Since Solvang wasn't too far away compared to my recent road trip up to Monterey, I didn't start my drive until after putting in a couple of hours of work from home. I arrived at Buellton at just before 12:30 pm. I pulled into the McDonald's parking lot as I had planned to get something cheap for lunch. There was not one good deal on the mobile app! For me, McDonald's just was not worth it if I'm having to pay full price. Instead I decided to drive over to the nearby Starbucks to get a bite to eat. On the mobile app, I ordered a grande vanilla sweet cream nitro cold brew and a turkey, provolone, pesto on ciabatta sandwich.
Grande vanilla sweet cream nitro cold brew and turkey, provolone, pesto on ciabatta
After finishing my lunch, I hopped back in the car and drove into Solvang. I found street parking on Oak St near 1st St and walked over to Solvang Park to pick up my race packet. After getting my bib, race shirt, and some free samples, I took a picture with Hans Christian Andersen and used the park restroom before heading back to my car.
Race shirt
Race swag
Hans Christian Andersen
I then drove over to WorldMark Solvang to see if my unit was ready for me to check in a few hours early. Fortunately, it was. I was assigned to unit #1206 and given a parking pass to display in my car. This was only my second time staying at this property and I very much liked that both times, they did not pester me to attend an owner update. I seriously hope that they keep it that way.
WorldMark Solvang
View from balcony
I vegged out in my room until about 4:30 pm before I went out to get dinner. I decided to check out Ramen Kotori. Sure it was kind of weird to eat Japanese food in a Danish town in California, but I gave it a shot. I placed my order at the restaurant window/door and paid for my food before finding an open table outside. Once my food was ready, an employee brought it out to me. My order was for the shoyu ramen with pork shoulder and gyoza. It was a surprisingly good bowl of ramen! Even the gyoza wasn't bad. I was definitely glad that I decided to come here! Here's their story on their website.
Solvang Windmill
Ramen Kotori
Shoyu ramen with pork shoulder and gyoza
On the walk back to my room, I did a little bit of window shopping and came across my favorite Disney character, Stitch! Back at my room, it was the usual routine. I laid out my flat runner, took a shower, and then watched some WWE Friday Night SmackDown before calling it a night.
Romero Britto Disney's Stitch Figurine
Flat runner
Saturday 5/11
I got ready and left my room at just a little after 6 am. The morning air wasn't too chilly, but I decided to warm up a bit and jog over to the starting line next to Solvang Elementary School. Once I had reached the corner of Atterdag Rd and Mission Dr, I slowed to a walk. While waiting for the 7 am start, I ended up chatting with Bob Morris of A Snail's Pace. I met him at the Rose Bowl Half Marathon earlier this year to pick up my age-group award for the SoCal USTAF Grand Prix Series. My friend Almi was pacing the 2 hour group for them in this race.
Almi
Start line
Having run this race once before, I was better prepared for this particular race course. About 2/3 of a mile into the race, there was a short steep climb. I tried to stay out of the way for faster runners to run on by. For the next 5 or so miles, it would be a steady climb up to Los Olivos. I kept those miles at just under 9 minutes per mile. I ignored with other runners were doing as I knew to save my legs for the upcoming Corkscrew Hill at just after the 10k mark. It was slow going up that winding hill, but I was able to get over it without having to take a walk break. I tried to make up some time in the next 4 miles as most of that stretch was downhill. I had to make sure not to overdo it as my lower back and hips were still having a hard time handling downhills. I was very close to running on empty as I covered the incline during mile 12. Then those tiny rollers along Chalk Hill Rd really zapped whatever little remaining pep out of legs. I did what could to keep grinding, but runners that I had passed earlier were able to return the favor leading up to the turn for the final stretch.
Finish line video
Finish: 1:53:07
Click here for my Garmin data.
This year, I was ready for the Corkscrew Hill at around the halfway point. However, I had totally forgotten about those late rollers in the last 2 miles. While I never did take any walk breaks, my pace slowed way down during those last few climbs. For a rather hilly course, I was quite pleased with how my legs handled those tough climbs. I had beaten my only other previous time (2:00:19) by 7 minutes and 12 seconds.
After receiving my finisher medal, a bag of post race goodies, and a flower, I waited at the final stretch at just before the finish line to get a pic of my friend. Unfortunately, I had been sweating so much that my phone was too wet and temporarily unusable! Somehow all of the sweat had turned down the brightness of the screen to the lowest possible setting! On the way back to my room, I took a medal picture with the iconic windmill in the background.
Finisher medal
Post race goodies
Finisher medal at Windmill
Eventually, I made my way back to my room. I got cleaned up and vegged out for a couple of hours. At about 11:45 am, I went out to get lunch. I made my way over to the Copenhagen Sausage Garden. I got in line and placed my order for the 3 sausage sampler and some German potato salad. My choices for the sausages were bockwurst, currywurst, and bratwurst. I guess I went down the German route for lunch. It was picnic style seating where everyone was trying to get a table underneath some shade. Since I was by myself, I decided to just stand off to the side until my food was brought out before finding a table. While I waited, I got some mustard, curry ketchup, and sauerkraut for my sausages. Fortunately, I was able to find a spot underneath some shade. For a Danish restaurant, they had some pretty solid German food!
Sauerkraut
Sauces
3 sausage sampler (bockwurst, currywurst, bratwurst) and German potato salad
Later that evening for dinner, I drove over to The Hitching Post II, to reward myself with a nice delicious steak. Last time, they were able to accommodate me without having a reservation. For this trip, I had made a reservation for 5 pm just in case. After being seated, I ordered a 10 oz New York steak, medium rare, with a baked potato. I got the accompaniment salad with blue cheese.
Salad with blue cheese
10 oz New York steak and baked potato
Sunday 5/12
Sleeping on a lumpy Murphy bed started taking its toll as my lower back was feeling pretty sore. I'm sure running a half marathon didn't help. I got ready and checked out at about 7:45 am. After dropping off the card keys at the front desk, I hopped in the car for the drive home. Per the onboard navigation, I headed east on Mission Dr (highway 246) which turned into San Marcos Pass Rd (highway 154). About 3/4th of the way to Santa Barbara, the fog that had rolled inland was quite thick. I pulled into the Five Points Shopping Center at about 8:30 am to charge the car at the Tesla Supercharger. Per the usual, I walked over to the Starbucks to get some coffee while I waited for the car to finish charging. I noticed that the lower back had really tightened up on the drive over. Thankfully, I did not come across another homeless person looking for a handout. On the mobile app, I ordered a grande blonde vanilla latte. After finishing my drink, I used their restroom before heading back to the car. The remainder of the drive took about 2 hours to cover.
Tesla Supercharger Five Points, Santa Barbara, CA
Grande blonde vanilla latte
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