Emily's training blog

I was trying to be a nice wife and make sure that Teren had the time to get his workout in before he goes to work, so I got up at 4:30 to get mine in.  I had originally planned to run 10 x 800, but I thought I would play it safe and try to keep my hip intact.  I changed the workout to a fartlek workout.  I warmed up 3 miles, and then ran 3 x 1-2-3-2-1, with 1-1-2-1-1 recovery.  I ran in Valley Park.

The weather was beautiful this morning.  I got to see the sunrise because I was up so early.  It was pretty dark when I started, but the sun was shining by the time I finished.  My body felt a bit tired when I started, but after the first couple of intervals, I began to feel better.  That must mean I'm turning into a marathoner.  I need four miles before I feel good.  I was definitely tired by the end, and my hip started to get sore.  But, I think it will stay in one piece.  Saturday's long run didn't seem to make it any worse.

I cooled down a nice easy 2 miles through the park and back to my house.

I think that around 10:00 this morning, I will be ready for a nap.

Today was one of those rare perfect days of running.  The weather was beautiful, nice and cool, but not too cold.  I felt amazing while I was running.  It felt effortless.  Days like this are definitely few and far between, so I took full advantage and really enjoyed my run. 

I ran through the Taylorsville High driving range, down to the River Trail, and out toward Gardner Village.  I was only going to run 8 miles, but felt so good that I added on the extra half mile out.  Right before four miles there were three different groups of mother and baby geese.  They were spread across the entire trail.  I didn't want to scare the mothers, because I didn't really want to get bit by a goose.  The moms hissed, but I made it through unscathed.  I turned around at the 3 mile mark on the trail, and returned the same way.  Total time for the run was 59:52.  I actually think it's a bit over nine.

Today helped me believe that maybe I am actually increasing in fitness, and my workouts are paying off.  Maybe I am on my way to fast running again! 

 PM  I ran 4 miles on the treadmill at the health club.  I made sure that it was an easy run.

Devra came over to my house bright and early this morning to go run a light track workout before our respective races on Saturday.  She is running the Utah Valley Half Marathon on Saturday, so her workout was shorter than mine was.  

We warmed up three miles through the neighborhood, and ended at the Taylorsville High track.  Both of us felt pretty tired on the warm-up, so we conservatively hoped to keep our intervals at the same pace that we ran them two weeks ago.  (2:45 for the 800's and 1:20 for the 400's)  Our recovery was 1:1.  Apparently we felt better when we ran faster.  I ran 2:37 for both 800's, and Devra ran 2:41.  I added on two more 400's, and ran them in 76, 74, 75, and 73.  Devra ran some laps on the track while I ran 8 x 200 on/200 off.   I kept the 200's under control and just ran them in 37-38.  My legs definitely felt it by the end of the workout.

We cooled down with a 2.5 mile run through the neighborhood to give us 10 for the day.  I was happy to run an entire workout (albeit a short one) under 5:20 pace.  Especially with 25 miles already under my belt this week.  Plus, my hip is beginning to improve.  My fitness is definitely getting better!  This was a great workout to lead into a 5k race this weekend.  Now, two days of recovery!  I'm ready for them.

AM:  I woke up with very sore calves and very tired legs this morning.  The track beat me up a little bit.  I have 10 miles today, so I decided to divide it in to two shorter runs.  I ran 6 this morning, down 4800S, and on to the River Trail, I got off at Millrace Park, and ran up through the Taylorsville High driving range (during driver's ed!)  and back home.  Two weeks from today I leave for Seattle.  I am very excited to go! 

 PM:  Four mile death march before dinner.  Why is it that sometimes the short runs feel the longest?  I started feeling better in the last half mile.  I guess it takes me a few miles to get warmed up.  My hip felt pretty good, my right achilles, not so much.  Sigh!  It's always something.

I ran an easy five today in preparation for tomorrow's 5k.  My legs had more spring in them than they did last night, though my calves are still pretty sore.  I ran a loop down on the river trail to Millrace Park.  At the park I did 6 20 second strides.  Then I finished my run back to my house. 

Teren is taking Cole on his first Father and Sons campout tonight.  Cole woke up this morning excitedly exclaiming "I get to be a scout today!  I get to sleep in a tent!"  I hope it's still exciting at 10:00 tonight.  So, Lily and I are on our own this evening.  I plan on a nice relaxing evening with a chick flick and an early bedtime.  I will miss my boys at the race tomorrow, but I'm glad they can have some male bonding time.

Time for stretching and an icebath, and I'm ready to go!

My legs felt pretty good this morning as I arrived at the race.  I am very paranoid about being late for events, so I was there way too early.  I picked up my race packet, went to the bathroom, checked out the course map, and began my warm-up.  I warmed up for three miles on the roads in Holladay.  I felt good and was very excited to race.  The field was pretty small; probably because there are several races in the valley today, including the Utah Valley Marathon and Half Marathon.  But, Susannah was there, and ready to go.  I also saw a girl warming up on the field that looked like she could be pretty quick.

My goals for the race were sub-18, and I wanted to win.  I got a little anxious, and went out way too hard.  I went through the mostly-downhill first mile in 5:22.  Rob Murphy had stated that he wanted to run around 17:30, and he was behind me at the mile.  That should have been my first clue that I went out too hard.  Mile 2 rolled a bit, but nothing too killer besides one fairly large hill right before the two mile mark.  There was a water table before mile 2, and someone was yelling splits.  This made me think that I had hit the 2 mile mark.  My watch said 10:45, so I thought I was running nice and even, and was very excited.  But, then I saw the REAL 2 mile mark about 200 yards away.  I was not as fast as I thought I was.

The last mile is uphill pretty much the entire way.  My legs were feeling the 60 mile week and 5:22 first mile at this point.  They were tired, and the lactic acid set in hard as I wound my way through the Olympus Jr. High parking lot.  Thankfully, the last 200 meters was downhill.  I was disappointed to see the clock reading in the eighteens.  I really thought I was in sub-18 shape.  Susannah finished about 20 seconds behind me.  She's going to have an amazing college running career!  The other girl that I was worried about was a minute back. 

So, my feelings are mixed about this race.  I wonder if I had just went out with Rob, if I would have felt better later in the race, or if the hills would have killed me no matter what.  I should be happy with an almost 30 seconds improvement since my last 5k 2 weeks ago.  I still wish the fitness would come back faster, but then again, I'm not 25 anymore.  I need to focus on the progress I have made, and not how far I still have to go.  The fitness will come. 

I cooled down 4 miles with Rob, Bill, Susannah, Lisa, and Greg Schneider.  I got really hungry and dizzy during the last mile.  I was happy to be done, and happy I got to eat some food.  There is nothing better than free fresh Great Harvest Bread after a hard race.

2 more weeks until my half marathon.  It will be interesting to see if a tapered week makes any difference in the freshness of my legs.