The Expo
Call me a grouch, but what a major clusterschumck! Parking was beyond stupid, with everyone circling the same lot. Made it to the expo tent which was filled with morons who think it is acceptable to stop right in the middle of the aisle just because. Jeez, I can't stand these "it's all about me" types. Those who weren't stopping for no reason were just shuffling along as if they had no destination. I knocked several morons aside so I could get my dang race packet. The moron volunteer at the t-shirt table asked me what I wanted. What do you mean? Duh, I want my t-shirt. Idiot. I couldn't wait to get the heck out of there. Of course, getting out of the parking lot took forever. I headed down to Newport Beach to check into my hotel, the Fairfield. Nice place, but it kinda sucked that there was nothing within walking distance.
The FE
Headed back up to Huntington Beach and managed to find the place OK, but I did overshoot the parking lot and had to circle around the block. Ooops. Met a few new peeps from RWOL, but mostly I prefer to hang with those I already know and love. The food was OK, but I wasn't able to stomach enough to call it a carb-load. After I left, I wanted to stop someplace for more food, but couldn't find anything that looked good. I ended up ordering a quesadilla from room service at the hotel. Not bad, but all that cheese coulda been ugly.
The Race
Due to the rain and cold on Saturday, I made a last minute decision to leave my running sunglasses at the hotel. When the shuttle pulled up near the start, the sun had begun shining and I knew I was in big trouble. DOH! I wandered around and found the bag check and the port-o-potties and just loitered around until about 7:30 when I headed to the corrals. I decided to go with Wave 2 because I wanted to make it back in time to catch the early (10:30) shuttle back to my hotel. Otherwise, I would have had to stand around until 11:30 and probably wouldn't have had time to shower before heading back home.
Mile 1 was a sub-9 pace (oops) so I settled down a little, but still hit the 2-Mile Marker a little fast. At 5K, I had finally settled down to a more sustainable pace and I was feeling great! Then the course headed east and seemed to get a bit hilly. I was concerned about my not-yet-100% hip and my overall lack of fitness, so I slowed down and took this part easy. I passed Maniac Ed looking like he was pretty sore. Headed back west and as I made the turn onto PCH, I saw Wadia struggling with an uphill stretch. A few minutes later, I saw Pony and Roccco running together and looking strong. About a half mile behind them, I caught a glimpse of JHong, but I didn't see him in time to give a shout out. This part seemed never-ending, and I just couldn't wait to the turn-around and head back to the finish. My one and only real walk break came at about mile 10, which was where I had seen Wadia struggling. I decided not to bother to push up that hill! Walked about a 1/2 mile, then kicked it in gear because I wanted to beat my time from last month's 13.1 Los Angeles.
Finish time 2:23:xx which was a 2+ minute improvement over last month. Very happy with that. In fact, I am ecstatic! It is nice to finally be back training regularly. I actually felt good post-race and I think this was the first time I ever experienced the "runner's high."
Getting out of the finish area was pretty much just like the expo, with random stoppers and shufflers. I finally made it to the gear check and got my stuff. I had to jog to the shuttle area and got there just a couple of minutes before my shuttle arrived. Phew!
Oh, and my husband loves the Surfboard bling!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Rock n Roll Arizona
The Looong Drive and Hello Tempe
Holy cow, Batman! Six hours in a car driving through the desert aint no fun! Nothing to look at, no place to stop. Remind me to fly next time. Finally hit downtown Phoenix and realized, duh, Arizona is on Mountain Time. Oops. Instead of arriving at 2:30, it was 3:30 and the mad Friday afternoon rush hour had begun. Found our hotel and walked around Tempe a little. We were right near ASU, but the only eats we could find were fast food and chain restaurant types. Bleh. Decided to take the car for a little tour of Tempe and found a Mexican restaurant. It was OK, but I was extremely dissappointed. I was sure we'd find good Mexican food in the southwest. My meal was OK, but my husband said the chicken in his tacos tasted like cat food. Wait, you mean he feeds my cats junk he wouldn't eat himself? I'm going to have to investigate further....
The Expo
Had a nice buffet breakfast at the hotel, then took the light rail to Phoenix. Arrived at the Expo around 10 on Saturday and it was crazy crowded! I had wanted to check out the Sugoi sale merchandise from other RnR events, but I just decided to get my race packet and tech-t and get the heck out of Dodge.
Had a yucky carb-load dinner at some dive called Boston's and turned in early.
The Marathon
I had been fighting a bit of a chest cold, so I wasn't hoping to break any world records or anything. I would have been thrilled to make it in 5;30 or less. Ah, the best laid plans. I could feel a tightness in my chest very early and took a walk break at the first aid station at only mile 2.7. Pathetic. By mile 7, I knew it was going to be one long, ugly day. I walked most of the last 19 miles. I was just hoping to squeak in under 6 hours and managed to do so. Official finish time 5:59:56! Yes, a major suckfest, but at least I managed that sub-6!
During the race, I had a long talk with myself about all the racing and traveling I have been doing and have planned in the coming months. I am about 99% bailing on the Lost Dutchman Marathon next month. I have no desire to return to Arizona in the near future. As much as I'd like to run that one someday, it'll have to wait until 2011. Now, I have to find another Marathon for February!
Holy cow, Batman! Six hours in a car driving through the desert aint no fun! Nothing to look at, no place to stop. Remind me to fly next time. Finally hit downtown Phoenix and realized, duh, Arizona is on Mountain Time. Oops. Instead of arriving at 2:30, it was 3:30 and the mad Friday afternoon rush hour had begun. Found our hotel and walked around Tempe a little. We were right near ASU, but the only eats we could find were fast food and chain restaurant types. Bleh. Decided to take the car for a little tour of Tempe and found a Mexican restaurant. It was OK, but I was extremely dissappointed. I was sure we'd find good Mexican food in the southwest. My meal was OK, but my husband said the chicken in his tacos tasted like cat food. Wait, you mean he feeds my cats junk he wouldn't eat himself? I'm going to have to investigate further....
The Expo
Had a nice buffet breakfast at the hotel, then took the light rail to Phoenix. Arrived at the Expo around 10 on Saturday and it was crazy crowded! I had wanted to check out the Sugoi sale merchandise from other RnR events, but I just decided to get my race packet and tech-t and get the heck out of Dodge.
Had a yucky carb-load dinner at some dive called Boston's and turned in early.
The Marathon
I had been fighting a bit of a chest cold, so I wasn't hoping to break any world records or anything. I would have been thrilled to make it in 5;30 or less. Ah, the best laid plans. I could feel a tightness in my chest very early and took a walk break at the first aid station at only mile 2.7. Pathetic. By mile 7, I knew it was going to be one long, ugly day. I walked most of the last 19 miles. I was just hoping to squeak in under 6 hours and managed to do so. Official finish time 5:59:56! Yes, a major suckfest, but at least I managed that sub-6!
During the race, I had a long talk with myself about all the racing and traveling I have been doing and have planned in the coming months. I am about 99% bailing on the Lost Dutchman Marathon next month. I have no desire to return to Arizona in the near future. As much as I'd like to run that one someday, it'll have to wait until 2011. Now, I have to find another Marathon for February!
13.1 Los Angeles
My goal for 2010 is to run at least one Marathon and one Half Marathon a month. First race was the inaugural 13.1 Los Angeles on January 10. The first mile runs along the not-yet-open-that-early Venice Beach Boardwalk. Everything looks so different when there's no one around but a stampede of half marathoners! I made a mental note of the medical marijuana clinic. LOL. The rest of the course was a pretty boring out and back along Venice Blvd. Yawn. I am just happy to have made it through a half marathon for the first time since I can't remember when with no hip pain! Woo-hoo!
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