Seawheeze 2018 Race Recap

Seawheeze is hands down the best race I've ever run.

It's fun, well organized, well thought out and just head and shoulders above even Disney races.

What makes it so amazing?
1. The energy on the course. So many cheering people and cheer stations. I couldn't stop smiling.
2. The attention to detail. Meet your pacer before the race. Take a rolling class before the race. Get a massage after the race.
Yep, it was awesome.

The lotto
I entered the lotto to get into Seawheeze in January. I'd heard good things about it (everyone raves about it), so I decided to try. And I didn't get in. It's a 10,000 person race and probably 70,000 people want to do it. (And it IS worth the hype.)

Fast forward to June 23 when I get an email that I got in. (Thanks whoever asked for a refund!). And I said YES. It wasn't quite a full training cycle, but close enough and I was already doing 10 miles every Sunday. So I trained for this race and a mile race at the same time. I killed my legs during the hardest week, but I made it to the race. (I just want to say I trained REALLY hard for this race. I upped my mileage. I went from 4 days a week to 5. I started doing group long runs on a HARD route that killed me the first few times. I went up to 14 miles. I did lots of speed and tempo work. I worked hard. Had to ease off towards the end to not get injured. And I had great friends to get me TO the race and help me with pacing and long run company.)

Trip to Vancouver
Thursday
I flew in Thursday for the Saturday race. I picked up my gear drop bag, and chip timer (shoe chip not a bib) and a cool water bottle with a course map on it. There was no race bib, and no race T-shirt. (There is a custom store, so lots of Seawheeze merchandize).

Friday
I got in line around 6 a.m. for the Seawheeze showcase store, where they sell exclusive merchandize.

Line to the showcase store

Showcase store

My haul

Later that day I met the pacers, did a rolling class (awesome) and a shakeout run.

Met my pacers. Eugene was from San Diego and Hollis from New York.

Rolling class. One of my favorite parts of the race weekend.

Shake out run. 2 miles. Fall leaves!

I went to bed super early.

Saturday: Rainy race day

Nike Zoom Fly plus chip timer.

I left the hotel and my shoes were soaked within 4 blocks because it was already raining. I almost went back to the hotel to change into my waterproof Nikes, but realized the chip timer was on my Nike Zoom Flys, so I couldn't change shoes. I went to the convention center, where I decided to stay inside as long as possible to stay warm and dry. I also got there super early to drop off my gear drop bag (filled with warm clothes). I've worked enough races to know that everyone comes at once and that earlier is better for lines and registration. Then I stretched and lurked by the door until the last possible second. (There was a group warmup. I skipped it. The walk from my hotel plus stretching was good enough for me.)

What to wear when racing in 55 degree rainy weather:
My racing shoes, Features socks, Lululemon fast and free crops,
Lululemon arm warmers, Lululemon hat and my Athens Road Runners singlet. 

I finally went outside and got in the area with my pace group: 1:50 and we walked up to the starting line. They sang the Canadian National Anthem. It was beautiful. Then a mindfulness ambassador told us to take a minute to appreciate our bodies and tell us about the native land we were about to run through. His speech was so moving, I almost cried. Yes, thank you body for getting me here!

After that it was race time, I was in the second wave. 1:40 or above was the in the first wave, 2 hours and below in the second wave.

My race goals!

My plan was to stay with the 1:50 paces for 2-3 miles and then take off. I found the pacers and ran with them. (My goal going into this race was 1:50. That's what I trained for. A few weeks before the race people tried to talk me into a faster pace, so I set 1:48 as a stretch goal. My main goal was to finish without having a crying breakdown.)

The first mile of the course was really, really slow. There were so many people to move around. (Looking back, I wonder if I should have started with the 1:40 group to avoid this.) It was way more congested than a Disney race.

Mile 1: 8:44. 20 seconds slow. (It's fine, I'll do a faster mile at the end.)
Mile 2: 8:16, right on pace. I was still moving around people like crazy. (Pacer was reminding people to breathe and shake out the stiffness in their arms.)
Mile 3: 8:19 and I stayed with the pacer. I was a tiny bit nervous about going off on my own. But I did. "Make your move with confidence," the pacer said. And I did.
~26 minutes (I knew I was going to have a good race when I was less out of breath than the pacer)

Mile 4: 8:10
Mile 5: 7:58 (I looked at my watch and realized this was TOO fast so I slowed it down some. But this felt EASY).
Mile 6: 8:12
I hit the halfway point around 54:30. So I knew I'd have to speed up some to hit my 1:48 goal, but I knew I was on pace for 1:50 and it felt awesome.
This part of the race went down a bridge (slight downhill) and then back up it. So you could see the leaders which was awesome, but then I had a hill to climb. it was so gradual I didn't notice it honestly. I was trying to find people to stay with since my pace wasn't that all over the place, but I couldn't find anyone. I did my best to stay with the pack, to not fall behind and not not let people pass me. In general I was moving up in the race. I was still moving around a ton.
And there were a ton of aid stations. I was taking SO MANY gels. And at some point I accidentally poured Nuun into my water bottle, which I later had to pour out since stevia does not agree with my stomach. (Also I ran with my hand bottle for some weird reason.)

Mile 7: 8:27. I was worried about going too fast so I slowed it down too much. Oops
Mile 8: 7:56. And this felt so easy.
Mile 9: 8:21. Speeding up and slowing down. Still going with the pack here.
Now we were running along the sea wall. The path was more narrow. It was still crowded, lots of movement. The mile markers were not in the right place at all. There wasn't as much crowd support at all. Just the grey rainy sky, and the occasional sidewalk river/puddle to avoid.

Mile 10: 8:20 (I didn't realize I was slowing down at this point. Not really watching my watch)
Mile 11: 7:56. Another sub 8 mile. (It feels so easy that I feel like a 1:45 might be in reach.)
Mile 12: 8:18. (Speed up, slow down. Guess I'm not a metronome.) My calf started cramping with 1.5 to go. I told my calf to shut up and tough it out. I knew I could finish. And that I needed to speed up. My plan was to do with last 2 miles fast, but that didn't happen
Mile 13. 7:50. Calf was cramping every minute or so. I was ignoring it. I knew I was close to finishing. I had no idea my cumulative time. But thought I'd hit my goal.
Last .2. My Garmin measured this course long which is not surprising given all the weaving. I felt like I was slogging around barely finishing. 7:16 pace

My final time was 1:48:15. Which is my stretch goal. And almost 7 minutes faster than my last half marathon. I average 8:12 a mile, which was my stretch goal.

Finish line. Way in the distance.

Someone had told me to think of a half as 4 5ks. So if it was 4 5ks: 26:14, 26, 25:24, 25:31. Which is a nice negative split.

I am super proud of how I did. I met my stretch goal. I didn't give up. I didn't cry. I felt strong, like I could do this. It made want to sign up for another half to get my time down to 1:45. Because those 7:55 miles felt easy.

After the race, we walked up a hill and kept getting race swag: space blanket, sunglasses, hat, more Nuun, boxed brunch. And then Mecca—Feel Better Bay. Can every race have this?

I got my gear drop bag and changed out of my wet clothes (into shorty shorts and a long sleeve and yelped while taking off my shoes. Calf pain!). And then there were free massages, and chiropractors. I really wanted my leg worked on, but didn't have time to wait in line. The line wasn't bad but I had to check out of my hotel soon, so I got on an exercise bike. Then a guy told me about the theraguns. Sold.

Could I have broken 1:48?
I'm honestly not that critical of my performance. It was a 7 minute PR. I did well. I ran hard and didn't give up. I didn't cry. I didn't hit the wall. My calf started cramping and I told it to stop. (Which IS mental toughness.) I willed it to do another mile and a half.

Would I have liked more even splits? Probably—but I went with the flow of the race and didn't have my own pacer. I didn't get left behind. I gradually moved up in the race. Should I have looked at my watch more? I'm not worried.

Notes to myself for next year (because I really do want to go back)
• If I'd know about the first mile congestion, I might have started at the back of the 1:40 wave. It might have helped?
• Volunteer. I did like the volunteer shirts.
• My hotel was too expensive. I would stay someplace else next year.
• And don't do 11 a.m. checkout right after the race. (I asked for a late checkout and they were hesitant. For what I was paying an hour late checkout should have been fine.)
• I would go to the sunset festival if just to shop.
• Try more restaurants. I was way of what I ate before the race, and didn't try new foods until after the race. So maybe more time after the race next year or research clean eating places before I go. (I did really like Freshii).

What I didn't like
• Honestly, I spent too much money on the race. The registration fee is actually a value. it's not much more than normal half marathons and you get a ton of swag. But the airfare, hotel and shopping made this race expensive!! Could I have done it cheaper? If I had gotten in at the normal time (not six months later), I could have gotten a seawheeze rate at the nice hotels. I didn't buy TOO much.
• I got in through the lottery. So I didn't get a pair of shorts. :( I didn't like the design this year, so I'm not too devastated. But Seawheeze did an online pre-sale and the tracker shorts I would have purchased weren't available in the U.S. And I didn't like any shorts in the Seawheeze shop. I didn't like that lotto entries didn't get shorts.
(So if you get in during the lotto, you don't get the perks that people who get in first chance do.)
• There was no bib. Not a deal breaker, but I would have liked a Seawheeze bib. (I heard Lululemon doesn't want anything covering up their clothes or putting holes in their clothes.)
• The rain. It was pretty dreary and rainy the entire time I was there. My luggage was even slightly damp when I got back. I got the authentic experience, and a little rain never hurt anyone. But more sunshine (and fewer puddles) would have been nice.

Overall
The Seawheeze half marathon is amazing. And if you have a chance to run it, you should. I really want to go back for next year.

2017 year in review

I guess 2017 was the year of running.

In 2013 and 2014 I was into trampolines. 2015 was trapeze and barre. 2016 was my year of trying new classes and 2017 was my year of running.

I ran more than 1,000 miles, which I think is amazing.

I joined the Athens Road Runners, I started going to weekly speed work sessions, I made running friends, I did races, I found new places to run. I got faster.

Races: I did 8 races this year. Some of them were awesome. Some of them I would NOT do again (that 4-H race was THE WORST and I never want to race in 44 degrees and windy again).

Favorite race: I’m going to say the Chick Fil-A half the half, because it changed how my whole year went. I did well in that race and it propelled me to keep going, to start doing speed work, to join the Road Runners, to meet new friends, and get involved volunteering at races and working on the Road Runners newsletter. It was a turning point.

Favorite race #2: I also really loved my last race in Florida. It was flat and perfect temperature. I had a fast race and I got to share it with my brother, who I don’t see much.

Favorite gear of 2017
Favorite shoes: Nike Pegasus. I finally went to a running store and got fitted instead of buying what’s cute and on sale. I love running in these shoes. (And they come in so many colors and I can get the old models on sale, so WIN.)
Favorite running clothes: My go to running outfit is a Lululemon sports bra (run stuff your bra is my favorite), a Lululemon or Under Armour tank, and Lululemon fast and free crops (my absolute favorite.)
Run hats: I’m all about run hats and this year I like my Oiselle hat, my Headsweats hat and a Run Georgia hat from the local running store.
I picked up a pair of arm warmers, which I’ve only used twice, which I also like.
Compression socks are a must after a race or long run. Love them.

Favorite place to run: Cook’s trail. Because it’s mostly flat, gorgeous and a nice long run.

Favorite distance: I’ve been running longer and longer this year. I do like an 8 mile long run, Six easy miles are nice too.

This time last year I was running 10-12 miles a week, and maybe had done one six-miler ever. I’ve upped my miles to 25 a week and run 4-5 days a week. I try to do two yoga classes a week.

I KNOW I should lift weights, but it makes my muscles tight and more prone to injury, so that’s something to work on.

Also, there’s now a Lululemon outlet in North Georgia. It’s 90 minutes away. It has a good sized selections. The sale prices vary. Usually you can find a deal. And usually I spend too much money. (I went this week and got 4 sports bras, shorts, a dress shirt, run gloves, and a Sea Wheeze tank top.)

And I found some new run gear: Gone for a Run has awesome run stuff and I have a “Kinda wanna go on a run, kinda wanna take a nap” sweatshirt from Sarah Marie Design studio.

I also volunteered at my first race and want to do more of that next year. And it's really fun to hang out at races (as in taking pictures or supporting friends while not running.)

Lululemon Dawsonville outlet review

I’ve wanted to go to a Lululemon outlet since I knew they existed. I love getting a good price on Lulu.

But until now the closest to my house were Myrtle Beach—6 hour drive and Orlando—11 hour drive.

In August, a Lululemon outlet opened in the North Georgia Premium outlets. It’s a 90 minute drive from my house. I learned about this 2-3 weeks ago. And when I was an hour horth of my house getting my car repaired, I tacked this on the end of my trip.

The store really was a mix between the warehouse sale and a showroom.

Scarf wall. 

• The interior was pretty spartan. It wasn’t warm like my local showroom (with candles and wood floors). But it was functional.
• There was a small men’s section and a TINY kids section. 75% of the store was women’s clothes.
• Clothes were arranged by type: a wall of bras, leggings together, capris together, tanks together, longsleeves together—and arranged by size. 6 together etc. There was a wall of bags and accessories.
• Most of the clothes had their final sale price marked on them. Some of the clothes were MORE on sale: $24 sports bras, $10 off long sleeves, $29 tanks. The educators said they change their sales daily, so I’d go back.

Selection
A vast majority of the stock was items currently on markdown: things that won’t move. (high neck sports bras that most people don’t like, a strappy tank that has poor reviews on the website.)

It was slim pickings for favorites and I spent more than an hour carefully looking through all the racks.
• I had wanted some more Cool Racerbacks. There were a few in 4 in neon orange, but nothing in my size.
• There were NO swiftly longsleeves. I found a short sleeve in 1 color. It might have been the only one in the store.
• As for crops, they were still expensive. I tried on a pair of run inspires from a few years ago. Still $69 so I passed. There were a lot of wunder unders from 2 years ago, some jet crop slims. If you wanted any crops in black, they were only in stock in 12.
• There just wasn’t a lot in my size (a 6). There was a ton of cute stuff in size 12.

I was a tad disappointed in the selection, but that’s probably better for my wallet. Here’s what I got.

• For Matt: tank top $29 and shorts $39 (price online)

• For me, I stocked up on $24 sports bras. I got an energy bra, a floral print invigorate bra, and two light support black bras that I figured I could wear to yoga. I’m always reaching for black yoga bras. (There really weren’t that many bras. Maybe a dozen in my size).
• I got a blue swiftly short sleeve.

• I found a yoga tank for $29 (I was hoping it was a run tank, but it’s not. It's the reveal racerback and it's cute but it rode up A TON during yoga.
• I got a black casual long sleeve, just because it was comfy.

• I eyed the scarves for $24, but didn’t know who I’d buy them for (as a gift)

I wanted some shorts, but there was nothing interesting in my size (again super small selection). Just lots of micro mini tennis skirts. I looked at the crops, but didn’t see anything I was interested in. Lots of previous season dud styles.

I had wanted a yoga mat, but they had one pink super thin mat and a bunch of thin yellow ones. They all looked thinner that I’d like.

I’d go back to the outlet, but I think the key is buying what’s on the sale of the day. Everything else isn’t that great of a value. Unless you’re just looking for an older style. But it was really nice to be able to try so many different styles on.

2016 favorite activewear/ Lululemon

These were my favorite pieces of the year—the things that I wore over and over and brought me JOY to wear. And I want more of that—clothes that I'm happy to put on in the morning, that are comfortable and make me feel like a million bucks. (And less cheap pieces that make me feel lumpy.) *Most of these aren't available anymore, so I'll link if it still is.

Fitting room. Insta love.

Business class on a plane. 

At the office trying to stay warm

1. Lululemon Down for a Run Vest
My absolute favorite piece of activewear for 2016 was my Down for a Run Vest. Because the Lulu educator old me to, I tried the inkwell vest on and LOVED it. I had no intention of buying it. But it was warm, functional and really well cut. It made me look skinny. But I did not want to pay $138 for it. So I left the store without it, only to go back a few days later and buy it. I had to have it. And I don't regret the purchase at all. I've lived in the vest since I bought it. I wear it every weekend. To work when I can get away with it. It's a great piece of clothing. It's not bulky like other vests. And it has all sorts of pockets, to stash my keys so I don't need to carry a purse. It's GREAT for traveling because it has so many pockets. This was a lifesaver for me. I bought another vest in purple, and I'd buy more if I could find more

Work clothes
This year I tried to wear Lululemon to work as much as I could and I got some great pieces

2. &Go Where-To Dress
I have this dress in black and blue. It is SO COMFORTABLE. I always get compliments when I wear the black one. It's a T-shirt dress I wear to work. When it's cooler I wear it with black tights and a black sweater. I have a boyish figure—no curves, so this style works for me. It's probably not for everyone. The blue one isn't as dressy, so I wear it on weekends.

3. &GO Til Dawn dress
Again I have this in black and a blue print. It's a fit and flare dress which looks AMAZING ON ME. I always gets compliments when I wear it. It's looks so chic. Super dressy for work. I wear the black one with a black blazer. I wear the printed one with a navy blazer and look like a boss. These dresses are well made, they have pockets, and are super comfy. In the summer, I wear these dresses once a week, since I love them so much.

4. City Trek Trouser Ponte
These are trouser pants made of a stretchy material. They're soft and comfortable and completely great for work. My one gripe is they run a little big. The 6 I have stretched out. So I got a pair of 4's in the blue. I wear these to work all the time.

After a race. Too tired to straighten my leg.

5. Lululemon Pace Rival Crop in Hounds Camo Emperor Blue Black
These have been my go-to Saturday running crop. I like the way they feel. They have plenty of pockets. They don't REALLY show sweat. They're just comfortable and I like the colors. I wear black, navy or purple tanks with this. They're also longer than my other crops, which is nice for when it's colder since I don't like to wear tights. Always crops.

I should say the first time I tried the Pace Rival crop on, I tried it on in black and found them sheer. I'd really like another pair of dark Pace Rivals.

6. Sweaty Betty Navasana Reversible 3/4 Yoga Leggings in SunsetInRio Print
I bought these reversible crops for my birthday. I love the colors. I wear these to yoga all the time.

Warehouse sale favorites
I LOVED the Lululemon warehouse sale in Atlanta. It was cool to see so much lulu in one place. The stores are so small. And I spent way too much but got some of my favorite pieces of the year there.

7. Lululemon Race to Place Hat
I picked this blue hat up because it was $4. (I bought a bunch for gifts.) I ended up wearing this hat at least once a week. (I have SO many selfies in this hat!) I hadn't been a hat person until this hat, but I wanted a hat for trail runs (so I don't have to worry about ticks or spiders falling into my hair.) I ended up wearing it on almost all my runs because it keeps sweat from getting in my eyes. It's great for the pool too.  Or just hiding a bad or dirty hair day on a grocery store run. I've since purchased more colors and become a hat person (also great because no one recognizes me when I'm shopping. An introvert's dream! Not having to talk to people I don't want to!)

8. Lululemon Mantra tote bag.
This has become my every day bag.

9. Lululemon Palm Stripe Roll Down Wunder Under Crops
$29. And I wear these once a week to yoga. They're cottony soft and I just like the way they feel.

I took this picture because I had a NEW car
and dirty trail shoes. Haha.

10. Balega run socks.
My favorite socks this year were a pair of Balega Hidden Contour run socks. Can I have five more pair? These are comfortable and have just the right amount of padding and support. They held up well in the wash and I always reached for these when they were clean.

Honorable mention: Athleta longsleeve
Super soft and warm, and I'd buy more if I could find more.


It's probably too early to tell, but I'm loving some recent purchases too

• Lululemon Fast Track Pant
It's sweatpants  that don't look frumpy. They're super comfortable and I've been living in them. GREAT for running errands. I think they are going to be my new weekend pants.

• Sit in Lotus Sweater
Super soft and something that works for work and weekends.

Family road trip. 

• Restless 1/4 zip pullover.
I got this in a  fair isle print in get and have been wear it every weekend.

Lululemon Atlanta Warehouse Sale: Day 3

I headed back to the final day of the Lululemon warehouse sale. The prices had dropped and I wanted know what else I could score. I took my sister. There was a 5-minute line. Not too bad. The sale was loud. And really, really picked over. Maybe a 1/3 of what it had been on Friday. There were noticeably fewer racks and boxes.

Took my sis to the lulu sale. They changed the bags to red bags Saturday.
They weren't giving out the black bags they'd used Friday anymore. 

Bras were marked down to $9 and I really wanted some. I rifled through all the boxes and couldn't find ANY my size. So no sports bras for me.

Also noticeable for the sale.
• There were no bags left. None.
• The accessories section was really depleted. There were no scarves or yoga mats. They did mark the hats down to $4 so I grabbed four (three for gifts). There were hardly any headbands. Only black and tan ones. None of the fun colors from the other day.
• There were almost no shorts left.

Sunday price list

The prices were better for Sunday—but you had to really look for a deal. And I saw items I'd paid more for on Friday—and maybe I should have waited. But the selection was definitely better Friday.

I got some really cool stuff on Sunday, so glad I went (and glad I waited on some of it.)

Sunday buys

• 4 run hats (1 for me, 3 for gifts, $4 each) (Race to pace hat in flashback static)
• Purple towel ($9)
• 2 swim bottoms  ($9 each)
• Skirt, $9 (&go Cityfarer Skirt in dark fuel, currently in WMTM for $89)
• dress shirt, $24 (Day trip blouse) (This had pen marks on it that I didn't notice until after I got it home. They came out with a few minutes of stain remover)
• crops, $29 (Palm Stripe Roll Down Wunder Under Crops)
• Quick change vest, $29
• scuba, $39 (Scuba Hoodie III Flashback Static Tender Violet Black Purple)
• down jacket, $39 (for a $178 jacket!)

I think my favorite from this haul was the skirt (I want to wear it to work immediately) and the hats (so soft!).

Wore this hat to run trails Monday.

The final haul
• Two towels
• Two bikini tops, two bottoms ($9 and $19 each)
• 1 headband
• 1 bag
• 4 hats (3 are gifts)
• 2 shorts (one running, one casual)
• 2 dress pants
• 1 dress shirt
• 1 skirt
• 2 outdoor jackets: one down, one rain
• 4 long sleeve jackets or sweaters (define, scuba, tweed sweater, black half zip)
• 1 pair of crops
• 1 vest
• 1 bodysuit

So after both trips I'm all set for next winter. I got lots of jackets. I definitely got too many long sleeve tops—but I'll wear them. I LOVE the rain jacket.

I could have waited on the towel (-$10), the swim tops ($20 total), the polka dot pants ($20), the bodysuit ($40), which totals $90, which really sucks.  (The bodysuit was on $9 flash sale when I was there Sunday, and I was overcharged $20 on Friday anyway).

I'm super happy with my finds. I got some good pieces I'll be happy to wear.

(And my sister got some Ivivva for my nieces :) Never too early to start them on Lulu).

If I could do it again
• I'd still go first thing Friday. (Going with a friend would have been better, but I couldn't find anyone to come with.) I should have spent another hour looking probably.
• I'd take pictures of the tags
• If I lived closer I would have gone on Saturday, but don't live closer. So I tried to go toward the end of the sale. I think many more things were $9 by the end of the day (If I'd had the patience to hang around for hours.)
• I liked going end of the last day towards the end of the sale. Still some steals to be found.

Now, I'm waiting for the online warehouse sale (which was in August of last year). And wondering in what city the next warehouse sale will be. (I have an airline credit, so I might be crazy enough to fly out if it's someplace cool.)