I Can Do Hard Things

3.2 mile run to and from the gym.  Lifted legs - leg curls, calf raises, leg press, sit ups, swimmers and planks x 3.  Not super motivated to get up and get moving.  But out I got and got it done.

My baby turned 4 today, so my hubby stayed home from work this morning to celebrate.  So I met my friend Sarah at the mouth of the canyon for a run.  I felt like I was huffing and puffing going up, but was able to get into a groove on the way down.  It always help to have a buddy to help push you!  We iced in the river after....brrrr.

Right lower leg is bugging a little.

AP: 8:47 (I need to be doing this all the time!!!)

9:26, 9:18, 9:11, 9:05, 8:19, 8:23, 7:32

1:00:00

38:22

AP: 9:32

10:15, 9:38, 9:11, 9:02

SO SO SO tired this morning.  Lower legs super grumpy after yesterday's longer/harder run.  I know my lower legs are very weak...hence the constant soreness and aches.  I wonder if days off help or hinder.  If I need to be running on them everyday to help strengthen.  Oh the joys.

44:05

AP:8:44

9:16, 8:56, 8:42, 8:33, 8:12

The heat is starting to wear on me..ughhhh!  I'm definitely a fall/spring kind of runner!  The scary construction guys were gone!  I felt really good this morning, but my lower legs were achy.  Bleh!

There were so many stars out this morning - absolutely beautiful!

1:48:00

AP: 9:45

12:00, 9:59, 9:44, 9:59, 10:17, 9:50, 9:23, 9:11, 9:16, 9:21, 8:26

I met my friend Sarah up by the Orem water treatment plan - we ran the Bonneville Shoreline trail.  I've decided I REALLY stink at trail running.  First because I shuffle on the roads, but am forced to lift my legs higher when I'm on trails because of rocks/roots/etc.  Plus, I think the elevation plays a part when I'm up on a trail UP the mountain vs running at the base of the mountain. 

I'm glad I did it...makes me stronger.  But the first mile was quite the climb.  It was a beautiful sunrise.  The views over the valley were incredible.  My legs are tired!

24:21

AP: 8:17

8:41, 8:06, 7:33

I was way too lazy to get my hiney out of bed this morning!  I haven't missed an early morning in almost a month.  I can't miss again - it is just too easy!  Luckily, I only had 3 miles on the schedule (too lazy to lift).  I ran a lot faster than I normally do - not sure if it was because I had sleep and I wasn't in "coma" state?!

However, it was super hot and I'm not sure if I could have gone any further without water.  Legs feel really good today.  Gotta get my hiney out of bed tomorrow!

57:11

AP: 9:31

10:44, 9:51, 9:43, 8:54, 9:05, 8:48

I dragged my butt out of bed this morning - no more afternoon...cooking in the heat for me!  I had a really hard time getting my legs moving.  But I wasn't too concerned - I ran harder yesterday and tomorrow is a semi-long run.  Lots of stars out this morning - it was beautiful.

1:09:37

AP: 8:46

9:02, 9:07, 9:12, 9:17, 8:31, 8:24, 8:31, 7:30

Meet Sarah at the mouth of the canyon...and there was a strong headwind heading up the canyon.  I always struggle going up...not sure if it is physical or a mental thing.  But I felt really good coming down. It is sure nice to have someone to run with.

Soaked in the river after.  Every cross country team in Utah County was in the parking lot getting ready to run!  There were a ton of bikers too.

35:00

AP: 8:51

9:44, 9:08, 8:36, 7:31

So many stars out again this cool cool cool morning - it felt heavenly!  Legs felt pretty good - alittle achiness in the lower legs.  Hubby was still in bed when I got home, so it was nice to get into bed and have it be warm.

Looking forward to my longest run EVER - 17 miles.

17 miles

2:33:00

AP: 9:04

9:25, 9:23, 9:22, 9:00, 9:18, 9:15, 9:28, 9:10, 9:10, 9:15, 9:12, 8:38, 8:38, 8:57, 8:52, 8:35, 7:32

 Oh what a run!  It started with my alarm going off at 4:25am.  I ate and got ready.  I got to the trail about 5:15am to run 5 miles before the group run of 12 miles.  It was SO SO SO dark and spooky on that trail.  I didn't turn my music on until on my way back.  I saw 3 beautiful deer.  They slowly crept onto the road.

I finished the run, got a big drink and sat in my car for a few minutes until the group showed up.  Oh...those few minutes in the car sure made me tired!  There was a large group of gals this morning...RAD, Smooth, Bec, Kathie, Wendy, Carolyn, Karen.  It is so wonderful to run with company! 

One of the major "things" I learned this morning on the run was I need to run more in the heat.  Usually, I'm done running just as the sun is coming up.  I felt so over heated today.  St George Marathon starts at 6:00ish and the majority of the run is done in the sun.  I need to practice more.

I felt good this morning.  My lower legs were a bit sore. But my breathing felt controlled and I was able to pick it up a bit on the last few miles (and didn't feel like I was going to die!!). I was surprised to see that my AP was a 9:04 - that is way faster than normal.  I'm not sure if that is good or bad.

On the way home, I stopped at the gas station to buy a bag of ice.  I had a good ice bath and foam rolled.  I also got an hour nap!  My lower legs are definitely sore this afternoon.  More icing and Advil tonight.

33:40

AP: 9:22

9:54, 9:12, 8:48, 5:45

I knew this was going to be a "shake my legs out", SLOW, run, so my son came along.  He rode his bike and carried a backpack with water.  My personal security detail :)

He did much better on staying on the side of the road.  He thought we rode a marathon :)  I was grateful for the water!

My legs were pretty achy after Saturday's run.  Mostly my calves and inner shins/tendons.  I'm hoping today's run got all those shakes out and I'm feeling normal tomorrow.

56:02

AP: 9:09

10:24, 9:28, 9:40, 8:43, 8:38, 8:07, 1:00

That was a CRAPTASTIC run this morning at 5:00am.  My lower right leg (calves) have felt tighter than ever.  I had to stop a few times to stretch them out.  Ughhhhh.....

I finished a great afternoon stretch and some HARD massage on my lower leg.  Lots of icing.  Please go away aches and pains.  PLEASE!

I woke up in the middle of the night with shooting pains going down my right lower leg - mostly calf area.  I thought maybe is was a charlie horse, so I got up and got a drink.  But they continued to get worse.  No running today. 

 Sigh.....

53:37

AP: 8:30

9:39, 8:57, 9:09, 8:05, 7:46, 7:34, 1:24

Legs are feeling better today than yesterday.  Calves still VERY tight and achy, but no shooting/sharp pains. 

Hubby was out of town, so I had a babysitter come at 6:00am (I though my standard 5am might be a tad early for a sitter).  I've been doing my standard 6 mile loop backwards lately and I really like it....it is now the new forward.

But it has a 1.5 mile LONG hill.  Though it is really hard, I'm hoping it will make me stronger (because it is really fun to run down)!  I saw a lot more runners out this morning.  It was fun to try to catch them....maybe that is why I ran so much faster today than normal. 

After I got through with the hill, I decided to push the pace until I got home....a small tempo run to get my legs warmed up for Hobble.  It got harder and harder that last mile, but I continued with the negative splits.

I'm worried about how my legs are going to act tonight.  They are sore.  I'm getting ART done on them this afternoon.  Hopefully that will relieve some of the tightness. 

If I didn't love running so much, I would have quit this nonsense a long time ago.  The things we put up with to fuel our passions.

Time:1:45:20

AP: 8:08

8:03, 7:54, 7:56, 7:39, 7:50, 7:48, 8:12, 8:18, 8:00, 8:34, 8:26, 8:30, 8:05

I had really mixed feelings going into this race.  My legs felt horrible all week (crazy spasms), so my once "race it" planned turned into "run it". 

I got up at 4:20am and had an upset stomach. Maybe it was the Costa Vida nachos I had for dinner last night or maybe it was nerves (or both).  I had a banana and ate an apple on the way to the start.

I actually found a really great parking spot among the gazillion cars.  The bus line was seriously long.  I found out later that they ordered 24 buses and only 15 buses showed up.  So I waited in the bus line for 30-40 minutes.  Ugh.....  I saw a few people I knew which is always fun.

On the way up the canyon, I sat next to the NICEST lady.  We were talking about "a race" versus "an event".  Utah Valley half marathon/marathon was "an event" (they had enough buses, nice swag bags, fires at the start, lots of fully stocked aide stations, massages at the finish and great stuff at the finish).  Hobble Creek Half is just "a race" to make money - no frills. 

Once I got to the top, I made a quick Honey Bucket visit.  I saw Lily, Scott, Kathie, Callie, Josse, Melody, rwardle and other friendly faces.  You start to see lots of the same people in the running world.

The race started 30 minutes late. 

Mile 1 (8:03):  Lots of dodging people and feeling good.

Mile 2 (7:54): I ran with a gal with a pink skirt.  I love picking out people to hang with during a race.  Mile markers were definitely off - they were short.

Mile 3 (7:56):  Starting to get a bit nervous that I might be going to fast and will blow up later.  But trying to take advantage of the downhill while I can.

Mile 4, 5, 6 (7:39, 7:50, 7:48):  I grabbed a cup of water at the aide station, but just spit it out.  My stomach was still feeling funny and I didn't want to throw up so early in the race.  I passed pink skirt girl and picked up purple shirt girl.  She was speedy fast.  Really starting to think I might blow up, but wanted to hang on until mile 10...then I can blowup and throw up.

Mile 7, 8, 9 (8:12, 8:18, 8:00):  I stopped at the aide station at mile 8 (I think it was 8) and walked through it.  I wanted to take some water slowly, so I wouldn't get sick.  Lost purple shirt gal.  I was starting to get tired, but just wanted to hang on until mile 10.  There was a lot more hills - not big ones, but my legs were starting to get tired and they felt big.

Mile 10, 11, 12, 13 (8:34, 8:26, 8:30, 8:05):  Definitely hit puke zone.  I kept saying to myself, "run 3 more minutes, then puke".  I walked through another aide station, hoping that the vomit feeling would go away.  I finally looked at my overall time on my watch (I occasionally looked at my split pace, but never the overall time).  So at mile 10 it said 1:18:00...so I figured 1:45:00 might be a reality. 

I was just trying to hang and finish.  I could start to hear the crowds at the finish.  I started looking for my family....seeing your family=almost finish.  My hubby and kids, my in-laws and my brother/sister in-law.  I was nervous about them being there.  I am no rock star runner and didn't want to have a cruddy race and have them witness it.  BUT I was having a good race and were definitely glad to see their faces. 

The finish line never seemed to come.  We kept going and going and going around this park.  As soon as I crossed the finish, I thought for sure I was going to puke.  So I stood there for a long time.  I got my shirt/flower/water and went to find my kids.  They were so excited and I was excited to see them.  My stomach still felt really yucky.

We hung out for awhile. Tim took the kids to Mcdonalds for breakfast and I headed home for a shower and nap.  My stomach is still really sick.  But at least my run is done for the day. 

SO overall, I am super pleased with my time.  I ran UV Half in a 1:55:00, so I was thinking I could maybe do it again.   When I looked at my watch at mile 10, I was super surprised!  My PR for the year!

Hooray for a great day and SUPER great nap!  I will be totally useless the rest of the day!

1.6 mile run to the gym.  Lifted legs and core work. 1.6 mile run home.  Still sore from Saturday's race.  Deep tissue massage tonight.....just what I needed!

1:16:00

AP: 9:31

9:51, 9:43, 9:44, 9:44, 9:05, 9:04, 9:29, 9:23

4:50am my alarm went off and I was wide awake.  I kept waking up all night thinking I had missed my alarm.  I wanted to go nice and easy....it was definitely SLOW!  My legs were sore from lifting yesterday (or maybe from the massage or from the race).  So glad that long mid-week run is over.

I'm so dog tired though.  But I did send 3/4 of my kids off to school today....what I am going to do!

58:12

AP: 9:34

10:47, 9:57, 9:39, 9:08, 9:03, 8:47

Can you say TIRED?  So tired that you are not sure how you dragged your hiney out of bed and ran in the pitch dark?!  It was extra dark this morning and I seemed extra cautious.  I ran on a paved trail and I had to slow way down to find my way through it.  Plus, I was just slow and tired.

Funny, stupid story of the day:  I had 2 people pass me on the roads this morning.  One came up from behind (on the other side of the road) and about gave me a hear attack.  The other one, was on the same side of the road, I was running south and she was running north.  It was so dark that I didn't see her until she was right next to me.  I gave a little scream and then a quick sorry. 

I'm used to running solo in the dark morning hours! 

I getting a nap today no matter what!  AND tomorrow is a rest day....hooray!

48:52

AP: 9:15

10:03, 9:41, 9:14, 8:37, 8:49, 2:29

I sure have been slow this week.  I felt like I was huffing and puffing through this run.  I kept thinking, "there is no way I'm going to be able to run 26.2 miles". 

My legs aren't sore from the race or lifting anymore.  Hooray!  Tendonitis in lower right leg is bugging alittle.  Maybe because of my day off...who knows!

Big 20 miler tomorrow.  I hope I don't die!

Time: 3:10

AP: 9:46

(1-8 miles on my own) 9:53, 9:57, 9:52, 9:41, 9:17, 9:21, 9:46, 9:43

(9-17 miles with group) 10:04, 10:07, 10:14, 10:53, 10:15, 9:44, 9:22, 9:35, 9:05

(17-20 miles with Ward Rodeo 5k/1k) 9:24, 9:24, 9:30

My family blog entry:

First, I am finally acknowledging that I am doing a marathon. 

For the longest time, I’ve been telling myself (and others) that I “have a marathon race number” and we’ll see how my legs hold up – not really committing.  I’ve been nervous about getting injured, just not being able to handle the training, and worried that I just won't be fast enough. 

I’ve been training for my marathon, but I think I am to the point that I can admit

 I. Am. Running. A. Marathon. 

St George Marathon on October 1.  My very first 26.2 miles.  I’ve been to lots of marathons and can “kinda talk the marathon lingo”.  But in 5 shorts weeks, I will be wearing that “finishers” t-shirt and sporting the medal.

Today marked my FIRST 20-miler training run for my upcoming marathon. 

I had been thinking about it a lot.  I had been reading up on tips for long runs.  My dear running bud hunted me down last night at our Ward Rodeo Hoedown to bring me a cookie “for good luck on you first 20 miler”.  She totally understood my nervousness and I was so grateful for her sweet gesture!  Plus the cookie was divine!

I’ve run 17 miles and many short miles, but this is the farthest I’ve been run.  There were crazy logistics to running this morning.  We were having our Ward Rodeo, so I needed to be finished by 7:00am.  AND my running pals ran a marathon last weekend, so they needed to run shorter today.

So at 3:20am I rolled out of bed, changed into my running clothes and headed out for 8 miles before I caught up with my group.  It was already very warm, humid, and very dark.  I charged up 4 miles, stopped and watered/gu’ed up and charged back 4 miles.

My dear running friends met me at 5:00am.  We headed out for 12 more miles.  Running with friends is absolutely essential when training for a marathon.  I’ve gotten up at crazy hours and driven to crazy places just to be with a pal.  It is that important!

Immediately after we started, I started to feel pukie.  Ugh….last weekends race is still near and dear and I didn’t want 12 miles of the pukes.  I could tell I was starting to slow down.  Self doubt and weakness crept in.  “There is NO way I am going to be able to run 20 miles much less a marathon”.  This is the part, where my dear friends taught me about kindness.  While I struggled for a few miles (and when I say struggled…well …..it was ugly), my dear friends showed me endless encouragement. 

I think while running poorly, sometimes we are stripped of our pride and any “fronts/barriers” we put up.  We become raw and all insecurities shine through.  The great thing is that “true” running friends don’t care.  They want to help and carry you through your rough patch.  I will forever be grateful for my pals “carrying” me through a few bad miles (and all the other miles too).

During this time, I realized AGAIN how much I have to learn about running.  My dear friends taught me gently and kindly about hydration, fueling, the importance of rest days and that I’m not wonder woman!

My mile 14, I was feeling much better and started running at a normal speed.  We were getting short on time and I needed to get home to help with Rodeo stuff.  But when we finished we would still be short on miles.  We decided to run the Ward Rodeo 5k for the final 3 miles. We made it back to my house, jumped in the car and drove to the start. 

We got there just in time.  It was a great distraction to run with 30 other runners.  I wasn’t running at rocket speed, but I felt good and had controlled breathing.  I have no idea what my time was (and I don’t really care)!

I hugged my dear friends goodbye knowing they will never understand HOW much I appreciate them and just being there today. (I had lots of chocolate milk, cut up oranges, and bananas and I didn't even get to share them!!!!)

The Rodeo had a kids 1K run.  So I joined ran with Carter and Abby.  Carter took off with his buddies.  I finally caught up with Abby (I was still running slow!!).  We held hands and ran through the finish.  It was wonderful to be with my girl!

 Thank you from the bottom of my heart dear running buds for helping me through my first 20 miler!!!!

Designated rest day after 20 miles.  It was heavenly to sleep in!

31:49

So this was supposed to be a 6 mile run that got cut short!  The top of my right foot (on the outside) and my heel was on fire!  My heel has hurt on and off before and I always thought it was from being on my feet all day.  Plantar fasciitis is my new best friend...ughhhhh....

Made a doctor appointment.  I just need to hang on 4.5 weeks.  JuST HANG ON!

1.6 mile run to the gym 

Lifted lower legs

Ran 1 mile on the TM

1.6 mile run home

I went to the doctor today for the top of my foot hurting and my heel.  Total paranoia!  But I've invested TOO much time to throw SGM out the window!  Doc thinks the top of my foot is tendonitis (he said I would have carnage after a 20 miler!!!) and PF on my heel.  He gave me a steriod to help with both.  Stretches and ice.  Plus I got a Strassburg sock today. 

My run today felt ok.  I was huffing and puffing and it was HOT!  I spent a lot of extra time stretching, foam rolling and icing.  JUST HANG ON!