Riverside, CA (about 60 miles west of Los Angeles) on Sunday, October 18. Temperature was 58℉ with 60% humidity. It was sunny and clear at the beginning, but we got some cloud cover towards the end.
Course description and evaluation of event logistics
The route was changed from previous years and the changes were nice. The hard parts were still hard, the scenic parts were still scenic. They added a water stop. The water stop at Carlson Bark Park had candy corn.
How did you train for the event
I made 87% of my training days, which were scheduled for 5 days / week for 9 weeks. Each workout was a 5k on average.
Gear and Nutrition
My fueling was kind of all over the place. I ate a El Pollo Loco protein bowl for lunch. I ate a felafel wrap for dinner the night before. The morning of the race I ate instant oatmeal. After the first 2 miles I felt like crap, I was questioning my choice to run a 10k, feeling like it was too far. But then I ate two Welch's fruit snack packets and I felt great.
Specific experiences
I dumped a lot of water on my head. I started out with 3 hair ties and all 3 broke so by the end of the race I probably looked like a drowned rat. But I didn’t overheat.
Finish and associated emotion
I paused at 1 hour, 17 minutes (5.5 miles) because my husband was texting me saying he was nearby. I thought we could get a photo all together on the way to the finish line. But it turns out they weren't as close as they thought so I skipped 2 intervals (~8 minutes) waiting for them and walking away from the finish line.
I had a "B" goal of 1 hour 37 minutes. 15:36 min/mi.
I finished in 1 hour 36 minutes at a 15:27 min/mi pace. According to the race officials.
Overall evaluation of the event
It was great. We didn't partake in the beer garden. The vibes were good. I enjoyed staying at the hotel and running this race. I got a 3-year legacy pin.
So proud of my 6-year-old Albert for his 56:10 finish time. I was able to find him on the course and cross the finish line 3x. Once for my own 10k, a second time to complete Albert's 5k, and a third time for the kid's race 1/2k medal.
Proud of my husband Mike too for trusting me to plan this crazy run. And for completing the 5k with Albert. And I'm proud of myself for finishing in less than 1 hour, 45 minutes, so that I could do the kid's race with Albert.
It's gonna truly be a race on Sunday morning
Mom's 10k starts at 7:45am
I finished in 1:20:53 in 2024
I finished in 1:22:02 in 2025
Strava predicts 1:27:22 in 2026
Galloway predicts 1:36:57
Dad's 5k starts at 8:30am
Albert's 1/2k starts at 9:30am
So if Albert walks the 5k with his dad, he will need to walk 20 minute miles to make it to his race start. Which is pretty fast for him.
And I will need to finish before 1 hour, 45 minutes to see my kiddo run his race.
Who knows, maybe they will just give us the medals regardless of when we start / finish. The course route has changed from previous years and the start / finish line has been moved to a new location.
Remind me why I registered us each for a different race.
