I signed up for this race when we were still living in Virginia. I saw the words “Wounded Warrior” and that was all it took. This cause is close to my heart. My husband, aka Under Water Samurai, is an Iraq War Veteran and we have have so many friends who have been effected by injuries sustained in Iraq and Afganistan. There was no doubt in my mind I was signing up for this race… anything and everything I can do to help our warriors.
In addition to running for the cause, this race was right in the middle of my marathon training so I planned on using it as a gauge to test my speed and progress. The problem with this is that, about three weeks ago I had a small “break up” with running. For the first time in 4 years I took two full weeks off, because I was really not enjoying my training and we were right in the middle of unpacking and putting away our belongings into our new house.
I woke up race morning having no idea what to expect… lack of training and a weather forecast of clear skies and 95 degrees. It did not seem promising but I was still hopeful. I left the house and drove out to the Navy Base in Camarillo. It was an “Open” base that day, but they still stopped cars, checked ID’s and had the EOD Canines (Bomb sniffing dogs). We drove to the airfield and were told we would be bussed to the start line. Apparently, the busses did not show and they had two Van’s working overtime to get runners to the starting line area.Some people to had to walk in or wait quite some time for the vans to transport them. The Race Directors delayed the start 15 minutes due to this snafu, and the temp was on the rise at this point.
I chatted with some of the participates while waiting for the gun to go off. I Met Chelsea and Keely, two inspiring sisters and bad a$$ running moms.
Then ran into this runner who was wearing a shirt I LOVED and it happens to be on sale right now! Click HERE to get one for yourself.
Not the best picture, but this shirt is flattering and the girl was saying it made her “feel fast.” It made her look fast too…I think she was… she smoked past me. I want that shirt.
Then there was this tough guy, MA2 Langehenning, who in a quick moment loved on his boy, MWD “Yago”. Really touching to see these two working military friends show a moment of affection.
The race started about 7:45am and we were off. It started really fast, not too crowded but it seemed really fast to me for a half marathon. I settled down and found a good rhythm. Around 7:50 pace. I really wanted to be conservative and try for negative splits. 7:50 felt good, until around mile 5 when I started to get the chills and feel overheated. It was completely exposed, not one drop of shade, and the sun was blazing down on us. It was intense and as soon as I felt those chills I knew it was going to be a tough race.
I don’t usually run with hydration but this time I had my bottle filled with Nuun. The Nuun was gone by mile three and I was stopping at water stations filling my bottle. Around mile 9, I was done for and everything fell apart. The course was flat but exposed, on a cold day this would be a near perfect run. One section runs up along the Pacific Ocean, simply gorgeous. There were these wafts of manure smell on parts of the course. The strawberries you eat primarily come from the agriculture around the base and you get the occasional dose of fertilizer smell in and around this area. Not pleasant, but no big deal either.
At the end of this race I considered DNF’ing. I almost vomited several times and was dizzy. Perhaps not the wisest choice on my part to carry on, but I kept telling myself that this was for the Wounded Warriors.. I HAD to finish, for them, and I did because many of them can not.
My family was waiting for me at the finish line and guided me towards medical. I came close to needing their help, but ended up slowly recovering on my own.
After I had recovered
Other nice features…
- They had a nice finish area with bananas, water and a BBQ going.
- A DJ playing really good music (Not just top 20).
- Very well organized bag check
- Several emails from MWR, updating you on race details
- Massage for runners- post race
- A playground area for kids
- Plenty of Port-o-Potties
- Flat fast course
- For a great cause
- Nice Tech Race shirt
- Finisher’s Medal
Not so nice features…
- Manure smell
- Transportation issues
I think the good far outweighs the bad… don’t you think?
Here are my splits. You can see where the heat gets to me and I crash at mile 9.. ugh!
1 7:50
2 7:48
3 7:34
4 7:40
5 7:45
6 7:49
7 7:48
8 7:50
9 8:23
10 8:51
11 9:34
12 9:53
13 9:32
Time: 1:48:23 Average Pace 8:16
I ended up coming in 4/40 in my AG. A bit surprising to me because I felt so horrible, but I think everyone had a rough day.
Have you every had a horrible race?
What “cause” is close to your heart?
About Lisa
I’m so sorry that you didn’t have the best race but I am really glad that you are OK. Those sounds like awfully hot conditions. But congrats on finishing well! I think my worst race was a half marathon in Central Park. It was August and ridiculously hot and humid and the race course had us run the hilly northern section of the park 3x. Painful!
You are fast! Sounds like a great race!
It sounds like a brutal racing day. Way to hold strong! I like your thought – “I HAD to finish for them and I did because many of them can not.” Well said!
You still ran a great race. You never know how your body is going to react. I’m happy you’re all recovered now. For me – cancer runs are close to my heart.
Im so glad you did it, made it and lived to tell us the tale!
youre badass.
truly.
What are you doing this weekend? Our Ragnar Relay team is down a female runner and I would seriously pay for your plane ticket if you wanted to join us on Friday/Saturday from Cumberland to DC. Ha–not likely–I know. A girl can dream.
So sorry! That’s such a horrible feeling when the wheels come off the bus. Just focus on the fact that you fought through it and finished. Congrats for that!
And this sounded like an exact replay of my half in Cleveland last May. Such a tough pill to swallow, I know!
So happy you are okay!
Great job on finishing and pushing through AND placing 4th!!!! You are a rockstar! Wowza!
I’m running my very first half-marathon on Sunday. I’m excited
Oh, yikes- chills and vomiting?! That is intense- I’ve had some bad heat races, but never to that extent… I guess they were never more than a 10k, either. Way to power through! Hopefully that’s the last of your experiences like that!
Yikes! Glad you are okay, you did a great job!
I’m amazed that you finished this tough race with such a good time. You are awesome! Congrats! Btw, planning my races for next year. Know any race in CA?
I like small, flat and finisher medal:)
Bad run or great run, you’re still a rock star in my book, Lisa! From a Navy vet, good on you for honoring the Wounded Warriors.
Great job finishing! That took real mental toughness. I am sorry it was so tough at the end.
During really hot races, I have carried extra Nuun tablets to refill my water. I don’t think this would have helped you though. It sounds like it was heat, not hydration that got to you.
Nice race report!
Oh man hate that feeling of the crash, especially ebcause you were doing so well! I can’t imagine running that fast for 9 miles myself. anyway, every race is different and congrats on finishing with an amazing time anyway!
I did this race too! It was beyond brutal! It was even hotter since the roads were freshly paved so the shiny black road reflected the sun/heat. I kept telling myself the troops have it far worse than we do so I too kept going. The smell, the heat, the boring scenery, no buses, and Mosquitos were worth it to support such a great cause. My dad served two tours in Vietnam and all they got no respect when they returned. They even had tomatoes thrown at them when they landed back in the U.S. It was the times I know. I ran for all the present wounded warriors and the past ones like my dad who didn’t get the welcome they deserved. Congrats on a great job!!!
Laura, It was a good cause, wasn’t it? Nothing could be more brutal than having tomatos thrown at you for protecting and serving your country. Please thank your Father for his service. I was in Vietnam in 2002. I wanted to go and honor our fallen service men in person. It was a time I will never forget. Congratulations on your race and completing a difficult task under normal conditions. Great job Laura! Hope to see you out there next year!
Dang girl. Way to dig deep and finish this! Great job!
Way to push through! I got sick from the heat in my first half (RnR VA Beach last summer) and threw up a handful of times on the course. It was so miserable. I’m so glad that I signed up for two half marathons, RnR in September and Baltimore in October, because if I didn’t have that second race I’d have never run distance again!
Yep been there done that, had the wheels come off at Santa Clarita Marathon last November!
Still with it being weather based you have a good reason given you recent move and the crazy heat of late!
Sounds like a good late season race though!