Chino Hills Trail Half Marathon - Recap

Quick PFTW...
Last week:
Monday: Bob Harper Live 2 week challenge, Day 1 - Lower Body Burn
Tuesday: BHL Day 2 - Upper Body and Arms
Wednesday: Scheduled for 8 actually did 4 easy; BHL Day 3 - (Not really) 5 minute workout - Kettle balls, lunges, high knee tucks
Thursday: Yasso 800's! **
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Trail half
Sunday: BHL Day 4 and 5 (burpees, jumping jacks, push ups, squats, lunges, tricep dips); 1.5 mile slog, 1.5 mile walk of shame home

This week:
Monday: BHL
Tuesday: BHL, 8 miles fartleks
Wednesday: BHL
Thursday: 8 miles, BHL
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 6 easy, BHL
Sunday: 20-22 easy


**The Yasso's were probably the best training run I've had in WEEKS. Goal pace 4:30 (9mm). Actual splits: 4:27, 4:28, 4:29, 4:29, 4:28, 4:27, 4:28, 4:28, 4:28, 4:20. WHAT.

Now, I know that implies that I can run a 4:30 marathon.

I call bullshit. 4:30 seems incredibly unlikely in my current state. Which is, the state where I decide 1.5 into a 6 mile recovery run that my body is rebelling against running ENTIRELY, and I suck, and I'm never, ever doing it again, and spend the rest of the 1.5 mile walk home crying a little and being extra whiny. LAME.

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Chino Hills Trail Race - this race had been on my radar for awhile. Then Rose said she was running, and we decided to run together. And then I was super lame and forgot to register, and it was sold out. So I emailed the RD, and they were AWESOME and said they could let one more runner in. Reason #47,000 I love smaller races.

Saturday's run also had a 10K, full marathon, and 50K available. In the spring, it looks like they do several different distances over a few week period.

This was probably one of the most well organized events I've EVER run. And for the registration costs ($45 for the LATE registration, I think it was, like, $25 if you registered early), the swag was fantastic - long sleeve shirt, great aid station, awesome finish line food, and a medal (okay, so the medal MIGHT have said "Chino Hills Spring Race Series", but I wasn't expecting a medal at all!).

Jerk Shin got a little sketchy. I forgot to bring Nuun, so I picked up PowerAde Zero, because I forgot that it makes me feel like someone is stabbing my side every time I drink it, so that was less than fun for miles 10-13. The trails were beautiful, and I thought they were well marked for the half marathoners.

First aid station (around mile 3.5) had fluids only. The second (and last) aid station had EVERYTHING. Coke, pb&j, grapes (THE BEST), oranges... And at the finish line, pizza, tons of berries (BEST FINISH LINE FOOD EVER), and watermelon.

The course was uphill the first half (I think Garmin stats ended up with about 3,000' overall gain, but that's totally not official, and I could be misremembering) - a couple of good climbs, then some rollers, then down some single track (SO FUN), and then through a canyon, and gradual downhill to the finish. The first half is SUPER exposed, so if it's hot, it's REALLY hot. The second half had some shade, and parts of the canyon were straight chilly.

It was an excellent time. I had so much fun, I almost forgot how much I've hated running lately. Trail races are where it's at, man.

I feel like we finished in a decent time (2:42, I think?), and it didn't suck AT ALL that we passed a fuckton of people, and no one passed us. That really doesn't happen very often to me.

Rose KILLED it. I think she has super powers. And, the funnest runner. I'm so glad we were able to both make it!

Anyway, the pictures...

CAN YOU HEAR ME?

Hey there, mile 1,000.34!