Racing Again... with cows

I can't believe that we are half way through 2011 and have only done one race. At this point last year, I had already ran 3 marathons, 2 50k's and participated in a 199-mile relay... and that was in the first 6 months of 2010.

This year has been very different. I've been running consistently, but not training to reach peak performance for any goal in particular. I have been debating what my next race would be after the Oakland Half Marathon in March. I was eyeing a night race in Davis in Mid-July and hesitated signing up for it. Well, it's done. Consider me an official entrant.

The Change of Pace Moo-nlight Half Marathon starts in Davis, Ca at 7pm and will be a new experience for me and several friends running it as well. We've run at night during the relay... and by at night, I mean at 1 in the morning with a headlamp on the side of a hill. So I'm hoping that this partially lit course at 8:30 pm should be manageable. 

It's also part of the Nor Cal Half Series. If you complete 4 races of the series (and the last is Walnut Creek), you earn an extra medal. And I'm all about the medals.

The good thing is that having this race on my radar has helped me focus more on training. I may have waited until 2 weeks before to register, but having a date and distance to focus on has really helped me get the gears rolling again. 

Thoughts?

Facebook Challenge: Volunteer

I'd like to welcome a guest blogger, Elaine Smith. She has started a wonderful challenge that I want to share...

Marathons give me goosebumps... I've helped organize them, I've waited at 2 a.m. for the port a pottie deliveries, I've run one, I've lost a toenail training and I've cheered on friends. What gives me goosebumps is volunteers. They arrive early, they set everything out and then all day from the fastest runner to the slowest they give their heart, enthusiasm and hard work to make the day special. For the Providence Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 marathon I get to organize and recruit the volunteers, it's an honor! 

I was on facebook and thought how many people are like me? How many people love giving back, seeing individuals set their mind to a life goal and go for it? How many people drag family and friends out to do the right thing before enjoying a fun night out? How many people would volunteer for the marathon if I asked?

I created the FACEBOOK CHALLENGE to answer those questions and to find those people. I will be in Rhode Island working every shift from Thursday set up until the last water cup is cleaned on Sunday afternoon, August 4-7, 2010 but I want to challenge everyone reading this to friend "Elaine Smith" of Gilbert, AZ on facebook (or click here to view her page) and join the challenge or just go to the link below and sign up for the Saturday afternoon shift at the expo:

Click here or visit http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/providence/volunteer

If you have feedback, want to volunteer as a group or any ideas on contacting larger groups in Providence that may want to be a part of this please email me at 

Elaine Smith
eventsandvolunteers@gmail.com

* * * *

Thanks Elaine. I helped volunteer at the SF marathon for a friend (before I started running) and have been running marathons ever since. It's a great way to give back, a great way to participate on race day and is always needed and appreciated by the runners. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. Have you ever volunteered?

With a Little Help From My Friends

Fact: I've been in a funk pretty much since the end of 2010. I haven't been running as much as I should be. I've been subjecting myself to long runs on the weekend without the build-up milage to support such distances.

I know that I need to incorporate more 3-8 mile runs during the week, cross train more consistently and simply put, just recommit to the sport.

Over the weekend, I was going through some photos and found a picture of me and 2 very close friends (also running) at the start line of the 2010 SF Marathon. I sent it to each of them with a simple line: "Miss you guys." (Context: I train with a group of friends in San Francisco and haven't been making it out to our Saturday runs consistently).


I received a response from each of them:

"Awhhh — look at us at 6 a.m. in the morning. No reason to miss us, you know. Just get up and run."

"Thanks for sending that, that's really sweet. You went through a burn out phase. Bring it back in slowly, maybe 3 miles, then 5 miles, set your sights on a half marathon max maybe in the late spring? BREAKS ARE HEALTHY! We'll support you and be standing by when you're ready to come back."

Two completely different responses, from two people I care very much about. But in essence they are saying what I need to hear:

1. It is as simple as getting up, putting on your shoes and running. 1 mile, 2 miles, doesn't matter. "Just get up and run."
   
   
2. I did burn out last year and it resulted in an injury from overuse. I was racing every month and not allowing proper recovery time. Setting a goal like a half marathon in a couple months will allow me to focus and get back on my feet, literally. 
   

Sometimes reaching out to those you know, especially fellow runners, results in solid advice. I plan on listening to BOTH of my friends and getting back out there. I'm ready. Re-focused and re-energized thanks to two amazing friends and an event photographer.

Incredible Photos

Incredible photo time! Here are the photos from MarathonFoto of the 2011 Oakland Running Festival. 

Before the race!

About to cross the finish line.. HULK SMASH COURSE!

Hulk not scared of mud... mud scared of HULK!

By far one of my favorite photos... this is the final mile, final hill. Hulk tired.

Incredible Hulk meets Usain Bolt

Say Cheeeeeese!

And of course once I got home, Mika wanted to play as well. 

Incredible Mika!

Thank you Oakland Running Festival for an incredible race and thank you MarathonFoto for the incredible photos. Share your comments below, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Oakland Running Festival: Recap

Oakland Running Festival, Half Marathon, 3/27/2011

After realizing that my training milage was not high enough for me to attack the full, I decided to run the half... dressed as the Incredible Hulk.

I've been wanting to do it for over a year, run as the hulk I mean. I already had the muscle suit and gloves from a previous Halloween, so it was an easy costume to piece together. Please forgive the absence of face paint, I just wasn't that committed to the costume to sweat green paint for 2 hours.

Expo
The expo this year was much larger than in 2010. A good sign that this race is gaining popularity and support from vendors/sponsors. Organization was great, just as it was last year. Plenty of volunteers to guide you and answer any questions.

Race Start
I met up with four other friends running the half about 45 mins prior to the race. We all started together and eased into our individual paces after a couple miles. I slowed down a bit first, I mean the Hulk is a big dude, so he gets distracted by wanting to smash things.

Crowd Support
The crowd support was phenomenal, like it was last year. I can't say it enough: the community really comes out to support the runners and more specifically, the city. You can see the city pride on each person. You get used to seeing people come out to cheer on individuals in the race that they know... this isn't the case in Oakland — complete strangers are cheering on EVERYONE.

Nice Gloves
Dressing in costume is fun. But those hands are heavy. I thought the muscle suit was going to be restricting, but it was the hands that caused the chaos. Once the weight in the gloves kicked in, my natural running arm swing was rendered useless. So I walked more than usual and interacted with the crowd and fellow runners. I had a couple conversations with others walking or people at a similar pace.

Photo Opp
Yes, I posed for all the cameras. Why not? I wasn't going to win the race, so why not look INCREDIBLE?



Hulk Fist Bump
The cool thing about having giant green hands... FIST BUMPS! With kids, other runners, the crowd, Raider Fans, A's Fan's chanting: "Let's Go Oakland" and the police blocking off streets. There were lots of mom's saying to their kids: "look, the hulk" then I'd strike a pose, Hulk style. Although there was one kid dressed as batman that was mean muggin' me. Funny, right?

Finish
I came in just under 2:30, about 15 mins slower than I expected and nowhere near my sub 2-hour PR, but I had fun! I got to experience the race at my own desired pace, interacted with people that I wouldn't have had the chance to if i was running at race pace with music. It's a different way to experience a race. I had an INCREDIBLE time and looking forward to doing it again in 2012, costume or not.