Create.

6.1 miles at Liberty Park on the woodchip trail. Legs felt heavy.

I'm going to take it super super super easy the next couple of days in hopes that Poky will go well.

I'm not sure I am cut out for this multiple marathon thing that Smooth enjoys so much!!!! After this Saturday I would have run more marathons in the past 5 months than I had in the 4 years prior!!!! How in the world did I let Smooth talk me into this??? :) :) :)

Nothing

Nothing again.

Talk about spoiled rotten! All this race cost me was one Boston Creme Pie and a package of cookies!!! Thank you so much dearest friends for the lunch, dinner, hotel room, ride, and comped entry. :) :) :)

Quick prerace summary: Took a couple days off in hopes of restoring some energy to my legs. Not sure if it helped or if I would have been better off running a couple of short easy runs.

Had a BLAST on Friday with some of my favorite and most wonderful people: my SSF, her sweet hubby, Larry, Kathie, Doone, and Rhett (and their friends, Leslie and Ross). They are all amazingly INCREDIBLE! I am such a lucky girl! I could write a novel about how much fun we had. (Yet, us girls have made a pact: What happens on race weekend, stays in race weekend!)

Race summary: Started out too fast, but once the mile split showed up I quickly made adjustments. Around mile 7ish there is a turn-around point where you can see who is in front of you. Counted, I was in 12th (for women). Made a goal of being in the top 10 by 13.1 where I would see the half marathoners right before they started. Didn't know if it was doable but I wanted to give it a shot. Mission accomplished (barely)!!! :) It was BEYOND COOL to have the half marathoners cheering us on!!! I immediately saw Rhett, Kathie and Larry. Some other people yelled, but I'm not sure who it was. They made me feel like a ROCKSTAR!!! Good thing ... because the next 13.1 were going to be a struggle! :)

I knew it would not be long until the leaders of the half would pass me! Sure enough, come 15.75 miles Jeff Shadley and Rob Murphy came zooming by like no other! THEY LOOKED AWESOME!!! Just watching them run for those few seconds (they were quickly out of my sight) was extremely cool. A huge congrats to them both, taking the #1 and #2 spots!!! :) :) :)

Having many of the half marathoners pass me for the duration of the race was extremely challenging mentally. They all looked so fresh, and I was starting to feel the wheels come off. DANG! Also, since all of the downhill of this course comes during the first half, watching my average pace increase each mile was discouraging. I really wanted to run a sub 3:30, but by mile 19 I knew that was no going to happen. At that point I had a choice to make: take it easy and try and enjoy the remaining miles or continue to push and not have to deal with the disappointed of not giving it my all later. Decided to go with the latter. To keep myself honest I decided to surge 1/10th of a mile at every 9/10ths of a mile. Mentally, this helped me.

By mile 24.5 I knew if I could hang on that I could PR, the question was, would I be able to hang on? Fortuitously, that was almost the exact spot that I saw Bill Mandler! He was fighting an injury and had to back off of the pace! I was sad for him, but selfishly very happy to see him. "Bill," I said. "Can you get me to a PR?" He was AWESOME!!!! I told him what I needed and no longer did I have to look at my watch every 10 seconds. He took control and ran me in. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU, BILL!!!! :) :) :)

Garmin read 26.4 at finish.

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC DAY!!!! My SSF, finished pretty (no Charlie today) taking 1st in her AG! Beautiful Kathie ran the half and took 3rd in her AG!!! The Amazing Doone ran her very first marathon in an amazing time with her hunk, Rhett running along her side the final 13.1 miles! Ross and Leslie looked like a million bucks after finishing their race, and Lowell walked away with grinning ear to ear placing 2nd in his AG as well!!!

A special thanks to Pocatello, Idaho!! What a wonderful race and wonderful people! So so so happy that I went! :) :) :)

*** AFTERTHOUGHTS: I wonder if I would have been able to swipe another vodka/oj mixture at mile 20, like I was able to at PCM, if I could have hit that sub 3:30!!!!???? Hmmmmmm ....

L to R: Ross, Leslie, Kathie, Doone, Smooth, Rhett, Teena

Bill Mandler and me! (Thanks again, Bill!)

The Idaho Boys!

(Bill Mandler and Jeff Shadley)

(* ROB -- WHERE WERE YOU WHEN WE WERE TAKING PICS???)

4.5 recovery run

*It is definitely cool how with each marathon I seem to be recovering faster. Knock on wood! :)

AM

6.2 miles: AP 8:05

(Probably a little too fast for right now, but I had to hurry and get to class.)

PM

4.15 miles with Ry: AP 8:57 --- Winds 26 mph.

(I wanted to run about 10 minute miles, but it was getting super dark, so we picked it up a little bit. It was more of an effort than I wanted, esp. considering Ry had this "death to Teena" pace going on the last half mile. Dang him!) 

30 minutes upright bike

30 minutes elliptical

1 mile swim

AM

6 miles - 46:58

PM

5 miles with Ry - AP 9:39

** I wish every run could feel like this. Absolutely perfect weather and company. The time went by way too fast as we chatted about our day, the kids, goals, etc. LOVED EVERY MINUTE!!! :)

** On a side note: My SSF came over tonight. As you all know, she is amazing. It was so great to spend a couple of hours with her. It is impossible not to feel uplifted when you are with her. Thanks Smooth!

Smooth and Lowell talked me into running this race a few days ago. I have a hard time saying no to either a comped entry or my SSF, so I was in double jeopardy from the get go.

Did not have any set goals for this race. I knew that I would not be able to PR and I didn't want to do anything stupid one week after Poky and so soon before SGM. I thought if I could run it around 1:44 (slightly faster than marathon pace) that it would be a good sign that my body is recovering nicely and responding well to these multiple marathons.

There was a headwind for much of the first half, which also happens to be the gradual uphill miles. Dang. Coming down was much nicer. Sadly, my legs did not have any zip today, but thankfully I had no pain or soreness either ... just a bit heavy and tired. I will take it! :)

I ran this race two years ago (on much fresher legs) in 1:46:38 (roughly 3 1/2 minutes slower than today) and then proceeded to run SGM in 3:34:59. I'm hoping this means I will run 7 minutes faster this year. Oh please, oh please, oh please ... I would be on cloud nine!!! :) :) :)

The highlight of this race was Michelle Lowry smashing the course record (which also happened to be hers). My SSF, as usual, did amazing as did Maynard and Lowell! :) :) :)

** The shirts had a beautiful touch on the sleeve: The date (9-11-10) with the American flag below. Very nice.

** 2.25 miles cooldown.

PM

5 miles with Ry. Beautiful evening. AP 9:08

Michelle after breaking the course record! :)

Smooth getting her 1st place AG award! :)

Smooth, Bradley (Maynard) and Me! :)

7 miles: AP 8:38.

*I think I am catching a cold. My goal is to get 9 hours of sleep within the next 24 hours. :)

10.1 miles in 1:30:13 (80 degrees, 20 mph wind ... blah)

*****************************************************

Taper Plan:

This week (80% of max mileage - less intensity while recovering still from Poky):

45-50 running miles

10-12 crosstraining miles

*one hill workout and a long run between 12-14 miles on Saturday

Next week (65% of max mileage):

35-37 running miles

9-11 crosstraining miles

* 10 miles on Saturday

Race week (25% of max pre-race mileage):

13 - 14 running miles

3.75 crosstraining miles

* 4-5 MP run early in the week.

Had planned on either crosstraining tonight while watching Survivor or going on a short nice run with Ry. Then we got REAL tickets in the suite!

Couldn't pass that up!!! :)

Leo and I kickin' it at Rio Tinto JJJ

11.2 miles of hillwork. AP - 8:59

ABSOLUTELY beautiful (albeit fairly tough) run up and down City Creek. Mark (aka: Fly) was a trooper and slowed down enough so that I could run with him today. LOVED it! The scenery and company were top notch. Thank you so much, Fly! :)

We ran up up and up for 5.6 miles (4704 feet to 6051 feet -- dang) and then turned around and ran down down down. The gorgeous mini-waterfalls and caves at the top made for a very nice reward.

(10:13, 9:56, 9:48, 10:01, 10:58, 10:24, 7:41, 7:42, 7:54, 7:38, 7:18, 6:45 for .2) 

afternoon:

5.15 miles - AP 8:27 (80 degrees, 16 mph wind)

LA loop + Puke Hill (I think I need to come up with a new name for Puke Hill. After running City Creek yesterday it didn't quite seem as pukey. I suppose I didn't run it hard enough. Oh well.)

70 minutes upright bike (easy)

Great morning!

11 miles by myself, 3 miles with Ry and Bish. :)

I think I am getting my legs back. :)

Miles by myself:

1 warmup and 10 w/AP 7:36. (7:49, 7:51, 7:46, 7:46, 7:46, 7:43, 7:38, 7:26, 7:16, 6:57)

I felt stronger and stronger as the run progressed. Fun day on the JRP. Saw Dawes, Backus, Walter, Danielle, Suzie and Jen. Ran back home and did three cooldown with Ry and Bish. AP for that was 8:49.

Getting excited for SGM. :)

Can't wait to read all the TOU reports. Heading to the kids' soccer and flag football games. :) :) :)

5 miles

* 1 mile warmup, 5 800s w/400 jog in between, .5 cooldown.

(800s: 3:30, 3:28, 3:25, 3:23, 3:20)

a.m.

70 minutes elliptical

p.m.

3.5 miles with Ry, AP 8:54.

15 miles AP: 8:44

Pfitz 4 weeks between marathon schedule had me run a 15 miler today. I wasn't looking forward to it, but had planned carefully my week so that I could fit it into my planned taper.

About 10 miles into my run it started to rain ... PERFECT, I love the rain. But dang, then it started to rain HARD and then to hail!!! My ipod shorted out and I was literally soaking wet. My shoes felt like they were ten pounds and my toes on my right foot felt like they were blistering. Luckily the hard stuff only last about 1.5 miles. My ipod never did come back. I will stick it in a bowl of rice and see if I can revive it.

Glad this run is over. Now I will concentrate on resting sufficiently!!! :) :) :)

40 minutes elliptical

10.9 miles - AP 7:51 (logged all but my first mile at marathon pace even though they varied a bit. Effort was consistent).

SO MUCH FUN THIS MORNING!!!! :)

Had 15 or so people for our group run at the Porter Rockwell Trail. Everyone must have heard that the TOU womens' champ was going to be there (thanks for coming Allie)! :)

Ran with Mark (huans32), Vinh, and Marty (well most of the time ... they left me in the dust the last few miles -- I was more than thrilled just to keep them in sight)! :)

5.47 gradual up then 5.47 gradual down.

Felt strong throughout. Pushed a bit at times but overall it felt comfortably hard but nice.

Splits: 8:50, 8:25, 7:59, 8:11, 8:05, 7:29, 7:24, 7:35, 7:35, 7:35, 7:11

Quick question: My shoelace came untied (go figure -- it was double knotted) with only .23 miles to go. I quickly went back and forth whether to stop or not. I ended up stopping (knowing me I would have tripped and got hurt 1 week before SGM - ask Mark). BUT ... at the end of a race ... do you stop or just press your luck?

THANKS EVERYONE FOR SUCH A GREAT MORNING (LOVED HAVING BREAKFAST AFTERWARDS)!!!! :)

40 minutes upright bike

(Wanted to swim so so so badly, but I can study while I ride the bike, so I rode. Blah.)

4.66 easy miles with a pick up towards the end