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

Evidence of this can be found in my SGM pictures!

Just a nice easy 6 miler on the TM. Got to sleep in (vacation has made me tired and lazy!) and get a workout in, but just barely. As I was cooling down: "The nursery will be closing in TWO minutes." Yikes, okay, okay, I'm coming!

Came home and did Shred Level 3 for a good strength workout. 

Felt good to run again. Had a hard time getting into the groove. The first three miles were crazy hard @ 8:57, but I just got movin' and feelin' better after that. Finished the last mile under an 8mm, feels good to move them legs!!

AP: 8:45

The race is over and done with, and I'm now going to look forward to another fun year of running. I've never really ran a 'plan' so, I think I'm going to try to focus a little more on a 'plan' and dig in and go for it. Also, I think I need to run solo more. I really have a hard time sometimes when I don't have someone with me. Running is my social hour, but in a race I can't run with people - paces become different and I've got to learn to draw on MY strength. Onward and upward!

Sleep in and TM miles today again. I've gotten too used to sleeping in and I don't like the cold - I'm afraid of it, so I'm hitting the gym.

4.0 miles AP: 8:42 - 8:57 for the first 3 miles, then 7:54 for the last mile (progressive last 1/4 finish).

20 min arm circuit. All major arm/shoulder muscles 3X with a plank to end each set.

4.0 miles AP: 8:38 1@8:57, 2@8:49, finish with 7:48 (same progressive last 1/4 finish, but did the first .75 @ 7:53, not 8:00 even).

Trying something new - no superfeet in my shoes, it seems to help the plantar feel better. We'll re evaluate after a week.

Trying to get more sub 8 miles in, gotta get my legs used to running fast(er) when tired. If I want to increase my speed I need to make a consistent effort to run faster, not just race faster.

Speed work Six

On the TM again, learning to love it again :)

10 min warm-up, 1 min on/1 min off speed work X20 (40 min total for speed)

7:19 for the speed and 8:57 for the off - finished my 6 a little faster than anticipated, at the end of my last on (pushed a 7:03 for the last min) AP: 8:11

Next time I think I should do my 'ons' a little faster, 7:19 didn't feel like it pushed me as much as I would've liked. Maybe more like 5K pace rather than 10K. I will play with this next time

Good thing I finished quickly - I was late for masters swim class! Jumped right off, changed and got going in the pool. Felt SO good to swim! 50 min workout in the pool.

I'm all over the 6's this week! Just a perfect number to start back with I guess.

Short on time due to a pre-schooler not getting up and ready on time, but I couldn't figure out how to do my run since I had done speed yesterday. So, I decided to do a hill interval.

1 mile warm-up @ 8:49

mile 2: same pace, but start at .5 incline and up every quarter mile, ending at 2%

mile 3: downhill fun and speed -1% @ 7:49

mile 4: I can do better than that dumb, easy incline grade the first time. First quarter .5%, then up 1% each quarter finishing at 3.5% all at 8:49 pace.

mile 5: another downill -1% @ 7:41

mile 6: half and half, gotta get home, no time for seven. Started at .5% then increased every tenth of a mile to finish at 2.5% and increased speed. Started at 8:41, but dropped to 8:34 about half way through.2nd half of the mile I went downhill -1% at 7:41 pace, then gradually increased speed to finish at 6:30 for the last .5 to finish up fast.

AP:  8:31

Walked for a tenth of a mile, then raced home to get my daughter to get her back to the rec center to do her sports class thing.

At home I decided I wanted to do yoga, so Tony Horton lead me through a good 90 minute yoga routine - yogaX baby. Tip of the day: don't attempt the wheel pose when your clingy baby is crawling all over you and laying on your chest/throat. They don't get up and roll off like you would expect  :)

5th day, same as the first!  And second, and third, and fourth...well, you get the picture. Like I said, I'm all over the 6's this week. 

 Again wondering what to do on the TM. So, I made a mix.

mile 1 - 8:49 pace 0% grade for a nice warm-up.

mile 2 - 8:49 pace .5%

mile 3 - 8:49 pace 1%

mile 4 - 8:41 pace 1%

mile 5 - 8:34 pace 1%

mile 6 - 7:23 AP at -1%

AP:  8:33

decided to push the pace on a little bit of a hill. I'm such a pansy about running fast on hills and about half way through mile 4  I started the "you can't do this" game in my head. I was tired, my legs wanted to just stop, but I had made a plan and I was going forward with it! By half way through mile 5 I'd decided I could do this for another couple miles.

See, my brain really needs to be re-wired. This is why I need more solo runs and more pace pushing on the TM. I need to prove to myself that I CAN do it. I'm not breathing hard, I'm not dying, I know I can run a 10K at that similar of an incline (Payson) faster than that. C'mon Rachel, buck up and push it! I think I've just gotten WAY too used to just messing around on my runs and enjoying them at a leisurely pace and then convincing myself that I can't go faster than that, when I really can.

I can do hard things. I can BQ, I can run the miles, paces and hills I need to in training to get this monster tackled. I don't need race day magic. The magic is inside of me, and I just need to start proving to myself that I CAN do it. More sub 8 miles are on my docket, I will get used to running them if it kills me. But, I know it won't, because I can take it -boyah!

After my run I still wanted more, but with my PF and new experiment with shoes, I'm trying to keep the miles down and ease into it all. So, I went to the spin bike.

Man, I've lost my bike butt. I need to get it back. Harder than I remember, but still a good sweat fest for 35 minutes.

Took the last 20 minutes of day care time to stretch out well. Ready for the weekend!

Oh, and I'll be pushing this a little, so I hope y'all don't get tired of me. But, my hubby's little brother is training for his first full and has 18 now under his belt! He has had his blog up for a while now, but doesn't get much traffic. Would y'all mind keeping tabs on him and giving him a little encouragement? I'd really appreciate it! Check him out!

I ran the marathon!!! It was the best one EVER! 

Okay, yes, I only ran 13 miles, so I didn't run A marathon, but I did run THE marathon - at least some of it. My SIL Annette was running her 2nd marathon (SoJo) today and asked me to help her up the hills, and despite knowing my epic failure just 2 weeks ago she still trusted me to pace her for a 3:45 finish. 

I had my husband drop me off at 7AM at the corner of 11800S and Bacchus Hwy (mile 4.5ish). Anybody who has been there, knows - there is NOTHING there...everything is at least a couple miles away. So I meandered down to a point on the Hwy where I could see a good stretch of road as the racers were coming and sat down. Still had 20 min until the first runners would be coming by. I was SO excited to see Kurt lead his first marathon! Plugged my ipod into my ears and watched a beautiful sunrise. Cops started coming to the intersection to set up traffic control and got worried about some crazy lady sitting on the side of the road in the dark out in the middle of no where! They kept stopping and asking if I was okay "yup, just waiting for the race" I'd then get a weird look and they'd continue on. Good times :)

The race started late, but it was fun to see the lead pack come down! I didn't expect Walter at the front since he'd just run SGM, but there he was. With a solid lead and Kurt next, with Steve drafting off his R shoulder. Awesome! The 4th place guy was a little behind them and he looked young, so I said "hey, don't let those old guys beat you!" He looked at me and said: "they ARE old, aren't they?!?" :) hehehe, got a good laugh off that one.

Annette came by soon after with probably only 20ish women ahead of her. She was doing great and looking good. I jumped in with her and the cops again gave me a look and said "hey, you can't start here!" (with a good humor tone) I told them not to worry. I'd only run to the lake, then catch the bus from there.

The hills came fast, that run up to Kennecott isn't as nice as it looks on paper, but I tried to stay just ahead of Annette to help 'pull' her up the hill and not let her stop. She responded well, even though I was dying and couldn't talk much on the uphill. Before we knew it, the tough part was over and we coasted down past my house and to the lake. I was only going to run 10, but she had told me her son was going to pick up at mile 18 to run the last 8 with her (he's only 11, but ran TOU half in 1:48, his first!) so, in the back of my mind I thought if I was feeling good I'd take her there. Maybe, if I was feeling okay then I'd catch a ride with her hubby to the finish and watch the finish line activities.

Well, I was just groovin'! I was enjoying the pace and although I could feel some fatigue around mile 10, I was still doing okay and the company was good and the race support was fun too! No, I didn't use aid stations. Didn't feel right not paying, so I lugged my own water bottle, but tossed it at mile 15 aid station. I just kept thinking I'd get her up temple hill, then let her son carry her to the finish. Excellent plan!

She did stop to stretch a couple times, her ITB was buggin' but each time she said it really helped and she never complained about it. Had one pop stop at mile 17 aid station and I didn't stop or stopped then started my watch without knowing it. I don't know for sure. All I know is that I have about 3 min of standing around time and then nothing for about 1/2 mile. We reached her family and I noticed my garmin still said the same mileage as at the pop stop. Dang. So, I started the watch and finished until my mileage said 13, so I was probably more like 13.5, but gotta go with the garmin - right? :)

I took the family ride to the finish line and got there just in time to see Walter finish. I could tell he wasn't feeling it, but still in a time I would envy! Especially after SGM just 2 weeks prior - man that man is an animal!! Found Kurt, and well, I'll let him tell his story. Spotted Rossy across the way, he had an awesome half and got to chat for a bit. Then, Annette came through in 3:53, but I totally missed her. I was chatting with Steve Ashbaker, but had my eye on the finish knowing it was around the time she was expected. Finally at 3:57 I went to stand at the finish chute, but I didn't see her or her family...what?!? At 4:07 after congratulating Nancy and Leslie on a great half I called her. Yup, she was finished - I'd totally missed her :( I was NOT happy. Felt like scum for missing her awesome PR finish. But, I went and hung out with her in the massage line and gave her the good news about taking 2nd in her AG. Awards weren't until 2:15 (what the heck people?!? really?!? who stays around that long?!?) so we took off to her house and she ice bathed, showered and we went back. She and the other stars of the marathon (Walter, Steve and Kurt) got their awards and it was a perfect morning - oh wait, it was afternoon by then :)

It really was great. I've never finished a marathon feeling this good :) I've decided cutting out half of the race is definitely the way to go. Next time - I'm taking the bus!

Hubby picked me up at the park and we went rock climbing and then to Leatherbys for dinner. Yes, I fed my kids ice cream for dinner. I'm a good mom :) I finally got home at 8:00 PM. It has been a long day, but a GREAT one. Congrats to all!! I had a great time running with y'all and getting to be part of the racing fun, for free - and with less tax on the legs :)

AP: 8:27 splits: 9:10, 9:23, 7:54, 8:03, 7:57, 8:13, 8:59 (stretch break), 8:09, 8:55 (gu walk break), 8:38, 8:49, 8:58, 7:56 (some catching up here on my part. I chatted with her hubby at the car about picking me up .4 down the road so I could finish 13 on the garmin...had to run fast to catch back up to her! Also, I'm guessing here, because the 'stop' lasts for 3 min of time so I took 2:30 off garmin time - dumb user errors!).