Race Recap: Revel Marathon | Big Bear

On October 14th I ran my 2nd marathon. I said I would never run another marathon after the LA Marathon in 2016 because it was one of the hardest things I’d ever done. But, I don’t think anyone believed me. So, this summer while training with my son for his first half marathon, Cedar City Half Marathon, I caught the bug to run another marathon. Mostly, because I felt that my time was so slow, I had to beat it. I decided I’d sign up for a fast downhill marathon and I would be almost guaranteed to finish faster than LA! The good news, I did! I beat my time by almost a full hour! The bad news, marathons are still hard.

Look at all these goodies that came in my swag bag!!

Big Bear was my first Revel Race Series race and I gotta tell you, they put on a great event! I had volunteered at packet pickup last year for the Mount Charleston race here in Las Vegas and felt they did a great job with the expo here and I think the expo for Big Bear was also excellent. Everything went smoothly, the volunteers were friendly, and I loved their free photo booth and photo ops! When we got to our hotel room, I went through my bag and I was super impressed with the swag. I really liked that they provided a space blanket and even some gloves since the start line was going to be cold! They also had all kinds of other goodies and coupons!

I had listened to Coach Paul’s videos on their facebook page and those videos were awesome. Coach Paul is the online training coach for Revel Races and he gave a lot of really good and useful information about downhill running, what to expect from the course, nutrition, etc. I highly recommend checking out those videos!

On race morning the weather was perfect for running! Cool and overcast most of the way. The course was as expected, thanks again to Coach Paul’s video! At the expo, I grabbed a pace band and was really impressed that it wasn’t a generic bracelet, but rather the pace was calculated by the actual course. So, the sections towards the beginning of the race that were uphill and had rolling hills were accounted for and the downhill parts too. Now, this is the first time I had used one of these bracelets, so I honestly don’t know if that’s the norm or not, but like I said, I was impressed! I can also say that it was really helpful to me! Thanks to the hubs for insisting I check them out!

Most of the course was beautiful and although I was nervous about there being no spectators cheering us on from the sidelines, I don’t think it affected me too much. I had my curated playlist to help me along and the volunteers at the aid stations were all cheerful and friendly, so that helped too! The first 9 miles were pretty hilly (as expected) and not the fast downhill start I was used to from my training. I stuck to my pace band times and was pretty on track until I had to use the lovely port-a-potty so that was 3 minutes I lost. I tried to make them up and by mile 13 I was back on track. This was also when the course started to get “faster” and downhill! I don’t know if I pushed too hard trying to regain those 3 minutes or what but by mile 18, I started to lose my momentum. By mile 22 I was really struggling! I tried to pull it together and find some inner strength but there just wasn’t much there! I was grateful to my playlist for keeping me going, but it didn’t stop the tears from coming! What is it with me and crying during a marathon!?! Tell me I’m not alone! I managed to pull myself together and thanks to a few friendly runners who cheered me on and the spectators once I reached the finish line area, I finished strong. Or as strong as possible and I even managed to not cry again when I got my medal and saw Jason at the finish line! I came close, though!

One thing I didn’t like about the race was that once we got into the town, the drivers were not too careful of us runners! Although we kept to the right of the cones on the street, some cars still drove on the side that was for us and came super close! We mostly ended up running behind each other on the shoulder to not risk getting run over! No pun intended! I know the race directors can’t control the drivers, so I can’t fault the race itself for that. The town was not scenic either and this is is the end of the race so I could have really used some nice distractions, since I was beat!

All in all, I would recommend this race or any of the Revel Races to anyone looking for a downhill marathon or half marathon course. It’s not a huge race event, like the Rock n Roll events, but it’s not a small bare bones event either. Personally, I think it’s just the right size! You get great support on course, have a fun finish line festival area with music, beer, pizza, and donuts, FREE race photos, and even a video slideshow for you to share on social media!! I’m looking forward to adding another Revel Race to my calendar for 2019, but most likely it will be a half marathon 🙂

L.A. Marathon 2016 Recap

It took me a few days to figure out what I was going to say about this marathon. I’ve had such mixed emotions about my performance, but either way, I set out to complete the L.A. Marathon and I did it! I ran 26.2 miles through some of the most famous streets in the world. That in itself was surreal and amazing and emotional to me. I grew up on the east coast and I never thought I’d live near the west coast. Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, these were all such cool and glamorous places I always said I’d love to visit some day. Moving to Las Vegas 7 years ago, made visiting those places a reality. But, never in a million years did I ever think/wish/dream/ that I would run through those places. So yeah, it was definitely an amazing experience.

Packet pickup was being held at the Convention Center, which was right at the U.S. Olympic Marathon trials finish line. We arrived Saturday morning just in time to watch the last lap!! It was so cool to see these elite athletes and to catch a glimpse of Meb and Desi Linden!! Being short myself, these are 2 of my favorite runners because they aren’t the typically tall, long-legged runners we associate with running 😉 So excited they made the team and will be heading to Rio this summer!

Since my sister and nephew came to support me (huge, massive thank you to them!!!), that meant we could leave the kiddos sleeping with them while Jason drove me to Dodger Stadium at 5am. The race started at 7am, but I don’t think I crossed the start line until 7:20 or so. The energy at the start line was typical. You could feel everyones anxiety, nervousness, and excitement all rolled up together. I know I was definitely feeling it. Once I crossed the start line, I had my first issue after 3 minutes. My playlist ended up on shuffle somehow and Jason had just updated my phone, so I couldn’t figure out how to get it off shuffle. We’d worked for hours to get my playlist just right and we had specific songs that were set to come on at various landmarks, so I was upset this was happening. I pulled off to the side and called Jason in a panic, eventually after about 3-4 minutes I figured it out and started to relax. I was going way faster than I intended too, but with my lost time due to technical difficulties and the wave of runners practically pushing me forward, it was hard to slow down. I did eventually get back to my groove but I was happy to be running about 5 minutes ahead of my goal. I saw Jason again between mile 5-6 and that was a nice surprise. He ran alongside me for a minute or so and then went back to meet up with the rest of the family 🙂

Seeing my family at mile 11 was perfect! I was feeling so good then and we were right in the middle of Hollywood Blvd. It was a great boost for the next 5-6 miles. After that point, I was feeling the heat and getting a bit nauseous. I was losing my mojo fast and not even listening to Weezer’s Beverly Hills song whilst running through Beverly Hills was working for me. I was trying to work through it and get back on track but then I started cramping. My right calf and toes cramped up and I had to pull over and stretch for a bit. After that, it was just a matter of moving forward and not stopping. I knew I was nowhere near finishing at my goal time. From there, it was a very slow 6 miles with lots of walking and stopping to stretch. I was feeling defeated and the tears were starting to flow freely. Around mile 23 I started to dig deep. No more feeling sorry for myself, I had to finish. I picked up the pace as best I could and cried some more. Then I told myself I would not slow down or walk the last 2 miles. Thank goodness they were downhill miles! Finally, I turned the corner and was on Ocean Drive. I could see the finish line. It took me FOREVE to get to the finish line, but I didn’t stop “running” or maybe a better term would be trotting or shuffling! I have never felt more relieved in my life than when I crossed that finish line. More tears. I still had about 2 blocks to walk to find my peeps, but when I did see them well, you know, more tears and there may have even been some sobs. The first thing I said was, “Don’t ever let me do that again”.

I gotta say the people of LA rock!!! Seriously, I cannot get over how many spectators were out there cheering us on. The streets were always lined up with people, not just volunteers, but folks from the communities we ran through. They cheered, they handed out snacks from orange slices to ice pops to pretzels. I especially enjoyed seeing the “vasaline” poster boards. Yup, there were globs of vasaline all over poster boards so runners could just grab and dab where needed. It was pretty warm, so some people were handing out wet paper towels, others were spraying runners with water, and even better yet there were some water hydrants open to run through! The people of LA hold a special place in my heart. The support was beyond anything I’ve ever seen or had at any race! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

And to Students Run L.A., I send you all a virtual hug and high five! This organization is amazing. I didn’t know anything about them prior to seeing them on Sunday. They all wore matching neon yellow tank tops and were everywhere. You couldn’t miss them. Seeing these 12,000 or so kids from 7th-12th grade out there running and giving it their all was so inspiring. At mile 18, a kid about 14 years old patted me on the back while my calf was cramping and said, you got this! Well, you guessed it, more tears. I googled Students Run L.A. when I got home and here’s part of their mission statement, “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 Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon.” Each year, more than 95% of the students who start the marathon, finish the full 26.2 mile course. In June 2015, 99% of the 740 seniors who completed the LA Marathon with SRLA graduated from high school, and 95% of them planned to go to college. This organization and it’s volunteers are doing some worthwhile work. Congrats and kudos to them!

Once I calmed down and stopped crying, I sat down for a bit. Then we continued our walk to the Santa Monica Pier and grabbed some food at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. After my burger and beer, we walked down the pier so the kids could ride a ride before heading back to our condo in Hollywood. We were all too tired to go out to eat dinner like we had originally planned, so we ordered some chinese food, popped open our celebratory bottle of Perrier Jouet and called it a day!

It’s way too soon for me to say if I’ll ever run another marathon. I may be ok with one and done. But, I gotta say, if there was one marathon for me, it was this one. The L.A. Marathon delivered on it’s promise of a fun, mostly flat and downhill course. The support on the course was unmatched and the people were the best! If you want to run a marathon, run the L.A. Marathon.

10 Things I’ve Learned from Marathon Training

I announced last month that I was all signed up for the LA Marathon on February 14, so I thought I’d share a bit of how my training has been going. With just 36 days to go, things are getting serious.

10 Things I’ve Learned from Marathon Training (so far!):

I can wake up at 4am and run endless amounts of miles in the cold and dark morning.
Even if it’s sunny in the winter, I should wear sunblock. I will tan.
Life will revolve around running.
I can chafe in places I didn’t realize were possible.
It’s best to run long miles with a group or a friend.
I need more running clothes.
A good pair of running shoes is hard to find.
I’m always hungry.
Songs I used to like can become annoying after hearing them so many times on my runs.
It’s ok to be proud of my accomplishments during this journey.

So far, my longest run has been 17 miles, just this past Sunday. I was most definitely walking with a bit of a wobble afterwards, but I ended up not being as sore as I thought I would be. Although the idea of 26.2 miles is still pretty daunting, I feel that I will be able to do it. On runs where I am alone, I try to envision what it will be like to run the streets of L.A. and take in the sights. I try to imagine the sound of the crowds cheering us along the way. I look beyond that and picture myself crossing the finish line and seeing my family at the end waiting for me. I can almost see their faces and I just hope they’ll be proud of me then. That one day, they’ll know I’ve done all of this for them. It’s these thoughts, these emotions, these visualizations, that keep me going. There’s no quitting now.

Preparing for my First Half Marathon | Tips & Tricks

It’s 5 days until my first half marathon and I’m getting really excited and a little nervous. One thing that helps keep me calm, is to have a plan. I like to plan just about everything! Ask my husband about family vacations, hahaha! I’m not going to totally freak out if things don’t go as planned, but having a plan relaxes me and makes me feel stable. I’m working on being more spontaneous in my life, I’m not sure I love it…

So of course, I am planning the logistics of race day down to the last detail. Huge thanks to the folks at Rock N Roll Marathon Series for the awesome event details, complete with PDFs of the course, road closures, etc. They’ve been very helpful 😉 I’ve heard that the crowds are huge and traffic gets really bad around the strip due to the road closures, so we want to allow for enough time to get to the strip early, check in to our room, and make our way to the start line with plenty of time. Our room is close to the finish line, so my parents and the kids will have a warm place to hang out while we run and we won’t have too long of a walk afterwards. We’ll also be having our own private “post-party” there! Woohoo!!!! Bring on the champagne!!!

Another thing that makes this race unique from other races is that it’s in the evening, so fueling up for the race would be a little different than regular morning races. I found these 2 articles that helped me plan for the day, down from what to pack to how to fuel. If you are running the Rock N Roll Vegas race this Sunday or any other night race, I totally suggest checking them out. Here are the links:

http://www.runnersworld.com/nutrition-runners/how-do-i-fuel-evening-race

http://runeatrepeat.com/2013/11/06/fueling-for-a-night-race-disney-wine-and-dine-rnr-las-vegas-half-marathon/

I’m also planning to hit the grocery store to stock our room with snacks and drinks for before and after the race. I’ve gotta pack my bag with post-race clothes, but I already have my outfit laid out, maybe that was a little too early!

Big thanks to Brooks for this handy checklist!

So, for those of you experienced marathon runners, is there anything I’m missing? Do you have any race day prep tips and tricks you’d like to share with me and other newbies? I’d love to read all about your experiences in the comments, don’t be shy!

5 Steps to a Good Run

“I am not a runner.” I told myself that all the time, mostly as an excuse to not run. I did a couple 5Ks and wasn’t really into it. I love obstacle course racing, mostly because you get to take breaks from running and jump over walls and trek through mud. And then, I signed up for my first half marathon. Yup. Me. The girl who doesn’t like to run. Go figure, huh?

Well, I’m in my 14th week of half marathon training and my long runs are up to 9 miles. The Rock N Roll Half Marathon is happening November 17th and I’m a little nervous, but super excited. So, do I have a newfound love for running? Yes and No. I love the feeling after a run. I love how I can see myself getting faster and it amazes me that I can actually run farther distances than I ever imagined! I don’t love the treadmill. I’ve learned that the first 3 miles are the hardest (maybe that’s why 5Ks aren’t for me). It takes me a while to warm up! I like how running clears my head. I may start thinking about my “to do” list, but soon my thoughts are simply about getting it done. I become my own cheerleader. I still sometimes dread the idea of going out there and running, however I’ve found a few things that help my runs go a lot better than ever before. I’m clearly no authority on running, but these are a few things that have helped me, as a novice, enjoy running. So, if you’re like me and were never a big fan of running, check out these 5 Steps to a Good Run and let me know if they help you! With the right attitude, everyone can an enjoy a good run, even if running isn’t your favorite 😉

5 Steps to a Good Run

1. A great playlist! I could not get through my runs without my running music. For me, this isn’t even the genre of music I listen to on a regular basis, but the fast beats help keep me going at a steady pace and the lyrics are entertaining and/or motivating. I start my playlist with a few warm up songs, then a few favorites towards the middle to keep me going, and finally I save the real pump-me-up songs towards the end to keep me from stopping! I’m really loving Titanium by David Guetta featuring Sia, Stronger by Kanye West, and Light Em Up by Fall Out Boy right now!

2. Water! You have no idea how many times I’d go for a run without water! I just didn’t like having to hold a bottle of water while I ran. It felt cumbersome, but then I’d be wishing I had some water when my throat was so dry and I started panting. Then, I learned about hydration belts, camel backs, and water packs. Running with water just got easier! And, I’ve got a place to hold my phone & asthma rescue inhaler too! There are lots of brands and styles out there, so try one out and find what works best for you. PS. you can find these at TJMaxx and Marshalls too for a fraction of the cost at a sports store 😉

This is what I currently use for all my runs!

But, I've got my eye on this one, maybe for shorter runs. — But, I’ve got my eye on this one, maybe for shorter runs.

3. Start Slow! Like I mentioned earlier, it takes a while for your body to warm up, so don’t feel like you have to start out at a super fast pace. Take a few moments before your run to figure out where you’ll start to increase your pace. For me, they are visual markers along my run, but it could easily be after 10 mins I’ll speed it up a bit or after 1 mile and so forth. The important thing, is to give your body the time it needs to warm up, otherwise you’ll get tired fast and will feel like quitting, believe me, I learned this the hard way!

4. Don’t Wear Cotton! Cotton tshirts were all I used to wear to the gym and for running. I was already wearing shorts or workout leggings, the last thing I wanted was to wear anything form fitting & show off the the muffin top! But, alas the t-shirts would get weighed down with sweat super fast. Yeah, pretty gross! I’d spend a lot of time adjusting my t-shirt so it wouldn’t stick to me. Yes, it was unflattering and uncomfortable. Sweaty t-shirts can also cause chafing under your armpits. Again, another thing I learned the hard way! This also goes for cotton yoga pants & undies! Grab yourself a few of those tech moisture-wicking shirts and thank me later 😉

Ps. I’ve found some that aren’t super form fitting either!

5. Track Your Runs! This is helpful for a few reasons. First, you’ll have an accurate detailed account of your run, such as distance, pace, and even average calories burned. Second, you’ll see how much better you’re getting! Tracking your progress is so important when running and working out in general. It really helps keep you motivated and proud of how far you’ve come. I just use the free RunKeeper app, but there are a ton of options out there!

BONUS TIPS: Don’t forget to do a quick warm up stretch before your run and a longer stretch afterwards. Check our Runner’s World for a ton of different stretching exercises for runners to find what works for you!

So, do you have any tips you’d like to share that help you with your running? Sharing is care 😉

Let the Training Begin | Rock N Roll Half Marathon

You know when a new store is about to open and sometimes they have a “soft opening”? They open quietly without the bells and whistles and work out any kinks they may have. Then they have the big Grand Opening a few days later with a bunch of balloons out front and all the hoopla!

Well, that was me last week. I decided to kick start my half marathon training without any big announcement. I really just wanted to get an idea of where I was in terms of my running endurance. The most I had ran nonstop and without obstacles up to that point was about 3 miles. Last week I ran 2 days and had 2 personal training days and 2 P.I.T. (pure intensity training) Classes. I ran my usual 3 miles on Tuesday and Friday I ran 5.45 miles on the treadmill in 1 hr. That was quite the accomplishment for me. I learned a few things that day.

I don’t like the treadmill.
My feet will go numb from running farther than 4 miles.
Running makes me sore. Very sore.
I’ve got a long way to go.
I will get blisters.
I can do this.

So this week, I start training for real! I’ve got my playlist ready and the training schedule is on the calendar. I’ve also started a running board on Pinterest. You can check it out HERE! I will be using a modified version of Hal Higdon’s Half Marathon Training Program. His is a 12 week program, but I felt I needed more time than that to get ready, so I’m working on a 16 week program. Most weeks I’ll be running 3 – 4 days, with one of those days being a long run. My first 4 weeks will consist of 2-3 mile runs, with my long run being 4-5 miles. The milage will be increasing more in Sept. & Oct. I’ll have 2 strength training days and 1 – 2 P.I.T classes a week, as well. I’ll get one rest day a week. I’m tired just thinking about it!

Like I’ve said before, I don’t consider myself a runner, so I’m really hoping these next months will change that and I hope will find the runner’s high I hear so much about!

xo,

Jessie

I'll definitely be taking this advice! — I’ll definitely be taking this advice!