Marie S.'s profile

   

Once again Team Mermaid put on a great event. I don't normally pay to do 5Ks, but I am terribly out of shape after having a baby and needed some women racing motivation... Mermaid always does the job. The course is quite beautiful considering you're in Silicon Valley. The bike path runs along the lower SF Bay through pretty fields and along a golf course. The average participant isn't there to break any records or PR, rather to run with girlfriends, daughters, and just to break a sweat. Cool thing about Mermaid events is the fun vibe, pancake breakfast, super cool finisher shirts and necklaces, and the awesome swag bag from Overland, which is my new snazzy diaper bag. The cons are that they always seems to be running off schedule, race started late again, which threw off my morning because I needed to leave ASAP once it was over, and the other can is again the utter lack of restrooms. You can't do a race with like 1,500 women and have 5-10 portapoties, you need 20! But those are small complaint when compared to the awesomeness of Mermaid.

   

My first ever marathon and the first time I wanted to commit suicide. I made the horrendous mistake of running this race on little to no training, assuming that sheer will can finish a marathon alone. I'd PR'ed at a half marathon a few weeks earlier and thought that would be good enough. My mom was doing the marathon and I attended the packet pick up with her. She was out of her mind and stupidly encouraged me to sign up. Anyone who has ever run a marathon should never pressure another person into signing up the day before. Anyhow, at the expo I got a little over inspired and thought, I can do this, and signed up the day before. All ways well until mile 13, I was hauling for me... like 1:47 or so and figured I could easily pull a sub-4 first time marathon. Not so quick. At mile 14 it all fell apart. My mile 15 I was at aide station getting ice packs strapped to my knees, by mile 19 I was crying, by 21 I was laying on the ground. By mile 24 I thought about jumping in front of a car. I was in so much pain, my knees were shot. It was a record heat wave for early March in Southern California (I think the year was 2003 or 04) and it was 100+ on the shadeless course. People were passing out and throwing up. Nice. Somehow I finished, barely. It took like 4 hours to do last 13 miles. I was sub 6 hours, I think. My knees were ruined for months, I literally couldn't support my weight. Stupid stupid STUPID to do a marathon with no training. I had to drop out of all the upcoming races that year, it was that bad. Anyhow, despite my poor performance and the fact I had no right being there, the race was overall ok. The bad experience was my fault. If I recall correctly, the race was definitely well run, there were tons of volunteers, aide stations, and a clearly marked course. The run is completley flat, I don't think there is a spot of elevation on the course, which doesn't help your knees either. Keep in mind that you are running through LA, one of the world's ugliest cities, so don't sign up hoping to be inspired by the views. This isn't the race directors' fault, LA is just fugly. So would I do it again? hmmm, that is a hard one. Maybe? There are so many other more beautiful courses to race that I'd be hard pressed to return to this one.

   

Ok, loved it, loved it, loved it, loved it. Serious, I loved this event. Everything was great, from the location, to the on site staff and volunteers, to the crowd, to the swag, to the after race food. Mermaid events are my favorite, I'd do one once a month if they held them. I participated in the friends and family division because I am 5 months pregnant and didn't think that pushing myself in the age groups was a smart idea. Our heat was first to go at 7:30am. A quick 400 meter out and back around two buoys in a quarry pond. The water wasn't cold at all but I wore my wetsuit because I wanted as little of that duck poo water touching my skin. Swim exits onto the sand and you run up hill across sand and grass to the transition area, maybe a 1 minute or so run. Grabbed my bike and ran out to bike mount. The bike was modified to 10 miles from 11 and we did 3 loops on an out and back course. first lap was empty but quickly began filling up. By the third lap is was definitely full and I had to be very careful passing on the left. The wind was a little strong coming back each time, but nothing terrible. There are tons of volunteers on the bike course, but no aid stations, which is fine because it is so short. The only hill is a BART overpass that you hit a total of 6 times. Remember, no passing on the overpass. The run is all on trails along the quarry pond. There were tons of volunteers pointing which way to go and you pass aid stations 3 times, water and gatorade-ish drinks were being served. The finish is about 200 meters on the sand then up a short grass hill. That was a pain! At the end of the race I got a great necklace, which I am proudly wearing today. I was immediately given a water bottle to rehydrate and a tiny snickers bar... yum! I then headed to the food booth and got a ton of fruit and some pancakes. All included in the entry fee. Best thing was that there are outdoor showers and I was able to wash off before I headed home. Bonus points for that. A+++++ race, the best!

   

2009 was my first year racing this 5K event. I don't normally do 5K's so I don't have a lot to compare them to. It seems unfair to hold them to the same organizational and entertainment standards of a half marathon, but I'll do my best! If you come to this race expecting a professionally run event you probably won't be happy, but if you are looking for a local fundraiser-type race that is managed by high school students and their parents and all the craziness that comes with that set-up, then you'll have a great time. I'll just post the three things I liked and the only one think that I didn't. Liked - 1 - the super easy check in. It was nice and quick and all the volunteers were really cheerful and helpful. Also post race they were awesome about quickly posting results. That was great! 2 - the porta potties! they were the cleanest and nicest I'd even been in pre-race. Props for that! 3 - The cheering cute high school boys on the course. It was fun and encouraging to high five kids on the bike path. They were clapping and cheering like we'd just finished an Ironman! Dislikes - 1 - Impossible to find info on the race. The website was really lacking and didn't even have directions to the start. Unless you knew someone who lived in the area or were super snazzy and Google sluething, you were gonna get lost. Come on! Maybe there were directions somewhere but we couldn't find it on the directions and event part of the site. Otherwise, everything else was great and if I am in the area again next year I'd definitely sign up.

   

I did the Strawberry Field 60 miler in 2008 for the first time as a training ride for a half Ironman. We started with a a bunch of family members for my dad's birthday ride, then my husband and our good friend broke off to ride together. Be advised that the weather is going to change about 2-3 times during the ride. At times you will be freezing in the fog, then 30 minutes later you are ripping off your jacket because it is 80+ degrees and sunny. Definitely bring layers. Don't bother bringing any snacks or drinks because there are great aid stations every few miles. You could literally gain weight on this ride. I definitely ate more food than my entry fee covered... especially at lunch. So tasty. I ate 2 deli sandwiches! The only disappointment (food wise) was that they touted it as the Strawberry Fields ride but there were no strawberries until the finish line. Also, there is a stop at Gizdich Ranch, which is known for its pie, but there was NO PIE! Rather distressing. The course consists of mostly rollers, except for 2 really steep ones near the half way point for lunch, near Prunedale/Aroma. I saw more than one rider fall off their bike on the hill. Here's another tip... at lunch you lay your bike on the ground because there are no bike racks. There are hundreds of bikes everywhere. Someone must have moved my bike because the brakes got messed up and after lunch I rode about 2 miles with my rear breaks fully down... let's just say it made for a tough post-lunch ride, until I figured it out. I also saw one person get on the wrong bike and start to ride off. I'd like to race it again this year - probably the 25 miler - feeling a little lazy. It really is a fun ride.

   

The Sentinel aka Santa Cruz Triathlon is how I end my racing season every year. As a Santa Cruz County local this race is always so much fun because all your friends come to race and spectate and you compete on the same course that you've been training on all year. Some would say this race isn't too hard, but I find Olympic distance races the most challenging triathlon distance because it is a full out 2 1/2-3 hour sprint in high gear. Sprints are over in an hour and half and full ironmans you are supposed to go slow - well, at least I go slow! Sentinel is a tough one because it is a true open water, freezing cold ocean swim around the Santa Cruz Wharf. The water is so so so cold even with a full wetsuit, it is a fast swim - everyone is hauling, and the sea lions can be startling at times. It is a beach start and exit and sometimes there can be waves, so try to time your entry/exit accordingly. You exit on the beach, then have to run up a short hill to transition. I recommend running this hill because you can pass a lot of people who are walking. There is a baby pool at the top to wash off your feet but be careful, lots of people stack... it is slippery! The bike is another fast out and back towards Davenport. This race always hands out cool water bottles so in years past I won't take any personal bottles with me and at the turn around, only 12.5 miles in I grab three. So greedy, but they are cool! Usually the wind isn't too bad if you get out there early enough, so you roar back down Highway 1 to transition at the Wharf. One time the volunteers mixed up the re-entry for the bike to T2 and the bike leaders were directed the wrong way through the finish chute. They were none too happy. Run is along West Cliff towards Natural Bridges. One year the volunteers put the turn around in the wrong place and we ran an extra half mile. That sucked. Can you tell this isn't the most organized event? Here's a comment: If it is warm out the smell of the bird poop on the rocks can be a little overwhelming. But then again, I have been accused of having an overly sensitive sense of smell. The run is rather quick. I've done some of my best 10K times on this course. Finish is okay, nothing too spectacular. They usually serve trail mix, powdered donuts (YUM!), strawberries, bagel and cream cheese wedges, and some sports drinks. It is served communally, which grosses me out. I wish they'd hand it to me rather than encourage us to dig our sweaty hands into the food. Again, can you tell I am picky?! One more thing, the race director/management changed hands recently so maybe the race will be more organized this year. Even if it isn't, check it out.

   

I'm always a fan of women only events, I don't mind the boys, but sometimes it is fun to race against only women. I did this race almost two years ago with two friends and remember it being rather difficult. Yeah, I know it was only a 10K but I was out of shape and it was really windy. One of the race's saving graces is that the view is pretty nice as you run along the SF Bay. As the morning fog lifted you could even see San Francisco. As I remember it, it was a pretty bare bones race, but that may have changed as the race series has gotten more well known. There was some water at I believe only 1 stop on the course, but again, for a 6.2 miler, how much fuel does one really need. I also recall a pancake breakfast after the race but we didn't stay and treated ourselves to a full breakfast down the road. I'd maybe do this again, but I have this unwritten policy of not paying to do races less than half marathon distance, just seems hard to justify paying for something that takes less than an hour. Again, that's just my weird point of view. But if you are new to racing, this is an excellent forum to try your first or second race.

   

Oh I hated this race so very much. It is called the Rock 'n' Roll half marathon but there was no rocking going on. Almost all the bands were tuning up or not even playing their instruments when we came by. The groups of cheerleaders were standing there staring off into space and the scenery is terrible - downtown Man Jose, I mean, San Jose. Maybe the reason it sucked so back is because it was the first race ever, but come on people, Rock 'n' Roll is supposed to be pros at putting on races. It was so disappointing. And the end they were giving away free ugly slippers, like ergo slippers. I took them home, wore them once - they were surprisingly comfortable - then my dog ate them for dinner. Can you tell I only have bad memories about this race? Maybe I should do it again? No, no way. There are too many awesome halfs to spend time and money on this one again.

   

This is the goofiest triathlon around. The Tiburon Fire Department puts it on and I don't think any of them know the first thing about racing or putting on a race. They do know how to buy kegs from Marin Brewing Company for the post race celebration - extra points for that. The swim is in the yacht harbor, you swim through the boats then out through the breakers into the SF Bay, the water isn't super clean and if you aren't wearing a wetsuit, as I haven't 2 out of the 4 times I've done it, be prepared to freeze. Swim is kinda a disaster, prepare to get run over and kicked, there just isn't enough room for everyone. You exit the swim on the barnacle covered boat ramp and promptly rip up your frozen feet. Some people leave their shoes at the exit and put them on to run the 500 yards to T1. T1 is another mess, only half the bikes are racked and it is super easy to forget where you left your bike. Once you grab it and ride off you head out to Tiburon Blvd for a 9 mile bike (I think) around the Tiburon "loop". Its a lot of winding and up and down, but the last 4 miles are really fast, part downhill and flat. This is where you can really crank it. You then head back to the transition, throw your bike on the ground and charge off for the run. Because the race is so short your feet are still freezing from the swim and it is hard to get your running legs underneath you. The run loops around the Belvedere lagoon and back to the fire department. I don't think there are any aid stations on the run, but there doesn't need to be because it is so crazy short. All in all, this race is good for a laugh and a quick morning workout. I've competed in it a few times, raced as my 52 year old father-in-law one time, and then didn't pay one time and just did the swim, T1 and 1 mile of the bike to prep for Ironman transitions.

   

When I lived in LA post college I joined the Nike running club in Beverly Hills and was the fastest runner I am ever going to be in my whole life. The team did this event together and I ran my fastest 5K ever (no, not sub 20 minutes, but close) and even placed. It was a super simple course, you start at the far end of San Vicente, near the 405 Freeway and run 1.5 miles towards the bluffs over looking the ocean in Santa Monica then turn around and haul back. That was all there was to it. It is 100% totally flat and super fast. The nice part about the race is that you can either run in the road or in the nice grassy median. I did this race in 2003 so I have no recollection of the food, support, etc. But it couldn't have been bad because I always remember when a race sucks!