Stroller pushin in Texas

Run with Rachel this morning.  :) So so so nice to run with her and be back in Utah for the month/  Ran up in Hi Country and I rather enjoyed the adventure that she took me on. Up and up some pretty darn big hills.  Beautiful views and vistas. I have missed my mountains!  

Felt slow, but it really wasn't that slow. 8:15 AP 

Beautiful views.  I love Mt. Timpanogus. 

First off, I had such a fun day.  Rachel picked me up at the Park and Ride in Lehi and we started laughing from that point and on.  Sleep deprivation and really funny stories made me feel really loopy and so happy to be in the car riding with her.

We got to P-town and I got my packet.  We proceeded to wait around for the pace team to show up so we could grab Rachel's pace gear.   I was fine by that.  The later we hung around the finish area, the less time we had to spend up in the freezing temps.  Rachel got her pace gear and we headed to the bus with the rest of the pacers.  I have never really "hung" out with pacers, but tell ya what, they get a lot of attention.

Sat by the 5 hour pacer for the marathon on the bus and we had a good conversation.  I kept thinking that 5 hours was an awful long time to hang out on that course.  11:36 was the pace, oh boy, so crazy slow.  I hope she survived and had someone to run with.

Got to the start area and Rachel and I made our way to the fire pits.  We squished into the crowd of runners and people were asking Rachel all sorts of questions about her 2:00 hour marathon she was about to attempt.  Made me laugh.  I mentioned that Rachel had just been to the Boston Marathon and also paced Salt Lake City Marathon.  After I mentioned all of that, I felt really bad.  Lots of questions and conversation about the topic.  I learned my lesson and felt really bad I said anything about it.  One of my brother's best friends was also standing right next to me at the fire with his wife.  It was fun to re-connect with them.

We made our way to the pacer pow-wow and they were given instructions.  I made my way up toward the big porta line party.  Did my business and then it was time to strip down.  That was the worst part of the day for me. I was shivering from head to toe and I just wanted to start running.  Marathoners were off and we lined up.  Saw Rachelle and Jeff L and that made me happy.

Off we went!  Down Viviann I was actually gasping for air a little.  The high elevation was really high for me and I concentrated on taking big, deep breathes.  I had a side stitch at the bottom of my throat.  I just prayed that it would go away soon.  At the bottom of Viviann, it was starting to subside.  

I only ate a banana before the race, so I was concerned that I would need fuel.  Pulled over at mile 4 and stuffed a GU down with some water quickly, glad I did.  I ran rather well down the canyon and I felt great.  Mile 7, the brakes were put on a little and that was expected.  By that time my high hamstrings were starting to cramp up.  I was thankful the downhill was over.  I then plugged into the tempo pace I have been practicing back home.  

The last two miles drug a little, but I was almost done.  Super sad that my sub 1:30 was not going to happen today.  I just gave it a push and finished and felt pretty good the whole time.  I was pleased with my 1:32 time, won't lie.  :)  I am a little upset that I probably won't get another chance at 1:30 for a very long time.  Maybe even years.  There just aren't downhill courses in Texas.

Did some cool down miles and headed back out on the course to run Rachel and the 2:00 hour runners in.  I was super impressed with Rachel's pacing skills.  She ended at 1:59:59!  There weren't very many mile markers to pace off during the race either, so that is a plus on her part.   

Partied at the finish with Rachel, Rachelle, and I even saw Allie too!  It was a lot of fun and it felt so good being back in such an inspiring running community.  :) 

My stinkin watch didn't record the splits and I didn't run with pace on my Garmin.  I have a new Garmin and I didn't set it up correctly, so it was all my fault.  I also wanted to pace myself according to the way my body felt.  I wanted a 1:30, but I knew somewhere between 1:30 and 1:35 is what my body has been trained to do.  

Since I am running my long run on Weds. I decided to do my speed work today. Didn't know how this would go over considering I just raced on Saturday. I also wanted to lift weights, so the Legacy Center was the place to go.

Got there at 7:30 and they wouldn't let me in because it was "members only" time until 8. Ran a 2.5 route outside to warm up. Got on the TM and did the .25 @ 8, .50 @ 8.5, 1 mile @ 9.0 repeated 4x. The last mile was one the edge of killer, but I managed to pull off the workout. :)

Pumped iron (legs) and did some ABS, stretched and called it a day. :)

6.5 or so in Draper. At mile 2 i saw some teens making out. Guess I was running in the afternoon, so at least it wasn't early in the morning.

Porter Rockwell was a beautiful afternoon run.

20 with the one and only R.A.D.  It was basically RAD.

Got to her house about 8:30 and she and Craig (her hubby) were getting the kiddos off to school.  Made me remember the days when my siblings and I would rush off to school in the morning.  Her little guy Nathan was having a Birthday and they were enjoying some Kneaders sweet rolls.  Kids left and we made our way (drove) 4 miles down and started our run.  I mentioned the word "hills" when we were putting this run together and boy, did I get some hills thanks to Moody Running Club.  I think we should name this run Hell's Hills, just sayin'.  

I didn't have a Garmin, so I was not keeping track of mileage.  I would occasionally ask her where we were at and I was sorry for it.  

Phase 1: Climbed up to the top of Mountain Corridor?  I forgot the name of that road, but it was a small mountain so we can call it that.  

Phase 2: Downhill and some rollers in there at the end.

Phase 3: Up a canyon she called The Cove.  

Phase 4: Up some mountains and then some more mountains.

Mile 10:  Looked at the most amazing view ever!

Mile 12:  Rachel's hero friend whom was sent from heaven found us on the side of mountain and brought us some water.  Evidently she lives on the mountain side and just happened to be going into town.  God sent.  

Phase 5: Down some really steep passes with a couple of big climbs in there.

Phase 6: Gradual downhill to her house.  We were now at mile 16.  She threw together a Birthday lunch for Nathan and Adam and we took a momentarily recess.

Phase 7:  Last 4 miles back down to the car!  

Phase 8:  We went to 7-eleven and bought she Slurpees!!!  Yum yum, they were the best ever.  Dr Pepper slurpees to be exact.  

Recap:  So much fun and such an AWESOME course!  HOMM (a crazy marathon) will be held there for the craziest of the craziest.  Rachel is planning to run that.  Sad I will be back in Texas for that one.  Beautiful weather, company, and again, so blessed that I can run.  :) 

My friend told me to meet her out the Ivory Ridge Clubhouse for Zumba at 7.  Woke up at 6 and got over there at 6:50.  No friend and no Zumba.  The class was held at 7 PM!!  Luckily, they let me workout anyway.

20 min on Elliptical

Weights (Arms)

Went home and waled about 1.5 with my mom.

Went to Zumba in the PM and had a blast. 

8 miles in the morning, mostly on the Murdock Trail.  I can't get over how beautiful is out. :)

I went up to Big Cottonwood Canyon half to pace the 1:45 group with Rachel.  I was so sick I told her to just leave me in the back of her car.  I threw up a few times and stayed in her car for a few hours... It was an AWFUL morning, afternoon and day to say the least.  Thank goodness I just had the 24 hour bug.  Put me below the Athena category.  

6.5 miles on a sad sad body.  I can't remember the last time I have felt so slow and tired during a run.  I knew that I was recovering from the sickness over the weekend, but I felt just awful.  It's so frustrating to think that all of your training has gone to pot when you feel this miserable. 

Sat down at mile 3 for a rest in the shade.  Took a drink break at mile 4.  I still had an 8:27 AP, I guess that's good?

:) :) :)  Today I felt much better on my run than yesterday, thank goodness.  Slept in (again) and started running around 9.  I saw Wendy and Smooth right off the get-go and I sped up so I could run with them a little bit.  I knew it was them from a distance because short Smooth and tall Wendy.  It was a good start to a really nice run. :)

Today I decided on an old scenic route that I used to run back in the day at least twice a week.  Today I gave it a name: The Old Boyfriends Loop  I never counted all the guys that I actually dated that live on that loop.  There are 9 guys and that loop I dated/friends with!!! That loop was only 7 miles long.... I am a hussy!!  I am glad my husband wasn't here because I think I would have talked about funny stories as I passed their houses.  Geez.  Talk about a run down memory lane.  I hope all of those boyfriends are happy and have good lives.  Just funny how life works when you stay single until you are almost 30.  

10 miles.  AP 8:12 

1.5 mile warm up on TM

.25 @ 8,8.5,9,9.5,10

.25@7

Repeated 5x

1.25 mile cool down on track 

8 miles with Rachel and Chad at Daybreak.  Ran around the lake with R and C once, then let C leave us.  R and I ran around again.  I was so completely drained.  

Ran 2 more miles down to my bro's house and walked a mile because at 10 miles I was done.  

Drove to Wyoming with RAD (8 hours) 

No running.  Left Wyoming at 6 am to make it to Fargo by the evening.  Enjoyed the Expo.

Fargo Half marathon pacing.  This was a great and fun filled day.  

Woke up and walked to the start with Rachelle.  We ran around for a mile with our pacers signs in hand.  Got to the start and met some of the people that wanted to run with me.  First time pacing and I felt completely scared and nervous....

10 miles in Lehi on the Murdock Trail.  7:52 AP.  Felt awesome and I had fun.  

I am still tired from the 18 hour drive home from North Dakota yesterday.   

10 miles with Rachelle on the JRP.  That girl made me haul, LOVE it!  After the first few miles, my body fell into a 7:30 pace and it felt great.  7:33 AP

10 miles.  Up Suncrest road and over on Westfiled road.  Beautiful out. 7:53 AP

I am in aspen for the weekend and let me tell you, runner's paradise. It is gorgeous up here and the elevation is intense. There are at least a half dozen trails that I know about, so there are even more.

Started my run by the condo we are staying at. 8000ft when I started, climbed 4.5 miles or so and turned around. Just so beautiful here, I can't stand it. My lungs were working overtime and I could barely run uphill without gasping for air.

8:30 ap. I am giving myself a break for the altitude.

7 miles down and around paths that were downtown. Ran on hunter's creek trail..... A must for every runner. Very tactical running but soooo worth the views of the river. I am here during high run off time, the river is crazy.

Spent the day at glenwood springs with my sis and her fam. That place is amazing. 104 and 90 degree pools. Just perfect. Can't say I would want to go here in the middle of the summer. It was such a great place to relax.

Last long run/workout before my taper for UVM. I am really proud of this run. First 6.5 were up. East aspen trail with the last 3.5 up a mountain pass. I walked every .50 on the last 3 miles to bring my heart rate down. Then I got to run down after I hit 6.5, what an awesome reward for all of the climbing.

8:12 ap. splits: 8:47, 8:14, 8:21, 9:07, 9:44, 9:41, 8:25, 6:45, 6:39, 6:55, 8:11, 7:59, 7:45

10 slow miles with RAD.  Took her around where I grew up.  Ran in the cemetery to remember those of the past.  

8 miles on the TM at the legacy center. 1 mile warm up. Started at 8 and went up .25 every quarter mile until 10. Repeated 5x. Cool down and abs to finish. Last speed workout?? Maybe a few more strides here and there before the marathon.

6 miles in Bountiful. Ran from my Grandma's house up 3 miles.  Ran up to the big "B".  That wasn't my plan but that is where the road took me.  SERIOUS incline.  8:29 AP

6 miles around the 'hood. 7:38 AP