Create.

AM:

7 miles, AP 7:39

PM:

3 super easy miles

11.5 miles

7 miles by my lonesome up into the Washington Fields area, AP 7:45 and then 4.5 with Ry up to Banded Hills Drive and back, AP 8:38.

6.5 miles, AP 8:39, with Ry. Up towards Jaynie's and back.

Was planning on another 3.5 miles in the evening but just didn't have it in me.

11 miles, AP 8:03, by my lonesome.

It is so much nicer when Smo, Ry or Rachel join me for at least part of the run. My legs were feeling a bit tired. First 5.5 easy and then 5.5 at marathon pace.

Although I LOVE LOVE LOVE St. George, I do miss having so many people to run with.

6 miles, AP 8:21. In between the fields loop.

LEGS FELT LIKE THEY HAD 10 POUNDS OF MUD CLINGING ON THEM!! BOO BOO BOO!!!!

20 miles, AP 7:56

This was one of my tougher runs. I think mentally more than anything. Even though I have made some friends here in St. George, I haven't really found that core of crazies that I completely connect with: Shout out to JohnnyV (the person I probably have done more long runs with than anyone else), the Lintons, Christine 'n Ben, and of course, the one and only Smooth! Would at least one of you consider moving to St. George!!!!???

I'm sure there are plenty of crazies out here, and I absolutely love Rachel, and probably more than anything it's my fault for not really putting myself out there and attending the SG Running Group stuff ... just saying that I miss my crazies. :-)

Anyway, I thought a new beautiful course would make the lonesome miles a little less lonesome. My belief was that if I started in Hurricane (at my work) and ran through Sand Hollow and the Washington Fields that I'd not only have beauty but a nice gradual downhill. Not sure where I went wrong because other than a handful of miles it definitely did not feel as easy as I was hoping. When I entered it in Map My Run it said a total net down of roughly 600 feet. Which I suppose doesn't feel as down as I had hoped over 20 miles. :-)

Things got really tough for me around mile 13. I stopped and called Ry. He saved me by bringing my Smo to run the final 4 miles with me. Miles 13-16 all I could think was: "25 minutes and Smo will make everything better ..." "19 more minutes until Smo..." "15 more minutes and Smo will change everything..." 9 more minutes..." "Start looking for Smo..." "Smo will fix all of this." When I saw Smo I wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. I was so GRATEFUL!!

Anyway, another 20 in the books. :-)

Hope everyone is off to a GREAT weekend!!!

MORNING:

So I kept getting text messages on my phone about a flash flood heading our way. I looked out my window at 5:30 this morning and there was no rain in sight. I thought about just chancing it but then decided that I'd better take the warnings serious and run on the treadmill at home.

Finished the boring run and still no raindrops in sight. Stink it all!!!! :-)

7 easy miles, AP 8:56

Hopefully more miles this evening. Hopefully.

(So far today is going well, I rarely get a lunch break ... but looky looky ... here I am!!!) :-)

EVENING:

So the rainstorm finally hit, right as I was leaving work. Made for an adventurous drive home and meant another treadmill gig.

4 miles, very easy, high 9s.

8.5 miles, AP 8:26

8 miles, AP 7:43, Maverick Loop with a twist.

My legs still aren't feeling quite right. They have been feeling heavy and stiff for about a week. Left hip external rotators and flexors are tight but nothing crazy. Haven't needed any meds, taping, etc. Just trying to be mindful of what's going on, stay hydrated and sleep and eat a bit better. :-)

Things seem to be improving somewhat each day but going to be cautious tomorrow and Friday and then decide on how to attack my long run this weekend. :-)

Registered for the Boston Marathon today. I suppose that commits me to at least one more marathon. I definitely need to find more running buddies for my next training season! Not sure if I can do another season of long runs mostly by my lonesome. Hopefully by then I will know more of the running community in my new stomping grounds. :-)

Happy mid-week, All. :-)

9.25 miles, AP 8:26

Feeling a bit better but still have somewhat heavy legs and a niggle in the right leg that is less of a niggle than it was yesterday. :-)

6.5 miles, AP 8:42

Feeling quite a bit better but want to save up for a good long run tomorrow. :-)

MY very best 20 miler EVER!!!

20 miles, AP 7 freakin 19!!!!! Can hardly believe it! (Granted it was on the course and included three 1-2 minutes hydration breaks). But still, 7:19, I'm ECSTATIC!!!

Decided I could NOT do another long run on my own so woke up early and met Rachel, her hubby, and some of their friends at the St George Rec Center at 4:30 a.m. and drove 20 miles up the course. We were kind of spread out into a few groups and I had told myself that I was going to try and stay with one of the faster packs until the first water break (which included Veyo so I knew it would be hard for me). Did it ... and felt great! I then decided I would stay with them until the 10 mile mark. Wow, still with them. I told them that I was certain to start to fade but Bruce insisted that my breathing was fine and to make it to 15. Got to 15 and was feeling it but decided to continue to push. At that point it was me, Bruce, Tom and Bryan. My new goal was 17 miles. Made it, but we lost Bryan. I was really feeling it but did a quick head to toe check and new that I could hang on for one more mile. I did it! I was so proud of myself. I told Bruce and Tom to push hard the next mile so that they could finish strong. I was feeling weak and had given myself permission to fall back. They tried to talk me into staying with them but I told them that I was SUPER happy with what I had did and wanted to just try and get my breathing where I wanted it. They agreed and took off. I am happy to say that although I dropped back I managed a 7:24 on that final mile [which I was certain was an 8:24 pace (my eyes were deceiving me)]! I finished about 20 seconds behind them. THRILLED!

Got home and decided to do two barefoot slow miles on my treadmill to cool down and loosen up. Followed by a contrast bath (6 minutes warm whirpool / 2 minutes ice bath x 3 = total of 24 minutes). I feel great!

Happy Saturday!

I think I am trained for a sub 3:20 at SGM if I run it right!!!! YES YES YES!!! That is a number I have been chasing for YEARS!!!!

BTW, Aaron Metler was starting his 20 miler with one of his running partners at the same time we were. They said they were going to run 5:16!!! So my excitement about my time today is SO SO SO relative!!! Hence, I really really really try to never compare myself with anyone but myself because when I compare myself to those runners who are faster I get jealous and when I compare myself to those runners that are slower I get prideful --- I think I'll pass!! BUT WOW ... 5:16!! That's stinkin' crazy lightning fast!!!! :-)

6 recovery miles, AP 9:03

Legs are sore after Saturday's full on effort.

8 miles, AP 8:28

Legs are still sore but getting better. That 20 miler took more out of me than I thought after I finished it (and was on an adrenaline high when posting -- hee hee). May need to take another day or two easy.

6 miles, AP 8:17

9 miles, AP 8:05

6 easy miles

15 miles, AP 7:47

Was supposed to meet up with Rachel around 6:30ish (well we were both supposed to leave our house at 6:30ish and meet halfway). I left the house a little before 6 though and so didn't get her text that she wasn't going to get out until past 7:00. In other words, I got to her house and the lights were all out so I figured I was on my own. Smo ran the last 3 miles with me to keep my pace honest at the end. In fact, every mile with her at the end took my average pace down. That crazy girl!

White Fence Loop/ Rachel's House Loop/Maverick Loop/Firehouse Loop.

I feel great about the pace since it was a hilly course and my legs still haven't fully recovered since last Saturday. I definitely have noticed that it is beginning to take me longer to recover from hard runs. Possibly age? Possibly because I am on my feet all day long? Who knows. :-)

So glad to have this run in the books!

Oh and ... I LOVE my new watch and have been craving sour cream! Seriously, sour cream with EVERYTHING that or greek yogurt! Added a calcium/Vitamin D supplement because I figure this craving is coming from somewhere!

Off to Vegas to watch Rylee and Smo play some ball!!! Ball, y'all!!!

Happy Saturday! :-)

********

15 miles

1:56:37

7:47/mi

1243 c

189 spm

5 super easy, no watch. I'm going through taper madness and my entire body feels beat up! Silly body!

8 miles. AP 7:51

Body feels better after about one mile.

Decided to get the extra hour of sleep. Hope I'm not over tapering but my body is craving some rest. Or my head is tricking me.

1/2 mile warm up then gradually moved into MP and sustained it the last handful of miles then 1/2 mile cool down. AP for the 8 miles, 7:40.

5 super easy miles. I very may be over tapering but I'm kind of a head case right now!!! ;-)

10 miles, AP 7:39 (which is pretty much the exact marathon pace I am shooting for).

Granted, while I was running I took one fluid break (60 seconds), stopped for about 30 seconds when I ran into Rachel (because how could I not ... she's awesome) and then about 15 seconds picking up Smo for the last three miles.

I had not planned on running marathon pace. Was just shooting for around 8s. Things just fell into place that way. It was a comfortable hard which is very reassuring. It actually would have been a slower overall pace had it not been for Smo. I told her to keep me at about a 7:45ish pace. It was raining outside and I guess the cooler temps put some ants in her pants with each progressive mile since our last three miles were: 7:40, 7:30 then 6:35!!! What a NUTJOB!!!!!

Really hoping Smo will pace me the last handful of miles at the marathon. It'll all depend on her basketball schedule. They may have a tournament. I hope hope hope not. I NEED her!!

Getting nervous.

5 easy

4 miles with Smo, AP 7:43