2012 Wet & Wild 5K - Race Recap

Date: June 16, 2012
Location: Soak City (Knott's Berry Farm), Buena Park, CA
Start: 7:30am
Finish: 56:33

I had not planned on being at this event but due to a bib becoming available at the last minute, I decided to scrap my long run on Saturday morning to spend some time with some Ragnar van mates. That ended up being one of the best decisions ever!

Despite knowing that I had to get up early the next morning to get to the race, I still spend Friday night playing on my XBox for many many hours. That may not have been the best decision.

Race morning packet pickup area. It was organized chaos over at the shirt pickup area for some reason. The volunteers were hustling and bustling to get the correct sized shirts to everyone. It just looked crazy but the lines were moving pretty fast.

So I got to Knott's way too early because I was worried about the long lines to get into the parking lot, like for the Snoopy race last year but somehow they managed to correct that issue so I ended up with lots of time on my hands once I parked. I walked around a bit and finally ran into Heather and Shannon. Julie, Julie's brother and her friend Jane joined up shortly after that. If these names sound familiar to you, that's because Heather, Shannon and Julie were some of my van mates from when we did Ragnar SoCal back in April. I guess you can say that we are friends now because I still like them even after spending many hours in a stinky van with them. Plus, just look at how sparkly, colorful and adorable they are.

Just to warn you, this post is photo intensive. I love taking photos and my girls were dressed so cute that I could not help myself. It started with this one. Innocent enough. 

Believe it or not, we did run...

...from one photo op...

...to the next.

So this is just one of the reasons why I love these ladies. They are just so freakin' fun!

So much fun, it should be out-lawed.

 

The others will never tell you but I'll say it...it's exhausting to look this cute.

I told them that there would be refreshments at the finish line but they told me it could be ages before we got there so they decided to see if they could get Becka or Sandy to bring us a pizza. 

Entering Soak City...

...are you ladies trying to let me know how warm the water is?

 

The final stretch! 

Refueling at Hof's Hut afterward. Another good decision.

Skipping the dessert case. Bad decision.

Best decision ever!

Dads & Grads

Happy Father's Day to my daddy and Congratulations to Sister K (UCLA's Class of 2012)!!!

Back On Track

I went to track this morning. Can you believe it? I can't. I had wanted to go yesterday with OUAL and FasterBunny for TPT but I've been having a hard time getting out of bed early lately. Okay, who am I kidding...always. I've always had this problem.

I wasn't looking forward to doing this on my own but the bright side is that I didn't have to eat anyone's dust. I'm always picking up the rear. Eating-Dust is my middle name.

There is a track about a mile from my work which makes it the most perfect track in the world because jogging there is my warm-up and jogging back is my cool-down. Perfect. The only down side is that during track season it can get crowded or the track becomes off limits but the worse would have to be when the track athletes makes your 800s look like you're standing still. Yeah.

Source

Speaking of 800s, I did some this morning. Six of them with a 2 minute recovery in between. One uglier than the last. I was dealing with some shin splints that just wouldn't quit. I'm really rusty to say the least. Hopefully, it will be better next week.

Set 1 - 3:18
Set 2 - 3:32
Set 3 - 3:43
Set 4 - 3:46
Set 5 - 3:40
Set 6 - 3:38

A Tale of Two Peas

I've been traveling to central California quite a bit in the past two years. Sometimes it is because of  races but I have been known to travel there even when there isn't a race happening there that weekend. Yeah, just for fun. Can you imagine? Me neither but my sister tells me that it happened once.

As many times as I've been to this area, it was only on a recent trip that I finally stopped in to have some pea soup at Pea Soup Andersen's in Buellton.

Buellton is a small town right next to the Danish town of Solvang. It's pea soup, it's not a big deal by any stretch of the imagination but as I have already mentioned, I visit this area quite often so I felt like it was something I had to try.

The restaurant has been around for quite some time. It looks dated but then again everything in this area looks older and Danish to me so maybe that is the way it is suppose to be. There is a store connected to the restaurant that sold everything from food to all kinds of knick-knacks.

I even found this little toy dog that reminded me of Teddy. 

Apparently, lots of people have stopped by for pea soup. Now you know. 

Pea Soup Andersen's actually had a pretty large menu that serves many other things aside from pea soup. But I came here for the pea soup and forgot to take notes of what else they serve here. I ordered the soup and sandwich combo. They were both just okay for me. 

The pea soup had a strong gingery taste and the texture was more smooth than chunky. There was something about it that didn't quite sit well with me. Maybe I was biased because this was the second time in my life that I have had split pea soup. 

The first time being the day before at the Los Olivos Wine Merchant and Cafe. The inside of this place looks a lot different than Pea Soup Andersen's.

Complete with a fancier, smaller and simpler menu. 

So what you are looking at here is the first pea soup I've ever had. Let me tell you that it was magnificent! It was everything that I had hoped pea soup would be. It was not too salty. It is chunkier than your standard pea soup making it a heartier meal but in the best way possible. It also had small pieces of ham hock in there that really made this soup a meal for me. So this place spoiled me and now I can never go back to just any old regular pea soup.

I also ordered this Grilled Flat-bread appetizer with tapenade, hummus and muffaletta. Muffaletta is a spread made by blending together black and green olives, capers, celery, red bell pepper, garlic and olive oil. So good!

Do you like pea soup? Are there other awesome soups out there that I don't know about. If so, please tell me!

Los Olivos Wine Merchant and Cafe
2879 Grand Ave
Los Olivos, CA 93441
805-688-7265

Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant
376 Avenue of the Flags
Buellton, CA 93427
805-688-5581

Help Me Pick Out A Swimming Cap?!

Hello hello! I haven't blogged in about a week so it warranted two 'hellos'. I haven't blogged because all I did last week was go to work, recover from the race and celebrated National Running Day (June 6th) by going for a run and having dinner at Souplantation with some amazing local runners. And when I say 'amazing' it is because of the incredible amount of salads these ladies can put down. Overall, it was a good day.

Some time last week I saw Heather tweet about doing her last long run on Saturday, so I got the bright idea to go out there and keep her company for parts of it. I had a company picnic last Friday afternoon. Later that evening I had a bad stomach ache. I may have over done it at the picnic buffet line. I told Heather that I wasn't feeling well and wasn't sure if I would make it out the next morning. But the next morning I was feeling better. I got up later than I was suppose to but I was feeling better. So I laced up and went out looking for Heather. I had started about an hour later than her so I took lots of shortcut in hopes of catching up. But due to starting too late, maybe going the wrong route or running at a sluggishly slow pace, I never found Heather. But due to the June gloom, it was a nice overcast day for running.

After my run I went to the farmers market to pick up some produce for the week.

And it is officially cherry season. Get'em while the gettin's good!

And look Peonies! I love June! Overcast skies, Cherries, Peonies...

After shopping at the farmers market, I went to Salad Republic to get a Greek yogurt snack. It was amazing! This place boasts an impressively healthy and delicious menu. I joked on Twitter that I was going to be the duchess of this place on Yelp soon but I was only half kidding around. I think I am just going to give my 30-day notice and move right on in.

I hung out at the mall on Sunday with my family. It's been a really long time since I've been to a large mall. My niece dragged me to the Baby Gap to help her pick out a swimming cap because well you know...it's swimming season and she has to look her best. She wasn't sure about this one but I thought it looked adorable on her!

Long Beach Half Marathon/CIM - Training Log

Long Beach Half Marathon/CIM - Training Log

Week of: 11/26
Monday: spin
Tuesday: 5 miles
Wednesday: xfit
Thursday: 5 miles
Friday: xfit
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Race Day! 26.2
Needed: --
Total: 36.2

Week of: 11/19
Monday: xfit
Tuesday: 5 miles, Insanity
Wednesday: rest day
Thursday: strength training
Friday: rest day
Saturday: 9 miles
Sunday: Rest Day!
Needed: 24
Total: 14

Week of: 11/12
Monday: xfit, Spin
Tuesday: Insanity
Wednesday: xfit, 6 miles
Thursday: Lower body, Insanity
Friday: xfit, 4 trail miles
Saturday: 8.75 miles
Sunday: Rest Day!
Needed: 32
Total: 18.75

Week of: 11/5 (suffered from SAD week)
Monday: Spin
Tuesday: 3 miles
Wednesday: 4 miles
Thursday: tired
Friday: complex workout, 5 trail miles
Saturday: 14 miles
Sunday: Rest Day!
Needed: 43
Total: 26

Week of: 10/29 (recovery week)
Monday: upper strength training, Spin
Tuesday: Insanity
Wednesday: 4.5 miles
Thursday: Spin, Insanity
Friday: xfit, 6 miles
Saturday: Rest Day
Sunday: Rest Day!
Needed: 35
Total: 10.5

Week of: 10/22 (race week)
Monday: Strength training, Spin
Tuesday: 5 miles
Wednesday: 4 miles
Thursday: Insanity
Friday: Spin
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Race Day! 13.1
Needed: 28
Total: 22.1

Week of: 10/15
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Insanity, 3 miles
Wednesday: 8 miles
Thursday: Spin, Insanity
Friday: xfit (Barbara), 4 miles
Saturday: 14 miles
Sunday: Rest Day!
Needed: 38
Total: 29

Week of: 10/8 (mileage)
Monday: Recovery day
Tuesday: Insanity, 3 miles
Wednesday: 4.5 miles
Thursday: Insanity
Friday: 6 miles
Saturday: 20 miles
Sunday: Rest Day!
Needed: 33
Total: 33.5

Week of: 10/1 (race week)
Monday: xfit (WOD: Painstorm XXIV: 43:26)
Tuesday: 4 miles pace (31:26), Insanity (plyo)
Wednesday: 7 miles pace
Thursday: Rest Day (so tired)
Friday: Rest Day
Saturday: Rest Day!
Sunday: Race Day! 13.1
Needed: 29
Total: 24.1

Week of: 9/24 (speed)
Monday: 5 miles
Tuesday: 4.5 miles, Insanity (cardio power & resistance)
Wednesday: xfit (The Falcon: 14:45, Fifty Times: 18)
Thursday: Insanity (pure cardio and 10 mins of hip hop abs)
Friday: xfit, 7 miles (1:00)
Saturday: Rest Day!
Sunday: 11 miles
Needed: 32
Total: 27.5

Week of: 9/17 (mileage)
Monday: xfit, 4 miles
Tuesday: Insanity (fit test 1)
Wednesday: xfit
Thursday: 9.5 miles, Insanity Plyo
Friday: Rest day (sore and tired)
Saturday: 15 miles
Sunday: Rest Day!
Needed: 37
Total: 28.5

Week of: 9/10 (speed)
Monday: xfit, 4 miles
Tuesday: 3.5 miles
Wednesday: 3.5 miles
Thursday: (WOD: Fuzzy 50: 39:00), 5 miles
Friday: xfit
Saturday: 14 miles
Sunday: Rest Day!
Needed: 36
Total: 30

Week of: 9/3 (mileage)
Monday: 3.22 miles
Tuesday: 10 miles
Wednesday: xfit wo
Thursday: unscheduled rest day
Friday: unscheduled rest day
Saturday: 4.25 miles
Sunday: Rest Day!
Needed: 21
Total: 17.47

Week of: 8/27 (speed)
Monday: xfit wo
Tuesday: 7 miles tempo
Wednesday: (WOD: Widowmaker: 46:12)
Thursday: 6 miles
Friday: (WOD: Take-off: 38:11), spin 1hr
Saturday: 5K race (2.88 miles)
Sunday: Rest Day!
Needed: 30
Total: 15.88

Week of: 8/20 (mileage building)
Monday: bw workout and abs, 4 easy miles
Tuesday: Crossfit (painstorm XXIV)
Wednesday: Mark's painstorm workout, 5 miles
Thursday: 4.5 miles
Friday: crossfit, 4 miles
Saturday: 11.5 miles
Sunday: Rest Day!
Needed: 29
Total: 29

Week of: 8/13 (speed building)
Monday: Spin
Tuesday: Spin
Wednesday: 6 miles (3 mile repeats)
Thursday: 5 miles, Spin
Friday: strength training, 5 miles (41:55)
Saturday: unplanned rest day
Sunday: Swam 700 m
Needed: 22
Total: 16

Week of: 8/6 (mileage building)
Monday: HIIT
Tuesday: 4.5 miles, Spin
Wednesday: 6 miles, Spin
Thursday: 4.5 miles, Spin
Friday: HIIT and strength
Saturday: 11 miles
Sunday: Rest Day!
Needed: 23
Total: 26

Week of: 7/30 (speed building week)
Monday: 6 miles pace (49:42)
Tuesday: 600 reps routine (28:24), Spin
Wednesday: Spin
Thursday: 4 miles easy, Spin
Friday: 600 reps routine (23:16), 8 miles (69:07)
Saturday: Rest Day
Sunday: 3 miles (5K race)
Needed: 24
Total: 21

Week of: 7/23
Monday: Rest Day
Tuesday: Rest Day
Wednesday: 6 miles track, Spin
Thursday: Spin
Friday: Spin, 3 miles
Saturday: Strength training
Sunday: Rest Day!
Needed: --
Total: 9

Week of: 7/16
Monday: 6 miles, Spin
Tuesday: Spin
Wednesday: 6 miles Track, Spin, 30 minutes tennis
Thursday: Spin
Friday: 6 miles tempo, 1hr tennis
Saturday: Strength training
Sunday: Rest Day!
Needed: --
Total: 18

Week of: 7/9
Monday: Teach spin
Tuesday: 6 miles, Teach spin
Wednesday: BW workout, Teach spin
Thursday: Teach spin
Friday: 7 miles
Saturday: 1hr tennis, 1hr DC
Sunday: 1hr DC, but mostly a Rest Day!
Needed: --
Total: 13

Week of: 7/2

Monday: Rest Day - traveling

Tuesday: 8 miles

Wednesday: Rest Day

Thursday: 6 miles

Friday: Strength training - upper

Saturday: 10 miles

Sunday: Rest Day!

Needed: --

Total: 24

Week of: 6/25

Monday: 8 miles

Tuesday: BW workout, Teach spin

Wednesday: Track (6 miles - 1 miles warm-up/cool down, 6 sets of 800s)

Thursday: BW workout, Teach spin

Friday: 6 miles

Saturday: Rest Day - traveling

Sunday: Rest Day!

Needed: --

Total: 20

Week of: 6/18

Monday: 8 miles

Tuesday: Teach spin

Wednesday: Track, 6 miles

Thursday: Teach spin

Friday: Complex workout, 6 miles

Saturday: unscheduled Rest Day

Sunday: Rest Day!

Needed: --

Total: 20

Week of: 6/11

Monday: 4.5 miles

Tuesday: Teach spin 1hr

Wednesday: 6 miles (3 miles of 800s), Teach spin 1hr

Thursday: BW workout, Teach spin 1hr

Friday: 6 miles

Saturday: 3 miles

Sunday: Rest Day!

Needed: --

Total: 19.5

Week of: 6/4

Monday: Recovery day!

Tuesday: Teach spin 1hr

Wednesday: 6 miles

Thursday: BW workout, Teach spin 1hr

Friday: complex workout

Saturday: 8 miles

Sunday: Rest Day!

Needed: --

Total: 14

2012 Ojai Marathon - Race Recap

Date: June 3, 2012
Location: Ojai to Ventura, CA
Start: 6:15am
Finish: 3:35:23

This is the second time I ran this race. It was a lot bigger this year. Both in terms of the expo size and the amount of runners. Last year, the bib pick-up was located in a very small room at the host hotel. This year it was held on a field at the Ventura High School. There were a couple of other booths along with the bib and shirt tables but I didn't really stick around to find out what they were.

I checked into the host hotel after picking up my bib and shirt. We had a nice view of the Ventura Pier. 

I unpacked a bit, watched some TV and then headed out to meet Sister J and A for dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant. After dinner, I spent some time putting together my playlist and then it was off to bed. The Crowne Plaza is just not a good place to try to get a good night's sleep. The walls are really thin and there is a train that comes by all times of night. On top of that, we were on the 10th floor with a night club about 2 stories up on a Saturday night. Yeah. Sounded like a good time, if I were there and not in my room trying to get some pre-race sleep.

I woke up at 4am the next morning. It was not easy since I didn't really fall asleep until a couple of hours before I had to get up. But I've gotten up way earlier before so I just sucked it up. I am not a morning person. I really should have picked a different hobby to get into that doesn't require me to get up at the a$$-crack of dawn.  So I was up and drank my Starbucks vanilla soy latte and ate my PB blueberry bagel. Then M drove me, Sister J and A to the start line at Nordoff High School in Ojai.

I don't really remember much about the race except that I was in the zone for most of it. I do want to give a humongous shout-out to the AWESOME 3:35 pacer. I wanted to give her a hug at the end but I forgot. Maybe she was glad that I forgot. She was such a strong runner and said all the things that I needed to hear! She is the best pacer ever! Thank you 3:35 pacer!

(edit: thanks to Emil tagging me in this photo on Facebook, I discovered that the pacer's name is Nadia and she knows Emil.) Apparently, it's a small world after all. Haha, you can see M on the left hand side of this photo pit-crewing for me. He's the best!

And thank you David Guetta/Sia for this power song!

I am TITANIUM! Official time of 3:35:23, a 15 minute PR! I did miss qualifying for Boston by 23 seconds (9/11 edit: found out after the fact that I did qualify for Boston). I am happy that I didn't give up when really I wanted to. Besides M wouldn't have let me give up. He came out to run me in at the end. Best bf ever.

And in case you ever wondered...this is what death looks like. This must be the part where I am thanking baby Jesus that I can stop running. 

And with that I have the summer off from racing. Well marathon racing. To be continue in the fall when I will train more and try to cut more minutes off my PR. So what am I going to do with my summer? Well maybe do some shorter races, learn to swim better, try to work on getting six-pack abs, crafting, focus on spinning or ?