The course, the ability to run both the 10k and 5k, and the awesome tech shirt they hand out are pretty much the reasons why I love running the Santa Monica-Venice Christmas Run! This was my third year in a row running it and I’m always so excited for this race. In 2011 I ran both the 10k and 5k races, but last year I was healing a slight hip injury so I was limited to just the 10k. This year I wanted to get back to running both portions so I’m thankful I’ve been able to stay healthy.
Whenever I have a race coming up, I check the forecast like a hawk. Pretty natural thing to do I think. It was pretty chilly that week in L.A. so I was expecting a chilly race morning. I wasn’t expecting a chilly rainy race morning. It only rains about 5 days out of the year (highly exaggerated) in L.A. and one of those days just so happened to have been on that day.
Starting to finish. Whuh?
Donde esta Santa Claus? Right here.
Cold, but smiling during the 10k run.
The rain was manageable during the 10k portion. It wasn’t a heavy downpour at all; just a light rain drizzle. After I finished with the first run, I crossed the finish line and immediately tried to find a little bit of shelter from the elements. I had a good 35 minutes or so until the start of the 5k and I was quickly getting very cold, very fast. I huddled under the medical tent along with several other people who had the same idea and waited for my sister to finish the 10k.
View from under the medical tent.
Once I saw my sister cross the finish line, I ran out to find her and took her to the medical tent and we continued to wait just a little longer for the start of the 5k. At this point the rain really picked up and was coming down much harder. When they announced the 5k was starting I gave my sister my phone and iPod. There was no way I was going to be able to run with them without them getting drenched — the rain was really coming down at this point. I couldn’t have been happier that I only had a 5k left to do. I’m not much of a run-in-heavy-rain kind of runner seeing that it hardly rains in L.A. at all. I just don’t like squishy socks.I crossed the finish line for the second time and after grabbing a banana, I took off running towards the car. My sister was already waiting for me there as she didn’t run the 5k. It was so cold that all I kept thinking about was dry clothes and hot coffee and that’s exactly what I got afterwards! Yay!!
Hot Almond Latte from Peet’s. Yummy!!
The Santa Monica-Venice Christmas Run marked Day 10 of the Runner’s World Holiday Running Streak and here is how the rest of the week went:
Day 11: 4.06 miles
I seriously thought I may be a little sore from yesterday races but I wasn’t. The rain was over. The temperature was cool. The sun was shining. And as Forrest Gump says “I just felt like running.”
Day 12: 1.09 miles
In my building’s parking garage. Yes. I ran circles in my building’s parking garage. Had to get a little creative today.
Day 13: 1.52 miles
This run is a blur.
Day 14: 3.4 miles
Treadmill time! I’m so thankful for the treadmill.
Day 15: 1.02 miles
In my building’s parking garage. Again. I’ll chalk it up to — I was tired and woke up late and this was my option. I took it and got my mile done. I just gotta do what I gotta do.
Day 16: 2.27 miles
This morning was a mental struggle for me because I knew today was going to start a very exhausting 48 hours for me. I was going to have a very early morning and a very late night followed by a very early morning and a very late night again followed by an early morning. I probably should have not woke up so early and ran in my garage again but there is only so much garage running I can do. 🙂
And the holiday running streak continues!
Thank you and Happy Running!
