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

St George Marathon

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15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

Herriman,UT,USA

Member Since:

Jan 01, 2009

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Age Division Winner

Running Accomplishments:

St George Marathon: 3:23:54 (10/6/12)

Half IM: 5:44:03 (8/25/12 - course was long!)

25K trail - Buffalo Run (16.5) 2:34:50

Half Marathon: American Fork - 1:30:44  6/23/12

Spectrum 10K 43:42   3/17/2012

Best 5K: Spanish Fork 21:55 05/30/09

Short-Term Running Goals:

Okay, so for 2013 I am going to have FUN! Not that running isn't always fun, but I had a wonderful breakthrough year last year and I want to play this year :) AND get faster! So, my first goal I'm going to put out there is my yearly mileage goal.
It is 2,186 miles from my driveway to my sister (QP's) driveway! I want to spend this year on a virtual trek cross country running those miles. So, that is how far I will run in 2013...from my house to QPs. It will take all year and yes, this is measured on Hwys so it isn't really exactly how I COULD run it, but good enough. 43 miles/week...totally doable, and a fun goal to track how far I've traveled as I go along. Who knows...maybe I'll even run PAST her house :)

I will do more trail runs, Boston, Pacing duties, another Half IM and some other tris. I'm excited for this next year and look forward to having fun with all of you out on the roads, and trails! Maybe bag a few peaks this year too!!

Long-Term Running Goals:


Big Dreams: 5K in 20:2X; 10K in 39:XX; Half in 1:29:XX; Full in 3:15:XX; complete the Rim2Rim2Rim run and not die; Comrades; Iron(wo)Man.

Run for the rest of my life!

Personal:

4 children: twelve, eight, five and baby Fartlek - 2 1/2. Wonderful supportive husband that lets me drag him and the family all over for race after race!

Finished 13 marathons and LOVE running that distance! I'm definitely hooked to the marathon monster and hope to constantly improve my endurance, speed and stay injury free!

I've also found a love of trail running! I hope to keep improving on this front.

After being injured with a broken foot at the first of 2012 I found a tri group and started training with them and am now loving tris! The half IM was harder than I'd ever imagined...and am ready to do it again. I'll earn my bike butt and someday have enough time to train for a full IM.

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
BIKE MILES Lifetime Miles: 1168.40
LUCY MILES Lifetime Miles: 25.25
Adidas Lifetime Miles: 319.66
Orange II Lifetime Miles: 390.41
Boston Mizuno Lifetime Miles: 568.97
Fargo Nikes Lifetime Miles: 500.03
BEANS Lifetime Miles: 755.00
Orange Bostons Lifetime Miles: 527.59
Solomon Trail Lifetime Miles: 363.98
PI Tri Shoes Lifetime Miles: 4.00
Boston Mizuno 10s Lifetime Miles: 140.75
New Orange Lifetime Miles: 157.05
Total Distance
144.00
OEOHFPPE Miles: 2.50Pink Altras Miles: 7.50TTT #1 Miles: 5.00Pokey Purples Miles: 83.80Inspire Yellow Racers Miles: 7.00Purple People Runners Miles: 16.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Total Distance
6.00

Slept in. Kids off track, so I got to do a trail run with Heidi! After about a mile she could feel a migrane coming on, so we just power hiked to the top, then ran down. Total of 2.5 miles on my garmin of running. It is SO beautiful up there!! I can't wait for next week to hike all week with her!

Kids had swim lessons so we all headed to the rec center. While one was in swim I finished up my 6 miles on the TM in my Altras.

TT: 27:00 AP: 7:43

splits: 8:00, 7:47; 7:35; then progressive the last .5 to finish before swim was out.

Gotta love taper week! Just sleeping, relaxing and enjoying it all!!

OEOHFPPE Miles: 2.50Pink Altras Miles: 3.50
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(4)
Total Distance
5.00

I had gotten up, done my run, come home, showered and was back in bed before anyone else (including hubby) had even woken up. Oh, the joy of taper week! :)

Ran 5 miles, just 2.5ish with the Newtons. I cut back up to the lake on 11800s instead of making the full 10 mile loop. Then, I took the long way back along the lake and finished with a nice little walk back to the car. Excellent! The moon was out; bright and full, casting my shadow on the path and with my headlamp dead I just enjoyed it! The stars reflecting on the lake, the moon shadows and the peaceful stillness of morning. Gotta love a good run!

I was contemplating how I felt this run V other runs I did just before Ogden and as I ran along the lake I thought....this pace, this feels comfortably hard. I think I could handle this one. I thought for sure after climbing the hill up there I would've been dragging slow about an 8mm, but I was at a 7:45mm. Can I do this? Will my legs and lungs (full of crap thanks to allergies) allow me to really do this? I'm not sure. BUT, I'm going to let them decide Saturday morning. Start out nice and even and comfortable. Enjoy the Veyo climb and then hang on to the finish. We will see where I'm at around half time and I'll know what I have left to give at that point. I just hope the heat stays away until 11AM! :)

AP: 8:09 splits: 8:01, 8:15, 8:32, 8:12, 7:43

TTT #1 Miles: 5.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(5)
Total Distance
3.00

Slept in, kids were still asleep so I snuck out for a little 5K jaunt. Gotta love taper week!

Did the stake 5K route, which means a big nasty uphill. Okay, not really...more like the slow painful never ending kind. I still don't like it :) 1st mile mostly down, 2nd mile starts the climb, 3rd mile is the last half of the climb and some downhill to finish it off. My splits are perfect reflections of this!

AP: 7:46 splits: 7:52, 7:58, 7:32 (6:33 pace for the last .05 to the door)

I was surprised that middle split didn't go over 8mm. I guess that is a good thing. Only problem is...I'm supposed to keep this pace for another 23.2 miles? Oh heaven help me...


Pokey Purples Miles: 3.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(10)
Total Distance
4.00

Kelli was wonderful enough to meet me in the daylight at my house and run a quick little jaunt with me! I had a wonderful morning run and got home in time (okay, really stopped talking in time) to get a shower, get to swim lessons, lunch with my mom, Sams Club, Costco, Music, Work and home by 8:30PM which is when we ate dinner. Whew. So much for getting packed today. I'm going to bed.

AP: 8:23 splits: 8:34, 8:22, 8:45, 7:55 (7:39 for the last .10 of a mile I'm not recording)


 

Pokey Purples Miles: 4.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(8)
Race: St George Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:23:55, Place overall: 127, Place in age division: 4
Total Distance
26.20

Seriously, the best race ever! My biggest goal was just to finish happy, I needed a good SGM. After last year chewing me up and spitting me out, I just wanted to finish happy and with a good mental race! A good time would just be icing on the cake. I had my BQ, acceptance to Boston and I didn't need the pressure. So, I just started and kept things comfortable. There were times I forgot I was running. Relaxed and enjoyed it!

Highlights:

Meeting Bart Yasso at the hotel and riding the shuttle and bus to the top with him!

Mile 5 hug and personalized poster from a great friend who lives on the course!

Hitting mile 20 feeling like a million bucks! I just FLEW down those nice downhill miles.

Never looking at the garmin. Okay, once...on the mile at Veyo I saw the split was 8:45, but that was it. Just kept even effort and enjoyed the journey

Hitting a new PR! 4th in Athena! Taking Podium with winners to get my award!

Walking back to the hotel with Kelli and Scott...then Bart Yasso too!

Riding the high all day and not feeling TOO drug down and knocked out. I'm sore, but not as horrible as it has been in the past.

Being called 'Wicked Witch' by the 3:25 pacer...loved it :) he finally asked my real name at mile 18, just before I made him eat my wicked witch dust!!

I'll fill in the details later...when y'all don't have to spend 5000 years reading it!

 

Pokey Purples Miles: 26.20
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(30)
Total Distance
3.00

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful trail run with Heidi. We've been trying to find the 7 mile loop that goes around the canyon for the last few hikes. Well, we finally did it!! I was SO excited, when we got to the view point it was amazing and I can't believe how high we'd hiked! We power walked up through some steep stuff and then did a gentle run down, where we could. Some of it was so steep, walking was just enough.

Finished the 7 mile loop in 1hr 45min. I love this! I think this 7 mile loop is going to become a frequent trail run for me now. Just a hop and a skip from my door!

Inspire Yellow Racers Miles: 7.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
0.00

3 mile walk around daybreak lake with Christine. We got back to the cars just before Chad and George finished their 10 miler. Then we all had donuts and chocolate milk :) best part of a marathon! recovery! :)

Then I went home slept longer and then did music class and went to lunch with BBK's. Perfect day! Love having the kids off track and just relaxing.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(3)
Total Distance
0.00

More sleeping in! I love this. Went to the gym and did the spin bike easy for about 90 minutes while reading. Only planned on 60 minutes, but I had to finish the book.

Legs are finally starting to feel normal again. Might try a few miles tomorrow.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Total Distance
2.00

A nice spin effort dripping all over while I read the 2nd book in the series I finished yesterday. A good YF book: Uglies and now I'm in Pretties. 60 min of sustained effort.

Then I did just 2 miles on the TM. Legs are finally starting to feel good again. I'm still going to be taking it easy, but it is nice to know they will still move if I ask them nicely :)

AP: 8:15, splits: 8:34, then went progressive every quarter to finish at 7:30mm.


Pink Altras Miles: 2.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(7)
Total Distance
0.00

Another fun morning on the spin bike! Gotta love getting that reading hour in :) I showed my daughter I was 2/3rds of the way done with the 2nd book and she said "What?!? When do you read?" I told her I do it at the gym...I don't think she'll be so supportive of me running off to the gym now that she knows I just go there to read :)

60 min good hard effort on the spin bike. May or may not have gotten a good couple drops of sweat on the book. Gotta love public library books.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(7)
Race: Utah Half Marathon and Fittest State Festival (13.1 Miles) 01:47:11, Place overall: 21, Place in age division: 7
Total Distance
18.00

Met at Allie's house in the 'elite staging' area. SO nice! I rarely get to knock on people's doors before 6AM and get greeted with a smile :) Met Devra and then Andrea and Jake came, James was sleeping. I did my best to wake him, but failed. 

Allie, Devra, Jake and I ran the mile to the start line and tried to find the bag drop. I'd just left everything in the car, I was traveling light. After taking so long to find the bag drop that we missed the awesome lulu lemon free stretch at 6:30, we headed over to the start. Shoot. Maybe next time :) 

There we ran into Preston and I was excited to hear he was just along for the ride and was willing to run slow with me. I kept looking for Brooke, I was thinking I'd just love to run nice and easy with her and pace her through, but I couldn't ever find her :( stink. Before I knew it we were at the front and it was time to go. We hadn't started that far back, but man did it get clogged up fast! We were weaving around running around an 11mm. Finally broke from the crowd and Mike Powell caught up to us and ran and chatted for a while.

Before I knew it, we were headed up 900S. It is the honorable mention to Ally's Sunnyside UP route. So, I didn't whine in her honor...just plugged along with coach (Preston) keeping me going. This was quiet time. Breathe or talk, I chose to breathe. You'd think the hill would end, but it didn't. It just kept going and going and going. Somewhere along the way a lady told me I was 19th female. What?!? no way! This put a little bug in me. I wanted more. My legs felt good and there were 2 women right in front of me. Oh yeah, I can do this. I passed both women and when we turned around just before the zoo and I got a 1/4 mile taste of slight downhill I felt like I could conquer the world. Then, more uphill...

That was the story of this course, more uphill. I had seen the course and I know the U and downtown enough to know what I was in for, but dang all that uphill gets mentally defeating after a while. Especially on legs that are already a bit fatigued from SGM the week before. The nice thing is LOTS of people running this race had done SGM, so I felt like I had no place to whine about it...just keep going and enjoy the fact that I CAN run!

Those 2 ladies passed me back again sometime in the next few miles, but by then my conquering spirit had left with all the energy from my legs. I was just tired and fatigue had set in. Oh well, just sit back, relax and enjoy the company of coach who kept a close eye on the garmin saying I'd be pleased with what we were running. I just trusted him on that one. At the U we ran through/by Ft Douglas on a little back road I'd never been on before and I loved it! Beautiful! Then, after the U hospital as we headed toward the cemetery. It was a GORGEOUS view of the valley, sun on the lake, clear fresh skies, clouds just beautifully perfect for a crisp fall morning. Wow. Wish I could've bottled that moment/view up.

At Shriners hospital we had another wicked uphill jaunt for 100M or so, my legs had finally gotten used to the downhill and now back up again! Then, we finally got some good downhill to City Creek Canyon and the Capitol. The race had great organized aid stations and the volunteers were friendly. Cheerleaders every so often were a fun comedic relief too :) At the top of State St on the Capitol grounds they had a band, which was wonderful for your death decent down! Holy Crap! All those 10 miles of uphill recovered in one short 1/4 mile of downhill. Coach and I both screamed for a good 20 seconds as we started that hill. YIKES! At this point another woman flew by me. She was certainly using the downhill to her advantage.

Ahhh, finally down and I knew we just had to wind our way down to library square...but 2 miles worth? HA! I forgot the theme of the race...more uphill. Yup. We turned East and got to hit ANOTHER 1/4ish mile hill UP the Avenues. Holy Moly, I'm done. I don't know how you crazies live there and run those ups and downs all the time! I'll take my long forever slight uphills out here in the SW corner and you can keep your twisting sharp up and downhills in the NE.

We went to I street, then fought our way back. My legs were so done. The downhill of City Creek had successfully tightened my hammies and I couldn't do a full stride out. So, running downhill hurt, because I couldn't extend my legs fully and I was fatigued. Ready to be done, feeling the miles from SGM creep back into the legs. Coach was good and reminded me the faster we run the faster we finish. So, I just kept it up and worked my way there. At our last turn onto State Street there was a Drum Band with those huge Asian drums! It was SO stinkin' awesome! Totally worth the $10 registration fee right there!! Energized me enough to get down the last 1/2 mile or so to the finish.

As we turned the corner we plugged it in for the last sprint to the finish. I wish I could've given more during the race, but I knew that I did what my legs would let me. I wasn't 'racing' this one, but I felt like I wasn't just taking a nice relaxing jog either. A good push for tired legs, but not killing myself. I backed off when needed and other than the uphills kept a conversational pace the whole time.

I was pleased to see 1:47 on the clock, especially knowing all the uphills I'd conquered. As I stared up 400S at the U, I just thought "boo-yah! I ran UP that!" Love those endorphins!

AP: 8:09 splits: 8:09 (funny, first mile is my AP!), 8:28, 9:23, 8:34, 8:27, 7:57, 8:18, 7:54, 7:38, 7:49, 7:56, 7:57, 7:42, 7:01 (last bit to the finish).

Now, the fun part came. I wasn't cool enough to REGISTER for both races, but I did the 5K too. When I had the $10 codes, I talked hubby into bringing the kids up for a fun run too. With the 1/2 and 5K start 2 hrs apart I knew I could be there for their race too, so it would be fun! Well, the 1/2 started probably 10ish minutes late...which I'd forgotten, but I still headed right over to the start line to find the family.

Found hubby and the stroller easily enough, but none of the kids running were with him. He said they'd all lined up ahead. Okay... Finally found Lauren and asked where the boys were "up there!" What? We were already only 30ish feet back from the start. Please don't tell me they went to the FRONT!

Well, low and behold. I glanced up and there they were. Toeing the line! My 8 and 5 year old...with Jake :) Allie and Devra were even behind them. They had started the 10 second count down before I even found them and with 2 seconds left all I could do was damage control and hope the didn't get trampled. The bad mom in me wishes they would've! Natural consequences...right?

Anyway, they shot out with the starters and in about 5 feet were swallowed in the crowd. There was one boy who fell and folks were jumping over him and going around, luckily, my boys kept their feet down. I'm telling you. I was SO embarrassed! What runner doesn't teach their kids not to line up at the front unless you are staying at the front?!? Uggghhh!! I didn't know whether to laugh, cry or just bury my head in the sand and pretend I didn't know them! :) I wanted to pull them back and to the side, but I didn't have time at the start, so I just did the best I could. Needless to say, on the way home they both got a good talking to about NOT lining up at the front like that in a race with adults! My kids are awesome, but not that awesomely fast...and obviously, not that awesomely SMART either :)

So, I ended up run/walking the 5K with my 5 year old. The first mile of the race was ALL uphill! My hubby (lined up with the WALKERS!!) caught up to us and was wondering when the hill would end. I just smiled knowing at the top of State St he'd still have to turn East and go up another hill into the Avenues :)

The worst part was the 5K CROSSED the half route. They were going straight down State and we turned onto State. I would've been SO mad if I was a halfer at that time. There was a near solid wall of people streaming around the corner and you couldn't really just run through it. So, the halfers had to stop to let us by. Oh man, the craziness that ensued after that.

So, like I said...the halfers had to turn UP into the Avenues too. That is the way I'd gone on the course and you don't change the course mid-race just because the 5K joins. Well, because of the 5K confusion there were a bunch of people with half bibs going down State at that point that had missed the turn, not realizing the 5K just joined in on the route at that point. So, I started telling them they missed the turn and they said they were told NOT to go down that street or that they'd gone up and were told to turn around. I finally said "I finished already, and that is the way I went! You need to turn there and go to I street, the 5K joins here." But, only 2 people listened to me. The cop directing people was on the phone, hopefully getting the confusion worked out. I felt REALLY bad for the halfers then!! At the finish line (after) I heard from a couple of them that they'd run almost a mile too long due to the confusion. Not well organized if you ask me. Oh well, I tried.

My little 5 year old kept passing my 8 year old who usually runs faster than his 11 yr old sister. I don't know exactly what was up with him, but he eventually got a little back on the downhill and pulled ahead around the 2 mile mark. My 5 year old and dad with the stroller kept leap frogging us and I kept encouraging him when he wanted to walk. For a little guy he did a GREAT job. He always says "I can't do this!" I then have to remind him that he has done this 3 times before and that he'll be fine. He makes me laugh. When we got to the end I peeled off so that I didn't go over the finish mat twice and really screw things up for the timers. Little guy finished in 41:30, my 5 year old was just 15 seconds in front of him and Dad edged him out by just 9 seconds due to chip time. Lauren, my 11 yr old was the best finisher of the family taking 7th in her AG and doing a 32:04, not bad for a swimmer that doesn't run...except in races.

Not sure I can really count my 5K of 41 min as running, but I'm going to anyway. 

So, we all had a great time and despite the uphill my hubby still survived. Everyone loved the post race pasta and ice cream. I could barely stomach the pasta, but the bite I had tasted good. They were handing out fliers for Thriller and my hubby thought it was for the zombie run and he just said to them "I'M NEVER RUNNING AGAIN!" Ha! Made me laugh, he knows he will. He does whatever I tell him to do :)

Well, here it was 9:50 and we had 3 different commitments to get to in Herriman at 10AM. This wasn't going to turn out well. So, I didn't have time to wait for people, visit, chat or check out results. I just had to run the mile back to the car and get home. Hubby took the kids to the other car and then I told him where to meet me so that we could trade cars and he could go to help family move while I took David to football. The best part was, even with a banana in one hand, a half eaten creamie in the other, medal around my neck and lovely slow legs that were tired and sore and hammies that were all cramped up and not extending, I still made it to the car before he drove there. I even had time to knock and see if Ally was home or not, drink, finish my banana and creamie and get my sweatshirt on. Oh yeah, I'm cool like that :)

On the way home, I was thinking I'd probably done too much too soon. I was more exhausted as I passed the mile 21 sign along where the marathon joins with the half than I was at SGM mile 21. My legs were cramped, sore and my feet were achy. Poo. This would take recovery. All I wanted to do was lay down and sleep. The rest of the day was worse than marathon hang over, I'd certainly beat myself up well. Luckily Sunday morning I woke up refreshed and it didn't feel quite so bad anymore. I still think I need to take it easy this week, but I'm glad I just don't feel like a train ran me over anymore!

Pokey Purples Miles: 18.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(6)
Total Distance
0.00

60 minutes on the spin bike while reading Specials third book in the series. Only one more to go. Hopefully, the 4 people in front of me on the library list get their books fast. I'll probably be done with this one by tomorrow.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(3)
Total Distance
0.00

Another day on the bike. Good sweaty workout. Almost done with book 3. 

My mom took my kids last night, so I was going to get up early and run with the Newtons, but then I thought "when do you get a chance to sleep in w/out kids?!?" So, I turned my alarm off and went back to sleep. Bad rationalization, but it was nice to sleep with no little feet in my back or screams or yells for breakfast in the morning...aaahhh.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(5)
Total Distance
0.00

Will I ever run again? Maybe when I'm done with these books and feel some motivation to get up early :)

55 min on the bike - darn swim lessons and no daughter to watch the baby, so I had to be done on nursery time. Blech.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(3)
Total Distance
7.50

I was SO excited when I got Rachelle's email that she wanted to run in the morning in Lehi. I knew my body wouldn't like getting up early, but I figured I could come home and sleep. I'd be fine. I mean, how could I turn down that offer?!? :)

So, I met Julie and Rachelle at Willow Park in Lehi. Oh, I know this stretch of trail all too well. I was the only one with a head-lamp, so they had to run slow with me...haha, suckers! :) 

We ran a little further than expected, but it was good fun and I felt great! Good company and letting out all my whiny stories from St George's Saturday night was very therapeutic. I think I talked the whole way back! I think I was the only one breathing hard, but I had the adrenaline to keep me going.

It was VERY worth the drive down there for some fun company, even if I did had to ditch my Newtons. They were only running 3 to taper for SOJO marathon, so I don't think they can complain too much :)

AP: 8:12 splits: 8:44, 8:14, 8:03, 8:31 (found the mud on the trail and slowed down a bit to not kill ourselves!), 8:13, 7:52, 7:52, 8:09 (last .5 mile)

Pokey Purples Miles: 7.50
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(6)
Total Distance
0.00

Another day on the bike. 60 minutes of fun spin time reading. But, I also got to chat a little with Sara. Best of both worlds! 

Gotta rest those legs for the marathon tomorrow :)

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(4)
Race: SOJO Marathon (26.2 Miles) 04:28:39, Place in age division: 11
Total Distance
26.20

What a wonderful morning! I know doing 2 fulls back to back certainly isn't the smartest thing to do, but I've tried to keep my weekly miles minimal so that I wouldn't kill/injure myself doing this one. I was only 'officially' registered this week anyway. I knew that Smooth and Lowell were running this one, and I just wanted to relax and have fun with them! Mission accomplished!

Smooth came to my house and since the start is closer to my house than the buses I made my hubby get up and take us to the start line. It was nice to sleep in, even with a 7:30 start and just feel like I was out for a nice little Saturday run. 

We met Lowell and Marci there and I also got to see all the Newtons who were using this as their fall race. I was SO excited for everyone! It is always fun to share in the pre-race fun before a big race. With a couple pop stops (in the 25 min we had -lines were short!) we had the National Anthem and then lined up. Go time.

We were treated with a beautiful sunrise and great company as we started out. It is nice running West and being able to see great views of the entire valley in the early morning. There was much too much singing going on to not feel like you were having a good time! :)

The big hill come at mile 6ish, and we just slowed down and took it in stride. Other than the stinky compost from the dump, the air was clear and nice...and the wind was blowing like crazy!!! That was fun, especially since the wind always seems to come from every direction out here. No matter which way you run, you end up with a headwind.

Larry played paparazzi for us along the way and at the half we not only got to see Smooth's beautiful newest grandbaby, but we picked up Karen as well! Just a bit later Kelli passed us in her car and we got a good honk and wave. We also met up with another lady that remembered us from Park City and Nanette Palmer who was running with her. Turns out Karen and Nanette know each other from when they lived in Minnesota and Nanette just had her Pony Express 100 record beat yesterday. It was great conversation!!

The miles just flew by and with a popsicle stop at the bottom of temple hill (thank you spectators!) we actually walked and ate our popsicles up some of the hill. HA! Awesome, I'm tellin' ya. By mile 19ish I was getting tired. My legs were done and I could feel the fatigue. Luckily, the crowd would stop and walk through the aid stations and I had a bunch of TTT peeps at mile 20ish that I got to stop and say hello to, then the next aid station I saw the Dr that casted Lauren's arm when she broke it and he is a big runner and ran with me when I paced Riverton half, so I chatted with him.

Every time I'd start getting tired we'd find a new friend or get to the aid station to walk/talk through. Smooth was doing great and besides having fatigue as well, she kept me happy and chatting and I was just enjoying every minute! Between Smooth's positive vibes and Lowell's crazy singing and stories you couldn't get bored or feel bad.

With a 5K to go, we thought that it might be possible for Lowell to get his 4:25 BQ. So, Karen and Smooth send Lowell and I off to chase down the clock. I worked all the magic I could...even getting Lowell to run after the water cup I'd gotten for him from the aid station, but it just got thrown back at me :) But, it was the end of a marathon and we just missed it. But, I know that the last 5K Lowell gave all he had and that we did what we could, which is all you can ask for, right?

The last .1 of a mile, Ronnie was waiting on the side for me and as I ran Lowell in I got the run down on all of the Newtons and how they'd done. 4th overall for Chad - awesome sauce!!! Ronnie finished 3:33, which for that course today was a GREAT time! George running his first full had hit the wall at mile 22, but still was able to pull out a 4:02 finish time. He is a great runner and will do nothing but knock time off that PR! Smooth and Karen finished just 90ish seconds behind Lowell and me and we were quickly reunited at the finish line!

SOJO certainly has the best finish line food! I'm glad I didn't race it, because I know I couldn't eat like this after a 'race' - but just a fun run? oh yeah baby! Chick-fil-a sandwiches and biscuits, fat boys, snow cones, apples, bananas...almost anything you desire! Totally worth the entry :) Lowell, Smooth and Marci all placed in their AGs so they will get a free entry to next years race. So, I guess I'll take another fun run next year.

My legs were sore and tired yesterday, but after a good meal last night and a good nights sleep they are feeling much better. I'll still need some recovery time, so I won't be jumping right back into miles, but taking a marathon slower (despite the time on your feet) sure doesn't hurt as bad as racing one! After at least :) It was a perfectly wonderful day with amazing friends and I'm SO glad I had the opportunity to do this race today.

The Newtons that ran the marathon. Ronny, George, Me, Chad. One of these things is not like the other... :)

I don't have any pics with Smooth yet, have to wait for her to post what Larry took. Stay tuned - there are going to be some good ones!

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(13)
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Another week of recovery...dang, I can't get out of this on/off taper cycle!!! :) Oh well, it was worth it. 

60 min on the spin bike, 30 min with a pro next to me talking about lots of fun and interesting stuff. Almost makes me want to be a biker :) almost.

10 min in the pool, then I called to the nursery for a poopy diaper. I only had 15 min left anyway, because I'd talked for the first 25-30 min I was at the gym (dumb, I know, but it was good). So, I just grabbed him and called it good. Did some stretching of the hammies as well, they are some tight mothers right now!

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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0.00

3 mile walk around the lake with the Newtons recapping the marathon Saturday. It is tradition. Instead of our Tuesday 10 miler, we do our 3 mile walk - with donuts and chocolate milk afterward. Despite the rain, it was still a great morning. 

Especially since my 2 year old had been up since 3AM anyway, and finally fallen asleep just 15 minutes before the alarm went off! "Mom! Mom! Mom! Outside...Boom!" "Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Water!" every 10-15 minutes for 2 hours...so.much.fun.

Went to spin class at the gym to get a good sweat on and I wasn't disappointed. Allison works you hard, that is for sure. However, I'm not sure I like the new bikes and all the numbers I now have to stare at during the workout. Blech.

Hamstring stretching and home...then, the fun had just begun.

Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
2.00

40 min on the spin bike

2 miles around the track - I didn't want to know pace, so I just ran. Had my Altras on and didn't feel anything too crazy. Trying to slowly break into them.

1000yds of pulling and 100yds of kick at swim.

Good workout for the morning. I'm ready to run again.

Pink Altras Miles: 2.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(6)
Total Distance
8.00

Urban Trail Loop in the snow with the Newtons. It wasn't too cold, but the snow was WET. I thought I might have overdressed, but at mile 7.5 I'd decided I hadn't. Like normal, I had a wonderfully progressive run....until I hit the trail. Then I tried to kill myself a few times. Chad was ahead a good 60+ seconds and heard me scream when I stepped in the puddle and nearly twisted my ankle .15 later. Such a klutz!

AP: 9:09 splits: 9:11, 9:04, 8:50, 8:45, 9:26, 9:15, 9:39, 9:03 

Some of the slowness could've been due to the fact that I stopped stopping my watch around mile 4 as well. With big wet gloves on I didn't want to risk it, so I just let it go. Meh, a run is a run. With about a 1/2 mile left my legs were certainly letting me know that they were fatigued. Maybe after recovering from Halloween Half quad pounding this Saturday I can get back to some semblance of a regular running schedule.

Came home and got my wet clothes off before the chills set in, but I was still too cold to sleep...despite trying...for the next hour or so. Finally pulled my lazy butt out of bed and got my kids to school and off to the gym.

Did Heidi's spin class - holy mountains batman! A great class and I enjoyed learning how to ride the new bikes. Fun stuff. Only 17.6 miles in the 60 minutes, but with all the climbing I'm calling that a success.

Purple People Runners Miles: 8.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(3)
Race: Halloween Half Marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:59:40
Total Distance
15.10

Another crazy Halloween Half in the books. It is always a fun time meeting and chatting with TONS of friends at the start and the warming tent as we wait and wait and wait for the 9AM start after getting on the buses at 6AM. SO tired. But, the company and excitement is always good!

Catherine and I were the 2:00 pacers and the end of the 1st wave. They did different pace waves this year so that they could open the highway (the canyon road) between the waves and not just do a hard close for an hour as everyone came by. So, we had to do sweeper duties for the first wave, because when we came to the road it was the cue for the officers to close the race course and let cars through. If you didn't make it through with the pacers you had to wait for 15 minutes until the next wave came through. That would really stink for anyone really wanting to get a decent time. 

When we started we tried to be the last through the line, but people continued to stream through. I stopped and went back to the last person and explained what was going to happen. Then every group I passed I made sure to tell them what was going to happen if they didn't keep up with the pacers. Just over 2 miles down the canyon at a 9:10 pace - that was all you had to keep!! I felt like I did my due diligence in warning and encouraging people to make it through, but when we got to the highway there was a trail behind us of a good 50 feet or so, but then there was a gap... I knew that when that gap hit the highway everyone else would be cut off. I think there were only a handful of people behind that gap, but they were there. I shouldn't feel bad, they were warned and warned about the waves and to pace yourself properly for the wave starts, but well it just didn't completely work. I still feel bad they had to wait.

The course started further down the Alpine Loop than in years past...by about 2.5 miles. Less canyon pounding, but they threw in a really nice out and back along the frontage road just before Nunns Park....UP the canyon about 1.3ish miles. Ugghhh! Even just poking along that hill wasn't fun to tackle. I hope everyone had seen that change on the course map and that no one was expecting their normal crazy downhill course this year! They would've been a little disappointed.

Catherine and I had a few different groups that tagged along with us. Allison was our first tag along and she was doing great, but she stopped at the first water station and since we hadn't banked our time on the downhill canyon miles (we wanted to be closer to AP for the road closure issues) we didn't have time to walk through and I never saw her again. Catherine  stopped there at Vivian for a pop stop and so I was on my own for the next mile-ish until she sprinted her way back. Pop stop = tempo run when pacing :)

During those miles I picked up the jail bird, the ghost and Dolly Parton (okay, not really her costume, but the balloons in her shirt made it look that way!). We all had good chats and conversation, but when we hit the out and back with the hill, we dropped them all. The ghost and jail bird hung on REALLY well and they were determined, but it was just too much after a mile or so. The sheet on the ghost was making a really good sail so he was working nearly twice as hard as well! 

The next miles we just kind of passed through a lot of people and didn't get a huge crowd, but around mile 10 we picked up a couple people that did really well sticking with us to the end! The tall pirate was running his first half and all the women in his family had encouraged/inspired him to do it. Yes, he was ahead of all of them! Then there was a lady in a red jacket and she hung tough those last miles too. At the final turn to the finish I could tell we were early. I knew how far out the finish was from there and we still had 90-120 seconds to get to the finish. So we slowed down a bit and walgged to the end (walk/jog). Then about 50 feet in front of the finish we ran backwards and stopped a bit to encourage runners to beat 2:00! We got a few to pick it up and push through for a strong finish. Then, the finish line cameras were in view and we had to finish running :)

About being early enough to fudge the last .10 of the race: There were NO mile markers! People said they caught them every once in a while, but I only saw 8, 11, 12, 13 AND they were off. Like .20-.25 early. I don't like to trust my garmin, especially on this race because of the canyon so I was relying on the mile markers! Stink. I didn't know who was right and who was WAAAY off. Well, my garmin finished at 13.06 miles, so they had to be off a lot more than I thought. Anyway, I know it isn't a good excuse, but we just tried to keep our overall AP at 9:09 and if the course was long/short we couldn't help it. So, the course was short - nothing I can do about that. I finished in the correct AP for our pace time and that is all I can do with no mile markers and faulty garmins. Even with that 1:58:40 isn't TOO terrible, right? I once heard that 30 seconds either way for a half is acceptable. So, I'm acceptable!

The finish didn't have much of anything good :( chips that weren't all that good and fresh fruit. The apples were YUM!! I could've eaten 10 of them...at least. I wanted an orange, but they weren't cut. I didn't want to peel an orange with gloves on or cold sticky hands if I took the gloves off. The bananas were cut up though...go figure. I grabbed an apple, said good bye to Catherine and ran back on the course to run in with Danielle (my ride) who was pacing 2:20.

Along the way I saw Steph and Heidi my friends from the old 'hood where we grew up. Heidi was running her first half and Steph was her support. I ran maybe a tenth of a mile with them before the sideline crowd got too dense and I peeled off to run back again. On my way back I saw Rachelle and Julie walking back to their cars! I'd only gotten to see them for a second at the top, so it was fun to chat for a bit. Then right on cue came Danielle! I joined her for her last mile into the finish.

We passed a couple teenage boys walking and I harassed them into running again. Danielle and Laura, I think, were embarrassed by my prodding, BUT we never saw them again! They took off, you gotta know how to get them going :) Then just before mile marker 13 we came to an older guy walking. I said to him "c'mon finish line! no more walking!" It took a little bit, but he got into a run again, then admitted he hadn't done any of his long Saturday runs. I simply replied "well, you've run .25 mile, right?" "yeah" "you have less than that left! You KNOW you can run that much! Who cares what is behind you and in the past, you can make the finish with no more walking!" He then admitted that I was much too positive :) Oh, and our tall pirate that finished with Catherine and I remarked that we had waaay too much energy for him! All good comments as far as I am concerned!

So, I got a good couple miles extra in and made a few more good memories. The last 2 were slow, but hey...a mile is a mile, right? Afterward we returned our singlets, grabbed my bag and rode the bus back to our car. A little stop at the cupcake shop and we were on our way home. Another Halloween Half in the bag!

Thanks to everyone who made this one a fun one for me! I loved it, as always! Well, except the anxiety about not knowing my exact pace and if I was on time or not, because the mile markers were obsolete and/or wrong. Oh well, despite the worry we still brought it home on time and had a great race.

Pokey Purples Miles: 15.10
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60 min on the spin bike.

1000yds pulling and 200 yds kicking in the pool.

Another recovery week. Quads aren't as bad as they usually are from Halloween Half, but knowing what I've put them through this last month I'm just going to take another easy week.

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Comments(6)
Total Distance
10.00

10 miles with the Newtons. A new loop though, because it was just Chad and I until sometime during the night George decided to join us. We went from his house UP the Mtn View Corridor past the Jr High, Emmiline to Butterfield Park, down to City Hall via Main St, then Herriman Parkway back to his house. The first few miles were rough...LOTS of uphill. About 400 ft in 3 miles, oh I love me some hills. The only good thing about the route is the last 6 miles are nice downhill miles! 

I had dropped water by my house, I woke up hungry and thirsty and was afraid to run w/out any so I dropped it for all of us. That was our only stop other than a couple times we waited for George - he is still working on recovering from the marathon. I can't blame him. I remember it was a good month before I ran and didn't feel fatigued after my first full!

AP: 8:21 splits: 8:40, 8:52, 9:20, 8:41, 8:26, 8:17, 7:57, 7:58, 7:53, 7:46 - nice little progession on the way home. I didn't think I was running that fast. I would've said 9:20s up and 8:20's down with an average around 8:50ish. Man, my pace estimates aren't what they used to be. Is that a good thing?

Home, to the orthodontist with the eldest boy (he desperately needed his teeth looked at and there are a couple things we need to pay close attention to and possibly take him in for), then rushed him to school and I went to the gym to read and spin a little.

My boy had embarrassed me enough at the appointment with his bad behavior that I needed a little vent. Totally worth paying for daycare for only a 45 min day care session.

35 min on the bike, 5 min stretching the hammies/calves.

home, shower, music, Costco (big dinner on Saturday for the youth of our ward I'm doing), dinner prep and house cleaning before/while kids did homework and swimming so that we could eat and carve pumpkins after dad got home.

A busier day than I've had in a LONG time! I'm ready for bed. Another long day tomorrow.


Pokey Purples Miles: 10.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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Total Distance
8.00

Met Rob, Chad, Rachelle, Smooth, Karen and her friend (I forgot her name, but I remember Smooth said "I want to call you Lisa!" and that is all I can remember) at Willow Park for a Spooktacular Halloween run! 

I ran with Rob, Chad and Rachelle on the way down and barely got to say hello to Smooth, but figured when we turned I would chat and finish up with her and her group. Well, she tricked me and didn't run the full 4 out, so I never got to see her again :( poo. 

Chad and Rob took off for some tempo miles back and Rachelle and I just had a great chat on the way back. My legs got tired around mile 7 though. I can tell there is still some good fatigue in there. Rachelle had some super cute little treats for us at the end! How fun!! I had a great time and it made it totally worth getting up and going down there.

Probably won't take care of the gobs of candy I won't have the self-restraint to not eat today, but it at least put a dent in it! :)

AP: 8:13 splits: 8:53, 8:18, 8:09, 8:12, 8:12, 8:04, 7:59, 8:01

Purple People Runners Miles: 8.00
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Comments(5)
Total Distance
144.00
OEOHFPPE Miles: 2.50Pink Altras Miles: 7.50TTT #1 Miles: 5.00Pokey Purples Miles: 83.80Inspire Yellow Racers Miles: 7.00Purple People Runners Miles: 16.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
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