The 2022 Big Sur Marathon Relay

Disclaimer: I received a Marathon Relay entry as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

If you’ve ever read a “top ten marathon destination” list, you’ve probably heard of the Big Sur marathon - at least that was what first introduced me to this race, which runs along the west coast, up pacific highway 1. It’s full of scenic views, and rolling hills, and when bibrave offered up an opportunity to run the race, Mike and I decided to team up and take on the marathon relay together. 

My planned trip was short - fly to CA Friday night after work, and then a red eye going home on Sunday. I packed my suitcase, including all my race supplies on Thursday, and on Friday after work Dennis gave me a ride to the airport. I had just enough time to grab some dinner before I hopped on the plane, and when I landed in San Francisco Mike and Jude picked me up from the airport - they had headed out earlier in the week, so they would have more time to explore California. It was late when I landed, so we just headed to the hotel and went to bed. 

The plan for Saturday was to grab breakfast and then take a two hour drive down the coast to Monterey, where the Big Sur Marathon ends. We left the hotel around 9 am, and picked a restaurant in Palo Alto called “sweet maple,” where they had a yummy looking brunch menu. We each got a different brunch entree, and split an order of “millionaire’s bacon,” which was the restaurants signature dish. 

Once we were all fueled up we got on the road, and it was an easy ride to Monterey. Once we got there we checked into our hotel, and then headed over to the expo to pick up our race bibs. We had good timing with our expo arrival - a bunch of our bibrave team mates were out front, and we were able  to grab a photo with them before heading inside. 

It was an easy pickup process at the expo - there was a dedicated table for relay runners, and a volunteer pulled our race bibs out. Usually a relay team consists of 4 runners, but Mike and I opted to take on the race as a team of two. The volunteer let us know that only one person needed to be there to pick up the teams bibs, so keep that in mind if you’re ever running the relay. 

Once we had our bibs we could go get our shirts. The shirts ran small, but they had limited sizes available for exchange. Overall the expo was pretty big, with 4 aisles of vendors. Mike and I both opted to buy some swag from the official race store - I went for a hot pink Big Sur hat. 

The last stop before leaving the expo was picking up the tickets for the pasta party - we attended the 4:30 seating. 

We had decided to buy tickets for the pasta party so that we didn’t have to worry about finding a place to eat the night before, and the event did not disappoint! We waited in a short queue at the hotel across the street from where we picked up our bibs to get into the banquet hall, and there were tables all over the room. On each side of the room there were buffets with pasta, salad, vegetables, sauces, and even desert. Mike, Jude and I loaded up our plates, and found a mostly empty table. As we ate we chatted with other runners, and it was neat to connect with other runners. There was even a beverage table in the middle of the room, that had wine and beer - including athletic brewing’s non-alcoholic beer. I thought it was a great touch for all of the runners!

After dinner we headed back to our hotel, and got ready for an early bedtime. Mike and I laid out our outfits and packed all the fuel we would need for the next day - we had an early wakeup the next morning - even though the race didn’t start until 6 am, I had to board the bus at 3:45 a.m. - Since the race is a one way course, all of the runners had to be bussed 26.2 miles to the start.

On race morning Mike and I rolled out of out beds and into the car, leaving Jude behind at the hotel. We were half asleep, but it was a short drive to the race busses. Mike and I had to get on at different times, since I was starting at leg 1 with the marathon runners, and he was starting at leg 2. As I was about to get on to the bus i ran into Sylvia, a fellow BibRave pro, and we wound up sitting together on the bus and chatting as we made our way to the start area.

It took a long time for the bus to get to the start, and when we arrived it was crowded, and a little chilly. From the time that we left the start, I lost cell service, and would not wind up getting any connection until around mile 7 of the race - where a blip of service allowed some texts from Mike to come through. I milled around the start, stopped at the porter potties, checked my bag, and ate a pb&j sandwich, and waited for the sun to come up.

As it got closer to start time, I made my way over to the start line. I though about visiting the porter potties one more time, but the lines were insane. I made my way into my corral, and watched the sun come up over the mountains as I waited for the race to start. 

The race wound up beginning a few minutes late, but as soon as the start horn went off the corrals started to collapse, and everyone moved forward. I was so excited to take in the scenery for the next 8 miles as I got moving, and happily clicked on my Garmin as I crossed the start line of the race. Since Mike and I were running the relay in legs, I was doing leg one, then he would meet me at leg 2 and finish the rest of the race. 

From the start line we headed onto the highway, where both sides of the road were surrounded by trees - it was beautiful. I got swept up with the start of the race and took off a little too fast, but found by pace and settled in. The course started with a downhill. While the Big Sur marathon is known for its hills, the leg I was running was mostly downhill, ending with an uphill right as the forest opened up and we got our first views of the ocean.

We ran by campgrounds and roadside hotels, many of which had patrons out and cheering as the runners went by. The aid stations were well stocked, with volunteers handing out water and Gatorade. The miles went by quickly, as I was surrounded by runners who had so much energy - with most of them in the beginning miles of a full marathon! 

As I approached mile 7 the scenery transitioned from wooded to beachy - the highway opened up and revealed mountains and beach views - it was beautiful, and made up for the gradual uphill that I was climbing, and the wind that had started gusting as soon as the road opened up.

Before I knew it, I was approaching mile 8, and saw the school busses lined up for relay runners, and spotted Mike, who looked just as excited as I was! We took a selfie and ran together for a second, before he took off on his leg of the race. 

There were some snacks out for runners that were finishing the first leg of the relay - there had been bagels, but by the time I got there only oranges were left, so I happily filled a cup with orange slices as I boarded the bus. 

One regret that I had - a lot of relay runners had given their leg 2 runners a bag of clothes, so that they could change out of sweaty running clothes before climbing onto the bus. Mike and I had not thought of this, and it was a long ride to the finish - so if you ever run this relay, I definitely recommend giving your partner a change of clothes to pass off to you when you finish your leg of the race.

It was a bit of a wait before the bus took off - we did not leave until all of the runners had past by, to ensure that no relay runners would be left behind without a ride to the finish. One side of the highway was still open, so as we made our way to the finish, we caught up to the runners and watched them go - I even spotted Mike on the course as we went! While I was bummed that I did not get to run the more scenic sections of the course, I was glad that I got to watch the views roll by the bus window.

When I got to the finish area, I decided to wait for Mike at the finish line. There was a Starbucks near by, so after grabbing my checked bag I went and got a snack, plus a tea for me and a coffee for Mike, and then found a seat on the stands at the finish line. My only complaint about the finish area is that there was no easy way for relay runners to get post race food (like the boxes that the other finishers got at the finish line) - because I was hungry after the run plus long bus ride. But at least there was something available for me to purchase. 

Eventually I spotted Mike nearing the finish line, and cheered my lungs out for him as he finished the race - then I made my way to the exit point for the finishers chute, and found Mike - where he slung a medal around my neck - Marathon relay complete!

From there we headed back to the hotel and packed up, then stopped for food on the way to the airport. Our quick California trip had come to a close, and we had a great time taking on the Big Sur Marathon Relay!

Make sure to check out Mike's blog post about his leg of the relay by clicking here!

If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below!

Gear Round Up: Mid-Weight Winter Soft Turtle Gloves

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Turtle Gloves to  review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

As the seasons move from fall to winter in New York, the first accessory that I add to my running attire is a pair of gloves – Yes, I have totally been that runner that has a pair of shorts and a t-shirt on, with a pair of gloves covering up my hands.

Last year I had the chance to test out a pair of turtle gloves referred to as “the Flippers,” which are both wind and water resistant, which became my go-to gloves when I was running or just existing in general. This year, turtle gloves brought a different pair of gloves to the BibRave team, the mid-weight winter soft model. I excitedly volunteered to test out another model, and was so excited when they arrived in the mail.

It may seem strange to be excited for a pair of mittens, but my hands are always cold. When I opened up the package with my mittens, turtle gloves had also sent me a drawstring backpack, some stickers, and a bottle koozie. The gloves were bright orange, and had the BibRave logo printed on them, so they match all my other BibRave gear! I tried them on, and was pleasantly surprised with how soft the inside of the gloves were. The gloves are made of Polartec® Power Stretch Pro® material, which wicks sweat, dries quickly, and is very breathable – and of course since they are turtle gloves, they have the added breathability when you flip them from being mittens to exposing your fingers.

The “flip” feature is what sets turtle gloves above other brands for me. As someone who always wears too much at the beginning of a run, this is the perfect design. It lets me start my run with a pair of mittens, and then “open” them to expose my fingers when I warm up, and roll them down further as needed. Plus, since they are tubes when flipped open, I can slide them right onto my running belt if my hands are just too warm.

On one of my runs recently, there was snow lingering on the streets from a recent storm, and I lost my footing as a rounded a corner. After trying to regain my balance and failing, I took a tumble, and bared the brunt of my fall between my hands, my hip, and my knee. My hands stung, but luckily I had been wearing my turtle gloves at the time – I looked at my palms which were red and stung, but there were no cuts or damage to my skin. My hip and knee both wound up with bruising and scrapes that kept me from running for a few days. But after saving my hands, my gloves were a little dirty from the fall, but undamaged. This experience gave turtle gloves even more points in my books.

 I found that my new turtle gloves, the mid-weight winter soft model, are much warmer than my flippers. They are great on days that you are dealing with frosty temps outside during a run, but I have also used mine on chilly mornings when I get in my car, and when I am working on a computer with cold hands. 

I love that turtle gloves went the extra mile to get us the perfect BibRave orange color, and were even able to print our logo onto the gloves! If you are searching for a glove that will keep your hands warm on the coldest of run, some turtle glove midweight winter soft mittens are just what you need.

If you decide to pick up a pair, the coupon code “TURTLEBIBRAVE” will save you 15% on your own pair! Click HERE to check out all of the color choices they have available for these awesome gloves.

The Year of the Virtual Race: The Scooby Doo Run

Disclaimer: I received an entry to the Scooby Doo Run to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

The best thing about virtual races? You can do them on your own time, at your own pace.

I am still missing in-person races, but until they return, I will continue to enjoy virtual ones – and thanks to the team at BibRave, I had the opportunity to participate in the scooby doo run. I grew up watching scooby doo, and was excited when I spotted the swag that I could earn in the race – a water bottle, a hoodie, and a medal for me, PLUS a bandana and a collar for Riley! It was a special treat that they even had pet friendly swag.

I signed up, and when my race package came in the mail, I may have broken one of my cardinal rules – usually I am very superstitious about not using any of my race swag before race day, but I could not resist trying the bandana on Riley!

I signed up for the 10k option, and since that is a little far for the pup to run along with me, I started taking him on shorter runs so that he could cumulatively finish a total of 6.1 miles. He usually was able to run about 2 miles at a time before he got tuckered out because of the summer heat. Some days we even had to stop for water breaks, but the pup was ultimately able to finish his miles, and earn his fancy little collar before I finished my race!

I was planning to take on my virtual races like I usually do, by running around by home, my husband biking along to support me through the distance – but when “race day” came, we decided to shake things up – and walk the distance together! Another perk of a virtual race – there’s no pressure on your pace if you don’t want there to be. We took our time as we explored our neighborhood, taking paths that I don’t usually follow when running. We even had an aid station at mile 4…. In the form of ice cream from baskin robins! If that’s not a delicious mid race stop, I don’t know what is! It took longer than a usual 10k for me, but the miles were high quality, on a beautiful early fall afternoon.

There is still time to register for the scooby doo 10k or 5k, and take on your miles in the way that best suits your day, and you can even bring a furry friend along for the journey.

Tips to make Virtual Races a Real Life Experience!

Disclaimer: I received an entry to the Virtual DC Wonder Woman Run and the Scooby Doo Run to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

The first race that I was registered for that fell victim to 2020 was the NYC United Airlines Half Marathon – my favorite race, which I had ran for the last three consecutive years. My friends and I constantly checked the NYRR website for an update, and we were shocked when the cancellation hit just days before the event was supposed to take place. At the time Corona cases were rising in NY, and it made sense to play it safe. We all agreed that losing the NYC half would make the Brooklyn half that much more exciting – surely the would would have returned to normal by May, right?

Well, spoiler alert – the world did not return to normal, and cancellations continued for the rest of the year. Local races, destination races, RunDisney events and world marathon major races all were cancelled, one after another. The first ones were disappointing, but eventually it just became almost expected. I was supposed to run both the NYC and the Chicago marathons this fall, and once those got cancelled, I found myself with a big race void, missing the end goal that my training usually works towards.

Prior to 2020, I had completed one virtual race – the 2018 Star Wars Light Side half marathon, as a part of the Kessell Run Challenge that RunDisney hosted. If we are being honest, it was the Millennium Falcon medal that you earned by completing the virtual and in person half marathons that convinced me to sign up. I guess you could say I am motivated by some good swag.

With typical races being cancelled for the most part, I have come to appreciate virtual races more than ever before – the flexibility of not having to wake up at the crack of dawn combined with a reward for finishing my miles has gotten me out the door when I was feeling less than motivated more than once this year.

I like to make my virtual races an experience – here are some of my favorite ways to make things a little more special:

1.     Have someone complete the race with you!

 This one has to be done safely – for me, my husband has been biking along for my races, helping me keep a good pace and passing me water. Other times, I have been bringing the dog, Riley out to run with me. Riley loves it when he gets to trot along with me for a run.

 2.     Have a photo op setup for the finish line

When I completed the Wonder Woman 10k, I pulled out some chalk I purchased earlier this year and had fun making a backdrop on our driveway! It was a good way to cool down post race, and I loved the photos that I got.

3.     Save the swag I earn for after I have completed my mileage

When I get a package in the mail with race swag, it is hard for me to not immediately start using my new goodies – and for this reason I like to save them for AFTER the race – that way I have something to look forward to earning.

4.     Enjoy a sweet treat after my run

This one is pretty self-explanatory – usually I go for an Italian ice or a big cookie!

5.     Share a photo on the next #MedalMonday!

You never know when your virtual race photo could inspire someone else to take on their own challenge, and for that reason I love sharing my photos with the running community and seeing all of the posts that people share of their medals and accomplishments each Monday. It is an inspiring way to start the week. 

There are lots of virtual races to choose from, but two of the races I have registered for are the Wonder Woman 10k and the Scooby Doo 10k! There are so many runners participating in these races on social media, and it has been fun to see everyone’s take on their virtual mileage!

My favorite swag from the Wonder Woman race is the ¼ zip – it is comfy and high quality, and I am sure it will become a staple in my winter running wardrobe. I was so excited to get to wear it when I finally completed my 10k.

For the Scooby Doo Run, there was so much gear to pick from, but my favorite is actually not for me – it is for Riley! Don’t get me wrong, the pullover that I will earn upon completing my miles is sweet, but they included the cutest little collar for him, complete with his own medal! If you are a dog lover or have one in your life, you need to check out this bling!

What virtual races are you taking on in 2020? Up next for me is the RunDisney Wine and Dine vacirtual two course challenge!

Gear Roundup: The Buff Pack Run Cap

The shorts that I managed to comfortably fit this hat into the pocket of.

Disclaimer: I received an Buff Pack Run Cap to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

You may have noticed from my photos that I pretty much always have either a hat or sunglasses on when I’m running – heck, sometimes both – regardless of the season. I am for sure a person that prefers the sun to be kept out of my face, since I burn after about two seconds of sun shine. When Dad and I head out for long runs (where he bikes along with me), he even brings along sunscreen so I can re-apply mid run. I am serious about my sun protection!

Most of running hats that I have acquired over the years are from various races, and are more focused on the race itself over their functionality as a running hat, so I was eager to get my hands on a Buff Pack Run Cap when they came to the BibRave Pro program, especially because I loved the headband that I got from them last fall.

When I got my package in the mail containing my hat, I was shocked at how light the hat was! It is a normal size hat but felt like I was practically holding nothing (something I texted at least 5 people about upon discovering, because I just thought it was so cool!). Plus, the design I got has fun, bright colors, which is always a plus in my book. The hat is adjustable, and there is a bungee with a part that holds the size setting.

 Of course, I had to coordinate an equally bright outfit to match my hat and set everything out for my run the next day. I had to adjust the hat a little bit to get the sizing right, but then I was good to go for the rest of the run. It was so light that I honestly forgot it was on my head at times, and I did not have to adjust it as I ran, like I have to with many of my other hats. It was a humid day, and the hat even helped with keeping sweat from dripping into my eyes – it is made from moisture wicking materials which is a nice feature.

 There was one day I headed out to run, and the wind picked up so much while I was out that I started to worry that my hat was going to blow off my head – so I decided to try the “pack” part of the Buff pack run cap, and folded it up and tucked it into the tiny zipper pocket on my running shorts, and was pleased to find it was easy to fold got very tiny. Plus, when I pulled it out of my pocket at the end of the run, the hat happily popped back into its intended shape.

 Also, remember how I mentioned my commitment to sun protection at the beginning of the post? Well this hat is made from UPF materials, for extra protection from the suns rays.

 This hat has been the one that I grab every time I need a hat for my runs since I got it, and I keep considering ordering a second one so I have more color choices!

 If you decide you want to try one out for yourself, visit https://buffusa.com/bibrave and sign up for emails to receive 15% off of your purchase.

The Year of the Virtual Race: The DC Wonder Woman Run

Disclaimer: I received an entry to the Virtual DC Wonder Woman Run to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

I am missing racing these days, from the social aspect to the away from home courses, and of course, the accountability that comes with training for a specific goal. The swag and bling are a nice bonus too, come race day. I think it would be a fair statement to say I am a sucker for some good bling, as I have signed up for more than one race after seeing a really awesome medal or swag.

Well, the swag has drawn me to another virtual race, which I am excited to have in lieu of a regular race, even if the fan fare is a little different. When I first found out about the DC Wonder Woman race series, I checked to see if there was a race happening near New York and was bummed that there was not one. I considered planning another trip to Georgia to take part in the event that was supposed to happen there - but traveling quickly disappeared as an option within 2020 for me.

But a silver lining emerged when the race series announced that they would be going virtual – which meant I could still earn some sweet swag without travelling too far from home. The virtual race offers two distance options, a 5k and a 10k. I opted for the 10k, and I want to share the sweet swag that you can earn from taking part in this virtual event – registration includes a ¼ zip pullover (available in women’s and men’s sizes), a medal, a bag, and wrist sweat bands (which have pockets!). I haven’t gotten mine in the mail yet, but I am looking forward to it arriving. 

The race can be run through 11/1/2020, so there is plenty of time to register and train for your virtual event, if you want to join me and complete the virtual DC Wonder Woman race! You can register for the race via the event website, DC Wonder Woman Run.

The Year Races Went Virtual: The 2020 Run for the Zoo

Disclaimer: I received an entry to the Virtual Lincoln Park Run for the Zoo as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

Well, after a great amount of consideration, I decided that my favorite thing about virtual races is that I can wake up at whatever time I want to, and get out to run! It is going to be a bit of a shell shock to my system when I have to start rolling out of bed in the wee hours of the morning again to get my miles in. Of course, I also like that I can still help to support organizations like the Lincoln Park Zoo from home - the virtual Run for the Zoo supported them in Chicago, and even though I ran in New York, my miles helped to support them and the animals that they take care of.

I completed my virtual race on July 7, the date that the Race for the Zoo would have taken place, had it not gone virtual. If I had been able to attend the race in Chicago, I would have gotten to see some animals along the way, so in the spirit of that, I decided to bring Riley along for the beginning of my run, to have a bit of puppy companionship.

The temps were going to climb into the 80s in NY on “race day",” so I decided to head out in the morning before things got too heated. I geared up with my BibRave tank and Hat, plus some sunscreen and a pair of Knockarounds to keep the sun out of my eyes. I pulled on some headphones and queued up a podcast, and once Riley had his running leash on we headed out for some humid miles.

We kept things local, doing loops of the blocks around our house. Riley alerted me any time he spotted another animal, from other doggos also out on walks, to birds and the occasional bunny – each time he spotted one he pulled me forward, begging to run faster than I was planning to. As we approached mile 2 he started slowing down, tongue out as we trotted along. I returned him to the house so his fluffy self would not overheat, and he headed right to his water bowl as I headed back out to finish my 10k.

It was a bit of a struggle for me, but I kept shuffling along, one foot in front of the other. The sun was rising higher into the sky, and I was checking in with my watch to see how many miles I had ahead of me still as I continued onward. I eventually was able to settle into my pace again, and keep making my way towards my “finish line.”

I got close to home around mile 5, and re-directed my route so I could get to 6.2 without having to loop back and fourth too much, and somehow the last mile seemed to slip away, even though I had been struggling leading up to it – my breathing had just not been cooperating, and I was glad when my watch finally ticked over to 6 miles, and then I counted the houses as I finally got to 6.2, and my personal race finish.

The miles may not have come easy this time, but I still got them done, and earned my “Run for the Zoo” race shirt, which features and ostrich!

If the Chicago marathon goes on as planned this year, I am hoping to make a trip to the Lincoln park zoo, so that I can check it out in person!

What Virtual races are you planning to complete this summer? The next one for me? The DC wonder woman virtual 10k!

Running isn't cancelled: Virtual races still have a real impact!

Disclaimer: I received an entry to the Virtual Lincoln Park Run for the Zoo as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

I shared in a previous blog post that I am looking forward to running the first ever virtual Run for the Zoo - an event that usually takes place in Chicago each year, but this year was forced to become a virtual race as a result of the impact of Covid-19.

This race helps Lincolin park remain open and free to the public, while taking care of many animals - the proceeds that the race brings in help to fund animal care, and now that it is virtual, its reach can extend beyond Chicago! Now that I am following Lincoln park on instagram, the animal photos that they share always bring a smile to my face- so today I want to share some of the cute animals that this run benefits.

If these adorable faces have inspired you to want to help the place that cares for them, make sure to use code BIBRAVE10 when you register for the virtual run for the zoo here.

You can even have your own “Race Day” Fun at home - I ordered up some sidewalk chalk and am looking forward to drawing some animals around my chalk finish line! In times like these, it is the little things that you can still do that I find joy in.

Let me know if you’ll be joining me, and running for the animals!