Cobra 5Kai Race Report

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

Owensmouth Avenue in Canoga Park is the official western terminus and headwaters of the Los Angeles River. There is a Class I bike path on the south bank to Vanalden, which is about 5k. This event offered 5k, 10k, and half marathon distances. Jed & Ted's excellent races are movie-themed and happen about once a month. The Cobra Kai-themed race was held on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 7:00 AM. Participants were given the opportunity to choose a team, whether Miyagi-Do or No Mercy. Weather was great, around 60 degrees Fahrenheit with 83% humidity and a very slight breeze.

Course description and evaluation of event logistics

We rolled up just 10-15 minutes before the gun time, pinned on our bibs, did a few warm-ups, and we were off. We tried using 5 minute run / 1 minute walk intervals, which worked ok. The only hills were underpasses at each street, which we sometimes walked or ran. We stopped for water at the turnaround point. Great course support.

How did you train for the event

I followed Fit4Mom 5k plan A, very loosely. I did most of the weekday runs and weekend long runs. I did most of the cross-training. I tried adding in more long walks and dancing. I wanted to enjoy this race, and I did. I maybe should have done more runs at race pace, because I maintained zone 4 (anaerobic) 141-157 bpm for the entire race. I don't push myself like that very often. I was sore the next day.

Gear and Nutrition

I didn’t bring much on race day. No liquids, no gels, no music, just vibes. We were like just out for a quick run and done. Got some finish line photos and a video.

It was my fastest 5k in 2026 but not a decade or lifetime PR. This was my first hard effort since the LA marathon in March.

electrolytes abound

It seems like there are ads for electrolytes everywhere you look, and the more you look, the more ads find their way to your eyeballs. The interest and availability of electrolyte packets has exploded into a $40B industry. The market is projected to double by 2034. However, there are risks associated with overconsumption. A balanced diet often provides enough electrolytes. Looking at my most successful diet of all time (the IVF diet by Zita West), I was regularly getting 1000mg Na from the food, and on some days as much as 3500mg Na. The contributors to high sodium were soy sauce, capers, olives, canned green beans, and shrimp or fish fillets.

Supplements I have or still take (or haven't tried yet)

The items in bold are the things I used during the marathon.

SaltStick Chewables: 100mg Na, 30mg K, 6mg Mg, 10mg Ca, 1g carb

LMNT: 1000mg Na, 200mg K, 60mg Mg, 0g carb

Prime: 600mg Na, 400mg K, 75mg Mg, 10mg Ca, 2g carb

Electrolit: 330mg Na, 370mg K, 20mg Mg, 40mg Ca, 10g carb

Venture Pal: 500mg Na, 280mg K, 20mg Mg, 104mg Ca, 8g carb

Tailwind: 620 mg Na, 180mg K, 24mg Mg, 54mg Ca, 50g carb

Liquid I.V.: 510mg Na, 390mg K, 12g carb

Skratch: 400mg Na, 49mg K, 48mg Mg, 54mg Ca, 19g carb

Gatorade Zero: 380mg Na, 110mg K, 2g carb

Gatorade: 270mg Na, 80mg K, 35g carb

Powerade Zero: 240mg Na, 80mg K, 0g carb

Powerade: 250mg Na, 60mg K, 35g carb

Nuun: 300mg Na, 150mg K, 13mg Mg, 13mg Ca, 4g carb

Solgar liquid: 300mg Mg, 600mg Ca, 2g carb

NOW Ca&Mg softgels:  333mg Mg, 667mg Ca, 25mg Zn, per 2 softgels

365 Ca&Mg capsules: 500mg Mg, 1000mg Ca per 3 capsules

NOW Ca&Mg tablets: 500mg Mg, 1000mg Ca per 2 tablets

TUMS: 1000mg calcium carbonate

Coconut water: 50mg Na, 646mg K, 24mg Mg, 53mg Ca, 15g carb

"Astronaut Juice": 145mg Na, 12.5g carb per 8 oz serving

Coca-Cola: 40mg Na, 42g carb

Pickle Juice shot: 470mg Na, 20mg K, 2mg Zn, 0g carb

Nerds gummy clusters: 15mg sodium, 71g carb

Gu: 55mg Na, 30mg K, 20mg Ca, 23g carb

Clif bloks (3): 50mg Na, 18mg K, 24g carb

Biscoff (4 cookies): 115mg Na, 23g carb

Stroopwafel: 75mg Na, 18g carb

Clif bar: 230mg Na, 225mg K, 40mg Ca, 42g carb

McDonald's salt packet: 280mg Na

Heinz mustard packet: 65mg Na

For me, learning about electrolytes has been a trial-and-error process. When you train with a friend or a group, someone will see you suffering and lean over to whisper about their favorite bonk-breaker. I was told about Gu from a running friend when the mileage climbed above 9 miles for a long run. We would stop to take a gel at mile 7. I remember refilling a water bottle during a 60-mile bike ride in 2010, and someone quietly slipping a Nuun tablet into my bottle. At the time, I was primarily concerned with drinking water, and I thought it was enough to quench my thirst. 

Marty's Tom's Farms ride

When I was hiking in the Verdugos, I got food poisoning in 2012 from my own self. I had probably put a Nuun tablet into a hydration bladder and then let it fester. The next time I tried to use it, it was full of pests, which infested my GI tract. I vowed then and there to NEVER contaminate my hydration bladder again. I've heard people put flat Coca-Cola into their water bottles, so I've added Coke for comparison. But I'm too scared of not being able to fully wash it out to put anything other than water in my hydration vest/belt bottles. I remember examining Nuun's ingredients, and in terms of macronutrients and micronutrients, it was similar to the growth medium used to culture fungi.

The kicker for me came when I cramped during the 2024 Santa Monica Classic. I called my sister to complain, and she asked me what type of electrolytes I was taking. When I told her none, she said it was incredible that I lived in such a hot climate and that nobody had taught me about the importance of replenishing electrolytes. To be honest, every time I think about this race, it still burns me that I skipped the 10k and only finished a 5k. The course was shortened due to the heat.

I've been wanting to write a blog about salt for a long time, but it seems like I'm always staying so busy. I had to take a break from grading student work because hackers disrupted our access to the LMS, Canvas. It's been unavailable for just over 24 hours, which is pretty much the timeline I predicted. But it still sucks that I lost about 8 hours of productivity. Although it did give me the opportunity to write and read a little about salt.

What I can say is that during the 2025 LA Marathon, I took two SaltStick chews every 30 minutes and ended up feeling gross at mile 17. I adjusted that to one SaltStick chew every 30 minutes in 2026, and it was perfect. I felt amazing up until mile 25.

MyFitnessPal all time data

LA Road Runners Chat #9 Dietition Serena Marie - Part 2 (10-30-2025)

https://youtu.be/f5gXdJ4i4yQ?si=KmMON9FYyumPI4ux 

LA Road Runners Thursday Night Coach's Zoom

You can calculate your sweat rate, and a dietitian who spoke to my running club explained that you should track all of this, including the weather. To convert sweat rate to sodium loss, multiply your sweat volume (in liters) by your sweat sodium concentration (typically 200–2,300 mg/L, with an average of ~950 mg/L). A typical, moderate sweat rate is 1.2 L/h, which, at an average concentration, results in ~1,000 mg (1 gram) of sodium lost per hour. I've never done it, but maybe I can make this a summer project.

Sodium to Salt Conversion: 1 gram of sodium equals ~2.5 grams of salt (NaCl).
Range: Most people lose 200–2,300 mg of sodium per liter of sweat.
Factors: Sweat concentration is mostly genetic, but sweat volume depends on intensity, temperature, and acclimation. You can use this worksheet to calculate your sweat rate, then use that to determine how much sodium you need. I don't feel like I'm a heavy sweater, but at the Naughty Girl Fitness workout, I was dripping sweat, so maybe I just don't notice it when I'm running.
https://koreystringer-institute.media.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3814/2024/08/Sweat-Rate-Calculator.pdf 

I am mindful that we need more magnesium as we age. I wonder how much magnesium from supplements is bioavailable. I still take a lot of supplements, pushing calcium and magnesium as I have since pregnancy and postpartum. But because of the cost, I sometimes wonder if I should stop. Also, I wonder if I'm putting myself at increased risk of kidney stones by overdoing it on electrolytes. In all, the body is pretty great at maintaining homeostasis. But I have heard of people overdosing on TUMS and ending up with stones.

I have heard of people taking salt packets from McDonald's, as well as mustard packets. Some people love Nerds gummy clusters. I guess I spent a lot on food/fuel when I was first getting started running, but now that I'm more settled on what I like (what works for me), I don't spend as much. I included fuel and all the food from the race weekend in this calculation. Someone in my running group suggested signing up for ALL the races. Like YOLO. They justified it by saying, "What is your health worth?" And that got me thinking about how much I spent on running in the past few years.

For sure, running has been crucial to my mental health, now and at various previous times in my life. The American Heart Association recommends a sodium intake of less than 1,500 milligrams per day. The form matters. Salt tabs called "buffered" seem to contain sodium citrate, not just sodium chloride. The buffer helps balance lactic acid and possibly other amino acids produced in anaerobic pathways. In fact, some athletes take sodium or potassium bicarbonate prior to intense efforts, such as sprinting.

A future post could explore branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), another fitness craze, as well as ketones such as beta-hydroxybutyrate. I feel like I'm not interested in doing fasted exercise. I'm trying to fuel while training to avoid dipping into ketosis. What I can say is that I took BCAA Complex in my smoothies this past training cycle. Not by choice. My son wanted to put them in there because he loved making a rainbow smoothie with many different ingredients. But I did feel a difference in my energy throughout the day. It felt similar to taking a high dose of B vitamins. He also put in Nature's Superfruits powder (which does have insane amounts of B-vitamins).

Looking at the literature, it seems that a lot has been discovered about metabolism since I left grad school. I remember discovering that ketones and branched-chain amino acids are produced by plants under low-oxygen stress. I'm not saying I'm responsible for these discoveries, but I remember finding these findings and reporting them, and the people in the plant hypoxia world saying it just wasn't possible. Records are being broken every day by athletes who are figuring out better fueling strategies, and I'm sure some of that has to do with electrolytes, too.

I haven't been taking my collagen powder, creatine powder, or my MCT powder supplements in my coffee. For some time now, I've been drinking it black. But I do take a creatine capsule at bedtime with all my other supplements. Not that you should take my advice. We're all out here doing the best we can. My race results: https://www.athlinks.com/athletes/85696593/results I'm not trying to win my age group. I am trying to run sustainably so I can continue doing this. It helps balance my mood, and I feel like it's helping me ease the menopause transition.

One strange thing I did notice was: I kind of feel like my belly fat is decreasing now that the marathon is over. It's been two full months now. I feel like longer walks, lower stress, and more cross-training are actually making a big difference. I started running to get rid of the belly fat and lose weight. But running long distances hasn't really lowered the number on the scale much. I'm trying to revisit the idea of cortisol. Doing workouts that raise cortisol will increase belly fat. Doing workouts that lower stress may actually have a larger impact in the direction I would like to go. 

I've been enjoying the off-season, following the Fit4Mom 5k plan A, which is really chill. I've been doing Royal Core 4.0 from RunFitMama and some workouts here and there from Naughty Girl Fitness. I am thinking that the long walks and some weight lifting are revving up my metabolic engine. I think I might need to keep lifting heavy shit. I'm in pain every day anyway, from my joints aching. Why not add some muscle soreness? Dietarily, I've tried to reduce my intake of fried foods and increase my intake of dietary fiber from fruits and vegetables.

My previous posts about salt:

• CalorieCount https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2011/01/carbs-calcium-cortisol-oh-my.html 
• Salt Bath https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2011/05/bathing-beauty.html
• Race Day https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2025/04/race-report-rose-bowl-half.html
• https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2025/03/la-marathon-race-report.html
• Immune System https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2011/10/airborne.html
• Fertility https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2019/03/fertility-part-3.html
• Supplements https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2020/07/turning-40.html
• https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2025/07/supplement.html
• https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2022/12/november-2022-thoughts.html 
• During Training https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2024/12/women-are-not-small-men.html
• https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2025/01/powerful-hermana.html
• Century Rides https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2014/07/independence-day-ride-report.html
• https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2014/10/ride-report-r2r-california-challenge.html
• https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2013/12/christmas-ride-report.html
• Kaiser Wellness Posts https://kaiserwellnesscenter.blogspot.com/2013/05/coconut-water.html
• https://kaiserwellnesscenter.blogspot.com/2019/06/fda-should-finalize-sodium-targets.html
• Astronaut Juice https://kaiserwellnesscenter.tumblr.com/post/50695781267/astronaut-juice

Other References:

The use of buffered salts as anticoagulants for the maintenance of true cell volume and for the determination of plasma proteins. Chorine, V. Revue d'Immunologie (1940), 6, 193-208.

Magnesium: Exploring Gender Differences in Its Health Impact and Dietary Intake
By: Mazza, Elisa ; Maurotti, Samantha ; Ferro, Yvelise ; Castagna, Alberto ; Pujia, Carmelo; Sciacqua, Angela ; Pujia, Arturo; Montalcini, Tiziana. Nutrients (2025), 17(13), 2226.

Magnesium in Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Type 2 Diabetes. Gabriele Piuri, Monica Zocchi, Matteo Della Porta, Gian Vincenzo Zuccotti, Luciano Pinotti, Valentina Ficara, Michele Manoni, Jeanette A. Maier and Roberta Cazzola. Nutrients (2021), 13, 320.

Perspective: Ketone Supplementation in Sports—Does It Work? Pedro L Valenzuela, Adrián Castillo-García, Javier S Morales, Alejandro Lucia. Adv. Nutr. (2020) Oct 22;12(2):305–315.

Effects of a commercially available branched-chain amino acid-alanine-carbohydrate-based sports supplement on perceived exertion and performance in high intensity endurance cycling tests
Marco Gervasi, Davide Sisti, Stefano Amatori, Sabrina Donati Zeppa, Giosuè Annibalini, Giovanni Piccoli, Luciana Vallorani, Piero Benelli, Marco B L Rocchi, Elena Barbieri, Anna R Calavalle, Deborah Agostini, Carmela Fimognari, Vilberto Stocchi, Piero Sestili. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. (2020) Jan 20;17:6.

Longer Marathon Debrief 2026

I have a bunch of screenshot that I want to write about. It's been a hard week, to say the least.

I'm proud I kept to the aerobic zone even though it was really hot.

I'm proud of my strategy. I used 2 minutes run / 1 minute walk until I met a friend who needed company walking.

I'm proud that I ran with my cousin's names and DOB- DOD who died as a result of being hit by a vehicle while running. I had their info on the back of my bib along with Jeff Galloway.

Heat Adjustment Guidelines

55–60°F: No adjustment needed to 1% slower.

60–65°F: 3% slower than goal pace.

65–70°F: 5% slower than goal pace.

70–75°F: 7% slower than goal pace.

75–80°F: 12% slower than goal pace.

80–85°F: 20% slower than goal pace.

Above 85°F: Run for fun/comfort. 

I'm proud of my entire training season. It was weird doing the Rose Bowl Half after the marathon last year. It's been a good build.

I'm proud of my splits. I know I can walk an 18 minute mile. I didn't stop at mile 18, even though the race organizers allowed it.

I'm proud that even though I knew I had a blister and some chafing, I didn't give up.

Training for a marathon didn't make me skinny, and I'm proud of myself that I exist in a larger body and as a slower runner, but still find a sense of belonging in the LARR and Fit4Mom community.

I'm proud of my fueling strategy. I didn't bring too much or too little.

I'm proud of myself for planning easy lessons for the post-marathon week. I definitely needed that BUT also I was walking pretty good with the exception of my blister and purple toenail.

I'm proud of myself for registering for 2027. It took me a week to work up the courage. But I realized that I really enjoy not only the race day but the whole experience of a season, a training plan, the discipline, the sense of purpose. Even though I had some DOMS, I missed running. I felt a profound moment while vacuuming where I realized that I should just go ahead and register again because I enjoy it.

I'm proud of planning and executing a birthday party for my child just 6 days after the marathon.

I'm not sure if we will have Spring RunClub+, this is the sign-up week. I'm proud of myself for programming it out and being ready, in case there is any interest.

Finish line is the Cobra 5Kai, 10Kai, and Half Miyagithon (along the LA River between Owensmouth and Vanalden). It's being hosted by the same group as the Clueless & Breathless race, Jed & Ted's Excellent Races. https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/CanogaPark/CobraKaiRace 

3/22 Kickoff party @ Waffle Love 9411 Reseda Blvd, Northridge, CA 91324

I got these warrior headbands https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G1B8H5BM, and I have some other gifts that I could bestow at the kickoff party.

I didn't go to the Medal Walk and pot luck because we got sick. And I'm okay with that. Because at the end of the day, I'm a mother runner, and parenthood is a demanding job.

https://www.instagram.com/stories/dr.kayla.kaiser/3855098928212133020?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igsh=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

This made me sob. Yes, of course part of the reason is hormones. But also, because every part of this video is true for me. The Disneyland 5k was my postpartum comeback race. The Galloway training plan was so doable. I learned so much from Jeff in just 2 years. He taught me a lot about coaching, especially mentoring new or returning runners. I know there are other great coaches out there, like Coach Bennett, put Jeff was really something special. He made every athlete feel like an important and valued member of the community. His techniques were so inclusive, it left us with no excuses. He had a solution for everything. The loss really hit me after finishing my goal race. Kind of how I felt last December after reaching the end of the semester and end of RunClub+ Session after my cousin died. When I got to rest a bit is when I got to process my grief. And it manifested throughout my whole body. That's how this feels.

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.

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.

Festivus

I'm actually kind of sick of all the social media posts about women doing all of the heavy lifting during the holidays. At some point, if you don't want to be the one doing all the heavy lifting, you have to put the burden down and do nothing. And wait for somebody else to pick it up, or make peace with the fact that not only do you not have to be the person to carry it, but actually, maybe it doesn't even need to be carried. Like, yes, if you don't do it, it won't get done. But also, maybe you can live without it. 

I'm saying this as someone who has been carrying a very heavy burden for the entire past few months. So heavy, in fact, that when I finally put it down, I'm almost catatonic. I'm having like a two-day migraine headache, and I feel like I physically cannot go on. My body is breaking down like my ribcage. And my neck.

I was listening to the Rise and Run podcast, and they mentioned the Airing of Grievances as a part of the Festivus holiday. I think it might be healthy. To prevent carrying these grievances into the new year. Our son, Albert, was upset that we didn’t do stockings on Christmas morning. I just couldn't swing it. I had stocking stuffers, but we never hung the stockings, so I mistakenly assumed Albert wouldn't expect one. 

My husband seemed to really get it. He realized he hadn't bought or wrapped any of the gifts under the tree. And he offered to do something to make a stocking for maybe New Year's Day. But to my knowledge, nothing has been done about it. And there will not be time. But he asked me not to do it because he feels bad about not doing anything else. I don't know.

We spent Christmas Eve baking. Sugar cookies, candy canes, fudge, peanut butter balls, and gingerbread. Mike delivered the plates to the neighbors. It was a good project for a rainy day when we couldn't do much else.

I don't know what more to do. Now I'm trying to decide whether to take Albert to the winter academy. It's a normal school day the week before they go back to school. Shouldn't I be jazzed to spend every possible moment with my kid? But it is tempting to go for it, since this break has been full of screen time, meltdowns, and sugar.

Struggle Meals

When we found out that my pay would be only 53% of what it was last year, we started scrambling to see how we could cut $2800 from our monthly bills.

I used the feature of our banking app to see how our monthly spending broke down by category and I saw that we were spending $2800 per month on Target, Amazon, and McDonald's. Roughly.

So I thought, this will be easy. Cut out unnecessary purchases AND going out to eat, and we'll be good. Turns out that we buy a good deal of necessities from Target and Amazon. Boring stuff like toilet paper, tampons, and shampoo, among other things. And our kid was not a big fan of giving up McDonald's completely.

So we cut other things. Our zoo membership, our arboretum membership, our aquarium membership, our Disneyland magic key, our children's museum membership. It's not the cost of the membership that gets us, it's the fact that every time we go, we end up buying lunch, souvenirs, and snacks. It's not fun to go if we can't enjoy ourselves.

We cut any subscriptions we aren't loving. I haven't had a haircut in months. I started using shampoo and conditioner that I had in storage rather than buying new. 

We decided to limit McDonald's to three times per month. Our child decided it would be on the 9th, 19th, and 29th. We go to the store without our child, meaning one parent stays home with the child while the other parent shops from a shopping list and only buys what is on the list.

Now that my pay *might* be similar to what it was... More will be revealed on that by the end of this week ...we have started relaxing some of these restrictions. We also found that our local Chick-fil-A has a "kids eat free" night with purchase of an adult meal. It helped to know that we would get one night out every week guaranteed.

Another thing I did was eat at Costco food court once or twice a week. $2 Pizza or $1.50 hot dog. I tripped across the concept of a Struggle Meal. It's the intersection of many factors: low budget, few ingredients, quick to prepare, low skill, low energy, and with common (not rare) ingredients. I love this idea for working parents as well as college students. My favorite is spaghetti with butter and Parmesan cheese. Super simple, quick and easy.

Now I can reveal that my pay is only $200 less than it was last year. But remember prices of EVERYTHING have nearly doubled. And our rent increased 6% this month. Mike was scheduled to get a cost of living adjustment, which the CSU calls the "steps" program, but they flagged him for having an already inflated salary according to his years of service. So he didn't get a raise.

What will history say about this time? The government is shutting down, firing federal employees by the thousands, canceling programs that compromise our social safety net. While building a gold ballroom and giving subsidies to other countries that suck up to us. Are we heading for an economic crisis a la great depression? Who knows?

For now, we will be okay. But I do think that the use of #strugglemeal and #recessioncore are indicative of the true lived experience for people in our country. We are still working SO hard. But our daily lives are filled with fewer treats because our buying power is getting ever weaker.

trade-offs

The trade-offs in life that I'm talking about is when you get back from a run you have three choices: eat, shower, stretch. It seems like I generally do two out of the three but never all three. But more broadly than that it's like the choice between healthy food and junk food. You can choose healthy food but it takes a lot more time and effort. You can choose junk food but it's going to make you feel like crap. Another one that's related to Mom guilt: you can let your kid eat candy, but then you're going to have to pay when they go to the dentist to have their cavities fixed. Or you can have a daily struggle to start brushing their teeth when they're 6 months old. You can drink enough water to be hydrated, but then you have to go pee every hour. Or you can drink less, but then every cell in your body will suffer because you're dehydrated. We have these daily small choices that add up to have a big impact. 

I was listening to a podcast this morning about Mom guilt. We're heading out for a racecation this week. As I was training this morning, I was thinking about what food to send for my kid. He is staying two nights at his grandma's house for the first time. The podcast said you can bend over backwards to map out every detail for your Mother-in-law or you can just drop them off and go, and let Grandma and Grandpa figure it out. It's not that I don't trust MIL, it's more like I just want everything to go smoothly and for them all to part ways with good memories, not stress.

I guess I'm just thinking about the whole concept of "having it all." Being a working mom, you do have trade-offs. You're going to let somebody else watch your child, spend time with your child, while you work. And when you are together, you're stressed about work. Not to mention housework like dishes, vacuuming, and laundry. But working more and having more money means you are less stressed financially, so you can buy higher quality food and then feel better.

Let me not forget, you can work on your phone while you're in the waiting room at the tire repair shop. You'll have your tire repaired, and you'll get work done, but you'll have carpal tunnel in your wrist from working on your phone.

Bimbo Global 10k Race Report

The event itself: How long? When?

This event had two race distances. Both registrations were free, but they "sold out" in a short amount of time. They had a 5-hour window for bib pickup on Saturday, September 27th. And then they had day-of-race bib pickup starting at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 28th. In our observation, the lines for the bib pick-up never got too long.  

Course description and evaluation of event logistics 

The 10K started first at 8:30. You had to complete the first loop before the 5K start at 9:30. The start line was in front of the Rose Bowl stadium, The course went clockwise around close to the stadium, then out on a road, up and around a golf course, then a nice gradual downhill, a little out & back that was a steep hill, and then a little jaunt over a pedestrian bridge returning to the front of the stadium. We had a slightly late start, so I was rushing to complete the first loop before 9:30. The race organizers had stated that if you couldn't run a 15-minute mile, you would not be allowed to complete the second loop of the 10k. There were fewer than 8,000 participants, so this event had a hometown race feel.  

How did you train for the event? 

The training that helped me the most was running with VRLA from Venice Beach to Santa Monica every weekend in August. Running those beach miles, even though they were flat, gave me the chance to practice my intervals, fueling, race-day kit, and pacing. I followed the training plan for Every Woman's Marathon throughout the summer. Additionally, the Fit4Mom 10k training plan. Most recently, over the last two weeks, I switched to the LARR 2026 marathon training plan. 

Gear and Nutrition 

Initially, the race organizers announced that there would only be one water stop, so I decided to bring my Nathan Trail Mix hydration belt. I added a buddy pouch with an additional 6oz to the built-in 2 x 10oz bottles. The race ended up having two water stops, one at the back of the loop, and another one at the front of the loop. Carrying 26 oz was a bit extra, but it was just right for me. It helped me stay cool, as I would squirt water on my head whenever I needed it. I ate four egg bites at 5 a.m. I ate four pumpkin muffins with cream cheese at 7 a.m. I drank electrolytes prior to the race, I even skipped my second cup of coffee to focus on being hydrated.  I brought one Gu. Vanilla bean with aminos, electrolytes, and caffeine. I took that at 9 am, about 1.5 miles into the race. My calves were really hurting, and it did help. 

The night before the event, I ate a lentil and rice meal that contained avocado and turkey kielbasa. I started with the New Orleans Style Dirty Rice Mix from Aldi. Then I added an onion and mushrooms. I added 1 cup of dried lentils and about 5.5 cups of water. I simmered for about 30 minutes. It's mushy and not particularly attractive, but it packs a good amount of nutrition. You can serve with sour cream, yogurt, or Alfredo sauce. You can change the flavor with garlic or ginger. You can add other fruits and vegetables, such as peppers, tomatoes, spinach, celery, carrots, turnips, and fennel, or whatever you have on hand. Whatever you do, avoid adding more salt, and refrain from using bullion instead of water, as this can make the dish too salty. 

Specific experiences 

Before the race started, a large staging area was set up in the parking lot, where all the run clubs assembled. It was so fun to see all the friends and family members. There was a DJ. The music was good. The vibes were good. After the race, participants enjoyed a free massage, complimentary food, food trucks, giveaways, and yoga. The DJ was still spinning. Everyone was dancing, having a great time. The weather was perfect, with temperatures in the '60s and an overcast sky. At no time did I feel like I was overheating or getting a sunburn, and I didn't even need to wear a hat. 

Finish and associated emotions 

The finish was enjoyable for this race because there was a little out-and-back steep hill. As I was running down the hill for the second time, my playlist landed on "Go the Distance" from Hercules. I almost started crying because I was so happy; I knew the finish line was within reach. My playlist was only 1 hour and 33 minutes long, so since my music hadn't run out, I knew I would finish the race within the time I had wanted. Going through the finish line when they were handing out medals, the person who handed me my medal said all the medals were the same, but some medals said 10k on on the ribbon, and other medals said 5k on the ribbon. I ended up getting a 5k ribbon, but I know I completed the 10k. The medal itself was the same for both. The only difference was the color of the ribbon and the distance printed on the ribbon. 

Overall evaluation of the event  

Overall, I really enjoyed this event. I would totally do it again. I completely forgot to take photos near the flags of all the different host countries. This race is called Bimbo Global because it is in a different host city each year:  Beijing, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Bogota. It felt really fun to be a part of something even larger than the race that we participated in. You can even see how your results stack up internationally.  The first-place finisher for the men's and women's division won an all-expenses-paid trip for two to next year's race, wherever that may be. The sponsor, Bimbo, donates 20 slices of bread for each participant. They gave us a jersey, a headband, and a wristband with a small zipper to conceal a house or car key, or stash your earbuds. It was a lot of swag for a free event. 10/10 would do it again. 🏅🌍

sweatpants

I'm thanking the inventor of sweatpants today. It's interesting that sweatpants' history dates back to runners in the Olympics in the year 1920. Sweatpants became a staple of the American wardrobe during the global pandemic of 2020, a century later. I would love to see a historical photo montage of the evolution of running warm-ups. Instead, here is a historical montage of my sweatpants. These stoned sweats were bought in the aughts after Juicy Couture popularized the bejeweled velour tracksuit. I remember I wore them until they had massive holes everywhere.

Victoria's Secret Pink with Rhinestones on the Butt circa 2008

The new sweatpants I got from Target, as a Valentine's gift to myself this year, are of the brand Universal Thread. I bought them in 4 colors. The green ones say Kindness. The blue ones say Perfect As Is. The red ones say Love. The pink ones say, "it's a good day to have a good day."

Love

One sweatshirt I got this year was a different brand, Grayson/Thread, and it is pilling. It's not as heavyweight. Another sweatshirt I got is the brand Wild Fable, and it is holding up better after many washes. I love the message, too: keep dreaming. It is 80% cotton and 20% recycled polyester. I got a sweatshirt last year made of 55% Cotton, 45% Recycled Polyester. Women's Hooded Love Sweatshirt - A New day™. I love the coral logo but it's been hard to keep it clean because it's cream-colored. But the point is that it's been durable and I've worn it A LOT. 

I do remember these pink sweats, which I wore last time I was running long distances. They were pretty thin and I probably mostly slept in them, and I definitely wore them until there were massive holes in them. This is my sister and it was probably the only time in my life where we could wear the same size.

Old Navy? Sweats circa 2010

I don't know why I feel the need to justify these purchases, maybe because they were expensive. But with sweats, I don't buy them often, and I wear them out until it's unsafe to wear them in public because the inner thigh gets holey. I was reading about all the clothing that was donated during the wildfires in Eaton Canyon and Malibu. There were SO many clothes, and because consumers buy clothes so often, the donated clothing was almost new. Unfortunately, what people who were displaced by the fires needed was more toiletries, cash, or food. Some of the donated clothing was probably sent for recycling. So it's interesting that stores like Target use recycled polyester in their new clothes.

Perfect As Is

I feel like I'm driving so hard right now. Like I'm using every possible minute in the day. The semester is wrapping up in some sense, or the home stretch will be a change of pace, but it's not over yet. The track suit was launched in 1939, which included matching pants and top. Adidas adopted the tracksuit in 1967, made from nylon instead of wool. RunDMC's 1986 music video really launched the Adidas tracksuit as a staple of the hip-hop scene.

My Adidas 2020

I get up early, go for my run, do my strength training, or vice versa. Then I go to work. If I have time to grab a shower, I do, get the kiddo ready for school, and walk to school. I am getting a lot of miles, which is good. I'm having trouble getting in all my nutrition, though. And hydration is the worst. I'm pretty much unable to keep up with this. I've had these blue sweatpants for a long time, but I can't wear them to work because the flared leg drags on the ground. But the waistband is super wide and stretchy and it has a real working drawstring.

Dec 2020 Pandemic Xmas

I joined Run Fit Mama in a 30-day program called Royal Core. It's kicking my butt in a good way. I asked my chiropractor if I should consider a breast reduction, and he told me to consider instead being mindful of my posture for 30 days, and then we'll talk about it.

I re-examined the vitamins I'm taking and took out all the ones that were there to support breastfeeding.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0039UT7DE  Menopause vitamins

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09K1YVMZG  Magnesium deodorant

As of today, I've been taking the Menopause vitamins for a week. Unfortunately, it hasn't been an instant fix for all my symptoms. Besides sweatpants I'm living in jumpsuits. They're not as easy to use the restroom in, but they are extremely comfortable. All these things I can throw over running tights or bike shorts so that I can stay cozy all day at work, and throw in a workout midday if needed.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGXVQKBT Muchpow Women's V Neck Sleeveless Jumpsuits Spaghetti Straps Harem Long Pants Overalls With Pockets (XX-Large)

$26.99 army green

$19.99 purple

I think I might be outgrowing my Latched Mama era, my Kindred Bravely era, as well as my LuLaRoe era. I don't need nursing bras anymore, but I'm not sure what my next era will be. Sports bras I guess?

priorities

Yep it's cycle day 20. Luteal misery. I fell on my run this morning and cut my knee and the palms of my hands. It got me thinking about my priorities. Should I have cut back the volume of today's run considering I'm a bit sick and on a difficult part of my cycle? Should I have done a shorter workout since my husband and I overslept? Was I rushing to get home and therefore not watching my footing? Was I pushing my pace too hard? Is it too soon after the marathon to be doing speed work again?

Mom

Wife

Teacher

Athlete / Coach

Dog Mom

Friend / Sister

Human Being

Woman

Artist / Gardener

The identities listed above define my priorities. Scheduling my time and doing the most important thing first is a struggle. Minute-by-minute, day-by-day, week-by-week, etc. I do count down the weeks of the semester. I count my parenthood duties as foremost in my mind. I cannot skip these. If my child is sick with a fever, I must drop everything else and take care of him until he is well again.

I guess my wife's duties are to my household and my husband. We took vows to care for each other in sickness and in health. As we strive to reach a more optimized state of health, these duties look like creating shopping lists and meal plans, cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, vacuuming and wiping down common areas, cooking and transporting food, restocking important household supplies, organizing items at the house so they can be inventoried and located, purging items that are no longer used. This is a long list. I also spend many hours per week just putting stuff away, sorting trash from treasures, and resetting areas to be useable again.

Next set of duties that I cannot skip, but also are not my top priority, are the things that I get paid for. Teaching duties, lesson planning, grading, sending emails, posting announcements, following up with absent students, etc. Writing quizzes, making copies, drawing on the board, communicating with colleagues in person and online, reading emails, and scheduling things. I put these things lower on the priority list when I need to, and then higher again when things at home are settled. I work ahead when I feel healthy and balanced, but I fall behind when other higher priorities become urgent.

My duties as an athlete/coach are sometimes higher and sometimes lower, but lately, they have been pretty high. I've let my health take a back seat to parenting and work for half a decade, and now I want to put it higher so that I don't skip workouts and backslide into more significant obesity than I currently am. I spend time creating content for YouTube to educate myself and my runClub. I program and track my workouts using spreadsheets and mileage trackers on Canva. I compare the data on my Samsung Health app to Strava Athlete Intelligence to keep myself motivated and moving forward. As Coach Bennett of the Nike Running app says, You're your best coach. Talk to yourself kindly as you would want your coach to talk to you.

I have a new identity as a dog mom again, which means that I have to fit dog walks into my life. I need to do some dog training and grooming, and remember to add her food to the shopping list, refill her water dish, talk nicely to her, and watch for her under my feet when I'm carrying something large so I don't step on her. 

As a friend, this may look like hour-long phone calls to check in on the women in my life. Or it may look like sharing something funny or motivational on Instagram messages. It doesn't have to take up a lot of time when I'm busy, but it is a steady stream of back-and-forth to let those women know they are important, significant, loved, and cared for. It's similar to sisterhood. It's curating the village. This may be a separate post, but I'm leaning into paying for my village. I paid to join the run club. I paid to join the Sparkle Squad. But I get a lot out of it too.

How the "human being" tasks ended up so far down, I don't know. This is stuff like eating, sleeping and pooping. Stuff all humans do. Getting sick, getting well, breathing, digesting, the things we take for granted when it is going well. Maybe we should also put hydration in this category. Also shopping for stuff like supplements, vitamins, and tracking macros. I mean, this could also be a separate post. I've reconsidered the supplements I'm taking. After some bloodwork before my marathon, which I begrudgingly agreed to do, I briefly stopped taking all my supplements. But since then, I've started retaking most of the supplements I had paused. 

I guess I would put "woman" in here in a general way to say self-care. Beyond friendships. Stuff like pampering. Spa time. Being alone. Thinking your own thoughts. Blogging like I'm doing now. Doing something I enjoy. The other day I heard a podcast about Disney stuff and they mentioned that Bath and Body Works was doing a line of Disney Princess fragrances. I had to go to the mall and smell it for myself. I'm not sure why this resonates with me in the category of women, but I guess princesses are women and women are taught to be conscious of smelling good, not sweaty, and having soft skin, not rough. So this type of self-care is associated with femininity. It also falls under the Wife category since it involves keeping the lotions and soaps stocked. It is Woman, though, because this dry skin due to perimenopause is something else. And I'm hoping the lotions help with that.

Artist is the last, lowest, and least of my identities. But it's still there! This may be visual with crafting, or it may be kinesthetic with roller disco and dance. I had vowed that when I finished the marathon season, I would do something else in the off-season and get back into dance or rollerskating. And then I went ahead and signed up for another marathon! Yes, I'm doing the LA Marathon 2026. But I still have a lot of semester left to finish, and most of the summer will pass by before training starts again in earnest. Naughty Girl Fitness is $14.44 a month, and it's app-based. 

I'm still paying for my Fit4Mom instructor membership, which is $9.99 per month, not even covered by the amount I get paid for coaching the RunClub. After talking with my husband over the long weekend, we may have concluded that I might not continue coaching the RunClub. I might get more out of the season if I commit fully to LARR. The good discount with Fit4Mom is that you do not have to pay for the monthly membership as an instructor and you can still attend classes. I think I was paying $69 per month for Fit4Mom, and at one time, I was paying hundreds of dollars for a monthly membership and Body Well. 

People say good things about Orange Theory Fitness, and 24 Hour Fitness, but for now I've got my Planet Fitness Membership. It's $25 per month for the Black Card membership, which includes massage chairs, hydromassage, tanning and Total Body Enhancement, which I have yet to try but I might do it soon. It's vibration combined with red light therapy. Again, this could be a topic of a future blog post. What I'm looking forward to most is the end of the semester and our trip to Nebraska. What I'm not looking forward to is the Rose Bowl Half because it seems so out of place in the season, finishing up all the work of grading and submitting grades, and the weather going hotter and hotter as we approach summer. 

Maybe I could add to Artist also Gardener. And this is the lowest priority. At the moment completely dead. But it is generally in spring where I revive our garden. Albert has shown some interest in planting stuff for spring. It will be difficult to justify since we're traveling to Nebraska early in June, but maybe if I'm clear with my husband about care instructions, the garden won't be completely dead when we get back. And I really need to work on getting stuff OUT of our house. It's so overstuffed right now it's stressing me out.

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.

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