A Brazen good time...new years eve half

My boyfriend was going out of town, my mom is in so cal as are many of my friends and although I could travel I have TONS of papers to grade and kittens to hang out with.  I was browsing through active.com and saw a new years eve race and thought, why not?  I don't have anything else going on and I need to get in 15.  But, I haven't been on the trails in a while (other than hiking) so I was a little nervous as to how my legs/knees would deal with the climbing.

The start

Joe heading out on the paved trail

I woke up at 6 to get my act together and take my boyfriend and a few friends to the airport.  Since the race was real close to the airport I went directly to the race location where I had about an hour to warm-up, use the restroom, and freeze my butt off.  I waited patiently for some familiar faces to arrive and as I waited I figured out that I needed to pick up my timing chip (thank goodness I was being observant).  I guess I was a little too prepared for how much time I had.

Jason and some fellow FOMOs on the trail

After a mile warm-up with friends I realized I needed to decide on my final race outfit.  I was freezing so I played it safe with ear warmers, arm warmers, and leggings.  I don't think I ever actually warmed up either since I wore them almost the whole race.

Aron, Kim and I getting started

We started lining up and then the horn sounded.  I planned on starting with my friends Kim and Aron and so I did.  I enjoyed chatting with them for the first four miles as we winded through the small rollers and around the lake.  Then into mile 4 there is this huge hill and not only is it huge, but steep and difficult.  I was trying not to walk, although I figured I would eventually have to, so I pushed myself running up the first portion of the hill, then I walked for a little while, and then pushed again.  Although I did walk I was proud of how much I managed to run and that I limited myself to only very steep portions.  After the initial massive hill I ran the rest of the way, YAY!

Almost finished

I had gotten a bit ahead of my friends so I decided to push on because I was still freezing cold.  I Made it through some pretty tough and harsh downhills shortly after I reached the top.  These downhills wound through a very shady and green area with sticky mud that reminded me of my favorite trails in Skyline. I was worried about my knees with all the downhill so I tried to just let my body go on the downhill since I figured holding back might do more damage (downhill running is really something I've been working on).  I made it around the whole lake and over some steep rolling hills without stopping and down to the finish line.  Yay!  I finished my first official trail race at 2:06:25 5th in my age group after 1,629 ft of climbing.  After a wonderful morning run I was done freezing and headed home to enjoy a big guilt free breakfast.

If you ever have the opportunity to run a Brazen race I would highly recommend it, I really enjoyed myself and the scenery.
Happy New Year everyone!

Surviving 2011...the last workout

This year has been quite an adventure for me.  I don't tend to make resolutions, but I usually try to set some goals, and although I grew exponentially as an athlete I did have some failures along the way.  So here is the review:

Goal #1: A half marathon PR: The Surf City half marathon
Although I did not plan on trying to PR at this race I was putting in my speed sessions.  Then somehow my more relaxed outlook on this race helped me to successfully crank out a huge time for me...1:41:57

Goal#2: (this is actually 2 in one)An olympic triathlon: Wildflower
Ever since I was in college I always admired the wildflower athlete.  I made it through the difficult course and even managed to slide in right below the 3 hour mark.

Goal #3: A more focused approach to my training
Before this year I really just ran, swam or cycled.  I never really followed a training plan even though I did use training plans to guide me.  I have to say I didn't exactly succeed at this one.  There are many weeks where I pushed myself a lot further than my training plan asked of me and many weeks where I just didn't feel like doing anything and couldn't push myself through.  Not to mention California International Triathlon, Folsom Sprint, and Nike half came after bouts of laziness and 30th birthday parties.  I also strayed away from my training plan for CIM and ended up injured.  I think this also means I need to take my off season seriously no matter how tempting a race may be.

Goal #4: Marathon #2 going sub 4: CIM
I had to pull out of this event after I developed patellar tendonitis, I was bummed, depressed, and annoyed, but I'll be back to tackle this goal in 2012 and maybe at CIM again some year soon.

Goal #5: Improve my lessons and teaching strategies
I really love teaching, but sometimes I feel as though I am falling short.  I took some classes this summer and I reevaluated some of my past lessons to modify and adjust.  I feel as though I started strong at the beginning, faltered, then started strong at the start of a new year, and leveled out going again into the new school year.  This is a reoccurring goal of mine, so hopefully what I was disappointed with this year I'll manage to fix in 2012.

So I finished off the year with an awesome trail half marathon (my first one)!  I enjoyed every minute of it and I'm thinking this may need to be a New Years Eve tradition.  Race report soon to come

Of course now comes my goals for 2012:
Goal #1: Going sub 4 this time at the Napa Marathon, I'm being very careful with my training this time and really hoping my hard work will get me through

Goal #2: Wildflower: I would like to get faster, but I know the elements were really in my favor next year so along with staying sub 3 hours I'd like to make a point of running the whole run course

Goal #3: The half Ironman: I signed up for Vineman and my goal is just to finish

Goal #4: A more focused approach to my training: I've learned from my injury so I'm planning on being better about this

Goal #5: A half marathon PR: I'm thinking sub 1:40, I don't know what course, or when, but I really want this.  It may mean losing a few lbs., but I'm working at this.

Goal #6: Trail Running!  Ms. Kim Cooke got me into trail running this summer and now I really want to push myself to trail more often and in more places

Goal #7: Push myself harder: this is more mental than physical, but it does need work.

Personal Goals:
Goal #8: Improve my lessons and teaching strategies: always ongoing

Goal #9: Positive attitude: I can be real negative and maybe even a b#*$?! at times, I've gotten better at this, but I still can use some work

Goal #10: Lay off the cupcakes: I need to focus more on my health in terms of nutrition this year.  I eat pretty healthy, but I tend to indulge when the opportunity presents itself.  My focus is balance.

Happy New Year everyone!  Here I come 2012!

Events on my calendar:
Waterfront 10 miler
Napa Marathon
Oakland Half Marathon
Wildflower Olympic
Vineman 70.3 Half Ironman

Mi Familia...Napa 2 weeks down 10 to go...

This week is always a tough week to get my act together.  I have the whole week off work so I really have to push myself to get outside in the cold, not to mention everything that will make me sluggish on a run is out in the open and ready for me to indulge in.  However, I managed to get through and enjoy some family festivities and last minute shopping along the way

Monday: Epic fail at the gym
So I tried to get in a zumba class, but it got cancelled and then I tried to swim, but my arms were heavy and just not feeling it, so I settled for a lame workout that I hoped would make my legs a little peppy to tempo the next day.  Then I was off to finish my shopping and avoid foods that wouldn't agree with me while in tempo.

Tuesday: 2x2 miles
I got up at 7a.m. (yes this is sleeping in) to head out the door and hit the trail.  I got in a 2 mile warm-up and then jumped into my tempo intervals.  I made it through the first interval with a 7:35 and a 7:26 mile then on to my second interval which my legs were agonizing over (guess avoiding crap didn't work so well for me).  I pushed myself to do the second set, but this went a little slower (especially the uphill 2nd mile) 7:30, 7:46.  Then I headed off to Bikram yoga to try and stretch it all out, hoping my legs would not give out since my balance is so awful.

Wednesday: Bikram and Hike
I met up with Laney and Andrea for a 8:30a.m. Bikram session.  I faired better today since my legs weren't entirely fatigued.  After I was stretched out I met up with Laney, one of her clients, and a few of her client's co-workers to go for a hike along the Mt. Diablo ridge.  I'm sure you know how much I LOVE Mt. Diablo, despite it trying to kill me occasionally, plus, lately the weather has been brisk but sunny which is oh so awesome (I like rain but it really limits my activities).  After lots of talk, laughs, and about 4 or 5 miles we came back to the cars and headed our separate ways.  Sometimes I think walking is harder than running because my legs were stiff after this.

Thursday: 16 mile run
I needed to go pick up my students to head out to SF and look at prom venues, but I also knew I needed to fit in 16 miles before 11a.m.  I layered up and headed out, hoping to negative split along the way.  Usually this is my track day, but since I was unsure as to when I would be back I cancelled track and switched my days.  My legs felt awful, again, but I pushed through managing to negative split for most of the run (I was out of gas the last 3 miles).  Laney joined me for a few which helped me push toward my goal pace.  Then off to the city where we looked at some awesome venues!  The kids were still making their final decision, but it is already seeming pretty awesome!

Friday: Rest day
I had plans to get up and do something, but my body just wouldn't let me.  I was exhausted, sore, and wanted just another hour.  I wanted to head out to my grandparents so I opted to rest.  Then I spent the evening catching up with my mom and grandparents, and enjoying MENUDO, one of the wonderful holiday traditions!

Saturday: 8x800
I had a few interval options, so I opted for this one.  Very determined I headed to grandpa's treadmill and cranked out my intervals.  I started by a 2 mile warm-up and then the 8 went something like this 3:48, 3:43, 3:42, 3:36, 3:34, 3:34, 3:32, 3:26.  Then I was off to eat grandma's fantastic tamales, rice, beans, and of course potato salad!  The food was great, the family was even better.  We enjoyed all the great food while playing Lotaria (mexican bingo) and apples to apples.  I tried to get the right margarita ratio for everyone and I helped my mom experiment in creating chocolate martinis.  I ate so much and so many desserts.  We opened up presents my family is oh so generous, thank you everyone for everything, especially my North Face Jacket!  I was deeply depressed over losing my old one.


Sunday: Rest
Although I wanted to do something today I was just too excited for more food, more presents, and more family.  Although we usually do movies on Christmas day I headed out too early to partake and went to visit Nick's family and enjoy his mother's fantastic Prime Rib.  If you can't tell I indulged quite a bit this week.


I made it to 31 miles this week running now on to week #3
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!


Next Event: Brazen New Years Eve trail half marathon