Emily's training blog

I warmed up 2 miles and then ran an 8 mile tempo run, today.  I was tempted to wait one more day before a hard effort, but felt pretty good.  This is the hardest workout of the week besides the long run, so I think it is ok that I pressed hard.  

This tempo was progressive.  I wanted to ease into it.  6:23, 6:18, 6:08, 6:04, 5:59, 5:56, 5:51, 5:44.  The last 10 minutes were really hard.  Yes, this was done on a treadmill.  Total time: 48:19.  6:03-04 pace.  I ran a quick mile cool down.  Next week I will take it outside for a real tempo.  Allie and Andrea?  want some company?

I lost my voice this past weekend, some kind of weird virus.  I thought it would affect my running more, but I seem to be holding together all right.  My kids are happy that I can't yell at them! 

Okay, I lied.  This virus is starting to kick my butt.  I felt all right running today, just not very speedy.  That's okay, though.  It was supposed to be recovery.  I ran my Costco loop backwards, and added on up to 6200S, and back on the canal road.  There was a long gradual uphill for about 2 miles.  It was good practice for the long hill from miles 7-8 at St. George.

Last night Cole prayed that "Mommy's body would feel better."  Amen, Little Man! 

PM:  2 miles at East High's alumni fun run.  I chatted with Carol while Gene pushed Myles in the jogging stroller.  Easy 8 min/mile shakeout. 

I probably really needed one more day before running a workout, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to run with Allie and Devra.  We met at Sugarhouse Park for a workout.  I wanted to run 30 x 1 min on/off.  None of us were feeling to fresh, so it got shortened to 20 x 1 min on/off.  I tried to keep up, but got a little flat on the last 4.  That's okay, though.  I'm sure I ran a lot faster with these girls than I would have on my own.  The uphill/downhill was good strength training, too.  Monday's tempo trashed me a bit more than I thought it would.    2 mile warm-up and 2 mile cool down.  

AM:  I met Jenny at Murray Park for our Murray Park/Wheeler Farm run.  I think this is one of my favorite runs.  I like getting on the soft surfaces, and there's enough variety that the run doesn't get boring.  Plus, Jenny is great company.  I really enjoyed this morning.  We ran 6.5, and then I finished with two more miles in Murray Park.  Runs like today are the reason that I run.  It was nice having such a pleasant run in the middle of a hard training month.  Everyone say "hi" to Jenny on her blog.  She has joined the fastrunningblog community.  More miles later!

 PM:  Well, the health club was a bust. I dropped the kids off at the daycare, and mounted my favorite trusty treadmill for a good 4-5 mile run.  I was running along and feeling good, jamming to my tunes when the daycare worker came to get me.  Myles was screeching away, and wouldn't stop.  So, I got a whopping two miles in.  I wasn't even warmed up yet!  If I pay 17 extra dollars a month on my health club membership, I would like to be able to use it.  Naughty baby!  I wish that I could reason with him and tell him, "Only 15 minutes more and mommy will be done."    Grrr!

Family park day again.  Teren runs while I watch the kids, and then I run while he plays with them.  It works out well, and is fun for everyone.  Plus, I got 8 soft-surface miles in before my big twenty miler tomorrow.  

I ordered some hammer gels, Recoverite, and Perpetuem from Hammernutrition.com.  I was impressed that I got my order 2 days after placing it.  Plus, they sent a huge bag of samples of their products . . . probably at least a good 30 dollars worth of products.  I was pretty impressed with their customer service.  It will be interesting trying them out.  I actually like hammer gels above other energy gels.  

I get to use my own bottles at St. George.  What do people like to use for fueling, and how often, during marathons.  I'm looking for some good suggestions.   

Magna 20 miler this morning.  I brought my father-in-law along with me.  He biked and carried my drinks and energy gels so I could practice taking them.  I thought the start was at 80th West and 2700S.  It is actually at 8400W.  So, we drove in circles a little bit.  We ended up starting at 5600 W.  But, I think we got the point of the workout.  We started with 10 miles out, running along 2700S.  It was a gradual uphill that wound around.  I kept heading toward the mountains.  Evenutally I found myself on the corner of 8400 W and 3100 S.  Then, I knew where I was, so I ran about 4 miles up 8400W, until we hit ten.  This part was all uphill and into a headwind.  It took me 76 minutes to run the first ten, and 65 minutes to run the second ten.  The six minute miles down 8400 W helped the pace out a lot.

 The happiest moment of my run was when I asked my father-in-law if I had 4 miles left, and he told me I only had 3.5.  Yay!  I used the Perpetuem drink every three miles.  My energy stayed up, and my stomach didn't hurt at all. But, I got awfully thirsty.  I think Perpetuem is more for fueling than hydration, so I will have to bring more water next time.  I may use Heed instead, and take hammer gels for fueling.  Heed is more of an electrolyte drink.  But, I did like that I didn't need hammer gels when I used Perpetuem.  I'll keep experimenting.  

I'm feeling ready to extend my long runs.  Today didn't feel like too hard of an effort until about 14-15 miles, with serious effort at 17 -20.  Good run, though!