I Can Do Hard Things

57:58

AP: 9:34

10:27, 9:48, 10:10, 9:05, 9:05, 8:47

So I feel like I've been hit by a truck!  Everything (bones, tendons, muscles) from my knee down hurts.  I didn't realize how many crooks and cranies could hurt. Is this normal?  Why do I run to feel like this?

 I feel like crawling in a pool of Advil, drinking a Cherry Coke, and never returning to civilization again.  (PF does feel better today...wore my fancy socks and taped my foot).

 JUST HANG ON!

36:22

AP: 9:18

10:33, 9:13, 8:30, 8:05

I always have such a hard time running up that monster hill every morning.  Still asleep I guess!  I feel LEAPS and BOUNDS better than I have all week.  Hooray...I was starting to get nervous!  Still not super fast, but better than it has been!  I must have left all my speed at Hobble Creek!

1:47:00

AP: 8:48

9:21, 9:01, 8:57, 8:55, 8:34, 8:53, 8:43, 8:36, 8:43, 8:41,8:27, 8:43, 2:08

HOORAY for a decent run this morning!  I met RAD, Bec, and Annette at the JRP for a chilly morning run.  I LOVE the cooler-fallish weather.  I finally felt like my legs could move.  There is hope!

It was such a fun and chatty run!  Those gals are so great!  Answering all my dumb questions and chatting runner talk!  So so so fun!

But I am tired today.  No "after run" nap!  My garden has been neglected for 2 weeks.  So I picked corn, oodles of green beans, lots of tomatoes, lots of raspberries and green peppers.  Plus I pulled WAY too many weeds!

Then we went to Costco...it is always chaos there! 

Came home and canned 15 bottles of spaghetti sauce, cut up the 3 packages of strawberries and put them into baggies (with pineapple and blueberries).  I freeze for our morning smoothie fix.  I cut up all the green beans for tomorrow night's dinner.  Then put away all the other Costco crud.  My feet hurt.

Off to bed!  Thanks ladies for the great morning!

1:22:00

AP:9:12

9:15, 9:26, 9:30, 9:35, 9:29, 9:11, 8:46, 8:41, 8:27

I ran with my friend Heather this morning.  It has been a LONG time since we have gone together.  The best part....not starting the run until 6:15am (verses starting at 5:00am) - hooray for sleeping in!  Plus, it was cool out this morning!  Fall is coming!

We ran the trail route today.  I did part of this route during my 20 miler.  The middle 3 miles have been hard for me the last few times I've done it.  I'm not sure why...maybe I need to run it more to get better at it. 

I planned to only run 8 miles, but it turned out alittle longer.  I felt really good and my legs felt fresh.  Except for the last .2 miles where I about had a potty accident.  Bleh....those are never fun moments!

Lots of foam rolling this morning.  I have extra time to stretch and roll which is so nice. 

Designated rest day.  I thought after doing 9 miles, my body might need a rest.  It just so happened that I came down with a cold too.  Awesome timing!  Sore throat, body aches, runny nose.  Bleh......

49:19

AP: 9:26

10:32, 9:37, 9:09, 9:02, 8:54, 2:03

I'm feeling better today.  I was able to sleep well last night and my sinuses have already started draining. 

I felt a bit creaky on  my run and had to make a few stops to shoot a few snot rockets and hack some loogies (I know...TMI), but I'm glad I went.  It was chilly this morning and it felt wonderful! 

I'm having all these phantom weird pains on top of my ankle and inner shin.  I think part of it is taking a day off, but I'm starting to get paranoid about injury.  The race is only 3.5 weeks away.  I must hang on!

45:21

AP: 9:16

10:33, 9:09, 8:55, 9:04, 8:38

Soooo tired this morning!  I ran up toward the rec center.  I'm thinking I don't like this route as much as I used too.  The curb dips way down, so you are always lopsided.  It bugs.

Lower leg tendons still very sore.  But I'm not sure why.  I didn't fall back to sleep this morning, so I was excited to take a nap this afternoon.  Just as I put my head on my pillow, the school called.  Daughter has a tummy ache.  Hmmm.....funny because when we got home, she wanted to play with her friends and have a treat.  Unfortunately, at our house when you are sick, you stay on the couch and go to bed at 7:00pm.  I hope she learned.

Designated rest day tomorrow before the big 20 on Saturday!

3:16:31

AP:  9:52

4-mile warm up with Karen:  9:23, 9:52, 9:48, 9:49

13.1 mile Spanish Fork Half Marathon:  9:16, 9:14, 9:40 (water stop), 9:30, 9:20, 9:32, 9:32, 9:59, 10:31(water stop), 9:54, 10:20, 10:27 (water stop), 10:02 (AP for race was 10:05)

3 mile cool down with Karen and Rachel:  10:22, 10:31,  10:01

I have mixed emotions about this 20 miler.  First and foremost, I am SO SO SO grateful for such good running friends.  There is NO way I could have done this alone! 

I went to bed at 9:00pm Friday night and slept terrific!  Karen picked me up at 5:30am and we headed down to Spanish Fork.  We needed to do 20 miles, so we decided to run a 4 mile warm up - run the Spanish Fork Half Marathon - then a 3 mile cool down.

As we headed out for the 4 miles, we saw Rachel picking up her packet.  It is always so great to see friends at races!  Just as we finished our warm up, we heard the race start count-down.  I grabbed my jelly beans from Karen's car, but forgot my Ipod.  Bleh.....

The first few miles, I felt good.  I stopped at the water stop and jelly-beaned up.  I was planning on there being a water station on mile 6, but there was NOTHING!  The sun was starting to beat down and I was starting to get dizzy.  I was running with Terry (who by the way tells great stories!  I told him, we need to chat during a non-hard run...I really do talk.  I'm just not very good at it during a long run).

I told him to go ahead.  I walked for a minute and the light-headedness went away. 

Finally at mile 9, there was a water station.  But I drank too much too fast and it started sloshing around in my stomach.  I took some more jelly beans.  I feel like I started to tank at this point in the run (mile 13 of 20).  I had to walk some during the race and never felt really hydrated.  Walking is hard on the ego!  The out and backs (there were 2 of them) were hard mentally for me.  Good practice I guess.

There was another water station at mile 11/12, but they didn't have any cups.  REALLY!  So I knelt down and tried to get some in my mouth.  Warm well water is AWESOME!  Around mile 12.5, I saw Rachel running toward me.  I can't tell you HOW wonderful it was to see that gal.  I couldn't talk to her (too tired and thirsty), but was so grateful to have her at my side.  There were 3 gals in front of us.  Rachel told me to sprint to the finish and beat them.  I politely (I hope it was politely) told her to bug off.  My legs were done!  She kept on and told me to catch them.  So I took off the last 400 meters and caught them.  Thanks for being there Rachel!

I probably drank a gallon of gatoraide after the race and then felt sick.  I was chaffing badly and found some vaseline.  Karen, Rachel and I headed out for 3 more miles.  They asked which way I wanted to go and I told them I was in no condition for making decisions :)  I just followed.  It was slow and I was feeling defeated for running so poorly.

I was hoping this long run would have gone more smoothly than the last 20 miler.  I felt like I walked too much and didn't hydrate properly.  My expectations for SGM have definitely decreased!  If I do another marathon, I think I need to add more 15, 17, and 18 milers.  I do a lot of 12-13 milers, but they aren't enough.

Live and learn!  I had a massage this afternoon.  The gal really worked my lower legs...so they are a bit sore.  Hopefully a good sore.  I just hope I can finish SGM.

Farmroad down route

Time:47:15

AP: 8:58

10:26, 9:20, 8:52, 8:24, 8:06, 2:05

That darn hill by my house throws off my AP every day.  Oh well.....

So I've decided I'm not going to get "freaked out" until exactly 1 week after my 20 milers.  I've had all sorts of weird aches and pains in my lower legs.  I know this is normal, but it also puts me in a case of the worries! 

I wore a long sleeved shirt this morning thinking it was going to be cold.  But by the time I got up my hill, I was already sweating like a pig.  After 2 miles, I couldn't stand it any more.  Now, I'm not usually one to  just run in a sports bra....nope not after having 4 kids.  But I was so hot and sweaty this morning, I decided to take off the long sleeved shirt and just run with my sports bra and my reflective vest.  It was still very dark, so I thought no one will notice.  I looked like a total dork.  I thought I was home free, until I got to my street. 

Our newly called counselor (my neighbor) in the bishopric pulled up right behind me.  He rolled down his window and asked how many miles I'd done this morning.  I stuck my hands by my sides trying to hide my flashing white skin.  I quickly uttered 5 miles and jogged home.  I sure hope he didn't notice. 

It was a good run.

300 N route

Time: 53:00

AP:8:50

9:26, 8:56, 8:48, 8:46, 8:54, 8:03

SOOOOOOO tired this morning!  I'm loving the cooler weather!  My run went a lot faster than I had planned.  My right shin/right below my knee is still bugging.  Will I ever be able to run without an ache or pain?

Down farmhill road

34:34

AP:  8:49

9:49, 8:46, 8:22, 7:35

I'm SO loving these cool morning!  I felt great this morning on my run.  My aches and pains are going away and things are returning back to normal.  When SGM is done, one of my main goals is to really start lifting...focusing on the legs.  I need to strengthen them so I'm not always feeling injured. 

1:48:00

AP: 8:59

9:30, 8:41, 8:48, 8:42, 8:45, 9:18, 9:09, 9:02, 9:01, 8:56, 8:45, 8:50

SO tired when the alarm went off!  I met Rachel and Annette at the JRP.  It was chilly, dark and rainy!  It took me several miles to get all my aches and creeks out.  I probably shouldn't have taken yesterday off, but I really needed the sleep. 

We had a great conversation and the miles flew by!  Hooray for such great running buds! 

Down farmhill road 

44:58

AP: 8:29

9:06, 8:55, 8:41, 8:09, 7:53, 2:06

My 4 year old was up all night, so my morning run got cancelled!  So I ran when hubby got home from work - I haven't done that all summer. 

It was warm outside and I felt like I was huffing and puffing (but at least I felt awake and not like a zombie).  Halfway through the run, I looked at my watch and realized why I was huffing and puffing! A bit faster than I normally run.

I had a lot more time to stretch and roll when I got home (not in a hurry to get back to bed!!).

Rec center loop

AP: 9:14

9:31, 9:20, 9:07, 7:53

I really don't like back to back runs (one in the evening and then the next morning).  Nice and slow.  Thought my route was a bit longer....oh well!

Up farmhill road

AP:9:08

10:29, 9:11, 8:39, 7:09

I slept really good last night and woke up feeling good.  Route was short again today...ughhhhh.  I felt good on my run and will be really glad when all the construction around my house will be gone!  Rest day tomorrow!

27:58

AP:  8:35

9:17, 8:36, 7:46

Ooooo...it was chilly chilly outside this morning!  I felt like I hardly worked out...I was barely warmed up!  Good run though.  I had ART done on my calves today and went to the chiropractor and had him work on my hips. 

The forecast is looking a bit warm for next weekend.  Blech....nothing you can do about it though!

1:15:29

AP: 9:23

9:38, 9:34, 9:21, 9:28, 9:07, 9:16, 9:20, 9:12

I met Smooth, Rachel, Jun, Karen, Wendy, Lloyd and a few others up at the Porter Rockwell trail.  What a great relaxing run with wonderful conversation!  I felt a bit creaky for the first few miles, but my legs seemed to shake out ok. 

Right hip is being funny...lots of stretching!

Up farmhill road

36:36

AP:9:23

10:51, 9:07, 9:01, 7:35

I was in NO hurry to get up that darn hill this morning.  Legs felt good...no major aches or pains.  I'm getting excited and nervous about SGM - after all these months of training and anticipation it is finally here.   The clothing designer that I sew for has kept me really busy these past 2 weeks and it has been a nice distraction from race excitement!

100% lazy this morning!  I went running after my hubby got home from work.  I took my oldest daughter with me and she rode her bike.  She definitely is not as confident as my son on her bike.  She got really nervous when there was gravel.  She had to walk her bike off the curbs and the barking dogs freaked her out.  She did better on the way back.  But it was a long 3 miles!  

Designated rest days for Wednesday and Thursday!

Was it even worth it to get up?  Nice to shake out the legs, but they felt a bit creaky (especially the hip).  We are just leaving for SGM and are praying for cooler weather!

Be kind St George....be kind!