I can do it!

Yay!  I feel like a real runner again!  I was unsure how to approach this race, knowing that I have only been back on my legs for a couple of weeks, and also knowing that I have a full marathon to run in only a couple of months.  I went back and forth on the issue, because I really feel stronger and think that I could push it harder, but also knowing that my body is unaccustomed to the impact.  Luckily, I met a fellow named Matt at the convention I was attending who was shooting for a sub-two-hour half, and I decided to run with him, to help pace him, and to help pace myself.  His previous race time was 2:11, I think.  We started out with our group, Bill Phillip's Transformers, at the very end of the 9,000 runners.  Needless to say, we did a LOT of weaving!  We ran the first couple of miles in about 18 minutes, and then I told him I was going to start taking walk breaks after every five minutes of running.  He said, "Good, because you're kicking my butt!"  I think I worked him pretty hard, but I felt great the entire race, and was able to converse naturally, even though my pace consistently increased throughout the run.  Poor Matt had to break out his inhaler around mile 10, but I dragged him along until the last mile.  We had about 1.4 to go, and 12 minutes to do it in.  I said, "Do you want to get your sub-two, or do you just want to finish?"  He said, "I just want to curl up and die right now...but whatever."  I could tell he was struggling, but we continued along at an 8 minute pace, until the last 0.4 miles, and then I just had to sprint!  I ended up crossing the finish line with my garmin reading 13.2 miles at 2:00:41.  My official chip time was 2:00:38.  Overall, I placed 2520 out of 9229 runners, was 970 out of 5783 women, and placed 229 out of 1186 in my division.  Not too shabby for two weeks of training, methinks!  I know I could have gone faster, but I think I did the right thing.  We DID take a 2.5 minute potty-break, but sometimes running on an empty bladder is SO much better than sticking it out!  Anyway, Matt decided that if he subtracted the potty-break, he still reached his goal of a sub-two...so I think as soon as he forgives me for running him so hard, he'll be pretty happy with his race.  He finished about 20 seconds behind me.  Maybe I should have waited for him.....nah.  :D

It was a rock 'n Roll Marathon, so we had live bands every mile or so, and only a few cheerleading squads.  The course was nice...some light up-hills in the first 8 miles through some beautiful neighborhoods, and then mostly gradual down-hills in the last 5 miles.  Just enough of a change in elevation to keep my legs fresh.  I haven't had any soreness...so far.  It was a great race!  I loved it!  :D

I was in the car from 2:30 Sunday afternoon until 3:00 this afternoon...alll after running a half-marathon!  With only two weeks of training!  Miraculously, I feel very little soreness - only some very slight tightness in my hip flexors.  So this evening I did a light try-out-my-legs run.  Britnee and I did 2.5 miles in 24 minutes...but we did have a rather long stop after 1.35 miles.  Whatever.  The legs feel good.  :D

This morning was a HIIT on the recumbant bike.  I did 5.33 miles.  I thought about running, but figured I ought to get a day of rest after the race.  So this evening I did an hour of Zumba class, and then followed it up with an hour of Yoga class.  I'll run again tomorrow....

Wow!  Is it Wednesday already?!?

I ran with the girls this morning, but I dragged along my daughter, Britnee, as well.  We did the 5 mile loop, but Britnee and I decided to go ahead and run the last mile by ourselves at a quicker pace.  So we did the first 4.04 miles in 49:02, and then we did the last .96 mile in 8:09.  It felt good to open it up a little.  When I arrived home, I had some breakfast and warmed up, then did P90X legs and followed it up with ab-ripperX. 

This evening, Ben and I went on a bike ride.  Yes, after all these months, I dusted off my lonely road bike and tried to remember how to use the clips without falling on my face.  I am happy to report that my face is still intact.  We rode to and from the Ironman meeting in town, and ended up doing 15 miles in an hour.  When we got home, we pulled on our running shoes and ran a gentle 4 miles in 36:50.  Now I'm going to go strap myself on the traction unit, since I haven't done my physical therapy in a week!  :D

I woke up this morning with my legs and body feeling SO tired!  I guess I DO need a little recovery time after the race...whatever.  I tried to do my 20 minute HIIT, but it was a little weak, as is reflected in my lower numbers.  I thought about taking the rest of the day off, but Ben wanted to go to the lake and try out the frigid water.  I stuck a toe in, and decided it was NOT for me!  Maybe in a few weeks...or months.  :D  So instead, I put on my running shoes and did a slow, short 2.5 mile run in 23:10, just to keep it loose.  Oh, My!  Those legs are STILL tired!  We'll see how they feel tomorrow.  I'm planning to do 15 - 16 miles on Saturday.

I ran with the girls this morning...a slow 3 miles in 34:54.  I think I'm going to continue to run with them, because I love the company, and I can increase my weekly mileage without killing myself off from going too fast.  Spped work will have to come later, after I've had some more time on my legs.  :D

After the run, I did P90X chest, shoulders, and triceps, and then topped it off with a little bit of ab-ripperX.  I didn't get the entire workout in, because I ran out of time.

This evening Ben and I rode our bikes to the recreation center to pick up the packets for tomorrow's race.  Our time for the 13.4 miles, with all the traffic delays (we hit every light!) was 50 minutes.  I ate sugar like it was going out of style to make up for the easy workouts.  :D

It’s been a great day so far! This morning was the Spectrum 10K race. Ben and four of my children registered for it, but I never did, because of the half-marathon last weekend…I wasn’t sure how my legs were going to do, racing after 3 months without running. Anyway, I needed to do a 15 mile run today, in order to continue to prepare for the Ogden marathon in May. So I decided to run 9 miles down hwy 18 (St. George Marathon Route) and then jump into the race in Snow canyon, and “bandit” the run along with my kids. Well, Ben decided that since I would be running so slow, he would join me, and we drove out to Veyo and started the run right on everyone’s favorite hill – one mile up a pretty steep grade, and then two more miles of hill climbing before you FINALLY get to run down!

I really tried to run slowly, taking my walk breaks after every 5 minutes of jogging. When we finally arrived at the race start line, we realized that we had miscalculated the distance, and had already gone 9.86 miles in 1:36:47. I was kind of glad, because I wanted to do 15-16 miles, and now, just to get to the finish line, I would HAVE to do 16! My friend Katie wanted someone to run with for the race, so I agreed to stay with her and chat. We started, and Katie and I went along for about a mile-and-a-half, when I came across my son, Hyrum. He’s 14, slightly asthmatic, and was running his first 6 miles ever. He was walking along the side of the road, acting like he was going to throw up or something. So I sent Katie on, and told her I’d better stick with Hyrum. Well, that was probably a bad idea, because he really turned on the “I can’t do this” act, and after walking a half mile with him, I decided that even though it might hurt his feelings at first, he would do MUCH better using all that energy to run without me, than to continue with the drama. So I told him to walk until he felt better, and that I would go on ahead. I saw a tear forming as I took off, but sometimes you gotta do the hard thing, because it’s right for your child.

I sprinted for awhile, to see if I could catch back up with Katie. Since I was in the back of the pack, I felt like I was flying! I’m sure I scared more than one runner when I came screaming though – but it felt really good to do a little sprinting, so I didn’t care! I caught back up with Katie around mile 2.5, and I ALMOST finished the race with her. It wasn’t her day, and she was struggling. So the last half mile, I took off, and sprinted to the finish, completing the 6.2 miles in 57:04 minutes. My total miles for today – 16.06 in 2:33:51. I guess all that water-running was effective, because I didn’t feel like I had just tacked three more miles onto my long run – I still felt fresh and could have easily continued.

So as for my family – Ben finished the 10K in just over 43 minutes. He said it was easy, and he probably needs to start racing harder, since he PR’ed the race after already running 10 miles and without even trying. My son Joshua (18) surprisingly kept up with his Dad for the whole 6.2 miles, and placed 6th in his division. I was shocked that he can run that fast! My daughter Britnee (17) ran alone and finished in 51 minutes, taking third place in her division, and came home with a lovely new medal for her collection. Hyrum ended up finishing in something just over an hour (not sure yet) but the important thing is that he found his strength and willpower, and finished the race strong and felt really proud of himself afterwards! I KNOW that wouldn’t have happened if I had stayed with him. My son Elijah (12) came in at 46 minutes and took 1st place in his division, which won him a medal, a gift certificate for $20.00 off running shoes, and a free smoothie at Orange Peel. Guess which gift he’s most excited about? Yep. The free smoothie.