Davis MOOnlight Runs

Posted by Lauren and Nicole

N: On Saturday night, we didn’t go out to dinner and a movie.  We didn’t sit back and rest.  We drove 2 hours to Davis, CA and participated in the Davis MOOnlight Runs.  These runs (kids 1 mile, 5k, 10k, half marathon) all took place around 7PM on a full moon night.

N: The race was sponsored by Fleet Feet Sports and the volunteer teams did a great job setting up their tents.  There was also live music!  We walked around in the beginning, stopped by the Honest Tea booth, and picked up our bibs.  Then we sat around for about an hour, and got really really tired.

L: Eventually the organizers let us know it was time to get ready to race. After a few old school tunes, I think we woke up a little bit and were ready to get the party started. Nicole and I both stood between the 7:00 and 8:00 minute mile markers. We dressed up in neon colors since it was a nighttime run and all. I spy a neon green/bright blue cutie!

N: I completed the first 3.1 miles of the race feeling pretty good, despite the heat.  It sure is different running outside!!! The pavement puts a lot more pressure on the knees and the wind mph cause much more resistance.  At least there were lots of other runners and a much more interesting atmosphere than Mr. Gym.  At about 3.5, I was SO relieved to see a water station and bathroom station because I was kindofdying.  Two bowls of oatmeal BEFORE a race… not.a.good.idea.

L: I ran my first two miles way too quickly. I averaged at about 7:13 for both. By mile 3 I already felt burnt out, well aware of the fact that I did zero training for this, haven’t had a lot of decent long runs in WEEKS, and birthday/4th of July feasts were sitting pretty on me :) I told myself I’d try to stay under an 8/min mile but then there were a few of these that wore me out:

Overpass bridges of death

L: With the first loop practically behind me, I followed every other runner up an overpass bridge and saw the 7-mile marker. Thing is, my gps was telling me I hit mile 6. Whatever, I thought. Maybe they used the six-mile marker on the 10K course and so they just put the 7 there as a reminder we all completed another mile. WRONG! Turns out the bicyclist who took the race leaders through the course made a wrong turn, shortening the “half marathon” to 12.2 miles. The facebook page is BLOWIN’ UP with angry comments. I get that you are frustrated, but let. it. go…. mistakes happen. Just keep running!

N: I wanted to finish the race in under an hour, and I just barely missed it!  1:00:46.80 was my finish time, and I was proud!  Considering the fact that I made one bathroom stop and three water stops, I still managed to complete the race in a good (for me at least) time :)

L: Nicole sent me encouraging texts for my last few miles and I was able to pushhhh it. My body was not happy with me for being so irresponsible and having zero training. More than anything this was a mind game towards the end. And a little part of me was really happy that the race ended a mile short haha

L: My finish time for the 12.2 miles was: 1:34:35… a pace of 7:45! Hallelujah it was sub an 8-minute! The medal glows in the dark, too! Want to read another bloggers recap? Here’s Hillary’s take on the 12.2 flub at Nutrition Nut on the Run.

Proud finishers!!

Bagels, bananas, oranges, watermelon, calcium chews, prunes, and fiber gummies

L: Nicole and I got in the car and headed straight towards San Francisco so I could have a night out with my friends Megan + Kelly (she was visiting from so cal!!) On the way we stopped at Fairfield’s Chipotle (1586 Gateway Blvd, Fairfield, CA) so we could:

• Go to the bathroom
• Use wet wipes to de-salt our bodies
• Change for the SF bars
• Eat!!! Vegetarian burrito bowl for Nicole and kid’s meal Taco Kit for me, one barbacoa taco and one veggie taco, with Mr. Pibb and a small bag of chips

We LOVE Chipotle!!

Question: Tell us about your last race! Any major SNAFUs like a half cut short? Do you like running at night or in the morning… or do you prefer hot n’ sweaty afternoon runs??

Happy trails,

Lauren and Nicole