Happy Monday: race recap

Oh, what a glorious Monday! I got out of bed, feet hit the floor and thought "hmm, just a bit sore." Yay, for ice baths and foam rollers! They are both annoying, especially ice baths but the make the next day sooooo much better!

My race yesterday was amazing! It was the third in the "Beach Cities Challenge" in Southern California. I started in May 2012 with the Orange County half and then did Long Beach in October and finished up with the Huntington Beach half yesterday.

I don't really "train" for these races. But, I do run consistently every week about 15-25 miles depending of my schedule. I will usually get in a 8-10 miler the week before and then race the following weekend. I started last week with a 6 miler and decided to do 4:1 intervals of running and walking. This makes for such an amazing race! Because I can run about 10 miles with out any problem but at mile 10 I'm pretty spent. Yesterday, I was able to run easy through 10 miles then turn it up and run straight through the last 3.1! So amazing!

The course takes you through a beautiful scenic route of pacific coast hwy. The half course is an out and back with about a 3mi detour through some pricey residential. There are some inclines in that portion but nothing to crazy by my standards and I'm not a pro-incline type of gal,ha!

I usually go through so many emotions while I run but yesterday I only had a teeny little, almost breakdown. For me the fact that my run felt easy bc of the run/ walk intervals I didn't really focus on anything other than when to run and when to walk.

My amazing Hubbs was at the finish line to see me get my medal and also I actually got to visit my first post race beer garden since my mama was watching the dumplings. It was so nice to just enjoy that afterglow race moment with Mike and talk about how exciting the course was for me. He is and always has been so encouraging and his support with running has been so wonderful to have! Running can be a little time consuming and finding a balance is something he has really been a part of with our little family.

I don't run for a time goal. Maybe one day I will. But, right now I run for the experience, I run because I can and most importantly I run because it makes me so happy. I never was an athletic child or teenager. So, as an adult the while medal receiving is a big deal!

This race I got two!! One for HB and a monstrous one for completing the challenge! I was so happy to be a part of this series and I can't wait for my next race!

Mahalo,

Dina