ShufflingSista

Wonderful run this morning with the gals from the St. George Running Club- thanks Mik'L, Kendra & Jeannie! We started up past Diamond Valley and ran hwy 18 to about Bluff & Snow Canyon Pkwy.  Nice downhill.  Temp was nice when we started, but soon got muggy.  Stopped for water & gu about 5 miles.  Impressed with how quickly we started running again after our drink/gu break.  (Usually I linger too long during those drink breaks) Had a pick me up after the break (ya know, gu coursing through our veins) and we picked up the pace a bit.  I was pretty spent at about 8.5 miles, but Kendra encouraged me that we only had 1.5 to go.  Then Kendra took off at about a 7 min. pace and had me playing catch up.  It was a fun challenge.  Can't remember quite what you told me our av. pace for run was Kendra- 9:35? Let me know if you read this, I can't remember.  Gotta get myself a garmin.  Fun run & enjoyed getting to know these girls a bit!

Foremaster run this morning with Heather.  She's still sick w/ a head cold, probably a sinus infection- she's going to doc today.  My shins were sore today and I definately felt I was shuffling more than running.  I think this is because I ran 17 on Fri & 10 on Monday- I usually don't do 2 long runs so close together AND they are were both along the same downhill course, which is fun while running it- but I had a feeling I would pay for all that downhill later.  Anyway-needless to say it was a little rough getting into the run, but after a couple miles and after we'd tacked the "hill"  it got a little easier...Just glad to get some miles in after being lazy yesterday...

Today's workout didn't turn out as planned, but still OK.  Was supposed to pick up Heather at 5:15 then go to gym and run 2 on treadmill before weight class.  Got to her house- no light, knocked lightly on door- no response.  Can't say I was surprised.  She's been sick and went to Doc yesterday- good excuse to sleep in.

I really didn't feel like doing the weight class.  I felt instead like an easy run.  Really wanted to test my new shoes (Thanks Steve!).  So I hit the tread mill for 1/2 hr- 3 miles (not inc. warm up & cool down).  Started at 10:50 and ended at 9:20 pace.  Average 10 min. miles.  My right ankle is a little sore and my left foot felt stiff.  Not bad, just a little. Still recovering from the 2 recent, close together long runs.  Felt good to have an easy run & loosen up.  I think I like the shoes, but hard to really tell since I'm currently sore.  May want to add an insert, but we'll see.  Loving the cushion, can tell that already.  Went back to Asics- Gel Cumulus, more flexable and light than the Saucony Omni Grid's that I was in.  Plan on these being my marathon shoes so we'll see how they are on long runs.

Plan to run long either Fri or Sat and hopefully log a couple easy miles whichever day isn't the long run.  Need to get w/ my running buddies and firm up the long run for this week.

Today Heather & I WALKED 4 miles.  I'm still sore and she is still sick.  However, walking was so boring and we realized at the end, we would have definately been better off running 11 min. miles than walking.  Live & learn.  Tomorrow we're doing 19 miles around Sand Hollow. I'm stoked, but nervous because I'm wearing new shoes- hope they don't kill me.  I only have a few miles on them... anyone know if it will kill me to run in them?

They are asics, I used to run in them for years and they never gave me blisters, so I think I'll be OK??? 

Yippee! Well, I did it- ran a 20 mile training run today.  And surprisingly I enjoyed it! I LOVE my new Asics, no blisters.  I usually wear a 7 in reg. shoes, so I had been buying 7.5 for running shoes- not big enough I guess.  These Asics are an 8 and wonderful....

I do need to work on pace consistency.  There were times when I'd feel good and fly, then times when I'd shuffle.  Maybe that's normal, but seems I should find a more consistent pace for the marathon.

There were 5 of us this morning- Kris, Matt, Chris, Heather & me (Christi)- enough Chris names already! Anyway, started at 4:45 up by Sand Hollow Res.  ran down into Hurricane and did a big loop back to Res- exactly 20 on the Garmin.  In my humble opinion we had too many water stops, one every 3 miles.  I think I would have been OK every 4-5 miles, but who knows? It was comforting to come across that goody bad every 3 miles anyway.  I ate some dry cereal & 1/2 banana for breakfast before the run (w/ water), then had 1/2 pkg. of non-caffeine GU at mile 6, then 1/2 pack of caffeine GU at 12, and another 1/2 caffeine at 17.  And of course had some water & gatorade at least a sip at most stops.  But sometimes I just drank because it was there and found myself sloshing- so I cut back on the drinks for 2nd half of run.Think that worked pretty well and didn't have any stomach issues which I usually expect around mile 12.  So I was happy about that.

Temp. was pretty good for us until last 3 miles of run, then it got hot.  But mostly a nice, overcast morning, couldn't ask for better conditions in Aug. in St. George!

Our average pace was 11:06 when we were running (not including the 6 water stops & one gas station potty break).  Obviously we were taking it really easy! I had to keep slowing myself down to stay with the group and I was afraid I would burnout later in the run if I went too fast.  But really I don't like taking all day to do a long run, so I think on the next 20 miler I'd like to try going a bit faster. I have no clue what I should estimate for my marathon pace.  I averaged 9:09 for the Hurricane 1/2, and 8:27 on the Spectrum 10K. I know its a big leap to a full marathon and I should expect to slow down considerably.  I would be happy to run around 10 min. miles and finish around 4:20.  Guess we'll see...

I never really felt I hit a "wall"- oh no, maybe my wall will be 22 or something? I did get a chest cramp around mile 11, but luckily didn't last long.  Ankles got a little sore around 17/18, but only felt that when I stopped for water.  Overall I think I'm in OK shape, but ask me in 48 hrs!!

So I really loved this run and am still enjoying the post run high.  Have a great weekend everyone!