Global Running Day 2018

Earlier this month, on Wednesday, June 6th to be exact, was Global Running Day! What is Global Running Day? The Global Running Day website say’s “Global Running Day is a worldwide celebration of running that encourages everyone to get moving. It doesn’t matter how fast you run or how far you go—what’s important is that you take part, and how you do it is up to you. Run a lap around your block, take your dog for a long walk, or call your friends for a pick-up game in the park. The important thing is that you have fun being active—and you inspire others to join you.”

This is something I can totally get behind and this year I helped organize a fun run event in Las Vegas for the Rock N Roll Marathon series. As most of you know, I am an ambassador/Rock N Blogger for them and I was so excited when they reached out to me about putting together an event in my town. I contacted my favorite local running store, Red Rock Running Company, and they were totally on board to having us host the event in their store. YAY!!

The event was a huge success! We had a nice turnout and after everyone ran the 5K course, they came back to the store for pizza (because runners love pizza!!) and some Rock N Roll swag to make it a true celebration! I was there to answer any questions folks had about any of the Rock N Roll races, and especially the epic Las Vegas, Rock the Strip at Night race! It was nice to chat with the other runners about their past Rock N Roll marathon and half marathon races they’d ran in various cities and share our experiences! Rock n Roll was also having a great sale on all races just for Global Running Day and so of course, I talked about that and was ready to get folks registered right on site!

I gotta say, one thing I truly love about running is the awesome community! They build each other up, give advice, and never make you feel like you aren’t a true runner. If you run, you’re a runner. It’s not about how fast you are, it’s about getting out there and doing it! And hey, if you missed out on the Global Running Day Sale and still want to take the plunge and run a marathon or half marathon, here’s a little motivation for you to get started! Nothing like a little savings, you know, so you can go snag those new running shoes too 😉

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!

Rock n Blog Team 2018 | Rock n Roll Marathon Series

In case you hadn’t seen it on my Instagram page, I’m so happy to announce that I am part of the Rock n Blog Team for the 2nd year in a row! The Rock n Blog Team is a group of likeminded peeps who love to run races and have fun doing it! Plus, we get to earn some awesome bling along the way!

Last year, I had so much fun running in new cities and experiencing the awesome races put on by the Rock n Roll Marathon series. My favorite was running the Remix Challenge in San Diego. I ran the 5K on Saturday, then ran the half marathon on Sunday. The courses were so much fun, especially the half marathon. You can read my recap of that race HERE!

The Rock n Roll Marathon series put on a great race! There is always a nice crowd of spectators cheering for you along the way and the DJs, cheer & dance teams, and bands really keep you pumped up throughout the race. The series offers the full marathon distance and depending on the city, they also offer relays, 10Ks, 5Ks, and kid races. There is definitely something for everyone!

Here’s what I have planned for the Rock ‘n’ Roll series this year:

Arizona Half Marathon | January 14
Nashville Half Marathon | April 28
Las Vegas Half Marathon | November 11
San Antonio 5K + Half Marathon | December 2 & 3
(tentative) Denver 5K + Half Marathon | October 20 & 21

Who’s ready to join me? How about a discount code to help convince you? Use code RNB15 to get $15 off your half or full marathon registration! Some restrictions apply.

Have you ran a Rock N Roll Marathon race before? What’s your favorite? Let me know!!

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!

Rock N Roll San Diego Remix Challenge | Race Recap

During the first weekend of June I completed my first Rock N Roll Marathon Series Remix Challenge in San Diego! The Remix Challenge medal is earned when you complete two days of running during a Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series event. Any combination of distances qualifies for the Remix Challenge Medal. You need to complete one event on Saturday and one event on Sunday during the same Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series event weekend. I chose to run the 5K distance on Saturday and the half marathon distance on Sunday.

This is my first year as a member of the Rock ‘n’ Blog team and I am loving it so far! As part of the team I received a Global Tour Pass, which allows me to run any of their races worldwide (travel costs not included). My next tour stops will be Seattle, June 18th for the Half Marathon and Las Vegas on November 11-12 for another Remix (5K and Half Marathon).

We left a little later than we wanted to on Friday afternoon from Vegas, so we arrived for packet pickup with just under one hour before the expo closed. The good thing about cutting it so close was that there was no line to get my packets 🙂 I was given a specific wrist tag with my bibs and was explained that I was to wear it on Sunday’s race to pick up my Remix Challenge medal after the race (woohoo!). Afterwards we walked around the Gaslamp Quarter and grabbed some sushi for dinner before checking in to our room and crashing!

This was my first really big 5K event and it was a great experience. The atmosphere was relaxed and everyone was ready to have a good time. Although, I told myself I would take it slow, I couldn’t help but get carried away by all the excitement and I took off a little faster than I wanted to. But after the first mile or so I slowed myself down and started to enjoy the sights of Balboa Park. Jason was right there cheering me on at the finish line and then we made our way to the beer tent. As ya’ll know, I am much more of a wine girl myself, but after a race there’s nothing better than a cold beer. Trust me on that one!

The rest of the day was spent doing a little shopping and catching a movie, which is a rare treat for us to do without the kiddos. We then made our way to Ocean Beach for burgers and beers at Hodad’s and to catch a glimpse of the ocean! Do yourself a favor and check it out next time you’re in the San Diego area. It’s got a great vibe and the burgers are delicious!

The next day, was a little less relaxed, as thousands of half marathon and marathon runners made their way to the starting line. But, it was still a Rock N Roll event and the atmosphere was one of fun, if not a little more focused on the longer distances to be conquered that day. I know I was feeling nervous and excited too! The half marathon course was a blast and although my legs felt a little sluggish the first few miles, I found my groove and had a strong finish! The best part of the race was running through the Normal Heights neighborhood, where the neighbors were out supporting the runners with everything from jolly ranchers to alcohol. Loved the makeshift bars they set up serving beer, mimosas, and even shots of liquor! I chose to pass on the libations, but it was super entertaining to run by and see other brave runners take their shots! Another favorite was when we finally got the the nice downhill area along the park! Running downhill is my favorite, so a downhill finish was a great relief from an otherwise kinda hilly course.

As with all big races, the finish line area was crowded and busy. Jason was looking out for me so we met up soon after. We made our way to the festival area and to the Heavy Medal tent for my Remix Medal! And then of course, it was another race so another beer at the finish! It was also great to see some friends at the festival who had ran the relay race. We chatted a bit with them before we had to get going to check out of our room and make our way back to Vegas!

But, first we had to stop at our favorite Temecula winery, Wiens Family Cellars, for some wine tasting. We brought a few bottles home with us too and way may have also signed up for their wine club (again!)

If you’ve never ran the Remix Challenge, I definitely suggest you try it at least once. Not only do you leave the weekend with 3 awesome medals, it really makes it for a fun-filled running weekend. Plus, you get to doubly enjoy what the Rock N Roll Marathon races are all about: fun, community, bling, music, and just an all-around good time!

Even though it was a weekend with 2 back to back races, the hubs and I still got to spend a much needed weekend away without the kiddos. It was the perfect start to summer break and I think we may have to turn it into a yearly tradition, with or without a race 😉

Rock N Blog Team 2017

I am so excited to be a part of the Rock ‘n, Blog Team for 2017! Rock ‘n’ Blog is a community of like-minded folks who love to run and have fun and earn some awesome bling along the way. This is my first year being an ambassador for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon series and I’m really looking forward to running as many races as I can with them! In 2013 I ran my first half marathon, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas and I’ve been hooked on running ever since. So, yea the Rock ‘n’ Roll has a special place in my heart.

They put on a great event! If you’re looking to run your first half marathon, I definitely think it’s a great race for beginners. The energy from the crowds, your fellow runners, and the music really keep you pumped up throughout the race. The series also offers the full marathon distance and depending on the city, they also offer relays, 10Ks, 5Ks, and kid races. There is definitely something for everyone!

Here’s what I have planned for the Rock ‘n’ Roll series this year:

Who’s ready to join me? How about a discount code to help convince you? Use code RNB15 to get $15 off your half or full marathon registration!

Las Vegas Rock N Roll Kick Off 5K Run | Race 3 of 14 for 2014

Last night I went out and ran a great little 5K to kick off opening registration for the Las Vegas Rock N Roll Marathon hosted at one of my favorite running stores, Red Rock Running Company at The District. It was a nice time and although I was a little nervous being there alone, I did meet a friend from the running group I’m in on facebook, Moms Run this Town. She also introduced me to some other fabulous running ladies! It’s always great meeting new fun folks! I must take a moment and just give props to the running community. I am fairly new to running (heck, I’m fairly new to exercise in general!) but I gotta give it to runners, they are one friendly group of people! Always welcoming and encouraging – even if we just met 15 minutes ago. I love that and I think that is one of the reasons I enjoy signing up for races and going on group runs. The camaraderie is great. Growing up, I never played sports or participated in many group activities so I never really got to know what that felt like. Clearly, this explains a lot about my social awkwardness/anxiety issues! YIKES, this post is turning into a psychology lesson!

Ok back to running…this was a fairly small event but it was well put together. I was impressed that they even had an aid station midway with water and GU Energy Gel! I grabbed one to try later 😉 We also got a nice tshirt and they raffled off lots of prizes at the end. I won a Rock N Roll Marathon water bottle – WOOT WOOT! The grand prize was a free entry to the marathon. That would have been super!

Although I won’t be participating in the Rock N Roll marathon this year, it holds a special place in my heart as being my first ever half marathon. So many fun memories made that night and the months leading up to it! You can read all about the experience and check out some fun photos HERE!

What fun races have you been running this year? What do you love about the running community? Don’t be shy 🙂

My First Half Marathon | Rock N Roll Las Vegas

I’m going to start off with a warning: There are lots of pictures in this post! lots!

With that being said, I apologize for being MIA for a few days. Not only was I getting ready for the 13.1 miles, I also had my cousin and her husband (who also ran the half with me) visiting from Texas and we were busy catching up! It was a blast. Now, on to the half marathon…

I survived! YAY!! Truth be told, I trained for over 15 weeks, I was pretty sure I’d finish. What I wasn’t sure of, was how I’d finish. And I must say, overall, I am happy with the results. I finished in 2:34:20. I was aiming for 2:30 but that was ambitious, since I never really trained for speed, just endurance. I’m also really happy that I ran the entire time. No stopping, no walking! Slow jogging? You bet ya’!

So, we checked into The Venetian hotel at noon. Shout out to my sister for the family discount and upgraded room with an awesome view of the strip! We had plenty of time to settle in, have a pre-race snack, change our clothes, and try to relax a bit. Getting a room on the strip was a great idea. Huge thanks to Anya from my fb running group for suggesting it 😉 The kids and my parents had a warm place to hang out and wait till we were done running, we didn’t have to travel far afterwards, and we had a great place to celebrate our accomplishment!!

Here we are, ready to head out the door and get our run on!

My sister and Jason drove us as close as we could get to the pre-race area. They were able to park in a business center and walk with us the rest of the way. Big thanks to the security guard for letting us park there, even though we weren’t supposed to!

Runners were really pouring in now and it was getting real!

Once inside the pre-race area we took photos, rested, listened to the live band, and used the port-a-potty twice. The lines were crazy long! But, I’m glad we went twice, since we didn’t have to stop along the course.

My cousin had custom shirts made for them, since just a few days before the marathon, they celebrated their 20th anniversary!

Here I am at my corral ready to go. There ended up being 36 corrals total, so we were towards the back and although the race officially started at 4:30pm, we didn’t actually get to the start line until 5:15pm or so. Yup, 45 mins. of walking in a huge group of people towards the start line. It was pretty crazy and crowded! Once we got started, it was already dark. If I do another marathon, I will try to have a closer corral number 😉

I was really looking forward to mile 4 because I knew my family and friends would be there cheering us on. It was awesome hearing them cheer and giving us high fives. Next time, I’d like them at miles 9 or 10 because that’s when I started to get tired!! I really could have used the boost then!

Once we passed our family, I felt really pumped! That lasted a few more miles and up until that point, I was right on target for finishing at my goal time of 2 hrs and 30 mins. And then…we got to downtown Vegas. The crowds dwindled, the noise was gone, and the lights were gone. Those were some dark and tough 4 miles. Once we headed back towards the strip and I could see we were getting closer to the end, my mind was ready to push harder, but my legs just couldn’t go any faster. No matter what I did, I couldn’t speed up my pace. I am so thankful for my cousin and her husband for pushing me to keep going and for giving me tips to so I wouldn’t slow down too much.

Crossing that finish line was an amazing feeling. I turned around and asked my cousin, “Did that just happen? Is it done? Can I stop running now?!?” I was pretty chocked up. Crying at the finish line was not something I thought I was going to do, but it’s what happened. I’m blaming it on the adrenaline rush 😉

Celebratory tequila shots with my dad! Because that's what you do when you finish running 13.1 miles!

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!