Here we go again~

Ty and I met with the Spanish Fork Running Club at 5:00AM to do a training run.  I then met up with my long time friend and running pal JaNae. It was so  nice to be able to run with a group and to get to know a few of you better.  Thanks to Kim, Jill, Janey (Jae-knee) SP?, Kelly and Son, and the others who rooted us along.  It always makes it so much nicer to run with people.  In fact, Tyler keeps telling me that the only reason I run is to socialize and sometimes I have to completely agree with him. 

Monday is traditionally my day to run (based on the schedule that Tyler and I try to stay on) but I am still a little sore today from the half marathon on Saturday (okay, maybe a lot sore) so i decided to by pass my run this morning so that Ty could go and I could get some rest.  However, I decided to go out tonight for just a few quick miles to losen up my legs and see how I felt.  It was okay, but it is just never as easy to run at night after working all day, eating dinner, getting kids to bed, etc.  However, it was still nice to get out regardless and I actually felt pretty good and I think I will be practically recovered by tomorrow.  I just did 3 quick miles. 

1st mile : 8:44

2nd mile: 8:17

3rd mile: 7:55

Avg pace 8:20

Now, don't any of you go getting jealous on how awesome I am (especially you Ty) :).  But that is what this blog is going to help me with, getting faster!!!!   Nighty nighty now. 

This morning I needed someone to run with (again, this is where my social running addiction comes into play) so I called my neighbor Heidi and asked her if she could go.  She just started running within the last year and suffers from asthma so I have been so impressed with her ablitlies, her dedication and perseverance with running, Way to go Heidi!!  To give you all an idea of how great Heidi is doing (along with so many others who are just entering the running phase of their lives) let me share an example.  When I started running several years ago, I was fine with the fact that I was a slow runner.  I averaged a 10 minute mile most of the time and was again, just fine with that.  However, within the last year or so (mainly because my husband is now obsessed with running and good at it, so I have to  make him proud) I have tried to increase my speed and my overall abilities with running.  I remember my first 10K came in at about 1:5 (an hour and 5 minutes), my first half marathon was at 2:11 which I felt great about.  Well Heidi (and my other neighbor who I run with also named Heidi), they decide to start running and on their first 5K race, pop out a 25 minute time, NOT FAIR!!  No, in all honesty, I am so happy for them and proud of them at the same time.  It is my own fault that I have not tested my own boundaries up until now and allowed myself the potential to increase my speed.  So, moral of my story is that it is good to have others to run with and inspire me to push myself to new limits.  With that being said, we had a nice run this morning allowing ourselves the breath to talk about mothering, work, neighborhood news, etc.  It was a great start to a beautiful day~

Avg. pave 8:45

Here's to a happy Tuesday! 

Well my family and I decided to take one last "hoorah" before school starts. So, on Wednesday so we came down to St. George for some needed Family time and relaxation.  We have had a great time so far and I feel have accomplished our initial goal (at least the relaxation part).  We got down here Thursday morning and so Friday morning I got up and went and swam some laps at the pool (something I have not done for several years). It felt so good to swim and to have a little quiet time.  Then Saturday my friend JaNae (who also ventured to George this weekend) and I decided to go run part of the marathon course.  However, it was a day of blunders.  I met JaNae at the base of the mountain and then we drove up together so that we would have a car up top and at the bottom.  First we start driving up the canyon so I re-set my trip gage (knowing that we wanted to go 10 miles) so that we would know where to start.  Well we are driving along and come to the first place to drop water (thinking it was about 3 miles from the finish) so we stop and drop water and keep going on our way.  Well after another little while, I look down to see how far we have gone and I notice that for some reason (I am sure it had nothing to do with user error) my car was registering Kilometers rather than miles (so yes what we originally thought was 3 miles from the finish was really only like a mile, ha ha).  Anyway, we figure things out, re-set another area of the car to keep track of the miles and head up the road.  We stop at 10 miles up, get out and start running.  It is so beautiful in St. George, there is so much scenery and at so much variety.  There were a ton of runners out along the coarse getting ready for the big day.  We felt pretty good and were trucking along, when we come to 5.3 miles down and JaNae stops suddenly in her tracks and with a large gasp says "Friend (what we call each other), I forgot my key in your car." ..........Yes, that would be my car, the one back up the mountain 5.3 miles.  So, we sit there for a minute and of coarse were like "what other option do we have but to turn around and go back up the mountain?", so we did.  Needless to say, now the sun was coming up, it was a little hotter, we are not used to running hills (let a lone a straight 5 miles worth) and so we struggled a little.  We walked, and ran, and walked and ran, etc until we got back to the car.  We got a little more than we bargained for but all in all, we were in St. George, we were up and out in the morning, we were two friends out running and it was great.  Avg. Pace............ brace yourselves you are going to be impressed 10:27, WAHOOO!!

PS.  Does anyone have any advice for me regarding a small issue.  The last few times I have run, I have a pain in the side of my ankle.  You know that bone on the side of your ankle (the one like a little ball on the side of your foot, don't laugh at me, I am not medically educated), that is where it hurts.  It almost feels like a dense pain deep inside and almost feels like a stress situation.  If anyone has had a similar pain or knows what I can do about it, would you please let me know. Thanks so much!!!

I had a hard time getting out of bed this morning but once I was up and going, I felt really good. This morning was so beautiful and I can feel the fall temperatures coming into play.   I love this time of year for so many reasons.  However, with school starting this week, I couldn't help but dwell on how much my life is going to change this week (I am sure you can all realate).  However, it is all positive and I am excited for my kids to be back in school, etc.   So, JaNae and I went out this morning.  Ankle felt pretty good, breathing was awesome, and of coarse, the company is always a must. 

Splits

1st mile:    9:03

2nd mile:   9:01

3rd mile:    8:45

4th mile:  8:27

5th mile:  8:15

Oh, it makes me want to go and run some more.  Hope you all have a great Monday!!

I hesitate even posting this run, but that is what the Fast Running blog is all about right?  Diligence and honesty.  So, here it goes.  Let's just start by saying, that the phrase my dad pounded into my head as a kid (and all while growing up) has never spoke as loud to me as it did tonight, "You have to take the bitter with the sweet".  To sum up the run tonight, it was definitely one of the more "Bitter" runs I have been on, here is why: 

Because I am bound and determined to lose a few pounds (both to feel better about myself and to increase my running abilities) I committed myself to eating better.  So, for breakfast, I just had a bottle of my green tea, then for lunch I had a handful or grapes, a handful of strawberries, some yogurt, a string cheese and a fiber one bar (remember this very important clue, the fiber one bar).  So, by the time I got home at 6:15PM, I was starving and wanted to eat.  Knowing we were going to go running (Tyler and I) I ate enough to satisfy myself, but not get me full.  And, of all things to eat before a run, I opted for Carne Asada (A Mexican meet which I added, avocado, tomato, green onions and lime to) wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla.  So, after eating (about 45 minutes later) we start running, NOT GOOD (I know whoever is reading this is shaking their head).  So, needless to say, I got a bad stomach ache.  Not so much in my side as much in the direct center of my stomach, right below my rib cage.  It felt like the food was lodged right in there.   I thought for sure I was going to throw up, but no, I couldn't be that lucky to get it over and done with and move on.  So, I tried to walk, and breath, and no luck.  I kept walking a few minutes longer and it seemed to be getting a little better, so I started running again and that is where the Fiber one bar came into play :).  Needless to say, it was not my night and I feel bad because I completely and totally ruined Tyler's run, sorry hun.  So, moral of my story:  1. If you are going to diet, at least be smart about it 2. DO NOT, under any circumstance, eat Carne Asada 45 minutes before planning to run 3. DO NOT eat a Fiber One bar on a day you plan to run 4. Always remember that we are human and unfortunately, sometimes you have to take the Bitter with the sweet.  Hopefully I can make up for it tonight. 

So last night I was going to run but the hype and craze of the "first day of School" left me with very little time come night fall and worse, no energy.  So, I decided to just do some stretching  and some push ups and sit ups at home instead. It is amazing how limber I used to be (once upon a time when I was younger and a gymnast) and how Un-limber I am now (note to self: stretch more often).  My new anology with life is that whatever you used to have (Pre-children) you give to your children (Brain cells, limberness, energy, metabolism, etc.)  So, the sad part is that I AM SOAR today.  That is pretty sad that 10 minutes of push ups malde me soar (note to self: do more strength training). 

So, I decided NO excuses tonight and left my house at 9:50pm for a quick 3 mile jaunt.

1st Mile, 8:12, 2nd mile 8:05 3rd mile 8:03.  Average pace 8:07

I felt pretty good but it was a little hot tonight.  I hope that I am feeling primed and ready to run my best come Saturday (Hobble Creek).  Good Night~ 

So, I am late in posting my race because I wanted to get the official results posted and assess things in comparison to my watch.  According to my watch I finished at 1:41:54, but the clock had me at 1:42:58, quite a difference.  All in all, it was a great race and It is a beautiful coarse!  I was a little frustrated at first getting over the start line and weeding through the people, but once the road became less congested, it got better. The only other thing that I feel could have helped me is the temperature, I do not perform well under heat, but like Tom said, it was probably good practice for St. George, so I'll take it.    I started the watch when I actually crossed the start line in comparison to when the "siren sounded", so according to my watch, here are my splits.  

1. 8:45 (trying to get through the people seemed a lot more difficult this year)

2. 7:45

3. 7:37

4. 7:41

5. 7:41

6. 7:43

7. 7:57

8. 7:38

9. 7:51

10. 7:54

11. 8:01 (darn hill got me, I really wanted to stay under 8 mins on each split, dang)

12. 7:54

13. 7:40

 Average pace: 7:51

 So, Kim, in answer to your question, according to the clock, you beat me by 8 seconds.  So, if you would have waited to start your watch when you crossed the start line, you would have actually been at 1:41:48, IMPRESSIVE!!! Way to go!  It was a great race.  It was Heidi and Heidi's first one, they have been training really hard this last year and wanted to do it in under 2 hours, they smoked that by doing it in just under 1:53, WAY TO GO GIRLS!  I just ran Provo a couple of weeks ago at a little over 1:44, and wanted to improve my time by at least 2 minutes, so I feel good about the outcome.  It is my best time so far and so I am happy about it and I must admit, a little proud of myself.  Good job everyone. 

It's days like today that I don't feel like a runner.  I am still pretty soar from Saturday so I felt like a champ attempting to get 4 miles in today.  Then, I get on the blog and ready how so many of you went like 8, 10, 12 miles today, HOW IN THE HECK?  Worse, I talked to some people in my ward who ran Saturday and asked them if they were soar and they were like "No, I feel pretty good", again, HOW IN THE HECK?  But in any event, it was a beautiful Monday morning and good to get out and get the week started off right (one of these weeks, I am going to actually get more miles in than my husband, NOT!!). 

1. 10:27 (walking for the first half in attempts to losen my body up)

2. 8:43

3. 8:43

4. 8:41

last .16 miles at 8:03.  Avg. pave 9:06 (have to factor that walking into there).  Happy Monday to all!!

PS.  Does anyone know if the group from SF is running the Payson canyon run this week?  IF so, could you let me know? Thank you so much!

Is it silly that I always post my exact mileage, like to the tenth mile? I mean, should I just round down to 11 or maybe I should round up to the nearest half??  Really, let me know if there is a correct way to do that :). Today's run was one to talk about and SO MUCH FUN (Thank you again Kim for letting me know about it).  So, I woke up at 4:30 (I think this is the earliest I have woken up in a long time, and a first related to running, aside from the maraton I guess).  I met up with the Spanish Fork Running club for their weekly and my first stab at the Payson Canyon run.  There ended up being 16 of us total so we piled (literally piled) into a suburban to start our drive 11 miles up the canyon.  I swear it took us longer to get up the canyon then it did to run down it (you know how that feels when you are driving and driving and driving and it seems like an eternity).   But it was a great way to start the morning.  The weather was perfect, the company was perfect and I felt really good this morning.  My ankle is still kind of hurting me and I had a few aches in my hips, but all in all, IT WAS GREAT!!  Here are the splits

1. 7:50
2. 7:39
3. 7:44
4. 8:20 (small pit stop and water break between 4&5)
5. 9:33
6. 7:27
7. 7:52
8. 8:19
9. 8:29
10. 8:53
11. 8:05
last .19 miles at 7:19 (way to go out strong right?)   Avg pace= 8:11

Thanks again to all for letting JaNae and I come along.  I think it's a great way to prep us for SG and would love to do it again soon! Here's to a Happy Wednesday :)

I was lucky to go running today because Thursday morning is not usually my morning.  However, Tyler was meeting with a friend this afternoon to run in Park City so he let me go out.  I met with the Heidis' at 6:00 for a 5 mile route.  I am a little soar from the Payson canyon run yesterday (not as soar as I thought I would be), so it was nice to get out and try to let my muscles losen up and as always, to have some good company.  Plus, the weather was perfect this morning, I love this time of year. 

1. 9:20

2. 9:10

3. 8:56

4. 9:06

5. 9:05

I am taking tomorrow off because Ty is going fishing early so I am excited to sleep in a little and get ready for a long run on Saturday Morning.  Now that the day is half over I hope it's a good one for all.  

This morning we (Tyler, JaNae and I) met up with the SF group for the traditional Saturday morning long run.  We went a total of 20 miles (well JaNae and I did, Ty went 24 and still beat us by 20 minutes, good job Ty).  We started at the stake center up on the Spanish Fork bench and then ran down river bottoms road, to Spanish Fork Main Street, out to Leland, around the new ball park, back into the river bottoms, up to power house road, into Salem (up Harry's Hill), into Woodland Hills area, then back to Power House road and back to the Stake Center (Wow, that sounds really long as I am typing this).  It was so great to run with the group and visit during the run. I am really enjoying that!  It's surreal to think that we just have 2 more weeks of long runs before tapering for the Marathon, it is going to come fast.  It always brings such a sense of accomplishment to run that many miles in one day and has become something I really look forward to.  I tried to stop my watch when we stopped for drinks, etc, but forgot one time, then we walked a couple of times too so when all was said and done, the average pace showed 9:45.  Not nearly as fast as I need to be or wanted to be, but again, i did forget to stop my watch a lot so I think when running, we averaged about a 8:50-9:00 pace. I need to step it up a bit to get down to and maintain that 8:20 pace for the marathon.    Good thing I still have a whole 5 weeks to do that. A big thanks to Kim and Caroline for the company this morning too, it is always so good to talk to you both.