In need of mental help

After my run saturday I went home and looked at my times. I ran a solid 7:30 pace and it felt easy, so why cant I do this in a race? I went home to look at my race times and I realized that my 5K and 10K split in the marathon were faster than my 5K and 10K splits in the half marathon and almost even with a couple of 5Ks and 10Ks I have run recently. And one of my Olympic Triathlons, my 10K had a clocked in at a 6:50 pace, so what is my problem? I know I am never going to be a super fast runner, but I obviously can run faster than I have been and everything I can see points to a mental block in running races. I started to think back to when I was doing competition by myself, and other than Triathlons and running, my most recent solo competition was swimming. I rarely lost a race. Granted the competition was not too steep, but there were some college swimmers recruited out of our clubs so it wasn’t all bad. Part of the reason I always won was genetics. I have a torso that goes on forever, a wingspan of someone a half foot taller than me, feet and hands that rival the size of some ex boyfriends and legs that are as big around as they are long (hence the fact that I will never be a fast runner). Plus my mom was a swimmer and threw me in the pool before I could walk, and to this day I dont want to get out of the water when I get in. The other reason (other than training) that I rarely lost, is that every time I stepped on the starting block I knew there was noone else who had a chance of beating me. I remember this feeling even when I was much younger. No matter how far behind I was at the last turn, I had the confidence that I could always make up the distance.

Now when I race in a running event I never have the confidence that I am going to do well. I actually just hope to finish the race (even in the really short ones). I look at my training times and know I can go much faster than I am going but every time I race I freak out and pull back thinking I will never be able to finish, then at the finish I have so much left in the tank that I sprint past everyone and could keep going. I need to remember that confidence I had in the pool, and know that I can do better. Even though I am not a natural runner, I have worked hard and trained hard and have proven that my times can be much much better. So my goal for races these next two sundays is to go to the starting line with that same confidence I used to have regardless of the outcome of the race.
Here I am about to race, monkey arms in the air. I never was able to manage goggles on swim team, they always fell off when I dove in.

Bonus photo my mom found. Clearly I am ready to kick ass in the relay. I have no clue what I am looking at, but I am pretty sure I still make that same face today.

On my way to lunch today.

This gun was pointed straight at me. I am not sure they really have gun safety classes here.

Sunday Run-Day

I find it amazing that a city of 27 million people can shut down its largest street every Sunday from 7-2 to cars so that bikers, runners, walkers, roller bladers, etc can use it without worrying about dodging the crazy drivers. There are a lot of things I love about the city, but this has to be one of my favorite things. If a city this large can do it, I don’t see why other smaller cities cant follow their lead. I try and get out every sunday for at least a little while to enjoy the weather and my surroundings. This sunday I set out for a 12 mile run, but as I started to head towards the center of town, I noticed these K markers

So I decided to follow the path. I had no idea really where they would lead me, but since there were tons of people I figured I would just follow their lead. After about 10K I was totally lost and was noticing that there were fewer and fewer people running and that almost everyone was on two wheels. This was a mercado I spotted when I realized I was lost.

Good news was that I had $100 pesos in my pocket and every Sunday the city has tents with free water and gatorade, free first aid, and free bike rentals and mechanics.


I kept going and did a little cheer when I got to my neighborhood and noticed this sign...

23K (plus the 3 or 4 it took me to get to the start) and I felt great. Granted I stopped every few miles for pictures and to fuel up.
After the run we went to have some beer, tortilla soup, and chilaquiles and then a well deserved nap. Our furniture arrives friday (hopefully) so anyone who wants to come enjoy the sunday run-day here has a free place to stay.
More pics from the run...
I was tempted but I had to save the $100 pesos in case I needed to flag down a cab.

Some buildings on Reforma. These streets are usually packed with cars. The traffic here is far worse than any other city I have ever been in, and it is so nice when the roads are closed.


Here is one of the streets on the way to the Zocalo in Centro Historico. Lots of people lining the streets, not all were running that day.

Bellas Artes

Here is what the streets look like when they are closed to cars. Very peaceful

Statue (I cant remember the name)

Two pictures of the largest mercado I have seen yet. I wanted to walk in and eat, but I held off.

Running and Quesadillas

Yesterday was our group's run out of the city - I love these runs because I can explore parts of the city I wouldnt have known existed. I was told to do a 70 minute run at easy pace. I love those runs because I can just zone out and watch the trees fly by. Easy pace there is a little slower than in the city because we were up at 10,000 feet and surrounded by hills, but I still really enjoyed it. After our run we set out to Desierto de los Leones (odd name because we were not near a desert and there were definitely no lions) for our breakfast. On the way up the mountain I saw about 100 bikers and started to get really excited for when my bike comes, because this would be perfect training. Straight up a mountain and then back down with some scary ass turns. Hopefully it will get here this weekend so I can make the trek out there next sunday. Anyway, there is this restaurant in the middle of nowhere that serves quesadillas that are amazing. We ordered about 15 of these and all had coffee and fresh squeezed juice and it was a total of $18.00. Blue corn tortilla with cheese, nopal and lost of other yummy things.

Love it. Best news is that my stomach is not sick today (it is always a gamble when you eat at out of the way places here).
I once again forgot the camera, but am for sure taking it on the long run today. I am horrible lately with the camera. My mom has been begging me to send pictures of our place and her granddogs and I still havent done it. Today is the day - promise.
Also, congrats to everyone who raced Kona!

More Running

I realize I am slagging on the blogging front, but it is mostly because there is nothing new to report. Honu is tomorrow and I am so bummed I am not racing it. I signed up a year ago before I knew I was moving to Mexico and am wishing I were in Kona right now. I have lots of blogger friends racing it, so GOOD LUCK! I will be tracking you all online while I wait for my washer/dryer to be delivered. I hear it is going to be hot hot hot, but even hearing that doesnt make me feel better about missing it. Instead of racing Honu I will be traveling outside of the city to Ocotal to do some more trail running. I am just about to ramp up for the NYC half Marathon and whatever fall marathon I decide to do, and I cant think of a prettier place to do my long runs. Again we will be at 10,000 feet, but this time I will come with warmer clothes.


Last Sunday we got a driver and a maid/cook. This is one of the benefits of living in Mexico. I will never have to go to the grocery store or do a load of laundry as long as I am living here. The first few days I was hesitant to ask for help with things, but now I have our driver walking the dogs twice a day and paying our bills at the bank. And as soon as our furniture gets here I am going to have our maid show me how to cook some authentic Mexican meals. I cant wait. This is definitely a luxury that we will miss when I move back to the states, but it is the way of life here, and I am going to enjoy it while I can.

Running at 10,000 feet is hard

Today was the third day with the running group and saturdays have quickly become my favorites. One day a week is a track workout (yuck), one day is tempo in the park and saturdays we all leave the city for some trail running. Today the run was here:

When we got out of the car I was freezing and wished I had my ear warmers. I made a comment about how it was colder and one of my running friends told me we were the same level as Cuzco. WTF - that is 10k feet! Running in Mexico is still hard for me and that is only 7500 feet. I guess this is good training for my Machu Picchu hike I am planning to do. Since I am doing my first road race here tomorrow, the coach told me to only go 70 minutes easy. Quickly my running went from easy to really hard and I couldnt keep my heart rate down without walking some of the hills because we were so high up. But the scenery was so beautiful it made it a little easier, plus if I stopped I would start to freeze again so this was my main motivation. It was my first trail run in a long time and I loved every minute of it, even the few times that I got lost. And at the end we all had a fresh fruit drink with pollen on top. No clue what it was called, but they made it right there and it was good. I really hope we go back here again soon. Especially since this is where my 21K is going to be in a few weeks and I need all the altitude practice I can get. Apparently in August and September all the pros are out here training for NYC and Chicago, so that will be fun to see.

Yesterday was our second earthquake in a month, and this one felt much stronger since it was only 85K away from the city. My dad called this morning to see how we were. I love how my dad is always a day late with this sort of thing. He called to tell me that there was an earthquake, and I always tell him I know. Then he asks how I know, and I have to remind him that I felt it. Then he asks if I am ok. I tell him yes, but am really thinking that if something had happened he is 24 hours too late to really help me. I think he sees these things in the paper and frantically calls to check on me not realizing that whatever happened occurred the day before, but it is the thought that counts.

Today is a big day- it is the first full day that Chris has actually been living in Mexico. We are now living in an empty shell that will be a little less empty tonight when the dogs arrive. They actually arrived in Mexico yesterday, but had to wait in customs until tonight. We were sent a picture of them to prove that they are ok. Here they are in custom's jail.

Not quite as bad as when Nola was in Hawaii's jail.

The moving company said that our stuff will arrive the first Tuesday in June, but I would imagine in Mexico that means July. Chris is a total rock star - not only has he cleaned out my old apartment I just moved out of, taken care of the dogs and getting the house organized, in less than 24 hours he has secured two interviews! All without knowing very much spanish at all.
Also some news- I found a coach! I start wednesday AM with him and if all goes well he will coach me at least through the marathon. I run with him three times a week with one other person (the friend who introduced us) and on saturdays in a group. There are track workouts, trail runs and once a week we do a long run outside of the city. Plus he schedules daily workouts for me including weights and cross training based on my goals. I was told to bring the pair of shoes I have worn longest so he can look at my stride, but with my crazy zoot addiction, I really dont have any that are too worn out. All this for a whopping 650 pesos a month (roughly 50 a month). Hopefully this will get me in a good routine now that my Hawaii travel is no longer.