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

I thought by running the full on Saturday my family would want to back out of our traditional Onion Days race, because I wouldn't be able to race like I want to. But, all the kids were ready to go and even David with his leg brace on wanted to go! I guess I've converted them. Waking up at 5AM on a holiday to run...we're all crazy! Even my 6 year old said as we drove out of the neighborhood "we're the only ones out here!" My husband replied "yup. eveyone else knows that you should sleep in on a holiday!" He loves us :)

Got everyone numbered and ready for the race. Next year, I think I'm going to make Lauren run the 10K. She could do it if we trained for it. Yup. 10K next year.

With Pocatello on my legs I had no intention of placing. I would run what I could, as fast as my legs would let me, but c'mon. I had a marathon on them! But, I found out Jen was running the 5K and no one else I knew that was speedy from UT county was there. Where was everyone?!? Rachelle was there, but she is a young'un and I knew she would win anyway, so I wasn't concerned :) I figured I'd give it my all and just see what happened.

I waved to my family as I passed them as the 10K got started. Plugged into my ipod and just went for it. Lots of people passed me as I hobbled into the first mile. A warm-up might've been a good idea, but too late now. About a half mile in I was finally able to start moving. There were 3 ladies I could set my sights on to catch. I picked the one furthest ahead. She wasn't the fastest though, so I'd caught her and one other by mile 2, but that last one was a bugger to catch. Finally just before mile 3 I got tired of running 5 feet behind her and decided if I gave it one good surge I could pass her for good. I sprinted it out for 50 yds and put about 10 feet between us. She later said "yeah, and you came out of nowhere!" :) After the half way, you start your uphill trudge. Mile 3-4 is fairly flat and I felt like I was keeping pace with those ahead of me and maybe even pulling some in. Finally feeling the surge. BUT, then the hills hit.

The last lady I'd caught was being paced by a guy and she would be behind me and I'd see him just to my left. Dang it. Every hill they'd catch me, then I'd have to push on the flats to put the distance between us back. I thought occassionally about just letting her have it, but I stayed mentally strong. I didn't give up. Despite the snot and spit all over my face, I kept running and pushing myself trying to get that monkey (Pocatello marathon) off my back!

The last straight away (mile 5 marker) I could feel it. I was fading, but just kept doing what I could. My ipod and my Eminem motivation I'd been replaying for the last 2+ miles died. Crap. But, I figured I needed to hear the lady behind me coming anyway. She did catch up to me again, but I was able to surge a bit to put some distance between us. I knew I wouldn't have much more to sprint to the finish, so I had to do it now.

2 more turns and I was home free to the finish. I'm really glad no one was there to take pictures :) SO glad. I can't spit for the life of me or farmer blow. So, sometimes it just has to drip. Running is such a glamorous sport! I saw the clock as I came in say 41:21...HA! I knew I didn't run a 10K PR. I mean, I was pushing, but not that fast. I figured it was the 5K time that was a little slower. I was right. I looked at my garmin and I was 45:56. Well, certainly not a PR for the course, but a 7:25 average for a 10K push 2 days after a full?!? I'll take it.

TT: 45:56 splits: 7:26, 7:16, 7:13, 7:13, 7:48, 7:39, 7:04 (last .2) - can you tell where the hills are?!?

Waiting in line for the runner cards I chatted with the lady that came in after me. She was 42, so we had no competition for AG. Good...and SHE asked me how old I was, because she was worried. I'm glad I pushed and didn't have to :) She also said only 5 women were in front of us. Wow. I was surprised there were so few. Slim pickin's today at Onion Days. Then, I got my card. 6th overall and 1st in my AG. WHAT?!? I've run this course almost 3 minutes faster and gotten 4th in my AG. What the heck. 1st?!? Yeah, it all really does depend on who shows up. I was proud to take my silver dollar though. I feel like I earned it and pushed hard!

Lauren did a great job and ran what she normally does in a 5K (32:XX) She isn't the fastest thing around and doesn't really like running, but she keeps at it and can just keep going. I think she'd enjoy more endurance running than speed. Kind of like her mother. When she came up to me at the finish while I was waiting for my card, the lady that I was talking to asked "Is this your little sister?" "yes. yes she is. I'm 22 and she is 12" I love that people believe me and and I can get away with being 22! Lauren turned me in and told the truth though. Stinker :) Then the lady realized I had just told her I was 33. See?!? I can even tell the truth and people think I'm still 22. Ahhh, I loved it.

Craig and the boys had a rough start to their race. Nathan (6) got stung by a bee just as the race started. So, they lost a minute as dad took care of him and asked if they still wanted to do the race. Good for dad for remembering we'd forked out a ton of money to do this and they might as well get it done. So, he had 3 boys in the stroller for a while. GO CRAIG! He caught up to the sweeper vehicle and around 3/4 mile in Nathan got out and started running. David with his leg brace on (can't bend his knee due to stitches a couple weeks ago) had kind of a free pass to ride in the stroller and Adam (3) doesn't know any different although he was registered! David ended up running/limping in the last half mile and they all finished around 37:00 which for Craig is super fast! He is usually around 45:00 and I finish the 10K before him. He is awfully sore now, but I'm sure proud of him :) He rocked it like a bad A runner dad!!

We stayed for awards and raffle. It was great to see Jen and Rachelle get their overall and Rachelle's friend Julia took 2nd in her AG too. My little Adam wanted a medal so bad it hurt. When I took him with me to get my silver dollar he wasn't happy. He wanted the medal around his neck. Kids! Oy Vey. I won a Nathan water/fuel belt in the raffle. I've never had one, but I guess I'll try it now! $50 worth of free stuff...sure. Why not?!?

We then went to the parade, I got to see Marion for a minute at her house and the long, small town parade never disappoints. We all went home tired and happy. Another fun labor day in the books!

Back to reality on a Tuesday is always hard. But, I got up and did my Tuesday Ten with the Newtons despite having thrashed legs. They were nice and took it easy on me. We all ran together the last 6 miles and had some great funny converstaion. Fainting, child birth, vascectomies, deer nearly getting hit, crazy people...yup. The works :) Always a fun time with the Newtons. I finished in a decent pace knowing all my legs had been through. But they sure are tired now. I think tomorrow shall be a no running day.

AP: 8:28 splits: 8:33, 8:30, 9:29, 9:37, 8:19, 8:35, 8:03, 7:57, 7:44, 7:54, 7:59 (last .1)

Maybe my legs remember how to run afterall?

Yup. Sleeping in. no running. My body thanked me.

I took Adam on a bike ride up Rose Canyon. Man alive it is hard to get up some of those hills on a mtn bike with a 30 pound 3 year old on the back!! An older guy passed me and we chatted about it for a bit. I was only about 100 yds back from him when he got to the top. Take that road biker! This mama can do anything.

The way back down is always fun.

45 minutes of good cardio push before I had to be to the church. Happy light day of exercise.

Shaggy Mountain loop with the Newtons. Chad and Jonathan came and we had a nice little run. Despite the challenges on this course, it is always a good one. Leaves you wanting more.

AP: 8:57 splits: 9:08, 9:38, 10:32 (walk break!), 9:44, 8:33, 9:05, 7:33, 7:37, 7:14 (last .2) I love to see those mid 7's on a nice downhill cruise home chatting away. I did feel it a bit on the little uphill bump at the end, but other than that it was nice cruising pace!

Got home and decided to go on a ride with some ladies after getting kids off to school. I threw Adam on the back of my mountain bike and went for it. Keeping up with road bikers is hard work! Charlotte says she now has a new rule of riding with me: I have to be on the mtn bike with Adam to equal her speed on the road bike. :)

About 20 miles round trip. The longest I think I've ever ridden with him. Average speed was around 13MPH. Nothing wonderful, but good enough for who it is for :)

Slept in and took Adam in the jogger. A new little loop that worked out well for a jogging stroller loop. Lots of uphill, but I can't ever seem to avoid that around here.

AP: 9:12 splits: 8:46, 8:44, 9:59, 9:52, 9:31, 8:23 - like to venture a guess where the uphills were?!?

Another Saturday...another race! But, look at that time would ya?!?

You have one of two thoughts running through your head right now - WOW! She busted a move on that 5K and has finally learned how to run fast OR Hmmm, something is amiss...the course must've been short. One of these thoughts would mean you know me well, the other - wishful thinking! Yes, the course was short.

I woke up early and met Chad as he did his 20 miler along Shaggy Mountain and did the 10.5 loop from my house. I stopped my watch and didn't restart it until we'd stopped again (twice) so my splits and mileage are all screwed up. I referenced the mileage from when I'd done this before. A near perfect morning and I actually ran all of the mud hill on the far side of the loop! Only walked a couple times the whole route. That is saying a lot for me and my legs that didn't want to move and an uncooperative gut from eating Leatherbys at 11:00 the night before! (James Taylor concert! It was fantastic except for the part where we got cheated out of parking and downtown was crazy crowded and we ended up parking past the capitol and we ran the 1/2 mile downhill shoeless in our dresses to get to the concert before they closed doors! It had already started. But, it was worth it. Fun, memorable adventure anyway). The last couple miles downhill were 7:51 and 7:26. At least I have the good miles on the garmin :)

My friend came and picked me up for Charlee's Angels 5K. She was running it as her first 5K and since I had turned her onto the race and I didn't have anything else that morning I felt obligated to go with her. I told her I wanted to get some tempo miles on tired legs at the race, but that I'd come back and run her in. Charlee is a cute little 5 year old struggling with Batton's disease. When the race says they are raising funeral funds...how could you NOT contribute?!? So, Tania, Derek, Kristy (first timer) and I drove to So Jordan and got ready to race.

I saw Peggy Peterson there and it was great to visit for a minute. She'd just done her 20 miler (surprise, surprise) and was going to "just run" I told her I wanted to push some tempo miles so she could "just run" with me while I tried to kill myself :) We all got to meet Charlee (what a beautiful little girl and a heartbreaking story!!) and then we were off. It was quite a congested first 1/5 of a mile pushing through people even though I thought I was at the front when I started. Peggy took off immediately and I tried to follow...ha! I should know better than that. Anyway, I tried to keep her in my sights and before I knew it the first mile had ticked off and I was in 2nd for females. I'll play second fiddle to Peggy anyday! That lady is amazing!!! She was kind of my first running hero :)

At the turn around I KNEW we were not at 1.55 miles. It had been much too close to the 1 mile click. Oh well, everyone is running the same course. After the loop as I doubled back on the course I got to see some lovely friends and get some 5's and encouragement. I also saw Aaron and Michelle running and got a good "you suck" out to Aaron and one in return. Always good karma!

I finished strong and when I saw the clock ticking 20:XX I just laughed. Awesome time! I beat my nephew's XC time from the day before at Murray Park. I don't need to disclose that I ran 10% less (2.78 miles). Nope, not at all :) It was nice to visit with Peggy for a minute and then I ran back on the course, grabbed Kristy and brought her to the finish stretch then went back for Tania. She was walking, so I didn't get as many miles as I wanted to in afterward, but I had a great chat with her and saw Sonja too. How can you complain about great friends?!? Kristy finished in 28:XX Which is her fastest ever AP and she had a 9:20 mile for her first mile that is her fastest ever too. It is always fun to see people start to love running. If it wasn't for her knees that have had 2 surgeries on them I could probably turn her into a runner. (total 1.25 miles)

Went home and quickly showered and off to cub-o-ree to help supervise. I took Adam too since Lauren had been babysitting all the night before and all morning. Had a great time watching my boy in a splint (unable to bend his knee due to stitches from falling on his bike) climb rock walls, do stilts, feats of strength and run around. I don't know where he gets it from :) Back home, to a birthday party and as it started to rain we headed off for our SECOND race of the day. 

Jordan School District was doing their 1st annual 5K Dash for fund raising and for a family of up to 8 it was only $45. A nice evening of entertainment, food and shirts for all of us? ummm...YES! It was at Daybreak too, so it was close and the kids love 5Ks anyway. Lauren wanted to run at least 4 miles so that she could feel better about her 4 mile loop in the tri next week. I told her to run the course, then come back and find us and I could then tell her how far she ran extra by looking at my garmin. I figured I'd get another 4 miles in. Someone forgot that they are a single parent right now! NO husband to stay with the walkers. After the first quarter mile or so I looked back after a turn and the boys and I were nearly last. Only about 7 people behind us. At least the rain was letting up a bit. a bit. I made David sit in the stroller with Adam on his lap and encouraged Nathan to run. We made it about 1/5 of a mile before Nathan stopped. At least there were now 20 people behind us. A while later I told Nathan he should run again and he said "No. I'm saving my energy!" "for what?!?" "the last mile" Crazy kid! After I while I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to be walking this 'race' and not running. Which puts a little thorn in my side, but since the rain had picked up and we were all soaked to the bone and my kid with a splint on was keeping up and occasionally "running" (he calls it galloping) I just resigned myself to a nice walking in the pouring rain. Sigh. Lauren came back when my garmin said 2.10. Wow, that girl had done great! When she turned Nathan decided to go with her. That kid took off! I guess he really was saving it all for the last mile. Hop along (David) was trying to get him to slow down. PLEASE NO! Lets get this over with. They all stayed ahead of me and I actually got a little more running in. I'm giving myself a total of a half mile for the running I did in the race....more to just even out the number! David had a finishing gallop and Lauren and Nathan were done and across the street. I figured out Lauren had run 4.5 miles (the course was short, again 2.9) and I was SO proud of her! She did awesome. We hung around afterward, but didn't win anything in the prizes and Lauren was 2nd for female child and they only gave prizes to 1st places. Oh well. We loaded up on yogurt and granola bars and then went to the car and got in our towels. It had been a long day and we were all ready for dinner and bed...which is right where we went!