These two crazies thought it would be a good idea to get up before the sun was even thinking about makin its appearance for the day- to do what? To run 13.1 miles. We sure were freezing- but dont we look excited to go sweat our brains out?
Showing posts with label half marathon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label half marathon. Show all posts
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Lets try it again
Meet Spencer- My healthnut- almond milk chuggin brother. He is awesome. When I ran my Half in April with my sweet awesome cousin Susie, He was there to cheer me on- (along with a bunch of other rad people). He saw how sweaty and awesome I looked and decided he wanted to do one..... So he asked me if I wanted to join him in his first expedition. So of course I said heck yes. We signed up for it he started training, and I became a slackface and only trained once or twice a week.Whoops. And here we are....
These two crazies thought it would be a good idea to get up before the sun was even thinking about makin its appearance for the day- to do what? To run 13.1 miles. We sure were freezing- but dont we look excited to go sweat our brains out?
Well- I said a prayer before this race that I wouldn't have to be one of afformentioned Those people. If I never had a testimony of prayer- I sure do now. Thank heavens we got to the start line with enough time for my prayer to be answered. Then we all decided to try and warm up so we were dancin around and stretching to some music. Then the gun shot and we were off- Let me tell you- this Half was a bit different than my first. The first 3.5 miles were up hill... and I thought "throw up hill" in hurricane was bad..... Try 3 times longer! Just kidding- I actually didn't even feel like it at all...As I made my way to the summit I chowed on some Gu Chomps- to give me some energy for the rest of the race. I maintained a ten minute mile for the first 4 miles up to the summit- then I decided to kick it in to gear. You know how some side show freaks aka exercise enthusiasts become obssesed with exerting themselves- and they kinda seem like they are on drugs cuz they are crazy? Well- thats because they hit their "second wind" I felt like I was flying-maybe even high-well invincible if you will.... and knocked two minutes off my miles from 4-9. So I ran an 8 minute mile for 5 miles and then I started to slow a little bit- but as the finish neared- I was gettin burned out-
but still kept chuggin- I came in at a whoppin 4 minutes faster than my last Half. 13.1 in under two hours baby! 1:58:14. I placed 13th in my age group and 167 over all. There were over 400 participants- so that gives you an idea of where I was in the pack. Nicely tucked somewhere in the middle. Just so you know- I have never run an 8 min mile in my life.... my calves feel like someone inserted rocks the size of my fist under the skin and now the front of my thighs feel like they have been shoved through a meat grinder. yum.
Spencer did amazing- He came in 12th for his age group and placed 124 overall..... his finishing time was 1:51:something. (Sorry I cant remember the seconds) but you get the idea.... He is awesome.Yes, I know this is blurry but - Its the best we got- but dont we look great!Thanks Stevey :)
These two crazies thought it would be a good idea to get up before the sun was even thinking about makin its appearance for the day- to do what? To run 13.1 miles. We sure were freezing- but dont we look excited to go sweat our brains out?
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Runnin fool
I have been planning all week to run 12 miles today... So last night, I had nightmares all night that I had "forgotten to" or just ran out of time and that things just kept sabotaging my run! It was makin me so mad! So I could not wait to wake up and go. Well after waking up several times in the night- it was finally time to go- So I had my running belt complete- with the water bottles full, ipod with a new running list (thanks Sanood!), cell phone (in case of emergency), TP for just in case ;), 2 pieces of gum and a Gu pack.. I love running in the morning. I love being up and going and out on the road when it is still quiet, still cool , and everything just feels so fresh. It gives me time to think about all I have to be grateful for, time to think and really contemplate how wonderful life is- and what a blessing is is to be healthy. Running really is my happy place- it is the time that helps me reevaluate things in life-relieves all my stress and gives me a sense of peace. When I run- time seems to stand still.This time is so precious to me because when I get home- its go go go, bein busy with all the wonderful other blessings life has to offer.
In one week from now I will be racing in my 2nd half marathon this year- and I use the term racing lightly. For my first Half- I trained religiously for 4 straight months- and was totally and completely ready for it. This one- I cant say I am nearly as conditioned. I have been a total slack face ever since I was supposed to do my TRI. The hospital stay just kinda sucked my energy for some reason- and with that it sucked my drive to prepare for this run. I have been lucky to get one to two runs in a week- which are low mileage. I have not run more than 8 since my last half which was like 4 months ago.... But after today- I am not so worried, I feel accomplished and because it wasn't even difficult for me to run high mileage- where I feel like I want to die, or cry , or both- I will be just fine on this next Half. My awesome brother Spencer is running this one with me and it is going to be a ball. I seriously cannot wait.
In one week from now I will be racing in my 2nd half marathon this year- and I use the term racing lightly. For my first Half- I trained religiously for 4 straight months- and was totally and completely ready for it. This one- I cant say I am nearly as conditioned. I have been a total slack face ever since I was supposed to do my TRI. The hospital stay just kinda sucked my energy for some reason- and with that it sucked my drive to prepare for this run. I have been lucky to get one to two runs in a week- which are low mileage. I have not run more than 8 since my last half which was like 4 months ago.... But after today- I am not so worried, I feel accomplished and because it wasn't even difficult for me to run high mileage- where I feel like I want to die, or cry , or both- I will be just fine on this next Half. My awesome brother Spencer is running this one with me and it is going to be a ball. I seriously cannot wait.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Those people
I tend to write personal things on here- but it just goes to show you that I am a real person with real things that happen to me, some funny some serious, but if it gets to be too much for you I suggest you stop reading this post right here and now.
Just another Scenario
You are 12 years old. It's your first year to go to girls camp, you are So excited. Your mom is the YW president.... like she has been for the past 30 somethin' years. Your two older sisters are there with you along with your two besties in the ward. You are camping in open A-frame structures, you have flushies and showers. The flushies are up the hill about 2 miles away (not really but tuck that away for later). Man you are really roughin' it. A day or maybe two into the adventure you are playing games, you get that rumbly in your tumbly... not the kind you get when you haven't eaten in days, but the sort you get after eating a Mexican burrito that is the size of a football. You get up and slowly ease your way down the stairs of the A frame, and contemplate whether you should run up the 2 mile hill to the flushies or if you should carefully walk using all your strength to hold your composure inside of you til you reach your destination. After about an eternity of walking/shuffling you make it to the bathroom stall only to find you could not wait even a millisecond later. Thank your lucky stars for the showers.
Round 2. Imagine you just had a baby. You ended up back in the hospital a week later for complications due to lupus and having a child literally plucked from your insides, you are there for 8 long days. You get back from the hospital only to realize you have no strength in your legs, or in any part of your body for that matter. So you attempt to start to regain strength by testing out the ol' sea legs by walking around the block once. That winds you, but you are determined to do it at least once a day. You want so badly to get out of the house for more than a second, so a week later you are feelin' a little more ambitious and have a bit more energy now that the Chemo effects have subsided a bit. You strap the babes in and stroll to the store a mile away... you begin the journey home and again, like a ton of bricks it hits. You get that rumbly in your tumbly. You are about halfway home. Yet again you are faced with the urgent contemplation- should you run? (no pun intended) or should you speed walk and try and keep your dignity from splatting against the sidewalk? Should you knock on some random person of south american descent's door? (remember you sort of live in mexiville) and no you are not racist, not even a little bit, you just happen to be residing on the "west side"where you happen to be a minority.You get about 2 blocks from home and you just cant take it anymore. You are too afraid to knock on some strangers door, instead you take a dive into their bushes. Thank heavens for a the diaper bag.
Strike Three and fast forward another year. You have trained and ran a half marathon without ever having to be one of those people. And by those people you are talking the "stuff some toilet paper just in case" type of people. You are currently training for a triathlon, and are running another half marathon in oh- 2 weeks. So you decide after camping with the fam up at the spruces, You are going to run the 10 miles down the canyon as part of your training. It is definitely in the upper 90's and around mile 6, you are chuggin' right along but you are running low on water.Yep, you guessed it you feel that urge, as your teal asics hit the pavement time and time again you are trying to will the urge away until finally you realize, at this point your mind has absolutely no business trying to overpower your body. You try and find a wooded area, and the best you can do is canoodle yourself in between a tree and the raging river of death (its flood season alright?) Any leaf around is the size of an almond. So you do what any person in their right mind who is hiding on the side of the road would do, Thanks for sparing the details but you are more than grateful for your sharp teeth and the fact you wore a short sleeved shirt and not a tank today.Of course you wouldn't want to look ridiculous at all, so you tear the other sleeve off to even things up and use it as a head/sweat band.
Congratulations, you just won the number 1 spot in the academy awards for "those people" Wait what? You never thought you would join the ranks? Who are you kidding? You became one of those people when you were twelve, and somehow have been living in ignorant denial this whole time.
Just another Scenario
You are 12 years old. It's your first year to go to girls camp, you are So excited. Your mom is the YW president.... like she has been for the past 30 somethin' years. Your two older sisters are there with you along with your two besties in the ward. You are camping in open A-frame structures, you have flushies and showers. The flushies are up the hill about 2 miles away (not really but tuck that away for later). Man you are really roughin' it. A day or maybe two into the adventure you are playing games, you get that rumbly in your tumbly... not the kind you get when you haven't eaten in days, but the sort you get after eating a Mexican burrito that is the size of a football. You get up and slowly ease your way down the stairs of the A frame, and contemplate whether you should run up the 2 mile hill to the flushies or if you should carefully walk using all your strength to hold your composure inside of you til you reach your destination. After about an eternity of walking/shuffling you make it to the bathroom stall only to find you could not wait even a millisecond later. Thank your lucky stars for the showers.
Round 2. Imagine you just had a baby. You ended up back in the hospital a week later for complications due to lupus and having a child literally plucked from your insides, you are there for 8 long days. You get back from the hospital only to realize you have no strength in your legs, or in any part of your body for that matter. So you attempt to start to regain strength by testing out the ol' sea legs by walking around the block once. That winds you, but you are determined to do it at least once a day. You want so badly to get out of the house for more than a second, so a week later you are feelin' a little more ambitious and have a bit more energy now that the Chemo effects have subsided a bit. You strap the babes in and stroll to the store a mile away... you begin the journey home and again, like a ton of bricks it hits. You get that rumbly in your tumbly. You are about halfway home. Yet again you are faced with the urgent contemplation- should you run? (no pun intended) or should you speed walk and try and keep your dignity from splatting against the sidewalk? Should you knock on some random person of south american descent's door? (remember you sort of live in mexiville) and no you are not racist, not even a little bit, you just happen to be residing on the "west side"where you happen to be a minority.You get about 2 blocks from home and you just cant take it anymore. You are too afraid to knock on some strangers door, instead you take a dive into their bushes. Thank heavens for a the diaper bag.
Strike Three and fast forward another year. You have trained and ran a half marathon without ever having to be one of those people. And by those people you are talking the "stuff some toilet paper just in case" type of people. You are currently training for a triathlon, and are running another half marathon in oh- 2 weeks. So you decide after camping with the fam up at the spruces, You are going to run the 10 miles down the canyon as part of your training. It is definitely in the upper 90's and around mile 6, you are chuggin' right along but you are running low on water.Yep, you guessed it you feel that urge, as your teal asics hit the pavement time and time again you are trying to will the urge away until finally you realize, at this point your mind has absolutely no business trying to overpower your body. You try and find a wooded area, and the best you can do is canoodle yourself in between a tree and the raging river of death (its flood season alright?) Any leaf around is the size of an almond. So you do what any person in their right mind who is hiding on the side of the road would do, Thanks for sparing the details but you are more than grateful for your sharp teeth and the fact you wore a short sleeved shirt and not a tank today.Of course you wouldn't want to look ridiculous at all, so you tear the other sleeve off to even things up and use it as a head/sweat band.
Congratulations, you just won the number 1 spot in the academy awards for "those people" Wait what? You never thought you would join the ranks? Who are you kidding? You became one of those people when you were twelve, and somehow have been living in ignorant denial this whole time.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Mission Accomplished
Just a few Stats:
Training: 281.6 miles over 3.5 months running 3-4 days a week.
Race day: 13.1 miles 2:02:28
(please excuse the man leg)
Just a few of the AWESOME welcome crew. I cant tell you how much it meant to me to have such wondeful people show their love and support to me.
Daniel my awesome cousin came in 7 minutes before me and my wonderful cousin, role model and HUGE support Susie came in a minute and half before me.... yeah I was the slowest :)
I finished 8 minutes before my “at best” goal time and 13 minutes before my “realistic” goal time. 2 hours 2 minutes and 28 seconds. I averaged a 9:20 minute mile for 13 miles straight. I placed 11th out of the women in my age group and 65th overall out of 569 participants. I was pretty excited about that. Now I am planning on my next one which will be the Timpanogos half with my brother and sisters in July! I never thought I would be able to do this! Let me just tell you- it feels so great to feel good. What a blessing!
Training: 281.6 miles over 3.5 months running 3-4 days a week.
Race day: 13.1 miles 2:02:28
(please excuse the man leg)
I woke up several times in the night ready to get up and go. I was nervous I was going to sleep through my alarm. But as soon as 5 o clock came around- I was tired and wanting to hit the snooze button. Anyway-some toast with honey and some OJ, 3 trips to the bathroom later 530 am hit and Daniel and Susie came and picked me up at Roma Anns house and we headed to the buses. Let me tell you- hurricane is supposed to be a lot warmer in april/may than it was. It was about 40 degrees and soooo windy. I was just hoping things would warm up a bit once the sun came out. Well we got to the starting line and had to wait for about 20- 25 minutes in the blood chilling wind til the race actually started. I had already gone to the bathroom 3 times before I left the house, but my nerves and the cold started to get to me. I thought I was going to have to be one of “those” people and stop on the side of the road- or in my opinion worse- having to go in the porta potty. Well, the gun shot sounded and a sea of people started forward. I was so excited! This thing I had been waiting for and been envisioning for the last 4 months was finally here! I was running a half marathon! I am so happy I got a running belt with little water bottles so I didn’t have to stop for water, and had a little wal mart watch on my wrist. By mile 5 I was keeping a 9 minute mile! That is faster than I had been training at so I was pretty happy. But also at mile 5 hit the Nemesis “throw-up “ mile long hill, in case you are wondering- no I didn’t. Didn’t even cross my mind. I ran up the entire thing, (lost a little bit of time ) but was able to continue on my way. Mile 10 hit and I got a random boost of energy, Stevey took some pictures and cheered me on. Then at mile 12 was my family all there cheering me on with posters and shouts of encouragement. For some weird reason I got a little emotional, but I kept chugging. As I came to the finish line I was stunned to see the time I got. 
Just a few of the AWESOME welcome crew. I cant tell you how much it meant to me to have such wondeful people show their love and support to me.
I finished 8 minutes before my “at best” goal time and 13 minutes before my “realistic” goal time. 2 hours 2 minutes and 28 seconds. I averaged a 9:20 minute mile for 13 miles straight. I placed 11th out of the women in my age group and 65th overall out of 569 participants. I was pretty excited about that. Now I am planning on my next one which will be the Timpanogos half with my brother and sisters in July! I never thought I would be able to do this! Let me just tell you- it feels so great to feel good. What a blessing!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Excited
Thoughts:
This is how I am feeling. I have been training since january to be able to acheive 3 of my new years resolutions. Sadly, this is the first time in a long time that I have made a new years resolution that I have actually stuck to. But to be honest- I feel great, and it feels so awesome to feel like I have acheived something. I love to run, and have not been physically able to for what seems like an eternity. Now that I can- I just am so grateful for a body that functions properly again. I am running 13.1 miles on Saturday in one of my favorite places - H town. I am so so so excited. A little tiny nervous for the 1.46 mile crazy hill that has been named "throw up hill", but mostly excited to accomplish this. To some- a half marathon isn't a whole huge deal, but to me- it kinda is. And I am excited. I have been logging my mileage since I started training (minus 2 weeks in the beginning because I didn't think to until after) and I have ran a whole lot..... More than the training has said to. I think sometimes I get nervous that I won't make it, so I overcompensate to make darn sure that I will. Anyway- I will give all the stats when I post about the Half. I'll just tell ya tho- training has been over 260 miles. :) thats almost the entire way to Hurricane! Anyway- it has been a lot of time and dedication. I will keep running after the race because I love it so much, but I don't want it to be such a burden of time away from my lil guy, and having to have other people watch him. Well, sorta random again. But I suppose you are used to it if you are still reading my posts.....
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Weekend In H
So this last weekend we got to spend a little time in Salt lake while I went and had a job interview with a company I worked for previously. I'm really hoping I get this job, the hours would be perfect and it would be a really good opportunity to work in a hospital and just be around people again. I am nervous, but at the same time- it is what we need right now. We also got to watch the last BYU basketball game with Jimmer Fredette (the only game I watched) but it was cute to see Grampa Rich and Gabe have some bonding time during the game. 
G also learned how to drive a car this weekend.not really, he just learned to take after his dad- and honk the horn lots ;) 
Steve competed in building competition representing UVU at the State level. He did really really well and placed 3rd. This was a really good learning experience for him, now he will be ready to take nationals next year and get some good job offers from it. While that was going on, Amanda, G money and I headed down to hurricane for a little time down there. Mr. had a great time riding in the back seat all by himself on the way down- didnt even make a fuss until we got on the off ramp to H town. 
Coming home he got a little lonely so I got to sit back there and read to him, feed him lots o cheerios and change his diaper (that my friends is not that easy to do in the back seat) 
As you know I am training for a half marathon. For the past 2 weeks I have been training with a brace on an elliptical because I hurt my knee. Lets just say- its a little different than running outside on asphalt or cement. So this last week was the first time running outside in a bit, So being in hurricane- we decided we would do a run on the actual course. 10 miles. Usually the weather in H is awesome, warm and sunny. No. not this time. Of course I was in shorts, it was windy, rainy and FREEEZING! My legs were completely numb by about mile 5 and then we hit "throw-up hill" not sure why they call it that- cuz its literally only a mile long. sheesh. it was a little nuts... But let me tell you- it was sure nice to run with someone for once! This is me after the run- I was freezing for the next several hours, even after a long hot shower. boo. I hate being cold.On the bright side- at least I know if the weather is crappy on the race day- I wont be surprised at how retarded it will be. Needless to say- I'm really happy we did it. 
The trip was really short, but really fun, we got to spend time with the people we love and enjoy the beauty of the serenity down there. Hurricane to me- is exactly opposite of its name. It is peaceful to me. Not only because of the place- but because of the people. I sure love my family and am lucky to belong to such wonderful people. Mandy made a wonderful dinner saturday night- we had some polish pickle soup which is delightful and rolls and salad. Then for dessert some delicious strawberry heaven. Sunday we went to sacrament meeting- I'm pretty sure Amanda had a wonderful time eating, I mean giving the bbs some cheerios and playing with them all through the meeting. We had a delicious meal after that and then came home. All in all a wonderful weekend. I have decided that after the race. I will allow myself to partake in moderation of these delectables. They, in my opinion are resolution breaking worthy. 
I think from my new years resolutions- I have learned a lot. I dont have to go completely without, but if I am moderate, than I will be able to say that I have conquered my addiction to candy :)
G also learned how to drive a car this weekend.not really, he just learned to take after his dad- and honk the horn lots ;) 
Steve competed in building competition representing UVU at the State level. He did really really well and placed 3rd. This was a really good learning experience for him, now he will be ready to take nationals next year and get some good job offers from it. While that was going on, Amanda, G money and I headed down to hurricane for a little time down there. Mr. had a great time riding in the back seat all by himself on the way down- didnt even make a fuss until we got on the off ramp to H town. 
Coming home he got a little lonely so I got to sit back there and read to him, feed him lots o cheerios and change his diaper (that my friends is not that easy to do in the back seat) 
As you know I am training for a half marathon. For the past 2 weeks I have been training with a brace on an elliptical because I hurt my knee. Lets just say- its a little different than running outside on asphalt or cement. So this last week was the first time running outside in a bit, So being in hurricane- we decided we would do a run on the actual course. 10 miles. Usually the weather in H is awesome, warm and sunny. No. not this time. Of course I was in shorts, it was windy, rainy and FREEEZING! My legs were completely numb by about mile 5 and then we hit "throw-up hill" not sure why they call it that- cuz its literally only a mile long. sheesh. it was a little nuts... But let me tell you- it was sure nice to run with someone for once! This is me after the run- I was freezing for the next several hours, even after a long hot shower. boo. I hate being cold.On the bright side- at least I know if the weather is crappy on the race day- I wont be surprised at how retarded it will be. Needless to say- I'm really happy we did it. 
The trip was really short, but really fun, we got to spend time with the people we love and enjoy the beauty of the serenity down there. Hurricane to me- is exactly opposite of its name. It is peaceful to me. Not only because of the place- but because of the people. I sure love my family and am lucky to belong to such wonderful people. Mandy made a wonderful dinner saturday night- we had some polish pickle soup which is delightful and rolls and salad. Then for dessert some delicious strawberry heaven. Sunday we went to sacrament meeting- I'm pretty sure Amanda had a wonderful time eating, I mean giving the bbs some cheerios and playing with them all through the meeting. We had a delicious meal after that and then came home. All in all a wonderful weekend. I have decided that after the race. I will allow myself to partake in moderation of these delectables. They, in my opinion are resolution breaking worthy. 
I think from my new years resolutions- I have learned a lot. I dont have to go completely without, but if I am moderate, than I will be able to say that I have conquered my addiction to candy :)
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Training update
Yesterday I ran 6 miles in 61 minutes. No stopping or speed walking intervals. I got home and felt great but when it was time to go to bed- for some reason I had restless legs so it took me a bit to fall asleep (good thing i got into bed at 930) which usually never happens. I had a few aches in my back and in my left foot, so I wasnt sure if it would be a good idea to run today or not. I surely didn't want to risk some sort of strain or minor injury but right now I have a great mindset of determination so not much will hold me back. So this morning I got up - and I ran the whole 5 miles in 51:38 ( a little slower than my pace yesterday)- but I still feel great! I think I am really on to something here. Here it is february and I am still working on my new years resolutions! They haven't been blown to the wind and completely forgotten about. I think it has definitely helped that I have something to work toward and not just some obscure goal that may or may not happen. Also that I have someone to motivate me and to not give up- Susie, my cousin and I will be running our first half marathon at the end of April. I am way grateful for the motivation she has been to me to not be afraid and just do it in april (I was wanting to slack and just do one in June which gave me more time to train) but now I know that I can push myself to do it. One thing I havent really set tho is how long I will do the no candy rule. It really is a lot easier for me now the longer that I go without. I know that I will at least do it til both of my half marathons are over- so that is at least 6 and a half months- and if I make it that long- why not make it a year? Well lets be realistic here shall we? I am just going to take it day by day. I dont want to get too ahead of myself- cuz lets be honest- I'm not that awesome- to NEVER eat candy again? Who does that. But when the time comes and I decide to try it again- it will definitely be in extreme moderation. is that an oxymoron?
As for the not eating after 8- I think that will be a lifer- I feel so much better when I am not stuffing my face after 8 and overall it is just a better way for me to be healthy- so why not just keep going with that one.
As for the not eating after 8- I think that will be a lifer- I feel so much better when I am not stuffing my face after 8 and overall it is just a better way for me to be healthy- so why not just keep going with that one.
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