May 18, 2014

Celebrating SF: Getting a little “Dirty” at this year’s Bay to Breakers

There was no better way to cap off a picture-perfect week of summer weather here in Northern California than with a race that’s so quintessentially San Francisco: Bay to Breakers.

If you’re not familiar with it, B2B is the oldest consecutively run annual footrace in the world (since May 1912). Quirky and boisterous, the event is quite literally interwoven into the fabric of the city as the course weaves through it — a true reflection and celebration of life between the breakers and the Bay.

Coming Full Circle

The first and only other time I ran B2B was a few months after I moved to San Francisco from Boston in 2005, so this year’s run was special for two reasons: First, Hubby and I got to run it together this time; and second, we figured it’d be a fitting way to celebrate as our time here comes to a close (more on that soon…stay tuned!).

As a total newbie almost a decade ago, I was expecting your usual footrace…but was instead greeted by flying tortillas at the start line and a crazy array of outfits — from elaborate team costumes to full nudity (rollerblades and top hat optional) — not to mention fun traditions like a group of runners dressed as salmon “swimming upstream” (against the flow of traffic).

This time around, I knew it’d be a tamer affair because there was a no-tolerance policy for alcohol or wheeled floats. But Hubby and I were still excited to partake in the festivities with a few of our friends and 40,000 other ~~runners~~ revelers.

The Race

Because the 12K race starts near the San Francisco Bay, a few blocks from The Embarcadero, and runs west through the city to finish at the Great Highway where breakers crash onto the Pacific Coast’s Ocean Beach, the logistics can take some work.

But with my 50K coming up in just a few weeks, we decided to kill two birds with one stone and jog from home to the start, do the race, then jog/walk home from the finish to make it our weekend long run.

The race started about 25 minutes late, but — in true B2B fashion — did not disappoint.

From the costumes, the people-watching and the photo ops (see below; I’ll spare you the rest of the shot), we were three miles in before we knew it.

By the time we were about halfway, the crowds started to thin out a bit — or rather, the runners separated from the rest of the pack.

Word to the wise: This isn’t a PR-friendly race! Expect to do a lot of bobbing and weaving, but that’s the whole point — to go slow and savor every moment.

I’m not even sure what our finish time was (update – 1:37:45), and guess what? I don’t care!

It was such a blast to do a race like this for a change, complete with stops to say hi to friends, bathroom breaks, scenic detours and picture taking.

Speaking of…this was one of my favorite scenes of the day. This family’s costumes were a fan-favorite, and the kid up front was just hamming it up!

The Attire

Although there’s a whole contingent of racers for whom it’s customary NOT to wear pants for B2B, that was one tradition I was ok ignoring. Instead, I wanted to take the opportunity to support a local brand: DDCC (aka “Dirty Diana’s Clean Clothes).

I first spoke to owner/designer Diana Mitchell last fall when she was in the midst of her Kickstarter campaign. Since then, her business has been going like gangbusters, so I thought it’d be fun to create a B2B outfit around one of Mitchell’s most popular styles — the Fly Girl Capris — and check in with her to see how things are going.

Not only did the capris perform beautifully (and that’s not always an easy task when you throw in a tutu and lots of miles), but they were comfortable, breathable and — best of all — flattering. On a side note, Mitchell also ran in today’s race, so it was the perfect time to catch up!

Kinetic Fix: Last time we chatted, you were raising funds on Kickstarter to launch the line. You reached your goal (congrats!), but can you give us an update on where you’re at & what you’re doing with DDCC now?

Diana Mitchell: Thanks, Jen! The post-Kickstarter production was a success with most of our rewards shipped on time. We’ve been receiving awesome feedback and requests for new products, which I was able to incorporate into the Fall 2014 collection. While the spring line was launching, I was designing and fitting fall, and shot the sample line for our lookbooks.

I’ve also been working on growing the wholesale side of the business in order to expand the customer base and get the product in more cities. We were picked up by several Dailey Method locations, who like to feature women-owned and -made in USA lines. It’s been great to see people reacting to and loving the products, and it’s exciting to see the business continue to grow.

KF: So feedback has been good? I know you’ve been hard at work, testing the line on the streets & studios of San Francisco.

DM: Everyone loves the V Capris. Customers constantly tell me they can no longer buy pants without a zipper pocket, either because they store their phone in it while lifting weights, or their keys/id while out running.

They also go crazy for the V wasitband and love that it’s anti-muffin top. The Bustier Bra is a big hit for yoga and for wearing every day, and our Obi Cover-Ups have been flying off of the shelves due to the cute design and crazy softness!

KF: I don’t doubt it! So let’s talk design because you’ve nailed it – I’m particularly loving the anti-muffin top waistband and slimming seams on my capris. What was the inspiration there?

DM: I’m 50% Greek, and I like to say that it shows 100% in my love handles. Normal waistbands with elastic often pinch and create an unflattering, spill-over-the-sides appearance, which you can see even on skinny models. I regularly struggle with finding the motivation to work out, and if I put on something that makes me feel ugly that’s it!

As soon as I experienced a crossover waistband, I felt more confident and inspired to work out, and knew all of my future pants would have to incorporate that design. There are so many obstacles for women when it comes to fitness, and I truly believe that feeling and looking good in what you’re wearing shouldn’t be one of them!

KF: I completely agree. Switching gears…time to pay it forward: Where are your favorite places to work out in SF & why?

DM: For me nothing quite beats running outside. I love seeing what’s going on near my house and beyond and keeping in touch with the seasons while getting some fresh air. Glen Canyon Park near my home was recently made over, and I love doing my short runs on the trails there and then adding in some hill running through Diamond Heights.

For Yoga I follow my favorite teachers, Ana-Mari Hamada and Cynthia Bates, who teach at the Abode of Iyengar, the Iyengar Institute and the Yoga Tree Potrero, respectively. Ana-Mari was my first yoga teacher, and her warmth and intuitiveness cannot be matched. Cynthia has has a no-nonsense teaching style while still being playful and fun. I love going to both of their classes.

I’m always on the hunt for new workouts, though, and I’m hoping to try out the Dailey Method soon, as I hear great things about their classes!

KF: So one final question: What’s next in terms of both your work and workout plans?

DM: For workout plans, I plan on running the City Beer Runs 5k’s monthly, and will be doing the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in October. My goal is to get under 2:00, so I’ve got my work cut out for me since I have trouble running for long periods without hills.

In terms of DDCC, we’re just starting to order fabric and gear up for our fall production. You can look forward to our popular items offered in fall/winter colors, along with new products based off of customer requests.

I’m also producing a new zip-up hoodie, which is a big deal since that is the first product that DDCC launched. You can expect that line to arrive in August/September this year, and we’ll be planning some fun events, trunk shows and giveaways!

Want to see more of Diana’s designs — and read all about her running adventures? Check out the DDCC site here.

Posted in Community, Events, Gear, Race Recap, Running, San Francisco
4 Comments

April 16, 2014

Race report: HITS Napa Valley Olympic Triathlon

On Monday I gave a quick recap of how the race went this weekend. Today, I’m sharing the full report on my first Olympic-distance triathlon (1500-meter swim, 24.8-mile bike and 6.2-mile run) at HITS Napa Valley.

The Day Before the Race

On Saturday, Hubby and I drove up to Lake Berryessa in Napa for our pre-race packet pick-up. Half of me was excited because, physically, my fitness level was right where I wanted it to be for my initial attempt at this distance: I had taken it easy in the previous weekend’s half marathon, and my final shake-out swim (1500m) and bike (15 mi) in the days leading up to the race felt comfortable and almost effortless.

The other half of me, however, was starting to get increasingly anxious. I had only gotten in one “real” open-water swim session, despite knowing that that leg would be the most difficult for me mentally. I kept thinking, though, that if I could just power through the swim, I’d be home free for the bike and the run.

But, as they say, “hope is not a strategy”…especially when, on Saturday afternoon, I felt an all-too-familiar tickle in my throat. I chugged water and took all kinds of Vitamin C, Elderberry and Echinacea in the hopes that it was just allergies, but it progressed over the course of the evening into a full-on sore throat and full-body tired feeling.

Not that I’m using my not feeling well as an excuse; I know plenty athletes at all levels who race — and win — through sickness. But, looking back, I do believe that it factored into my ability to attack the course when things got tough. More on that later.

Race Morning

Before we knew it, the 4:30 am alarm was jolting us awake in our hotel room (not that Hubby and I had much sleep that night; we were both up every few hours in anticipation of the big day). We dressed quickly, loaded our gear into the car and set off for the hour-plus drive to the race site.

We arrived to Chaparral Cove about 6:15 am, and went straight over the the transition area to get set up. It was fairly hectic because everyone performing their respective pre-race rituals (think body-marking, port-o-pottie lines and lubing up with BodyGlide), but I’ve got to hand it to HITS — they streamlined the process extremely well.

Not only did they organize us in alphabetical order within the transition area, but they also provided each athlete with a stool and bike space. Plus, having a bike holder on the ground was SO much better than the hanging kind, which is subject to getting knocked over by overzealous athletes (as I experienced in a previous sprint-distance race).

The Swim

Once our transition areas were set, we met up with a friend, Tara, and eased into the water for a few minutes before the guns went off. We were expecting the temperature to be in the 50’s, so when we found out it was in the 60’s, it was a pleasant surprise!

When it was time for the women’s heat to take to the water, I hung toward the back of the pack. After the gun went off, I counted five seconds, then eased my way in. I knew the first few minutes would be complete chaos until everyone found their groove.

Long story short, I never found mine. Mid-way between the shore and the first large buoy was a smaller one, so I gave myself permission to take it easy to that point, and then I’d get down to business. But by the time I reached it, though, I was still in the middle of a splashing pack and started to feel short of breath with my legs and arms getting increasingly heavy.

From there, I figured I’d alternate breaststroke and backstroke until the first big buoy. Or until I calmed down and got my breathing under control. But it only escalated from there. I started hyperventilating. A million thoughts were rushing through my head at once.

Do what you do in the pool. I can’t see anything! Focus on your breath. I just swallowed a mouthful of water! Focus on the next buoy. It’s so far, and I’m losing ground on the group! Why can’t I control my breathing? Relax! I can’t catch a breath. Should I pull over to the kayaker? No, you can’t stop; gotta keep moving forward. I just got kicked! Keep moving. I just inhaled more water! I don’t want to be here. I’m so far out! Just focus on the shore and get there.

Rather than stopping, I resorted to flipping over on my back and counting 15-20 backstrokes before flipping over on my stomach, sighting and doing 5-10 breaststrokes, then repeating the process. I was hoping the routine would help me calm down, but none of my mental tricks were able to override the physical fight-or-flight mode that my body was now locked into.

By the time I rounded the last buoy and headed to shore, things had progressively gotten worse and I started wheezing after swimming through a lovely pile of chunky vomit (ew). Because I hadn’t breathed at a normal rate or depth in 20+ minutes, every deep breath I tried to take would start a coughing fit, which only made matters worse.

By the time I finally hit shore, I wanted to burst out crying — partly out of sheer relief, partly out of disappointment in myself and partly out of terror at having to do it all over again. But I knew the longer I waited, the more I’d psych myself out, so I tried to shake it off as I got back in the water and started lap number two.

I tried again to hit the mental reset button, but it was no use. I had passed the point of no return, still wheezing, unable to take a full breath. I knew I had to make a call: Either spend the second lap fighting, or just give in and try to get it done as best I could to conserve some energy. I chose the latter, and breaststroked/backstroked it in while distracting myself by counting every single stroke.

After I rounded the final buoy, I came up alongside a man who was doing the breaststroke, as well. He must’ve seen me struggling because he smiled and said, “We’re in the home stretch. Almost there, and then we’re done with this!” I could have hugged him; it was just what I needed — knowing that someone else felt what I was feeling — to give me a final push to get to shore.

Once there, I tugged off the top of my wetsuit and made my way up the ramp. But I knew I was in trouble — not only was I still not able to catch a full breath, but I also felt dizzy and completely drained from the adrenaline-ridden adventure in the water.

Time: 55:47

The Bike

I took the first transition (5:48) to strip down, dry off, get dressed in my bike gear and try to recollect myself. It’s never fun getting in from the swim and seeing most of the bikes already gone, but you can either give up or reset your expectations for the day and focus on the finish. Again, I chose the latter, hoping I could make up some time during my stronger disciplines.

Although I was still struggling to catch a breath (every time I’d try to inhale more than halfway, I’d start a coughing fit), the bike leg went really well. I knew I was starting at the back of the pack, so I made a goal to try to pick off as many people as possible to keep myself motivated.

It was an out-and-back-course, and the first half went great; I passed a handful of people, was fueling according to plan (a personal victory to multitask on the bike!) and enjoying myself as I played cat-and-mouse with a fellow rider: I’d pass him on the hill climbs, and he’d breeze past me on the descents.

In fact, it became a bit of a joke after the first few times — I’d pass and tag him, then he’d return the favor. On and on it went, and I think that camaraderie actually helped both of us stay in the race toward the end. Those rolling hills sure got a lot tougher on the way back in, and by that time my stomach started to feel a little wonky.

Although it wasn’t my strongest ride (I was aiming for around 1:30), I was proud that I bounced back and put in a decent effort despite a rough start to the race.

Time: 1:46: 37

The Run

Getting off the bike and into my running gear in the second transition (5:53) proved a more difficult task than I had anticipated. What should have taken me about a minute turned into six because I was dizzy, nauseous and exhausted. Looking back, I think I used up all my adrenaline in the swim, and then finally relaxed on the bike, so when it came time for the run, I had no more “go.”

Even though I had consistently fueled during the bike, I could tell I was on fumes at that point. I was so disoriented, I had to ask a few people to point me toward the run exit out of transition, and when I saw that the first stretch was a hill, I knew the odds of me being able to run the entire 6.2 miles were slim.

Damn. Enter resetting of expectations…again.

Between (still) not being able to take a full breath, a now-upset stomach and cramping calves, I alternated walking up hills and jogging on flats and down hills. I’d literally go until something started going (lungs, stomach, calves), then walk, collect myself and do it again until something else went. Definitely not the way I had intended to spend the last leg of the race.

The only thing left to do? Turn my frown upside down, turn my tears into cheers. That became my new mantra, and the more horrible I felt, the more I would clap, yell and try to rally all the runners around me as we took turns passing each other. Seeing them perk up, smile and quicken their step in response somehow kept me going. Well, that, and a few cups of Coke at the aid station!

After the final hill climb, I jogged past a women and told her how great she was doing before I slowed to a walk next to her. My stomach was not happy, my whole body ached and I was going to collect myself before jogging to the finish, but she picked up the pace and told me that I couldn’t stop now — we were so close. It was the push I needed to get running again, around the last corner, down the hill and across the finish line.

Time: 1:10:16

Doris and Hubby were there waiting for me with big smiles and open arms. I’ve never been so happy to cross a finish line; in fact, I think I was in disbelief for the first few minutes.

What followed was a flood of emotions: Joy at the finish, embarrassment at my swim performance, relief that it was over, disappointment in my time, happiness over the bike portion, anger about the less-than-stellar run and pride at putting it all aside to get the race done regardless.

Final time: 4:04:23

What’s next?

Well, after my stomach settled, the first stop Hubby and I made was at Habit Burger to reward ourselves with a little post-race cheeseburger, fries and chocolate shake action.

Next on the agenda? Getting well. After the full-body ache set in, I had a suspicion that I was running a temperature. I confirmed it Sunday afternoon, and it has since morphed into a bad cough and head cold, so I’ve spent a few days loading up on vitamins, juice and rest to try to kick this bug.

As for long-term plans, well, I’m mulling over where to go from here.

My hope was to do a half Ironman in the fall after completing this race, but it’s pretty clear I’ve got to go back to the drawing board and work through this open-water mental block before taking on a longer distance. Whether that means lessons, coaching, duathlons and shorter distances — or a combination of all of those — in the meantime, I’m going to try to figure out.

Is it the end for me and triathlon? No, not at all. With my love of running and my new-found passion for cycling, I feel like I’ve just scratched the surface when it comes to multisport events. And not only did I enjoy training immensely, but I also made some major strides on the bike, so I’m most proud of that small, personal victory from this experience.

Most of all, though, I’d never want to walk away from anything with a bad taste in my mouth. So even if I’ve got to start from scratch in the pool and build up to a successful (aka anxiety-free) sprint race, I think it’d be a very rewarding process from start to finish.

And you know what else? Just like I told myself during the swim to keep from throwing in the towel: You just gotta keep moving forward.

How do you bounce back from a tough race?

Posted in Cycling, Events, Race Recap, Racing, Reflection, Running, Swimming, Triathlon
35 Comments

April 14, 2014

HITS Napa Valley Olympic Triathlon: On heart & courage

Well…what can I say? Sometimes it just isn’t your day.

Or, as I told a friend, “Sometimes you kill the race, and sometimes it kills you.”

Official finish time: 4:04:23.

Let’s play a little game that Hubby and I enjoy after a hard day: High/Low…

Low? That time. Ouch. It’s a full 34+ minutes than my worst-case scenario guesstimate. Granted, a sore throat and low-grade fever came into play (I suspected during the race, and confirmed after) — but no excuses: There were a few other factors than played into how the race ultimately went ~~downhill~~ down. I’ll dive into those in the full recap (coming Wednesday).

High? First was the fact that I finished. There were a few moments where either my mind or my body were begging me to bail, but I ‘sucked it up, buttercup’ and got it done, which I’m proud of. Second was the people. I had an inspiring experience with a different person throughout each of the legs, and that was just the push I needed to keep going when the going got tough. More on that Wednesday, too…

But in the meantime, congrats to a few of my family and friends who completely rocked it out there: Hubby for nabbing a new PR (he’s on a roll after last weekend’s half marathon!), Tara for completing her first Olympic distance on her road to a half Ironman and Jessica for crushing the course on her way to the Wildflower half.

And last — but certainly not least — I want to send a huge thank-you out to Doris (pictured with me above), not only for being an inspiration in all things triathlon, but also for embodying all things ‘heart and courage.” At the start, she gave me some final words of wisdom to help ease my open-water anxiety…and she hung out for more than an hour after she finished (sub-three hours, no less!) to watch me cross the finish.

Now THAT, friends, is why I do these events. You can still feel like a winner — surrounded by kind, generous and wonderful people — even when the numerical results beg to differ.

Stay tuned for the full race report on Wednesday. And thank you for all the words of encouragement and congratulations…you guys are the best!!

Posted in Cycling, Events, Race Recap, Racing, Reflection, Running, Swimming, Triathlon
15 Comments

April 8, 2014

HITS Napa Olympic Triathlon: Week 7 training & Rock ‘n’ Roll SF Half Marathon recap

We’re in the home stretch!

Last week was the final full week of training before Hubby and I tackle the HITS Napa Valley Olympic triathlon this Sunday, April 13. It was also jam-packed with fun — namely the LUNA Chix Summit and the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Francisco Half Marathon.

Here’s how the week shook out, plus a recap of the race.

Week 7 Olympic Distance Training Plan – planned & (actual):

Swim 60 min. (40-min. pool swim with speed work)
Bike 90 min. / Run 25 min. off the bike (55-min. spin class/25-min. run on treadmill)
Swim 60 min. (30-min. run)
Track workout (track workout with LUNA Chix team, 2.5 miles total)
Rest day (30-min. walk)
Long bike, 35-50 miles (20-mile bike ride to Sausalito)
Long run, 9-12 miles (13.1-mile RnRSF Half)

Adam Shane, owner of the Barry’s Bootcamp San Francisco (coming this May!) asked me to help pace him on Sunday since the Rock ‘n’ Roll race would be his first half marathon. It was a point-to-point race, so our crew Uber’ed over in a few different cars and met back up at the Beach Chalet near the race start.

It was crowded, but well-organized. Hubby made his way to our assigned corral (two) because he wanted to try to get a PR in his second half marathon, but since I had decided to run this one for fun, I hung back with our group and we made our way into corral four.

Before we knew it, the gun went off and the corrals were being released one by one. We knew ahead of time that it was a hilly course, so no one was super shocked when, almost immediately, we started winding our way up the streets.

We took it easy, though, and kept a conversational 9:30-10:00 minute mile pace as we enjoyed in the great views (the weather couldn’t have been better — clear and mild with a light breeze) and made our way over toward the Golden Gate Bridge.

I was especially pumped to run into one of my favorite workout buddies, Pavement Runner. We took the obligatory selfie and chatted for a few minutes as we jogged along with his group. They were a roving party, playing music, taking pictures and starting impromptu dance parties!

I knew my job was to get Adam to the finish, though, so I caught back up with the Barry’s crew and checked in to see how he was feeling. Luckily, he was getting a major second wind around mile seven, so he decided to push the pace and go for it for the last six miles.

As you can see, we had a picture-perfect day on the bridge, but it was pretty crowded, so we ended up losing each other in the mix. I figured I’d either catch up with him further along or he’d continue to push for a strong finish, so I put my headphones on and just ran by feel at a comfortable pace.

By the time mile 10 rolled around, the flat portion was over, and it was back to the hills…and they were no joke. Yeah, I’m in decent shape from triathlon training, but I’m learning that it can mean something quite different than being in peak half-marathon-racing shape. My legs and lungs started revolting on the back-to-back inclines.

So now it was just a mental battle — my body was capable, but my mind was second-guessing my fitness level. So I knew it was time to reach into the bag of mental tricks and set a goal on which to focus for the remainder of the race.

I hadn’t been tracking my time closely, but after spotting the clock at mile 11, I had a feeling I could pull off a sub two-hour finish if I maintained my pace and gave a kick at the end. I refocused (and spotted Adam about 100 yards ahead!) before bringing it in for the final push downhill to the finish. Final time 1:59:44.

The best part? Reuniting with everyone at the finish and hearing their race recaps. Adam rocked a sub two-hour finish in his first half, Hubby nabbed a new PR, Vivi ran a strong race, the November Project was out in full force, and Brian (aka Pavement Runner) also stopped by to say hello.

And coming in a close second as the best part of the day might have been the post-race stop Hubby and I made at Philz Coffee…seriously, the Dancing Water roast is nothing short of amazing.

Stay tuned for week eight…and RACE DAY!

Posted in Cycling, Events, half marathon, Race Recap, Running, San Francisco, Swimming, Training, Triathlon
15 Comments

March 16, 2014

HITS Napa Olympic Triathlon: Week 4 training & Lifetime Indoor Tri recap

Things got real this week an impromptu Lifetime indoor triathlon that my friend Colleen and I did while while I was visiting family at home in Michigan. We signed up for the time-based event (10-min. swim/30-min. bike/20-min. run) on a bit of a whim because the theme was, “Inspiration Without Intimidation,” so it seemed like the perfect way to ease into racing season.

Final results are still TBA (update: I finished fourth among the ladies and twelfth overall) but I’m happy with my performance. The swim, as expected, still needs some work. I completed maybe 17 or so (update: 17.5) lengths of the pool before the whistle blew, but I never got my breath under control enough to get into a real rhythm.

I did make up for it on the bike because we were allowed to keep a low resistance while spinning, so I tried to maintain a quick cadence and a speed in the 46-50 mph range. After a half hour, I hit 23.9 miles, and even got a kudos from my lane partner from the pool because we were pacing off each other for most of the ride.

Before we knew it, it was time to hit the treadmill, which requires a very different mindset from running outdoors while racing. As long as we kept the incline at zero, we could set it to whatever pace we wanted, which is definitely more art than science when you’re used to running more by feel towards the end of an event.

I warmed up with a minute at 6.8, then decided to push it up .2 mph faster every two minutes for as long as I could maintain it. There were a few minutes around the 8.8 and 9.0 mphs points where I almost hesitated when it came time to speed up, but knowing that there were just a few more minutes to go helped me hold on.

Well, that, and the fact that my new racing buddy next to me had his speed set to 10.7 mph near the end. My competitive juices started flowing; I wasn’t racing him, per se, but the fact that he was still going strong made me realize I could give more, as well. So I kicked it up to 9.7 mph for the last minute to hit 2.8 miles at the end of our 20 minutes.

I highly recommend an indoor race if you’re wanting to test the triathlon waters. Not only is it a great way to get a feel for the flow of the different disciplines (and the transitions in-between), but it’s also the most controlled environment possible for an event.

Bonus: It’s also smart to do it with a good friend, so you can help each other wrestle into your respective spandex outfits after the swim portion; we all had a few good laughs in the locker room trying to streamline that process!

Here’s what the rest of the week looked like from the training plan…

Week 4 Olympic Distance Training Plan – planned & (actual):

Swim 60 min. (50-min. pool swim)
Bike 60-90 min. / Run 30 min. off the bike (55-min. spin & 25-min. treadmill run)
Swim 60 min. (Lifetime Indoor Tri: 10-min. swim, 30-min. bike, 20-min. run)
Easy run, 45-60 min. (60-min. runch)
Rest or active recovery (rest/travel)
Long bike, 90-150 min (45-min. recumbent bike)
Long run, 9-12 miles (9-mile treadmill run)

And here’s a few highlights from the week, starting with a “Ladies Who Runch” edition of our Monday SweatGuru run. It was just Maria and me this week, as most of the usual crew was traveling or recovering from last week’s LA Marathon.

Tuesday was a travel/rest day, as I said goodbye to San Francisco for a bit. I heard I left some pretty amazing weather behind, but was rewarded with this parting shot from the plane on my way out.

Quite a different view from my current one, which is winter in the Midwest — and that means one thing: Snow. Throw in some cold temperatures, wind chills and ice for good measure, and you’ve got a recipe for a modified training schedule.

Especially when the roads look like this; the last thing you want to do is leave the warm house and go jump in a pool. But I did it! It’s all about being flexible and changing with the environment to hit your mileage for the week.

And as much as I wanted to get another run in outside, the fluctuating temperatures and weather conditions have made it more of a gym-based training week, which is fine by me. It’s fun to switch things up, especially when you can enjoy a nice view during your treadmill runs.

And I’m loving this pool. I used to be a member at Lifetime Fitness when I lived in Michigan and Illinois, so coming back for some workouts always feels like a happy homecoming — especially when I have the lap pool to myself. No better ‘me’ time than an empty pool and 2,000 meters!

Stay tuned for week five…

Posted in Cycling, Endurance, Events, Race Recap, Racing, Running, Swimming, Training, Triathlon
9 Comments

February 22, 2014

Race Recap: Chabot Trail Run 30K

As a fitting follow-up to last weekend’s ‘ride of firsts,’ today was a ‘run of firsts’ at the Chabot Trail Run in Castro Valley, Calif.: First longer trail race, and first 30K distance in the books! And as I sat recovering on the couch and sorting out the day’s events, I decided it’d be best described as equal parts exhilarating adventure and happy coincidence.

But, to back up for a moment…Vivi, my running partner in craziness crime, and I signed up for the event on a whim (although she did talk me down from the 50K, thank goodness), thinking it’d not only be a nice change of scenery, but also a good way to give our legs a rest from the roads, as well as a perfect proving ground race to test our trail mettle.

We arrived to the start area about 45 minutes before the 8:30 a.m. gun time and managed to snag the last parking spot (good race karma, we decided) before picking up our packets, hitting the bathroom and swinging back by the car to drop our sweats.

By the time we did all that, we could hear the race organizers lining people up, so we jogged over to the start.

After giving a few last-minute instructions, the event director started the final countdown, and we were off!

The first mile or two was on paved roads around the lake, so we eased in at a conservative 9:00-mile pace. Then the pavement gave way to dirt and we got onto the good stuff…a bouncy footbridge followed by soft trail.

Now, about that happy coincidence: Vivi had put out a call on Facebook the previous evening to our November Project friends about the race, letting them know we’d be running and inviting them to join in to pace us or cheer us along.

We figured it might be too last-minute to have anyone take us up, but a little ways into the run we heard someone come up behind us and say, “Are you Jen and Vivi?”

Enter Molly, whom I nicknamed my Race Angel for the day! She’s training for the Boston Marathon and had a 19-miler on the schedule for the weekend, so she figured she’d kill two birds with one stone and grab some miles while gabbing with some fellow runner gals.

In yet another testament to the amazing running community, we all immediately started chatting like old pals…and the miles flew by because we were so immersed in conversation.

Before we knew it, we had tackled the first of four major climbs (walking the steep parts because I wanted to heed my ultrarunner friend Jamie’s advice to conserve energy) and hit the first aid station.

And, wow. They should call these mini-buffets instead of aid stations. It was like a mirage in the desert, such an amazing spread with all kinds of items, both healthy and not-so-healthy. Huge kudos to Inside Trail Racing for really taking care of us runners.

With my sweet tooth, I thought I would have to restrain myself around all the candy, but I actually wasn’t craving it at ALL. In all my pre-race hydration focus, I ended up making a rookie nutrition mistake (more on that later), so I grabbed a PB&J sandwich square to stay on the safe side.

And then we were off again!

Over the next few miles we met up with a super-nice woman named Leslie — a mom in her 50’s who had taken up ultra-running and was doing the 50K as a wait to train for her upcoming 50-miler.

That’s the great part about these longer distances; not only are they so much less crowded that road races, but you can run alongside people at a slower pace and actually have some great conversations along the way.

I think (hope?) people enjoyed running with us, as well. We were having such a great time being out there, laughing and taking it all in, that we must have served as some interesting on-course entertainment!

Despite the intermittent climbs, our spirits stayed high as we alternated jogging on the flats and small rolling hills with walking up the steeper areas.

I also tried to stay on top of my hydration and fueling, which was Leslie’s main advice, taking sips of Osmo Nutrition Active Hydration and nips off my PocketFuel every mile or so.

After we had done another four miles (~10 total), we came upon the second aid station. By this time, my stomach was starting to feel a little grumbly (Note to self: My big mistake was to eat salad for lunch the day before the race – never again, as it didn’t set well).

I tried a combo of boiled potatoes dipped in salt, along with a Dixie cup of Pepsi, which helped. And then we were off again!

The third and final aid station before the finish was about four miles away (~mile 14), and we were still feeling pretty strong at this point. So strong, in fact, that a fellow runner commented on how upbeat we seemed as we hiked up a steep hill.

She identified herself as a triathlete by training, and said that her half Ironman races were much easier than the 30K distance, which made me very happy to hear in light of my upcoming April Olympic distance!

We made good time to the final aid station, and I grabbed more Pepsi and salted potatoes, filling the flasks in my Ultimate Direction Jenny Ultra Vesta (ok, I may have gotten it for the name, but it’s such a handy and comfy vest for long runs) with water mixed with the Tailwind electrolyte drink that they had on the course.

By this time, we were out of the wooded areas and running in full sun, along dirt paths through some really beautiful scenery (another benefit of trail events).

We kept commenting on how lucky we were to have such good weather, too — it was a perfect 65 degrees.

About 15 miles in, I remember telling Vivi and Molly that I couldn’t believe how good I felt.

Admittedly, we were undertrained for the race — I was hoping to get 14-15 miles the weekend we attempted the Double Dipsea last month, but the weather never cooperated, and we called it a day at 10. So we were attempting 18+ miles, having completed only a 12-mile “long” training run in advance of the race.

Well, apparently I provoked the running gods by saying that — and it turns out they’ve got a wicked sense of humor. No sooner did I utter those words than the wheels started slowly coming off, and thus began a gradual unraveling over the next few miles.

I forced myself to keep sipping and eating small amounts, but every incline got tougher as the accumulated climbing of the day started to take its toll. Our solution? A few photo opps as we made our way slowly toward the finish (i.e. chances to rest for a minute, catch our breaths and bring our heart rates down).

With a mix of jogging down straightaways and walking up inclines, we slowly ticked off another mile and saw a sign that indicated we were a mile away from the finish. Heartened, we picked up the pace to bring it home. But at the end of that mile, when the finish line was nowhere in sight, I hit the mental wall.

We figured we couldn’t have more than another mile, and Vivi got her second wind, so she ran ahead while Molly hung back and kept me distracted enough to keep going despite my rebelling mind and body.

When we turned the final corner, saw the finish line and noticed that the clock was under 3:30 (Vivi and I were thinking we’d aim for under 4:00, but would thrilled with 3:30), it was enough to give us that final boost to get across the finish. Final time: 3:23:21.

And then the feasting began!

On the way out of the park, we ran into a woman who races with her Dachshund. He had completed the half marathon today, and he’s training for his first marathon later this year — so, of course, we had to get a shot with the impressive little guy and his bib (yes, he was officially registered for the race).

Leslie (our new ultra hero from the race) had also mentioned that it was her rule to make a new friend during every event — so between her, Molly and our new four-legged mascot, we not only met but happily exceeded that goal for the day!

And I’ve just got to share something that Vivi and I saw on our way home over the Bay Bridge that gave us a laugh…

This furry fellow was also enjoying himself today, catching some rays and taking in the views from the sunroof.

There certainly is something to be said for taking on another round of firsts. You never know where it’ll take you — and who you’ll meet along the way.

Happy running and racing, friends!

Posted in Endurance, Events, Hydration, Race Recap, Racing, Running, San Francisco
23 Comments

January 13, 2014

Race Recap: Hot Chocolate 15K

A priority race for elite runners the Hot Chocolate 15K is not…but it was a bucket list item for this professional sweet tooth.

So after hearing all the hype from other cities, we (me, Hubby and our friend, Kelly) decided to take the plunge and kick off 2014 with a fun, themed run.

Dubbed “America’s Sweetest Race,” the event features a one-of-a-kind post-race party where runners enjoy music and a family-friendly kid-zone, plus finisher’s mugs filled with hot chocolate, chocolate fondue and tasty, dippable treats.

Drooling yet?

Here’s how the day went down:

Despite leaving early to get a jump on the traffic and parking situation, we ended up getting a late start (as in jumping into the corral behind our assigned one) because it was a more of of a hike than anticipated to the start line from the gear check area. No complaints, though; I’m not a fan of hanging out in the corrals way before the gun goes off anyway (too much nervous energy!), and since this was a more causal fun run, we weren’t too concerned about jockeying for position.

In terms of time goals, we were aiming for under 1:20 (between 8:30-9:00 pace) for a few reasons: First, it was a new race distance for all of us to figure out; second, we were realistic about the likelihood of the course being pretty crowded; and third, because we were using it more as a training/pacing run during a mileage-building cycle (specifically, in preparation for next month’s 30K).

The gun went off, and our first three miles took us through Golden Gate Park toward the ocean. It took a good two miles until the crowd thinned out enough for us to be able to get up to pace, but the mood was light and the weather was perfect (about 50 and sunny), so we took in the scenery and slowly settled into a steady rhythm. Once we hit the Great Highway, we had a four-mile stretch ahead of us (two miles down, two miles back) and things really started to open up, so we pushed it up to a 7:45 pace as we marveled at the waves crashing wildly on the beach.

Going in, I was apprehensive about this particular stretch because it was tough, mentally, during my fall marathon…but before I knew it, we were back up at Golden Gate Park and had just under three miles to go to get to the finish. This is also where we realized that the first three miles were net downhill, though, because we had a few rolling climbs to cover on way back. But thanks to the addition of our recent hill training (shout out to November Project!), I noticed I was able to attack the inclines rather than back off on ’em.

With the finish line in sight, we gave it a final push and crossed in 1:17:03 (8:17 pace). Not blazingly fast, by any means, but a strong finish — and more importantly, a healthy start to the 2014 racing season.

Thinking of my Team Coeur 2014 gals!

Another major difference in this race (besides the unique distance)? Instead of the usual finisher’s chute process (medal, photo, mylar blanket, food), we had a bit of a walk back to the “village” for the post-race party.

But it was definitely worth it once we saw the deliciousness that awaited us: Not only were we given steaming cups of hot chocolate, but the partitioned plastic mugs also contained melted chocolate, fruit, marshmallows, Rice Krispie treats, pretzels, etc.

It’s definitely a must-do event for all the chocolate lovers out there — probably not the way I’d want to fuel up after all my runs (an hour later, I was majorly craving something salty!), but the theme was cute, and both the volunteers and the participants were especially, ahem, “sweet” in keeping with the spirit of the race.

If you’re interested in running one in your area, click here to see a list of current locations (14 cities, and counting, around the U.S.).

Posted in Events, Race Recap, Racing, Running, San Francisco
15 Comments

November 30, 2013

Race Recap: Turkey Trail Trot XI

Happy holidays, and I hope you had a terrific Thanksgiving filled with family, friends and all kinds of delicious food!

We enjoyed all of the above, but only after burning off a few pre-meal calories in the five-mile Turkey Trail Trot in San Francisco.

The weather was gorgeous (around 70), and they capped the field at 1,400, so it wasn’t too crowded as we gathered at the Polo Fields in Golden Gate Park for the start.

Our friend, Matt, had invited Hubby and me to join his brother and extended family in their annual Thanksgiving tradition, so a fun run seemed like the perfect way to cap off a successful running season (not to mention an excuse to dress up in costumes).

I was coming off last weekend’s half marathon, plus my legs were pretty shot from working out with the November Project crew (more on that in another post) and taking a riding lesson the day before, so my plan was to jog it super easy, sans music, and just relax and enjoy the ride.

Of course, that included some super-awkward mid-run selfies along the way, but we had a blast and crossed the finish line in 47:24, averaging 9:29 minutes per mile. Not a PR, by any means, but the point was to get out, stretch the legs and prep our stomachs for the feast that evening.

On the menu? Turkey two ways, squash, stuffing, salad, Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, gravy and, of course, a selection of pies (apple, pecan, peanut butter, pumpkin chiffon), plus a pear tart thrown in for good measure. Oh, and wine…lots and lots of wine.

It felt good to indulge, even if it took until mid-day the next day to fully digest everything and finally feel hungry again!

How much damage did you do on the big day?

Posted in Events, Fall, Holidays, Race Recap, Running, San Francisco
3 Comments

November 24, 2013

Race Recap: Berkeley Half Marathon

Source: Berkeley Half Marathon

Usually I try to go into races with a solid game plan: I’ve got a decent idea as to what my level of fitness and current comfortable pace will allow, and from there comes the “awesome,” “good” and “just-finish” time targets.

But as I lined up this morning at the inaugural Berkeley Half Marathon, I was still vacillating between trying for a PR and just running it for fun. Same course, same distance, two very different mindsets.

Lining up for the start

Being a little more than a month out from the Nike Women’s Marathon, my inclination was to try to take advantage of some of the accumulated endurance, but I’ve been dealing with a sore tendon in my foot, as well as some other minor aches and pains…probably from not taking my own advice and running too hard too soon during marathon recovery (I know, tsk tsk).

Ultimately, I decided to play it by ear. The game plan was that there was no game plan, and I’d simply “run by feel.” Coach Jenny Hadfield is a huge proponent of this (read her article on it here). Get out of your head, listen to your body, and you just may be pleasantly surprised, she says.

Waiting for the race to start

Turns out, it works. Granted a net downhill course, good weather and a number of other factors help, as well…but I PR’d with an unofficial time of 1:47:07 despite not having a pace band, aiming for specific splits or knowing where I was time-wise at each mile.

Here’s how it played out: I broke the race into four 5K’s and tackled each one separately. Of course, if I wasn’t feeling it, I’d have moseyed along, and this post would have been filled with a lot more pictures! But since I was able to get into a groove, the first 5K was warming up and settling into a comfortable pace. The second, third and fourth 5Ks were then about trying to maintain an even pace before giving it whatever was left in the tank for the last mile.

Couldn’t resist snapping a shot of all the colorful shoes!

Out of the gate, I came out fast, but there was a big downhill slope during the first few miles that I wanted to take advantage of. Once we hit the Berkeley Marina, the course was pretty flat, aside from some small hills and sections of rough road and gravel, so I just focused on keeping a strong stride.

Everything was smooth until mile 12 when I started getting super nauseous (Note to self: I think I’ve got to switch to gels instead of chews for distances of 13.1 and under), so it was a fight between trying to push hard and trying to keep my breakfast in my stomach. Throw in a monster hill at mile 12.5, which I briefly considered walking, and it was a tough final stretch, but I’m super happy with the results (and motivated for the next goal – 1:45!).

Photo courtesy of official KineticFix race-day photographer, Ben 🙂

And since it was the inaugural race, I’ve got some feedback and constructive criticism for organizers:

Pros: Nice long-sleeve technical tee, well-organized from start to finish, accessible start/finish with ample parking, lots of port-o-potties at the start, friendly feel, flat and fast (net downhill) course, multiple disciplines to choose from.

Cons: Small expo (albeit I went to the early pick-up at Sports Basement, but there wasn’t much there), I didn’t see a marker at Mile 1, no time clocks at mile markers, rough patches and gravel stretches along parts of the course, crowded last mile where all distances converged and ran around the Golden Gate Fields parking lot = clusterfest, ginormous hill at mile 12.5, point-to-point course (versus start/finish at same location).

DONE! With a shiny new medal and a shiny new PR, to boot

Overall, though, it was an excellent race, and I’ll definitely be back…although maybe next time I’ll have a more specific goal in mind now that I have a handle on the course and the flow of the race.

Huge congrats to all my Bay Area blogging friends who ran today, too. We were out in full force!

And one more note – I’m thrilled to be featured in the “Runner Spotlight” on RoadRunnerGirl today; check out the post here to read my Q&A, and thanks to Mindy for the opportunity!

Posted in Events, half marathon, Race Recap, Running
12 Comments

October 27, 2013

RUN10FEED10 race recap

Despite a cold, dreary, don’t-wanna-leave-a-warm-bed kind of morning, San Francisco’s running community gave Women’s Health a warm welcome for the 2013 RUN10FEED10 10K.

On the menu? Tackling 6.2 miles in exchange for providing 10 meals each for those going hungry in the surrounding area.

Although I’m still recovering from last week’s Nike Women’s Marathon, I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to come out and support such a worthwhile event.

And we may be thin-blooded Californians, but a little fog wouldn’t keep us from descending on Crissy Field, where we huddled together to keep warm before the start.

The course featured a loop around the marsh followed by a double loop to the Golden Gate Bridge and back, along the Golden Gate Promenade.

Great views, for sure, but I knew the two later loops may prove difficult – not only due the repeat factor, but also because faster runners would be doubling back and running alongside slower pace groups, which could be a recipe for some real confusion on the course!

Women’s Health had it expertly organized, however, and there was a positive vibe among participants, volunteers and spectators that was palpable. I think we all knew we were there for a bigger reason than the race itself.

In fact, the start was one of the most mellow (and polite) ones I’ve ever seen; no crowding or jockeying for position, which was nice.

Since this was my first post-marathon run (exactly a week out), my plan was to go strong, but not all out. In the back of my mind, I was thinking about a possible PR since the conditions were favorable (cool weather/flat course), but I’d have to see how my body would react to running with some residual aches and pains.

Before we knew it, it was time for the final iPod and GPS watch check…and were off!

I went out a little faster than I usually like, but I figured I could push the envelope with this shorter distance. It’s a completely different feeling/frame of mind than the marathon: There, you aim to settle into a comfortable pace for a few hours; here, you learn to accept the fact that it’ll be uncomfortable the whole time. But the faster you go, the sooner you’re done!

My right foot was acting up a bit the whole time, but by mile five I knew I was within reach of a PR if I could give it a push to the end, so I willed my breakfast to stay down as I picked it up for the small loop to the finish. I saw the clock ticking toward 49:00, so I picked it up for a final kick to see if I could hit a 48-anything.

Final time: 48:58 – a new PR by two minutes.

Another highlight: After I caught my breath, I caught up with @RunEverAfter at the post-race festival. She was volunteering at the race, and we chatted about how she’s crushing her marathon training. I’m thrilled for her progress and, once again, proud to be a part of our amazing local running community!

Missed the race, but still want to help make an impact?

Here’s why you should: The FEED Foundation is dedicated to ending world hunger, partnering with organizations such as the United Nations World Food Programme, UNICEF, DonorsChoose.org and local food banks to fight hunger and eliminate malnutrition by providing school meals, nutritional supplements and education.

Here’s how you can: Click here to give to a specific FEED Fund, whether you want to support moms, victims of natural disasters, people affected by HIV/AIDS, and more.

For more information, visit TheFeedFoundation.org.