it might be a training run..

I loaded the marathon training plan on my phone and it said I was supposed to do some miles this week but my hip flexor and right calf have been a little irritated so I didn't do two of my runs. My long run this week called for 10 miles and Don wanted to run them with me but I am so much slower than him We did his 8 instead of going out the extra 2. excuses, excuses..

We ran to the trail and did most of the miles on the trail. It has been a while since I've been down but it felt great! Guess I will try to stick better to my training this week!

I made a huge commitment last week....

SO my cousin, JaNae did the ST George Marathon last year. It is a really popular marathon. and while there she found out about their racing series. If you sign up and do 2 of the races in southern Utah (one must be a STG city race) then you don't have to go through the lottery system for STG you are automatically in. Well she signed me up for it! I wasn't even sure I wanted to do it! Well we looked at calendars and figure the St George Half would be good and we planned Lake to Lake which is a short relay (gosh I'm a sucker for relays) and looked at a couple others. well in December I decided I just could do the half so I told her I wasn't gonna do it which pretty much meant I wasn't gonna be doing STG cuz I just didn't have it in me. Well gosh almost every runner friend I had that I talked to were talking about the half and that they were going so I started to want to go but still wasn't sure how I could work it all out money wise, plus Don and Jacob were gonna be in Yellowstone for scouts! Well a few weeks ago one of my new friends (that I hardly know) told me I could go down with her and stay at her friends house! Which meant I only would have to pay for half the gas and the race entry!! Oh so tempting!! So last week at Bunko I was really torn, the price was going up the next day, I hadn't told Don I wanted to do it... but oh man I did!! JaNae says I am gonna do the half! Tom is booking the room tonight! I said I really want to do it too!!! When I had told her I just couldn't do it she didn't plan to do it either. Late Friday night we had some friends over and Don was talking about going Yellowstone and I mentioned the half, And he was like that's fine. so I joked with one of them asking if she wanted to watch the three kids since her husband was going to Vegas with the Air Force. she didn't answer but I went right to the computer and signed up-I had about 2 hours till the price went up. As I sat in front of my computer signing up I realized the commitment I had just made.... I AM doing St George in October!!!

So the trip!! Melissa had invited me to drive down with her and her Husband-that seemed weird and one of the reasons I wasn't sure but I emailed her the next day asking if the offer was still out there and she said of course. I sent Kenz a message asking if she really could watch the kids then sent messages to a few other people asking if they could, My cousin replied back saying ya she could. so I had my sitter and my ride!! Melissa sends me a message a couple days later telling me her husband isn't going and that she is bringing another friend down. A little ease there on my part! Then Kenz texts me back saying yes she can watch the kids. Don said he felt better about her watching the kids so I text my cousin back saying I wouldn't need her after all but might need her in March (Lake to Lake). Everything was looking awesome! We left friday afternoon and headed down. as we came into town we were all so hungry so April (Melissa's friend) called her husband and told him to pick somewhere to eat and we would meet him there. SO we headed to Texas Roadhouse and he wasn't there yet!! so we went in got on the waiting list and had about45 minutes as we walked out he was out there and he told us we totally had time to get our packets so we drove over and got the packets and came back and had dinner. Then went back to their house watched some tv and a movie then went to bed. Got up to leave by 7. As I sat int he room packing my stuff back up I here a strange noise.... I thought Oh no it can't be! I walk over to the window and yes indeed! It was RAINING!! It was supposed to be beautiful and warm and SUNNY!!! it was cold rain too!! So we leave and head back to the Center and meet up with the people Melissa needed to meet up with-she was running it as a pacer. As we sat waiting my cousin Joe walks through the door! so we talked for a few and just hung around waiting for the start. I had not looked at the course or elevation so I had no idea what to expect. As we finally headed to the start line I ran into my next door neighbors sister-my neighbor came down with a fever and a horrible sore throat the night before so she decided not to run. we talked at the start then finally we started. She and her friend took off. I just took it easy and still felt like I was going to fast. I always kept her in my sight figuring I would catch up eventually. It was just sprinkling and finally it did stop raining at some point during the first few miles.
About mile 2 I finally started feeling good and eased into a comfortable pace, it was a fun hilly course and I had a better pace going up the hills than the flat spots. about mile 4 we were running up a hill and I was so close to my Yvette (neighbors sister) I knew I would finally catch her. I had originally planned to run a bit with her but I felt so awesome I just passed and kept going up the hill!! As I crested the hill and started running down I saw another friends brother (I had met at the start line) and we ran a bit together and I saw the 5 mile marker and said oh I want to take a picture of that! So I stopped and took a picture! I tried to post it to FB but it didn't post. I was at mile five and my time was 50:23 which was an awesome pace. We were in a neighborhood and came upon a bunch of palm trees so I stopped and took a pic, saw a pretty mountain and took another pic!

lol I was loving this course!! we came onto a trail and as we came around the hills between 8-9 (I think) I could see the finish but I could also see most of the rest of the course lined with runners way out and back. OH I just wanted to run through the fields and weeds to the finish! I looked up to the city and saw the temple and took a picture!

As we came down the hill the rest of the course was pretty flat. A tell tell sign you are getting close to the finish.. the faster runners start coming back to find friends and give encouragement. I kept waiting and waiting and FINALLY saw some one!! It was a good sign although I usually hate it I needed it this run!
About mile 11 it started to sprinkle and then started to down pour about mile 12. 12 1/2 the rain was just pouring down my face the sweat was going in my eyes. I felt like I was crying but wiped my eyes as good as I could and kept going I just needed to get to the viaduct and go under it and I would be able to see the finish. I picked it up and started to go as fast as I could. knowing I could stop the faster I got there!! I finished! WHEW!!! I had to wait for Melissa, she was pacing a slower pace. It was just raining soo much and it was so cold. I saw Joe again, watched for Yvette to come in but never saw her and then as I started to walk back through the finishers area I saw Karen and her brother and took a picture for them! They were heading to Vegas and had made a wager on the race and Karen had won. Saw the pacer before Melissa come in so I knew I still had to wait. So I walked around. I did finally find Yvette but she had already finished but Yvonne was with her so we chatted for a few minutes and I went off to find Melissa and they could go to get out of the rain! I found Melissa we went and stretched then left to head home. April had left her a message saying she had left her coat at the house so we decided to just stop and eat in St George before we headed home. The drive home was quick but we went through a patch of really slippy snowy roads. And saw a pretty rainbow!

It was a fun trip and I totally want to do that course again! So I think I might have had almost 10 people I know run that one! As for JaNae her son ended up being very sick and she ended up not going. I sure hope he is ok!

T-14 weeks

I am doing it again. I am planning another marathon.. or 4 this year, ya I'm doing 4... I had my doubts about St George but I am gonna go this next weekend and run the half, then the first weekend in March go back down for a relay. JaNae signed me up for the racers series, I have to do 2 races this year before may then I get an automatic entry into St George.

My first marathon this year will be the Salt Lake Marathon, It is on April 21st and I have had NO motivation to start, in fact the idea has been freaking me out lately. WHAT HAVE I DONE!!!! Ok take a deep breath Sheri, you have done this before.. it is possible! YOU CAN DO IT!!! Yes I CAN!!! Here we go I am gonna get with it and stick to it. I don't have a choice, I can't procrastinate any longer it has got to happen now...

I MUST BELIEVE!!



I MUST REMEMBER THE GLORY!!

I love the Gym

Oh yes I do! In fact I love it so much I have greatly neglected my running. :( I did a run on New Years Eve called The Revolution Run. It was at the Olympic Oval (during the 2002 Olympics here in Utah they built a huge speed skating rink with a running track around it). Well the concept was just to run what you wanted in 4 hours. I decided I would do at least a half. well that was all I could push out and I could barely walk afterward. It took me over 3 hours (ok I did play around and walk and stop and talk a bunch!) But still it was soo hard! and I was soo sore!! I need to get back on the running no ifs, ands or buts. I gotta do it. I should be marathon training.....

Mission Accomplished!!

Two posts ago I told you I got in a pool and attempted to swim, I have gone each week at least once well maybe I didn't go the week of Thanksgiving but I have stuck with it, each time getting a little more confident. Last week I was ready to try the full length but chickened out and told myself I might try this week but definitely by the end of the year was my goal. Today Dec 13, almost exactly one month since I started, I swam the full distance. perhaps it was the one on one today. I love the Tuesday/Thursday class because there is hardly anyone in the pool and usually only one other person in the class. As I drove home I told myself " I am stronger today than yesterday." I thought about it and really I should say that every day, What do I do each day that makes me a stronger person than yesterday, whether it is a stronger woman, a stronger mom, a stronger athlete, a stronger wife, a stronger friend.... what am I doing today that will make me stronger tomorrow.. Today I am a stronger athlete! and I am all smiles :)

South Davis Turkey Trot 2011

It is funny after you sign up for something how you regret your decision, I decided to have Thanksgiving dinner at my house this year, it has been a while since the family had gotten together. I also wanted to do a turkey trot, last year I did the Human Race and this year my eyes were set on the South Davis Turkey Trot, ok honestly it was because I knew they gave out medals and I LOVE medals! I got up at 5am to get the turkey in the oven, I planned on going back to sleep but I woke Don up and he was watching tv when I went back in the room so I didn't go back to sleep. we finally rolled out of bed a little before 7 to get dressed and head out. We had a minor car problem but we were able to make it. As we decided to do a quick warm up jog I was getting strategy in my head. We headed to the start line. I went closer to the front of the pack then I usually do. Don encouraged me to go further but I didn't, I felt comfortable where I was. As they finally started the race I felt good and I found a good pace. I did have a goal to be under 28 minutes, I couldn't remember what my PR was. As we rounded the corner after the first mile the road went up a hill, not a huge hill, just a slight incline. A lot of people started to walk and I passed many people but I also felt myself slow down, I looked at my watch and it said I was running a 10 min pace. I told myself I needed to pick it up, after the 2 mile mark I saw my two cute nieces who volunteered at the water stop. It was the pick me up I needed and I shouted that I loved them and had a second wind. As I finally saw the corner to turn and head down to the finish I felt that last bit of energy serge through me. I picked it up and started passing a few more people. As I was running toward the finish I swear I heard people calling my name. As I passed one last person and ran through the finish I felt good! I did it in 28:17, definitely not my best. I found Don and we went and got an orange (my fave after a race!) and some water and then we walked back toward the finish where I saw another niece, her husband and my BIL who all came to cheer my sister on it was so sweet, we sat and waited but then decided I would run back to help her finish. She wasn't too far back and I didn't tell her who was waiting at the finish. I helped her pick up her pace and make a good strong finish. I am so proud of her she did get a PR! And so did Don! We wanted to wait around to see if Don had placed. finally they announced the results were posted as they started to read the awards, We went over to the results and tried to make sense of them as I looked up I saw MY name with a number 1 next to it!! I took 1st place in the Athena 39 and under division!! I was so excited I started shouting to Wendy I won! I won! I was running around! I was so excited! Then I went back and found out Don took 1st too in his division, Clydesdale 39 and under!! We brought home a couple of giant pumpkin pies!
Although I feel like I haven't been doing much this month I have, I have been doing a ton of cross training, kickboxing, swimming,sadly I will be lucky to break 20 miles running.
Next month a new chapter begins, I will be starting Marathon training for the Salt Lake Marathon in April and the Ogden the in May. Whew! I am looking forward to next year!

ps I will also be looking for a Tri to do :)

Do I need a new blog name?

I have taken another step~Late spring I jumped on the cycling wagon, got a bike and did some rides. I always said this would be the winter I started to swim, Did I ever believe I would? let me give you some back ground-first off I love the water! I love to be in it I love to look at it! come on!! I'm a Pisces! I should live in it right?? Well when I was three I was at a family reunion up at Bear lake (Utah/Idaho boarder). My cousin (10 years old), let's call him Tommy, decided to take me and another cousin (5 years old), let's call him Bobby, out on a little raft. You know what's coming right? We went out about 100 yards and Bobby started to rock the boat an we flipped it. This is the first memory I can recall, underwater plants, and I was so scared Jaws was coming for me. Well Tommy held our heads above the water. I remember looking toward the beach and seeing my aunt Christine with her pants rolled up running toward us knowing I was gonna be ok cuz she was a nurse. And that's all I remember. Nice first memory huh?

So here I am 36 years old and I have had a terrifying fear of deep water. If I get in above my chest I start to panic. Well why am I telling you this big long story?? I attended a masters swim class yesterday! Anyone that knows me knows what a big deal this is for me! It is a huge step!

I can't believe I am doing it! I swam a little. I think once I can keep my hips and legs up and learn to breath while swimming it should come on pretty easy. I am so excited to think that maybe I will be doing a Triathlon next summer! Perhaps I should set a goal to do the Bear Lake Brawl, it is a Tri they do the swim part in Bear Lake. I would definitely feel I have conquered that fear if I can accomplish that! I also started some other cross training activities and signed up for the Ogden Marathon again! I am excited for next year, I won't have so many events I am gonna work harder for the ones I am doing. This year was quantity, next year is quality! haha!