Race Report: Road Runner Sports Adventure Run (May)

The Ladies found this Race back in March.  It's inaugural was April and due to a work obligation I couldn't make it.  No worries, the Adventure Race takes place the first Thursday of every month!  So, this past week, I was hell bent on making it...

Think part Urban Race, part Amazing Race and a little scavenger hunt.  That's the Adventure Run. 

We met at Road Runner Sports in Laguna at 5:30.  Picked up our... wait for it... BEER TICKET (and other stuff) with registration.  There were about 60 Runners chatting it up with friends and about 6-7 Pop-up tents to peruse:  ASICS, Stingers, Compression Socks, etc.  Participants were allowed to run in the shoes/socks during the Race with the simple act of handing over your drivers license.  A nice touch... although it made me laugh how many post race announcements were made to "return your shoes or compression socks before you leave!"  Hope that worked out.



The course map.



After a few minutes of collecting our group, we headed over to the semi truck to wait for the map unveiling.  Adventure Run reveals the course at the beginning of the Race.  You are given a slip of paper and a pen to write down the different check-ins to get tickets.  The more savvy folks take out their smart phones and snap a shot of the map... then hit the trail quickly.  Our group was a combination of both... regardless there was an err of excitement to get going quickly.

 


 Off we went to the first and closest location - Expedia Cruises.  Here's where the strategy comes into play:  some folks bypass the closest check ins knowing there's going to be a bottleneck.  Instead they opt to go to the furthest out.  Me:  I had no clue what I was doing and just followed the crowd.  I figured today I'd play the part of a sheep... and not attempt to spin off on my own.



check ins...





After about 5 check-ins with The Ladies, I decided to catch up with a group heading out to one of the furthest check-ins.  Once I closed in on them, I realized some folks take this "fun run" a little too seriously.  I was greeted with a cold shoulder and even a false lead to a check in.  Hm!  Not exactly my type of crowd!  After the third attempt to set me on a bad trial, I finally said something:  "I don't like this Race, everyone is so rude.  Not at all a Runner's attitude!"  My new crowd took the hint and became more friendly/helpful.  Even showing me the quickest way back to Road Runner's while picking up two more check ins.  Well, then... I guess we all need to be reminded we aren't winning a Honda at the end of the course!

Net, net... you have an hour to find as many check ins as you can.  The more check ins, the more tickets.  The more tickets, the more entries into the raffle for prizes:  $500 to Road Runner, free ASIC shoes, etc.  Oh, and there's a FREE BEER at the finish line (I love that Renegade threw that in!).

 

That  FREE BEER helped to change the attitude felt on the course.  Folks were sitting in the parking lot, laying out their tickets, socializing with friends while enjoying their beverage.  Spirits lifted.

At the end of the day, I'll give the Adventure Run another shot.  I just hope the spirit of the participants change and they realize we aren't actually on The Amazing Race.

Perks of the Race:

• FREE BEER - one free beer for those over 21 with registration, (2) free beers if you've purchased an Adventure Race T-Shirt ($25 - also gets you extra tickets at check ins)
• Free registration - yup!  Can't beat that!
• Chance to win prizes via the raffle - $500 worth of merchandise to Road Runner, Free ASICS, etc
• Opportunity to try on the newest ASICS shoes and compression socks
• Post Race raffle and beer garden = happy participants
• Fun, scavenger type Run through Lake Forest/Laguna Hills - seeing folks Running crazy on the sidewalks made me giggle and invoked some car honks
• A great way to mix up your weekday run
• Well organized:  each participant received a Ziploc baggie and pen to collect their tickets and write down which check ins are on the course
• Nicely coordinated - map course, route and participating check in locations
• Not just a Run - many of the check ins had us doing push ups and/or squats
• Leading up to the Race you register and receive reminders for the upcoming Run
• A post, POST Run Celebration at Woody's Diner for more opportunities to get in a raffle

Things that suck about this Race:

• Not at the fault of the Race Organizers... but folks, let's check out attitudes and remember this is for fun
• Some glitches on the website, prevented communications from going out to participants before the Run




• Slightly misleading on the gift prizes... $500 on select merchandise at Road Runners, not a $500 gift certificate to Road Runners... there's a difference (also, it would be great to not get a gift certificate to the Adventure Run Shirt, since many already have it in order to be submitted in the special drawing)

Overall, a great idea to get folks out and Running.  I think it swings more beginner, but it's not to say the more "veteran" Runners aren't having fun too.  I recommend you give it a shot... I mean you don't have anything to lose and only FREE BEER to gain! 

20 Mile long run - and a bit of a reality check

Alrighty then.  Let's recap.

San Diego Marathon, 6/3.  Goal:  8:45/Mile pace (under 4 hours - aggressively).  Current Marathon time:  4:06. 

Sunday I had a 20 Miler.  Well, Sunday I had a "written" in 20 Miler, that could easily be a 10 Miler... just depended on 1) support 2) motivation... in that order.

So, after some debate, the decision was made for me when a friend agreed to run the 20 Miles with me.  Locked in:  20 Miler on Sunday.

Don't I sound convinced...

Sunday, 7am we push off.  All is well in the world.  Hitting slightly faster than my Long Run Pace:  closer to 9:15ish.  Attempting to slow down on the Huntington Beach trail but conversation is pretty interesting and so the Pace speeds up.

Mile 9 is my kick off to start GMPs.  I'm still heading "away from home" which means I need to still mentally push myself because I'm going away from my goal not towards it.  Needless to say, this is top of mind.  Yet, I still hit 8:35/Miles.  And the cockiness begins.

Once reality catches up... I do what any Runner now a days does and put my headphones in to drown out the pain/heavy breathing.  We turn around on our out and back... only to be greeted by a slight headwind.  At this point I'm willing to make a mountain out of a mole hill.

Headwind in my face, headphones in to drown out the nagging voice of my heavy breathing, and a constant fear in my thoughts:  this isn't going to work.

Yup, this isn't going to work.  I've decided I'm pushing too hard on an aggressive pace.  That means I either need to readdress my Goal or push harder through it.  Problem is, I'm pushing pretty hard.  A few times I've chalked over strenuous workouts on my recent development for panic attacks.  I don't want to push that much more.

At the end of the day, my Long Run missed the mark on my Training Goal.  We iced down in the ocean, post Run, so the only thing hurting is my ego.  Admitting you were overly aggressive on your Goal is a hard pill to swallow.  But then again, there are plenty of Marathons out there.  

I'll have to view this as a building block to the next (sub 4 Race).

Brain Damage - 18 Miler

No seriously, it was. 

Just recently I had to mix up my Training Schedule. I can now only Run Long on Saturdays if it's after 9:30am. That kicks me out of The Ladies meet ups. What's left are Sunday Long Runs... which coincidentally hooks me back up with the Fab5, if their Ironman Training Schedule works with mine.  Sad to leave one group, but happy to have a reunion (The band's back together again!) with the other.

This past weekend I had 18 Miles... So, after reaching out to Fab5 I realized with some amazing time management and planning, I could meet up with them on Saturday for at least 10 Miles after their 60 Mile Ride. 

Timing had to be perfect.  I'd Run 8 Miles solo, finishing just as they dismount their bikes (and change, and load the bikes up, and load up their fuel belts, and chat about the ride, and... you get it).  

We could do this... and well, truth be told: I REALLY didn't want to run 18 Miles... and I REALLY, REALLY wouldn't be motivated doing it solo.  So it was with forced optimism, that we planned the meet up thinking everything would fall into place, no problem.


The next day emails flew. Coordination was complete. And we planned to meet at 10:30am on Aliso Creek trail - their home base with the cars.   Me: Already done with 8 Miles, ready for the last portion. Them: Finished with 60 Miles on the bike, ready for the Brick. Either way, both parties ready to push off for the last 10 Miles together.


Not wanting to hold them up, I stressed about "perfecting" my time so I wouldn't be late. I'd hate to have them wait on me. And truthfully, there would be nothing I could do if my 8 Miler ran over.  So, 9:00am I drove to home base, saw their cars and pushed off for my portion of the workout.

2 Miles north on the trail.  2 Miles back... past the cars... 2 Miles south on the trail...  2 Miles back to the cars.  

As I approached the cars on my last mile, I get a text from Event Whore:  "Running late, will be there by 11:30."   At first I thought it was a joke and I'd come up to the cars and find them all hiding in the bushes just to mess with me.  But, no.  It was the truth, they weren't going to be there for another hour.   

What's a girl to do, but continue Running.  

So I head out to repeat my previous path:   2 Miles north on the trail.  2 Miles back... past the cars... 2 Miles south on the trail...  2 Miles back to the cars.  

Approaching the cars (yet, again) I realized, "Sh*t! They are still out on the road!"

Back out I went for 1/2 Mile hoping 1) that would be enough time to allow Fab5 to roll up to home base 2) that wouldn't be too much time that I'd miss them and they'd hit the trail without me.

I approached the cars a 5th time, hoping to not have the mind blowing experience of doing smaller crazy eights til they arrived.  Thankfully they were there!  As is the case with Long Rides/Runs you just can't accurately predict how long you'll be out on the road.  One flat tire can throw you off...  But the problem now was:  I now only needed to run 3 Miles to complete my workout, blowing the original plan to Run 10 together.

At the end of the day I was thankful to Run with the group, even if it was for only 1 1/2 Miles.  (Even more thankful we grabbed a beer post workout!)  I'm sure it was a good experience for me, Running 15 Miles in a challenging/boring short course, but I hope to never have to do it again! 

Then again, I'm coordinating my Long Run with the Fab5 again this weekend... so who knows!

In the end it's not the years of your life, it's the life in your years.

Good morning!


#makeitcount

Upcoming Race: Run For Your Lives 5k

Seriously considering this Race.  Seriously considering being a Zombie. 

http://runforyourlives.com/

Plus, according to "Affordable Races in California" there's a discount code:

If anyone is interested in the "Run for your Lives" zombie 5k in SoCal, enter code SOCALA002 to save $5 of registration! :)

 

Who's with me?!

Race Report: Hollywood Half Marathon (April)

100% a last minute add to the calendar:  Hollywood Half Marathon.

The Ladies signed up for this Race awhile back.  Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Inaugural Races... there's usually too many kinks to work out.  So I decided to sit this one out.

Then the itch to do another Race and keep my endorphins up through April kicked in.  After a quick post for Race suggestions on Facebook, next thing I knew I was taking someone's place to run the event.

Overall the consensus on the Race was:  It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either.  I think most of us would consider doing it again next year with friends, but it's not going to be "a must".

I didn't have any HUGE issues with the Race/Course like I have with others... but I do think they have opportunities.  What was nice is the Race Organizer apologized for things that caused much frustration (i.e. Race Site crashing, poor Expo Parking planning, Monster Hill at mile 11-12.75 for example).  But at the end of the day, you just had to tell yourself:  It's was an Inaugural Race.

Perks of the Race:

• Start line includes a mixed bag of costumed characters, ours featured:  Marilyn Monroe's (2- one male/one female), Superheros, Disney Characters, a man who balances a watermelon on his head as he runs, Elvis (and a mini-me) and lots of wigs *heart*
• Pretty decent sized Expo
• Run down Hollywood Blvd (with the stars)
• An out and back so you could see friends on the course
• Amazing Medal - all about the bling
• Happy it said "Inaugural" on the ribbon 
• Finish line shwag was pretty good
• Dry fit T-shirt was pretty nice
• Price was decent:  $75-95
• Cute Red Carpet Photo ops

Opportunities for the Race:

• Race site kept crashing, especially the day before the race when most folks look up last minute things
• Bag Drop and Port-a-Potties were hard to find at the beginning of the race
• Literally an out and back...
• One MONSTER hill at mile 11-ish for about a mile and a half
• Lack of volunteers to pass out water = lack of water for runners on the course
• Traffic to Packet Pickup was terrible - literally saw accidents from cars unwilling to let each other pass
• Wish there were more bathrooms on the course
• "Tour the streets of LA like never before..." actually I have:  LA Marathon 2004 - same Hollywood Blvd course
• Race Organizers are not very responsive to questions on the site/facebook
• Shuttle buses at the end of the race blew our minds - we opted to walk 1 1/2 Miles to the Hotel instead

Folks, the moral of this story... if you expect a Race with the "i" dotted and the "t" crossed, then don't race an Inaugural Race! 

Otherwise, stop complaining and enjoy the medal.

Nike Free -- I Would Run To You

Oh course I had to share!  Too funny and too relatable!