My History with the OC Half Marathon

I will be running half marathon #21 next week! I have never actually "raced" this half and it always seems to be that way. When I ran the OC Half Marathon back in 2012, it was a comeback race for me after a hamstring injury so I ran it very cautiously and finished right under 2 hours.

In 2013, I speed walked/ran the half marathon with my friend Caroline who was injured at the time. Speed walking is no easy task let me tell you. I don't think I have ever been so sore in all of my life after a race. The weather was perfect that day and I am glad I made the decision to stick with her because for me running isn't always about a personal PR or goal. 

I did not run the OC Half Marathon in 2014 but I will be back to run it again this year. In 2015, I find myself in a similar situation once again. I have been having issues with hip bursitis and a knee cyst so it is kind of hit and miss. My hip seems to stay happy as long as I do my exercises and keep the pace easy on longer runs. It really gets me down sometimes because I am not sure if this is going to be something that I will just have to deal with long term or if it will go away. Maybe I am just getting old but as long as I can run I am grateful. It is tough at times but I know that I have to stay positive and optimistic.

Keeping a 9:00 pace or under on longer runs seems to be the key to keeping my body parts in check but it gets tough sometimes because I feel like I have the energy to run faster. It is not worth the consequences for the days to come so I have to run smart. I would love to run this race and give it my all but I don't think I can do that right now. Being out on the race course gives me a boost of energy and adrenaline that I don't get on my training runs. I can't lie. I know I will be tempted. My last long run went pretty well. The weather was perfect and my mental game was where it needed to be. The last five miles of my run were the best and my confidence level was lifted enough for me to feel like I can run my 21st half marathon.

Pace has not been my reason to run lately. I have kind of putting that on the back burner for now and I am just feeling grateful that I can run. You have to keep things in perspective during these times. If you have ever been injured, you know what it is like to not be able to run at all, right? I don't have a race plan for Sunday. I think that would just be too overwhelming for me right now. What I can tell you is that I will finish the race and I will run with my heart and be thankful that to be out there. I am really excited about my second Beach Cities Challenge medal that I will earn on top of the medal for just running the half marathon! Race bling always gets me excited!

Who else is running the OC Half/Full? 

Beach Cities Challenge?

Three Things Thursday

1. RunDisney posted pictures of the medals for the Dumbo Double Dare, Disneyland Half Marathon, Disneyland 10K, and the Disneyland 5K in September. I can't wait to get mine!

2. I registered for another race. I have not ran a 10K in a while. It is a very small local race that is about 2 miles from my house. I guess I can even run to the race in the morning! I have lived in the area for a while now but was never able to register since I had school on Saturdays.

 3. The Long Beach International Marathon announced that the marathon will now start at 6:00 a.m. and the half will start at 7:30 a.m. In the past, the marathon started at 7 or 7:30 a.m. and by the time you finished the weather was really warm. I love races with early starts and I am now thinking that I might change to the full if I can survive training through the summer heat. If not, I am already registered for the half marathon. All I really want is my Beach Cities Challenge medal and this will be the last race I need to get it regardless of distance.

 

Almost Wordless Wednesday

I remember when this medal hanger only had  a couple of medals on it!

 I keep this hanging on a wall that I have to pass on the way to my bedroom so I  see it several times a day and it keeps me motivated!

Wordless Wednesday

Does this Marathon Medal Offend You?

I came across this story on msn this morning and thought it was pretty funny.  I hope I don't offend anyone....

Here is what the article stated. "The 23,000 runners who completed the Edinburgh Marathon last weekend were likely pretty fatigued, but it wasn't the exhaustion that left their mouths agape when they crossed the finish line. Each competitor was awarded a medal that, well, let's just come out and say it: It looked like a penis. Race director Neil Kilgour "admitted that no one had noticed a problem with the medals when they were being designed" and said he wasn't sure if there would be a redesign for next year. Guess the race organizers think you have to be pretty cocky to think you can run 26.2 miles."

What do you think?  I would have never thought that this medal resembled the male anatomy!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Always Earned Never Given

Change of Plans....Again!

Why do the weekends go by so quickly but the weekdays just drag? I guess I will never stop asking myself that question! Happy Monday!! I am looking forward to this coming weekend because I will be on vacation starting Friday and I won’t be returning to work until Wednesday.  My son will be on spring break so we are planning on spending some much needed family time together.  The weather will be perfect so it’s great timing for us. The old saying “April showers brings May flowers” will not be a factor this weekend.  

The original plan was to hit up Universal Studios on Friday, pick up my bib for the Hollywood Half Marathon and then spend the night and run the half the next morning at 6:00am.  Change of plans….again....I have decided that I am not quite "half marathon ready" so DNS number four will be hitting the books this weekend! It is very hard to swallow but I know that jumping into a half marathon is not the smartest decision plus I have been sidelined this long so I will survive!! The goodie bag for the Hollywood Half is really nice so I just might go ahead and pick it up and take my son to Universal Studios anyway!  It’s going to be tough going to the expo and seeing everyone in race mode but I just keep telling myself that this will soon pass. My biggest goal is  come back stronger than ever when I am back to running to make up for lost time! 

I gotta have this!!

I am convinced that I will be running the OC Half Marathon on May 6^th.  This is my last chance to start this series and receive this my Beach Cities Challenge medal so even if I have to walk it I will be there. After the OC Marathon, I no more planned races so I won’t have put myself through all of this disappointment anymore.  I have gotten to the point where I am scared to even think about thinking about registering for another race.  I have sat so many races out since February that it’s depressing.

I logged 36 whole miles for the month of March which is pitiful but it's better than the whopping 3 miles I logged in February!!  I can't wait until I can get back into my 100 plus months. This week I will be increasing my sessions to 5-6 miles and increasing my pace from 5.2 to 5.5 on the treadmill.  I am also doing less walking and more jogging (I hate the word jogging! Am I a jogger now? NO, I AM NOT!!) so hopefully my leg agrees with the plan!!  I am keeping my fingers crossed and trying to remain positive!!

2011 Recap and My New Year's/Running Resolutions for 2012

I started participating in races in 2010 and only did two my first year (a half and a full marathon).  I really started getting serious about running in 2011 and signed up for my first 5K and 10K. I participated in seven races in 2011 and would love to participate in at least ten in 2012.  In 2011, I PR'd in a Half Marathon, a 10K and a 5K and in 2012 I will shift my focus to my Marathon time!

Source

I love running and races are so fun!! I find that I have amazing energy when I am around other runners who love the sport just as much as I do!  Although I have my list of on-going Running Goals that are mainly related to improving my times, I have decided to focus on a specific set of achievements for 2012.

1) Run 3 Marathons in 90 days and become a bronze level Marathon Maniac. There are no time requirements, you just simply have to finish!!  It's not about the time, it's about the finish line."

2) Run the remaining two marathons needed to earn the Beach Cities Challenge Medal in the OC.  The Long Beach Marathon is the first one in the series for me and I completed it last year so I just need to complete the remaining two.

"3:59:59"

3) Run a marathon in under 4 hours.  I have to figure out how to shave off 5 minutes and 17 seconds off the clock since my current PR is 4:05:16.  I will continue to work hard so that my goal of running the Boston Marathon is that much closer to becoming a reality!

"In order to succeed, you must first be willing to fail."Anonymous

4) Continue to stay committed and train hard, work on my speed, and push myself to do my very best. Time is my main issue since I work full time and get home pretty late. I also have a family so sometimes running has to take a back seat so that I can take care of my priorities at work and at home. I also want to remind myself that in spite of my running goals, I need to make sure that the sport continues to be fun for me.  My last race of the year was ran strictly for fun and I had a great time. I think it may have been one of the most enjoyable runs that I have ever had because I wasn't focused on my Garmin and I actually enjoyed the scenery and the holiday atmosphere that this race provided.  It was a great way to end 2011. I think that sometimes we get too caught up in PR's and competing with others that it really takes the fun out of the sport. We are all human with different levels of ability and there will be times when we fail to meet our goals and that is what makes us strive to work harder. My belief is that the only time we truly fail, is when we fail to try!

I should probably have a resolution to eat better but I love to eat so I will save that one for next year!

Have you set any New Year's/Running Resolutions for 2012?

I'm Out of Control!!

I have been way out of control with the treats lately!  After that 16 mile run on Saturday, I was making all kinds of excuses as to why I should treat myself and I just kept going and going!! Look at the damage that I did!!

It started with this....

then it went to this....



Chocolate Mocha Mousse and Banana Split Cupcakes!



 then it escalated into this...

 and finally ended with this!



White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pizookie!

I finally got some Medal Motivation today after seeing the medal for the Long Beach Marathon and I stopped! I can't wait to see this around my neck on October 9th!

Now it is back to things like this...

I'm done confessing! Oh and by the way, I somehow managed to lose 1/2 pound in the process.

Medal Motivation

I am so excited about the two runDisney races that I have coming up.  I will be running the Disneyland Half Marathon in September 2011 and the inaugural Tinker Bell Half Marathon in January 2012. Disney has released photos of the medals for both races and they are so cute!!  Just thinking about earning these medals motivates me to run... I love cute medals!

I am really excited to be running in the Tinker Bell Marathon since it is a brand new race.  I am sure that Disney will go all out and make it really fun.  The race starts super early so starting at 5:45am will be a little tough! Shawna will also be running the Tinker Bell Half Marathon so she will be a part of history with me!  I am hoping to set a new PR within the next six months at one of the four half marathons that I am registered for. You can bet that I will be blogging about my new PR if I get one!