Stroller pushin in Texas

30 minutes on the elliptical at a conversational effort.  1 hour spin class.  I felt soooo much better after spin, I think I will give running a try tomorrow.  

I am happy that my PF does not feel bad this week...YET.  I could barely run the first few miles of this run due to being tight, tired, and being sore.  Overall workout felt like sludge.  I stopped four times to go to the bathroom.  

Something kind of funny that happened on this run was that I ran through wet asphalt.  I left my big running foot print right on the road.  When I looped back to the same spot, the man that poored the asphalt was examining the situation.  I felt bad, but I had no idea that it was wet (until I stepped in it).  

I went later to the LC to spin and try to lift weights. My belly is STILL in pain.  I want to do a lot of miles tomorrow but my calves are so stiff. 

Fast and difficult miles on the TM.  My body is still very tired and sore.  

 PM run at dusk 7.12 miles.  Absolutely perfect temps. :)  My legs felt really great on this run. 

Evening TM miles.  Felt nice, not as fast as I would have liked it to be.  

AM TM run.  My legs were wasted after hitting a late PM run.  

Lunch run with Walter @ Liberty Park.  It just bugs me so bad that he slows me down everytime I run with him.  Yeah right!  When I run with him I feel like an out of shape person going for a "once a month" run.  

Up and down P-canyon (Provo).  Just not feeling it today.  Extremely unmotivated and pretty upset with my running today.  I need to re-evaluate what I want out of running.  I am pretty pooped. :(  

Two weeks until the marathon.  I know that I can slip a long run in there, if I want to...

Stink.  It's been a hard week.  Beautiful weather though.

Thank you everyone that commented on my Saturday's upsetting run.  I could not agree more with the advice everyone gave me.  I am taking it easy the next two weeks, ENJOYING the marathon, and then a break will be taking place.

Today I decided to punish myself a little for my sad run on Saturday.  I ran up Immigration Canyon 6 something miles, and then back down.  My legs felt like lead basically the entire time, so I really took it slow.  I was happy when run was over. 

*Our DESTINY is not determined by CHANCE, but our DESTINY is determined by the CHOICES we make. 

PM 2 miles on the elliptical at moderate effort, 45 minute weights. 

BBK's THANK YOU!!!  It was so refreshing to run with passionate, and dedicated runners.  This run was exactly what I needed.  My favorite part of the run was running with Kelli and RAD at the end of workout.  The sunrise was beautiful, and listening to Kelli and RAD's conversation was fantastic.  

I feel refreshed from running.  How is that possible? 

 There are 3 kinds of people...

1. Those that make it happen.

2.  Those that watch others make it happen.

3.  And those that ask, "how did that just happen?"

 (I heard this over the intercom at work today)  What kind of people are we? 

PM 2 miles on the elliptical.  Stretching.  50 situps for the heck of it.

7.5 on the TM

45 tired minutes in the weight room. 

Met the BBK's today for a nice run before the storm.  Group running motivates me.  Thank you BBKers.  

PM elliptical 30 minutes, 45 minutes arms in weight room.  

Quick TM workout.  Pressed for time.  

*Roller skating in the evening.  Does that count for miles?  

12 miles in the P-canyon with Jeff L.  Lovely snow along the trail.  I was surprised how comfortable this run felt.  Thanks for motivating me to get those miles in Jeff!  

1 mile on a LAME TM at the gym.

Core workout

1 fast mile on the track at the gym.

Signed up for the Mesquite Marathon today.  I guess it's time to get serious. 

PM 2.5 fast TM miles.  Spin class.  Maintained HR at 180 most of the class.

6 TM miles in the PM.  Core work and stretching.  

Elliptical 30 minutes. 1 mile on the track.  Stretching.  

Taper week sure has me tapered.  I always forget that I feel fat, rested, and energized.  Last night I went to bed about 10.  I could not get to sleep.  The night was filled with strange dreams, waking up every hour, and being extremely cold.  At 5 I woke up ready to go!  I had to force myself to rest.  6 came around and I felt like I had slept in.  I think this is a good sign.  

Went to the gym and did 15 min elliptical, 1 fast mile on the track, 15 more minutes on the elliptical and 20 minutes of stretching.  

Headed to Mesquite today.  I have the marathon "gitters."  This will be an interesting race and I am excited to let everyone know about it!

Today I ran my 13th marathon!  There were a few reasons why I ran this race.  Yes, I did want to go faster than I did, but I feel good about my overall performance today.  This race gave me a gauge on the races and goals that I have for next year's running season.  

Event Schedule:

Eve of the Marathon:  Drive to Mesquite

Get to the white tent with empty tables in it. AKA registration.

Eat dinner at a pasta joint.  I actually ate pizza.

Adventure in the Casino:  Did you know that slot machines don't take change?  I don't gamble much, actually not at all.  For some reason my friend (Jaimie) and I decided that we needed to play the slots while staying in Mesquite.  It took us a LONG time to realize we needed to either put cash or credit into the slot.  There were a lot of strange stares coming our direction in the casino that night. HMMM.  To make a long story short,  I hope we didn't break the slot machine.  

Toss and turn trying to sleep.

Morning of the race:  WIDE awake at 4:00 am ready to BURN 4,000 calories

Bus situation: Wait for Walter as the 3 luxury buses are being loaded to give him his race packet.  Buses are pulling away and still NO Walter.  Chase the buses down.  Get on the bus and see Walter!  Sit in the ONE remaining seat on the bus. 

Get off the bus and line up for the POP.  Get back on the bus to use the bathroom on the bus.  Get kicked off the bus because the bus has to leave BEFORE using the POP.  Stand in line once again.  Everyone is lining up at the start and I still have not gone.  Go behind the POP PRAYING no one will go behind the POP.  Throw my garb in the back of a truck.  Already warm. 

RACE:  Race starts.  I start running.  Running is a typical thing I do in races.  I see Josse, I run with her for about 6 miles.  Pace is about 6:30.  Felt great.  Nice conversation.  I am Josse FAN.  About mile 7 I start backing off to CONSERVE energy.  In the meantime I hit a 20:10 5k time, 43 minute something 10k.  1:33 half marathon time. 

Flattens out at about 7-10.  The climb starts at about mile 13.  By mile 14 I was ready to be loaded in, no joke!  I had hit some major wall that came out of nowhere.  Pretty sure the "wall" was due to the huge wall-hill I was climbing.  Course flattens, I start walking.  Orange shirt lady passes me, then Boston shirt girl, then some other chick.  BLAH.  Mental break down.  Pace was beginning to fall apart.  Suddenly I wished I was somewhere else. 

The course was now ugly, on a fast highway, and the aid stations were not supervised.  There were cups filled with water and gatorade, but no one to man them.  I looked across the street and the person that was suppose to be there was in their car.  Nice. 

16 big hill. Climbed that hill and actually felt pretty good.  Took a rest at the top.  Ran down a quarter of a mile and saw another LAME hill.   This hill came after a bridge.  As I ran over the bridge I looked down.  I almost wanted to jump.  I wandered what would hurt more, to finish the race, or to jump?  I had to force myself to stop thinking crazy thoughts.  But I gave this bridge a nickname, "Suicide Bridge." 

Rolling hills for awhile after that.  20 came and I just wanted to finish.  I kept my body moving at  an 8 minute mile.  I stopped at every aid station and took a drink.  I noticed how difficult it was for me to stop and then start again.

The last mile was triumphant.  As I turned the corner a large PIT BULL came barking and jumping out at me.  Luckily the dog was fenced.  He gave me a real scare and I screamed out loud in fright.  I felt silly as I yelled at the dog, but no one was around to hear me, thank goodness. 

The finish line was lame.  I leaned over a fence and just hung there.  I was exhausted!  

It was fun to meet fellow bloggers: Burt, Josse, Mary Ann, Dane, Walter, Jose, and Lisa. 

My friend Jaimie came down to Mesquite with me and ran her first 10k.  She was 2nd place in her division, I was very proud!  The best part of this trip was spending time with her. 

Could not sleep last night.  Tossed and turned.  Finally feel asleep at 12, woke up every half hour.  Woke up at 4:30 for good.  

Went to the gym to get my legs moving. 30 minutes elliptical, 15 minutes bike, stretching.  Chatted with Jeff L for a few minutes and met JulieC from the blog.  

PM 45 minutes of elliptical, 45 minutes of weights.  I have a lot of "advance" calories to burn off before Thursday. 

*I just updated my race report if anyone would care to read it. 

AM  Spinning class with Skinny Danny.

PM 45 minutes elliptical. 35 minutes weights. 

I went to the LCenter with my dad this morning.  We were both on the elliptical for 1 hour.  Lots of sweat.   

PM Personal training session with Hilga. 

T-day run with Jeff L!  Fun run.  I went faster than I think I was ready for.  Felt soooo good to run!  Off to the food...

Went to the LC for a spin class.  All classes were canceled for the day when I arrived. :(  Luckily someone had left the door open to the bike room.  I sat in the dark by myself spinning for an hour, with the room to myself, it was awesome!

1 hour weights.  Meat and potatoe weight workout.  (That is what my PT calls it). 

7 AM hard spinning class with Skinny Danny.  Legs felt good.  I felt fat. :)

I wanted to hit 10 miles, but I was freezing cold and had little motivation after the spin class.

About an hour and a half later I warmed up, put on a huge fleece sweater and headed out the door.  10 miles (with a lot of stopping) around the East Loop.  AP 8:07.  I was happy with this run! 

GO UTES!!

6.25 on the TM in 47 min.  

1 mile on the track, three on the TM.  Meat and potatoe workout (weights).