When our friend Matt from Athlete IQ asked me if I was interested in running this race, I thought it would be a fun time and a good way to get in another longish run for my marathon on June 19 & a second birthday race :). Athlete IQ and Paul Jesse from Off Road Pursuits gave me an entry to the race.
This was the 5th year for the SoCal Wine Country Women’s Half & 5k. Paul Jesse is the race director and he is a fellow Orange Mud Ambassador, local San Diego runner and race director for the San Diego 50 mile & trail marathon that we did back in January.
A few days before the race Paul asked Sean if he could help volunteer because someone backed out so we headed up near Temecula to Vail Lake early so we could help out at packet pick-up. Temecula is about 70-80 minutes from us so we would need to leave around 4:30a to get there by 5:45a to help out.
The day before I had a few extra bottles of juice and tried to hydrate/eat the best I could. I headed to bed at a decent hour after posting my flat Jenny photo to be up by 3:45a to get ready.
On the way to the race, I ate a container of instant oatmeal and drank some water. We made it there by 5:45a and immediately headed over to see where they needed us. I got my bib first and then helped Sean & Carrie Jesse hand out bibs and race shirts until it was time for our race to start.
The half marathon started at 7:00a and it was mandatory to pick up your bib before 6:45a. We all gathered around for a quick briefing and then we off.
From step one my legs were not happy. I was having a lot of issues with pain in the glutes and hamstrings. I kept waiting to warm up and have the discomfort go away.
The weather was a bit humid and very overcast. While I didn’t have the best of races, the course was beautiful. There were a lot of little hills but it was a very runable course. I kept thinking that Sean would love these trails.
After a few miles I would start hiking the hills and then running the downhill & flats as much as I could.
There were a three aid stations on course we hit twice. I remember joking with Scott Mills (SD 100 Race Director) that I needed new legs when he asked me what I needed at mile 6.
After a few miles heading back the way we came, we eventually hit the lake and were treated to some amazing views. I ran as much of the downhill as I could before we hit a steep uphill to an aid station, which I hiked up.
I finished strong and crossed the line in 2:41, which for a trail half and the fact that my legs were just shot from mile 1, I was pretty happy to just finish in a decent time.
I came up to the finish line, saw Sean and was like uh, where’s the camera lol. He ran over and grabbed it so he could get a few shots of me crossing the finish.
He then gave my medal, which our friend Eric made, which is super cool.
I got changed, enjoyed some orange slices & a half of a subway sandwich and then helped Sean hand out medals and wine glasses.
Swag: An awesome purple T-shirt, medal, wine glass, post race food & wine sample.
Medal: From Elevation Culture
Course: A challenging but runable course around Vail Lake
Price: It was $90 for the half marathon and I don’t recall the price of the 5k
Photos: They had a photographer on course and at the finish line. And they offered a code for one free photo.
All in all it was a great time and I think that Paul and Carrie did a great job putting it on. I would definitely check this one out again, preferably with fresher legs ;).
