Uncategorized | Marathon Goddess

2017 Kona Marathon – Race Recap

2017 Kona Marathon Race Recap Sunday morning June 25th, my first quarter marathon. Yes, I have done hundreds of marathons, but it’s been a while since I ran one and I’ve never done a Quarter Marathon. So, grateful the Kona Marathon Events offers not only a Quarter, but a 5k, Half and Full Marathon. Could I have done the half or the full? Sure. But I really wanted to be there to cheer on the other runners and interview the winners of the half and full. In addition, my training has not been quite up to speed, so this was perfect. The start line is about 1 mile from the host Hotel, the Hilton Waikoloa. I just want to point out that the hotel is fabulous. Here are a few pictures of how amazing it is:

The start line is near the Queens Market Place and there was a shuttle from the hotel to take you to the start. Of course, I woke up late and ended up running to the start line and wasting half my energy. Good job Julie. All I can say is, thank goodness for the UCC Kona Coffee that was waiting for me at the start line. Other than my tardiness it was a magical start to the race. As the sun rose up over the mountains, Miss UCC Kona Coffee was there to add to the beauty and I was there to get it on video and capture all the exciting faces and spirits ready to run. I met a new friend, Megan, who was also running the quarter. She turned out to be quite the speed demon and in my age group 🙂

I also met many friends at the Health & Fitness Fair on Saturday at the Hilton when they stopped by the Project Purple table. So many people have been affected by pancreatic cancer. I was very grateful to be out there doing my part, advocating for a cure and representing the nations largest pancreatic cancer running charity. A huge mahalo to everyone who used the discount code KMGODDESS and especially the Kona Marathon for donating $1,160 to Project Purple. You were the runners who made it possible. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart for that. We are in this together.

We even brought darling Amelia, my Grandbaby to help represent.

It was now time to start the Quarter Marathon. It wasn’t too hot since the race starts nice and early and they have water misters to run through on the race course and I took full advantage of each one. The volunteers were out in force. Very grateful to see their smiling faces and aloha spirit. I bought some new shoes to give me that extra pep, but the only pep seemed to be coming from the UCC coffee I drank before the race. My shoes felt like I was running in snow boots. Good thing I was doing the Quarter. I tried running in the Hooka shoes for a few reasons, one because they were purple and two because I really thought they would be the perfect ones. Yeah, maybe if I want to climb a volcano but not run a fast race. I still ended up 3rd in my Age Group with a 10:20 pace. I will take it, since it was my first Quarter Marathon, that’s an instant PR, right? Don’t answer that. My friend won 3rd FOA and 1st AG. Maybe one day I will too.

The winners of the Half were Christopher Rayder 1:17 and Holly Ballenger with a 1:35. The winners of the Full were Kentaro Mesuda, 2:52 and Bree Wee, 3:08. I caught up with Bree after the race and was so honored to meet her, I could barely ask any questions, I was so nervous, but she was super nice and gracious.

The finish line was beautiful, my husband David and volunteers helped decorate it, complete with flowers, local ferns and love. The finish line food was in abundance as was the aloha spirit of the Big Island of Hawaii.

After the race my husband went back to the hotel to enjoy all it’s beauty, the pools with the family, the waterfalls, did some paddling with the baby and got caught in a wave.

Can’t wait until next year’s 25th Anniversary of the Kona Marathon, June 24, 2018. Not sure how it will top this year, but excited to find out and so should you be. Join me in Hawaii for a “runcation” and use the KMGODDESS coupon code when you register to receive $10 off your Marathon or Half Marathon entry fee or $5 off the Quarter Marathon or 5K. Plus, the Kona Marathon Events will match those amounts in a donation to Project Purple at the end of the event. A hui hou . . . . . see you next June, Julie xo Marathon Goddess

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What I learned at the ASICS LA Marathon: Mental Toughness is Not Enough!!

Who remembers this training tip I posted a week before the marathon? “Extended forecast is in and it’s getting hotter by the minute. Yikes. Your heart rate will be higher so everything will feel more difficult and you will deplete resources quicker, so you need to take in more resources( water, carbs & minerals) and possibly slow down. If water starts to taste bad or you feel nauseous or you’ve gone a long time without water and don’t want it, you are probably sodium depleted and suffering from hyponatremia. This can become a dangerous condition. Get some sodium in you fast Like these salt tabs.They can also help with cramping. On hot days I take one every 30 minutes. You also need a minimum of 4 to 8 ounces of water every 10 to 15 min of running. Stay cool and hydrated. Be prepared and you will have a great race. We Got This!!” But did I listen? Not even close. I commend those of you who did, you probably had a great race. It’s been over 3 years since I’ve “raced” a marathon. For the 52, I was running to finish, without a care in the world about my time. It’s so much fun that way. But at LA, dispite the heat, I thought to myself, “I’m good.” I was wrong. I forgot how much fuel you really need. 1.) I need to consume enough carbs, in a form I can digest. There were a couple gels in a little stretchy zippered pouch I was wearing around my waist. It became impossible to get the gels and mineral pills out of there, while running. On the other hand, I don’t enjoy gels. A different form of carbohydrate is something I need to work on finding, and a different way to carry them. 2.) When it comes to big hills early in a race, I need to take them a tad slower, and to start my race slower. I did not do bad, but there was room for improvement early on during the race. 3.) I need to find some enjoyable way to raise my heart rate way up, during training, for short periods of time (over six minutes), to raise my ability level. I was doing some strong faster runs, at the end of my longer runs and I had a lot of volume, I peaked at over 80 miles in a week. But I was probably slightly fatigued after the long run, and may not have raised my heart rate enough to really make an impact on my VO2 Max levels. I probably had about 125 calories the entire race, when you actually need that or more, per hour. I summoned the mental toughness, I dug deep, but guess what? There was nothing there. As soon as I was out of the VA, my pace slowed from about a 9 min mile to a 10:30, I was done. My only hope was that maybe somehow, someway, David would be waiting for me at the finish line and he was. The silver lining that made me realize that in the end, even though I didn’t qualify for Boston, all that really matters in life, is how much you loved. xo

Running the ASICS LA Marathon? Don’t worry runners, We Got This!! Last minute tips and inspiration for a great race!

Running the ASICS LA Marathon? Don’t worry runners, We Got This!! Last minute tips and inspiration for a great race! With everyone so excited and a bit nervous about the heat this Sunday, I thought I would offer you a bit of support. Here are some tips that can help: 1. Have Fun and enjoy the race! 2. If you’re not having fun, go back to #1, figure out why & fix it(Complete Idiots Guide to Marathon Training) 3. Adjust your pace, respect the heat and simply slow it down a little and enjoy the marathon experience. (from the ASICS LA Marathon) 4. Slow down on 2 hills at miles 4 & 5. If you do, you will have a better race, if you don’t you will screw it up completely. 5. Hydrate- We all know it’s going to be hot, drink water and add electrolytes. You need a minimum of 4 to 8 ounces of water every 10 to 15 min of running. 6. Carbo-Loading- What you eat 2 days before the race will still be in your body. It takes 24-36 hours to fully digest a meal. So, if you want to have a big carbo load dinner with someone, it’s better to do it Friday for a Sunday Race. 7. Fuel- Because of the heat, you will deplete resources quicker, so you need to take in more resources (water,carbs & minerals) and possibly slow down. Salt tabs every 20-30 min work great. 8. Wear sunscreen that doesn’t sting when it gets in your eyes. You’re going to sweat and that can hurt. 9. Stay in the mile you are in, enjoy every step. Be present. You’ll get energy from runners and supporters 10. If you get to a negative patch, say the word “Blessed” to yourself, or something that works for you. Remember what a gift it is to be able to run. 11. Relax, It’s all good. 12. Celebrate your training, you did the work, now it’s just a 26.2 mile celebration. 13. When you cross the finish line, raise your arms up in the air and own it. You are a rock star, victory is yours. Plus it makes for a really cool finish line photo. You can find me Saturday at the expo. I’ll be at the ASICS Booth, near the exit at noon with the ASICS LA Marathon Ambassadors. Would love to meet you. #‎LA30Tweetup I chose the Asics LA Marathon as my favorite big city race as noted in Runners World, with its fantastic course, the ASICS LA Marathon is one of the most exciting races in the country. Enjoy it! Dedications- My dedication for the 2015 ASICS LA Marathon going out to 4 special people, even though my list goes a mile long. Running For: Amy McDonough Vaughan, Lupe Romero-De La Cruz, Elena Crucita Martinez Mendoza. & running WITH Phil Kent & the Hirshberg Training Team | Marathon Training for Pancreatic Research. Please pray for them. Pancreatic Cancer Sucks. You can help by making a donation to the Hirshberg Foundation by going to my website. www.marathongoddess.com If you want to come out and support the runners, come to the Purple People Party, put on by the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Mile 21. Corner of San Vicente and Darlington. We need all the support we can get. Come spray us with water and love. Need some more inspiration, watch Spirit of The Marathon 1 or 2. Both available on ITunes. I love Spirit II, especially that girl who talks a lot. Have a great race everyone. Just go out there, do your best and have fun! We Got This! #ASICS #LAMarathon #LA30 #Celebrate

RUNNER’S WORLD COVER CONTEST

I’ve just entered the Runner’s World Cover Contest. Getting on the cover would help us raise HUGE awareness for pancreatic cancer and all cancers while inspiring others to RUN. And hey, it would be pretty cool to get on the cover. You can vote each day. Please share with your friends and let’s take this opportunity to put a charity runner on the cover of Runners World!! Please vote daily, and you can also sign up for a free trip to New York. Contest runs 7/1/14-8/26/14. When you share with your friends please include this hashtag #RWCoverContest Thank you and We got this! Click on this link to vote: http://covercontest.runnersworld.com/entry/781/rnana5a8chk2gbe8irvpdjck33

Time to Recover!

The Marathon Goddess is tired. Go figure! But seriously What an exciting last 3 weeks it has been. From Boston to Big Sur to Orange County. If I keep this up I can do the 52 again, maybe not. It’s time to take a little time off to recover, rebuild and regenerate. Boston was beyond words, Big Sur was majestic and Orange County was awesome. Oh and let’s not forget about the LA marathon and Modesto just a few weeks prior. My last race experience in Orange County was great. I set out to run a sub 2 half marathon and completed it in 2:04. We said we would eat hills for breakfast, but the hills actually ended up eating me. My good friend Carolina went out and had a PR and so did so many others. I’m told if you want to get faster you need to do this thing called training and cut down on your marathons. Who knew? Well, I guess it’s time to step up to the plate and put the hard work in. It’s been a little over a year since I completed the 52 and I know, it’s time for me to build back up and get faster again. I can feel it in my soul. Most recently I ran in honor of Virginia Heskett and in memory of Larry Conger. Virginia a pancreatic cancer survivor who is fighting like a champ, she completed a 5k last weekend. Wow! Her daughter Shawn just completed her 12th marathon in 12 months in the fight against pancreatic cancer and very fast I might add. Shawn qualified for Boston 5 out of the 12 marathons. I also ran in memory of Larry Conger who passed away on Christmas in 2012 from this dreadful disease. His beautiful wife, daughter and grand daughter drove all the way out from Ventura to see me finish. It was so touching and made our hearts happy. We walked, we talked we hugged about an amazing man who lived life to the fullest. I felt like he was there with us and I wanted to have beer and listen to Elvis with him. I am sure he was smiling from heaven above. At the last minute I was asked to come speak for the We Run Orange County’s Kids (WeROCK). Funny story, it was so last minute I didn’t check dress code and showed up in running clothes and everyone else was in black tie. Cutest kids ever, but I had to go hide. Luckily I was saved and a friend brought me a dress that happened to fit perfectly. It was great to speak to this kids, inspire and see the possibility in their eyes as I told them the story of my 52 marathons, made one marathon seem so much less daunting. Lesson learned, always dress up! I ended up selling and signing a ton of Spirit 2 DVDs and met some of the most supportive parents, coaches and energetic kids you could ever meet. What a group! Truth be told, I had a lot fun before the race and after but seriously during the race I was tired and I’ve been doing too much racing, and not enough training. Go figure. So with the past 3 weeks of thrashing my legs but fulfilling my heart, I’ve decided to take a good 3 weeks off so my body can recover and we can start some serious training for a PR in New York. Yeah! I am playing with the idea of having the LA Marathon 2015 be my 100th marathon, which could mean a PR in NY #85 and 15 more marathons till LA which will mean a slow time, but gratifying since it will be #100. Quantity or quality? We will just have to wait and see. But in the mean time, here are some fun pictures to enjoy. So even though my running performance was not the best, the joy I found in seeing my friends and meeting new ones along the way, made it all ok. Also now that I am running on behalf of Team for Life and the Lazarex Cancer Foundation, it gives me such a gratifying feeling to know that all of the money I raise is going directly to helping all end stage cancer patients have a chance at life by getting them to clinical trials, in the hopes we find a cure now. It doesn’t get much better than that. And as far as my running, well as much as we would love to PR and place all the time, it doesn’t always turn out that way. A lot of people say finishing is winning, well I say just getting to that starting line is winning. Believe me, I know what it takes to get there to and get there healthy. So remember, whether you’re in the front, middle or in the back of the pack, just make sure you are having fun and enjoying the journey, because that my friends is what it’s all about! Next up the Kona marathon on 6/22 and you know what? I may even do the half and that’s ok. Take care of yourself, respect your body and love yourself. Please consider making a donation on behalf of my efforts to the Lazarex Cancer Foundation. So others less fortunate may continue to live a happy, healthy and hopefully cancer free life. It’s about LIVING. We got this!

Running in memory of Larry and meeting Larry’s wife Patti truly made my heart happy 🙂

Shawn Veronese “Marathons for Mom” Finishing her 12th marathon in 12 months with another Boston Qualifier!

The Real Dizzle Red and his brother Ray. Two Rock Star Runners and we all match. Met Red at Modesto and he told me it was his brother and even a little of me that inspired him to run and a PR at OC at that! What a pleasure meeting them both together. Congratulations!!!

A little blurry but beautiful. Linda her daughter and grandaughter all doing the Goddess pose. I’m thinking those sparkles behind us is more than just a sparkle. 🙂

Virginia (Shawn’s Mom) PC Survivor and just completed a 5K. Love this lady right here. A true Champ!!!

Carolina and I in the Jacuzzi recovering and celebrating. She ran a PR 1:51 half. Soon I will be able to keep up with her again. So proud of her!! She is a total Rock Star!

Tim Christoni aka Cheetah! An unbelievable runner, super fast, inspiring, fun and incredibly nice. From a 6 hour marathon to a sub 3? Come on, if he can do it, so can we. One day I will be able to run with him. Give me a year Tim. For now, let me just hold the sign, cause I feel really cool 🙂

Here we are before the race, Carolina and I huddling for warmth inside the Marriott hotel. It was like a party, Smiling and happy. I asked her what we were going to eat for breakfast before the race, she replied: “Hills” and she did. Sadly, the hills ate me for breakfast 🙁

52 Marathons in 52 Weeks

Source:KTLA.com Julie Weiss of Santa Monica is running 52 Marathons in 52 Weeks to honor the memory of her father who died of pancreatic cancer and to raise funds for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Julie will travel to the bay area this weekend to run her 47th race at the Golden Gate Trail Marathon in Rodeo Beach.Her final marathon, #52, will be the LA Marathon on March 17th.
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