South Padre Island's Loco Half Marathon

South Padre Island's Loco Half Marathon

South Padre Island - Loco Half Marathon

Date: June 1, 2013

Time: 1:47:32

Pace: 8:13

Place: 4/84 

Web: http://www.locorunningevents.com/south-padre-island-half-612013.html

South Padre Island Half is the 7th installment in this great adventure! This was an inaugural run - so it was one of those " I really want to do it now" yet I was very skeptical about this race. The website saids it would have a "road" option which was the deciding factor to signed up, the whole running on the beach made me really nervous. 

Once i got to the expo/packet pick-up i was left wanting more. There was maybe 2 other vendors and there was no one there! I figure this race would be small but - wow i never expected it to be this small!

Race Day! 

The race started at 7:00 am and lets just say - it was not early enough! The Course was still being clean - aka - a lot of seaweed was been removed. The course was simple run straight to the turn around point, and then back - really no chance to get lost. Unfortunately, the race director was overwhelm by the race logistics. There wasn't enough water stations on the course (2 total) and no porta potties. I just to say, it looked like the race director tried, she really tried but the odds were not on her favor. 

Pre-race photo

I had never ran a beach run... needless to say it was an interesting run! It really felt more like an obsticle run, ...run... jump seaweed... run... jump jellyfish... run.. careful big wave coming in!! haha.. it was an interesting experience after all.

The Bling!!

Well not much of it, as you can see it looked like those bought in bulk - It didnt even have the name of the event!! .. for a $70 race i really did expect more. 

I think the only good thing that this race had was the after-race. We were all treated to some delicious fajitas and free beer :-)

Until next time, it is run #7 - it is getting hot out there. This upcoming races will be mighty interesting.

laters!

Heels & Hills Half Marathon

Heels & Hills Half Marathon
Date: May 5, 2013
Time finished: 1:51:00
Pace: 8:28
Place: 10/46 Male  - 60/492
Web: http://www.heelsandhills.com/

Heels and Hills is the 6th half marathon in this crazy adventure. This half marathon is guided and dominated by the female population - only about 47 guys actually did the half marathon! Which was great for us because we manage to rank high in our divisions... I came in 2nd!

The expo was really small, the only vendor was http://www.advocare.com/ .. dont get me wrong!  I LOVE Advocare i have enough thought of becoming a distributor for them!!! yeah they sell amazing products. As far as the expo, i just wish they had more people! BUT!! it was a small half marathon - so its understandable.

Race Day!
The morning of the race was unexpectedly cold for May.. so it required running gloves! haha.

The course was simple .. run on the park until it ends and come back - not much to it. The scenery was quite beautiful though.. lots of green trees, lakes, etc.  The course was about 98% flat with a few minor hills here and there.. When i originally had signed up - i was actually kinda nervous about the "HILLS" in the name... but really they were not a big deal.

The awesome part of being such a small half marathon - we didnt spend any time trying to weave in and out of people and waste time behind slow runners! ..

The pacegroup was lead by guys... i think they were called "Guys in Skirts" and yep they were wearing skirts.. kinda made me wish i had one on... where can i buy one?? haha

This is the awesome medal that we got! its actually quite cute! .. i am not a big pink fan but i will always play along and go with it! 

This is us a the finish line! by the time we finished it was turning out to be a great day! nice temperature, and bright sun! .. awesome end to a great race!

This is run #6 - overall it was a great race - great cause - great gear and medals! can't go wrong with that!! 

The Woodlands Marathon

The Woodlands Marathon

The woodlands Marathon
Date: 3.2.13
Time Finished: 1:46:34
Pace: 8:30
Place Overall: 408 out of 3,369
Web: http://www.thewoodlandsmarathon.com

The woodlands Marathon was a nice addition to my schedule. I have been at the Woodlands many times, but never actually there to run it. Its filled with miles and miles of trees, making it seem a bit surreal and kinda cool. The expo left me wishing for more, it was outside the mall on some tents in the parking lot. Not very big, and kinda unattended. 

They did however gave us a choice of a cap or a visor, and then we got a finisher shirt at the end. From all the 1/2 and full marathons I've done, i never have actually gotten a the t-shirt at the end of the event!

The expo and fleet feet had some pretty cool looking shirts and i couldn't help to buy. My new ulta-marine blue shirt is a great addition to my collections of shirts (Thank god, i bought it cus the finisher shirts sucked!)

The start of the race was freaking cold!! not 3M cold but still. The course was pretty easy, although i am not used to running on concrete, Yep all the streets were made of concrete, kinda fancy huh?

The medals were pretty cool!!! had some translucent gel and a spinning 13.1. What i kinda liked a lot was that the visor, the bib, and the medal all carried a common color scheme. I wish more races were as organized and brand conscious.

That's Number 5! only 8 more to go. The next one will be sometime in July...until then happy running!

Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans

Rock ‘n’ Roll New Orleans

Date: 2.24.13

Time Finished: 1:59:40

Pace: 9:08

Place overall: 2117 out of 9270

Web: http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/new-orleans

First Rock ‘n’ Roll of the year! ... yeah that means that their will be a lot more to come. New Orleans is a pretty cool town to visit, lots to do and lots to drink.. unfortunately with the thought of doing a half marathon that weekend we couldn’t really enjoy a drunk night. Early bedtime - and lots of water was in order all weekend. 

The Expo was great - we actually got to enjoy it two days!  Lots of great vendors - RoadID, KT Tape and many more! Since there was few participants at the friday expo, I got to enjoy more activities, such as participating in Brooks’ solemate matching. In which i got told that i don’t really pronate too much despite the fact of being flat footed ha ha. Now i know that my solemate running shoe is the Dyad. Having plenty of time i also got a chance to get taped up by KT Tape! 

Crazy Alert!!

So, as my bf and i were discussing Rock ‘n’ Roll races, heavy medals, and pass tour, the crazy idea of signing up for RnR Las Vegas came to mind. So now we are signed up for RnR San Antonio and Las Vegas! .. Meaning.. We are going to be doing RnR San Antonio in the morning,  hoping on a plane and doing Las Vegas at night!

The logistics are still being worked on and more details to come. Needless to say - 2 Halves, 2 States, 1 Epic Day!

The whole weekend the weather was kinda crappy, wet and cold. I was happy that the morning of  the race glimpses of the sun peeked through! I was slightly disappointed on the course, no Bourbon Street and part of it was up and down a street. Regardless, it was still kinda fun. A couple of DJs, few bands, and lots of energy. I did like the fact that we ran by a couple of important statues, General E Lee, and Joan of Arc. 

The shirts and medals were pretty freaking cool! the medals’ ribbon was beans! what an appropriate ribbon for this rock and roll. I am cant wait to do it again, specially since it falls around my birthday, and its only a short 8 hours away!

Half marathon #4 done! until next one! . 

Austin Livestrong Marathon & Half

Austin Livestrong Marathon & Half

Austin Livestrong Marathon & Half
Date: 2.17.13
Time Finished: 1:45:09
Pace: 8:02
Place: 848/9326
Web: http://www.youraustinmarathon.com

Austin Livestrong is the third half marathon in this crazy adventure. From the get-go i had a great feeling about this half marathon. I did the full last year and i had a great time. I am not sure if its because i live here and i know the course or i felt better trained, but it was an easy race.

The Expo was great, lots of vendors and lots of other possible races to sign up/look forward to! The Route 66 in Tulsa seems a like a strong future possibility.  We did a crazy thing at the expo, signed up for another half just one week after the Austin Marathon - Rock and Roll New Orleans here we come!



The Morning of the race was a chilling 40 degree! oh why, oh why are Austin's races so cold?? But the good thing is that it help me stay cool throughout the race! The course was easy, just a couple mile long hills, lots of spectators. I guess knowing that you are running for a cause helps a lot!

What was really neat about this race- was able to run along side the Austin Front Runners, the GLBT running community here in Austin. Lots of friends on the course and spectating keeps you motivated and helps you run faster.

Third Race is done! with an awesome time. I'll be doing this race again next year but i am thinking the Full is in my future! Btw the Medals are freaking cool! i love Austin :-)

Now i am getting ready for my next race this upcoming weekend! - peace! 

Hero-Thon Half Marathon

Hero-Thon Half Marathon

Date: 1.27.13
Time Finished: 2:08:23
Pace: 9:48
Place: 468 / 2068
Web: http://www.herothonlls.com/

Hero-Thon was the second half-marathon of the year. I must say, for being an inaugural race, I was very impressed with expo. One of the vendors had their own screen printing on site! where you were able to pick your shirt color, design and the option of imprinting your name/message. At $35 a shirt they were reasonably priced. Another cool thing they offered was a photo booth, were you were able to pick up a costume from an assortment of things and posed infront of a green screen. On our picture, we were Thor and Captain America - check the picture before (and btw, it was a free Picture!)

The course was pretty easy, a few hills here and there. It mostly resembled the San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll. I havent done many races in San Antonio to determine if its a pre-determine course, but i am sure it is. 

The weather was nice, and it felt great running it. Well... aside from the fact my foot started to hurt from mile 2. I hope it getters better before my next race. 

At the finish line pictures were taken, and you even had options of background! - since the photographer was busy taking pictures on the other backdrop, we took advantage, and took our own picture! Btw check out the BLING!!

 

That's it! it was a great race, awesome expo, superved bling, defenetly a do over!!! - maybe next time i will actually dress up :-) 

Thats #2!  -  till next time!

3M Half Marathon

3M Half MarathonAustin, TX - 01.13.13

Half Marathon #1 - Done!!

First half marathon done! - the 3M half marathon is famous for been the fastest Half Marathon in Austin. The course is pretty much downhill with a few hills towards the of it.  The course itself was awesome - super fast pace and easy to follow. What i encounter was that because it was all downhill, the few uphills that we had were THAT much harder! 

The race started at 6:50 am, with a heavy wind and a temperature of 40 degrees. Now if you ask me, this was way!! to cold to start a run, but! Thanks to the Austin Front Runners, we all manage to stay warm by huddling with each other.  The gloves, capri thermo tights  arm warmers and the long sleeve shirt helped a lot!!! 

 

Results: 

This was by far the fastest half marathon with a time of 1:42:12 !! I was able to shave off 4 minutes from the 2012 3M race. At the end of it - we headed out to Juan In  Million for a well deserved breakfast!! .. and the races continue!