I ran the Camarillo Half Marathon this Sunday and have a quick race recap with images for ya. LMK in case you ran it too – my watch outcomes had been just a little off and I’m curious if different runners had that have. And I did a fast 30 second video recap on Instagram @RunEatRepeat and TikTok @RunEatRepeat – comply with me there for extra.
What I Wore to the Half Marathon
The night time earlier than the race I laid out my ‘Flat Runner’ to make sure I had all the pieces I wished to put on and/or take to the half marathon. I extremely suggest you do that whether or not it’s your first half marathon otherwise you’ve run 1 billion. I ended up going with one other pair of sneakers after realizing these had too many miles on them. Time for brand new trainers! I’ll hyperlink to all my favourite operating gear beneath.
My Flat Runner Half Marathon Gear:
Pre-Race Gas
I went with one thing new for PRE-RACE vitamin however I’ve had this combo earlier than lengthy runs, so I knew this works for my physique. I normally do banana with almond butter or oatmeal.
My alarm went off at 4am and I acquired prepared quick since all the pieces was laid out. The race was in Camarillo, CA which is north of Los Angeles and about an hour’s drive away (that’s an hour at 5am on a Sunday morning – not LA visitors).
Camarillo Half Marathon Race Recap
I’ve run the total marathon at Camarillo earlier than (I feel 2 instances) however nothing regarded acquainted – so I used to be tremendous confused at first. I believed I would’ve had this race confused with one other one?? However it seems they fully modified the course AND the Begin / End line location. The Begin and End line at the moment are in a brand new park which is nicer than the earlier location.
The race course was once on the streets across the space. It was fully FLAT and a lil boring as a result of it wasn’t developed so we ran on asphalt alongside farm land and empty tons for a majority of the time. However it was so FLAT so I didn’t thoughts.
Nicely, their web site nonetheless says the course is flat – however any person lied to us a number of instances, nevertheless it’s nothing of the kind (said as New York on Celebrity Big Brother, which I didn’t watch however somebody shared this clip and it’s all the pieces).
Anyway.
The brand new course is all on the bike path – 2 loops for the half marathon and 4 loops for the total marathon. The Mile Marker indicators had been onerous to learn generally since you couldn’t inform which means they had been presupposed to be going through. And the trail has a number of hills and underpasses (that cross underneath main streets – however you find yourself having to run down and UP each a number of instances with a multi loop course).
Deliver Your Personal Bottle
They’d it on the web site however I forgot that this race is now cup-less = they don’t have cups on the assist stations so you need to deliver your individual water bottle. They had been promoting small versatile cups for 2 {dollars} at bib pick-up however I didn’t assume I wanted it. I thought of operating with out something and simply not ingesting for the whole race. In coaching runs I can run 10 miles with out water or electrolytes so I believed I might attempt to lengthen that for 3 extra miles.
Fortunately… I noticed it was HOT and dry and I ought to take one thing simply in case. (I’m so completely happy I didn’t run with out something to for hydration – I wanted it.)
So, I made a decision to take the water bottle I full of Nuun to drink earlier than the race – and make it work.
Sadly, it didn’t match very effectively into my operating belt and was simply tall sufficient to mess with my arm swing. I might do the go ol’ ‘Nips, Hips and Chips’ correct kind arm swing as a result of my arm would hit the bottle so I needed to maintain it out a bit. But when it’s an ungainly arm swing OR feeling so thirsty I’d drink gutter water – I’m very completely happy I ran with it.
Half Marathon Begin Line
The race was tremendous small and began on time. Parking was straightforward. There have been public restrooms close to the Begin/End. I didn’t see any porta potties however I by no means noticed the strains for the park restrooms get actually lengthy. There was a Full Marathon, Half, 10K and 5K – with staggered begin instances in order that most likely helped to keep away from crowding.
Alongside the course the help stations had large dispensers – 1 with Gatorade and 4 with water. There was no different gas like gels, chews or fruit handed out on the course (for the Full Marathon you’d should deliver gas – I’m undecided if that was famous on their website).
Because it was so sizzling and I used to be feeling depleted I made a decision to cease at an assist station on my 2nd loop of the course (I feel round mile 6, nevertheless it was onerous to inform). I needed to ask which one was water vs. electrolytes and how one can work the dispenser. I feel lots of people had stopped earlier than that time so he most likely gave the run down loads in the course of the first loop.
It’s not sophisticated, however the dispensers labored by stepping on pedal on the ground… straight underneath the nozzle. So, in case your bottle isn’t completely underneath the spout –> it’s completely positioned to dump gatorade in your foot. Which is what occurred to me each instances I finished to get hydration. I didn’t need my water bottle to the touch the spout (howdy germs!) and it was onerous to see precisely the place to put it. Plus, I used to be in a tiny little bit of a rush as I WAS RUNNING A HALF MARATHON.
I principally thought it was humorous, but when I used to be making an attempt to PR or qualify for the Boston Marathon – I’d’ve been a lil aggravated.
I didn’t take any images in the course of the race and didn’t see any race photographers so these are all simply Earlier than and After (there wasn’t something to see because it was on a typical bike path).
Camarillo Half Marathon Race and End
I didn’t have a look at my watch in the course of the race (not even one time – I do know it’s onerous for some folks to think about, however that simply means you don’t know how one can keep away from your issues as a lot as I do). After I run a marathon or half with no aim (just like utilizing it as a coaching long term)… I normally let myself heat up for the primary 3 miles and verify in with how I really feel.
If I really feel good –> I push myself and attempt to run at tempo tempo for some time till I resolve if I can velocity up for the previous couple of miles.
If I really feel okay –> I give myself one other 3 miles to get within the zone and see if I can choose it up on the midway level. That may imply unfavourable splits and I’d be happy with that.
If I really feel not good –> I deal with effort degree and kind. If attainable I run at an effort that’s a lil sooner than my straightforward tempo. I additionally deal with sustaining good operating kind as a result of that will get sloppy after I’m fading.
If I really feel dangerous –> I pray and simply deal with ending.
After 3 miles I felt like I used to be slower than I needs to be for a half, however I didn’t really feel ok to choose up the tempo. Because it was a small race on a loop – I didn’t need to move anybody in entrance of me as a result of I didn’t really feel robust sufficient to truly create any distance between us.
My coronary heart charge and energy degree felt loads greater than they need to be given the tempo I estimated I used to be operating. <– That’s why I didn’t verify my watch. I knew I used to be dragging based mostly on how I felt. And I knew I couldn’t run sooner at that time so studying my tempo would simply make me really feel dangerous. So – as a substitute of taking a look at my watch and getting discouraged… I simply didn’t. It’s a lil trick I realized after I broke my foot and began to run once more.
I noticed a runner man in entrance of me who I believed regarded skilled and tried to stick with him. I misplaced him after I stopped for electrolytes, however stored him in my sight for many of the race.
Camarillo Half Marathon End Time:
This course was brief, however you by no means run precisely 13.1 miles throughout a half marathon. More often than not you run longer as a result of it’s onerous to run excellent tangents. It’s not widespread, however I’ve run a number of races the place the gap is lower than what it’s presupposed to be. So, at first I didn’t assume something about it – however after I drank some water and sat down my mind began working once more and I used to be shocked it was that brief (I had it at 12.67 miles with a time of 1:54:56).
And as I used to be penning this submit I went to verify the race outcomes they usually don’t have my end time?? It seems to be like a variety of the half marathon outcomes are lacking so hopefully it’s simply an error that they’re working to repair. I reached out to the race organizer to ask about it and can replace this as I discover out extra. (Should you ran the Camarillo Full, Half Marathon, 10K or 5K and your race outcomes are mistaken or lacking – let me know. I’m curious what precipitated the error – the bibs, timing mat, web site, different??)
Total: It was sizzling and never flat, however I’m completely happy I did it. I used to be dragging my toes to submit this race recap hoping that the outcomes checklist could be up to date so I didn’t have to say it as I do know it’s been actually onerous for small native races to remain afloat after covid (a variety of race organizations closed all collectively so I need to assist those which might be nonetheless round). So, I’m giving them the advantage of the doubt that it was a random glitch and might be mounted quickly.
Hold Going with these:
