Click here for the Expo and 1-mile recap from the day before.
So the All-Day 20k is you get to run 4 5ks. I signed up originally because it sounded fun then once Stat Wars: Dark Side was announced, it was the perfect taper race for me. I also thought it would be a great race in working on pacing and patience and try and negative split.
I got up at 5:55 and got ready and forced myself to eat. I basically bounded as Ariel: I wore a Raw Thread Ariel bow shirt, Pro Compression socks, red sparkle athletic hat, sparkle skirt shorts and a tutu I wore for Ariel.
I was definitely full from the day before and just had half my bagel and banana. I grabbed coffee from the lobby and started the long 2 block walk to the start hehe. The all day 20k tent was 2 more blocks and I made it there quickly. I hopped in the long Porto line (5 stalls is not enough for 400 people) and finished eating and getting ready and then checked my bag before heading to the start.
A few things-regular 5k people didn't have bag check and the security was having to turn people away from our area which was not good. People were really upset and everyone was confused as there was a gear check tag on the bib!
Off to the start of the race!
So the All-Day 20k is you get to run 4 5ks. I signed up originally because it sounded fun then once Stat Wars: Dark Side was announced, it was the perfect taper race for me. I also thought it would be a great race in working on pacing and patience and try and negative split.
I got up at 5:55 and got ready and forced myself to eat. I basically bounded as Ariel: I wore a Raw Thread Ariel bow shirt, Pro Compression socks, red sparkle athletic hat, sparkle skirt shorts and a tutu I wore for Ariel.
I was definitely full from the day before and just had half my bagel and banana. I grabbed coffee from the lobby and started the long 2 block walk to the start hehe. The all day 20k tent was 2 more blocks and I made it there quickly. I hopped in the long Porto line (5 stalls is not enough for 400 people) and finished eating and getting ready and then checked my bag before heading to the start.
A few things-regular 5k people didn't have bag check and the security was having to turn people away from our area which was not good. People were really upset and everyone was confused as there was a gear check tag on the bib!
Off to the start of the race!
5k 1-Masters men (40+)
When we got in the corral, I soon realized this would be a bit of a mess. There was no regulation of bibs and really no way to know when to race. All of the 5k bibs were the same color and when you checked in, they didn't tell you much. So while I thought it would just be Masters Men and the 400 al day 20k, it was not. People of all ages including children were there. I knew I would have to be careful and not get boxed in or get in the way. The poor guy at the back was trying to remind people what race it was but it was super loud (we couldn't hear the national anthem start) and no one was paying attention anyway.
My plan was to use this first race as a warmup so I knew I wanted to start slow and see how it goes. I did no warm up, minus the walking around, which was dumb as my legs were tight when I started.
Every race followed the same path: down State St, took a left on Carlsbad Blvd for an out and back passed where we started and turned around to head to Carlsbad Village Blvd towards the finish.
The weather was crazy. It was foggy and humid (about 90%) and we would run for a bit and be in sun and then be in clouds. Finally at the end, clouds/fog seemed to have burned off.
I used 1:30/:30 and it was too much starting off so I decide just to walk more and take it easy. It was going to warm up quickly and I wanted to save energy. The run was just okay.
TIME: 35:05 (both watch and official!) in 3.16
SPLITS: 11:03/11:33/11:06/8:41 pace (final .16)
Afterwards we got pushed along to the finish and I grabbed a water and Gatorade made my way back to the All Day 20k area which was about 3 blocks. It was super easy to get back.
I guess I was dehydrated as I drank the whole bottle of water on the walk and half the Gatorade. The humidity hit me harder than I thought! I used the portopotty and had about 5 min to walk to the start again.
5k 2-Masters women (40+)
Race 2! We all ended up in the back with even more of a hodge podge of people, especially people that weren't Masters. I moved up as much as I could and waited for the start.
Well it was beyond a cluster. Basically some people walked, some ran, some were 5 across. Just a disaster. I tried my best to get through but didn't want to waste energy. Once we turned left, I stayed right and was able to maneuver pretty well.
This race was definitely more crowded than the first but I switched my interval to 1:30/:30 and settled in to a nice pace.
One good thing about running the same course over and over, you learn all the little things and definitely learn the elevation. You think for being called the fastest 5k in the world, it would be flat but it's not. It has these small rolling hills, you can't really notice them by looking but you do notice that your body is slowing and it made me feel like I was going crazy.
TIME: 32:56 (official-watch was 32:35 +20 sec from switching intervals) in 3.12
SPLITS: 11:00 + 20 sec/10:32/10:01/8:43 pace (final .12)
Back to the start I went with the smallest gap before the races. I drank more water, put on more sunscreen and went potty once more. The national anthem started and I had to jog to get to the start line. I snuck in towards the front to be paced better.
5k 3- 30-39
As we started many of the all day 20k people were still heading to the start. I decided to push the pace a bit on this one. It had a good amount of people but since i started towards the front, it opened up quicker.
One thing I haven't mentioned was the water stop. Right after the first turn around, about halfway, was a tiny water stop. They gave us bathroom cups of water. It would have been nice to have another one as it was humid.
TIME: 31:29
SPLITS: 9:49/10:16/10:11/8:01 pace (final .15 mile)
Headed back to the start, taking a fuel on the way with water, for of the last time!
5k 4- 29 and under
I put on more sunscreen, used the porto just incase, had a bit of water and gatorade and went back to the start. I made it as the National Anthem was wrapping up.
I decided to stick to my 1:15/:30 intervals and just run a bit more. I was with worried 1:30would leave me a bit tired.
I was going for a PR sub 28:08. I was sick of just missing PRs (which I have done the last 2 times I've had a time goal) so I wanted to do well. My goal was to finish around a 9 min/mile pace. As we started, it was definitely more humid and warmer than before but I figured with the fuel I took as soon as I finished the prior 5k, I would be good.
Basically, I kept steady while pushing the pace. I was tired but knew I could hold on. The hills were definitely more noticeable this time as I tried to keep to intervals.
As we turned the final corner I knew I would be close and kicked it into gear with all I had. I knew I would be over distance but decided to just kick.
And I missed! 28:11. UGH.
TIME: 28:11 in 3.15
SPLITS: 9:11/9:08/8:52/6:34 pace (final .15 mile)
Looking back I know I could have made up 4 seconds. I should have taken the ending closer than I did. I should have ran with a water bottle to not have to stop at all. I should have just set my interval to 1:30 and held on. I should have taken fuel in the middle. But what can I do now? Nothing. I was so mad though!
Since it was finally my age group, I got the 5k medal, stopped over to get my pint glass for doing the 1-miler the day before and got my 20k medal back at the tent.
I sat down for a second and did a baby wipe cleanse, took some pics, and took off my shoes before heading back to the hotel. I had snacks, showered,packed and rolled. I packed up the car, and headed back to the start to watch the Elites run which is just incredible. After I got coffee and started the long drive to Disneyland thanks to multiple accidents on the 5. I met up with the crew to do DCA Food and wine. By the time I left, I was tired and made it home, unpacked and passed out at 9:45.
Overall I loved Carlsbad. I had a great race getaway and really enjoyed the races. The 1-mile was awesome and the 5k was fun. I think the all day 20k was a great running experience. Would I do it again? Hell yeah!! Would I do it again next year? Probably not as I have the great race 10k that Saturday and I want to really be able to enjoy that race.
I think knowing how this race is-no information at the start, confused volunteers, no bib enforcement-I would be ready for it this time.
Did you run this weekend? When is the last time you raced a 5k?
When we got in the corral, I soon realized this would be a bit of a mess. There was no regulation of bibs and really no way to know when to race. All of the 5k bibs were the same color and when you checked in, they didn't tell you much. So while I thought it would just be Masters Men and the 400 al day 20k, it was not. People of all ages including children were there. I knew I would have to be careful and not get boxed in or get in the way. The poor guy at the back was trying to remind people what race it was but it was super loud (we couldn't hear the national anthem start) and no one was paying attention anyway.
My plan was to use this first race as a warmup so I knew I wanted to start slow and see how it goes. I did no warm up, minus the walking around, which was dumb as my legs were tight when I started.
Every race followed the same path: down State St, took a left on Carlsbad Blvd for an out and back passed where we started and turned around to head to Carlsbad Village Blvd towards the finish.
The weather was crazy. It was foggy and humid (about 90%) and we would run for a bit and be in sun and then be in clouds. Finally at the end, clouds/fog seemed to have burned off.
I used 1:30/:30 and it was too much starting off so I decide just to walk more and take it easy. It was going to warm up quickly and I wanted to save energy. The run was just okay.
TIME: 35:05 (both watch and official!) in 3.16
SPLITS: 11:03/11:33/11:06/8:41 pace (final .16)
Afterwards we got pushed along to the finish and I grabbed a water and Gatorade made my way back to the All Day 20k area which was about 3 blocks. It was super easy to get back.
I guess I was dehydrated as I drank the whole bottle of water on the walk and half the Gatorade. The humidity hit me harder than I thought! I used the portopotty and had about 5 min to walk to the start again.
5k 2-Masters women (40+)
Race 2! We all ended up in the back with even more of a hodge podge of people, especially people that weren't Masters. I moved up as much as I could and waited for the start.
Well it was beyond a cluster. Basically some people walked, some ran, some were 5 across. Just a disaster. I tried my best to get through but didn't want to waste energy. Once we turned left, I stayed right and was able to maneuver pretty well.
This race was definitely more crowded than the first but I switched my interval to 1:30/:30 and settled in to a nice pace.
One good thing about running the same course over and over, you learn all the little things and definitely learn the elevation. You think for being called the fastest 5k in the world, it would be flat but it's not. It has these small rolling hills, you can't really notice them by looking but you do notice that your body is slowing and it made me feel like I was going crazy.
TIME: 32:56 (official-watch was 32:35 +20 sec from switching intervals) in 3.12
SPLITS: 11:00 + 20 sec/10:32/10:01/8:43 pace (final .12)
Back to the start I went with the smallest gap before the races. I drank more water, put on more sunscreen and went potty once more. The national anthem started and I had to jog to get to the start line. I snuck in towards the front to be paced better.
5k 3- 30-39
As we started many of the all day 20k people were still heading to the start. I decided to push the pace a bit on this one. It had a good amount of people but since i started towards the front, it opened up quicker.
One thing I haven't mentioned was the water stop. Right after the first turn around, about halfway, was a tiny water stop. They gave us bathroom cups of water. It would have been nice to have another one as it was humid.
TIME: 31:29
SPLITS: 9:49/10:16/10:11/8:01 pace (final .15 mile)
Headed back to the start, taking a fuel on the way with water, for of the last time!
5k 4- 29 and under
I put on more sunscreen, used the porto just incase, had a bit of water and gatorade and went back to the start. I made it as the National Anthem was wrapping up.
I decided to stick to my 1:15/:30 intervals and just run a bit more. I was with worried 1:30would leave me a bit tired.
I was going for a PR sub 28:08. I was sick of just missing PRs (which I have done the last 2 times I've had a time goal) so I wanted to do well. My goal was to finish around a 9 min/mile pace. As we started, it was definitely more humid and warmer than before but I figured with the fuel I took as soon as I finished the prior 5k, I would be good.
Basically, I kept steady while pushing the pace. I was tired but knew I could hold on. The hills were definitely more noticeable this time as I tried to keep to intervals.
As we turned the final corner I knew I would be close and kicked it into gear with all I had. I knew I would be over distance but decided to just kick.
And I missed! 28:11. UGH.
TIME: 28:11 in 3.15
SPLITS: 9:11/9:08/8:52/6:34 pace (final .15 mile)
Looking back I know I could have made up 4 seconds. I should have taken the ending closer than I did. I should have ran with a water bottle to not have to stop at all. I should have just set my interval to 1:30 and held on. I should have taken fuel in the middle. But what can I do now? Nothing. I was so mad though!
Since it was finally my age group, I got the 5k medal, stopped over to get my pint glass for doing the 1-miler the day before and got my 20k medal back at the tent.
I sat down for a second and did a baby wipe cleanse, took some pics, and took off my shoes before heading back to the hotel. I had snacks, showered,packed and rolled. I packed up the car, and headed back to the start to watch the Elites run which is just incredible. After I got coffee and started the long drive to Disneyland thanks to multiple accidents on the 5. I met up with the crew to do DCA Food and wine. By the time I left, I was tired and made it home, unpacked and passed out at 9:45.
Overall I loved Carlsbad. I had a great race getaway and really enjoyed the races. The 1-mile was awesome and the 5k was fun. I think the all day 20k was a great running experience. Would I do it again? Hell yeah!! Would I do it again next year? Probably not as I have the great race 10k that Saturday and I want to really be able to enjoy that race.
I think knowing how this race is-no information at the start, confused volunteers, no bib enforcement-I would be ready for it this time.
Did you run this weekend? When is the last time you raced a 5k?
Full weekend haul: 3 medals (1-mile, 5k, and all day 20k) + pint glass!
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