Pile on the Miles 2015

My goal for RunEatRepeat's Pile on the Miles challenge was 36 miles. I figured I should at least be able to keep up 3 miles 3 times a week for a total of 9 miles a week.  I totally surprised myself and did a total of 40.5 miles! Pretty good since last year around this time I was sick. This challenge kept me in check with my running and made me challenge myself with longer runs. I would never really run over 4 miles unless I really needed to, but now longer runs are not as daunting. I can't wait to do this next year.

Pile on the Miles 2015

I'm participating in Run Eat Repeat's "Pile on the Miles" challenge again. I forget which year I participated. I didn't see a post about it on my Instagram so it might have been in 2013. If it wasn't on Instagram then it probably didn't happen. Hahaha! Though I probably signed up but never met my goal. This year I'm keeping it simple. 36 miles is my goal which averages to 9 miles a week. If I can't keep that up I may have to reevaluate if running is really my thing. Hahaha. After the coyote incident my other goal is to do more cross trainer, circuits, hiits, & anything to improve my running so I'm not running at turtle speed if I ever encounter another coyote. 

Halloween Run

 

That was my face happy to be done with my run. I figured why not run on Halloween plus I had a pumpkin shirt to wear. I was running a different route this time. Less than a mile into my run, I head one way and realize that there's a coyote running around. It wasn't heading towards me, but it was pretty close. I've heard of coyotes running around my neighborhood, but at night. I didn't think it would be walking around in broad daylight. That was my cue to head home. I ran as fast as my little legs could. I hope the coyote didn't get hurt itself or hurt anything because there was lots of people walking their dogs out that morning. Not sure why coyotes are running around the burbs'. Well this is a wake up call to do more cross training and tempo runs. Glad I finished my 2 miles for the Tone It Up #100forcharity. Now I'm just not sure if I'm going to be running outside anymore. I may go back to running at the gym.

Rock N Roll LA 2015 5K Recap

I was excited to run the Rock N Roll 5K again. Last year was my first year & I couldn't wait to do this years. Instead of driving like last year my friend and I took the metro which was easier. There was a lot of people also who took the metro. We got to the race around 6:30 and the race started at 7am. I was suppose to be in corral 2, but I stayed back with my friend in corral 7. Nothing much to say about the course since it was just a 5K. For some reason after 2 miles I started feeling a slight pain in my right side. I was like is this a joke. I have never had any pain around my abs/stomach area while running. I actually contemplated walking for a bit. Glad I didn't though. It wasn't really anything and then I was able to finish in 30:32. I think last year was about 31:00. Just like last year the my Nike+ said the course was 3.21 which is fine. More miles for me to log. Overall I love this race. Seeing all the people getting into it and dressing up. Maybe for next year I'll think about doing the half marathon. I've been having a hard time wrapping my head around doing any half marathon. I think because a 10K is just 3 more miles than a 5K, but a half is like doing two 10Ks back to back. I think one of these days I just need to stop thinking about it and just sign-up for one.

Rock N Roll 5K LA

So excited for the Rock N Roll LA 5K I'm doing tomorrow. This was the costume/outfit I was going to wear last year, but the Jeremy Lin shirt didn't come in time & now he's not on the Lakers anymore. I accidentally put myself into corral 2. Some how I thought I'd be able to run the race in under 30 minutes. We'll see. I'm probably just going to start with my friend in corral 7. It's just exciting to see how many people this race brings out. Last year there was over 30,000. 

TIU #100ForCharity

Before my birthday I week Tone it Up posted their #100ForChairty. They other years I've always wanted to participate, but either I found out too late or got sick. Just my luck during my birthday week my body decided to get allergies. 

Well after 2 weeks I was able to get back to the gym today. I thought it would be hard to run since I didn't workout really for 2 weeks, but I was surprised to pull off over 3 miles today. Through the app Charity Miles, I'm running for WWF. I was thinking if I could reach 100 miles before winter then I would donate some of my own money to the American Heart Association and the Lung Cancer Foundation of America in honor of my grandfathers. I wish the Charity Miles app was connected/associated with the Nike+ Running app. It would be great to be able to log my Nike+ miles too. If I was averaging 3 miles each run I would need 30 days to complete the 100 miles. Hopefully I can bump up my mileage a start running more longer runs so I can reach the 100 miles faster. 

July Running

Finally I was consistent with my running last week. I was reviewing my Nike+ App and found out that March I ran pretty consistently, but after March that's another story. I guess it would help if I bothered to look at the little tally of how many miles I've ran that month. I never really noticed that was there until now. This is actually motivating me to run more next month. My main goal is just to keep up the running consistent and enjoying my runs. The miles don't really matter to me as much as keeping it consistent. There were some months where my running was on and off. When I don't keep the running consistent getting back into running becomes a struggle. When my running starts struggle that's when I start to question and doubt my running abilities. Well last week was good and this week wasn't that great, but started I August off with a an interval run. This was my first time using the Runtastic Pro app. I like how it has features like interval runs, but I guess since my GPS was off it didn't record any of my miles. 

Nike Womens 10K Taipei, Taiwan

This is a late post of the Nike Women's 10K. Since the day I signed up I was super excited to be running my first Nike Women's race. I was so amazed at the amount of people running the 10K and the half marathon. The shear excitement of running a race where my parents was born helped me run this race. My training before the race was on and off. It wasn't the best, but going to run clubs helped me keep my running consistent. I was also able to make to Nike Run Club Taipei and was able to do some speed training. There was quite a few people at Nike Run Club, but not same as run club back in the states. I feel like run club in the states can rake in a ton of people some nights. Few days before the race my mom was trying to arrange a cab to come and pick us up at 4am, but I guess taxis don't really run around that time, unless your going to the airport which is far basically more money. Thank god for my dad's best friend from college. He volunteered to bring my mom and I to the starting line. I arrived at the starting line area around 5am since I didn't need to check anything in. The 10K didn't start until 6am. They had warm-up activities for each race. Stretching & a bit of Zumba. The race started at 6am and we started running. A few minutes into running I started to feel a bit of cramping in my stomach. Since it was the beginning I didn't want to stop, plus it wasn't that bad. After a few more minutes of running it went away. It was fun running the streets & freeways of Taiwan. Since there was over 9,000 people running the 10K running was sort of packed, but it was easy to weave around the slow runners if necessary. When we were crossing this bridge/freeway there was an local high school orchestra playing classical music. That I've never seen at a race so it was different and unique. When I was nearing the end of the race I had one of those "when is this going to end" moments, because every corner I turned I thought it was the end. When ran through the finish line I got a bit emotional because so happy that I was able to run in the country where my ancestors was from. After finishing I was greeted with a single rose and the finishers necklace. It obviously wasn't Tiffany's, but I still loved it. Seeing how many people ran the half marathon it is something I may consider doing one day. I never knew Taiwanese people were that into running. I've always had this misconception that Taiwanese people in general didn't like to workout. Especially the women since they were always super skinny and pale. Well now I know that they probably run to stay skinny. I can't wait to get back home to run club. Going to run club here is literally a trek with the metro system.

Nike Womens 10K Taiwan

About 11-10 days till the Nike Women's race in Taipei. I say "about" since technically Taiwan is a day ahead. This will be my 2nd 10k I've ever done and my first race abroad. I'm hoping I can get in a run or two before the race so I get used the weather & environment. Supposedly the weather should be still on the cold side, which I don't mind. Rather that it be hot and humid. Though normally in April Taiwan starts to warm up. I think global warming is bringing this cold air from the north. Interesting just like California, Taiwan is going through its own drought. I haven't gotten any recent email about the race so everything must be a go or there isn't major changes to the race if there is any. I do need to have my mom reread the rules I printed out that's written in Chinese. I wished they had a English version so it would be easier for me to figure out the details. Once a week of Chinese school wasn't much help. LOL. There was something about not being be allowed to get water from non designated water stations. I guess they are afraid of family members maybe handing a runner a Red Bull or something. I don't even know if wearing a tutu is even allowed, so I'm still debating if I should bother bringing it with me. On the Nike Taiwan Facebook page I was able to find the jewelry they will be giving out. I'd be surprised if it was Tiffany's, but either way I still love it. Training wise I've still been consistently running, but wished I had done some long runs. Main thing about my running is that I still love it. I've read articles where people end up hating running or stop running after training for big races and I would never want to get to that point.

Coaster Run 5K 2015

This is my 3rd Coaster Run 5k. Just like every year it's held at Knotts Berry Farm. Still my favorite race out of all the races I've ever done. Mostly because no other race can you get a Snoopy medal. If I could only do one race a year it would have to be this one. I didn't PR, but that wasn't really my goal with this one. Not sure if it's just me, but this race I found hard to really run without weaving around people. Apparently walkers got mixed in with runners. This year the Knotts Buffet brunch didn't land the same day as the race which was a bit of a bummer, but a good opportunity to try out Black Bear Diner in Buena Park.  I can't wait to do this race next year. Maybe I'll be doing the 10K.

2014 Race Recap

 

Super late post about my 2014 races. 2014 was a great year for running races. I went a bit overboard with the different 5Ks I decided to run, but it was all worth it. My favorite race is always the Coaster Run, but I loved how the RnR Los Angeles was able to bring together so many people for a race. I have never been to a race with over 20,000 people. I was amazed just being with so many liked minded people. So bummed I didn't get to bump into Andrea Barber aka Kimmy Gibbler of Full House. Full House was my favorite childhood show.

 

Started off 2015 with a 5K in the New Years Race. I've never done this race before or run around DTLA so it was great to see Los Angeles at night. I was kind of winging the race because I wasn't running consistently in December. As long as I could do the whole race without stopping I was happy. Sometimes I get these bouts of self doubt, but then come race time its like I have my game face on and I can do it. My main goal for 2015 is to not doubt myself and eliminate negative attitude towards my running ability. I had a friend tell me her self doubt on her run ability and I was like why doubt yourself. These days I realized that self doubt just hinders me from properly running and enjoying running. Only thing I can do it to try and try my best.

Race For The Rescues & RnR LA 2014 Recap

 

For race #2 of Runtober I did the Race for the Rescues LA 5K at the Rose Bowl a few weeks ago in October. This was the race I was finally under 30 min for a 5K. I call it my first PR, but technically it's my 2nd or 3rd. The course is always the same once around the Rose Bowl if your doing a 5K and twice around the bowl if your doing a 10K. You don't get a finishers medal with this race unless your the top three winners, but I run this race to support the animals. I love how the Race for the Rescues supports all animals not just cats and dogs. 

Last Sunday was my first Rock N Roll race & the last race of Runtober. Next to the Coaster Run 5K this is my second favorite race. I have never been to a race that could bring over 11,000 fellow runners. This race was just so amazing. Initially since there was so many people running the race it was more like a jog for me. That was great though since sometimes I tend to floor it and overexert myself in the begging. Then as we came a turn after the first mile it was easier to run. I'm not quite sure how I did since the race didn't really register my run. I was a bit angry at first because it seem like I didn't even run at all, but I cleared it up in the end. My Nike+ registered about 31:04 minutes. Its not a PR, but I doubt I could do a PR with a packed race like this. With a fun race like this I could care less about a PR. I can't wait to run another Rock N Roll race. The Las Vegas race sounds like it would be a fun race to make a trip out of.

Alhambra Pumpkin 5K Recap

Few weeks ago I did the Alhambra Pumpkin Run. Its the first year they had the run and I happened to find a great deal on Groupon. I was excited to do another local run. Not having to wake up early or drive miles was a plus. Since it was the themed run I had to dress up and make another tutu.When It came time for the race I was kind of dreading it because of the weather reports that week. Weather reports had that Saturday's expected highs up in the 90s. It was fun dressing up and getting ready for the run, but the run was just killer in the heat. I stopped twice and another time to tie my shoe. The heat really got to me and I just couldn't wait till the run was done. Its hard to say if I would do this race next year since I can't predict the weather. If they would get chip timing I may do the race, but its still a year a way so we'll see.

Runtober 2014

Somehow I manger to turn October into Runtober. I started running Race for the Rescues several years ago and I have been running it ever since in honor of our family dog. Then I saw a groupon for another local race The Pumpkin Run so I decided why not. At my local run club they were talking about Rock and Roll Los Angeles so after finding friends that would do the 5k with me I couldn't refuse. Haven't done three races in a month, but I'm up for the challenge. I love dressing up for races so it's perfect these races are in October. Hope these races are spooktacular! Ha ha ha! May tomorrow's pumpkin run not be that crazy hot even though I know it will be. As long as make it through with out stopping no matter how slow I run I'll be happy.

Blecksmith 5K

Blecksmith 5K

I've only been running for a few years, but running 5ks have been keeping me motivated and giving me a purpose to run. I decided why not run a race on July 4th. Its a local race, I wouldn't have to wake up super early to get to the race. I finished the race in 31:10 min. 5 seconds more than my last race. It was pretty hot from the start of the race and I there was 2 uphill portions of the race. Overall I was happy with time considering I walked parts of the hills, stopped for water, and had an impromptu photo shoot with my sister. Nothing like Eye of the Tiger on my 5K playlist to keep me running.