Humboldt Bay Half-Marathon

Jenna and I ran another Half-Marathon on Sunday (The Humboldt Bay Marathon/Half/5K).  She is a true runner, a cross-country inspiration, and I basically run to stay in shape and stave off middle-aged weight gain, even though I don't think my body/knees love it (but I hate running less than I hate swimming or biking).  We completed the Humboldt Redwoods Half Marathon last October (where my body felt good, and was very proud of my sub-two-hour time of 1:56!). This was my fourth total half-marathon. 

I have been working a lot, and feeling some midlife sluggishness, but have still been able to get in some long runs (and some walks, when I'm too anxious to leave Eureka when on OB call) during our nice summer weather on the newly completed Arcata-Eureka Waterfront Trail, which now connects the two cities, and which was actually the site of the race course (heading North from Eureka. The marathon course went all the way to Arcata, looped around a marsh lake, and returned back).

The marathon started at 7 a.m., and the half-marathon at 8, and we had pretty perfect running weather until the sun really came out at the end which, for Humboldt, felt hot (~ 68 degrees!). I saw a couple of other colleagues, including one of the third-year family medicine residents, a two-hour pacer, at the start and tried to stick with him especially in the back half of the race (going slower at the beginning than at the end is apparently called running a "negative split," he told me, when I told him how my race strategy usually goes)!

(Jenna, Sarah, me, Sung Jae)

The race results were tracked real-time and posted later on Webscorer (pointed out by my friend, Beth, who congratulated me before I'd even gotten situated at home!). I finished fourth in my age/gender group, about nine minutes slower than a few-years-younger Jenna (who was recovering from COVID and also not 100%).  While I was about three minutes slower than my race time last fall, I still finished in under two hours (1:59:07), passing Sung Jae the pacer, and which was not too shabby for an even older, more-middle-aged and still-overworked mom.  I have concluded that I need to upsize my running shoes, as my toes were numb/scrunched, and my feet hurt a ton at the end of the race, but I'm not sure that my shoe size was my main limitation on running faster. Running 13.1 miles continuously is just plain hard on many joints and on the body!  

Mostly relief at the end, not elation

Kelvin and the kids are out of town this weekend and week... so I relaxed during the rest of the day with a massage, naproxen, ice on my shins, a nap, and a very early bedtime! 

Jenna plans to do the full Marathon in October. I have passed on that...for now. Running (including training) for 4+ hours just doesn't sound that fun or doable to me at this stage in my life!  But we will see what's possible with less work and more sleep in the coming year!  We (I) can do hard things!  

Humboldt Redwoods Half-Marathon!

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." - John Bingham

Iver and the kids' cross-country meets have inspired me to do some more running in recent years (mostly for exercise), even though I don't love it and have never considered myself a strong runner, despite enjoying sports. I'm also quite a perfectionist, and tend not to want to engage in pursuits in which I don't feel I can be successful (by internal metrics and which are usually unreasonably high expectations). During residency in my twenties, despite not having a lot of free time to train, I surprised myself with finishing two half-marathons on the flat streets of Sacramento, finishing in around 2:05 both times (2007 and 2009). Nevertheless, I do really feel like a running imposter most of the time, with no prior coaching or racing experience as a young person. 

As we became members, I get the local Six Rivers Running Club publications and a couple of months ago, I asked a few sporty friends if they'd be running the half- or full marathon this weekend. I ultimately (paid the money!) and committed to doing this fall race (13.1 miles), although I was nervous about my body holding up with the distance. I'd gradually increased my training runs, and my friend Jenna (the most serious runner I know locally) was a huge help, troubleshooting some issues I had including painful shin splits (she suggested better cushioned shoes :)) and some eating tips (although I didn't actually try the goo she uses). Despite shin and knee pain (am I giving myself premature arthritis??), I worked up to about a 12-mile run a week and a half ago, which took me a bit over two hours. I didn't have high hopes for any specific finishing time for the half-marathon (I don't have any pacing watches or heart-rate gadgets either), but hoped to beat 2.5 hours (the goal that Iver set for me!), especially since Jenna and I planned to carpool, and I didn't want her to be waiting too long for me at the finish line! 

Jenna picked me up around 6:15 a.m. on Sunday to drive the hour or so south to Weott, because she said parking and traffic entering the Dyerville area of the Avenue of the Giants was really bad when she did her last half-marathon this spring. We got there with plenty of time to park, get checked in, warm up, and use the bathroom. 

"I often hear someone say, ‘I’m not a real runner.’  We are all runners, some just run faster than others. I never met a fake runner.” —Bart Yasso

Jenna lined up with the faster ("real") runners while I hung back a bit (we were all "chipped" to account for the different starts which was a first for me!).  A gun went off to start the race (there was also a later 5K and a full marathon). 

The course (out and back) was really pretty, through the Redwoods, the scenic Avenue being blocked off for the race. It was warm even at the 8:30 a.m. start, and I was comfortable in a tank top and shorts (thankfully, it didn't rain, as it was pouring at our house yesterday and I was also happy to not have to start and ditch a layer since I tend to be cold).  It was mostly flat (my kind of terrain!) except for a small climb at the end towards the final bridge.

I had about equal splits for the first and second halves of the race, which I was proud of!  I actually tend to start conservative and slow, not wanting to tire out, and then pick it up at the end.  I'm so inspired (and get more competitive) when I see older runners ahead of me (and I hate the feeling of getting passed at the end).  Miles 9-10 were the hardest for me but I knew the end was in sight.  I was thankful for the "aid stations" with water and gatorade, especially on the return 6.55 miles. There were also some spectators along the sides of the bridge cheering us on with signs.

(It looks like I'm walking with feet barely off the pavement but I was really trying to finish strong-- and I overtook the guy in the red shirt in the final mile!)

Jenna finished in 1:42 and I made it to the finish in 1:56:22, which was quite a bit better than I expected (I think seeing all the other runners helped me a lot!)!   Because our bibs were "chipped," official race results were out quickly! I came in 110th overall and 6th for my division (women aged 40-44), which is not too shabby for an overworked, middle-aged mom of two! 

“Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that's the essence of running, and a metaphor for life." -Haruki Murakami 

How's that for Walktober (even though I'll be be taking far fewer steps tomorrow and may need crutches!) ?!

My best friends!

There aren't any marathons in my future, but I'd be willing to do another half-- maybe, although I don't think my knees will like it. I'm not sure I could beat this time, though and therefore am reluctant to try.  I am considering taking up swimming, even though I don't much like swimming either!

"Whether a mile or a marathon, you get there the same way… one step at a time. Such is life.” – Baylor Barbee

Happy Trails

I was on call this past weekend and my outdoor allergies have still been pretty bad when it's sunny and warm-ish, but Kelvin took the kiddos on some more outdoor adventures in the mornings to break up at-home time.

They rode bikes from McKinleyville to the Mad River Bridge and back (about 10 miles round-trip). Some other walkers/passersby were really impressed at Iver's ability to ride up hills!

They stopped for a donut treat at Safeway (where Niall was scared that the giant totem pole was going to topple over on them).  We asked Iver this weekend if he has noticed any life changes amidst the COVID pandemic or if he feels like he's suffering at all. He answered, "Not really. Life is good!  I go to (pre)school, where I love my teachers, and I do lots of playing at home and riding bikes. And sometimes I get two, instead of one, donut on a weekend!")

On Sunday, they again visited Trinidad beach. 

 Can you see Iver atop the rock?

These little happy munchkins are enjoying the nearby outdoor beauty and lots of happy trail time. 

Beach volleyball!

 

We have found a new sport to play here in Humboldt-- beach volleyball (which I have actually never played)! Josh told us that HSU had a court and, with the students out of town on Christmas break (and an uncharacteristic dry spell without winter rain), we checked out the facilities last week. I actually love to play volleyball. Josh asked K and me if we'd be interested in playing some intramural volleyball in Eureka this spring, but apparently there were not enough people to make other teams to even have a league (bummer). So holiday beach volleyball it may have to be.

Mind you, we did not play the 2-on-2 beach volleyball of Misty May/Kerri Walsh (although I know they've both gotten married and added surnames) of the Olympics. We recruited people so that it was 5-on-4, which actually probably made it more fun as we kept the ball in play longer; however, my forearms and back were definitely sore the next day! There was a precarious hill right by the court but we only had to chase the ball down there twice. I played one game with shoes and then a shoe-less game and, besides not having to run around in sand-filled shoes, didn't notice a different in my overall performance (I am definitely vertical-jump-challenged).

with Mickey and Bernal

Staged "dunking" shot although yes, we know there's no dunking in v-ball...

Pepper, who as you may remember loves sand/the beach, came along and was a perfect sideline companion and only almost got hit/stepped on once.

Beach volleyball was a hit!

Running musings

I am not a huge runner. I guess I like running a tad more than my friend Natasha who, on the first day of medical school after numerous people introduced themselves and commented that they "like to run," stated simply, "I only run when chased." I still remember this intro of hers like it was yesterday (and can't wait to see my non-running and now-mom friend next week!). In any case, I like running in order to chase objects (i.e. frisbees) more than I like the actual running. I'm no crazy Molly-girl who runs 50-milers and things like that "just for fun". I do it for exercise (boy, has my metabolism slowed in the past couple of years!) and since moving to CA, have run a couple of half-marathons for a challenge, which it definitely has been; however I don't think my body is built for long-distance running such as a marathon, as much as I'd like to accomplish one. I have been throwing around the idea of running another half marathon on May 1st, but I'm really having a hard time mustering up the energy and motivation to train, having been traveling, commuting to Stockton for work, trying to hide from the Sacramento rain, and trying to catch up on very critical Time and other magazine-reading (which I do at the gym in true multitasking-style). I am being very indecisive at this point and, if I could just make myself sign up, I might find the motivation to make sure I ran enough this month to make it possible; however, I just keep putting off and putting off the idea of committing myself. I would love to find a buddy to run with, especially on the day of the race so, if you are planning to run the American River Half Marathon on May 1 in Sacramento, let me know and I will sign up pronto!

And speaking of running, I wanted to mention and get some input on the latest seeming running craze. I remember hearing, for the first, time about "barefoot running" from my friend Char about 6 months ago. We went for a run on the American River Parkway one Saturday morning (a perfect morning capped with a yard sale and yogurt, if I remember correctly!) where she told me that she was starting to "run barefoot." "Barefoot?" I asked incredulously, totally clueless (like I generally am about most new trends) about this craze. It sounded incredibly painful and, frankly, just weird.


If you are in the dark about such an activity, as I was just mere months ago, the principle is that running "barefoot" simulates the way that we (and those Kenyan marathon winners!) used to "naturally" run and which optimizes the mechanics of your stride so as to decrease the potentially damaging impact on your body (you can read about such scientific evidence at a science daily article online here). Running barefoot uses different muscles, and is supposedly far superior to our artificially crafted way of running (with shoes) with its detrimental heel-striking.


Do you buy it? I was not so sure before, but I am starting to warm up to the idea... of trying it. Part of it is getting bombarded by articles by a particular running- enthusiast attending and seeing such supporters in action. While Char said that she started out running in barefoot "shoes" crafted from leather-like soles and socks, she (and Brenden, who sometimes wears them to clinic!) now own Vibram Five "barefoot running" shoes, which definitely keep them "on their toes" and up to speed when we play frisbee on Tuesdays.







So... to run May 1 or not? And with or without shoes? :)

Roomie reunion

My college roomie, Cathleen, flew into Sacramento from Colorado this weekend just for a visit. How nice is that??? No track meets or anything, just a "weekend vacation" for her. It was a fabulous time. Cathleen is the easiest visitor ever! She brings her own oatmeal, loves going on errands, spontaneously organizes others' stuff (we got my whole file cabinet and closet done-- a task which would have taken me months to aspire to do!), and is militant about getting 8 hours of sleep per night (a great influence). She, also quite quirky, doesn't seem to be fazed my by neuroticisms.


Saturday, we took a trip to the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield (about 45 minutes away), which I've been wanting to visit since I moved here, but which I haven't gotten anyone else to agree to visit with me. She, a great lover of Jelly Bellys, was all game!

Big Jelly Belly Man

Spirited vehicles


Rolling the Jelly Belly wheel of fortune...







I got one of the "Bean-Boozled" flavors (like Harry Potter Magic Beans, these are nasty-tasting ones like vomit, moldy cheese, skunk essence, etc... ).Eww!





The (free) sample bar was awesome--- I never knew there were so many awesome flavors, like mango, margarita, jalapeno, Dr. pepper, and more...!

On the free factory tour...

My favorite jackass pretending to "lick" the wall painting

On Saturday evening, we watched some Scrubs (while shredding impt documents of mine) and then hung out with some friends at Crepeville to celebrate Darina's being in town.

SUN:

Only Cathleen (a college high jumper/heptathlete) would have gladly and excitedly gotten up at 6 a.m. (on a vacation weekend) to accompany me to a track event.

Sunday was the Shamrock 1/2 marathon in West Sac. While my time (2:05) was identical to that of my first half, the Cowtown my first fall out here, it felt (despite, again, suboptimal training) so much better! I ran the first 10 miles with a friend from L and D, Chrissie and her friend Melissa (who did AWESOME their first race of that length!), but I took off a bit at the end and pushed my self. It was really encouraging to see so many people out there and with all their spirited attire (St. Patty's day socks, tights, antennae [no joke], and whatnot)-- much more fun than running in the dark alone. Maybe I could do a full marathon someday... (NOT!!)

Raley field finish line

Goofy pic

Most of these pics are, as you can see, taken from my messy (pre-Cathleen-cleaned apt).



Sunday afternoon, we had yummy Pluto's salads at the mall and then saw a movie (He's just not that into you) that, again, few other people would probably see with me. While no Slumdog, it was certainly a lighthearted and entertaining chick flick which had us both giggling. Good ol' girl times! Ah, how I miss college sometimes.

Mall parking lot

CC, organizing my closet (with glee! Let me remind you-- I did in NO WAY force her to do this!)



Ah, I will miss Cathleen (and not just because she organizes stuff for me! :). I dropped her off at the airport this a.m. and now have a rather grueling end-of-2nd year to look fwd to (7 weeks of OB, then 4 weeks of VA medicine, then ED). Wish she could stay full time and be my life organizer.

Oh, and P.S., my phone is dead (water damage??), so please email me your phone # if you would like to keep in touch!