I Can Do Hard Things

FIRST:  We made homemade ice cream tonight (more like soft serve).  INCREDIBLE!!!!  How can you go wrong when you use a pint of whole cream :)  First batch was orange creamsicle and the second batch was butterfinger!!  Yum!

I ran an EASY 3 recovery miles this morning outside - no TM running for the past week and a half.  This awesome weather is spoiling me!

I REALLY need to do some laundry and was forced to wear my ugliest running clothes ever.  My leprechaun green shirt (which were a size too big) and my "Get Bit" shorts from the  Dogtown Half marathon (which were a size too small).  Then I had on my reflective vest and headlamp.  Good thing it was dark!

Most of my soreness is gone.  I felt good on the run and am ready (mentally and physically) to get my last BIG mileage week before Ogden marathon - 47 miles (this will be the most miles I've ever run).

I did all my stretching and exercises outside on the driveway.  The newspaper delivery guy gave me a weird look (whether if it was for my *awesome* running outfit or stretching on the driveway at 5:30am...I'm not sure).

2xLLL

2xplanks

foam roll and stretch

So I had a really hard parenting moment today.  There was a class spelling bee and my son was eliminated during the first round.  Spelling is by far the hardest subject for him.  He is an excellent reader and super at math, but just doesn't like to practice spelling words.  So we did practice his *spelling bee* words, but probably not as much as we could have.

I happen to be in the classroom working on a project for the teacher.  He was eliminated during the first round.  I could tell he was heart-broken.  I saw the lip quiver and the pinching his eyes to hold back tears.  As much as I wanted to scoop him up, I knew it wasn't appropriate timing.

It was time for me to head to my daughters classroom.  The teacher excused him to use the restroom and to get a drink so he could compose himself.  I met him in the hallway.  We talked about how I have never won a race.  But I still practice every day.  AND I still love running even though I don't win.  We talked about all the *good* things he does. 

I was heartbroken to see him fail.  But we can't win or be the shining star every time.  And I felt guilty that I didn't work more with him on the words.  I guess today was a learning experience for both of us.    Sigh......

1:32:58

AP:  9:23

9:30, 9:40, 9:32, 9:25, 9:14, 9:04, 9:03, 9:03, 9:05, 8:47, :52

It never fails on my mid-week long runs, I don't sleep well.  So goes last night.  I was afraid I was going to miss my alarm.  I was WIDE awake at 4:15am.  It was a beautiful morning outside. 

I ran 5 miles up the rec center loop.  Surprisingly, I felt super.  I went up those few hilly miles  much faster than I normally do.  I wasn't breathing hard and it felt effortless.  I'm a bit worried I did this run too fast. (maybe I shouldn't do my speed workout tomorrow???)

I took a GU at mile 5 and charged back down the hills.  It was weird....I would run through pockets of really warm air, then instantly it would be cooler again.  The only bad part about the run today was the mouse that ran in front of me...ewwwwwww!

Stretch and foam roll

Hope to do some planks and LLL later this evening.

I just read Adam Goucher's blog (Kara Goucher's husband) entitled "Road to London".  After reading her training efforts, I feel like a slacker :)

1.6 mile warm up

8x400 ON THE TRACK (It has been 2 years since I've done a speed workout on the track and it is a bit intimidating.  Though I was the only one there, it was 5:00am and dark...I still felt sick to my stomach.)  But I survived and once I started it went by fast. 

200 recovery

1:45

1:40

1:38

1:41

1:38

1:38

1:38

1:36

My legs felt very good during the speed session and I was pleased with the consistency of the times (except for the first one....had to figure out my pacing).  It was my breathing that was going crazy.  Obviously, I need to speed to spend some quality time on the track.  Build up my VO2.   I've run 8x400's on the TM just in the last little while, but putting out the effort (versus the TM *making* you run that fast) is so very different.

I ran 2.5 laps on the grass around the track and then ran home for a total of 6 miles.  Rest day tomorrow.

1 measly set of LLL and planks on my front lawn (too hot in the house).

Thursday has traditionally been my sleeping in and rest day.  Hubby goes to the temple in the morning and I am in desperate need of SLEEP!  

I've been in the market for a personal trainer for awhile.  Though I found many who were qualified, they were way out of range for my budget.  I feel like having a personal trainer is a total luxury.  Definitely a want and not a need. 

I finally found someone who I think is *it*!  She comes to my house for a 30 minutes/once a week and her price is right.  I have to be warmed up before she comes and I stretch on my own after she leaves.  She ran collegiate track and field.  So she understands running and knows I don't want HUGE muscles. 

I was able to sleep in some this morning (6:15am is way better than 4:30am!!!).  While walking from my front door to my family room she was already giving me instructions.  There was no fooling around. 

I realize my muscles were weaksauce within the first set of circuits.  The "one arm on a weighted ball and one arm on the ground" pushups I thought were going to put me to an early grave.  I think she is going to make me do them every time since my arms are so weak. 

I was sweating and breathing hard the whole time.  When my 30 minutes were up, she quickly ran out the door.  I appreciate her speediness.

I'm really excited about this.  I'm not very motivated to weight lift.  If I get my running it, then I feel like I've worked out and always sluff off lifting.  BUT I know I need to and it will make me a better runner. 

I can't remember anything we did(except those pushups)...she was going fast.  But I know that I am sore all over. 

Farmhill road loop - AP 10mm

Slow and easy 6 mile run outside.  Sometimes I think the slow and easy can be just as hard as *hard* days.  If I wanted to go faster, I'm not sure I could of.  

I picked up my race packet for the Thanksgiving Point Half tomorrow.  Though I'm not racing it, I'm excited to run through the TP gardens.  Tulips are my favorite!  I even made my hubby take me on a trip to the Skagit County (Washington) to see their tulip fields/festival a few years ago.

I'm heading off to bed to take a nap.  Gotta rest up for 22 miles in the morning!

22 miles

3:33:00 - AP:  9:42

9:21, 9:32, 9:36, 9:46, 9:03, 9:12, 9:12, 9:34, 10:17, 9:46, 9:54, 9:36, 9:58, 9:27, 9:54, 10:16, 9:05, 10:15, 10:23, 10:10, 9:43, 9:22

 First AND foremost, I'm so grateful for this blog!  I've met so many wonderful people and consider everyone friends.  Way to represent today!

I signed up to the the Thanksgiving Point Half Marathon last year and was unable to run it.  I was able to defer it to this year.  I needed to do 22 miles, so I just enjoyed the scenery and didn't worry about racing!  My main goal was to feel good and not worry about time (obviously, I did...those are some slow splits :)  ).

I met RAD, Catherine, Smooth, Karen and Lowell around 6:00am to get a few miles before the race.  I was freezing ALL morning long, so I was a bit overdressed (the weather was really perfect...a bit on the cool side!!!!!).  We were able to get 4 miles in.  I took off one of my layers and headed to the POP before heading over to the start.

This was a very organized and fun race!  Good music and energy at the start!  I hung back at the start...I was a bit nervous about starting off too fast.  RAD and Catherine took off like a flash.  I knew I wouldn't see them until the end :)  Way to run speedy times ladies!!!!!

I caught up to Karen and Smooth and we had the MOST glorious run.  I was so grateful for their conversation and company.  We talked about everything from chicken coops to how this was a fun run, but would have been horrible to *race*.  Lots of crazy twists and turns, ups and downs, tunnels, dirt, bricks and everything in between. 

The aid stations were frequent and well stocked.  Hooray!  Around mile 4, I saw an old running friend (Sarah) and her boyfriend.  We ran with them for several miles!  It was so wonderful to catch up and laugh about old runs together!  It made the time go by SO fast and I didn't notice the hills as much!!

I took GU's at mile 8, 14 and 18.  No GI issues today!  About a half mile from the finish, Sarah took off to finish strong.  I finished the race around 2:06.  So slow, but I felt SO wonderful.  I've never felt so great on a long run before!  I kept thinking I was going to blow up.

I quickly changed my shirt, grabbed some water and went off to find everyone to finish the final 5.  RAD, Karen, Smooth (for part of the way) and I rehashed the race.  I still couldn't believe how wonderful my legs were feeling.  I could have easily run more miles.  I was afraid to verbalize my good fortune for the day...fearing it would quickly disappear! 

Finally, we finished and headed over to the awards.  It was fun to catch up with all the FRB bloggers (RAD, Smooth, Andrea, Jake, Lily, Melody, Jun and his buddy, etc).  So many of them placed...HOORAY!

I couldn't stay long to mingle.  I was able to make it home in time for the last half of the soccer game and 1 (out of 2) gymnastics meets.  Thanks hubby for supporting me today!

I feel so much more confident going into Ogden.  My two 20 milers for SGM were so horrific and the Ogden 20's were complete opposite. I'm not sure that I will run a faster time, but my goal is to feel better during the race (which will hopefully lead to a better time). 

Thanks friends for a wonderful morning!