Racing Season

Disclaimer: There is not a single photo of my children in the post. This is completely about me.

It’s that time of year again. Running through the summer months in AZ is tough stuff. Now is prime weather for training. I packed in 3 great runs with some fun girls.

The Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco just happened to fall on my birthday. I spent 4 days in California with my friends Kerry and Marci. We stayed with Lyla’s biological grandma. Grandma Judy showed us a fantastic time. She cooked us beautiful meals and took us shopping. She loves Lululemon too!! My girlfriends were impressed with how hip she is.

At the airport, I ran into my brother Richard. He was on his way to interview with medical schools on the east coast.

Nike plaza downtown San Fran.

Lyla got a kick out of this photo. Me sleeping with her Grandma Judy.

Me and my girlfriends took a little run around Judy’s house.

We did all the tourist things.

Cable car rides.

Posing with pirates and sharks.

I had 2 bowls of chowder in sour dough bread.

I shot a video of the seals, and my kids have been watching it over and over.

Stopped for a little chocolate.

Triple-tandem biked over the Golden Gate Bridge. Say what?!? Yes, we made it up and over the bridge on this monster. I had to steer my two light-weight friends. Marci is the spin instructor, so she really should have been in the lead, but it took my muscle to keep us upright. We made it because these ladies are in such great shape.

Parking the monster was a beast.

We had a load of people cheering us on along the path. We even passed many cyclists who needed to push their bikes up the steep inclines.

I passed my cell back to Marci in the middle seat to take photos and videos while crossing the bridge. You’ll see her pan around behind her where you’ll catch a glimpse of Kerry’s helmet. Then she pans around and forward where you’ll see the back of my head (the braid). Marci completely let go of her handlebars to capture this fantastic footage. It took a whole load of trust for her to rely on Kerry and me to keep her balanced. I think about it now, and it was not the safest idea I’ve ever had.

After and hair-raising descend, we stopped to let Kerry’s heart rate slow down.

We made it to Sausalito with one injury that occurred while locking up the monster. A beast.

We decided not to tempt fate and took the ferry back to the mainland.

Race morning came too soon. I’ll admit I was a little sore at the start from our bike ride.

Sub 6:00 minute milers we are not! But we got to start up there. It was the fastest start I’ve ever had. Because it was a lottery entrance, the racers were a little more competitive. I ran well until I hit the hills. Remember what we biked over? Now I had to run over it. Blah!

I finished with a time of 1:46:45. Averaging 8:09 minute miles. It’s hard to see that number and be ok with it when I know I can be faster. I’ll be incorporating training on hills so I can be prepared next race.

We were handed Tiffany’s necklaces at the finish line from the San Francisco Fire Department dressed in tuxedos.

Grandma Judy and her sister with me after the race and just before we left for our flight home.

It was a great birthday.

A few weeks after Nike, Kerry, Lisette and I ran the Women’s Half Marathon in Tempe. I was not in the mood for running. I had a hard time recovering from the San Fran hills and was still feeling some quad pain. I hated it from mile one when usually I don’t start hating it until mile 8. Ugh. Finished with a time of 01:46:31. I’m the racer that walked most of the last mile. Yep, that was me. I use to say “why would you go so far just to walk the last little bit??!!” Well, for me, it was walk or pee my pants, so I opted for slowing down and staying dry. No bathroom on the route! I’m grateful for my friends at the finish who were still smiling unlike me.

Another friend asked me to fill in for a missing member of her Ragnar Team. A half marathon and 3 legs in a Ragnar is a lot of racing for me in one week. How could I say no though? So, with Luke’s support, I packed up again and left my kids for only the 2nd time in their young lives to spend 4 days with a group of crazy runners.

Feeling guilty for leaving the kids again, I left a stash of gifts for them for Luke to hand out then hit the road to Vegas.

Snow! It was snowing at the start on top of Mount Charleston.

My first leg was downhill with the wind at my back. I couldn’t slow down! I averaged 6:44 minute miles for 4.8 miles. Speedster.

My 2nd leg was in the dark early morning. I was so tired and I had the opposite conditions. High winds in my face and all uphill. No reason to tell you my speed on this leg.

My last leg although it was the longest was the easiest. A gentle descent and no wind. Pure enjoyment to know I was done!

We napped in the car while waiting for the guys’ van to finish their final legs.

Dinner celebration and then early to bed.

2 days later this was me. Doctor’s orders to prop my feet up. I had laser ablation on the veins in my legs. No more running until at least after Christmas. Don’t worry. I will be back stronger.