The America’s Best Metropolis Half Marathon was canceled on account of a climate occasion that’s utterly extraordinary in California. Right here’s what I ran as a substitute…
I used to be registered to run the America’s Best Metropolis Half Marathon in San Diego, California this weekend. I used to be enthusiastic about it for a number of causes together with however not restricted to: half marathons are my fave distance, there aren’t lots of half marathons in the summertime, I used to be going to remain in San Diego and had a bunch of enjoyable plans for earlier than and after the race. However, none of it occurred as a result of the race was CANCELED LAST MINUTE.
Let’s take just a few steps again to the times main as much as the race…
I believe Wednesday somebody talked about there was a hurricane off the coast of western Mexico and it was headed to Southern California. My response was one thing alongside the strains of “No. Hurricane? Ha!”. I’ve lived in SoCal my total life (outdoors of that one cute 12 months in Maryland). Hurricanes will not be a factor right here. Truly, rain in August isn’t a factor right here. The common rainfall for August is 0.0 inches. ZERO.
So, I figured it would rain however I didn’t assume an actual life hurricane was going to hit San Diego.
Thursday morning I heard the native information speaking about it and I noticed – we’re not in Kansas (or another place that doesn’t have hurricanes) any extra. At the moment it was a reasonably sizable hurricane and so they weren’t positive how rapidly it could transfer or how a lot it could change in dimension. The climate forecast for the weekend was estimating a tropical storm would hit the San Diego space in a single day Saturday proper into Sunday morning race time.
Naturally, I took to Instagram to share this race weekend replace and requested for runners conversant in hurricanes and tropical storms to chime in with their ideas. Since I’m not conversant in this sort of climate – I needed to know if that is the sort of factor you hear earlier than a race is canceled. Plenty of runners messaged me saying the climate can be ROUGH, probably harmful and lots of had been shocked it was canceled but.
The factor is… in case you’re not conversant in hurricanes (like myself and I’m assuming the race organizers) – it’s arduous to imagine that there’s all of a sudden going to be tremendous wild climate when it’s at present attractive out.
Additionally, runners discuss psychological power quite a bit and one among our favourite mind workout routines is known as “Denial”. We frequently do a number of reps of “Denial” once we’re not feeling 100% however nonetheless wish to run. You might even see runners train “Denial” in the summertime when the humidity is 100% and so they’re sporting all black doing a future at midday.
My level is = nobody desires to skip a race or a run. And race organizers undoubtedly don’t wish to cancel a race until the federal government is forcing them to (see: 2020).
Fortunately, I’ve the BEST followers on the earth and lots of of you messaged me saying it could be unsafe and/or the race can be canceled. And also you had been a number of steps forward of the race organizers!
Friday morning runners bought a affirmation electronic mail that the race was ON. Saturday morning America’s Best Metropolis instagram was posting movies of runners coming to select up their packets for race day.
That was giving me FOMO as a result of I’d already determined I wasn’t going to drive all the way down to San Diego for the race. The visitors from Orange County to San Diego is at all times JAMMED. I didn’t wish to be caught in that visitors throughout a nasty storm on the best way again after the race.
Plus – I used to be having flashbacks from the Vacation Half Marathon I ran in December that was throughout a torrential downpour. I thought of taking a DNS and going house as I used to be freezing ready for the race to start after being delayed a number of occasions. I stayed and ran the race, however promised myself that I wouldn’t pressure myself to run a race in a storm ever once more. And this was beginning to sound just like the AFC Half Marathon was going to be even worse.
That is the Instagram replace the race organizers posted 7pm on Saturday the night time earlier than the race:
What I Did When My Half Marathon Was Canceled
I nonetheless needed to run a half marathon this weekend even when the race was canceled. On Saturday morning I set out for a solo future of 13.1 miles.
Pre run gas included oatmeal, banana and occasional:
What I listened to on my run:
I saved the tip of my audio ebook for the run (that is one among my favourite future hacks to beat boredom). I listened to ‘For Higher and Worse’ by Margot Hunt after which turned on music. The previous few books I’ve listened to have been good (after a string of ‘meh’ ones) and it makes me further comfortable. I like to recommend ‘None of That is True’ by Lisa Jewell too. And I believe that one is greatest as an audio ebook since there are totally different narrators and a part of the plot includes a podcast. I’ve a month-to-month Audible subscription and assume I found Jewell from one among their gross sales for subscribers.
Lengthy Run Recap:
I attempted a brand new route since my traditional future routes have develop into boring and really feel tedious. It was nice! I discovered an incredible new pedestrian path that was simply the correct amount of busy. I handed by a retailer that I heard really has Sriracha (however didn’t go into test as a result of I used to be so sweaty). I noticed a water fountain in the direction of the start of my run, however didn’t want it on the time (my lil bottle was nonetheless full). I do know there must be extra water fountains alongside the route, however I have to’ve been within the zone and didn’t see anymore after that first one. I ended up working out of water – which is a reminder to plan future hydration higher subsequent time!
When it bought to be the flip round level I made a decision to maintain working and I’d simply name Ben to select me up wherever I used to be. In my earlier life I used to do that on a regular basis, however haven’t in years. So, I simply saved working and working till I hit mile 12. I deliberate to ask him to select me a couple of mile from my present location so I’d hit 13.1 miles whole.
However, in a single day aliens had kidnapped him and changed him with a Ben look alike as a result of – he was on a stroll with a good friend??! Ummmm… feels like a lie, however okay.
At that time he was an extended stroll again to his automobile plus a 30 minute drive to get to me. I used to be NOT comfortable about it, nevertheless it was 1000% my fault for not really planning this out. I used to be about to begin crying, however realized I used to be already dehydrated and couldn’t afford to lose the water from my tears. So, I rallied and bought again to working.
I ended up working 15 miles whole. I haven’t run this lengthy shortly, so I used to be secretly comfortable my plan to get a experience didn’t work out. I wanted this reminder that I can run this far. 16 miles was my go-to distance for lengthy runs simply to remain inside just a few weeks of marathon form. I missed that feeling of runner’s excessive drained accomplishment. (Have you learnt what I imply? Please say you do…)
I began this submit speaking about America’s Best Metropolis Half Marathon being canceled on account of Hurricane Hilary… however bought sidetracked by my future recap. Oh properly. Let’s quiet down.
Reminders for Runners Dealing with Race Day Challenges
It’s unhappy when your race is canceled. It sucks when the climate on race day is tremendous sizzling or chilly or stormy. It’s irritating when one thing out of your management hurts your capacity to run your greatest on race day. You’ve got a proper to really feel all of the issues when life fingers you a lemon as a substitute of a banana on race morning. However, after a 5 minute cry – shake it off and give attention to what YOU CAN DO.
Let go of the issues you possibly can’t management. Do your greatest with the issues you possibly can management.
I didn’t give attention to the ominous climate forecast or how a lot cash I’d be out if I made a decision to not run the race final minute or if race organizers would cancel or defer or one thing else. I can’t management any of these issues.
I centered on what I might management. I used to be in a position to management what I did the day earlier than the storm hit. I used to be unhappy about not working the race, however I might nonetheless get in an excellent future. And I did.
I understand this can be a distinctive scenario and doesn’t apply to runner set backs like accidents… however each time potential, it does assist to to give attention to what you are able to do (not what you possibly can’t).
YOU GOT THIS.
Runner Assets from this submit:
