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

Step class at the gym (it was a killer today!) then ITB stuff, Ab's class and stretching.

Meant to run this morning, but its just too easy to turn the alarm off when no one is waiting for you to run....

Tapering for WBR also this week, I need to keep my legs fresh for the death march: leg 33!!!!

Holy Cow!!! I learned what it means to be a BBK this morning! There were a few times I thought I was going to have to keep running sprints until noon!!! Can't wait to start the two hour workouts :) 

We started with a nice easy 3 mile warm-up. I love doing the warm-up because jumping in for the main workout is always 10X as difficult!  9:30, 9:06, 8:48

I was pleased with what came next: 4 laps around the track, but push the last 100M of each one. Totally doable!  I felt good keeping up with Peggy while she was taking it easy :) AP 8:06, I still need to figure out how to put the laps for the sprints on my Garmin - I think Kelli figured it out today, so I'll have to take a tutorial!

Then the fun began- push a 200, recover 200, push 400, recover 200 and repeat until Cheryl said to stop. I had NO idea how long this would last, but wanted it over with a lot sooner than Cheryl did!! I finished at 7.6 miles so my next splits were: 7:19, 7:47, 7:44, 7:48. Looking at the patterns on the Garmin I can tell where my push and recovery was and it looks like I was keeping a descent pace at or under 7mm for the sprints and recovering around 8:30 mm.

Okay, so were finished..right? WRONG. Cheryl said we were going to the road and I figured we were going to take a nice cool down, boy was I wrong. 1.8 mile loop at 1/2 marathon pace or better - YUCK, my legs were already jello, its nice to simulate what mile 24-26 feels like though!!! Next split: 7:48 (first 1/2 was in the previous split above). I finished at 8.4 miles and ran another .1 to recover and even things out before we left.

WAIT! wrong again! "back to the track" Cheryl said. If the puke wasn't pushing my head up my chin would've hit the floor! We lined up and pushed another 200, I tried to keep up with Kelli, but my poor legs couldn't match her speed and determination for the last 50 feet. Then we did another 200M sprint, and YES this was finally the end!!! I had one lap left to finish 9, so I took a recovery/victory lap with Peggy. Last split: 8:27.

I really love to push myself and speed up these legs, but during the run I wonder if its worth it...Then I kill my PR in a race by not seconds, but MINUTES and am so glad I have these wonderful people to help me run and puke my guts out to make me better!!! Thanks all you BBK's I owe you one!

Nice night's rest, early to bed and got to sleep in (thank you my lovely children!!)

Got to kick-boxing and it was another good workout - not as horrible as last week, but still good. After the beginning cardio workout we did weight intervals and ran 1/5 of a mile between them for a total of 1 mile - YEA! I get to blog miles. All the runs were easy pace, except she told us to push the last one, I sprinted down recovered the turn then sprinted back with Kelli, I started thinking I was done and would let her beat me, but then I stopped myself and pushed just hard enough to keep up with her until the end. Look! I do have a little bit of mental toughness :)

After kick-boxing I did my ITB stuff and then Ab's class - IT was a good one today, and I only hit the last 1/2!!! Stretched and went home. Now to prepare for WBR...I'm going to Lagoon tomorrow, so its today or never :)

I'm trying to taper for WBR, but when everyone else is running its too easy to tag along! :) It was an easier pace without any pushing today, so that was nice - plus when you're relaxed and can talk while you run things are even better! Did the South Jordan 5K route twice, plus a little recovery, didn't go for early miles just the main workout. AP for the run was 8:25 splits: 9:01, 8:07, 7:55 (could tell we'd sped up on that last one!!), 8:45, 8:25, 8;12, 8:44. 

I'll miss yoga today, its usually the highlight of my week, but I will have a good time hanging around 'The Goon' with the kids. I got home from group and my oldest daughter woke up as I was looking at my run on the computer (Garmin Training Center) and she asked "You went running this morning?" "of course" I answered. Then she resolutely said "you're going to get TOO much exercise today, we're going to be walking a lot between all the rides and the Wii fit says you should get 30 minutes of exercise a day!" I just cracked up, running a marathon, or the WBR doesn't impress her, but running on a morning when I'll be walking around Lagoon all day does! Kids crack me up!!!!

Nice run, waited FOREVER at the first exchange, so I was ready to take off. Unfortunately I did a little too fast. Passed a couple people and one guy pulled ahead of me about 15 feet in the last .2 mile - almost gave up and let him have it. Then I saw the exchange and decided to push it and pass him, did so and as I passed him said "no passing allowed!" I wasn't about to become a 'road-kill' mark on a van window!!! Good legs, and ran Jeff in on leg #6 about .5 and Annette on her last climb on #12 about .5 as well. Went to the HS for dinner -YUCKY, never again and had to take the slow route with runners to the park/lake. Saw Kelli there (YEA!!!) and visited for  a bit then she went to take her runner to the exchange and I dropped off at the sleeping bag for an hours rest until we were called up with 3 miles out....Midnight - cont on Saturday :)

AP: 7:32; Splits: 6:45, 7:35, 8:08, 7:45 (.5) hit my best on the sprint in 4:34mm. Total elevation change -57 ft (52 up, 109 down -.4% grade)

Midnight - take off on our second legs with an hour of sleep under my belt. Missed our #8 runner with a mile to go to my exchange (#21), I suggested going a head and good thing, because she was maybe 1/2 mile from the exchange and I needed a POP!! Got there about 15 feet in front of her and took off, but the garmin didn't start for another 1/2 mile or so :(  It was beautiful!!! Stars were out, nice weather and quiet peacefulness. Just me and the pavement, and all the roadkill I made :) Lost track of how many I passed this leg, it was around 20 I think and again never got passed. The most memorable one was a girl I worked hard to catch then caught up with the van to get a drink, dang she passed during my short walk and I had to re-pass! When I did she said "wow! you're doing great - you're the only person who has passed me." Made me feel good that I was able to push to get through and get a nice compliment like that. I loved running around Echo reservoir and was surprised how many people were walking. I could feel fatiuge, because I thought for sure I was pushing under an 8mm, but AP at 8:11. Definately needed a good drink a couple times, but what an amazing run late at night with beautiful scenery and quiet :) Definately my favorite leg of the race!

Total miles 9.6; AP 8:11, Splits:  8:30, 8:09, 8:06, 8:00, 8:40, 8:16, 7;57, 7:59, 8:04, 7:28 (last .2 I recorded) Total elevation change: 186 ft (497 up 311 down .4% grade)

When we got to the van exchange our van was late, so I picked up the wristband and ran for .5 mile until the van was able to catch up (AP 7:59) it was only a few minutes, but I'd have hated to wasted them sitting around!

After our legs, drove to Ruth's cabin where we got spoiled ROTTEN!!! Beautiful cabin with 5 showers and numerous beds (nice, big soft ones!!). Got a nice private shower and another hour + of GOOD sleep. Then off again to the exhchange. Met up with Smooth and Lowell, it really made my race to be able to visit with them for a bit! I was really hoping that they would catch up to us so I could run the death march with Lowell - however, our team was just too speedy :) Missed them at the end, no one in the van wanted to stay - everyone was ready to go home!

It started to rain the last mile before my #33 death march exchange, so I was in the rain (softly falling 95% of the time) the enitre leg, which ended up to be perfect weather for it! Got to the exchange the exact time as another team...he took off, but I knew slow and steady would win this race! I resolved to just keep with him (he never got more than maybe 100 yds ahead). This mentality kept me running until 2 miles into the run. It was difficult for sure, but I just kept trying to put one foot in front of the other and relax and enjoy the tunes on the not-pod! My team kept me good every .5 mile with water to rinse my mouth out with (didn't have enough breath to swallow! Did take some gatorade though.) Everyone was SO positive on this run. Mud and rocks and a hill from !@?#!!! Other teams cheering you on just for staying strong and running, everyone complimenting you as you went - it was AMAZING!!! When I caught the rabbit from the exchange, we were going back and forth being a stride or two infront of the other - then I finally won. He said "I'm going to have to let you go, you've out done me!" Gave me an amazing confidence boost! I would do this, and do it well - keep on keeping on!!! At 2 miles took my first walk break and would rotate run 2 walk 1 minute for the next 1/2 to 3/4 mile - wow was that long and tedious! I just kept pushing on and sometimes those last 30-40 seconds of running were sheer torture, but I kept on. I did pass  quite a few people walking or walk/running, but also got passed by only a few that were CHARGING up that hill!!! I honestly don't remember the numbers, I was way too concentrated on just keeping the feet going!  around .5 mile left the trail gave a bit, some flat or what felt like downhill to get a good break in. That last .5 mile went quickly and I felt strong, but was ready to pass off. Finished in 41:58, wow! Looking down the hill at that point I felt SO accomplished, a year ago I would've never dreamed that I could do it, but I did it with the best of them today!!! Rough finish of the hill for Cal and then crazy down for Jeff and a fun trail run in for Annette. We met her at the end of the field and got to run her in to the finish. Our team was done in 29 hours even, I felt that was impressive. It was a rough run, but I had the time of my life and LOVED it!! Would've liked a little more sleep and a little more fun chatting, but had a WONDERFUL time and would do it again in a heartbeat...even my leg!!!

Total miles: 3.6 AP: 11:46 Splits: 8:56, 11:53, 14:26, 11:48 total elevation change (1463 ft, 1482 up 19 down, 7.6% grade)