Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Seal Beach 10k the Green Way

First off, I want everyone to visit Wine and the Finish line, It was because of them that I got to actually be chip timed this weekend at the Seal Beach 10k and I'm so thankful that I didn't have to run as a bandit! I hope your foot gets better asap Kristen! They are such a cute couple and I love reading about their training and races.

So as I mentioned last week, I ran to the starting line and back home after the Seal Beach 10k this weekend. It seems lately that I don't just want to race but I want to take it to the next level and do some extreme racing. I thought that running to and from the race would also be 'green'. It actually worked out pretty well. I woke up and put on my new Zensah arm warmers, my running skirt and my favorite racing tee, my Nike Women's Virtual Half Marathon shirt. I got maybe the worst bar ever, a Roman Meal bar. Don't even try it, it's DISGUSTING. I could only eat half of it and then I threw it away. I had my hydration belt and two gus ready to go when I felt the urge. I had to go number dos.

I ran my last 10k and thought I was going to poop my shorts the ENTIRE time, so I knew I better take care of it when I was still in the comfort of my own home. I always get nervous before a race and I have to go. So I did that and then forgot to check my watch before I left to know how much time I had to run there. I had allotted myself a solid 45 minutes but then with the bathroom issue I forgot to check when I actually left. I had about two miles to go and I started to freak out that I wasn't going to make it there in time. So I ran faster, and got some strange looks while running to the race by the people walking there from the surrounding parking lots. I got there with eight minutes to spare. Perfect. I had half a gu, drank some of my water, said hello to a few random people I saw. I took off my hydration belt and left it under a tree by the starting line and then tried to figure out where I needed to be in the pack of people surrounding me.

Now, I totally understand some people were walking the 10k, running the 5k, had strollers, had dogs, had small children. I'm not exceptionally fast and I reminded myself numerous times that this was just a part of my longer run. I had ALREADY run three miles to the starting line anyways. But this starting line was a MESS. I was dodging kids, dogs, strollers, faster people were trying to get by me, it was just a jumbled up chaotic hullabaloo. I don't want to sound mean but if you are going to walk a 5k, do not be in the front of the starting line. I wasn't even that close to the front of the starting line, but the zigging and zagging was a little bit to much for me, and I always feel bad when I have to almost cut someone off to get through, but sorry I don't want an elbow in my boob. I was trying to make my way to some open space when someone tapped my arm, it was the speedy LA Runner. He was zooming by but we exchanged some quick words and then he powered ahead.

So after the 5k-10k split things started to get much better, it was much more open and I had to tell myself constantly, "Self, DON'T RACE TOO HARD". When the 90 year old grandma passed me I let her go, when the 5 year old kid ran past me I let him go. I was a-okay with letting people pass me and just chugged along reminding myself I had to go home later. I worked really hard at getting my splits even, which Claude was saying I was right at a 8:15 pace. I tried to keep that pace even throughout the race without burning out or going fast and then slowing down and going fast again. Call me Miss. Consistent, because I got all my splits to be within 10 seconds of 8:15. When I rounded to the finish line I saw all these people eating Popsicles and thought that they would be at the finish. They weren't and I never even found them. LAME.

The course was long and boring, 10ks are not my thing but for being a free race, 'inside' my long run, it worked out perfectly. My final time was 50:34 with an average pace of 8:09. I came in 357th overall out of 1576. I was 9th in my age group and the 76th girl overall.

I traveled with LA Runner to his car after so we could of course take pictures, we slow jogged and got some cool pictures and then I headed back to my hydration belt under the tree. It was still there so I took the remained of my gu and headed back home. Once I got home I had two more miles to run according to Claude for my long run. It was getting hot so I ran in my sports bra. I haven't done that in forever, nor should I do it ever, but it was fun and it felt good to finish my run and feel so free. That was a really lame line. So I finished with 16 miles, including my 10k race.





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LA Runner and I... I don't know what in the world I'm doing. I look like I was giving a thumbs up, or running, it's just a strange picture. Yet I am glad Billy wasn't without his camera or I would have NO pictures. Thumbs down.




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Another great photo of yours truly. I was very skeptical about the armwarmers, but I'm going to post about those tomorrow.

Tomorrow I will write a review of the Zensah Sports bra and arm warmers. :) Also, tomorrow is the last day to sign up for the $100 Giveaway to OnlineShoes.com! I will be announcing the winner on Thursday morning with my deals post!


I am also so glad many of you enjoyed the beginning of Adoption April. I can't wait to share more with you all.


xoxo

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great job on the race!!

Side note, I always have to pee before racing - it's like I have a nervous bladder! LOL

You look so stinkin cute! I love the running skirt- I haven't tried one of those yet.

Aron said...

yay i love chicrunner race reports :)

great job on your 16 miles and the PR in the middle!!!

Being Robinson said...

Seriously LMAO when I read the number dos part, I am EXACTLY the same way. That made my morning, so thank you. The things we can get away with talking about as runners is INCREDIBLE ;) Cute sleeves by the way. And nice 10K time!

X-Country2 said...

Great report. (Nice job on the top 10 AG finish!) I love the arm warmers, and I can't wait to hear what you think.

Nicole said...

Great job on your 16 miles! I love running in my sports bra! Feelin free is much more fun hAHA :)

Run Sarah said...

Great job! I can't imagine doing a 10k race flanked by an extra 7-9 miles, awesome...I love your outfit too.

Kristin @ The Southern Summer said...

Great job turning that race into more than just a 10k. I should have done that for mine last weekend!

Kristen said...

What a great way to break up a long run. I am def going to consider that.

I love my arm warmers when I cycle but mine are boring black - love the pink! i have never tried them for running but duh, I should!

Niki said...

Love the arm warmers!! Especially since they're pink! Can't wait to hear the review:)

Great job on the long run/10k race!! Wish I could run a 8:09 pace for 6 miles!!

Chelssie said...

hey lady congrats on the race, BTW what are the pink things on your arms, j/w if they were just like wearing sleves or if they had another purpose...

Chelssie said...

haha don't answer my post i just read all the other comments from other people clearly stating that they are arm warmers hehe... cute!

Lucky in Love said...

Looks like you had a great race! You're amazing!

I always go to the bathroom right before I run...but after my warm up walk...it's like I get nervous before I'm about to run and I have to go again!

Julie {Angry Julie Monday} said...

Ok, your race report made me laugh. I forgot to include all the randoms about the walkers, strollers, dogs, and kids in mine. I kept tripped over those damn kids in the blue shirts. I even told my friend, those damn kids. I evne elbowed my friend with my Garmin trying to get through. I was not impressed.

I still need to do my Carlsbad report.

And you are crazy running both ways.

Alisa said...

Way to be green! I love this concept. The only race I've been "green" at is the Turkey Trot I did near my Mom's house. Mr. Pi and I walked to/from.

Love the sleeves...excited to hear more about them.

I also need to learn how to run at consistent speeds, I'm always all over the map. Hence my recent race report split times.

Sarah Ring said...

I NEED to know what the deal is with the arm warmers!! Everyone in Austin is wearing these!! Even the cyclist (sp?)!

Give us the scoop chickadee! :)

RunToTheFinish said...

way to go on being all Dean Karnazes on us

Seriously you highlighted in pink the I needed to poop part, that's funny.

Amy said...

Well, I feel you about having to take care of business before the race... glad it worked for you, it doesn't always work for me, arg.

I, too, hate 10ks. Worst race distance. EVER.

Nice work getting the miles in, though.

Anonymous said...

sounds like a very adventurous 16 miles! congrats on the 10K PR :)

I would love to feel free and just run in my sports bra, but I am pretty sure people would throw things at me if I did. As you say FAIL! lol

Billy said...

You're too funny Danica. Great seeing ya as always and congrats on the diligence in getting the additional miles in. That's a 16-mile run with 6 @ marathon/LT pace.

Suh-weet!

Becky said...

When you post about the arm warmers, also enlighten us dummies about these running skirts. There's briefs attached or no? You're not al fresco under there, are you???

Oz Runner said...

wow, great run, race, and time...i'm curious about the sleeves, how do those help your running?

Manderz said...

You are awesome!! Very inspiring!

Julie said...

Congrats on another run!! I'm sure the whole bathroom thing would happen to me!!!

I loved reading your first adoption post and cannot wait to read more!

Marlene said...

Great report! Congrats on a nice 10K time AND long run! Cute pics.

I totally hear you on the walkers in the front. How does that make ANY sense?!

P.S. Jays won last night. ;)

Susan said...

Sounds like a fun way to get a long run in!

Danielle Runs said...

love the arm warmers... but being from COLD ohio, what is the temperature there!?

your race report was awesome! i hate worrying about the bathroom!

great time! what a great idea to make your race just a part of your long run, I will prob be doing that later this year :)

Melanie said...

I never like to run in a sports bra, but sometimes it's just so dang hot that you've just gotta do what you gotta do. I'm more likely to do it on greenways and trails than when I run on main roads... I hate getting honked at all the time.

Denise said...

Nice! Running before and after a race! That's a runner for you!

Congrats on having the guts to run in a sports bra. I could never and am envious of people who can!

Cindy said...

whew, glad you took care of number dos ha! very funny--but NOT funny if you have to go mid-race. my worst fear. nice work on the race! can't wait to read about the cute arm warmers.

massage momma said...

Great job on the run/race! I can't wait to hear about the arm warmers. I've been checking them out.

Peeing/pooping right before a race or run seems to be a common thing. Sometimes I have to go twice before the race starts. That's why I try to get there a little early!

I'm really looking forward to your adoption story. My dad was adopted as a baby and I always wonder what my biological grandparents looked like. You're awesome!

Janice {Run Far} said...

I always love reading your posts. Thanks for the honesty. And yes you do look very cute in your arm warmers. I am pretty sure I could NEVER EVER get away with running anywhere in just my sports bra. I would scare to many ppl.

Sheila said...

Nice summary of the race. I enjoyed reading it. I'm looking forward to reading your take on the arm warmers. I've eyeballed those at several race expos but have never felt certain enough about the things to plop down my dough. I hope you will tweet about it when you post the article...

Kelli said...

Good job on the race! I laughed out loud at the popsicle comment. I would be searching for popsicles if i saw everyone else with them too! :)

Unknown said...

That's a pretty cool way to do a long run. You've got a little bit of Dean Karnazes in you. ;-)

Heather said...

Great job with the race - very green, and way to turn it into a long run.

~Mrs. Guru~ said...

Congrats!

Ashley @ {Let Go, Laughing} said...

Great job on your race!

joyRuN said...

Great job building an excellent 16 miles!

Anonymous said...

Cute arm warmers!! It is always fun to read your race reports. Way to snag 16 miles.

Glenn Jones said...

Great race report Danica! Thanks for taking the time to write it! And yes - I'm with you on the start line shenanigans. Can it be true that walkers want to be at the front just so they can shave a few seconds off their PRs?

J said...

Love the arm warmers! lol
Great job on the race and long run! I have never run in just my sports bra - a lot of the girls on my team do it but I am just scared I guess.

Marathon Maritza said...

"sorry I don't want an elbow in my boob" - You don't? ;-)

Yay! Great job on the 10K plus all your extra running! Whoo hoo, great PR!

I'm looking forward to your arm-warmers report, I've been considering those for a while now.

Perfectly Imperfect said...

why do your race reports always crack me up?! at least it was only one grandmother! =)

good job by the way.