I ran the Camarillo Marathon today and I can’t decide what is the flattest marathon course in Southern California – Camarillo or the Ventura Marathon? Both of them are super flat! Love that.
Marathon Race Don’ts…
Let’s back up really fast because I also have to share my 2 major fails before the race:
1. My arm has been randomly hurting so I got a massage yesterday afternoon. It was a super last minute walk-in kinda thing.
2. I didn’t have my usual go-to carb-loading food (rice with tons of soy sauce). But I figured I just needed to EAT ALL THE CARBS. So, I had a sweet potato with dinner.
And this is why the #1 rule of race day is (say it with me):
Never try anything new on race day!
Well, now we can add “Never try anything new the night before race day.”
1a.) My arms and shoulders ached the whole second half of the race.
2a.) I had some stomach issues. Thankfully Denny’s saved the day on the way to the race. And luckily I didn’t have to stop during the race. But yeah, my stomach hurt.
Okay, back up again to 3:30am this morning.
This is your local Monican:
All my race day stuff was set out except my bib. Luckily the race allows you to pick up your race # on race morning because it’s a far drive!
I got to the race with plenty of time to pick up the bib, hit the restrooms, take a picture and get to the starting line.
My race:
A.) Loved the course. It’s flat and this year it wasn’t as windy as last year. (This course has a reputation for being windy.)
B.) I couldn’t get my body in the game. It took me until mile 12 to get in a rhythm.
C.) I love the out and back parts because it helps me to keep going when I tell other runners “good job” and/or they tell me something positive. It’s a small race too so I feel like it’s nice to see someone twice and wave.
Camarillo Marathon: 3:56:43
And I even ran into Donna and Ian after the race! I met them in LB back in the day (read: last year) so we’re buddies now (read: not sure if they know they’re my friends).
Ian took this picture of me crossing the finish line!
First marathon of 2015 done and done! I am happy to cross it off the list.
Then, I headed straight to my fam’s house for a shower and food. Actually post-shower I put my legs up for a few.
And for the rest of the day I was in the kitchen. I basically just pulled up a chair to the fridge…
Question: Did you have a treat today? What was it?
Hi Monica! Just wondering if you warm up for a marathon or do you take the first eg 3 miles as a warm up? What kind of warm ups do you do for short/long runs?
Congrats on your first marathon of 2015, I’m hoping to do my first in 2015!
Holy crap I forgot about those cookies. I LOVE them and haven’t had, or seen them in so long. I know that they’re basically all the same, but the pretzel shape ones were always my favorite and far superior to the rest in my opinion. I’m doing a no sugar thing for the month and I’m really really sad about it. I would say irrationally sad, but honestly, i feel that my sadness is totally justified.
Right now I am staring at a chocolate chip cookie and think that I will soon devour it after typing this. It’s just too delicious to waste. Glad you had a successful first marathon of the year!
Do NOT get me started on those butter cookies! I will eat EVERY, SINGLE one with the sugary sprinkles!! Thankfully I’ve avoided them the past year or two; my jeans thank me.
I love the picture at the finish line–nice job, Ian! 🙂
Great way to start the new year, Monica!
Congrats on finishing your first marathon of the year, even with the issues you had to face. I had treats all weekend long … the best was cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory. 🙂
Nice time for hurting during the race!
I drank ALL THE BEER yesterday. I got a Groupon to a place by Ikea, where I needed to go anyway, and it ended up being a beer store/bistro in an old Circuit City. It was enormous, and we got two flights of beer and then some. I figure I deserved it for… uh… I don’t have to have a reason, right?
Congrats on your first race of the year!
So far I’ve only had coffee today, but I wouldn’t put it past me to get into the Christmas candy we still have kicking around.
I had candy cane ice cream and now I am majorly regretting it. I am lactose intolerant and it is not sitting well at all!
Great job on your first race of the year! My first race is in two weeks. I am super excited about it too. It will set the tone for the rest of my running year.
Congrats on the first marathon of 2015! I love Camarillo, and running there is great because of the flat areas for sure 😉 Yesterday I went with a friend to a bridal show after my long run. I totally enjoyed all the cake. I am the perfect friend to go cake testing with for sure 😉
I want to go cake taste testing!!
That tin of cookies! I could eat those every day!
I stopped at Panera with the boy for a quick lunch before taking him to the airport (which by the way he flew into john Wayne! He has a biz conference near there). We shared a toffee nut cookie. It’s my favorite baked good of theirs. 🙂
You should have came with him! It’s gorgeous here right now 🙂
I had some wine and a couple of oreos that I regret eating, they were much better as a kid.
I didn’t have a treat but I really wanted a glass of wine. I was just too lazy to go get a bottle. But believe me, that won’t happen today
Same. 🙂
Those butter cookies–I recognize them anywhere! I used to have them all the time as a child.
You make this all look so easy! I’ll be doing my first marathon 1 week 6 days!! Omg! It’s so close! My goal – finish and don’t die 🙂
Good luck!!!!
Mimosa in the morning and a 3 mile run later in the day. Vacation is over and I officially have to go back to work tomorrow so it felt like a little drink was in order. Time to bring my fitness back and slowly work my way up for a half in March. Eek! Good job on your race, chica.
Thanks doll!
I had a treat tonight….red wine! Long run tomorrow before my half marathon in two weeks in Houston! One day I will run a full in less than 4 hours!
Good luck on the half!