Maybe I really am Irish because today was my lucky day 
I PRd at the Los Angeles Marathon on St. Patrick’s Day with a new time of 3:42:15! 
I’m either officially a leprechaun or a chupacabra. One of those.
Last night I stayed at Steve’s because he has done the LA Marathon for 8 years and knows the drill. I’ve heard horror stories about the logistics of this race because it’s a point to point course – starting at Dodger Stadium and ending 26 miles away in Santa Monica. 
My friend Michelle left me a good luck note!
Steve knows me very well and was prepped with tons of watermelon for pre-race fuel. 
So, Steve woke me up in the morning shouting, “Ready for a PR?!”
I told him No because I haven’t been training hard for this race. I really didn’t expect to have such a good run because my legs have been taking a long time to recover and it was supposed to be really hot. I haven’t been running with his group so he was just throwing it out there – I don’t think either one of us expected me to have such a strong race.
I was sporting my Pro Compression shamrock socks! Love them! That red sweater was my throw away gear. 
Skinny Runner and I were in corral C because she’s a Cutie with a capital C.
Okay now for the question you all want to know… how were you born with bright red hair unless your mom is hiding something?
Why / How did I PR again?!
I kinda think God is playing a joke on me on some level?
I really DO NOT know who is showing up on race day so I can’t predict a good or bad race. Around mile 8 of any full marathon or half marathon I’ll know who showed up. It’s either:
A.) Fun fun Monican who’s there for a good time. “Listen I need to save some energy for my frozen yogurt marathon after the race – don’t rush me!”
B.) Type “C” personality Monican that wants to do well, but doesn’t care enough to get uncomfortable and do it to it.
C.) Serious as sht Monican who is in it to win it. <- This illusive Monican only shows up on very rare occasions after a crescent moon, Venus rises in the west and it’s a perfect 55 degrees.
I actually started the race with the 3:45 pace group just because they were right by me. I stayed with them for a while but I thought they were going out way too fast. After the first crowded/slow mile they were at 8:00/miles flat! No bueno. So, I decided to do my own thing and try to stick to a 3:45 pace on my own. 
Obviously I am on a PR high so right now I will say I LOVED the Los Angeles marathon!!! Mostly because the last 2 miles were downhill. 
I honestly don’t know why I am rocking races lately. I credit my fueling and I also have been running more – but that’s it! 
The medals and marathon shirts both say with St. Patrick’s Day! 
The shamrock in the middle is a green piece of glass. See?
Now for the victory lap…
Check out this huge burrito – size matters and this is big one!
The real question is – What do I do now?
I have been running very strong and I’m happy about it. But, I’m hesitant to give myself a specific time goal PR. My big goal last year was just to break 4 hours. I did that and I am very proud of it – but I feel like that just happened. I didn’t think of a goal beyond that.
Today right after the race my mom asked if I was going to try and qualify for Boston. The Boston qualifying time for me is 3:35:00 – that’s still A LOT of time to take off a race. A LOT.
I have a 30 mile ultra race coming up in May so for now I’m going to focus on that. Beyond that I’m not sure where life is taking me so we’ll hold off on another PR for now until I figure it out.
> In other super exciting news Aleksandra Duliba won the LA Marathon for the women! The race has a sex challenge where they give the elite woman 18 minute head start on the elite males.
Question: It’s St. Patrick’s Day!!! What are you doing to celebrate?
{ 111 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice work today!
Looks like a great day overall!
Congrats on the PR! What was your previous marathon running time?
It looks like you had a lot of fun!
Look at you
So proud!
Congratulations on the PR!!
Was that a watermelon smoothie?!
I celebrated with a beer after a 25 minute PR at the Shamrock 1/2 marathon!!! Awesome time on your full!!!
Congratulations on the PR!!!
congrats! that’s awesome! and looks like a neat race, too!
I am so proud of you
Was the hubbie there to cheer you on??
My mom, lil bro and Ben came to pick me up at the end
Congrats Monica!!! I finished my first in 5:20. So far pretty convinced this will be my one and only full marathon finish. The weather totally cooperated and it was fun to see our city come together today!
I was thinking about you!!! Great great job!!! What’d ya think of the race? I wish I would have seen you
I loved the course except for the parking lot portion in the Veteran’s Administration campus around 21. And I had to wait about 6 minutes to use the restroom around Mile 7. But other than that no complaints. Walking 4 blocks to meet Ben at the finish line took me forever as I hobbled over. But I’m back to walking almost normal!
Congratulations!! Way to rock your run to a new PR. Enjoy the high:)
I ran a 3:46 PR in a spring marathon and a 3:32 PR that fall. I didn’t do any tempo or hill training, I am not a natural athlete, I just ran a lot (for me, not for most of you bloggers) and loved it. If I can do it you can do it!!!
That’s awesome that you PR’d… event though I’m not sure what that really means besides the fact that you rocked the race. Anyway, way to go!
PR = personal record
Woohoo! Awesome running, great time, hurray!!
You just keep getting faster and faster! Congratulations!
WooHoo!!! Great job on the PR!!!
Congratulations! You’re on fire and very motivating! You should be very proud. I think you have a bit more drive in yourself than you give yourself credit for.
Amazing job–congrats!!! What did you do in terms of fueling during the race? I have done one marathon and want to do another, and also want to fuel better the next time around!
Just looked back a few posts and saw what you do in terms of fueling–so disregard the last comment
congrats!!! i’m an LA resident (pasadena) and watched the marathon on channel 5 this morning. it looked like such an amazing course – glad you were able to get a hometown PR
you definitely deserve some frozen yogurt now!!
Congrats! You are a PR machine! I met Skinny Runner and Stuft Mama in the stadium and we all took a sock photo. I was hoping you’d be with them
I had a great race, third time was the charm for me, I broke 4 hours with a 3:58:54 (previous PR 4:13:35) so I am going out to celebrate!!! Hope to run into you again soon!
Great job!!!
Congrats on the PR. Yesterday I ran a triple challenge to celebrate St. Patrick’s day: half marathon, 5k and 1 mile. I am sore today
Can you explain the watermelon? Is there some secret I should know about with watermelon as a pre race fuel?
I’m just obsessed with watermelon and Steve put it in the smoothie.
Congrats! PRs are ALWAYS great. What a cool medal!
Congrats on your PR – that’s awesome!
Awesome job on the PR!! Boston will come soon enough!!
I ran the Portland Shamrock 15K. It was great. I had a PR as well!!
you are ON fire! congratulations!!!!
Congratulations, Monica! I think you PR’d because you were not putting pressure on yourself; we always do our best when we’re comfortable (IMO). Either way, you are my running role model.
Congrats!! That’s awesome. You definitely don’t sound like the Monica that was retiring from marathons last year
Congrats!!! What a stellar race!!
Ok, all I can see in this post is that you stayed at another man’s house…. while married.
Is this for real?? Wow, what a way to treat your marriage, and your husband. That’s pretty sad. I’d feel so guilty.
Steve is my friend and there were other people, including his lady, there.
I can’t even believe you justified her ridiculous comment with a reply. This is 2013, hello??!! And ever heard of “friends” and “trust”, Angie?! Ugh. Some people…
Oh my goodness, amazing job! and what a PR. I love when you have a race that just falls together in the best way possible. Enjoy celebrating that!
AWESOME JOB, MY FRIEND!!!!
Fueling and running more sounds like a good plan! Congrats on your PR! Good job
Great job with the PR!
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!? That’s amazing!!!
you are one speedy bitch. good job!
Thanks little friend
That’s FANTASTIC!! I ran a half today that was supposed to be a PR but turned out to be a total flop. I’m curious about your fueling… have you already written about it in another post? Congrats on a great race!
I ran a race and went to a fun dinner, details on my blog
congrats!! way to crush your old PR! I’m sure if you just keep doing your thing you’ll get that BQ time easily.
I ran 18 miles… for this first time in 12 years after 1 knee surgery and 4 children. It hurt… but felt great when finished! (Okay, maybe an hour after finishing.
) And I don’t keep great records but I think I did faster than I did 12 years ago!
Way to go on your PR!!! I actually can’t imagine eating that whole burrito after a marathon! You rock! LOL
As another Monica who is also not as fast as SkinnyRunner I’d love to see you try for Boston (and make it.)
Thank you
We’ll see…
Wow, congratulations! (I have really been enjoying reading about your running adventures!)
Congratulations on the PR! No doubt that you will qualify for Boston. That burrito is huge! Well deserved after rockin 26.2 miles!
Great job Mon! Go for BQ!!!
Ngrats on Pr that is wonderful!
Massive well done on your PR! That’s an awesome time! 3h35m is very speedy for a qualifying time, but it sounds achievable…you keep chipping away at your marathon time.
It’s only 3h50m for the London marathon here so you would have already qualified for that!
Congrats on your PR! I actually started in your corral but did not spot you or SR
Wasn’t the course and the support amazing? Such a fun race.. and I am proud to live in LA!
Awesome. Totally awesome! I think you deserve to hit the yogurt store, fill up some cups and have those paying scales shut off so you get all the ounces of yogurt and toppings for free.
Monica, that’s amazing! Well done, I’m so happy for you!
Yay! You are a machine! Congrats on the new PR! It must have been a lucky day, you got a PR, I got a boyfriend. HA.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! We need to talk.
Congratulations on another PR. Whatever you are doing definitely seems to be working for you!
Congratulations! The years of hard work are paying off. I know you mentioned that you dropped a few lbs recently so that may have had something to do with it also. I am a lot speedier when at a lower bf%
I wonder if you keep heading to PR city thanks in part due to your recent weight loss and getting your thyroid in check (I think you eluded to that in a previous post. Not to mention you can totally tell in your photos!!).
Congrats congrats congrats!!! That’s such an awesome time:) you are def a very speedy leprechaun.
I told you, I’ve been looking at your runs lately and you have been running fast. You ran NOLA RnR easy and you have lots of miles under your belt lately. You hung out with me the night before and there is a lot of good running Chi in my house. Everything was lined up and you rocked it! Congrats! I am very proud of you and now I’m going to train faster so I can keep up with you
That’s awesome!! I totally spotted a VitaMix! I’ve never thought to use watermelon in my smoothies, it sounds delicious!
Congrats my friend!!! So fun hanging with you this weekend! You are awesome! Hope you’re recovering well. Can’t wait to hang out again! Come run La Jolla 1/2 with me!!!!
Congratulations! You have gotten so fast!
Congrats! That is awesome! I’m trying to work on a PR for my half-marathon time this April.
WOOO congrats on the new PR!!
Freaking awesome! Such a strong race. MAJOR congrats to you!!
Congratulations!!! SO awesome!
Go for BQ!!! YOLO!!!
Awesome, awesome job, speedy! There’s definitely a BQ in your future!
Way to go girly, I’d say focus on s specific training plan and go for that BQ. So happy for you.
Can you please spill the beans and say what ultra you signed up for?
Awesome job!!!!! You are so very close to BQ’ing!!
Congrats on your big PR, that is awesome! I’m no expert but I think you could totally qualify for Boston, you are on a roll! Maybe you should wear those lucky socks to every race, I love ‘em! Good job
That’s incredible! Great job!!
Awesome job, congrats! I would say it was luck of the non-Irish, but that rockin’ performance has nothing to do with luck – just awesome hard work!
Wow, congrats!! I was a good 2 hours behind you huffing and puffing, haha. You should be proud.
Great job!! That is fantastic – and super speedy!! What an awesome accomplishment for you! You and SR are my running role models!
Congrats on your PR, that’s so awesome! I just recently started reading and your blogging personality has me hooked!
Thank you for reading!
Congrats!!!!! You deserved that PR. You’re fueling methods are serving you well and you look fantastic!! Congrats, again!
Your *.
Damn Speedy, congrats on the huge new PR!!!!!
Congrats! That’s a huge PR:-)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Way to kick some booty. Great job.
Holy cow- that is a massive burrito! But definitely deserved after a PR, congrats! I’m partial to the runners high I get after any run that is more than a mile, so I can only imagine the feeling of finishing a marathon with a personal record. Now I feel even worse that all I did was drink yesterday for St. Patrick’s day.
Congrats! You go girl! that is beyond awesome!!
chupacabra. Definitely chupacabra.
Congrats on the PR, and on having such an amazing race – must have been picking up some good luck vibes and great draft winds with that amazing headgear, lol.
You never cease to amaze me! Congrats on your PR…you are an inspiration to us all
Keep up the awesome progress…can’t wait to read about the Ultra in May!
Soooo awesome!! Very happy for you!
Have you already done a post about your recent fueling practices? I am dying to qualify for Boston when I run my next marathon in June (Seattle). I just PR’d a half this Saturday in Santa MONICA (1:45:10), so I’m there for the flat 13.1.
P.S. That burrito say “Champion” all over it.
Wow, fantastic job!! Everyone was getting their shiny new prs this weekend, so awesome. I always notice pace groups going out way too fast- good for you for sticking with your own plan and coming in under 3:45 anyway! Best of luck in the ultra and whatever comes after that.
Congrats!!! You ROCK!!!
Wow awesome job on the PR! It looks like it was a great race! Was it very hilly? I am horrible at hills. Do you have trouble with hills at all? Congrats again!
I am so happy for you!!! That is amazing! What a fantastic experience.
First of all! Congratulations on the PR! You did awesome!
I celebrated by racing in my first half marathon of 2013! I did not PR… at all but, I pushed myself hard. So, I feel good about it. It was literally all up hill the second half of the race, the wind was blowing against me but, I pushed thru.
Congratulations!
I also PR’ed at the Shamrock Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, VA on St. Patrick’s Day! I haven’t been training at all, so I’m not sure what happened, but if you figure out which of the three was working in your favor, spread the wealth of knowledge this way cause it was some sort of (very cold, windy) miracle.
Thanks for an awesomely inspirational blog. I read it daily!
Go Monica! Awesome PR! And really, you should give yourself way more credit! I don’t really believe that PR’s just happen
Congratulations on an amazing race!!!! Excellent work!
Congratulations on your PR. I had a race this past weekend too and I pointedly did not beat my 20 year old self and PR. I was so disappointed because I expected to kick at the end and totally didn’t. I’m so jelly.
Monica, congrats on your new PR in the LA Marathon! You’d be surprised on how much time you would be able to cut with some speed work at the track. If you’re already hitting the 3:40s, you can definitely run a 3:35!! Good luck =)
I read your blog a lot but rarely comment (I generally don’t have anything witty to add) but on this occasion I just gotta: CONGRATS on your awesome PR. So excited for you!!!!
Question: I haven’t been reading your blog for that long (but I dig it and not I’m a regular). Does a marathon count as two halfs for the 13 13s in 2013?
I am going to count them as 1 “13″ not 2.
Also I meant halves and congrats on the PR!
Holy crap, dude–7ish min/mile–over 26 miles–damn! I can’t even wrap my mind around going that fast! Awesome job, and congrats!
Big congrats!
:D:D
P.S.
My PR is 3:43 and I am working at chipping off those last few minutes!!!
I think you should go for BQ
CONGRATS on your new mary PR Monica!!! So proud of you mi amiga!!
Go for that BQ at Boston next! “Si, se puede!!”