Napa To Sonoma & Eugene Half

I am going to try to keep this short since I am a few races behind.

On Sunday 7/20 I ran the Napa To Sonoma Half Marathon.  If you like wine, beautiful scenery and running then this race should be on your bucket list.  If you hate wine and feeling like you're in a postcard then this race would be your nightmare and also we shouldn't ever hang out.  I didn't have a stellar performance myself but I still can't get over what an awesome course and race this was. First off, the organization on race day exceeded my expectations.  We parked down by the finish line, loaded onto a shuttle and were dropped off at Domaine Carneros.

On the Napa-Sonoma Line.  Very similar to the Florida-Georgia Line.

The scenery was unbelievable.  You literally start in the middle of a vineyard, where I watched the Oiselle ladies and Lauren Fleshman warm up around the lake while Meb did laps on the Elliptigo. It was one of those is-this-real-life-? race moments.

Just chillin in a vineyard waiting to run 13.1

This race was made even better by the fact that I somehow convinced MFR to join me very last minute - thanks to a bib transfer. Besides doing Hood To Coast every year, MFR is not a big distance runner.  He prefers training for Oly tri's, basketball, tennis, golf...just about anything other than running past that 6.2 mile mark.  So the fact that he ran N2S the weekend before doing another half in Eugene is nothing short of a miracle.  The alternative of having breakfast with my 96 year old Grandma while I ran might have also swayed his decision.

Couples who run together....run together

#team10barrel top, Nuun sunglasses, Picky Club sweatband & Oiselle Rogas - all the bases covered

To save you the mile by mile replay, I'll just say the race went okay.  I was really full again, as in this must be what it feels like to run pregnant feeling.  I just ate way too much the night before and the morning of.  I was running on tired legs and had to walk some in the last 3 miles.  I also stopped at the lone beer stand for a shot of Guinness at mile 11.  Why not?

I pushed through the last few miles and ended with a 2:04, a few seconds off my Zooma time.  As long as I live in the Bay Area, this race will be an annual tradition.  Honestly I don't think it gets much better as far as courses and scenery go. I think it sells out day of as well so if you're interested, stay on it!

Wine medal #2

Next up was Eugene this past Sunday (7/26).  It was a weekend filled with friends, family and reminiscing in my "hometown."  The race itself was great, I've always loved Eugene marathon.  It's a good course, good size and finishing on Hayward Field is surreal.  I was having too much fun to be bothered with photos but here are the two horrible pics I took all weekend:

Expo

Dad, MFR, Bro, Mom, Nephew #1, Sis-In-Law, Nephew #2

This was my 3rd time running Eugene (2008,2009) and my fastest to date. For the 3rd week in a row I ended up within a 30 second window with a time of 2:05, a few seconds off N2S.  The not so funny part was I thought I had Sub 2'ed.  I ran Garmin-less with two friends and although we chatted the entire time, I thought we were going at a pretty good clip.  I should have known better since I normally can't hold a conversation and run at the same time.

When I found out it was 2:05 I was shocked but not that disappointed.  It was a great weekend and fun race and that's what I expected on my tired legs.  At least I am consistent.  Afterwards I ate ALL the pancakes, showered up and met up with these two for ReNUUNion beers!

Ninkasi w/ Sweaty & Devon

After 3 half marathons in 4 weeks, I am ready to concentrate on Hood To Coast and New York.  I am starting with a good base and now it's time to focus on the marathon.  I'll worry about that Sub-2, PR'ing the half etc... after November 2nd.

I am coming for you NY - Actually looking at this photo makes me think I should reconsider this PR goal.

When Awesomeness Collides: Hydrating & Carb Loading

Last weeks workouts looked like this:

Monday 5/19:  Lunch Spin Class - only got in 13.2 miles but better than nothing 
Tuesday 5/20:  Morning run - 5 miles easy (felt harder then it should have)
Wednesday 5/21: November Project - 2 miles of running and 30 min of Death Monopoly 
Thursday 5/22: Lunch Yoga - 60 min power vinyasa
Friday 5/23: November Project hills - 4.5 miles total (2 miles of hills/stairs)
Saturday 5/24 - REST
Sunday 5/25 - Unplanned rest due to oversleeping and wine tasting winning out:)
Total: 24 miles + yoga + 30 min strength

I didn't have any daily doubles but I felt good getting in something every day during the week.  I am trying to take it kind of easy this week since I woke up with a half cold. You know the drill, half cold = sore throat, stuffed up and weak but not bad enough to actually "be sick." I ran yesterday but begrudgingly took today off since this morning I felt worse.  Hoping to feel up for a short run and some yoga tomorrow.

Hydrating
On the good news front, all the things I love in the world are coming together.  I was so excited when I heard about Kara Goucher and Oiselle were teaming up, what could possibly be better? Then this happened:

Kara + Nuun.  I could not be more ecstatic about this partnership.  My favorite runner partnering with one of the coolest companies and kick ass products around.  It's too good to be true. Plus now we are totes teammates.  That's how that works right?  

To share in the excitement and spread the ‪#‎nuunlove‬, you can use this discount code: MAY14NUUN for 20% orders through June 6th. This can not be used with any other discount.

Carb Loading

And just when I thought my little world of endurance had peaked, I received this e-mail:

CONGRATS! You made the cut!

So, WELCOME! We're stoked to have you on the team and look forward to an awesome first season of Team 10 Barrel! 

We'll be following up about kits and you'll be receiving your Team 10 Barrel box in the mail within 6 weeks. Expect to hear lots from us in the coming weeks but for now, go crush a beer!

My favorite brewery,10 Barrel in Bend OR decided to put together and sponsor a team of mountain bikers, road bikers, triathletes etc... to represent them and I made the team.  You may recognize 10 Barrel since I've posted about them just a few times: like here, here  and all up and down Instagram. I have a minor love affair with their Apocalypse IPA and OG and Project Failed and....all their beers. If you've ever had the pleasure of sipping their sweet sweet microbrews, you get it.  I know I haven't posted my bucket list on the blog yet but if I had you would see:

 #51.  Get sponsored by a brewery - preferably 10 Barrel 

Consider that item checked.  They are still working out all the specifics but the short of it is I'll be racing in their kit and preaching my love for their beer (which I was already doing).  In turn we get some pretty sweet perks and to be part of an awesome group of athletes.  I am so thankful to be part of this community of 10 Barrel athletes who already have shown they are legit competitors and pretty rad individuals that you'd want to spend some time with. To say I am excited to be rep'ing a company where I already LOVE their beer product and their culture would be the understatement of the century.  I am f'ing stoked!   Plus this means incentive to go to Bend even more than I already do.  Also for you Portlanders, their Portland Pub is said to open by the end summer.

As the e-mail states - To celebrate, go crush a beer!  You know that's what I'll be doing. It's only a half cold.