Thursday, October 10, 2013

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

Monday, October 7, 2013

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.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

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!!

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

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.