March: 172.31

172.31: The most miles I've run in a single month.  Ever.

That feels pretty amazing.  This month's total exceeded my April 2011 total.  I was close a couple of times but it took me two years to run more miles for a new high.  Awesome.

Shamrock 15k

Finish- 1:16:12
Pace- 8:11

February: 115.23 miles

January: 102.52 miles

Motivation has been low since CIM in early December.  The second half of January my running finally began to turn around.  Not as many miles as I would like this month, but all were quality (fast!) miles.  That's been feeling pretty good.  Most of my miles have also been solo or with Mike, not with the local running group.  I just can't do the 5am wakeup call more than once a week when it's so cold outside.  Sill not sure just how ready I'll be for Eugene at this point, but I'll be as ready as I can be!

December: 68.50 miles

California International Marathon

November: 121.62 miles

October: 120.27 miles

Runaway Pumpkin Half Marathon

Portland Half Marathon

September: 136.21 miles

August: 109.77 miles

Every Girl's Half Marathon

July: 97.20 miles

I've started running with a new group in Corvallis.  As always, these runners are friendly, inspiring and encouraging.  Several have signed up to run CIM this year (as have I).  I'm looking forward to being pushed and improving these next few months especially.

June: 54.75 miles

Yikes. Moving has completely messed up my regular routine.

Camp Pendleton Mud Run

Ojai 2 Ocean Marathon

 a dork at the start line -- oh wait! that's me

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 cool "recycled materials" finisher's medal that doubles as a bottle opener

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that bike path is the course!

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at the finish with friends

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This morning friends and I ran the Ojai 2 Ocean Marathon.  The race starts in the mountains of Ojai, runs along the bike path for much of the course, and ends 700' lower at the Ventura Pier.  It is an amazing race!  The first half is almost all downhill.  Not a steep decline but a beautifully slight downhill that feels awesome.  Around mile 15 it flattens out and remains pretty flat all the way to the finish line.  The first 5 or 6 miles are run around Ojai and the last 5 or 6 are run along the beach.  This morning it was lightly misting at the start and around 53*.  It continued to mist until around mile 10, stopped, and began again when we were closer to the ocean around mile 19 or 20.  The temperature around the finish line at 10am was about 57* thanks to the marine layer.  Perfect race conditions all around!  My race was a good effort.  I held back initially because I didn't want to start off too fast.  The bike path's downhill sped me up a bit but I was still doing great until my right leg began to cramp.  Not just the calf or the quad, but the entire leg from quad to my toes.  Ouch!  That started near mile 24 and continued with me until the finish.  I had hit 20 miles at 2:57 so I was hoping to finish under 4 hours even at a slow pace but my pace got slower and slower until the cramping left me doing a run-walk to the finish.  I missed a new marathon PR by less than a minute!

Finish Time: 4:06:00

Average Pace: 9:23

Overall Place: 478 out of roughly 1000 (the race is capped and had sold out)

Sex Place: 191 out of 409

Division Place: 61 out of 132

I'm pleased with my effort.  Being so close to a new PR and not getting it is heartbreaking but that's what makes the challenge fun.  I knew I'd be somewhere in the middle of all places.  This year's race was only the second running and there were twice as many runners this year as last year.  It's a Boston Qualifier and I know competitive runners with Boston on their minds will be flocking to this race in the years to come!  There was definitely a more serious crowd here today than in other races I've done recently. 

May: 128.02 miles

Vista Strawberry 5K

This morning three friends and I ran the Vista Strawberry Festival 5K.  I hadn't heard good things about the race and hadn't even thought to run it until one of these girls sent me a Schwaggle for the race.  The deal was $13.  No other fees so a flat $13 to run a local 5K complete with technical tee, finisher's medal and fresh strawberries at the finish.  I couldn't say no! 

And I'm glad I didn't.  The race itself isn't terribly exciting.  A long stretch, some hills, several turnarounds, nothing special... but the finish through the festival booths area was really fun!  It reminded me of finishing at the Chicago Marathon when you run through the finish area with so many people on either side cheering you on.  This was like that, but a much smaller version since there weren't hundreds of spectators but a few exhibitors instead.  But they were so great!  It was a fun way to finish a race! 

My PR for a 5K race is 22:50.  With the Ojai Marathon coming up next week I had planned to run this race at a comfortable pace and just have fun.  I ended up running it at a comfortably hard pace (7:10s) but slowed on the downhill stretch to an 8:06.  Ugh.  I really need to work on my downhill running.  I can crank up the hills and pass people, but I'm always passed on the downhills.  I don't know why I brake like I do.  Anyway, after that there were a bunch of turns that slowed my pace, too.  When I came into the final stretch I could see my time was close to 23 minutes.  I sprinted as fast as I could to get in under 23 but missed it by 2 seconds.  Heartbreaking!

Overall, very pleased with my effort today!

Finish Time: 23:02
Pace: 7:25
Division Place: 5
Sex Place: 17
Overall Place: 107

April: 164.85 miles

Last night I realized I was just under 5 miles to reaching my highest monthly mileage ever.  If you know me at all, then you know I thought long and hard about getting in those miles last night on the treadmill.  I had run a solid 9 in the morning, but came close to doing a double with the extra 5.  In the end, I decided it had been a long day and a certain book was calling my name...  Maybe next month I'll take another stab at it.  Excellent month for running!!