San Diego or BUST!

Well, tomorrow morning I will be picking up my partner in crime (Monika) bright and early and hitting the road for Rock 'n Roll San Diego.  I don't know what we're more excited for:  running the race, or a couple of days without kids.  Hmmmm.....


Yesterday I spent a little time getting my stuff together. Now this isn't my first rodeo....it will be my fourth 1/2 marathon. Before the first one, I was a nervous wreck.  What do I bring? What do I wear? How early do I need be there? For someone with life-long anxiety issues, there was a lot to worry about.  But now I don't stress.....much.  While I'm by no stretch of the imagination an expert in anything running related, I've figured out what works for me on race day.

So here's my "bare necessities" for race day:

Garmin:  I teach high school math and have a BS in Civil Engineering.  In other words, I'm a nerd.  A nerd who likes numbers.  I can't help myself.  I love seeing all that data.

Running belt:  Yes, I carry my own stuff.  For a few reasons. I'm used to it. I can eat/drink when I want, not just when it's available.  Aid stations are complete zoos.  I'd rather just keep on trucking through them.  Also, I've heard from people I know that have worked races that things aren't always as "hygienic" as I would probably like (mixing with bare hands, filling water jugs from hoses and hydrants...yeah, no thanks!)

Gu:  ONLY  Vanilla Bean GU.  I have issues with my sinuses draining when I run, so I always need to spit.  If I consume something that needs to be chewed, that just makes more spit.  So that leaves me with gels.  I've tried them all.  Vanilla Bean GU is the only one that I can tolerate...and that's just barely.

Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen!  I'm pale. Not as translucent as my 1/2 British kids, but pretty pasty.  I have two skin colors:  white or burnt.  

Burt's Bees Lip Balm:  My lips get really dry when I run, so I slip this in my belt to use during the race.  It's the best lip balm ever.





My clothes.  Not too picky there.  Shorts and a tank top.  Something comfortable and moisture-wicking that doesn't rub any body parts in any weird ways.  And if it's cute and matchy-matchy, score! I've worn this outfit a few times so I know it doesn't bug me.

Hat.  I have to wear a hat.  I can't take the sun without it.  And this hat is my fave.  It's dri-fit and it's a youth size, so it actually fits my head.

Footwear:  Most important!  I've run in the New Balance 850 series (857, 858, 859s...now back to 850s) for the past few years and I love them.  They are a stability shoe, and they work for me.

As for the socks....sigh.  My feet get hot, so I'm picky about the thickness of my socks.  These socks were recommended to me by someone at Road Runner Sports.  They are Balega Low Enduro's.  They are damn comfortable.  But man are they hot!  I don't like my feet to feel sweaty, but I don't like blisters either, so these are what I go with for long runs.  They haven't done me wrong yet.

Finally....the most important thing in my Gear Check Bag.

Yes, a roll of T.P.  Have you ever been in the porta-potties at a race?  Everyone's bowels are in serious overdrive.  And it never fails...I will choose the one without toilet paper.  Solution: bring your own roll and hit the toilets before you drop your bag at Gear Check.  And if you want to make a lot of instantaneous best friends, share your TP with the other people in line.  They will love you.  

Well, that's it!  I'm ready to go!  Can't do anything else to prepare...I just have to go out there, have fun and run my race!  

Ready to ROCK San Diego!

Woooooo hoooooo!!!!! Rock 'n Roll San Diego is less than a week away!  The miles are run (although not as many as I would like, but moving on....), the arrangements are made. Now comes one of my most fave parts: making a new playlist!

I love music.  Any kind of music.  I'm not a music snob.  I'll listening to pretty much anything....a good song is a good song.  But I do have my preferences, which I wrote about a little bit here.  I like to change up my playlist frequently, so it doesn't get stale.  I usually rotate in new stuff, while keeping some of my faves from previous playlists.

So without further ado....my Rock 'n Roll San Diego playlist (which will be on shuffle, so who knows what order!):

Bridge Burning -  Foo Fighters

Bang, Bang - K'naan & Adam Levine (fun, great beat, and Adam Levine...sigh....)

F**k You! - Cee Lo Green

Tonight Tonight - Hot Chelle Ray (my kids are OBSESSED with this song.)

Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters 

What the Hell - Avril Lavigne (can't help myself, it's catchy!)

Little Lion Man - Mumford &  Sons

Kiss With a Fist - Florence + The Machine (she just rocks....)

White Limo - Foo Fighters (fits my "loud and slightly angry" preference to a tee)

Love Don't Wait - Michael Franti & Spearhead (fun, fun, fun!)

The Distance - Cake  (no running playlist is complete with Cake....)

Henrietta - The Fratellis

Welcome to the Black Parade - My Chemical Romance

When They Come for Me - Linkin Park (I like this song when I'm suffering....about mile 10, I'm sure)

Animal - Neon Trees (great beat)

Times Like These - Foo Fighters

The Sound of Sunshine - Michael Franti & Spearhead (happiness in song form)

Best of You - Foo Fighters (if I was going to do karaoke, it would be to this song)

Let Me Go - Cake

Back & Forth - Foo Fighters (everytime I hear this song, I have to resist the urge to sing)

Billionaire - Travie McCoy

Horseshoes and Handgrenades - Green Day (again, loud and slightly angry)

Everlong - Foo Fighters  (musical genius)

Dog Days are Over - Florence + The Machine

Lisztomania - Phoenix (again, I love the beat of this one)

Walk - Foo Fighters (I LOVE the lyrics in this song....)

Never There - Cake  (another one that makes me want to sing....trust me, you don't want me to sing)

Teenagers - My Chemical Romance

We'll Be Alright - Travie McCoy

Rope - Foo Fighters (Maybe my fave off the new album....)

Wretches and Kings - Linkin Park 

What's the Attitude - Cut Chemist (guilty pleasure!)

Price Tag - Jessie J and B.O.B.  (another guilty pleasure)

Headwires - Foo Fighters

Creepin' Up the Back Stairs - The Fratellis

Holiday - Vampire Weekend  (just love them!)

Going the Distance...

So I have a decision to make over the several days.

Registration for Rock n' Roll Las Vegas opens on May 31st.  I'm definitely doing it.  My friend Monika and I had so much fun last year that we knew before we even finished the race that we'd be back to do it again.

What I need to decide is:  half.....or, dare I say it, full.  Yes, I'm contemplating signing up for the full.  It would be my first marathon.  Monika is talking about doing it, and I have a feeling that she is going to use peer pressure kindly ask me to do it with her.

I would have a training partner in Monika.  I have plenty of time (according to the calendar, anyway) to prepare.

But I'm scared.  Can my body (mainly my hip and back) make it through the additional miles?  Can I fit all the extra training that a full would require into my already busy life?

I'm just so undecided.  If I do it, I have to fully commit to it.  I cannot be wishy-washy about it.

And so I will continue to think about it.  But not too long...registration is right around the corner.