Archive | June, 2011

SHUT UP AND RUN, then eat cupcakes

27 Jun

I love running.  But sometimes (actually… a lot of the time…), I get in my own way and I need a lot of tough love.

Yesterday, I had a 9-miler on the schedule and planned to wake up at 7am to crank it out early–before the sun and heat and so Jared and I could get on with our day.  Smart plan, right?

Welp, 10am rolled around and I was a lazy sack of SLOTH on the couch, still in my pjs and full of excuses.  I was hemming and hawing over whether or not to get my act together, to run now or do it tomorrow, or later, or ever.  And then I thought about the latest blog I added to my reader: Shut Up and Run!  On her FAQ page, Ms. SUAR writes:

“So many of us sit around wanting to become fit and/or lose weight.  We read, we write plans, we contemplate, we go to therapists.  Problem is we’re thinking too damn much.  We need to make it real simple real fast and just get out there.  Shut Up and Run is my way of saying, ‘Stop making excuses for your life not being what you want it to be and get out there.’  I try to take my own advice.”

 Amen, sister.  Amen.
I was running by 10:15am and what started off as a just-run-even-if-it’s-only-one-measly-mile turned out to be a killer run!  I hit mile 8 under goal pace and felt strong, so I cranked it up for an additional 4 miles and a fast finish!

Jared and I “getting on with our day” included a whole buncha laying around the house because, while I ran 12 miles, the hubster PLAYED THREE HOURS OF SAND VOLLEYBALL!  Caloriesperhour.com says he burned something like 2000 calories!

After two movies: American Psycho and Zodiac (both of which, I had nightmares about last night…  Skip these ones, mom!), we peeled ourselves out of the couch cushions and took off for an Early Bird Special at Roppongi in La Jolla.  Turns out the young folk call it “Happy Hour”…

Reason #2091 why I love San Diego: streets lined with palm trees!
Poor guy was so hungry he couldn’t carry on a conversation.
Yep, that’s a wool sweater.  Temps drop to the 60s after sunsett… brr…

After sushi, a crab stack and vino, we wandered over to Cups for a sugar fix.  Let me just say that this place is IN-SANE!  They have so many flavors it took me an hour just to read through the list (and believe me, I did).  Lucky for me, I have celiac disease, and am therefore limited to the the gluten-free flavors only!

We each got two cupcakes because, well, life is short.
Also, I like to follow the rules.
“Velours Rouge” – a chocolate-espresso cup with cream cheese frosting
“PB Cup” – a chocolate cup with peanut butter frosting in a chocolate shell
“Bunny Love” – a carrot cup with almonds, pecans, and cinnamon cream cheese frosting

Because I know you’re wondering, “Bunny Love” is my all-time FAVE from Cups!  And Jared’s #2 cupcake was the “Chocolate Milk”: a vanilla cup topped with light and creamy chocolate frosting.  His fave of the two was that heavenly PB Cup.  Hands down.

To sum up (and in case you skipped the title of this post): Shut up and run, then eat cupcakes.  They taste way better after you get your sweat on!

16 weeks til Long Beach

22 Jun

Yesterday was the first “official” day of Long Beach Marathon training.  I’ve mapped out a 16 week plan for myself and, by golly, I’m gonna stick to it.  Probably.  In any sense, it’s quite pretty to look at and I have it posted on my desk at work, so it’ll keep me motivated and committed to getting my runs in–whether or not they go according to plan.

In other news, I’m going through marathon withdrawals coming off of the exciting spring season I just had: 4 marathons in 11 weeks AND my first sub-4:00… sigh…  Long Beach is 16 weeks away, so in the meantime, I’ve found a few “fun-size” races to keep me challenged happy:
Coronado Independence Day 15K on 7/4/11.  Jared and I ran this bad boy last year.  It’s the only 15K we’ve ever done, so it was an instant PR.  Coronado is notoriously “flat and fast” and this year, I’m going to tear. it. up.

Stonewall Peak Half Marathon on 7/9/11.  This puppy’s going to be interesting!  There’s a 50K, which I was almost crazy enough to sign up for, but my dad talked me off the ledge and I opted for the half mary instead, which is the smart less foolish decision given that I have very little experience with trail running and, um, check out these mountains…

  
Next up is America’s Finest City Half Marathon on 8/21/11.  This race holds my half marathon PR so, naturally, I’m running for another PR!

AFC has some nice big downhills in the beginning, then a vicious steep incline at the end… Note to self: train for hills!

Then there’s the Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon on 9/10/11.  I haven’t signed up for this billy goat yet because I ran it last year and didn’t LOVE it.  The race shirts stink (literally) and we didn’t get medals or any goodies, really.  Also, it was a long, boring drive out to Camp Pendleton all by my lonesome, so I scratched this one off my wish list a while back, BUT it was a really challenging course with some sick hills and a nice, small field, so frankly, I kinda sorta want revenge for last year’s I-know-I-can-do-better performance.  I tentatively wrote it into my plan and will decide later.
AIDS Walk & 10K Run on 9/25/11.  This will be our third year running the 10K and it’s one of the most moving events we’ve done.  Plus, it’s at Balboa Park, which is one of my favorite places to run.

Which brings me to the Long Beach Marathon on 10/9/11.  Last year’s Long Beach put me on the “injured list.”  I limped around for weeks after the marathon before being sentenced to physical therapy and I almost lost my mind.  And you know what, it’s probably my most memorable race to date simply because I experienced every emotion under the sun… and more pain than I’ve ever experienced in 4+ years of running.  I might be nuts for saying this, but I cannot wait to go back and ROCK THAT RACE!

Five Friday Faves

17 Jun

A few of my favorite things this week…

1) Last Saturday, Ashley, Renee and I rented bikes while the rest of the gang went climbing and I had so much fun biking (after, like, a 20 year hiatus) that this weekend’s To-Do List says: buy a bike.

2) My Top 5 Favorite Hobbies of all time would be something along the lines of: 1) running, 2) talking/writing/reading about running, 3) daydreaming about running, 4) airplane take offs, and 5) brunching!  We had some awesome brunches in Colorado (the best, by far, being the morning Luke ran the kitchen and made eggs, spinach and potatoes with a dash of heaven.  *See happy Chuck below).  And tomorrow I’m meeting two of my favorite former-coworkers-turned-dear-friends for brunch at my all-time-favorite breakfast place in PB after far, far too long!

3) Another thing I’m stoked/crazy about is my bright yellow Marathon Maniac jersey that’s hanging out in my drawer with my other running clothes and won’t stop screaming at me to RUN ANOTHER MARATHON ALREADY!!!!  Sadly, there are no marathons (within a reasonable travel radius) until Long Beach, which is a tragic 115 days away.  Sigh……..

***On the bright side, I’ve scoped out a few fun-size races that I may be adding to my schedule very soon… I’ll keep ya posted!

4) I have two Homage T-shirts that I’m wholeheartedly obsessed with because of their buttery soft awesomeness.  I live in them.  I kind of wanted to rip Renee’s purple ‘Surf Ohio’ tee off of her last weekend to keep for myself… but I love her too much.  Next time, though, deal’s off.  I want that shirt.

We’re like Homage T-Shirt superheroes.

5) The highlight of this week, for sure, has been remembering Colorado.  It’s hard to believe we were here last week…

And it’s hard to believe I’ve been able to get anything done this week with how much time I’ve spent reliving the weekend over and over and over again.  I’ll have to do a whole separate picture post with all of my random favorites.

Tajmaunion 2011: I ran a half marathon!

14 Jun

Let’s start this off by acknowledging something that I did not…

  1. I live in San Diego at Sea Level.
  2. Frisco, Colorado is 9,097 feet elevation.
  3. That’s a big difference.

On Friday, the fourteen of us were finally all together in Frisco, Colorado, so we spent the day wandering around the cute little city, peeking in tiny museums and random gift shops.  We were sampling gumbo and beignets at a little Cajun place, where Dave spotted a sign advertising a Half Marathon taking place the very next day.  On the spot, I decided to do it.

Saturday morning, I got up at 6am and walked one block to the Frisco Community Center, where I paid for a bib and boarded a bus to the Start Line.  I shivered and froze my tail off for an hour and a half before the gun went off.  As I huddled amidst the crowds, I listened to endless fretting about the wind, the big gray clouds that were quickly rolling in, and the altitude.  I had forgotten my iPod and it had been six days since the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon, so I couldn’t help wondering what the heck I was doing out there, but at the same time, I wasn’t the least bit nervous or worried.  I had no expectations or plans for this event other than to enjoy running in Colorado with all of it’s obstacles and challenges.

At 8:30, we were off.  Immediately, I was aware of the most difficult challenge: breathing.  It was impossible to get full, deep breaths and although I started out at a slow and easy pace, I felt out of breath like I was all-out sprinting.  I kept on, but was overwhelmed with emotions as I struggled to breathe.

Mile 1 – 10:06
Mile 2 – 9:45
Mile 3 – 9:11
Mile 4 – 9:19
Mile 5 – 9:32
Mile 6 – 9:36

Without my iPod, I went to a dark place… I had flashbacks of the trauma eight years ago, of being choked and the moments before I lost consciousness where I had absolutely no control and no ability to fight.  My eyes filled with tears as I ran, but I wasn’t sad.  I was angry and empowered, knowing that eight years later, I’m in control of my life and my body.  It’s those excruciatingly tough parts of running that I cherish because when I dare to remember that horrific day of my life and the stormy year that followed, I also remember that I saved myself.

I’ve been running for four years now, and it’s (still) not easy.  A couple years ago, I wrote: “I run because it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.  It’s the most challenging and painful form of exercise that I’ve pursued.  It tears you down, beats you up and leaves you stripped of everything, so all that’s left is you, doing what you can to survive the journey.  No one’s going to carry you to the finish line–no one can get you there but yourself.  You push, you push harder, you breathe, you sweat, you fight… you save yourself or you remain unsaved.”

At the heart of it, I run for me–for my life and for what I’ve reclaimed by running.  I run because I’m a survivor and no matter how many years may pass, sometimes, I still need to save myself. 

Just shy of Mile 6, the Half Marathon and 10K courses split and I hit a wall.  I wasn’t getting enough oxygen.  My muscles were cramping and I was overcome with nausea.  I veered into the woods and threw up.  I shuffled back to the course, laughing at myself, feeling dizzy and lightheaded and much, much better.  I ran on.

Mile 7 – 10:30
Mile 8 – 11:39
Mile 9 – 10:33
Mile 10 – 11:55
Mile 11 – 11:21
Mile 12 – 10:30
Mile 13 – 10:51

 

Last 0.1 mile – 0:43 (7:27/mile)
Garmin Time: 13.1 miles, 2:15:37 (10:20/mile)
Official Finish: 13.1 miles, 2:15:42 (10:22/mile)

I caught sight of the Finish Line and was flooded with another wave of emotion as I spotted my friends waving, jumping, screaming, and cheering for me.  I didn’t expect anyone to be there… we were on vacation, it was early in the morning, I’d decided to run at the last minute, and knew it was a crazy move on my part.  Honestly, I think I underestimated how much they love me and really get it.

Anyhow, they were there!  And as though my heart wasn’t already about to explode from the altitude and exertion, it overflowed as they screamed my name and then showered me with hugs.

 

We flew back to San Diego last night and although I can finally breathe again (I heart sea level!), I couldn’t have asked for a better or more perfect weekend and like I said in the previous post, I am truly brimming with love and gratitude for these crazy, awesome peeps.

    Tajmaunion 2011: Frisco, Colorado

    13 Jun

    On Thursday, Jared and I were up before dawn, rushing and sweating through our typical very-last-second-packing scrimmage.  We caught our breath on the cab ride to the airport, where Jared finished up a school paper as we waited for our flight to Colorado, sending it off minutes before boarding.

    And then we were on our way to Frisco, Colorado for the Taj Reunion (a.k.a. “Tajmaunion”) 2011 with a dozen of our closest college buds.  Everyone came together last year for Jared’s and my shoeless nuptials on the beach in Carlsbad, California, and although Jared and I were kinda tied up with the whole wedding thang, that weekend was such a ridiculous blast for our buds, who all rented a house together, that we vowed to reunite annually.

    Fourteen of us trekked from all over the country to the mountains of Frisco, Colorado, where we rented a “hideously awesome” cabin, surrounded by pine trees, snow-capped mountains and the biggest sky you’ve ever seen.  We spent the weekend monkeying around the giant “23-person” cabin with sinkless bathrooms and a “NO SHOES!” policy, listening to good music and playing even better music, gathering around the dining room table for family meals, climbing and bouldering, doing yoga, remembering, catching up and looking forward, drinking coffee, running, biking to Dillon, playing Bananagrams and The Vegetable Game, hugging each other often, exploring the friendly little town of Frisco, sitting on the deck, hot-tubbing, eating ice pops and M&Ms, and mostly, laughing.

    Hayes, summed it perfectly on the last day: 
    “You people fill my soul.”

     (Back) Dave, Harry, Ashley, Scooby, Hayes, Crosseyed, Rhoads, Luke & Laura
    (Front) Me, Jared, Renee, Pauline & Pat

    *(There in spirit) Brandon, Kev, Stef, Emma, Nolen & Charlie

    I’m still digesting and catching my breath (literally) from this whirlwind weekend reunion-of-a-lifetime, but for now, I’m completely filled to the brim with love and gratitude.

    Marathon #9 = debut as a Maniac!

    8 Jun

    Two days ago, Jared and I ran the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon for the third time.  It was also my debut as a Marathon Maniac, which was ridiculously fun.

    I knew pretty early on that I wasn’t going to PR, but I ran one of my most consistently paced marathons.  Still, I’ve got to work on not falling apart in those last 6-10 miles…

    Mile 1 – 9:14
    Mile 2 – 9:06
    Mile 3 – 9:03
    Mile 4 – 8:46
    Mile 5 – 8:33
    Mile 6 – 8:55
    Mile 7 – 9:18
    Mile 8 – 9:08
    Mile 9 – 9:17
    Mile 10 – 9:30
    Mile 11 – 8:27
    Mile 12 – 9:11
    Mile 13 – 9:02
    Mile 14 – 9:06
    Mile 15 – 9:05
    Mile 16 – 9:31
    Mile 17 – 9:25
    Mile 18 – 9:32
    Mile 19 – 9:44
    Mile 20 – 9:30
    Mile 21 – 10:08
    Mile 22 – 11:03
    Mile 23 – 10:27
    Mile 24 – 10:46
    Mile 25 – 10:31
    Mile 26 – 9:30
    Last 0.48 mile – 4:08 (8:48/mile)
    Garmin Results: 26.48mi, 4:10:08 (9:26/mile)
    Official Finish Time: 26.2mi, 4:10:05 (9:32/mile)

    I really wanted to break four hours again, but it wasn’t my day.  It was, however, my brother’s day!  Ryan was busy turning 26 years old while I was running 26 miles.  It was super awesome to have my family there to cheer me on (even if Ryan would’ve much rather been sleeping).

    After three marathons in five weeks, I’m definitely ready for a break, but… I don’t know how I’m going to wait FOUR months to run my next marathon…

    The past few weeks have been a whirlwind–of marathons and migraines, family time and work demands, and it’s not calming down just yet.  Jared and I are jetting off to Colorado for a long weekend with our college buds!

    How was this FOUR years ago?!?!?!
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