Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Race Reports, Garmin and Baby... OH MY!

I know, I know. I've been bad. Bad about blogging and bad about reading blogs. I haven't abandoned it or anything. Just... bad about updating. So, I'm going to give you a quick succession of brief updates about me and what's been going on the past few weeks.

So, the painful memories of Napa Valley Marathon dissipated pretty quickly although, the remnant of the running plagued for several days! Blisters from the marathon lingered around my feet but I also got more. Ugh. Turned out, I had the wrong type of shoes for my wide feet. I needed more stability than motion control. Anyhow, I was directed to the "right" shoes by my new favorite shoe guy at the Sports Basement. Hello, Mizuno Alchemy 8! I ran on it a few times and it's SO much better!

Two Sundays ago on March 8th, I ran my first free race ever: The Sports Basement 5k in Sunnyvale. There was a 175 cap on the runners and it was definitely a fun run. There were bibs but no timed chips, although our finish times were recorded as we crossed the finish line. Nothing fancy but definitely a run I'll do again. Mega points for free t-shirts and great swag for a free race! My official finish time was 24:35! Not bad considering my PR for a 5k was 24:15, when I weighted 10 lbs less and it was the first time I ran after Napa Valley!

This past Sunday, I ran my first 12k at the Emerald Across the Bay 12k in San Francisco. It's one hilly ride but a beautiful course and well worth the pain. I also got to run it with Maritza, Tara, Kristin, Sandra (she was in an earlier wave) and my good friend Michaela. We all ran a fantastic race and I'm really proud of my 1:04:56 finish. That is a 8:48 min average pace... which for me, is pretty decent. In all honesty, I was disappointed that I didn't run faster but really, I'm pretty happy with what I did. As you can see, I looked very happy running it, too. I'm such a ham in front of a camera! (Did I mention it rained the WHOLE time??)
While I was up in Portland last week, I also got to do a Tweetup with fellow runners: Christine and Michelle from Running Chicks in PDX (top)and Amy, Alisa and Justin (bottom). :-)


Oh and did I mention I have now joined "The Fellowship of Garmin"? Or the "Church of Garmin"? I bit the bullet and threw down some serious cash for the Garmin Forerunner 405. If you remember from my previous post, my Nike+ Sportband died in the rain. And I was so hearbroken, I couldn't get another one to replace it... So I decided to upgrade to what the "serious" runners use. I had issues setting up "Kermit" the first day but I soon figured it out and now we're happy as can be.
And guess what? I was asked to pace the San Francisco Marathon in July!! I didn't have much choice but I am pacing the 4:45 finish group. I don't really care about the time, I know I can do 4:45 easy. I get to run my 5th SFM for free!! Woot!

I also ran the Mermaid Half Marathon (a women's only event) this past Sunday. I thought I was ready for a PR but turns out, I wasn't. There were some strong gusty winds in both directions and towards the end rain... again. AND mud. Lots of mud that felt like I had 10 lb ankle weights on both legs! Below is me, our friend Shelly and Tara at the start. Oh things started so well... We started off at sub 8:30 pace and I soon petered out. I finished at 1:58:35. Not my best finish but considering, not bad! We also saw Audrey at the end but we didn't get a pic together. :-(

By the way, thank you ALL for your encouraging and supportive comments on my Napa Marathon post. I got choked up thinking how lucky I am to have such an amazing running community behind me.

OH and we had an unexpected surprise Saturday morning! My sister delivered 3 weeks early. Averie Eunhae Lopez showed up at 11:15am weighing 5.8 lbs and 18" long. Thankfully, my sister had a wonderfully short labor... less than 2 hours and pushed for only 15 minutes? I hope that's all genetic! Here's Averie at Day 2! Both mother and baby are doing wonderfully!! (More gushing about niece to come!!)

42 comments:

  1. I'm not sure why you haven't been posting more - it's not like you're BUSY!!! :) ha!

    That's awesome about the SF Marathon! It would be so cool to be a pacer. And congrats on the new niece.

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  2. Yay! Congrats Auntie!
    Wow, you have been a busy running lady! Glad you got new shoes and welcome to the wonderful world of garmin lovers!

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  3. Loved all the recaps... :) Congrats new aunt j!

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  4. you've been so busy! congrats on becoming an aunt, and to SUCH a cutie pie!

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  5. busssy girl!!! :) congrats on all the great finishes on your races!! so awesome you get to pace SFM!!! how fun!

    your neice is SO precious :) congrats!!

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  6. Wow! So much to get caught up with. Sounds like you have been doing great. That's really neat about being a pacer. And what an adorable addition!

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  7. You are a running machine!! Congrats on all of the races, I would have been comatose a long time ago. And congrats as well on your adorable new niece!

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  8. Congrats on auntie-hood! For a second there I thought you were going to say that YOU are going to have a baby.

    I love the name you gave your garmin! So appropriate :)

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  9. What great photos all around!

    Congrats on all the races, getting the pacership, and the new niece!!

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  10. Oh my gosh! That is the sweetest little baby I've ever seen - don't tell all my friends that I think their kids are ugly! That baby is adorable. Congrats!!

    Also: "8:48 min average pace... which for me, is pretty decent" IS AMAZING!! Good job :)

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  11. That's awesome that you're going to be a pacer. Congrats on the neice, she is absolutely precious.

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  12. Wow, so many races - congrats on the great times! Your niece is so adorable...I have a niece too and they are oh so fun to spoil.

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  13. Averie is beautiful! I am looking so forward to SF in October! Yay! Congrats on being able to pace, that should be a lot of fun!

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  14. Averie is absolutely beautiful! All your pictures are wonderful and fun. You have been busy, holy running. Congrats on the pacing group too. You are going to help alot of people hit their goal times.

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  15. I've been missing you, Julianne! Congrats on some great races (all awesome times, and nice pics too!) AND your new toy. Welcome to the Garmin club... although I'm still rocking the old school 205. :)

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  16. AGAIN...Averie is so cute && i love love love her name! Its so unique! I've never actually ran a free race but i'm happy there is such a thing out there! That is awesome pace too!

    Seriously, i'm about to jump on the garmin bandwagon and drop some serious $$ for the watch before the marathon atleast. I want the green one just like yours.... :) I have the 205 but its a piece and gets terrible signal! Maybe i can sell it on ebay!?!? :)

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  17. I am so glad you are posting again! I love your new 405. I want to update my 305! Great job on all of your races, you do look so happy in all the pictures.

    Thanks for signing up for Reese's Run and your generous donation! Let me know if there is anything I can do to help with your 777, I think its so exciting!

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  18. Sounds like you have been super busy! Thanks for the update! Love the pictures!! Congrats to your sister, what a beautiful baby! Congrats to you on running so many great races and being a pacer for SFM! So lucky!!

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  19. Wow...what an update! That's like 4 race reports in one. You've been seriously logging some miles and running incredibly. It's very inspiring. Your niece is really cute too!

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  20. Your such a bad girl for not showing face in so long....I guess your forgiven for the sweet 12K, and 5K time you posted...oh yeah and being a new aunt and all.

    I'm glad you love Kermit. I love my garmie. He rocks!

    We were supposed to be keeping each other accountable in the weigh-in....how are you doing?

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  21. What a wonderful post - and pictures of a baby too !!! : )

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  22. You can't throw out the B-A-B-Y word and not announce you're pregnant. :o)

    Just kidding. You certainly have been busy!

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  23. Yay for the Garmin. I have the 305 and LOVE it... You will too.

    Congrats on your beautiful new niece.

    Glad you're back. You were missed.

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  24. Love all the updates! You're so speedy, Julianne! That's awesome you were asked to be a pacer. I hope to be as amazing as you one day. :)

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  25. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BABY!!! awww! (lol about inherited labor!) and WHAT IS IT with rain for all of your races?! sounds like you've been running...A LOT and i love all women's races :) very very very cool about pacing SFM! Congrats girl!!! sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet garmin (i'm getting so jealous seeing all of y'all with these!). :)

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  26. Cute kid!

    Welcome to the Church of Garmin! Nice job on all of the running, too. To be picked as a pacer, that's sweet!

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  27. Nice job on the running! We did the Emerald 12K last year. Great race!!

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  28. Hello Julianne! We missed you. :) I have so many comments!

    Sorry I missed you when you were here last week! I checked out the Running Chicks blog, very cool! Love to find other local runners, I'll have to track them down in the next race. :)

    You've been running a lot of races, sweet! You ran a very strong 5k right after the marathon... nice! It takes me weeks to get my legs back after 26.2. All your other races sound fun too, love the Golden Gate Bridge pics!! :)

    Congrats to your sister and family on the beautiful new baby! So adorable.

    Good luck with the training and enjoy the new Garmin! I'm jealous. See you soon!! :)

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  29. I love all your pics! Ooh... you got the fancy schmancy Garmin - can't wait to hear what you think about Kermit. And wow, your niece is beautiful!

    And I know I laughed off your SF marathon idea... but now I am starting to re-think about running in your group! That would be HUGE for me b/c my best marathon was in 5:25 but you seem like a good leader :) I will let you know what I decide...

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  30. What a whirlwind blog post!

    Yaaay for free marathons! I should get you to pace me one day. I still haven't decided about SFM...

    Church of Garmin! Ha!

    Wow! Your sister is soo lucky. Three weeks less pregnancy, 2 hour labor and 15 minutes of pushing (plus the cute baby at the end).

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  31. Wow, you've been busy! Averie is beautiful-- we KNOW that's genetic! :) I sooooo wish I could be in your pace group-- that's awesome about SF!

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  32. Holy cow woman...you are a racing machine! You're also a tweeting machine so it's completely understandable that you haven't been blogging.

    How fun will it be to be a pacer in SF? How does that happen? No one would ever ask me so I'll have to find out through you! SF is on my "list of marathons I'd like to do." NOt this year but maybe summer 2010. Who knows?!

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  33. Yay for races! Yay for meetups! Yay for Church of Garmin (praise be thy name)! Yay for baby!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Looks like you have had a busy busy busy few weeks, girl! I can't wait to see you on Saturday and get muddy with you! Yeah! Bring it!

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  34. Glad I've had Twitter & FB to keep track of you! You're all over the place!!

    Averie is gorgeous :)

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  35. Wow girl you have had a ton going on lately! Love the name for your Garmin! And your niece is precious! Way to rock your races!

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  36. Glad I renamed my Garmin to Flash or we would have had dueling Kermits. :)

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  37. she is adorable!!!! congrats on being an auntie :) I've had so much fun with you these past 2 race weekends...why not make it one more!?! lol MUD here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  38. That is a lot of updates. Such cute pics. Even of Kermit.

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  39. SHE IS ADORABLE!! 3 weeks early is so fun too!
    Sounds like that went well! The pics of you are super cute, glad things are going well, and welcome to that garmin community! it looks cute!

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  40. Holy Mother chica! You've been one busy lady! CONGRATS on all fronts. Sounds like good news all around and OH MY GAWD I WANT THAT BABY! She is soooooo sooo sooo cute. Ohhh man it so makes me want a little newborn *sigh*

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  41. Congrats! Maybe someday I'll get a cool Garmin like that!

    Thanks for posting, I enjoy reading and it motivates me and my running!

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  42. You are so cute! I haven't commented before but after looking at your photos for awhile, I just have to say you would make a fun running partner haha! You just seem so happy and make running fun. Anyways just wanted to say that! :)

    And the Garmin is a beeeeeeautiful color green! I'm jealous!

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