#lamorbust

2:56am and I wake up feeling slightly tired but overall rested. By 3:10am I am dressed and making coffee. I go through my morning checklist and am out the door by 3:40am. I take a Lyft car to pick up my head coach, Jimmy and another teammate and by 4:00am, we are en route to Dodger Stadium. Our Lyft driver was a nut. Empty streets and freeways but he was still making aggressive lane changes, going 75-90mph, AND running red lights. Dear God, please just get us to the stadium in one piece!

Arrive at Dodger Stadium, drop off gear check bags, head to the Ketel One Club. Thankfully TNB was able to reserve this room for us to lounge, relax, and prep for the day. Once I saw the other runners sitting on the ground, wrapped in blankets, and huddling for warmth, I was beyond grateful for our warm, private lounge with coffee, tea and private bathrooms. 

Ketel One Club

I got tired of getting up to tell people it was a private event in the Ketel One Club.

A quick pep talk from our coach and by 6:30am we are heading to the starting corrals. The corrals were SO busy, but not chaotic. People were polite and the nervous energy was palpable. As we shuffled into the starting area, the amount of people was impressive. I was so psyched to be a part of this race! For years, I have stood at mile 22 on San Vicente cheering and supporting the runners and today was my day to run. 

Kelli and I decided we would run together for as long as we could with a 4:45 finish time in mind. The race started wonderfully. I was excited and happy. 

A panoramic view of standing in the Open Coral

The starting chute: people as far as you can see!

Leaving Dodger Stadium

 Kelli and I running together and smiling for Ben at Mile 2. Can you spot us?

How about now? :)

As we ran the first few miles, we stayed on the left side of the road so we could see Ben and my family. This was a mistake as I would soon find out. Being on the extreme side of the road meant I was running where the camber angle is the greatest. Since my left leg and right leg weren't hitting level ground, my right hip was getting pretty beat up. By mile 3, I was in pain. I took a moment to process and thought it would be ok, I would need to run in the middle of the road more. Unfortunately the damage was already done.

One of my favorite spots on the course was a spot called Drum Hill. It’s between mile 4 and 5 and features LA Matsuri Taiko drummers, which provide a much needed boost up the hill. It also ends at the Disney Concert Hall which is a beautiful building in Downtown LA.

Approaching Drum Hill, Mile 4

Top of Drum Hill with Disney Concert Hall in the background.

Video of the LA Matsuri Taiko drummers (not my video but the same drummers)

I saw Ben several times between miles 2 and 6 which was made easier since he was on a bike. My parents and grandparents met me at mile 6 with Team Bashaw shirts, a banner, and some of the loudest cheers in the area. I gave hugs to everyone and kept moving.

Kelli and I at mile 5

Cheer Squad and hugs at Mile 6

Kelli and I ran on commenting that things were starting to hurt a bit sooner than we had hoped. Thankfully it wasn't getting too warm yet and we had more shade than expected. I saw several teammates along the way and tried to stay focused on the moment: relaxed form, even effort, and to enjoy myself.

Mile 8.5 where Sunset Boulevard splits away and we continue on Hollywood Boulevard.

Fun picture of me sent to coworkers. I look great but I feel not-so-great.

Ben snapping a pic of me with the Griffith Observatory in the background.

Around mile 10, as we ran along Hollywood Boulevard I was starting to lose my internal composure. If I was in this much pain already, how bad would I be at the end? I struggled to stay in the moment and finally allowed the tears to come; I silently wept as I entered Hollywood. A man was running too close for comfort so I glanced over to see why he was basically touching my arms and it was my head coach, Jimmy. Of course! Of all the moments I choose to cry and allow myself to feel the nervous emotions! He ran with Kelli and I for a bit and recommended I run in the flattest part of the road (the middle) and to acknowledge that what I'm feeling is exactly what I should be feeling: to absorb the moment and keep going. A group hug, a picture, and he left us to keep venturing into Hollywood. 

Kelli, Coach Jimmy and I at Mile 11.

  I took pictures as I passed LA Landmarks, thanked volunteers, waved at spectators, smiled as much as I could. I believe the act of smiling is a way for me to mentally "fake it 'til I make it". 

El Capitan and Chinese Theater, Mile 11.5

The guy in this picture is cracking me up. Straight outta 1984. Mile 14.

Whisky a Go Go, Mile 14.5

Heading down San Vicente from Sunset. In about a minute, everything was going to change for me.

Just before mile 15 I spotted a fire station with people putting Icy Hot spray on runners. I immediately cut left and had them spray my right hip. In a matter of minutes I was like a brand new person!! The pain and discomfort of my hip went from sharp and consistent to a quiet rumble in the back of my mind. Between mile 16 and 17, Kelli and I separated. We agreed that we'd each run our own race and if either of us needed to split off there were no hard feelings. As I entered Beverly Hills I was feeling more and more confident about the run. Of course I was holding things together with Icy Hot but that was ok for me. I was in a great place mentally and was holding down consistent miles.

West Hollywood, need I say more? Mile 15

One of my favorite venues, Mile 15.

Rodeo Drive, Mile 17

Rodeo Drive, Mile 17

As I ran miles 18 - 20,  I was reminded of a mantra I used heavily in my Ironman training: "You are earning this race." It is something I say to myself when on a long run or a long bike ride; a way to remind myself that it takes hard work and effort to get to the finish line. So the pain and effort of the day was okay because I was earning my finish! Everything was good, I was ok, I would finish and I would be genuinely happy with my day. I walked the uphills of those miles and ran the rest, by this point it was warm and we were on an exposed section of the course.

We turned onto Wilshire around mile 21 and I felt a boost of energy. I was getting close, the air was cooling (thank you ocean breeze), and my body could feel it. I asked Ben to meet me just before mile 22 with ice and ice water since I was feeling very thirsty and wanted cold water. 

Getting ice water from Ben, Mile 21.5

After this point I was on San Vicente which is basically a long homestretch. I saw many supporters and stopped to hug and thank all of them for being out there. I wasn't worried about my mile times because I knew I was going to OWN this stretch of the road. Shortly after I hit mile 23 I thought "A mother f#@%ing 5k is all that's left and I'VE GOT THAT IN THE BAG!!" I was passing people left and right as they walked and I ran. It felt great to run past them. It felt great to be able to run!

A coworker came out to cheer. “Code Purple” is what we use at work to describe a critical situation. This sign absolutely cracked me up (see post on Instagram). Mile 22.5

I saw fellow teammate Annie who ran with me for a few blocks and was impressed how great I felt. I then was picked up by Coach Nicole who said "You've got a great mindset! Go get it!" Coach Josh jumped in and was like "You are the happiest person out here right now!" I replied "This is when it's supposed to hurt, I'm ok with that. I am where I'm supposed to be." He smiled handed me off to Coach Kelley and Coach Craig. They also saw I was in a great spot and sent me on my way down to mile 25 and to the finish. I was proud of myself for being in such a great place mentally. I was proud of owning that pain and discomfort and keeping a smile on my face because you know what? I LOVED IT!! I love running! I love being on a team and supporting my teammates! And I was going to finish the LA Marathon!

Coach Josh and I at Mile 24.5

 I turned onto Ocean Avenue and picked up the pace. I looked for my family and Ben and waved as I ran to the finish. I was in full sprint when I hit the finish line and was so proud of myself and my effort. I instantly broke into tears. I sobbed while getting my finisher medal and sobbed while walking circles trying not to cramp up. I finished the LA Marathon in a respectable 4:57.41.

Mile 26!

Sprinting towards the finish!

Sobbing just moments after I finished. SO PROUD!!

Two-thirds of the GOT Crew!

Thank Yous....

My family is the best cheer squad a girl could ask for. Getting up early, driving all around Los Angeles just to see me for brief periods before it's back in the car and driving to another location. They cheered me at miles 6, 11, 17, and the finish. A big thank you to Ben for his support and guidance over the last 22 weeks, for allowing me to cry when my foot was holding me back, and for pushing me when I needed a kick in the ass. Thank you for being all over that course and popping up in so many spots I lost count of how many times I saw you. Thank you to Jen, Linda, and Kelly for their signs and cheers. Thank you to my family and friends who sent messages of encouragement and support the night of and day of.

Thank you to Orange Mud for getting me set for the warm temperatures and my fueling needs on the course. Didn’t have one issue!

I am grateful and thankful for the input, guidance, and support of the coaches and mentors of Team NutriBullet. I am honored to have been on this team with so many great people and proud to call them my teammates. I hope I made them just as proud. "Thank you" doesn't come close to showing my appreciation for the last 22 weeks.

Cold, Hard Facts:

Finish Time 4:57.41

Average Pace: 11:11/mile

Average Heart Rate: 158 bpm

Calories burned: 2,631

I am impressed by my negative mile pace:

Mile 22- 12:17 (stopped 3 times for photos with supporters of mine) :)

Mile 23- 12:03

Mile 24- 11:47

Mile 25- 10:24

Mile 26- 9:42

Last 0.62 (yes my watch recorded 26.62 miles)- 9:19

The Day After...

I am sore today and I knew I would be. With a foot injury that took almost 6 weeks to heal, I was not in the shape I had wanted for this race. But that being said, I am recovering very well for not being able to run for almost 6 weeks. 

I went for a bike ride today to spin out the legs and will continue taking walks (plus more biking) until I can walk without looking funny. Enjoy this video, I feel all of their pain, especially the man trying to get onto his motorcycle.

Option 1: Got to the tracking website being offered by the race by clicking the link below.

http://track.rtrt.me/e/TS-LAMAR-2016#/tracker/RGT2ARND

It’s February and the temps are rising. It’s southern California so this really shouldn’t surprise anyone. 

We have 1.50 seasons in SoCal: “Summer” and “Like Summer”. 

Honestly, any month of the year and it’s either summer weather or it feels like summer weather. It shouldn’t come as a shock that the temps for race day are going to be higher than runners want. 

What do higher temps mean on race day?

1. More hydration and electrolytes are needed. We’re going to sweat more so we need to replace the salts, electrolytes, and water that we lose.

2. Higher heart rate. When the temps rise, your body has to work to keep you cool which means an increase in heart rate. This affects a runner by possibly limiting how hard/fast they can push on race day.

3. Different race apparel or accessories. For me higher temps mean a switch in apparel choices. I’ll opt for a hat instead of a visor, I’ll wear arm coolers to protect my skin and keep it wet, and I will use my Orange Mud Hydration Vest instead of a hand bottle. This will allow me to carry more fluid, more calories, and look awesome! 

Sporting my Orange Mud HydraQuiver Vest Pack 2

The heat is looking to last a bit longer than originally thought a week ago (this is why I do NOT rely on the weather until we get into the 3 or 5-day forecast range). So instead of low 70s on race day we might have low 80s. 

Our last “longer” run was last weekend. There was a lot of laughter and fun on this run. Here are some photos from the run from myself and other TNB’ers.

Saturday was our team’s longest training run for the LA Marathon. I was told to run between 2 - 2.5 hours. I ran 13 miles at a very relaxed pace covering West LA, Century City, Beverly Hills, and West Hollywood. Making it to Sunset Boulevard was a great feeling, especially after being down for 5 weeks. 

Santa Monica Boulevard in WeHo

Whiskey a Go Go on Sunset Boulevard

What wasn’t a great feeling were my hips and hip flexors tightening up so much that every step past mile 11 was painful and difficult. This is when my previous mental training kicked in: my mind pushed out all thoughts besides my breathing, my vision sorta tunneled towards my destination, and my entire body relaxed. I was in the zone and it was all business: relax, breathe, push, repeat. Every stoplight was agony because it broke my concentration and pulled me out of the zone. We’d stop at a light and I’d have a little talk with myself “Ok, you got this. Keep it together.”

With only THREE WEEKS until Race Day, there’s been a lot of talk among the Team regarding fears, goals, and expectations. It’s interesting hearing what people are afraid of, what their race/time goals are, and what they’re doing to help soothe those fears. Some people are afraid of oversleeping, of cramping, of being swept (not meeting a time-limit and being pulled from the race).

I'm not scared, worried or anxious about the marathon. My injury took a lot of worry off my plate. Had I been injury-free the entire season, I'd be nervous about my performance and finish time. I know I'll finish and I'll have a great time doing it. I also know it's going to hurt and I'm ok with that. I'm ready for that. I know what works for me mentally (positive thoughts, mantras, believing in my training) and what works for me physically (nutrition is spot on). I'll be with friends and teammates who will push me when I'm tired and I'll push them when they’re tired. I'll be with my coaches and mentors as well. I'll see my family and friends. It's going to be amazing and wonderful. But it's still going to hurt.

When/if the fear comes, it starts when it's GO TIME. When it's the day of said event or goal. At Ironman Coeur d'Alene, we’re two blocks from the starting area and I stop dead in my tracks. I'm stuck. The boyfriend asks me what's wrong and I start to cry. I'm overwhelmed by fear. I'm TERRIFIED! I ask him "Can I do this?" he replies "Do you think you can?" I nod yes. I'm so scared and I'm so excited and in the end, I believe in myself. Ironman Boulder, we are walking to transition and I once again stop dead in my tracks. I'm paralyzed by fear. The boyfriend looks at me and I start to cry. “Do you think I can do this?” I ask. He hugs me and says "Do you think you can?" I wipe my face and nod. Again I'm terrified and I'm excited but I believe in myself.

Ironman CdA, 2013. I am FREAKED at this point.

So on the morning of February 14th, I'll be a little nervous because it's 26.2 miles (and you'd be crazy not to be a smidge nervous) but more than that I'll be excited.

So what’s my goal? I initially came to TNB with a goal of a 4:00-4:15 marathon. Well, my injured foot took that off the table. Once I realized I’d be able to run LAM, I shifted to a 5:00 marathon goal. But as the days go by, I have accepted that I’m not ok with that time goal. My marathon time at IMCdA was 5:20:20. My marathon time at IMB was 5:15:53. The game plan for those marathons were “Do whatever you have to do to keep moving!” Well, this isn’t a run at the end of Ironman. I need to switch from a mindset of “Just keep moving forward” to a mindset of “Be realistic but also be aggressive.” I owe it to myself and my training to push (in a smart way) on race day.

I am back to running!! Let the happy dance commence!

I took a total of 5 weeks off from running after deeply bruising my foot from doing plyometrics in a strength class. You can read about that here. I’ve been diligently wearing a walking boot, riding my bike, aquajogging, and focusing on core and upper body strength. 

It was not an easy break, mentally. I missed running in general but I also missed the time and bonding with my teammates. I met up with the group before long runs but they’d head out to the streets and I’d head to the pool for aqua jogging. Not the same. I’d see their fun photos and posts about running while I was at home on the bike trainer or doing TRX. Not the same. But I kept my head up, a smile on my face (most of the time), and focused on the big picture: I was not out for LA, just a little behind schedule.

Well, I am officially back! Last week I ran for 5 minutes to test out the foot. When I say ran, I mean jogged at a slow and relaxed pace. The foot felt good the next day. Over the weekend I run/walked 7 miles of the Ventura Hammer 13.1 with my team. I went much further than planned but that’s what happens when you’ve got good company and are doing what you like. Foot wasn’t any worse for the wear on Monday so that was a good sign.

On Wednesday, I ran 2 miles with the team at our celebratory Victory Lap workout. No foot issues. Last night I took a chance and ran with Blacklist LA, a running group based in DTLA. They focus on community, street art, running, and fun. The route was 5 miles but I knew of several spots I could jump off and end early if my foot acted up. The run went beautifully and I ran a speedy 8:34 pace around LA landmarks like USC, the Natural History Museum, California Science Center, LA Coliseum, LA Convention Center, Staples Center, and the Original Pantry restaurant. I met some fun people and definitely plan to run with the group regularly. If you want to check them out, visit their webpage here.

Being injured sucks no matter what. You’re limited and need to approach life differently than you’re used to. But being injured seems to be exponentially harder for an athlete or someone who seeks out exercise for stress-relief, fun, etc. I am happy to be running again and back with my team!!