I woke up bright and early this morning for the Run Through Redlands Half Marathon. It’s about one hour north east of me and I hadn’t pre-registered so I was a little nervous about getting there on time. 
Luckily, there was no traffic and a smooth ride.
But, I have a big surprise for you… 
Last minute Ben decided to do the 5K! He’s been training for his first 5K, but has been slacking off lately so we never picked a goal race. He has not technically finished the Couch to 5k program, but wanted to go for it! 
So, this morning was full of double excitement and double the pre-race jitters!
Once we got registered I found Bobbi and her friends Suzy and Jackie. I’ve run with these girls in the past and was very happy to have running buddies for the day.
The Redlands Half Marathon is very very hilly. And Bobbi warned me that it’s impossible very difficult to PR here. I didn’t realize how true that was until later, but decided to just run with the girls and enjoy it!
Bobbi is a really hardcore runner. She won this race last year(!) and runs these hills all the time so she didn’t realize they were killing me and I was thinking bad words to her while running.
But, I think we’re even because I made her run in the rain with me in San Francisco and it was really ridiculous.
I finished with a time of 1:52:56 and was just happy to be alive. The hills killed me and irritated my knee too 
. I even walked a killer mountain at one point and a few aide stations, so I should be happy my time isn’t worse. My knee and I may not be returning to this race next year.
In more exciting news, Ben ran the whole 5K!!! Up until today he his longest run was about 2.3 miles – and it was a run/walk. He didn’t take any breaks and did his first 5K in 33 minutes!!! I’m so proud of him 
Since he had to wait for me after the race he went into CVS and got some post-race food. Sure, you don’t need this stuff after running a 5K, but the reality is he’d probably have eaten this if he was just spectating the race, so the fact that he ran is great.
Since we were in Redlands I called my BFF Cindy, who lives in Palm Springs to see if she wanted a visitor. 
Turns out she was headed west anyways and we met up for breakfast!
We chose a random diner off the freeway Redlands Family Restaurant
While we waited for them I drank 4 cups of coffee. Now I’m trying to type up this post while shaking uncontrolably.
My favorite post-race lunch is a tuna sandwich with fries or onion rings.
The onions rings were to die for, the batter was perfection.
My favorite post-race breakfast is pancakes. I had both. Well, I pressured Ben to share the pancake with me and let him dominate it.
Our last minute dining company – Cindy and Jim
My usual dining company, Ben.
Then, we headed home to Orange County. It is gorgeous today! I really enjoyed the drive. Ben and I have a road trip planned for next weekend and this lil’ day trip made me very excited for it
I didn’t PR, but it was the hardest and most hilly race I’ve ever done! So, I’m happy with my time.
Hope you’re having a great day!
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{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
congrats to both of you!
fantastic time also and I totally agree with the post run pancakes
Congrats to you both! A 1:52 half marathon on a hilly course is still totally bad ass.
Great job!!
You make me jealous that you can decide to just run a half marathon on a whim… and kick ass doing it.
HUGE congrats to you and Ben!! Is he going to become a racing addict now??
He is talking about doing a 10k now…
Woop woop congrats to both of you! That HM time is no joke, I know what the hills are like out there!
Also, love that you guys got Milanos to eat post race!!
Thanks Courtney!
Ah, I wanted to do that race! I totally forgot to register and didn’t remember it was this weekend…so jealous you got to do it! Looks like fun and congrats to you
congrats to both of you! looks like you two had an amazing Sunday
ps – when i glanced at the title of the post, I first thought it said “Redheads Half Marathon” hahah
I would totally do a Redheads Half mary! I wish that was true…
I hope your knee doesn’t bug you later! Hills kill mine. I’m super impressed that you finished so quickly! Go you!
Congrats to Ben too!!! I would be so excited if my first 5k went that well! He should be proud.
Did you have your race this weekend too? How’d it go?
WOW!!! Way to go, the fact that you busted it out with hills and a achy knee just shows how hard core YOU are
I love reading about your races and running because you are always so easy breezy and funny! Way to go BEN!!! That is great! I know how great it is to get that first 5K done…now I am working on getting more distance. Did my first 4 mile run today, I was very excited!! Hoping for a 5K race or two while we are in the states and then it is onto Germany where I will try to do a race a month 
Cannot wait to hear about BOTH of your upcoming races again! 
Thanks
Congrats girl!! That is still a GREAT time…especially for such a hilly race! And CONGRATS to Ben, too! Maybe he will get addicted
Congrats to you and Ben! Looked like a tough course!
Congrats! That’s super fast for hills. My race today was very hilly and I had to walk up tons of them!
I am going to try and stay away from hills for my next race (if I can). Great job rocking your race too!
Great time, congrats. I was there and ran the 5 k. Saw you and Ben before the race. Congrats on getting your hubby running. Wish I could. Maybe I’ll see you at the next race. This makes twice. Have a great week.
You should have told me “Hi!”
Next time for sure?
congrats to you! i love redlands. i’ve only been there once but it’s such an adorable town. we should go visit bobbi!
We should! She and I are trying to brain storm a SoCal get together. I’ll let you know.
Wow, great time on the hilly course! And congrats to your husband on his 5k! What a great Sunday for you both
CONGRATS GIRL!!!!! I hate hills so much that I would choose not to do a race if I knew it had more than one hill.
You killed it though.
Congrats to both of you! I hope your knee feels back to normal soon.
I think ben should do a 5k recap for the blog:)
way to go, monica and ben! way to go on conquering the hills, monica, and running the whole time, ben – woo hoo!
what a gorgeous day! perfect weather, a road trip, time with friends – what a day!
Thanks Cathy!
yahoo to you and to ben! redlands. sounds like beautiful scenery. it’s almost a good thing that you didn’t pr because you got to rubberneck right?
i love pancakes post-race. i’m dreaming of the next time i race…just for the pancakes.
Yay Ben! You both rocked it!
Amazing job!!!! That course sounds killer!!! Yay for Ben!!! That looks like the best post race food ever!!!
Congrats to you and BEN! That is quite the accomplishment.
Great job to you and Ben!
This is the race I almost did! Haha, now I’m glad I didn’t do it… no way I would have survived those hills! I couldn’t even run at your pace if I was running downhill the whole time, so your time is very impressive!
Congrats to the both of you! Hills stink…especially if they surprise you, so congrats on your time!
And you are a better person than I am – I probably would have verbally announced my mean thoughts while running those hills!
congrats to both of you, so excited for Ben!!
i adore your race day braids!
Thanks Ashley
Oh you know you love me
You are such a strong runner!!!!!!
I do
Thanks for pushing me and being so positive!
Sounds pretty fun! Congratulations to Ben for finishing his first 5k! Thats so awesome!
Good job to you and Ben!! You are so funny- “I was thinking bad words to her”.
You are awesome! congrats on finishing such a tough race!
Congrats to both of you. That tuna sandwich the onion rings looks well worth runing 13.1 miles for! Mmmmmm!!!!
Tuesday night, remember how the hills felt, as you coach your group. When we’re all sucking air at mile one, on the flat path, you can empathize with us. Your, and Ben’s success will inspire us to meet our goals. Well done guys!
It was so good to see you guys. I missed you!!!! You always inpire me! Started my couch to 5k this morning.
Congrats to Mr. Ben on his first 5k!!!!! Way to go!!!
And seriously girl, those hills!!!!!! Ouch! Good job!!!
I have never had the desire to do a race, but post-race recovery food allllmost tempts me
So excited for you and Ben! What a great race…and as someone who just tackled some hills of her own, I say just getting through a course like this is an achievement
Wow…that is an amazing time, especially for a hilly course! Great job both of you!!!
WOW! I’m super impressed you got that time in a hilly area, I grew up near Redlands, and that area is no joke hilly! See, that’s exactly why I blog stalk you… in a non-creepy way, of course … Congrats to both you guys!