2023 Update

It's been quite a while since my last blog post, and to be honest, I had to do some serious digging to recover my login information for this account. Life has kept me busier than my blogging. Since 2017, I've had three boys! They are now ages 5.5, 3.5, and 1.9!

As we approach November, I'm gearing up for a significant milestone in my running journey – my first half marathon since becoming a mom. While I haven't been consistently blogging, I have been consistently running, leisurely. Over the past few years, I've participated in more than a handful of 5k and 10k races. I have yet to add these to the Race Results widget on my blog. None of them were record-breaking in terms of speed or personal bests, but they've helped me stay connected to my passion for running, and I even added a new category - the stroller division!

The races I found records for include: 

• Sep 2016 She Is Beautiful Santa Barbara 2016 10k in a time of 01:12:45 >> 11:44 min/mile 
• Santa Barbara Half Marathon 06/2016 
• Thanksgiving Day 4 Miler 2016 
• Los Angeles Chinatown Firecracker 5/10K 2017
• 2017 Gaucho Gallop 5K Benefit Race 04/17 36:56 >> 11:53 MIN/MI
• 2018 Santa Barbara Chardonnay 10-Miler 4/18 2:06:23.5 >> 12:38
• 5-mile Bumbleride Baby Mama with Baby Finisher (Stroller Division) - Sep 2018 01:20:14 >> 16:02 min/mile
• 2019 McConnell's 5k 34:15 >> 11:01 MIN/MI
• 10K - Bumbleride Baby Mama 5 Miler with Baby finisher item (Stroller Division - Sep 2019
• 2022 Resolution Day Run 5k 37:25 >> 12:02 MIN/MI
• She.is.beautiful Santa Cruz 10k - 2022 1:11:19 >> 11:30 min/mile
• Dole Great Race Agoura Hills 10k - April 2022 01:17:03 >> 12:25 min/mile
• 2023 Resolution Run 5k 37:24.8 >> 12:04/M
• 2023 Superbowl 5k 33:41.9 >> 10:52/M
• She Is Beautiful Santa Barbara 2023 10k in a time of 1:20:47 >> 13:01 min/mile 

Looking ahead, I'm eager to set the foundation for working towards those coveted PRs. With the big 4-0 on the horizon next year, I've read that your 40s can be one of the best decades for running. It's said that you accumulate a wealth of knowledge and experience by this age, which can greatly benefit your running performance. So, I'm excited about the journey that lies ahead.

In 2021, we sadly said goodbye to our beloved Mabel. As our youngest boy grew and became more stable on his feet, we decided to bring a new furry friend into our home. This time, we had the opportunity to welcome the type of dog I had always dreamed of; a runner – Rocco, is a 5-year-old Husky mix. He's not only loving and gentle but also full of boundless enthusiasm!

In terms of health and injuries, apart from pregnancy-related changes, I've been fortunate not to have faced any major health or running setbacks. I did battle bronchitis/pneumonia last winter, and since March, I've been dealing with a mild to moderate Achilles heel/tendon issue. Fortunately, it seems to be improving overall, though it does flare up occasionally.

The other huge change to report regarding running is that I've gone from listening to music during training and races to listening to audiobooks and podcasts. Since 2016 I committed to reading more books consistently setting a yearly goal between 20-35, and the only way I can do it is with audiobooks these days. 

This post is prompted by a race I participated in over the past weekend, Sep 9, 2023, the She is Beautiful 10k. It turned out to be my slowest 10k race to date; my chip time was 1:20:47 >> 13:01 min/mile. So, I'm essentially hitting the reset button on my blogging journey, concurrently with my disciplined running journey, and plan to document my progress as I strive for significant improvements.

My goal is to shed a total of 20 pounds, with the aim of losing at least 10 of them permanently by the end of this year and the remaining 10 by my birthday next August.

On the horizon, I have a 10k race next weekend, the Goleta Lemon Festival Fun Run. Following that, I've signed up for the Santa Barbara Veteran's Day Half Marathon, and, if all goes well, the Santa to the Sea Half Marathon in December, which is a favorite of mine. Anyway, that's all for now. I hope to write a blog post on this week's race, then a photo montage of all the races I missed (that I have pictures for), and next week, I'm hoping for a debrief on the Lemon Fest 10k! Until then - keep putting one foot in front of the other, friends! 

State Street Mile 

Running is fun and more so with family and friends.

A couple of weekends ago, I ran the State Street mile in Santa Barbara which is downhill on the main street downtown to benefit the Victim Witness Program of the Santa Barbara District Attorney's office. I PRd in my age group cutting 13 second from my mile run at this same race in 2009.  It was pretty funny because when the 30-39 year olds took off, I pretty quickly found myself in last place. Although I was running swiftly (for my usual pace), I felt as though I was strolling down state street in slow motion. Having the entire street to myself and waving to acquaintances, friends, and family - in this small town, I felt like I was coasting at 20 minute miles. I was shocked to set a PR. Go, me! I must admit however, I have not been training for a short run at all and the night before the race, I went wine tasting then ended up having a couple of cocktails before midnight. I may want to in the future, train for this race to find out how fast I can really go.

However, I did just find out from 23 and me that as Baymax from Big Hero 6 would say it, "I'm not fast." They reported the following, "Olivia, your fast-twitch muscle fibers likely do not have the alpha-actinin-3 protein...Endurance athletes tend to have more slow-twitch muscle, while sprinters tend to have more fast-twitch muscle. Some of the variation in fast-twitch muscle depends on a protein called alpha-actinin-3." So alas, it looks like running longer rather than faster seems to be my destiny - one that I'm plenty content with. Didn't really need a $200 test to tell me that...just look at my previous race times.  Haha

In addition to my one mile dash, I enlisted my husband and my dog to come out and play and participate in the DOG MILE. We also made plans to meet up with Finley the golden doodle and of course her mom and dad. The dog mile featured maybe 50 dogs plus their owners racing down state street. Some bolted, the winner finished in 4:13. Some dogs walked, the most amusing to me - a cocker spaniel like mine - hopped wildly from the floor onto her owners butt and back on the floor as she advanced down the hill. Mabel our 10 year old cocker had a blast and so did we, participating in a fitness event for the family and the community. Can't wait to do it again!

New PR!

I'll make this post short but sweet.

I have a new PR in the 10k distance. After having missed a PR by 15 seconds last February, I focused during training and it came to fruition in Ojai.

OFFICIAL RESULTS 1:00:09.2 (9:42/Mi) beating my previous 10k PR of 1:06:59 by 6 min, 50 seconds!

January 2016 - At weight and faster!

So I did that 21-day no sugar, carb or dairy during the first 21 days of December and reached 134lbs. I ate like any normal person would from the 21st to January 3rd but I'm glad to be eating well again and happy to report I'm at 136 lbs despite the brie cheese, the holiday carbs, wine and treats!

It was so amazingly easy to give up so many processed foods and bad stuff that I've decided to continue eating without sugars, carbs and dairy Mon- Fri and enjoying in moderation all the other stuff on the weekends.

Additionally to the great achievement in weight, this past August I returned to running. Ran a total of 313 miles (which is why Zuckerberg's 365-mile goal doesn't seem astounding). I ran 4 races and PRd in 2 of them. One was a default PR because it was a new distance, but the other was a nice Thanksgiving surprise. The 5k although it wasn't a PR it was a second best time for me.

12/15 Santa to the Sea Half - 2:39:21 »» 12:10
03/15 Race to the Row 8k - 00:59:43 (PR) »» 11:56
11/15 Turkey Trot 4 mi - 39:49 (PR) »» 9:57
10/15 Rock n' Roll Hollywood 5k - 30:16 »» 9:45

Sadly I did not PR on my 10th half marathon, but I was pretty proud of running a 10th half marathon and that it was injury free, and  my time was not bad but also not great - rather average for me.

This year, like most others I ran the New Year's Resolution 5k and while I did not get a 5k PR it was the best New Year's Resolution time I've ever had (31:14) which makes me optimistic about the upcoming year!

Sep to Mid November

Good news. I'm down to 143 lbs. Getting closer to my goal weight of 135 lbs. 

Equally good news to report. I have run 65.3 miles in the months of Sep - Mid November. We had our honeymoon and a move in between but I am now only 3 weeks out from my half marathon race. 

I did a the Rock n' Roll Hollywood 5k with my husband and rocked it! Came in with my second best 5k time ever - 30:15. I'm thinking if I find a holiday 5k in the area I may try for a PR. 

 

The last race before my 1/2 marathon is a classic for my sister and I. We'll be doing the Goleta 4 Turkey Trot. My time to beat will be 40:52. Lastly, we've begun another DietBet. Last one of the year and going strong. 

First Month Back - Aug 2015: 66.7 miles

After a 19 month running hiatus due to an IT band injury, I've returned to consistent training - along with stretching, rolling and the whole nine yards. I'm doing the Fredricson Protocol for ITBS as well as a couple additional stretches. I'm also doing a 30-day squats, sit ups, crunches and plank challenge to strengthen the core. 

August (my birthday month) and therefore, my most motivating month, was my first full month of running. Logged 66.7 miles. 

I found a My Asics Plan app which is awesome for pacing! I'd strongly recommend it. It also reminds you to take rest days. 

My goal is to run the Santa to the Sea half-marathon in December (for the third time), with a good time and injury free. This will mark my 10th half-marathon!

After the Santa race if all goes as planned 2016 will be full of endless possibilities. I'm eyeing the Country Music Half in Nashville or Big Sur in CA. A lot of factors to weight. 

Birthday Celebrations equal Birthday Pounds

My husband and I have birthdays two weeks apart - yay! However, that means we celebrate with outings, friends and food too much too fast.

Last Thursday I took him on a birthday dinner and froyo, Friday we did a happy hour with friends and Patxi's Pizza (at 500+ cals per slice) for dinner - and I made cheesecakes for this celebration. Saturday we went to a wedding and Sunday we went to a brewery with his family for beer and deep fried food, cheesecake again, and brownies. Monday was a day of left overs plus hot Cheetos - one of my faves. During the whole weekend I went on three 2+ mi walks and one 2.75 run. The entire celebration cost me roughly 1.4 lbs and put me back one week and one day. Oops.

That must be why they say it's about the journey, not the destination.