An Open Letter to My Son : Running Your First Half Marathon

At 13 years old, you’re just one day away from running your first half marathon. You’ve always been an overachiever. Potty trained before you were 2, skipping the baby babble and going straight to complete sentences. You can’t just solve a rubix’s cube, you can solve it in under 30 seconds. Kendama, guitar, card tricks, algebra, reading, drawing, the list goes on and on. You’ve excelled in all you set your mind to do.

Except running. Because all those other things have come easy to you, but not running. Running has been hard. It’s been slow. It’s been chock full of complaints, struggles, and failures. Running has beaten you down. It has irritated you. Running has made you hurt. It’s frustrated you. Running has made you feel less than. It’s humbled you. And for this I say, thank you, to running. I thank running for teaching you that it’s not always easy to reach your goals. Running requires discipline and endurance and grit. These are all things I hope you’ve learned through running.

You complained about waking up early during summer break to run, but you did it anyways. We argued along the road many mornings, but it never stopped you. During moments of frustration, you still endured. So many times you wanted to give up, to turn around, but you never did. You kept going. May this be a lesson you take with you always.

I hope that running will always stay with you. I hope you find a love for running, as I have. But, if you don’t, that’s ok too. But I do hope you never forget the lessons learned during your training. Because, whether you realize it or not, running has taught you so much about life. It’s taught you to never give up. Wether you go fast or slow, what matters is that you are moving forward. Never forget that. Never forget that although there may be pain and it may be difficult, chasing your dreams is always worth it. Life won’t always be easy, but sticking to your goals and being true to yourself will always be worth it. Never forget that feeling of accomplishment you get after a long or difficult run. Let that stay with you and let that guide you. There is power in perseverance.

Running alongside you all these weeks has not always been easy, but neither has being your mom and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. I am so proud to be running with you tomorrow and sharing 13.1 miles with you. Crossing that finish line together will be a moment I never forget. I love you beyond words.

PS. I can’t forget to give a shout of of thanks and appreciation to the hubs for all those early mornings of driving him up to meet us at the mountain so he could get his long runs in. And to Valerie for all the rides up the mountain and encouraging him and me along the way. To all our friends and family who’ve also encouraged him, it doesn’t go unnoticed! XO

Half Marathon Training with a Teenager

Last year, my then 12 year old son said he’d like to run a half marathon. I thought he was just being funny or talking in the distant future, but no. He was serious and insisted on it. We researched some races and talked some more about it. I gave him the good and the bad, but honestly, mostly the bad because I wanted to paint a truthful picture and the truth is that training for a half marathon is not easy. He acknowledged that it was going to be hard work, but that he really wanted to challenge himself and run his first half marathon at the age of 13. So, we did it. We signed up for the Cedar City Half Marathon on September 8, 2018. I explained that he would be training for a half marathon all through summer break and even into his first weeks of back to school but he was not deterred.

While he was still in school, we started with 2 mile once a week runs. Then, last month, we started the actual 14-week training plan and he’s been training pretty consistently for the past 6 weeks. We have 8 more weeks to go and I couldn’t be prouder of this kid! But please, don’t get me wrong. He is no super kid. He is after all, a 13 year old boy and oh have we had our arguments. It’s been hard being mom and coach. I feel like because it’s been me giving him running advice, it’s been hard for him to accept it and we butt heads a lot. He’s cranky at 6am and when I remind him that he signed up for this on his own, I get attitude. I then have to remember he is still just a 13 year old kid and take a deep breath.

It’s been hard, but it’s also been rewarding. I’ve been learning to be patient and let things go. I’m learning to go at his pace and enjoy our time together regardless of our pace and whether I think he could do better or go faster. I remind myself that I just ran my first half marathon 5 years ago at the age of 36! This kid is 13 and about to run his first half marathon. I am so proud of him already! I’m not too mushy or sentimental, but I did cry after my 1st half marathon and after my 1st full marathon. I’m pretty sure I will cry for the 3rd time again after I cross the finish line with my son in September. But until then, there will most definitely be more cranky early mornings and arguments, and I’ll just have to be ok with that.

What races are you training for this summer? Any tips on running with a teen? EEK!!

Rock n Roll Half Marathon Nashville : Race Recap

I can summarize my trip to Nashville in two words: running + eating! What could be better, right?

If you read my last post, you know that I was nervous about running the Nashville Rock n Roll Half Marathon because the course promised to be hilly and I am not a fan of hills! Plus, my friend was running it too and it was her first half marathon, so I was nervous I wouldn’t be able to support her like I wanted to. Well, to make a long story short, we rocked that run! I felt strong throughout the entire race, which I was nervous about due to the hills. Plus, I paced my friend and we made it right under her goal time! I was so happy I felt good running those hills and it was proof that you have to trust the process. I made it a point to train hills and it paid off!

My flight to Nashville was super early in the morning, but it gave us the opportunity to grab some yummy lunch at Husk when I arrived and still make it in time for packet pickup afterwards! As usual, the process was smooth and easy. There were all the usual, easy to follow signs and awesome volunteers. The actual expo didn’t seem as big or as busy as some other cities, though. I didn’t mind this, as we don’t stay too long at the expo. We got our beer wristbands for our free post-race beer and picked up our parking pass, that I prepaid for online. Since we were driving ourselves in the morning and this was my friend’s first experience, I didn’t want her to feel overwhelmed with having to search for parking and deal with the traffic too! It was a great option and one I think I will use again for sure if I plan to drive and park for a race and not get dropped off.

After checking-in to our hotel and relaxing for a bit, it was time for our carb loading dinner! I traditionally have pizza before a race so I looking for some Yelp suggestions and found Slim + Husky’s . The reviews were amazing and it did not disappoint! They have local, fresh, ingredients and all the pizzas are made to order. They also carry local craft beers, which is also part of my carb loading dinner 😉

Like I mentioned above, the race itself was amazing! It was fun and we enjoyed the music, the scenery, and all the folks who came out to cheer us on! Running through some of the neighborhoods and seeing the residents making a morning out of it reminded me of the vibe from the San Diego Rock n Roll Half Marathon last year. They too were out cheering us on, drinking mimosas, and even handing out drinks and snacks to us runners too!

After the race, we spent our day exploring some of the neighborhoods and of course, eating some delicious food to celebrate our race finish! I highly recommend this race for it’s fun atmosphere, challenging course, and who doesn’t want to enjoy all the Nashville has to offer both before and after the race!

Self-Doubt Before Race Day | Rock N Roll Half Marathon Nashville

So, as I type this I should really be packing for my trip to Nashville, since we’ll be out tonight. My flight leaves at 6am tomorrow, so I have an early wake up call. Anyhow, I’ll get to it before I have to get into mommy-driver duty!

I’m super excited to be running the Rock n Roll Half Marathon in Nashville this Sat. Not so much because I love country music, hilly courses, and humidity, but because I’ll be running alongside my BFF since high school! This will be her first half marathon and I’m thrilled I was the one who motivated her to sign up. I was asking if maybe she’d like to run the 5K, but she surprised me and said she’d join me in the half marathon! You can imaging my excitement!!! She’s been training for about 12 weeks and I’ve been supporting her via text messages and phone calls. This got me thinking about my own first half marathon and how my cousin, who’s an avid marathon runner, came to run alongside me for my first half marathon. I remember how happy I was to have someone with all of her experience running with me and supporting me. It really helped make my first half marathon experience such a good one! As excited as I am to now be the one paying it forward and being the “experienced” runner, I’m also nervous about my own performance. Hills aren’t my jam, I mean, let’s be honest, they aren’t anyones jam! I’m also not as fast or fit as I was a few years ago and it’s messing with my head (see what I did there?). I’ve put in the miles and ran hills in my training, but I’m afraid I’ll be seen as a fraud. Like, yea I call myself a runner, but then I’m huffing and puffing at mile 10. I’m afraid I won’t be the best support for her or worse yet, that she’ll be the one supporting me! Won’t that be embarrassing!?!

I’m working on keeping a positive mindset and trust that I won’t fail. I need to trust that it’s going to be a fun experience, no matter the outcome. I admit, this is hard to do. It’s hard to feel your best, when you know you could do better because you have done better. Ok, I know I am overreacting to a hypothetical situation and it’s silly, but it’s the truth and I can’t be anything but honest. Have you ever felt this way before? Be it running or another aspect of your life, I bet you have. I can also say from experience that things aren’t usually as bad as you think they’re gonna be. Am I right? So, I am leaving it all here on the blog. I’m typing it out here but then I’m going to think of how happy I’ll be seeing my best friend, who I haven’t seen almost 5years. I’m going to focus on how awesome it is that I’ll be running my 14th half marathon in 2 days. I’m excited to visit and explore a new city and eat some pretty good food too!! And, I’m gonna go pack…

Who’s been to Nashville? Any recommendations on must-see or must-eats? I’ll be back next week to let you know how it went and if you are struggling with feelings of self-doubt too, stay strong and know you aren’t alone. XO

Rock n Roll Arizona Half Marathon | Race Recap

Earlier this month, I ran the Rock n Roll Arizona half marathon for the first time! I chose to run Arizona because it was close enough to drive there from home plus it advertised a flat course. My training was not great for this race. I missed most of my long runs and just managed a few short runs in the weeks leading to the race. There was no real excuse for missing them other than I was feeling lazy and made up all kinds of reasons why I couldn’t run. So yea, going into this race I was not feeling too confident and was just hoping I would finish.

With a race start time of 7:50 am, I didn’t have to wake up too early in comparison to other half marathon start times, so that was a really nice perk! The weather in the morning was brisk but I knew that it would warm up quickly so I wore a running skirt and t-shirt, plus my new favorite Rock n Roll trucker hat that I picked up at the expo on Saturday!

The first 8 miles of the course are not very scenic. You’re running through industrial and business roads and such so there aren’t many spectators either. I was also going really slow, which didn’t help and I never really found my groove. Since it’s a Rock n Roll event, they did have bands and DJs at about every mile and of course the aide stations and port-a-potties were plentiful. It did hold true to it’s advertised flat course, though, and there were no major inclines. Once we got to Papago Park, the scenery changed and it felt so good to run through some nice desert scenery and see the iconic Arizona saguaro cacti. This was also the only part of the course that had a slight incline. But, it was a short out and back section so getting to run a little decline was nice too. It was right around mile 10 that I started having some major discomfort on my left heel and then also on the outer right side of my foot, from heel to pinky toe. I pushed along and tried to ignore it since I still had 3 miles to go and figured it was probably time for new running shoes.

I enjoyed running across Mill Ave. Bridge. Not only is it a pretty view, but it’s also close the finish line and by then, my right foot was really hurting!! Once we crossed the river, spectators were lined up all along the finish line area and cheering us on for the last stretch! That’s always my favorite part of running a race!! I also really liked that they had big screens at the finish line to view the runners coming in.

The finish line festival at Tempe Beach park was really nice too! There was plenty of grassy areas (albeit the grass was dry since it was winter) to sit and stretch. The gear check trucks were clearly visible for those picking up their bags. There were food trucks lined up to for hungry runners! I sat and stretched for a bit, then went over to get my free beer!! I listened to the headliner, Everclear, for a bit. I was happy it was a band I knew and listened to from the 90s!

We couldn’t stay too long since I had to make it back to the hotel to shower and check out! By the time we got to the hotel, my foot was really hurting and I was having a hard time putting any pressure on it. The next day was the same, a significant amount of pain and not able to walk on it. I was concerned, so I went to an urgent care, where they did an X-ray. The x-ray did not show a hairline fracture but the Dr. on staff still thought it was this since hairline fractures don’t usually show up in x-rays and based on my symptoms. He gave me an ugly ortho shoe to wear to keep my foot from moving too much when I walked and said to wear it for 1-2 wks and no running for 4 weeks. It’s been a week since my visit and my foot feels great. No pain at all! I’ve ordered new running shoes, but I’ll stick to Dr’s orders and won’t run just yet. It’s going to be hard but I want to make sure that I don’t injure myself again. I’m doing Pilates and upper body workouts that are non-weight bearing on my leg, but I can’t wait to get out there and run!!!! Have you ever been sidelined from running? How did you cope?

2018: The Year of Consistency

The start of a new year is always a good time for change. It’s a time to set goals and make plans on how to achieve them. Don’t let the haters bring you down before you even get started. We all have to start somewhere and for a lot of us, January 1 just feels like an ideal time for a fresh new start.

I feel that in 2017 I was not just treading water, but actually taking some steps in reverse. Life has it’s ups and downs but if we don’t get a hold of ourselves, we can continue on a downward spiral that is even harder to get out of. I know I’ve been inconsistent with just about everything in my life lately and it’s time to make a conscious effort to be consistent with my actions. From what I eat, drink, how I work, use of my time, etc. It’s time to stick to the plan. So, I’m here today to share my goals and plans and hopes for this new year.

Fitness + Health Goals

Consistent Meal Planning/Prep – Working from home, I always felt that meal prep was something I didn’t need to do. I could always take a break from my work and make my meals. But the truth is, I don’t always feel like taking the time to cook just for myself so I end up winging it and it’s not always balanced or the healthiest options. I have been pretty good about meal planning for dinners, so I want to keep that up and add meal plans for breakfast and lunch too. I also plan to use Sundays as a day to prep some meals or have semi-prepared options that I can easily and quickly turn into a complete meal. For example, making a batch of paleo egg muffins, having boiled eggs on hand, and making enough dinner for lunch leftovers the next day.
Run 3 days/week + Gym 2 days/week – Getting consistent and back to a routine with my workouts is a must. Although I always have a monthly plan on my calendar for my workouts, I do not always follow through. I am determined to make this a priority in my life again!
Weight Loss – Without having consistent workouts and meals planned, I have let the weight creep back up. This is the year to get back on track and not let all the hard work I’ve done go to waste.
Post Monthly Goals – When I first started my weight loss journey, I shared a lot. Maybe even over shared! But, it helped me stay consistent and accountable to myself. Somewhere along the line I started thinking that maybe I was sharing too much, that people didn’t want to see/read about what I was doing and I stopped sharing and eventually that led me to taking it easy. I started relaxing too much and without that accountability on social media and my blog, I started to overindulge too much and workout less and less. That stops now! Hope you’re ready for a maybe a little over sharing but just know, I’m doing it for myself! Not to brag or make anyone feel bad, but rather to put myself on blast in the hopes that it will keep me accountable and maybe give someone else ideas on how to do it for themselves too 😉
Blog a min. of 2 times a week – You’ll be seeing a lot more of me this year! I really enjoy blogging so I want to make sure I’m on here a few times a week sharing my thoughts, ideas, frustrations, travels, race recaps, family life, and everything/anything else of this messy life!

I’m also working on my race schedule for 2018, so be sure to check those out HERE! If you have any suggestions for races I should put on my radar, please let me know in the comments. Or, if you’ll be running one of the races I’m doing this year, let me know so we can meet up! I’m debating if I want to run a marathon for 2018. What do you think?

These are the main goals and objectives to get back on track and feeling better about myself. I don’t want to feel sluggish and tired all the time like I used to, so it’s time for consistency! Do you have a word for 2018?

2017: A Year in Review

Here we are at the end of yet another year. Most years go by really fast for me but, I think 2017 didn’t go by as fast as other years. We definitely had some busy seasons with work and travels, mostly during the summer and October, but the rest of the year felt smooth and less rushed than others. I’m so not complaining about that! I am not one to glorify busy and enjoy taking time to enjoy my days and not feel rushed.

A big highlight of the year for me was becoming part of the Rock N Roll Marathon Series ambassador program, called Rock N Blog and I’m excited to be a part of the team again for 2018! This definitely set the tone for my running schedule for the year. I ended up running 18 races! Seven of these were virtual 5Ks, but they still came with some awesome race bling!! One was the Run Love Virtual 5K by Running Skirts and the other 6 were with the Rock N Roll Race Series! I also did a fun non-competitive community 5K with the kiddos. And 2 more 5Ks, one at Rock N Roll San Diego and the other at Rock N Roll Las Vegas as part of the Remix Challenge. I ran 2 obstacle course races, the Vegas Spartan Super and the Badass Dash. Lastly, I ran a total of 6 half marathons this year. By far, the most half marathons I’ve ran in 1 year! My favorite was the San Diego Half Marathon, not because I PRed or anything, but because it was such a fun race! If you want to check out any or all the race recaps, you can do so HERE!

Traveling and getting out to explore new places, near and far, is a big part of our lives. This year, 3 of our trips were race-cations! We traveled to San Diego, Seattle, and Napa for me to run half marathons + we got vacations out of it too, I’d say it was a win-win for everyone! For Spring Break we visited the Getty Center in Los Angeles, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and Malibu. We took our summer family vacation visiting the Pacific Northwest. We spent 2 days in Seattle and rest of our week was spent in Oregon. We stayed in Portland and saw the main sights in the city, as well as visiting the Oregon Coast and the Colombia River Gorge, including the famous Multnomah Falls. We also took a kid-free weekend getaway trip to San Diego, mostly to run the Rock N Roll 5k + half marathon but also to unwind a bit. It was great. Another trip we took was to the Sonoma/Napa Wine Valley. That was a fun trip we took with our friends without the kiddos too. I ran the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon and the rest of the time we visited some amazing wineries and ate some delicious food!

We also planned smaller weekend and day trips throughout the year to Southern California, Valley of Fire, Willow Beach at the Arizona border, and Sand Hollow State Park in Utah. We had a great Summer Bucket List, full of activities and even though we didn’t finish everything on the list, it was a ton of fun! This year we also celebrated my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary!

This time of year, I always like to reflect on all aspects of my life and really take note of what worked, what didn’t, where I can improve, and start planning for the upcoming year. It can be difficult to balance life and I know it’s impossible to get it all right, all the time. The best I can do is learn from my experiences, grow, and start off with a good plan. I hope you too take the time to reflect and learn from this past year and not just dwell on what didn’t go right, but really embrace and appreciate all the good too! XO Jessie

Las Vegas Rock N Roll 5K + Half Marathon Race Recap

Another half marathon done! This is my 11th half marathon since I started running! There are lots of reasons why this year’s Las Vegas Rock N Roll Half Marathon was special to me, but the main reason is that this year my running came full circle back to where it all began. The Las Vegas Rock N Roll was my first half marathon ever in 2013. I remember how nervous I was about running this event. Everything was so new to me and I am so grateful to my marathon running cousin, Anel, who traveled from Texas to Vegas to run my first half marathon with me. I will never forget that and how helpful it was to have a pro showing me the ins and outs of race day.

My first time running the strip at night, I had all my family and some friends cheering me on from the sidelines. They held signs and gave me high-fives as I ran past them around mile 5. It was such a rush! They were there for me at the finish line and we even got a hotel room for the night so we wouldn’t have to deal with traffic leaving the race. We ordered In N Out (fancy!), did some tequila shots, and celebrated together this accomplishment! Well, as you can imagine by the 11th half marathon and countless other races in between, the fanfare has diminished. Can you blame them? There were no family members giving me high fives along the half marathon course or waiting for me at the finish. But, no matter what, I know I still have their support and encouragement always.

This year, I got to run as part of the Rock ‘N’ Blog team and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of this running community! I decided to run the Vegas 5K on Saturday and the half marathon on Sunday, as part of the Remix Challenge. You can read more about what’s a Remix Challenge HERE, on a post I wrote for Rock N Roll Marathon Series Tempo Blog!

For the 5K, my hubby and kiddos came to cheer me on, along with a friend and her 2 daughters who came from California and were also running the half marathon the next day. Parking for the race was pretty easy. The race started at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds across from the SLS Hotel at 6pm. The security was tight, which we were definitely expecting, and they were only allowing the clear Rock N Roll swag bags we got with our registration. I honestly don’t remember seeing this posted at all during the registration process or at the expo and of course, my husband had a camera bag they wouldn’t let him in with. At least we had enough time and he was able to make it back to the car and drop it off before the race started. Being a Las Vegas local, I wasn’t too excited about the course for the 5K, it was an out and back and ran down Industrial Blvd, a side street that is parallel to the strip but nowhere near as glamorous! Although the course was not amazing, the energy and the participants made it fun! There was plenty of lights and music along the course and lots of runners in costume and neon flashing lights on them! After the race and once I met up with my family and friends, I went to get my finisher beer and we sat together for a bit before heading out to our cab loading dinner at Bucca Di Beppo. We didn’t stay for the concert. My kiddos have no idea who the Goo Goo Dolls are!!!

Sunday morning I had a good brunch and took my time prepping for the race. I met up with my friend, Emily and her friend, Mike, who drove us to the race (no entourage this time!) We parked at Mandalay Bay and took the monorail to the start line area. Although it was crowded and busy, everything was still organized and calm. It was nice to have some friends who were running while we waited for our start time. Bonus: This was the first race where I didn’t have to wait in a long line for the port-a-potty! Total Win!!

Wasn't this announcement for start times just awesome?!? — Wasn’t this announcement for start times just awesome?!?

The race went well for me. I started slow, felt good in the middle, but by mile 10 I lost steam and struggled to keep my pace. The energy from the crowds along the strip was great and I especially loved the lights and music towards the finish line!! There was even an acrobatic performer hanging from a crane and swinging and twirling at the finish line. Only in Vegas! Also, only in Vegas do you get to walk openly with your finisher beer and take photos with Elvis!! These are some pretty fun perks for sure!

Of course, getting to run on the strip is pretty epic! But for locals the traffic due to so many street closures can be pretty bad, so getting picked up after the race was kind of a nightmare. I think next time I run this race, I’ll play tourist and book a room on the strip like we did for my first one. I’m never one to say no to a staycation! All and all, it was a great time and I’m so happy I got to run this race again!

Seven Tips for Making the Most of Your Next Racecation

What exactly is a “racecation”? Well, it’s a race + vacation in one! I love to travel and I love to run races, so racecations are the best of both worlds for me! For others, it could be a dream race they’ve had on their bucket list or part of their goal to race in every state. Whatever your reasons, if you’re traveling for a race, I say bring the family, stay a few extra days and make it a vacation!

I’ve traveled to quite a few races and with a little planning it is totally possible to run a great race and enjoy the sights! Here are my Top 7 Tips for planning your next racecation!

1. Plan Ahead. This may seem obvious, but it’s important to note. Make sure to check out all the race details and final emails for any transportation logistics, last minute changes, and any race add-ons, such as carb loading dinners, seminars, or VIP Packages. Some of these can sell out, so be sure to sign up early if you plan to take advantage of them. It’s best to print any waivers or forms beforehand, so you don’t waste time once you’re there. Believe me, your family will thank you for it. Some race sponsors also offer discounts or deals to race participants, so it’s good to go to the race website and see what’s available. I’ve found great prices on hotels and even a good deal on a city tour in Seattle this way! Also, know where the expo is being held! Sometimes it’s at the start/finish but other times, it could be in a completely different area, so map it out and know where you’re going!

2. Book a Nearby Hotel. Like I just mentioned, most races will have a list of recommended lodging and they may even offer a discount to racers. I’d check these out first, but if they are no longer available, as these do tend to book up soon, look for other nearby hotels. It’s up to you if you prefer to be near the start or finish line and it may also depend on what you’ll be using for transportation. A lot of races do offer buses to the start line from specific locations. Personally, for my racecations, we’ll book a hotel near the finish line, so my family can easily meet me with me afterwards and they don’t have to ride in the car with stinky mom for too long!

Use Eagle Creek Pack-It Sport Cube. This post in not sponsored by Eagle Creek, I just really love their products. As a Rock N Roll Marathon ambassador, I was given a Sport Tote to try out and I really liked it. Then, when I saw their booth at one of the expos, I purchased the Pack-It Sport Cube and it’s since been with me for every overnight race and racecation! I pack everything I need for race day in it: sneakers, Garmin, hat, top, bottoms, socks, sport bra, undies, glide, gels, Nuun! Even a change of clothes for after the race! Basically, if I need it for race day, it’s going in that cube. It keeps me organized and I love knowing that it’s all together. Plus, the cube is small enough and fits nicely in my suitcase. I highly recommend them to everyone!!

Don’t Arrive Too Early. I’ve learned from experience that it’s best to run your race and then start your vacation, not the other way around. Leaving the race for the end or even the middle of your trip may give you added stress and who needs that! You’ll possibly worry about things like getting enough sleep or worry about walking too much and running on tired legs. You may even have to plan a short training run. There’s also things like your diet to consider and let’s be honest, we all like to indulge a bit while on vacation, right? I’ve noticed that the best time to arrive is 1-2 days before your race. I prefer to arrive the morning before the race. This gives me enough time to visit the expo, pick up my race big, settle into our hotel room, grab dinner, and have an early bedtime. However, if you’ll be traveling to a different time zone and will experience some jet lag, then plan to arrive 2 days early and use that day in between to relax and acclimate to the time change.

Stick to your Pre-Race Routine. When we’re traveling, we tend to go on hyper-mode and want to do and see everything! I speak from experience! Since most races are super early in the morning, you’ll want to be sure to get to bed early. Then, stick to your morning routine as much as possible. I always make sure to get my go-to race day breakfast of a banana and a Justin’s almond butter packet the night before. I also lay everything out the night before, so I can just go into auto-pilot and get dressed, grab my things and go. It’s usually to early for me to think straight, so doing it the night before gives me peace of mind on race day!

Use Waze. This one only applies if you’ll be driving to your race. If so, then rather than using Google Maps, I suggest using the Waze app. It’s free to download and since it’s crowd sourced, the road closures due to the race will show up and it will give you better routes to take. It’s been really helpful for us!

Enjoy the Race. Most of us who plan racecations do so because it’s a new city or new place we want to explore. Running through a city or park we’ve never been to is exciting, so don’t forget to look around. Don’t get so focused on just running the race and watching your pace that you forget to look around and take in the new scenery. This was probably the reason you signed up for the race to begin with! Enjoy the race and scenery and think of all the fun you’ll be having after your race is done! You’ll get to see and visit new places because running got you there! And, that is pretty cool!

Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon Race Weekend

Last month I ran the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon and although it was one of my slowest half marathons to date, our weekend in wine country was amazingly fun and a much needed summer getaway! This post is much more about the weekend than the race itself! OOPSY!

We have some really good friends who flew out with us to show their support of my running and cheer me on during the race! HAHAH Who am I kidding, they came along for the wine tasting!! Either way, it was so much fun having another couple to enjoy the weekend with. We arrived to San Francisco Friday just in time for lunch! We picked up the rental car and made our way to Francis Coppola’s Cafe Zoetrope for lunch. Such a nice treat! Afterwards we walked around Chinatown and couldn’t resist picking up some steamed dumplings and sticky buns at our friend’s favorite spot! We took the food to go and seriously enjoyed them during our long drive in traffic up to Napa.

Saturday morning we went straight to packet pickup right when it opened at 10am. The location was so pretty and it was a nice expo with some good vendors who handed out some nice samples 😉 That’s always a plus! Once I had my bib + shirt and my fair share of samples, we were off to do some wine tasting!

Our first stop was our favorite winery, which we are also wine club members, Benzinger Winery. They use bio dynamic and organic farming, which is such an interesting process and we learned so much more about their history and sustainable farming practices during the tour. Afterwards we enjoyed wine tasting in their private members only tasting room. We lost track of time chatting and tasting, but our tummies soon let us know it was time to eat, so we bought a bottle of wine and found a nice picnic table with some shade to enjoy the snacks we had purchased earlier. Had the weather been just about 10 degrees cooler, it would have been perfection!

Our next stop was their sister winery, Imagery Estate Winery, which was such a cool artsy place and the grounds are beautiful! It was packed inside because it was just way too hot to be sitting outside by then, but we found a nice spot in the members only area and enjoyed a bit more wine tasting and fun conversation.

The last stop before dinner was Domaine Carneros! I absolutely love bubbly wines and pinot noir so I’d been looking forward to this visit for a while. Plus, the grounds were so pretty! We ended up sitting outside and again if only it had been 10 degrees cooler, it would have been so dreamy! The view of the vineyards from the terrace were beautiful and the flights of champagne were super yummy! By this point in the day, we were really getting hungry so we ordered a small charcuterie plate to enjoy while we finished our flights. Thank you so our server who recommended the best place for us to grab a casual, yet delicious dinner, which of course included lots of water and my go-to pre-race meal of…PIZZA!!

Unfortunately, for as much as I tried to stay hydrated during wine tasting on Saturday, it was still not enough! I started off ok. I wasn’t going for any PR or anything, but I was hoping the idea of another fun-filled wine tasting day would be enough to make my legs go fast! The race course was beautiful and running alongside rows and rows of vineyards was amazing. The weather was unseasonably warm and I soon started struggling with the heat and the sun beating down on me. After I saw the hubs and friends at mile 7ish I got some renewed energy and I was doing good and keeping a nice pace till about mile 9 or so. At that point my calves started to feel super tight and by mile 10 they were cramping terrible. I was dehydrated and in pain! I managed to pull through, but I had to slow down and even walk those last 3 miles. I felt bad and was so disappointed in myself. After I limped my way across the finish line, I chugged some coconut water and stretched my legs as best I could. I met up with the hubs and our friends, plus some running friends from Vegas who ran the race too and together we grabbed our wine glasses for post-race wine tasting festival! Soon enough, my pain was gone and I was back to feeling great! lol

After the race, it was back to the room to shower and get ready for round 2! We visited my hubby’s favorite winery, Sequoia Grove. Talk about another good time tasting, laughing, and making new friends! Afterwards we had some time to kill before our dinner reservations at Ad Hoc, so what else is someone to do while in Napa waiting? We found a wine bar, enjoyed another charcuterie platter and waited patiently 😉 Dinner at Ad Hoc was amazing! Thomas Keller’s take on family style casual dinning was spot on. We just wish we would have had more room to fit more food in our bellies!!

The next day we started our trip back to San Francisco! We spent some time walking around Fisherman’s Wharf and enjoyed some clam chowder and some delicious Irish coffee from the iconic Buena Vista. Then, as all good things, our trip came to an end and it was time to catch our flight back home to our little ones!

I learned a valuable lesson on this trip: Although I love running and I love wine tasting, the two shouldn’t really be paired up! At least not for me!!! The next time I go to Napa, it will only be for wine tasting. And the only drinking I’ll do on race weekend, will be my post-race celebratory beer! Live and learn, right?