Footsteps 5K

Today we ran the Footsteps 5K that started from Newhall Park and ran out and back on the South Fork Trail. C had mentioned wanting to run it some time ago, but we haven't been able to coordinate or schedules lately, so we waited until the last minute to decide whether we would run or not. It was really nice not to have any pressure leading up to the race (anticipation, anxiety etc.) I just woke up this morning and signed up at the park! Unfortunately C was not able to run, but Marathon Mom, Sea and Sun, and a friend were all there ready to run. I really HATE 5K runs because I am not in the least bit speedy, and that is what you need to be to run a good 5K. I tend to spend my first mile trying to pass the kids and walkers, and end up out of breath for the next mile, and absolutely dead legged on the last mile. I managed to stay behind Marathon Mom, and Sea and Sun for the first mile and I felt pretty good, but I could tell from experience that the last mile was gonna suck, since it was uphill and into the sun. Marathon Mom and Sea and Sun were running like they were on a Sunday stroll (chatting and laughing). Even though I was close enough behind to hear Marathon Mom reprimand the Dad who told his kid to throw is water bottle into the wash, I was definitely huffing and puffing, not chatting. I spent a lot of my energy after the turnaround trying to get around the kid who threw the bottle, kids don't want you to pass them, so they run really slow and when you start to pass they start to sprint. When I told my hubby about all these things that kept me from running faster, he said I need to concentrate on my running more and less on the people around me, hmmmm. We all agreed that we would have liked to run faster,and that the last mile did suck, but it was a fun event, and I am glad I showed up. I have to say that I don't get as stressed about these races as I used to, I am not going to win, and I know that I am going to finish, it is fun to do it with my friends cheering me on (they are always done before me anyway)!!!

Running Around

It seems like lately we've been doing a lot of running around, but not actually running.  We have all been so busy with various things in our lives that our running has taken sort of a back seat.  Again today, our run was almost a no go due to last minute changes, but thankfully those last minute changes didn't materialize so our run was back on.  Patty and I met from Cheese Park and did our usual quick run to Decoro and back.  Both of us felt rather dead legged from all the "running" around and so we took it easy and even walked more than usual.  I felt good just to be back out running with friends because it made me feel like I had some sort of normalcy back in my life.  That's what happens when you go away on spring break, your routine is all messed up and it takes another week to get it back in order.

Pierce College

I don't know how many times I've been to this college to watch my kids' cross country races over the last 5-6 years and never once did I actually run the course myself until today.  On a spur of the moment, my son had conditioning practice with his soccer team and I decided to join him so I can finally get a run in.  I couldn't have picked a better day to try this course.  It was absolutely beautiful from the top and the temperature was perfect.  I ended up doing the entire course 1 1/2 times for a total of about 4 miles and only had to stop once on the back switchbacks.  I didn't realize there were so many switchbacks back there.  Now I know why the kids always looked so exhausted by the time they got to the crest.  I can't imagine doing that on a hot day.  I even ran up Puke's Peak, which is the last hill on the course, without stopping and finally got to see what was back there.  Running the course certainly puts things in a different perspective than from my past vantage point which was usually from under the shade of the EZ-Up.  One of my son's soccer buddies, who also ran cross country, knew a different route from what my son usually ran and it turns out there's even a little lake (pond) that you can run around.  Today was certainly a day of new discoveries.  I think it would be a lot of fun to run this course again with the ladies and do some shoe shopping at Phidippides.

Back to COC

We tried to think of a different course today, since we are all on Spring Break and weren't in a hurry to get home and make dinner. The best we could come up with was to run the hills at COC, which we haven't done in quite some time. Marathon Mom, C and I met at 8am and ran the dirt part of the course twice. It was really a nice morning, cool, but not cold, and we were either sheltered from the wind, or it didn't really kick up until we were done. There wasn't anything too exciting, (snakes) except for the dog poop that people don't feel they are responsible to pick up while walking their dogs (ugh!). There were also many holes, that looked like gopher holes, but I don't know if they were since there were so many of them. Marathon Mom and I are on the road again tomorrow, heading up North to visit colleges for our boys, so we won't get much of a chance to run the rest of the week. It was a great way to start the day, and we did quite well on the hills, even though we haven't run that route in quite a while. Spring running is the best running as far as I am concerned (good weather, more in the legs, longer days). Before we know it, I am going to be complaining about how I hate Summer running!

Happy Easter

Today was the perfect spring day, a day so typical of spring when you don't really know if you will need a long sleeve or a short sleeve shirt on your run.  This morning started out chilly, but warmed up nicely as Patty, Sea-N-Sun and I met at Peet's for our long run.  Sea-N-Sun however didn't know it was going to be our long run (Patty forgot to mention that minor detail to her).  We ended up running 8.25 miles to the water pipes near the Cross Valley Connector and back. We took a fairly easy pace since our unaware friend had not run that far in a long time, but she ended up doing just fine and I think we ended up under 10 min pace.  She did so well in fact that she was talking about doing a half marathon.

We would all like to run the Wine Country Half Marathon in Santa Barbara, but just don't know if we can swing it with mother's day and track meets coming up.  The usual stuff that seems to get in the way.  I think we should just say that the half-marathon will be our mother's day present and just do it.  We feel guilty about spending Mother's Day away from our family if we do this race, but isn't Mother's Day meant for us to spoil ourselves?  We've been looking for something else to get our motivation up and I think this will do it.

I'm glad I was able to meet my friends for a run this morning so I can enjoy a busy Easter weekend with my family.  Happy Easter everyone and enjoy the spring break for those of us who are lucky enough to have it off.

Running in the Rain

I think today was the first time we ran in the rain together.  I've ran in a torrential downpour when my kids were little, but not really since then.  Today, Patty, C and I met by my community pool and started our run towards the Helmers switchbacks.  Before we got there, there were scattered showers, but the skies were blue and the sun was out so we thought we were safe.  However, it was pouring by where Patty and C live and that should have been a clue to us.  As we started our run, it started to rain big drops.  By the time we got to the foot of the switchbacks, it was coming down rather hard and so we contemplated just running back to the car and calling it quits.  However, it seemed like such a waste to get all dressed and come that far just to go back and not run.  We finally decided that we were already wet so we should just go ahead and finish our run.  It rained pretty much the whole way to the point when we turn around, but on our way back the rain had stopped and we had a gorgeous view of the valley.  As we came down the switchbacks, we even had enough energy to run the steep hills up to the water tower.  Patty sent me an article on running and this particular "Rules of Running" really rang true for me.


5. You rarely regret the runs you do; you almost always regret the runs you skip.


I'm really glad we got today's run in.  I think the rain was a welcome distraction and it probably kept the snakes away!

ENOUGH with the Snakes!

This afternoon, I met Marathon Mom, Sea and Sun, and C at Central Park for our Monday run. We spent the beginning of our run describing the large snake that crossed our path last week on the paseos behind Helmers. Marathon Mom also told us a story about how she killed a "baby rattler" at Central Park during her boys' running club practice. I don't know if everyone bought her story, or believed it was really a rattler, but sure enough, once we passed the employee parking lot, and started down the dirt, I started screaming my head off. I came very close to stepping on a "baby rattler" which was right in the middle of our path. Of course I am known for stepping on things, (rocks, dog poo, you get the picture) and it is a miracle that I managed to jump over it just in time. From that point on our pace was pretty speedy! I think all of us just wanted to be done, safely. With Marathon Mom in the lead, we managed a pretty good 9.25 pace for 3 miles. I don't think we will run at Central Park again, anytime soon, unless we need to do some speed work.

Spring

Spring is officially here and that might explain why after running 7 miles today with Patty, I still had enough energy to finish my gardening project. Patty and I met for our long run today at Peet's and decided to run to the end of South Fork and back since we hadn't been in that direction for some time now.  It was such a nice day and I'm glad I didn't wear the long sleeve.  I think we were both feeling pretty good today and could have gone 10 miles, but I'm glad we didn't because my knee started to act up right around the 5 mile mark.  Afterwards we sat outside at Peet's for coffee and scone and then went shopping at Homegoods.  What a great way to start the day.  I found so many great things for the garden at Homegoods that I decided to finish my gardening project and install drip irrigation in my yard.  I found a pair of garden Crocs and wasted no time using them today.  Patty was shopping for picture frames.  Today was a very productive day.

Ice Ice Baby

Today is my day off, and a nice chance for me to run with my husband. Unfortunately since we are both getting older, we have to fight with eachother for the ice packs after the run. I have had a sore right hip for a few weeks now, and it hurt during our entire run today. I am also worried about my achy right shin. I have never had shin splints, and don't want to get them now. I am starting to think that I am leaning to one side, since I am sore on my right side only. The husband is a few years older, and abused his body much more in the younger years, so he has a regular date with the ice pack, after every run. I think I am going to have to invest in a couple more, or maybe an ice blanket!

We ran at Central Park this morning and the weather was just perfect, cool and breezy, but not at all windy. I managed to stay close enough behind the husband to keep me running a decent 9.3 pace, so not bad. It feels good to have my run and my grocery shopping done for the day, I do feel bad for my friends that are stuck at work, but I won't be on payday!

Snakes Alive!

Today Marathon Mom and I ran the hills behind Helmers, and were surprised on the way back by a 4 ft snake in the middle of the path. Needless to say we both screamed and stood there for some time, trying to decide if it was safe to run past it. Since it seemed to want to crawl off the path and toward the hill, we figured it would not back up while we ran by. It seems like all kinds of "wildlife" is out with the warmer weather, we complain during every run about the bugs that fly in our mouths, and noses (yuk), and it seems like we are constantly dodging the lizards that seem to like to play chicken and run right in front of us.

Today we started from the pool at Fairview and Grandview, and headed toward Helmers to run the hills and switchbacks in the paseos behind the school. It was a good run for me today, a little slow starting, especially on the first hill, which is a switchback that seems to go on forever. Once I got going however, I felt pretty good, much better than our hill repeats last week. The worst part was the last block going up Grandview, back to the pool. It was a slight uphill and into the wind, and for some reason the legs just gave out. I think we ran 3.95 miles, so I will round up to 4, and I have no idea about pace, but have to take the hills in to account. Glad it is over, glad I did it, not happy about all the critters!