Rock N Roll San Jose Half Marathon

Happy Monday, Ya’ll!  This past weekend I enjoyed a much needed break, and headed to San Jose with two of my girlfriends to run the Rock N Roll San Jose half marathon.  I was super excited to spend quality time with these girls and to run (or in our case mostly walk) the streets of San Jose together making memories and laughing.  A Lot!

I knew going in to the weekend, I wasn’t as prepared physically (or mentally) for the race… as my training hasn’t been up to par.  Life had gotten in the way of my running.  However, I have run the half marathon (13.1 miles) distance multiple times and I knew that I would finish… I just didn’t know my finishing time.

It was a late start time, 8:00 AM, and we could already tell that it was going to be a warm run.  I love the energy and excitement of the runners at the start of a race.  Everyone is in their zone and ready for the race set before them.

Then you have me.  I was already full of my self-doubt, deciding fully that I would walk a lot, choosing to have fun, and struggling with my mental gusto.  Mentally I wasn’t in-the-game.  Physically everything was working fine.  Mentally… I just couldn’t do it.  I didn’t want to do it.  I just wanted to walk and have fun.  So fun (and lots of walking) we did!  Again, so blessed and thankful to have girlfriends who were kind and understanding during the LONG 13.1 miles.

We took a selfie with our big blow up buddy early in the race.  We did a similar photo at the Rock N Roll San Francisco half marathon earlier this year too.  Gotta have fun!

We managed to stop at multiple port-o-potties along the course.  Four I believe.  That is a great thing about this course (and all the Rock N Roll races) is that there is never a shortage of port-o-potties!  While waiting for one of the girls to finish using the loo … I enjoyed doing handstands while we waited.

Another port-o-potty break, we stopped to listen to a band play.  I also enjoyed dancing the jive, sprinkler, and a few other wacky dance moves with this random man.  I think he enjoyed sharing the dance floor with me. Or maybe I was sharing the dance floor with him.

There were many inspirational and move you to tears motivational images and people along the course.  From runners running with missing limbs, having had surgery earlier in the week, running in speedos, running barefoot dressed like Elvis, full on costume wearing runners, or even this veteran who was out there cheering and smiling for all the runners who ran by!

Near the end of the race, not sure of the mileage, the shark mascot from the San Jose Sharks was along the course cheering on the runners.  One for not missing up a fun selfie opportunity, the girls and I took it.  I think he was trying to eat Christina’s head… that or kiss it… or lick the sweat off.

The last mile, Yvonne and Christina were ready to run.  They finished the last mile strong.  I was struggling mentally… but also had a wicked tweak in both my knees (one of my many excuses).  I ran slowly in to the finish.  My unofficial finishing time was 2:49:xx.

The three of us took home loads of hardware from this weekend.  That is a super cool thing about the Rock N Roll Race series events.  Every run earns you a medal.  When you run multiple races, you can earn another medal just for running their event!  This is my second RNR race this year, and I will be receiving a #2 medal soon.

Christina and Yvonne rocked the coast and earned the Cali Combo.  They have run three California Rock N Roll races this year, and earned this sparkly heavy medal!  It was gorgeous… and heavy!

Even though I didn’t make it to San Jose in time to run (complete) the 5K on Saturday morning, the staff was understanding and gifted me the medal and shirt for registering.  If it makes it any better, I did run/walk over 5K on Saturday… just not on the race course.

Upon entering the door at home, all of my boys were full of questions: “Did you win the race!?”  I pulled out my heavy hardware from the weekend and the boys (especially my youngest) thought I was an Olympian the way he was sporting my medals around his neck.  He loves my race medals.

I enjoyed running and rocking and rolling the San Jose half marathon this past weekend.  They put on another great race.  It was a hot one, and they did a great job making sure everyone was comfortable.  They had misters, plenty of water stations, wet sponges, wet towels and the finish and so much more.

Have you run in a Rock N Roll race?
How do you overcome the mental I don’t want to’s during a run/race?
What do you do with your race medals?