This Sunday is the Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon (benefitting the ASPCA! Yay animals!).
My little pal, Wyatt. He lives in Iowa. I used to be Wyatt’s best friend but he replaced me with my Dad, which is a little hurtful. It’s still a sore subject.
Half marathon # 10 for me! I’m so thankful to have a race to focus on. I feel more like my old self. The night before a race, race morning, running, crossing a finish line…that’s my jam. Plus, I get to run through a part of Los Angeles I’ve never seen before. I’ve been sticking to the west side and haven’t really ventured downtown yet, minus my visit to the expo with my friend Courtney. (I think the course is downtown…ish. I should check on that. Minor details.)
Palm trees always make a photo better, amiright?
Just me and my guitar player friend.
I at least know the starting and finish lines are around here because we saw everything getting set up. I feel better now that I (sort of) have an idea of where I can park. Parking, for me, is the worst part of race morning. Especially if you’re not familiar with the area and road closures. I mean, I can drive anywhere in New York City without a problem, but put me in a new city on race morning and I’m all crazy.
The Staples Center is on the left. Not a bad place to finish a race! I’m already excited for my free beer.
This map means basically nothing to me. I have no idea where anything is in this city. All I know is it’s a couple different out and backs. I think.
Anywhoodles, I think my favorite part of the expo was the guy dressed as the Geico gecko. I just love him and his adorable little face. (The cartoon. Not the guy in the costume. I don’t know what he looks like.) I didn’t take a photo with him because I prefer to not stand in line with 7-year-olds and, well, he’s a cartoon character…but I wanted to.
They did give me this bag with his picture, which is super helpful because they charge you 10 cents per paper bag in California. That was quite the surprise. And here’s an awkward picture of me in the race t-shirt. It’s an actual tech shirt and I really like it, but no one is here to take my pic. Hence the weird selfie. You’re welcome.
My race goal is pretty much just to finish and have fun. And find a friend to have my free beer with. (DID I MENTION EVERYONE GETS A FREE BEER AT THE FINISH LINE? This is why you run races.) Ever since I fell in Runyon Canyon I haven’t been feeling 100%. I’ve been feeling…something…behind my right knee. It’s not painful per se, but when I fully extend my leg or twist and put pressure on it in a specific way (I’ve been testing different movements. I should prooooobably stop that.) I feel some soreness. I also have the biggest knot near (on?) my IT band, so perhaps that’s the culprit. UGH. Injuries are the worst and the mere thought of them makes me all rage-y. Like the diligent little runner I am, I’ve been focusing on stretching and foam rolling. I’ve done a few extra yoga classes (too many, my shoulders are soooo sore) and have been heating (icing makes it hurt, what’s that about?) but I’m still a little iffy. I took a couple days to rest completely, which SUCKS, because I just wanted to get outside and get moving. I’m feeling much better today but am still slightly nervous I’m going to get stranded on the middle of the course with no way to get home. Not because I’m currently in pain, but because you just never know what your body’s going to decide.
My last half marathon which was perfect and wonderful and a PR. Ahh the good ol’ #sub2 days.
I’m totally okay with run/walking it and taking it easy; I just don’t want to do any more damage. It’s frustrating because I’ve been focusing a lot on building strength and staying flexible. Lots of strength classes, high intensity, lower intensity, functional training, yoga, and of course running. Did I do something wrong, or was it really just the fall on my hike? Do I need to get better at recovery? Nutrition? SOMEONE TELL ME. I guess this is just another learning experience that will help me in the future, right? RIGHT?!
Annnnd that’s my dramatic saga for the day. I’m gonna go put on every piece of compression gear I own and work on my playlist. Whatchu up to? Know any good jokes? Gimme some!
Good luck tomorrow! P.S. With the knot on the IT band, you need to have that released… if you can’t see a PT that specializes in manual therapy, get a golf ball or a lacrosse ball and sit on it on that spot. It will hurt SO BAD but in the end it will feel so good.
SO PAINFUL! I tried it. It’s definitely getting better
Thanks girl!
Congratulations on your half (I realize it’s over now as I saw your medal pic on Twitter). I hope you can get the IT band knot out, yikes- and get some post half marathon rest and recovery in as well!