go.  There were people flying passed me, I don't think I was in the right gear and my front tire might have been flat.  Hopefully I'll get that figured out before my next race.

I felt like I did a good job of going as fast as I could on the bike.

I  finished the 11 miles in 45 minutes!

Last came the run! My least and most favorite part.  Least because I always wish I was better, favorite because the race is almost done and I almost have another race under my belt.

The run was 3 miles.  My legs always take some adjusting, but I was having some pains in the arch of my foot.  As I was running I came upon a man that was running in a Hawaiian shirt I had already seen him twice on the race, and I felt like I had seen him before.  It wasn't until someone else said to him that she had seen him at a few different tris, that I realized that he was the Hawaiian shirt wearing man from my first triathlon, Scott Tinley!

I continued to run as I passed the water station a total of 3 times during the run.  I came in around 40 minutes.

I did it!!

All in all I am very proud of how I preformed on this race!  I can't wait to see how I do when this course faces a rematch with me in August!

Up next: (Just added 30 minutes ago :) hehe) Summerfest 10K in Sacramento!

Race number 8 .... sucked!

Race number 8 brought us to Lake Chabot on June 5th!  Alle and I were going to tackle this race together.  The race had a 3 hour time limit and Alle was set and determined to help me conquer this race!

This was a very low key event, with 210 runners.

Alle and I  at the official starting line!

Alle and I set off with high ambitions, and about a mile into the race realized we were at the very end of the pack when the sweepers (who were actually carrying brooms) caught up with us.  When we finally hit the trails it didn't take long for us to increase elevation.  For the next 3 miles we increased over 4000 feet in elevation (I just found out when I looked on the race website, someone noted that from their GPS watch!).  I felt bad that I was holding Alle back from competing like she normally does!  But she didn't care, she set out to help me and that she did, because I wanted to give up!

The race went on and continued to challenge me, as my shins and calves were burning.  I turned my ankle a few times as well.  My feet got stuck in mud, and I slid in the mud as well.  There was even a fallen eucalyptus tree on the path!  There was a shooting range very close to where we were and you could hear the gun shots, kinda crazy. 

During the race I kept dreaming of the time when I would meet "calf" rock as I dubbed it.  Calf rock was the perfect rock for stretching your calves.  The thought of it was very exciting!

Calf rock and I! :)

I was very excited to see the rock when Alle and I hit mile 13!

As we were nearing the finishing line Alle made a very good observation,  we had finished the second half of the half marathon faster then the first half of the half marathon!  

Even though we didn't finish before the time limit expired, I'm still proud to say I finished. I am very grateful to have had Alle to race with and to keep me motivated along the way.  Thanks so much Alle!

After the race!  Yay! 

I can't wait to see Alle compete in this race next year!  As for if I will do this race again, time will only tell...I think it was about mile 3 when I first told Alle I didn't ever want to do this race again, but we will see...

Next race is in 2 week! 

For now it's back to icing! :)

Numero 7!

Race number 7 took me to Lodi, to complete the Avenue of the Vines.  I was supposed to do a tri this weekend, but changed my mind two weeks before the race.  The race was on May 15th.

My 26th birthday the day before had brought me to the San Francisco Creamery.  We tried to eat the Kitchen Sink, but were unsuccessful! 

Probably not the best pre race food!

Matt and I drove up to Lodi that morning to do the race.  We arrived about 10 minutes before we were supposed to start running.  We had enough time to get our number, put our goody bag somewhere in hopes no one would take it and get to the start.

HERE WE GO!

Matt and I were running together, it wasn't long into the race that I had to use the restroom....However, there was no room to be had!  It wasn't until mile 5 that I finally saw a potty!  Off we went into the smells of the cows and their manure, and the rows and rows of grape vines.

I didn't have the best time, I actually had the worst time I've ever had!  Let's hope it was the pre race dinner that I had, and not that I peaked at 25 and it's all down hill!!! 
Gadzooks!
At least I finished what I started! 

Matthew and I after the race!

Next race Lake Chabot Half Marathon with a time limit of 3 hours!   Wish me luck!