Here we go again~

Kellie Barney is in town visiting her family so I had the chance to meet up with her this morning for the "new leaf" route.  Both Heidi's are out of town so it was just Kellie and I (doesn't she have a great name :)).  Kellie is a very talented runner and seems to do it with ease.  I was huffing and puffing (especially given my extremely low mile week last week) and she seemed to go along as if it wasn't even phasing her!  I aspire to be like her and so many other runners that eventually get to the point where it's easy to run.  In any event, it was a pretty morning and nice to have the chance to go with Kellie and catch up a bit!!

 Avg. Pace: 7:55

Nada, zip, did nothing today! Ty and I were up until 1:00am so I was too tired to get up and run! Aw, well :) 

This morning I met up with Heidi W and Kellie again for a little 3.5 out and back course (3.5 out and then 3.5 back).  Heidi just got home from a fun filled week in Lake Powell so it was nice to run with her, it had been way too long for me!!  We ran with Kellie until mile 3 and then she had to turn back due to time constraints that resulted due to me and Heidi's sluggish attempts to actually start running this morning, sorry Kel~!!.  So, after Kellie parted ways, we (Heidi and I) carried on and then turned to come back.  About mile 3.5 Heidi got a little twinge in her knee that I am pretty sure is her IT band, not good. She pushed through until it was getting too painful so we backed it off a bit for the last mile and a half.  I was surprised to see that we were still able to maintain a pretty impressive pace.  I hope her knee starts feeling better.  We are at the half way point until marathon day! She can't get injured now. :(.  It was nice running with the girls and just getting out this morning!!

Avg. Pace 8:17

I am not sure on my exact placing today but Tyler looked at the results and thinks this is what he recalls!! What a fun race today. I got a new PR and felt awesome the entire time.  I think I really owe this PR to Kelli who introduced me to a new "Pre-Race Ritual" which is eating ice cream!!! Honestly, when we ran Ogden, we went and got ice cream and I felt great and PR'd there and so Tyler and I went out last night, went and got ice cream and low and behold I PR'd again, HOORAY!!! Thanks Kelli!!!

So this morning we left our house at 4:50 and picked up the Heidi's to travel over.  Tyler was gracious enough to drop us off at the bus, then he went and parked and actually ran from the bottom up to the start line to find us.  When we got up top, I will admit it was very chilly!!! Chillier than I have been used to these past months.  We met up with Kellie Barney, her sister Michelle and found another Heidi friend hanging out before the race started.  When we went to actually get in line to start, I could not believe how many people there were and JUST HOW FAR BACK we were in line.  The line started on road, then turned on a side road and opened up into a large pit where people were waiting. We, were among the people waiting in the pit.  So we start creeping to the start line and luckily found Tyler who was sure he would find us!  It took us almost 4 minutes to even get to the start line and my watch started and off I went.  So, for the first 2 miles, I felt like I was participating in a game trying to weave around so many other runners (I guess this is why my hubby likes to start at the front of the pack), but it was fun trying to creep my way back to the front and get out of the cluster of people.  I was really surprised how many people I saw that I recognized today.  Running is taking over Utah I think!!!  It was pretty incredible.  All in all I felt awesome today.  It was very very nice having Tyler along to help me out along the way.  Not to mention that I just like running with him. Poor guy already had 11 miles under his belt when we started so he ran a total of 24 miles today and acted as if it didn't even phase him.  I was happy to end with a PR, feeling good and having energy in the bank.  These are the kind of runs that make me love running~! I look forward to Hobble Creek in 2 weeks :). 

Splits: 8:14 ( I told you it was a cluster)7:12, 7:11, 6:56 (first time ever getting a mile in the 6 minute range, HOORAY), 7:22, 7:17, 7:40, 7:47, 7:09, 6:58 (2nd time ever getting in the 6 minute range, OH YEAH, OH YEAH), 7:01, 7:20, 7:07, 5:39 (last .12 mile).

Avg. Pace: 7:19

Nice recovery run this morning with the Heidi's and Brenda!! We had planned to do the Mailbox run but after careful consideration of my back injury (that is still lingering), Heidi's IT band, Heidi C's shin splints and Brenda's injured ham string, we decided to lay off the down hill and go for the "new Leaf" route today, a little flatter course!!  Call us whimpy!! 

We had a slow start but eventually warmed up a bit and settled in at a comfortable pace. Poor Heidi C was in a lot of pain due to her shin splints but hung in there the entire run.  She said that they usually go numb after a mile or so, but the pain stayed with her today so she had to take it a bit easier.  I tried to run ahead a bit then lap back to check on her so my 6.5 course ended in 7 miles total today!! It was a very nice morning, I love this chilly weather, it tends to help me a lot with my energy levels!!  I look forward to a pretty solid week of training and a fun weekend with my family in Park City!!

Avg. Pace: 8:44

Lucky me had to go to Jury Duty this morning so I had to get out the door a bit earlier (about an hour and a half earlier, ouch!!) today which meant I had little time to exercise. I was actually proud that I got up and got at least 30 minutes in of something.  I did about 5 minutes of yoga is all, 20 minutes of pilates (abs and arms) and then finished it up with some planks.  Not much, I will try to do more tonight but  with our Ward Party and all it may not be possible, I guess we will see.  The good part is, that I went to Jury Duty and didn't get selected as a juror!!  Yeah, I am off the hook!

Weekly Obligations (among others): Run kids...check, Ward Party......check, Jury Duty......check, weekly temp run....check, CHECK, CHECK!!!!  I am not sure if there are many happier feelings then knowing I am done with my tempo run for the week. I think it's official that I mentally kill myself when it comes to tempo runs because they are hard for me!!  But BOY is it nice to have them over.  Our plan for this morning (according to our handy dandy schedule prepared by Tyler, I swear the guy should go into coaching as a profession) was to do a mile warm up, 5 tempo miles at 7:37pace, and a mile cool down.  We decided to do the "Seventh Heaven" route (name courtesy of Teena!) so it was a 3.5 out and back.  The weather was perfect this morning and everything went as planned.  We stopped at about 6.4 for a quick water break and ran out the end.  Our splits were as follows:

9:17 (nice easy warm up, we were really milking up the time here trying to brace ourselves), 7:37, 7:29, 7:28, 7:29, 7:30, 7:51 (cool down mile, its amazing how you feel like you are trudging if you slow down even just a bit after tempo'ing), 7:14(last .1 mile. Hey, I had to add it :).  Avg: 7:48. WAHOO, I am done with Tempo. Now it's off to the showers to get ready for work.  Have a great day everyone ;)  

I guess I paid the price today for taking 2 days off in the exercise dept.  The Heidi's and I had planned on running Payson canyon this morning and when Tyler heard about it, he decided to come and go along.  We ran from our house out 8 miles and then home.  The first 8 miles were of course mostly up hill which in turn, completely kicked my keester.  I know I am not good at hills but today completely confirmed just how horrible I stink at them.  I liked the way down though.  It was a beautiful morning.  Hard to believe that Fall is just ahead of us as I can already see the change in the morning temperatures!! 

8 Miles up averaged a 9:46, but we made up some time in the end and ended up with an average of 8:56 overall. I am glad it's over :) 

I LOVE THE FALL!!! It's official, I am a fair weathered runner! This morning was AWESOME!!  Our schedule said 5 mile canyon run but we were a little tuckered from Saturday so we opted for the 5 mile square instead.  However, when we went down Canal Road, there was a complete wash out so we had to go through a neighborhood and mix up the route a bit.  When we got back to the corner that we usually stop at, I was at 5.2 and felt like I could have taken on the world (okay, not literally but at least another mile :), so I parted way with the Heidi's and ran out .5 and back putting me at 6.25 total.  I guess every little bit helps, eh?? 

Avg. Pace 8:29

Officially my 3rd time doing speed work, or was this just my 2nd?? NO, it was my 3rd. Speed work is usually painful enough for me that I remember it.  This morning was beautiful weather again and......the 1st day of school so I had a bit on my mind and wanted to get a run in as to help the morning run a little smoother.  Heidi W and I started from home and ran down to the High School so that we could use the Track for 800's.  We originally wanted to do 4 sets but our time got cut short and we needed to get home to get the kiddos going for school.  So, it went like this:

1.5 mile down to the school: 8:17

.25 mile jog around track in preparation for speed work:8:25

1. 800 = 3:20 ( 3 minutes 30 seconds) resorted in a 6:20 pace

.25 mile jog cool (no idea on pace)

2. 800 = 3:26

.25 mile jog

3. 800 = 3:28

.25 mile jog: 8:35 pace

1.5 miles home :8:38

Hope that wasn't as confusing as it appears to be!!  It's nice to have Speed work checked off of my list of "to do's".  Sorry that I stink at posting lately, I have been a little crazy with work, going out of town and getting ready for school to start. I am excited for my kids to get back into a schedule and hopefully for their mom to get into a schedule as well!!!  Night night~

Strength training this morning with the ladies, aka the Heidi's.  It's been way too long since we have done something like this so we all felt it was over due.  We did the workout video that really isn't hard to do, yet it always makes us sore afterward and sure enough, as the day goes on, I can feel my muscles so, it worked!!  It was a fun morning and I was glad to get some strength training in today!

Here is what I learned today...........Never do strength training 2 days before a race, Never eat like complete crap the day before a race, Never assume you are going to PR just because of a good race 2 weeks prior and NEVER Quit mentally.  I failed in all departments today.  I was a little frustrated that this race started 30 minutes late as it was VERY HOT when it started (I am a severe fair weathered runner).  However, that is the life of running, you can never control what the weather is going to do.  I am more mad at myself that I have not trained harder and not trained more in heat.  I really really wanted to PR today and given how well I felt 2 weeks ago at Provo and the mental thinking I had told myself (that Hobble Creek is a faster course) I really thought I would.  Looks like I needed to be a bit more humble today.  I started out feeling pretty good, felt really good until mile 4-5, then started talking to a fellow runner and didn't focus on my breathing so I started to get tired.  I took a gu at 6.5 hoping it would kick in but it never did.  By mile 8, I was tired, hot and to be honest, I really wanted to stop.  I kept thinking how disappointed I would be with myself and how disappointed Tyler would be with me if I stopped, so I hung in there but by mile 10, my body and mind were both done.  I felt like I was pulling 300 pounds behind me.  My dear friend JaNae found me at this point and ran with me for a minute.  She was like a little guardian angel at that time and if she hadn't of been there, I am almost sure I would have stopped.  This is the first time that I have literally felt my body crash the way it did today and I didn't like it.   By mile 11 1/2 I just told myself "Deal with it Kellie, you aren't going to PR but you have to finish" (also saw my good friend Heidi at this point who was on mile 18ish of her 20 miler today so that helped).  So, I nipped it in the but and set my sights on finishing knowing that a PR today would not be possible.  I think I pretty much Zoned out at mile 12.75ish and by the time I ran into the park to cross the finish line, I was literally seeing stars.  I had a bit of tunnel vision and was very unstable.  I need to apologize to my friend Lisa who saw me at the finish line as I could barely hold myself up.  Not my best moment. 

All in all, I am upset with my time and how lousy I felt, but happy that I knocked off 5 minutes from last year's time and finished in the top 100 women.  Today was a harsh realization that I need to train harder and take running more serious if I ever want to improve.  I shouldn't have assumed that I would feel as good as I did at Provo 2 weeks ago, that was my biggest mistake!!  Bad Kellie, Bad Kellie.  In closing, might I add that whoever thought of the ice cold Diet Pepsi on tap at the finish line is my new Hero!! I formally want to thank that person some day!! 

Splits: 7:13, 7:10, 7:13, 6:59, 7:22, 7:09, (brace yourselves, this is where the crashing began) 7:32, 7:28, 7:38, 7:57, 7:55, 8:03 (yup, I am done), 7:47. Avg: 7:29 

PS. On a more positive note, I want to mention how much fun I had before the race started!! It was so nice chatting with Leandra, meeting up with Teena, Michelle, Julie (Julie's identical twin sister :),Walter,  Josse, Mac, Susan, etc before the race started! Thanks Teena for being so stinking nice to me and so excited that I was running!! It's always fun seeing everyone!!! You are all a great group of people and I am grateful that I have gotten to know you!!  OH, and a big SHOUT OUT for my Twin Sista Kelli who drove all the way down from Riverton to rally us all in!! THANKS KELLI!!!  You are really the only reason I finished you know?!?  I was looking forward to seeing your face at the finish and so, you carried me in!!  Thanks Darlin!~  You're the best!

8 very nice, relaxing, muggy recovery miles with Heidi C this morning.  We just did an out and back. 4 out, 4 back.  Boy, it was muggy this morning.  My hair was frizzed out to the max by the time I walked in the door.  It was great to get out with Heidi though and nice to have some cooler temps for a run!!  

AP: 8:44

30 quick minutes of pilates is all today.  I am still a bit tight due to Saturday and strength training last week so I wanted to take it easy!  Worked arms, legs and abs.  It was nice for a change! 

Schedule said 7 mile tempo run for this morning but instead we did................ a half a mile warm up walk (warm up our mouths anyway) followed by a 6 mile easy training run.  We were all feeling a bit tired, burnt out, etc. so this suited us today! I didn't keep our pace while we walked but AP was 8:31 for the running part.  It was a beautiful morning and I loved running today! 

So due to scheduling conflicts with Saturday soccer games, the girls were nice enough to finagle things so that we could do our long run today!  I am starting to see that the closer we get to the marathon, the busier the Saturdays are beginning to get.  School starting has definitely made my life a lot busier but at the same time I love seeing my kids involved in things so,....... it's fun!  JaNae came over and met us and we set out to run out and around the golf course.  It was such a pretty morning!! I love mornings like this and love it all the more when I actually feel like I can run.  It was a great run and one that I needed given the recent slump I have been in!!!  

AP: 8:22

Busy day today!! I woke up at 6:00 so that we could get the kids up and out the door by 7:00 to get to my son's soccer game.  Therefore, I was not able to run but all day I kept telling myself that I wanted to at least do a work out video.  The day progressed and time was lost so at 11:45pm, I finally got around to putting in a strength training video to get a bit of exercise in!!  The house was quite, I had all of my "to do" items done so it was actually quit nice!!  

Our schedule called for a 8 mile out and back route but Heidi W suggested a little tougher course.  Figuring we got a 2 day break from running, I felt good about this option.  There is a hill here in Salem that I have yet to run without stopping and I felt I was up for the challenge today.  I have waited attempting this hill all year for fear that I would fail and feel bad about myself so I told Tyler that I would run it today if it killed me.  So, we started out, ran to the hill (2.58 miles) and up we went!!  And...........I DID IT!!!  Yes, I was very tired when I got to the top but in all honesty, it wasn't that bad and I feel it will be a good preparer for Veyo.  We then ran almost .75 miles flat before we turned and went up another hill into Woodland hills.  From that point on, it was smooth sailing.  What a beautiful morning and so nice to get out and run.  I actually felt really good today and so I was glad about that!! Now, I am off to mow the lawn ( a little added exercise, yipee!!). 

Splits: 9:11 (very slow warm up mile, we have been liking these), 8:41, 9:27 (this is where we hit "the hill") 8:54, 9:12 (next hill), 8:17, 8:05, 7:59. AP:8:43.  Nice to get 8 miles in on a week morning.  Thanks to Tyler for helping with the kids in the morning so that I can run a little longer. I really appreciate it!