Summer Recap: Inaugural Humboldt Bay Half Marathon

I've missed you, blog!

The ending portion of my summer was AWESOME.  Running an inaugural half marathon with a PR, annual trip to the Lemmon cabin with some of the family, Lecrae concert, no more 9-5, Dodgers game at Chavez Ravine, visiting family in L.A., Disneyland, and my first Disneyland half marathon!  Before I go into the crazy insane lengthy/wonderful details, I will just acknowledge right now that this update on fun life happenings will be split into multiple posts.

While training for my first half marathon (Avenue of the Giants), I wasn't sure how my body would recover and if/when I would be ready for more training.  Another reason Trevor is the best running coach in the world is because when I first wanted to run a half, he advised against the one I wanted to race because it was far too soon.  I remember being super annoyed that he was having me train for almost an entire year before I could race a half, but he did so for two reasons: 1.) preventing injury and 2.) he wanted me to be prepared enough so that the race would be a pleasant experience and I wouldn't want to give up running afterwards.  I am so glad he advised this because now I am HOOKED on the half.  After the Avenue, I couldn't wait to sign up and race the next local half 3 months away from then, The Inaugural Humboldt Bay Half Marathon.

Packet Pick-up at Wildberries in Arcata

I trained myself with this race adapting the mileage schedule Trevor had me on, and forced myself to do speedwork every week on the track alone.  Little did I know, that speed work I complained about doing would really pay off!  Come race day, I was physically prepared, but mentally, I was a nervous wreck.  Even more nervous than I was for my first half.  I think it was because I put a lot of pressure on myself to beat my previous time, and I would have been super disappointed and slightly embarassed if I didn't.  Per usual for large races, this one was on a Sunday morning so I had to miss church :(  Trevor was the course technical director for this race, and he enlisted most of my family members to serve as course monitors.  The full marathoners would start in Old Town Eureka and the half marathoners in Arcata by the plaza.  Then, the marathoners would join the course with the half marathoners.  I asked my mom to drop me off in Arcata before she had to guard her station on the course in Eureka so that I wouldn't have to take the shuttle early to the half start.  I arrived about 20 minutes before the race was to start, and the first thing I did after my mom, sister, and aunt dropped me off was pee before the potty line got too long.  Then, I set out for a short warm-up jog mostly to kill time and calm my nerves.  I wish I were cool enough to make friends with people and chat before the start, but I am way too awkward for that.  Maybe someday.

Nervous warm-up selfie

When groups started to form at the start line, I made my way up to where the 1:50 pace group was.  This race had pacers, which are experienced runners who are hired to help runners keep an average pace to achieve their goal finish time.  I knew I wouldn't run a 1:50, but I wanted to beat 2 hours so I figured I would try keeping up with the 1:50s and just not let the 2:00 group get ahead of me.  My friend Nina was the 2:00 pacer and she did awesome!  I love seeing her familiar face at all the club races.  The crowd quieted a bit as I noticed Trevor had stood up on his car to instruct us on how the course would go and to remind us to stay off sidewalks as this race was strictly certified and our time could be voided if we went off course at all. After a big cheer, we all took off.  As I always do in races, I started out way fast.  I found myself ahead of the 1:50 pace group for about the entire first mile, where I finally forced myself to tone it down and find a comfortable pace.  The weather for this race was absolutely gorgeous.  Probably not what many runners would say is prime running weather because they prefer overcast as to not get overheated, but I really enjoy running with the sun shining down on me.  I would say for the first 7 or so miles it was warm, but not sunny.  After that, it was definitely shaping up to be a sunny, Eureka summer day.  Memorable moments on the course include a section in Arcata Bottoms next to a barn where we had to run on a road covered in dried poop, crossing the 3 bridges over Indian Island and Woodley Island Marina with amazing views of the Humboldt Bay and downtown Eureka, running by Carson Mansion, seeing my family members' fun signs while they were serving as course monitors, high-fiving Trevor right before the last half mile, and seeing all my friends cheering for me at the finish line.  My official finishing time was 1:55:15, almost five minutes faster than my previous half time!

Official finish photo courtesy of Yoon Kim from 6RRC Newsletter

Syd even commented on my time saying, "You SMASHED your old time.  You know, Katrin, you really should have spaced out how much faster you run these because now it's going to be even harder to get a PR."  Lol.

Syd's really pretty sign.  "Wasn't that easy?" Arghhhh.

So glad the French boys came to cheer me on at the finish and join for lunch.

I can't tell you enough how much I enjoyed running this course.  The support from the community and the police for traffic control was great, and I absolutely loved racing through my hometown.  And it is so cool to think that I participated in this race's Inaugural year!  Can't wait for next year when I hope to run the full marathon as my first one ever.

My wonderful crew waiting for me at the finish line.  Love these people.  I'm so happy Yoon captured this.

Another funny thing happened.  Stacie, my former roomie at Point Loma, texted me saying they were driving through town near the race.  I texted her back excitedly letting her know I was at the finish area and she should stop by, but she let me know they were just passing through on their way home from Oregon.  As Syd and I were walking back to his car (I was moreso hobbling), I heard a yell and saw Stacie waving out her car window!  She got out barefoot and ran to hug me.  We chatted for a few quick seconds while she updated me on her new grad school adventure moving back to San Diego, took a photo, and just like that she was off again.  I miss her lots so that was definitely another high point to race day.

Barefoot and sweaty and so excited.

To finish off the festivities, some friends met up with us for lunch at Lost Coast Brewery.  There was actually supposed to be free pours for race finishers, but the tap wasn't working after I finished so I was really craving a cold, hard-earned Lost Coast brew.  They even had my fave-Watermelon Wheat.

My uncle Dana holding up the hilarious sign my mom made.

My mom is the sweetest for making this sign and wanting a photo of me after an awesome race.

Stay tuned for the next chapter of blog catchup....annual Lemmon cabin trip!  I know you are probably on the edge of your seats in anticipation :)