Run

Will Run for Food: Fit Foodie 5k Race Recap!

November 16, 2015 by Asia

Last weekend, I organized a Oiselle Volee meet up and ran an awesome race in San Diego – The Fit Foodie 5k! I went into the event with the goals of having FUN and meeting new people. Goals achieved! I also ran a ~24 minute 5k (which was pretty much on pace with my 2013 marathon time…LOL. How quickly things can change!)

I look slightly off course…it was crowded in the beginning!

Race eve, I went to the event VIP Cocktail Party where I met fellow bloggers and sponsors of the event. Oh yeah, I also had some pasta and red wine. Such a good athlete. 😉

Cocktail partyyyy

Pre-Race: Lexus was a main event sponsor so I selected the onsite vehicle for a meet up location before the race. I picked up my bib and timing chip the morning of and didn’t have to wait in line. So easy! The bathroom line was only a few minutes long which was another perk in the making of a very stress free morning. There was room for improvement with organized parking. We luckily got there early enough to secure a spot at the $15 lot but had to wait in line for at least 20 minutes to pay at the station. Others weren’t as lucky. My recommendation is to carpool and park somewhere downtown and walk/run to the event if you don’t want to pay convention center or hotel parking prices.

Quest mailed ambassadors some pretty awesome shades

There were plenty of booth vendors already serving complimentary food and bevs. My favorite spot was the free hot coffee and complimentary to-go mugs. Being a coffee addict, I thoroughly enjoyed this area post-race! (I resisted adding whipped cream to my coffee but was tempted because it looked fun.)

Lexus coffee station

The birds and I took a ton of selfies, watched the Quest group have a dance party and take the group through a warm-up, and took goofy pics at the photo booth, all within a span of 30 minutes before the race started at 8am.

Dance party

My arm is barely long enough for a 4 person selfie

The Course: Fast, scenic, and flat, the path takes you from the Embarcadero South parking lot south and then north along the harbor and grassy parks before returning south to finish at the same spot. If you really want to race this event, make sure to start in front. My teammate, Victoria, placed 3^rd in our age group and 4^th overall. You go girl! The rest of us started about 20 seconds back and got stuck in a bottleneck the first quarter mile. Strollers, walkers, and dogs are all allowed so plan accordingly. (Maybe next year I should run with a puppy!? Who wants to volunteer their puppy?)

Finish with a view of the Coronado Bridge

The Finisher’s Village: By far the BEST PART. I don’t know how many vendors there were onsite, but they all offered amazing treats! From green juices and granola, to pasta and tacos, this large spread replaced my typical post-race brunch. The girls and I spent a lot of time enjoying the free goodies and relaxing, soaking in the beautiful San Diego weather. We also bought the race tanks that display a rather accurate message of “Will Run For Food.” I’m OK with the fact that you don’t get a free race shirt and medal as part of signing up/finishing because the amount of free samples more than makes up for everything else.

Aveeno recharging station

Side note: I pretty much LOVE free samples so I made sure to wait in all the lines to grab coupons and snacks. I’m pretty sure I get this trait from my father, who got it from his father, and so on it goes.

Fabletics gave away lip balm and sunscreen duos, refreshing sport wipes, & cute totes

Mmmm pasta

I had to travel for work on Sunday; otherwise I would have attended the Sunday Sweat Session and Brunch! I was impressed by the comprehensive amount of activities the Fit Foodie series had in store for everyone, and next year I plan to take advantage of all of them!

Did I mention how great the event sponsors were? Here’s a snapshot of the goodies I got mailed to me before the race as well as some of what I picked up after the race. Snacks. For. Daysssss.

FREE STUFF, including a yoga mat from Wasa!

I will definitely do this race again and was so fortunate to have been selected as an ambassador for the Fit Foodie 5k this year! It felt so good to lace up my running shoes and participate.

P.S. How cute is the Oiselle Tracker Jacket?? I just purchased it and am in love.

Will you join me for the Fit Foodie 5k in San Diego next year?!

Fit Foodie 5k & a Special Discount Code!

November 1, 2015 by Asia

Hello November! It definitely doesn’t feel like it around here with temps still in the 80s…I adore San Diego, but can we please get a little fall weather?

Training run along the harbor near the race course

Training run at the Embarcadero. So hot!

In other news, I am running a 5k on Saturday! A 5k centered around FOOD! This year has been filled with shorter races and fun runs, and I can’t wait to add the Fit Foodie 5k to my list! The San Diego race features a scenic course downtown along the harbor very close to my home. (That gives it extra points in my book.)

In case you’re not familiar with it, Cooking Light & Health’s The Fit Foodie 5K Race Weekend is jam-packed with delicious bites and sips, cooking and fitness demonstrations, a Sunday morning sweat session aaaand a delicious brunch. Additionally, a percentage of ticket and merchandise sales benefit The American Diabetes Association, whose mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Does that sound amazing, or what? I’m also coordinating a meet-up with my Oiselle teammates, and I can’t wait to meet more of these birds in person!

Also, I am excited to be a part of the event as a Fit Foodie Ambassador & have gotten some pretty sweet stuff along the way. Thank you, sponsors! I love learning about new brands that promote an active lifestyle.

@roveliving keeps you hydrated on the go in these fancy bottles

Cookbook from American Diabetes Association. Delish!

Cookbook from American Diabetes Association has some delish recipes! #stopdiabetes

Pretty obsessed with nut butters of all kind & these looks like an easy way to get my peanut butter on! @betterbodyfoods

I pretty much ate the Quest protein chips immediately after taking this photo. @QuestNutrition

It’s not too late to sign up to run or run/walk your way to the finish line on 11/7 for delicious treats. Strollers are welcome. Pets are too. This is a very friendly race! Use promo code SDFITNESSDIVA for 50% off and register online by Wednesday to secure your spot and run, eat, and drink your way through the most delicious 5k ever. I hope you will join me!

If you can’t make it, I will be covering the event on my blog and social media platforms so be sure to check it out and think about signing up next year!

Have you run the Fit Foodie 5k yet?

My 2014 Boston Marathon Experience in Photos

April 19, 2015 by Asia

Hello Friends! Soooo I haven’t posted on here in a year. 1 year! Crazy. My life went in another direction and I unintentionally gave my blog some rest. With the 2015 Boston Marathon underway tomorrow, I thought it would be the perfect time to start up again and finish my 2014 Boston Marathon recap – in photos. Few things inspire me more than the Boston Marathon! (You can read about my race weekend leading up to the start of the Boston Marathon here.) April 21, 2014 was a day I will always remember, and my journey leading up to Boston also will not be forgotten. Getting a sub 3:35 marathon wasn’t easy, and I often look back at that accomplishment in awe and wonder when I’ll be ready to go for it again.

Boston ended up being my slowest yet most gratifying marathon, and I truly hope I will have the honor (and speed!) to return another year to run the world’s greatest road race. I went into my race with mixed goals of requalifying for Boston 2015 and simply soaking it all in and enjoying every moment. I ended up going with the latter and have no regrets.

Photo credit boston.com

(Yes, I even kissed a couple of girls in the famous Wellesley screaming tunnel! On the cheek if you must ask.)

Photo credit YouTube 2012 Boston Marathon – Wellesley College Scream Tunnel

To everyone out there running Boston tomorrow, ENJOY!! You are part of a small and fortunate community of runners with so much heart and passion for the sport. The energy out there will be contagious, and I will be cheering you on remotely from San Diego!

The bus ride to Hopkinton was effortless and so much fun!

Welcome to Athletes’ Village!!

Moments after entering Athletes’ Village. Rocking my throwaway track suit.

So. Many. People.

Pretending to be relaxed. Everyone else was doing it.

Making new friends on my way to the starting line

Making new friends IRL on my way to the starting line

The pros get to start first.

And we’re off! I did a lot of arm raising this race.

Let the 15k photo opp series begin

Woo I’m running the Boston Marathon!

Cheese!

iPhone photo of Team Hoyt! This is when I really started to slow down and take it all in.

A slightly flawed iPhone selfie while running!

Focus. This was probably on one of the many hills.

Clearly feeling tired at this moment

Just keep running. Just keep running.

Somewhere towards the end. Clearly tired, but ready to give out high-fives.

Ready to give out more high-fives. I did a LOT of smiling, cheering, arm raising, (kissing), and high-fiving that day

The many faces of Boston Marathon, somewhere around mile 24-25 I imagine…

I think all 3 of us are ready to be done right about now. Approaching mile 26!

Home stretch! Mile 26 waving to my family, ready to finish the race!

Home stretch! At mile 26 waving to my family, ready to finish the race! Definitely the highlight of my day!

I’m a Boston Marathon finisher!! (4:09 was my actual time)

Check it.

Cool poncho.

Some of my family that was there to support me!

Events that night included beer in Fenway Park…

…and pizza at Regina’s, of course!

Give me all the carbs!

That’s a wrap! Until next time, Boston! You will always be in my heart.

Highlights from Boston Marathon Race Weekend

May 5, 2014 by Asia

My bib!

It’s been 2 weeks since I ran my first Boston Marathon (sorry for the posting delay), and I’m still sooo sad it’s over! Boston was the most incredible race I’ve ever had the privilege to be a part of, and everything leading up to Boston felt really special. (The memory is right up there with finishing my first Ironman – both amazing events for different reasons!) I have so much I want to share, including things I learned completing my first Boston, so I’m going to break this up into a couple posts. First up, my race weekend recap with highlights and pics from the expo.

Boston marathon expo, looking official with my Runner Passport. (Apparently wearing it around your neck is the thing to do on race weekend.)

The Travel

Jeremy (fiance!) & I landed in Boston late Thursday night, met his mom at the airport, and took a taxi to my Nana’s house where we’d stay through the weekend. Each day, more people filled the house until it was my parents, his mom, my grandma, 2 of my aunts, 2 of my uncles, 5 of my cousins, Jeremy, and me. Full house! I had a tough time staying relaxed with all the company, but I was happy to have them there for support. Normally, we only have this kind of turnout at Christmas, and there’s usually even more of us! (No this is not a mansion…I enjoyed the mattress in the basement.) 🙂

I enjoyed homemade Italian meals all weekend long!

Friday we went to Market Basket for the essential supplies (coffee, oatmeal, bananas, coconut water.) Then, Jeremy accompanied me on my 45 min easy run with pickups to race pace along the Mystic River. It was cold!

A chilly run

Friday night, I did not sleep. I was up and down. Up and down. I seriously could NOT sleep. I think it was a combination of my nerves and the 3 hour time change…but mostly my nerves. I’m notorious for getting pre-race anxiety.

Tip #1: Get into Boston at least 3 days early to get settled, and West Coasters, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to adjust to the time difference!

I tried to follow my own advice from tip #1, but never felt “rested” going into Monday’s race. Saturday I woke up with intense back and shoulder pain. I thought I had a pinched nerve and started crying/freaking out. It hurt to sit, and it hurt to stand. I was terrified for the race. I didn’t want to start my 26.2 mile journey already in pain! My family came to my rescue with massage and icey hot, but we couldn’t get it to loosen up. Very nervous, I put on a smile and headed out to the expo. (P.S. I STILL have this pain when in a seated position, so I guess it’s time for a professional massage. I have no idea what I did to myself, but it doesn’t feel good.)

The Expo

Going to get my bib!

The Boston Marathon expo is 3 days (Friday-Sunday). I decided to sleep in on Friday and take care of shopping, running, relaxing and therefore hit up the expo on Saturday. In hindsight, I would have gone on Friday to get first dibs on the merch.

Jeremy, my Dad, my mom, Jeremy’s mom. Aka my Boston Marathon support crew!

Tip #2: Get to the expo as early as humanly possible. Go Friday if you want everything to be available in your size. Maybe even order the apparel early online, like the official jacket.

With 36,000 runners, I heard it was extremely crowded every day, and waiting until day 2 resulted in sold out merchandise. My official long-sleeved participant tech tee, for example, was no longer available in an XS when I arrived on Saturday. 🙁 I registered for an XS when I signed up, but apparently they were running big so everyone who registered for a Small decided to swap theirs for an XS at the “t-shirt exchange.” I’m not sure this is the right approach…you should know your size and stick to it. Going forward, I’m going to start getting to expos on day 1 because of this thing called a t-shirt exchange.

What do you mean they are out of XS?! Do I look like a Small to you??

Otherwise, the expo went off without a hitch, and there was some pretty cool stuff there. The race bag came with a 118th Boston Marathon bottle opener and a bracelet made of banners from the 2013 Boston Marathon! Everything was quite efficient, lines were short, and the volunteers were very friendly.

No line to pick up my bib!

Tip #3: The bib & t-shirt pickup is upstairs, completely separated from the rest of the expo, so you can get in and out easily. You don’t have to spend hours in expo merchandise land with swarms of people if that’s not your thing.

Once the packet pickup was done, we went downstairs to hoard the official Adidas race merchandise! But first, I needed to sign a wall. There were a lot of things to sign that weekend to document the 118th Boston Marathon.

Do you want my autograph?

Tip #4: Pick up a FREE poster as you enter the first floor of the expo. (It’s kind of hidden.) These are available in limited quantities, and they have every runner’s full name on them! Luckily someone else clued me in to this tip, so I got one!

Sadly, the XS Boston Marathon jacket was sold out. Why are runners so tiny?! Luckily, the Small fit just fine so I immediately snagged one. Once we realized that all the tiny people sizes were getting taken, we went on a mission to find anything in a XS or S. Grab now, decide later. Needless to say I found some great stuff, and my bank called me immediately after this transaction to verify my purchases. OOPS. Boston Marathon shopping spree accomplished! (Thanks Mom, Dad, Terri, and Jeremy for buying me things too!!)

Shopping Spree chaos

Shopping spreeeeee. Very short line to buy stuff.

I only had a couple of vendors I wanted to hit up (Vega and Oiselle) and was hoping we didn’t have to spend too much time in the expo madness so I could stay rested. I was wrong. The expo was big and crowded with narrow walkways. It’s in a huge convention center but didn’t feel spacious at all. How could it with 36,000 runners + vendors + families + friends?

Tip #5: If you’re staying outside the city, take the train in. It’s much quicker! Do not drive and then try to find $38 parking inside the convention center. We got very lucky to snag a spot after 15 minutes of bumper to bumper traffic in the parking garage.

I attempted to stay hydrated and took walking breaks whenever possible. I got a massage from the Stick guys and bought a targeted massage tool. (More expo money spent!) Next up was the Vega booth! I’m a Team Vega Community Ambassador, so I was verrrrry happy to find them there. I introduced myself and filled up on plant-based goodness. I completed my expo tour at the City Sports Center where Oiselle had merchandise. Unfortunately, I missed the autograph signing and I didn’t recognize anyone from Twitter verse by the time I got there. Moral of the story – get there early!

Hey I found Vega, and I really like making this face!

Hydrating.

Meeting Vega peeps

The most fun part of the day was taking pictures on Boylston Street at the finish line. I met “Captain Challenge”, a TCSD member from San Diego ironically enough, who was there on behalf of the Challenged Athletes Foundation. I tried to take sine mental snapshots of the area so I’d have something to visualize for 26 miles until I made the turn on Boylston for the final stretch. I also wanted to take more pictures!

The Boston Marathon finish line!

Yes!

My people

Captain Challenge

We went to Uno Pizza (for carbs) and Starbucks (for calming tea) and took a few more pics on our way home from the expo. There was Boston pride EVERYWHERE you looked. Seriously. Everywhere. Boston went all out for this race, and I couldn’t get enough of the blue and yellow (and orange for this year’s race jacket of course). This was unlike any other pre-race experience I’ve had, and it was very awesome having my family there by my side.

Starbucks on Boylston Street. Signing my bib #. Recognize any of these bib numbers of people you tracked?

Strike a pose

#LoveBoston

I slept much better Saturday night but still woke-up in pain on Sunday. I knew the ultimate test would be on my 30 minute shakeout run. Jeremy went with me (so glad to have him there!) and guess what? My back didn’t hurt while running! I was sooo happy. One of my race day worries out the window. I spent the rest of the day off my feet, preparing for Marathon Monday. Oh, and it was also Easter. Happy Easter! I wanted to have dinner with my family so I skipped the pasta party downtown and stayed in. The last thing I did before bed was try to channel some positive energy from my Eugene Marathon race recap (aka my best race of all time. I didn’t sleep a wink that night, so I jumped out of bed at 5am, not even needing all 3 iPhone alarms.

My iphone alarm clock. (It looks like I’m up past my bedtime…)

Race day ready!

Next up, my journey from Hopkinton to Boston!!

Does anyone else have problems with pre-race anxiety? Or an expo shopping problem? 😉

Boston Marathon – It’s the final countdown!

April 16, 2014 by Asia

From Sports Illustrated

Boston Marathon is just 5 DAYS AWAY! It’s the final countdownnnn! (Cue music.) I woke up like a giddy school girl and immediately checked the 5 day weather forecast in Boston. (It’s looking good!) I’ve received my Runner Passport, bib number (17397), wave assignment (Wave 2, Corral 9, 10:25am EST), read the Mile-By-Mile Guide to The Boston Marathon, and received all necessary information to make it to the starting line on April 21st. I am ready to run my heart out!

Reading up on all the deets after a long run

Physically…

My foot is doing sooo much better thanks to my new custom orthotics, so I’ve been able to get back to my regular training plan with Coach Beth. (YAY!) Sure things still popped up that have made my marathon training less than ideal, like business trips to Mexico & Chile, but it turns out I had very similar challenges last year with a bum foot and a busy schedule. (And I got to go to Mexico & Chile this year! Exciting, right?!) I went into my Training Peaks file and read my comments from March-April 2013 when I was training for Eugene Marathon, and it was like deja vu. “Experienced foot pain today.” “Struggled to hit my paces on this tempo run.” “Tired from all the travel.” “Felt great today!” “Ran 6 miles at my marathon goal pace and nailed them!” It was pretty encouraging to see how much my training fluctuated even during preparation for my fastest marathon to date. Life happens!

This training cycle, I’ve been sidelined for 5 weeks with an injury, run some great runs (6’52/mile pace on my 1,000s), and some not-so-great runs (8:30/mile pace on a failed “tempo” run), but that’s how marathon training goes. I’m coming to terms with the fact that it’s OK not to be fast alll the time. Consistency is something that I’m continuing to work on as a runner and I know it will come with time and practice. 3 years ago, I thought running a 9:00 min/mile was really fast, and today I think a 7:00 min/mile is fast. It’s all relative.

Long run shenanigans . Recovery fueled by Vega.

Long run shenanigans with Nicole.

Mentally…

I’m SO EXCITED I could puke, and my last month of training has been encouraging. There is nothing more gratifying than finishing a long run completely spent, knowing you gave it your all. Two weekends ago, I had a LR with Nicole that included 10 miles at marathon pace. (Ouch!) My target was 8-8:10 min/mile, but I only hit that a few miles. I was much slower uphill, and melted down the last 2 miles. Did I let it get to me? Nope. I was running my ass off, pushing as hard as I could on tired legs, and spending time with my BFF Nicole. Last weekend during my taper, I ran 11 miles, 3 of them at Marathon Pace, and NAILED THEM. Nicole was with me again, and it was the perfect last long run to send me off to Boston. Ups and downs!

When I start to visualize the race, or read articles about the Boston Marathon, I get emotional. Boston Marathon coverage is seriously everywhere you look, and I’ve been obsessed with reading articles, watching videos, and looking at pics. I’m a very anxious person in general, so before a race, I can really work myself up. I’m trying to stay calm, focused, and positive. I will probably cry happy tears before, during, or after the marathon, but I hope I can hold it together until I cross the finish line. This is going to be an emotional race for the city of Boston.

Over 10 of my family members are coming to support me, and we’re all staying at my Nana’s place in Boston. Family support means the world to me. I am seriously pumped! I wish I had a running buddy by my side, but I plan to make friends with strangers on race day. After all, we all have 1 very big thing in common. (We’re running BOSTON!)

My plan…

In a nutshell, I’m going to start off at 8:00 min/mile, hold on as long as I can, and see what happens. 🙂 While I typically run to get a personal best, I am here. At Boston. I’ve already achieved my goal of a Boston qualifying time, so technically the pressure is off to get that sub 3:35 BQ again. I want to find a balance between running my ass off and enjoying this historic race. Even if I’m in the pain cave or off my goal pace, I need to remember to open my eyes, look up away from my watch, and take it all in. Boston Marathon is a reward for all the training and hard work, and this year is going to be a year unlike any other. There has been a lot of build up and anticipation for the 2014 event, and I am honored and grateful to be a part of it.

I leave for Boston tomorrow, so tonight I will be putting the final tweaks on my marathon playlist and packing for the weekend ahead. 5 more days of taper and then it’s GO TIME!

Race ready manicure!

Competitor Magazine sums up race week beautifully: “…in the end, remember that surviving race week comes down to trusting your training. Running the race itself is just a reward for all the hard work you’ve put in since you decided to sign up for this event many months ago. Don’t let those deceiving doubts take away from the enjoyment of the experience. Develop a pre-race plan, stick to it and have the confidence that you’re ready to run your best on race day.”

What’s your biggest piece of advice for race week?

Boston Marathon Training Continues!

March 12, 2014 by Asia

Boston Marathon is 39 days away!!!!! When did that happen?

baa.org

The past 3.5 months of training have been quite nontraditional for me:

Approximately 80% of my runs have been verry slow using MAF heart rate training (Previously I always tried to get out of HR training bc I have a very high HR and I would easily become frustrated)
I haven’t gone farther than 13 miles on a long run (I probably would have gotten to 18-20 miles by now if it wasn’t for my foot…)
I had 2-3 training races planned, but only got in one 10k due to injury

Cardiff Kook 10k. 1 week into foot injury.

I was was running slowly using heart rate training, building my base, and working on consistency when I encountered a foot injury at the end of January. It took over 5 weeks of modified training with my coach and new custom orthotics to address it, but I’m finally on the mend and running consistently again! Those 5 weeks were frustrating because I always wanted to do MORE, and that’s when I was really supposed to start peaking for this race. I wanted my legs to be ridiculously sore and tired from my long runs, but I never made it past 2 hours, and while I was injured, part of those 2 hours was in the form of aqua jogging and ellipticalling. All running was done slowwwly, and there were no more hills or tempo runs. There was daily icing, elevation, a lot of ibuprofen, and ~~minor~~ temper tantrums. (I even tried to get extra foot rubs from Jeremy!) There was also a lot of spinning and cross training, so while I wasn’t running my typical 5 days/week, I was still training 6 days/week and getting stronger. My coach commended me for my positive attitude and dedication to recovery, but I started seeing my original goal (to break 3:30 at Boston) fly out the window. Where was my speed going to come from without my speed sessions!? How was I supposed to push it at the end of the marathon if I wasn’t running farther than a half marathon distance!? Coach Beth told me not to worry, and we’ll come up with a race plan that’s right for me in a few weeks once we get closer to race day.

I worked with a PT and had new custom orthotics made. I started running in them last week, and now my foot pain is nearly nonexistent! VICTORRRYYYYY! I did my first track workout of the season last night (4×1000), and was surprised to see the speed that was still there; I guess it was just in hibernation. I ran “5k effort” hard, by feel, without looking at my watch and noticed my splits got progressively faster (7:10 min/mile pace, 7:00, 6:52, 6:54.) That’s a good thing.

I’m putting both feet in a bucket of ice water after each run because I’m afraid I might hurt the right one again, or that my left foot might start hurting, even though it hasn’t caused me any issues this training cycle. Boston is 39 days away, and I need to make sure my feet stay happy and healthy until I cross the finish line. Therefore, I’m addicted to the ice and 7-Eleven is getting my money because of it. (Note to self: Get a fridge with an ice maker when I’m all grown up.) I’m also building up slowly just before the marathon taper. I won’t be cramming in a 3+ hour run anytime soon. Not worth the risk.

I am VERY excited to run my first Boston next month! Even though my training has been allll over the place for this marathon, I’m still optimistic that I can have a great race, no matter what the time, whether it be 3:29 or 3:59. I know it’s going to be memorable for many reasons, and I am very fortunate to have my family coming out to support me. They did the same thing when I did my first Ironman. They’re the best. I can’t wait to push my limits, and feel the energy at the spectator friendly, but very challenging, marathon course that is BOSTON!

Signing this last year at Eugene Marathon as a tribute to Boston 2013. We heart Boston.

At Eugene Marathon expo (April 2013), sending love to Boston after the tragedy. We heart Boston.

Have you ever trained for a full marathon with a nagging injury? How did you modify your workouts and/or race day goals?

Hill Training For Runners

February 19, 2014 by Asia

Guess what? I ran 3 miles this morning without any foot pain! Woo hoo! On the road to recovery and Boston Bound! Positive thoughts here today. 🙂 To celebrate, I wanted to share some of my favorite hill drills with you because hopefully I’ll be running them again soon. Honestly, I miss running hills! Hill training has been a decent part of my training plan this training cycle to make me stronger, and when I think of Boston, I think of “Heartbreak Hill” so this is a good mental training exercise for me as well. There is something so satisfying about finishing a hard hill workout.

Visiting Heartbreak Hill Running Company over Christmas vacation in Bostno

Visiting Heartbreak Hill Running Company over Christmas vacation in Boston! Of course I bought a t-shirt and then drove the hill.

No matter what race or distance you’re training for, running hills is a great way to change it up and become a well-rounded runner. There are also many benefits including stronger quads, hammys, glutes, calves, hip flexors, increased lung capacity, mental toughness…you get the picture. If you’re having a tough time deciding which hill workout to try, Competitor Group posted an informative article that can help you decide how to incorporate hills into your training plan. Just remember to keep good form and run tall! I have a tendency to collapse as I’m running…not good form. I need to work on that. My coach, Beth Gerdes, has given me a variety of hill workouts that are very sweaty and satisfying, and here are a few of them.

Short Hill Workout/”Sprints”
Duration: 1 hour
Type of hill needed: Very steep incline (7-10+%)
Workout: Easy 2-3 mile warm-up. Complete 10-12 x 30 second hill SPRINTS. Rest 1 to 2 minutes between each ascent with easy jogging. Complete your run with cool down miles up to 1 hr.

Long Hill Workout
Duration: 1:15
Type of hill needed: Challenging grade (pick your pain), and long. (San Diegans, I like to do this one up Torrey Pines – inside track at 8%! Outside is 5.5%.)
Workout: Easy 2-3 mile warm-up. Complete 5 x 5 minute hills with 2-3 minute recoveries (jog down hill). Effort level should be high, but HR should stay at 88% or below of max HR. Cool down easy jogging 20 minutes.

View from Torrey Pines during a gorgeous sunset. Almost makes the hills hurt less.

Treadmill Workout: “Gradual Incline Hills”
Duration: 1 hour
Type of hill needed: None. Just a treadmill! Perfect when you don’t have a hill nearby.
Workout: Easy 2 mile warmup (treadmill at .5% or 1% incline). Complete 3x 7-minute “hills” – beginning at 1% grade. Each minute, increase the grade by 1% until you run the last minute at 7%. Do not change speed! Rest 5 min between hills at the same speed, but incline is down to 0%. Cool down to 1 hour at incline .5% to 1%.
Note: This workout can be changed to outside if necessary: Run 3×7 minute hills of 3 to 5% grade or 2×11 minute hills

Driving towards the finish line of Boston Marathon! No more hills here. 🙂

What’s your favorite hill workout?

Time to get honest. Marathon training with a foot injury.

February 17, 2014 by Asia

~~I think~~ I have a foot injury. There. I said it. I started developing pain on the inside of my right foot above my arch on Saturday, January 25th. On Sunday January 26th I did a long run anyway, and didn’t mention a word about the gradually increasing foot pain that developed towards the end of my run. Then, on Monday morning January 27th I woke-up to a visible bruise on the spot of the pain. Shit. And this is how my foot injury developed.

See that bruise on the top of my foot there? Yeah. That.

I haven’t said a peep on here since Christmas. At first it was because I was so busy loving and living life! I didn’t make the time to sit down and blog about Boston Marathon training, working with a new coach, living life as a fiancée, or wedding planning. I still want to blog about all the joyous things in my life, but I’m going to save that for another day. Today, I’m ready to admit I have a problem. A foot problem.

Week 1: Denial. Inner monologue: Oh just a bruise from my new custom orthotics. I ran really hard and fast on Saturday, and I probably got a bruise from all the pressure I was putting on my orthotics which weren’t allowing my feet to collapse like they wanted to. A bruise is no big deal. At least it’s not a REAL injury like last year.

My coach told me to take 3 days off from running and then reassess because taking 3 days off is better than taking 3 weeks off…

Week 2: Worried…but I only skipped certain runs. I still did a 10k. I just ran through the pain the last half because it “wasn’t that bad”. Sound familiar? (I’m an idiot.)

Cardiff Kook 10k

Week 3: Panic. I finally decided to call it an injury and I’m not running until the pain goes away. I got my foot looked at by a professional, and have been rolling it on a frozen water bottle and popping pills to reduce the inflammation. I’m RICE’ing, spinning, ellipticalling, aqua jogging, strength training, massaging, stretching, and resting. I’m also stewing. Whyyyy is this happening to me, again?

Foot pain isn’t new to me. If I think back to my very first marathon in 2011, I remember experiencing foot pain a couple of weeks before the race. Luckily it wasn’t serious enough to keep me from the start and finish line. Then in 2012 when I was training for what turned out to be 1 full marathon, and 2 Ironmans, my foot pain got serious. Luckily I had a coach to keep me on track and I filled my time with other workouts and ART sessions. 2013 guess what? Foot pain resurfaced, but I still managed to train through it and PR at Eugene and achieve a Boston qualifying time, even though my coach cautioned me that I would probably hurt myself. Yep. I was in 1 million pieces once I crossed the finish line, bawling my eyes out, and I could barely walk for several days after that. (Whatever. I PR’d!!) Late 2013 I finally invested in pricey custom orthotics (thanks mom!) after much persuasion. In 2014, orthotics caused me to develop new foot pain. Different spot. Different foot. WTF? My feet hate me. (Long story short, my feet are hyper-mobile and kinda cray cray.)

So now what?

First of all, I’m updating my custom orthotics because those clearly aren’t working for me. I’m training without any orthotics in the meantime, and I can tell it’s making a difference. Definitely less of that “bruised” feeling.

Mentally, I’m going back and forth between optimism (I can still break 3:30 and PR at Boston! All this rest is good for me!) and severe pessimism (I’m not even going to be able to finish Boston because of severe foot pain at mile XX.) Physically, I have no idea if I’m doing enough to nurse my foot back to health (RICE, stopping running) while simultaneously trying to train for my first ever Boston Marathon which is now only a short 2 months away. Looking at the BIG picture, if I don’t PR, it won’t be the end of the world. If I can’t even make it to the starting line due to an injury, however, well that will be an entirely different story, so I’d prefer not to think about that.

If you’ve ever suffered an ongoing injury, I’m sure you can empathize with me right now. It feels like taking time off from running is the worst thing in the world. But when I start to get down, I try to fill my head with positive thoughts to put things into perspective. (I’m getting married this year! I already qualified for Boston, and I get to run it this year! Life is good!!)

Thanks for listening to me get honest and admit that I have a foot injury. Same story. Different year. Different foot. Training with a chronic injury is a real problem that so many runners face, even though I really wish it wasn’t. So what have I learned this time around?

Don’t push through the pain, no matter how insignificant you think it may be.

Back to my RICE, and hopefully, the road to recovery!

What do you do to keep yourself sane while sidelined from running due to an injury?

This dishes holder is actually much better served as an ice bucket

My next marathon is…

October 1, 2013 by Asia

…Boston 2014!! I am so incredibly happy and grateful that my qualifying time made the cut!

As a “squeaker” (an endearing term coined by Boston Qualifiers that beat their qualifying time by 5 minutes or less), I wasn’t sure I would make the cut this year since there was such high interest in the race after the bombings. (Boston Strong!) I was glued to the Facebook message boards for support and encouragement from fellow squeakers.

After months of patiently waiting, Boston Marathon announced on 9/25 that anyone who beat their qualifying time by 1:38 or more could run Boston 2014. I had to read that statement over and over again multiple times before celebrating. I beat my qualifying time by 2:37. It felt so surreal. Literally every second of my Eugene marathon race counted towards my entry. I didn’t realize that at the time. All along I trained to break the 3:35:00 official qualifying standard which was my #1 goal. Luckily, I had a great race and finished with a 3:32:23.

Finishing strong

In adding 9,000 additional spots for the 2014 Boston Marathon and expanding the field size to 36,000 runners, organizers had to draw a line in the sand somewhere, but my heart breaks for those that qualified for Boston and were unable to get in; I could have been one of them. I know so many awesome athletes worked their butts off to qualify by 1 second or more and didn’t get in. My only words of encouragement are to keep training, stay positive, and get to the starting line in 2015! Hopefully I’ll see you there as well…Why stop at 1 Boston?

That being said, it’s time to identify my goals and lay it all out there so I can start preparing mentally and physically. Trust me when I say that the last 5 months of “training” have been lackluster at best. I took a very necessary break, enjoying leisurely 3-5 miles runs with Nicole, weightlifting, and allowing my body to heal from 2 years of back to back Ironman and marathon training. I also gave my mind a break. I just lost some running fitness and speed on the way. In other words, I know marathon training is going to HURT!

Apparently this was developing while I was running...sorry I just had to share.

Blisters! Gross!

Ice baths, buckets, and kiddie pools are not out of the question.

That being said, my 2 goals for Boston 2014 are:

Break 3:30 (for a PR & a 2015 qualifying time)
Enjoy every moment of the race

It’s going to be tricky to find a way for those 2 goals to work together (pleasure & pain), but I believe I can achieve it. It will take disciplined training, peak fitness, a positive mindset, and a great race to get there.

I’ve heard different approaches on running your first Boston. Some have said to just go run it, take it all in, and enjoy the awe-inspiring experience. In other words, do not race it. Trevor, who coached me to an Ironman and a BQ, had a different point of view. He asked me if I really think I’ll be able to run “just to finish” with no goal time in mind….yeah, probably not. I’ve tried “running for fun” before, and it didn’t work out so well for me. What I really want deep down inside is to strive to achieve my personal best. That’s what makes me feel alive. I also want to make Boston proud and treat the race with the respect it deserves. So many incredible athletes have hit that pavement and run the legendary Heartbreak Hill, past the girls of Wellesley, and I am honored to be just one among them. I have family in Boston and surrounding areas, and I cannot wait to run where my dad grew up. So many things to train hard for and look forward to!

After that, I want to be able to race Boston again, the next time with Nicole by my side. I do not want to stop at 3:32:23. Who’s to say I can’t make that time a sub 3:25, or better? I am hardwired to think this way, and I am really curious to know what my limit is because I haven’t found it yet. 4:02, 3:49, 3:32, X:XX. What time does marathon #4 have in store for me? I am so ready to find out! Bring on the pain cave!

Eugene Marathon 2013

Surf City Marathon 2012

Rock n Roll Marathon 2011

Next up, to train with or without a coach? That is the looming question on my mind.

Whether you are running, spectating, or watching from afar, thank you for your support, and I will see you in Boston!!

America’s Finest City Half Marathon/Running for Fun

September 5, 2013 by Asia

Sooo a couple weeks ago I ran a half marathon. I used to think that half marathons were a BIG DEAL. I remember training for my first one, laying awake at night, worrying I wouldn’t make the distance. Now those days are long gone and I basically view the distance as a long run. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

I suppose I didn’t make a big deal of AFC since I didn’t go into it with a lofty goal of a PR. I wanted to get another half marathon under my belt and keep up my trend of signing up for this local race with Team WODS. (Last year I didn’t start the race due to a foot injury so at least I was injury free and able to run it this year!) Oh, and I wanted to run for FUN.

AFC 2011

It was also supposed to be a race to keep my training up over the summer…that didn’t exactly happen…It was the farthest I had run since my full marathon in April, and my speed work & tempo runs beforehand were nonexistent. My how time flies when you’re vegging out!

Leisurely trail runs w/ time for photo opps!

Jeremy dropped Mike, Nicole, and me off at the bus pickup at 5am, even though he couldn’t run this year due to an injury. I was happy I would have at least 1 person cheering me on up the hill at mile 12! I wasn’t nervous for this race, and I haven’t felt that way in a while. Again, I was going to run for FUN!

Pre-Race. Look at that view!

Nicole & I decided to start the race together but didn’t anticipate finishing together since we were running by effort (i.e. who wanted to hurt more), and we’ve never finished this race together the 3x we’ve tried. (One day we will!)

1:45? Not today!

This year was no different. We started off with the masses and struggled to break a 9 min/mile in the crowds, raced downhill too fast, and then drifted apart around mile 8.5 on the flats when we each admitted that we were tired of our pace and were just trying to keep up with the other one. Funny how that works!

Fake happiness around mile 7. I thought this was supposed to be fun?

It’s tough for me to justify hurting when I don’t have a particular goal in sight. I just may be too goal-oriented to “run for fun.” Fun to me equals reaching a new milestone or personal best, and I get frustrated with myself when I’m not prepared to do that! (I was definitely not prepared to do that at this race.)

Real happiness because I’m closer to finishing. This is fun.

After a long and slow 13.1 mile journey wondering why I put myself through this, I finished AFC in 1:55:32, much slower than my PR potential. While I’m not dwelling on it, it made me want to get back into training. I don’t like seeing my times going in the opposite direction! Who does?

Finishers waiting for FOOOOOD

My plan now is to see if I get into Boston Marathon 2014! (I am scheduled to register Sept 16 should space still permit!!) If I do, I will start marathon training. If I don’t, I will start marathon training. Moral of the story: I am ready to begin full marathon training again, and that is fun!

Thanks for listening,

Your Type A Running Buddy

What does running for fun mean to you?