My Cuyamca 100k Race report

 I woke up at 3am made some coffee got all my gear in the car and made my way to my friends house. We carpooled to the race because I know  that running a long race and trying to drive home alone can be really hard.  We made it to the race by 5:30am
As soon as we got there I felt better. We got great parking and had lots of time to check in and hit the bathroom. I got my number 119 and got my picture taken. Then got in line and ready to start. This is one of the best races in San Diego. The race director Scott Crellin really makes sure that everything is ready for us the runners. We had our morning briefing and then right at 6:30 am we where off.  I felt good and ready. I do want to say this.. I know I am not recovered from the Tahoe 200 and that I should not be running yet but I love this race and I love the ultra running community so much. That my will power lost and there you have me at the start. 

This course is beautiful but it will kick you ass if you are not trained.  The aid stations are amazing. They want you to succeed so they encourage you to keep going. They get you ready to keep going by feeding you good food or hugging you and believing in you when you stop.
This year my back and feet where not happy with me. I didn't carry any water in my pack and I thought maybe my back would be just fine. It still hurts from Tahoe I think the pack I chose for that race was way to big .
 I got to Cuymaca peak that was Angela Shartel's aid station. (she is this amazing ultra runner)  I wanted to quit because my back was on fire. I sat there and Angela in a very sneaky way got me back on the trail. She did that thing that helps you get your head back in the game with out letting your self know thats what your doing.  A young man at the aid station cracked my back twice and that really helped so before I knew it I was running again. 

I was not moving really fast but I was moving and I was loving running . I could manage the pain in my back so I was good to go. I needed to finish the first loop with a little bit of a cushion in order to be timed out. I was chasing cut offs ( almost chasing them) I finished loop 1. Becca and Nartaya got me ready and next thing you know I was off again. Loop 2 is hard even though its only 13 miles. The thing I told myself is its 13 miles G. You can run 13 miles.

I took this picture at the point I knew I was not going to be able to compete this race.  My back was killing me, Tahoe caught up with me and my feet where so sore. I decided at this moment to count my blessings. I would end up running 48 beautiful miles at the Cuymaca 100k and that is a huge positive. I love this hard race and imagine this . Here I am in this beautiful field running and sharing stories with other runners. The part of me that really wanted to run this under 17 hours was let down but my heart is way bigger than that and running owns so much of my happiness that just being a part of this amazing event was enough for me this year.
Miss G got a DNF at the Cuymaca 100k this year and yeah a DNF always sucks but I love running so I will be back next year. 

Encinitas Half marathon

Two weeks ago I ran the Encinitas Half marathon. I put in a-lot of miles the week before and I was not planning on running but last minute I joined. I went into it as I do most of my races. I wanted to enjoy I and not push because my head told me I should be tired from the 60 something miles I put in that week. It was a very well executed race. The fast people first and then the rest of us. I felt sore at first but my mile 3 I was feeling really good. If you don't know Encinitas the race was pretty much flat and it's a beach town. The people are awesome and the town has that old fashion beach feeling.
So I am running and here is my thing I know I am not a fast runner at least that's what I think but as I was running I said to myself G lets see if you can run at an 8:40 pace so I did and I felt fine. I just kept that pace up and then I did the whole How do I feel thing ? I do this this thing and I am sure a bunch of us do. The body scan, My feet don't hurt and my legs are fine and I am breathing really well so all is good. Then I thought lets see if I can go faster and you know when you have been running 12 ,13 minutes miles forever 8 feels fast. Then I got down to 8:30 and just stayed there and felt fine. I had one mile to go and I looked at my watch and saw that if I could run a 7 minute mile I could run a 1:50 and that would be my fastest half marathon ever. I was not going for a PR but it was so exciting to see what my body could do when my mind let it. Its fascinating where this journey of running has taken me. I have grown so much as a person because of it. I am thinking maybe next time I run a half I will just start fast and see what happens !!! 

I was so happy and it was a great day !! Oh and the medal.

the craziest things happen when you don't expect it !

Tijuana Marathon

Its hard to believe that 3 years ago my dad and I ran the Tijuana half marathon. This is a video I made back in the day about our mini T.J. Half marathon experience. It was a great race really well put on and its free.. They had great music playing and misters too. I felt really safe down there too. 
I found out last week that the Tijuana Marathon was coming up and since I am supposed to run 20 Saturday 10 Sunday I thought why don't I sign up and do 5 Saturday and 26.2 on Sunday good Idea right ??
 Sunday is the day that I will running my 3rd marathon for the year. I am excited and nervous. I know once I am down there everything will be fine and I will be glad I signed up. It's always like this the days before I think "what was I thinking that's a long way to run." Then I start running I am loving life and I can't wait for the next race when I am done. I know its going to be hot so I am hoping for 4 hour marathon give or take a couple minutes. I am not  going for greatness I am going for a good solid training run with a medal please… I think the only thing that may make it hard is the heat so I am taking my camel back with GU brew and keeping hydrated until then. I will fill you in with the whole story when I get back but for now keep me in your good running thoughts Sunday as I run in Tijuana.. Did you know I born in Tijuana ? I was and I speak fluent spanish so it should feel cool to run in MEXICO…Happy miles 

 Here we are 6 am..

Our sweet medal.

My Motivation Path

Here we go.
So my brain has been wrapped around what I can do help myself find more balance. I came up with a couple things and I wanted to share them with you.

1. The first thing is I keep a log and a journal. I love to write things down and when I don't feel like doing it is when my soul needs me to write it down the most. For me the key to writing things down is I love writing what happened but I always try to end my notes with what I want to happen the next day and I write something positive. 

2. I need to dream more. Yes I need to vision what I want and dream about it. Lately during my runs I am thinking about what I need to get done after my runs. Driving and feeding my kids good food is always on my mind. I need to go to my happy place and just dream. I read somewhere that dreams and fantasies are the the language of visions.They show you what you are and help you see whats  most important.. The dreaming the visions help you and the universe set your dreams in motion. 

3. Make a new vision board…

4.This is huge I need to get up early and go for a run. Instead of putting of and waiting to see if and when I can make time to do it I need to do like Nike says.. Just Do it

I need to run what I can in the morning and if I need to get more miles in later than I will. I think getting up early and making myself do something hard will help me balance the rest out. That's how I work if make it easy then its not a challenge and I don't want it but if its hard I work for it then I want it. Don't judge it is what it is.

5. The most important of them all…Work with what you have. This is huge . Make the best of what is right here in front of me.. Work hard.  Make it good and make it special..