I'm not crazy...I'm just bored!!

Wow, we had an amazing time in Moab this past weekend! I brought my running stuff, but honestly was a pansy about running alone in a strange city. Plus, all we did was hike all day so I figured I was getting 'movement' in - so I didn't worry too much.

Saw some trail runners a few times, was a little envious! I did however chase, race and play with my kids on the trails a lot, so I probably got at least a mile or so in :) We did probably about 6-8 miles each day, of different hikes - some short some longer - but my kids were GREAT troopers! Even my almost 3 year old only got 'backpacked' twice, usually in the afternoon and on the way back from a long hike out. It really was great!

I LOVE Moab and the area, it was nice to get away from the rat race of 'normal' life and enjoy quiet, peaceful, beautiful nature for a while!

Went back to the gym this morning *sigh* wish I had more hiking on the docket and not the gym, but back to life we go. 

Did step class, which was a 'mover' today. I don't think we stopped once! It was a tough class this morning, I'm glad I got some practice 'stepping' this weekend on all the trails :)

Then I hit the TM for some miles just to make sure I could still do it! I started nice and slow to ease into it (SERIOUSLY slow...like 11:30 mm) then by .4 miles or so I'd gotten up to 10mm. I stayed around there for the rest of the time finishing the 3 at an AP of  9:50mm. Felt good to run again! I'm hoping to get to BBK's tomorrow, but if not I may sleep in and just do 6 around the 'hood here :)

Free Redbox night last night messed up my morning plan. We didn't start the movie until 10:30, so I was up until 12:30 AM watching Lovely Bones. Then, after watching it there was NO way I was going to go running by myself in the morning! It's not a bad show, but it's just strange...left me with weird dreams all night.

So, I went to the total body  class this morning. It was a good class, she normally does more legs or arms, but it was a good balance.

Then I did the TM for 3.1 miles to finish up my day care time. It was nice to have Kelli there to chat with! The TM always goes SO much faster when you have someone to chat with - and a crazy steroid pumped up trainer to laugh at :) I finished in an AP of about 9:40 - starting out slow really does help me a TON!!

Since day care time was up, I headed home then changed my shoes and put on a running jacket and long pants. I left my kids in the watchful eye of my neighbor across the street and let them play the wii, and ran the stake 5K loop around the 'hood. It was good to get out on the street, and I only had a tiny bit of anxiety left from the movie :)

AP: 9:29 splits: 9:17, 9:55, 9:18, 8:45 (last .10)

Slept really well last night...still didn't want to wake up early to run before class :)

Did bootcamp/kickboxing today, it was a good class. Plus, she had us do a circuit in the middle that was tough. We did get to run a couple laps outside which helped ease my TM burden after class!

Did 3.5 on the TM to round out to 4 miles even today (including the .5 from class). Fist mile was slow at 10mm, AP for the first 2.5 was 9:50, then the last one was 9:30mm.

I am determined to get up and go to group in the morning...I will, I will, I will!

Okay, so my excuse is when the alarm goes off at 5AM and I know I have to drive 10 miles across town to run alone (no one in group runs as slow as me) I have a hard time motivating myself to get up in the dark and not sleep for another hour. So, I went back to bed. I did get up at 6 and got my miles in this morning - alone. However, it was good. Sunrise, other runners and now I'm still done for the day and didn't have to drive anywhere.

I started out feeling okay, better than I have with a run for a while. I decided about 1.5 miles to do my full 7 mile loop and not cut it short; however, this meant I'd have to tackle the hill of death. It's not a HUGE hill, but it's about 1.5 miles long of a decent uphill climb. It's always been my nemesis and even in good running days my goal was to keep the pace under a 9mm! So, I knew today's pace would be slow - at least those miles!

I did have a fun time on the stretch in front of Butterfield Park, it's like runner's avenue - I always see/pass about 6-8 runners along that stretch. One lady was turning the corner as I was crossing the street so she ended up about 5-10 feet behind me. Yup, she saw I was pregnant, and NOPE she wasn't going to pass me. I do have my pride :) I knew the pace was a bit faster, but when I looked at my splits I didn't realize it was that much faster! I was feeling good - and a little healthy competition never hurt anyone :)

AP: 9:16 splits: 9:25, 8:50, 8:12 (my little 'race'), 9:12, 10:01 (start of uphill stretch), 10:23 (I wanted to stop SO bad, but kept pushing through!), 8:54, 8:18 (last .10).

Now I get to head off to a full yoga class, then mop floors and clean bathrooms *sigh* at least the day started off well! :)

Off day - no miles, rest for tomorrow! Especially after being on my feet all day yesterday cleaning and mopping, Cinderella is done!

75 minutes on the elliptical to get moving and feel like I had an excuse to eat  today :)

Oh, and best news is I got into SGM!!! Now to plan how to get the training in in 10 weeks after going through and recovering from delivery....

I think if I keep my miles (or at least cardio) up till the baby comes, I should be okay with a 10 week training plan. Here's to keeping my fingers crossed! It probably won't end up in a PR or a BQ, but I'm sure I'll be able to finish...one way or another :)

Did I ever mention how much I love being a runner?!? Simply Divine! :)

Finally stuck to a Saturday plan - even when the alarm went off at 5AM. The only snag this morning was I couldn't find my belly band. This is as essential as shoes to me at this point! I spent 10 minutes looking high and low for it. Finally concluded I'd left it at the gym, used an ace bandage as a replacement and headed out for a quick 6 miles. Felt good, was a bit overdressed. Last time I'd gone out early morning I froze, but I'd rather be overdressed than too cold!

Since I'd wasted so much time looking for my band, I was late. This was another race, but this time against the clock! I wasn't doing an easy run, but I wasn't pushing myself all out either. Just a nice mid level run. Saw more bikers than cars, in prep for the yellow fork canyon bike race - honestly, that time of morning things were quiet, still, beautiful and on 'runners row' I could see the whole valley with the horizon outlining the peaks of the Wasatch Front. Totally worth it!!

AP: 9:11 splits: 9:51 (uphill nastyness!), 8:51, 8:24, 9:08, 9:46 (hill of death), 9:05, 8:53(last .10)

I got home with seconds to spare. Switched clothes and shoes and hopped in the car and headed down to Lehi for spin class. Luckily, they were also a couple minutes late so I didn't miss any part of spin! Good class, we did a 12 minute hill climb - YIKES! One song we did 20 turns up to near max, then we did a 7 minute song maintaining that. He did have us back off a bit about 2 min in and then ramp back up each min after that. Did some good intervals too!

Back in the car to go home and finish off my miles before I had to be home to work at 10. I got home, switched shoes (didn't add any layers for this run, it was pretty warm...maybe 52) and was ready to hit the road again. I did get to say good morning and happy birthday to my sweet 3 year old before I left which made my day!

I changed up the route a bit to try and avoid the hill of death, but I think I ended up making it harder :( I went downhill for the first mile, then looped back uphill for the 2nd mile - I could tell I was running on tired legs!!! By 3 miles though I'd hit my groove again and felt re-energized. Watching the bikers in the bike race was fun too. My last couple miles were still uphill, I only got about 3/4 of a mile of flat on the way home. I may stick to hill of death, but it was a nice change of route. The 2nd mile and the 6th mile were the same place (practically) and it's interesting to see the difference on the paces.

AP: 9:16 splits: 8:46, 10:03, 9:19, 8:42, 9:02, 9:50, 9:26

I definitely felt better at the end than the beginning! True endurance runner I guess :)

Now I'm off for birthday fun - chuck-e-cheese, McDonalds, cookies, ice cream, bike shopping...all in fun for the man of the day!!

Ate like a cow yesterday...I figured calories don't count on Mother's day :) However, I think they just got transported to today! I went to bed and woke up with swollen fingers, wrists and ankles. I will be drinking TONS of water today to get whatever it is out!

Went to step class this morning and it was another good class! I kept moving and was sweating all over my bench, it's good to get some cross training it.

Then I hit the TM where I was really feeling the binging yesterday...I swear I'm carrying an extra 10 pounds now! 3.1 miles AP of 9:40 and the last .1 was at my top TM speed 8:57mm. Walked about 5 minutes cool down. When I was finishing up that .10 I finally started to feel a groove - I've decided it was because Kelli had come out of class and I had some company :)

SO tired now... I will be taking a nap to function today!

long, cold, rainy, dead legs run this morning! I tried a new route, which gave me a bit of excitement to get out and run. The first 3+ miles were all nice downhill, so I figured I could pick up some speed by the time I started feeling good. However, by mile 2 I was still dragging. Quads and calves were sore and I felt like they just didn't want to move. I considered turning early to make it just 5, but I stuck it out....

Finally about 3.5-4 I got a little relief in in my stride and felt better. It had been sprinkling all along, but nothing horrible...until I turned for the first part of my big uphill home. I was running into driving rain, a head wind and uphill. I think it motivated me to go faster and push harder, because it felt better than the downhill! Remember...going uphill, pick up the pace, running into the wind, pick up the pace. I finally was feeling like a runner, a crazy pregnant one out in the driving rain, but a runner none the less! :)

The rain let up by the time I turned onto the hill of death, but it was still worse than the sprinkle at  first. I felt a lot stronger up that hill than I have in a long time, and when I turned to cut home felt like my uphill miles were probably faster than the downhill ones! It wasn't so, but it's nice to feel that way at the end of seven miles!

AP: 9:31 splits: 8:50, 8:58, 9:17, 9:47, 9:57, 10:15, 9:36 - funny, reverse progression run but I felt the complete opposite!!

Now I'm off to the gym for body sculpting...resistance class, then I'll read on the bike for a while until it's time to head off to the doc's for Running Bear's checkup :)

Oh, and YES! Ogden's a go this Saturday - Thanks Nan for the hookup!!! If anyone knows of one other person selling a 1/2 entry I know someone who'd be willing to take it.

Decided to take it easy today. Legs are feeling heavy and I want to make sure I have them for Saturday, so I'll take today easy/off and do a few tomorrow then Friday will be an easy reading day at the gym as well. 

Went to Boot camp - more legs and arms work...uggghhh. She did have us run our .2 laps outside, so I did get a mile in that way. It's nice to still pull near the front of the crowd while running them :) I think some people try to beat me simply to not let the pregnant lady out run them! I just pick up the pace a little and keep them behind me :)

Then I did the elliptical @ L8 for 30 minutes, pretty easy just to get some more reading done and keep the legs moving. It was a total of 2.0 miles when I finished.

Days like today make me wonder if I really can run Ogden on Saturday, but I know with a couple decent rest days and the excitement of it all will re-energize me...I'm just dragging today.

Waking up early wasn't my thing this morning, but I did it anyway. When I peeked out the window to make sure there was sun and not rain, I saw the most beautiful sunrise starting - helped me get out! 

Slow start to the morning. My calves are just SO tight! I need to stretch and roll like crazy, I've already spent 5 min post run stretching them this morning and I'm sure yoga will help too. 

Just a nice easy jaunt, tried not to even think about pace, but just get it done. The hill of death didn't seem so bad today, and when I got to 6 miles I decided to throw in one extra flat mile to the end of my street and back. A BIG change from what I was  feeling/thinking when I started. Lately, I drag to start, but NEVER regret when I'm finished, and feel like I could do more!

AP: 9:34 splits: 10:16, 9:22, 9:12, 9:38, 9:55 (hill of death under 10mm!!), 9:35, 8:59

I hope that last 'add-on' mile shows more of where I'm at than the 10:16 at first. Now I'm done until Saturday morning at the race....well, after yoga and bike/reading time at the gym today :)

yeah...got some sleep last night :) I feel asleep right after "The Office" on the couch and then didn't wake up until 8:00 this morning. I hope this helps make up for having to get up at 3AM for the race tomorrow....*yawn*

Went to the gym, just to get the blood flowing to the legs. 

45 min on the elliptical @ L6  Then 40 Min on the bike @ L2.

The best part was I got REALLY into my new book. I wish I had another 90 min block of time at the gym to 'read' so I could finish now....

Picked up 'my' race packet in Ogden, got some good free goodies at the expo and got to meet Bart Yasso! Actually meeting him I had to buy his book for him to personally sign - yeah, go ahead...call me a sucker! I figure I'll have a good 4 weeks of 'down time' that I might be able to get some reading in. He was impressed that I'd even consider running a 1/2 at 34 weeks pregnant, but he said it simply reassured him of his prediction that women are 'taking over' the sport and that over long distances (like ultras) women will and have proven that they run better than men. So, we may not run as fast...but we can run longer! That's what I tell my kids when they think they're 'all that' and try to beat me in a foot race :)

First words out of my mouth as I stumbled out of bed were...I'm either crazy or stupid! I was tired...3 AM comes much too quickly on a Saturday morning. 

Got to the buses and met Luz, Josse, and Erika. Once on the bus ran into BSRools - the awesome duo, and had a short ride up. Fire-side chats and potty breaks filled up the hours till start time, then we were off. Those three ladies were too much for me to handle after about .5 miles and I let them go, I knew I wasn't holding an 8:20! 

Honestly, the first 3+ miles were sheer torture. More than once I considered just walking. My calves have been SO tight, the front of my shins were burning with pain. Add in the up hill and lack of company and I was spiraling in the wrong direction. I quickly made up my mind to simply hold out till the dam (this was about mile 1.5 and I thought it was at about 2) and then decide after I got some good downhill rolling.

The dam wasn't until mile 4 or 5 and I had HORDES of people passing me (uh, huh..yeah, go ahead...pass the big, fat, slow, pregnant lady and feel good!) but I also had some GREAT conversations with a few different groups of people about my shirt and my 'situation' that kept my mind off the fact that I wasn't feeling in prime condition to continue!

Once I hit the canyon and could hear the river, birds, soft footfalls and my eased breathing I knew it was all going to be okay. I just let it go from there and REALLY started feeling good. I started picking people off and passing them, a couple of good downhill stretches I even hit in the 6 and 7 mm range (mind you for only the stretch!). It was SO beautiful, it was nice to enjoy it this year and not be in unimaginable ITB pain like last year. I also got a WONDERFUL lift of spirits to see Allie with my big "RAD" sign! You always see all of the signs on the side of the road, and I've never had one *sniff* so Allie THANKS SO MUCH! It was such an amazing boost! I'm glad I didn't have to wait till mile 25!

Then we hit the winding trail. The crowds really helped keep my spirits up, although the miles seemed to drag a LOT more than in the canyon. I was still passing people and NOT getting passed - feeling much more confident than those first few miles! I took that energy and the last 1.5 miles weren't my favorite, but I let the energy carry me and push me through to the end. I felt good, and it was good to feel good being 34 weeks pregnant finishing a 1/2 marathon under 2 hours!

AP: 8:55 splits: 8:58, 9:34, 9:44, 9:26, 8;51, 9:01, 9:04, 8:42, 8:36, 8:07, 8:32, 8:43, 8:42, 8:23 (last .25 recorded on my garmin...guess I wasn't too good about running tangents!).

It was a wonderful race, I got to see and meet some GREAT bloggers that made the trip and effort worthwhile. Thanks Josse, Ericka and Luz for getting me off to a good strong start. If I would've run my 10mm I may have missed my 2 hrs! Brent and Sylvie - you two are amazing, I had a wonderful time chatting with you and seeing you on the trail. Strong runners with hearts of gold - more commando points than I'm allowed to dole out! Allie, thanks again girl! It made me feel like a rockstar to have YOU cheering little 'ol me on! I also had the most amazing surprise afterward - to run into Lowell and then get treated to lunch with the amazing crowd of Lowell, Smooth (and Pres) and Marci! AMAZING day!!

stats: I was 86/342 women in 'my'/Kelly's division (35-39); 357/1546 women overall; 711/2273 men & women combined; That puts me in the top 25-30th percentile finishing - not feeling too shabby about that! :) Also, one interesting thing on the 'stats' was that I placed 12th in my AG for the final 5K time - I really was feeling good! Not too much to say about the first 5K time...

Slept the weekend away...well, Sunday anyway! Nap after nap and doing nothing - too bad I ate like crazy! I was thinking I should change my blog title to "I'm not hungry...I'm just bored" :) 

Went to step class this morning and it was a good one! At one point I looked down at my bench and there were like 4 or 5 sweat drops all over :) It certainly kept me moving!

I wanted to run a bit; however, I wanted to read and stay OFF the TM as well (shins are acting up again - dang tight calves!). So, I went to the alley behind the gym and did our .2 loop 5X with a neighbor to get a mile in. Easy pace, I'd say under a 10mm, but not a 9mm.

Then I did the elliptical for 20 min while I read my book - it's due Wednesday, I've GOT to get it read! I think it was 1 mile @ L6.

Then I grabbed Nathan from daycare and ran the alley loop a few more times to get 2 miles in. He had fun playing on the grass and watering the trees with my water bottle :) Again, a good 9:30mm or so pace - no garmin, just miles.

I feel good after Ogden - yesterday I didn't, I was tired and so was my body! Today though I feel good. I even came home and hit the yard work. Tomatoes & peppers planted (again), weeds all pulled/killed, planters out front planted and some plants my mom brought me from her yard planted as well. Now to tackle the INSIDE house work....

Tired of sleeping in and having to run my .2 loop at the gym! So...I got up in time to do 4 easy miles around the 'hood this morning. Oh was it beautiful and worth it! Perfect l/s shirt running weather with a running skirt, and the sun was shinning bright and warm, aaahhh - can't ask for more!

Did a loop that takes me on the 'hill of death' first, which is always hard - but then is flat for a bit and then winds back down the 'hood. I like the 2nd half :) I got home and felt like I wanted to do a bit more, so I stayed close to home, but finished up the last 1.75 just up and around the school (about 1/2 of the hill of death again - but broken up). I felt SO good that last couple miles I really could've just kept running!!

AP: 8:55 splits: 10:01 (wow, a lot lower than expected for hill of death), 8:57, 8:53, 8:36, 8:59 (back up the hill of death),   8:02 (nice downhill...wow SO close to a sub 8!!).

Now I'm off to boot camp at the gym and probably some elliptical time reading until I have to go to the school and read with Kindergartners. Then I get to fold laundry, dust and mop floors...hmmm, maybe I'll go run again :)

**I added .5 to my mileage, because our teacher had us out running the .2 loop again *sigh* I wake up to avoid it, but then have to deal with it anyway! Then we did 3 min of running ladders, so between the loops and ladders, I'm giving myself an extra .5!**

blah blah blah run today! Yesterday I felt so good, was feeling good in my stride and today was more of a shuffle run the whole time. I might run tomorrow, but no matter WHAT I do, I will be sleeping in!!!

'New' 7 mile loop, out past the new rec center and home...so my favorite hill of death is 1.5 miles of my run, at the end! I do feel good to have it done, and that was the only thing that got me out this morning "you know you'll feel good when it's done!" Shuffle or not, I'm glad I did it...and can still do it!

AP: 9:47 splits: 9:17, 9:07, 9:23, 9:58 (flat and a bit up hill), 10:10 (start of the hill), 10:37 (this FULL mile is the constant uphill!), 9:58 (finish the uphill and flat home).

Now I'm off to yoga and bike/reading time...oh, and as a side note I SWEAR my belly grew 3 sizes overnight! I feel HUGE this morning!!

*8 miles on the bike in 40 minutes - nice and slow on L1. New book started...still not sure how much I'm going to like it*

Fell asleep watching TV last night, my husband was flabbergasted when I woke up at 8AM STILL tired. After going to the gym and waking up I feel better now...but I was tired!

Didn't run today, I'd contemplated it, but decided to give my body a bit of a break. I don't think I'll be up for a 'long' run tomorrow either...these 'ol bones are starting to wear down.

Elliptical @ L6 for 5 miles = 60 min. Lately when I do elliptical I don't really sweat, I'm there to read :) However, today I pushed the pace and was flinging sweat all over. Felt good to get a good workout without running.

Hit the bike for the last 30 min of daycare time. Recumbent bike 8 miles on L2 (a little resistance, maybe like a flat/small up in spin class). Tried to keep the HR up to get a few more calories burned.

I'm really starting to enjoy the book I'm reading as well "The House of the Scorpion" it's a good sci-fi read!

Acted more like a pregnant lady today :)

Some MINOR aches and pains (and allergies or a cold) are convincing me that it's okay to pull down the miles and cross-train. I did want to get in a few today, but they were easy! The boys were at Father's and Son's campout  so my daughter chose to come with me to early spin class and count laps on the track for me. It was fun to have her!

Spin class for an hour - it was a good one! I hate running hills, but in spin I prefer pushing hill climbs than sprints/intervals. Overheard a lady say she hopes I have this baby early so I stop pushing the entire spin class so hard! :) Makes me laugh!!

1/2 mile warm-up before spin then 2 miles with Becca afterward on the track. She kept me from slow 10mm, I think we were closer to 9mm. Either way it was good to chat and run with someone (even if it was painfully slow for her :) ).

After the gym I took my sweet girl to Kneaders for breakfast and we had cinnamon french toast and for any of you who have never been privy to such heaven-ness, let me tell you....mmmm!! I'm sure I more than replaced the 800 calories burned this morning!! EASY...oh so easy, like I said, I acted more like a pregnant lady today :) More eating and less exercising!

I think I'll try a few miles tomorrow, but my little aches haven't completely subsided so I don't want to push anything. 

Woke up to a full fledged snow storm this morning!! UGGHHH!! I now have to replant tomatoes for the 2nd time this spring - REALLY?!? What is the deal? I'm SO done with cold weather!! Not only was it snowing, but I totally forgot about my daughter's ortho apt and got all 3 kids and I up and out in 15 minutes to get here there! However, when I got there they said her apt was in 2 weeks...not this morning. Wow, I'm really loosing it! They said it wasn't a big deal and could get me in anyway, so she was late to school for the waiting, but we got it done.

Because of the late apt I'd missed 1/2 of the step class so I re-vamped my workout plan for the morning . Besides, the step teacher had her baby Friday (like 2 weeks early - SO NOT FAIR!) and I'm sure it wouldn't have been as good as I would've liked.

Elliptical 60 min @ L6 - 5 miles total  and HR was up 150+ the whole time

TM walking 10% grade @ 3mph for 30 min.

Now I think I'm going to get started on the boys room...clean and paint. I've got to get some of this 'baby' stuff done, time is going WAY too fast!!

Last night after painting my back wasn't happy, then I started getting sciatic pains in my hips and shooting down my legs. Uggghhh, I wasn't happy. I guess that's what you get after painting the bottom 3 feet of a bedroom with 20 flippin' coats of paint! NEVER paint navy blue...it take SO many coats of paint to get a nice finish!!

Needless to say I was in no mood to wake up early and run...the gym would be enough today.

Elliptical 60 minutes @ L8 = 5 miles, kept HR steady around 155

Ran 1 mile = AP 9:05. Felt good to run, a warm up on the elliptical REALLY helped! Also knowing it was just one :)

Had to run home and shower before doctors apt. Everyone tells me how small I look, but I never put much stock in it until today. Doc is concerned, because I'm measuring significantly smaller than I should be - a change from 2 weeks ago. She also commented on my weight, I made excuses about eating crappy all weekend. Oooops, she meant I hadn't gained ENOUGH. My blood pressure was also a bit higher than it has been. So, I'm getting sent off to an ultrasound this afternoon. Do you ever stop worrying? I thought I was beyond the 'worry' point...

*Just got home and everything is perfect! Tech said everything looked right on track and he's measuring EXACTLY on date (yup...still a boy). Tech said I'm just tall and must be hiding it all (not a surprise to me!). So, all is good and baby is happy - it was fun to see a face and cute toes (WAY up in my ribs!) instead of the normal 'blob' you see at 20 weeks*

Okay...I'm just tired...plain 'ol tired!

Cold and pregnancy is kicking my trash. I WANT to run, but go to do it and think it would be a lot easier to do something else.

Went to boot camp/kickboxing this morning, but since Heidi had her baby the other teacher is just a bit different and doesn't push it quite as much :(

Did 30 minutes of TM walking @10% grade on 3MPH while talking to Kelli (was going to run, but changed my mind). Had a good time reviewing the Biggest Loser finale! Kelli really is a rock-star, she does SO much and never whines about it and just gets it done (AND well!).

10 minutes left in daycare (thanks to my 5yr old forgetting his backpack I was late to class), so I did my .2 mile loop 5X out & back in the alley. Just a normal 'ol pokey pace.

Okay...so here is my 'plea' I really WANT to do the State Capitol Half-Marathon on Memorial Day!! However, it is a moderately difficult course (hills and trails), so I don't think I will run it all, but I WANT to do it!! My desire to do this 'race' is SO overwhelming it's unreal! I'm putting this out there to see if there is anyone who would be willing to tag along with me. No racing - I may run the whole way, I may walk - I'll probably finish around 2:10+ depending on how I feel. I just want a friend to go with me *sniff, sniff* Yes...this is an outright beg to see if anyone would be willing to tag along with the fat, slow pregnant lady that may walk a bit. Any takers?

Nobody fall out of your chair...but I did NOTHING today! Never even put on gym clothes :)

Went to "Day out with Thomas" with my 3 year old ALL day for his birthday (which was 2 weeks ago). Came home got the household in order and went to Olive Garden for a baby shower. A TRUE rest day!!

Woo-Hoo! Really rackin' up those miles this week! :)

Felt good to get out this morning...to the gym.

30 min elliptical @ L8 for 2.5 miles

30 min TM running - 3 miles @ 9:45 AP (then ran out the rest of the time, it was like .08 or something, meh...)

30 min elliptical @ L8 for 2.5 miles

Nice workout, still wondering/deciding about Monday....

AM spin class in Lehi

3.1 around the track - no pace, just ran.

Came home, hair cuts and clean up for all the boys

3.1 around the 'hood with Lauren on her bike - very enjoyable! No pace/Garmin, just ran.

Off to yard work, garden, clean up and wedding in Ogden - phew! Busy day!!

**as a side note, I don't have a slave driver for a husband, it's his b-day today and I didn't see fit to make him mow the lawn/edge/fertilize/weed pull on his birthday, so I decided to help out and let him play 'red-neck' with his friends and go shooting**

Holy Moly - this is by far THE hardest 1/2 I have ever run, pregnant or not. The trails were brutal, my heart rate was higher walking up them than running flat. I thought the hill up to behind the zoo was the 'hill of death' that would do me in, then we hit the shoreline trail behind This is the Place Monument....HAHAHAHA, I laugh at the hill up behind the zoo! Then the downhills were crazy wicked on the trails too.

Once we hit about mile 10, it was all nice downhill - oh I was SO grateful! I ran all the 'hills' to mile almost 6 without stopping, but I could walk up the trails faster than I could run. Long legs make for long strides walking, but when running uphill you must take shorter steps. I almost passed some people trying to run :) 

I kept up with the same group of runners the whole time and pulled ahead of most of them at the finish...or at least caught up lost ground. Honestly, a 2:09 is VERY respectable on this course! Unless you're Kelli or Teena - I think they should both have a run off next year on this course to truly take the title of 'queen of hills'!! 

I was SO excited to see Maurine there! She was volunteering at a water stop, so I got see her at the beginning, middle and end! Since I'd been so whiny about wanting someone to run with me (and ended up doing it alone anyway), it REALLY lifted my spirits to see another amazing blogger out on the course and get to chat and have a good time with her! PLUS she saved me from having to take/ride the bus back to the start - THANKS!!!

Overall, it was a great race! I certainly didn't have the kick at the end that a downhill race give you - my legs were trashed, but it was still a good finish! I also met and chatted with a few fellow racers. One lady would always make sure I got water at the aid stations, she said it was the mother in her, she had to take care of me! Lots of fun comments on the shirt as well. I'm glad I did it! I feel good and am ready for a gluttonous Memorial Day :)

AP: 9:50 (total elevation GAIN 1531 ft)

splits: 9:55 (started with a fun girl to chat with and it felt slow, but the conversation was worth it!),

9:14 (this felt more like MY pace),

9:35 (1st 'hill'),

8:53 (as I ran this mile I had decided this was my average effort pace - pretty flat, considering, and I felt good!),

9:54 (what I thought was the 'hill of death' hahaha! -173 ft of gain),

10:39 (start of the trail portion -213ft of gain)

13:15 (mostly walking/hiking up the hills on the trails - I'd run the flat and short downs, but YIKES! I tell ya...this was a CRAZY mile!! -315ft of gain)

10:01 (more hills/trails, but we caught a few good downhills that evened out my pace -116 ft of gain, but 242 down)

10:26 (I honestly thought we were done with the hills...until I went around a corner and saw one that was about 50 ft plus straight up...ugghhh! More walking, glad the downhill can balance my AP for the mile! -203 ft of gain and only 94 down)

9:13 (caught a REALLY nice downhill on this mile...had to open it up! My 'max' speed was a 6:40 during this mile)

9:12 (nice down/flat along the top of the avenues in SLC, again this felt SO easy!)

8:51 (coming DOWN city creek canyon to the capitol...ahhh, but my legs were still pooped from all the uphill.)

7:26 (for the .13 Garmin had to the finish, can't help but open up the finish sprint a bit :) Especially in front of a crowd and heading downhill!)