It was another easy week of workouts and it helped for Sunday’s race. Ever since I started training in zone 2 during the week, I’ve noticed I have more energy for the Sunday long run. And because I was mostly working on my base building this summer and into the fall, I haven’t done much speed work - so excited for that!
Before I catch you up on my race weekend, this was my easy week of workouts:
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: MAF Run / 30 mins / HR 133 bpm - track course
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: MAF Run / 40 mins / HR 133 bpm - road run
Friday: MAF Run / 30 mins / HR 128 bpm - road run
Saturday: 26 min / Walk
Sunday: Vin 110 10K race!
Saturday we went to pick up our bibs near the South Pasadena Metro Station. The line wrapped around but it still was relatively a smaller expo. After the expo, we were starving so we headed to get vegan burgers — I usually don’t like eating anything this heavy before a race but I went into this race with a more chill attitude. I think this mental approach ended up benefitting me! (mental note: calm the frick down for the next race and remember this is fun!)
Following our rich lunch, I hydrated lots - I usually have a Nuun Sports Hydration water (about 24oz) in the morning and then a second Nuun Daily Hydration / Vitamins Hydration (24oz) at the end of the day (day before a race). The rest of the day just plain water.
For dinner, Danny made us delicious vegan risotto - it’s becoming a ritual night before race dinner. And then we headed to my sister’s halloween party. Party…before race day?! I know! But remember, I was chill mode snail lady and decided we would be the obnoxious people that show up first to the party and leave first too (my sister expected this - even if no race is involved - I’m that person). We managed to leave her fun party at 9pm —of course after we got some karaoke songs in. You didn’t ask, but yes, I started the karaoke and kicked it off with “Common People” by Pulp, and later “Dreams” by the Cranberries, “In Dreams” by Roy Orbison and closed my night with my ultimate dad song, “Never Be the Same” by Christopher Cross. We slept for a whole 6:30 hours - which is not ideal before a race but I was still glad we got any sleep. We were at our metro station at 6am (luckily our station is only about a half mile away from our house).
Ok we have reached the race recap section:
We woke up at 5am and snoozed for 5 minutes - a mini snooze seems to do the trick to get me up. I forced myself to eat a honey stinger waffle cookie thing (I still hate eating this early) and a banana with 12oz of water.
The race started at 7am - which was great because this is usually when I run during the week. This was the first time I brought a “throw away” sweater because it was pretty cold in the morning. Fifteen minutes before starting, I had some honey stinger chews.
Total side note - but I absolutely love seeing other Latinx runners! Especially when they are all decorated with Mexican colors and the flag. There were even some runners dressed as luchadores! Below the runner on the right had Mexican flag socks! Shoutout to all my Latinx runners! Dale gas!
They released white doves before they let us begin, I don’t know what for, but it was cute.
My plan was to start at my easy 12:00/mi pace and ease into my comfortable 11:00/mi pace to prevent going out fast. Glad I decided to go out this way because it helped me have negative splits! woooohooo!
My last 10K race (Surf City 10K in September) I finished at 1:0:59 and on Sunday I finished at 57:52! I shaved off about 4 minutes in just over a month! So proud of myself :) So proud that I took the obligatory sweaty photo where you inexplicably bite your medal.
We hopped back on the crowded train and headed to Kitchen Mouse to get our celebratory post race meal. I went for the vegan huevos rancheros, a hot vanilla oat latte and we split the vegan blueberry muffin. Danny had chilaquiles with tofu scramble and a cold beer.
In the bath was when I noticed I had a “raspberry” on the left side of my waist from the belt sliding around during the run. I also noticed a small blister on my left foot arch. (On a scale of 1-10 how much do you love these gory details of running?) Don’t worry I won’t ever attach photos of this stuff because no one needs to see this on the internet. I’ll just describe how gross they are letting you decide if it’s too much.
I took a glorious nearly 2 hour nap and then had to get ready for our dinner reservation. Which is why this blog post is a day late. Overall, I’m so happy to set a PR on this awesome 10K! While I was running on the 110 freeway, I caught a great view of downtown Los Angeles. Ever since I signed up for the LA Marathon, every time I see the DTLA horizon, I get a knot in my stomach. It’s a good knot but also a “what the hell did I sign up for” knot. But it’s races like these that remind me that I’m doing the work, trust the process and take it day by day. Ride the high wave because there will be bad days ahead. Run this mile now :)