Most Inspirational Player

Tonight I went to the Cal Poly Club Awards Banquet and my team had voted me the women's Most Inspirational Player award.

In High school I have received this award twice in track and my senior year in cross country. I am so happy and grateful to recieve it again, at the collegiate level.

For me, MIP is better than MVP. Sure, it's awesome to be the best, but to be the one working the hardest and as the role model in the eyes of my teammates, is the best I could ask for.

Over the year, I have poured in a lot of effort. I trained incredibly hard over the summer, only to start Fall Quarter in the stands with a torn ligament.  However, I wasn't just in the stands. I was on the bike (inside and out), the elliptical, the stairmaster, and in the pool for numerous hours every day pouring sweat.  I came back strong at regionals and went on to compete at XC nationals.  I diligently ran over winter break and it showed during the track season.  With long runs and tempos, I even completed my first marathon, a 3:30!

I am honored to have been recognized for all my hard work. But I am even more honored to be labeled Most Inspiring.

My number one goal in life is to inspire.

As an educator, I hope to instill an insatiable curiousity and quest for knowledge, purpose, and bettering the world in the future generations (science or not).  As a teammate, I hope to push others so that they can achieve their personal bests.  As a student, I hope to greet challenges with excitement and joy that will brighten my professor's days and outlooks.  As a friend, I hope to inspire my loved ones to love others, have fun, and be carefree.  As an athlete, I hope to encourage others and lead by example for those starting to run or during their running careers.

I hope to inspire greatness and the constant pursuit of self-improvement and knowledge.

Thank you to my teammates, my coaches, my family, my friends, Skora Running, and my cyber supporters! Without you guys, I wouldn't be in the position I am now! You all inspire ME!

Mollee (MVP) & I at the banquet! (photo: Mollee Huisinga)

Running is a Sin Wave

Triathlete Jesse Thomas said it best in his most recent blog post, "Without the lows there wouldn't be the highs."

Recently I posted about how great my week has going. I had some quality workouts and hill climbs! Then over the weekend I had planned on doing a 15 miler Sunday. I somehow woke up feeling so out of it- stuffy nose, phlegmy throat and a cough. Coupled with a whopping headache, I just wasn't feeling great. I had only gotten about 4 hours of sleep and 2 miles into my run with my teammates, I had to turn around. It just wasn't working out. I felt like shit and would feel even worse every step if I continued. I tried running again Monday, but my teammate tripped and we only ended up running 1 mile. Which is a blessing in disguise, because I really needed another rest day to fully recover.

It isn't that bad- three days off? But for some, it's terrible. As competitive runners, we are so concerned with the quantity of miles, the amount of tempo work, the certain splits we MUST run in order to climb our way up to our chartered success.  But then we get run down. We start feeling very fatigued. Running becomes a chore and not a diversionary source of pleasure and release.  Before you know it, we are burnt out, unmotivated, and underperforming, or worse, injured.

So, we must take these lows and embrace them.  Accept them for what they are- our bodies reminding us to have fun and also enjoy resting.

I came back and ran a quality workout on Tuesday. 400, 800, 1200, 800, 400, 800, 1200, 4x100 ladder. I felt steady, strong and awesome. Then I took it easy Wednesday, and had a inadvertent 7min pace tempo for 5 miles.  I had an awesome tempo to the Dipsea 5mi mark and back.

It was an awesome week of quality running. I didn't necessarily hit my target amount of miles, but I am very pleased with all the work and quality running I had put in.

Monday (yesterday), I ran 20 mi on the headlands 50k course. I started just outside the parking lot of Muir Beach, ran through Green Gulch to the start of Coastal heading South. I have always struggled with this trail as it is very steep and hilly. But I was able to complete it sucessfully, a huge plus.  Then I bombed down the hills towards Tennessee Valley, cut through and started the arduous climb up Wolf Ridge.  I'm going to have to do repeats up this. Its soooo steep! I was exhausted half way up.  I started walking but only made it 50 ft before I started running again.  (i was uncomfortable walking haha). But instead of doing a loop in the headlands as the course routes, I cut across the ridge to Old Springs trail and bombed that down to Tennessee Valley parking lot.

Then comes the hard climb up Miwok.  I took that slow and steady until I got to the flat part, where I could open my stride up again. I was able to hit sub 8 min mis on the downhill and flat sections, which is pretty awesome considering.  Then I crossed high way 1 onto Diaz Ridge.  I was supposed to keep going on Miwok down into Muir woods, but I got a little turned around.  After that had sorted out, I bombed it down.  The trail was gorgeously green and I had a little fun hurdling logs along the way. (should've been a steeplechaser!) I made it down to Muir woods, crossed Muir Woods rd, and started the even more arduous climb up Cardiac. (Deer park onto Dipsea trail). In the 50k course, I cannot use the shortcuts, so I had to take the long way up.

I'd have to say, I felt pretty awesome throughout the run, not struggling and definitely managing the climbs.  But the climb up Cardiac was the worst point in the course. Mile 15-17.5 were when I "hit the wall". I made sure to hydrate regularly and consume shot bloks so it wasn't too bad. After getting to the top, the course normally makes a loop down Matt Davis to Stinson beach and back up the dipsea, very hard climb but super rewarding trails.

After that, I was able to race down the resumed course on Heather Cutoff.  This trail is great. Super beautiful and a lot of fun on the switchbacks.  I was definitely smiling.  Then it empties out onto Santos Meadow.  The start and finish of the 50k.  I stopped for a second to take it in, memorize it, and then picture myself breaking the tape.  I smiled and raced back to my car.  (the very start of the race goes from the meadow, along Redwood Creek tr to where I had parked).

My stats: 20 mi, 3:34 hr, 4100' of climbing.  I burned close to 3 kcal and stopped to do leg swings after each climb.  (bottom of cardiac too)

Fabulous run. I had a lot of fun, but I was also humbled.  I still have a long ways to go and a lot of work.  But I have three months to ready myself for mountain climbing.  I can't wait.  I will emerge victorious!

Some pics from the run:

Heather Cutoff

My watch and Skoras after

Santos Meadow!

View from top of Miwok with tam and Diaz Ridge in distance

Race report: OC Marathon

Since I am to races 50k in August, and have been doing some long runs, I thought I might as well sign up for a marathon, my first.

I had been doing long runs somewhat fast and got the idea stuck in my head that maybe I could qualify for Boston, with a 3:35 (8:12 pace).

I registered for the oc marathon because it was flat, fast, and conveniently located and on the calendar.

I did some more long runs, some tempos, and fast hill climbs (CR on bishops peak!) and then tapered like no other the last week. I even took Friday off and ran three miles Saturday.

The race started at 5:30, so before I ate chicken, sweet potatoes, quinoa, and had my banana ice cream for dessert. I went to bed early full and happy and insanely excited. I had been antsy all week going through taper crazies! I couldn't believe I would toe the line and be finally doing my first marathon?!

At the start! It was early...

I woke up at 3:00 am and got my gluten free oatmeal, and then tried to sleep for another hour. But I had all the details and excitement going through my head that I just ended up staring at the ceiling until my alarm went off. When it did, I put on my race gear, taped two Gus to my sides and drank some water and waited for my mom to get out the door at 440. We showed up early, but it was fine. I was assigned corral 1 based off my 335 projected pace. I was excited because I was starting up front with the fast people! I got in line with the pace group and waited anxiously for the start.

I would see her 26.2 miles later

Gun went off and I started. I thought I was running conservatively, but after what seemed like two seconds we hit the two mile mark at around 730-735 pace. Whoa that was too fast. I felt great but tried to reel it in. The best I could do was around 745 for the first 6 miles. I was with some other people and moving up, we passed the ocean and my chattering was awkwardly to nobody as everybody had headphones. I forgot to pee in the morning so I had to quickly stop at mi 4. I lost my pace group, they were far behind me, and I kept pushing. I caught up with more people, chatted, and eventually found my way to the 330 group. I still felt great so I decided to stay with them and if I felt terrible, I had a cushion on 335 so I could fall back if necessary. I took the first gu at 9 mi and pocketed the gu they gave at 10.5. I used it at mi 14 and then again at mi 18 and pocketed the gu they gave at mi 20. Which I ate at mi 23. I took some Gatorade and water here and there not too much, but when I felt I needed it.

only a marathon? no problem... loving every second! 

At mi 10 I completely abandoned the splits I had worked out and written on my arm beforehand and had a great time talking to the pacer from mi 10-17 and exchanging stories. I was having a great time.  It started to feel Hardish around mi 18 but I kept pushing, telling myself I was strong, beautiful and finally a marathoner. I had to push myself. I could do 330. I was so excited by that idea. I followed the commands of the pacer and kept up. Mi 20-23 were the absolute hardest. I had separated a little and was about 50 ft behind the pacer. It was tough mentally and physically. My splits were the slowest there. But then I got encouragement from the cheering crowds and spectators and dug deep. I ran faster the next 3.5. I was averging 730s-740s, which was unimaginable at that mileage. I'm still shocked I could do that. I knew the finish was coming up fast and I was ready for it. I was tired. But I kept pushing. I passed people and sprinted the last 1/4 mi. I was grinning though the whole time. I finished and started crying tears of joy. I had dreamt of this moment for years but never new when it would happen. I hugged my mom and cried on her shoulder, it was really an emotional moment for me.


 hitting the wall clearly

I finished with a chip time of 3:30.06, a Boston qualifier! my garmin read 26.4 at 3:29.33 (26.2 split was around 3:28) but oh Well. It was good for 16th female and 1st in my age division by 28 min margin. I was ecstatic.

#1 for first of many!

I was soon hit by a brick wall of pain as the lactic acid and fast running caught up to me. I cramped up hard and my muscles still ache 24 hours later. Yes, I did the marathon shuffle all day, and being in a car for 6 hours coming home didn't help either. But I recovered well. A hot bath, lots of leftovers from last night and a delicious burger did me well.

So ecstatic about my race and excited to see what's in store for me. I ran comfortably for 18 miles and was chatting. It was my first marathon and I broke 3:30 barely training for it. Imagine what I could do! The potential! I'm psyched.

My skoras didn't fare as well as I did haha. They've taken a beating over all the miles they logged and are ripped, torn, and worn down... Maybe it's time for a new pair...

I was a bit emotional finishing

With my mom!