Race Report: Los Angeles Marathon, March 8, 2026

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

The big factor in this year's race was the heat. I looked it up. It was a full fifteen degrees warmer at the starting line than last year. The race began at 7am, shortly followed by sunrise. I felt sweat dripping down my face by 8:30am. The humidity was 12%, so the water evaporated quickly.
They handed out ziploc bags of ice somewhere between miles 14-15. This totally saved my race. I put them directly in my sports bra. I also kept picking up discarded bags of ice off the ground or from the tops of trash cans, to keep packing it in. I didn't run out of ice until mile twenty-four, not coincidentally, when my core temperature started to overheat. Thank goodness they were handing out ice bags and cooling towels at the finish line.

Course description and evaluation of event logistics

As a result of all the misting, ice bags, and being sprayed by hoses and water guns, I ended up with significant chafing. I kinda felt it during the race, but I just kept going. One unusual factor of this year's race was that daylight savings began on race day. So everyone lost one hour of sleep in the annual spring forward. It was confusing for how to set the alarm clock. I went upstairs around 4 or 5pm and set a timer for 7.5 hours. I didn't want to set the alarm for some time like 2am, and have it get messed up from the time change.

How did you train for the event

I followed the Los Angeles Road Runners level 3 plan pretty well. I made >90% of my training runs, only skipping if I was sick. The training paid off. I also implemented a new rule. No long runs over 5 hours. At 5 hours, no matter the distance, I would just stop and call it a day. So I didn't do an 18 or 20 miler this year.

Gear and Nutrition

I got a new hydration bladder, 1.5 Liters. I didn't go for 2 liters because my backpack is on the small side, and more water just makes it heavier. I ended up refilling the bladder three times, and I didn't stop to use the toilets once, which tells me that I must have been sweating a lot. I drank Electrolit at each station where they were offering it. At each water station, I used the water to douse my arms and head, and used my bladder for drinking.
I'm very proud of my fueling strategy this year. I set a fifteen-minute timer on my phone. I would alternate between carbs and electrolytes. I didn't start feeling any GI distress until mile 24. This is a big improvement over last year, when I started to feel the same way at mile 17. I would eat one Gu or 3 Clif bloks and that's it, every 30 minutes. Super simple. I would chew one SaltStick FastChew every 30 minutes.

Specific experiences

I got to run with a friend through miles 14, 15, and 16. It was really nice to reset my brain and give my headphones a break. My Disney playlist came in very handy. I did exactly what I practiced in training. If I could sing along, I was going slow enough. If I couldn't sing, if I was too out of breath, I would slow down.
I have learned so much from the Rise and Run podcast. I learned how to PR in fun. Jeff Galloway was definitely looking out for me. I learned how to take pride in celebrating the back of the pack. I have learned not to get upset when the water stations run out of water or the fuel stations run out of fuel. I do most of my training runs alone, unsupported, and I brought a huge amount of fuel with me.
It looks like I was using my intervals for about the first half, until I met my friend. She was struggling, and we walked together. I'm actually happy because it allowed me to keep some energy for the last eight miles, which I walked alone. The organizers gave people the option to stop at 18, and still get a medal, which my friend did. It was the right choice for her. I felt strong and decided to keep going.
Run Club Row came through for me big time this year. I stopped at the Running Mamis tent for a hug and left with a cooling towel. That towel saved me. Lots and lots of volunteers re-wet the towel with ice water. I mean, just spectators. The official water stations dried up. Like before mile 17. Around that time, even though it was only noon, officials started telling us to get on the sidewalk. That's when I started hustling a bit because I didn’t want to be swept at mile 18. The party pacers, kind of like balloon ladies, passed me very early on. Much earlier than last year. I felt a kind of panic, but also not because the LA Road Runners coach assured us that gear check, late water stations, and medical would be available until 5 or 6pm, so I didn't feel the need to rush. I beat the garbage trucks and street sweepers, so that felt good.

Finish and associated emotion

I didn't cross the finish line with any friends, and I didn't see my coach there, but I was still very proud of my effort. I didn't cry at the end, but I did cry at mile 19 after the love from the Running Mamis. I was just so grateful for the support of strong women, especially on International Women's Day. I felt like finishing a marathon is actually easier than giving birth, and women are designed for it. I saw so many strong women out there on the course, and it was extremely inspiring. I finished only 20 minutes later than last year, despite it being significantly hotter, so I feel like I did improve.

Overall evaluation of the event

I recommend this event if you want to see a lot of the city. The spectators didn't let me down; it was a huge party. The energy was hyped, and the vibes were off the chart. I made it a priority to post to my Instagram story each mile, and it felt like the race went by so fast. Other people were suffering, but I was having a mental sadness that it was going by too fast. I guess I can thank my training. And my coaches. I did prepare mentally by doing a 10-mile training run, one week before race day, walking the first 6 miles. That's the LA Marathon strategy. Most of the hills are in the first 6 miles, so if you can regulate your pace, then you'll have energy for the rest.

marathon reflection

I attended a workshop on end-of-semester reflections for both teachers and students on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. The facilitator gave us some great reflection questions, which I have applied to my marathon training.

To what extent have you met your RunClub goals?

How it started: Keep up with kiddo. Slim down. Balance mood.

How its going: My kid is fast. I will have to get a lot faster to keep up with him. Also, I didn't appreciate how long it would take to slim down. If you had told me this would be a 5-year process, I'm not sure I would have had the courage to start. Balanced mood is 💯 working. I don't think I could have survived the past few years without running. I chill hard. So hard. My marriage has improved. Menopause symptoms are muted. Healthy eating and self-care increased.

What helped you learn? What do you wish you'd known on day one? What did you learn that actually mattered? What surprised you?

The hamstring pain after the 2025 marathon was likely due to a tight pelvic floor, not a hamstring injury. Summer beach miles are the best, shoutout to Goodr and Valley Runners LA. The Bimbo Global race was super fun and free. Damsel in Defense saved me from a rapist. Katie and Brianna RIP. The LA Road Runners Dodger Stadium meetup and Asics shoe demo was awesome.

Foot pain was caused by running downhill in bad shoes, not by laces being too tight. It was actually from a tight muscle in the shin (tibialis anterior). Lock laces are convenient, but didn’t solve the issue. Stretching is what you do after the run. Mobility is what you do between runs.

I was able to keep up with the TK boys at the LA Zoo while all the other parents and teachers were lagging behind. They said I was in amazing shape. Thanks to marathon training! Yesterday I was mistaken for a student. I'm 20-25 years older than the students. So I guess that's a compliment.

Aha moment?

An Aha moment I had was that I am not running much faster or slower than friends, so why am I running alone? Why not just do the race(s) together? Is the pace more important than the camaraderie?

Now I'm trying to decide whether I would want to do the LA Marathon again in 2027. Obviously, you don't have to run a marathon every year. You can enjoy shorter distances and still be considered a real runner. Is RunClub+ with Fit4Mom West SFV working out, or would I actually enjoy running with the LA Road Runners at Balboa Park (if they continue to offer that location)? Or do I actually enjoy running alone and creating my own program?

Major Setbacks this Training Cycle

A sexual assault was reported on campus on Sept 26, 2025, at 5:30am, and I'm convinced I saw the guy. I believe he saw me running, sized me up, and decided to keep looking. He assaulted a female running near CSUN. It shook me up and I didn't know what to do. Luckily, we attended a street fair in Simi Valley and I saw a booth selling Pepper Spray. I've been carrying it ever since.

My cousin died while out on a training run for a half-marathon on Nov 7, 2025. It has not made me want to stop running, but it has made me wear even brighter colors (if that's even possible) and keep my head on a swivel at all times. Her sister also died 25 years ago while jogging on March 19, 2001, and re-reading this article makes me so angry that they victim-shamed her, and the driver was not held responsible. The article also mentions that she was running without her ID and wasn't immediately identified. This is why I'm so adamant about running with an ID and emergency contacts.

• https://www.bmlfh.com/obituary/katherine-kate-gogela
• mother of Henry (11), Maxwell (8), Julia (6), and Jacob (4).

Subclade K, even though I got a flu shot. Albert was vomiting on Superbowl Sunday, Feb 8, 2026. We had a horrible virus that is still hanging on more than 3 weeks later. It was GI-related, then sinus, and finally a cough.

But hey, at least we got so much rain that we didn't have a horrible wildfire season like last year.

11 days until LAM

How am I feeling about the marathon today? I'm proud of my accomplishments. I had a great training cycle. We did a bunch of races in the past year. With family. With friends.

Rose Bowl Half	Apr 2025	13.1	3:09:49	14.5
CdM	Jun 2025	3.1	0:58:29	18.9
Cookie Mile	Jun 2025	1	0:11:08	11.1
Bimbo Global	Sep 2025	6.2	1:27:34	14.1
Mission Inn	Oct 2025	6.2	1:22:45	13.4
Clueless and Breathless	Dec 2025	12.66	3:05:04	14.6
Citrus	Jan 2026	6.2	2:08:54	20.8
Rose Bowl Half	Jan 2026	13.1	3:18:44	14.8
LA Marathon	Mar 2026	26.2	?	?

RBH 2025    44/47        3/18-6/7

In Summer    38/44        6/9-8/24

RunClub 6    27/32        8/26-10/19

RunClub 7    33/36        10/21-1/18

RunClub 8    21/22        1/21-2/24

Total            163/181 = 90.1%

My training was scheduled four days per week, and I count walks as well as runs. I skipped runs if I was sick or just feeling like asphalt. I'm not sure I'll do this many races next year. In fact, I haven't signed up for any except the Mission Inn Run. But I can definitely see myself doing the Citrus Heritage Run again. Rose Bowl I will do if I sign up for the Marathon / LA Road Runners again.

winter olympics

I had a crazy nightmare last night. I was at a base camp in the mountains. Staying at a bougie ski chalet. Having the time of our lives. Hot cocoa. Jacuzzi. Lush. Selfies. Fur coats. Glam. Good conversations with exciting strangers who also love active living and travel.

Then it dawns upon me. Why I am there. I remember that I registered for a 100 mile ultramarathon. In the cold. In the mountains. I have to stay in athlete housing. Bunks. I am the only female signed up for this race. There are only 12 people doing the race.

I take all my luggage and put it on a bunk bed. I try to sleep. I wake up and go to the bathroom. Someone had moved all my stuff to a different bed. I had to find it in the dark. The night before the race.

I got up to pee again and someone moved my stuff again and this time, like musical chairs, there were no more empty beds because more people had arrived in the middle of the night. So I just went down to the lobby. 

That's when I realized all the gear I packed was for California weather, not cold gear. I didn’t even have gloves. I had a light jacket, not even a windbreaker. I started to really panic. I started beating myself up for being unprepared. I started thinking there was a very real possibility I would die out there on the mountain.

When the other participants woke up, one guy offered me his snow pants and I got a parka and some gloves from somewhere. I thought I could still do the race. I might not finish, but I wouldn't die trying. Then I find out they make you strip down naked and have all your gear checked to make sure you aren't cheating.

Mind you, I'm the only woman. So there I am, a crazy Nebraskan-Californian with back rolls and saggy boobs and a fat ass... dancing in front of the judges and other participants and spectators. I wasn't embarrassed about my body, I was embarrassed that I was so unprepared. And I didn’t want it to reflect badly on me, women, mothers, Californians, Nebraskans, Americans. It was humiliating.

Besides being stripped naked, our gear was inspected. The snow pants that someone had "kindly" loaned me contained illegal, performance-enhancing valves, which the officials cut out. So my outfit ended up with holes in it, and almost ended up getting me disqualified.

So then I was left at the decision point. Run the race with all the holy gear, or quit before I start. Then I woke up.

I think it was about the Winter Olympics. And exploitation of women. And misogyny. And working in a male-dominated field. And feeling stressed about my training cycle. And the upcoming marathon. And generalized travel stress, like for a destination race. Like worrying about having forgotten something essential. And wondering what my next big challenge will be.

Rose Bowl Half Race Report

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

Starting and ending at the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. I ran the half marathon. It was Saturday, January 18th, 2026. The start line felt cold, but the temp was mid-50 degrees Fahrenheit. It was mid-70s by the end of the race and sunny with only 2 mph wind. The wind is significant because we've been having gusts up to 40-50 miles per hour.

Course description and evaluation of event logistics

This course is nostalgic for me because I biked these routes 2 or 3 times per week for a few years. I know the hills and I know the effort needed to climb them. The city is so cute and there's a lot to see.

How did you train for the event

I have been following the LA Road Runners Level 3 plan for the 2026 LA Marathon. The Rose Bowl Half is a stepping stone. We have had six long runs in Nov, Dec, and Jan to prepare for this race. We followed a 2-week taper to run strong today.

Gear and Nutrition

I wore my hydration vest and took lots of goodies with me. I drank almost all my water. I set a timer on my watch to take either an electrolyte tablet or carbs every 15 minutes. Precision Fuel & Hydration was the nutrition partner. I picked up two PF 30 gels and took them. I also ate one frozen waffle with peanut butter, one package of four belvita cookies, two Gu, and one sleeve of six Clif blocks. I did drink some electrolit but maybe only twice. At each water stop, I dumped the water on my head.

Specific experiences

After each mile I thought, "that was my favorite mile." I actually enjoyed the whole race and ran consistently throughout. My only goal was to finish my race before the kids race. My son ran with the five year olds. I had enough time to get lined up along the rail, and film him. He was pretty jazzed. After collecting all of the goodies for finishers, I had brought my gear check bag to collect everything, we had a "picnic" on the grass of the field. It was honestly everything I dreamed of when I registered us for these races.

Finish and associated emotion

The pace leader of my training group was there at the finish line to give me a fist bump and a hug and take my picture. It was so special to have someone there waiting and recognize me and congratulate me. Someone called me out by name on the course, but my bib didn't have my name on it, and I think I know who it was. But honestly, I was just tickled pink that somebody gave me a shout out.

Overall evaluation of the event

Since I didn't have a kid running in the kids race last year, I couldn't speak to the logistics of that race in last year's race report. My husband got a bib that said "parent" so that he could join us in the stadium, on the grass, without having to run at all. My husband and son also watched the 5k finishers from the stadium bleachers and collected dropped pins from the finsh line festival. They both agreed it was fun and a good way to spend the day together as a family. So that made me feel good that we all got to participate.

Citrus Heritage Run 2026 race report

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

The start line was between a park and a produce stand on Victoria Avenue, developed in the 1890s and now a historic, scenic parkway known for its beautiful medians with diverse trees and plants. We did the 10k course, my goal was to run with my husband and son. Our wedding was 18 years ago at that exact location. We ran right across the spot where we said our vows. It was "California cold," which means it was in the low 40s. Luckily the winds weren't too bad. It was dry and there was great visibility, not a cloud in the sky.

Course description and evaluation of event logistics

The course ran down Victoria briefly, down Jackson and into the Citrus State Historic Park. Miles 2 and 3 went all through the park, it was hilly and there were some off-road segments through the orange groves. Miles 4, 5, and 6 were on the roads, and we had scenic views of snow-capped mountains in the distance and palm tree-lined streets. The way the 5k, 10k, and half-marathon courses diverged and converged was so smooth. There were plenty of signs and volunteers to help runners find their way. The timing of when each race started made a lot of sense.

How did you train for the event

This week is a taper week for me on my journey to the LA Marathon. I have been training for 18 weeks, with 8 weeks to go. I had no time or pace goals, my goal was to stay together with my family, which we pretty much did.

Gear and Nutrition

I started out wearing a tank top, jacket and hoodie on top, with long tight pants and sweatpants on bottom. I had a headband covering my ears and gloves before the race started. Just before race start, I took off the hoodie, and gloves. By mile 3, I had taken off the sweatpants. Around mile 4, I took off the headband and put on a trucker hat. Honestly, we had a lot of snacks since we were running with the stroller, which also gave us a place to put our clothes that we were shedding. We ate popcorn and an apple around mile 2. They gave us gatorade, water, and orange slices. I think there were two or three fuel stops.

Specific experiences

There was a marching band in the orange groves around mile 2 or 3 and another band at mile 6. The last one was key because the last mile was a straightaway but due to elevation changes we couldn't see the finish line archway. But I knew it must be close because of the music. It was so fun and motivating.

Finish and associated emotion

My son sprinted across the finish line. We were about 5 or 10 minutes late to the kids race, so it was hard to figure out how to navigate that. If we do it again, we'll know. The kids race didn’t have a published course map and we weren't the only parents who were confused. But there's a packed dirt or gravel path that winds around the perimeter of the park, which the kids were expected to navigate. I think it would have been good for older kids. I didn't expect this but my kid ran the first 3 miles of the 10k and the last mile too. By the time of the kids race, he didn’t have much gas left in the tank. It was cute and I'll know for next time.

Overall evaluation of the event

There were enough port-a-potties. Bib pickup was easy. The finish line festival served fresh-squeezed orange juice, which was amazing. There were actually a lot of booths and tables set up to hang. We don't drink anymore, but they did offer a free beer for those who would want it. There was music, some recovery tables, and it was really nice. The event was so nostalgic for me, not only because of our wedding venue, but also because I was in a cycling club when I lived in Riverside. We did our time trial on those streets and I visualize that experience every time I run a magic mile. Nearly every route we biked went along Victoria Avenue at some point because it is such a wide, gorgeous boulevard with a bike lane. I have so many great memories of spending time walking or biking on it. 10/10 highly recommend and would do it again. 100% of the proceeds go to local high school cross-country programs, so the race feeds directly back into the running community. Good vibes.

Clueless and Breathless race report

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

Along the LA River between Vanalden and Owensmouth. Start time 7am but we started early at 6:30am. The route is 5k from end to end. We didn’t do a 13.1 mile half. But it was okay. We did 20k. Weather was awesome. Cool and foggy.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSh5sgXCVWJ/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Course description and evaluation of event logistics

There were aid stations at mile at 0, 1.5, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 10.5, and 12 miles. There was an inflatable start line. There was a port-a-potty at mile 0. Aid stations had Electrolyt, Gatorade, Coca-Cola, water, Red Vines, fruit snacks, and doughnuts. The course was completely off-street on a bike path.

How did you train for the event

I am following the LA Marathon training plan level 3. We're halfway to the marathon, week 13 out of 26, so it felt right to do a half marathon. Last season, the Rose Bowl Half was postponed due to wildfire. I found it was a good idea to double up on Important milestones to have a backup. So this was my first half marathon race of the season but it was very laid back. We took a potty break mid-way through and I made some adjustments to my outfit. I did not care about the time for this event since it was not a full 13.1.

@fit4mom_west_sfv RunClub+ Session 6 #runclub #mamamagic #lamarathon2026

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSfyuKjko7U/?igsh=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

Gear and Nutrition

I started out in a tech t-shirt with my hydration vest. I ate some but probably not enough. My feet were giving me problems at three points during the race. Like mile 1, 8, and 11. Thankfully the race organizers let us leave stuff at the aid station, so I didn't carry my vest for the second 10k. I ate 1 package of BelVita cookies, 2 Gu's and 6 Clif bloks.

Specific experiences

I ran with my friend, we stayed together the whole time, talking and laughing. It made the race go by much faster. We put on the music from the movie soundtrack in the last 2 miles. 

Finish and associated emotion

I was SO happy to be done. I didn’t want to run a step further. The end-of-semester and holiday / birthday season is so stressful for me. I am behind on everything: rest, hydration, nutrition, and sleep. So I wasn't expecting a stellar performance. But it was actually painful. I hope new shoes will help. 

Overall evaluation of the event

Jed and Ted's Excellent Races are a monthly event bringing back vibes of the '80s and '90s with nostalgic movie themes. I would do one of these again. I would definitely recommend it for a first-time race for someone looking for a low-key high-fun experience. You get a bib and a medal. The organizers took lots of photos and shared them pretty much right away. Price $35. Totally worth it.

New Shoe New You

Our campus got a new toy, the BrandU photo booth. Mike and I went over there yesterday to take our headshots. It was my previous CSUN headshot that led me back to running, so I'm grateful for that. But I was hoping for a do-over because I feel like I have at least one less chin now. And it's subtle, but I have new glasses. They're the same frame style but a slightly different color.

FA23

FA25

I want to devote a short segment to gratitude for my shoes. Honestly, I don't know how many miles are on the current shoes I own, but I do think it's time to retire the Ariel 20s. It's also time to let go of the Ghost 13s that I got from Poshmark. The reason is that I can feel my toe hitting the end of the shoe. It's actually uncomfortable and after a day of wearing them, I feel my toenail on my big toe hurts.

https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2024/10/consumables.html

I have to be very frugal, and I hate throwing things away that aren't completely obliterated. However, I don't want a massive pile of shoes by the door that I'm afraid to throw away. 

• June 2024 grey green Ariel 20 via Amazon = $92
• November 2024 grey green Ariel 20 via Amazon = $106.33
• March 2024 black/grey/white Ariel GTS 23 via Fleet Feet Encino = $160
• August 2024 Grey/Black/Pink Ariel GTS 23 via Amazon = $119.95
• February 2025 New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v14 via Fleet Feet = $140.00
• April 2025 Ariel GTS 24 COCONUT / CHATEAU / PORTABELLA via Amazon = $160
• August 2025 Ariel GTS 24 EBONY / BLACK / WHITE via Fleet Feet = $160
• August 2025 Ariel GTS 24 MERCURY / EBONY / SWEET LAVENDER via Fleet Feet = $160

So I think I'm feeling okay about this now, seeing that I've had the Ariel 20s for a year and I still love them, and I had two other pairs in the intervening time, which I didn't love, probably because they were the wrong size. So I will likely want to buy more shoes around the holidays or afterwards (before the marathon). I actually hate the New Balance shoes. My feet hurt so much the day after I wear them. Like they're comfortable but not supportive. I understand that some people might want a lightweight shoe, but I prefer a supportive shoe that is heavier and more durable.

I had a really good summer. We did a lot of decluttering, and I'm preparing to sell some items at the consignment sale. I did a lot of cleaning. I didn't do a lot of running. June, especially, but also July, were light on miles. But the goal I had set for the year (2 miles per day), I have already met and surpassed.

Goal achieved!

I had an episode where my blood pressure surged. My doctor says it could be because of stress or excessive sodium. I came across the video below that discusses exactly the problem I've been having with histamine. It's so helpful to see this type of content, so I don't feel gaslighted. Gaslit?

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A post shared by Elevate MD (@elevatemdohio)

Looking forward to a new season with the LA Road Runners. Guessing the Santa Monica Classic (which I'm not running) is in 2 weeks.🌟 Orientation Sunday is 9/14 🌟 First Sunday of the season 9/21. I do feel like I've been doing my base building starting in July and continuing in August so I will be ready to get back in season. My run club that I oversee was a non-starter for this session. I'm not super optimistic about the Oct-Dec session either, since the holidays occupy many of those weekends, but we'll see if there's any interest.

The Disneyland Halloween half is also about 2 weeks away. I'd like to go down to Anaheim for a meet-up with the Run Fit Mama herself, Kristin Wentworth, troop 486 leader. Next week is World Princess Week, which is a holiday made up by Disney Parks. There are daily themes that have been set forth by Crowned Athletics.

https://www.runfitmama.net/trainingprograms/core-workout-plan-cinderella-royal-core-7j8s6 

https://www.crownedathletics.com/blogs/crowned-connections 

If you interact with each day's social media post, or for an extra entry, share a photo of yourself, you might win a Crowned Athletics set. Here's my loose plan for which princess goes with each day's theme. Depending on how you feel about the Disney movies, you might assign a different princess with each trait: creativity, strength, kindness, grace, and bravery.

Mon 8/25 - Creativity 

   Rapunzel / Tangled

   Tiana / Princess and the Frog

   Raya / and the Last Dragon

Tues 8/26 - Strength 

   Luisa / Encanto

   Elsa / Frozen

   Moana

Wed 8/27 - Kindness

   Snow White 

   Cinderella 

   Ariel / Little Mermaid 

Thu 8/28 - Grace

   Mulan

   Aurora / Sleeping Beauty 

   Belle / Beauty and the Beast

Fri 8/29 - Bravery

   Merida / Brave

   Jasmine / Aladdin

   Pocahontas

So I want to put together five outfits. Monday, I can wear my purple jumper and call that Tangled. Tuesday, I could wear my Powerful Hermana set. On Wednesday, I could wear my mermaid skirt / visor / tank top from Sparkle Athletic. Thursday, I teach two labs, so I'm not sure how I could represent any of those princesses, but the jumper I have to wear that isn't already taken is slate grey with a red shirt underneath. I could run in my red Arabian Nights top with the Poisoned Heart Villain athletic skort. Friday, I could wear my green jumper and my Changed Fate set. 

And finally: Monday 9/1 is Labor Day and also the kickoff to the RFF Cinderella Royal Core program. The fun thing is to go out and get a Cinderella latte, which is a pumpkin spice latte with a half pump pumpkin sauce and a half pump white mocha. In fact, I'm heading out now to pick up these sauces so that we can make it here at home.

https://athome.starbucks.com/recipe/pumpkin-spice-latte
https://athome.starbucks.com/recipe/homemade-pumpkin-spice-syrup 
I bought this but it's taking ages to arrive https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1TX4TL6

I'll end here. It feels like there's more to say. I wanted to do a quick check-in before the semester starts to have at least one post for August. I'm at peak optimism at the moment.  

perimenopause

Here's what I wrote in January

Having drama in my head about perimenopause. My period came early and with a vengeance. I get itchy palms that are so bad, it wakes me up. I can't sleep 3 or 4 nights out of 7. I wonder if going through IVF brought on early menopause. I don't know if hormone replacement is a good thing or not, and I don't know if it will "fix" my symptoms. Also have high cholesterol now. Still breastfeeding Marchling. Haha, saying that out loud is scary, and also, I wouldn't want to tell a doctor b/c it's so uncommon. Running a marathon in March because I thought it would help dry up my milk and facilitate weaning, given the many long runs and early morning training sessions. Geez.

And like reconsidering if a repetitive activity like running is really the best thing for my body. Like I am starting to feel like the accumulation of pounding is taking its toll on my joints and muscles. The development is somewhat limited. I'm not sure if I could motivate myself to lift weights alone if it weren't for supporting some other goal.

And here's what I experienced in my last menstrual cycle (June)

I don't think I ovulated. I can usually feel the process of ovulation. During perimenopause, the ovulation seems like it's delayed about a week from whatever my period tracker says. I think it's always been that way, but ever since my egg retrieval, I can feel when I ovulate really badly from my right side. Sometimes I don't really feel the left one, but this last cycle I really couldn't feel it, and the hormones that usually ebb and flow seemed like they weren't even flowing. 

Then when it came to my period, the blood was brown for the first few days and the last few days. I have never seen anything like that in my life. Since my pregnancy, my periods have been really intense. Like a lot of red blood for a whole day and then the period is nearly done. But the blood has always come out red. I feel like it was definitely an anovulatory cycle.

The good news is that I had a Dexa Scan and Mammogram on Friday, May 23rd. The breast scan came back normal and the bone density scan came back normal also. I'm having an appointment with a dermatologist today. I don't know what to expect because I really wanted help with a skin tag but this dermatologist said specifically that they don't deal with skin tags. So I guess it will be another cancer screening. I requested a referral for a colonoscopy but I haven't got the paperwork yet so maybe it wasn't approved. I will follow up. 

I've had my new glasses for more than a month. They messaged me on June 5th to let me know that they were ready. I enjoy the new prescription and the bifocals. I had absolutely no problem adjusting to them. I guess my old glasses prescription was so out of date that it was a relief for my brain to have one that was more correct. Albert went to his pediatrician appointment on June 17th and he was 37th percentile for height and 32nd percentile for weight. The doctor asked if he could brush his teeth twice per day.

Now that I've done my health gauntlet, it's hard to believe that I was so scared. I mean yes, doctors don't listen and they don't always do what you ask, but it wasn't really that bad. Yes it was a pain to schedule everything and required being on hold for sometimes 45 minutes.

How I weaned

I had no plan so I signed up for a marathon. I figured my milk production would decline automatically as the demands of my training increased. I asked my son when he would stop breastfeeding and he said when he was 10 or so. So that was all I needed to hear to realize that it would have to be initiated by me. About a month before my marathon was our last feed. It came and went with no ceremony. Kiddo just realized that there was no more milk. Then we celebrated the marathon together. It was his first night away from both of his parents (he stayed in a hotel with his grandparents). It was the week he turned 5. Any way you do it is great as long as it works for your family. It does sound a bit extreme in hindsight but somehow in my mind it made total sense.

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.

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.