Mermaid Run San Diego Race Report

This wasn't my typical everyday-no-biggie race. (yeah, right, like that ever happens.) This race just happened to take place the day after my 40th birthday. Yes, that's right, I typed 40. A few months ago I decided that I wanted to really celebrate this milestone year big, but I also wanted a personal challenge.

What is my biggest challenge? You guessed it, running. I decided to do a 10K as my challenge and started looking for event. There didn't seem to be many near the 12th. Lot's of half marathons and 5Ks, but few 10Ks. Then just when I was going to settle for a race a week or two after my birthday the Mermaid Series popped up with a 5K/10K in San Diego! I could run my challenge in the supportive environment of my Team Mermaid friends and coach. Sign me up! To help me achieve this goal I asked on of my inspirational friends Molly to run with me and keep me on pace.


Start and finish line

After 8 weeks of training the big day arrived on Saturday, 2/13 at Mission Bay in San Diego. I knew I could finish the distance but I was still a little nervous. Luckily, I was surrounded by friends.


Molly, me, and Jill.

After a little milling around and then it was time to go. I know I'm a slower runner so we started in the back. I started a little fast and Molly reminded me that I needed to save my legs for the rest of the race, so we slowed down to something like a 13:30 pace. I really wanted to run a 13:00 pace, but I knew based on my training run that I would probably average a 14:00 pace. But, you know, for someone who "didn't run" a year ago not so bad.


.25 miles in to my 10K.

Once we were out on Fiesta Island the crowd had pulled away from us and we were enjoying the beautiful San Diego February morning. We even got a little toasty. I kept my heart rate in its favorite zone and Molly kept me on pace.

I told Molly, "I can't suck it in in the back." But it's not too bad a view at mile 2.

At mile 4 things I was getting hot, thirsty, and tired. I was hoping for an aid station at mile 4 but it wasn't there. "Where's the aid station?! I'm thirsty," I whined. Molly, bless her, offered to run ahead and get some water for me. And, in my best 4-year-old attitude said, "No. I want the aid station." Just then we went around a turn and the aid station was in sight. One cup of water on my head and one cup of sport's drink to drink. Ahhh . . . feeling a little better.


Just before the where's-the-aid-station meltdown. Note the swinging ponytail.

I was starting to get tired and quiet. Molly picked up the conversation and was working hard to keep me moving forward. She told me the end was insight, we just had to go across the bridge that connected the island to the shore and it would be the home stretch. We were planning to turn left but they said we had to turn right. Right? But the finish line is to the left. I could have cried. We had to go about .25 mile or less to a turn around. Even though the detour (which wasn't on the map) did mess with my morale, I managed to muster up some humor for the turn around.


Flying around the side trip turn around, less than a mile to go.

It was time to pick up the pace. As Molly said, "you can do anything for a mile." So, I pushed it and finished really strong. I could hear the announcer, who also happens to be my coach, saying something about me finishing. I think it was about it being my birthday. I focused on keeping my head up and finishing strong. There were some very enthusiastic guys waiting at the finish line to give me high fives, water, and my necklace. Unfortunately, there were also right on the timing mats so I kinda high-fived and pushed them out of the way at the same time.


Finishing strong with my head up! 1:27:18. 14:03 pace.

It was so wonderful to share this challenge with supportive and encouraging friends. I have to thank you my coach Heidi for being the first person to tell me that I could run. Molly was so generous and supportive to come down, run with me, and keep me going. Without her there would have been some walking around mile 4. And, my teammates Wilma, Jill, Gina, Diane, and Naama who keep me going and help me laugh through the pain.


Everyone at the finish line.

Then it was time for celebrating! Lounging around a beautiful pool, reading, talking, and drinking fruity drinks. It was a great weekend and fabulous way to celebrate the Big 4-0!


note to self: bring a cuter shirt for pool-side lounging.

Week 7

Sunday - Run 5.5 miles. Wait, what? Who typed that? Run 5.5 miles. It's only a half mile longer than last week. Since this is the last long run before my 10K on Saturday (that's in 5 days!) here is a mile by mile summary.

Mile 1 - Good. Mile 1 is always good. Yesterday was the first of 3 birthday celebrations this month. One of my very generous wonderful friends gave me an ipod shuffle. It is so tiny! I didn't even notice it.

Mile 2 - I've been doing my long runs on the LGCT and this part of the trail is a false flat so I have to watch my heart rate. When it gets above 170 I get kinda loopy and light headed. My running buddy and I were comparing songs on our ipods. I had a very random mix including a little Janet Jackson . . . gonna take you on an escapade . . .

2.75 - Half Way!! If I can make to the turn around means I will usually feel a little hopeful.

Mile 3 - This is when a tend to slow down a bit and there are a couple of little hills. Today I was trying to keep up with my running buddy and got a little light headed so I walked a little.

Mile 4 - Oof. Maybe party food and cupcakes weren't the best fuel. My heart rate was okay, but my legs were getting tired and didn't want to go. A little Katrina and the Waves perked me up a little. Then, it was deal making time. I said out loud, for accountability, "I'm not stopping until we get to the dog park." I made it and did a little walk/running under an overpass and down a steep hill. It was time to get this run over with.

Mile 5 - Half mile to go! Two laps around the track. Two more songs. "Rock This Town" by the Stray Cats came on and that kept me going. More deals, "I can't look at my watch until the song is over." .28 mile to go. One more song, I got a little, "We Used to Friends" to make it through the last little bit. I picked it up to finish strong. And, then . . . . the magical garmin said 5.5 miles. We were DONE! I was sooooo happy to be done.

Whew. I walked about .75 mile to cool down but when I got out of the car my legs were pretty weak. I followed up my run with two of Molly's post run things a cold bath and chocolate milk. And, I added a big cup a coffee, too. Ahhh . . .

If I can do that I can run another .7 on Saturday. Right? Even with the walking parts I averaged a 14.08 minute pace. There is hope for a sub 14 minute pace on race day. Molly is going to pace me on race day to keep my mind from wandering and keeping me focused. She is talking about motivational techniques. So far, we have ruled out a bull whip. My only other tip for her is we are "almost done" when there is .25 mile to go. I hate it when people yell out "you're almost done" when I'm only half way there. Halfway is nowhere close to almost, it is halfway.

I have just a few more short runs this week. I can't believe the weeks have gone by so quickly! Now it is time to play with my intimate friend the foam roller.