CIM for Shavi - Dec 3, 2017 - Running for fun

Some runs can be for fun too, especially when you are not prepared to run the long 26.2 miles and just go out there. Shavi got this done despite no training. No motivation for a short run like that could have been the reason! He did it in 4:15, though his PR is a almost 30 minutes better than this.

One of the best road races in Sacramento where the whole community participate is called CIM! It is organized by SRA (Sacramento Running Association) which is a big part of the community here in Sacramento. This race runs from Folsom very early in the morning and ends at Sacramento downtown, in front of the Capitol. Best aid stations and great support. Most people are involved in this race, either cheering, running, volunteering, crewing, running the full course or the relay. The race is a Boston qualifier and fills up by August. The prices are low initially and keep going higher and higher quickly.

The best part was that W enjoyed cheering daddy and crossing the finish line with him. The fun part was that I dropped W inside the race course from the walls preventing crowds, so that he could run with daddy for little bit but daddy never noticed. Poor W ran behind him as I yelled at him to go after him. A little scared that I might not lose him in the crowd but good thing that my parents were also waiting at the finish line. So, they knew what was going on. After crossing finish, Shavi noticed the little minion running behind him. Such a cute moment!

Urban Cow Half Marathon - my PR - 1:59 - Oct 1, 2017

I could have never this without Shavi running with me. He gave up on his PR while pushing me to get a sub-2 PR. I always wanted a sub-2 hour PR but I was so under-trained that I had given up the hope. My last PR at this race was 2.05 but that time, I was training for the marathon in another two months. Not this year.

Shavi pushed me pretty hard for this, especially in the end 3-4 miles. That was when I was giving up but he did not let me. He kept pouring water on my back and hair which would make me feel better. In the last mile, I thought I would die, but not! I gave my best and got it done with Shavi's literal push in just under 2 hours! I couldn't have been more happier that moment. Little things in life - which make you feel so good about yourself! A feeling of accomplishment.

Urban Cow race is a great race organized by CRRM. Great course with some turns which is not too great but the organization is great. It is a very popular road race in Sacramento which starts and ends at William Land park and goes through Old Sacramento. It has several distances: half marathon, 5K run and walk and relay.

Susan B Anthony 5K - 27:27 minutes - Aug 12, 2017

Not my personal best time but my personal best race. Let me blame lack of sleep the night before as I had got back from a long work week in Atlanta, reaching home after 9pm the night before and a little surgery the weekend before. Oh well, we all have our excuses:) I love this race and that is why I decided to do it, in any circumstance. Even though I do not like running in the heat, this race does have some shady neighborhoods on the course. The course has only one aid station which is enough for a 5K race. I like to carry my water with me, in any case as it gets warm and since I try to beat my record every year, I need water! Organized by Buffalo Chips running club, this is a great race. It is very cheap too and if you wait to register, then they give $5 or something discount on the day of Kaiser Fitness Festival women's only race in Sacramento downtown in June.
The bonus for me for running this race is that my sister and my friend run this race with me. Even though we run at our own paces, it is fun to spend before and after-race time with them!

Western States 100 miles for Shavi - June 24-25, 2017 - 26:09 hours

This was the year with weird weather. Lot of snow on the course and then lot of sun and heat later in the course. Shavi did great in that weather, still finishing 15 mins faster than his last PR. Lot of drop outs that year. Having not trained to run in snow on the trails made it a hard race. He slipped various times but thankfully returned to the finish line safe. He started with his sleeve cuffs on and then went on to a shirt with holes that could let his skin breathe more.

Brandon and Whitney crewed him along with Alicia and Keith. Both the runner ladies were pregnant but still they crewed him in that heat. Brandon and Keith paced Shavi this year.

I saw him at Michigan Bluff and Foresthill with W. Our friend Sandeep and his bro-in-law Rahul traveled all the way from bay area to see Shavi at finish line. They came only for a few minutes all the way. I did not bring Waaris with me this time at the finish line as it would have been quite early to wake him up when he was with A & C and take him all the way to Auburn. Sleepless nights for everyone involved and a whole big crew, endless endurance and training on the runner's part plus the determination and will power - is what a 100-mile race is about.

Canyons 100K for Shavi - April 29, 2017 -15:44 hours

One of the hardest race ever - a Western States 100 miler qualifier - Great timing this year for Shavi. He put in his best this year, training for Western States. This is the longest distance run before the 100 mile race coming up in June. To qualify for Western States, this race needs to be completed in under 18 hours. A real tough course and the heat in the canyons makes this race hard.

This race is one of the best organized races. The race directors do a great job in organizing the race. Shavi has always run this race without help of any crew (or me) and has drop bags ready for himself at the aid stations. The race swag is very cool too. Shavi thinks that the first part of the course is harder than the second part. Foresthill is where the race starts and it is the mid-point of the race as well. Foresthill - swinging bridge - Foresthill - Rucky Chucky - Foresthill. The race doesn't allow pacers if you are running it as a qualifier for WS100. There are multiple distance races in the Canyons Endurance runs: 100K, 50K and 25K.

AR 50 miles for Shavi. Just over 10 hours - April 1, 2017

Another one that Shavi did and does every year as a training run. 10:10 was his time.

Knickerbocker Canyons Trail Run 35K for Shavi - March 25, 2017 - 4:47 hours

Right after his 50km race last weekend, he jumped into a 35K race. Training for Western States cannot be easy at all. He completed it in 4:47 hours which is a great time on those tough trails. Organized by Inside Trail, this is a good race as well.

Ruck-a-Chuck 50K for Shavi - March 18, 2017 - 6:25 hours

Crazy - Another 50 km race in 2 weeks. That is how the training looks like for Western States 100 miles. Crossing the creeks and fighting the cold weather initially, it was a great run for him.

Way Too Cool - Close to PR: 5:57 for Shavi - March 4, 2017

Another Way to Cool 50km race for Shavi. He did great with the timing. Western States 100 miles is the motivation for him. When he gets the ticket for it for racing it in June, he trains well as he takes it easy.

It was a messy muddy run as Sacramento had flooded in January-February.

Fourmidable 50K - Shavi - PR - 6:57 - Feb 18, 2017

After minimal training at the start of the year and after a trip to India in late January, Shavi performed great in this race. This race was a week after landing from India. Despite having just overcome jet lag, he made it through and did great. He did his personal best in this tough race by Single Track Running.