Ogden's Spring Run Off Marathon

I have been very emotional for the last few weeks, I would tear up when I would see and read an email from them. When I thought too much about it I would tear up. It has been pretty crazy. This past week it is all I could think about. I could hardly do anything. I spent one day watching tv all day so I wouldn't think about it. But Friday came, The game plan was for me to drive pick up Wendy and head to Bridgette's. After a few days of thinking about this I thought oh my gosh what if I can't drive? I will have to take another trip up to get my car!! I talked to Wendy and Bridgette and we had a change of plans, Wendy would come down, get me then Bridgette would come to Wendy's and pick both of us up. So that is what we did.
When we got to Wendy's we headed over to the Expo at Union Station. We got our packets. there is soo much excitement at an expo! I love to see all the fun stuff too. After we were done there We were on search of a good restaurant. We didn't find one and ended up at chili's. I thought they had chicken alfredo but they didn't and I ended up getting a country fried steak-phhst big no no huh?
I was fine I only ate a little bit of it because of my nerves and the chips and salsa lol.

We got a movie and headed back to Bridgette's house got settled in, watched the movie and went to bed. I slept a little. I thought my alarm would go off at 3:10 I woke up at 2:50 so I played on my phone, when my alarm didn't go off I was worried so I checked my alarm and it was to go off at 3:40 lol so I got off my phone and laid in bed drifting, finally alarms started going off.

We got dressed and headed out to the shuttle pick up. Wendy and I were dropped off at the same spot since our pick ups were across the street from each others. We waited around and finally Angela started texting me saying she was there so we went and found her and Wendy left to go to her bus. We goofed off in our nervous selves. Greg, Angela, Charles and Charles' friend were standing waiting for Sonia who then texted saying she was there so we went and found her and her friends.

We finally got on our bus, we were lucky that we got on a shuttle bus, it had a bathroom in it and we all took turns using it. That turned out wonderfully because when we got to the start line the port-o-potties were in the mud! We didn't even have to get in it we just stayed on the road. I said I don't think I am nervous any more I am just so excited! It was soo neat to be up at the start line knowing I was about to run 26.2 miles!! 26.2!! I was soo anxious! They ended up starting about 15 minutes late. but we were finally off! There was a helicopter flying above taking pictures of 3000 crazy people starting to run 26.2 miles! I started off good and found it very difficult to stay in my targeted pace and my watch kept going off telling me to slow down. It was sooo hard to try to stay there when you are running down hill. I finally gave up and turned the alarm off and set a good pace. I ran to about the 3rd water stop and grabbed a drink and walked long enough to drink and kept on going I did this about every 2-3 water stop.

I knew my cousin was running the third leg in the relay so when I was getting close to her exchange I looked all over for her and I watched for her throughout the leg distance and even at her finish but I never saw her. I kept going kind of bummed I didn't see her. During this time we came to an incline. Almost everyone around me was walking so I started to walk and thought this is crazy I feel great so I got back to running (I only walked about 10-15 steps). I ran clear through to mile 17 when I really started to hurt (this is also where I had trouble in training). My legs started to hurt, and I tried to run but would start walking a little more and more. I got to an aid station where they actually had first aid and they had icy hot and sunblock. I got my shoulders sprayed with SB and my legs rubbed down with the icy hot. My legs felt soo much better and I was able to continue on. mile 22 I really was soo done The 5 hour pacers had caught me and I could hear the pacer saying now s the time to dig deep find someone to dedicate this mile to. JaNae had asked me to run a mile for her so I did 22 for her, thru her strength I got through it and mile 23 I dedicated to Hayley, both "my fallen running buds". during the 23 mark we came out of the canyon and onto a walking trail. There were soo many people I just couldn't walk. I don't think I walked through another water stop. I was running pretty slow though it took every ounce of energy to make it. Don had texted me at some point saying he was at 24th street I didn't know what he meant but when we finally turned onto another road I saw a stop light ahead it said 21st street. Someone shouted just 5 blocks to go!! I counted down the lights I knew the finish was on 25th street. I knew where to look for Don. slowly I ran, as I saw all the lines of people and the stop lights became less and less finally I was past 23rd street and started scanning for don and the kids. I think I saw Cora first I took my visor and sunglasses off (I hardly used them anyway since the sun was on my back the whole time) and through them at her. All of a sudden Don was at my side almost pushing me, the pacer lady had passed me but she was just in front of me and I picked up my pace a teensy and passed her right before we crossed. the clock said 5:05:.
I didn't know if I wanted to collapse or what I was in a huge daze. I didn't know where to go or what to do. I told Don to go back to the kids. so he did. I went and got an orange slice and just wanted to sit but the grass was all wet. I found a dry spot and sat for a few minutesI knew i had beaten the 5 hour mark. My watch said 4:55 so I sent a text to my friends that I finished in 4:55. Then my phone pretty much died. i got back up and walked around in soo much pain. I couldn't stand in line for a massage so I decided to leave the runners area and find my family. I wanted to go home. We went and bought my 26.2 charm and then walked to the car. Drove to Bridgette's and got my stuff and headed home.

I had to stop twice at the bathrooms. I rarely had to stop when I trained so this was discouraging to me. But they were VERY quick stops! although the second one I just wanted to sit... I forgot I had stopped my watch when I went in the bathroom but I was still confidant I made my 5 hour goal because I passed in front of the 5 hour pacer and she should have finished about 3 minutes before the 5 hour point.
Waited all day for results to be posted but they never were. I finally saw on facebook that they were posted and so I went and looked it up. My heart sank, I almost cried it said 5:00:18. How could I have missed my goal by 18 seconds! 18 SECONDS!!! I was pretty cranky the rest the night. I woke up at 2:30 and couldn't get back to sleep so I decided to get up I got on the computer and saw a couple people talking about how their times were off. I KNEW I passed under the clock at 5:05 and I looked at my results again, they said I passed at 5:08. They are three minutes off! It made me feel so much better! My watch distance said 26.44 in 4:55:17. So really I did do my 26.2 miles in under 5 hours..

I am pretty happy about it. And even though At mile 24 I thought this was worse than natural child birth I was thinking about my next marathon two hours later. How can I NOT do that again... The only question is when? WILL I do Ogden again next year? I feel like I HAVE to beat my time!! I am going to take cross training seriously because I see how well it benefited my friend. So I know it will make me a stronger runner! And I just know I have to do this again. Next thing... Is the marathon pictures. ugh...

in the taper

So I made it the 20 miles! I felt good, legs were so tired at the end but I made it I finally am at the taper. Did the happy dance, then fell down crying... no I wasn't hurt, but my running buddy is!! I can't believe I am going to the Marathon alone!! not sharing that special moment with my cousin JaNae!! I am so heartbroken I have had a hard time getting out to even run. I hardly ran at all last week. I promised myself yesterday I wouldn't slack this week. I would get all my runs in, but here it is Monday afternoon and no run yet today! i had other obligations this morning at the school so I didn't get up early for a run and it has been raining all day so I didn't want to take Sadie out in the stroller. I just need 4 miles, just 4. I hope I can find them!
I look forward to having my marathon over with and like being in the 9th month of pregnancy I keep telling myself I won't do this to myself again but deep down I know I will and I know when I will do it too.
I have signed up for a few more summer runs and I am feeling completely guilty with the Saturdays I am taking. I am ruining our summer hogging it to myself. I have decided to take up trail running and look forward to my first trail run the week after my marathon when we go camping. I have signed up for a trail run series (3 runs) for the summer and I CAN'T WAIT!!

this month in training

week after week I have not reached my training miles. the long runs yes, but during the week it has been a struggle. I decide to not get up and to do it later in the day but it usually doesn't happen. I did 20 miles a week ago and it was so horrible. I just didn't know what to do. I felt like I had made a huge mistake, am I even mentally ready for a marathon when I can't make it through a 20 mile training run. well I swept it under the rug, put my chin up and started another week, which happened to be a rest week so I didn't have as many miles. bad news for me. I missed 2 runs but the good part was the 12 miles Saturday which flew by and I had a great pace! I felt fabulous the whole run and really felt like I could have gone further- which makes me think I will most likely stick to half marathons. it is pushing me but doesn't take soo much time like this crazy marathon. this week is my second 20 miler. the day of my 20 miler was the day of the Salt Lake Marathon. Don had decided to do the bike tour. I just love the race atmosphere! It totally pumps you up!! I will definitely do something next year in the many events of the SLM. I have been listening to podcasts while I run, which I am really enjoying! this past saturday I was listening to one and the guy said he started running to run away from himself but in the process found himself. Oh it is beautiful I love it!!
This morning I got up and it sounded like it was pouring rain. It was too dark to see but don said yes it was indeed pouring so I didn't go out. An hour later when we did get up the sky was clearing and I thought I will go out in a couple hours with Sadie in the stroller. so after dropping the kids at school we came home I pulled the stroller out and thought I will wait till 10-10:30 to let it warm up a little. well when I went to go change my clothes and head out it was huge grey clouds out!! so I hurried and put the stroller away and am very sad. I hope I can get out later. I really want to stick to my training this week!

8 miles to go!!

Today I had 18 on the calendar and I did it!! I DID IT!! I feel good about my training although I have had another week of slackership! lol! I was really scared for this run for the sole fact I had to do it alone! All my friends ran earlier in the week. I texted another friend Angela, She only had 14 to do but her and a bunch of others were meeting so I decided to join with them. Wendy also came down. She ran 8. I did run by myself but I was in a new area but it was so beautiful and different I just loved it and really enjoyed my run. I ran out and back 6 (which makes 12) When I got back everyone was done so I decided to just run home. I estimated it should be pretty close to 6. But it would be better than having to have Wendy wait for me to run another 6 miles. (she drove us there) They thought I was pretty crazy but I was determined to get my 18 in. I really felt good. I got to about 15 and when I stopped at a light I was in major pain and as soon as I started running I couldn't feel it. When I hit 18 I was just about home. I ended up doing 18.47. Feeling good. also I kept thinking I only have to run this many miles 3 more times ha!

ok here is my post for Daily mile.. I liked it better. plus I thought of something else I Wanted to mention. I decided I really do like to run by myself. I like the fact that I can go the pace I want! it makes me much more comfortable. I ran a bout 30 second faster than my original marathon pace. I think I will pace myself at 11 minutes, set my watch to chime if I got over 10:30 or under 11:30. I think this is going well and look forward to my 20 in two weeks!

17 miles......I made it

So this week has been kind of crazy. I switched up some of my days and then thought I was supposed to do 7 but was supposed to do 8, so Monday I got out and did 4 1/2, Tuesday I did 7 (supposed to be 8!) Wednesday Don said he would go with me so we went out and did 5 again, I was gonna do eight but I didn't so I was gonna do 8 on Thursday but never got out, We went to Wasatch Runnings night run and Don did another 5 however I invited Wendy and she came down and I didn't want to leave her alone so I walked 2.5 with her. Soooo Friday I was gonna do the other 8 but my day ended up being too packed so I never got out. I missed a whole run, I did do some biking on the bike machine but it just isn't the same.
Which brings us to today. I stayed up too late last night. I knew I should go to sleep but after the long day I just wanted to lay in bed and watch tv. When I got up this morning I just wanted to roll over and go back to sleep but that isn't gonna get my mile sin now is it... I finally got out of bed and got ready. When I got to the river where I was meeting everyone I just really wasn't feeling it. I don't think I ever did this run. It is hard to run when you don't really want to be there. The last couple miles where hard for me. I think I did all I could to finish the last half mile. It felt like a great accomplishment to say "I just ran 17 miles!!" I could barely walk to the car and to sit down oooow it hurt!! I made it home (called Don on the way home and had him draw a cold bath) somehow got myself out of the car and when I got to the bathroom It was sooooo cold I thought I was gonna cry. it really hurt my ankles! I don't think I really stayed in the full 10 minutes. I got out and don helped me dry off, I went and climbed in bed. I laid down for a few minutes and then got up and I am feeling pretty good except I am tired!! 8 weeks to go!!!

Canyonlands Half Marathon March 19, 2011

wow where do I start!!
Wendy, Hayley and I left Salt Lake about noon for our 4 hour drive to Moab, Ut. I really don't know what time we got there but we met up with JaNae at the gas station so she could come with us to the expo. Then we walked through the race expo and picked up our bibs, looked at all the fun stuff at the expo! Then we went to the race finish area so Hayley could talk to the head guy. then we headed to dinner at Pasta Joes. Thank goodness Wendy and I shared a plate cuz it was HUGE!! We then headed over to Wendy's friend Trudy's house and crashed there for the night. I think I might have gotten 2 hours sleep :( It was a bad night. Got up at 6:45 and Went and picked up JaNae Laura and Lisa, Wendy and Hayley dropped us off at the bus loading and we waited for their friend Ann (who you will hear more about in the future).

We got on our bus and headed up the canyon. It was sooo windy and chilly!! While we waited we took pictures (I hope are sent to me!) and when it was time we took off our warm clothes and headed to the start line. we waited a little longer and the wind was much worse up there! finally (we were a ways back) but the line started moving forward! EEK! It was happening, my second 1/2 marathon! the thing I wanted most for my birthday!! haha! Off we went! My goal was to finish in 2:10:00. My first half I did in about 2:25:00. that was 15 minutes off my first time! that is huge! it was 7 months ago. I ran I felt soo good I couldn't believe my pace I was keeping I would often look at my watch and see low 9m/m. If I looked down and saw anything over 10 I would speed up. I took gel at the start line, mile 6 and mine 10. I took Gatorade at 4 and 8. water all along the way. I chewed gum most the way too. At mile 9 I started to hear the drums so I took my head phones out and looked around me! I listened to the drums (that were echoing through the canyon) and thought about the people that must have lived here millions of years ago. It is such a beautiful state we live in. I am soo grateful for the opportunity to live here and be this close to the land. As I ran out of the canyon and came upon the drums it was so neat!!
Right after I passed them Lisa came up and smacked my butt and said let's do this!! Let's finish in under 2 hours! that would mean 2 1/2 miles in under 18 minutes. I had a really bad side ache (which I rarely get) and I just couldn't- I should have taken a gel. I really should have to finish. I thought I could finish by 2:05:00. so she helped me over come the side stitch and we sped up but it came back and I had to slow down again :( She ran ahead and I lost her. I gave everything I had to finish. I could barely make it to the finish line. but I did!! I beat my goal time! I came across the line and Hayley yelled for me so I went to her. she took a couple pictures, she showed me Wendy was and I walked over to here. I almost passed out when I got to her so I sat down in her chair! after a few minutes I needed to get something in my body so I went to the food tent. by then everyone in our group of girls was across the line. So we all went to the food tent together. We walked over and got our bags and then Ann left with her husband. We walked around trying to find Laura's husband and family and I lost them when I went to throw something away. so I walked back over to Wendy, decided to use the bathroom and found them again said our goodbyes they were heading to their hotels. I walked around the after race expo then Wendy and Hayley found me, they were done with their shift so we walked around for about 10 minutes and decided to go. We drove home. It hardly seemed like we were there. I love that place! I wish I could have stayed longer and played but I needed to get back. I am so grateful for my Don who supports my running! I wished he was there, I always do at the finish line.

my race results:
Overall-1625/3361
females 35-39 136/386
All female-757/2021
gun time 02:10:53.
pace 00:09:47.
chip time 02:08:19. (my watch said 2:08:13)

F 36 F35-39 bib number-3586 WEST JORDAN

St Patrick's Day 5k-Happy Birthday to me!

Last year I really wanted to run the st patrick's day 5k even though everyone thought I was crazy well this year I DID IT!!! I had a blast and got another PR!! I beat my previous 5k time by 30 seconds! So this run I had Don, Wendy and Bridgette with me! We met up Monday and bought the fabric for our shorts. I ended up checking the kids outta school I wasn't sure if we would have enough time after they got out to get to the start line and pick up our swag. so we got there early. The run was good! I felt great till about 2.25 then it hit me! There was one girl a bit in front of me and one a bit behind me. I felt I had NOTHING left but as we came up on the last turn I heard the girl behind me and I totally picked it up! I DID not want her beating me!! lol I don't know how close she was but she didn't pass me and I had a strong finish! I am so competitive some times! lol I will try to add some more pictures when I see them posted!