Each Day Is a Gift

St. George Half Marathon

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Location:

UT,

Member Since:

Oct 14, 2008

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Age Division Winner

Running Accomplishments:

85 marathons, 5 times Utah Grand Slam finisher (division winner twice).

7 Bostons (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016).

Two 50Ks, one 50 miler (Pony Express).

A handful of AG wins in all distance races.

Marathon PR: 3:57:09 (Boston'08)

Half Marathon PR: 1:48:41 (Bryce Canyon '11)

10K PR: 47:50 (Spectrum 10K '09)

5K PR: 22:31 (Nestle 5K '08)

Short-Term Running Goals:

2017 Races:

June 10 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:13:43)

June 24 - Morgan Valley Marathon (5:49:01)

July 8 - Hobbler Half (2:19:37, 2nd AG)

July 24 - Temple to Temple 5K (27:43)

July 29 - Timp Half (2:08:01, 3rd AG)

Aug 26 - Mt. Nebo Marathon (5:16:16, 3rd AG)

Sep 16 - Huntsville Marathon (4:48:53)

Oct 7 - St. Geroge Marathon (4:57:11)

Nov 4 - Canyon City Marathon (5:30:07)

2018 Races:

Jan 13 - St. George Half (2:19:45, 3rd AG)

Mar 3 - The Woodlands Marathon (5:01:35)

Apr 6-7 - Ragnar So. California

June 1-2 - Ragnar Wasatch Back

June 9 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:19:22)

June 30 - Morgan Valley Half

Sep 1 - Pocatello Marathon (6:00:43)

Sep 15 - Huntsville Marathon (5:37:08)

Oct 6 - St. George Marathon (5:25:43)

Oct 20 - SoJo Marathon (5:29:23)

2019 Races:

June 1 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:44:24)

June 22 - Morgan Valley Marathon (6:15:13)

Aug 31 - Pocatello Marathon (5:38:47)

Sep 14 - Big Cottonwood Marathon (6:03:51)

Oct 5 - St. George Marathon (5:57:46)

Oct 12 - SoJo Marathon (5:55:45)

2020 Races:

Jan 18 - St. George Half (2:38:28)

Feb 15 - Sun Marathon (5:51:54)

May 5 - Conquer Covid-19 Virtual Marathon (5:49:07)

May 16 - Clear Creek Canyon Half Marathon (2:32:15)

May 25 - Utah Valley Virtual Marathon (5:33:110

June 9 - Independence Run Virtual Marathon (5:55:22)

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run happy and healthy all the days of my life. Be an example and inspiration to my family.

Personal:

I'm 64, retired RN, happily married, nana to 14 beautiful grandchildren, mother to 6 children (1 daughter, 5 sons) who are kind, hardworking, caring, wonderful people! Wish they live closer!!! :) :) :)

Picked up running in 2005 at age 50, to stay healthy so I can take care of my husband who had endocarditis resulting in AVR and MVR in 2004, end stage renal failure in 2014, kidney transplant on Dec 30, 2015. Six months after the kidney transplant, we discovered that he has a rare auto-immune disease that was probably triggered in 2004 with then the undiagnosed infective endocarditis. The doctors had to make up a name for this rare disease, Monoclono Gammopathy with Renal Significance (MGRS). It is not curable. After desperately trying different chemotherapies, the doctor finally found one immuno-therapy, Daratumamab, that works to treat the MGRS. It is a miracle!!!

Grateful for the gift of life, blessings, dear friends and loved ones!!! Thankful for the ability to move, walk, jog, and yes run!!!!

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00
Saucony Guide ISO Wide Lifetime Miles:						311.91
Saucony Guide ISO Lifetime Miles:						313.31
Sacony Guide ISO (2) Lifetime Miles:						225.26
Altra Torin (sz 7) Lifetime Miles:						44.49
Saucony Guide 10 (2020) Lifetime Miles:						60.91

Sat, Jan 22, 2011

Race: St. George Half Marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:55:53, Place in age division: 4

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
2.00	11.10	0.00	0.00	13.10

I debated over and over many many times the last few weeks whether to run this. My hubby happened to schedule work/branch visits/offsite in SG and Hurricane for Thur, Fri and Sat. RAD convinced me (not in a Helga way) to sign up! I would at the least have a mini vacation and a $40 race shirt (which btw never fits me). My son had advised me not to run if there's any pain at all; or just jog the 5K. Even my SSF text me to be careful! Did I listen to the voice of wisdom and reasoning? NO!!! Stubborn stubborn me!

Plan was to run w/ my friend, Karen, who ran her very first half marathon at Snow Canyon in 2:04. We met at 8am in the Dixie Center where we saw RAD, Kelli, Tom & Kim, Pron8r and others. We walked to the start w/ 5 min before gun time. Temp was in the high 30s, partly cloudy and no wind, perfect race weather. I had shorts, s/s top, compression sleeves and gloves on, a bit cold...imagine my joy when I saw Kathie who's always at races' starts to keep me warm.

It was a bit crowded, within a hundred yards of crossing the start, I lost Karen. I took comfort that she was running with her sister Kathy (her first half) and Kathy's husband. Kathie does a wonderful job dodging the crowd and kept track of me; we soon found ourselves running side by side at a comfortable pace.

The first couple miles felt easy although it took awhile to warm up my arthritic joints in the cold. I love running with Kathie so I just hung with her for as long as I could. At about mile 2.5 we saw Canyon (MarcieN). The 3 of us ran together at conversational pace. It was so fun to catch up with what our families been up to. Marcie found her friend around mile 7 and took off with her.

Kathie does a great job keeping a constant pace! I really appreciate that. I just ran w/ how I feel although my strides did not feel smooth at all, I was trying to be careful with my knee. At around mile 9.5 Kathie said we were on pace for 1:52 but fading. I had Gu'd at mile 9 and felt no sign of fatigue. Breathing was easy and legs felt fine, even the knee was ok.

It was at one of those turns that the first sign of cramping showed up. I slowed down a bit, while Kathie walked up the little hill at the aid station I caught up to her. As we made the turn, her friend who was supposed to run w/ found her. At that instant, my left calf cramped up. With fear and sadness I watched them run off. It was like dejavu...the first year we ran Painters, it was on this part of the trail that I watched Kathie and her sister Kimmie passed me and took off and I longingly wanted to run w/ them! :)

The next 2 miles (12 & 13) were agony fighting off charlie horse which would start at the toes, then crept up the calves, then the shins. I HATE these involuntary muscle contractions, it's creepy snake like convulsions, sooo scary! If it seized up I would be DONE, collapsing in a heap of ugly agony! I was running with REAL fear! I tried to relax by thinking of all the wonderful blessings and happenings in my family lately...didn't help!

An amazing thing happen, I looked to the horizon and saw the SG Temple. The words of this hymn came to my mind: "Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid. I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by my righteous, Upheld by my righteous, Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand." I repeatedly sang that over and over (in my head of course) 'till I made the last turn towards Dixie Center where cheering friends and families sustained me. I looked down at my watch and saw 1:54:11 and determined to come in sub 1:55. I was elated to see that I made it and crossed the finish w/o collapsing. Hubby and RAD was there to collect me and help me recover. :)

This is my 5th year running Painters/SG Half. I have come in 4th place in my AG every year. I was ecstatic when I saw the posting that I was listed 3rd place. Hubby said: "Oh darn, now we have to stay for the award!" It was so fun to watch and cheer our FRB friends, MichelleL, AmberG, PaulP, JulieC, Kathie's mom, got on the podium. Imagine my embarrassment when I was NOT called up. O well, I'll just have to run this thing again to rid of this "4th place jinx"...5th place would've been ok! :) :) :)

Splits: 8:51, 8:45, 8:33, 8:33, 8:29, 8:50, 8:33, 8:41, 9:09 (Gu'd), 8:36, 8:46, 9:58, 9:58 (I'm surprised to see the last 2 miles so consistent even in pain), 0.1 @7:13

********

I am glad that I've completed the Runner Series requirement garnering a guarantee entry to SG Marathon. My legs are very sore today with occasional involuntary twitches, weird! It will take some time to let everything heal. I am going to take it slow and easy and hopefully make it to the start line at Boston in runnable shape! Hubby booked our flights already while I was in Texas...so I better make it! :)

Night Sleep Time: 6.00	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 6.00	Weight: 0.00

Comments

From DonGardinero on Sun, Jan 23, 2011 at 23:48:46 from 174.144.166.223

Oh Smoothie, you are so stubborn!!! But look at you finishing with such a great time. Amazing!!! IT was good to see you, very briefly, after the race.

From RAD on Sun, Jan 23, 2011 at 23:57:36 from 67.172.229.125

I'm SO glad you came - even though I now feel like it's all my fault for convincing you :) It was wonderful to see you and I hope you know that I will never hear that hymn again without thinking of you and the SG temple! It came on the CD we were listening to on the way home and I told Craig the story. Oh, and how is your knee? Any residual pain?

After waiting for your award and you not getting it, we were sitting around at prizes and another lady was asking about the same AG. So I stuck my nose in and asked what had happened. For some reason the 1st place lady wasn't put in the posted times, but she was in the official times. STINK! I told the guy handing out the awards that you'd stayed and then gotten cheated out of 3rd place AGAIN. He felt so bad that he went and got a $15 off award voucher for you and gave it to me. I wanted to tell him "she just told me she has like 10 of these in her drawer that she can't ever use!" But he was so sweet about it I couldn't. So, when I see you again I have a certificate for you to add to your collection for getting cheated out of 3rd place :)

From AmberG on Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 00:00:39 from 75.162.147.56

Great race Smooth, , ,you seem to find strength through any trial!

Wish I could have seen you Saturday! Maybe I'll see ya in Boston!!

From Teena Marie on Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 00:03:30 from 67.2.104.73

Yes, you are very stubborn (in a very good way, of course). :) :) :)

So happy you were able to finish the race.

You will be smart and you will have a wonderful Boston!! Just watch!!! :)

LLL LLL LLL

From Smooth on Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 00:13:03 from 67.2.67.18

Dale ~ Yes, I was very happy to see you for a brief hug at the finish! I was so cold after the race that I couldn't think straight. Did you meet up with BeMo for lunch?

RAD ~ We found it a bit strange that in the official posting, the 1st place lady's gun time is the same as chip time. She must've been toeing at the starting mat to get that. Anyway, I met her and her husband at the Boston airport on the way home last year and later in the Slam races. She is a nice lady, but dang it, she edged me at last year's Painters w/ 12 seconds! She is very deserving of her win!!!

Thanks for staying and fighting for me. You always take such good care of me in so many ways. I just love you!

Please know that I am not blaming you for my signing up for the race. Remember you even try to talk me to switch to the 5K. I just threw that comment in there to justify my own *sick addition* to run races! :) I LOVE YOU!!! THANKS for being there for me!

Amber ~ I thought about calling you up on Thur when I was alone in the hotel. I didn't realize you were running this until I saw you got up on the podium. I was so excited for you. Going over to read your report now!

From DonGardinero on Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 00:20:21 from 67.2.103.82

Hey, I was cheated out of my 104th place award. Did anyone happen to grab it for me? Ha ha!

Smooth...Yes, we met up with BeMo, but I don't think she really wanted to eat at Mongolian BBQ, so she didn't even eat anything. We've been wanting to eat there again for the past year and just couldn't miss out on it again.

I could tell you were pretty cold after the race. I was hot and sweaty and couldn't wait for a shower.

From Clay on Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 00:42:28 from 166.205.8.91

Way to battle through pain smooth! It was nice to talk to you after the race, take some time to heal and come back slow;)

From Maurine/Miles on Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 08:28:05 from 63.255.172.2

Way to battle through pain and injuries. I have never had to battle charlie horses when running but used to get them a lot as a teenager while sleeping and know how painful they can be to come out of.

What is happening with your knee?

From RivertonPaul on Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 10:58:19 from 67.42.27.114

Nice job. Now get healthy.

From flatlander on Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 11:58:08 from 76.31.26.153

Love your report, way to power through the dark miles, you did great.

From MarcE on Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 12:08:39 from 204.16.82.120

Smooth...you never cease to amaze me. I had no doubts that you would start and finish that race--one way or another. I thought Charlie was gone for good -- where was Larry with a pickle for you? Congrats on completing the Runners' Series. Wishing you a quick recovery and awesome training cycle leading to Boston!

From JulieC on Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 15:28:10 from 67.41.191.111

Wow Smooth!! what is this nagging muscle pain? have you had your iron level checked? So glad you found the strength to get it done!! Fine time too!! Way to go!!

From Andy on Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 16:57:22 from 199.190.170.29

Sorry to hear that the cramping returned. Great job on another 4th place finish.

From Nancy on Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 20:11:32 from 76.27.19.206

I'm surprised that you could do so well with a sore knee and lots of cramps. Congratulations on such a great race under such hard conditions. I would have been happy with that time when I was feeling great.

From Maynard on Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 22:28:27 from 71.213.31.156

It's impossible to read one of your reports and not smile from ear to ear at some point. Well done, in spite of Charles.

What's next on your schedule?

From timp on Tue, Jan 25, 2011 at 09:51:05 from 144.188.24.25

nice job out there, Smooth!

From Rhett on Tue, Jan 25, 2011 at 11:38:43 from 74.32.222.21

Smooth, at Boston last year I had that verse of that song stuck in my head the whole race as well. Since then it has become one of my favorite songs. I love your race reports. They give me the chills. Great race. You are an inspiration to me.

From Smooth on Tue, Jan 25, 2011 at 19:11:42 from 67.2.95.228

THANKS everyone for your kind words!!! :)

Clay ~ Thanks for the support! I do need to take some time to heal and come back slow...but so hard to do!

Maurine ~ I have patella tendinitis. I foolishly ramp up the mileage to 80 and 77 the first two weeks of December (mostly on the treadmill); followed by hill work the third week. Ignoring the knee pain while skiing during the holidays while jumped right into a 18/70 training schedule (for Boston).

A walnut size bursa is forming at my tibia tuberosity (the bony protrusion just below the knee cap. The knee hurts about an hour into the run and hurts really bad post run. I can't flex and bend my knee w/o pain.

Marc ~ I think charlie never intends to leave me. I would be the happiest and luckiest girl if I ever found the solution to rid of him once and for all. I should have remembered to give Larry the pickle duty! Dang!!!

Julie ~ I have not had my iron level checked. I wish I know what cause these involuntary muscle spasms and cramps. I get them late in the race or right after I finish the race. I NEVER get them in my training run. It matters not what the climate, the pace or the hydration. The trigger seems to come from sudden change of pace, direction or terrain when I have to use different muscles which seems to misfire and goes haywire! These charlie horse are painful. The next day my legs would be swollen and extremely tender to touch. It's very discouraging!

Maynard ~ I am on week 11 of my training schedule to Boston. I wanted to sign up for another half or even tempted to do the Buffalo 25K...but I am not sure if I can even resume training at this point! STINK!

Rhett ~ That verse of the hymn just popped into my head and gave me comfort replacing the fear I experienced at the time. I am glad we have the Gospel to draw strength from! You and Doone are great example to me. Larry and I think the world of you!!! :)

From glidergirl on Tue, Jan 25, 2011 at 21:29:45 from 155.97.238.134

Smooth, you are my hero! :) Great job, I'm SO proud of you!! I'm glad you were able to run it despite the latest events with your knee.

PS I love the new pics!

From Bec on Tue, Jan 25, 2011 at 23:56:36 from 71.199.12.198

Don't fret over the Boston thing, you will make it, you are SMOOTH!

Great race at St. George. I had no idea that you were facing all of that stuff while you ran such a beautiful race. I was so happy when I saw you and Pres. There are many things I like about races but one of my favorites is being with great people.

Happy training Smooth. This is your year.

From Jon A on Wed, Jan 26, 2011 at 13:37:08 from 67.214.249.195

Great job finishing a TOUGH race! You are soooo tough! Hope you feel better soon!

From Kelli on Wed, Jan 26, 2011 at 18:35:38 from 71.219.84.215

OH, Smooth, you are the best! I love that you sing hymns, too. You wanna know what i sing? Let Us All Press On...

Anyway, great race! I am sorry that you cramped up once again, but you persevered as you always do. You are so amazing! I was bummed you were not 3rd as well, that really stinks!

From calliej on Thu, Jan 27, 2011 at 00:39:01 from 97.126.142.95

Smooth~ you are awesome! Way to run it and finish. I wish I could of run a little fast then I would of "run" into you. Hang in there and get feeling great!!

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