running

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 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!!

Songs to RUN FAST to

June 23, 2013 by Asia

Music has always been a part of me. Long before running, I played the piano, was a dancer, and sang in choir. Now that running is my passion, I still like to incorporate my love for music and have learned that a good playlist can make all the difference during a long run or on race day. (I usually only listen w/ 1 earbud in so I can also be aware of my surroundings.)

Here’s a small sample from my “BQ RUN FAST!” playlist I listened to at Eugene marathon. Maybe you can find something new here you’d like to try. I’m always on the hunt for a good running song!

1. “Alive” by Krewella: Come on make me feel alive! Need I say more?

2. “Bombom” by Macklemore: Not your traditional running song. All instrumental, this beat builds from simple piano tunes to trumpets to a full band. I picture a marching band surrounding me as I cross the finish line.

3. “Til I Collapse” by Eminem: If Eminem doesn’t motivate you, I don’t know what will. Sometimes I just need to be yelled at.

4. “Come Fly with Me” by Frank Sinatra: This takes me to a happy place and makes me feel light as a feather.

5. “Carry On” by Fun: Calming yet motivational.

6. “Harlem Shake” by Baauer: This makes me laugh as I think of the YouTube videos, and the beat is awesome. I have it on my playlist twice because it can be a good distraction.

7. “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons: Rock is necessary to mix it up.

8. “Started from the Bottom” by Drake: Now I’m HERE!

9. “#thatPOWER” by Justin Bieber: Best. running. beat. ever. (You can make a little fun of me for this one.)

10. “Victory Lap” by Mackelmore: The title says it all, but let’s not forget about the fireworks sound effects and the crowd cheering in the background bringing you home!

What else should I add to my playlist?

New Month. New Goals. (Get me out of this training rut!)

June 2, 2013 by Asia

Bringing my tribike out for the first time in months. Giving it a good cleaning with new WD-40 Bike products.

Well hello, June! I love a good fresh start. Who doesn’t? I’m using the new month as an opportunity to refocus my training. Admittedly, I’ve been in a bit of a training rut since Eugene. I’ve heard of the post-Ironman blues and luckily didn’t experience them, but I had never heard of the “post-BQ blues”. I think they’re one and the same. You reach that amazing A-goal you’ve trained your face off for and reach this incredible highhhhh…and then wonder, what’s next? I’m a very goal-oriented person and have been training for a new milestone for 3 straight years, so I’m not surprised I feel this way. I just didn’t realize it would affect me so much. Those years looked a little something like this:

2010: P90X and Half Marathon

2011: 1st marathon, 1st triathlon, P90x again, Insanity, 2 Half Marathon PRs

2012: 2nd marathon (PR), 1st Half Ironman, 1st Ironman

2013: 3rd marathon (PR) / 1st BQ, ???

2014: 4th marathon (hopefully Boston!)

I don’t have any huge audacious goals pinned down yet, except to run Boston next year if I can get in! I’ll be running a full marathon again either way. I need to keep my fitness levels up in the meantime. I know I want to keep running because I love it and it makes me happy. I signed up for America’s Finest City Half Marathon (Aug) for a Team WODS reunion, and will probably throw another half in there, but that’s it so far. Is that enough? I have an interest in trail running. I’m curious about ultra-running (anything further than 26.2 miles). I don’t want to lose my speed and wouldn’t mind getting faster. I also want to cross train more often and work on my overall strength. This includes trying out new classes that I never had time for before. (Why not? See above training milestones 😉 )

My head has been spinning with all these ideas and it has resulted in paralysis. Even though I’m not technically getting coached by Trevor at the moment, I still call him my coach. So, I sent Coach Trevor a text yesterday telling him how I missed our workouts and was in a training rut, needing a new goal. He just replied with one word. CONSISTENCY. I hate it when he’s right.

I need to get consistent with my workouts again! I’m going to lay out some guidelines for June to help get me down this path of consistency because for me, it’s easier said than done. I spent the last month sleeping in, running 3-5 miles leisurely, and sleeping some more. (Hey that’s what marathon recovery is all about, right?! Then why do I feel so guilty for doing it?) I also was recovering from some minor injuries I gave myself ramping up my speed so quickly, but I think my new Super Feet inserts are doing their job now.

Enjoying spectating.

After all that, here are my goals for June in order to TRAIN WITH CONSISTENCY:

1) Run 3-4 days/week, including 1 long run

2) Cross train at least 2 days/week (swim, bike, new group workouts)

3) Try at least 2 new group workouts

I already took my first new group class today at Studio Barre in Carlsbad. They reached out to me on Twitter and are giving me some free classes, but more on that later! Let’s just say my legs were shaking uncontrollably in those demi-plies.

What do you do to avoid a training rut when you don’t have an upcoming A-race?

Mentally & Physically Prepping for Eugene Marathon

April 4, 2013 by Asia

T-minus 25 days until Eugene Marathon! How did THAT happen? Over the next few weeks, Nicole and I are #EatingCleanUntilEugene and I’m also trying to get extra rest since I can never seem to find enough hours in the day for that.

Here are my April goals to keep me on track until race day!

1. Sleep at least 8 hours each night.

2. Eat healthy to fuel my body with what it needs.

3. Avoid alcohol.

4. Don’t neglect ice, the foam roller, or stretching.

5. Think positive thoughts! (I WILL qualify for Boston! Pain is temporary! I am an Ironman! I can do this!)

I have been traveling and extra busy/stressed the past few weeks, so I’m considering this a reboot.

Jeremy & I bought a new Jeep last weekend and took an epic road trip!

Feeling “the hurt” during the last 10k of Surf City marathon in 2011. Ahhh memories.

How do you mentally and physically prepare for a BIG race?

My 2 Year Fitness Journey

February 4, 2013 by Asia

When I started this blog on Feb 2, 2011, I said “I never want to stop training!” Two years later, I still haven’t stopped. It is my 2 year blog anniversary (happy blogiversary to me!) so I’ve reflected on my posts and included some of my favorite training milestones from the past 2 years. Browse the titles and pictures, or click on a link for a deeper dive into my fitness journey. I’ve come a loooooong way. Thanks for coming with me!

“My 18 Week Fitness Journey” (My very first blog post!)

One day, I basically woke up and went from 0 to 60. I wasn’t always a workout freak, and I HATED my first half marathon (November 2008). I came back around in 2010 when I trained for and completed my second half marathon and found a new love for running…and P90X…and many other things! The possibilities are endless when you shift your mindset.

Day Zero (Aug 2010)

P90X Results

Jeremy and I did P90X together two different times, and saw fantastic results both times. I have never been more muscular than when I did P90X. I could do 50 push-ups and 7 pull-ups. What?! Beast mode.

P90X Masters!

I’m a marathon finisher!

Nicole and I crossed the finish line of Rock n Roll marathon together in 4:01:59. It was a great experience, but I always knew I’d do another one to prove (to myself) I could break 4 hours.

About to get on Highway 163

Celebrating our Finishi with Meb - The Half Marathon Champion

Celebrating our Finish with Meb (June 2011)

Beginner’s Triathlon (My first triathlon EVER!) and My First Sprint Triathlon

The pictures of me from my first practice triathlon are pretty hilarious. I didn’t own any of my own gear, and had barely just learned how to swim and bike again. I couldn’t even swim the 300m without a combination of floating, breastroke, backstroke, and finally, freestyle.

Slowly getting off the Bike

Before my First Sprint Triathlon (July 2011)

Insanity Results & My Half Marathon PR (1:51)

Insanity is one of my favorite at home fitness programs because it doesn’t require any equipment so you can take it with you anywhere. It also got me the closest to a six-pack and crush my half marathon PR!

Insanity “After” & “After” AFC Half Marathon! (Aug 2011)

Surf City Marathon Race Report – a big PR of 3:49!

Nicole and I set the bar for our second marathon at sub 3:50…not sub 4 hours as previously mentioned…and we did it!!

So nervous! (Feb 2012)

My current marathon PR is 3:49, and I need to go sub 3:35.

Mile 10

My First Half Ironman! Oceanside 70.3

I almost cried before we started; I was still so scared of the swim and the bike!

Body Marking

A moment of pure joy (March 2012)

Almost an Ironman: Ironman Coeur d’Alene Race Report

I will never forget my first Ironman attempt and DNF. I learned a lot about myself that day.

At least I conquered the swim! (June 2012)

Ironman Cozumel Race Reports: Swim, Bike, Run

I will also never forget the day that I became an IRONMAN!!! Never give up.

Ironman FINISHER!!! (Nov 2012)

I can’t wait to see what the next year brings!

What’s your biggest fitness milestone?

Insanity Results!

December 1, 2011 by Asia

I’m excited to finally share my Insanity results with you! I completed Insanity for the first time earlier this year, and now I’m doing the workouts sporadically throughout my triathlon and marathon training to stay strong. I did the 60 day Insanity program after completing P90X (for a second time) and after finishing my first full marathon. I also did Insanity while training for a half marathon…so I had to modify the plan a bit. (You’re supposed to workout 6 days/week, and I did Insanity 3-4 days/week, and you’re supposed to take the fit test on days 1, 15, 36, 50 and 63, but I only did it 3x.) Keeping all that in mind, here are highlights of my results!!

May 2011: Sometime Before Insanity & After P90X

: 6/20 Fit Test #1

1. Switch Kicks: 60 single (120 double)
2. Power Jacks: 62
3. Power Knees: 97
4. Power Jumps: 46
5. Globe Jumps: 11
6. Suicide Jumps: 29
7. Push-up Jacks: 30
8. Low Plank Oblique: 31 single (62 double)

7/5 Fit Test #2
1. 70 (140)
2. 60
3. 109
4. 48
5. 11
6. 20
7. 25
8. 32 (64)

8/29 Fit Test #3
1. 65 (130)
2. 68
3. 119
4. 60
5. 13
6. 23
7. 35
8. 45 (90)

: August 2011: After Insanity & After Finishing the AFC Half Marathon!

Other Insanity results highlights:

– Personal Record on the same half marathon 1 year later! I went from 2:14 to 1:51!

– Very toned abs – Close to a six-pack!

– I lost 3 pounds!

Overall, I think I prefer Insanity over P90X. Don’t get me wrong. They are both AMAZING at home fitness programs that both gave me great results, but I think the cardio girl in me can relate more to Shaun T’s workouts than to Tony Horton’s. Plus, it’s so easy to pop in the DVD and workout for only 35-60 minutes with no equipment. There’s hardly an excuse not to do it. I still love the unmatched strength training from P90X, so I will probably mix both programs in my next round of marathon and triathlon training!

Is Insanity right for you too? I highly recommend it! Feel free to contact me with any questions or to share your results with me too.

Sept 2011 - Sometime after Insanity

I’m a Marathon Finisher!!

June 8, 2011 by Asia

Rock n Roll San Diego Start Line (Competitor Group photo)

I DID IT! I’m a marathon finisher! It’s hard to find the exact words to describe how happy I felt when crossing that finish line, but let me try to capture the moment and take you on a journey of my first 26.2…Read on for my story and results!

3:30am – My alarm went off. After a night of tossing and turning, I couldn’t believe the time had finally come. I was feeling sleepy and very anxious at the same time.

4:40am – Jeremy and I got in my car and headed to the marathon. Luckily he drove because we immediately hit traffic, and I started freaking out! After about 20 minutes of grid lock traffic on the 5 South (never go that way from Pacific Beach), we turned around and took a nice shortcut through some local roads. Much quicker!

Pre 5am Marathon Traffic

5:20am – Parked in VIP parking right next to the start. (Thank you, Mike, for the VIP hook up!) Made a quick porta-potty stop (VIP lines are much shorter) and headed to meet up with our running group (Vavi) for a group pic. Notice how sunny it already is in the picture below, and it’s barely 5:45. We didn’t get spared on race day. The sun was out the entire time which added an additional challenge to the marathon. (Like we needed another challenge!)

Vavi Running Group Before the Marathon

6:00am – Gear check and final porta-potty pit stop. National anthem. I didn’t take off my hat, but I had my hand over my heart, and was trying to take deep breaths to stay calm. All I kept think was that this was REALLY HAPPENING. Final group shot before we split up into two separate corrals.

My Running Buddies!

6:15am – Official race start! Corral 1 (the elites) was off and running. I kissed Jeremy goodbye and saw him off to his corral (5). Then, my 4 running buddies and I waited to jump into our corral (10 – but we somehow ended up in 9). There were at least 42 corrals with about 26,571 total participants!

Back of Corral 9 - Walking to the Official Start Line

6:21am – I’m off and running! I quickly poured a salt pack on my tongue and jumped into the back of corral 9 with my 4 running girls. Next thing I know, I’m crossing the start line! I was off to a somewhat shaky start. Honestly, I felt very overwhelmed, and I didn’t even notice our guests at the starting line – Ali and Roberto from the Bachelorette! After a couple of minutes, I thought I was having trouble breathing and I felt all the blood rush to my head. I momentarily felt light-headed but told myself to calm down. I knew it was just nerves! I started chatting with Jen and told her I was kind of freaking out. I was on the verge of a panic attack. Talking to her about the course kept my mind busy and my anxiety went away. I was feeling really steady after the 5k split.

Miles 3-8 – Nice and easy run through downtown San Diego. My friend snapped a pick of me at the aid station around mile 7. I didn’t even see him. Sorry, Alex! Guess I was really paying attention to my hydration!

Grabbing water after mile 7

Miles 8-11.5 – Running got slightly tougher on the 163 Freeway. There was about 2 miles of steady uphill (very low incline) but the road is not even. It’s quite slanted, and this surfaced my foot pain. The top of my right foot started hurting which worried me a little bit, but it definitely didn’t slow me down. Pain is temporary. Pride is forever. My inner mantra begins.

About to get on Highway 163

Miles 11.5-15 – I am feeling pumped! I charged up the freeway off-ramp hill and past hundreds of cheering fans onto Friars Road. I felt great, and hitting the halfway mark – a HALF marathon – almost felt, dare I say it, “easy.” Every time we passed large crowds of cheering fans, I’d get emotional and feel a great sense of pride an accomplishment. I think the endorphins were getting to me! Those feelings definitely kept me running. The pic below shows me sometime after the halfway mark. The runners on the far right side of the pic on the other side of the cone are the half marathoners. Part of the course only kept the full and half marathoners apart by cones. At times it was a little confusing, especially when you’ve been running for so long and are far into the zone.

Mile 13-14

Miles 16-19 – It’s getting much harder. We passed 1 of our group of 5 girls and unfortunately left her behind. She wasn’t feeling too great, but we knew she’d finish not too far behind us. We never did catch up to Jen. I grabbed a watermelon slice from a young boy standing on the street with his family handing out fresh fruit. I couldn’t eat the entire slice, but it kept me distracted for about 1 minute.

Miles 20 – 21 – I spotted a group of friends at mile 20 and their cheering gave me a significant boost! It felt great to have support on the course, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Our pace picked up to a sub 9 minute/mile …

Mile 22-23.5 – …until the aid station around mile 22. The 3 of us walked through it slower than we had gone through any other aid station. We started running again, but apparently our pace slowed to 9+ minute miles again. I was just happy to keep moving at that point, and since we were still passing a lot of people, it didn’t feel like we had slowed down that much. This was the hardest part of the marathon for me. I think I hit a “mini wall.” I was able to joke through it and try to make light of it by saying things like “What would you be tweeting right now? I’d say I’m breaking through the wall!” and “It could be worse. We could be running this marathon at the end of an Ironman!”

Allison was our cheerleader. She was feeling stronger than me, but she stayed with Nicole and me, encouraging us every step of the way. Every stride hurt my hips, but there was glory in pushing through that pain. I kept repeating my mantra “Pain is temporary. Pride is forever.” I had to say it a lot to keep me going.

Around mile 22 or 23, Running Skirts was handing out Otter Pops. The cold felt good on my fingers, lips, and throat since it was definitely heating up outside (and inside my body!), but I wasn’t able to finish it. I was nauseous at this point, but again, I definitely appreciated the thought of the Otter Pops, and it helped keep me going. The group was excited to see me in my Running Skirt and snapped a couple of pics of my outfit.

Otter Pops!

Miles 23.5 – 25.5 – The dreaded Fiesta Island. I was counting down each mile at this point. Less than 3 miles to go. I can DO this. As we approached the entry point of the 2 mile desert-like loop, a man was shouting words of advice and encouragement over a mega phone. “Don’t forget to relax your shoulders!” Good point. I made sure to shake my arms out as we entered Fiesta Island, the San Diego Rock n Roll course nightmare. All you want to do is run off the course and jump into the water. It is hot, there are hardly any spectators, and there is no shade in sight.

Ariel View of Fiesta Island

Miles 25.6 – 26.2 – The final stretch! We were finally off Fiesta Island and I pushed with every ounce of energy I had left to have a strong finish. I’m not sure how fast we were running, but I felt like I couldn’t keep the pace up much longer. I relied on the power of the massive cheering crowd to carry me to the finish line. Just before we crossed, Allison, Nicole, and I grabbed hands. We raised them as we crossed the finish line together. Teary-eyed, we all hugged after the we were on the other side. It felt amazing. WE DID IT!! I can’t wait to do it again!

Celebrating our Finish with Meb - A true champion!

My Results
Pace: 9:14 5km: 29:06 10k: 57:24 Half: 2:00:40 20 miles: 3:04:21 26.2 miles: 4:01:59
My Division: 146 out of 1,029!
Females: 541 out of 4,012!
Overall: 1,767 out of 8,267!

Map of the course: SD_11_Course-Map_05-12-11_vweb
Official Race Pics and Video of My Finish: http://www.asiorders.com/go.asp?101669184

Marathon: 2 Days Away and Counting!

June 3, 2011 by Asia

After work I’m headed to the San Diego Rock n Roll marathon expo and then to my running group’s pasta dinner! So excited! Tip – Try to go to the marathon expo TODAY to avoid even larger crowds tomorrow. There will be a Padres game tonight and tomorrow afternoon, so either way, plan your travel time accordingly. You will probably be sitting in traffic and have a hard time parking, so try to get there at least 2 hours before game time.

What do you think of my race day outfit? I wanted something feminine and colorful, and I think this does the trick. Just wanted to share a quick post to get some of my pre-race jitters out. Back to carbo-loading!

Marathon Outfit

5 Days Until My First 26.2!

May 31, 2011 by Asia

The San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon is only 5 days away! I am so excited, nervous, and ready for it to be here. This will be my first full marathon, and I can’t wait to experience crossing that finish line 26.2 miles later.

What am I doing to prepare for the race? Tapering, carbo-loading, and resting (mentally and physically). Some of these items are easier said than done. Resting, for example, is not a normal state for me. I am very Type A and always on the go or doing something. On top of that, I am a very anxious person in general, so getting my mind to turn off for a bit can be challenging. Still, it’s important to get rest leading up to race day because most of us won’t get much sleep the night before. (I’m pretty sure we need to leave by 430am!) Carbo-loading might sound easy, and trust me, I love carbs as much as the next girl, but our running coach just told us that 75% of our calories should be from carbs! I eat roughly 1,800 calories/day, and generally 600 of those calories (1/3) are carbs…I guess I need to find ways to more than double my normal carb intake this week! I’m already eating them 3 meals/day, but I guess I need to get a little more creative. In other words, it’s time to prepare myself for weight gain, which is apparently a good thing leading up to a marathon.

: Unnecessary Carbo-Loading

A little more on tapering, courtesy of my running coach, Blake, from Vavi Running club.

. Decrease mileage & intensity to rest & repair the body.

. Rest your mind to prepare for the long haul.

. Keep frequency of workouts the same.

. Increase carbohydrate intake to load fuel stores.

I feel like the tapering plan for my most recent half marathon went really well, so for the full, I’m going to continue to follow my running coach’s advice and taper, rest, and carbo-load!

Running buddies after we all PR'd at La Jolla half marathon