I Can Do Hard Things

My standard Monday morning run.   Very hot outside.

Lots of stretching.  2 hour morning nap before my kids got up.  Thanks for sleeping in kiddos!

Track workout Tuesday!  4:55am came very early this morning.  It was very warm and very dark.  I love weaving through road construction junk in the dark!  

I'm not sure why speed workouts stress me out so much.  They keep me up at night and give me knots in my stomach.  Maybe it is the thought of going to that deep dark spot that is going to hurt, make you puke, make you have the runs, and all the other glorious parts of running.  But that dark spot sure had me in a tizzy today!

The goal was 8x400 with a 200 rest.  I'm still unsure of what I should be running these at (I need to do some research), but I knew I could do 5-6 at 1:33ish.  So I was hoping to start a bit slower and maintain the last 4-5 reps at that time.

1.5 mile warm up

1-1:38

2-1:35

3-1:34

4-1:33

5-1:32

6-1:35

7-1:34

8-1:32

1.5 miles cool down

Number 6 and 7, I mentally was really hurting.  I was tired and my body was starting to hurt.  The RIGHT thing to do would have been to just push through all the junk in my body and mind.  But I didn't and I let it take over me.  That makes me mad and frustrated at myself. 

When I got home, I looked at my times from the last time I did 8/9 400's and these are still faster (those were in the 1:38-1:40).  That did make me feel better, but I was still disappointed.  Sometimes I feel like the more I run, the slower I get. 

As I watched the women's Olympic marathon, I heard an announcer say (paraphrased) regarding Kara Goucher that it takes years and many many races to become "hard".  Your body has to get use to the pounding and the pain, to learn how to race hard and mentally to overcome the body's resistance. 

I guess I still have a ways too go.  Marathon #3 is only 7 weeks away.  3 more HARD weeks of training and a few rest and taper weeks.  I can make it 3 weeks.  Right?

Hardly any nap this morning as I had a doctor appointment to have my ankle checked out.  Podiatrist quickly said I needed 2 cortisone shorts.  I wasn't expecting that....more strengthening exercises and RICE.  Now my foot is totally numb and hurts.   And I'm feeling the effects of getting up at 4:55am.  Blech....

PM:  Beat down from my trainer tonight.  I always feel stronger when I meet with her at night.  Probably because I'm not as tired :)  Working out with her is comparable to getting my hair done.....sitting in the hair dresser chair=confession time/get things off my chest (sort of).  So my trainer heard all my running woes tonight and gave me some really great advice.  I appreciate her listening!

She ran for BYU and has run a few marathon and I feel like she has some smart knowledge.  She said that I can't tap into the strong Aerobic base unless I  do some Anaerobic stuff (something like that).  She suggested that I add one more day of threshold runs to my routine.  Do an all out 5 min sprint/5min rest - 3 min sprint/3 min rest - 1 min sprint/1 min rest.  Maybe do track/hills on Monday and TR on Wednesdays, long run on Saturday and the rest of the week just get my weekly mileage.  I hope I can make it work and start running a bit faster.

 Ankle is still very sore and hurts to touch it (slightly swollen too).  I've never had that happen before with shots.  I hope I haven't messed up my race on Saturday.

So if my 4:55am yesterday wake-up time was early, my 4:20am wake up time was REALLY early.  

I had 10 miles on the calendar today and met Catherine about 2.5 miles into the run.  I was so so so glad she was able to come this morning.  I'm so so so sad she is moving.  We had a great chat about life...I think she knows way more about me than she really wants too!!!

But the miles with her went by so fast (especially because it was so dark). Took a GU at mile 5.   I was sad to drop her off at her car, but I knew I only had 2.5 miles home.

Though I felt good on the run, I was really wiped out by the the time I got home.  I was so darn tired.  I quickly iced my ankle.  No stretching....darn.  Ankle feels better than yesterday, but still very tender.  I took a shower and crawled back into bed for a long nap.  Thank you kids for letting your mother be lazy and take a nap this morning.

I spent way too much money on school shoes and supplies.  My kids are becoming more picky about their clothes and consequently they are more expensive :)  But I think we are ready for next week!

AP: 9:43 (manila school  to up farm hill road to wal-mart)  hilly the first 5 miles then downhill last 5 miles.

1:36:49

9:54, 10:04, 10:00, 9:51, 9:53, 9:21, 9:48, 9:23, 9:09, 9:21

Easy shakeout 4 miles.  Tomorrow is a rest day.  I feel like I'm falling apart between my ankle and my achy breaky hip. 

9 hours of glorious sleep.  Heavenly!

I was so not excited about running this race today.  All my running buddies were at the Park City Marathon today (Hi gals!!!!), so I was really feeling lonely about this race.  I wasn't very motivated and unsure of my racing abilities after the Timp Half Marathon a few weeks ago.  

I watched lots of shows last night on Netflix because my massage got cancelled (grrrrr....). I didn't start packing my gear until almost 9:45pm and was forgetting stuff left and right.  I haven't been this unorganized...ever?  Maybe this was a blessing in disguise?

My alarm went off at 4:10am and I got ready.  Of course, my tummy was feeling funny.  But I ate my peanut butter and honey sandwich and got out of the door 8 minutes late (so unlike me).  My hip and ankle were both achy too.  Blech...

I got down to Mapleton and found a great parking place and got onto the first bus.  I was really feeling lonely and was grateful for the chatty lady next to me.   When we arrived at the top of the canyon, we had to walk almost a mile and I glad to warm up (it was chilly outside). The POPS lines were empty and I made a bee-line to take care of business.

Then I read my Runner's World.  Got into the POP line again, then headed to the start.  As I was walking back to the various pace signs, I ran into Lowell.  What a welcome sight!  Somebody I knew and who knew me!!!  Too bad the race started immediately and I lost him.

Since most of my races/training runs have been less than spectacular (this training cycle), I had no expectations of today's race.  A few weeks ago, I may have said that I wanted to break last year's time.  But not today. 

The race started on time which has NEVER happened.

(2011)   (2012)

1:45:20 - 1:43:02

AP 8:08 - 7:58

1 - (8:03) (8:07) - Lots of weaving and I was sure that I had lost a lot of time.  Guess not.

2 - (7:54) (7:57) - Always worrying that I was going too fast.

3 - (7:56) (7:50) - Grabbed a cup of water but spit it out for fear of an upset tummy.  Smart move.

4 - (7:39) (7:46) - The highlight of the race....I had noticed two gals running together for awhile.  As I came up behind them, I asked what time they were going for - 1:45.  Then one of them asked my name and did I have a blog on FRB.  I guess she had been reading my race report from Hobble Creek last year and was impressed with my time.  It made me feel like a celebrity because she thought I was fast!  Usually, I'm the slow one.  Thanks ladies!!!

5 - (7:50) (7:48) - Still running with the ladies and having a great conversation.  I left them around 5.5/6ish.  Sad to see them go.

6 - (7:48) (7:43) - Took a small drop of water and felt great.  Waiting to blow up and will just hang on as long as I can.  Hill at 6.5.

7 - (8:12) (7:52) - Took a GU, but worried it would make tummy get sick.  Another hill and on the trail.  Rollers coming.

8 - (8:18) (7:45) - Actually walked through the water station and took a good drink.  Still feeling really good.

9 - (8:00) (7:45) - 4 miles to go, just trying to hang on.  So excited I've made it this far.  I looked at my watch and thought that if I could just maintain, I might be able to PR. 

10 - (8:34) (8:08) - Starting to get tired.  Took another water.  Getting so close....push through.

11 - (8:26) (8:13) - Took another water.

12 - (8:30) (8:18) - Really starting to get fatigued.  I felt like someone was pouring lead into my legs.  But no pukes....hooray!

13 - (8:05) (7:44) - Legs were SO heavy.  I could start to hear the crowds and looked for my family.  I wasn't sure if they were going to make but was elated to see my kids giving out pump-fists!

(Ughhhh....my form looks to horrible.  I was so tired and my legs so heavy...but do I really have to look that bad????)

As I crossed the finish line, my legs gave out.  There was NOTHING left.  I sat on the water bench for a few minutes before I could move.  I gave a hello to Jun who was announcing (I gotta give him grief for NOT calling out my name :)  ).  I met my hubby and kids and gave them all big loves.  They are so great for coming and it meant a lot to have them there.  He was suppose to run this race with me, but registered for the Hobbler Half by accident?! 

My girls told me to wear my flower in my hair so I could be a "Hula Girl".  So I ran my last 5 miles as Hula!!!  I looked for the two gals on the course I met, but didn't see them/couldn't recognize them. 

I bid farewell to the family, took another GU and headed out for 5 more miles.  These were definitely slow and shufflely.  The sun was really starting to beat down and I was feeling for those still running the race. 

Soaked my legs in the community ice bath for 30 seconds.  Got out and only last 10 seconds on round two.  Brrrrrr.....

Got a big coke and donut on the way home.  Funny thing is that everyone at the drink fountain had on Hobble Creek numbers.  I guess we were all sick of drinking water!

So overall thoughts:

- Very pleased with 2 minute PR and that the faster miles were at the end of the course.

-I finally ran an ENTIRE race in the 7 minute/mile range.  I'm going place!

-I need to work on being able to push through that last mile.  That was my slowest mile and I need to work on my kick.

-Hip felt a lot better after it warmed up, but ankle started to ache near the end of the 5 miles.  I'm at a lost as what to do.

-I run a lot better when I don't put pressure on myself.  I need to figure out how to not take these races so seriously because I do so much better.

The End.  Off to read everyone reports for the day.