MIA: Life Lately

I've been MIA for a few weeks and instead of making excuses, I'll just say that I've been busy and the blog has not been a priority.  I don't want to word vomit every day missed so here's the gist.

I ran Big Sur Marathon.  It was an incredible experience and so much more then running a "normal" marathon.  It was also really hard.  The last six miles were some of the most difficult and painful miles I've ever ran but it was so worth it.  TriTreats did an awesome recap that I am going to try to duplicate so check it out for the full play by play and pictures.  If you get a chance to run Big Sur, do it!    Remember they sold out in 57 minutes last year, I have a feeling a lottery for registration is in the not too distant future.

Other non-sweaty highlights of the past few weeks:

Watching these guys in the playoffs - every other night!

Kentucky Derby party in Portland

Vegas for MFR's birthday where I treated myself to a little Britney action.

And saw my brother, sister-in-law and adorable nephews

More country concerts: Tim McGraw & Kip Moore

18 holes of golf in Half Moon Bay - I golf now because the views look like this.

It's been a fun couple of weeks.  I am looking forward to a few weekends at home before it picks back up in June.  On tap this weekend is running Bay To Breakers with 100,000 other crazies. I haven't done this race since I was in high school.  Looking forward to the all the madness.

Marathon Monday

Happy Marathon Monday to all!  I woke up at 5:30 am in order to caffeinate properly before the Boston feed went live at 6:30 am.  This was especially tough after going to bed very late due to the Blazer playoff game going into overtime.  Way tougher than actually running 26.2.  I am all hopped up on sports and emotions.  I just want to run around and talk with whoever will listen about Shalane, Meb, Team Hoyt, the runners who carried the man across the finish, the beauty that is the Boston Marathon and taking back the finish.

Today's outfit (thanks So Cal travel, my skin is no longer translucent)

Instead of creeping everyone out by doing that, I've instead decided to take a look at my week ahead.  I am finally back in town (until Sat) and need to log some miles on the spin bike and hours on the yoga mat if I am going to beat my March totals.  I should also be tapering since I am running Big Sur Marathon on Sunday. No big deal.  It just sorta snuck up on me.  I've had a very lazy relaxed approach to this marathon, only doing two double digit runs since Napa and not mentally preparing at all.  It hit me this morning while watching others cross the finish line that I am also running a marathon this week and that is in fact a big deal.

The good news is every person I mention the race to has the exact same response: "don't push for a PR on this course, just take your time and soak in the scenery."  So that's my plan.  I am going to let Leslie set the pace and I'll try and stay steady and have fun.  And maybe even take a picture or two; first time for everything. The weather is predicted to be low 60's, cloudy and a 20% chance of rain.  Should make for great conditions if that holds true.

Excited to see these views

I am not going to "taper" since I don't have anything to taper down from.  I'll do a few very short runs this week + yoga and spin.  This lackadaisical approach will be coming to an end soon.  I've got some ambitious goals for my running over the next few months.  Many of which were spurred by watching Boston this morning.  I always find it mind-blowing when runners say, "even if I qualified I wouldn't want to do Boston." I just don't understand that mindset.  How could you not want to experience THE race and be part of that community?  I may not get there until I am in my 50's but I know someday I'll be there and I will look forward to and strive for that moment with every step I run.

A huge CONGRATULATIONS to my Nuun Hood To Coast teammates: Jenny, Meghan B. and Megan H. who ran some seriously speedy marathons.  These girls are legit runners and people who inspire me daily. Congrats to all three of you and everyone else who ran Boston today.

Someday I'll capture the unicorn

Back To Regularly Scheduled

I apologize for the brief interruption to the previous scheduled programming here on Karadise.  For a hot minute, due to my inability to understand domain hosting and publishing, I thought I needed to get a new URL and hosting site.  It was the perfect storm of an expired credit card, an e-mail address I didn't know I had, my blog disappearing and a frantic search to replace it since I thought Karadise would now be costing me lots o' $ to host.

Rest assured I have been given back my hijacked Karadise but not before I freaked out and purchased Run Bird Legs Run, which I thought was a pretty good find in rage filled panic search.  So now I own both RBLR, which goes to nowhere for the time being, and Karadise is back in the hands of its rightful "owner."  At some point I may switch over, but for now we'll remain here.  Turns out it's a little more tricky than you I may think.  And with that back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Life/Running Update:
Things have been busy per usual.   Having the weather be sunny and 70 here in NorCal has only added to the activities on my "must do" list.  I've actually been home every weekend since the race which is a big change.  They have been filled with trips to the beach, not running, beers with friends (IRL and blogger kind alike), hikes, brunches and not running some more.   I am continuing my tour-de-CA with four trips this week.  Two day trips for work, a trip to Tahoe this weekend for fun/work and a two day trip to San Diego at the end of next week.  All that plus LOTS O BASKETBALL this week. Go Ducks!

I have been keeping up on yoga, Abs challenge and getting in a few short runs here and there but this weekend will kick off the re-training for Big Sur. with my first double digit run.  I am going to take this training cycle a littler easier then Napa Valley.  I am planning to run Big Sur with Tritreats at a conversational pace and just take in the beauty of the course.  Then I'll gear back up the speed for New York!  That still means long runs but I am only planning on one 20 miler and not as much pressure on hitting certain times for training runs.  MFR and I have decided not to do Wildflower this year.  I am really loving running this year and don't want the pressure of "having to tri train."  And also this:

The California drought is not a joke people

In other news, This!  Kara Goucher with Oiselle.  I've loved me some Kara for so many years and was a tad bit heartbroken when I heard she was leaving Portland.  But to hear that she is now with my favorite running apparel company, (possibly just favorite company) is like peanut butter wine and chocolate finding each other for the first time.  You can read more about Kara's announcement and Sally's side - spoiler alert, both women are full of awesomeness.  To say I am excited about this partnership would be the understatement of the century.  See you in New York Kara.

With that I am off to hike the hills of Tahoe and buy ALL the Oiselle threads.

2014: The Year of the Marathon

Confirmed Races for 2014:

1. Kaiser Half Marathon - 2/2
2. Napa Valley Marathon - 3/2
3. Rock N' Roll SF Half Marathon - 4/6
4. Big Sur Marathon - 4/27
5. Wildflower Olympic Distance Tri- 5/4
6. Eugene Half Marathon - 7/27
7. Hood To Coast - 8/22-8/23
8. New York Marathon - 11/2

Other possibilities:
Zooma Napa Valley Half Marathon - 6/28? or maybe Pac Crest Oly 6/29? - Need a June race.
Big Kahuna Half Ironman - 9/14, Mountains To Beach Half 5/25, Nike SF

It's going to be a big year for the marathon.  I am going from zero to 60 in that department.  I haven't done one since 2010 and I am registered for three this year.  I am planning on having Napa & New York be my goal races with Big Sur as a "fun" run. 

2014 Goals/Resolutions:
Run a marathon, hopefully Napa Valley, in under 4:30
Beat my time (3:37) at Wildflower
Triple my 2013 mileage in the water and double my mileage on the bike
Floss daily
Take vitamins daily
Get a consistent morning routine  (i.e. morning workouts on the same day each week)
Blog twice a week
Say yes a lot - I really don't have a problem with this one.  This is just a reminder since after this year I have a feeling we're going to make some grown up life decisions like houses, kids and all that adult crap.  I want make sure I continue my 2013 non-stop fun for AT LEAST another year.  In the spirit of this, I've already booked a last minute trip to Nashville this month and I am 3 for 3 on flossing/vitamins. Winning.

Regarding my marathon training, I've had a little set back this week.  I am on day 12 now of a nasty cold.  I managed to hack/wheeze my way through my 15 miler last weekend in Bend but I paid the price and my cough got way worse.  I took it easy until last night when I slogged through 5 miles and in return stayed up all night coughing.  I have another 15 on the calendar tomorrow so here's hoping I can manage and my body doesn't say a big FU.  MFR also caught the 48 flu that's going around SF and knocks you on your ass, so if that's headed my way I just hope it's after tomorrows run. Have a mentioned how much I hate flu season?

Week 1 Challenge Recap

Week 1 was a success.  I busted out 32 successful miles last week.  It looked a little something like this:

Monday: Ran/walked 2.5 easy miles on the treadmill to test out my hip, 90 min yoga class
Tuesday: 6 Mile Trackmill Workout (Track workout on a Treadmill - get it?): 1 mile warmup,
10 x 400's @ 8min/mile pace (7.5), 1 mile cooldown
Wednesday: Skipped my 7 mile planned run because of reasons I can't remember now but at the time seemed like a reasonable excuse.  Something about not waking up on time and needing to finish Season 1 of Newsroom
Thursday: 6.5 Mile Tempo (1M jog, then 3M tempo at half-marathon pace, then 2.5M jog)
Friday: Long slow 7 miles I should have  done on Wednesday
Saturday: Hiking along the coastline with friends
Sunday: 10 Miles
Total: 32 Running Miles

All in all I felt pretty good on every workout.  Thursday was probably my toughest run, just felt sluggish and tired.  My "tempo" miles were not that much faster than my jogging miles.  Yesterday I was surprised by how good the 10 miles felt.  I expected to be exhausted from the week but my legs felt great.  I had a sore back and an upset stomach post run but besides the last mile straight up hill I felt good. It's amazing how just giving myself a goal of 30 miles and a reward of paying money to run even more got my ass in gear.  This week I have 31 on the schedule starting with track tomorrow but today I am going to enjoy my rest day.  My appetite is in extreme shock from actually having a training consistency again.  I've basically had four meals already today and I am already planning how many tacos I am going to be inhaling this evening.  Current plan is three but I think four may be more likely.

In other news, out of pure dumb luck, this happened this morning:

Registration Confirmation for:

Big Sur International Marathon

Dear Kara,

Congratulations! You are now registered for Big Sur International Marathon. Please check the event's official website for updates: http://www.bsim.org/

I have always wanted to run this marathon and now that I live so close, it's moved up on the list.  I knew registration was on July 15th but somehow failed to put it on my calendar or post any sort reminder.  This morning while I was making coffee I was thinking about my week of training ahead and registering for HMB.  That train of thought led to foggy, coastal, scenic CA marathons in general.  Enter Big Sur.   "That would be such a fun race to do someday, maybe next year? When is that registration again? The 15th?  Wait, is today the 15th? Hmm..maybe I'll check it out this evening." Since MFR was still in the shower I decided to get on the laptop and see if it was in fact the 15th. Sure enough ten minutes later I was registered.

Turns out registration had opened at 7am and they sold out in 59 min.  I registered at 7:51.  I think it was meant to be.  But before I start sketching out my 2014 race calendar, let's concentrate on the current important issues;  getting to 32 miles this week and just how many tacos is too many tacos?

Anyone else sign up for Big Sur?