Just Plodding Along

1) I am totally ready for a marathon (as long as there are 12 hours of down time including a good solid 8 hours of sleep in the middle of the race). Pizza helps too 2) When planning to run two races in a row picking the hilliest most difficult race possible is probably not the greatest idea. 3) If your hip hurts before you start running 26 miles in 2 days it will still hurt, maybe even more, when you are done and hills do not help. 4) Always, always have baby wipes with you for after a race. You never know when you will be stranded on the side of a road for awhile unable to shower and still wanting to remain friends with the people who have to ride in the same car with you. 5) True friends let you wear compression gear to breakfast and don't bat an eye. 6) They will also let you drag them to race expos and drive your tired ass home for seven hours afterwards. 7) That even when I am tired and sore I can still crank out 13.1 miles and have a great time doing it. ...

On Saturday (May 19) the alarm went of at 4:30. I rolled out of my bed at the Moonlite Inn Redondo Beach and headed to Palos Verdes area to catch the shuttle bus for the Palos Verdes Half . After parking at a parking structure at a mall I grabbed a bus and headed to the start. The start was in a beautiful area. I got there so early they were still setting up so I just sat around and soaked in the beauty.  I met some great locals and chatted for awhile about the area. Everyone was very friendly. There were probably around 2000 people for both the half and the 5K. It never seemed too crowded.  The race got underway at 7:01. And the torture began. I had checked out the elevation profile but the amount of hills (constant) did not really register until I was actually running. Killer hills This was the hardest race I have ever done. I was also a little worried about my heart (yes the doctor said I was fine) but still the thought of what if something goes wrong...

 After I finished up my business in Irvine we headed to Redondo Beach on the 405 (which wasn't too bad though apparently it often resembles a parking lot) so I could get my race number at the Village Runner for the Palos Verdes 1/2 on Saturday. The Redondo area is so cute. After I got my number we had to eat. We went to the Redondo Beach Brewing Company for lunch. Where I made J & B participate in a lunch time photo shoot. J & B (thinking what did we get ourselves into) Mmmm water- hydration is key, check out the need for a sweater. That never happens in Tucson The food was awesome. I got shrimp tacos. Most delicious shrimp tacos I have ever had. And huge portions. After stuffing our faces we headed towards the beach to check it out. Because we live in Tucson 70 degree weather feels cold and we were freezing on the beach with the breeze. But it was really pretty. I understand why people live in tiny spaces all on top of each other to look at t...

Today I had a very productive day. I took a nap and then went and got a massage. Thanks Groupon for this screamin deal. Gotta say feelin pretty good. I also got around to packing. First I had to decide on my race outfits (feeling like the races are a go, even if it turns out to be a run/walk situation). Most important wardrobe of the weekend. Goals for Palos Verdes Half: Finish Goals for Pasadena Half: Finish I feel like a no pressure weekend is in order. My plan before I got sick was to run 8 miles on Sat. and 8 miles on Sun. to try to see how it feels to run a lot of miles back to back. Obviously that did not happen so I haven't run since Friday. I will be very well rested for these halves. My left hip is still kind of off so taking it easy is probably a good thing. Or maybe I can just run it into submission. We shall see. I also decided that my freezer had reached its limit of brown old frozen bananas. Banana muffins are needed. Ta da California Rocks Roa...