Sunday, February 26, 2012

Fort Point 10k

Hail Mary, Full Of Grace, thank you for getting me through this race.

I didn't want to get up. I really didn't. But I knew that if I stayed in bed, my whole day would have been wasted. It was a beautiful morning and San Francisco, and I had no excuse not to run the Fort Point 10k. When I got to the start line, I saw my buddy Pete. We exchanged salutations and when the race director said go, we took off.

To my surprise, Pete stayed with me and paced me through this 6.2 miler. He didn't have to but did. I ended up with a 1:17 finish, a 15 minute improvement from my last 10k. I'm glad I got out of bed for this. Thanks getting me to that finish line Pete!

Woo Hoo! Another 10k done.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Conservatory 5K


38:50 5k. That's a 12:31 pace. This is definitely an improvement, but I can certainly do better! I can't wait until the day that I see a sub-30 minute 5k again. 38:50 is not too bad, considering that I did run a half marathon yesterday!

Best part about today? I got to run with my side kick, The Almighty Riley!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Bay Breeze Half Marathon

I am clearly undertrained for a 100 miler, so I pulled out of the Rocky Road Endurance 100 Mile Endurance Run. My 2012 goal is to get that belt buckle, but right now is not the right time. I'm looking at Across The Years on New Year's Eve to go the distance. For now, though, I need to get back into shape. I barely made it through 13.1 miles of Surf City, so I need to get back to the basics. This weekend, I opted to run Brazen's Bay Breeze Half Marathon instead. I love Brazen. They're fun, they give you It's It ice cream sandwiches at the finish line, and their bling is awesome.

You gotta love the Brazen bling.

I am happy to say that I went from a 3:46 Surf City finish to 3:15 at Bay Breeze! That's a 30 minute improvement! I still have a lot of work to do to get back to my pre-Titanium form, but I'm motivated and excited. It's hard carrying this extra weight and it's no fun being in the back of the pack all the time. I'll get there. I've done it once before, I can do it again! 

The best part about today was hanging out with my Brazen family. It's always fun to see Half Fanatics and Marathon Maniacs out there, but there's something extra special about seeing them at a Brazen event. I've become regular fixture here and I love that we've become a little family. I worked hard today out on the course, but I did manage to have fun. How much you might ask? This much fun...

Half Fanatic Group Photo!
Got to run with Sabrina Hill today. Yeah, we had a little fun.
ATTACK OF THE BLISS!!!
Jennifer Walker giving us Asian Pop Star!
Woo Hoo! My sister got another half marathon under her belt!
I met this guy on the bus at the Salinas Half Marathon back in August. He's a Half Fanatic and Marathon Maniac now because I told him to sign up!
Me with Danni Baird.
We are trying to recreate the medal here.

I didn't go to Rocky Road to attempt my 100 miler, but I sure had a lot of fun back home running Bay Breeze. I love Brazen and can't wait to do more!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Golden Gate Bridge Vista 10k

This is what happens when you dress in the dark.

I couldn't pass up the chance to run the Golden Gate Bridge Vista 10k. The start and finish line is two blocks from my apartment! Also, I needed to get out there and push myself. I've been down and out with my recent weight gain recently. I don't ever want to return to that insulin dependent couch potato former life of mine, so I got out there and did the best I could. It took me over an hour and a half to complete 6.2 miles, which is probably one of my worst 10k's to date, but at least I got out there and did it. 

I'm going to take Chewbacca for a walk this afternoon. That 10k tired me out, but I'm motivated to get back on the wagon. I'll have to change out of this outfit though. I look like a bag of Skittles exploded on me.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Surf City 2012

Surf City Done!

I really know how to take a good photo. Tyra Banks has taught me well over the years. A model needs to work the angles and lighting to make themselves appear tall and thin. By jumping on to the cement wall, sucking the gut in, sticking the chest out, and straightening out the neck, I give the illusion that I am Cover Boy material! It also helps that I am sporting the slim fitting black Endorphin uniform. I look great in the above photo, but don't be fooled by that huge grin. Deep down inside, I was hurting.

The truth of the matter is that I have gained quite a bit of weight in the past few months. During my Titanium quest, all I ate was junk. Sure, I'd burn off a lot of those calories by completing 26.2 miles every weekend, but once the running stopped, the weight started to pile on. I was burnt out after hitting 52 marathons in 52 weeks and I just did not want to run anymore. Surf City was a huge disappointment to me. I completed this half marathon in 3:46. It took me three hours and 46 minutes to complete 13.1 miles! You know you have hit rock bottom when you peter out at mile 0.8 and downgrade your pathetic jog to an excruciatingly slow walk. Had I been on the Galapagos Island, turtles would have passed me up.

This year's Surf City Half Marathon served as a huge wake up call for me. I had plans to run my first 100 miler at Rocky Road in mid February, but seeing how out of shape I was after this race, I made the decision to pull out that race. I really want that belt buckle, but I certainly cannot do it the shape that I am in. Heck, I barely got through this half marathon! Back to the drawing board. Time to reboot and get back to the basics. Starting tomorrow, I will take Chewbacca on a walk around the block.