RECAP: Big Sur 21-Miler fun!

Last year, I ran the Big Sur Marathon (recap here!) and just fell in love with Monterey, California. It felt like a “once in a lifetime” type experience, but wouldn’t you know, sometimes you just have to do it again 🙂

Just about a month ago, I saw a post on the JAMBAR instagram page where they were giving away three entries to the Big Sur events (winner could choose from marathon, 21-miler, 11-miler or 12K) – although it was a 30-min old post, I thought, “hey, why not?” – and the gamble paid off! I won the third entry, lost my mind a bit, then quickly formulated a plan to make it happen!

Since I had traveled pretty extensively in 2023, I thought I’d check my Delta account, and sure enough, I had enough miles to book a roundtrip flight through San Jose, and so the only other expense would be hotel and food. I checked my hotel from last year that I really liked (which was unfortunately booked up), but I could recall the general vicinity and chose another place that was available and walkable to the expo and shuttles.

Of course, I had to decide what distance to choose, and though everyone knows my penchant for the 26.2 distance, I was just two weeks out from Knoxville, so I recalled a conversation that I had had with my running pal Nancy about the uniqueness of the 21-miler distance, so that sounded like a good compromise, and would also double as a good long run for whatever I’d be happening to train for next 🙂

It was going to happen! YEAH!

Expo at the Portola

PRE RACE THINGS

The trip kicked off on such a good note – when I checked in online on Friday, I quickly saw that I was going to be upgraded to first class! So, not only was the flight points + the processing fee of a whooping $12, I was flying down in style!

It was a crazy day – of course, I had to work all day, then take E to her play practice – then drive both kiddos up to my parents house for a fun sleepover weekend. But not only that! I was going to go see one of my favorite bands, AJR in Seattle, and my parents very conveniently live a lot closer to the Climate Pledge Arena then we do, so it really worked out. After arriving, we got the kids settled, then I ubered downtown and had THE BEST time. Wow, what a show!

LET THE TRIP BEGIN!

My ears were still buzzing when my early alarm went off, but my dad graciously chauffeured me to SEATAC for my early flight. The airport is so quiet and easy early, so it was low key – had my standard Starbucks breakfast, and before long, I was on that short 2-hr flight to Californiaaaaa!

Upon arrival in San Jose, I quickly was able to retrieve my bag, then picked up my chariot for the weekend (a Ford Escape! though the agent tried to convince me to get the Nissan Pathfinder lol) and it was on the road to Monterey. The traffic wasn’t too bad until right outside city limits, and I was able to quickly navigate to my hotel, park, check in, then walk over to the Expo.

…however, I was a little distracted on my walk as I strode past a big Trader Joe’s! I knew I wanted to pick up a few snacks, so I waltzed in and got a souvenir Bay Area tote, as well as the TJ brand poptarts, some Ube seasonal items, and some chocolate chip cookies. Armed with my goodies, I proceeded to the expo which was buzzing but not overwhelming, which was so low stress and lovely.

On the walk back to my hotel, I stopped into Ike’s sandwiches and had a weird-timed meal that was so delicious!

At that point, my room was ready and I chilled for a while, charging up my phone and changing clothes (it was feeling kind of breezy!) as I wanted to take a drive to the Pacific Grove area as I had really enjoyed the scenery there last year.

Beautiful vistas!

There is a really nice cycling/walking path along the water, so I enjoyed a nice stroll before heading back to grab a drink at my favorite local brewery, Dust Bowl Brewing. There, I ran into (almost literally! Haha!) one of the bartenders from last year and we had a nice chat about the marathon. Would definitely recommend that place for great drinks and very friendly service!

After that, it was back to the hotel to set out my stuff for the morning, then staying off my feet! I had everything set out, brushed my teeth and watched The Mask on TV and laughed my head off before falling asleep.

RACE MORNING

I was going to meet my friend Christina in the morning to take the shuttle over, and we wanted to grab the earliest busses so I was up a little before my 3:00 alarm, bright eyed and bushy tailed.

The vibes for this race were dramatically different than Knoxville a few weeks earlier – whereas I had big and defined goals for that one, this one was just a tribute to gratitude!

I was happy for so many reasons:

• Being back in Monterey for the second time
• Being healthy after a marathon training cycle
• Running Big Sur by some act of serendipity
• Excitement to “meet” friends that I had known forever but had never met in person (more on that soon!!)
• The opportunity to run a very unique iteration of the event (just weeks before the race, there were some dangerous landslides that closed parts of the regular course )

…just to name a few! And so when I was getting ready, the word came to me: “savor.” I pledged I would commit to being in each moment that morning, and just take in the experience completely.

The ride over was low key, and we were pretty nice and early so I unfolded my space blanket and Christina and I chatted away about a variety of topics before my friend Sandra joined us. The time passed quickly and soon it was time to drop gear bags, hit portapotties then head to the start!

LET THE RACE BEGIN!

The corrals were hearded up the street: Marathon and 21-Miler were kind of interspersed and from what I could hear from the announcers, 21-Milers were to begin with the Corral C runners.

As part of my whole “chill” approach to this race, I had adjusted my COROS workout in the app and my watch to reflect the regular parameters…5 min warm up, 20 miles of threshold pace (defined as 8’27 to 10’14 as per my current fitness) and 5 min cool down. Since it was set up that way, I would not see my current pace or splits pop up, only would be notified if I dipped out of the pace, and a countdown of the miles. This proved to be a little trippy, but nice to not get absorbed in the numbers.

Early miles in the race were very congested, as Corral C had the pacers from 10-11ish mile pacing going, which meant a bit of weaving (I tried not to do TOO much as not to run 22 or miles lol) but it was kind of a fun mental boost to pass a few pace groups with ease.

The crowding was more dispersed around 10K in, and I had settled into a grove for the most part. I did my usual water station routine of running to the last volunteer holding water, and walking with the cup until reaching the last bin.

The course was just as beautiful as I remembered, and it was actually really interesting to recollect the memories of the Carmel Highlands so early in the race (since it was out and back) and I knew that road camber would probably bite me in the butt later, but I just kept it going!

The only time I had to stop for a significant amount of time was when I removed my sunglasses from my shorts pocket only to find them completely fogged up, so I had to wipe them off with my buff. Otherwise, it was a jaunty journey up and down the hills!

Our turnaround came sooner than I had expected (not sure why I thought it would be later, haha) and I quite enjoyed the mental shift in my brain hitting the ‘back’ part of the “out and back.”

Of course, some fast marathoners now were also hitting the ‘back” and that was kind of cool to experience, with them blazing past! On the flipside, there were also slower 11-mile participants that I would pass. It was kind of an interesting collection of people sharing the road and I found that pretty cool.

Another perk of running 21 instead of 26.2? I got to keep going straight when I had about 2ish miles to go and marathoners had to peel off for a loop through Point Lobos. Nice!

I felt pretty good coming into the home stretch, and reflected on the unique experience of never knowing how you might feel like at the end of a race – and I was feeling exactly how I envisioned: controlled, comfortable, and accomplished.

I love that you can see the power word clearly in this photo!

This race was a dream, and I am still on cloud 9.

RESULTS AND FUN STUFF

I checked my results on the shuttle back to town, and at the time, it looked like I was in a good standing, and my time matched my watch, but today, I checked again and found that the participant number was adjusted and age groups had been added. Wow! Couldn’t be happier with how that turned out!

Big Sur is such a special experience – it’s not easy, but most things that are amazing aren’t right? 🙂 I highly recommend this race weekend, or if you’re not a runner, just coming up to visit this amazing place – I am convinced it is one of the most naturally beautiful places I have ever been.

Thank you again, JAMBAR, and thank you to my parents for hosting the kiddos this weekend!

RECAP: The Knoxville Marathon!

Mile 3, feeling smooth

Sunday, April 7 was EPIC. And this is no understatement!!

1. I turned 40!
2. I completed my 40th marathon!!
3. I ran my second Boston Qualifying time!!!
4. I won Master’s Female in the first race I was eligible!!!!

So, how did I get there? Well, last summer I dreamed and schemed it, and over the fall and winter, I hammered those 26.2s, culminating with the Walt Disney World Marathon in January, took two weeks off, then dedicated to a serious training cycle with COROS.

Around 450 miles later (with only one missed run, and removed one run the last week on purpose, more on that later!), along with core and leg strength workouts, lots of recovery epsom salt baths, then travel across the country, it was game time.

My goal for the race was sub 3:40, which is about an 8:14 pace. While my watch race predictor wasn’t quite on board with that goal (it kept giving me 3:50s until about two weeks out), my last few threshold workouts were clicking, so I was feeling pretty confident about the likelihood/reality.

For the last few week leading up to the race, I had thought about a race mantra. For Mud Mountain, it was “Burn the White Flag” ( from the Joseph song ‘White Flag’) and that had just appeared in my mind, like a fancier way of not accepting defeat. This time, it was a lot simpler and matter-of-fact as one word appeared in my mind one run: “EXECUTE.”

There was no other option but to do what I was there for.

Of course, as all tapers go (thankfully mine wasn’t very long with this cycle, about 1.5 weeks-ish), everything started freaking me out. Weird knee aches when running easy, hamstring stiffness, etc.

There was one last MP (marathon pace) run on the schedule for Thursday of race week, but with that weird knee thing, I decided to take that day off, and packed an extra run outfit for a short shakeout run Saturday morning before the expo – and that one felt good, so the vibes are vibin’ 🙂

Looking down at the start area

Sunday morning, it was so laid back! The race start time was 0730 AM, and since our hotel was the CLOSEST possible to the start (we had the live coverage on the TV and then could look over and see the same action just downstairs!) so we headed down around 0715.

The race was a great size – I had to look at the stats later, but 612 full marathoners, 1859 half marathoners (and probably a couple hundred relayers?) which made for a good mix, plus handcycles and some runners with Ainsley’s Angels which is always inspiring to see! After the chair start, there was a nice rendition of the Star Spangled banner, and we were off!

The first mile, I had this weird dry feeling in my mouth and was a little worried about my decision to not carry water, but then that feeling went away in about 10 minutes.

The first mile clicked off, and I was going a bit too fast for what I was planning, but it was a little challenging to slow down as the mix and composition of the crowd was working itself out. Mile 2, same. Mile 3, I finally felt calm, and even had the luck of a photographer to prove it (first image in post).

These miles were undulating, small hills and dips, and that helped set a groove. After leaving the main downtown area, it was off to the beautiful Sequoyah Hills area and this took the miles over residential hilly streets, up the ‘big’ hill on Noelton, and then onto a Greenway path for a few miles before coming back through to the city, dropping off the half marathoners.

At Mile 13, my sister caught up with me and I commented to her that my right leg felt numb, which I think I had done to myself, in altering my gait a bit because of the weird knee thing, which was now gone. Huh, figured. I walked a bit in that mile (as obvious in the 8 paces) to shake it out, and then set back out of town past the Old City, back around for Mile 19 (where my sister saw me again and I was feeling better again), before we left for the segment across the river, to and around the Island Home neighborhood, past the sign that proclaimed our journey almost complete, crossing a different bridge…

I glanced down at my watch and was feeling good about my prospects, calculating backward how much buffer I had…

When it happened!

Mile 24, I felt twinges of leg cramping, but I was able to mostly rid them with a few walking steps, but then on the bridge…disaster! Both legs cramped up from mid calf to my upper things, nearly disabling me. I had to stop and hold onto a cement median.

At that point, a spectator was walking across the bridge, and saw my distress. She asked if I was okay and I must have been grimacing, so she asked if it was okay if I took her water bottle. I graciously accepted it, and slugged back a few sips which seemed to momentarily help, so I attempted to run-hobble again.

Fake it til you make it!

I was able to get a few good strides in before the cramp struck again. I tried to regain my composure quickly, and repeated, “you didn’t come this far to come this far” to myself through gritted teeth.

It was at this point I saw my sister again and she was so encouraging on one of the last straightaways, even taking some steps with me as I very painfully proclaimed I was not going to let this be the end like it had been years before at Space Coast!!!!

With a quick glance at my watch again, I knew as long as I could keep moving, my chance was still there, though the window was closing. I had already overran the course by a LOT so I couldn’t rely on the chirps of laps it was hitting.

Alternating a weird shuffle with a weird jog that somehow used my entire body to propel forward, I made my way closer to the sights and sounds of the finish line. Though it was only my third day in Knoxville, I had run right by the finish the day before and knew exactly how far I’d have to keep moving to reach my goal.

As soon as the finish line was in sight, I put everything into my completely strange propulsion at that point, and was actively sobbing as I saw the race clock.

Left foot, right foot…repeat! I was heaving a little, in utter disbelif that I had willed myself to that point and had not let myself crumble in those last crucial minutes. Huge tears welled in my eyes, and I was so grateful for my ridiculously large sunglasses!

Clock time: 3:39:39, chip time, 3:39:35, good enough for 1st OA Female Master, and 88th (this was adjusted since immediately following the race) of 612 marathoners!

It was my second BQ, and my first marathon time in the 3:30’s (my PR is 3:26 and previously second best time was 3:40) and I was just so, so grateful that I had not let myself give up. I had certainly executed!!

For anyone who knows me, seeing all those 3’s in the finish time made me smile, and I could not have been more pleased with how the raced turned out. Sure, it would have been so triumphant to power through the finish and a flourishing and energetic push, but that gritty finish felt so poetic. I did it. I had willed myself to follow through, and I couldn’t be prouder.

RECAP: St. Paddy’s Run 10K!

Photo credit: CJ Photo NW

After the last few years of heavy marathoning focus, it occurred to me that there were a lot of race distances that have been neglected over the last few years. While my BIG BIG goal of a fast 5K still looms large in my mind, when I made it onto the Tacoma City Marathon Association Ambassador Team for the 2024 season, I know it would be the perfect opportunity to take down some long-standing PRs…and spoiler alert, with the opening race of the season, I was happy to do just that!

The St. Paddy’s Run offers a variety of distances, from the 5K and 10K to the half marathon. Since my training plan had 6 miles on the roster for St. Patrick’s Day weekend, I decided to go all-in on the 10K, and carefully crafted my plan to rock this run, starting off with a review of the last time I had officially raced the distance…a very long-ago fall 2012 frolic in Charlottesville, VA!

Almost 12 years ago!? Wow. I ran that Pepsi 10K in 48:01, so I worked backward from there…

A Goal: sub 47! (~7:30 something pace)

B goal: sub 48:01 (~7:45 ish pace)

C goal: hold on for dear life?! LOL

Hah! But really, I had been nailing that pace in shorter efforts recently, so I was cautiously optimistic about it, and then took two critical steps: looked up a pace chart for rough numbers to hit, then crafted a 47-minute Spotify playlist which would line up my desired mood and visualization for the finish line.

Race morning, Lisa picked me up at 0630 (she was also running the 10K!) and we headed to Tacoma. I was fortunate she knew a great parking spot, and we had no stress getting our bibs race morning; even had time to relax in the car again before I met with my Ambassador Team for a start line pic.

Dream team!

It was really neat to meet so many of these fun runners that I had been following on social media, and we wished each other well before some set off for the first event (half marathon), and before long, it was time for us to head to the start, too!

Fastie friends, Patrick and Justin!

I had a brief moment of panic because the background music was so loud I wasn’t sure if my shokz headphones were on (LOL) but I was able to get myself together and we were off to the races!! The first 1.25ish miles were a downhill to the waterfront, and I did my best to hold on to a comfortable-ish pace without overdoing it.

Once we went up and over a ramp/bridge, it was flat miles along Ruston Way, which is a beautiful waterfront view path. My playlist was motivating, and my pace was right where I needed to be. I coasted along toward the halfway point (which came up quicker than I thought!) and really enjoyed the way back as I got a lot of smiles and cheers!

That climb up and over the ramp/bridge thing was a little more tiring that second time, but soon enough, it was a wide open route back toward downtown. In fact, it had cleared up so much I thought I was going the wrong way since no one was around me! Haha.

Irish you were here!

Once the route merged back in with the 5Kers, however, I knew I hadn’t gone wrong and I pushed up the hill just as my last song was playing. I could taste that PR!

OFFICIAL 46:53, 1 AG, 2nd Female and 10th place of 301!!

Gliding back to the finish was such a great feeling. I split off again to the left for the 10K / half finish chute, collected my bling, and made it right on over to the beer garden, where I had fun chatting with Will, a fellow ambassador who definitely knows how to celebrate St. Paddy’s with some green dye for our well-deserved beers!

This was such a fun start to what is sure to be a fantastic season of racing, and nature could not have provided us better weather for the festivities. I would definitely recommend this event to anyone looking for a well-organized event with great swag and even better people!!

Wanna run with us? Use promo code KRISTINA24 for 10% any of the races that TCMA offers and is open for registration!

RECAP: The 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon (and all it involved)

The 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon:

The Final Chapter

Okay, that might read a bit dramatic – and as always, I reserve the right to change my mind, but today, January 27, 2024 (20 days since running this race), I can earnestly say I am ready to retire from this race.

Since 2011, I have participated in the runDisney Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend a total of six times:

• 2011 WDW Half Marathon
• 2013 WDW Marathon
• 2014 WDW 10K
• 2015 WDW Goofy Challenge
• 2019 WDW Marathon
• 2024 WDW Marathon

…and, truth be told – it really is my favorite runDisney event, but there are far too many amazing events around the country (and world) for me to continue to return to this particular race for a multitude of reasons, of which I will address in this dissertation blog post.

But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves! Let’s jump into the metaphorical VCR and rewind back to fall 2023 (enter Wayne’s World style wavy arm moves here GIF).

November 2023 – registration!

I found out in late fall that our company was planning on its annual summit for the first week of January in Tampa, Florida. Since I had recently shared my plans regarding my goal of ’40 marathons by 40,’ I was deep in the throes lining up my races, and I thought why not look for a marathon in FL, fly in before the summit, and then skedaddle my way to Tampa afterward?

The two options that presented themselves were very different: a trail marathon in Brooksville, FL, or the ubiquitous Walt Disney World Marathon, which of course, I have done a handful of times. While my preference was obvious (I am a road gal, for the most part), there was a slight thorn in that plan: the race had been sold out for months at that point, and even charity bibs were a bit scarce. I wrote a few email enquiries to the charities that did have some options left, and brainstormed how I’d fundraise in that short amount of time.

It was also at this time that I remembered runDis alerts, which was a tool online that shared any open spots for all races on the runDisney schedule. I read up on it, and even downloaded the Chrome extension ”form filler” that would allow me the quickest way into completing a highly coveted bib.

The first time a Marathon spot opened, I swear my heart was beating faster than any instance of cardio I could recall in a workout 😛 I click, click, clicked but was not the victor. Undeterred, I returned to my normal breathing, and a few days later, when I got another chance, this time…success! I was in for the WDW Marathon!

Very very thankfully, I had a place to crash as my good friend Theresa was already planning to be in WDW for her FIRST half marathon that weekend, so I would just need to find my way to Tampa afterward for work – as much as I hate I-4, it would be worth it all for this epic experience.

Early December 2023 – planning!

With the way my marathon schedule was stacked up, this race was going to definitely be one run for fun, not time (I had a marathon on Dec 30, then this one just 8 days later) – so, what better way to infuse a bit more silliness than concoct an epic costume?

Over the years of runDisney events, I have worn a variety of outfits, from slight theming, to paired/group costumes (my fav was when my sister Jen and I had Haunted Mansion Stretching Room inspired get ups) and have done recognizable, obscure, and everything in between. This time, I wanted to go niche, but instantly recognizable to those “in the know,” but I just couldn’t put my finger on it…until one night, as I was about to drift off to sleep, I thought of the Adventurer’s Club and KNEW that I could wrangle up an incredible Pamelia Perkins.

Sure, it was over the top and could be a challenge for 26.2 miles, but the moment that Pamelia imprinted on my mind, I knew that I would have to do it! Over the next few weeks, I worked out the components, from a real QiPao found on Poshmark, to a running skirt from alo, and my take on the turban with an old beret I had in my closet, reading glasses with lenses punched out from the Dollar Tree, and the expert help of my friend Lisa to help me complete the look with a custom sash!

Of course, that would not be the only costume planned for the race weekend…read on!

January 2024 – it’s GO time!

Just weeks before the trip, we learned that our summit would be relocated…which brought temporary panic, but thankfully, it was still going to be in the wild state of Florida – just the other coast, in Miami! Phew! I purchased Brightline tickets for the second half of the trip, and before I knew it, was on my way.

I landed in Orlando on Friday night, and was very grateful to be picked up by my good friends Rick and Sher. We caught up over dinner, and had a lovely time – it had been too long since I last visited with them! Then, it was off to the hotel (Port Orleans Riverside) where Theresa and I reunited, I did a quick unpack, and the lights were off for her race in the morning – which, to her dismay, had been announced as a modified race course / distance due to storms approaching.

The alarm went off early! 2 AM? I helped Theresa with her bibs in the morning, and then she was off with her AWD guide/friend Lisa to the race start. I leisurely got into my themed cheering outfit (of course) and was able to hop on to the first bus that left POR that morning.

At Epcot, the air was weirdly warm, and there was a wind afoot, that definitely signaled what was to come later, but it was a good morning, given the circumstances. The vibe in the air was electric – runners were circling the lot, attempting to get in all their ‘missed’ miles (the ‘half’ was knocked down to 7.1 miles). I was able to see about half of the runners that I was hoping to track and cheer for, and screamed my lungs out for about two hours. There is just something about a finish line!

After that , I hopped the bus back, and Theresa and I chilled in the room for a while – it was still so early in the morning! I needed to head out to the Expo midday, and at that point, the rain was DRIVING outside. Theresa lent me her mylar poncho, and I was off to the Wide World of Sports!

If you know me, you know I cannot resist yet another costume change, and this time, it was my homage to the late Dick Nunis, the legendary Disney executive known for his penchant for bermuda shorts with his formal wear. I got a few puzzled looks, but for the people who got it..it was worth packing those items in my suitcase, for sure!

After picking up my stuff (and getting my first expo beer!) I hopped the bus to the Caribbean Beach Resort to hang out with my pal Josh for a few hours. We hadn’t caught up in quite some time (we used to work together in Epcot!) so it was nice just chatting aboard the Skyliner, grabbing an ice cream on the Boardwalk, and walking around on the by-then gorgeous day.

Once we part ways, I made it back to the hotel. Theresa was with some other friends celebrating at Boma, and I contemplated whether I should be responsible and grab a meal at the hotel and stay off my feet, or…meet my friend Lena who was doing a monorail bar crawl. Hmmmm…choices, choices!

Adding to my resolve about the race staying 100% fun, I opted for the latter, and was off to meet her at the Enchanted Rose (Grand Floridian), where we had a drink before riding over to the bar at Steakhouse 71 (Contemporary) for a few more (long story short…our bartender was definitely a character!)

We shared so many laughs, and it was worth not getting back to the room until around 11 AM, just in time for a nap before race morning rolled around. YOLO, y’all!!

RACE MORNING!

That alarm blared early, but I was high on adrenaline! My costume was all set out and ready to go, so after a quick change and prep, I was out the door, and ready for 26.2 miles of ridiculousness!

Arriving at Epcot, it was a very different vibe than the morning before. Less frenzied. Even kind of calm, or quiet?

I stood in line for some character pics before meandering over to the bag drop (pro tip: if you need a portapottie, go here after you drop your bag because there are GIANT and BLINDING floodlights that illuminate this area, which allow you to actually see in the small enclosed space) and then it was off to the corral area. There, I saw a few friends (Justin, Emelia and Gelcys), and we chatted before heading to our respective corrals.

Once I was in my corral, I found a nice spot to sit down for a while before it started to fill up too much. I wanted to position myself somewhere in the middle to get moving for my goal (of meeting as many characters as possible!! LOL) but not too forward where there were some definitely more serious runners gunning for time.

I knew the course was different than years before (notably: no more Wide World of Sports, and of course, the start area was very different) but I was not quite as prepared for the weird feeling of the start! It winded through the Epcot area early, and there were a lot of kind of funky narrow and sharp turns. Before long, it was highway ramp time and as I planned, I stopped for each character that was out.

To be honest, the first part of the race felt kind of like a blur until we reached the Ticket and Transportation Center. Once there, we magically seemed to be inside the Magic Kingdom (so unlike a regular visit to the parks lol), down a screaming Main Street, more characters, and something different – past and under the walkway at Tron, which was super cool!

After leaving the MK, it was the narrow runways of Cone Alley by the Grand and en route to the Animal Kingdom. I was moving along, unbothered…until around Mile 13ish and the SKIES OPENED UP!!!!

Truly, in what felt like a Hollywood fake-rain-maker machine, it was drenching and cold rain for about two miles.

I cursed myself for wearing a felt hat (LOL) as it was absorbing each and every drop of rain, but nevertheless, was not TRULY devastated until I realized the timing meant that my beloved Adventurer’s Club characters would NOT be out at their designated spot!

Downtrodden, I persisted, ambling my soggy self to the backstage of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and on stage to Africa. I always love running through this park, so my mood perked up here as I heard the sights and sounds of this beloved place.

As we crossed over to Asia, I ducked into a ‘real’ restroom to wipe my face and use the facilities before setting back out…since we were just around the bend from Expedition Everest, I told myself that IF it was open (which I was not overly optimistic about, given the weather), I would hop on.

still laughing about the sleeping/dead guy behind me

Well, reader. Never doubt that Disney magic!

The ride was not only open, it was allowing runners right on, just after a dash through the Lightning Lane! I was boarded and good to go! What a thrill to pop on to one of my favorite rides in the middle of a marathon…worth it!

At this point, the rain had slowed, and it was backstage again, then on the backroads headed toward Blizzard Beach (well, more specifically, the Blizzard Beach Parking LOT!) where I saw Justin again, as well as my friend Elizabeth. Running laps around that lot definitely felt silly but given it was already around 20 miles in and I hadn’t hit any sort of wall, I was feeling good.

Now en route to Hollywood Studios, it was a few more characters here and there (I’ll probably share these pics in another post sometimes since this has already become a tome on its own), crowds through the park (weirdest segment through DHS ever, if you ask me), on the walkway toward Epcot, World Showcase (and no characters there! Which was a bummer!! I had loved that in 2015 when I ran with Carlee and Megan) a stop in the new middle part of the park, and off to the finish line.

Needless to say, it was a wild, wet, and wonderful way to go out on a high note for this race.

I finished in about 4:36 (my second fastest finish for this race), met around 21 characters, had dyed blue arms from my soggy dress bleeding all over me, and a sore throat from all the laughing and screaming I had done in the past 48 hours.

At the finish, I linked up with Theresa and Lisa, I chugged a whole bottle of Purple Powerade, and put on a poncho to regulate my dropping temperature.

After the bus ride back, it was the most glorious hot shower, a change into my finisher shirt, and a boat ride to Disney Springs for our celebratory dinner at Jaleo, as well as an impromptu photoshoot at the studio (amazing JC Penney style shots).

Marathon 39 was one for the memory books, and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to share it with such wonderful friends!! <3

Third Annual Podcast Awards

Has it really been another whole year?!

(2022 post) (2021 post)

Podcasts remain a big part of my everyday life, and yeah, you guess it – it was even harder to choose favorites this year, but here I am, sharing this list with you.

One fun fact from this year is I happened to travel a lot with work, so there was just something really special to listen to my favorite shows whilst cruising the Eastern Mediterranean, running alongside the Charles River on my Boston trip, or traipsing countless out and back miles during four back to back marathons as part of the Quadzilla Challenge. Of course, plenty other listening hours were done doing other mundane things like washing dishes, walking the dog, or driving the kids to the YMCA for swimming lessons, so don’t feel too envious of me 😉

But – back to the point. “Podcasts are life!” (said in Dani Rojas voice) and I am pleased now to present my top 10 pods/episodes of the year.

Editors notes: this year, don’t think of this necessarily as a ranking, but more of a list of powerhouse pods. It is way too hard to put any of these up against each other as they do have a lot of differing subjects/genres, etc.

10 – Maintenance Phase, episode: “Pilates”

Episode aired: Jul 4

What do you know about pilates? Well, I am guessing if you do them, you might know more than the average person, but if you’re like me and just kind of have an idea of what they are, this episode is a good one. Aubrey and Mike go into the history of Joseph Pilates (there’s your first little nugget of knowledge) and it turns out to be one of the more lighthearted episodes in terms of content from this regular favorite of mine.

9 – Retro WDW Podcast, episode: “Hungry for Hollywood”

Episode aired: Dec 8

I listened to this episode during the first half of my Pigtails Marathon just a few weeks ago and though it did make me a little hungry, it also made me very happy. The episode goes over early dining locations of the then-named Disney MGM Studios, including design concepts, menus and inspiration, and also an interview with Reimund Pitz (who formerly served as executive chef at the Walt Disney World Resort from 1976-1996) which highlights stories from those early days.

8 – You Are Good – episode: “Death Becomes Her (guest: BJ Colangelo)”

Episode aired: Sept 13

Have you ever been completely delighted by a memory you forgot existed? Well, I did, and the delight lasted through the episode, and honestly, through for the next few days at I amused not only over the film discussion itself, but the idea that there are just some movies that a lot of us millennial-aged individuals all watched at some point (probably from a video rental store), didn’t really understand or have context for (or get most of the jokes or references) but still enjoyed the film quite a bit.

Anyway!

I really enjoyed hearing the conversation here, and I love the fact that each week, I have the opportunity to hear the voices of Sarah and Alex on this pod, and it was just a cherry on top to hear BJ join the mix – and you can hear more from her (and her wife, Harmony) later on in this list.

7 – The Bechdel Cast – episode: “The Haunted Mansion (guest: Akilah Green)“

Episode aired: Jul 27

The Bechdel Cast features some of the driest humor I have ever experienced in a podcast, and it is just what you (well, I) needed that warm morning in Iowa when I decided to run 17 miles before getting on a plane so I could crest 200 miles run in July.

Okay, so perhaps you will not find yourself in that situation, but if there is ANYTHING you are doing in your life where several moments of intense, IRL LOLing could improve your quality of life, I would highly recommend this podcast, and particularly, this episode because the discussion is just so freaking funny. I weirdly/unironically enjoy this movie, but hearing the rundown and commentary really made me think about just how weird many things in that film are, and was a good refresher of the content before I watched the newer version, which was somehow both much better and way worse than this one.

6 – Mobituaries – episode: “Charlie McCarthy: Death of a Dummy”

Episode aired: Nov 8

I look forward to new episodes every Wednesday of this pod (it’s been a favorite of mine since its launch, and I have listened and re-listened to much of the entire back catalog,) and this particular morning, I was delighted to be treated to an unexpectedly emotional story about that ubiquitous tuxedoed dummy.

And maybe I am in the minority here, but I had no idea that Candice Bergen was his sister.

5 – Very Amusing – episode: “Let’s Go to…Dollywood!”

Episode aired: Nov 8

If you check the release dates, this was a big day for great podcasts because both the Mobituaries and Very Amusing episodes dropped that morning. I will be honest that I listened to Mobits first, and the next morning tuned in to this one, but both morning runs were delightfully memorable.

In this episode of Very Amusing, Carlye chats with About Theme Parks guru Arthur Levine (a repeat guest on the pod) about the fun and fantastical world of Dollywood. Not only does he detail the bevy of food and entertainment offerings of the park, but he delves into technical and historical information about several different attractions, including their impressive roller coasters.

I really enjoyed the detailing of the park guest experience, and it hyped me up for my forthcoming visit, and I can pretty much guarantee if you listen, you’ll be packing your bags, too!

4 – Smartless – episode: “Paul Giamatti“

Episode aired: Aug 7

My friend Christy told me about this podcast over the summer, and within one episode of listening (the first one I tuned in to was the interview with Danny McBride) I became a fan.

This loose-interview style show centers around the basic premise of hosts Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes inviting a surprise guest (the intro to each episode has the other hosts guessing who the featured personality will be), followed by lively conversation. Most of the time, at least one of the hosts is is familiar with the guest (sometimes they’re acquaintances, friends and/or colleagues) but it is always a good time.

While I have listened to and enjoyed much of the back catalog, one of my favorite listens was the interview with Paul Giamatti – not only am I a fan of this actor’s work, but I learned a lot I would have never known before (like the fact that his late father was not only a Yale professor, but also the president there, and the 7th MLB Commissioner?!??!) and the conversation was just so light and natural, which made it a really fun listen. Definitely check this podcast and episode out!!

Also recommend: Gerta Gerwig, Rose Byrne, Tom Holland, Jen Psaki, Willem Dafoe, Pedro Pascal, Bill Hader, Keanu Reeves and Brendan Fraser, just to name a few.

3 – American Hysteria – episode: “Chick Tracts (pt 1)” & pt 2

Episode(s) aired: March 20, 27

(source)

If you think you have never heard of Chick Tracts, you actually probably have.

While I enjoyed every episode of this podcast (it’s a repeat winner here on my podcast awards), this two-part series which was released in the spring was a big eye opener to one of those weird memories that you kind of forgot existed – seeing random comic-style evangelical paper materials scattered in public places, all designed to elicit strong emotional responses.

I never knew these minicomics had a name, but I learned that, and much much more, in this two-part series chronicling the history of the creator behind them, and all the interesting stories and hijinks surrounding their influence.

2 – This Ends at Prom – episode: “Scooby Doo (2002)“

Episode aired: Oct 19

Yet again, another podcast I whole-heartedly recommend, but this episode was one of my favorites of the year for a few reasons.

If you’re not listening to this pod yet (why not?!?) it features the wives Colangelo (Harmony and BJ) who share their film analysis on movies often categorized as “teen girl” focused. Their thoughtful discussion is highlighted by the fact that many (or most) of the movies discussed were BJ’s favorites growing up, while many (or most) are unfamiliar or lack the nostalgic connection to Harmony, which makes for many interesting discussions!

I listened to every episode this year, but this one (with guest Valerie Ettenhofer) is one that stuck out to me for two reasons – first, that week also saw the release of an episode on the same film from a fellow podcast-award winner (the Bechdel Cast – their episode here), but also, as I was listening I realized I was so familiar with the cast, the movie poster art, and overall idea of the film, but given its release in 2002, I was (in my mind at the time) too old to see this movie when it came out, so I just…never saw it.

That changed this year, after I listened to both episodes on this wild and wacky film, but it was this episode that made me really think about the ideas about Scooby Doo’s longevity, the proximity of mysteries to horror, and of course, my intense desire to visit Spooky Island….always a theme park connection, right?

1 – The Thirty20Eight – episode: “Water Tower-ology“

Episode aired: Jan 26

Another year, another top-tier spot for my boys at the thirty20eight!

This year, another full-calendar of excellent episodes, and I listened to each at least twice (sometimes thrice) but I definitely have to shout out to this one, as it inspired my second sticker design of the year:

I had a lot of fun with the podcast this year, not only receiving several shout-outs (each one appreciated greatly!) but connecting with fellow fans in creating the stickers (seen to the left) and interacting on social media and the little fanzine (more to come on that next year).

But about this episode.

This “Water Tower-ology” episode was super fun because it had that feeling of the listories of yore, but also the evolution and history that the podcast has made itself into. It sounds cheesy, but it’s true – it only gets better with the Thirty20Eight, and I am so grateful it is part of my life.

Fun fact? I based the sticker design from a Tom Bricker (Disney Tourist Blog) photograph of the Disneyland Paris Earful Tower! Also, I still have some available so I will be bringing them along to WDW next month and would love to share them and spread the podcast love.

So, there you have it! Another year of great listening, and it’s not over yet (my fingers are crossed for one more episode of thirty20eight for my last marathon of the year, 12/30).

But before I go….how about a few honorable mentions:

• This American Life – just all of them! Every Sunday! but if you had to choose one, I would recommend: House on Loon Lake. Just go listen!!
• 5-4, episode: “Korematsu v. United States” – I started listening to this show (features lawyers analyzing Supreme Court Cases rulings with … often not great outcomes) at the end of 2022, and have continued on. Of course, you may pick and choose the episodes in which you have familiarity with for greater context, or jump in to learn something new, but this one, with the subject of the appeal of Executive Order 9066…it’s a must listen.
• Synergy Loves Company, episode: Disney Family of Wines with My Wife Keri – I love Eric’s show, and this one was really fun as he brought his wife on and they not only discussed wines that have connections to Disney, but tried them, too! Very fun episode!!

40×40 check-in & 2023 Pigtails Run Recap

Pigtales Run finisher!

This Saturday, I planned to wake up at 5 AM, leisurely gather my gear, have breakfast, then drive over up to Maple Valley around 6 AM, have ample time to find parking, attend the pre-race briefing, and be ready to rock and roll for a 7:30 AM race start of my 37th lifetime marathon.

It did sound like a good plan, huh?

Well, as we all know, plans sometimes are meant to be changed, as I fretted over the warning of inclement weather through the week. I set out appropriate clothing, and reminded myself I had run through rainy marathons before, but when I woke 10 minutes before my 5 AM alarm, and realized that at such an early hour, there was a very low chance of any sort of traffic, I haphazardly threw my stuff in a big tote, toasted a bagel (that I didn’t even end up feeling hungry enough for), and started the drive.

Fortunately for me, the directions were pretty basic and there were no issues arriving to the approximation of the race start area…I say this as the trailhead for this event is configured somewhat between a church parking and shopping area, and there were warnings about towing, so I made my way a little down a residential road and parked on the street before popping over to pick up my bib and swag, jaunting back to the car to drop the items, catching the general gist of the race brief @ 6:10, a quick stop in the port-o-pottie (as I had been chugging Liquid-IV on the drive up), and before I knew it, it was time to run!

I have to admit, the low-frills feel was welcome for that somewhat frenzied morning, but truth be told, once I was running, it felt very peaceful and easy. It was still dark, and since I couldn’t find the headlamp I had thrown in the car weeks before (for race 1 of Quadzilla), I tucked in behind a runner with a bright headlamp for the first few miles (9:23, 9:31, 9:19, 9:29, 9:31). The path was quiet and serene.

It was right around an hour into running that my shoe somehow got untied, and I pulled over to double knot, and I realized that the double out and back meant I was almost to the turn around already. I took my first gel (I had my Maple UnTapped again) which seemed to give me a little jolt:

9:11, 8:58, 9:00, 8:46, 8:34, 8:46, 8:53, 9:02

As I was approaching the start area again, it dawned on me that I was just about 2 hours in now, which meant that the half marathoners would be unleashed on the path. So, I took gel 2 a little early, timing it along when I saw a trash can. that was a smart move because as I neared the start line, I saw the runners all lined up, andI knew I would have to vamoose it a bit to not get run over, let alone leisurely take a gel, swig some water (I hit halfway right at 1:59, it was kind of hilarious actually to see them all kind of wonder what I was doing making a hairpin turn around).

Setting out for the second half, I knew I could maintain the pace for the most part, and switched on my marathon playlist. I enjoyed a little dance-running, and did my best to smile and wave at as many runners returning to the start as I could (there were not only half and full marathoners on the course, but 50K’ers too, some who had taken the early start with me, and some at the regular time).

Those miles: 8:23, 8:18, 8:33, 8:31, 9:11

At Mile 19ish, it was time to take another gel, and my legs felt a little fatigued so I walked a bit, and filled my water bottle at the aid station.

9:43, 9:02, 9:04, 9:11

I knew I was slowing down a bit, but was truly just enjoying the race at that point…it was just busy enough to feel the excitement of a race day, but a little desolate in sections to make you feel like you were on a secluded path, just enjoying the run. I realized I had one more gel, so took it with a lttle bit of an extended walk

9:45

With just a 5K to go, I knew it was going to be another sub-4 day, but not sure by how much. Seeing as I had two more races on the horizon, felt no need to push the pedal to the medal that day.

9:06, 9:31, 8:48, final bit, 8:08

I breezed into the finish, feeling good and happy to see a 3:56 on my watch. There was plenty of refreshments and snacks at the finish, but I somehow still didn’t feel very hungry, so just grabbed a bit of trailmix, collected my beautiful glitter resin piggy medal, and walked back to the car.

I took a selfie, changed out of my running shoes and tights (into uggs and sweats) and no lie, the moment I slammed the car door, it started to rain. Slowly at first, but by the time I pulled onto the main drag, it was coming down! Early start FTW indeed!

I really had a great and low-key experience at this race, and was delighted at the general positive vibes from runners, volunteers and even the few spectators there were (family members and people walking their dogs, but hey, I am not picky)!

40×40 progress

This was marathon number 37 (!!) for me, and what feels still unbelievably to me, my 10th (!!) 26.2 of the year – and it is not done yet! One more marathon (12/30) before the calendar turns!

In 2024, I will be heading back to run the Walt Disney World Marathon (my 4th time), and yes, for those who have been asking…my OFFICIAL 40th race is on the calendar for April 7, 2024: The Knoxville Marathon! It’ll be the 20th anniversary of that race and one of my biggest running SHEROS, DES LINDEN will be there! I will LOSE MY MIND if I can get her to sign my bib !!!

It is truly wild to think that just a few months ago, I seriously questioned this goal, and now – it’s so close! I cannot thank everyone who has wished me well, supported my races or just gave me a crazy look when I mentioned it (mostly my coworkers! LOL), but there’s really nothing like working toward big goals.

RECAP: 2023 Seattle Quadzilla

Since moving (back) to the Pacific Northwest in 2019, I had heard of an elusive and interesting endurance challenge, the Seattle Quadzilla. Originally conceptualized by the Marathon Maniacs group in 2010, the structure has changed a bit over the years with different race venues, but the idea is the same: four marathons in a row, beginning on (American) Thanksgiving.

For the 2023 iteration, the challenge was held over four races in the greater Seattle area:

• Wattle Waddle – Kent, WA
• Grateful Runners (Turkey’s Revenge) – Bothell, WA
• Seattle Ghost Marathon – Seattle, WA
• It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas Marathon – Orting, WA

Runners also had the option to participate in two other versions of the challenge, either a 13.1 version (Quadzuki) or 50Ks, but as I am on my marathon mission, I stuck with the original 4×26.2 challenge.

Now, this might sound silly, but my greatest apprehension about taking on this challenge was not the running, but the management of logistics, especially the driving component. If you know me, you know I don’t care for driving much, and have anxiety over finding parking in unfamiliar places, etc. But, I had to get over that to face the challenge, and now, on the other side, I can say that everything went better than expected, thanks especially to incredible people, including amazing and supportive race directors, my awesome family (shout out to my parents for helping me out with logistics of a fun sleepover for the kiddos, and my dad for dropping me off / picking me up for the Seattle race), and husband for not completely rolling his eyes at me for attempting this all!

Now, I’ll go through a bit of each day below, and will do my best to answer the questions people have asked me over the last few days to explain how I tackled each event, and a bit about how each went.

Day 1: Wattle Waddle

The first race was (ironically?!) 26 miles away from my house, so just about a half hour drive. I had entered the GPS coordinates in Google, which took me to an Amazon fulfillment center in an industrial part of town. After a quick stop, I switched to Apple maps and was able to correctly re-direct to the race start at the Three Friends Fishing hole parking area, and entry point to the Green River Trail.

The weather forecast that day was on the cooler side, but with no rain (which would – amazingly, for the Seattle area – hold true for the rest of the extended weekend) so I went with my long sleeve wool and Athleta Rainier tights. I also tried out a new waistpack (which I ended up really disliking) but otherwise felt comfortable, though I did notice a few runners wearing shorts, which I generally prefer to wear on runs. I wore my Asics Nimbus 25, which felt great through most of the run.

This was the hardest run for me, I think, due to a mix of jetlag (I had just returned from Greece four days before), and the unfortunate stress of starting off a little too fast at the beginning, resulting in a pretty dramatic positive split, which placed me at a 4:18 finish. Despite the leg cramps at the end and several double digit mile splits, I felt pretty good for having completed the first marathon, and enjoyed a great Thanksgiving meal at my aunt’s place, complete with a modest meal plate and some libations.

Day 2: Grateful Runners

The second marathon was the furtherst from home, about an hour drive. However, due to my constant concern of being late, I ended up being there much earlier than expected, and was able to take advantage of an early start thanks to the kindness and generosity of the RD, Jill.

Although the temps were a bit lower (by a few degrees), I decided to fall back on my standard marathon “uniform” and wore my rabbit shorts and compression socks – and this time, my vest, which conveniently held my phone, gels, and water bottle. Sure, my legs were a little cold at the start, but as soon as I got moving, it was not bad at all. I enjoyed these quiet miles alongside the river, marveling at the beauty of the ice-encrusted trees (as well as my eyelashes!) and settled into a pretty comfortable pace, even surprising myself at the relative ease I felt as I head out on the second out and back (both Thursday and Friday featured courses that had this format).

I completed this course eight minutes faster, without the fatigue from the day before, 4:10.

Day 3: Seattle Ghost

Day three was different in many aspects, as I had driven myself and the kids up to my parents house the day before, and my dad generously was able to drop me at the start (this race has limited parking, but lucky for me, is only about 15 minutes away from my parents’ place).

This race, although also small-ish, was the most “official” feeling of the series, as the course is certified/chip-timed etc and featured a bit different of a format as its urban setting meant mostly sidewalk running, as well as a scenic section through Seward park. While some might protest at the mental challenge of passing by the start/finish several times, I actually liked it to “check in” with myself on how I was feeling, and was able to let the miles just pass, with a nice amount of people around to feel part of an event, but never cramped or crowded – though the ‘wavy’ sidewalks (as a result of roots, etc) did keep me on my toes!

I can see why so many people enjoy this race – the organization was great, aid stations were well-stocked, and the feel was somewhere between that of an ultra (with all the “real” food), but also high energy like a major marathon. I relished in the views and basked in the gorgeous sunny day, crossing that finish line in around 4:08 (official results posted gun time, not chip time, which I found interesting).

I celebrated the third finish with a delicious hot dog and was awarded not only a finisher’s medal, but a hoodie, too!

Day 4: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Xmas

I got to sleep in for the last race (a whole hour!) and felt refreshed after the night out before (hubby and I celebrated our 14th anniversary the night before with sushi (which was a good protein/carb meal to fuel for marathon four) and headed out to the trailhead in which I had run many, many a mile before. This was my “home turf,” as I had logged many training runs here, as well as relished in my Mud Mountain Dam Marathon memories of yore, which always provided that mental boost.

We had a ‘mass’ start at 8 AM, and from the get go, I knew this was going to be a good day. My legs felt good beneath me, and I knew I would be able to finish this challenge on a good note, though as the miles ticked by, it became evident to me that it would likely be by an even better margin than I might have hoped!

Since there were a fair amount of half marathoners in that wave, I knew not to compete with them, and kept to my conservative pace, especially to the first turn around, when the gentle downhill propelled me down back to the start. Comically, I realized I was very well hydrated and all I could think about from Mile 9-10.5 ish was how much I had to pee.

Regrettably (LOL) I had to stop into the port-o-pottie that RD Kandi had dubbed as “sketchy,” and reader – this was BEYOND that definition. Quite possibly, the grossest I had EVER walked into! Thankfully, it was a very short stop so off I was again to check in at the start, then head out for round 2.

Glancing down at my watch periodically, it dawned on me around Mile 14 that I was well ahead of the pace I had set the previous three days, and that if I could simply maintain that momentum, I could possibly secure a sub-4 finish.

There’s really nothing like the feeling of setting your pace onto auto-pilot, especially in a marathon – it almost feels like you’re outside of your body! I was running, feeling good, and had a blast waving and greeting my fellow runners on the trail – their enthusiasm and encouragement kept me going, and even got me to turn it up the last miles, with the fastest splits I had seen over the past four days: 8:20, 8:03, 8:20, 8:20, 8:03, 7:59, 7:51 and 7:21 that last .4 (always overachieving, lol).

Seeing that 3:51 on my watch was the icing on the Quad cake! Four marathons, progressively faster each day, wow – the feeling could not be beat!

So what did you DO all those miles?

Other than run? I mean, I get it. That’s a lot of time, I got this question a LOT over the last few days, and each day was a little different.

• I listened to a handful of podcasts, some bits of audiobook, and for races 1 and 2, some Peloton audio (long story short – this recurring issues from me being too cheap to add a second Spotify membership means the kids commandeer my music often).
• For day 4, I was able to listen to my own music for the last 6.6ish miles, which was a nice boost. (here’s that playlist)
• I took gels every hour. This quad was fueled by Maple UnTapped – delicious, no weird consistency, and easy to carry.

Was it everything you thought it would be?

Honestly, it was a lot more fun than expected. It was not a big crowd, but the people that showed up were all warm and friendly. Seeing the same faces was nice, and everyone is supportive and kind.

Plus, it did not hurt to find out a day later that not only was I successful in completing the challenge, I also WON it this year!

What an awesome surprise, amongst all these incredible individuals.

So how do you run your fastest marathon after three others?

I am a big believer in mantras, and for this challenge, for me I had to keep it simple: “Save it for Sunday” was what ran through my head. I knew from the beginning that I could do this, but was adamant about summoning strength for the end.

I am so grateful for completing these 104.8+ miles healthily – and am still baffled at the perfection of the weather. The cool mornings and brilliant sunshine couldn’t have been more perfect.

Will you do it again?

No.

I know, everyone says I will change my mind, but I love the idea of preserving this incredible memory. So many moving pieces had to be set for this to all work out, and I am so thankful to my family for the support, the lining up of other events (through this quadzilla, we also attended Thanksgiving with relatives, North Pole at the Fair, Meeting Santa, Anniversary Dinner) and it really is a sacrifice of so many to get this done – I may have run those miles “on my own,” but I am never alone in pursuing these goals.

Of course, I may pick and choose races from these in the future if they line up with my other training plans and structures – these races were all wonderfully organized, affordable and well supported.

In conclusion…

This was a great challenge, and I highly recommend it to anyone that may have interest! Feel free to send me any questions and I would be happy to talk your ear off 😉

40×40

Okay, I think I am finally saying it out loud.

Or, typing it. Out loud? Or whatever the equivalent is?

Anyway.

When you’ve caught your unicorn…what’s next?

Ever since I earned my 6th World Marathon Major medal in Berlin, and subsequently, the associated medal, I have been thinking about what was next for me, goals-wise. Sure, I returned to Boston, which was incredible, and even paired it with the epic experience of Big Sur – but after chasing these dreams for so long, and then, seeing them complete – I must admit, was a bit surreal. I have only been running since 2010, which in some ways seems forever, and other seems like I’ve just begun – but dozens of marathons in, BQ attained, and 6-star earned…what could be next?

To be honest, my original plan for this summer was to re-scale to a new goal: the elusive 5K PR. I haven’t truly raced one in years, and though the distance is obviously a no brainer at this point, thinking of an all-out effort, and going for what I *know* I am capable of – well, that is just daunting! So, that went on the back burner, and this weird, weird idea kept entering my mind – so weird, that I had to start considering it.

You see, I am a bit of a softie for that marathon. I mean, you’ve pretty much seen that play out here, even in this recap. Marathon, Marathon, Marathon. 26.2. Since 2011 and my very first foray into the distance (the Richmond Marathon), I’ve been kind of enamored with it. Sure, it’s a weird and unforgiving relationship (a bad race can mean prolonged suffering), but there is something almost poetic about enduring the experience, and I can earnestly say that I’ve learned something new about myself each time.

With this admiration for the distance, I realized earlier this year that I was about to hit the 30 lifetime marathon (or beyond, I did count my two ultras in this equation) mark. And, wouldn’t you know it, I was also beginning to ponder how I might want to celebrate my big ol’ milestone birthday coming up in Spring 2024. Which big one, you might ask? Well, that long thought of ‘over the hill’ measurement, my transition to official “Master’s Runner” territory – the pivotal 4-0!

So, why not try and hit (cue blog post title) 40 by 40?

Yup, it was zany, but doable. I’d need to average about a marathon a month to be safe, though realistically, I knew I’d have to have a contingency plan (and a contingency plan for that), based on logistical and environmental concerns, but it was still attainable enough as an idea.

While “the list” is still a bit nebulous, I got a kickstart this summer with that July double, which brought my total to 31. Then, as we roll into fall, I should have a few good opportunities, along with my scheme to complete my first Quadzilla.

Now, ideally, I’d be crossing the start (and finish!) line on my actual 40th birthday (since it does fall on a weekend next year), but to keep myself on track for sure, I will express that as long as it happens during my birthday month, I’ll count it as a win!

So…here we go. It’s out in the universe (beyond just my inner circle of runner pals, at least) and I am ready to make it happen.

RECAP: Double Marathon Madness

I kicked off July with a Bang…or should I say, a KABOOM!

See, my good friends Kandi and Rob, of Pop Up Races, teamed up with another rad small RD to create the Inaugural Lil’ Firecracker Quad, which consisted of four separate (consecutive) days of races, from 5Ks to ultras. The main event(s), however, were the half and full marathons, which, if you completed 4x, you could earn a very special quad medal!

I opted for a lower key race challenge, with two marathons, day 1 and day 4. Kaboom was Day 1, a 29x loop course (.91 mile) at Bradley Lake Park, in Puyallup, and, to my delight on race morning, a 8x trail/road combo run right here in my neighborhood of Tehaleh.

It had been a while since I had done a longer run (I had recently gone up to half distance on a weekend long run with Nancy), but knew both days would be warm, so I went in only with the expectation of keeping them easy and fun.

Marathon 1: KABOOM!

The Saturday marathon was staged in a park about 20 minutes away, with an “official” start at 7 AM, but an early option of 6. I left home at around 5:40, parked, and got myself up to the pavilion area where bib pickup was taking place. The Pop-Up races were conceived as a way to participate in endurance races during COVID, so they have long featured staggered starts, which is a really low-key and chill way to begin a race, especially compared to mass starts at major road races.

Before too long, I was matched up with two other participants, and at 6:18 AM, I was off for my 29 loop adventure!

The first round, I got the lay of the land…there were little pin flags to denote the turns/directions, but overall it was quite straightforward. The .91 loop had a lot of shade, with some full sun right at the end, but the temperatures were pretty mild, so that variation was actually really nice and kept things comfortable for the majority of the race.

The terrain was completely paved, with some elevation changes, so believe it or not, I never got bored.

Tick marks for each lap!

When you returned back to the pavilion area, there was a small table with a lap counter and pens, as well as rubber bands (you could use the rubber band method, small rubber bands you’d grab to put around your wrist, and exchange at 5 miles for a bigger one, etc), but I stuck to the tick marks.

Fun KABOOM bling!

Since the loop wasn’t quite a mile, I was grateful for the little tracker, since you really do lose count after a while! It might sound kind of weird, but I have little memories of the middle miles, other than the fact that I remember changing my audio selections from a “you’re wrong about” episode, to a thirty20eight episode, then finally, an old marathon playlist on my Spotify – which proved to be a bad idea (and would be again – spoiler alert lol!!) as I could pinpoint the exact time that Abby and Ellie were up because they commandeered my Spotify account and my music shut off! I had to call Abby and ask her to wait until I was done running. I know, I know, I could buy a dual membership but I am too cheap 😉

Anyway! I had no real expectations, as far as time, but I finished with a respectable 4:08, which I later found out was good enough for second overall!

Marathon 2: Sparklin’ around the Neighborhood

After two days of easy runs, it was back to the marathon game! Of course, the perk for that day (July 4!) was that I was able to walk to the start, since it was just under a mile away.

This course was very different than Saturday’s, as it was primarily trail – thankfully, quite groomed and non-technical, as I am a bit of a klutz on “real” trails – followed by a nice paved stretch on the way back in. The loop was 3.3something, so that meant 8 loops around.

Much like the KABOOM marathon, the first loop was the most memorable, as I surveyed the route. There were undulations, extended tree-shaded lengths, and even a small table before leaving the trail section that had water and gatorade which was a nice surprise (I carried a handheld and re-filled a few times).

The race temperature that day was a lot warmer, so I was glad I had prepared in layers. First lap, I shed the long sleeve, then after loop 3 or 4 (I cannot recall), I was able to tuck my tank top under the registration table area.

Medal 2!

There were a lot of runners that day, running distances from 5k and up, so the mood was pretty high energy, and it was fun seeing some of the participants from Saturday as well.

For most of the run, I listened to ‘The Bear Season 2’ soundtrack, which was a good idea since I had downloaded it to my phone and thus, would not have the same issue as the other day with my music. However, perhaps in my salty and sweaty delirium, I wanted to hit my last loop with a higher dose of pep, so mindlessly switched to a non-downloaded playlist, which of course meant I was thwarted again with an abrupt stop of my music (the kids were up and ‘cleaning’ their room, so playing their music again) so I had to make a call and ask Abby to hold off on the jams until I called her back 😉

Thankfully, that worked, and I finished the last lap strong. I had walked a lot more than on Saturday, but I still finished with a moving time of 4:12 (official was 4:25) and another second OA.

As soon as I finished, I pulled my longsleeve back on to regulate my temperature, thanked the hosts, grabbed a cold drink, and walked home. What a chill way to race!

52.4 – the DOUBLE FIRECRACKER!

Many participants went for the LIL FIRECRACKER QUAD, so my little halvsie didn’t feel too crazy, though I fully admit, yes, it kind of was. But, I did it and lived to tell! And I am considering doubling the challenge this fall..stay tuned!

RECAP: 2023 Rainier 2 Ruston

Victorious! Basking in the sun after our 52-mile journey.

This past weekend, I joined a team of awesome women to make the local-ish relay trek from the shadow of Mt. Rainier to the beautiful south Puget Sound shores of Point Ruston. It’s a 21-year tradition that takes place each summer (usually on National Trails Day) and serves as a fundraising event to maintain and improve the rail trail that comprises a large portion (but not all! as you read on, lol) of this race.

We were an 6-woman team, but you can enter in a variety of different entries: 4, 2, all men/women, or even solo. Some teams are fiercely competitive, and others are there for the fun (that was us! Though we took a pretty impressive 171st place <finishing in 9 hours and 13 min> out of 234 teams who finished!)

Anywho, back to the recap!

Since we were a self-described recreational team, we did the early start, which meant our first runner started Leg 1 at 6:30 AM; in all, there are 12 separate legs, so with a 6-person team, we each had two distances to run, which ranged in lengths from around a 5K to the longest, a touch over 8-miles. I had legs 2 (the aforementioned longest leg) and 8 (4-ish mile) for a total of ~12.5ish. Ricka was the lead driver, as we were using her awesome Jeep, and the back was filled with water and snacks!

Mud fun on Leg 2.

Although I knew the first leg would contain trail, I guess I am a bit of a princess road runner because I was not prepared for the muck and peril (so dramatic!)

For real though, I really should have brought trail shoes as I was slipping and sliding, clamoring over rocks and dodging scat. Now, looking at this pic it doesn’t look nearly as bad as it felt, though to my credit, I made the mistake of taking the left side of this trail instead of the right where that other runner is, so I had to squash my way over to the right and attempt to repair my overall pace (which I ended up doing, somehow, splits: 8:51, 11:05, 10:52, 9:27, 8:37, 8:17, 8:15, 8:06 and last 0.3 @ 7:17 pace, for an average 9:07)

After the exchange to Michelle, she was off, and I was back in the Jeep, en route to the small town of Wilkeson, where we hung out in the charming ‘downtown’ area before the next switch, and we piled in again, as the route switched on to Foothills Trail, where I have spent many a long run and race.

At the South Prairie exchange, we were right by a coffee stand, so I took the opportunity to grab Lisa a cold drink, and that worked out really nicely for her to finish that leg, and head further down the trail, and before I knew it, I was up again, for Leg 8, and a 4-ish mile stretch from McMillan (right after the bridge) to Meeker, a length I have run many a time in Pop Up races.

Although my right ankle was a little tender from a few too many rolls in Leg 2, I felt right at home on that ‘home turf’ feel of the trail and was able to lay down a nice cut-down run (8:20, 8:09, 8:09, 8:02) despite the sun’s almost-noon rays upon us. I marveled that I was in my “slow” shoes and it gave me some motivation to work on some speed over the summer!!

Moving closer to Tacoma, the route took us through Puyallup (and the very PNW realness of a Fred Meyer parking lot/under bridge area as a transition, lol), which marked the ‘dread’ Sand leg that Lisa so courageously/foolishly volunteered for (tall grass/loose, soft sand, high sun). You get a special medal just for completing this section, so that gives you an idea of how ‘awesome’ it is 😉

Through the miles of chatting, snacking and cheering at transitions, we had a lot of laughs and made up little rivalries with other teams, creating nicknames for some of the runners we kept seeing, all for fun.

Capping out the miles, Julia brought it in at Ruston, and we all finished the race together, earning our medals and sandwiches, plus beer from Silver City. It was a gorgeous, sunny day, and we had time to relax in the sun before heading home.

I enjoyed the experience, and am happy to have been invited to join in.

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Which relay runs have you participated in? Would you do this one?