Denouement

March 28, 2024

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Location:

Kowloon Tong,Hong Kong

Member Since:

Jul 02, 2007

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Olympic Trials Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

Unaided:

5K - 17:11 (track Pre-kids and at BYU) (1998)

10K - 35:48 (track Pre-kids and at BYU) (1998)

10K - 35:34 (road - Shek Mun 10k 12/12)

1/2 Marathon 1:19:44 (UNICEF HM 11/12)

Marathon 2:47:08 (ING Hartford Connecticut 10/10)

Aided:

St. George Marathon 2:50:40 (10/08)

1/2 marathon - Hobble Creek 1:17:14 (8/08)

10K - Deseret News 10K - 35:02 (7/08)

Short-Term Running Goals:

PR 1/2 marathon AGAIN


Long-Term Running Goals:

Break 2:46 in Boston!

Personal:

I used to run for BYU, but only after trying out three times and finally walking on, so I was never a star. However, it was wonderful to run with great people and under Coach Shane. When you run with fast people, you can't help to improve! I graduated BYU in 1998, and didn't run a race until 2002, after having my second child. My hiatus and other crazy life commitments have made my competitive running suffer, but the last couple of years I have tried to get back into it the best I can. I have been married since 1996, to Paul Lowry, who is a runner himself. I have three boys (my three rascals), ages 12, 10, and 8.

After a great 2008 season, I was injured and eventually diagnosed and cross-diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, a type of arthritis disease, which precludes running for all but the most stubborn.  So I am on medications, trying to stay healthy, and seeing my PT often.  And running!  Now beating the streets in Hong Kong.

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
NB RC900 Black/yellow Lifetime Miles: 183.31
NB RC1300 Red/Black Lifetime Miles: 195.31
2012 MTR Lifetime Miles: 4035.70
890 Blue Lifetime Miles: 310.55
NB RC 1600 Lifetime Miles: 96.76
RC 1400 Lifetime Miles: 90.60
NB 890 Baby Blue Lifetime Miles: 233.26
NB 890 Electric Blue Lifetime Miles: 319.67
NB 890 Tokyo Turquoise Lifetime Miles: 163.54
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
16.814.000.000.000.000.000.0020.81

I did it!  I ran my first 20 miler!  Overall pace 8:08.

So we started at 5am at the Stake Center in SF.  I thought we started rather fast (mile one and two were 8:27 and 7:57).  I did loops when people stopped because I think the group stops too often and/or too long and I want to shorten the breaks to make the long training runs more like a race environment.  I ended up running with Alison and Craig for quite a bit of the run.  At Osborns (6 mile point) we met up with Gina and McKenzie, Pat Loss, and a fast couple from out of town.  I had planned on doing some marathon pace miles after Harry's hill (a 1 mile hill), but these fast runners were right ahead of me, and Pat encouraged me, so I started my tempo portion and he and I caught up to them (7:13 mile for mile 8), then the uphill started and my pace slowed but I was able to hang on to the fast crew ok up to the top of Harry's (splits were rather slow though, 7:55 for mile 9 and 8:44 for mile 10).  Mile 10 included some recovery jog.  Then when we started downhill and I pushed my pace again through the Salem stake center (7:30 mile 11 and 7:05 mile 12).  After this we slowed down a bit but kept to about 8:10 pace overall, with some faster and slower miles.  At 18-19 miles I felt pretty tired and like I was hitting a wall, but Alison was a great motivator and encouragement.  At the 20 mile mark I stopped and gave Alison a hug, I was so excited to have done it.  Then we split and she headed for home and I headed for my car.  On the last mile or so alone I got a funny image in my head like I was Forrest Gump and I was running like when he first run and his leg braces fell apart as he run and flew off him.  Only I imagined that my legs were going to be the pieces falling off me, perhaps at the hip bone, perhaps at the knee.  My legs were tired by the end!  I guess this is what the 20 miler is for.

When I got home I filled my tub with all the ice in the house and cold water.  I got in the tub and lined it with three plums, three fig newtons, and a bottle of water and told myself I couldn't get out of the tub until it was all gone.  So that served two purposes.  I forced myself to start refueling and I got my ice bath in.  After a hot shower, I got into some jeans and when I tried to put my second leg on I fell onto the floor.  While having a still damp foot may have had something to do with it, I couldn't help but to giggle at myself because my stiff legs probably are the main culprit for my clumsiness.  So, I also took 800 mg of ibuprofen.  I am hoping I can recover sufficiently for training next week.  We'll see!

Side note, I am down 17 pounds from tax season and am only one pound away from a realistic weight, but I will try to lose throughout my training if I can because my ideal racing weight is probably still 16 pounds away.  Every pound should help!

 

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Michelle on Sat, Aug 18, 2007 at 12:28:24

Sasha would find out I am thinking, but some chocolate is definitely in my future. . .

From Michelle on Sat, Aug 18, 2007 at 13:38:40

What an impressive run! I'm so jealous of people that did track in highschool and for sure college, that gives you the training to go of off! I'm also impressed with the ice bath, I don't thkink that I could bring myself to do that!!!

From Christi on Sat, Aug 18, 2007 at 17:23:48

Hey Michelle- What a run! I did my first 20 miler today too, only much slower than you! Like you, the group I went with stopped too much and for too long. I should have run circles like you. Your performance today is inspiring!

From Lulu on Mon, Aug 20, 2007 at 11:44:39

Congrats on your long run! I laughed at the jeans story. I find after a marathon my "balance" muscles are fatigued. I tend to trip all over myself and cannot be trusted with condiments at the table. Maybe that is your excuse! Enjoy your chocolate -- you probably burned 1800 calories on Saturday.

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