I signed up for the Malibu Half Marathon on a whim. My mom sent me the Groupon email and I had 2 hours to decide to do it or not. Obviously, I went for it 
But, since it was only 4 weeks after the Long Beach Marathon I didn’t plan on trying to PR. Thank God because that course was HILLY (read: heeeeeeaaaalllly)!
I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m not the biggest fan of hills (sarcasm, it’s what’s for dinner). But I’m done, and happy. 
The day started off with a bagel stuffed with Almond Butter and Pumpkin Butter. 
Then, we proceeded to get ridiculously lost for 45 minutes on the way to the race. The curvy roads of the Malibu hills are not the best situation for a nervous runner’s stomach. Boo.
I’m sure the bites I took of Ben’s bran muffin didn’t help either. 
It was close, but luckily I didn’t go #2 in the new car. Thank you and you’re welcome.
When I got the the starting line I met blog reader, Katie! I didn’t have the camera with me or I would have taken a pic. She was speedy so we parted ways at the Start. How’d you do Katie?!
The first part of the race was perfect. I was too fast (okay that part wasn’t perfect), but I saw dolphins! Watching dolphins swim in the ocean beside you negates my poor pacing and the hills (okay, maybe not the hills). 
The race is right along Pacific Coast Highway (PCH for the locals), on the cliffs overlooking Malibu. 
The race uses the slogan “Run in Paradise” and it really is. The first 4 miles or so had the most amazing view of the beach and lapping waves – with dolphins! Gorgeous.
But, I didn’t read the “be prepared to pay for all those beautiful views with hills” part of the slogan. The hill at mile 8 killed me and I walked it. After that I kind of figured it was not going to be a PR and walked any hill I wanted.
I started feeling a little bad about it until I thought, “I said I was doing this race for fun, I better start having fun then!” And just enjoyed the rest of it 
My splits are embarrassing – I go from 8:17, 8:23 and 8:01 for the first three miles to 10:21, 9:21 and 9:46. Someone needs to get her pacing together!
That someone also needs to learn how to wave like a normal person, and not like she’s dancing, but bad at it…
I came in just under 2 hours, but accidentally turned my Garmin back on during the drive home, so I don’t have an official time. 
After I crossed the finish line I stopped at the Siggi’s booth for a free yogurt and grabbed a few coupons
Then, I “iced” my legs in the Pacific Ocean. 
The ocean here is super cold so I never go into the water, but this was the perfect time. 
I didn’t want to go too deep, but I wanted to get my knees. 
It’s cold!
But my knees need it after those hills!
“Thank you God for letting me run a race today.”
“…and Thank You for Ben, the best husband I could ask for. Amen”
After running and icing we headed to Starbucks so I could change. Ben got a pumpkin spice latte and I had some of that. Does anyone else think they’re too “ginger-y”?
I also ate a naner.
We headed home from there, but first stopped at Subway for lunch. Eating Subway after running made me feel like I was channeling my inner Jared
I got my favorite Subway sandwich – Tuna on Omega-3 bread with all the veggies except olives. I could eat this every day, but it’s especially delicious after a run!
Now I’m hanging out at my mom’s for a bit until we head home.
Hope you had a fantastic Sunday!
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Congrats! I would be thrilled with a sub-2 hour half mary!
Especially with those crazy hills! I’ve done two marathons in Southern California (Carlsbad and Surf City) thinking it would be flat compared to Georgia…boy, was I wrong! It’s hilly over there!
Enjoy the rest of your day!
What a gorgeous course! Congrats on a great, fun race!
Your recap made me laugh out loud several times. I have the same problem with pacing. I’m all go go go until I’m just not anymore. Throw in a set of hills on the 2nd half of a course, well that’s a recipe for disaster. I would have probably walked too.
Congrats on finishing though. It never hurts to add a medal to the collection (my ‘collection’ is currently 1 but I’m working on that!)
Great job, Monica! I’m sure right after a marathon I’d want to rest for a month.
I love subwizzle even if I don’t run before hand!
Showers are overrated!
Wow, that’s awesome! I can’t believe you had the motivation to run a 1/2 only after 4 weeks from your last marathon! Girl, you rock!
Hooray for a fun race! And you thought you left those hills behind in Maryland. Hillls are my nemesis. I ran a 10k yesterday, here in Northern Virginia, that included a hill with a 20% grade. No joke. I nicknamed it Mt. Demoralizer. It sucked SO bad.
Anyway, congrats on your half marathon. Rest up and enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
You’re so fortunate you got there on time after getting lost for 45 minutes. You must have left WAY early. Glad it’s been a good day.
Congrats on a great run! I’m impressed you dealt with the hills so well without prep – hills are EVIL EVIL EVIL (says she who lives at the top of one and has for the last 4-5 years).
I also love a good dunk of the feet post-run… best if you don’t run/walk home after, though (ask me how I know).
Great Job!!
congrats! love the pictures of the course — they’re absolutely stunning
Woohoo! Congrats – that looks like a great – challenging – race. I’m getting even more excited for my first half on Jan. 1st.
Love that you just decided to have fun and walk the hills when necessary. I’m running my 1st half in 3 weeks and I’m going in with the same attitude – to have fun…and make it across the finish line.
Congrats our your race. I ran a very hilly half today too, but I will take a guess that your course was more beautiful.
Congrats on your finish! I’m hoping to just FINISH a 1/2 next spring
gorgeous photos! i need some beach action in my life. and what the hell cant you buy on groupon now
Congratulations on the half marathon! I ran one this weekend, too, in Richmond, though mine was not nearly as picturesque as yours (or hilly). And our post race food was bagels and pizza, definitely no Siggi’s!
Congrats! I ran the Malibu half yesterday too (it was my first!) Glad I wasn’t the only one that hated those hills. Mile 8-10 was hell! You got some awesome pics along the course and I also ‘iced’ my legs in the ocean afterwords.
Congratulations! That sounds like an awesome race.
Yeah the Pacific Ocean is freezing, especially up here in Oregon!
What a GORGEOUS place to run! That alone would convince me to do it!
Great half marathon time! And what a beautiful course. Wow.
And I think we all look like we’re trying to do a weird dance when we wave while running – it’s so weird. Maybe we SHOULD just dance – maybe the pics would turn out better? Something to think about……..hahaha…
No need to be embarressed about your splits – a half marathon is a great accomplishment, regardless. So, congrats!
I am running a Pepperdine 10k in January and looking forward to the scenic course! Maybe we’ll cross paths on a race some day
Totally bummed I missed this race but you looked like you rocked it! Your pacing was probably off since it was so hilly.
Nice job out there and good call with the icing in the ocean!