2013 Irvine Trail Half Marathon - Race Recap

Date: June 15, 2013
Location: Irvine Regional Park // Site #4
Start: 8:00am
Finish: 1:54:52








I randomly signed up for this race earlier in the week because I wanted to run some trails and I did not want to run alone...you know...because I didn't want to be coyote bait.

The Irvine Trail Half Marathon is one of a few races put on by My Own Race. This race boasts a small field, very easy logistics and a very casual feel. You do have to pay $5 to get into the Irvine Regional Park where this race is staged but parking is plentiful and the starting line is just steps from there. There is a 5K, 10K and a half marathon option. Something for everyone.

The race shirt is simple and looks like a cotton t-shirt, which I like. Feels like cotton too but is actually polyester.

I went to bed last night knowing that I didn't have any bread in the house to eat in the morning but for some reason, I thought that I would maybe drive to a bagel shop in the morning and pick something up. Yeah, that didn't end up happening. So I get to the race with nothing to eat. So I dig around in my purse because I always hide snacks in there. Lo and behold, I found these two bars from who knows when. They tasted like they've been sitting in my purse for way too long. Into the trash they went. So I'm still hungry but the race was about to start. Good thing I was snack-y last night so I wasn't really running on empty.

Final instructions from the race director...namely to yield to bikers and horses...else you get kicked in the face...by the horses, not the bikers.

Here we are at the starting line. I don't have any photos of the course despite carrying my phone with me. I decided to just run. There was one point at the top of one of the climbs that I wanted to snap a photo because it was pretty but I was lazy so no photos. Sorry.

So how was the course? Well we were running around in loops. I think 2-3 different loops. No mile markers, just some orange tape tied to trees and posts to let you know that you were still going the right way. Definitely wear a Garmin for this race because honestly with all the looping I wouldn't have known when I was done. The course was comprised of sand, packed and loose dirt, asphalt, dried grass, gravel and some concrete. It was a mix bag. I've ran on  hillier trail courses before but this one was by no means easy but it was exactly what I wanted to run this weekend. I ran the first couple of loops too fast I think because the second half felt difficult. It was an overcast day but I was working hard because I looked at my arms at one point and noticed that I was covered in salt crystals. Then, around mile 8 or 9, I took a wrong turn and was off-course for a bit. Luckily, I somehow found my way back to rejoined the other runners. I don't know what my official time is but my Garmin says 1:54:52. It was fun, forgot how hard it is to run uphill on sand.

Wearing my new InkNBurn shirt from Becka that I won during one of her Lazarex Cancer Foundation fundraising drive. Don't I look official? Like I do this trail thing every weekend? Like Becka? Nah! The shirt is beautiful and colorful! It soaks up sweat like nobody's busy. Kept me so dry that I didn't even realize that I was sweating so much until I saw salt crystals on my limbs. Haha, gross right? Anyways, thanks Becka for the cool shirt! Love it!

Post race snacks!

Super dirty and dusty shoes.

My third trail race and second trail half marathon! It was a good little race. With the exception of the getting lost thing, it went pretty well. Pretty organized for a small race. Everyone was very nice and I was really tired at the end so I obviously had a lot of dirty fun out there.

Elevation profile from Strava.

Elevation from the race website:

I Don't Care If Monday's Blue

Over the weekend, I went out for a run...on trails. I don't know why but every summer I feel the need to run on softer grounds and climb some ridiculous elevations. That first run on trails after running on roads all Spring is always shocking. The shock is a mix of good and not so good. Good because my knees and joints can feel a difference right away. Not so good because I always forget that I can't run on trails the same way I run on paved roads. After a couple of runs and some adjustments I start to get the hang of it again. And when I say "get the hang of", I mean on beginner trails, not anything like the stuff experienced trail runners take on. For instance, I'm not ready for any sort of water crossing or elevations that require a running start to traverse.

There's a couple of trail races coming up that I've been eyeing for awhile but haven't committed to. Recently, I was digging around on Ultra Signup and noticed that they've reorganized and updated all the results and races into one neat little site. I haven't looked into trail races in many months so I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to find stuff on there now. Anyhow, long story short, I might be adding another trail race to my schedule soon.

One of the many perks of trail running is the scenery. Never gets old. There is just something about standing above it all. On this particular run, I ran into a coyote. Obviously, I was more afraid of him then he was of me, so I just turned around and went another way. There must be a lot of coyotes where I run or I just have the worst luck because I am always running into them.

And what's the point of all that running if not to 'eat all the things'. The husband and I met up with Pam and her hubby for dinner later that evening where we buried our heads in this bucket o' seafood! Good times!

And in case there was still any space left in my stomach after that, I made sure to take care of that with Sunday Brunch at Taps to celebrate my sister and b.i.l's anniversary. Have you ever been there? It's worth a visit.

2011 Billy Goat's Half Marathon and Hill Climb - Race Recap

Date: June 18, 2011 (Saturday)
Location: Indian Truck Trail in the Cleveland National Forest
Start: 8:00am
Finish: 2:16:47










Elevation: 2,400 ft of elevation gain

How did I get myself into this you ask? Well like always, I'm easily suggestible and I love to run. That's all that needs to be said. I actually found out about this race from Glenn. He had ran it last year and even made a video about the course. Around March of this year, I watched his video again and didn't like what I saw but I was curious to see what it would feel like to run uphill. Next thing you know...this happened...

This morning I got up around 5am (forget to take the photo until it was already 5:24am...lol) to make good on that entry I sent in many months before.

Got dressed. I didn't wear that long sleeve blue top to run. It was just because it was chilly in the morning.

I had a quick bite to eat and some coffee and I was off.

No, wait...I packed up all the race stuff and THEN I was off.

I got to the trail head in good time so I had a lot of time to relax and stretch. 

The day started out overcast but it didn't last long because soon the sun started to peek out from behind the clouds.

I checked in.

Picked up my bib.

And this bug (gnat) net that I carried with me during the race and prayed that would not have to use. Luckily I didn't. It's not very attractive. Not at all. Not even a little bit.

The swag bag content. That race shirt is made of bamboo and is SO soft!

I walked around the starting area a bit taking photos waiting for the race to start.

This is the ascend into "the hill".

The "official" clock...

It was 10 minutes to start time and a briefing was given.  Something about not blocking the road and watch our footing because the path condition was not in good a shape as previous years.

This is Steve the organizer. It's his birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday Steve!

The "official" starting line. So fancy right?

Ready, set, GO!

Then we were off. The hill started from the get go. Just straight up for 5 miles and it started to get warm early and got warmer as the day progressed. Yeah lovely!

Up and up we go!

My legs were burning but the views made it worthwhile.

When I got to around 4.5 miles, one of the volunteers informed me that I was going to be the 4th female to the top so I stopped dilly dallying around with the picture taking and started to actually run. I was hiking a lot of the earlier miles. I ended up finishing 4th female. I was trying to catch the 3rd female from around the turn-around point all the way to the finish line but she was too fast and I came in a few seconds after her. It was fun to have someone to race to the finish. She gave me a hug at the end and said that I had motivated her to finish strong. She said she saw my yellow hat coming from behind and she was trying to keep the lead. Fun stuff!

Post race goodies!

Fire up the grill!

I did it! I was trying to take a photo of myself with the medal but failed!

And I have this to prove it. :) I think it is a magnet. 

Steve Harvey's daughter cooking up the hamburgers! Yum! She's so cute right?

Steve getting a birthday card from one of the runner Doug. We sang Happy Birthday to him!

First female and male to the top AND overall first place finishers. He broke the course record and ran this course in 1:35! That's craziness! And she (Michelle Barton) is one fast and strong runner. I'm in awe of how fast she ran this course. I don't know her official time but she finished with time to spare before the second female came in.

That's it! This was fun but let's never do it again! :o) Well I guess I should never say never.