Race Report: Race for the Rescues Los Angeles 5K

Race for the Rescues 5K

October 18, 2014 | Pasadena, CA

Dad was looking for a 5K to do for work and health insurance benefits, and when our original one didn't pan out, we thought the next best bet was one that a) benefitted animals and a rescue organization, b) I could bring Molly and run her and c) was flat and all around our favorite Rose Bowl. Best yet, my uncle wanted to come walk it, so mom and grandma wanted to come watch! A family affair. Uncle had to bail after being called into work earlier in the week, but mom, dad, Molly and I still had a blast.

This race is all over - LA, Orange County, and Portland, all in the fall months. They offer a kid's fun run, a dog walk, and both a 5 and 10K, with opportunities for you to race with your dog too for just a few bucks extra. Since I figured it benefitted the pups (okay, cats too), may as well bring Molly along for the fun! Humans get race shirts, dogs get bandanas and we all know how much of a bandana girl Molly is.

Pre-race!

I'm so used to driving to race days on my own, it felt very odd having mom and dad along for the ride! We were up and out the door by 6:45 and out at the Rose Bowl before 7:30 to get our bibs, shirts, and to get ourselves settled. Dad was nervous and antsy, and it was clear to see. I kept trying to tell him he'd be fine. Not like he hasn't done this before! (He was mostly nervous about the chip not tracking his time, especially since this came with an incentive from work, and the other 5K he did with me never got his time tracked). At least we had mom along as our race photographer!

The race "expo", if you want to call it that, had tons of pet vendors selling custom treats, harnesses, leashes as sort of pet boutique. There were also tons of local rescue groups and humane socities out, but that early in the morning yet there weren't many dogs out for adoption (mom said there never really were either, or they were all super small dogs). We ran into one of my Ragnar So Cal teammates, Beth, and her weimaraner Timmy, who were doing the 10K. We heard about this race through them!

And then it was go time -- they did a lot of waves for the race (both the 5 and 10K start together), and asked that those running with dogs don't start before the 4th wave. Dad started in wave 2 or so, and Molly, Beth, Timmy and I all hung to the side until about wave 5, when we just jumped in and got on our way. The 5K is one loop up and around the Rose Bowl, golf course, and back down through the parking lot; the 10K just does the course twice. I'm glad we weren't doing the 10K, though I think I would like to train Molly up to a race of that distance.

The course is easy, and mostly flat, though the first bit is a long though very casual grade up to the north side of the Bowl, across the wash. The last half is just as much of an easy, long downgrade into the finish. Molly and I caught up to dad just before the mile 3 marker, but he told us not to run to the finish with him, but to go on! So Molly and I trucked on and finished a few minutes before him...

... and while I was getting Molly water, we missed his epic jump into the finish! We've got this on video, too, and it's pretty freaking fantastic. I'm sad I missed it in person.

Dad rocked his second 5K in 38:56 (6th in his age group) and Molly set a new PR at 28:13 (good for fourth in our age group of 62!, and technically 2nd place in our group with a dog. Happy Saturday! I'm so proud of dad. He's a little bummed by his time but I told him that's another good reason to sign up for another one, to work on that time thing. ;) I'll get him sucked in, promise!

Do you run with your dog? How about races?

Papa

November 15, 1935 - August 24, 2014

Yesterday morning, my Papa lost his battle to cancer. It's unreal that just 51 weeks ago, he was in the hospital over Labor Day weekend for some irregular heartbeats (a-fib), that in turn became internal bleeding, that in turn led to have his kidney removed, that in turn led to a cancer diagnosis in mid-October. In January he started chemotherapy, his first of three rounds. But all that medical nonsense aside, cancer is a bitch and I'm angry and sad and heartbroken that it's taken away my grandfather. 

My grandfather was the first one to jump when I was moving - he moved my stuff home out of my freshman year residence hall and drove me (and his full truck) home. He and Nana moved me back after Christmas into my new on-campus aparment sophomore year. He moved me out of San Diego. And to Texas (literally at the drop of a hat, maybe 15 hours' notice). Without missing a beat. 

When I was in first grade, I learned to skip a bar on the monkey bars. That's a BIG deal, if you recall. Papa was picking us up from school that day, for whatever reason, and I was so excited to go home and show him on the bars in our backyard. Well, I was so excited, I swung and missed the bar and fell on my arm... and thus breaking my arm at the elbow. Naturally, he freaked out, and after the parademics wrapped me up and mom got home and took me to urgent care... he went to my aunt's and had a total meltdown. To this day, he blamed himself. 

He eagerly jumped on stage with me on our family cruise (after chemo round 2) and took disco lessons with me for half an hour. The video is pretty priceless. He laughed at himself the whole time, and had a ball.

When we were learning to crawl, he'd follow us around on his hands and knees too. My mom would ask him what on earth he was doing and he'd reply, "I don't want them to hit their heads!" and continue to follow us around, wherever we went. 

My sister and I would spend hours playing in his garage - Legos, box tunnels... no matter what he was trying to work on or file or project to complete, he'd stop to add boxes to make sure our tunnel and box-fort was big enough, or that our Lego house was sturdy. 

For my senior prom, Doug and I and about 3 or 4 other couples all met at my house for appetizers and photos before heading off. It started to rain, just slightly, and we were trying to get to the limo as dry as possible. My grandpa, being the organizer that he was, marched us all out - couple by couple - with the big umbrella, aiming to get us to the car with the least amount of rain as possible. Other parents wanted to help, but didn't dare when Papa was in charge!

Papa, we love and miss you so much already. I'm in peace knowing that you aren't hurting anymore and that your days are now with your mom, playing the drums, and seeing all those we love. Thank you for a lifetime of memories in your garage, on the soccer field, in the trailer up in Buellton and on our family cruise this spring. Play your drums proud, loud for us to hear, and know that we'll see you again! 

We love you, Papa!

Keep heaven in order for us. 

Vacation Bound!

I know you're still hanging on for part 3 of Ragnar... I promise, it's coming. But for now... it's vacation time!

 My grandparents, uncle, parents, sister and I are all meeting up in Long Beach at the port to hop on the fabulous Carnival Imagination for a weekend ride down to Ensenada and back.

We depart this evening, are at sea all day tomorrow, Ensenada on Saturday, and back in Long Beach on Easter morning. I'm super excited - and a little nervous. I love my family and all, but you know when too much is too much! This is the first vacation (that I can recall) that all 7 of us will be going on together. Thankfully, cruise ships have enough entertainment for everyone and we can do our own thing when we please... and come back together when we please, too!

While in Ensenada, I think we're going to check out this:

It's called La Bufadora, or the blowhole. Because of the rocks and the way the water has formed sort of canyons and holes, it's a natural blowhole when the waves come up. I'm kind of stupidly excited about this! But there's also some wineries to check out so maybe I can convince some family to do that too... :)

Have a lovely, lovely weekend, and I promise part 3 is coming soon!

Have you ever been on a cruise? Where to?

Surf City | Week 15

Inspiration quotes for the next few weeks:

Running is like mouthwash; if you can feel the burn, it’s working.   — Brian Tackett

This was my first official week back (at least, semi-week) after the onslaught of the head-turned-chest cold that knocked me on my feet. I hate being sick. I hate resting. Put both of them together and I'm a mess. Especially since I'm supposed to be training! At least it mentally prepared me for tapering - and at least during (official) tapering, I can still be running! Silver lining people, it's all about the silver lining.

Monday: Rest
Rest
Well at least I finally got one day right! Students were back on campus today, my students had their first executive board meeting... back in the swing of things at UGA! Minus, you know... this whole running thing.

Tuesday: 45 minute tempo 
Rest
I really wanted to run today, but couldn't get myself to get up and go to the gym. In hindsight, my body was telling me to still take it easy and just rest one more day. I thought I was feeling better, but spent the day at work hacking up my lungs again. Sign taken, body, thank you.

Wednesday: 5 miles pace
2.12 miles / 22:57 / 10:49 pace + 2.20 miles / 11:56 cycle
I knew I wouldn't get to five miles, but given that I got up and went to the gym, I just wanted to get some miles in. Not a great pace, but a good pace, and happy with it given that I was still sniffling and just a little bit icky. I layered up in full tights and a sweatshirt, hoping I'd sweat out the last of the cold. Didn't totally work, but you know... whatever. Cooled down with a few minutes on the bike, just to keep moving a little bit.

Thursday: Rest
TBD
I know it said rest, but I really just wanted to get moving and get some miles in. Like I said, I'm not good at this whole resting thing. :) I got home from work and busted out a few quick miles to make up for yesterday's shortage and to try and get some good work in - and then raced home for laundry,

Friday: 5 miles
5.0 miles / 48:50 / 9:46 pace + .36 mi cool-down / 4:28 / 12:24 pace
Busted out a few miles before work because after work I had to bolt to the airport - sister came to town! First the miles: decent. Only walked about 3 laps of the 40, so I'm excited that I feel like my lungs aren't super mad at me anymore and are coming to terms with the fact that I'm going to keep pressing on. Take that, sickness.

My little sister lives in New York and hasn't been down here to visit yet, so a few weeks ago when she found a really great deal on tickets, she texted me and within 15 minutes, had a flight booked! She was also semi-excited that we were already running Hot Chocolate on that Sunday, so she signed up to do the 5K! Perfecto!

After the airport, we headed straight to the Hot Chocolate expo so we could pick up ours and Heather's race stuff. I was a little more than annoyed that we had to pay for parking and would have to pay for race day parking - couldn't there have been a better location for free expo-ing? You can read more of my expo thoughts here. After that, it was back up to Athens for the night to chill and get in some quality time with my seeeester.

Hot Chocolate expo!

Saturday: Rest
Rest
Well, kind of rest. Gave my sister the grand tour of Athens and campus, with Miss Molly in tow. It was a gorgeous day (um, hello 72 degrees in January!) so we got to make the most of walking around downtown and giving her the full campus experience! We also found our way to the state botcanical gardens, where I've never been, with the pup in tow. Fun extra side adventure, and photos to come! Saturday night we headed down to Heather's new place in Atlanta to get rested (and a lot closer) for the race on Sunday! Excitement abound! 

Sunday: Hot Chocolate 15K
9.39 mi / 1:34:51 / 10:06 pace
Last race before the marathon! Given this damn cold, I really wanted to push but not too hard to make myself fall back into a worse chest cold - goal was 1:35, just so I could be on target for marathon pace (which, really, is more like 10:30-11). Given the hills (yay Atlanta!) and the nasty humidity (almost 100% in January? Ew!). Recap to come soon!

After that, we hightailed it back to Heather's, showered, and Stub-Hubbed our way into this...

Rise Up!

 Seriously. Falcons playoff game, and one of the craziest games ever. What an experience - so glad my sister is into such randomness! More weekend fun coming later. So glad my sister finally made it down here and had the best whirlwind 51-hour weekend ever!


Total Week Run Miles: 19.45 miles <-- not bad for finishing up with that cold!
Total XT Miles: 2.20 cycle + some walking on Saturday <-- oops
Total Week Miles: 21.65 + change

THREE WEEKS TO GO!

How did your training go this week? Do you usually run through colds/sickness?

Dear Monday...

want to join in? link up!

Dear Monday, thanks for kicking off a short work week. Todayis Monday. Tomorrow is Friday. I call that a win!

Dear Bahamas, I'mma need you to shape your weather up just a bit. While 30% chance of thunderstorms can go one way or another, I still need it to be sunny and clear. I expect to come home with some kind of tan. Please and thank you. 

Dear body, you rock! Thanks for knocking out a great race on Saturday and bringing home that first AG win ever! Excitement!

Earth Fare 5K - age group win!

Dear parents, despte the rain ruining most of our Atlanta plans, thanks for being good sports. I hope you had a great time, regardless, adventuring around a new city and trying new food and the like! I'm glad you're here and I can't wait for cruise time!

and speaking of...

Dear cruise, you're only 2 days away! YES! Vacation. Sun (crossing my fingers still, yo). Snorkeling. Running and planking on a boat. Yes please.

Have a great week everyone! You more than likely won't hear from me, aside from a #RWRunStreak Week 2 post that I've got scheduled to post! Enjoy!

Dear Monday...

want to join in? link up!

Dear Monday, I'm ready for the last whole week of work before vacay. I'm also very ready for next week's two-day work week. Yes please.

Dear Summer Run Streak, thanks for getting me to do some major work lately! I can honestly say it feels fantastic and I'm excited to see how I progress. Cutting 13 seconds off from Friday's run on last night's run let me know that if I really keep at this, I know I'm bound for great things. Just gotta keep at it!

Dear friends, Amma and I are running for Team Cruisin' for Cupcakes, as part of the Run 10, Feed 10 campaign from Women's Health. Our 10K has yet to be determined, but won't you help contribute to our cause? Don't deny the children their cupcakes -- be a dear and donate? :) Please and thank you! Side note: many thanks to CrowdRise for the Twitter contest... I won a shirt that will be heading my way! Excited, I've never won anything on Twitter! Yay! And thanks to Latika for the most hilarious email ever. Love them.

Dear Ragnar DC Teammates, I'm already stoked about this. And we don't even register until tomorrow. SO. EXCITED. Can it be here now, please?

Dear family, cruise time is almost here! Get excited! I'm so ready for a vacation, and a tan, and running on a boat, and delicious island adult beverages and yes, family time. 

YES!

Have a great week, everyone! 

My Letter to Nagymama

Two weeks ago, my family all re-gathered in Los Angeles for a memorial for my grandmother, April 14, 2012. We did the same with my grandpa died, because he died in Hungary too; there's still so many friends and close ones that are in LA that they knew while living in the States, so I think we'd hoped it be a closing for everyone. I anticipated this would not be easy -- far from it -- but I also hoped that by being at home, with people who had known me since the day I was born, that it would all make it a little more... real. And it did.

Below is my eulogy, if you will, that I gave at her memorial. I wanted to blog it just so I could keep it and have it to re-read whenever I needed.

----

Some of you may know that I'm a writer -- blogger, journaler, and have been as long as I can remember. I remember, during our first visit to the new house in Velence in 1993, writing about how much I loved the new house "with the bumpy driveway," as the driveway was still on gravel and un-paved.

Last month, I was sitting on the plane coming home from Budapest, and I did it again. Just started writing memories of Hugary, that house, and Nagymama, just for safe-keeping. It was mostly so I wouldn't cry the whole way home, but I'm glad I wrote those down and now I get to share a few of them with you. Some are things that everyone here might know of, some might just be for us to chuckle at, but I think a few will be of typical Nagymama behavior.

I think one of mine, and I can probably say 'our' favorite things were trips to the arboretum. We'd stop at the Wonder Bread factory, by armfuls of the "must-go" bread, and we'd go feed the ducks and peacocks as we pleased. She loved that place so much.

I remember, as a kid, being bribed to each spinach, only while we actually got to watch Popeye, as she convinced us that eating the spinach would actually work.

Sometime while Marika and I were in high school, she had the four of us granddaughters come over for lunch on New Year's Day for split-pea soup; she told us it was for good luck in the new year. You might know I'm not exactly the culinary adventurist of the family, so I probably pretended to eat it but instead listened as she told us the entire story of how she and Nagypapa met.

My freshman year of college, she bought me Hilary Duff's new CD for Christmas. Not because she had any idea who Hilary Duff was, but because she was pretty and she thought I looked just like her. I was appalled. It's still in my CD collection and I guess now is a good time to open it.

Trips to Hungary, especially the last one when I was 14. I can understand enough Hungarian to make sense of a conversation, and while I don't always know every word, I could always tell how proud she was of her whole family whenever she talked about us.

Nagymama, we love you, we miss you so much already, but all I can hope is that we can continue to make you proud. <3

----

Dear Monday...

want to join? link up!

dear monday, you came a little too quick this time.

dear zooma womens half marathon crew, thanks for a beautiful race! those hills were a little more 'rolling' than i anticipated, but gorgeous nonetheless. and what a perfect day!

zooma womens half -- half marathon #2!

dear hand/thigh/knee, i'm sorry. i still don't know what happened at mile 4, but thanks for working with me and allowing me to do all 13.1.

dear family, 51 days until we cruise! excitement ahead! (who am i kidding? excitement already!)

dear molly, i'm really enjoying that you're sleeping in my bed again. i've come to the conclusion that that's why i've slept better the last 5 nights than i have the last two months. please stay cuddly and loving for awhile... my sleep depends on it.

dear body, please stop hating me soon. again, i'm really really sorry.

dear runners everywhere, recommendations for a good half marathon in ga/sc/tn for june or july? yes, i self-impose torture.

dear all, have a wonderful day!

Dear Monday

want to join? link up!

dear monday, thanks for getting over with quickly.

dear weather, continue doing what you're doing! being able to run in a breeze at 7:20 pm was nothing short of glorious! love it. keep it up.

dear family, i can't wait to see you again on friday. while i wish it were under better circumstances, i'll still take a weekend in the comfort of hugs and laughter over not being able to be there at all.

dear eulogy that i'm supposed to be writing, i wish it were easier. i have lots of memories and certainly lots of thoughts, i just don't know how to get them all down in a coherent way... and one that will allow for minimum sobs while i'm at it.

dear half marathon in 12 days, while i'm not excited that you're almost here (yet), i am feeling after that 6-miler on saturday. bring on the next two weeks... bring it!

dear draw something, thanks for providing me endlesssss hours of new entertainment. i love you. thank you for also allowing me to perfect my doodles of furbies, rockets, airplanes, and the united states.

dear super fun silver french mani, please last all week. for one, you're fun, for two, at least til wednesday for our silver-and-blue awards program, and for three, i don't feel like doing my nails again before i head home.

dear everyone, have a great week! :]

PS. YAY!

Dear Monday...

 

if you want to join, link up!

dear monday, sorry i'm a day late in acknowledging your presence. i wasn't happy with you yesterday.

dear april, thank you for starting off better than anticipated. the news last night made the wait worthwhile.

dear sadie sue, we're so glad you're going to be okay! medicine for life won't be the most fun, but i'm so glad we don't have to go through the pain of losing you. <3

dear spring in athens, you are gorgeous, please stay around forever.

dear ankle, keep healing quickly please! biking feels good, but i'd like to get a few runs in too!

dear zooma half marathon, how are you only 19 days away?

dear family, i can't wait to see you again soon. not for the best occasion, but i know it'll be okay if we're all together.

dear kroger, please keep this fabulous fruit in stock! i can't get enough right now. pineapple makes me smile.

dear credit cards, i WILL overcome debt this year! not all of it, by far, but i will be victorious! eventually.

dear week, keep getting better. :]

Whirlwind March

Well, hello from Georgia. Back from Hungary, back from the most whirlwind, crazy two weeks ever. While obviously I don't have the heart or need to talk about the entire experience.

I will say, however, that purchasing an international airline ticket not even 14 hours before your flight takes off is overwhelming, and certainly left me in a cloud of disbelief the entire time I was overseas. I actually extended my trip by 3 days once I was there to be able to stay for my Nagymama's memorial, and even in the (what ended up being) 12 days I was there, I never felt like I was actually there. I told my mom as I was packing and getting ready to leave that I felt like it would all sink once I touched ground in Atlanta again -- and as I was driving back from Atlanta, it still felt normal. Like I drive home from Atlanta semi-regularly, so what was any different about this? What a feeling.

I was asked a few times how I had family in Hungary or what the connection was (so many thanks to those of you that emailed and tweeted to send me distractions... so much love, so much appreciated). My grandparents (mom's side) were born and raised in Budapest, and fleed (flew?) Hungary in 1956 during the Hungarian Communist Revolution and ended up in the US. They eventually moved to LA, where my mom and aunt were born, and stayed until the Wall fell and moved back to Hungary in 1989. They came back every to spend every Christmas with us, and my parents took us out there every 3 years (1990, 1993, and 1996); in 2000, after my freshman year of high school, my sister and I went out there by ourselves to spend a month with our grandparents. So while I don't speak Hungarian well (far from it!), I understand enough to put pieces of conversations together and really, could probably respond if I really needed to.

Those past two weeks were crazy, unbelieveable, overwhelming, and truthfully, just cloudy. We are all just so utterly heartbroken with this extremely unexpected change. Heartbroken. I just can't believe Nagymama is gone, and I am just so thankfully that I got to spend Christmas with her again, just like we used to. I love you, Nagymama -- hope you're having a great dance in heaven with Nagypapa. <3

View from my run - Lake Velence, Hungary.

Palacsinta (crepes) date with mom - choclate and walnut! Yum!

The church where my Nagymama and Nagypapa got married -- and where we held her memorial service.

That all being said, and having been back at work for three days, and having just unpacked today, I don't really feel like I'm back. Maybe once the rest of the family gets back to the States, I'll feel a little more whole (even though they live clear across the country)... but for now, I am unpacked so I can start re-packing for Phoenix. Wedding weekend ahead! At least that'll be some positive excitement to end March off.

Thank you all for your love, comments, tweets, emails, texts, messages for my family and I. They are so very much appreciated, welcomed, and truly warmed my heart and helped even just a little. I'm blessed to have such a great community of support, even from all across the web! <3

Nagymama

The last family photo with the family matriarch - rest in peace, Nagymama.

My Nagymama passed away last night, fairly unexpectedly. I am en route to Hungary, so don't expect too much of me for the next two weeks or so. I mean, maybe, but don't hold your breath. We're all a little heartbroken and I'm not really sure how to put this all together.

We could all use a little thought and prayer, if you have any to spare. Thank you . <3

Training: 4 Weeks to Go!

Despite the holidays, this week wasn't challenging, really, which makes me happy. I'm proud of myself with sticking with my schedule - on most trips, I bring my shoes and such, but leave them in the bottom of my suitcase and happily ignore them. I'm pretty proud that even the first morning I was here (and Christmas Eve no less!) I got up at 7 am to get out the door. My mom even commented on my dedication.

 

Sunday (Christmas Day): 4 miles

4.04  miles = 35:37 minutes = 8:48" pace

My 6-miler on Saturday was pretty easy and a good run, so I was hoping Sunday was just the same. It was a beautiful Christmas morning and I had enough time to get in my 4 miles before mass with the family. There was absolutely nothing special about this run, but managed to make it a quick one with some pretty decent timing!

 

Church with the family (which we always do Christmas Eve, so it was kind of strange being there Christmas morning), and then my dad's family always comes over for Christmas fun. It was in the mid-70s all afternoon, so we had a glorious Christmas dinner on the back patio! Only in Southern California, right? It always makes for some fun times! After Christmas at my house, Doug and I headed to his for a second round of dinner (man, good thing I kept up with my running!), presents, and games with some friends. It was a good Christmas.

 

A sunny, Southern California Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Doug's first Christmas cracker crown -- our family dinner tradition!

Monday: Rest

Rest

Happily. Slept in, hit a few random stores with the entire family - I was surprised to see that, for the most part, the stores were quiet and not much was going on around town. It also helped we didn't head out until nearly 10 am, but it was so nice! After our few random errands, came home and chilled. We had family portraits (the whole mom's side of the family) because my grandmother is in from Hungary for the first time in a while - and we haven't had portraits done of this side since 1990! Can you believe it?

 

After portraits, we headed over to my aunt's house. This is only the second year we've done Christmas this way; Christmas Eve is at her house, and with the additional folks we've had over the last few years, we've made Christmas Eve a white elephant gift exchange, complete with theme and other silliness. So on the 26th, we all reconvene and share our gifts with each other over pizza and beer. Yum. Another busy, but fun day on this vacation!

 

Merry Christmas ... again!

Tuesday: 5 miles

5.12 miles = 45:35 minutes = 8:52" pace

I convinced my uncle to come out on this run with me; he's more the biker and gym type, but said he'd come along. It was colder than my other two morning runs so far, but was a lot like Athens so maybe it wasn't as terrible as I thought! We made a nice, large loop through the city and caught up on things, since I haven't seen him since last Christmas (he's been in China working). It was strange having a running partner; I'm so used to running by myself now that I got a little winded faster than I normally do just because we were talking so much. It's quite a change! I discovered I think I'm best when it's just me and my headphones, zoning out and focusing on where I'm going (no offense Lou!).

 

Wednesday: 3 miles

3.2 miles= 24:31 minutes = 7:53" pace

I agreed to meet Lou (again!) but at the gym this morning; it's a few miles down there, and since I only had to get in an easy three, I figured I'd just run down there. I was actually feeling not so great about this run, but kept chugging ahead - if only I had known I was only 5 seconds off of PRing! I felt sluggish, but apparently was charging ahead without even thinking about it! Good to know I can still do that every now and again!

 

Wednsday night Doug and I went to the pirate show! It's a lot like Medival Times, only well... pirates! His mom got it for us for Christmas just so we could get out and do something just the two of us. Super fun! Fabulous evening.

 

Thursday: Cross-train

Rest

I apparently hurt my back doing something at the gym on Wednesday; after running around with my mom, cousin, aunt, and grandma all morning, all I wanted was to lay down and lie still. I got home, laid down at 3 with a muscle relaxer, read until 4 or so. I eventually ate dinner, watched a little TV, and passed out around 6  pm... and woke up the next morning at 8. Yup, apparently I needed that. I actually sat up, wide awake, at 3:45 am, really confused as to what was going on beacuse it was dark all around me! Talk about confusion. Then happily passed back out until 8 the next morning - I think it was more than just the muscle relaxer talking.

 

Friday: Rest

Cross-train; 11-mile bicycle ride

My mom decided she wanted to go bike riding at the beach (a favorite of hers lately; I went once this summer). Since my dad and I couldn't find a place to go snowshoeing, as we wanted, we went along. My back was overall feeling a lot better this morning. It was supposed to be in the low 70s (perfect!), but of course was still foggy when we got down to Santa Monica in the morning. It turned out to be nice though, but a little on the chilly side with the fog still lingering. We rode all the way down from Santa Monica to Marina del Rey and back up, about 11 miles round trip. Nice day!

 

After the long, painful, traffic-ridden drive home and a nap, Doug and I went out to a local dueling piano bar up the street in Claremont, called Piano Piano. Some of my family has been before, but we never had so we figured we'd check it out! What a great time - I love dueling pianos! I only had two drinks, but was afraid I'd regret them with my run the next morning, but was quite okay. Anyway, Piano Piano is awesome and I am excited to go back sometime!

 

Saturday: 7 miles

7.08 miles = 1:05:55 minutes = 9:18" pace

The last thing I wanted to do this morning was get up and run. While it's not quite the last day of my vacation, it's sure starting to feel like it! All I wanted to do was stay under my pile of blankets and sleep. Well, I allowed myself to until 8:15 anyway. After a quick piece of toast and starting some laundry (it's free! Need to take advantage while I'm at the parents' house!), I headed out. The sun was already shining and it's set to be almost 80 degrees here today, so I'm actually glad I waited a little later this morning. My legs were a little heavy, but after getting in the groove around 3.5, I felt like I was finally moving at a good pace. I extended my long loop from Tuesday, but added in an extra two blocks, down near the other high school and back up near my alma mater towards the end. I appreciate this city for being flat. :) Unlike Athens! It was a good (not great) last run for 2011.

 

I officially broke 200 miles for 2011 (202.59 ran!); while this never was a goal, and considering I didn't get my butt really moving until October, I'm pretty excited about this! I will set a goal for 2012, just not totally sure what that'll be (guess I should figure that out).

 

Total miles for the week = 19.44. Longest to date!

 

Happy New Year!