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.