Oh my gosh! This weekend was a blast 
First, let’s start off with the most important part = I PR’d in the Half Marathon!!! My new Half PR is 1:43:36. I am so happy about that I can’t stop smiling.
Okay, back tracking to last night… we went to a dive bar where I was overdressed. It’s kinda my thing, so I’m used to it, or maybe I am fancy after all?
Four hours later my alarm went off and I headed to the start of RnRAZ. I was going to buy oatmeal for my pre-race meal, but the hotel guy gave it to me free – I should have read that as a good sign of an epic race day!
Since I was running with REFUEL Chocolate Milk I got a VIP wristband and spotted my new friend Dan the Man at the pre-race area when I dropped off my bag. He was on the Biggest Loser and is super cool and funny!
RnR Phoenix has a super flat course and the weather was perfection. I don’t know why, but all the stars aligned and I had the BEST day! My average time was 7:51 <- that is unheard of for me!!!
Post-race I refueled with LF Chocolate Milk. They have a few versions with added protein that I love. 
After the race we hung out in the VIP area and my life saver Monica was there too! Fun fun!!! I’m sure the Reach the Beach team is jealous. (We’ll talk about what I’m wearing soon, but I LOVE that skirt I was sent to try.)
After the race we cleaned up and headed to find food at the Twisted Kilt.
Turkey burger and half/half fries.
With a side of friend…
I think the secret to my success was going into the weekend super chill. I just went out to AZ to have fun, no expectations. I’ve been super flighty about ‘real’ training lately and I still ran a solid race. I think I just had a great day and am in a good place with balancing life and running and eating and repeating. I like it!
Now I just want to celebrate my PR all night! It was great to be around so many other people who love running and eating drinking this weekend! I had fun and ran a great race.
Question: How was your weekend?
BIG BIG Thank you to all my readers who spotted me at the race and said “Hello!”. You guys rock and I really appreciate it!
{ 73 comments… read them below or add one }
SO SPEEDY! and so thin! you must update up on weight loss/toning! (well, I guess you don’t actually have to, haha). seriously though, way to go! that’s an awesome time and I am so happy it all fell into place for you!!
Congrats Monica, that’s awesome!! I had a good weekend, got a couple of runs in even though it was 13 degrees and showing. Have a great week!
Congrats on the PR and the great run.
That’s great…Congrats on the PR!
WOOT WOOT!
(you look so beautiful in that last picture!)
Thanks Lindsay, I needed that today
Congrats Monica! Double thumbs up! I had a fabulous weekend too – was away in HK and volunteered at the Vibram Hong Kong 100km – guess what?!?! None of my friends who were doing the event knew about it (so so so hard keeping quiet for weeks!) and I surprised them when they came thru Checkpoint 3. Also managed to run the Nameson Jin Jia Zhuang Lunar New Year run the next morning – had to notch it down since I was exhausted after a long day at HK100. All in, a fantastic weekend.
Very cool!!!
Great time, Monica! Congrats on the PR.
I definitely think I run my best times when I go into relaxed without high expectations.
Way to go on that PR speedy legs! That’s awesome. RnR races look like such a blast. I have my first one coming up in right at 3 weeks (St Pete)
Good luck!
Wow! Congrats. Both Dan and you look great!!
Wow, a huge congrats on your PR! Hope you had a great time celebrating, you deserve it!
Congrats on the PR! Dan must do most of the RnR races because I met him at RnR VA beach! lol
Yeah, he does a ton of the RnRs!
me too! haha
Congrats on the PR! You go girl, you deserve all the drinks and celebration you can get
Congrats on a PR!!! Have a marvelous week
Congratulations, you’re such a rock star!!!!!
Congrats on your PR! That’s awesome! Do you have a training plan that you recommend? And what’s your opinion on walk breaks?
Great job!
Jeff Galloway’s program incorporates walking breaks from the very beginning. The theory is that taking walk break intervals (like running 5 min/walking 2) is better than waiting until you’re exhausted to take them. He has half training programs if that’s something you’d like to try.
Thanks! I’ll look into it!
congrats on your PR girlie!!
Congrats on your new 1/2 PR mi amiga!!
So happy for you! 
See you at Surf City!! half or full?
Pam!!! I think the full – you?
26.2 bonita chica!!!
Congrats on the new PR, that’s awesome! I love it when the day just comes together to be magical!
congratulations on your new PR! awesome!!!
CONGRATS! That is just awesome. We ran into some runners at the bar last night and they said the new course was great.
The Kidless Kronicles
Whoa!! congrats on your new amaaazeballs PR!!
Great job!!! I had a wonderful weekend but no races. Hopefully soon the weather in UT will heat up:)
Congrats!!! Wish I could have seen you, but you were super fast. I ran this race as my first half and rocked it, right where I guessed I would finish. Chocolate milk at the finish was the best thing ever!
Congrats on your first half!!! We’ll meet next race
Hey great job! I started reading your blog recently and you’re very motivating. I agree about the chill-factor. I run my best when I’m the most relaxed.
Hello and welcome to RER
Congrats on the PR – that is awesome. The skirt looks super cute too! My weekend was fun with my cousin. We share a love of running – even in slushy 35 degree sleety weather, we still ran. But of course we then indulged in yummy food to celebrate our accomplishment!
BOOM – Great PR! Congratulations
You’re looking awesome (course I thought you looked great before) but you’re looking very toned and happy! Congrats on your PR!
I’m currently recovering from IT band surgery so I love reading about other runner’s success stories!
Get well soon!
You always look so dang cute – even after just finishing a half marathon!!!
Great job on the PR (especially impressive on such a short night of sleep)!!
I love the way you really do live your Blog title!!!
Thanks Kim!
That’s a really great race time…I’m impressed and inspired! Btw, you are looking very lean right now…and I love the running skirt on you! I’m tempted to try one out.
I also love your braids and visor…that’s my race look too!
Thanks!
Congrats!! Nothing beats a surprise PR
Congrats on the PR!!! Didn’t I say that would happen and I believe your reply was “not in PR shape” Ha. Good for you ; )
True. But this came out of nowhere! I’m still happy
You PR’ed a half-marathon after going to a dive bar and getting four hours of sleep?! You are a rock star! Big congrats!
Congratulations on your PR. Super exciting, you are gettIng so speedy!
Congrats on a super speedy race! How do you go into the races with a chill attitude? I always try to but then I always get nervous and then there goes the chill factor…and then my race. Is it possible to have the chill factor and a secret time goal?
I don’t think you can have a chill race and a time goal (even if it’s a secret to others, you still know it). But, that’s me – maybe others are different
Congrats on a PR! You look like you have lost weight. You look good.
That time is amazing! Way to go! And, while I’m sure it’s a combination of your race top and your working out, but you look so fit! Great jorb!
Great job the pr, so great! The last picture of you is so pretty! I love the Biggest Loser and am so jealous that you got to meet Dan. I met Moses this summer which was fun. Congrats again on your race.
Congratulations! Sometimes the best things happen when you least expect them. I think you have been doing a great job with your training so you made this happen!
congratulations!! Fantastic time and recap!
My weekend was anything but good, after my race I was genuinely thinking of never running again…..
Congrats on your new PR! I ran the phoenix R n R half marathon yesterday as well… what a perfect race day. I too can’t stop smiling! Sitting in the sunshine at brunch after the race was bliss.
Congrats on the new PR! That is awesome.
Excellent race! Congratulations. Looks like 2013 could by your year
Congrats on the PR, thats AMAZING!!! Didn’t run a half marathon this weekend or anything, just gave some students a tour of our marine science lab, which is fun ‘work’ for me
Congratulations on your PR! Your time is awesome and is really a cause to celebrate!
Congratulations on the PR! That is truly awesome, you get a sincere ‘well done’ from me, as I’m sure everyone else would say
4 hours race sleep?! Are you mad? Seems like you still ran a fantastic race, and again, well done with the times
Balancing life – I like it!
Keep up the great work, I’ll be looking forward a repeat visit to your blog, and between now and then I’ll make sure to keep running and eating!
Trying this again….Congrats on the PR! I signed up for the R&R New Orleans and I’m thrilled about it. It will be my second half marathon. I live about 2.5 hours west of New Orleans and we go frequently, so if you have questions, ask away. Hoping I get to see you at the expo. I’ll likely have my husband and two kiddos with me. Safe travels!
Congrats on your PR!! I love that striped dress, so cute!
Congrats on your PR!!! 7:51 is crazy fast. I am kinda sad I missed that race… it’s always a good time with the weather being so nice.
I think you meant the Tilted Kilt and they do have good food and drink! I live in the area and only went there for the first time last week too! I’m disappointed I didn’t run in the R&R this year. Last year I ran the relay and it was a lot of fun. Phoenix is a great area to live in as a runner this time of year too. Its so nice to be able to run anytime of day instead of having to run at 5AM when the coolest temp is 90 degrees!
WAY TO GO, CHICA!
PS, you look stunning in that picture with your friend! <3
Wow, 1:43 thats awesome! I haven’t ran an organized race in a whiiiile, but I do remember being super excited when the weather/course/how I felt all aligned and it was just fun. Finding balance with eating and exercising is always the best way to really just enjoy everything around you. Congrats!
KICK ASS TIME! Congrats. And thanks for the info on Phoenix, I will keep this one in mind for next year!
You look so good in these pics!!!
Nice! I’m kind of hoping that RnR Dallas gives me the same result in March. I’ve heard good things about the course, I just hope to kick my training into gear here to make it happen. Plus, my new boyfriend will be coming out to support me (something my ex never did in 7 years!) so I feel the need to kick butt.
Awesome Job!! RNR AZ is a great place to PR!!! Congrats!!
Wow! Amazing run! Congrats!
Yayay!! Awesome PR – And a GREAT time!! I semi-PR’d in Arizona too — it was my first marathon, so anytime could be my PR. hehe My hub and I ran it together and wanted to get under 4hr – We did it!! 3:54:34
It was SUCH a perfect day!! Congratulations again!! Happy to have found your blog 