Long Beach City Manager’s 10 Mile Race Recap 2014

 

 

Happy Memorial Day!

 

My breakfast looks all festive, doesn’t it? Trust me, I didn’t do it on purpose.

I hope the weather by you is as beautiful as the weather is here in New York at the moment.

Now how could a race be anything but great when you are running in these conditions?

I have to say – I actually enjoyed running the ten mile race. Usually I decide I enjoyed a race AFTER the race. This time, during the race my thoughts were filled with happiness.

It was a gorgeous morning, not a cloud in the sky and about 60 degrees at the start.

I can’t tell you how nice it was to pick up my number and just hang around town without a chill to the air that can make you want to bounce up and down to keep warm while you wait for the start.

In the back of my mind though I knew that once we started running, I would warm up twenty degrees bringing the feel-like temperature to eighty degrees which was a bit warm at this point in the season.

The race started right on time and I was off. I felt terrific aside from the fact that I began the race feeling as though I needed to use the bathroom. I had used the bathroom at the Long Beach Rec Center and thought there would be a Port-O-Potty at the start line so that I could go again but there wasn’t.

I tried not to think about it much but I did have to go.

I wanted to pace myself but of course I started out fast but it didn’t feel fast. In fact, during the first mile I knew I could go faster but resisted.

I believe my first mile was 7:18 <—too fast. But I didn’t care.

I told myself to just run and be happy.

Happy that it was a gorgeous day.

Happy that it was the start of the summer season down at the beach with a fully replaced boardwalk after Hurricane Sandy.

Happy to run the streets I have grown up around with so many memories since I was little girl.

Happy that my skirt felt like it wasn’t even there; the waistband sat in such a perfect place, didn’t slide or move and the bike shorts fell to a perfect spot on my legs without bothering me.

And best of all, happy that I can decide last minute to run a ten mile race without thinking twice.

A portion of the race occurred on the Long Beach boardwalk.

I even snapped a quick picture for you while I was running. I was shocked that it came out as well as it did, I figured it would be blurry since I was moving pretty fast at this point.

I ran the boardwalk fast because I wanted it to be over. As pretty as it looks, there is no shade and it was hot.

On a side note, never wear heels on a boardwalk. I couldn’t help but think of this while I was running.

I once broke a pair of sandals (Chanel sandals no less) because of the little gaps in the boardwalk planks. As Amanda would say, Le Boo.

My point in telling this story is that my mind was a bit more free during this race to think about the sandals I broke a few summers ago and what Amanda would say rather than be focusing on the usual crazy thoughts that go through my mind while running a race.

Normally my thought process consists of insane thoughts like why do I run, I will never run a race again and I can’t wait for it to be over.

Sure, I was ready to cross the finish line but I was really taking it all in. I didn’t force myself to try to fly faster than I was going.

I let myself slow for water at several of the stops because I was thirsty and it was really hot. I was not looking to be a hero.

I was simply looking to run a darn good race and to enjoy it.

I popped my jelly beans but didn’t finish them. My time at the five-mile mark was 39 minutes and some seconds which was fast enough.

I am pretty sure I slowed a bit after that but I didn’t care. I felt great and kept thinking that.

And yeah, I couldn’t help but take note once again of the difference of how I felt in this race compared to the Fitness Magazine Half that I couldn’t finish. That race still bothers me even though I know I legitimately didn’t feel well with good reason.

My GPS was off by almost a quarter of a mile after the first few miles which got to be annoying. It would tell me a mile mark yet I still had several steps to go to cross the race mile marks.

I finished the race just under 1:23. I was hoping to run it under 1:20 but I am more than satisfied. I factor in the slowing for water and slowing for going up and down the boardwalk ramps and the heat so it’s all good.

The race finish was on the bay side but it was so gorgeous outside that I walked a cool down over to the ocean and the boardwalk to eat my watermelon. I always pack some post-race snacks in a cooler in the car. I can’t trust what a race will provide.

And then I ran a bit more up and down the boardwalk before heading home.

So the Nike skirt. You need it.

Please excuse my post-race appearance.

I know we are all built differently so I can’t say for sure that the skirt will make you as happy as it made me but I do recommend you try it on.

I want to say I even like it more than the Lulu Pace Setter skirts I already have. The Nike skirt is much lighter in weight (I didn’t even realize the Lulu skirt was heavy) and the pocket in the front where I keep my jelly beans was easier to access while running.

The Nike website has the Stretch Woven skirts on sale. I didn’t see the black-on-black on the site but they have the black skirt with what looks like yellow bike shorts underneath.

If you buy it from the store, they have a thirty-day return policy so if you try it and don’t like it, you can return it.

I haven’t decided if I will order another one because one may be enough. I can still wear the Lulu skirts and would rather do more laundry and save my money for other important things.

Like ice cream.

My son and I are off to the beach this morning. Enjoy the rest of your long weekend!

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Are you having great weather this weekend?

Do you stop for water during a race or do you carry your own bottle?

If you are cooking/baking anything for a barbecue today, please share the recipe in the comments!