Zoom Castle Rock 5K Run + Breakfast at Sunrise Bistro
So my 5K turned out to be a lot little bit different than expected.
The race was held at Castle Rock Park in Walnut Creek which is about a 45-minute drive from home so I picked up our bibs Friday night to save some time in the morning. After the alarm went off around 6:30am, I rolled out of bed and ate a banana with some almond butter and then washed it down with coconut water.
I usually buy O.N.E. coconut water (I love the mango and the pink guava flavor) but I thought I would change things up and try a new brand/flavor. I didn’t like this one at all but I drank it anyway to make sure I was well hydrated.
The 5K started at 8:10am and we made it there with about 10 minutes to spare. As we started walking towards the start of the race, we had to avoid stepping in horse manure that was scattered everywhere along the way.
After noticing that the park was in a rural area surrounded by plenty of hills, it didn’t take long for either of us to realize that I had actually signed us up for a trail run.
Looking back, I vaguely remember seeing that on the website but I had somehow managed to completely block it out of my mind the entire time I was training. As a matter of fact, my neighborhood is full of hills that I had been intentionally avoiding on my runs for the past five weeks. Woops.
Needless to say, it was more challenging than I had prepared for and my shoes are filthy but I’m still happy that I managed to stay within a 9-minute pace the whole time.
When I crossed the finish line, my Garmin read 29:23 and said that I had actually gone 3.3 miles.
I’m not sure where I placed but they started announcing the first ones to finish and the fastest time for the women was a 12 year old! There were actually quite a few youngins flying by me during the race and I wanted to tell them to go get a job and then see how fast they run. Haha…only kidding. Honestly, it was great to see them outside being active.
Brandon’s training was completely thrown off due to a cold that lasted almost a week and a half so he finished a little bit after me. Regardless of place, we both finished and it felt great.
After knocking out the run, we went to one of our favorite breakfast places in Walnut Creek called Sunrise Bistro.
It was a beautiful morning so we sat outside on the patio and I treated myself to a mimosa. {happy dance}
While it seemed like a great idea (I love mimosas), the headache that followed for the next 4-5 hours proved me wrong.
I also ordered the veggie scramble with breakfast potatoes and a whole grain yogurt pancake on the side.
You see that big juicy cherry right there? Man, was that good. Actually, all of it was really good and it hit the spot.
Once we were refueled, we stopped by the farmers market to pick up a few things.
I was really impressed with the size of their farmers market and the large selection of certified organic produce they had.
One more reason to love Walnut Creek!
Then it was home to shower and get to work in the kitchen; I really wanted to take a nap but I worked through it and cranked out a few recipes. We did relax with a movie later in the evening but it turned out to be a dud and not worth mentioning.
Overall, it was a fun and productive weekend. From now, I’ll start training for my 10K in October which I will have to make sure isn’t also a trail run. If so, I better start hitting the hills!
Have you ever done a trail run?
What’s your favorite way to treat yourself after a run or workout?
Good job! :)
I know what you mean about the mimosa – I’m not a big fan of day drinking because although it may seem like a great idea, it can wind up making me headachy and lazy the rest of the day. Not cool!
As far as my favorite way to treat myself, I loveeee getting a massage when my whole body is achy from working out.
I know- it happens to me every time I drink early in the day but I have such a hard time resisting mimosas!
A massage sounds like the perfect way to treat yourself. I’ll keep that in mind for my 10k! ;)
Great job on your 5k! Your time is great for a trail run, those take much more out of you than a nice flat pavement :). Bummer about the mimosa headache, it looks delicious!
Awesome job on the 5k! I love all the beautiful pictures you captured of the course. You are such a great photographer! I could learn a few things from you! Also, your eats on race day look amazing. Those cherries on the pancake are mouth-watering!
Thanks Jillienne! I don’t have any special skills with the camera, it was just that pretty there. Northern California makes me look good! :)
Great job lady!! Impressive time especially considering you hadn’t trained for a trail run. I would have to agree that pancakes are the only way to go after a race or any run for that matter :)
Nicely done on the 5k! I’m going to start yelling, “get a job!” at the young runners too. HAHA. Trail runs are no joke – they’re SO HARD!
Post run, I love making an avocado & cheese omelette. SO GOOD. Or sushi is always incredibly satisfying. Oddly enough, I don’t want sweet foods after running – I’m all about the salt!
This is pretty darn good since you hadn’t prepared for this time of run. Great job Sarah! I’ve never done a trail run before, but it sounds fun! That sounds like the most perfect breakfast to treat yourself to after a run!
You did a fantastic job lady, especially considering that the trail aspect of it caught you off guard! Usually any sort of long run that I do happens soon after I wake up, so I love following a long run with an awesome breakfast – which you seem to have down pretty well ;-) Pancakes seem like a pretty fabulous option!
That’s too funny that you “accidentally” signed up for a trail run. Glad things worked out well in the end, though! I wish I could get into trail running–but I’m so uncoordinated that I’d probably just be slipping and falling and twisting things (ahem, ankles) the entire time…which would just be oodles of fun.
Trail runs are HARD. good for you! your time is fantastic! and breakfast looks very yummy :) mimosa headaches are never fun though. my favorite treat after a workout is froyo :)
Man, I have got to get on board with the coconut water thing.. That sounds like it’d be so yummy with the flavors!
GREAT job on your 5K!!!!! That’s amazing that in spite of all the obstacles you killed it and had a great pace!!! Love it! :)
I hear ya on the headache + mimosa thing.. So sorry! I wish I had a great farmer’s market to go to like that… Looks awesome!
Thanks so much Meg!
Actually, a lot of the coconut water I have tried isn’t very good! I don’t want you to hate it and then think I’m crazy, haha. But I do think it helps with hydration. I feel much more energized when I drink it before a workout.
Congratulations, you did it. :) Great time too. I cant wait for mine. That mimosa and that brunch looks amazing. Yay, so exciting.
Great job on your 5k!! Sounds like you had a great, steady pace which is awesome! I would have been shocked to find out I was doing a trail run too… in fact, I better check to see exactly what my half marathon is! It actually might be a trail run because I know part of it is through the woods and stuff… better check into that!
Whole grain yogurt pancakes?! I really want to try one of those!
Oh and good luck training for your 10k! I have a 10k in October too. :)
I’ve never done a trail run, but I did register for one 2 years ago, and then they cancelled it on me! I was SO bummed because it was actually before my very first half marathon, and I loved that I (thought I) was going to run a smaller race prior to the half. They fooled me!
Great job on the 5K! Even if it was different from what you originally thought it would be (I guess that’s what happens when you sign up accidentally for the wrong thing ;) )…at least you made the most out of it and still did it!
You did amazing!
Ah, love all that produce! That’s what makes me so excited about Farmer’s markets.
Great job on your race! I love drinking smoothies after I run, usually something with chocolate and peanut butter!
Yum, I love mimosas! I did my first triathlon this summer and the run portion was all on trails which I wasn’t aware of! If I knew, I wouldve definitely practiced on trails more!
I love trail races, but it is hard to meet a goal time or pace since the terrain can be so unpredictable! You also have to pay more attention so you don’t roll an ankle or trip and fall. Way to go on running so fast! After a hard race, I love to treat myself to a healthy and delicious meal followed by a nap. I always sleep so well after an intense workout, and it is such a rare treat these days!
I have never run a trail run but I would love to! You had some awesome views. Good job!
The way you signed up for that race is my favorite way – without really knowing what to expect. I find that I do so much better when I haven’t clued myself in for what’s in store. And congrats on your awesome pace! I also do a happy dance when drinking mimosas and I’m super bummed about your headache! Dehydration maybe? Glad to hear your man is feeling much better and can’t wait to see all these recipes you were working on!
That’s an awesome time for a trail run with little trail training :) You rocked it. The pictures of the area look so gorgeous. Loving your photography. Trail races are fun, I hope to do more next year once I am done with the marathon. I did a 1/2 marathon one (well, walked it) and was amazed how how many people flew by down the hills. Insane terrain etc.
I like celebrating with a big breakfast and a mimosa too, but after longer races i’d prefer to ice bath and shower before food.
Thanks Sonia! It was a lot of fun, even with all of the hills!
I’ve never tried an ice bath but I may want to now that I’ll be doing longer runs. It sounds like it might hurt a little!
Trail races are so hard! I did a few last summer… and didn’t sign up for them again this year, hah. Impressed with your pace! At least it looks like it was very scenic!
Nice job on the 5K! You look so cute! (I LOVE mimosas but headaches are no fun!)
Congrats on such a great time! I’m still fairly new to running but I just did a mini-trail run last week for the first time. It was a combination trail/road run and man was I sore! Great way to mix things up though!
Congrats to both you and Brandon for finishing the run! I would have probably had a little nervous panic when I realized the run wasn’t what I had been preparing for. Looks like you were able to enjoy a great breakfast and farmers market trip after, I love going to the farmers market!
Congrats on completing the run in good time even though it was a trail run! I think mimosas are the perfect way to celebrate after a race! Your photos are gorgeous! Btw, I nominated you for a Sunshine award because your posts and positive attitude brighten my day!
Aw, that was so sweet of you! Thank you! :)
What! I’m so proud of you, you beat your goal! Plus, you still managed to look perfect after the race. I look like a hot mess even after two miles. :)
I usually run in the mornings so I usually catch up on blogs while eating my post workout meal.
Mimosa hangovers are the WORST!! Have you ever done bottomless mimosas? It’s pretty much the best thing ever quickly followed by the worst experience in your life.
So proud of you! xxxx
Thanks Tara, you’re so sweet! I definitely didn’t look perfect; thankfully the picture was zoomed out.
I’ve never done bottomless mimosas but I’ve drank a couple in a row and I always end up taking a nap because of the headache. Damn bubbly! :)
Well done on the run! I’ve never done a trail run before but it sounds challenging for sure.
I hope you bought some of those sunflowers they are my fav by far! :)
I have been MIA and completely forgot to congratulate you on your 5k! That’s an awesome time, you should be proud! Goodluck with the 10k training!!
Thank you so much Christine! :)