Training race

Pirate's Cove 30k

Training race?  What's that?  Well, prior to our 50k on August 1st we have to enter ourselves into races that will prepare us for our actual event.  Since Ultra Marathoner's need to have experience prior to an Ultra Marathon we have been encouraged to do several races and have our team come support us.

The picture above was the start of my first 30k (18.6 mile) trail race at Pirate's Cove in Sausalito.  I wasn't nervous but I was the only one on my team to do the 30k.  I decided to focus on completing the race without getting hurt and to learn how to run a trail race.  The start of the race immediately went up.  There were too many of us on the trail so we had to walk and it was a pretty steep climb to begin with.  I began the race almost all the way in the back of the pack.  I wanted to watch the others in front of me to see when they would walk and when they would run.  It helped me get through the race and preserve my energy.  I did exactly what my coach, Mama Lisa, told the team to do.  I kept myself well hydrated and ate every 20 minutes.  I looked forward to eating and drinking every 20 minutes because I felt the electrolytes and Gu working almost immediately.  It replenished my energy enough to keep going.  After several miles of running I got into a groove.  I was with the same runners for the rest of the race.  If I wasn't ahead of them, they were ahead of me but not by much.  I made sure I didn't fall back by being either in front of these people or just behind them.  I spoke to one woman that had done that race before and she was in pretty good shape.  It was my goal not to lose her.  There was another couple that was running together and they motivated each other to keep going.  The lady had an M-dot tattoo on her lower leg.  I stared at that M-dot and new that she would get me through the race.  Without speaking to the couple I stayed with them. 

In the end I saw my other coach, Mark.  Mark gave me that extra boost of energy to leave that couple behind and race to the finish line.  I finished my race in 3hrs 40 min.  It was nice to see most of my team cheer me in as well as my mom, grandma, aunt and boyfriend.  That felt good.  I was proud of myself.  I was proud to have finished the most challenging race I've ever done.  Soon after I went into the outside showers they had and rinsed myself off in the chilly water so that my body could get rid of the lactic acid that built up over the course of the race.  I try to be as good as I can when it comes to finishing a run and suffering just a little bit more just so that I don't regret it later.  Icing or chilly water on the muscles right after a run is important so that the recovery doesn't hurt so much later.  On the ride home I also ate a Power bar, a tangerine and drank a soda.  I've never had a soda after running but it tasted soooo gooood!  It's amazing how picky I am after running and how much better food tastes.  I will look at the selection of food and some of it I just can't imagine eating and normally what I do pick tastes so much better than if it was just a normal snack or meal.  I want to thank everyone that came to cheer me on at this race.  I always get so emotional when I think of who comes to support me.  I love you all!

Time to party!!!!

Take a break and come enjoy Azul Lounge with me.  Dance the night away.

New shoes!

I just bought new shoes!  I love these shoes.  They only weight 6.9 oz and they feel like slippers.  They are the most comfortable shoes I've ever had.  I ran with them for them once last week for about 2.5 miles but I also used them yesterday on my long run.  They were amazing!  They are the most flashy shoes I've ever worn and I'd like to keep them as clean as possible but that's really not an option with trail running.  They were absolutely filthy after our run yesterday so I had to hose them down when I got home.

We ran for 3 hours through Huddart Park in Redwood City.  The run was led by my coach's friend, Milo.  Milo is an ex-marine and he definitely trained us like a marine.  I felt like I was at boot camp.  He did a great job leading us through the woods and gave great advice throughout the run.  He told us to begin nibbling after 20 minutes and to continue to do that throughout our long runs.  A few weeks ago I had to work on hydrating myself and now I have to learn to eat during my runs.  I have some shopping to do this week to replenish my training essentials.  I use Nuun electrolyte tablets for my water bottles.  I love it because it doesn't have very much sugar like Gatorade or Powerade.  Nuun tastes more like water and keeps me from getting a "sticky" mouth while running.  I have to get some Cliff Bar shot blocks.  Those are also to replenish electrolytes but are chewy.  I also like the Gu bites.  They taste so good and have a good amount of calories in them to take during long workouts.  I need to get more Powerbars as well.  I like the chocolate flavor but I just discovered a new flavor that I love.  It's called the Performance Energy Honey Roasted Nut.  Yummy!


My fundraising is coming along well.  I just place another order of 300 chocolate bars.  I'm hoping to sell them within a month.  So far I've raised $671 of my $2500 goal.  It's been steady but I would like it to be ahead of my goal.  If you know anyone that would like to purchase my chocolate bars or just donate to help out my cause please give them my information.  Every single penny counts to get toward my goal of helping fight cancer and put an end to this. 


My coach Mama Lisa is fighting cancer.  She was just diagnosed a few months ago but she has decided to continue training us.  She loves what she does and wants to be there for us.  She begins her chemotherapy this week.  After the scheduled chemo she will have surgery in a few months to remove the masses she has.  If all goes well she will then continue on to receive radiation.  I just hope that this brave woman doesn't go through the pain that my friend Socorro went through.  It's not fun having cancer but I know Mama Lisa will always put a smile on her face for us.  We all love and support her.  She and others like her thank you for your generosity.

February summed up

Inspiration Point, Tilden Park, Orinda

My goal in training with Team in Training is to raise money to find a cure for blood cancer.  I am raising awareness to help fund the research needed to find a cure.  The goal for my event is to raise $2500 by July 15th.  So far, for the month of February, I've raised $399.  First and foremost I want to thank all of you who believe in me and support me in reaching my goal.  75% of all the funds raised go toward my mission.  Unfortunately, I am behind on my fundraising.  To be on track I need to raise at least $417 per month.  Please help me exceed that for the month of March.


I am doing my part by training for my Ultra Marathon that will be on August 1st.  This past weekend we trained at Inspiration Point in Orinda.  We ran for 2 hours on pavement but also through a lot of mud and sludge.  I looked like I had a mud bath by the time I was done.  So far I've ran 92 miles since I began training for my event.  It hasn't been easy but I just think about the reason why I'm doing this and it helps me get through these challenges.  I've been really tired and very gracious for my rest days.  I've been eating a lot, especially salty foods.  I crave salt after my long runs.  I've never had that feeling before but it satisfies something my body wants. 


I've learned a lot since I began training with the ultra team.  The first thing is that I need to hydrate myself a lot more than I've been doing.  My coach, Mama Lisa, has us weigh in and weigh out after our long runs.  The first time I did it I lost 12 pounds.  Can you believe it?  I couldn't.  This was a huge eye opener for me.  I definitely have changed when and how often I hydrate myself while running. 


I also learned about traversing.  While I was on the run at Tennessee Valley my teammate, Craig, told me that was his favorite place to traverse.  I didn't really know what that meant until I watched him bounce from side to side and down a really steep and muddy trail along the coast.  As soon as I saw him do that I began to follow in the same manner and it came so easily.  It made me feel so adventurous.  I didn't feel the need to hold onto anything and just let myself go.  Needless to say it was so much fun!

Ultra Marathoner Benefits

Look at that view!  That is Tennesee Valley, Mill Valley.  That was where I ran on Saturday.  We ran for 2.5 hours up and down and all around this valley.  It was the most challenging run I've had yet.  I've always been pretty competitive with myself but I had to learn on this run that I had to put that aside.  I had to think about making it to the end and doing what was best for my body.  I've heard several times that ultra marathoners do walk.  We have to walk to conserve energy and to restore our energy when we are climbing up valleys, hills and mountains.  I think I did a pretty good job at conquering Tennessee Valley.  I experienced one of the most beautiful runs I've ever been on.