This weekends 100k

This Saturday is the Cuyamaca 100k. I am super excited but also nervous because it is a hard race and I want to do well that for me means 16 1/2 hours. I have my nutrition down and I have some new Olympus Altras so my feet should be happy. My friend Nartaya who is in this picture is coming out to pace me and we always laugh together. I love races like these because San Diego has the nicest runners and getting to see everyone is always so much fun.

September Days

Happy September --
Can you believe its only 4 months until Christmas ? Crazy hu
Checking in with the plan for the month.
 I have a race coming up Noble Canyon 50k Sept 17th.  It is always exciting to have something on the books. My training is going well I wish I gotten  to the gym more but I will be happy with having enough time to get my miles in. My plan this month is to make all of our group runs too.. I thought I would write a list of the stuff I have been crazy interested in this month. Some to do with running other and motherhood.

I have been digging my new Under Armor shorts I got at REI. My favorite thing about them is they have legit pockets and they breathe so well. I had to get both black and blue.

After Western States I could put another GU in my mouth. I felt like I had a really bad GU hang over. It was not the GU it was my poor planning when it came to my nutrition but still I can't eat them yet so I switched to V-Fuel . I am really liking this stuff its easier to swallow because it is not so sticky and thick and it taste great. I like the vanilla flavor. My tummy likes it too. Its a win win.

OK lets talk how crazy I am about my Fitbit.  I am a loving it and have become a little obsessed with my daily steps after finding out I could compete against my friends and myself. This little bracelet is super rad.

My new shoes are working really well for me. I have gone through so many shoes and I know we are all different and I would recommend everyone go the REI or your local shoe store and try all different brands and trust your judgment. If they don't feel good on your feet  just be done with them and move on. I am really liking the Hokas  . I go to this website first and if I cat find them there them I buy them at the store.
My favorite food right now are almonds.. It is kinda silly but I am loving almonds.
My favorite song Gold Kiiara.  I am seriously digging this song.

The other thing I never leave home with out specially right now that Jack and I are going on our long walks is my City Stroller. This is not my running stroller it is my walking easy stroller. I can carry it with one hand and still hold Jack Stroller. It is really nice so he can nap in it and it is nice enough to go into a restaurant with it. It is super durable but it is not made for running. You need to get a BOB for running. Hands down the best stroller for running. I am also digging this lunch box for our snacks. Its so cute and it closes well. The puppy box.
Hope you are off to great start and may you have an awesome month !!

3 things I am LOVING right now

I thought it would be fun to start of the week with all the stuff I am obsessing over right now.  I had a great run yesterday. 16 miles on the trails with my awesome friends and it was just so good. Yes, they had to wait for me because there all faster than me but I did not take away from how good I felt. The cold made it feel more adventurous than it really was but it was so fun. So holding on to that spirit I though I would share some other things I have come across lately that have made me feel this happy.
1. I found this great website ..Simple Green Smoothies 
I signed up for the 30 day challenge and I am really excited about fallowing along and making some healthier eating habits a part of my life. I even bought a new Blender.. (thank you ladies at simple green smoothies )

I went to Sedona a couple years ago to spend time with some beautiful woman. What we had in common is we all loved to create. It's was there that I met Rachel Awes. She was light and had a lovely colorful nurturing soul. Her art is truly magical .
2. She just wrote a book. The Great Okayness and you can her and her book here. Rachel Awes  . You know how in life sometimes you come across someone and they leave an imprint in your heart forever . She does that in life and you feel her in her books. I can't say enough good things about her so I hope you take the time to check her out and pick up a copy of her book.
3. I have been trying to not sign up for any races for next year because I have been trying to give my body rest time but that is not really working out for me. So I have been looking daily at ultra sign ups. I just want to look and see what if anything moves me and yesterday something did. It moved me to sign up. The Moab Red hot 55k   I found this video on you tube and I do not know the runner but it is a really good preview of the race course. It looks like so much fun. and I feel really excited about having a race to look forward to in a brand new place I have never run before.. I love adventures in new places. So there it is 3 things I am all excited about !!

My Noble Canyon race report

Happy Monday!! Here I am all excited and ready to tell you all about my Saturday morning. I was actually able to get up on time and make it to the race about an hour early. It really did help my anxiety to plan ahead have most of my stuff in the car and drive there knowing I had plenty of time. As soon as I arrived at 5:30 am I saw Paul directing traffic. Its always nice to see a familiar face and know that your in good company. It was kind of cold but according to the news and to weather we have been having lately I knew it would get hot quickly. I wore a short sleeve shirt and I think I have learned how to pack my Nathan simply without stressing. I took 6 GU's. A pack full of water and granola bar.  Four S caps and that's it.  I used to pack everything I could think of but simple seems to work better. 

Like all the races I have done in San Diego this one went really well. I picked up my bib quickly and registration was well organized. I even had a cup of coffee while I waited . As soon as the sun came out I saw my friends and got in line and we started right on time. 6:30AM.

The weather seemed perfect at 7 am. I was not to hot at all. If you compare it to The Julian Full Moon run then I would say it was amazing weather. I start near the back. I know what I can do and I don't want to be in faster runners way. People were friendly and we all said good morning and wished each other a good race. 

The aid stations had everything we needed. Caring volunteers ready to cool you off and yummy food. I try and only eat bananas  and watermelon (my tummy likes that) and Ginger ale. This is never a good place to try new food if you ask me.

This was not an easy race. It was hard and warm out there. This takes a ton of work. I don't care if you are in the lead or in the back, it's 31 miles of hard work for all of us. Thats what makes it so good. 

  

This is my #runningselfie   

This was the half way point. My friend Nartaya came out and gave me a hug and a cold Gatorade. It warmed my heart to see her out there, cheering for all of us. The views are beautiful up here. I had no problems. I just ran and power-walked my way to the finish line. It was a good day and the race director and the volunteers did a great job putting it all together. They had great food after the race, too. 

I think I came in at 7:41. That was fine and I was happy with my time. The only thing that scares me is I am running Cuyamaca 100k in two weeks. I felt Noble Canyon was hard :( I can only imagine how hard Cuyamaca will be. I have heard mostly scary stories about how hard that race is. I am working toward the Jacket and I only have Cuyamaca 100k to go before I finish so… I have to do it and give it my all.

Here is a blurry group picture. It was a good time and the best part hanging out with all these cool people. Saying thank you to the race director after you finish because you feel so accomplished. Life as a runner is a good life. 

Their First Race

Here we are about 20 minutes before the start of my kids first 1 mile race. We chose the Strawberry run because my girlfriend was doing it with her kids.  My girlfriend and I also thought it was a good distance to introduce our kids to running a race.  Yes I am secretly hoping they love this sport but, I am trying not to push them to much..

My little man is in the orange shirt and I am totally "that mom." I cried with excitement. No one saw me cry, I acted very cool.. OK well I tried to act cool.

This is Bella she was wearing her Strawberry theme outfit, Kinda.
She was super excited the whole time.  I ran along side her so she could see me and I was cheering her on the whole time... That was neat.

Here we are ladies and gents....My kids with their first official bibs and medals....

And of course moments like these are always better when shared with good friends... Ally is a great friend and I have known her for years... Happy Running and I hope you had a nice memorial day..