3.1 miles. Lots of turns. Well-marked course. Right along the ocean. 60 deg F at the start, 64 deg F by the end. There was a marine layer, a calm and cloudy morning, which we call the "June Gloom." Very humid, even a bit of drizzle.
There were maybe less than 2000 participants. There were dozens of port-a-potties. There was a fun aerobic warmup and balloon arch start line. It was fun to let the men go first, then women second, and walkers third.
I had forgotten that there were a lot of loops in the course where slower runners could catch a glimpse or wave to faster runners. So, it was fun for families and spectators.
Followed a Fit4Mom 10k training plan. Three days per week of runs and two days per week of strength training. One day of active recovery and one rest day. Not in that order.
Started off wearing a visor to keep the sprinkles off my glasses. Ended up swapping it for my sunglasses, which was the original outfit I had planned. Retiring my Brooks Ariels after this event.
I ate a cinnamon roll 3+ hours before the race, 4 egg whites ~2 hours before the race, and a Prime sleeve in 500mL of water.
I got a bit psyched out in the first quarter mile because I think I started too far forward in the corrals, and almost everyone passed me. But then I put on my training playlist, and it really helped me calm down mentally. I had trained to it for most of my two-mile Tuesday morning runs, so I knew I was going at the right pace for me.
It was so heartwarming to run by my kiddo and husband who were spectating. The BOB jogging stroller was my aid station and SAG wagon. I swapped out my visor for a pair of sunglasses and immediately felt cooler (temperature-wise).
We walked the course the day before very slowly. It was good to program my brain with all the landmarks, and it was fabulous to see all the homes and gardens at a snail's pace. An unforeseen benefit is that I felt like I was flying on race day because I was going so much faster than the day before, and I had no anxiety about going the wrong way.
My pre-race A goal was to run continuously, and I achieved that. My B goal was to cross the finish line, and I achieved that. I didn't have a time goal, but I finished in under 45 minutes, and my pace was under 13 minute miles. I showed improvement over my last 5k race.
I didn't have a lot of feels crossing the finish line, until I saw the other gals that were with me for most of the race hugging their family members. I said congrats and good job, and it was nice to run with you. Hearing how happy they were to complete their 1st organized 5k event brought tears to my eyes because I know how empowering it is to undertake your first 5k and what a significant accomplishment it is. Yes. People do much longer races, but for a new runner to be born is a thing of beauty.
Restaurant Row did not disappoint. There were three types of burritos, doughnuts, creme brulee, banana, and pasta—truly a feast. There was plenty to share with my husband and son. We didn't do the dolphin dash this year, but we might in the future.
Overall, I love this race and would completely do it again. This was my sixth time running it. I keep going back because it’s that awesome. Not only is the restaurant row at the finish line unique, but having the women's start staggered from the men's is also.
I saw many Disney runners sporting their long-sleeved shirts from the long-awaited return of the Disneyland race in January 2024, so it was fun to say, "I was there, too." The CdM Scenic 5k event is so fun. I highly recommend it. This was their 42nd year.
This was my sixth time running this course, and I am happy with my time.
2024 40:15 13.0 min/mi
2014 40:29 13.0 min/mi
2013 39:00 12.7 min/mi
2012 40:00 13.0 min/mi
2011 35:30 11.5 min/mi
2009 44:00 14.0 min/mi
On the left, I was a newlywed, still in the honeymoon phase of marriage. Still in the honeymoon phase of graduate school. Still in the honeymoon phase of my fitness journey. These were the good times. 2010 is where things started to go off the rails.
I've been through so much since then. I finished my PhD in chemistry in 2012. I chose to live a sober life in 2013. After a barrage of fertility treatments, I got promoted to mommy in 2020. I advanced to Senior Lecturer (rank C) in 2022, which is equivalent to a promotion from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor for a non-tenure track faculty member. These accomplishments are the promises come true.
If I could say anything to my 15-year-old self, it would be, "You've got this, sweetie." You're going to be challenged beyond what you think you can handle, but you CAN handle it. You will survive, and you will eventually find yourself in a happy, joyous, and free life!
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| The dark years (January, January and May 2010) |
In January 2010, my husband moved to San Diego without me. I could visit on the weekends, but only every other weekend. It was soul-crushing because I wanted to be with him, I didn't know how much longer I would have to work on my PhD, and we were so tight on money because we had to maintain two separate living situations. Also, I had always wanted to live in San Diego, and it felt so unfair that I only got to be a part-time resident. My body was screaming that it was time to have a child, but my boss told me that it would be a deal-breaker. And if I got pregnant, then I just shouldn't return to work.
Running was something that allowed me to escape my reality. I was really running away from my problems instead of facing them. I did eventually start seeing a therapist, but I felt that he was more amused by me and not actually able to help me wrap my mind around accepting reality and getting me to a point where I could have a healthy perspective on my life. If I had realized that the time frame of the PhD would be 5.5 years and no longer and that I could have been happy and enjoyed it instead of striving for perfection and always falling short, I might have been able to keep my head on straight.
I will say also that even though I took these photos of myself to document my weight loss achievement, I was crumbling inside. I was so unhappy. It was bittersweet to reach a goal weight, goal time, or other milestone (to be faster than anyone on a bike) but to feel so worthless, useless, and wanting to die rather than to keep living. I can say that those were the dark years of graduate school after year 3. It was a continuous stream of experiments, failures, showing up to work and feeling undervalued, disempowered, and abused by coworkers. I felt more like roadkill than the badass I was.
When I look back at this blog and the posts I wrote in 2009, 2010, and 2011, I realize I wasn't completely honest with you, dear reader. I wasn't able to be honest with myself about the amount of pain that I was in. I couldn't be honest with my boss about my strong feelings regarding family and my desire to have children. Now, it's too late. I'm happy to be "one and done," and I feel grateful that I could become a mother. But it still stings when people ask if we will have another kid. I'm turning 44 soon, so people should be able to see my age and know that this is not possible. Although a friend told me I don't look or act my age, so I should learn to forgive people for this question.
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