Even though I knew that they had race morning packet pick-up, I decided to drive out today before lunch to pick up mine. Per the usual for this race, it was located at the Running Center in Redlands. I arrived at about 10:15 am and the whole process took less than 5 minutes. I was assigned a bib number inside the store, then given a long sleeve race shirt and some swag at the table outside.
Race packet pick-up
Don't call me Muffin! :D
Swag
Long sleeve race shirt
Back of race shirt
Sunday 12/7
I got ready and left the house at about 4:30 am. I arrived at the Starbucks that was closest to the race at about 5:15 am. I parked and placed my order for a bacon, gouda & egg sandwich and my usual grande blonde vanilla latte on the mobile app before going inside. I don't normally eat a breakfast sandwich from here before a race, but it was so that I could earn 30 bonus stars. They had just opened at 5 am, so I had the place pretty much to myself. I ate my sandwich there before driving over to the race.
Starbucks
Breakfast
Bonus stars
Just as before, I opted to park in the Citibank parking lot at about 5:30 am. I chilled in my car while I finished off what was left of my coffee. At about 6 am, I walked over to the Civic Center to use one of the portapotties.
Citi Bank parking
Civic Center
A little after 6:30 am, I got my stuff together and finally left the warmth of my car. I started heading over to the starting corral area. Per the usual, I bumped into some familiar faces. I got selfies with them before I started getting ready to run.
Dexter!
Nadia!
The race started promptly at 7 am. Lately, I had been pretty good with not running out too fast in the first mile. However the legs felt nice and strong. I think the right ankle also felt closer to 100% again after rolling it at REVEL Big Bear last month. I decided to just go with it as the pace was feeling rather comfortable. The course was full of rollers and it turned out to be a progression run from miles 3-6. A little after mile 7 was the turnaround point. In my mind, I knew that I was on pace to be under 1:50 if I just run 8:30s on the way back to the finish line. However, I started feeling like my left foot was on the verge of cramping up. I tried to hold it together, but it cramped up as I reached mile 9. I pulled over to walk a bit and hoped that it would subside. It took the next 2 miles or so for me to recover and regroup. At that point, I just wanted to finish. There wasn't any need for me to push the pace. With about a mile left to go, I came across Nadia heading in the other direction to cheer on her runners.
1: 7:49
2: 8:24
3: 8:27
4: 8:13
5: 7:58
6: 7:48
7: 7:52
8: 8:32
9: 8:46
10: 10:02
11: 9:22
12: 8:40
13: 8:40
13.1: 3:03
About 1 mile to go
Finish: 1:53:35
Click here for my Garmin data.
While initially I wasn't too thrilled with my finishing time, I was happy that I had beaten my time from 2 years ago by almost 5 and a half minutes. After receiving my finisher medal and a bottle of water, I got in line to get a photo in front of The Lopers Club Holiday Classic backdrop.
Finisher medal
Post race photo
After that I went inside the fire station to get some post race breakfast. I got some coffee and a muffin. While I was just about done with my muffin, I saw one of my friends in line to get a post race massage. I got a quick selfie with him before heading out. I used one of the portapotties before heading home.
Fire station
Muffin and coffee
Robert
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