RunClub Session 5 Debrief

Session 1 was the inaugural session.

Session 2 ended with my first run streak.

Session 3 I did a mid-session check-in.

Session 4 almost didn't happen.

To what extent have you met your RunClub goals?

I have more than met my RunClub+ goals. I have exceeded my goals. I am definitely one pants size smaller and also one shirt size smaller. When I get dressed in the morning, I feel like my clothes have too much fabric. I'm wearing clothes that I haven't fit into since before pregnancy.

I wanted to create memories with my son, and I have. I wanted to reach the end of our breastfeeding journey, and I have. I wanted to carve out time for myself, and I did. I feel more focused, more balanced, and more confident.

Which components of the program supported your progress?

The daily reach-outs make me feel closer to my training group. It gives me a sense that someone cares about how my running is going. I miss it a lot when the session ends. I can't wait for it to start up again.

I love the in-person runs. The support I got from the fellow running moms was incredible. They believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. They hyped me up when I felt unsure. They carried me through the mid-run miles that would have otherwise been dull and painful. They pushed me to run stronger and faster than I would have done alone. 

The Fit4Mom in-person classes were essential to keeping my core and other muscles balanced. I was much stronger and in less pain due to taking Jessica's Stroller Strides class at the Vineyards every Monday. It made me climb that hill. It got me around other moms. I also really enjoyed Adriana's Body Boost class at My Gym in Woodland Hills. She made me feel so pumped up and ready for the marathon.

You can't imagine how out of place I felt at the LA Roadrunners when I felt like I was the only runner who had to balance motherhood with my training. Coming to Fit4Mom is a relief because I know every mom is juggling what I'm juggling and I don't have to explain why I feel so exhausted. Nor do I have to listen to people complain about how tired they are when all they have to worry about is themselves (people without kids).

The transition from Pike13 to Glo was interesting, but I like the new interface. It will be easier to access on-demand content. I will ask my runners for their feedback during this next session. 

The finish line was a big motivator for me. I'm grateful that I had attended the expo last year and ran the LA Big 5k in 2024, it definitely brought me a sense of calm on marathon race day 2025. I have heard that first time marathoners follow the training plan more precisely than second-time or multi-time marathoners because they're so terrified of not finishing. That was definitely me.

I did make a new YouTube video about what is a TEMPO run and why you should do it.

https://youtu.be/5hYBHMkFBXg?si=2OldJudwKMhqRgxv

A lot of what I am doing is learning for myself. I tried to make a Marathon route fly through but I didn't get very far. The course is so long, I have a draft that I can finish later. Like maybe after I get the grades in.

What about RunClub+ was surprising or did not match with your expectations (whether positive or negative)? You can share your general reflections here.

I recorded a video of myself running on the treadmill at Planet Fitness. I was worried that my form on the treadmill would be different than how I run on the roads. What surprised me was how I looked like an old lady. I don't know if it was the saggy boobs or the saggy arms or the tired face but I didn't recognize my body.
https://youtu.be/sBKSZrlkrUI?si=ArVonbyYfHrmVFpH 

It was also surprising that it took me so long to find a bra that didn't chafe on long runs. Seeing my boobs and how much they move while I run made me rethink what type of support I really need. I wasn't surprised that the Crowned Athletics bra was not supportive enough on its own, but seeing the displacement made me understand why my boobs hurt so much after the OC back bay half marathon run.

More specifically, what suggestions do you have to improve session 6?

I would like to get to the point where I can be more authentic in my daily reach-outs. I have been using the pre-prepared ones from HQ. I wish I could just say something that feels more like myself but also aligns with the spirit of the program. Would it be wrong to use ChatGPT for this? 

6 days post marathon

Monday I mostly worked from a reclining position, laying on the couch with my feet higher than my heart. It actually felt excruciating to sit in a regular chair. I wasn't very hungry.

Tuesday I was able to do school drop-off, which is a 2 mile walk. I still wasn't very hungry. I felt better and I had a wonderful brunch and recovery walk with my training buddy Yahaira.

Wednesday I did school drop-off and I started to feel hungry. I was able to do some chores around the house, but not as much as usual. I worked on programming out our next session of RunClub. I created the menus for Albert's birthday party.

Thursday I drove to school drop-off, but I also did some shopping. I was on my feet a lot. I went to Lowe's, Michael's, Smart and Final, and Von's. I was super hungry all day. I traced the logos onto the poster boards and painted the colors.

Friday I walked the school drop-off and did a bunch of errands. I went to Michael's, Target, and had a victory brunch with my husband. I finished painting the white parts of the posters and made photocopies. I felt like I was finally getting my energy back because I folded some laundry and did the dishes.

Friday night my son suggested we go swimming and I jumped at the chance. It was so relaxing and a perfect way to do some light compression and easy activity. Today, Saturday, we have my son's birthday party at our house. So we're going to have a busy day today.

Tomorrow, Sunday, I will be going to the medal walk with the LA Roadrunners at Encino golf course. There's a pot luck afterwards. And from there, I'm going to a sports massage. We also need to pick up our meal prep from Fitlicious.

It's been a big, expensive month. People are asking what my next race will be. We've got the rescheduled Rose Bowl Half coming up in a month. It's the weekend after Easter. I have not signed up for anything else yet. RunDisney just announced that sign up for the Disneyland Half Marathon weekend will be April 29th, the Tuesday after the Rose Bowl Half. I wish the race would be over winter break but it's not. It's in late January/early February after the semester has already started.

It feels like Spring. The city smells so sweet. It's green everywhere. I'm glad I planned to have avocado and tofu here at the house. I'm glad I had salads and rotisserie chicken. I'm glad I had soup and rotisserie chicken. I ate eggs, waffles, tortillas, potatoes, and salsa.

One key component of my nutrition leading up to the race was lemonade. Our neighbor gave us a bunch of lemons. It was helpful for hydration. Also I tried to give up coffee in order to respond to caffeine on race day. I drank a lot of chamomile tea and ginger tumeric tea. I almost don't want to get back into coffee. But I did notice that my fingernails became more brittle when I gave up coffee because I put collagen in my coffee. I could always put it in a smoothie.

Marathon Equipment

I wanted to write about this because it took me a long time to get it dialed in. The best shirt for me turned out to be the one that was given to me by the LARR. I found that running in tank tops was a recipe for chafing. I also found that full compression socks were too compressive but that calf sleeves were just right. I found that wearing two bras was better than one, but I had to put a massive amount of chamois butter underneath. 

The folding hat is amazing when you start out your run in the dark and it gets light later on in the day. Not pictured here is a neck gaiter, which I had left over from the Color Run. The sun sleeves I wore were leftover from my cycling days, but you can find something similar listed below. I think the non-slip grip in the sleeves and in the skort is really key to keeping things in place. The skort never rode up and the sleeves never fell down.

I learned that I had to wear only one headphone at a time and leave the other one charging, to have the batteries last until the end of the race. I learned that my phone wouldn't last 20 miles without the fuel rods. I learned the Feetures ultra-light gave me a blister, but the light was perfect. I put chamois butter all over my feet, in my panty line, armpits, bra line, and inner thighs. I learned that I need to put sunscreen on the tops of my hands. Marathon training aged my skin on my face, neck and hands. 

I LOVE the Crowned Athletics Skorts. Seriously, it's one of the biggest game changers in my whole marathon training. The Powerful Hermana sports bra kept riding up, and the band was too compressive. I would have to take it off mid-run because it left me feeling like I was gasping for breath. But for some reason, the Changed Fate sports bra was tight and loose enough to stay put, let me breathe, and not chafe. 

$78 Crowned Athletics Skort

https://www.crownedathletics.com/collections/athletic-skirts

$68 Crowned Athletics Changed Fate Princess Sports Bra

https://www.crownedathletics.com/products/changed-fate-princess-sports-bra

$46 Freya Women's Dynamic Non-Wired Sports Bra

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2PBVRW9

$18.93 Sparkle Athletic Rainbow Calf Sleeves

(from Poshmark)

$9.99 ELLEWIN Unisex Baseball Cap UPF 50 Unstructured Hat with Foldable Long Large Bill
https://www.amazon.com/ELLEWIN-Baseball-Portable-Research-Foldable/dp/B01JI0XLZS

$18 Feetures Elite Light Cushion No Show Tab Ankle Socks - Sport Sock with Targeted Compression

https://www.amazon.com/Feetures-Unisex-Elite-Cushion-Medium/dp/B0D7KMZG22

$8.99 beister UV & Sun Protection Arm Sleeves for Men & Women, UPF 50+, Cooling Sport Compression Arm Sleeves

https://www.amazon.com/beister-Compression-Breathable-Basketball-Lymphedema/dp/B07S5XT7HY/

$31.74 INOXTO Hydration Vest Backpack,Lightweight Water Running Vest Pack with 1.5L Water Bladder Bag Daypack for Hiking Trail Running Cycling Race Marathon for Women Men

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BCR78S8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

$59.99 due to lightning deal. True Bone Conduction Headphones, Open Ear Earbuds with Ear Hooks, Up to 60 Hours Playtime with Charging Case, Bluetooth 5.3, IP68 Waterproof, for Running, Yoga, Gym, Sports

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DLGCHQ18?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

$39.99 for two. FuelRod USB-C Portable Charger... 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D54WTVG1?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

$25 Goodr sunglasses

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N54JGM6

Did not wear on race day, but these were essential to training

$19.89 Energizer LED Headlamp PRO... 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BN4K3PT6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

$11.95 SWEETFULL Portable Clip on Fan -... 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNJZRSLC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

$11.37 esonstyle Pack of 6 LED Light Up Band Slap Bracelets Night Safety Wrist Band for Cycling Walking Running Concert Camping Outdoor Sports

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014D4GAN4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

$25.17 Running Vest for Women Reflective Running Lights Vest for Night Runners, Running Light Gear Safety Reflective Vest for Men size XL 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3NM7PDM?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

$39.37 Amphipod Hydraform Ergo-Lite Ultra 20 oz. Handheld Water Bottle, BPA-Free Hydration/Fuel Bottle, Endurance Runners & Walking

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NWZ7S91?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

LA Marathon Race Report

This is the official race report following the format of my prior race reports. I will add the official race photos later, and hopefully, some of them will turn out well.

The event itself: Where? How long? When? Weather?

This course started in Dodger Stadium. From the stadium we went over to Chinatown. Past Olvera Street and the Courthouse. Past Echo Park Lake. And a long straightaway on Sunset. Through Sunset Junction and Silverlake. Onto Hollywood Blvd, past the Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood sign. Past the Walk of Fame. Along the Sunset Strip, through West Hollywood to Beverly Hills. A fun jaunt through Rodeo Dr. And a long straightaway down Santa Monica Boulevard aka historic Rte 66. Past Century City. Past the VA hospital. Through Westwood and Brentwood. You get to see so much running a marathon because it's incredibly long, and if you're me, you're not going all that fast.

Race day was March 16th. Although we had a lot of rain the week before, the weather on race day was nearly perfect. It wasn't too windy, and it didn't even sprinkle. I felt like it was sunny the whole day. I brought a ski hat and gloves, sweatpants, and a sweatshirt, all of which I left behind at the starting line. I had a great experience with my race day outfit and would not have changed anything about it.

Course description and evaluation of event logistics

I do not think that I over-prepared for the marathon. I am glad I made a route sheet, which I used at several points during the race. Knowing when the hills were coming and how my fueling plan lined up with the elevation changes was helpful. I am also grateful that I had a bathroom plan. The restrooms at the early aid stations were absolutely swamped. And I overheard people saying that the toilets at the starting line were horrible. 

I don't know the price of the starting line hospitality, but I did enjoy it. I used the private toilets twice. I used the private gear check. I used the foam rollers and yoga mats. I ate the bagels, drank the coffee, and grabbed two extra Gu's. It was hot and cozy in that tent. They let us in at 4:30 a.m. And I stayed there until about 5:15 a.m. I could have stayed longer but it got increasingly crowded the closer it got to the start of the race. I appreciated sitting in a chair, staying off my feet, and not having to sit on the ground. 

The perks of being an LA Roadrunner were also great. Our pre-race loge level at Dodger Stadium was something that really pumped me up. I used the restrooms there twice and they were nice, clean, and well-lit. It wasn't warm there because it was outdoors, but there was good company and I really enjoyed Coach David's pre-race pep talk. It gave me a feeling of continuity to see Coach David at all training runs, on Thursday zoom calls, before and after the race. I would 100% recommend joining the Roadrunners.

How did you train for the event

I ended up following the LA Roadrunners level 3 training plan. I squeezed in my weekday runs either early in the morning or midday. I did not do any runs in the afternoon or evening. I got a Planet Fitness membership to use the treadmill, which I've written about before. 

Gear and Nutrition

I will do a separate post on gear, but let's say I found a way to fit everything in my shorts pockets and hydration vest. I was actively bleeding (menstruating), so I had to carry tampons and wipes. One Gu exploded in my pocket, so I just ate it in the corral before the start of the race. I wasn't planning on doing it, but I don't think it hurt.

The goal was to get 30-60 grams of carbohydrates per hour for the first three hours and then increase to 60-90g of carbs per hour afterward. It was good that I had each time and a place marked down to eat, roughly based on my estimated pace. I didn't look at this plan every mile, but there were some times when I did look at it, and it helped me feel calm and situated. I didn't rely on the aid stations for food, water, or electrolytes, but I did take them when it felt right. I didn't take any food or drinks from spectators. Most of the water I took from the aid stations was dumped on my body to cool down. Even though I trained with Stroopwaffles and Fruit strips from Aldi, I didn't end up bringing those on race day. I was trying to keep the simplest possible race day strategy. And Stroopwaffles take too long to eat. 

I made my electrolyte plan the morning prior to race day. I wasn't sure I needed to do this, but also I wanted to make sure I had enough salt tablets. I put them in bags. 4 bags with 6 tabs each. Since I ran a bit slower than I had planned, I almost ran out. But also there was a stretch there where I didn't want to eat anything. It was a good thing I brought the Biscoff cookies. That was something I was considering skipping but at the last minute, I threw them in. And that was a good decision because as some point, that was the only thing I could tolerate, and they helped immensely.

The other items I had in my vest were (1) sunscreen, which I did apply at mile 22 when we turned around and had the sun at our back. (2) a chapstick with SPF, which I did apply several times. And (3) Her chamois butter. I didn't use the anti-chafe but possibly I should have each time I used the restroom. I did get some chafing from the tampon string, which I could have put lotion on. I didn't practice that.

Specific experiences

It was pretty special meeting up with my husband around the half-marathon mark. I think he had to pay $3 for parking. We chatted for a bit and he took a video interview of me. I was so flustered I forgot to include him in my Instagram story. My aunt wanted to be there but I thought logistically it would be too challenging to coordinate. She encouraged me to take lots of pictures, which I did. It did slow me down to get my camera out and pose each mile, but now I can look back and see exactly how I was feeling. 

Finish and associated emotions

I felt like I could still run across the finish line. I didn't start crying until I saw Coach David. I almost feel like it hasn't hit me yet that it's over. My legs are still sore, but also I don't feel injured. I feel there's just a lot of trauma there. Kind of like how you feel after giving birth. Everything is a bit swollen. My body feels like it went through something intense, which it did. I might lose my left big toenail.

Overall evaluation of the event 

Overall, I might do this event again. Others said that this year we had the best weather ever. It's a toss up in the spring whether you might have cold, hot, rain, etc. I didn't know how I would feel. As my friend Yahaira pointed out, doing the same race again helps give you a comparison to know if your fitness is trending up or down. What's funny is that even the list of landmarks ends at mile 21 as if the last 5 miles don't exist. I think most people agree that the last 6 miles was the worst. Partly because that's where people hit the wall, but partly because that part of the course was mentally difficult. 

It would be fabulous if the race could have gone to the ocean. But as I understand, the city of Santa Monica was asking 5x as much as every other city for permits. And I didn't particularly enjoy the Santa Monica Classic. It would have been a full-circle moment to start and end the race season in Santa Monica. 

This season was so impacted by climate change it's actually nuts. The mid-season race, the Rose Bowl Half, hasn't even happened yet. It's been rescheduled for April, so there will be a forthcoming race report for that event. I felt it was insincere to hand out the challenge medals at the marathon for doing all three races when one hasn't even happened yet, but it was easier for the race organizers logistically. They decided to give the medal for the races people were registered for, even if the participants chose to skip the race.

1 day after the marathon

I'm still trying to finish my post-race meal from El Pollo Loco. I'm so thirsty. I'm walking but I'm moving slow. It's weird. I'm hungry but I'm too tired to eat.

I really enjoyed the marathon experience. Looking at my photos, I'm glad I recorded as much as I did. On a sunny day, all the colors and the whole experience was so vibrant.

Yes, it sucked knowing I had already crossed the finish line and having to go back. Yes, those miles after mile 18 were hard. Yes, my smile faded a bit. But after the turnaround, each mile I got progressively more excited for the finish line.

I reached mile 18 right around noon. And that's when I noticed that I was feeling nauseous. I realized that I was almost out of electrolyte tablets. I realized that I wasn't going to make my time goal.

I must have given "big mom" or "big teacher" energy because some of the SRLA students asked me for help pacing and getting in touch with their parents. 

I'm so glad I brought the two fuel rods. When my phone got from 100% down to below 70%, I put a fuel rod on it until it was back up to 100%. I finished the race with my phone having >60% battery left. And I think my watch was about the same. I did have a moment with my phone where it was saying there was water or some debris stuck in the charging port, but I just turned it upside down so the charging port was down and ran for a mile or two with it like that and then it was fine.

I got to sit with my former student Parker Smith and his aunt and uncle before the race. She is a high-school chemistry teacher who has run the LA Marathon many times. She didn't run this year because she's having a knee replacement in a few weeks. But she kept me entertained with stories from the front lines of teaching chemistry at a school in Malibu that burned down in the wildfires. I didn't get nervous at all.

According to my Samsung Watch5, I was in Zone 2 for 1 hour, 18 minutes and in Zone 3 for 1 hour. This was the first 9 miles from 7am - 9:23am. I was waiting until then to change my tampon because someone told me the port-a-potties at mile 9 were the best ones because they're on a side street that you can't see unless you know they're gonna be there. So I was holding out for them, and it was one short line for about 9 bathrooms, and the line went quick. Other people told me the lines at other bathroom stops were 10-15 minutes long. My pace for the first 9 miles ranged from 11'13" to 16'01". It was my intention to walk almost all of the first 6 miles.

The next 5 miles from 9:29am - 10:51am were until I found Mikey waiting for me across from The Comedy Store. I was definitely running this part using my interval timer. I was doing 3 minute run and 1 minute walk. Mostly. My watch says I spent 10 minutes in Zone 2, 47 minutes in Zone 3, and 23 minutes in Zone 4. My pace ranged from 11'13" to 15'56".

The next 5.5 miles from 10:55am to 12:25pm were mainly in the aerobic zone (56 minutes), with some time in the anaerobic zone (27 minutes). I don't really remember what intervals I was doing. Probably still 3 minute run and 1 minute walk. At some point I changed it to 2 minute run, 1 minute walk. Maybe around mile 18. I believe I stopped here to change my tampon again. There was a row of restrooms hiding behind the run clubs and there was no line there. I also refilled my hydration bladder.

It was at some point here where I started dumping water on my body from the water stops. The first tables had electrolytes and the second tables had just water. Well around mile 15 I forgot this and dumped blue electrolytes on my head. I love the running hat and it's great but it doesn't really absorb water like my hair does. So I started raising up my hat and dumping the water on my hair, which is where the electrolytes went. I also dumped it on my shoulders and arms, down my chest and my back. It really helped.

My watch bundled the remaining 7.5 miles together from 12:27 - 2:48 pm, even though I did stop briefly around mile 22 to pee. There was no line for the toilets there. It was right at the turnaround to come back towards the finish line. I was feeling overheated, there was very little shade during this part of the course. There was good crowd support. Lots of people offering lots of different things. Fruit, water, pretzels, coca-cola, gatorade, etc. 

At this point, I was feeling nauseous and I could feel the liquid sloshing around in my belly so I took an electrolyte chew and that helped. But I stopped being able to take Gu and Bloks. I was just so sick of all the sugar in my mouth. Luckily, I had packed Biscoff cookies so I ate those and felt much better. Next 20 minutes I ate as much of a Clif bar as I could and that sat okay. Next 20 minutes, I ate another set of 4 cookies and that settled my tummy.

As much as it sucked to do an out-and-back for the last 8 miles, the saving grace was that we were close enough to the ocean to feel a cool breeze. Even though the sun was out, it was like being near the beach where you don't feel cold but you can get a nasty sunburn. It was like once we got up and over the hill at avenue of the stars, it was a cool breeze for the remainder of the race. Nothing like finishing right at the ocean in Santa Monica, but it was still nice.

According to my watch, I barely ran any of this. But most of my pace was in the aerobic zone (zone 3) for 1 hour and 17 minutes. I was also in Zone 2 for almost 1 hour. I kept telling myself that that's where you want to be for burning fat, so there's no need to rush. Also, I was hot and I didn't want to cramp. I ran a few downhills when that felt easier than walking.

LA Marathon 2025
Distance	Projected Time	Actual Time	Projected Pace	Actual Pace	Projected Carb	Actual Carb
miles 1-2	7:36	7:33	18	16.5	Gu + bloks	Gu + bloks
miles 3-4	8:16	8:03	20	15.3	Gu + bloks	Gu + bloks
mile 5	8:36	8:19	20	16	Gu	Gu
miles 6-8	9:21	9:23	15	14.8	bloks	bloks
miles 9-12	10:06	10:22	15	14.4	Gu + bloks	Gu + bloks
miles 13-16	10:54	11:19	16	14.7	Gu + Clif bar	Gu + bloks
miles 17-20	11:42	12:23	16	16	Gu + bloks	Biscoff + Clif bar
miles 21-24	12:30	1:33	16	17.75	Gu + bloks	bloks
miles 25-26	1:06	2:06	18	16.75	Rx bar	just electrolytes

What I didn't factor in was all the other walking I would be doing that day. My watch clocked 1.2 miles prior to race start. It also logged 2.5 miles after the race. My husband and I congratulated ourselves for making pre-race and post-race transportation plans but we both agreed that we could have been more thorough. I forgot my gear check bag in the car when I got dropped off and he had to circle around and bring it to me. Luckily, we were so early it was no problem. I'm actually glad I got there so early.

 

After the race, I tried walking through the mall to get back to Santa Monica Blvd, but I ended up right back where I started at the finish line, but on the spectator side instead of the participant side. I had to walk back to Olympic Blvd and follow the arrows on the ground for SRLA to Beverly Hills High School and the long line of yellow school buses along Moreno Drive. Seeing where the kids had to walk to return to their meetup spot was neat. 

I tried to find the Metro 4 bus, but I guess it was diverted to Olympic, so I was just walking up Santa Monica Blvd until I decided I didn't want to walk anymore. I talked with my dad for 40 minutes, which was really great. I was still in Zone 2, and that walk helped me not to be as sore as I could have been today. I never found the bus, but I called an Uber to take me the last 2 miles to the hotel. I could have walked it, but I didn't want to keep the family waiting longer.

I brought back two unopened Gu's and one unopened Honey Stinger that I got at the start line hospitality suite. I never ate my Rx bar either. I ended up carrying a huge pack of wipes and only using one. I didn't want to throw my tampon applicator in the porta-potty so I ended up carrying one back with me (gross I know). They had Terracycle for Gu wrappers but I ended up throwing most of mine in the trash. Right before the race one of the Gu's exploded in my pocket and my hands got all sticky. I didn't freak out though, but it was something I hadn't planned on. I did use the sunscreen and chapstick with SPF. I had forgot to put sunscreen on my neck so I put that on when we turned around and had the sun at our back.

I unpacked the car this morning and washed all my race clothes. I'm happy with how my outfit performed. I got lots of compliments on it. I was surprised that only my hands were sunburned. Somehow I forgot to put sunscreen on my hands, but my arms and shoulders were covered. Minimal chafing. Taking a shower right after the race felt REALLY good. It also felt great to lay down on a soft bed and recover a bit before driving back to the valley. It was nice to be able to chill until around 6pm before leaving the hotel. The traffic was mellow and we got home in about 30 minutes.

I got a strange alert on my watch that I was out of my circadian rhythm. I went to bed the night before the race at 5pm. I woke up at 12:30am on race morning. I ate a power banana (banana, yogurt, granola, nutella, and sour cherry syrup) and drank chamomile tea. I listened to some music, I made a sparkly shamrock by gem painting. It was relaxing to do that for 90 minutes and then start getting dressed at 2am. I ate a bagel with cream cheese at the start line hospitality around 5am. I used the VIP toilets twice and the private gear check 

Budget

Ramada Plaza by Wyndham West Hollywood Hotel & Suites $153.07

Parking in West Hollywood $50.00
Residence Inn Chatsworth $311

Throwaway Clothes from Goodwill $14

El Pollo Loco $65.03

Uber $20

Chevron Gas $62.49

Feetures Elite Light / Ultra Light (4 pairs) $54

New Goodr sunglasses $25

New Balance $140

Custom Tank Etsy $31.74

Race Registration $186.40

Gym Boss $20.95

Gu / Bloks / Stroopwaffels / Salt Tabs $232.78

TOTAL $1,366.46

I was just 3 minutes in front of the sweepers. In fact, when I was doing mile 24, I could see the garbage truck on the other side of the street cleaning up after the Run Club Row. The water tables were being broken down and carried off the course. I am grateful that I was able to finish in the allowed time. I took my time. I got my money's worth!

I got my medal, and my gear bag was returned to me at the bag check. I got to see Coach David, and I started crying. I felt such a mix of emotions. Relief. Gratitude. Pride. I thanked him for all the excellent coaching and told him to thank Julie for the children's book, which helped Albert understand the journey to becoming a Marathon Goddess.

I'm not really gung-ho on signing up for the LA Marathon again. My training group is all over the map: some say it's their last one, and some have already signed up for 2026. If I were considering another marathon, it would have to be a really special course, AND/OR I would have to have a very special person to train with. It's such a long journey and a big time commitment. 

I did pay the annual fee for Planet Fitness Black Membership $45.02 billed on 3/03. The next payment of $25.02 will be billed on the 17th of the month. So I guess I could have included that gym membership in the cost of training for this marathon. If there hadn't have been wildfires, I wouldn't have needed that. But since I have it now, I could train for a fall race and just run indoors on the treadmill.

The only marathons I'm considering are the Every Woman's Marathon in Scottsdale, AZ and the Disney World Marathon, which is now a bucket list race. It doesn't need to be soon, but it could happen eventually. Every Woman's Marathon was inaugural last year, so this would be the 2nd annual. But it's appealing because I know the area. It might be fun to do a San Diego marathon as well. That's first weekend of June.

My MIL warned me that I would have restless legs the night after the marathon. I know what she meant now. I felt like I needed to massage them and just keep moving. When I laid down in bed, it felt like I was still wearing my hat, sunglasses, and headphones. It felt like I was still running. Like when you go on a long road trip and stop for the night and dream that you're still driving and fall asleep at the wheel. But really, you're in bed just dreaming that you're still driving. Just me? Well okay.

I laid down between 7:30pm and 8pm and got my son to sleep and then snuck out of bed for some stretching and to eat a giant bowl of macaroni & cheese from El Pollo Loco. I slept through the night after that and woke up feeling pretty good. I took two naproxen sodium, even though my MIL recommended 4 Advil. Our coach says the maximum of soreness (DOMS) is 48-72 hours after the event, so I guess the worst is yet to come. I would have been okay walking Albert to school today but we kind of ran out of time since I had to clean out the car and do laundry and pack his lunch and walk the dog and all the things and it's St. Patty's Day today.

My MIL said that when she ran the LA Marathon it didn't start at Dodger Stadium and it didn't finish in Santa Monica. It just went around the city. She did the second annual. Albert did surprisingly well spending the day with his grandma and grandpa. Surely he wore them out, but neither one had any complaints about the other(s). I'm so grateful that I have family nearby that is willing to support me in this marathon journey. It does make me feel like I belong in the family, where all of them had completed a marathon except me. Not anymore.

4 days until the marathon

Whoah, Like woah. It's almost here. I'll be at the marathon expo in two days. I feel ready. I have actually really enjoyed taper. I thought I would be getting the taper crazies, but it's been so nice to have a lower volume with less strength training. I actually feel like it's more manageable with my schedule. 

I know I should be stretching more. I know I should be hydrating more. I am trying to eat healthy. But there are so many things happening this week! My kid is sick again which means I'm going to be sick soon, hopefully not too bad on race day. My period is scheduled to start soon which means my hormones are going crazy. I had the most uncomfortable hot flash on Monday night but luckily it was a cold night so I could open the window. I'm guessing I am going to be doing some heavy bleeding on race day, of course. 

My husband had a colonoscopy and my son's birthday is Friday. And daylight savings time has messed up our schedules a bit.

It's really hard to drink and eat as one would like to when you have back to back labs to teach, but I'm trying to stay calm and carry on. I got my race day attire all together. I packed my nutrition. I packed my salt chews. The last thing to pack will by whatever I put in my gear check bag, which I will get at the expo on Friday.

I made a route sheet and a schedule like I have for many of my previous long runs. I will have enough time for all the bathroom breaks, I'm sure. I do plan to bring my hydration vest because otherwise where will I keep all the tampons? I might be able to finish in less than 6.5 hours, we'll see. The weather looks like it's going to be perfect. Overcast with a high of 60 degrees. 

We booked a hotel near mile 13-14 for the night after the race, so that we can rest, regroup, shower, etc. And get something to eat before heading back to the valley. I hope I won't have any trouble catching the bus from the finish line up to the hotel. I'm not sure what the finish line festival is going to be like, hopefully the crowds won't be too overwhelming.

I feel so privileged to have had a husband willing to support me through this training cycle. I feel I did meet my goals of weaning my son and trimming my waistline. I'm actually really proud of my body now. Yes it's not tiny and it's still pretty heavy, but it's done a lot of amazing miles over the last year. I've gotten to rebalance my time and reclaim my self-image.

13 days until the marathon

I got a bad virus.

Saturday (2/22) my kid was vomiting all day from 9am until 4pm. 

I did my training run on Sunday (2/23). But I knew something wasn't right. It was my longest run and it was supposed to feel like a victory. The running part was fine but I was having an out of body experience for most of the mid-miles (miles 5-11). I did walk the biggest hills and run on the rolling hills. I tried eating the Aldi dupe for Clif bar and it was terrible. I drank all my water trying to chew it. It tasted like minerals coated in frosting. On second thought, it might have tasted bad because I was getting sick.

Anyhow, I ran out of water when I was 3 miles away from the next park. It was getting to be a hot day so I walked from that moment on. My phone was dying so it was a confirmation that I need some fuel rods for race day. That was the second time my phone crapped out on me.

After my water stop at Mason Park, I was already getting close to my 20 miles. I mostly walked home with a small bit of running. I was continuing using my fuel plan. I made it home and everything was okay. I ate some food and drank some liquids but I didn't eat too much. I had a feeling I would be seeing all that again soon. And I was right.

Around 1am Monday (2/24) I woke up and vomited. All the sushi. All the pizza. All the fluids. I vomited again at 2am, 3am and 4am. Then I stopped trying to drink and just tried to sleep. Around 8am I was still thinking I would be able to make it to my 11:30am class. But then the diarrhea started. Or should I say sharted. And I knew I was in no shape to teach and definitely should not be around people.

I vomited again at 4:30pm that day. Mostly water. What saved me was eating two Pedialyte popsicles per hour until the box was empty. I was really anxious to be able to drink water because I had a splitting headache and I really wanted to take some Tylenol, but I didn't want to try to take it and then throw it up again. 

I called my sister around 3: 45pm that day and she told me that it only takes 5 minutes to digest water so I should try and go ahead and drink some, but I guess my body wasn't ready for it. She said that these types of viruses last 12 to 24 hours. That I probably did not need to go to urgent care. She also told me that my digestion was going to be messed up for a while afterwards, possibly the virus would re-surge, and that definitely the diarrhea would hang on longer than the vomiting. She also told me that I definitely should not try to run until 5 days after. 

She wasn't wrong. On Tuesday (2/25) I tried to follow the BRAT diet. I brought with me to work white rice, bananas, and applesauce. I had to work a full day on Tuesday but luckily my teaching assistant covered for me so that I could leave an hour early. I still had a splitting headache and I was taking high dose of Tylenol every 4 to 6 hours. 

When I woke up on Wednesday (2/26) I thought oh maybe I can stomach something else, so I did a Google search of what you should eat next after the brat diet. The internet suggested suggesting things like plain yogurt, plain egg, and plain chicken broth. So I had the yogurt and egg for breakfast. Egg on rice was really delicious. I had the plain chicken broth for dinner, which was really helpful at addressing my dehydration. 

Wednesday evening I tried eating spinach on pizza, and while I was able to eat it, and get it in my stomach, It felt like it didn't go anywhere from there. It felt like my entire digestive system was on freeze. The food would just sit there in my tummy. And I felt like I wasn't getting any energy out of the food that I was eating. So I really didn't feel safe going for a run Thursday or Friday. I just felt like I had no energy. I tried drinking coffee but it tasted horrible at the first sip.

Thursday (2/27) morning I went to Dunkin Donuts and got a refresher and two tortillas with egg and cheese. I don't feel like they digested. But the tea drink was really helpful in getting rehydrated. It was sweet and icy. I ate fish and rice for lunch, but it didn't digest well.

Friday (2/28) I stayed at home and near a toilet. I wanted to take a nap but I didn't. I tried to alternate stretching and working. Between Wed and Fri I actually got pretty far caught up with my grading.

Saturday (3/1) we went to the LA zoo. I had a really nice chicken pesto sandwich with a salad. Honestly I feel like this was the first time my tummy was digesting things correctly. I don't really remember what I had for dinner on Saturday evening, and by that time I knew none of my run club members were going to make it to our group run.

So at that point I had a choice, I could run by myself, inside or outside. Or I could go and meet up with the LA roadrunners. I decided it would probably be best to run on a treadmill near a toilet, just in case I had a digestive emergency. So I started off slow, building up each 3 mile block a bit faster than the one before. I was able to get through my 10 mile run but very slowly.

Sunday (3/2) after my workout I felt some very uncomfortable pains in my nerves. I felt pain from my back, through my glutes, and down the backs of my legs. It was so bad, I was irritable. After taking ibuprofen, it felt much better. Like it went away entirely. I'm convinced it was related to the virus that caused the vomiting.

Now today (3/3) is Monday. I was able to do my workout and I was back up to my normal pace, I felt good. I felt like I could digest food again, even though I have been trying to keep incorporating eggs, rice, fruit, veggies, and yogurt.

Coach David says that we should avoid caffeine, so I have been keeping coffee out of my body. I have been drinking herbal tea instead. One of my students, who is also running the LA Marathon, said that it's a bad time to get sick. I agree, but you can't schedule the flu.

Now it's Monday evening and the nerve pain is back. I will take my vitamins and more ibuprofen and hopefully get a good night's sleep.

I feel nervous and excited when I think about race day. I didn't feel nervous before this, I felt ready. My MIL has offered to watch Albert the morning of race day. Coach David is offering new tank tops for LARR members. It's just too many last minute changes. I need to feel like it's under control.

After watching "Spirit of the Marathon" I do feel excited to see Los Angeles on race day. It's like the biggest longest CivLAvia ever. But it's not free. I don't know if I'll ever want to do another marathon, maybe I will write about that in another two weeks.

26 days until the marathon

I wanted to write a quick blog about how I'm feeling. Just one long run left before the marathon. I feel ready. I know what I'm going to wear. I know what I'm going to eat. I have my pace in mind. I've trained to climb the hills of the course. I'm done listening to doubters (including myself). 

I've had aches and pains in this journey. I remember one of the first things I felt was foot pain, like October or November 2023. I felt like I had a stress fracture in one foot. I remember googling "obese running problems" to see if there was any correlation between weight and running and foot injuries. What I found was that it was actually inversely proportional. Heavy runners tended to run slower and have fewer foot injuries. Lighter runners tended to do too much speed work too soon and get stress fractures. So I kept plodding along.

I don't know which of my runners it was that asked me, don't you have any injuries? and I remember saying, no because I do the proper stretching, strengthing, and rehab. But that's not entirely true. I got a mean case of shin splints around May and June 2024. It hurt so bad even to walk. I think it was probably muscle weakness in the calf that caused it. And I continued to stretch, and do strength exercises, and work through the pain, and buy new shoes! And more calf raises. And curtsey lunges without putting weight on the back leg.

I guess it was about a year ago that I went in and got assessed for new shoes. I was probably following a 5k training plan back then and didn't really look like a serious runner. Those shoes worked well for me and I ended up getting three more pairs of that style. I got reassessed last week and they recommended a pair of New Balance. More lightweight, more cushion. 

I remember it must have been around October or November when I started having pain in my psoas. Or hip flexor. I ordered a dance warm-up that I thought would help. I asked on the Coach's chat for the LA Roadrunners and they said it was most likely a weak muscle. And that the solution is not more stretching or foam rolling but more strengthing. So banded marches it is. What I ended up doing is attending Fit4Mom Stroller Strides classes and then swapping out the exercises I should be doing for my rehab and running strength instead of whatever the instructor tells us.

I don't know what day it was but one morning it was really cold. I had some knee pain. But I put on my knee-high leg warmers and ran anyway. As long as my knees were covered, it was okay. If the leg warmer slipped below the knee, it hurt a bit. I'm guessing it was Lassen (January 30th). Adding speed and treadmill and hills at the same time. Probably too much. 

I would love to write more about how I'm feeling, but I have to run to class. Enjoy this Venn Diagram I made about the similarities and differences between Motherhood, Marathoning and Teaching.

self-love

What is the greatest love of all? Learning to love yourself. Whitney Houston became a mom in 1993, but recorded this song in 1984.

Katy Perry became a mom in 2020, but recorded this song in 2010 when I was doing my internship in Germany. I remember hearing it on the radio and feeling so homesick for SoCal.

Miley Cyrus recorded Party in the USA in 2009. I loved hearing this song when I was in Germany. It made me homesick for Los Angeles and I wanted to hop a flight back right away. I didn't appreciate Miley as an artist too much at the time, but now she's one of my favorite icons. Being proud of the USA doesn't ring as true for me anymore, hopefully this country will check itself before it wrecks itself.

I listen to my Disney Hits playlist and one of the songs that hypes me up the most is this one by Hannah Montana. Miley says she's not ready for motherhood, but there's still time, she's only 31. Her memoir Miles to Go was published in 2009. I really enjoyed the memoir of Jessica Simpson called Open Book. She talks about going to the Disney auditions and how messed up the whole process was.

Niki Minaj became a mother in 2020, but recorded Super Bass in 2010. Honestly, I was having a tough week and I put on this song and immediately felt better. The years I spent working on my PhD were some of the darkest times in my life but I have such a strong connection to the music from that era. 

Meghan Trainor (has two children born 2021, 2023 both via C-section). She wrote "Dear Future Mama" published in 2023 after PTSD from her first delivery. The song came out in 2023 and the video stars the ultimate momager Mrs. Kris Jenner herself. I'm wondering why Kris hasn't run for president yet. WE NEED MORE WOMEN IN POWER. And moms especially because they understand the sacrifices made to create life.

Meghan wrote "Made You Look" after her therapist asked her to stare at herself in the mirror for 5 minutes. She's always touched on themes of body positivity, but this song is truly all about it. I remember seeing this on Disney's Magical Holiday Celebration in 2022. While all the other artists were singing Christmas songs, she went ahead and dropped this song while wearing hot pink. It felt out of place for the program, but I loved it. This would have been filmed while she was pregnant with her second baby.

Britney Spears (has two children born in 2005, 2006) recorded Gimme More in 2007 and Work Bitch in 2013. Sometimes I wonder if this sexualized version of Britney was her idea or some idiot man's idea. 2007 was the year she shaved all her hair off, which I also did in 2010. I didn't do it because she did it, but it's kind of cool that I also got to experience hair-less-ness. I did it for basically for the same mental health reasons, and also I didn't need the hair at the time. I was running half marathons every weekend for fun and it was just easier not to have to wash and style my hair.

It's so hard to believe that Gimme More was recorded one year after she had two children. She would have been 24-26 years old then. She recorded Work Bitch when she was 32, the same age I was when I finished my PhD, got sober, and started working at CSUN. The Woman in Me is her memoir published on October 24, 2023. I still haven't read it yet, but I want to.

Lizzo is such an icon I would need an entire post devoted to her. I don't think I heard this song before today. She wrote it in 2015.

Tempo is the Lizzo song I have on my running playlist. Honestly, my playlist is one of the big motivators in my arsenal. The last long run, my headphones died at mile 17, and I couldn't run without my music. I had to walk the last mile.

Love this song because it was the time when people were emerging from the pandemic quarantine. Everyone was so traumatized by the isolation and uncertainty. Lizzo welcomed us back, and this video was filmed at CSUN. I remember getting hyped up watching Watch Out for the Big Grrrls in 2022.

It was so significant to me that I actually acknowledged the following artists in my PhD dissertation. I could not have survived that program without my playlist. I blocked out all the haters and did my experiments in sync.

Beyonce became a mom in 2012 and had a set of twins in 2017. Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé came out in 2019 and Beyonce did a halftime show on Christmas Day in 2024 that was epic. Run the World came out in 2011, which was during some dark times in my life. Rather than doing less after becoming a mom, it is arguable that Beyonce's best work has been done after she had children.

Lady Gaga released The Fame in 2008 and Born This Way in 2011. Her music spoke to me in a way that is not easily communicated. I would listen to the album from start to finish on my little mp3 player. It was a Sansa, and it saved my life. I don't know if I still have it or if it eventually went to e-waste. The Edge was like the climax of my PhD. I felt like I could do anything because I came through the fire. Sometimes I still wish I had the tracklist from that music player.

Rhianna has two children born in 2022 and 2023. The song I remember most is Shut Up And Drive but mostly because of RuPaul's Drag Race. The song was recorded in 2006 and released in 2007. Drag Race All Stars Season 2 Episode 5 aired in 2016, ten years later. Finally, Miss Justin aka Alyssa Edwards was crowned in 2024 the first place winner of Global All Stars, nearly another ten years later. "She's not old, she's established." I've always been obsessed with drag queens because who would willingly want to dress as a woman when you're a white man? Women have some power but we just need to learn how to flex it like men do.

Shakira released She Wolf in 2009 and then went on to have two children in 2013 and 2015. I'm so proud of the women who stepped up to the mic at the 2025 Grammy Awards and let us have it. I don't know but you might still be able to watch it on Paramount+. I really felt like these women have staying power. They have been around for a long time and are finally getting the recognition they deserve AND using their power to speak truth on behalf of more vulnerable people.

What about you? What would be on your playlist entitled: Anthems for the Resistance?

And also: Why don't we celebrate matrescence? I mean yes, we throw a baby shower, but it's somewhat of a celebration for the baby. The gifts are all for the baby. What about the mom? Where are her gifts? We as moms give up so much of ourselves, it's hard to put that in perspective. Where would our society be without moms? There would be a population crash for sure.

I feel like we really need the 4B movement and we need to speak up and act up. I feel like women are taught to sit down, be quiet, follow the rules, and basically give up our power. I think to some extent men hate us because we have the power to create life and they don't. They want to enslave us basically. And we end up hating ourselves because they hate us. That's the patriarchy. 

I've been so stuck at work, I've been thinking about all this and not able to sit down and do one bit of work. I'm sick of feeling like a raw nerve, so vulnerable. But that's the power of women also. We can be strong AND vulnerable. We can share our feelings and not be thought less of. Men keep making these rules and women keep following them. We need to step up and be leaders. The power given to women with Title IX needs to be magnified, strengthened, and flexed now. 

I know women can't do it all, it is very all-consuming to create life and raise children. But also, we need to demand the flexibility we need to parent AND work. We need to allow women to have babies AND feed them AND show up for work. Because if you're not sitting in the boardroom, your concerns and your needs and your perspective and your ideas (which have immense value) won't be taken into consideration. 

Yes I understand some of my anthems might not be your cup of tea. But maybe you want to take a moment to create your own power playlist. Listen to it, do some weightlifting. Then get out there and show up. Show up for the people in your life. Speak your truth. Be brutally honest. Be authentically yourself. We have to keep moving forward, we're not going back.

aftermath of the wildfires

Most people I know are starting to unpack their "go" bags. People who have evacuated will return home next week, or the following week. If they have a home to return to. 

My run club is offering four options for this weekend's long run (1) and (2) are in Griffith Park on Saturday and Sunday, which is being dubbed the "Bunny Hop" Half. (3) is a half marathon in Orange County around the back bay. (4) is an entirely virtual run that you can do on the treadmill, which is only 75 minutes.

I've pivoted as best I can, given the circumstances. I'm trying to be easy on myself for missing workouts. I trust my training has been enough to fill the Fitness Bank, as our couch calls it. The theory is that you train to fill the bank and cash out on race day.

The drawback to indoor workouts is that you use different muscles on the treadmill. I realized it myself when you do a "hill" workout on the treadmill, essentially you're always running on flat or uphill but never downhill. Our coach says that it is almost a different set of muscles. And when you return to running outdoors, you will feel sluggish.

The Coalition for Clean Air suggests that outdoor activities should be avoided until we have a good rain. The coalition comprises representatives from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD).

These times feel reminiscent of COVID-19 early days because people are masking up. There is a lot of uncertainty around risk exposure.

Upsides to the treadmill, you can control your speed much easier. You can read your heart rate. You don't have to wait for the light to change to cross the street. You can watch TV or read a digital book while walking. You don't have to worry about what street you're on, where to turn, or where you can go to the bathroom. You can be unencumbered by your water and snacks. 

I like to look at the houses when I'm out in the city. I want to smell the smells (unless it's urine). I like the vibe of the traffic and hearing whatever music people are listening to. I enjoy waving to people on bicycles, pushing strollers, or dog walking. I don't like getting cat-called or followed by strangers in trucks. I don't like it when cars run red lights. So, there are dangers (risks) associated with indoor and outdoor running.

For me, the timeline went like this:

Sun, Jan 5 - long run with LARR, got my ass handed to me by running too fast
Mon, Jan 6 - Fit4Mom class without kiddo, walked the steep hill
Tues, Jan 7 - walked the school drop-off (skipped morning workout)
Wed, Jan 8 - ran indoors at CSUN
Thurs, Jan 9 - long walk with kiddo 
Fri, Sat, Jan 10-11 - stayed home with kiddo (no school)

Sun, Jan 12 - ran indoors at Planet Fitness, but not a long run.
Mon, Jan 13 - Fit4Mom class without kiddo, walked the steep hill
Tues, Jan 14 - ran outdoors, new route, didn't feel great afterward
Wed, Jan 15 - walked the school drop-off
Thu, Jan 16 - ran indoors at Planet Fitness, but not a long run
Fri, Jan 17 - rest day
Sat, Jan 18 - Half Marathon in OC

I've spent today mostly making sense of where I'm at and where I'm going. I redrew the calendar on the chalkboard and the white board. I could've done more but I'm going to stop now.

powerful hermana

I have been searching for the perfect sports bra that doesn't chafe on long runs. I noticed some hotspots after the holiday half marathon. I generally don't feel it while running but in the shower it burns and then it takes about a week to heal. I knew that my SheFit bras were great for HIIT workouts. They do start to rub on runs longer than 2-3 miles. I thought my Enell bras would suit a half marathon, but they chafed where it clasps in the front. I have the Freya bras, which I will continue to test. But it was time to try Crowned Athletic. Do I really need to start collecting a new line of sportswear? No. But have I been doing a lot of research into which of their bras are supportive? Yes. And have I been waiting for one of their collections that isn't too low-cut? Yes. And have I been checking weekly to snag it when I have the funds available, and the collection isn't sold out yet? Yes.

I purchased the Changed Fate skort, bra, and headband directly from Crowned Athletic. I loved it immediately. The skort has big pockets. One feature that sold me was that people said online that they could run without underwear. It might save me some briefs-area chafe if I don't wear briefs. The shorts under the skirt have huge pockets on the sides of each thigh, and the skirt covers it so it doesn't look like you have a massive bulge on the sides of your legs. There's also a pocket in the back for your phone and ID.

I did wear this set out on two long runs. A 15-miler at a faster pace and a 16-miler at a slower pace. I did get some minor chafing in my armpits, which may have been from the hydration vest, the arm sleeves, the sports bra itself, or the shrug I was wearing to stay warm. Finding the best starting time for a long run has been challenging. If I start at 4:45am, it's super dark and cold, but I'm home before it starts to get above 60 degrees. And it's easier to run in the cold. If I start at 7am, it gets too hot by the end of the run, but I don't have to carry any lights.

I think Changed Fate looks cute with the LARR tank top. I ordered a lime green top with my name on it for race day. I also think the calf sleeves are a nice touch. They offer mild compression without too much pressure. The argyle-print gives me something Merida might wear. I guess they're both from Scotland. It's good for visibility, which is great when I'm running alone. But it did seem a bit loud when I was running with a group that was not running on the roads. The irony of the name LA Road Runners when they only train on trails has not escaped me. I have the Green Mermaid Headsweats Running Visor from Sparkle Athletic that I got used. In some light it looks black and the Changed Fate print can look dark when you're not shimmering in the light. I guess I just prefer more vibrant (lighter) colors. But some people say that the darker color is an advantage because it doesn't show gross sweat patterns. I like the concept of Mama Bear.

That's been one of the challenges of marathon training, finding a way to carry the quantity of carbohydrates you need to fuel these long runs. If you don't practice what you plan to eat on race day, you risk eating something that causes GI distress. These are some of the things that I have had good luck with so far. I also have used Clif Bloks (not pictured here). The thought with having the Crowned Athletic skort is that it might be possible to NOT wear a hydration vest. If I could carry enough food with me, considering that there would be several Gu electrolyte stops along the race course, I could run without a heavy vest or bulky belt.

I got the genius idea to use Post-It notes to show visually all the training runs I have left until the full marathon. I wanted my husband to see which weekends would be a long run and which would be a taper. Unfortunately, the Rose Bowl Half has been postponed due to the fires. Our coach said that we can go ahead and run the program for training week 19 twice. It's incredible how unsettling it was to have a week with this disruption. I couldn't run outside due to poor air quality from the Palisades and Eaton fires, which were completely massive. I did two training runs on a treadmill: one at CSUN SRC and one at Planet Fitness. The road runners still suggest that we shouldn't run outside, but I did anyway this morning. It's that time in the semester when I have to plan and set those intentions into motion and then go on cruise control for the rest of the semester. Plan the work and work the plan.

Fueling Plan for a run that starts at 7am

7:00am - Gu 23 g
7:30am - 3 Clif bloks 24 g
8:00am - Gu 22 g
8:30am - Fruit Strips 24 g
9:00am - Gu 23 g
9:30am - Fruit Strips 24 g
10:00 am - 3 Clif bloks 24 g
10:30am - 2 fruit snacks 20 g
11:00am - Stroopwaffle 26 g
11:30am - Clif bar 48 g
Noon - Rx bar 23 g

The goal is to get 50-60 grams of carbohydrates per hour while running. 

According to Jeff Galloway, there is something you should do within 30 minutes. Reloading immediately with 100-150 calories is advised for a 5k or 10k. If you reload immediately, it will prevent that feeling of hunger later in the day. For a half marathon, 300 calories. For a marathon, 600 calories. Try to find something that provides 80:20 ratio of carbs-to-protein. You should be drinking 8 x 8oz glasses of water after the race. At least 6 is important. Soaking your legs and feet in water that is 20 degrees cooler than the air temperature for 15 minutes is very beneficial. Taking ibuprofen is extremely effective with runners. If you have the right run/walk/run, you can avoid the aches and pains.

Our coach for the LARR suggested baby food as a source of carbs while running. I tried that on a 10 mile walk and it was comical how much I was farting. I have no idea what they put in this brand of baby food, which I bought at the grocery store because it was on sale. Never again (for me at least).

I did a cost comparison of some of the things I do enjoy taking on runs. Because running-specific snacks can be overpriced, I wanted to see if there was a significant difference in terms of calories only. I'm not talking about electrolytes or caffeine. Some running-specific snacks have electrolytes and/or caffeine added. I've been taking SaltStick Electrolyte Fast Chews since the disaster of cramping badly at the Santa Monica Classic. During the race, I knew that I was taking in only carbs by eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but I didn't realize that I should be taking in a lot more electrolytes than I was. Now I take two SaltStick tabs per 30 minutes. I alternate taking salt tabs and carbs, so that I'm doing something every 15 minutes. My intervals are 2 minute walk, 1 minute run. Turns out that 1 minute is long enough to eat something. And then I have 5 intervals until the next time to do something, chewable. And each time I chew, I also drink water, so that helps me stay hydrated without having to think too much about it.

You can get your caffeine by chewing RunGum (fast forward to 1 hour 30 minutes in the Rise and Run Podcast episode 157). I've never taken RunGum, but maybe I need to "add to cart." It really is two months until the full marathon. I am considering bundling the Gu that I have already bought into Ziploc bags for each of the training runs that remain, so I can be sure I have enough to get me through to the finish line. I may need to order one more pair of running shoes, but I haven't done the calculation on that. I'm considering getting a pair of Ariel GTS 24's but I'm not sure if I should go a half or full size up to prevent losing a toenail. Maybe I should visit Fleet Feet Encino since I'm already going to have to pay full price, since the stock of Ariel 23's are pretty much gone everywhere.

• Oct 2023 white purple coral ghost 14 = 178 miles (these are gone)
• March 2024 black Ariel 23 = 250 miles (don't run in these anymore)
• June 2024 grey green Ariel 20 = 194 miles (don't run in these anymore)
• Sept 2024 grey pink Ariel 23 = 204 miles
• Nov 2024 grey green Ariel 20 

Item	Qty	Price	Cals	Srv	$ / Srv	$ / Cal
Aldi Fruit Snacks	12		70	1		?
Aldi Fruit Strips	21	$5.00	100	2	$0.24	0.00240
Aldi Stroopwaffles	8	$3.49	170	1	$0.44	0.00259
Aldi Kind Bar Dupe	4	$2.69	210	1	$0.67	0.00319
Box of Raisins	6	$2.00	90	1	$0.33	0.00367
Mini Sesame Bites	20	$11.75	160	3	$0.59	0.00369
Aldi Rx Bar Dupe	4	$4.49	220	1	$1.12	0.00509
Target Date & Nut Bar	5	$5.19	190	1	$1.04	0.00550
Larabar	8	$10.99	220	1	$1.37	0.00623
Clif Bar	1	$2.00	260	1	$2.00	0.00769
Pretzel Individual bags	10	$7.99	100	1	$0.80	0.00800
Kind Bar	1	$4.00	190	1	$2.00	0.01050
Good & Gather protein bar	4	$8.99	210	1	$2.25	0.01070
Honey Stinger Stroopwaffle	1	$1.69	150	1	$1.69	0.01127
Rx Bar	1	$2.60	210	1	$2.50	0.01190
Gogo squeeze yogurt	10	$10.99	90	1	$1.10	0.01200
Gu Stroopwaffle	16	$29.50	150	1	$1.84	0.01227
Clif Mtn Berry Bloks	18	$52.49	100	0.5	$1.46	0.01460
Gu Raspberry Lemonade	1	$1.60	100	1	$1.60	0.01600