Utah Lake

I really wish I could keep my blog active! I need to take the time for it but I just don't so you get two posts today! I wrote the previous one a week or so again but didn't post it..



Ok So last year a bunch of runners ran across Utah Lake-like ACROSS the lake, cause it is frozen! It looked pretty amazing so marked it in my head to definitely do it the following year. Which I did! And it was pretty amazing! AND people think I am pretty crazy! HA!

The night before the planned run I got a message in my Facebook inbox, it was from a fellow runner, he went to high school with my sister and I went to high school with his brother, my small Utah world! ANYWAY! He had a newspaper reporter who wanted to come out and do some interviews and take pictures and he asked if I would be the contact for it so I was! The article was posted yesterday so I wanted to post it here so I can reference it later! YAY! (I am feelin cool!)



I had a really fun time! We met really early in the morning, there was 23 of us that took off out but only about 18 actually went the full distance. I warmed up and was able to shed my jacket. We started on the West side and ran East-toward the sunrise. When we made it across the lake (6 miles) the snow was pretty hard to run in because you would step and go down another inch. it was like running in soft sand. Also there was open water on the East side too! There was a lot more slush heading back, the sun was up and warming quickly.

My friend Charles Stoddard. I hadn't seen or ran with him a a LONG time! He said he is recovering from being fat!

about 2.5 miles in there is a big fault across the lake. It was scary to cross it but it was solid. the big shards of ICE poking up were a bit daunting!

SELFIE!! Havin a blast!

You can never go wrong with a picture of the sunrise!! A new day!!

Running friends across the lake!

one last gorgeous picture! My view for an hour!



I was in the back end of the group but guess what? I don't mind, I am a slower runner but I get out and I enjoy it!

So in total it was a 12+ mile run! I backed so far off my running last year I couldn't just go out and run this mileage. I am so excited to be to this point again!

Oh another funny thing-cuz I never blog-I came down with the flu on Dec 22nd. :( I recovered so quickly! I ran a half marathon on Jan 4, 15 miles on the 11 and another half on January 18. I went in to the dr office (I did a research medication so I was at the dr a ton) and I was telling them I had already ran 3 half marathons THIS year they couldn't believe it. They said I should be the poster child for the flu! lol.

Pacing, it is worth it

Two years ago my cousin JaNae signed me up to run the St George marathon, remember that?  Well, anyway we signed up for the runners series for St George to get an automatic entry into the marathon , we had to run two races put on by St George. Well, the first race we picked was the STG half, it is in January, I didn't have a way down but had just started at the gym, there was another lady going down so I reached out of my comfort zone and asked if she wanted a buddy for the road.  She said sure so off we went.
I loved the course it was beautiful! It rained crazy but I knew I wanted to eventually do it again. Well this gal was a pacer. She said I should join the group to pace. My ears heard free race entries! Lol. I have been pacing ever since, however my attitude changed quickly. I was really helping people. I LOVED it. I had wanted to do STG half again so as soon as the race was posted I signed up! I also signed up Don to come with me and pace. We were picked to my hearts delight! We have been to hell and back in the past three months and I thought many times about dropping out. I stayed steadfast and we made it to STG and ran. We started out,  lots of people saying they would run with us.  We had one lady actually start with us and stay,  about mile 2 I knew we had another because I had listened to his footsteps and breathing for those two miles.  I dropped back a couple feet and started chatting.  It ended up being another awesome race.  And today I saw this post on Facebook:


Forwarded from the St. George Half Marathon Director:

Hi,

Not sure who to address this with, but It was my first attempt at the 1/2 marathon, and it was a great success and experience. The best thing was the pacers. I was hoping to break 3 hours with a possible 2:45. I LOVED the pacer idea and decided to try and stay with the 2:30 pacers as long as I could. It was a husband and wife team, and they were awesome. Every time we hit a hill, and I started to drop back, the wife or husband would drop back a bit and encourage me, concentrate on the pace. I wanted to thank the organization for such a fun race, and the 2:30 pacers for all of their help. I finally dropped back a bit over the last mile, but was able to finish in 2:31:43. The two pacers waited at the finish line to see how I was.

Anyway, thank you, and please thank the pacers. It made my experience the best ever.

Ron Mortensen

It seriously makes it all worth it!  I love pacing! It makes my runs more meaningful!

the piece's are coming back

If you follow me on Dailymile you will know I have been in a huge slump lately. My mojo has been gone, I have been a huge whiner. Last night I felt it start to come back. My favorite people I love to run with have slacked off and haven't ran since well, umm since probably January. When we did the Revolution Run! I stopped scrolling through DM because I didn't ever see them posting. This past week I decided to scroll down a share some love to some other peeps I follow and low and behold I saw my BIL had run!! I went to his page and he had also ran last week too!! Ok just twice but still!!!! HE RAN!!!! I was soo happy I gave him some big LOVES and told him how happy I was for him and I couldn't wait to run with him-he's half way around the world in Afghanistan. He comes home every 3 months. Yesterday I got on to log my run (I was selected to pace The Haunted Half YAY!!!) and what did I see my SISTER had ran!!!! I almost started to cry I was sooooo happy!! Then about 10 minutes later she called me. She had just gotten home from her second run since January and was feeling sooo good! We actually set up a couple races to run together next year and I felt my blood bubble and my heart yearn for a good run with the people I love so much. ps Don even ran last night his first time in well over a month!! Everything is falling back into place. I can't wait to train and run with my family again!

resolution

It seems like lately I have been really struggling to keep myself moving. A lot of that has to do with major stress and a 15 lb weight gain.
I have been wondering why it is so hard for me to get out and run lately then one day I was listening to the radio or watching (listening) to the TV and they talked about how they went to a park and handed out 10 lb bags and had people carry them around. Then told them that is what it is like when you carry and extra 10 lbs of weight. LIGHTBULB! I have put on 15 lbs!!! AGH no wonder it is so hard. I stepped on the scale last night.... why would I step on it at night? WTH!!!! I should NOT have done that. I almost cried. I got up this morning, I was soo tired I decided to go back to bed. I fought off my inner runner and climbed in bed. then I thought about our PTO meeting tomorrow and decided to work on stuff for that. an hour and a half later and Sadie asked if I would make her poached eggs it sounded good so I made me ONE and a piece of toast and a grapefruit. I decided to log my food I hate logging food but I gotta lose these pounds. I downloaded a diary on my phone and it had an exercise input so I decided I would indeed go for a run. I did, I ran, I pushed it hard! I was a little sore from yesterdays kickboxing class and my knee hurt (new shoes are in my future). guess what it felt GREAT!!! I made a goal to loose 15 pounds by Oct 15-I am hoping to go to Tuscon that weekend to watch my oldest son play Goalball . I know I can do this! I have to. I want to be an active happy person!!

I am a "Woman of Steel"!

I had an AMAZING experience this morning!! Got up early and picked up a couple friends, then we headed down to American Fork for the Woman of Steel Triathlon. It was raining hard while we drove down. going past the point the sky was a lot more broken up than it was in Salt Lake. It stopped raining! We got to the race and fixed up our transition areas then walked around met up with a bunch of our TTT girls and then made our way to the swimming. This by far is my biggest fear! 18 months ago i swam my first pool length! I have gone my whole life with a fear of water.  I didn't know what was going to happen I was just hoping to finish this part!!
Lined up in our times. (You line up according to what you can swim 300 meters in)I decided to start close to the back of the 7 minute while my friends lined up at the front of the 7's. I talked to the ladies around and then Don showed up! He helped calm my nerves and after a few minutes the race started!! We watched the swimmers and slowly started to move. I decided to go talk to Jessica and Stacey. the line kept moving and it started to sprinkle again. Stacey said she saw lightening. And I didn't want to get my swim canceled so I just decided to jump in after them. Finally it was time, Stacey jumped in, then Jessica, then it was my turn. I jumped in and just went for it, telling myself over and over again to just relax and enjoy it. First 100 the lady behind me caught me and passed me. I started to doubt myself feeling bad that I got in way before my time. But I just kept going. Each turn someone was there to cheer me on, Don was on one side of the pool and Blaine and Rykker (Jessica's husband and son) were on the other side. They all kept me going. I didn't backstroke once! I kept in my form and as I turned my last time I saw the lady behind me right on me. I pushed hard she started to pass. Right at the end as we finished the swim I jumped out in front of her and was feeling AWESOME!! I finished my toughest part!!!
I ran right past Jessica with a pat on the butt and right to my bike. it was windy and rainy, threw my shoes on, helmet and was off on the bike! As I came around the corner I saw and ambulance and behind the ambulance they were working on a girl strapping her to aboard checking her head :( this was downhill with a sharp turn at the bottom. As soon as I got around the corner I took off. right into a mild hill then the big hill. I passed Stacey about here. My quads were on fire but I just kept pedaling. It stopped raining, I felt so tired. As I came upon the Alpine Highway I saw Blaine he started cheering me on and I captured his energy, he said Don was right ahead. I mashed the pedals and took off. I got going about 25 mph by the time I got to Don. I kept going, it was slightly downhill and I just kept going. I think my top speed was 35.5mph. Down the hill I went and around the corner to repeat the course again. Ambulance was gone, quads still burned but not as bad. Came upon the Alpine Highway again, Blaine was gone but as I turned and saw Don again he was there with Blaine. I mashed the pedals and took off!!! It started raining. I didn't go as fast this time because the rain was soooooo bad It was POURING!!! Top speed this round was probably 25-27. Don, Blaine and Ryker drove by and I heard them cheer again! down the hill around the corner, around the other corner slight incline back to the transition. Jumped off my bike and about fell over. My legs felt like jello!
I walked a bit till I got my legs back then ran to my area pulled off my shoes, helmet, grabbed my visor and put my running shoes on quickly and was on my way-with my legs that felt like bricks! I was pretty happy to still see bikers on my run. We were pretty far back so I didn't think there would be so many I walk ran till I got my running legs back. I passed a couple girls walking their bikes up the hill. One more tiny walk break and then I didn't stop. Just kept going. Happy I grabbed my watch so I could see how far I had come. As I round the last corner I started watching for the cemetery. Finally it was in sight! I knew the finish line was just passed the cemetery. A lady and I passed each other back and forth, her kids started running along her right in front of me. I thought it was cute. As we turned passed the cemetery I took off right passed her. Wondering if I would puke cuz I had ran so hard. The last mile I was sub 9 minutes which is so good for me. Then i crossed! I did it! I made it across the finish line into Don's arms! I wanted to cry I felt so good!!! I did it!!!! I did it!!! I did soo much better than I ever imagined!!! 1:32:25. I had a headache most of the time but fought through it!! The BEST part!!! Are you ready for this??? I came in 136th!! I am not positive the number of people but it was alphabetical and I was bib 705!!!!!! AAAAHH!!!!
still anxiously awaiting the posting of results!

Toe Deep~

I should be one week into my triathlon training (toe deep in tri training lol). I didn't swim at all this week. In fact I started to work a coupe weeks ago, it is very sporadic but it is exhausting when I do work! I have been substituting at my kids school!

SWIM:

Two weeks ago I wanted to see my swim time improve so I timed a 300 meter/yard swim. This is the distance for the sprint tri I am doing. It was 10 minutes. LOTS of room to improve. I plan to time myself every couple weeks to make sure I am in fact becoming faster!

BIKE:

The new year has brought the challenges of trying to work and trying to still get up at 5:30 am to work out. Some days I will say I am gonna go hit the later class and end up subbing so honestly I need to pull myself out of bed to get to the class, I have been successful 2 out of 4 weeks. I will keep getting stronger and am working up my mind to get back outside on the street once it warms up! I even have a couple rides planned!

RUN:

So ever since the fall I have had one painful run after another. This morning I joined a girl's running group at a local running store and ran 7 miles, about 5 of which were painful. As I thought back to why I might be having these pains I realized the culprit is probably my shoes!! I got new shoes back then and the heal had a 2mm drop. that has got to be it!! It is really frustrating because it has completely slowed me down! I have GOT to get new shoes asap!!

A New Year, A New Challenge!

I am excited to report I have started to put together a race calendar and a training schedule! WOO!!! In 16 days I can sign up for my first Triathlon! I can't believe I am ready for this!!!! Isn't it exciting?? Now I just need to kick this cold, my training was supposed to start this week but my chest is heavy and tight and my nose is stuffy. I am not signing up for much this year. What I am signing up for is events I really want to do!! This year will be awesome for me!!

so should I or shouldn't I? Marathon..... Do I want to??? I suppose if I am questioning I shouldn't?? I really don't know. I would love to do Salt Lake but my window is closing quickly! I need to get training if I am doing it.