(Sung to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer)
RER the red haired runner
had a very shiny pose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it’s old. (news)
All of the other runners
used to laugh and call her names
“like Monican!”
They never let poor RER
join in any blogger games.
Then one foggy race day eve
SR came to say, “Monican with your toes so bright won’t you share my socks tonight.”
But I got my own pair and we were twins.
The end.
All right. That wasn’t my best work, but “E” for effort?
I ran the Holiday Half Marathon today! It is my last race of 2013 and that makes for a grand total of 21 race!! That shit cray.
This was a super fun race because I drove up with Margot (the Faster Bunny) and Heather (from 365 of Awesome).
Today was another GORGEOUS day in SoCal – super clear, chilly morning that warmed up to a perfect Heaven-dy Five degrees. Ahhhhh.
The Holiday Half Marathon starts and ends at the LA County Fairplex in Pomona. It is a pretty course because part of it goes through Frank G Bonelli Regional Park but it’s HILLY. It should be called the Hilly Holiday Half.
Luckily, I was feeling all right and was able to get a good race in the books. I finished in 1:47:50 Not too shabby considering I ran 12 yesterday. I’ll take it.
SkinnyRunner and I ran together for a good 7 miles or so of the race. She is the best person to run with because it’s like having your own personal race day photographer with you. Check out with awesome action shot she got of me!
(Action shot via SkinnyRunner)
After the race we hung around a little bit waiting for our group to gather up. Heather had an awesome PR and Margot had to do a few extra miles for marathon training.
So naturally SR and I sat on the ground eating bananas and updating Instagram with the breaking news that we ran another race 
How cute is this snowflake medal?! I think I’m going to hang it on my Christmas tree.
How do you celebrate running a half marathon?
Answer: Eat a cronut. It’s in the Runner’s Handbook – Chapter 8: Victory Laps
The one tiny fail of the day was I made a special trip to the store last week for the allusive Salted Caramel Gu and I forgot to take it during the race!!! So, I still don’t know the awesomeness.
Monican, you just ran the Holiday Half Marathon – your last race of the year. What are you going to do next?!
We’ll never know because SR cut off the video…
Question: Have you tried a cronut or the new gu flavor yet?
Disclaimer: The race organizers provided me with this bib in exchange for a blog post. All opinions are my own.
Way to go on all the races! I LOVE that salted caramel GU, and I don’t really like GU. It tastes like candy! YUM.
Wow! What a year! Congrats on your last race! As for a “cronut??” No clue what that is…and the GU, I have not tried yet! What cute packaging it has though 🙂
Congrats! The Salted Caramel GU is delicious; it’s right up there with Espresso Love for me. I need to order a box or two; I think it’s seasonal or limited edition or some crazy nonsense.
Congrats on all the races this year lady! So awesome! That’s course is actually where I ran my first half back in October… looking back it probably wasn’t the smartest idea with all the hills!
They should make the Salted Caramel Gu a regular on their line. It is AMAZING!!!! I was literally at a gag-still with gu’s and gels and then a friend of mine gave me one of those. I could have cut that package open and licked it clean. Taste like a Wether’s Original to me. I highly recommend trying it, like yesterday.
Cronut, no. Salted caramed Gu, yes. I bought two boxes and I still find it hard not to just bust out a packet after dinner and have it as dessert. So. Good.
What is a cronut?! I thought that was the money they used in Sweden… like in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
It’s a cross between a donut and a croissant 🙂
Sounds yummy! I don’t think those have hit Spokane yet. I’ll be watching for them!
Haha 😉 Svenske Kroner? 😉
congrats on finishing 21 races this year! you completely surpassed your goal – woohoo!
loved the race recap… i even sang along in my head as i read it 🙂
salted caramel gu?!! no way! i’ll have to try it, even though i am devoted to mandarin orange. thanks for the tip.
Oh man, I really want to try a cronut, but the lines here in NYC are INSANELY and totally inappropriately long for me to actually wait in them. Congrats on a great year of races!!
I’ve never had a Cronut but it looks amazing!
I really want to try a cronut! I wish I could find a gluten-free one, but then it probably wouldn’t taste as good, so I’ll have to live vicariously through you.
21 races is super impressive! I ran an 8k yesterday and was proud of myself. Ha! Never had a cronut, but it sounds pretty awesome.
Congratulations on the 21 races! That is crazy-awesome! I love the salty GU! Maybe a little too much because I bought like 2 loved them and then went and bought 2 full boxes and they are almost gone and that was about 3 weeks ago! 🙂 So yummy!
the new salted carmel gu is was a great idea in theory, BUT… alas it wasn’t so amazing yesterday during my run. had to say it was pretty hard to finish. i should stick with what i know, mint chocolate!
Congrats on a great last race of the year! I seem to be in the minority on this, but I find the salted caramel GU really revolting (and I am someone who LOVES caramel almost more than life itself).
I’m jealous of the cronut – I need to try one ASAP! My first half was in November of 2010, after which I baked a pumpkin pie with fresh whipped cream to celebrate. That tradition has stuck for me even during summer halves 🙂
Happy holidays!
Congrats on a great run and a FANTASTIC year of racing! You are a champ!
Congrats: I love the medal!
I love cronuts, and duffins 😉
Cute medal!
I can’t believe you didn’t try the Gu!!!!
I’m going to have it for breakfast. On toast?
I used to celebrate every 1/2 with Taco Bell and froyo. Might as well pack back on the calories burnt off. Did you run races every month, or were there any you took off completely?
I don’t think there were any races in September. I didn’t take it off purposefully, just none around.
This race looks awesome! I definitely want to do a christmas themed half next year! This and Santa to the Sea look like major contenders!
Congrats on your last race of the year! So jealous of your sunny December day in SoCal!
That GU sounds like candy, perfect.
21 races is amazing. I love that you show how fun running can be, not just work. Still trying to convince my friends.
Neither, but I’m impressed with your 1:47. Great time to end the year with. That’s fast on that hilly course.
Salted caramel gu is unreal. I just bought the last 2 boxes of it that my local rei had. Yup, boxes.
awesome job, you and your friends are amazing
Awesome job on all your races this year 🙂
cronuts are soooo good! I’m jealous!
Congrats on 21 races for the year!! I love the salted caramel gu. It is my favorite so far. Can’t wait to see what your plans are for next year.
Love the recap. I have not yet had a cronut. Seems like something that needs to happen sooner than later though 😉
My workout today was 40 minutes of snow shoveling…I can’t believe you got to run in shorts and a t-shirt! (And yes, in case you were wondering that 40 minutes was just to find my car…)
My goodness that is a lot of races! Good job! Looked like a good day to be out there. I think I need to stop working Saturday mornings so I can get a few races in during 2014.
Such amazing weather here to finish up the year for you!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought cronuts were in NYC only.. 🙂
It’s a knock off 🙂
I am not so sure about salted caramel gu. The only one that I have ever been able to stomach is chocolate, but I’ll never knock it until I try it!
Wow congrats on 21 races!! I didn’t know they made a salted caramel GU!! And I reallllly want to see if cronuts live up to the hype.
HOLY 21 races! Congrats! Looks like a fun one to end the year with!
Loved the recap, I sang along too! 🙂 We did 24 races last year, and decided that was too many and did about half that this year.
Cute recap…and just for the record I did read the first part to the tune of Rudolph …I can follow directions like that. ha!
21 races…yep, that’s cray!