Races | Kelocity.com

Phoenix Rock N’ Roll Marathon: Expo January 17, 2011

Filed under: Races,Running — Kelocity @ 9:45 am
Tags: Expo, marathon, Phoenix, Races

For me, marathon expos are half the fun of a race weekend. Sure the race itself is the highlight, and the finish areas are usually pretty great… but I still get excited about seeing the vendors and picking up my bib and swag bag. Irving dropped me off as soon as we got into Phoenix (around 1:30p or so) and I stayed there til almost 6! But it was fun and I’m glad I could take my time.

First stop, pick up bib! I’ll be starting in corral 19! I think they base it on speed, so I’m definitely towards the back. Oh well. I’ll pass all those speedy people in the last mile, you watch…. hey, it’s good motivation!

Brooks had a cool display. It was set up like a carnival with fortune tellers and games. It was cute. Everyone won a ‘prize’. I ended up with a pretty cool ski hat. holla!

There were TONS of people milling around, it was kind of hard to get around. I saw one dad pushing a double wide stroller, I felt bad for him.

But for the most part, I got to see everything I wanted. B it was kind of lonely to walk to walk through alone. I love taking pictures with my friends in front of the signs and sharing the race excitement with someone. Oh well, I made the most of it by bugging strangers to take my pictures for me.

Remember the time I ran a marathon in 2:03? hahaha

The highlight for me was definitely meeting Meb Keflezighi. He is a running legend. He won the NYC marathon in 2009 and was on the US Olympic team. I waited in line to buy his book and I told him that I ran the 2010 Boston Marathon (Meb came in 5th!) He said “Oh, so we ran Boston together!” I told him I was just a few minutes behind him. And he said “Oh, I saw you coming, so that’s why I ran a little bit faster!”

He signed his book for me, I love it!

I also saw Kara Goucher! She’s one of the best female runners in the world right now!

Her husband is also a runner and they just had a cute baby!

Later, I attended a panel with Frank Shorter, Arturo Barrios and Meb. It was fun hearing their stories about the victories and woes of professional running. They had some great advice that I’ll have to remember for the race tomorrow.

On my way out, I saw my high school friend Scott, who works at Nuun now! Hi Scott!! I love seeing hometown faces on the west coast.

On the way out, I grabbed some garlic knots (it’s all about the carbs, right?)

Off to chug some water. I’ll be back with a rull race recap soon!!

Comments Off

What will they come up with next? December 13, 2010

Filed under: Races,Running — Kelocity @ 5:22 pm

I’ve seen some good race perks in my running days…. but this one takes the cake!

I’m running the Phoenix Rock N Roll Half Marathon in January, and the race directors just sent out this email to participants. Anyone who has ever ran a race before knows how valuable this prize is!

Tell me… Would you pay $100 to have real toilets in a race?

Comments (3)

Someone stop me!! December 6, 2010

Filed under: Races,Running — Kelocity @ 9:00 am
Tags: Races, Running, Surf CIty

Since we did the 5K walk yesterday, I started thinking ahead to what next year’s race schedule looks like.

I’m still fueled by my The 20 Before 30!challenge (completing 20 full or half marathons before I’m 30 in 3 years!)

Today, I registered to run the 13th endurance race in this quest:

I’ll be doing the Surf City Half Marathon in Huntington Beach, CA on February 6th!
surf

Bring it on!

Comments (1)

Universal Studios Backlot 5K December 5, 2010

Filed under: Hollywood Events,Races,Running — Kelocity @ 3:41 pm
Tags: Hollywood, Irving, Races, Running, Unviersal Stuidos

This morning, Irving and I got up at 6am to ~~run~~ walk the ‘Say No to Drugs’ 5K. This year, the race was held at the Universal Studios backlot! The route follows the Tram route and goes through all the movie sets back there! Of course we couldn’t pass up a race like this!

I declared it time to swap out my sneakers and try out my new shoes! Out with the old, in with the new!

We picked up our bibs yesterday, and were very impressed by the Goodie Bags. We all got a bib, shoe chip, T-Shirt and a bag o’ schwag!

Erica met us at our house at 6:30a and we grabbed a banana and headed out!
It was pretty cold in LA this morning!

Universal looked so empty at sunrise!

No one was in citywalk!

But it was so pretty decorated to look like Christmas!

Snow next to Palm trees?

When we got there, we walked around the expo for a little bit before the race started.

Irving was sporting the ‘Drug Free’ ribbon! The only way to be!

Races are more fun with friends!

Speaking of friends!! I love my running group, the LA Racers!

Then it was Go time!

We took our time and walked because it was just so cool to be able to walk in the backlot. We get to go back there during Halloween Horror Nights, but that’s at night and you can’t see as much! This was way cooler!

First stop: the set of Jaws!

Then we headed into Mexico!

The ‘Flash Flood’ location

Then we headed back in time to the Old West!

Then into downtown New York

Good Old Alfred Hitchcock’s offices!

We also passed some prop storage areas. Anyone need a phonebooth?

Or a mailbox?

What a cool place to run a race!

And then we headed for a jog down Wisteria Lane!

I knocked, but Gabrielle wasn’t home (jk!)

Susan’s (old) house on the lane!

And Bree’s House

And parked along the street were the prop cars (with all emblems removed). lol We think this is Susan’s car from ‘Desperate Housewives’.

Next stop: Whoville (which was decorated up for ‘Grinchmas’.

And right around the corner… The Bates Motel!

And guess who was cheering us on as we walked by? (Ok, maybe he wasn’t exactly cheering, but it was cool to see Norman!)
creepy!

And then the famous ‘War of the Worlds’ set. This is almost scarier in daylight than during Horror Nights!

Started out innocent…

Wait for it…

PHOTOBOMB!! haha!

And before we knew it, the finish line was up ahead!

When we finished, the view of Burbank and Warner Brothers was great from the top.

We did it!

What do you celebrate with after an ~~extraneous~~ leisurely 3.1 mile walk? Eat Pancakes!

All participants got a pancake breakfast!

It was freezing though, maybe in the 50s? So we headed back home after that. One warm shower later, and we passed out for a 2.5 hour nap!!
What a great way to spend a Sunday though. A little bit of Husband, Hollywood, Exercise and pancakes! Perfect!

Comments (7)

2010 Nike Women’s Half Marathon – Race Recap October 19, 2010

Filed under: Happy,Marathons,Races,Running — Kelocity @ 10:33 pm
Tags: Happy, Marathons, Nike Women's Marathon, Races, Running

It was a rainy, wet, cool day in San Francisco, but 20,000 runners still gathered in San Francisco to run one the biggest women’s race in the country. 🙂

But let’s back up to 4:30am on race morning! We took our time getting ready, making sure we didn’t forget all the little things you need to run a successful race (GU, timing chip, race bib, watch, etc).

I put my Ipod on to make sure it worked… and you know what? It was completely empty! All the great songs my sister Mikaela gave to me were gone! I must have lost them when I sunk it up to my computer this week! How did that happen? I’m Ipod-challenged. Oh well, I can run without music.

We headed down to Union Square to the starting line. It wasn’t hard to find with all the crowds of people.

I only had to wait about 20 minutes until the race started (Score!) But then I realized one more thing…my Garmin was dead!! I had charged it the night before, but maybe I left it on?! This happened to me last year too, and it ruined my race. But not this year… I wasn’t going to let a few numbers get in my way of enjoying this!

So I put my chin up and walked towards the startline. I didn’t have a goal in mind this year, so I was just going to listen to my body, enjoy the scenery and take in the race without staring at my watch.

Let’s do this!

The first mile wizzed by, I ran the first two miles straight without stopping. I watched Pier 39 go by as the sun was rising. I took a good look at Alcatraz as we ran along the bay.

There was absolutely NO fog, which is pretty rare for a fall day in SF. It was gorgeous.

Then we headed up the teaser hill to Ghirardelli Square.

And up the bigger hills in the Presidio.

Then we saw the stunning Golden Gate bridge staring at us.

I asked a spectator to snap a picture of me with the bridge, you get the idea.

One of my favorite parts of the race this year was the many “Power Song” stations along the course. Out of nowhere, you’d hear blasting music coming from these boxes. It was an ad for ‘Nike+’, but I appreciated the bursts of adrenaline the loud music provided!

kelpic3

Between mile 7 and 8 is the steepest hill of the race.

But the views of the bridge are worth it!

I’m not sure who these guys were, but they were quite funny.

Another spectator shot of the bridge!

kelpic1

Along mile 8 or 9, Kaiser had a bunch of motivational signs!

And my favorite…

And they provide oranges here (my favorite!)

Mile 10 is definitely my favorite mile of the whole race. That’s when you start running down towards the ocean. The views are gorgeous! And Irving texted me at this point too, and it totally gave me a boost of energy!

You can see finisher’s village from up there too!

The last three miles are in Golden Gate Park. It started to drizzle when I entered, but I knew I was almost done.

I know this picture is blurry, but it just made me laugh. Why do marathoners LOVE running quotes so much? They make me so happy!!

“You measure happiness one mile at a time”!

Almost done! Two miles left! And the rain had started to come down by this point. I was wet and sticky. Ew.

At mile 12 is the Ghirardelli chocolate mile! They hand out chocolates to all the runners! I saved mine for later!

kelpic2

Almost done! The final turn into home stretch!
Which side do you think I ran under? SURVIVOR!

A nd then I booked it to the finish line! (Yea, I was SOAKED at this point)!

kelpic8

And I’m not sure what came over me, but I made some weird pose when I crossed the finish line. It kinda looks like I’m doing the Hokey Pokey. Um??
kelpic7 kelpic4
kelpic5 kelpic6

Either that or I’m making a “I’m #1” sign? HAHA

finishlogo

Official Time: 3:03:18

Out of my 8 other half marathons, this is in the middle of all my finish times. Not the best, but definitely not the worst. Not too shabby for not really training.

Once I crossed the finish line, a lovely firefighter in a tux gave me a tiffany necklace from a silver platter!
(And Yes, I made him pose for a picture before I took it!)

I got my mylar blanket and tried to warm up. It was FREEZING down by the ocean! I was so cold, I didn’t even wait in the photobooth line (and you know me and the photobooths!)