just another running mom: February 2015

I haven't done a race since the Snow Canyon half in Nov. 2013. Not one race last year. Crazy. I wasn't sure what goals to set for this race or really what to expect at all. I wanted to finish the race and that was all I was willing to say about it. But really that's not me at all - I need goals. I finished under 2:00 hours and am happy about that. And now I am totally motivated to run more. Apparently, running one day a week isn't great training for feeling good while racing. The main thing that I am struggling with the most these days in all my workouts is my mental edge. I am so not mentally strong right now and that needs to end. One thing I've always been good at is pushing through things and staying tough. Right now instead I seem to find every excuse in the book for why I can't do things instead of just powering through it.

The race was so much fun and so pretty. But, it was a little hot and muggy for me (I got chaffed so bad - maybe my worst ever). At one point when I was starting to go to the ugly place in my head (around 9.5 miles) I looked over and the waves were coming in and the beach was just beautiful. Right then Happy came on my iPod and I remembered how awesome it is that I can run and how beautiful this earth is. I wore my back brace for extra support and it was driving me crazy - luckily I saw Laurie and Suzette at mile 12 so I took it off and threw it at them. Poor girls had to pick that nasty sweaty thing up but it made my last mile so much more enjoyable :)

A few things I loved about this race: no busing to the start. We just headed over to the start at 7:30 and ran. It was so well organized with 20,000 runners that can't be easy to do. The scenery was amazing. Plenty of porta-potties and water stations with amazing volunteers. Cute surfboard medals. The expo was 3 days long and had lots of great vendors. Shirts are cute and fit right. Did I mention how pretty it was?

Post race smiles