Carlsbad 5000: All Day 20K

An "all day 20K" sounds long. All day? It is a test of endurance, though packed into short bursts of four 5K races. The Carlsbad 5000 attracts many runners, because of it's relatively flat and fast course in downtown, you guessed it, Carlsbad, CA. Each 5K was divided into the following groups:

Masters and Men over 40

Masters and Women over 40

Ages 20-29

Ages 30-39

So guess what the all day 20Kers did? 

We committed to all four races.

As soon as I heard about the 20K, my hand gravitated towards the "REGISTER" button. This would be a cool challenge, and if I was going to make the trek to San Diego, I might as well run four races instead of one, right? 

Plus, another question I had for myself was, would this be more difficult or easier than a half marathon? I had to find out. My hunch was this would be easier, because I had at least 30 minutes break between each race. But, 5Ks tend to be fast, so perhaps I would burn through more sugary carbs, and use more fast twitch muscles, yet need to rely on the endurance muscles to...endure this four times? 

The first race started at 6:55 am, which meant wake up was 4 am. It was chilly out, dark, and my first thought was, "Well...at least some people wake up at this hour." My mom kindly agreed to come along and be my cheerleader, photographer, and elite runner sidekick oogler. I opted for VIP parking, which cut down on the stress and time weaving through the road-closed downtown area. Totally worth it. 

The infamous row of Port-o-Potties

Because the course crossed the railroad tracks, the start times had to be adjusted with the train schedule. So a tad after 7 am, we were off! The majority of the runners were men over 40, and I definitely got passed up by guys twice my age. Like I said, this race attracts the speedsters!

The front of the pack looking very...speedy

I knew I had 3 more races to run, so I tried to pace ultra conservatively and not get too carried away with the speed of the others. Closed out the first mile in 8:49. A bit on the fast side for my strategy. 

I ended up hanging in there and pushing it and finishing in 28:20.

Pretty stoked, a little red, and already onto water bottle #2

I was feeling pretty good, and ready to take on the race #2, which was supposed to start around 8:12 but got pushed back to 8:26. Again, train schedule. I had grabbed some fruit and snacks at the finish line but wasn't hungry. Instead, I popped an energy gummy that tasted like a watered-down, jello'ed version of the Starburst candy. Hopefully it'd deliver some sugars to my muscles fast.

Race #2 with the Women's division felt better! Either because I had "warmed up" or was just enjoying running in mostly feminine energy. I finished in 29:45. Now, I was starting to feel hungry.

Eating anything I could get my hands on

The ladies taking off - I am not pictured because I was not in the  5 minute per mile corral :)

For race #3, I was starting to feel a bit fatigued. Wasn't sure if it was more mental than physical. I had been in "race mode" since 7 am, and it was now 9 am. If I were running a half marathon, I'd be nearing the finish line at this time.

But - the all day 20K was only half over. Race #3 slated to start at 9:26 am. I spend the time waiting and digesting several crackers and a blood orange. 

Originally, my goal was to run all four races under 30 minutes. Seemed reasonable at first, but going after how I felt, I changed it to just run all of them nonstop. No walking. That's one thing endurance running has taught me. Be adaptable. 

I ran it in 31:37. 

Ok, more like ran-jogged. My legs were starting to feel like steel. Not in the power way, but the weight way. 

Yug.

So my finishing picture after race #3 is more of a starting energy for race #4. I got this!!!!!

By 10:30, the final race was off. Three and a half hours after the initial race. 

We ran the same course, so this time around it was like running in auto pilot. Oddly enough, it didn't seem long, as repetition can make things, at least mentally, seem much longer. In fact, it felt faster than the first race, even though I know I "snailed" out on this one. 

Non-stop running got me a finish time of 32:29 for the fourth and final leg.

I was glad to be done. Didn't have much more energy to do another 5K. 

However, it did make for some pretty data: 

I was ready to now be a spectator and watch some of the elite races that followed us. It was awe inspiring to see these runners clocking in 13, 14, 15 minute 5Ks. 

Stride length goals, among many others

Awesome!

I left the race physically tired, but mentally refreshed and inspired...hey that rhymed!

Was it easier than a half marathon? No way. I thought the waiting times between the races would be an advantage, but it feels like getting the miles done in one go is easier, provided you pace yourself well in the beginning.

Running For The Love of Running 5K

The name of the race says it all - running for the love of running.

Yes, I love running. There are some days where I don't like running. I feel like running away from running. Running to the kitchen to eat because I'm bored - but know I don't want to run.

But most of the time, I love running. If I wake up with a knee or hip tweak, I'm bummed. If I see it's raining out, I'm bummed. Worse of all, if I sleep in and realize that at 7:30 am it's already 75 degrees and sunny out, I'm bummed.

When the sun's out - time to be lazy

But this morning, rain or shine - I was ready to take on this 5K. This is my second race of 2017.

I don't race for medals, or the bragging rights, or because I have nothing better to do at 6 am on Saturdays or Sundays. The real race is against myself, seeing if I can better a PR, test out a new technique, a new nutrition plan. Being out there with other runners, finding out what their backgrounds and stories are, is what it's mostly about.

Different people exploring the same trail

I show up to Long Beach Marina Park - close to 7 am, to pick up my bib number. Parking's open and easy, as long as you don't choose the streets. There are runners doing their warm ups, high knees, sudden sprints. They look serious. Then you have runners who are clearly in it for the fun and social reasons, dressed up in costumes - but who knows, they could be speedily legit. Remember the guy who ran a half marathon in a full suit? A new record was set for that recently. To each his own.

What I like about the company who organizes these races, A Better World Running, is that they keep their races relatively small (under 400 people total for all the race lengths), they are about personal goal achievement, and they keep their entry fees lower than the average. That's because they do away with the t-shirts. I checked my closet and I have plenty of race tees I hardly ever wear. I recommend checking out their races, as they put on a several a month. You do get a finisher medal, and the usual race swag of samples. Plus I like how they allow you to pick up your bib on race morning, rather than the day before. Some of us live outside the area, so it saves us that extra trip.

Next to the Start/Finish line. Low key, diverse, and organized!  

A few minutes before race time, they announced the course, how it was marked, and what to expect. There were no corrals or pacers. Just a few simple words, and we were off.

Running along the beach on the cement path was refreshing! It had rained the night before, giving the air this crispness that my lungs desperately needed, not even 1 mile in. My pace wasn't outstanding, and certainly not my fastest - but I pushed on and tried to enjoy the run. I was glad to see the turn around mark, and knew I was half way there. Usually my tactic is to run each mile a few seconds faster, but by mile 2.5 I felt myself dialing back a bit. A quick snapshot of my holiday glutton and parties flashed in my mind, but now was certainly not the time to dwell on all the less-than-ideal foods consumed, and how much more couch contact time I'd had. I focused on my breathing exercise, and before I knew it, the finish line was in sight.

Goooo for it!! That's the thing about 5Ks, you have to go fast. Unlike half marathons, or even 10Ks, there's really no warm up mile, a pacing strategy of building up speed. Once you're off running in a 5K, you're running. Running as if the finish line were 100 m away.

An (unflattering) reminder of efforts during the final 100 yards

When I crossed the finish line, the lady with the stopwatch was saying, "Okay, 1, 2.....and 3." She handed me a medal, then some volunteers handed me another medal (the finishers one). What?? Looking closely, turns out I also received an overall 2nd place finish for womens. WOW. Was not expecting that. All 3 top women finishers finished within 10 seconds of one another. In fact, all of us were surprised, and we took turns snapping pictures for one another. For the lady who won first, this was her first 5K. Awesome!

And that's what I loved about this race -- it welcomed people of all ages and abilities, and promotes running for the sake of running. 

Continuing To Run: The Great Chocolate Race

Ok, I'll admit - the race title sounds enticing. The Great Chocolate Race? Epic and appetizing.

But that's not why I signed up.

I signed up because it was the perfect re-entry race post holiday season glutton where for once, your social schedule and took precedence over your running schedule. It's the times of saying, "My 5 mile run tomorrow can wait. Let's just go out and have ice cream anyway!"

But once December was coming to a close, you know that common resolution to still fit in your clothes - time to get back on track, literally.

With the run taking place the last weekend in January, there was enough time to prep for the mileage - in this case, I opted for the 5K and not the 10-Miler, though my computer mouse hovered over "sign up" for the 10-Miler a few times.

Plus, a few friends were joining me for the race and so the 5K it was.

The race started at 7:30 am, and I'm all for early start times. The cooler, the better. But it was a while since I'd done a run so early and near the water, so it was awfully chilly. I kept my brown - OK, chocolate colored jacket on to find the bib pick up station. Wasn't quite the simplest task and I clocked in about a 1 mile walk just roaming around. I didn't mind since it was a nice warm up.

Queued up at the start, not a tank top in sight!

Once we got running, I found it a beautiful course, weaving through the Long Beach Marina with the Queen Mary and then rounding about home near the shopping mall.

After the finish line, we all got to enjoy hot chocolate and received a small box of Godiva chocolates - no doubt one of the biggest draws to the race. 

Doing the iconic pose - not like the medals were chocolate coins or anything