While I can't run....

I feel like it's been ages since I ran...and really it has been 6 days.  I am a total head case.  While I can't run in order to keep myself occupied I've been doing a lot of therapy:  stem, deep blue, magnesium oil, arnica, stretching, resting, motrin, and this crazy rubber wrap - you wrap it as tight as you can then stretch for 2-3 minutes.

Everything seems to be helping and my heel is already feeling a lot better - but I know I need to stay the course and keep at it for at least another week. I seriously can't wait to run again. 

I've also been doing a lot of cross-training.  I joined a new crossfit gym and have gone every day.  I've been on the spin bike and rowing machine and I even went and swam laps (haven't done that in 6 years).

Funny story about swimming.  I'm at the pool everyday since my boys swim on a club team so I grabbed my hubbies goggles and my swim gear and did laps for 45 minutes.  It was brutal.  During the swim I looked over at my 9 year old in the lane next to me and he was goofing off so I took off my goggles and told him to work harder and stop playing.  He hadn't noticed it was me swimming next to him for the last 30 minutes.  Ha. 

2 weeks of no running

I had a bad morning.  I've been fighting my heel hurting since before the marathon last month and it's not getting better.  It hurt more this morning than it did at mile 26 of the marathon.  We were out for a 7 mile run and by mile 2 I knew I shouldn't be running.  So I told the girls I was going to run less miles and walk for a bit and not to wait for me.  I slowed my pace way down and ended up running 6 miles.  By the end of the run I was so mad at myself.  Mad that I can't even run 7 freaking miles.  Mad at myself for not taking care of my foot.  Mad at myself for not being able to run as fast as I wanted to.  Just plain mad at myself.  

It doesn't happen often but when I feel worse after a run than when I started it's really hard  for me to break out of the funk.  Today is one of those days for me.  I'm super emotional and grouchy and hate thinking about the fact that I have to rest my foot.  I've decided that am NOT going to run for the next 2 weeks to see if that will fix my pain.  If it still hurts this much after that then I will go to the doctor.  I'm not a patient person and I don't do rest well so let's hope 2 weeks is all it takes.  I am going to keep doing stem on it at night and tape it up and take motrin during my 2 week running hiatus.  Wish me luck!

Today I saw this cool video on runners world on how to tape yourself.

Race numbers

I have saved all my race numbers since I really started racing back in 2007.  I keep them all hung on a hook in my office at work where I can see them.  My race medals are all in the back of my closet.  And I rarely wear my race shirts again.  I have most of them somewhere but don't do anything with those either.  But I love saving my numbers and I've always had high hopes for how I will display these someday when I have a workout room or somewhere cool to hang them.  But for now I have them right where I can see them. 

I write my race information on the back of each number too.  Just in case I ever want to look back and set new goals.  

What do you save from races?

My Race Bag

I've done quite a few races this year and have been trying to make the perfect "race day" drop bag. So far I've been lucky and have never had my bag lost at a race but I try to make sure there really isn't anything too important in it just in case.  I usually get to the start on the early side so some standing/sitting/hanging out is involved.  If you tend be on the last bus you won't need all of this stuff. 

So here it is:

Old blanket - you can wrap it around you and or your friends or sit on it and if you throw it on the side of the road - who cares!

Thanks Delta - you kept me warm in Boston

 trash bag - you can wear it or sit on this as well

Sherry and I on the bus heading to my first marathon in 2009

Kleenex - way too often the TP runs out in the porta potties and why wait for one that has it when you can just have some in your bag

throw away warm gear - gloves, ear warmers, shirt, and pants

I found these at Wal-Mart for $1.50 each!!

I know some people like to bring a magazine or something to pass the time...but I bring friends instead!  

Heading up the start of the UV half marathon - June 2013

I always put my GU's, electrolytes, and ipod in a ziplock bag the night before then I can put it in my pockets up at the start instead of trying to think about it all on race morning

Water bottle - hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Chapstick, advil, body glide, etc - just in case  

Another smart thing to do is bring a ribbon or something to tie around your bag so you can spot it easier. 

My October Pink Challenge

As you know I decided to do a 30 day challenge to see if I could wear something pink during every workout during the month of October for breast cancer awareness.  One stipulation was that I couldn't buy anything new to wear during the month.  The challenge was really fun and I made it no problem.  

A spattering of pink I wore through the month:

After I did the wash I would put the pink items in a bag
so I wouldn't wear them again:

 I went through my workout clothes last night and found 14 more options - without even looking at socks, sleeves, gloves, shoes, etc. 

Conclusion:  I love pink workout gear and I might have too much workout gear.  It is nice to be able to wear anything I want again.  I love wearing all black almost as much as wearing pink when I workout :)

Snow Canyon Race Recap

I ran my last race of 2013 and I must say I am glad to be done racing for a little while.  Snow Canyon is a great half-marathon.  It's far enough away to make a girls trip of it and hit some warm weather but not too far.  It's a nice fast course and Snow Canyon is simply gorgeous.  The race was great and I got a new PR of 1:40:08 (7:38 pace) - supah fast for me!  I ran every step of the way with my girl Laurie and we chatted for 10 miles until I felt like shutting down then I had to listen to music to get me through the last few miles of neighborhood running.  I love having training partners who challenge me and entertain me all at once.  It was perfect weather 40's - 50's too.  I did a GU at mile 9 - which is the only way I made it through the last few miles.  

You really can't go wrong with this race.  It's not very expensive and never sells out.  There were about 2000 runners of all levels and it's well organized.  Good amount of water stations, lots of porta potties, areas to cheer on your runners throughout the course and lots of food and drinks at the end. 

Laurie and I at mile 12.5

All the Housewives - 6 of us ran the half, 1 the 5K and everyone else ran for fun on their own :)

Trust the Training

Trust the training.  I've heard it so many times but sometimes I get nervous and think it's too many miles or too few miles.  That the taper is too long or not long enough.  I've changed training programs to "make them my own" so many times over the years.  I've usually had success even when I make small modifications but this last time around I followed my training pretty exact.  Don't get me wrong I missed days along the way or missed the mark on speed work a few times.  But I tried to do what the training said and it worked perfectly for me.  My race time was VERY close to the expected race time in my training.  Several times during the marathon when I was feeling tired I would just tell myself to trust the training and that I trained for this.  I just kept thinking to myself that I knew I could do it because I made it through the months of training.  I can make it through a few hours if I can make it through months and months of hard training.  And you know what?  I did.  I made it!

The program I followed is from runnersworld's website it's called Smart Coach and it takes your current pace and mileage and creates a personal program for you. 

 My last few days of pink gear.  This challenge is going smashing so far - but I'm not even half way into the month.  I hope I can remember what I've worn all month.  Good thing I'm documenting :)

 Tuesday I taught spin and did crossfit

Wednesday was a 6 mile run outside

St George Marathon Recap

Let me start this post by saying "AH YEAH!!"  STG 2013 did not disappoint.   I ran my guts out and finished in 3:32:00 a PR by over 8 minutes and another Boston Qualifying time!!!  I am seriously so excited with how the race went.  I think the St George marathon is one of the best.  It's great for me because it's close to home but it is so well run and so beautiful it just can't be beat.  It's hard to get into but I totally know why.  It's a fast, beautiful race. 

Now for the recap....

We drove down Friday afternoon and hit the expo.  The expo was great.  It took a matter of minutes to get my number and shirt and then we walked around for a bit so I could buy random running gear.  Then I got my heel taped up.  I waited in line for like 40 minutes to get taped up but I wanted to be sure my heel wouldn't bother me during the race.  I thought it was hilarious that the only line in the entire expo was getting taped up and some people were getting some serious taping done....makes me wonder if marathoners are hard on themselves :)  ha ha

 

I of course picked pink.

The only problem with the entire race was this years race shirt.  They are HUGE!  Last year I got a women's medium and the arms were a little short so I decided to get a women's large this year.  However - it's more like a men's XL and I will never be able to wear it.  Even though it's one of the cutest bright green shirts ever.  Oh well.  

Kami (my sis-in-law) and I got on the 4:30 shuttle from our hotel (if you run STG stay at the Marriott they are amazing to the runners).  Then got right on a bus and headed up to the starting line.  We got there with A LOT of time to spare hit the porta potties then sat down to rest and wait for Kelli.  It was cold at the start - in the 20's.  Once we met up with Kelli we hit the potties again and then dropped our extra clothes off and headed over to the starting line.  We crossed the line about 3 minutes after the gun went off.  I was freezing and couldn't feel my feet for about 3 miles and didn't even toss my gloves or jacket for 5 miles.  But the temps were PERFECT for a marathon. 
 

 
The goal was to shoot for a 3:35 time so that all 3 of us would qualify.  I liked knowing I might have a nice big buffer and instead of focusing on myself I could focus on my training partners instead.  It helped me stay mentally tough.  I wore a clif bar pace bracelet to keep track of where we should be.  I didn't watch it too closely but every 5 or so miles I'd double check it and we were ahead of schedule.  The closer we got the happier I got.  

Post race group photo.  I couldn't be happier.  We worked so hard and have trained for so long and it all paid off on race day.  We were strong and made our goal.  

 After stretching and walking around the finishers area for a bit Kami and I headed back to the hotel.  I did a 10 minute ice bath and put on my comfy clothes and compression socks.  Then we headed over to Swig to get a big fat diet coke and cookie.  A very well deserved treat.  We drove home right after and I was home before 6:00 pm and ready to lay down in my bed and not get up again :)

A few more details for me:  I did a caffeinated GU at mile 5, chomps at mile 11, Roctane at mile 17 and chomps at mile 22.  Drank a full glass of water and/or gatorade at all 4 stops and drank one other time.  I didn't cramp up during or after the race so I feel like my nutrition and water were right on. 

30 Day Challenge

Day 4:  I am so confident in my wardrobe that I wore 2 pink items today.  I was planning to save these awesome pink shoes as a back-up in case I ran out of pink.  But I am sure I can do this so I busted them out with my pink shorts today.

Day 5:  Race day.  You know I'm wearing pink on race day whether I'm doing a challenge or not.  Pink is my go-to race color.  It makes me run fast!

Day 6:  Since I am still dying from the marathon we went for a walk this morning so I needed to really bundle up.  It was the perfect thing to get my tired sore legs moving a little.

30 Day Challenge - Day 2

T-minus 3 days until the marathon.  Today was a short speed work - done in pink shorts of course.  It was 4 miles total with 2 sets  one mile intervals at a 7:13 pace with a half mile jog between.  It was so short I just ran on my treadmill in my basement.  I hate working out alone so I rarely run on my treadmill.  I'd rather run on the treadmill at the gym so I have friends with me.  But for a run this short I was done in less time than the drive to and from the gym.  

And look at the forecast for this weekend. It looks perfect!!

My October Fitness Challenge

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month so I have decided to do a 30 day challenge.  Unlike most fitness challenges - situps, push ups, planks, etc - I've opted for wearing something pink every workout this month.  And just to really challenge myself it has to be something different and I can't buy anything new.  Don't worry...I've totally got this.  I counted my tops and bottoms last night and came up with 28 items.  I was planning on using accessories too if needed but it doesn't look like I'll need them.   Today I taught spin class and wore this pink skirt. Day 1.  Check.

I am 4 days away from the marathon.  I am so ready to run hard and then rest for a while.  My poor body is starting to feel the high mileage I've been putting in.  My right heel is killing me and I'm pretty sure the only thing to do to fix it is rest.  Why do I have to get old?  Ha.

New Race Outfit

I love (and I mean really love) buying new running clothes.  It's the way I reward myself for hard work and training.  Plus I love having a new outfit for every big race I run.  I train hard then focus my race jitters on random stuff like picking a new outfit.  I love running races in lululemon skirts - they are super comfortable, have 3 pockets to carry all my GU's and iPod and are dang cute.  

So when I saw this new black and white striped skirt I knew it would be my race outfit.  I wore it on my 22 mile run and it was perfect.  I am of course throwing in a touch of pink too.  I used to always race in all black - but the pictures weren't nearly as fun.  So next week if you're looking for me crossing the finish line at St. George you know what I'll be wearing. 

September where have you gone?

Wow - I haven't posted in a month.  Sorry I've been busy running and getting kids back in school and taking an amazing vacation.  

My training has gone great except for the week when we went to Florida and on a Disney Cruise.  I only ran 10 miles total over 8 days....oops!  I planned to run but the first day on the ship while I was on the treadmill we were coming into port and the movements of the ship turning, slowing down and docking were too much for me so I called it at 5 miles.  The next day I planned on running 9-10 miles outside on the island.  Disney has a 5K so I would have a course to follow and would be safe.  But by the time we got off the ship and started the 5K it was 80 degrees and really humid.  I ran the 5K - and took 2nd overall and 1st woman finishing in 22 minutes and a few seconds (I didn't have my watch so I don't know exactly).  It was so hot I knew without any drinks and nutrition it wouldn't be smart to run more miles so I just ran the course out and back a few times to run in with my sis-in-law and mother-in-law who ran the race.  I'm guessing I put in between 5-6 miles total.  Then the next day I woke up and my low back was killing me so I knew I needed to take it easy and without my mom next door to work on my back I didn't dare put a lot of miles on for risk of injury.  So....I had a nice unplanned week of rest. 

Just after I finished

My SIL after her finish. 

My MIL's 2nd 5K ever.  She was awesome!

My sweet plastic finishers medal - my kids love it!

When I got back I was a little stressed because it took me 3 days to feel good on a run again.  But by my run on Wednesday when I did my speed work (1 mile intervals) I felt great.  I did a week of good runs and now I'm tapering to get ready for the race.  8 more days!!!  I am so ready to just get it done.

This weeks workouts:
M - 7 miles
T - spin
W - tempo run 6.5 total with 3 at 7:40 pace
Th - 6 miles
F- rest
S - 8 miles

August Recap

My goodness I'm so behind on my posts.  This whole back to school thing takes a while to get used to.  August was a big month for me - my highest mileage month EVER  (191.10 miles) in my life.  Which might be why I've been feeling tired.  But I also feel very ready for the marathon. 

 

Saturday was my 22 mile run.  We got dropped off up the canyon and ran down all the way back to the house.  I felt better on this run than on our last 20.  I did GU chomps at mile 7 and 17 and a roctane gel at mile 11.  We dropped drinks along the trail so that I didn't have to carry anything - one of my gatorades got taken but luckily there was a water fountain near that stop.  I did the whole thing without music too.  

Monday was supposed to be a 10 mile recovery run and even though it was Labor Day there was lots going on so I left my house at 5:30 am to drive up the canyon to meet a friend who was staying at her cabin for the weekend.  It was really dark at 6:00 and the trail just seemed too scary to both of us.  So we ended up running 4 miles up a mountain and back down.  Not the best "recovery" run - it was a tough 8 miles but I finished it.  It rained on us the last mile which was actually really nice. Then yesterday I taught spin and did crossfit.  And today was a 9 mile run. 

Throwback Thursday

Finish line at the UV marathon June 2012

Last year I set the goal to train and qualify for the Boston Marathon.  I had only done 1 marathon in 2009 before.  I found a training program.  Started this blog and made my goal a reality.  In June of 2012 I ran the Utah Valley Marathon and the conditions were horrible - hot and a serious headwind the whole way.  I missed qualifying by a couple of minutes and was heartbroken.  Now I'm almost done training for my 4th marathon in a 16 month period.  I know my body better than ever before and I know how hard to push and train.  But man am I tired and ready for a break.  No matter how tired I am right now I am not going to stop pushing hard and finish my training with a bang so I can race hard in a few weeks at St George - it's 36 days away!!!!

This week's workouts:
Monday:  10 mile run
Tuesday: spin and crossfit
Wednesday: 8 miles total w/ 4 one mile intervals @ 7:20 pace and crossfit
Thursday:  8 mile run 
Friday: rest
Saturday:  22 miles

I'm tired

Today was another 10 mile run.  I really didn't want to get up when my alarm went off at 5:00 am.  But I knew I had to do it so I forced myself to get up, get dressed and go.  And by 8:00 am this morning I had run 10 miles.  Picked up a few things at the grocery store.  Made and served fancy birthday pancakes to my 9 year old and got 3 kids off to school. 

I've realized that I'm starting to get tired and I just keep telling myself 3 more weeks of hard training then I can taper and then it's race day.  I'm ready to not be marathon training for a while.  I think maybe I've done too many races in the last 18 months.  4 out of my 5 marathons and lots of other races in between.  I'm tired and ready to run for fun for a few months.  I love racing and it keeps me motivated....but I am ready to have my races be half marathons or shorter :)

Saturday we did 16 and it was a good run.  I felt fine the whole run and we ran the last 3 miles faster than the first 13.  Always a good sign.  I will stay motivated until St. George and I plan on running hard.

Ragnar Trail - Snowbasin Race Review

What a fun race this was.  I am so glad I did it and even more glad that these 7 girls were willing to do it too.  Only one of our runner's is an experienced trail runner and 2 of them had never set foot on a trail before the race.  And the other 5 of us had gone 1-5 times before.  But we had a blast and kicked some serious butt on this race. 

How it works:  You have 8 runners and each runner does 3 loops - all runners do the same 3 loops but in a different order.  First runner does green - then second yellow - third red - fourth green....you get the point.  I was second runner so I ran Yellow (6.4 miles) - Green (3.5 miles)- Red (4.8 miles).  

We all drove up together in the party van then had to haul all our camping crap up the mountain to find a spot to set up.  This was a sweaty, tiring process at noon.  But we got it done and were ready to rock before our race start time - 2:30 pm.  I was second runner so I started a little after 3:00.  It was so freaking hot when I ran.  I took my handheld water bottle and drank 1 1/2 over 6.5 miles.  

I had a horrible run for my first leg.  It was hot, my stomach hurt from eating too close to the run, it was hot, I wasn't mentally prepared to run up a ski slope and just how hard that would be.  At one point I looked down at my garmin - I had been run/walking uphill for so long I knew I must be almost ready to go downhill.  I was at 1.83 miles and I nearly cried.  I was so tired and I wasn't even 2 miles in - how would I do 4 more miles and then do the whole thing 2 more times????  I decided to stop and look around for a minute and it was beautiful then I just forced myself to keep going.  I finished my first run in  1 hour 11 minutes at an 11:09 pace.  I suck at running fast downhill and got passed by more people going down than up - that's depressing.  

coming in from leg 1

My dirty trail shoes

My even dirtier feet - it took a lot of baby wipes to clean these babies

 Right after I finished - I was sooooo grumpy.  That run was the hardest 6.3 miler I've ever done.

My 2nd leg was Green - 3.5 miles around midnight.  I got to wear my sweet new headlamp.  I ran the whole 3.5 miles without walking once.  Wahoo!  It wasn't fast but I did it.  I ran it in 38:39 at a 10:57 pace (it felt way faster than that - ha ha).  I didn't get passed at all and even passed 1 person on a downhill.  After the first half mile I only saw 2 people so I was completely alone in the pitch black.  I didn't let myself freak out but I also didn't stop running because I wanted to be done bad.  I passed one girl walking with a headlamp and flashlight - as I came up behind her I yelled "I'm not a bear....or a rapist....just another girl running".  I'm not sure if she thought I was crazy or not but at least I didn't scare her.  The craziest part of the night run was the bat that flew right in front of my headlamp and freaked me right out.  I think I'd rather see a bear on the trail than be attacked by a flying rodent!!  (I have serious issue with rodents).  When I finished my second leg I felt great and was back to my old happy running self. 

 We are cute in our bandanas and headlamps

 After my 2nd leg I cleaned up and crawled in the tent and slept solid for almost 5 hours.  I thought I wasn't sleeping so I looked at my watch and it had been 5 hours - crazy.  I laid in bed for a little longer and then decided to get ready for my last leg and start hydrating.  My last leg was the "hardest" leg.  It was the steepest but not the longest.  4.8 miles with a 1200 foot incline in the first 2 miles.  I started my run right around 7:00 am and the sun was just coming up.  It was SO BEAUTIFUL!!  I absolutely loved this run.  It was hard but so gorgeous and the fast downhill made up for the uphill. 

 this picture doesn't do how pretty it was justice

and this picture doesn't do justice to how steep these trails were

 I was so happy on this run - this was close to the very top of the mountain

I finished leg 3 in 51:47 at a 10:45 pace.  My first 2 miles were around a 13 min/mile and I was under an 8:00 pace on my last mile.  I started to get more and more comfortable with downhills and didn't get passed going down this time :) Really though I only saw 2 people this whole run so there weren't many people to worry about.  

We finished the race in 23:21:44 and took first place in women's submasters.  I loved this race and even though it was so dang hard I would do it again in a heartbeat.

the finishers medal

  

the campsites and main village

This week's workouts:
T - spin
W - 10 miles
Th - 9 miles w/5 at tempo