Tag: mother runner

Run Laughlin Half Marathon Race Recap

Earlier this year, I was contacted by the Run Laughlin race director and asked to be part of their ambassador program for their race.  In return for promoting their race, I was given 2 race entries for myself and a friend PLUS 8 race entries to giveaway! Although I was given this race entry, my review and opinions are my own. 

This was my 2nd year running this race.  I ran it in 2015 and really enjoyed the course, you can read my review HERE.  The course for 2017 was slightly different, so I was looking forward to comparing the course.  I also was excited because this was the hubby’s 2nd half marathon and I was looking forward to running together for part of the race and and seeing him cross that finish line! 

The race began at the high school and had us do a loop around the track.  The higher elevation of the school, meant we got some great views of the mountains around us! After the track, it was a steady uphill climb for the next 3 miles or so.  Not the best start to a race for me, but at least it was at the beginning and not the end! Like the saying goes, “What goes up, must come down!” and the next 3 miles were gloriously downhill and fast! I knew that we’d get another uphill section as we ran towards the dam and across the bridge and I took it slow and steady because that section was out and back so it was going to be a nice downhill after the turnaround.  The last portion of the race was along the river.  It was pretty flat with a few slight inclines, but nothing major.  Of course, after 10 miles, any slight change uphill can feel like a mountain! I kept pushing on that last mile and was really happy with my time! I beat my 2015 time for this race by 1 minute and finished 2017 strong! 

I really enjoyed the course and the smaller race size, after having ran a lot of bigger races this year.  The volunteers were all super friendly, even though a lot of the aid stations were running out of cups for water! Thankfully, I run with my Nathan’s hydration pack, so this didn’t affect me.  The other not-so-great- thing about this race was the fact that they ran out of medals.  It was such a let down to cross the finish line and not get our finisher medals.  According to the new race directors, it was a problem with their supplier. I will say, they have communicated with us and are in the process of mailing our medals and even got the suppliers to engraving our name and finish time on the back of our medal at no cost.  It’s been 2 weeks and we’re patiently waiting for them to arrive.  

In the meantime, I’m working on my race schedule and goals for 2018! Can’t wait to share them with you next week! Tell me, what are your health and fitness goals for the new year? 

Ventura Half Marathon | Race Recap

You guys I PRed!!! Woohooo!! I am so excited to give you all the details from the Ventura Marathon & Half Marathon event earlier this month.  I got to participate in this awesome race thanks to RacePlace.  As an ambassador for RacePlace, I was offered this race entry at no cost, but this review and recap are my own thoughts and opinions.  

The marathon and half marathon took place on Sunday, September 11 but they had fun events on Saturday too.  There were also various bike race distances, an adventure race, 5K, kids races, and K9 Shuffle!  Packet pickup and expo were held outside right next to the pier and there was a live band and some food trucks too.  It was definitely a beach party atmosphere!  

We left Vegas Friday morning.  Totally let the kids skip school for this trip!  Every year we take a 3 day weekend getaway to the beach right before school starts and this year we just didn’t make it. So, this became a fun little race-cation!  More on that part of our trip in another post 😉 

We kept to our plan and got to the beach right around 11am or so after our huge brunch at Cajun Kitchen Cafe right on Main St. in downtown Ventura.  First stop was packet pickup.  Like I mentioned, the expo was held outside right next to the pier.  It was super easy and quick to get my bib and swag bag.  I loved the goodies we got! Just look at all the stuff I got! I really like that hat and the bag is great too.  Roomy and useful.  I gotta say I was getting tired of the drawstring bags mot races are giving.  Plus, race photos were free! 

The expo itself wasn’t super big but that was fine with me.  I don’t particularly enjoy those big expos where it’s inside and stuffy and there’s a ton of people all around you!  Anyhow, once we were done looking around and getting the kids some ice cream we spent a relaxing day on the beach.  Dinner was my usual carb-loading pizza with some protein and lots of veggies 😉 

Race morning was smooth and easy.  Jason was just dropping me off, so parking was not an issue for us, although it seems there was plenty of parking options.  The folks that were directing traffic were friendly and showed us where he could park to drop me off.  I had forgotten my Garmin in the room, so we had turn around and grab that for sure!  I got to the race, which started right in front o f the pier, with just enough time to get my headphones on and line up near the 2:30 pacer before we took off.  Everything seemed organized and relaxed. 

I went into this race with zero expectations and just happy there were no hills and it was a flat course.  My training had not been as regular as it should have been.  I did get my long runs in each week, but only running 2-4 miles once or twice during the week. So you can imagine my surprise when I ended up passing the 2:30 pacer and felt great around mile 5.  I was so sad when around mile 6 I had to stop and pee in the port a potty.  I considered not stopping, but of course, that just made me have to go more! LOL I sped up a little bit to try to catch up to the pacer again but I reached the turn around point (it was an out and back race) and still didn’t see them.  I slowed down a bit and maintained a steady pace until about mile 10.  At this point in a half marathon I always feel anxious and ready for it to be over.  I found a really nice groove and kicked it up a notch.  Once I spotted the 2:30 pacers I took off.  I was a woman on on a mission!  I came up to them and they told me I was doing a good job.  I replied back with a thanks and told them I had been trying to catch up with them the whole race!  It was great to hear them cheer me on as I kept going and passed them.  I knew I was going faster than usual, but I was still feeling great.  I didn’t want to look down at my garmin and see my pace out of fear of slowing down once I saw it! Crazy, I know.  I just ran for myself and only when I crossed the finish line and stopped my watch did I see I had a new record!  I finished in 2:24:26 beating my previous record of 2:25:27.  I don’t know how it happened, but I’m so happy it did!  Maybe I can finish my next half in 2:20 😉 

Thanks agin to Raceplace for the race entry and to the race directors and volunteers who made this my best half marathon to date!  And of course, thanks to my ever supportive family for coming along and cheering me on!  They’re the best! XO 

Preparing for the LA Marathon

For the past 12 weeks, I’ve been training for my first marathon, the L.A. Marathon and it’s finally (almost) time to go out there and see what I’m made of.  I’ve been a bit of a mess this week.  I’m really excited and anxious to get out there and get it done.  But, at the same time I’m nervous and of course, I’m questioning my training.  I skipped a few runs and didn’t make it to the long run of 21 miles that I wanted reach.  At this point, though, all I can do is trust that I can finish strong because not finishing is not an option.  

Aside from getting myself mentally prepared to tackle 26.2 miles, there’s actually a lot of “stuff” needed for race day.  Here’s a quick list of what it’s going to take for me to get out there on Sunday.

And now it’s time for me to get a little bit mushy.  I am seriously awed by all the amazing people in my life.  From encouraging messages to waking up at 4am to run with me, I am so grateful to everyone who’s been with me through these crazy training weeks.  My hubby and kiddos who never doubt that I can do this.  My sister who is coming to L.A. to cheer me on, I may or may not have guilted her into it 😉 I just couldn’t do this on my own, that’s for sure. Thank you so much!  I’ll be thinking of ya’ll big time while running through the streets of LA on Sunday! XO 

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!):

  1. I can wake up at 4am and run endless amounts of miles in the cold and dark morning.  

  2. Even if it’s sunny in the winter, I should wear sunblock.  I will tan.

  3. Life will revolve around running.

  4. I can chafe in places I didn’t realize were possible.  

  5. It’s best to run long miles with a group or a friend.  

  6. I need more running clothes.

  7. A good pair of running shoes is hard to find.

  8. I’m always hungry.

  9. Songs I used to like can become annoying after hearing them so many times on my runs. 

  10. 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. 

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