BIB PICK-UP
It was so smooth. It was at the Stadium and even though the directions were a bit confusing, I figured it out in no time! I found my bib number, got my bib, shirt and bobblehead and was done in about 5 minutes. I also got out of the parking lot pretty easy too. Overall, one of the easiest bib pickups I have done
It was so smooth. It was at the Stadium and even though the directions were a bit confusing, I figured it out in no time! I found my bib number, got my bib, shirt and bobblehead and was done in about 5 minutes. I also got out of the parking lot pretty easy too. Overall, one of the easiest bib pickups I have done
all the goodies
flat Jules-it was so cloudy I did not need the hat
backside of Dodgers Stadium
RACE DAY
I went to bed about 11:00PMafter finishing all of my homework. My plan was wake up at 7:00, out of the door by 7:40 and to Dodger Stadium by 8:00 with a start time of 8:30.
The night before I prepped everything (my bag, my clothes, etc) as well as my morning food. I decided to fuel how I normally do for a run-carbs and fruit. I went with a gluten free blueberry waffle with peanut butter and raspberries. I also had pumpkin spice tea in the morning and a glass of water on the way as it has been very humid lately.
I left my house at 7:40ish and was parked at Dodger Stadium at 8:00. It gave me time to get ready and walk over and use the restroom and get to the corrals by 8:18. It was seriously so easy and stress free!
I hopped in the middle thinking I would be mid-pack. In all of the emails they sent it us it said to line up according to where you would finish. There were no signs so I just guessed where the 9:30 would be.
The MC was awesome. So much energy and so much fun and the national anthem singer was also great. Before I knew it, we were off!
Well that's where the problem started. People were all different speeds and walking and jogging and there were strollers. The start was a mad house! Not to mention it was slightly up hill so people were going slow already. I was very worried for my pace as I weaved around walkers and strollers. I knew this could be a time disaster and decided to do the best I could.
One thing of note, the beginning of the course was the start of the LA Marathon course so it was all very familiar which was nice. One other thing-the entire thing was in parking lots around dodger stadium which is pretty amazing. They don't make parking lots around stadiums like that anymore so I was impressed with that.
It took about a good kilometer for it to be clear enough to be able to just run but after that it cleared out nicely.
I was not sticking to my intervals mainly because after the first hill climb it was down hill for a long time! I really just went based off of how I felt. I want to say I went about 2:40-3:00 running and between :15-:45 sec walking but it wasn't consistent. I do know that I finally figured out how to get my watch to do intervals and pace at the same time which really helped me.
Before I knew it, we were at our water stop. There were volunteers and also Dodger legends! I got my water from a very old guy who people were happy to see (sorry-don't know my dodger history but I will try to find his name!)
Next thing I know, we are on a random trail-thank goodness I brought my sunglasses as it protected my eyes from the dust because it was a bit crazy. Here is also where the course opened up more. I never had to worry about someone being behind me when I wanted to walk and I just went based off of how I felt.
Around mile 2, I could tell I was sweating a lot and decided to take a margarita shot blok. I figured it would only make me feel better and I'm pretty convinced that is what made me do as well as I did.
Coming around the turn, I could see the people finishing and they were so crazy fast. It was very motivating to watch from a far.
This is the point where I started doing Math in my head and decided depending on elevation and how hard I could push, I could maybe go sub 30. No matter what I was going sub 32 and I came to peace with that.
We went up one final hill and I could see the end of the course and as I was descending the hill, my watch was almost at 3 miles with 2.5 min left. I COULD DO THIS! I went into overdrive and went as hard and fast as I could. I knew from speedwork I could do it and I pushed as hard as I could to the end!
I finished in 29:50! I can't believe how hard I pushed the whole race especially with the crowding. I'm still I shock. It was literally the fastest I had ever run in my life.
Also of note-my garmin said I ran 3.19. So my actually 5k was 29:08 which is just crazy. but it's also crazy how much weaving I did in the beginning.
During my 10k PR in June, I ran 1 or 2 miles below a 10 minute mile pace which was only the second time in my life I had done that (first time was elementary school). Every single one of my miles was sub 10-my garmin said I did 1 mile in 8:38!! I did the math for where I finished (I think it was 545 out of 3204) and I finished in the top 17%!! That is just so awesome!
This honestly motivates me to keep pushing and trying hard. I know my body is capable of fast times and I need to keep working hard and dreaming big.
A sub 30 to some people is no big deal but it is something I have dreamed of for a very long time and I honestly wasnt sure I would ever get there. Last year I was praying to get below 36 minutes and now here I am! I did it!
I will do another post about how I think I got there/what I did but for now let's focus on the race.
PROS
CONS
Overall, this race will become a new must do for me! It was super fun and I enjoyed myself. I'm even going to sign up for the Angels 5k next year because it's supposed to be similar.
I did not take any pictures while racing because honestly there was not much to see minus parking lot and it was very overcast (I could barely see the downtown skyline) but below is a picture that looks great and gives you an idea of how it all looked!
Have you ever done a run for a sports team before?
I went to bed about 11:00PMafter finishing all of my homework. My plan was wake up at 7:00, out of the door by 7:40 and to Dodger Stadium by 8:00 with a start time of 8:30.
The night before I prepped everything (my bag, my clothes, etc) as well as my morning food. I decided to fuel how I normally do for a run-carbs and fruit. I went with a gluten free blueberry waffle with peanut butter and raspberries. I also had pumpkin spice tea in the morning and a glass of water on the way as it has been very humid lately.
I left my house at 7:40ish and was parked at Dodger Stadium at 8:00. It gave me time to get ready and walk over and use the restroom and get to the corrals by 8:18. It was seriously so easy and stress free!
I hopped in the middle thinking I would be mid-pack. In all of the emails they sent it us it said to line up according to where you would finish. There were no signs so I just guessed where the 9:30 would be.
The MC was awesome. So much energy and so much fun and the national anthem singer was also great. Before I knew it, we were off!
Well that's where the problem started. People were all different speeds and walking and jogging and there were strollers. The start was a mad house! Not to mention it was slightly up hill so people were going slow already. I was very worried for my pace as I weaved around walkers and strollers. I knew this could be a time disaster and decided to do the best I could.
One thing of note, the beginning of the course was the start of the LA Marathon course so it was all very familiar which was nice. One other thing-the entire thing was in parking lots around dodger stadium which is pretty amazing. They don't make parking lots around stadiums like that anymore so I was impressed with that.
It took about a good kilometer for it to be clear enough to be able to just run but after that it cleared out nicely.
I was not sticking to my intervals mainly because after the first hill climb it was down hill for a long time! I really just went based off of how I felt. I want to say I went about 2:40-3:00 running and between :15-:45 sec walking but it wasn't consistent. I do know that I finally figured out how to get my watch to do intervals and pace at the same time which really helped me.
Before I knew it, we were at our water stop. There were volunteers and also Dodger legends! I got my water from a very old guy who people were happy to see (sorry-don't know my dodger history but I will try to find his name!)
Next thing I know, we are on a random trail-thank goodness I brought my sunglasses as it protected my eyes from the dust because it was a bit crazy. Here is also where the course opened up more. I never had to worry about someone being behind me when I wanted to walk and I just went based off of how I felt.
Around mile 2, I could tell I was sweating a lot and decided to take a margarita shot blok. I figured it would only make me feel better and I'm pretty convinced that is what made me do as well as I did.
Coming around the turn, I could see the people finishing and they were so crazy fast. It was very motivating to watch from a far.
This is the point where I started doing Math in my head and decided depending on elevation and how hard I could push, I could maybe go sub 30. No matter what I was going sub 32 and I came to peace with that.
We went up one final hill and I could see the end of the course and as I was descending the hill, my watch was almost at 3 miles with 2.5 min left. I COULD DO THIS! I went into overdrive and went as hard and fast as I could. I knew from speedwork I could do it and I pushed as hard as I could to the end!
I finished in 29:50! I can't believe how hard I pushed the whole race especially with the crowding. I'm still I shock. It was literally the fastest I had ever run in my life.
Also of note-my garmin said I ran 3.19. So my actually 5k was 29:08 which is just crazy. but it's also crazy how much weaving I did in the beginning.
During my 10k PR in June, I ran 1 or 2 miles below a 10 minute mile pace which was only the second time in my life I had done that (first time was elementary school). Every single one of my miles was sub 10-my garmin said I did 1 mile in 8:38!! I did the math for where I finished (I think it was 545 out of 3204) and I finished in the top 17%!! That is just so awesome!
This honestly motivates me to keep pushing and trying hard. I know my body is capable of fast times and I need to keep working hard and dreaming big.
A sub 30 to some people is no big deal but it is something I have dreamed of for a very long time and I honestly wasnt sure I would ever get there. Last year I was praying to get below 36 minutes and now here I am! I did it!
I will do another post about how I think I got there/what I did but for now let's focus on the race.
PROS
- free parking and so easy
- Very fun and well organized
- Great gifts-great tech shirt, bobble head, ticket voucher (which I forgot to use)
- Bananas, apples and water at the finish
- Beautiful medal
CONS
- PACE TIMES-they need signs or to ask for a proof of time. I know I could have done even better but more importantly, I'm just lucky I didn't get hurt! And strollers have to start from the back!
- I would have loved to know the elevation. More hilly than I thought it would be.
Overall, this race will become a new must do for me! It was super fun and I enjoyed myself. I'm even going to sign up for the Angels 5k next year because it's supposed to be similar.
I did not take any pictures while racing because honestly there was not much to see minus parking lot and it was very overcast (I could barely see the downtown skyline) but below is a picture that looks great and gives you an idea of how it all looked!
Have you ever done a run for a sports team before?
very overcast and cloudy
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