Let the training begin

I have run a handful of races since my last posts.  A few Ragnar relays. A few 5 and 10ks. I haven't trained well for them and have done ok.  I would like to train and do well rather than mediocre.  I don't plan on winning ever but I do want to improve. I am fortunate to have an old college roomie as a running buddy   I go about once a week with him and look forward to training for my marathons this year. Training is so much easier when you have someone to run with or at least follow up with you.  

Race Season

Race Season is starting back up.  Just debating what races I should run.  Too many to choose from.

Cold and Snow

I am so tired of the cold and snow.  I want it to warm up so I can go running outside.  I don't like running in the road with cars and snow... Where are you spring?

I'm Back Baby

So.... It's been awhile since I have written out here. I finally have pulled my act together and have started training. I am on a 3 times a week set up right now, but I am working back up my mileage (only 5 miles each time). But 15 miles a week is much better than 5 miles a month which is what it has been. Watch for more posts as they come!

let the races begin

I'm not going to lie, as you could probably tell by my lack of posting...I haven't really trained much all winter.

Well that's going to change and quick...

This weekend is a half marathon that my family is doing. 13.1 miles here I come whether I'm ready or not.

This should be a good kickoff to getting back into the running swing of things. I also recently purchased a nice treadmill. More will follow on that.

Til then, here's to running a race I'm not prepared for.

Top Of Utah

Saturday was the Top of Utah Marathon. What an adventure that was. First off, I chickened out of my costume. I want to run in it again, but only when I actually pull a competitive (that's a relative term I guess) time. Anyway, I get to the bus loading line and the lady behind me is telling her friend (who is new to running, I guess--this is her first marathon) how hard marathons are and how much of a struggle she is going to have, since this is her first. The girl, (thankfully) ahead of me chimed in and told her to relax and have fun. The first lady challenged her by asking if she has ever run marathons before, she responded that she ran Boston this year. I thought, "you go girl!"

I like running, although I don't seem to ever do enough of it to be well trained and amazing. It helps me clear my head and organize my thoughts. It makes me feel more accomplished and proud of myself. Yay for the Boston girl who pep talked the first timer into being excited.

Anyways, back to the bus. I heard a good piece of advice, and although I usually am pretty uptight about not doing anything different race day. I really mixed things up this race. The advice I got was basically don't run with headphones from the beginning. When you start a race, find a pack of people or a person and stick with them, talk with them or just enjoy the run. If you start with music, it just turns into noise as you run--unless you are a freaking machine and bust out a marathon in 2 and half hours. Use music to help you get through tough parts, or as a reward down at mile 18.

I thought that was great advice.

This course is my favorite course so far. There was something almost magical at the starting line. The porta-potties were up on the hill, so you didn't have the smell or runners digestion. There was a trail lined with teal glowsticks that ran down the hillside to the tent at the starting line. It was a cloudy morning and you could smell the sage and pines. All in all a great way to start.

Except when it began to rain 15 min before the gun shot off.

It rained pretty much the whole race. There were times when it would stop, and other times when it hailed. There was also some thunder and lightning. I guess it makes the race more hard core---I am however, hoping for a race one day that is just a mild day....

I decided I would not begin my race with music--just to experiment. I also talked with a few people at the starting line--I'm not a talker, especially on raceday at the starting line, I'm too nervous with the race--its all business--I gotta somehow get myself back to where I parked. lol.

I met a nice girl and it was her first marathon. We both lamented how we wished races were in the evening rather than the morning. We both planned on finishing in about the same time.

We decided to follow pacers. (another thing I have never done in the past)

Let me say this. Pacers are awesome. I loved ours. We had two, they were married and from out of town. We talked and ran together for 13 miles. We took turns holding the pacer signs, carrying the pacer balloons, etc. They kept us within 2-4 seconds of where we needed to be every mile along the way. AWESOME--I will definitely follow pacers again.

We kind of formed a group of about 10. We talked and laughed the whole way down the mountain. We swapped running bean flavors and goo chews. It honestly was the most fun I have had running a marathon ever. Before we knew it, we were halfway done. I felt great and got greedy and wanted a better split time, so I left my pacers at halfway and took off.

I did really good for a while, Then at mile 20--it started to catch up. Its really hard to muscle through something you didn't train for. And mile 20 proved that to me. The game got really mental and I really struggled breaking through it. I had been texting my family, my phone died then in the rain. My shoes had come undone and i didn't retie them tight enough so I have a black toenail. My music wasn't doing it for me. The fatigue had caught up and I just couldn't push through it.

The last six miles were daunting. You'd think they would be the easiest, only a 10K then you're done. This part of the course is HORRIBLE. Dear TOU course engineers, please redesign the last 6 miles. I don't like the winding through town. The course finishes just below the temple which is a fairly visible landmark in Logan, the course winds you through town. You are running north towards the temple and feel great, you know you are getting close....the the course turns and you go east and you say, "ok, at least I'm still going." Then the course goes south and you say, "wait a minute, I'm going the WRONG WAY!" There are parts where you wind up and down blocks so you can see people on the other side of the road that are now a half a mile ahead of you. at mile 24 you are a block away from the finish line but then they force you out to the main street and wind you through some more neighborhoods.

This is one of the first times I have ever gotten really emotional on the course. As much as I hate the winding through town. It allows for a lot more spectator action for a longer period of time. Family member stood there on the sidelines and cheered. There were parents and little kids holding signs cheering on mom, dad, grandpa, sons and daughters. There was a sign there from a person with the same name as my older sister that said "You don't know how strong you really are, keep going" That was when I got emotional. I know it wasn't my sister that put it there, but still. I felt like it was.

Running has helped me be closer to my family than I think I could have felt in any other way. This was the first race I have run alone. I ran for a long time with a lady who also had always run with a group. She just kept saying, this race is for me. And that kind of became my slogan. I ran this race because I wanted to. I ran it because I could. It was hard. It was long. It was WET. But I was strong, and I kept going. That is what I love about running and racing. It seems to bring out the best in people. People are so nice and helpful. We are all in it together. We help one another to make it to the end--Even if you have to share your goo. And, at the end, everyone is happy. I tailed a guy in a green shirt forever. I passed him, he passed me. We did it for 10 miles. We shook hands and congratulated each other. I don't know who won--probably him. lol., but it wasn't what was important. It was the fact that we finished and that was something to be proud of.

Thanks Top of Utah for a great race. Thanks volunteers for helping us in the rain and hail!

Costume or no

This weekend is the Top of Utah Half Marathon, which begs the question. To run in costume or not. This summer has been crazy, with work, family, getting a dog, new home, etc. I haven't really trained for this race. I feel bad running as link--it will be the legend of failure. I may just make a running shirt dedicated to link rather than run in costume. We will see...