2012 America's Finest City Half Marathon Recap

This year, the America's Finest City (AFC) Half Marathon celebrated its 35th anniversary.  Since this is  was one of my favorite races in San Diego and many of my friends signed up for the Triple Crown I decided to join them. 

This is me with the Triple Crown medals in 2011

With some friends at the starting line in 2011

Saturday 18th - Expo

We arrived in San Diego from Portland (OR) on Friday night. We woke up early and went to the expo at around 10:00 am.  I was worried about traffic and the parking situation at the Harbor Island but it was not that bad after all.  I usually like spending my time at the expo but the tent was really hot and the a/c was off. We just went in and out in a matter of 5 minutes. My new expo PR! :)

Sunday 19th - Race Day

The official starting time was 7:00am. We left our home at 4:30am and drove to the San Diego Zoo where we parked at 5:30 am. It was busy. We were on the bus on the way to the starting line few minutes later. We arrived at the Cabrillo National Monument Park with 45 minutes to spare. We meet our friends Edward, Haruki, Jen, Ken, Kerri and took some pictures.

There are no corrals in this race. At 7:00am the gun went off. 

Photo Credit: AFC FB Page

The first three miles were rolling hills. The sun was already UP. What happened to our marine layer? Oh noo!  I was running at a  8:45 min/mile pace. I was feeling good. Then came mile 4, all downhill. Fantastic! I was able to keep up all the way to mile 6, the entrance of Harbor Island. By then, I was melting. It was too HOT! On top of that, there was no water to be found. The stations ran out of cups first and then out of water. Grgrgr, I should have know better after the RnR Las Vegas fiasco. I MUST run with water bottles from now on. 

I saw a couple of familiar faces from West Coast Road Runners, 2 guys screamed my name " Go Ciry!" hahaha I am famous!  In Harbor Island, I enjoyed the nice Rain Forest showers, always located between mile 7-8.  They also have free grilled cheeseburgers for the runners. Since I don't eat cheese nor burgers, I passed. 

Photo Credit: Bob Betancourt

From Harbor Island, we headed to San Diego downtown passing Pacific Highway and the famous Star of India. 

Photo Credit: Bob Betancourt

Soon after we reached the infamous hilly 6th Avenue. The heat was killing me once again. I ran and walked and ran and walked and ran and walked ... for a whole mile and a half. Unbelievable! I was exhausted.  I don't know the exact temperature but it felt like 100 degrees. At the top of the hill was the entrance to Balboa park. As soon as we reached it, I ran as fast as I could but there was only less than a mile left so there was not that much I could do. I finished 10 minutes slower than last year making this my personal worse this year :( Still, I am not completely disappointed considering all the conditions ( the heat, the lack of water and the fact that I just arrived from vacation the day before). 

Everyone I know arrived at the finish line physically exhausted and injury-free. Proud moment for the Triple Crowners and all the finishers! BIG congrats to my friend Edward. He finished in 1 hr 34 minutes, 24 minutes faster than last year. Very happy!

For more information about this race ( course route, elevation, etc...) check out my 2011 AFC Half Recap 

Valencia Marathon Training: Week 4 & 5 (Aug 6th-19th) - Running in the Northweast

Running in the Northwest in summer time is always a treat to me. It's hot but not too humid. It's green, very green. I love it! This was my running playground for the last 7 days! 

We ran the beautiful Washington State University Vancouver's Cougar Trails. 

We also ran the Forest Park Wildwood Trails in Portland (OR), just across the Columbia River. This is the largest wooded city park in the United States with 5,000 plus acres. The Wildwood trails are 30-miles long and traverse the Park from the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial to Newberry Road.  

A landmark on the trail is this Stone House. It was built in the mid-1930s as a public restroom. It remains as a favorite spot to rest along the trail.

And last but not least, we ran at Nike's world headquarters. My favorite place to run when I am in Beaverton. This is my story:

21 years ago, I was an exchange student at Sunset HS in Beaverton (OR). I was in track and field. I ran at Nike's world headquarters in the afternoons, first with my team and years later with my best friend who eventually became my husband. Running together at Nike's HQ was priceless!

This is probably the most beautiful 400m track in the world. Yes, it's open to everyone. This is where GB's Mo Farah and USA's Galen Rupp did their speed training for the Olympics. No, I didn't get to see Alberto Salazar. Next trip!

This is what running-parents do for fun on a holiday. In the meantime, our kids were horseback riding, swimming, blackberry picking and spending quality time with cousins, uncles, aunties and grandparents. 

 Sadly, we had to return to San Diego before the end of the week, just on-time to pick up our running bibs and get ready for the America's Finest City's Half Marathon which took place on Sunday.

This is my summary for week 4 and 5:

Mon:	5.5 mile run
Tue:	5.5 mile run + 90-min Bikram
Wed:	4 mile run + 90-min Bikram
Thu:	5.5 mile run
Fri:	5 mile (trails) - Trip to the NW
Sat:	REST
Sun:	REST
Total:	25.5 miles + 2 Bikram classes

Mon:	REST
Tue:	5 mile run at Nike's Headquaters
Wed:	REST
Thu:	4-mile trail run in Portland
Fri:	3-mile trail in Washington - Trip to San Diego
Sat:	REST
Sun:	13.1 AFC Half Marathon
Total:	25.1 miles

Not bad considering we were on a family vacation!

Valencia Marathon Training: Week 2 & 3 /18 (July 23 - Aug 5th)

My new mantra! 

Week 2 was really good.  I tried to run as frequent as possible as I knew I was not going to be able to run as much the following week due to work and family engagements.

Mon:	REST
Tue:	5.5 mile run + 90-min Bikram
Wed:	5.5 mile run + 90-min Bikram
Thu:	5.5 mile run + 90-min Bikram
Fri:	5.5 miles + 60 min ZUMBA
Sat:	13 mile trail run  AWESOME!!
Sun:	REST
Total:	35 miles (56km), 3 BY clases, Zumba

Then week 3 came along and the 2012 Olympic Games invaded my life. Sports, Food and Fashion!

I planned to wake up at 5:30am on Thursday and Friday to complete my short 5.5 miles but I simply couldn't. I was awake until 3:00am watching the games. Grgrgrgrgr. Anyone else have the same problem?

This is my weekly summary for week 3:

Mon:	REST
Tue:	REST
Wed:	5.5 mile run
Thu:	1200m swim
Fri:	90-min Bikram
Sat:	5.5 mile run + 90-min Bikram
Sun:	REST

It's not that great but it I could have been worse. Besides the Olympics, it was a very busy week for me at work and home. But don't worry, I am already back on track this week.  I am heading to Oregon this weekend. I am hoping to run some laps around the beautiful Nike headquarters' campus.

I loooove the Olympics but I can't wait until they are over. I am a running zombie lately. After the men's marathon, I am disconnecting. I promise!  Oh wait, the men's marathon is on the last day of the Olympics! Never mind!

Leaving you with a video I took at the Rock N Roll Edinburgh Half Marathon's pre-race concert, dancing  to the beat of Red Hot Chilli Pipers with a crazy-fun Brazilian Olympian athlete :)

Namaste!!

Are you watching the games? What have been some of your favorite moments?

Valencia Marathon Training: Week 1/18 (July 16 -22nd)

Have I ever mentioned how much I love San Diego? It's a runner's paradise. Mild temperatures year-round, beautiful trails, breathtaking coastline ... What else can you ask for? Oh yes, some areas remind me of my lovely hometown in the Canary Islands. Sometimes I feel like I have never left home. The other day I turned on the radio and guess what it was playing, a famous group called Taller Canario. I couldn't believe it! Here, in San Diego! There must be other canaries working at the radio station. Very strange! 





Anyway, back to running. This week I started my marathon training. I have been running non-stop since the RnR San Diego Half Marathon last June. However, my runs lacked structure. I was running without a watch, without music, without heart rate monitor, without a plan. I was just running and enjoying the summer. No worrying about time and distances. This was good for a while but now it's time to get ready for the next challenge on Nov 18th.  Since I am still in vacation mode with this fabulous weather, I decided to mix it up a little bit. On Saturday, I ran the Lake Hodges trails. It was a short trail run at a fast pace for me, 8 min/mile.

On Sunday, I enjoyed the beautiful coast around Encinitas and Solana Beach. A little bit of Turf and Surf! :-)

Moonlight State Beach ( Encinitas)

 This was my weekly summary:

Mon:	REST DAY
Tue:	5.5 mile run + 90-min Bikram
Wed:	5.5 mile run + 90-min Bikram
Thu:	5.5 mile run + Hatha Yoga + 90-min Bikram
Fri:	60 min ZUMBA
Sat:	4.5 mile trail run + 20 swim laps
Sun:	9 mile run
Total:	30 miles (48km), 3 BY clases, Zumba

Happy Running! Namaste! 

Next International Stop... Maratón de Valencia

It's official! I just signed up for my 4th marathon, my second one in Spain, the Maratón Divina Pastora Valencia. The race takes place on November 18th which works perfectly for all of us. First, my kids don't have school the week of Thanksgiving (November 19th - 25th). Second, I need to go back to Gran Canaria before next spring. Gotta love bureaucracy :(  Originally, I was thinking of flying directly to the Canary Islands but the runner in me had to check for races in Spain too. Something that would fit our working schedule and our kids' school schedule. The Valencia Marathon is just perfect!

It's going to be our first family mini-vacation together on the Mediterranean Coast. We will fly to Madrid on Wednesday, take the AVE speed train on Friday morning, panic relax until marathon day and then celebrate a little bit before heading back to Madrid and then on to Las Palmas. That's the plan! If we have time to visit the Casa-Museo Blasco Ibañez, walk the Sorolla's Route or go to La Malvarrosa beach, great! Otherwise, we'll be just happy enjoying eating paella and  authentic Valencian helado de turrón ( nougat ice cream). Yummy! Perfect carb-loading. Forget about "pasta party", I want a "paella party"!

About The Race 

The Maratón Divina Pastora Valencia is flat and fast. It starts and finishes at the spectacular modernist area of City of Arts and Sciences, designed by one of my all time favorite architects, Santiago Calatrava.

The races goes through some of the most symbolic sites in Valencia, including the Bioparc, the Cathedral, Jardin del Turia, Lonja, Mercado de Colón, Miguelete, Palau de les Arts, Torres de Quart and Torres Serrano.

Jardin del Turia

Lonja de la seda or Silk Exchange

Mercado de Colón

This will be my first trip to Valencia capital. I've spent a couple of summers in the Costa Blanca. I've been to Alicante, Altea, Calpe and Gandia but I have never been to Valencia city. Looking forward to this getaway! If you have participated in this marathon before, please let me know what you liked and disliked about the race and your overall experience. If you blogged about it, I'd love to read your race recap too. Any suggestions in terms of hotels, restaurants, etc...?
 

A little bit in Spanish for my fellow Spanish speaking bloggers ...

¡Ya es oficial! Acabo de apuntarme a mi cuarta maratón, La Divina Pastora Valencia. La carrera comienza y termina en la impresionante Ciudad de las Artes y Ciencias, diseñada por uno de mis arquitectos preferidos de todos los tiempos, Santiago Calatrava. Valencia es la tercera ciudad más grande de España. Ofrece un rico patrimonio cultural en los ámbitos de la música, el arte, la gastronomía y la arquitectura  con artistas famosos como Sorolla, Calatrava y Blasco Ibáñez. Pero quizás sea mas conocida por ser la cuna de la paella.  Yo añadiría a esta lista gastronómica los helados de turrón y la mistela ¿verdad?. Perfecto para “carbo-cargarse” el día antes de la carrera, ¿no? Aquí toca "paella party". Este será mi primer viaje a Valencia ciudad.  Si has participado en esta maratón, cuéntame tu experiencia o déjame un "link" si tienes un resumen de la carrera . Se aceptan sugerencias sobre hoteles, restaurantes, etc...:-)

2012 RnR San Diego Half Marathon Recap

Saturday, June 2nd - Expo

I arrived at the Health and Fitness Expo around 10:20 o'clock. It was a little crowded but not too bad. I picked up my bib as fast as I could and proceeded to the exit. Ok, I am just kidding! If you follow my blog regularly you know I like to spend my time at the expo to check the latest running gizmos and gadgets, apparel, etc...At this expo there were over 60 exhibitors. One of the largest I've ever visited.
   

 

I made it to Pure Running Heaven! No, I didn't pass out or fell into a deep dream about running ( although I often find myself daydream about running the Boston Marathon). I just stopped by Brook's booth.

In Pure Running Heaven, I met some famous runners. Ha, who knew that Abraham Lincoln, Mona Lisa and Gandhi like to run too? :)

Add caption

They also provided runners with heavenly gait analysis and the chance to check out the new lightweight PureProject shoes. Pretty cool!  The next half hour I walked around, sampled over a dozen of healthy drinks and bars. Maybe not a good idea to do this 20 hours before a race. I was just killing time, waiting for Chrissie Wellington (four-time World Ironman Champion) to make it to the stage. The wait was sooo worth it. I love listening to her story! Imagine running your first full marathon in 3:08?  What about running a full in 2:52:41 after swimming 2.4 miles ( 3.86 km) followed by a 112-mile (180.25) bike ride? Amazing!

Ah, the Goddes of Triathlon

After meeting Chrissie, I was ready to leave when suddenly I spotted one of my all-time favorite runners, Olympic Marathon Bronze Medalist, Deena Kastor.  OMG, I was starstruck! I wanted to tell her how much I love her. I watched her in The Spirit of The Marathon movie over a dozen of times. But words didn't come out of my mouth. I just acted like a 15 year old girl, "omg, you are my hero. Can I take a picture with you?" hahahaha. This just happened to me once before when I met Kara Goucher in Las Vegas. Deena Kastor was so nice and down to earth. She wished me luck at the race. Now, my friends at Brooks were right, this expo was Pure Running Heaven! The rest was not but I'll get to that later.

With Deena Kastor

 Sunday, June 3rd - Race

My husband and I woke up at 3:00 and left home at 3:30 am. Very early! We drove to the San Diego Sports Arena, as suggested by the organizers, and took the bus to the starting line. We arrived at Balboa Park around 5:15 am. We had plenty of time as the race didn't start until 6:15am. We headed to the grassy area between corral 4 and 5 where my running group (WCRR) was meeting.  The coaches were running together holding a 43' WCRR 10-man PF Chang's Dragon.

My coaches

With my husband

Right before the race started, around 6:00am, I met my friend Wendy. She lives in San Diego but we met at the RnR Edinburgh and later at the Rock N Roll Madrid.  Too bad she is not blogging about her races :( She is doing a cool RnR challenge this year! 12 RnR races in 12 months! Quick stop by the porta-loos ( love that word) and time to run.

Race
The race started at 6:15am. My corral crossed the starting line 10 minutes later. I was in corral 9. There were a total of 42 corrals for +/- 30,000 runners. It felt too crowded!

Since I ran this race in 2011, I knew what to expect. The first four miles were nice, good rhythms ( 8:45 , 9:16, 9:23, 9:10) around the Balboa Park area.  From there we headed to highway 163.

Miles 4 - 5.5 were going up ( elevation:136 ft - 283 ft). I slowed down to 10:43 min/mile. This was way too slow but I couldn't run any faster.  I blame it on a "wardrobe malfunction". I was wearing a brand new running skirt with compression pants that were too big for me causing extreme discomfort and a horrible chaffing. Aghghgh, runners 101, never do anything new (food, outfits, whatever) the day of the race!


My thighs were burning me but I managed to speed up a little bit between miles 5.5 and 6.  We looped around some bridges and soon we were at Friar's Road.  From then on, it was all flat and familiar. Miles 10 and 11 were the worst. My neck and shoulders were hurting as if I pulled my trapezoid muscles ( I need to have this checked). On top of that, my chaffing was worsening and the streets were narrowing to a point that I almost accidentally knocked down a runner who stopped right in front of me to walk. I couldn't find a way around him. Oh, nooo!

At mile 12, I saw my friend Edward right in front of me. WTH! Why is he running with the half marathoners?  This was supposed to be his BIG day. His Boston Qualifier.  I sped up to talk to him. "What are you doing here?" I asked him. He looked left and right and realized then that he was in the wrong spot. He had missed a turn, just .5 miles ago. To his defense, the sign indicating "half marathons left, full marathoners right" was miniscule and with such a crowded course it was easy to miss. OMG! I feel bad for him. If this happens to me, I'll be furious! My friend has been running an average of 80 miles a week for the last few months to prepare for this. After our small chat, he sped up while I stayed behind.  I can't run at his ridiculous fast pace!!

Eight minutes later, I arrived at the finishing line. My legs were feeling strong but my thighs were bleeding :-(  My finishing time: 02:12. My worse this year but still, 6 minutes faster than my 2011 RnR San Diego.  My husband arrived few minutes later. 

Post-race

I don't think I've ever seen so much food in my life. Not even at the Portland Marathon last year.
 

And the award to the best running outfit goes to ... the dude with the tutu :)

Running Elvis

After the half marathon, we took a free bus to the San Diego Sports Arena to pick up our car and head home.  Easy in and out.

Race Highlights:

Good

• Visiting the expo early. My husband had to go back in the afternoon to pick up his bib. It was too crowded.
• Meeting Chrissie Wellington
• Meeting Deena Kastor
• Meeting my friends and my running group
• Post-race snacks
• Getting to the starting line and back to the parking

Bad

• Too crowded. I almost knocked down a runner.
• The course is not necessarily breathtaking

Ugly

• Bad case of chaffing

San Diego Half Marathon Coming up ...

I have the Rock N Roll San Diego Half Marathon coming up next weekend, June 3rd, but I am not feeling it.  Don't get me wrong! It's a good race at the perfect location and best time of the year.

What's wrong with me? Nothing really ?! OK let's call it runner's low. After running the RnR Madrid Marathon and then the OC Marathon 3 weeks ago, I don't feel like running this distance. I've already participated in this race last year and honestly I don't think I could PR at this half marathon. I've been running at a slower pace lately. I am not totally unhappy about this though. I've been playing with my brand new minimalistic shoes, the Brooks PureFlow which the company should have called PureJoy!!

Oh, I am in trouble!!  Call me crazy but I'd rather run the RnR San Diego FULL Marathon next weekend. Is this even an option? YES, but I shouldn't! Oh well, I am sure I'll find my mojo before Sunday.

What do you do to keep motivated? New Music? New outfit?