Wednesday, July 31, 2019

July Books

I can't believe my goal of reading 17 books in 2017 (ha, I ended up with 88 in 2017 and 77 in 2018!) has morphed into this passion for books. Let's be real, not having cable TV to keep me "entertained" also gives me more free time to dive into a great book or seven ;) {PS One of my goals for 2019 is to read 19 books, let's see how many times over I can do that.}

There were THIRTY-THREE books in the first six month, so when I add July's FOUR that brings my total for 2019 to THIRTY-SEVEN thus far! If you're interested in what I read (or how I would rate them and whether I would recommend you giving them a read or not), make sure to check out my previous monthly book recaps! {January's Books, February's Books, March's Books, April's Books, May's Books, June's Books}


  • Life of Pi by Yann Martel - I actually grabbed this from our neighborhood "free" library. I thought I remembered they made a movie adaptation from this story and that folks thought it was good. Neither Ryan nor I saw the movie, but I thought I'd snag the book and read it when I had a chance (one of the many nice things about the pop-up libraries around town is there are no due date so I can take as long as I need to read it). Thankfully I was able to get in a few chapters here and there in between the home renovations and get this book finished. This is a story about a young boy who survived an extremely long period of time while stranded at sea after the ship he was on sank. I would say it absolutely kept me engaged and interested the entire time. No spoilers, but the final few chapters definitely flipped the script and I was NOT expecting it. It was not your average "survival story" that has been done time and time again. I was surprised at how "real" it all felt... like at the end I forgot it wasn't based on a true story because I wanted to look up to see "where they are now" on the InterWebs. I'll be honest, although I've heard good things about the film, I'm slightly worried it may be a bit too gory and graphic for my taste (because the book definitely felt that way at times), but who knows. I would give it an 8 out of 10.


  • Atomic Habits by James Clear - I was watching Instagram stories a few days ago and saw Do Good. Be Kind. had posted about some of the books they were reading, one of which was this one. At the end of the stories they mentioned as a "thanks" for watching all of them they would gift the first 5 people who replied with their email and which of the two books they would like to read an audio version of said book. Well, shoot doggy, you know I hit them up and I happened to be one of the "winners". The audio file was only about 5.5 hours long, so I was able to get through it quickly (I listened to it while I was cleaning the house, painting cabinets in the garage, etc). I wouldn't say that any of the tips and tricks the author is presenting are earth shattering, but I felt like they are super effective because of how easy they can be to implement. I love the idea of making sure a new habit won't take more than 2 minutes to complete, that way you know you will be likely to actually do it (for example, instead of saying you want to run 3 miles a day, make the habit laying out your running gear the night before or putting on your running shoes once you get home from work). I also appreciate the fact that he not only talks about starting good habits, but breaking bad ones. There were definitely some practical nugget take-aways from this book. (I'm also thinking I might want to snag a physical copy so I can mark it up... I think I like audio books for more novels and stories, but less for non-fiction books.) I would give it a 9 out of 10. 


  • A Beautiful Work in Progress by Mirna Valerio - I don't remember why I was looking on the Oceanside Library website, but a couple weeks ago I clicked on it and noticed a new "Link+" feature. It was a program our library was participating in, where they linked up with other libraries and you could now borrow books from any of them. This opened the door to a ton more books - WHOO HOO! I quickly looked at my Amazon Wish List (where I had been storing some of the books I wanted to read but our library didn't currently carry) to start reserving them. This was in the first round of books I was able to check out. Mirna is a ROCKSTAR (if you haven't seen her in Runner's World, featured by REI, etc then you are missing out) and I was stoked to check out her biography. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think most people (especially people who don't have the stereotypical "runners body") would love to read about her life and experiences from a back-of-the-pack runner. Her hard work and dedication to the sport is inspiring - not to mention she is a great writer. As with most biographies, you don't necessarily read them for life altering truths, but to see life through a different lens and perspective. I appreciate all Mirna is doing for the running community! I would give it a 9 out of 10.


  • Strong by Kara Goucher - This was another one of the books that I had wanted to read but our local library didn't shelve. When the Link+ program got introduced I added this one to my list (and it came down from the San Francisco Library). I didn't know much about the book prior to reading it, other than Kara is an amazing athlete, but I was excited to get into it. Quickly I realized this book might not be meant for me. Don't get me wrong, learning to keep a confidence journal is an AWESOME idea (and growing your self-confidence is something most people definitely could afford to do more of, especially female runners who it seems often struggle in this realm), but literally two days before starting this book I had thrown out my training journal because it was becoming more of a stressor than a help (and sometimes you just have to get rid of habits if they are no longer serving you, no matter how "good" they may seem). Now the book isn't completely focused on the journal aspect (there are eight "confidence techniques", including mantras, setting goals, positive self-talk, etc, and six "confidence essays" from other awesome women that touch on confidence as a whole), but I think I was just thrown for a loop when I started and thought "I don't need another journal task to add to my daily to-do list". There is a possibility in a few months I may pick this book back up and get more out of it, but for today I wasn't feeling it. (I do like the idea of a confidence journal, especially since the focus is on POSITIVES so you can look back over your training cycle and see how you have put in the work and can do hard things, but I've gotta pass on it today. Also, I feel like maybe it could have been pared down to maybe a blog post... it only took me maybe an hour to get through the 200 pages.) I would give it a 7 out of 10.


With that, July has come to a close. My reading may not be going gang-busters like it has in the past (thanks to our condo renovations taking over our life a bit recently), but I hope it never completely stops. If you have any suggestions, let me know! I'm always willing to add them to my library wait list!

PS I created an Amazon list that includes all of the books I've read and would recommend to others. Check it out!

What was the best book you read this year?

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Workout Recap - Week 30

Sunday, July 21st – Rest day, Stretched & Foam Rolled

Monday, July 22nd – Rest day, Stretched & Foam Rolled

Tuesday, July 23rd – Rest day, Stretched & Foam Rolled

Wednesday, July 24th – Rest day, Stretched & Foam Rolled

Thursday, July 25th – Rest day, Stretched & Foam Rolled

Friday, July 26th  Rest day, Stretched & Foam Rolled

Saturday, July 27th – San Francisco Ultra {Part I}, Stretched & Foam Rolled


Last week I had mentioned that recently my back has been giving me issues. Well, on Sunday it was really acting up so I decided to take an unscheduled rest day. I knew that not running my scheduled 6 miles wouldn't "make" my race starting on Saturday, but it may "break" it if I couldn't make it to the start line due to injury. Well, let's just say it never felt a ton better, so instead of pushing myself I took the entire week off. It was a bit unnerving, but I wanted to give myself the best shot at running my ultra as healthy as possible. More to come on that when I put all of my thoughts down in my recap.

How were your workouts this past week?

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Workout Recap - Week 29

Sunday, July 14th – 10 mile run (slow progression for the first 8 miles {not faster than 8:15/mile} then let the legs fly the last two miles)


Monday, July 15th – Rest day, Stretched & Foam Rolled

Tuesday, July 16th – 4 mile run, Stretched & Foam Rolled


Wednesday, July 17th – 7 mile run, Stretched & Foam Rolled


Thursday, July 18th – 6 mile run {2 mile warm-up, 8 x .25 mile repeats (.15 mile "on" at 7:10 pace, .10 mile "off" at 8:00 pace), 2 mile cool-down}


Friday, July 19th  Rest day

Saturday, July 20th – 10 mile run


Okay, so a few things stuck out this week... First, I need to get back on my foam rolling and stretching routing and STAT! My back has been screwy lately (due to my fibromyalgia, sleeping on a futon, home renovations, etc) and in the evenings the last thing I want to do is crawl down on the floor to get my stretch on, but I know my body needs it. Second, I'm so thankful I am in the middle of my taper because it seems like we have house stuff 95% of the day, so taking a break from running all the miles has meant I could either sleep in a bit before heading out for a run or not having to jam so much into so little time. Third, although I complain the humidity I'm so thankful we haven't had to deal with the summer weather the majority of the county has had recently - holy heatwave Batman! PS Can't believe my next ultra is less than a week away!

How were your workouts this past week?

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

My Fall Plans - UPDATED

A few weeks ago I shared that I was struggling to decide what I wanted to do this fall when it came to my running/ racing. It was an honest-to-goodness toss up between chasing PRs (personal records) or tackling the trails (and potentially adding in some crazy distance like a 100K). After much deliberation, I have finally made my decision...

Source

This fall I'll attempt to run a new full and half marathon PR. 

The decision did not come as easily as one would have thought. There were pros and cons to both sides (okay, let's be real, I don't believe there are many negatives when it comes to running, but both sides definitely had plenty of positives and it was a struggle to choose which set of favorable factors I was loving more). I guess you could say the hubby pushed me over the line to my decision... As he so eloquently stated, "PRs are going to get harder to come by now that you're getting older." Well, thank you very much... I mean, I sure hope my "glory days" aren't all behind me, but I do understand where he is coming from... The trails and longer distances will 'always' be there, but as we age we will eventually start a decline in our speed, so I've got to take advantage of my fitness while it's still here ;) #HopefullyNotPastMyPrime

Source

And, because I am a results oriented person and like to have things planned out, I figured I would share what I currently have in place to help me reach my goals. Not only does sharing my plans help hold me accountable (if I write it down, I've gotta do it), but it also allows you all to come along on the journey with me! And what a journey I am sure it will be...

Source

Fall Marathon Goal Race

If you have been around my corner of the InterWebs for a while, you may remember that I ran the Ventura Marathon last October. It is actually the race of my current PR. Well, I had some tummy troubles on the course (feel free to read the recap if you want a refresher, but suffice it to say I had to poop in a bush...) but gave it everything I had with the body that showed up on that particular day. Although the course holds my fastest marathon time thus far, I think that without stomach issues I could have gone even faster - so why not return this fall for a redemption race?! Yep, the game plan is to run the 2019 Ventura Marathon for my fall goal race. The race will be on October 20th, which may seem like a ways away, but I know it'll be here in the blink of an eye. {PS If you are interested in joining me (the hubby is planning to return again this year and will run the half), feel free to use the code "Carlee10" to save 10% off any of the distances offered [the Downtown Mile, Kids' Mile or 5K held on Saturday and/or the Half Marathon and Full Marathon on Sunday].}

Fall Half Marathon Goal Race

Okay, so let me start by saying my main priority is the marathon, but I figured, if I was going to be in "fast" shape for the full, why not attempt to take on a half?! In the past year or two I have been focusing my effort and training on longer distances and the half marathon has become more of a "fun run". Well, this year I thought it'd be awesome if I could clock a quick race and maybe secure an entry into the 2020 New York City Marathon with a qualifying time (I've entered the lottery for the NYC Marathon twice and haven't gotten in, but if I can run a sub 1:34 half I'd be potentially eligible for a guaranteed spot and wouldn't have to try my luck in the lottery). With that said, I've heard some AWESOME things about the REVEL Big Bear race and have registered! I haven't run this race in the past, but did run the full when it was still in Canyon City in one of my first BQ attempts back in 2015. Downhill running is tough, which is why I decided against it for my full goal race, but think that with adequate training I could tackle the challenge. {SPOILER ALERT: I will be hosting a giveaway for a FREE entry if you want to join the fun! Make sure to follow me on Instagram and keep your eyes peeled!}

Coaching

And, for me, adequate training meant calling in the big guns and using a coach this go-around. (In my head I'm thinking this will be one of my last attempts at a PR, after this I'll probably be put out to pasture and stick with the trails ;)) Ventura will be my twenty-fourth marathon (if you consider the San Francisco Ultra I'll be running at the end of July two, seeing as we'll be running it from finish to start and then again from start to finish). For the majority of those races I have been "self-coached", meaning I've found a training plan online and adjusted it slightly to fit with the races I have on the calendar and the goals I'm chasing. I did use a coach when I was training for the 2017 Chicago Marathon and had an awesome experience. This time I'll be working with my friend, and now coach, Kristen. Now, to be honest, I'm a pretty self-motivated lady, so I wasn't looking for constant encouragement throughout the training cycle, but more someone who would put together a plan and tell me when, what pace and how I should be running. With that said, I have signed up for her Custom Training Plan (although she does also offer 1:1 Personalized Coaching). We officially kicked off at the beginning of July and I'm stoked (and slightly nervous) to see how she will help push my running journey. I have known Kristen for the past few years as a runner and teammate on our #Ragnar4Rett Ultra Team, but am pumped to work with her as her client.

Nutrition

Because if this is going to be my last shot at a PR (okay, okay, that might sound a little dramatic, but in all honesty, if I am reaching my prime the only direction to go after is down, so I want to give myself the best shot to go out on top as I can ;)), then you better believe I am going all in. A friend of mine, Jonathan, works at Inside Tracker and I have other friends (runners and endurance athletes) who have used the service so I set up a call to chat with Jonathan about everything a few weeks back. If you haven't heard about Inside Tracker, let me explain (in my non-scientific terminology). It's essentially personalized nutrition through blood analysis. They look at who you are, how you are training, what your goals are, how you eat (including any dietary restrictions), what supplements you take, etc and use all of the information (along with a comprehensive panel of your nutrient and hormone levels) to make suggestions on how best to improve (not only how it pertains to your running but in regards to your health in general). They don’t just tell you what to eat, they tell you why (and help you adjust over time). They were awesome enough to waive the cost of the plan for me {I went with the Ultimate Plan}, and currently I'm awaiting the findings from my bloodwork. I will absolutely be sharing more about the results they've found, the recommendations they have offered and the changes I notice throughout my training!

What is the next goal you are working towards?

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Workout Recap - Week 28

Sunday, July 7th – 10 mile run (slow progression for the first 8 miles {not faster than 8:15/mile} then let the legs fly the last two miles)


Monday, July 8th – Rest day

Tuesday, July 9th – 4 mile run


Wednesday, July 10th – 10 mile run {4 mile warm-up, 12 x .25 mile repeats (.15 mile "on" at 7:10 pace, .10 mile "off" at 8:00 pace), 3 mile cool-down}, Stretched & Foam Rolled


Thursday, July 11th – 8 mile run


Friday, July 12th  Rest day

Saturday, July 13th – 16 mile run


Real talk: I only did my foam rolling ONCE this week. That is TERRIBLE! My main excuse has been because we have been tearing up and replacing our floors so I haven't really found where I want to do it now, but I need to kick that excuse to the curb and get back on my routing... especially with my next ultra less than two weeks away! PS My legs are much appreciative for the fewer miles during this taper! I can already tell they are doing a happy dance!

How were your workouts this past week?

Sunday, July 7, 2019

Workout Recap - Week 27

Sunday, June 30th – Rest day, Stretched & Foam Rolled

Monday, July 1st – Rest day, Stretched & Foam Rolled

Tuesday, July 2nd – 4 mile run, Stretched & Foam Rolled


Wednesday, July 3rd – 12 mile run {5 mile warm-up, 10 x .25 mile repeats (.15 mile "on" at 7:10 pace, .10 mile "off" at 8:00 pace), 4.5 mile cool-down}, Stretched & Foam Rolled


Thursday, July 4th – 8 mile run, Stretched & Foam Rolled


Friday, July 5th  Rest day, Stretched & Foam Rolled

Saturday, July 6th – 26.26 mile run, Stretched & Foam Rolled


This week included THREE rest days (thanks to the mini recovery from last week's 50K race - although, with all of the house stuff we've been doing I wouldn't say they have been complete rest days... more like cross-training days ;))... and I was still able to get in over 50 miles of running - BOOM SHAKALAKA! I had 26 miles on the calendar for Saturday, but it's hard to run 26 miles without adding the extra .2 mile to make it an unofficial marathon... I was pleasantly surprised with my speed workout, especially since I was running my "off" portions blind (my watch wasn't showing me pace, so I was just having to pull back a little but not too much during that tenth of a mile). My long run on Saturday started great but by the halfway point I was definitely on the struggle bus. I took more walk breaks than I would have liked (more mental than physical I believe), but that's what you get when you start the run by 3:20am so you can get home and start flooring the condo by 8am... And now it's time to start tapering for the San Francisco Ultra - FINALLY!

How were your workouts this past week?

Thursday, July 4, 2019

Black Mountain 50K Race Recap

Saturday was the Black Mountain 50K - my third official ultra. While I was running the 50K, the hubby ROCKED the 25K!


As always, I need to give you a little back story before I jump right into the recap, so hopefully you grabbed your reusable water bottle and a snack ;) This race wasn't a goal race, but when I was putting together my ultra training plan for the San Francisco Ultra {FYI - I use this plan generator for my ultra training and edit it to fit any additional races, vacations, etc I have on my schedule} I saw I had a 50K around the time of this race. I reached out to the race directors to see if they'd be interested in comping me an entry and they were generous enough to do so (we paid full price for the hubby's entry, so it was like 50% off both ;)). As you know, though, that will not impact in my recap, cause I always gotta #KeepItReal!

Source

Not only did the race directors offer me a free entry (which really only benefits me and my wallet), they also put together training runs before the race. The hubby and I were able to make the final training run work into our schedule a few weeks ago. I had a 22-mile run on the calendar that day and they were doing a preview of the 25K course so I woke up early, got in 7 miles before the hubby and I jumped in the car and made our way to Black Mountain. The hubby had 10 miles on his schedule so didn't do the entire run with us, but both of us felt this was super beneficial. They absolutely do not need to take more time out of their busy schedules to put together additional runs for the community (you didn't even need to be running the race to take part in the training runs), but let me tell you, it was much appreciated! Since I hadn't run in the area before, it was definitely helpful to see the type of trails and conditions we should expect come race day. And, if you know me, you know directions aren't really my forte, so having a sense of where I was going was priceless.

I found $10 on the first run of the day and then got to scout the trails for the upcoming race on the second - MAJOR WIN!

Seeing as this was more of a training run for me, I went in feeling a lot more relaxed than I have for races in the past. It probably didn't hurt that the hubby and I are in the middle of doing a major renovation of our condo and I haven't had much time to think of my races other than picking out my gear and making sure I get in the training runs.

Source

Well, let's just say the relaxed feeling started disappearing when, a few days before the race, I started seeing Facebook posts from the race. The posts sort of had me freakin' out a bit... They were reminding us about the weather (it was going to be hot, unlike the cooler May Gray and June Gloom weather we had become accustom to for the previous two months) and to familiarize ourselves with the course maps (they had started marking the course and had already seen vandalism of their efforts a couple days before the race). Don't get me wrong, I much prefer races notify runners of potential issues beforehand so everyone can prepare, but I guess since I was as cool as a cucumber these posts sent my head a-spinnin'.

Source: Black Mountain 50K's Facebook

To try and calm my nerves I decided to focus on what I could control - getting to the start line as prepared as possible. I studied the online maps, I hydrated like a boss and I laid out my #FlatRunner to make sure I had everything I needed.

This race's #FlatCarlee included: Kelly Green PRO Compression Socks, Green Sparkle Athletic Skirt, Do Good. Be Kind. trucker,
Nathan VaporHowe Hydration Vest, PROBAR BOLT chews, Handful Bra muscle tank, elite Road ID, black and white QALO silicone
wedding bands
, watermelon nuun hydration, green Momentum Jewelry wraps, COROS APEX Watch and Brooks Cascadia 13.

I haven't been sleeping great lately (thanks to my fibromyalgia and a bit of staying up too late to help with house renovations), but I still wanted to try and get a decent amount of "sleep" since I knew race morning would come quickly.

As you can see, the time on the screenshot is earlier than the
first alarm... of course I was up before they started going off...

Per usual, I was up before my alarms started going off which meant I was able to take my time getting ready before waking up the hubby and walking the pup before we had to jump in the car to drive down to San Diego.

Glad the race was "closer" than most are!

The sunrise on the way to the race did not suck... PS The towers on the top of the mountain on the
left hand side of the photo (above the highway on-ramp sign) are on the summit of Black Mountain.

I love trail races for many reasons, but one of them is how different the start line is compared to a road race. Trail races are normally smaller and usually a million and a half times more relaxed. I love being able to roll up to a trail race start 15 minutes early to grab my bib, participant tee, etc and still feel like I'm not rushed (but, let's be real, I am still always WAY early). Anywho, the hubby and I got to the parking lot around 5:45am, grabbed our bibs, used flushing toilets (thanks to the park facilities being opened for us) and had plenty of time to go back to the car so we could put on our shoes.

Bib pick-up was easy peasy!

PRO TIP: I keep an empty nuun tube in my glove box full of safety
pins and if the race doesn't put pins in my bag I reuse ones I've
acquired from other races - because I have a million and a half!

Another awesome aspect of trail races - the community vibe! There are definitely competitive runners out there, but for the most part everyone is there to cheer each other on and see everyone succeed. It's hard to explain but it's like everyone checks their ego's at the door. This race even featured one of the race directors' kids performing the national anthem.

It was so cute to have these two kiddos perform the national anthem for the runners!

Before we knew it, it was time to get the party started. I located satellites on my watch and had a friend snap a quick "before" picture (I'm never sure how thrashed I will feel after a race so want to make sure I have at least one decent picture to prove I ran the race ;)). And then it was GO time!

Ready to get this party started!

I didn't have any plans for the race. I knew the course was pretty technical (rocky, rutty and exposed), so I wanted to take it slow enough as to not hurt myself but still put forth a good effort. We were going to be climbing a decent amount, especially during the second half of the race, so I decided I would try to take everything as it came and knew that even if my time wasn't "fast" at least the extra time on my feet would be beneficial training for my next race.

Source

I would say I felt great for the first 10ish miles. There was a decent cloud cover so it was helping to keep the temperatures low. We were also running the same portion of the course that I had ran a few weeks previous so I felt comfortable with what to expect. The 50K started 30 minutes before the 25K so it was nice to have some extra room on the course so we could all spread out a bit and find our grooves. {FYI - There were 145 finishers of the 50K and 82 in the 25K.}

Source

I'd say by the time I hit the half marathon distance I was starting to feel the heat more. The sun was making it's presence known and with the lack of coverage on the trails we were getting beat down the entire time.

Slow and steady wins finishes the race.

I know this may sound silly, but you have to control the controllables. Obviously there is nothing I could do about the weather, but I could do my best to hydrate and fuel properly for the conditions. I was taking my PROBAR BOLT chews every 4-5 miles (I took them at miles 5, 9, 14, 19, 23 and 27.5) and making sure to sip from my hydration frequently (I had "plain" water in my vest bladder and nuun in my chest bottles for the electrolyte and to switch up the flavor a bit).

I used the Pink Lemonade flavor for the first two, Strawberry for the middle two and Pink Lemonade
again for the final two. 

A friend mentioned she would be at the aid station around Mile 16 so I was telling myself I just needed to get there and then I'd see a friendly face and take a little breather (although there were aid stations prior to Mile 16 I charged through them since I was self-sufficient with what I was carrying). She wasn't there when I got there so I kept chugging along. Thankfully she was at the turn-around spot closer to Mile 18ish so I was able to give her a high five and get a little morale boost. I also stopped at the aid station around Mile 19 to grab a couple potato chips (for the salt since I was sweating like a sinner in church) and an Otter Pop for the road. {FYI: Otter Pops are my jam! Pink and purple are my favorite flavors.)

I could eat Otter Pops all day err' day! And during a race?! They are HEAVEN SENT!

I knew from looking at the elevation chart (and having run some of the course before) that the majority of the climbing came after Mile 20. I told myself to run when I could (flats and downhills), walk when I needed to (uphills) and keep moving forward whatever it took. I realize compared to the summer heat some folks deal with while running I probably sound like a major wimp, but remember, we have had two months of gray, drizzly weather. Sure, we have had high humidity (which I loath), but the high during the day has been maybe 65 degrees. This mid-80s was zapping my energy...

Ha, funny, Weather Channel, nice try trying to
lie to me about the cloud cover... But as you can
see it started off humid and finished toasty warm. 

Once we hit the majority of the climbing I was pretty toast. At every aid station that had ice I was grabbing a handful and shoving it in my sports bra to try and keep myself cool. Although I hadn't seen many runners (if any) pass me, in my head I assumed I was one of the last people out there. In fact, since the trails weren't closed to the public, I saw some hikers and bikers (I actually almost got hit by two separate bikes during the race). The course must have been taking us the "long way around" because I saw some hikers a couple times and they would chuckle, like I was lost or something ;)

A friend snapped this picture of me when I was coming the opposite way as her. It's sort of funny
that you can see the towers on top of Black Mountain again in the background... And this time I am
heading away from them... I swear they wouldn't get any closer during the race!

I'll be honest, around Mile 26 or 27 you can see the park where you start and finish, yet you know you still have to climb to the summit of Black Mountain. It is a bit demoralizing having the towers at the top of that hill never seem to get any closer. Thankfully eventually I made it to the top. There was an aid station welcoming us with open arms. Instead of grabbing any of their food or drinks, I asked a volunteer to snap a picture of me with the summit sign ;) #Priorities

1554 feet above sea level may not sound like much (and, really, it isn't), but I finished with over
5,000 feet of climbing during the 30 miles of running... This definitely wasn't a flat course!

I texted the hubby to let him know I made it to the summit and was on my way to the finish line, then tried to get the legs moving again (which, as I'm sure you can guess, is a little difficult after already putting 5,000+ feet of uphill and 6 hours of running/hiking on them). There was a decent amount of downhill to the finish, so I wanted to try and take advantage of as much of it as I could (although the rocks and ruts along the trails made it difficult to find a rhythm and make up any time lost in the climb). I had seen a few females coming down from the summit when I was on my way up, so I was hoping that maybe I could catch a couple of them. (I know, I know, I said it wasn't about my finishing time... and it isn't... but the competitor in me thought it'd be awesome if I could move up a place or two in the standings ;))

Ready to be DONE! PS Can you see the salt build-up on the left shoulder of my vest?! Yum... 

After a few more ups and downs it was eventually time to get off the trails, hit the park we started at and make our way to the finish line. I was able to catch one of the females in front of me while we were on the trails (I was on her heels for about the last mile), but once we hit the sidewalk in the park she took off and my legs didn't have the juice to go with her...

Source

My official time was 6:21:29 (they didn't have chip time, so everything was recorded from the gun start, which added a few seconds to what I had on my watch - but three or four seconds in the grand scheme of things doesn't make a difference).


There wasn't a huge crowd at the finish line, but the hubby was there cheering me on and that's all that mattered to me. He had finished his race a couple hours earlier and had been hanging out at the finish line enjoying pizza (Costco pizza is yummy), beer (he loves him some SufferFest) and massages (Bastyr University was on site to help runners recover).

Cold beer and pizza?! I think the only thing missing would have been donuts
and our pup and the hubby could have sat there all day long ;)

After I had a moment to catch my breath, down a bottle of cold water and snag a slice of cheese pizza, I figured I should probably snap a quick finisher picture before we made our way back to Oceanside to let the pup outside.

My third official ultra marathon (both of 2019 and EVER) done - WHOO HOO!

I assumed, since the heat sort of destroyed me, that my finish was nothing stellar so we left before any awards were given out. Well, come to find out, I actually took SIXTH female overall and FIRST in my age group (Females 30-39) - BOOYA!

Source

All-in-all, this was a well run race. The three race directors are super awesome - keeping runners up-to-date with any and all pertinent information they may need, offering multiple pre-race training runs to scout the course and lining up great sponsors. The aid stations were well stocked, the volunteers were all amazing and the course was well marked (there were a few spots that I would have loved a few additional ribbons, but there is a 95% chance that there were ribbons there originally and they had been incorrectly removed). And I can't forget to mention the bling. I love anything that Elevation Culture does and this "medal" (made of wood) did not disappoint. Not to mention, I didn't see a single snake while running (there were a couple areas where I thought I heard rattling and you can say my pleads to God got a lot more feverish in those moments) which is a win in and of itself. The trails themselves may not have been my favorite (I prefer more runnable trails and these were a bit more technical due to the terrain than I usually enjoy), but it was great getting to check out a new-to-me area (especially one that's somewhat close to home). If you are looking for a challenging, well organized trail race in the San Diego area, you should definitely check out the Black Mountain 25K/50K!

We got a race tank, a HydraPouch, some awesome stickers and the 50K runners received a technical trucker.

What's your favorite terrain to run on?