Race Recap: Dairy Aire 5K

Dairy Aire 5K | Chino, CA

March 5, 2016

The Dairy Aire is the last of the Chino Triple Crown series (Reindeer Romp & Run for Russ being the other two) and a repeat of the Reindeer Romp course. Also home for 5K PR after PR for me, so I'm a little biased towards loving this course. Fast, flat and the best chocolate milk aferward. You can check out my 2014 and 2015 recaps too - 2015 was my PR until 2015's Reindeer Romp (advantages to running the same course over and over again!). We had quite a crew for this one again - a lot of us completing the Triple Crown Challenge, so that was pretty awesome (especially as they FINALLY had actual medals for us).

As apparently is now the trend, the cow takes on a new persona each year - last year was the punk cow and this year he was a superhero, so superhero garb was encouraged. Yes please! Jacky (my personal sparkly skirt closet) let me borrow her blue skirt and her mom made me an awesome sparkly red cape to sparkle and fly my way through the race.

Batman v. Superman. We both one for cuteness, duh.

My only beef (pun intended... you know... cow-themed race) is that this is a gun start, but mat finish. So last year while my final time was 25:07 per the race results, I had 25:00 dead flat on my watch, so this one of those races where you go by your Garmin, not the official results, no matter how official they may be! ;)

We got to the race about 7:50 and got to see the kids' run take off. The 5K started at 8:15 so we had time to get settled, get in some pre-race photos (mandatory) and wait for Doug's sister to bring our bibs. Advantages to small local races is showing up 20 minutes before gun time! Sometimes, it's such a refreshing race morning to be able to just roll in and go!

Mile 1: 7:31 Fast. A little too fast. You'd think I'd have learned my lesson from the Reindeer Romp in December where I ran my fastest mile ever in the first mile of that 5K, but no... I clearly did not!
Mile 2: 8:20 That's a little better. I was huffing a little,  but this was my first run post-Phoenix, so I took that into stride but I felt good.
Mile 3: 8:20 That's how you do a 5K, Megan. Be a little more consistent next time and you won't putter out!

Garmin: 24:55

Official:

I ran a 25:00 last year and that wasn't post-marathon, so I'm totally cool with that. Only last year, that was good enough for a first AG win and now it's got me down to third! You never know who's gonna show up race morning, right?

And I was the only one of the three in costume!

We hung around for race awards (lots of IERC reppin' in the age group awards!) and collected ALL THE MEDALS.

#runmatchy™  on point. 

And then mandatory post-5K breakfast, haircut, and a little self love (NAPS!) on a Saturday afternoon. It was quite refreshing to just to get to go home after a race this weekend - not a hotel, not some other bed, but our home, our couch, and I had a very satisfying hour-long nap!

If you dressed up as a superhero for a race, who would you dress up as?

Race Recap: Holiday Half Marathon

Holiday Half Marathon & 5K

December 12 - 13, 2015 | Pomona, CA

The Holiday Half Marathon weekend offers all kinds of races - 5K, kids' Penguin Waddle, and half marathon. You can earn the Golden Snowflake Challenge medal for completing the 5K and half back-to-back, in addition to earning legacy medals, which might be a new goal just because they're so freaking adorable (3+ years is a new and bigger penguin ever year, culminating in year 10 with an emperor penguin medal). I was doing the challenge, because of course, and convinced Doug to run the 5K with me. 

Holiday 5K - Saturday, December 12

The only downside to this race is that there is no expo prior to the race. Packet pick up begins Saturday morning. Doug and I were at the Fairplex about 7:40 for an 8:30 am race start. The lines were crazy - semi-organized, but crazy. They were divided up by bib number and mine seemed to be the second longest out there. A lady behind me finally ducked into the (empty) line next to ours which was technically for the next set of bib numbers and she walked away with her bib and encouraged me to do the same. So I did - easy peasy. 

After being on the couch all last week because I pulled a muscle in my back (no fun, I tell ya what), I decided I wanted to run the 5K super easy and just have a great time. Doug decided to hang with me and make this a funner run rather than going all out. I almost wish I had gone all out because the course is flat as flat gets and is major PR-friendly (assuming you start in the front to beat the congestion). 

We jogged, got frustrated in the crowds and fought through when we could. Saw tons of friends, ran with Charlotte some too! (Major photo props to her!) By far the coolest part of the race (even for a girl who knows nothing about racing) was running up the drag strip on the west side of the fairgrounds. Doug got to teach me things and tell me what this racing ish is all about. I'm still not sure I know. 

And just like that, 3.11 miles were up! Seriously, that may have been the fastest (slowest) 5K ever, but I guess that speaks to how much freaking fun we had. I love getting to run with Doug and getting to talk the whole way, wave and say hi to friends that were cheering or running by was just the icing on the cake. 

Super fun snowflake medals don't hurt either.

Holiday Half Marathon - Sunday, December 13

Sunday morning was half marathon morning. I told Doug to stay in bed and sleep in (aren't I nice?) and I headed out the door about 6:50 to get to the Fairplex and make the walk to the start area. Our ambassador team was finally all meeting in one place (minues one) so we needed to make it an epic holiday-infused photo. I think we win.

Me, Sarah, Richard, Tam and Charlotte.

With my back being the way it was (and despite feeling 100% after the 5K and feeling fine Sunday morning), I was still a little nervous for how it would act after (or during) 13 miles. I lined up with the 1:55 pacer and decided I'd hang there as long as I could and see what I could do with it. Miraculously, my Garmin did not die at the start line and I actually had a watch! Win. Early on, I caught Linzie and hung with him for a bit. We kinda ran with 1:55 dude but knew early on that this guy was in for trouble. A 1:55 finish is about an 8:45 pace, so tell me why his first mile was 8:08? Whoa, buddy. You can see my final splits for how all-over-the-place this guy was:

Linzie and I started kinda of self-pacing to keep a little more consistency but stuck tight to the pacer just a bit ahead of us. The 2:00 pacer was also just yards behind us, so we knew somebody somewhere (or both of them!) were way off. 

The course starts out pretty flat, mostly follows the 5K route with some slight diversions in the first mile. Back up the drag strip from the 5K, a U-turn and back down, and then out the west side of the fairgrounds to head into Bonelli Park and Lake Puddingstone. Bonelli had some good rolling hills - not sharp inclines, but good rollers to keep your pace in check. Running along the roads with incredible views of the lake on such a perfectly gorgeous morning really made me appreciate all the places there are run to Southern California! What a treat. 

The 1:55 group was still in clear sight until about mile 7. I walked about 10 yards at mile 7 just to recollect and stretch and kept trucking. As you can tell from my splits, I was actually still maintaining a really great pace overall and was pleased. About mile 9.5, the last good incline, my back totally flared up and I walked almost the whole hill. Naturally, this guy then catches up to me and tells me to get movin' - so I did. And then at 10.5, my stomach totally flared up and all I could think about were the portos at mile 12, back on the drag strip. Just keep moving... 

Keep moving, keep moving. And then, of course, the portos at mile 12 are in the opposite direction that we turn from and at that point, I thought Screw it. Just get the last mile done! I caught up to a girl who had started with the 1:55 pacer and who had been leap-frogging with me all morning. We talked a bit and she was close to a PR (1:57) and I told her that if she just hung on, she'd have it in the bag. She helped me pass mile 12 real fast and before I knew it, I was kicking up to the finish for a solid 1:58:16 finish. More than stoked.

I collected my bling, and then went and collected my bonus bling for a clangin', racket of a good time walking around afterwards! 

A great morning indeed.

Race Pros:

- Course (challenging but it won't kill ya)

- Awesome, awesome bling

- Ugly sweater tech shirts are going to be hard to beat!

- Great race amenities (beer garden, vendors, races, Toys for Tots drive)

- Volunteers

Race Cons:

- Only morning pick up on Saturday rather than a Friday night option

- More restrooms needed on course (outside Bonelli) 

No major complaints from me in the slightest. This is easily one of my new favorite races in Southern California. The course is beautiful - albeit a little tough - but the environment itself just warrants all kinds of holiday spirit! So much to love and a race I definitely recommend you doing at least once. 

Do you get in the holiday spirit because of a race?

I served as an ambassador for this race through parent company Run Racing, also owners of Long Beach. I was provided an entry to the entire challenge free of charge. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own. 

Friday Favorites #4

1.   Firefly Virtual 5K/10K/Half Marathon

You can run this virtual race with me anytime September 26 - October 8. Register here with code MEGAN to save $5 on any of the race distances. Includes race bib, technical race shirt, LED running armband, bag of snacks, finisher's medal and a mystery prize! 10K and half-marathoners receive an extra armband! I hate running at night, but I’m all about the glow sticks and neon fun, so count me in! Join me?

2.       School’s Back!

The university I work at is on the quarter system – it’s still SO WEIRD to me, but whatever. Yesterday school finally started back up again, so it’s awesome seeing the buzz and life back on campus! This week has been all KINDS of insane, and therefore not a lot of miles goin’ down which makes me super sad, but oh well. Such is life, right, and sometimes the paycheck takes precedence over getting in a few miles. I’m hoping tonight before football!

We held two inaugural programs that have certainly been eating up all of our time, but turned out beyond awesome. First, our New Student Convocation which is like the official welcome to our new students from returning students, faculty and staff from all over campus. We had a full house and heard some great things so I think it paid off. The second program (my big baby) is a series of “Ask me!” tables around campus (think like info tables) to give directions, help new students find buildings, get folks to the correct offices for help, and so on. It’s 5 days, 10 hours, and a total of about 550 1-hour shifts to coordinate. Amazing. It’s just day 2 now, but so far, so good… and TONS of great reviews. Hard work pays off, yo.

3.       Birthday Week!

My birthday is alllllllllllllmost here (next Thursday) and I’ve got tons of awesome gifts and prizes to give away, so I’m super stoked. Many thanks to so many amazing companies who are contributing to my #30thbirthdayblogblowout and giving YOU GUYS the chance to win some super sweet birthday presents!

So much fun stuff to give away and I just can’t wait! See more next week for all that it entails – and GET EXCITED!

Happy Friday! What are you up to this weekend?

Race Report: Laguna Hills Memorial Day 5K

... officially part of the Laguna Hills Half Marathon series, featuring a 5K, 10K and half on Memorial Day (yes, a Monday race!).

Laguna Hills Memorial Day 5K

May 25, 2015 | Laguna Hills, CA

Last week, I finally got around to talking about our Recon Retread "2014 make up race" that we did to get ourselves into the legacy running for the 2018 Chief of Staff beauty. 

Conveniently, Memorial Day is also the kick-off day for the annual #RWRunStreak summer challenge. I've been doing this challenge since 2012 and as of last year, turned it into a fun competition with friends all over the country (Phoenix, Chicago, and now San Diego and Tucson!) to hold ourselves accountable but also have a little friendly competition at the same time. I mean... what can I say, I'm competitive! I figured a 5K was an appropriate way to kick off these next 41 days... 

 We left for Laguna Hills about 5:45 am for a 7 am race time. Many thanks to the holiday morning and empty freeways that time of day, we got to the Laguna Hills Mall about 6:15, with plenty of time to walk over to registration (hooray race day pick up!), get our shirts (not as soft as last year's, womp) and get back to the car to drop our haul off and get situated.

Then it was back over to the start line and to a mad scramble to get through the porta potty line in time to get back over to the start. Getting into the corrals wasn't a huge problem, just that we entered the corral back with the 13-minute mile pacer for the half, so we worried about getting stuck. Thankfully, we've got a good system going and managed to weave our way up to the 10-minute group to at least get out over the start line.

Pre-race selfie. Duh.

 There were 1,048 finishers for the half, 788 for the 10K and 1,446 for the 5K. My only super major complaint about this race is the start line. While it's not huge by any means, it's big enough that I really feel the start should be staggered at least a bit. It honestly didn't affect my race too much, though some weaving was required, but for a race that felt that big, I thought it was odd that we all started, all together, all at once.

But, bonus to that? Chip timing, which is not common at most Renegade Races (or maybe just the large enough ones?).

This course is not at all what the Retreat course was (that was the last few miles of the full 10K course). The first mile or so winds through Laguna Woods retirement community, so there were tons of old folks out cheering us on, complete with signs, cowbells, and them set up in beach chairs on their curbs waving us on! I so very much appreciated their support as we wound through literally the entire property. 

Mile 1: 8:00

I pushed a little too hard in mile 1, so tried to back off some going into the second mile so that, perhaps, I could give a little more again in mile 3. 

Mile 2: 8:50

The hill. Really, not that huge of one but frankly big enough that I shouldn't have pushed as hard as I did pushing up the first half of it! I walked about 30 seconds at the top just to regain composure and get back in my groove. 

Mile 3: 8:44

A good downhill but not enough to make up for my walk. Ah well. The mile 3 marker was just at the corner, so it was one quick turn on the road, and an even quicker turn into the driveway of the Laguna Hills Community Center. 

I turned and waited for Doug, who came in not long after me. After a few post-race massages and chiropractic adjustments, food (Corner Bakery muffins!) and wandering the community expo (which was pretty large and awesome), we wandered to finally go find our times and check out how we really did, considering that stupid hill. I hate love hate am ambivalent about hills. 

Eh, for a walk stint, 6/50 ain't so bad!

 Doug also finished 5th in his age group, which is one of his highest place finishes ever too, out of a group of 31! Pretty awesome.

A great race, great community event, and some amazing support. Part of the Darkhorse Battalion was out there, complete with humvees and rifles to take photos with. A number of community organizations that support and look out for Darkhorse members, who gave so much and lost even more at the Battle of Sangin in 2010. I was literally in tears walking through the tent that had each of the men's faces, ages (19... 20... 21...) on display. Heartbreaking. An amazing Memorial Day tribute and event to support these Marines. Thank you, veterans everywhere!

Did you run a Memorial Day race?

Race Report: Recon Retread 5K

Recon Retread 5K

April 19, 2015 | Laguna Hills, CA

This one is way overdue, but considering race #2 is coming up on Monday, I figure I better get it together and get this one up on the books, too! Renegade Races has held this race for a few years and announced last year a new fun challenge - run the race (any distance) 5 years in a row and earn a bonus medal... I mean, that says it all, right? Each year's race will honor a different branch of the military, and the 2018 bonus, should you make all 5 years, will be a Chief Joint of Staff medal. 

While we missed this last year, they announced in March a "make up" race - run the make up, and you're still in the running for the bonus. Count me sold! 2014 featured the Marine Corps and this year will feature the medal. At any rate, we signed up for the make up about a week out for just $25. The make up 5K featured the last 5K of the 10K course, so depending what distance we signed up for in the future, we knew part of the course. 

We left Chino about 5:30, and got to Laguna about 6:15 with time to bib check, grab our shirts (softest shirts ever = <3) and settle in the car for a little bit before the 7 am gun time. There weren't a ton of people, but again for a random Sunday morning and a "make up" race, in theory there shouldn't have been a ton of people anyhow (final finishers totaled 126). 

I wasn't gunning to PR, but wanted a solid 5K run, considering I hadn't run much since LA, also considering I had no idea what this course looked like. Turns out the course is pretty much pancake flat, save for a few dips under bridges - the entire course is on a bike trail through a city nature preserve and park, and is totally tree-lined and fabulous. A gorgeous morning. I felt solid, wasn't watching my watch too much, as again I just wanted to focus on having a decent run. At the turn around point, I had only counted 3 women ahead of me (the only benefit to an out-and-back 5K!) and thought it'd be pretty freakin' sweet if I could pull off a top finish. I guessed pretty safely that I was probably leading my age group, at least.  

There was a woman, probably in her late 30s, who I'd been trailing for the better part of the race and I knew I had to at least pass her to get into a top 3 finishing spot. She was just quick enough that I wasn't sure I could keep up, even though I wasn't even close to a PR, but I held on. She started running with a man who I heard ask, "Push it too hard in the beginning?" and I heard her laugh and say "Yes!" Maybe this was my shot... after one of the bridges we go under, there's a quick incline - she stopped to walk up the incline, so I knew it was my chance to book. Even with 4/10 of a mile left, this was my shot. 

Boom. 3rd female overall, 26:28 (26:18 Garmin time). Holy crap! 

Never have I ever, nor probably will ever again, unless it's a race that small.  But woo, that's some excitement to get my Sunday started! These medals turned out pretty sweet, too - the blue center near the runners is see-through also. Love. And what's not fun about a camo ribbon?

This guy came barreling in just 1:02 after me (again, clock time) and snagged a PR for himself too - seriously major wins for us this morning! His watch read 27:22 so that's what we're going with! 

Not a bad morning - complete with breakfast at the cutest hole-in-the-wall French bakery every (helloooo giant cheesy breakfast croissant) that I'm dying to go back to... maybe after Monday's race! Before we left this one, we headed over to sign up for this year's race - just the 5K, but maybe we'll move up to this (apparently) really hilly half at some point. 

As true with any Renegade Race, no real complaints. Great medals, super soft shirts that I've worn countless times already, and great community feel. My only complaint is that their races are based on gun-time, but that's how you keep races cheap, no chip timing! And, frankly, that's what Garmins and watches are for, so you can clock your own. But truly, that is significantly minor to having an overall great race experience, which they never fail to do. 

Looking forward to Monday's 5K! 

Are you racing this Memorial Day weekend?

National Run With Your Dog Day Virtual 5K + Giveaway Winners!

I absolutely love getting Molly out for a few miles with me - she's done a few 5Ks with me, but numerous miles around the block and neighborhood on some training runs with me. So when Lea announced her virtual 5K, National Run With Your Dog Day, I figured it was just another good excuse to get Molly out the door with me for some miles 'round the block. 

Miles after a full work day, on top of the 45-minute commute back home, are not always easy. This week has really got me down already (despite it only being Tuesday!), so I knew that I'd pretty much have to get through the door, change, and put shoes on before I even sat down so I could hold myself to actually getting out the door.

Thankfully the ride home was pretty quick and painless, so Molly and I were out the door by 6:20 for our 5K around the neighborhood. While I haven't been doing my weekday runs as much as I should be, I figured I'd see what felt easy enough but comfortable and what we could pull off together.

Miles knocked out in 9:20, 9:12, 8:59 and the final .11 stretch at an 8:44 pace. Pushed her a little more than me, so I'm glad that was comfortable enough for me any given Tuesday. She's a little wiped and already snoring at my feet. Happy puppy.

Lea has a ton of great dog-related and running-related giveaways that are open through next Tuesday, so be sure to check them out if you haven't already!

Speaking of giveaways.... I have a few winners, too!

Shannon and Kirsty, check your emails tonight for information on how to claim your winnings! Woo hoo! Congratulations! And even if you didn't win, check out some of their current sales going on here! You can still stock up.

Happy Wednesday, everybody!

Do you run with your dog? 

Race Report | Angels 5K

Angels 5K & Fun Run

April 11 | Anaheim, CA

... because who doesn't love all things Angels? Add some running in there, and you've got yourself a deal! Every year, the Angels Baseball Foundation hosts a 5K and kids' fun run all around  (and through!) Angels Staidum. Doug's done it a few years with his mom, and I wanted to last year but had a work commitment and couldn't. Finally... I got to join in on the fun.

Soon enough, we had a huge entourage - and now that I say it, I realize I have no photos of the whole gang! Doug, me, his mom, his sister, sister's boyfriend, my dad and my uncle were all part of the 4,400 runners (holy whoa!) that ran around Anahem on Saturday morning. 

There were two "waves" that frankly, didn't really do any good. They made an announcement that the first wave was able to move into the "corrals" and was first-come, first-served. So if the walkers and the folks with strollerrs moved quick enough, they were even at the front of the pack (even though they asked them to refrain from doing so). And then wave 2 loaded in - there were a few minutes between release times, but the course was so congested (again, 4,400 of us!) that it was hard to find any sort of regular running rhythm. 

I knew on my ankle, despite feeling totally good again, that I didn't want to race - and then seeing the crowd, knew there was no way to, so I had told Doug on Friday night that I'd run with him and we'd just have a fun run through Anaheim and the stadium. Lots of dodging and weaving, but managed the first mile in just about 9:15. Not bad, considering!

Chillin' with Mike Trout at mile 2.5. 

There were a couple of player cut-outs that you could take photos with, all in the name of adding to the fun in our fun run. Mike Trout and Jared Weaver made (cut-out) appearances, and there may have been a few more that we didn't catch.

Just about 2.7, you get to the best part... running through the stadium! 

They said, "You're in a really bad spot to stop here!" and I said "I know!" and we were quickly on our way. But what fun! Doug and I had a solid finish at 29:27 (wasting at least a solid minute for photos, and then another minute or so just with all the bobbing and weaving), so I couldn't have asked for more on a gorgeous Saturday morning!

Doug went to go find his mom, while I waited for dad to finish (who rocked at 37 minutes), and then grabbed my stuff and ran to find Doug and his mom and walk the rest with her. So I got to walk/jog through the stadium again and enjoyed the scenery even a little more the second time around. There were tons of people who had already finished, gotten their medal, and were clearly just coming back through to walk the stadium again. Heck yes, why not?!

You can't beat a spinning medal, either!

After we had finished and collected ourselves, we heard that they were letting folks down into the first level sections to get photos on the dug out. Um, duh, I'm there. So yes, we went and played on top of the dug out before getting scolded to sit down - but one of my most favorite photos ever.

There's no better way to support your team's foundation and philanthropic efforts than joining in for their 5K, amiright? I know Oakland (boo, hiss) had their 5K on Saturday morning as well, so it seemed all too appropriate timing. Go Halos!

Have you run a baseball/sports team's race before? Which team?

Race Report: Dairy Aire 5K

Chino Youth Museum Dairy Aire 5K

Chino, CA | March 7, 2015

I haven't done a 5K recap in so long, even though I'm still racing them, but I feel like today's deserves a post all on its own (even with another race coming up tomorrow morning!). This was the last race of the Chino Triple Crown series again (Reindeer Romp and Run for Russ being the other two).

With the big race just 8 days away, I wasn't sure how hard I wanted to go on this one. I knew that I wanted to push it, but maintain a solid pace so that I wouldn't burn out in mile 1 like I did in December at the Reindeer Romp. With a PR of 25:10 from just September, I wanted to aim for something around there - but whatever it was, I wanted to be consistent. With that, I wanted to be uncomfortable. An usual word, I know, especially when it comes to racing, but here's the way I looked at it: I can be uncomfortable for 3 miles, easy. Because it's over soon. But next weekend, at some point during those 26.2 miles, I will be plenty uncomfortable - tired, sweaty, hot, sore - and I want to know that I can break through the mental tired. Can I make it happen?

Post-race happy.

Mile 1 - 7:48
A little too fast, but when I was not even a quarter-mile in, I was banking a 7:07 mile. That'll be trouble. So I backed off, tried to control myself from booking it with all the elementary school kids and keep me legs under control. So in the end, a little too fast, but not dentrimental.

Mile 2 - 8:17
I walked through grabbing a cup of water, though I knew I didn't really need it. Mental excuse, I guess, to slow down for a hot second.

Mile 3 - 8:18
Well, at least now I'm a little consistent, right? It was here that I caught up to a mom and her daughter (maybe 7, 8 years old?) who I had trailed for a bit at the Reindeer Romp in December. Her mom was pushing her along pretty good, but you could also tell the sheer determination in this girl's face. If I only had that sort of determination that young! But anyway, turned the last double-back, walked for a second to gather any last momentum and made my way to the end. At the double-back, I had just .4 miles to go and just over 3 minutes to make the PR time cut-off.

.10 miles - 6:25
At least I know I can still book at the end!

A solid 25:00 (dead even) finish (25:07 per gun time, which is how this race rolls, boo!), but we all go by Garmin time, duh. Better yet, once I got my results text (I love Race Wire for that), I saw that not only had I PRed, but came in first in my age group too!

Age group winner.. holla! 

I definitely hit a point where I was uncomfortable - I'm a little disappointed in the fact that I stopped to walk, even if it was for all of 10 seconds, but I know that next weekend, I'll be able to push past that mental barrier and settle into the uncomfortable for a bit. God willing, this pays off next Sunday!

I love this race for so many reasons, and would encourage you, if you're in the Chino area, to make this a family-fun race with you and your kiddos. It benefits the Chino Youth Museum, and there's both the 5K and kids fun run offered. You get adorable tech tees (the cow design changes every year!), medals, and age group medals on top of that. For a race that's just $30, you really can't beat it.

Better yet? All the chocolate milk you can drink afterwards. It pays to be from Chino, sometimes. Mmmm... chocolate milk.

Tech shirt (complete with punk cow), finisher medal (black), age group medal (blue). 

What's your 5K PR? Have you ever PRed during marathon training? I feel like you're not supposed to... :)