Xterra Black Mountain 15K Recap

Last month, I won a race entry to the Xterra Black Mountain event from Movin Shoes- I was excited to explore a new to me trail and I have heard great things about Xterra events.  To help get ready for the event, a couple weeks prior  the race I joined Movin Shoes at their Hoppy Trails event to do a preview run of the course.  I’m definitely glad I did the preview run—it helped prepare me for race day.

The pre-race communication was good and frequent—they kept us up to date on all the important information, including weather, parking and directions to the start area.  It was recommended that we arrive early for parking—the lot adjacent to the park was a little small, but a shuttle was also available at a nearby school.  I arrived with plenty of time to spare. Check-in and bib pickup were scheduled to start at 7am, but this actually opened early.  I love that they were not only prepared, but they were ahead of schedule.  After getting my bib and shirt, I headed pack to my car to get race ready.  I still had plenty of time so I headed over to the Movin Shoes booth to hang out before the race.  

The Course

The Xterra Black Mountain event has a 5K which started at 8:30am and a 15K which started at 8:00am.  I was running the 15K.  Thirty minutes prior to the first start time, they made some announcements/reminders and before I knew it, we were ready to run.  Since I had recently run the course, I knew what to expect.  The first mile or so was pretty congested but not overwhelmingly so.  There were about 250 runners in the 15K and 150 runners in the 5K.

On the course, there were three aid stations offering both water and Gatorade.  Although I carry my own hydration, I always take some from the aid stations so I can ration mine as needed.  There was also one street crossing with volunteers stopping traffic and directing us across.  The volunteers were so friendly and encouraging.  

Having run this course prior to the race, I knew that I would be dreading the end.  Although the race communications offerer a “fairly flat and fast course,” there are some pretty intense inclines, especially at the end.  But I pushed through and my time was definitely better than it was at the course preview. 

Once we crossed the finish line and received our medal, there was a the post race area offering different treats.  I enjoyed a vegan breakfast burrito and some oranges, as well as a sample of Naked mango protein shake.  I hung out and watched the award ceremony and it was fun—I usually leave right after a race so it was a nice change to see it all.  Because it’s a smaller race, there was definitely a different vibe.    

Overall, I really enjoyed this race.  Although the course is moderately challenging, it also pushes you to be a stronger runner.  All the recent Southern California rains made the views beautiful—the wild flowers were in full force.  The event was organized and everyone I encountered was so friendly. If you ever have the chance to do an Xterra race, you should check it out.  I know I’ll be looking to see what other Xterra events I can add to my calendar.  

What's the most challenging course you’ve run?  Until next time, happy running.  
Jenn13.1 

CLICK Active Review

Coffee is my friend, so when I was given the opportunity through Sweat Pink to try CLICK Active, a protein mix that has coffee in it, I was was excited.  Although I received the product for review, all opinions are my own.

Coffee and Protein—was it too good to be true?  I start most mornings with a protein shake.  Sometimes I add cold coffee to my shakes to give myself a little boost. So how much coffee are we talking about?  According to their website, CLICK has “150 mg of caffeine from pure, premium espresso coffee to boost alertness, improve performance and decrease recovery time. Natural caffeine from real coffee, not synthetic caffeine or added coffee flavor.”

When I received the canister of CLICK, it also came with a shaker bottle.  Although I have a few of these, I was excited for the purple color of the shaker bottle.  (Purple is my jam!). The canister lists three different ways to prepare the powder and I decided to try all three.

Shaken
Using the shaker bottle, I added some water, ice and my measured out the CLICK using the scoop in the canister.  I was pleasantly surprised at how fine the powder is—it dissolved nicely and didn’t clump to the bottom as I drank it.  The taste was good, not overly coffee nor overly mocha.  Some protein mixes have a chalky taste and this did not.  I typically don’t like protein mixes in the shaken form but have had it three times this week served this way.  So easy and so good- perfect for those mornings when you're in a hurry!

Hot
Because there is coffee in the mix, it makes sense that you could drink this hot.  In order to fairly give my opinion, I decided to try it this way too.  After heating up some water and adding the CLICK, it was a go.  It was okay, but in all honesty, this was my least favorite way to drink the CLICK.  That being said, I am not a huge fan of hot coffee and very seldom drink it.  

Blended
The final way that you can prepare the CLICK is to blend it.  The first time I blended it, I just used some ice and water—it reminded me of a blending drink from a local coffee shop.  Yum!  The next couple of times I switched it up, adding frozen fruit and such.  My favorite way was with a frozen banana and a little bit of peanut butter.  So delicious!

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with CLICK Active.  It doesn’t have that power/chalky taste that many protein mixes do.  I’ve been drinking it everyday for almost two weeks and I’ve noticed that I haven’t been having my daily coffee.  The CLICK is giving me the right amount of boost that I need. 

Are you a coffee drinker? If not, how do you get that extra boost?

Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1

Griffith Park Trail Half Marathon Recap

As I have been progressing in my ultra training, I realized that I had never actually run a trail race.  When Smitha encouraged me to sign up for the Griffith Park Trail Half Marathon, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get my feet wet, so to speak. I’ve also heard great things about the races Keira Henninger puts on and I couldn’t wait to find out for myself.  

#FlatJenn ready to hit the trails!

I have run twenty seven road half marathon and was excited about running my first one on the trails—we headed up on race morning and right from the start, the views promised of great things to come.  

This is the most physically challenging half marathon I have ever run and the slowest I have ever run—by over an hour. And yet I loved it!  The experience was awesome and I can’t wait to run my next trail race.  Here’s a breakdown of what I love about this race:

The Course
I’ve mentioned in previous race recaps that I seldom look at course maps or elevation charts.  It’s probably better that I didn't look it up for this race-- oh the hills!  I struggled with the climbs but the views were gorgeous! The weather was perfect and I just couldn’t get enough of the scenery.  It was fun to see views of downtown Los Angeles, the Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood sign.  The course was also clearly marked for us, with brightly colors markers and signage to indicate if we were going the wrong way.  At crucial turnaround points, a volunteer was there to direct us which made it even better.  As challenging as the course was for me (I definitely need more hill training) I loved every minute of it.    

Foam rolling was my friend after this race!

The Aid  Stations
I run with my own hydration and fuel—I’ve learned in the past to never depend on a race to have what I need or want.  With running road races, I’m accustomed to water, an electrolyte drink and gels.  Occasionally there are spectators with food and the random mimosa.  What a different experience at this race—every aid station not only have water and electrolytes, but so many snacks.  It was nice to have the options and the Coke I had at the third aide station was probably the most delicious Coke I’ve ever had.  But it didn’t stop at the aid stations—after the race, there were more snacks and Subway sandwiches for us.  

The Other Runners
Though there is often support on road races not only from the runners, but also spectators, I went into this race not knowing what to expect since I knew there would more than likely not be spectators on the course.  “Good job,” “Looking Strong,” “Way to go,” and “You’ve got this” were just a few of the cheers I heard on the course.  It seemed no matter who you passed, someone had something nice or encouraging to say.  It was awesome!  And so much inspiration—from runners who looked tired but weren’t giving up to the runners who were pushing 80 years old and still out there doing their thing.  

So much fun running with Smitha and Valerie

The Volunteers
The volunteers are always one of my favorite things about a race and this race was no different.  Anyone willing to give of their time to come out and support us runners has to be an awesome person!  All the volunteers were so friendly and knew exactly what to say just when we needed it.  A big thank you to anyone who was out there!

The Griffith Observatory 

My first trail race experience was amazing!  I ran with Smitha and Valerie the entire time—we had a blast.  I am grateful to have had friends to share the experience with and it was fun to see other running friends out on the course.  I think I might even come back next year and go up to a higher distance- I really want to see the Hollywood sign closer up!   A big congratulations to everyone who finished the half, marathon and 50K.    

Have you every run a trail race?  Which one?

Until next time, happy running!
Jenn13.1

Valentine's Day Gift Guide for the Runner You Love

Whether you’re someone who loves Valentines’s Day, someone who celebrates Singles Awareness day or someone who thinks it’s just another day, it’s always a good time to get something for that someone special in your life. If you’re shopping for  a significant other, your best friend or even yourself, here’s some things that I think are great for showing some love to the runner in your life.

Source: www.memegenerator.com

73 Threads
Have you seen the tees and tanks made by 73 Threads? Not only are there some great prints, you get to pick your color tee or tank. The hardest part will be deciding which one you like best.  (And a big thank you to my friend Smitha for sharing the love-- use SDMOM to save 10% off your order.) And they aren't just for runners-- they have everyone covered from Triathletes to Sweet Tea drinkers. 
   

One of my favorites! Source: www.73threads.com

Chocolate
Seems cliché, right?  But I’m not just talking about your normal chocolates.  I’m talking about Vega Protein Smoothie mix.  I actually am not a huge fan of chocolate, but I love my Vega chocolate smoothies.  Add a banana and peanut butter—amazing!  (And the other flavors if Vega are delicious too!)   

Brown bananas make the best smoothies!

Burts Bees Lip Balm
I randomly picky up a tube of this last year and now I can’t get enough.  I carry it with me when I run, have a tube in my purse and use the tinted version when I need to dress in non-running clothes.  There are several flavors and is perfect for any runner or non-runner in your life. 

Flowers
No, not those kind of flowers.  Did you know that Sparkle Athletic recently debuted capris and check out how cute the floral print is! Complete with a pocket, these capris are definitely the best kind of flowers to receive.  

How pretty! Source: www.sparkleathletic.com

Time
You don't need to be a runner to spend time with someone who runs.  Take some time and go for a walk/hike/run.  If getting outside isn't your thing, spend some time cooking together or anything else that they like to do.  If given the option to run or spend time with a loved one, the time with a loved one wins hands down every time. (And if you're not sure what to do, a quick Google search will give you options. It's one of my favorite ways to discover new places) 

Goodr Sunglasses
For a “free” sport, running can get expensive so I was super excited when I discovered sunglasses that were cute and inexpensive. Goodr sunglasses provide a “no slip, no bounce, all polarized, all fun” experience and can you believe they’re under $30?!  I have the “Flamingos on a Booze Cruise (pink)” and the “Donkey Goggles (orange)” but all the colors are fun.  

"Flamingos on a Booze Cruise"

In keeping with the spirit of love, Goodr has given me a pair of their sunglasses to share with you. Enter the giveaway below. 



a Rafflecopter giveaway



What’s something you’d like to get from that special someone?


Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1


No purchase necessary.  Void where prohibited. 1 winner will be randomly selected via Rafflecopter.

Open to anyone 18 years of age or older. Winner will notified via email (if available) and will have 24 hours to claim prize. If original winner does not claim prize within 24 hours an alternate winner will be selected.
All winning entries will be verified. If a winning entry cannot be verified as completed, a new winner will be drawn.Sunglasses will be mailed to the winner from Jenn13.1, sunglass color is selected by Goodr.   Entries will be received until Friday, February 10, 2017 11:59PM PST.

Hip Hop Run Recap

Earlier in the week, I made a last minute decision to sign up for the Hip Hop run—I had five miles on my training schedule and thought it would be fun to get my training miles in and get a medal for it.  I found out a few of my friends were also running it, so that made it even better.

The Hip Hop Run is a new race series—so new that the San Diego event would only  be their second one (the first having been in San Jose.). With new races, the expectations aren’t as high and I wasn’t really sure what to expect.  After checking out their social media pages, I knew at the very least, I would have fun.  Anything on top of that would be a bonus.  This race has two distance options, a 5K or a 10K.  I ran the 10K.

After running this race, I would say that it has the potential to be an awesome event—there was some things that we done right and some things that have some definite room for improvement.  

In my opinion, some of the things they did well were:

Packet Pick-Up
They had two packet pick-up options—one the day before and one on race morning.  I opted for the day before which happened to be at one of my favorite running stores.  (Although I definitely love having the race day pick-up option). Getting my bib was easy and you got a fun shirt with your registration.  There as also a discount coupon for the running store and I picked up a few things.

Kids Run Free
Yes—you read that right.  Kids run free and it was awesome to see so many families out there getting their hip hop on.  

Pre-Race/Post Race/Course Entertainment
The pre-race and post race entertainment was so much fun!  Before the race, they had people leading a warm up with the best music and the fun continued after the race with more music and live performances.  There were also three DJs set up along the course providing the perfect soundtrack for a Sunday morning run.    

The Medal
The medal is so much fun!  Medals aren’t the only reason I run, but I definitely love a good medal.

Food Trucks
At the end of the race, they had food trucks set up where runners could purchase food.  There was a good variety of choices—I got a Thai Tea with boba and it was delicious.  (The only opportunity here would have been the location of the food trucks—although we ran by then during the run, I’m not sure a lot of people knew they were there.)

I had fun at the Hip Hop run—it was a beautiful morning and the energy was awesome.  But as I said, there was definitely some opportunities.  In my opinion some of the things that could be improved to make the next event better are:

Start Time?
Leading up the race, all communication stated that the 10K started at 7:00am.  At around 6:40am, an announcement was made stating that the 10K would be starting at 7:30am, with no explanation as to why.  (I’m guess it had to due with road closures or something, but that’s just a guess) I know it was only 30 minutes, but that’s a big difference for people who may have made plans for after the event or people like myself who plan their fueling around race start times.  The above mentioned entertainment was good and kept the energy up, so it didn’t seem like a long wait, but it still wasn’t the best first impression of an event.  

Source: www.facebook.com/hiphoprun 

The Course
I will admit that I rarely look at course maps, so I had no idea where this race went.  And I didn’t know that it was a 5K course that the 10K runners would be running twice.  The start and finish were at Balboa Stadium which was great for easy parking and the starting point. The course left the stadium for an out and back course through a part of downtown San Diego—this wouldn’t have been bad except that we were running with traffic and I am not a fan of running along side of cars and their fumes.  Not only did I get to run this one, but twice as the 10K made a second loop.  The second loop had a few points of frustration—since we had started later with the 5K not started far behind us, there was some congestion at several points during my second loop.  The course did have the perks of some hills—with every uphill run came a downhill and that was probably my favorite part.  I’ve run several 5K or 10K events in San Diego and this is the first time I’ve run this course.  I’m curious as to why and how this particular route was chosen.  My Garmin also showed the course as short and after talking to a few people, we all had different distances so I'm not entirely sure I ran a full 10K. 

Source: www.facebook.com/hiphoprun 

Water Station(s)
Prior to races, one thing I usually look up is the water stations.  One of the run’s Facebook posts stated their would be three water stations for each distance and one showed one water station on the course (I’m not sure if they were considered the start and finish line to be a water station). Because of the inconsistency, I brought my own hydration.  I’m glad I did—there was one water station on the course.  The first time I ran by it, it didn’t have anyone working it and there was no water out for the runners.  The second time I ran by it, there was water.

Overall, I did have fun at this event.  The race’s theme is fun and every runner I saw seemed to be energized about it.  The things I think that could be improved come down to organization, but again I recognize that this is a new event and still in it’s learning stage.  I would run this event again and it was a fun way to start my Sunday.  
   

Have you every run a race that was new?  What was your experience like?

Until next time, happy running.
Jen13.1

Ultra Training Week Fourteen

This was an interesting week-- I went from running in full rain gear to running in shorts and a tank.  I definitely struggled this week and I need to work on getting "out of my head."  As physical of a sport that running is, there are definitely times when it more mental than anything else.  This was one of those weeks for me.  

Sunday
After my long run on Saturday, I was feeling pretty good and headed out for a few miles.  It was still overcast and gloomy, but I brought my own sunshine with all the colors.  It wasn’t my best run, but it wasn’t my worst.

Monday
I headed out early afternoon in chase of three miles.  I just couldn’t get my head into the game.  It was another rainy day run and I think the rain was putting me in a funk.  This run felt like more effort than it should have.  (It was so bad, I didn’t even take pictures of it) It was such a struggle, that I stopped after a mile and decided to make this my rest day.  

Tuesday
The rain had finally stopped, but I was still in my running funk.  Nothing felt right.  The only bright side of this run was the amazing clouds that were out when I went running.  I have loved clouds since I was a little girl and I am always in awe when there is good cloudage.  

Wednesday
The rain and clouds were finally gone—we had sunshine!  I can’t even explain how happy I was.  I headed out to the trails to get a few miles in and it felt amazing!  Nothing helps a funk like sunshine and dirt under your feet.

Thursday
My speed work day—I have a love/hate relationship with these runs.  I know they are helpful, but I am still struggling to find the right paces for me.  I went down to the bay and it was another beautiful day, so I ran at the pace that felt right.  But that ended up being too fast to start with, which isn’t helpful if I’m burning out the first few miles.  But I will continue to work on it.  

Friday
I started my morning with the #RUN619—I had missed the past two week and I didn’t realize how much I missed this group!  It’s a great way to start my day and these are always good runs.  

Saturday
Eighteen miles scheduled for this run.  Eighteen miles didn’t happen.  I can’t pinpoint exactly where it went wrong, I just know that it did.  I fell- twice.  I ran out of hydration and fuel.  I had dizzy spells.  Simply put, I was a hot mess.  Around mile eleven, I decided I needed to listen to my body and my body was telling me to stop. I was frustrated and disappointed—there were tears.  But I also knew that pushing myself could make it worse for me in the long run.  I am struggling to find the right fuel for my longer runs and I suspect this was part of problem during this run—I ate after my run and almost immediately felt better.  Later in the day, I went to a local running store and picked up some different fuels to try.  I’m hoping to find the right balance in the next couple of weeks so that I don’t have a repeat of today's run.  

Total Weekly Miles: 37.5

Do you ever get in your head when you run?  How do you deal with it?

Until next time, happy running. 
Jenn13.1 

Ultra Training: Week Thirteen

Week lucky number thirteen of my ultra training brought more miles in the rain than I have ever run, but it also brought my highest weekly mileage to date.  I’m feeling pushed and challenged, but I know that the things that are worth it won’t always be easy.  Here’s how my week went:

Sunday
I started week thirteen of my training with the Carlsbad Half Marathon. It definitely wasn’t the race I wanted.  Around mile eight, my whole body started to cramp and these weren’t just leg cramps I could shake out.  My back muscles were cramping with my leg muscles—it was enough to make me stop for a medic and get some salt.  Then somewhere around mile nine, I received a text message relaying some bad news to me.  I generally don’t look at my texts during a race, but I had my phone out because I had been texting friends once I started cramping—I was very close to pulling out of the race and their encouragement and support is what got me through the last few miles.  (Their first priority was my safety and they made sure that I wasn’t at risk of hurting myself as I pushed my way to the finish). The last few miles of the race, I did walk/run intervals and I’d never been happier to see a finish line.  

Monday
Three easy shake-out miles started my Monday and it’s always a great way to start the day.  As much I would love to sleep in, I never regret getting up and meeting my friends for a 5:00am run.  

Tuesday
It was a beautiful day and I went out for my run mid afternoon.  It almost felt like summer.  Seven miles at a pretty steady pace.

Wednesday
This is what I call my active rest day—the least miles which I typically run as a slow and steady pace.  I ran a little more than I had planned to, but it was one of those runs that just felt good and I didn’t want to stop.

Thursday
I headed out for my run, hoping to catch a break in between the rain storms we were having.  I got lucky—no rain, just some puddle and mud fun.  Seven miles, working on my steady pace—it didn't feel great, but it didn’t feel awful so I consider that a win.

Friday
I forgot to set my alarm for Friday morning so I didn’t get to join my weekly #RUN619.  This meant heading out into the rain later in the day for three miles.  In the past few weeks, I’d run in the rain but nothing like this.  I’m grateful I was only running three miles because I’m not sure how many more I could have run.  By the time, I got back to my car, I was drenched.  It was awful and amazing at the same time—I love running in the rain, but don’t like the aftermath trying to get warm and dry.  

Saturday
This was the run I had been dreading—every weather forecast was calling for rain and I was not looking forward to my long run in the rain.  I woke up, got my rain gear ready and headed out only to be pleasantly surprised.  Not only was it not raining, but there was some sunshine peeking through the clouds.  
I pushed myself during this run—I’m not sure if I was just excited it wasn’t raining or in a hurry to get home before the rain came again.  I ran harder than I should have and in hindsight, I know that wasn’t smart.  Sixteen miles at a pace I don’t normally run isn’t a great way to maintain my training.  I plan on taking it easy the next few days.  

Do you ever run in the rain?  What’s your favorite part about it?

Until next time, happy running.
Jenn13.1