My First Trail Race Ever!

I ran the last race of the OC Chili Winter Trail Run series (thank you for the suggestion Lauren!!) today! It was amazing and the people were SUPER nice!! No problems getting in other peoples way until the very end. I really like how they set up the trail because it started uphill and the trail was really wide and open there which allowed for faster people to get by the slower people and then it was down hill the last three miles. The downhill part was pretty narrow but it was fine because everyone I was around just took it at an easy jogging pace and no one was fighting to pass.

I got there pretty early because I didn't know where I was going and I was a little nervous that it would be up a mountain. The park was on rolling hills which was cool because it was easy to get to. I watched the people and hung around for a bit went to the bathroom (which was right there and was flushable Yay!) then it started.

The first mile I felt great! I was really enjoying the scenery and the people I was near were just jogging. I ran the first half of the mile and then hiked a little on the initial way up. Once we started that initial climb - those were the people I was with for almost the entire race. I totally missed the mile one marker. I didn't even think about how far I had gone until I (surprise!) saw the marker for mile two. I was feeling good with jogging most of it until first half of mile two and then there was a super steep hill where I got REALLY hot. I was really going slow in fact I took a mini break in the shade for a minute then kept going.

I jogged/ran all the way down mile 3 and 4. I really enjoyed those miles - 3 because it was nice to finally be able to run my legs (which were all warmed up from the hiking) and 4 because it was shady and nice. Mile 4 was also fun because I was in a sort of "pack" and we were all just moving together and it was really nice to just know that I could keep up with them. I felt really great physically. Being in the pack on a narrow trail also forced me to push myself harder than I do when I run alone because 1) I didn't want to get into anyones way and 2) I didn't want to let the people behind me get in front of me ;).



Mile 4 to 4.85 I had a hard time. I jogged the first half of the last mile but then I actually got a bit sick and had to walk the last half of it. I think I got a little too hot because my eyes were doing weird things. Everything seemed really bright and weird and my head felt a little dizzy. Right after I finished I beelined for home. I was a little bummed to not go to the after scene because it sounded fun but I was worried that I was heat stroked or something - I was fine after chilling out for a bit at home.

So in the end - I completed it in 1 hour and 12 minutes - I finished after a few people I started with but I finished before a few people I started with too. Overall it was a really great experience that I am definitely doing again next year. Only next year I am planning to complete the entire series.

Bad Blogger!

Well.. I have decided that I am terrible at this blogging stuff. The time really gets away from me and before I know it - it has been almost a month since I posted!! Canada was great! The conference went well and I got to meet some fab people! I don't have any pictures to show for  it... because I didn't take any of my own and Facebook doesn't allow photo stealing anymore which is how I obtained most of my trip pictures in the past - because I am a lazy person.

This month has been crazy - First was Canada and then when I got back I found out that I needed to move from Riverside to Orange County by May 1st. I have been packing like crazy and spending all my free time on that. However, I have been running on the sly.. mostly easy trails near Fullerton.. I call them the Fullerton Flats although they have proper names - I just don't know them - and also Quail Hill and Back Bay in Irvine and Newport Beach.

I am a little sad to be moving from Rside - I lived in a decent area, loved my room (it was huge), and loved the trails that were 5 minutes from my house also school was 5 minutes away. I am not looking forward to commuting to school! Ew. The cool thing about living in OC is that it is near awesome trails, the house has a backyard pool, and the house also has cute kids living in it that I'll get to see all the time. :D

Tomorrow is a trail run that I signed up for and I am super nervous about it. I have never raced on a trail and I am REALLY worried I will get into peoples way (becasue I am slow) and piss them off. The plan is to get there early and stay in the back. It is very short - only 5 miles which is nice and it starts at 8:30am so it should still be a bit cool which is nice too. I am excited to go see what it is all about!

First Day of School

It's the first day of school today. I am taking 3 classes this quarter, which is a lot for grad level. Yikes! I am excited though because I don't have to teach. I leave for Canada this Wednesday for a conference - so much for the first week of classes. Heh heh. 

It is supposed to be really warm this next week, which means the trails should be nice and dry when I get back this Sunday. I tried to do a little trail run Friday but it ended up being a mud walk.. It was fun though - really worked my calf muscles trying to pull my feet out of the mud pits they sunk into. 

I have discovered that lots of stress puts individuals in one of three groups - those that work out with the same regularity, those that work out even more, and those that don’t work out at all. Unfortunately, I am definitely part of the “doesn't work out at all group”. During this quals prep I stopped running and got a bit out of "shape" and gained some weight. Now I hardly can jog up trails that I used to hit with no problem. I have got to remember to keep on going even if I am stressed and feel like I have no time. It helps immensely with the stress and when I am on the other side of whatever stressful event/time crunch I will feel better about myself.  

Either way, I am where I am now and I just got to suck it up and get back out there. Now that I have more time on the weekends I am going to start running little races again. I don't think I am quite ready to run a half marathon but definitely some 5 and 10Ks, which would be awesome. 

It seems most everyone either runs half or full marathons but if anyone has suggestions of some fun races that are 5 or 10K length I am interested!! :D 

I passed!! =)

My testing is done! I passed and it feels great to be ABD (all but dissertation)!! I didn't run too much during the first part of this month but I am getting back to it now that I have more time. I am a bit out of shape but it feels great to be running again. The following is just a bunch of stuff that happened while I was away.

Picture of Back Bay Loop in Newport Beach. I really liked the guy on the horse.

Spring was here but then it disappeared again... I like the rain though. :)

Daysi Rose chillaxing. I have never seen a hamster take a nap outside of its cage but this hamster I have just kicks it. It is pretty funny actually.

Running in sycamore canyon. This place is amazing after it rains!!

It is my birthday the 28th so the other grad students threw me and all the other March birthdays a little bash. It was very sweet.

This weekend Heidie and I went to Lake Arrowhead to hang out with Heidie's friends. Very cold but very pretty. This is a picture us us hiking around Lake Jeffery. We left just in time - a big blizzard hit right after we came down the mountain!

T-Minus 9 Days and Counting...

To any of you out there who are still reading my pretty much dead running blog... I wanted to check in. Nothing has really been happening on the running front.

All energies are being pumped into studying for the big one. 9 days until I take it - so lots of reading and writing going on. I did fit in an awesome trip to Joshua Tree. Went with a crew of friends and of course the Christmas hamster - Daysi Rose Pretty Pretty Princess (Lily died - it was very sad) (Daysi got her name from my 5 year old niece who really likes to name things ;)). As soon as I am done with all this I will write a more detailed report! Until then, I miss reading all of you and I hope you are all doing well.

Can't wait to chill and read up on everyone when I can!!

My Baking Effort

Week 5 Update

January went by so fast!

I have been a bit MIA because we have had an influx of kids calling in to participate in the research study. Many of them are homeless so that means lots of driving on my end to get to them for the interview.  Man working with these kids really pulls on my heart.. I just want to take them all home with me. :(

Studying is going mostly okay. The time is drawing near.. March 4, 5, 6 ,7, and 17. Yikes. I am a bit behind because of all the assessments so I am taking this week to catch back up on that. 

I got some good runs in last week which was great. I am house sitting in Pasadena watching 2 dogs and 3 cats at the moment. Dogs are great... they make such fun running partners. Near the house I am watching is are some great trails in Eaton Canyon so I have been running there lately whenever I get the chance. 

I really missed reading up on everyones blogs.. It looks like everyone was super busy running and working!! So inspirational! You are all so awesome!

Below are some pictures I snapped of Ebert in Eaton Canyon. :)

Aww this makes me want a dog of my own. :)

This the "waterfall" trail

View of Pasadena 3 miles up.

Trail we came up to get to the top.