Monday, March 10, 2014

That Time I Didn't Race

Yesterday was an annual 10 mile race that I was pretty excited about running and beating my previous time from last year. I held off on signing up because I wanted to see what the weather was like first. Well, race day came. And it was POURING. We got a total of 1.8 inches in just one day.


While this was very good for our state,  it was not good for me and racing. I have no waterproof running gear, which is kind of essential for a ten mile race. I could have braved it for the 2 or 4 mile race, but it wasn't worth it to me. Needless to say, I was bummed with myself for not going out and just doing it.


Sundays are also kind of my sacred day for the next few weeks because I have time constraints and places I have to be every single other day of the week until the Saturday class is over. The thought of stressing about being at the starting line also kept me from going. I stayed in bed and read for a good two hours before we mozied on down to Boyfriend's mom's house for brunch.

This picture is a bad example because it certainly was not sunny and we did not eat outside.

Since I was super disappointed in my decision to not race, I went to the gym for my long run and decided to challenge myself. I had my own race. I did a half marathon and beat my half marathon time by 2 minutes. This made me super excited for the half marathon in May that I am more than likely going to run.


Besides not racing in the rain, yesterday was also my very good friend's birthday. We went to sushi, which was the most perfect meal after 13.1 miles. 


She is the most amazing, wonderful soul I know and I am so glad she was born. She works at the gym I go to, so I am lucky enough to see her at least three times a week. She's the one with the chopsticks.


My night was finished with a 6.9 magnitude earthquake. I have lived in California my entire life and I am still terrified whenever an earthquake hits. I was standing in the kitchen when all of a sudden the earth began moving. I wasn't nervous at first until it kept going. That was when my good California-raised kid kicked in and I ducked and covered while army crawling my way to Boyfriend in the living room all while screaming, "What do I do?!? What do I do?!?" It ended after about 30 seconds and nothing was damaged, but let's just say I'm useless in a panic situation. That was quite the exciting way to end my weekend.

Have you ever not raced due to weather? 

Have you ever been in an earthquake?

14 comments:

  1. Don't beat yourself up over the missed race... you would've been miserable the entire time. And you hadn't even paid, so there really were no losses. And holy cow, a 2-minute "PR" on a treadmill? With two months still til race time? You're going to kill that half.

    I've never been in an earthquake. No idea what I would even do. But once, on a test in my husband's class (middle school science), a girl answered the question, "What should you do when an earthquake strikes?" with "Make sure you are wearing comfortable pants and shoes." So there's some advice for next time. :)

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    1. Thanks Cassie. I really would have been miserable. My mom was the one who actually convinced me not to do it because she said, "You are going to pay money you don't have to get soaking wet?" Yeah. The money I don't have part really sold it.

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  2. Wow that EQ must have been scary. How many EQs do you think you have experienced? Was this the biggest one?

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    1. I have absolutely no idea how many earthquakes I've experienced. I think this might have been the biggest one, but it wasn't the scariest. This one was super weird. Instead of jerky, it was rolling, which kept a lot of damage from happening. In 2010 we had a 6.5 that caused a lot more damage and I was way more scared during.

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  3. I grew up in Southern California and was 9 years old when the Northridge earthquake hit. I don't miss the tremors; I've definitely been more anxious and jumpy since that event, it was pretty jarring.
    And next time, I'd probably run in the rain if I were you. Little rain won't kill you. I generally don't even wear waterproof gear. Just have a hat or visor to help keep your eyes dry and a change of dry clothes for afterwards and you'll be okay. You won't melt (says the girl who lives in Seattle and has to run in the rain all the time).

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    1. Yeah, Boyfriend keeps trying to convince me to move to Seattle. The rain is what keeps me away! I do, however, love that area. I really need to invest in some waterproof gear and a visor.

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  4. OMg.....glad you are okay! I've never been in an earthquake and certainly don't want to be. Great job on your TM half! I could never run that far on a TM...lol.

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    1. I had a really good book to keep me occupied. It felt really fast, actually!

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  5. Glad to hear you and your loved ones are okay!!
    Congrats on your beating your PR! That is awesome! You will definitely rock your half in May! I wish I could be there to cheer you on!!!! :)
    I have to agree with Cassie's comment about the race - you know you would have been miserable!! Hopefully next year will be sunny and the perfect running weather!!!

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    1. I wish you could be here too! That would be so awesome! Last year was sunny and perfect weather conditions, and of course Monday the weather cleared and it was gorgeous!

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  6. Sometimes missing a race SUCKS, especially if it's one that you've run before and love. But it sounds like you had a good reason!! Way to kick butt on that long TM run!

    Glad you're safe and sound after the quake!

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    1. Thanks Ali! I have run this race several times. It's a really popular one with the schools around the area. All of the school groups come and compete. There were a lot of really tough little kids who ran on Sunday!

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  7. Ugh, what a sucky situation... but honestly, it seems to have been the right choice. Glad that everything was alright in the end :)

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    1. Thanks Cori! I think I made the right decision as well. As you know, I don't have any problems with running on the treadmill. :-D

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