A little bit of this, a little bit of that!

In the interest of condensing posts (since I've been a lazy blogger of late), I'm just going to combine them into one long post. Bare with me!

2010 Races/Goals

This year is going to be an interesting and busy year running-wise. You can check out my race schedule (as of now) to the right. Lots of halfs, a few marathons, and a smattering of smaller races. I chose most of these races for specific reasons. Surf City, San Francisco, and Long Beach will complete the California Dreamin' Series. UCSB also has a three-race series which includes a 4 miler, 5 miler, and 10k. As for marathons, I have a rather lofty goal, if all goes according to plan. I've decided to make CIM in my hometown of Sacramento my fall marathon. But I also applied for the NYC Marathon, and if (if!) I get in, I've decided to go for my dream of qualifying for the Marathon Maniacs by running 3 marathons in 3 months! I would run the Long Beach full instead of the half in October, NYC in November, and CIM in December. But again, this all depends on one big IF! I know NYC is super hard to get into via the lottery, so I'm trying not to get my hopes up : )

I also have a few goals for these races. For marathon No. 3 in LA, my goal is still to finish sub-5 hours. Training-wise I was ready to do this at SBIM, but the running gods had other plans : / By fall, however, I would like to get down to 4:30-4:45. Again, I really think I am capable of this, I just have to put in the time and effort. As far as halfs, my ultimate goal is to finish sub-2 hours. Considering that my PR right now is 2:17 though, I'm gonna take baby steps and make my goal for this year 2:10 (10 min/mi pace). Then there's the speed demon also known as the 5k. My goal for this year is 25:XX. I've been running much faster than usual on my shorter weekly runs lately, so I think this is possible, especially with some speedwork. Setting goals is always hard for me because I want to find the in-between point of being attainable yet not being too easy that it's not something I have to strive for. Hopefully I've hit the mark for my 2010 goals.

Training

The LA Marathon is in 66 days. I only just did my first long run to kick off my training. A little nervous? Hell yes. But I have to keep reminding myself that I just ran a marathon last month, and although I took some time off after, I still have a solid base to build from for the next one in March. I've been aiming to workout 5-6 days a week, and am just about there. Notice I say workout instead of run...that's because I've recently begun testing out my skills in the pool! Skills is the wrong word...I have horrible form and no endurance whatsoever, but I'm excited to improve and have some cross-training as part of my training (it's about time!). Swimming is great too because it really gives my body a break from the constant pounding of the pavement. My goal is be able to swim a mile by June. I swam 550m my first time, so I'll just about have to triple that, but I'm looking forward to the challenge. Who knows, maybe I'll even make an appearance in the crazy world of triathlons this year ; ) Going back to running though, I've been doing mostly 4 milers during the week, and have been averaging a 9-9:30 pace, which is much faster than normal for me. I've felt pretty good each time, noticeably pushing it but not to the point that I feel like I can't maintain it or I'm going to die. Long runs have pretty much just made their way back onto my schedule. Tom, Stacey, and I have a somewhat accelerated plan to get us up to 20 miles before LA, but I think it's doable. We started off with a 9 miler on Sunday and ran most of it at a 10-something pace. I felt a little more tired than usual, but I think my body just needs to be reminded what long runs feel like. I'm hoping to keep up the consistency over the next few weeks as school, work, etc. gets busier and busier.


Team In Training

As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm now a mentor for the summer season of Team In Training here in Santa Barbara. The season doesn't start until February, so right now we're focused on recruitment.This past Sunday we held a "preview" party that was a lot of fun and pretty successful too, but the best news is from just last night. A few of my sorority sisters had expressed some interest and had come out to the party, but hadn't signed up. But then yesterday they told me they were ready to sign up! I also convinced my two roommates to register, bringing the total to 8 girls from my house! Woot woot! They should call it Gamma Phi In Training : ) I am already so proud of these girls for taking on such an enormous challenge and for doing it for an amazing cause. I was even getting a little emotional listening to them talk about how nervous/excited/scared they were...it reminds me of exactly how I felt this time last year when I was in there shoes, and the incredible journey that followed over the next several months. I'm just so excited for them and I can't wait to be there to cheer them on as each one of them crosses the finish line : )

2009 Reflections...

My plan was to post this yesterday, on the last night of 2009...but then my computer went and got a virus. My whole life is on this computer so it was kind of scary, but I was able to fix things with the help of my very smart and technical uncle. Lately I've just had really bad luck with my electronics - I can't use the front of my phone because the unlock key just stopped working, my iPod blew out a couple weeks ago, and then I got this damn virus. Seriously, what's up karma?

Anyway, on to the purpose of this post...reflecting on my running in 2009. For all important purposes, it was my first year as a runner. Let me clarify - I actually ran quite a bit in high school. I played soccer year round and even did cross-country for a couple years as a way to stay in shape for soccer. I would run on my own a bit too, but again it was mainly for soccer and it never exceeded 2 miles. It wasn't until 2009 that I began running for the sake of running, and it was the first time I called myself a runner. In January I signed up with Team In Training and began training for the Seattle Rock 'n' Roll Marathon with a wonderful group of people and fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I had always wanted to run a marathon, and I had heard that TNT was a great way to do it. I ran my first "official" race in April, the Santa Barbara Chardonnay 10-miler. At that point 10 miles was still pretty far for me, but I loved every minute of it. The race environment I experienced that day made me even more excited for my marathon, but there were still several more months of training left.

The amazing SB chapter of Team In Training!

 SB Chardonnay 10-miler (1:44:18)

As I trained with the Team, my life slowly evolved as well as a result of my running. For the most part I stopped drinking and went out much less than before. My body just didn't want alcohol, and it wasn't exactly conducive to training anyway. Having a long run at 7am on Saturday also made it virtually impossible (or maybe just foolish) to go out a lot on the weekends. My diet changed drastically as I began to see food as fuel, and I began having a water bottle glued to me 24/7. I embraced these changes, however, because running had given me other things that made my life much better. My fellow runners will understand exactly what I'm talking about - the state of mind after a run, the feeling of physical health and well-being, the sense of purpose and accomplishment...it's hard to put into words, but for us runners, it's why we do what we do, day after day, one mile after another.

 Track practice with the Team.

 Swedish relays, my favorite!

 The ocean was the giant ice bath for our Team after long runs : )

 Stretching after running my first 20 miler ever!

I finally ran my first marathon in June and it was by far one of the best experiences of my life. As I ran mile 25 with my close friend Sarah, I just kept repeating, "oh my God, we're about to finish a marathon", over and over. Crossing that finish line, arms in the air, was a surreal experience. There is nothing like finishing your first marathon, and it will be a moment I remember for the rest of my life. My goal was simply to finish, and if possible, under 5:30, and I did just that, with 3 minutes to spare : ) I am forever grateful to TNT, to the people and the program who helped me cross that finish line, I could not have done it without them.

 Nothing like it.

 Seattle Rock 'n' Roll Marathon (5:27:46)

When I got back to Santa Barbara a couple weeks later, our team reunited to run a local 5k as part of a summer running series called Nite Moves. I hadn't run since the marathon, and I wasn't fully recovered, went out way too fast, and my knees paid for it in the end. This was my first official 5k, and I finished in 29:17. During training with the Team we did a few unofficial timed 5ks and based on my time for those, I know I'm capable of better and I'm looking forward to testing out my 5k capabilities soon! Over the summer I ran off and on. I ran my first 10k, the McConnell's Ice Cream Run with Tom and my roommate Jordan. The best part of the race was after, however, because all the finishers got free ice cream!

Nite Moves 5k (29:17)

 McConnell's Ice Cream 10k (1:03:30)

 Jordan and I enjoying our ice cream sundaes post-race!

By this point I had become kind of addicted to running and racing, and in order to stay motivated over those next few months, I registered for my first half in September, the Disneyland Half Marathon. I met up with a fellow TNT alum, Katey, and we had a great race, finishing under our goal of 2:30. After this race I immediately began scouring the internet to find my next. In October I finished the San Luis Obispo City to the Sea Half Marathon setting a new half PR and marking my first race run solo. Back in Santa Barbara, I decided to take on my next big challenge and registered for the inaugural Santa Barbara International Marathon, and began training with my running buddies Tom and Stacey. In November I drove up to Monterey Bay and ran the Big Sur Half Marathon on an unbelievably gorgeous course. I set a new PR and had a wonderful weekend with my mom, visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium and shopping on Cannery Row. I went home to Sacramento for Thanksgiving and ran the enormous Run to Feed the Hungry 5k with my dad. It was our first race together and was so much fun. I'm hoping it will become an annual tradition : )

Disneyland Half Marathon (2:26:28)

SLO City to the Sea Half Marathon (2:24:00)

Big Sur Half Marathon (2:17:50)

Sacramento Run to Feed the Hungry 5k (30:30)

Then December came and before I knew it I was toeing the line of my second marathon, SBIM. I will spare you the details, but it was ugly. I was sick and had to walk/run almost the entire thing, but I pushed myself and crossed that finish line, and for that I am proud of myself. I wasn't anywhere near my sub-5 hour goal, but along the way I adjusted my plans and aimed to at least finish under 6 hours, which I did (just barely!). I know I have it in me, and in March I will once again be running 26.2 at the LA Marathon. My birthday was also in December, and thanks to my amazing dad I became the owner of my first GPS watch, the Garmin Forerunner 405. With that on my wrist I really feel like runner! So far it's amazing, I love being able to know every little detail about my running : )

Bittersweet.

 SB International Marathon (5:59:05)

Looking back, I accomplished quite a bit for my first year as a runner. I have established a solid base of running and racing and now can focus on getting better and faster in 2010. As much as I want to improve my time and set new PRs, for me the most important part of running is enjoying myself. If I ever find that I'm not having fun, I'll know it's time to reevaluate my training and remind myself why I love to run. I know 2010 will be another great year of running, with just as many ups as downs, but I'm ready for whatever comes my way. Happy New Year to all and here's to a fantastic 2010!

Review of Garmin Forerunner 405

Alright I know this review has been a long time coming, but I wanted to use my Garmin (aka Juliette) regularly so my review would at least be somewhat substantial. The Garmin Forerunner 405 is the newest release from Garmin and considered the ultimate in training technology. The features are certainly impressive - high-sensitive GPS for improved satellite reception; data transferred to your computer post-run wirelessly; tracks distance, route, current and average pace, calories burned, elevation, time, and more; customizable training screens; a virtual training partner to "race"; heart monitor capabilities; and is water resistant. Then there's the sleek new design with a unique touch bezel making it the smallest GPS training device by far. It all sounds great, but does it live up to expectations?

Since this is my first Garmin/GPS, I can't compare it to previous models, but for me this is probably a good thing. Every time I use it I just keep trying to wrap my head around how amazing technology today is. I spent a good hour figuring out how to use my 405 and customizing the features, but it wasn't too difficult to figure out. I would suspect that those who have experience with Garmins would find it pretty easy. Every time I've used it (the first during my marathon!) satellites were located immediately and I never lost reception. However it remains to be seen how it will fare in other places like cities. The 405 has four different modes: time/date, training, menu, and GPS. In training mode you can view your progress during a run, race your virtual partner, run intervals, set your goal pace, etc. Because the screen is smaller than previous models, only three things can be viewed at once, however you can set it up to scroll through multiple screens during runs to see more info. I have time, pace, and distance on one screen, and average pace and a clock on another. The third screen for me has my virtual partner and shows me how far ahead or behind I am of my goal pace. Afterward in menu mode, you can review your workout, including calories burned and the stats per mile. Easily the most impressive feature of the 405 is that it sends your data wirelessly to your computer as soon as it is within range - no cords, wires, or hassle! All the data stored on your device is loaded to Garmin Training Center and allows you to analyze your runs, view your route, calculate mileage, and much more.

But the real thing that made me want this Garmin in particular was it's sleek and sexy design. I always felt that the GPS running watches were cool, but far too bulky; I wanted something that could do all that fancy stuff, but also be comfortable like a regular watch. Well the Forerunner 405 certainly delivers this and more! By using a touch bezel circling the watch face they were able to eliminate the buttons on earlier models and make the whole device smaller. As I mentioned before, the screen is also smaller, but I don't find this an issue; everything is still easy to see for me, even during a run. In other reviews, the bezel seemed to be the feature that was the most controversial. Some people find it too sensitive or difficult to use in the middle of a run, and I totally see where these comments come from, but I've found that with practice you get used to it. The bezel can be locked, too, which I found useful while running to prevent accidental bumps. It reminds me a little bit of the wheel on an iPod, which becomes like second nature after time.

There are a few more features I haven't tried out, nor have I used it to do intervals yet, although I would imagine it would work quite well for those as well. For now, Juliette does exactly what I want and does so superbly.

Wait, I get to run where?

So after a week-long hiatus from running (sick, holidays, etc.), tonight I finally got back out there. I have to admit I was a little nervous to see how I would feel, but besides being a little more tired than usual, I felt pretty good. I took it easy and just did a 5k on my favorite course that takes me along the West Campus lagoon and then along the bluffs overlooking the beach and Pacific. I ran the first mile a little too fast (sub-10 min) but quickly reigned myself in and finished with an average pace of 10:35. I especially love running this route in the evening just before sunset because the views are absolutely gorgeous. Living in the cramped and crowded college "town" of Isla Vista, I often forget that everything else around me is pretty darn amazing. I really need to start appreciating this incredible place I live and run in before it's too late! Anyway, I took my phone along with me so I could capture some shots (hence the poor quality) to give you an idea of just how lucky I am : )

West Campus lagoon heading toward the ocean.

Looking back at the lagoon with the Santa Ynez Mountains in the background.

 The water was so still it reflected everything like a mirror!

Yes, I live 2 minutes from the beach : )

The trail along the bluffs heading back to Isla Vista.

I'm just about done with my review of my new Garmin so that should be posted asap. Inspired by many other bloggers in the running community, this week I also want to do a post reflecting on my running in 2009 and my plans/goals/hopes for 2010. Finally, I just wanted to mention my newest running-related challenge. I've rejoined my local Team In Training for the summer season as a Mentor! TNT holds a special place in my heart as it was with their help, support, and encouragement that I trained for and completed my first marathon last June (click here to read more about TNT and my experience with them). With that in mind I'm excited to be back with the Team and to help others accomplish something extraordinary.

Strung Out

Since the marathon, I've only run a few times (3, 7, and 4 milers), and I felt a little bit lethargic and unenthusiastic. But on my run tonight I was finally back in the zone and had one of those fantastic runs that happen just every once in a while, and leave you with a completely awesome state of mind. It reminded me why I love running, and made me much more excited to begin my next stint of training.

I don't ever run with my iPod, but after discovering Vitamin String Quartet (via Chic Runner), a group of musicians who do amazing string quartet covers of well-known songs, I went nuts downloading a bunch of their songs and couldn't resist listening to them on my run. I started out listening to their cover of Coldplay's "Yellow" and felt completely liberated and energized as I began running. I kept up an amazing pace for my 4 mile run (9:35 min/mi) and felt fabulous afterward! Seriously check them out on iTunes asap, you'll LOVE them!!

Now I have some sad news. Well, sad for me. After my run, my iPod's battery was low so I plugged it into my wall charger. Immediately, the screen went black and refused to turn back on! Then, within a few minutes, it got super hot! I was afraid it was going to blow up or something, but luckily it didn't...however it's still dead and nothing I do will make it turn back on!! I'm super bummed, especially because I JUST downloaded a bunch of new music : ( Oh well, I guess it's just one more thing to add to my Christmas list?

In other (non-running) news, Wednesday was my birthday (22, or as I like to say, twenty whoo!), so Tom arranged a wonderful dinner with some friends and running buddies. Channeling our inner youth, for dessert we had smores! It was a pretty low-key day but I had a great time nonetheless. Since the quarter at UCSB ended last weekend, almost everyone went home for break, leaving me alone in Santa Barbara for the past week thanks to work. Isla Vista, normally full of people, seems like a ghost town. Luckily I got some work off so I'm heading home Sunday for a week for the holidays. I'm hoping to get some running in while in Sacramento, but mostly I just want to enjoy my time with family and friends. Happy holidays!

p.s. review of my Garmin Forerunner 405 is in progress...should be up in a day or two!