Stroller pushin in Texas

Today I paced the Thelma and Louise Half Marathon down in Moab.  I paced the 1:50 group with Rachel and I had a complete blast.  This race is now in my top 5 destination races.

Drove down with Rachel, Rachelle, and Christine on Friday around 4:30 in the afternoon.  We arrived in Moab around 8:30 and went and picked up our race goodie bags.  We checked into our hotel (Best Western) and went down to Zax Pizza for some dinner.  

 I barely slept at all that night because the room was so dang hot.  I had opened the windows, but it was so hot and there were drunks outside making the biggest racket.  Nonetheless, 5 am still came early and I rolled out of bed.

We drove to the start line (up a canyon).  We got out of the car and the scenery was absolutely beautiful.  The start/finish area was next to the Colorado river and the backdrop of red rock was stunning.  The race had about 800 women racing.  

After we hit the POPs we found the pacers and took our lovely pace sign toward the front of the crowd.  The race started on time and we were off.  Rachel and I started off a little slow due to the congestion of slow racers that had lined up at the front. We were off and soon out a little too fast.  We were basically pacing one lady named Annie and we really didn't have a group of runners.  Annie held strong with us and I personally thought that she was capable of better than a 1:50.

The course was an out and back and the first half seemed a little downhill.  We were ahead of pace by about a minute and I figured that would buy us time for the second half of the course that would be slightly uphill.  The views of the canyon were just out of this world and the race was just so mellow.  I have never been in an all ladies race, I LOVED it!  Everyone just seemed so relaxed.  We picked about another gal named Tami at about the turn around point.

Turning around we hit a wall of wind.  The headwind just would not break and we ran right into it for the second half.  It was pretty constant.  Once we were back in the canyon in wasn't as bad.  

We were always a little bit ahead of pace and that bought us some good time at the aid stations.  I think the gals we ran with appreciated the fact that we stopped and took water or Gatorade and encouraged them to do the same.  It really did not feel like we were going fast at all, but I kept creeping ahead of the pace and Rachel had to call me back in.  

Mile 11 we told Tami that she had to break away.  Rachel gave her a challenge to run ahead and pass at least 4 girls.  We watched her do it and she looked so strong.  We were both proud of her to push those last few miles.  I liked running with Tami because she had her phone on speaker and she would play her music out loud.  

The last mile we were still ahead of pace 20-30 seconds.  We took it slow and encouraged those runners behind us to pass us up.  It was fun to watch a big group in front of us go sub 1:50.  We ran in and I saw that I could end exactly on gun time. so I jumped across the finish at 1:50:01... Perfection.  My actual time was about 15 seconds ahead of pace.

They had an awesome spread of food at the finish.  This was a very expensive half ($100), but at least they treated the runners well.  I had fun hanging out at the finish listening to the band and seeing other ladies finish.  I had to be back in town for a graduation, so I made everyone in the car zip back to the hotel, shower, eat and get on the road.  

Such a fun time with the running girlfriends. 

I went with a gal that lives by my parents, she is training for Ragnar.  She was cute and told me this was her long/fast run before Ragnar.  That just made my day.  

We ran 8:35 AP and she was just pleased as ever.  :) 

6.1 miles on the JRP with some of my most favorite running people.  :) : ) Running is great, but when you combine it with good friends, it takes flight to another level.  Loved seeing Smooth, Luz, Karen, and of course RAD and baby Adam.  I thought it was cool that RAD brought Adam along in a special jogging stroller she bought yesterday for $30.  I must say, I have been running with RAD for about 4-5 years and I have never seen her push a stroller with any of her babies.  Guess now is a good time to start?

Loved the company and the special farewell run to Smooth.  Sounds like she really is going to be going on a marathon of her own, hope she is up for it!!  Smooth and Prez will be the best mission presidents.  LOVE them!  

Hikes with RAD, Adam and Lucy.  I want to big like RAD when I grow up.  Strap my kid to my back and let my dog roam free in the wilderness.  We had fun.  :)

3 miles to shake out the cob webs before tomorrow's race.  7:31 AP.  Last miles I did 5 strides.

Goals for tomorrow:

1.  Sub 3:20.  I have my pace band printed out and rearing to go.  My goal is to keep to the pace and to not go out like a full blown maniac (this happens often).

2.  Try to enjoy myself

3.  If 1 and 2 fail qualify for Boston... 3:35

4.  If I fail 3, pull over for a stop and wait for the 4:00 pacer (RAD)

I am getting nervous about my 3:20 goal, it scares me.  The other day my mom told me if my goals don't scare me, they ain't big enough.  Guess it's big enough for now. :-)

-Over and out 

For the longest time I have thought I would never be able to PR in the marathon again.  I honestly don't feel like I am better shape than I have been in the past 3 years, but I think today things just fell into place.

I slept well the entire week minus the night before the marathon, which I had planned on.  I didn't overeat Friday, and I didn't have any injuries throbbing at me.  I ate at the BYU creamery on Friday and my mom is claiming that is why I PR'd.  (I kind of despise BYU)

Went and picked up Smooth in the early hours of the morning and met RAD and Marci at the Park 'n Ride.  I laughed from the time I picked Smooth up and on.  I was getting nervous that I was spending all of my energy on laughing, but it really relaxed me.  It was nice to be around runners that weren't racing, there wasn't a stint of stress.

After waiting for Lowell at the buses (he was at McDonald's eating his pre-race meal), we got on the bus.  I got to sit next RAD, and it was so nice to sit by her and get all of her positive energy coming my way.  She even gave me a shoe charm that I will wear on my running shoes from here on out.  It says "Running Buddy".  When she gave it to me, I cried.

Got to the start and stood in lines for the Portas.  Went to the bathroom and got back in line. Went again and it was time to line up.  Everyone went to line up and I went to the bathroom for the third time.  Made my way up to the start and wedged my way into the crowd.  No prayer and no National Anthem, kinda bugged me... We were just off.

Key was to stay on pace.  I had a lovely pace band that Rachelle sent me via e-mail that I had printed out, cut, taped and prepared a few days earlier.  I tried to stay on pace but I felt really good and I was ahead of pace by about 2 min by mile 4.  I continued to hold myself back but the downhill felt so good.

Coming out of Wallsburg, I was ready for the hills.  Nice and easy was the idea, not bringing the heart rate up.  I did just that.  There were two girls that looked like they were in high school.  Whenever I would get up to them, they would surge ahead, it was driving me nuts!  I could see how hard they were working and I just kept my cool.  By mile 9, they were history.

 As I ran up and down the hills I started thinking of all of the training I had done for these few hills.  This is where my Aspen training came into play.  I ran three miles straight up at 9,000 ft, these hills had nothin' on me!  I also thought of the neighborhood I lived at in San Antonio.  Hills were all I ran there.  

Mile 9.5 I looked up and I saw Julie C from the blog on her bike!!  She was working wayyyyy harder than I was.  She rode up the freakin' canyon!  I was so excited to see her and I called out to her, she made me laugh and smile.  She was this little lady on her bike just cruisin' up and up!

Next few miles were ok, things were starting to heat up (my body) and I started to feel like I was running and not just floating around.  Hit the half with plenty of time for my sub 3:20.  I realized this was the first time I had seen portas on the course and there were a million of them.  The smoke from the fires they had put out made me cough and nauseated.

I didn't realize that after mile 15 there was a pretty big hill.  I felt that one.  The downhill after that caught me by surprised and I picked up the pace a lot, I felt really good at this point.  Got to mile 19 and took my 3rd GU,  it was just as nasty as the last two.

Ran down to the mouth of the canyon and dedicated the last 6 miles to David.  I remember seeing him at mile 20 when he ran UVM back in 2011.  He didn't look very happy and I know those last six miles were hard for him.  I wanted to kick those last 6 in the behind!  I knew my folks were at Will's Pit Stop, so I gave it a push so I could see them.  

Saw my parents and gave my mom a big sweaty hug.  Her reaction was funny, she gave a disgusted look and started to run with me.  That lasted about 5 seconds when she realized how fast it really was.  I might have looked slow, but it was quick.  

Mile with the hill (24?) was not a pleasantry and I started cursing Provo at that moment.  I was praising the RD for moving this horrid 6 mile stretch out of the sun and into the shade.  Then I could see the finish, I had my PR in the bag a long time ago.  :)

Ran down the finale and smiled, screamed, and cried a little.  I was soooooooooooo happy.  I think that when I get to heaven I will have the same feeling of excitement I had those last 30 seconds of the race.  I wish that happy feeling of finishing with a PR would have lasted a little longer.  I think I honestly run JUST so I can have that awesome feeling when I cross the finish line.  Just not fair that we train that much for only those few seconds of bliss.

Soaked in the bullfrog ice bath when I finished.  Also spotted Julie C right off the bat eating snacks and I got to chat with her a long time.  I was high on a happy happy happy moment.  I was making all kinds of jokes while I sat in the ice bath and froze.  I was with a bunch of men that didn't get their goal times.  I don't really know, but they were all acting grumpy.  

Went and got my official time and picked up my BQ shirt.  Found Rachelle and talked about her awesome race.  She is a running idol of mine.  :)  

Waited around for RAD, Smooth, and Luz too.  RAD and Smooth FLIPPED out when I told them my time, tears were flowing from me and I was happy all over again.  I honestly don't know how I did what I did!!!!  

Ran 6 miles on the TM in a super soupy gym.  First time i have ran since the M-thon, felt ok, knees hurt a little.  7:07 AP

Cardio Circuit class.  I was bummed because the schedule said the class was supposed to be 30 spin/30 min sculpt.  It was a class that was just filled with random things we had to do.  Good workout but really boring... I wouldn't want to do this class again. 

8 miles in the slug, mug, pure nastiness.  Texas summer, hello!  Right around 7 when the sun started coming up, the mug burnt away and it was a little refreshing.

Ran with Paige and picked Diana up.  Paige puked and Diana died on us. :(  I guess later Diana puked too? Was I working these ladies too much?  Nah, I just think they were having a hard time with the humidity and my talking.  87% humidity when we left their houses.

 I also spotted a snake and pointed it out to Diana, she screamed!  The snake was only like a foot long and red and spotty.  I stick with the phrase, "If it's close to Mexico, don't touch it!"

Eventful morning.  Birthday boy at my house (David), so I had to try and be creative and such... I think it worked, he might have a good Birthday.  It's hard to compete with his spoiling antics toward my Birthdays.  It would have been a lot easier to run his Birthday years in miles, but he didn't think that sounded very fun.  I was the one bummed on that one. 

ARC trainer 1 hour.  Off to Austin for the weekend!

30 minutes on the stairs at the hotel.  Only had time for 30 min cause we didn't want to miss the breakfast at the hotel.

Off to Barton Springs.  :) 

4 miles on the TM at the hotel.  Off to the Texas State Capitol.

6 miles on the TM.  Felt like I was going to just blow up... so hot and humid!!

Zumba for an hour.  Class was so-so. 

7 miles outside on the base.  It was SCREAMING hot the last mile. I was basically in HELL, not lying.  Those 7 miles were much harder than the marathon I ran 2 weeks ago, no comparison.  8:02 AP. Felt like the last few miles I was slogging.

30 minutes on the spin bike in front of a massive fan.  Finally cooled down. 

6 miles on the TM.  5 miles AP 6:50.  Yes, I was in the 6s.  :)  

Cardio sculpt class.  Pretty hard class. 

2 hours on the spin bike.  I was an hour early to class and I didn't realize it.  Just kept peddling.  My sweat puddles got so big, they were kind of spraying everywhere. (ick)

The spin teacher was in love with me and my big thighs... Really, she was commenting on my thighs, in a good way. If there is a good way to comment on big thighs? 

5 miles in the heat at 8:30 in the morning.  It KILLS me when I run to the west, with wind against my back.  Last mile I would turn and run toward the East every quarter mile to get head wind.

I was thinking of running a half marathon tomorrow, happy I'm not! 

8:05 AP 

10 miles on the TM.  7:30 AP