3rd Place at Carlsbad Half Marathon in 1:14:23

Such a HUGE thanks to Rich Cruse for capturing this shot!

Last weekend, I toed the line at the Carlsbad Half Marathon and came away more than excited for the 2013 triathlon season to get underway! I was able to improve on my time from last year, which was my top goal with this run, and I also got a taste of racing again, my absolute favorite! The adrenaline rush…the mental side of staying tough when it hurts… the tactics…you can’t beat the natural high from all of these coming together, and they sure did on Sunday!

Thanks Jamie of Runnerazzi for this run shot!!!!

This was my third year in a row racing this event, as it falls at a perfect time to test my early season fitness: about 8-10 weeks out from Oceanside 70.3. I was able to run a 1:14:23, a HUGE personal best for me….so excited!!!!…..an improvement on my 1:16:11 from the previous year. I was so excited after, as the time improvement is great validation that my training is working, fitness is coming, and we have a good gauge of where to go from here in the 4 weeks until Escape from Alcatraz, and then my two favorite half-Ironman distance triathlons out there: Oceanside 70.3 and then Wildflower.

Thanks to Jamie of Runnerazzi for this photo!

The biggest difference for me this year was definitely a boost in confidence that has come from my recent months of training with Cliff, my new coach. So I can’t thank him enough! We’ve been very progressive with my run times, distances, interval efforts, etc. Each week of my training leading into the race built in speed, distance, or both, and I did a certain number of 1-mile, 2-mile, 20minute, 25minute, and other length interval runs to give me a very solid idea of what I was capable of holding.

Another shot from Jamie…

Having my training numbers as gauges, I had done the math. The winner last year, Everlyne (who got second place this year and the girl I’m running with above), won the race in 1:12:something, or 5:28s?min/mile or so pace. That wasn’t that far off from some of the mile and 2-mile repeat efforts I’ve been doing. Plus, I’ve been training up at altitude, so that’s gotta be good for another 5-10seconds/mile…right? :) This is what I was thinking in my head. So… I can run with those front girls:) That was my mentality going into the race and I think this allowed me to push myself more than I might have just to try to get up to them and race alongside them….even try to make some surges:) haha. So psyched with my result and a huge thank you again to Cliff for getting me to this point, and of course Wattie for the indescribable support he has given me in the past few months of training and always. And, of course, to all of my sponsors!!!! Especially to the Zoot crew, who were all out there racing themselves!!!! So great to see you guys and thanks for the amazing gear and footwear. Love my Kiawe’s!!!!

A Wattie Ink. Instagram :)

 Sunday was so much fun- the crowds on this course are always amazing (thank you to everyone that was yelling and cheering out there!), the scenery is beautiful, the staff and volunteers so helpful (thank you!)….can’t wait for 2014:)