Capitola Half - 2:19:18

**Before I start, I want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my boyfriend...I dragged him (and made him wake up early) to the race. =) =) <3

There were hills from the beginning to the end. I was prepared for hills, I was not prepared for the never ending hills. My friend found me after mile 3 or 4 & I got through a little over the 5th w/ her, then I had a coughing attack. 

I decompensated slowly from that point on. I've been having ankle issues, then around 9/10, it just got pissed at me. I started feeling pain around my hips too at that point. 

Took it easy on 11 & 12, by the beginning of 12 I was out of the hills. I told myself if I can run what I just ran...I'm running this out till the end.  Before the last mile marker, Francis & Christine were ringing cowbells at me (thanks for coming down from SF btw, and it was nice meeting you Christine!).

So here's the new plan. I'm on a break, at least for long distance running. My ankle needs to heal & I'm tired of not enjoying my races. I'll be doing kettlebells, Yogalosophy, Runners Yoga, short runs & when I'm ready, speed work. But nothing more than 6...for now. I want to hit some PR's in the Fall. 

Last year was the year of the PR. This year appears to be injury year.

Pre-race Eve

Hmmm, so what to say. I recovered nicely from the hot-as-hell half. Was speedy this week & took it really easy for the most part. Weather in Capitola/Santa Cruz looks to be nice & cool. I've been ready for another PR attempt, it's getting my mind focused. 

I've done the training, the weekly yoga & kettlebell. Done a tempo & a few recovery runs. My massage was last weekend. Ankle is getting stronger & I've done Epson salt soaks, icing & heating. I've done what I could...now it's focusing my mind. 

They say trust your training. I'm the strongest I've been since I've focused on the longer mileage. I got this, I want this, I'm seconds away. 

There's gonna be hills, I love hills more than flats. The sights will be lovely. I just gotta focus. Focus my mind. Believe, I gotta believe I can do this. 

I know I can. Check in w/ ya'll after the race. 😊

Happy Cinco De Mayo

Before I forget, happy Cinco De Mayo!! It's my BF's holiday, so I'm allowed to celebrate.

My head finally feels normal, I woke up w/ a headache. I didn't hydrate properly after that hotter than hell of a Half Marathon that I ran the other day.

Anyway, Happy Cinco De Mayo!! Or La Batalla De Puebla!! I'm glad you don't speak French!!

Brazen Western Pacific Half Marathon

So yesterday I ran the Brazen Western Pacific Half Marathon.  It was hot!  I don't mean hot, I mean HOTTER than a mutha.  Suffice it to say, I didn't come close to a PR...actually, I haven't done that in over a year.  The year is still early, I have high hopes for myself...to not just get that PR, but to run injury free.

The thing is, it's the day after, on Cinco De Mayo...and the weather is perfect.  Should I have run the Diva's Half Marathon in SF (a more expensive race, and a bit farther), I might have done better.  But, that's okay, I'm using this race as a training race for the Capitola Half Marathon.  It starts at 7AM, and that area is beautiful.  My friend Carla will be pacing me as well, and I will push and do what she says, because I've been working on a Sub 2 since 2010.  I've been knocking at 2:00 for the past 3 years.  I've finally got it down to 2:00:14, which was set at the Brazen Hellyer Half Marathon in 2012.  Since 2010 I have at least hit 2:00 at least 1 or 2x a year.

Lately I've been working on my speed, but it's getting to the hotter months and I don't know about you, but heat is my kryptonite.  It just sucks, and when it's a flat trail, which has nothing but nothing to look at, it just doesn't do it for me.

So we'll see how I do in a few weeks.  Next weekend I'll be getting my monthly massage, and I'll do a few speed workouts during the week.  At least I'm "tapering" again. hee!  Half marathon tapering is nothing compared to Marathon tapering.  I'm really enjoying tapering again, and I'm enjoying training again.  I think I pushed myself way to hard for the Oakland Marathon.  The training was good, it's the lack of rest days that I deprived myself of...which I knew better, but I'm stubborn.  So for the Nike Women's Marathon (I usually get in *cross-fingers), I'm gonna be smarter about my training...and hopefully injury free.

Anyway, here's a few pictures from the race.  That's the beauty about Brazen Racing, they give out free pictures!  You just have to find yourself, it's not that bad really...you just have to remember who you were around.  That's how I figure it out anyway.

Hope everyone is doing well, and if you're still reading...thank you, much appreciated.