Race Recap: A Better World Running’s Reindeer Run 5k, 12/18/16

December 20, 2016 by Tam Leave a Comment

I love running with A Better World Running during the holidays! My friends, Michelle and Mark, are the RDs and they put on great, intimate races around SoCal. The Reindeer Run is one of my faves!

I dressed up as a SunRype Reindeer! My friend, Cortney, looks amazing!

Photo by: Rob N.

It was a cold morning. I was still pretty tired from the Paramount Ranch 30k the day before. I’ve been so tired and drained the past couple of weeks but I’m glad to get the miles in.

The best part of the race was seeing friends like Sue, all dressed up! She’s the best and always looks super cute!

5k finish! It was my 104th lifetime 5k and my 14th 5k for the year. I had a slow finishing time but it’s okay…I’m just working my way through this rough patch of fatigue and mental drain. Work was crazy last week and I started strength training which is a new physical challenge. I know that now that I’m on vacation, I’ll get to rest, rejuvenate and feel good again.

I finished and then passed out SunRype fruit strips to the runners and their families! SunRype is a great post-race treat or a snack when you’re on-the-go.

My good friend and Capricorn Buddy, RD Michelle!

I chatted with friends, hung out for a bit and then did the next most important task…got coffee!

I love the bling! Here’s to another race, good friends and the holidays!

Your path, your pace, Tam

Race Recap: A Better World Running’s Turkey Trot 2016

November 26, 2016 by Tam Leave a Comment

It’s been a great tradition every year to run a turkey trot on Thanksgiving day before I stuff myself! I’ve run A Better World Running’s Turkey Trot several years now and it’s my favorite place to be on Thanksgiving Day!

I started the morning by volunteering at registration. It was A Better World Running’s biggest event yet with two 5ks, a 10k, a 15k and a half. I love helping my friends, the RDs, Michelle and Mark.

After volunteering, I got ready to run the 5k!

Photo Credit: Rob Nelms

I felt pretty good except my right hamstring was a little tight. It has been tight when I run since I strained my back about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I ran and walked and took it nice and easy. I got tons of compliments on my turkey outfit! Gobble, gobble!

Photo Credit: Mark V.

I sped up toward the end to have a nice, strong finish!

I got a really great medal and mostly just had fun being a SunRype Turkey!

I had lots of SunRype Energy Bars, Fruit & Chia Bars and Fruit Strips to share with runners and their families!

Most importantly, I got to hang out with my A Better World Running family! I love these guys! It’s the same people who hang out with Mark and Michelle and do their races and we’re just one big family!

It was fun to trot and then stuff myself! There’s so much to be thankful for and I am lucky to be able to run and be part of an amazing running community!

Your path, your pace, Tam

Half Marathon #98…feeling great (and not so great!)

September 7, 2015 by Tam Leave a Comment

Lifetime half marathon #98…feeling great to countdown to #100 at the JetBlue Long Beach Half Marathon!

I was not so great because I had to detour to use the facilities! Ugh! Honest runner talk here…I am pretty good about being able to go (you know, go go) before a race. I don’t know what happened on this day. I didn’t go at home and then I had to go during the race, about 3 miles in. I detoured once to find a restroom but had no luck. When I ran the loop, I saw a restroom but it was across the big street. I had no choice. I ended up running an extra .3 of a mile but what could I do? Sigh. It happens. It’s crappy but it happens. (Pun intended.) 🙂

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You get free professional race photos when you run with A Better World Running!

On to the good stuff…the race! I love running with A Better World Running! The race directors are Michelle and Mark and they are amazing! I’ve known them for a long time as we are all members of AREC in Long Beach. They put on great races in the SoCal area.

This race was the Summer Breeze race in Van Nuys. There was a full, half, 10k and 5k. I began the day by volunteering at registration, checking people in. This race had chip timing and there were many people registering on race day.

After volunteering, I got ready to run. We walked through the tunnel to the start across the street. It was a nice warm-up walk. We began at Woodley Park on the bike path.

There was a good amount of shade at the beginning of the race, as we ran through the park.

Mark and Michelle are really good at marking the course with chalk and cones. This was my first time running the Van Nuys course. I’ve done many of the races in Santa Monica, Long Beach and Huntington Beach. This was my first Van Nuys race and I didn’t know where we were going but the course was well-marked and I didn’t have any problems.

X X X means do not go this way!

We ran through to another park with shady areas. This was very nice since the beach races don’t have any shade. I love running at the beach but it was hot so the shade was necessary!

We ran around the golf course for the half/full loop.

Some parts of the loop have an option to run on the dirt. This part of the golf course was also nice and shady!

After this section, we turned left. You really can’t get lost!

We ran on asphalt for a bit and then were on a dirt path.

On my 2nd loop on the dirt path, my I had my second not-so-great occurrence. I was busy getting some nutrition out of my pack and stepped into part of the dirt path that was uneven. I turned my foot a little and almost went down but was able to catch myself. Argghhh…I’ve been so good with all of my trail running to not fall and here I almost go down in a mostly road half!

After the second loop, I passed the aid station and finally came to path leading to the finish! We got to run through a tunnel for the finisher’s chute!

I was greeted by RDs, Mark and Michelle and my friend, Jennifer!

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Mark and Michelle take photos of us during the race, too! You can download them from the Facebook page.

Hooray! It was hot but luckily there was enough shade to make it tolerable and I was feeling pretty good despite the 8 mile trail run the day before. I know I’ll be a stronger runner with some back-to-back runs like this.

I met Jennifer and her husband, Cong, through A Better World Running races. We’re regulars who volunteer and run with Michelle and Mark! I’m so proud of Jennifer and all of her progress in running! She’s amazing!

The best part, of course, is seeing friends at the finish!

We chatted about our runs and just hung out. We were able to cheer in the marathoners as they finished. We even got massages at the end!

A Better World Running races are awesome! They’re small, inexpensive, friendly races put on by fellow runners who know what runners need. The course is well-marked and there’s an aid station. There are tons of photos taken by a professional photographer and the RDs themselves for free download. The medals are great, too! At the finish, there are goodies for refueling and just a wonderful, friendly vibe amongst runners.

RD, Michelle, who is my Capricorn buddy! I love hanging out after the race and catching up with her!

I had a great #98! I got to volunteer, run and cheer on runners! I love A Better World Running races for truly embodying the runner spirit. I knew my countdown to #100 had to have a race with my Capricorn buddy, Michelle and Chalk Boss Mark! Thank you, Michelle and Mark for all that you do for the running community!

A Better World Running also has awesome gear for a great price! My compression sleeves were perfect to help me recover after the half! I’m looking forward to my next race with ABWR! I already know that I’m doing the Monster Dash on Halloween day and the Thanksgiving series!

Your path, your pace, Tam

Half Marathon #97: a hard run and a lesson

September 2, 2015 by Tam 2 Comments

On Sunday, August 30, 2015, I ran lifetime half marathon #97! I’m counting my way to lifetime #100 at the JetBlue Long Beach Half Marathon on October 11th.

This was a hard run for a couple of reasons. It was hot. I was a bit sore and tired from my trail run the previous day. And I received news the night before that wasn’t what I was hoping for. I applied for a team but wasn’t accepted. I was mostly sad because I’ve become close to a group of the members from last year and now won’t get to see them regularly. I spent the run reflecting on it all and pounding my sorrow into the pavement. It’s amazing how a good, hard run can clear one’s mind.

I knew my chances of getting in weren’t too great. Only about 30 out of 70 alumni made the team again. I went through the roller coaster of emotions…Why? What did I do wrong? What did I not do? Why don’t they want me? Sadness. Disappointment. Disbelief.

The great thing about a tough run is how it tests your physical state but more importantly, your mental state. I had to push hard on this run, as it was hot and I was moving at a very slow pace. But I got to think about things and I realized that I needed to keep moving forward. I have to find my own path (as my tagline suggests!) Maybe I need to focus on trails for now. Maybe this is the opportunity to do something different. Without a strict commitment, as the team would have been, I can get back to doing other runs. I can continue mixing things up even more so and hopefully, continue to grow.

I’m grateful for the time I had last year on the team. I met amazing people and had the best experience. I learned a lot from my coaches and got stronger. It’s time for someone else to experience what I did. I can continue on the path that I started with the team and find my own way. I know that in the coming months, it’ll be more and more clear.

I was so grateful that my good friend, Dulce, waited for me to finish. She had run the quarter so she was waiting for some time. After all that I was reflecting on, seeing a familiar face was just what I needed to close the wound. Thank you, Dulce!

Surprisingly, we both came in first place! (Course, in my race, there were only two of us! Tee, hee!) I never come in first place in a big or even medium sized races but I sure was excited to come in 1st at this race! Most importantly, I got my miles in and I got to think things through. I’m grateful that running allows me to do this…reflect, ponder and set goals.

Representing Team SunRype!

It was a hard run but I’m happy #97 provided a lesson…a lesson to keep on moving forward and not dwell in what cannot be changed. Here’s to continuing to go my path, my pace!

I hope you’ll follow your path, your pace, Tam

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