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

blaaaahhhh! Cold and tired leg run. My legs aren't sore after trying to push a little speed yesterday, but I could certainly tell they weren't fresh. Tried to hit the downhill hard and maintain a consistent effort on the uphill. 

I really wish my baby would start sleeping longer stretches at night. He slept until 2:30, I fed him and then put him back in bed, but he is then just restless the rest of the night. I think I was up about once every 45-60 minutes. So, I was in bed for six hours, but it feels like I got 3 hours of sleep.  It's just harder to recover every day when you can't get a good nights rest.

AP: 8:59 splits:  9:16, 9:22, 9:27, 7:40 (the crazy downhill section), 8:07, 9:21, 9:41, 9:00 - This is Cal's rosecrest loop. It's funny, because you go uphill the first 3 miles (pretty gentle, even for me) then in about 1.5 miles you loose all your elevation (350ft) and then you spend the last 3.5 going back uphill to recover most of that lost elevation. So, to keep a 9mm even on my last uphill mile makes me very proud!

Now I'm off to boot camp and probably a few extra miles at the gym...stay tuned.

***Boot camp was LOADS of fun (can you hear the sarcasm?). We did however run enough loops in the back to do another 1.5 miles. the last 1/4 mile loop we did I pushed the pace and was breathing hard at the end. I don't know what pace it was, but I know I couldn't have held it much longer than that.

Then I finished up on the TM (after chatting for a bit) and did 2.25 - first mile at 9:22, then 9:05 then the last minute (almost .25) I did at 6:58 pace, which felt quite a bit easier than the speed outside. Gotta teach these legs how to move again!***

I think today's miles are what we usually refer to as JUNK miles.

I was tired (ha! what else is new?), and my legs were seriously like lead, they did not want to move. I felt like this was the last 6 miles of a marathon. It's been a LONG time since I've been at mile 4 and just wanted to stop running, thankfully I did hit a new gear about 1/4-1/2 mile later. Sometimes on days like this I wonder if the hour of sleep would've been more beneficial than the 7 miles...

AP: 9:29 splits: 9:22, 8:55, 9:09, 9:44, 9:51, 9:51, 9:36, 8:59 (last .1)

Thank heaven's I've got yoga today and then a sleep in and rest day tomorrow!!

Anyone doing 20 on Saturday that I could tag along?

Still not much sleeping on the baby front *sigh* If anyone has any good suggestions I'm all ears! I've always had good sleepers so this is new territory for me. Maybe I'm just expecting too much too soon.

I did get to sleep in today and just do the gym though - a bit of heaven honestly! Ran 1.5 on the TM @ 9:13 pace (felt pretty good and easy) simply to even out my miles for the week. Then I hit the elliptical and did more RW reading for another 60 minutes @ L10. Finished with a good 15 minutes of stretching. With a good nights rest I'll be ready for the 20 miler tomorrow! (hahahaha...)

Two with Lucy (my puppy), then met Annette and started off on 18 more. Becca joined us just a couple miles down the road.  Did a nice loop around to Kennecott (BEAUTIFUL sunrise view!), down to Daybreak lake and around (TONS of folks out this morning), down the hill then over to 11800S, then the long uphill trudge home past the new HS. We finished up a little early and got a nice almost mile walk back to my house. Between the walk, stretching and an ice bath (first of the season) I'm feeling pretty good now! I felt strong at the end too, it was nice to be done but I knew I could've pulled a couple more out.

AP: 9:06 splits:  9:31, 9:35, 9:46, 9:36, 10:07 (the nasty hill up to Kennecott), 8:45, 8:33, 8:29, 8:34, 8:43, 9:02, 9:03, 8:59, 8:53, 8:40, 9:20, 9:14, 9:13, 8:52, 9:09, 7:45(for the last 25 feet until I hit the button...gotta throw that in! :) )

So, a couple of things on this run I observed - I'm still slow, especially on hills, but I can do the distance even on hard hills and still have some left over. I also hit a sub 9 pace on one of the 5 miles uphill to home. THIS is encouraging to me, keep truckin' on baby! (I observed this as I was the one dragging butt about 20+  feet behind the others...I'm blaming the extra 15 pounds of baby weight!)

Secondly, this is my highest mileage week EVER! Even when training for my first full last year, I only hit 59. So, this is uncharted territory. My speed was a bit faster then, but I've got the training under my belt I need to finish strong at SGM. Also, with my diligence in rolling, stretching and x-training I am injury free. No even little aches to complain about.

I'm very proud of myself (sorry...I'm going to be a braggart here) for being able to get this training under my belt just 10 weeks after having a baby. My body has been good to me, and I in turn have tried to be good to it. Running, cross training and nursing all at the same time aren't easy on my body, I'm sure, but I'm trying to eat right and take care of it (rest/sleep) as well as possible.  I hope this doesn't jinx me!

Okay, I've got a bag of mixed feelings going on right now...so I'm going to blog them, but I reserve the right to form different opinions as the day-week goes on :)

I came into the race simply hoping for a 50...a 48 would be nice, but I just didn't think my legs had that speed. Last year I ran a 46:15 (4th overall 1st in AG) and I knew I was NOT in that good of shape this year, especially coming off a 20 miler Saturday that topped off a 60 mile week! So, I just wanted to test the waters.

Anyone that knows me knows I CAN NOT know the speed I am running. I never look at my Garmin and when I pass mile markers with people shouting times (if I'm alone) I ask them not to tell me. I push myself what I can when I can, because if I look at my watch and see me running a sub 7mm mile my brain thinks "what are you doing? you can't run that fast!" So, I get tired and psych myself out of running so fast. So...I just run.

As we took off I could see female after female pass me by...then the mom and 11 year old went by *sigh* slow ol' me! But, I kept truckin' on. I tried not to listen as the first mile time was called out, but I heard a 22 and had a touch of hope it may have been a 7, but not much. I tried to hit the downhill, pick people up (thinking they were running a good pace) then I'd slowly take over them. Always a good feeling to chick a few guys :) Only 2 women passed me the whole race, and I passed 2 - I figured this evened things out.

At the 3 mile mark I heard the guy say 22 even...wow, I really didn't think I was going that fast. Hey...I could make that 48 after all, keep moving legs, keep moving...the uphill is coming. As we hit the uphill portions I just thought "you know all those hills in Herriman are SO much harder than this, you do this every day - pick up the pace!" I tried and picked off a couple guys that had been lingering in front of me. They re-passed me on the biggest hill, but then I took it back :)

Just before mile 5 I needed to spit, but couldn't breathe in long enough to get a good 'huucckk' out. So, I just wiped it off...my thoughts "wow, running is SO glamorous! Glad I took the time to do my hair and then SPIT all over myself!" Just after that I saw the last water stop. I sure could use just a splash of Gatorade to trick my body into thinking it was getting energy and keep going. Not to be! The train gates just after the water stop started to go down as I was approaching "Nuh uh!" I said out loud. I turned up the speed and was bound and determined that if a train was coming I was going to beat it and NOT get stopped! After we saw no train coming and the arms lifted just before I got to them, I let a sigh of relief...oh crap! I wanted a drink.

The last mile I actually felt like I was pushing myself well. In retrospect I always think I was too comfortable and could've pushed harder. A guy that as I passed him said "nice job rabbit" passed me this mile, and I was determined to stay in his long shadow. I was literally running on his head the last mile :) Then, I caught a glimpse of the 11 yr old and her mom. I was NOT going to let a little kid beat me (oh, our pride!). This helped me focus more than rabbit man. On the last 1/2 mile uphill I could tell she was losing steam and I had to pass her before she saw the finish and used those darn fast twitch muscles to out sprint me! So, I did. Then we turned the corner and mom says "there's the finish, give it all you've got!" So, I did :) She finished 2 seconds BEHIND me. Aren't I proud, beating an 11 year old?!? blaahhh....

Crossing the finish it said 42:09, I quickly figured that was the 5K timer that had started 5 minutes after us. I'd run a great race, but the 5 mile guy said I was at 37:55, so I KNEW I hadn't finished in 42! I was VERY proud of myself for beating what I thought could be my best time, but then I remembered all those women in front of me....

This is the first time in the 4 years I've run this race I haven't placed top 3 in my AG. So, here goes my whine: I HATE my age group! There are SO many stinkin' fast women 30-34. If I still would've been in 25-29 I would've taken 1st by 2 minutes, but in my AG I come in 7th overall. So, my one consolation is that no one younger than me finished before me :) Good thing I beat that 11 year old, huh? lol!!!

So, I'm very proud of my time and that I finished only 53 seconds slower than last year. With my extra 15 pounds I'm carrying, no taper and just having a baby (11 weeks tomorrow) I think my conditioning is probably where I was last year. I just need to shape up (after I'm done nursing), and keep up the quality miles. However, the draw back is I feel a little depressed leaving without an AG prize...stupid I know. I race myself, and I'm the only one I can ever beat - but I'm still just a bit blue about it. Good motivation to keep working hard and go GET one next year! So watch out all you 30-34 year olds, I'm coming back! (or, you can move up an AG and let me win again :) )

Long story longer....I had a wonderful time and Marion's hospitality was top notch as always! Maureen, Kelli, Ashley, Tyler, Michelle and Lily all ran AMAZING races and were SO fun to chat with afterward. The social part of running really is my favorite. Kellie was there at the finish and it was good to chat with the new expecting mommy as well.  I ran back to Marion's in my crocs, and other than feeling a few rocks it wasn't bad; however, I only ran about 1/2 mile in them, so take it as you wish. Thanks for everyone's effort in helping make it a great day, I truly had a wonderful time. Plus, I won a raffle :)

AP: 7:37 splits: 7:20, 7:33, 7:30, 7:33, 7:59, 7:53, 6:54 (last .2)

*okay, I have to correct myself after seeing overall results. There were 3 other 30 year olds (Lily!) that finished before me, but I'm going to assume I'm the youngest of the four :) There was a 17 year old that also finished before me, so I can't claim the youngest fastest finisher anymore. Dang! All my titles are busted today :)*

Quality over Quantity this week.

2 mile warm-up to a nice hill out here...

8 X 30 second hill sprints - looking at Garmin it looks like I can't count and did 9.

2 X 60 second hill sprints

3 mile 'tempo' (just keeping a good effort, shooting for under 8:30's even on hills)

AP:  8:47 splits: 10:17 (hello warm-up!), 9:08 (hitting a groove), 8:12 (was hitting 6's on my hill sprints, then I'd recover down), 8:29 (finished up this mile on my last downhill recovery),  8:41, 8:20, 8:24 (really happy with this one, because there was a good 1/3-1/2 mile hill!).

Now I'm off to body sculpt and then I'll do some speed work on the TM

*class was good, but I feel like the teacher rests too much during sets. Kind of gets annoying. Hit the TM for 20 minutes of speed work afterward:

5 min warm-up @ 9:13mm

2 min @ 7:34mm, recovery 3 min @ 9:13mm

3 min @ 7:24mm, recovery 2 min @ 9:13mm

4 min @ 7:19mm, recovery 1 min @ 9:13mm

cool down walking for 2 min, then about 10 minutes stretching

AP: 8:19 for the entire 2.4 miles

Thanks Kelli for talking me through this workout, I needed a distraction!*

Quality Week, day #3 - 

I'm honestly a bit ashamed to even post that this was supposed to be a tempo run. The plan was 7 mile loop: 1 mile warm up, 5 mile 'tempo' (under 8:30 pace), 1 mile cool-down. The first couple miles of tempo were good, but as I hit the up hill and headwind it all went to crap! Seriously, how in the WORLD did I run a 7:35 pace for 6 miles just 2 days ago?

AP: 8:36 splits: 8:53 (downhill warm up), 7:49 (maybe too fast?), 8:13 (feeling good and in a groove), 8:31 (CRAP! I thought I was working harder and pushing faster than that 8:13!), 8:46 (quads burning, felt pukey a couple times...how in the world was this SO slow for the effort?!?), 8:36 (Got back into a bit of a groove with the hills, or maybe it was just seeing the light at the end of the tunnel) 9:22 (ahhh, easy pace cool-down!)

The best thing I can say is that I kept a sub 9mm on my hill of death (8:36) and that was one of my goals before SGM. I really did push hard on this run, and I'm hoping it was just tired legs from good workouts this week. I was almost 1/2 toying with the idea to shoot for a BQ (3:40:59) at SGM, but after today I think I'd be smarter to shoot for about 4hrs. I can't hold faster than this pace for 26 miles! *sigh*

Off to boot camp, but then afterward I think I may do elliptical and not TM to let the legs recover a bit before the hills from h&$$ tomorrow...

***Boot camp was crazy today! She had us do 1/5 mile of lunges, seriously?!? I think my legs are dead now...definitely dead! Not to mention that before that she burned out our arms, I am already looking forward to yoga Thursday and rest day Friday, but not so much the hills tomorrow.

After class I hit the elliptical for 25 minutes on L10 to try and move some of that lactic acid so I'm not so sore tomorrow. Two miles total for the time. Then I did 10 minutes of good stretching on the legs. I'll also roll tonight to hopefully be able to move in the morning before the run.***

I knew yesterday after class that this was going to be a slow run, but I was determined to make the best of it and get 'er done! 

Tackled the hills with effort, not speed :) However, I made an effort to try and keep a good clop on the downhills. If you would've heard my breathing on the uphill you probably would've thought I was having a heart attack! Between the hilly course and the gale force canyon wind on the uphills I definitely got a good workout despite the slower paces on the uphill.

AP:  9:10 splits: 10:17, 10:05, 10:12 (I honestly thought some of these may reach the 11's! So, I was pleased with this), 8:34 (a good uphill here, but I was feeling better after a nice downhill break), 8:07, 8:19, 7:18 (last .35) - gotta love that effortless downhill after nasty uphills!! 900 ft of elevation gain overall...

The senses this morning almost got as good of a workout as the legs. Petrichor, a light sprinkle of rain, amazing sunrise that just kept changing and from the high vantage point I reached got an amazing view of the entire valley. I also got to see numerous (probably 20+) deer, lots of babies, and some rabbits as well.

Now I get to be in full rest/recovery mode until Saturday's 22. Now yoga...aaahhh! My favorite part of the week!!!

Ahhhh, the heavenly nature of a well earned rest day!

60 min on the elliptical @ L10 - then 15 minutes of good stretching. Resting and fueling well for the 22 tomorrow!!

If anyone would like to join in - 5:30 at the green bridge on the Lehi JRP. We'll start North....

I really don't think that one should feel this good after a 22 miler at a pace only seconds (5) off their goal pace for the marathon, after a full hard week of training to boot (oh, and just having a baby 12 weeks ago). I may need to change my goal a little bit...

I was SO happy to have tons of people to run with! Staci (Smooth's fun running buddy) led us around the construction, Chad was there to finish off his training for TOU, and Cal, Becca and Annette and I were along for the 22 mile ride. Honestly, it really doesn't get much better than today. 

I had a great run, with great people, lots of big lies, fun times to be had all along the way (even nearly tripping on a SKUNK in the dark!), and even had our own personal cheering section on the way home (thanks Chad!). I REALLY hope I feel this good at mile 22 in three weeks.

Things really are just seeming to come together quite well for me, and I'm SO glad I have great people to keep me motivated and moving.

AP: 8:50 splits: 9:43, 8:57, 8:39, 8:34, 9:17, 9:28, 8:46, 9:00, 8:45, 8:46, 9:00, 8:57, 9:04, 8:46, 8:39, 8:42, 8:57, 9:03, 8:36, 8:34, 8:18, 7:55 (What the?!? How did I go progressive those last 5 miles and END under 8? Wow, that really surprises me! I guess those really WERE magic beans :) )

*oh, as a side note I keep finding more and more bloggers that live in my house :) Okay, not MY house, but the same house plan by the same builder. Shout out to all the FRB's: fieldstonerunningbloggers.com  :) *

Tried the RC loop in reverse. This means downhill both ways, BUT the uphill is one mother of an uphill!! I've run this hill before, but I forgot how much I love it :)

Had a couple runners to chase a few different times along the route, that always helps me keep up the pace. 

Uneventful run, except I can feel some twinges in my calves - so I'm going to do step class, but I'm  going to put my bench down low and be sure to stretch and roll my calves/legs every day this week.

AP: 8:48 splits: 8:52, 8:35, 8:04, 8:39, 10:30 (can you tell where the hill is?), 8:33, 8:37, 8:32.

Glad I was able to keep the paces all under 9's except that darn nasty hill, but hey, I conquered it and in good form :)

***Step and ab's class. Step wasn't all it usually is, but I also took out a riser from what I'm used to so that could be some of it too. Ab's was just normal class, sometimes I wish she'd change things up a bit more.***

I haven't wanted to sleep in and not run this bad for an awfully long time. I think I'm making aches and pains to rationalize taking a rest day... keep going Rachel, we're almost there...

Tried a new route and figured that it would be about 7 miles. Started out slow, 2 foxes ran across my path and then I looked for them in the field as I ran by where they passed and they were sitting up looking back at me. That was really fun! Lots of other runners out today as well, but they were all going the opposite direction so I didn't have anyone to chase.

I didn't want to push the pace, I figured we'd just make this a nice easy GA run. Then, something magical happened on the way home. My hill of death didn't seem so much like a hill of death. I honestly even forgot I was running uphill a few times! I'm sure the pace was slow (haven't seen splits yet), but the fact that I didn't feel like I was dying after 2+ miles of the hill home was pure bliss! I'm glad these hills are finally starting to 'level' out for me!

I actually ended up adding on a mile+ on the run (UP the hill the death) and feeling wonderful when I got home. I'm glad I didn't sleep now, but that I got my lazy behind out of bed. Besides, my calves/shins are feeling much better today as well.

AP: 9:17 splits: 9:56, 8:58, 8:57, 9:08, 9:48, 9:40, 9:34, 8:14

Now off to body sculpt - not my favorite class, but it's better than paying the personal trainer money I don't have :) I'll probably end up hitting a few more on the TM as well.

***body sculpting -done. Hit the TM for 3 easy miles then ran out the 30 minutes chatting with Kelli, thanks Kelli! 9:22mm on the TM.***

I am getting a bit frustrated with not sleeping at night...things get better, then worse, better then worse. I go to bed early just to be awakened every couple hours and I wake up feeling more desperate  for sleep than when I went to bed.

Ran to the church to run the 5K route twice, which with the mile there would give me 8 total. I was going to try to push the 5K's, but I think I ran the slowest 5K's I've run in a long time. Sluggish legs with no sleep = a long slow morning run.

I'm also going to gripe about people NOT stopping at stop signs, speeding and not ever looking right before they turn. Ugghhh....I'm tired of nearly getting killed every morning.

AP: 9:08 splits: 9:37 (warm-up), 9:03, 9:21, 9:01 (1st 5K = 27:25, less the .1), 9:13, 9:07, 8:41 (2nd 5K, less the .1 - finally getting moving a bit = 27:01), 8:59 (cool down).

Now I'm off to boot camp, then I'll probably take some time to read on the bike to try and give myself a little time to myself....

***boot camp (mostly resistance training, not much cardio), then 4 easy miles (20 min @ L3) on the bike as I read RW.***

All right, now don't fall off your chair....

I didn't run at all, or cross train, just yoga and some extra stretching on my own, and I'm done for the day!

My body is feeling taxed, yesterday I was walking like an old lady and could barely pick up my feet. Shin's hurt, hammy's tight, quads ache and I'm getting allergies like no body's business and I went to bed wondering if I had strep throat, because my body ached so bad (even my fingers) and my throat hurt (wasn't up for eating anything other than watermelon and yogurt for dinner). I never had a fever though, so I wondered if it was just allergies (when inside my ears start to get itchy I suspect allergies).

I knew I wasn't going to run today at about 3PM yesterday. I'm glad I listened to my body. Getting a good night's rest (thanks baby!) and yoga today have seriously made a HUGE difference. I may hit a couple easy miles on the TM tomorrow, but I need to start listening to good advice and taper like I'm supposed to and NOT make myself sore and tired. Recovery and taper - not break down to build up! (Thanks Coach!)

Feeling MUCH better today, although still a bit sore from workouts I probably should've skipped. I decided to just do a few miles (30 min) on the TM at the gym to get the legs moving again. 

1 mile WU - 9:30

2 miles @ MP (hopefully) - 8:13

.5 cool down - 9:13

So, I think I'm going to try and shoot for an 8:15 AP for the full. It may be ambitious, but if I crash and burn, I know I'll still finish. But, if I don't go for it and end up feeling good (not like I left it all out there) at the end of the race I'm going to beat myself up for it. So...here's to shooting for the moon and hopefully at least falling among the stars!

The 2 miles today actually felt good, I could easily chat with my friend on the TM next to me and although it didn't feel easy, it wasn't like a death march either. I do have to realize I'm a little 'fresh' right now and that may have made a difference too, but either way it was good for the confidence factor.

To finish out my day care time I hit the bike for 45 min = 8.5 miles @ L4 resistance. Nice easy reading time. Trying to get into "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" for book club. Bit of a slow start, but it's starting to pick up.

Finished with a good 10 min of stretching. Stretching really is my best friend lately :)

Wow, this run was definitely a good one. Good sarcastically for the uphill PLUS horrible winds, and good honestly for the downhill paces I was able to keep afterward. A very good confidence builder for me.

Met Becca, Annette, Cal and Ryan at the Riverton Hospital, then began our trek up...up...up. It was SO nice to hit some of those hills at the beginning of a run instead of at the end like I normally have to do! Then, we finished up Yellow Fork Canyon. Once we hit the cove it was like a hurricane pushing you back, even the downhills felt like effort. I was SO glad to have that over and done with at 8.5 miles!

Turned and came down and my goal was to hit some MP miles on the downhill to see how it felt to carry that pace after a long hard push on the legs. It didn't feel too bad, but by the end I was done. Looking at my splits I'm very happy with the consistent effort I held over the 8.5 back down. That pace isn't necessarily EASY for me, but it's not hard. Which after topping a nearly 50 mile week is a good sign that I can hold it in a full, right? (yes...I'm asking for encouragement here).

Feeling good and not too sore - after an ice bath :) I'm really looking forward to the next two weeks of tapering along with the full, only 14 more days!! YIPEE!!

Thanks all for joining me in my crazy run this morning, and a special thanks to Cal for the water stops. Garmin has it at just over 1000 ft of elevation gain, which Cal figured was about 2.5% average grade over the 8.5 miles (how he does that while running, I have NO idea!!). A great final effort to top off an amazing whirlwind training after baby! Sweet thing is 3 months on the 22nd, oh how time flies.

AP: 8:52  uphill splits: 9:31, 8:56, 9:05, 9:16, 9:02, 9:34, 10:02, 10:16 - holy cow. Seriously that canyon with the wind took it out of me!! Other than those last two I feel really good about those uphill splits, and honestly those last two I do feel good about, because I know the effort that was put into those 10mm!! Downhill splits: 9:09 (1/2 of this was up), 8:06, 8:05, 8:02, 8:18, 8:08, 8:25, 8:15, 8:31 - I blame the higher 8:31 on the last mile from having to go up and over Bangerter on the bridge, it messes with the Garmin on those tight turns. So, my AP for the 8 full downhill was 8:13....right on target.

What a crazy night! HUGE fire out here, we were about 1/2 mile away from the evacuation line and watched the fire build and creep closer all night. Thankfully, once it hit the house line area the firefighters were right on things and it looks like VERY few homes were damaged, last night I would've sworn it was more than a dozen!!

After staying up late last night (1:30AM) listening to the TV coverage and reading internet update and peeking out the window I went to bed figuring I'd either skip the run, do it at the gym or do it at home. 

Woke up with school canceled, the fire looking TONS better, and not being able to get back into the neighborhood if you left. So, hubby worked from home and I spent a couple more hours on the computer on FB and checking updates.

Finally around 11:00 went out for a run to survey damage. Our neighborhood back roads turn into dirt roads and connect to the canyon road, so I decided to go up to the best bluff and check things out. Especially since all my other routes went through evac areas. The canyon we ran up Saturday actually looks nearly untouched! The cove neighborhood looks good and the fire line further than I thought from the homes. Only one area further East was still being sprayed by a fire truck with just a bit of smoke coming out. Looks SO much better than I even imagined last night, I thought for sure that I'd wake up to horrible carnage. I'm pleasantly surprised and grateful!

So, my 4 mile loop included about 1/2 mile of trail running, but I'm not complaining. It was nice and slow, because I was doing more gawking than running (and I haven't eaten yet this morning!). I'd look up and realize I was in the middle of the street...oops! Good thing it's eerily quiet with no school, cars and just the buzz of helicopters overhead.

Honestly, it was really nice to get out and de-stress a little bit. I needed it! Now, to get my head back to normal life and get normal Monday stuff done and pull myself away from the computer!

AP: 9:29 splits: 9:35, 9:28, 9:44 (trail running part), 9:13, 8:55 (last .1)

Another day to sleep in :) I knew I wasn't going to do body sculpt today since it kicked my trash and made me so sore last week! So, I slept in and just did the 6 on the TM at the gym. I'm getting spoiled with this sleep business, I don't know what I'm going to do tomorrow when I have to wake up!

Started at a 9:30mm and would slowly increase the speed as I felt myself getting used to the pace, so a good progressive run. Ending at 8:13mm for the last 1/4 mile.  AP for the 6 mile run was 8:59, I didn't realize I was past 6 until I was 6.07, so I decided to round it off to 6.1. I can tell I'm hitting some taper madness because faster speeds don't seem so hard. I need to cool it and stick to the taper plan! I really want SGM to go well!

Walked and chatted for a bit after the miles with a friend, then stretched and chatted some more. Love these easy days! Shins are groaning a bit and I'm really trying to take care of them - stretch and roll the calves, I scraped the injured area Saturday and Sunday. Does anyone have any experience with compression socks helping shin splints? I'm kind of curious and willing to give it a shot if it's worth the $!!

Boy, I sure am getting lazy with this sleep thing :) I was going to get up and run this morning, but decided I'd have enough time at the gym to do some TM running. So, I turned off the alarm and went back to sleep. I must thank sweet Baby Fartlek for letting me sleep at night as well. 

Went to boot camp, but only did stuff I knew wouldn't make me sore. If I felt any burning or pain starting I'd stop doing the stuff or modify. I refuse to make myself sore, but I do love that class! We ran a mile in class today, so I got to add on a mile to my projected distance for my run today as well. 

After class went to the TM to wake up these legs! Decided I hadn't done any 800's in my training so I'd see if I could even hit a few at 3:30. I know it's not the full 8-10 with proper rest between etc etc that does a good accurate prediction, but I also don't want to exhaust myself. Just enough to wake 'em up!

1 mile warm-up at 9:20mm

800 @ 7:03 pace so a 3:31 or so - recovery .3 miles @ 9:13 (the TM doesn't have hundredths so I went for .3 instead of .2).

800 @ 6:58 pace = 3:29 - recovery .3 @ 9:13

800 @ 6:58 pace, 3:29 - recovery .3 @ 9:13

800 @ 6:58 pace (felt like I was going to die, so I bumped the speed down to 7:03 about 1/2 way, then felt good the last .1 and bumped it back up) = about 3:30.

Cooled down for the last .2 of the workout @ 9:13, then walked for 8 minutes afterward. AP for the 4 miles works out to be 8:15mm.

I'm surprised I could really hold those paces that long...things are looking good and confidence is building. Now to just get rid of these nasty shin splints...

Made an executive decision yesterday to not run today. We went to the circus and I couldn't even walk normal my calves/shins hurt so bad. I really need to find a way to take care of these things!!! I've tried it all, rest now is the only thing I have left...so I'm going to try. I also didn't want to run on them before I got the compression sleeves and I couldn't do that until this morning. I've got them now and will be wearing them all day to hopefully heal as part of my RICE treatment...

So, I went to yoga and will run tomorrow and use today as my rest day. It's easier to run 6 miles the day before a 12 mile 'long' run than a 22 mile long run!

Should've listened to the voice in my head telling me to just get my lazy butt out of bed and run outside this morning. Things would've been a lot better if I did. My poor 6 year old gets migraines and woke up with one this morning so I felt like I needed to take care of him before running, but I really wanted to go to the gym (to drop off the other 2 boys) so I could get some miles in and try out running in the compression sleeves. Got the boy some meds, an ice pack to put over his eyes (you couldn't talk to him, because he said that made him worse), and snuggled him up on the couch. When he was out cold (I think we got meds into him in time, because he usually is bad enough he throws up a few times or right after I give him meds and it all stayed down today!) and sleeping I left him on the monitor with my neighbor and ran off for a quick jaunt at the gym while he slept things off. If I would've run this morning I could've stayed home with the boy and not worried about the gym...ugghh I hate when I don't listen and regret it!

So, a quick 6 mile TM run @  8:57 AP. Started at 9:13 pace for the first mile, then 9:05 for the majority of the rest, but with about 1.5 miles left bumped things up a bit to just get finished.

Shins/calves are feeling better, compression sleeves seem to be working like a charm! They felt better after I ran and stretched than they have in a couple days, still do.

When I got home I woke up the boy and when I asked how he was feeling he said "good!" so, off to school he went. Now I'm just up for working and babysitting for the rest of the day....

Nice easy 'Sunday' run with the chumps. Forgot to wake up after turning my alarm off so I was rushing like crazy to get out of the house this morning, but was still able to get to Porter Rockwell Trail in time. 

It was so nice to have SO many running friends around, ran mostly with Slick to get some good SGM tips for next week. The physical prep is done...this week is now mentally getting ready. Had to forgo breakfast - too much to do at home this morning.

It's nice to see an AP of 9:08 and know  how wonderfully easy it felt. Controlled breathing and like a walk in the park. Gotta love the taper. Scheduled a massage for tonight - can't wait!

 AP: 9:08 splits: 9:22, 9:05, 8:49, 9:04, 9:01, 9:25, 9:30, 9:11, 9:09, 9:19, 9:13, 8:36, 8:00 (last .15).

Thanks to everyone who I got to hang with this morning!! It was absolute fun, just a little taste of next weekend....I want more! :)

Okay, I'm only going to say this once, then I'll change my attitude, pick my head up, get back on the bandwagon and make it work: I think St George Marathon is going to be a disaster for me this year. My calves are still not cooperating like I want them too, and I'm afraid it's going to cause some big problems for me this weekend. Now, that the thought is out of my head it's gone - gone - gone. 

Kids are off track, so I slept in and waited until baby was down for his morning nap then just ran up and down the street (I added a little loop at the end, but about the same) so I could check in on the kids that were supposedly cleaning their bedrooms every mile. Lucy (my puppy) hit the first couple loops with me - wow, I need to take her on more runs. She's getting slow and lazy - after the first mile of needing to bound off everywhere. 

The first 3 miles were not good: slow, more painful on the calves than expected and normally on Mondays after a nice rest I've got a skip in my step - not today. After I dropped off Lucy (at mile 3), I decided I really want to try and open things up and see if I could keep pace. I was able to slowly ramp things up and get faster and faster and honestly the faster paces felt better on the legs than the slower paces. I don't know if that is a good sign or not. Either way, I felt a TON better by the end of the run than I did at the beginning. Plan was to run mile 5 at a nice cool down, but I felt good so I kept running the faster pace.

AP: 9:06 splits: 9:15, 9:42, 9:45, 8:42, 8:06

Stretching and hydrating on the docket for the rest of the week. Ready or not, SGM is coming!

5K tune up, sleep is good lately. Legs feel like lead when I run - I thought a taper would make them fresh? Ugghhh.

 AP: 8:31 splits: 8:48, 8:23, 8:28, 7:45 (last .1)

You're running on guts. On fumes. Your muscles twitch. You throw up. You're delirious. But you keep running because there's no way out of this hell you're in, because there's no way you're not crossing the finish line. It's a misery that non-runners don't understand.
- Martine Costello

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy...It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed."
- Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon Winner

To describe the agony of a marathon to someone who's never run it is like trying to explain color to someone who was born blind.
- Jerome Drayton

Nerves, nerves, nerves....My brain is going to explode, so I just try not to think about any of it. 

Ran without the compression sleeves today and I'm still undecided about whether or not to wear them Saturday. I think I'm now leaning toward not wearing them. 

Short little shake down, finally hit what felt like my normal gait. Haven't felt that these last few runs due to the calves. IB is my friend...

I'm copying Allie and saving my .2 for the race. That way, I have to finish to round out my miles for the week :)

Yoga tomorrow, travel Friday...race Saturday. Please oh please my calves - cooperate!!

AP: 8:21 splits: 8:40, 8:10, 8:06 (last .7)  - the 8:10 was with an uphill push on my favorite hill of death, maybe there is more in me than I'm giving myself credit for right now. Man oh man, I'm going crazy!! 23.5 more of these? Really? Yikes!

"Your toughness is made up of equal parts persistence and experience. You don't so much outrun your opponents as outlast and outsmart them, and the toughest opponent of all is the one inside your head." - Joe Henderson

"It hurts up to a point and then it doesn't get any worse."
- Ann Trason

"You have to wonder at times what you're doing out there. Over the years, I've given myself a thousand reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started. It comes down to self-satisfaction and a sense of achievement."
- Steve Prefontaine

"Runners just do it - they run for the finish line even if someone else has reached it first." - Author Unknown

"I always loved running...it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs." - Jesse Owens
 

Yoga --- ahhhh, calms the nerves and the body. Calves are feeling better daily, lets hope another 48 hours and IB helps get them to 100% by Saturday. Sounds like it's going to be one HOT run, I'm all for heat, but yuck...I guess it's motivation to run faster. Should be finished by 11, still is awfully hot by then!

Onward and Upward!

Travel safely everyone and I hope to catch you all there (those of you going anyway) - GOOD LUCK!!!