Catalina Marathon Race REVIEW Recap. "Enjoying The View" - Skillz

There's a reason people put this marathon on their "must do" list.

It.  Is.  Incredible.

I will go into details later this week about our awesome time on the island [getting to California, meeting Caroline & having a blast with my family] but for today . . . just the recap of the race/event and what I liked and possibly didn't like.

We arrived via the Catalina Express, Friday afternoon around 3:30pm.  We found our driver from our hotel and we were off. 

Peanut: "Best ride ever". 
Me:  best ab workout ever.

5pm was packet pick up.  I got there around 5:30.  The line was insane!  Well, for about 2 minutes it was insane.  Then this nice man came out and said, "Any marathoners?"

Then, no joke, TWO of us walked forward.
Packet pick-up in 4 minutes FLAT.

Loved that.

I will say, this is not an "expo" in the way I have come to expect an expo [I'll blame that on RNR races ;) ] to be. 

You will NOT find:
Gu's, compression socks, 26.2 car decals, body glide OR a race T-shirt.
T-shirts are handed after the race when you FINISH.  Freaking loved that. 

You will find:
Friendly staff
Fast & efficient staff
Your bib number + pins
A bag with two papers in it
Your boat ticket

So we had the fabulous "Antonio's" for dinner.  Then it was crash time.
It true Emz fashion.......I slept like 3-4 hours & completely spaced on packing, buying, bringing breakfast.  Uggggg.  Cam out of the bathroom to the Pita making me a "breakfast goodie bag" [ya, that's a first ever, so grateful.]  Ahhhhh, almonds, ChexMix & fruit snacks.  Breakfast of champions.

A 5 Minute walk to the ferry.  And I'm on.  I find a solo area on the floor and sit.  I look up to see a young girl.  All smiles but looks nervous.  VERY nervous.  I wave her over.  We chat.  She's 16.  Yes, 16.  And this is her very first marathon.  HOLY. CRAP.

The ferry goes from Avalon to Two Harbors.  Ride takes about an hour.  Looking around, I notice a few things:

These runners look hardcore.
There's a lot of gold dangling from hats.

A lot of trail running shoes.
A lot of water bottles around people's waists.
A lot of older runners.
NOT a lot of people in tutu's.  weird.
A lot of people either telling me they love my tutu mixed with a lot of not so approving looks from others.  Ehhhh. whatever.

We arrived at Two Harbors with about 40 minutes to spare before go-time.  The weather was perfect.  Not cold at all but that eventually bit us in the backside about 1.5-2 hours later.   

The start of this race felt a lot like the 50 mile Man against Horse Race I ran.  Super laid back.  No one is acting all stressy or doing pick-ups.  Everyone just shooting the crap with their neighbor asking, "how many times you done this?".

My favorite comment at the start line from a 40-ish year old man.

Man: you know this is a serious run right? 
Me [dead serious face]: what? This ISN'T the 5k? 
Him: [blank stare]
Me: see you at the finish.  Looks like a beautiful race.

I took the fist 5 miles very conservatively.  Too conservatively, looking back on it.

At mile 4.75ish.  A gentleman wearing a "dirty 30" shirt [meaning he has run this race 30 times] passed me going up a freaking hard hill [that I chose to walk].

His words:  Let's go cupcake.

I'll be honest, that got my blood boiling.  So I started running.  I caught him.  I said, "You chose just  the right motivational word, see ya!"  Never saw him again.  Cupcake.  Seriously?  Cupcake. I freaking love my tutu.  That guy did me the biggest favor ever.

Ever want to see men pick up their speed in an instant?
Pass them.
in
a
tutu.
They get all kinds of crazy superfunk.

I turned my music on at mile 10.  Only to hear SKILLZ "Enjoying The View", and I certainly was.  This course is beyond words.  Absolutely stunning.

One incredible thing about this race is the volunteers.  The BEST volunteers I have ever had on any race course.  They got better and better as the race went on too.

I do have to say my favorites were at 20 & 22.  Loved. them.

I had a huge surprise at 20 when I saw my Pita & Peanut. 

Took my breath away.  Had NO idea they were going to meet me.  I lit up in excitement. 

Which equalled my pace picking up.  YAY!

Then, I was off for the last 6.2.
Right after I passed another lady came by that Pita & Peanut cheered for.  Pita said her comment was, "HA!  I just got passed by TinkerBell!" 
The Pita cracked up.  Peanut wanted to smack her.  My family rocks.

Insanely beautiful, right?
It was now . . . . . well, FREAKING heating up.  Temperature was at least 15 degrees over the "norm" and well . . . we were all feeling it.

One of the awesome parts of this race?

The last 3 miles are downhill.  Like super downhill.  The last 1.75 miles is a paved road which passed by a golf course, baseball field, lots of golf carts & homes.  I loved all the interaction it allowed with PEOPLE!  I had a permanent smile on my face & threw up my hands in "rock-on" fashion almost the entire 1.75 miles.

Turned the corner to the finish line.  And......Well, I'm just freaking happy.
I can see my Pita.  In the finish line coral.  Like right behind the finish line.  All smiles.  I've never been able to cross a finish line and literally jump [not sure how I jumped but I did] into my husbands arms.  [insert soppy Hollywood drama music, but it was all that to me.]

So. happy.

Like the happiest I've been in about 947 days.  No I didn't "win".  I wasn't fast.  I have yet to get my MAN BQ but........ you know, this run was everything to me.  Not really sure why but I do know . . .  I remembered why I loved running out there.  I loved not having a lot of people around.  I loved taking in the view and thinking of how freaking blessed I am.

and
that's
everything
to
me.

No question.  I'll run this again. [and again, and again, and again . . . ]

"Taper Jean Girl" - Kings Of Leon

Emz 101.

How to taper for a marathon. . . .. . . . in photos
[albeit a non-racing {holy mountain-esque} marathon] . .


Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Run 5 miles [sorry, no photo]

Bake these:

. . . then hurry and give them away before you eat them all.

Friday:

Meet this FREAKING awesome lady.

Saturday:

26.2 miles.

Kill. the. hills.

Woooooooooo hoooooooooooooo!

It's textbook running, I tell you.
TextBOOK!


* Do YOU taper like a pro? *
Feel free to email me a "good taper" schedule.

I apparently, don't have one.

"Luke" - Long Beach Dub All Stars

Wordless. Wednesday.

"Smile" - Avril Lavigne

So like most other days . . . . . .

Today I did this:

Which was supposed to be a recovery run [9 miles] but . . . . it was feeling great again today so I rolled with it.  15 miles at 7:29.  Ummmm, that .77 was all cool-down walkin'.
Then I did some laundry and some actual money making work.  My bank account looks a little happier.

Then I went to Costco.  I know, zero shock-factor there. 

It's always one of three people working the all important "show me your money card" door, every time I go.  So, as the routine goes, I reached in my bag-o-tricks to get my cult pass card out . . . . and look up to see my favorite one of the three working the door.

Him:  why hello again.
Me: hey! How are you? [reaching in bag, still]
Him:  ya, you're good.  We see you often.  C'mon in!
Me:  wooooo hoooo!
Him: you always have the biggest smile on your face.  Why are you so happy?
Me:  Well. it. IS. Costco.
Him: ya, ya but thanks for being so happy

I loved the timing of this interaction.
My sister had to give a talk on "happiness" this past Saturday in front of a large group.  I couldn't make it due to Peanut's volleyball tournament but after visiting with my Mom yesterday, I asked her for an emailed copy.

A quote I loved:

"Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."

She used an analogy that was awesome.  She had given each person a small bag of cotton candy.  Cotton candy makes her happy. 

To some cotton candy = weight gain, rotten teeth & sugar high
To her cotton candy = happy [family] times
like at Suns games, the ball park, Disneyland, the State Fair, Chuck E Cheese [ya, she's awesome, I pay Peanut off so I don't have to go there.]

It's all a matter of perspective.

My perspective is not always rosy and shiny.  Ask the Pita.  Ask Peanut.  Ask the girl who never blogs Dawn.  But I am learning [and very quickly] that the trials I have been given in the last 6 weeks or so have all been much easier due to a better, happier, perspective.

. . . . Why not smile?  

What made you smile today?

"She Takes The Cake" - The Vanderbuilts

I love a good auction.
The only thing I love more than an auction, is a CHARITY auction.

There is something inside me that loves to bid.  I don't care where. 

eBay.
or
church.

yes, church.

There is an annual event each year to raise money for girl's camp.  This being Peanut's first year attending camp = the year we finally got around to going. [yay us.]

Little did I know just how freaking much I'd love this event [ya, it was a 98% dessert auction].
[note to self, do not sit in the front row next year.]

Started off pretty casually.  The Pita let me know which items he wanted.  Quickly followed by, "how much cash you got?".

Candy apple with chocolate & macadamia nuts = $10 [deal]
Two loaves of homemade bread = $10 [deal]

well..............then it just got nuts.

ok, I went nuts.

And I did buy nuts.
And a plaque of a squirrel eating a nut.

I consulted my Dad's iPhone to ask "siri" how much I should pay for a coconut/macadamia cake. 

To which Siri told me:

"I don't know but here are 4 places that serve that cake." - Thanks for nothing Siri.

$90 later.  That cake was mine. [totally worth it, by the way].

Seriously, don't ask about that jaguar thing.

And yes, the cake. . . . it's gone.  I did split 3/8 with my mom.  So it's all good.  right?  right? 

Saturday was busy and yet another freaking awesome day.  Was up at 4:30 getting my run done then off to Apollo for Peanut's volleyball tournament.

Was a riot to be back in the gym I had played in [holyfreakinggasp] 20 years earlier.

So.  many.  awesome.  memories.

Peanut's team completely rocked.

[and yes, the last girl in yellow is seriously 12 years old, awesomely tall]

The Pita had "gone shootin'" for the day.  This man and his guns. 

I guess between the two of us [when the ZOMBIES come] we'll be ready.
Food + guns = we are prepared nuts.

Then I made Peanut drive by the Emz Childhood Casa

for our "listen to mom talk about her amazing childhood" moment.

Then well . . . . . it was all about the basketball game.
I had to start focusing.

Start sending I hate Duke tweets, texts, emails.

I.  Love.  March.

And I kinda love that Duke lost. true story.

Sorry Jason & Caroline.  I'm just so sorry for your loss.
[as if]

So in four days time, I'll be meeting Caroline. [hope she is still talking to me]
And in five days, I'll be running the Catalina Marathon.

Which totally makes sense why I'd run 20 today. 

It was just one of those days where the feet keep going [sans tv, music or phone].  I love how these awesome runs come on days they shouldn't  . . . . but it did freaking make my day.

Happy Monday to ALL!

"Today Was A Good Day" - Jae Millz

today was one of "those" days.

The kind of day where:

* Peanut makes her own lunch.
* Chuy [pickles, as of yesterday, I changed his  name] . . . he's just happy I talk to him now. . . . Pickles, left me alone all morning.

* I slept for over 5 hours.
* She comes in while I'm running ask me "how my run is going".
* I get a 17+ mile run in that felt amazing.  with no TV, no music, no cell phone/texting [gasp]

* When two people decided to buy expensive dresses from me that I've been carrying in my inventory for[freaking]ever.
* I find some awesome comedy show tickets for half price.

* What killed me was the text exchange with the Pita before buying . .

[....below this I said . . . I could probably find one if that was an invitation and or he'd be okay with it . . . notSOmuch.]
* My go-to jeans . . . fit perfectly after wearing them [3 times now] without washing.
* When I get to go to lunch with some of my awesome AZ running peeps.  Adam & Lauren.

 
* Then I casually stop by Costco for gas and actually go inside JUST to buy a magazine.  $3.40 total purchase at Costco [ok, minus the $84 in gas] - you bet cha.
* Then on the way home, I know I'll pass my favorite "treat" place so I stop - they are out of MY favorite but I get the $9 english muffins that make the stop ohhhhhhhh so worth it.
* To get home to see Mase chillin' in the pool.  Ya, it's a "hot" 75* day today.

* When you pick up your daughter from school and she runs to the car. 
Never fails. 
I feel like a freaking rock star every time.

Oh yes, today was a good great day.

Happy Weekend My Friends!!

"Catalina" - Seven Foot Wave

Catalina [and or "cimi"] is a word I've gotten VERY used to hearing about in my home.

"Mom, when I was in Catalina . . . "
"Well, in Catalina, we did . . "
"So did you happen to get my cimi photos developed yet?"
"When I grow up, I want to live in Catalina."

Peanut went to Catalina Island for her sixth grade trip back in mid-January and well . . . . it's still like it was yesterday around our place.

this. kid. loved. Catalina.

So you can imagine the shrills of happiness & joy when I told Peanut we'd be heading there for the Catalina Island Conservancy Marathon!

[sad but true fact . . . ]

I have never been to Catalina Island.  Crazy right?

Hong Kong - check
New Zealand - check
Great Wall of China - check
blah
blah
blah
Catalina - [soon to be "check" 3/10]

I was stoked when they asked me to run this.

Things I know about this race:

*  It's all nature-y and outdoors-y "rugged terrain".  I can do rugged.  Yes, I freaking love my treadmill but I loved my 50 mile "Man against Horse" trail run too.

*  This is so going to be my chance to get that new PR.

*  The elevation chart looks totally awesome.  hills?  what hills?  What the hill?

*  I am soooooooooooo going to just roll down from mile 22.

*  There will be plenty of "aid-stations"  [they better have Twizzlers] 

Anyone want to make a friendly wager?  I'm calling this a "two fall mary". [I bet, I'll fall twice].

*  That I am going to love this much needed break with my family.

*  That WE get to meet Caroline on our way to Catalina. 

Yes, that was on my 2012 bucket list.  This woman owns a huge space in my heart.  I am beyond thrilled to GET to meet her.

*    *    *    *

I had a chance to visit with a lot of runners last weekend at Ragnar Del Sol. EVERY person I talked to about the Catalina Island Marathon said one of two things:

"That one is on my list of must do's".

or

"That is one of my most favorite marathons!"

I. cannot. freaking.  wait.

Which marathon is on your "must do" list?