Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Moab

Found out last week that I got into the Moab Half Marathon....it's a lottery entry.  I'm excited.  Time to get back into serious training after a nice few weeks of running "when I feel like it".  Most of the runs were fun and easy with the dog.  Charted an 8.5 mile with the puppy!  His record distance  and he did great!  It was a chilling 35 degrees so that made it great for him.  What a good boy!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Whew!

One week after my marathon premier, I ran the first annual Turkey Trot 5k in downtown Farmington.  Most of my marathon soreness was gone (thanks to a hefty massage from my MT) so I decided to see how fast I could go for a 5k.  I had no idea how fast to start or how hard to push.  I managed 3rd place overall for females finishing in 21:38...a new best time.

This past week was Thanksgiving and my brothers were in town.  My little brother brought his girlfriend along who is also starting her running life.  I managed to put in 25 miles this week between running with my dog and with my husband, my brother and his girlfriend. I don't really feel like I ran this week because it was so relaxed and fun and I wasn't following a training plan.  It was nice to put some miles in so I could enjoy lots of potatoes and stuffing!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Rimrock Marathon

Yesterday was the day. November 12.  I ran 26.2 miles through Colorado National Monument.  The race was in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The first 4.5 miles of climb was serious switchbacks and very difficult, but the scenery was amazing.  My favorite moments of the race: 
1. Running through the giant tunnels cut out of rock....almost completely dark and silent except for the sound of hard breathing from the 5 or 6 runners inside and the sounds of pitter-pattering feet.  Loved watching the reflectors bounce up and down on the jackets and shoes too. 
2. Reaching the halfway mark at 13.1 miles and realizing that I felt pretty good and was going to be under the 4 hour mark if I could just hold myself together and stay within 20 seconds of my pace each mile (and the rest of the race was going to be downhill so unless disaster happened I was going to make it). 
3.  Reaching the finish line to be the 3rd girl to cross it and scoring a 3:40 on my first marathon....much faster than I imagined I'd be even in a few years from now. 

The race was a little cold. I wore gloves the entire time but I didn't sweat much so I never felt dehydrated.  I can't imagine any marathon with better scenery....truly magnificent place...I'd never been there before so I was captivated.  No rain. No snow and not much wind so I can't complain.  It was high 30s or low 40s the entire race....perfect running weather really.

Here are my splits:
Split
Time
Distance
Avg Pace
Summary3:39:27.625.748:31.5
19:00.21.009:00.4
29:23.61.009:23.6
39:58.11.009:58.2
411:13.41.0011:13.6
59:11.61.009:11.7
68:19.51.008:19.6
78:23.41.008:23.5
88:48.61.008:48.6
98:35.11.008:35.3
108:03.11.008:03.2
118:06.61.008:06.7
128:39.01.008:39.1
139:13.01.009:13.2
148:00.91.008:00.9
157:47.41.007:47.5
167:47.41.007:47.4
177:59.51.007:59.6
188:03.01.008:03.1
198:23.11.008:23.2
208:21.71.008:21.8
217:42.81.007:42.8
228:03.91.008:04.0
237:59.11.007:59.2
248:10.71.008:10.8
257:58.81.007:58.9
266:12.80.748:23.3

Thursday, November 3, 2011

The leaves have fallen and my puppy knows winter is coming (he hates the cold). I did 11 miles this morning so he got to play at the park.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

This is Sentry...my puppy....he is coming up on being 1 year and 4 months old.  Still definitely a puppy at heart.  He runs with me sometimes.  His mileage record is 7.2.  As it gets cooler and he gets older, I think he will go further.  This guy is seriously the best lookin' dog in the world.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Last long run before taper....23 miles easy.
T: "That's messed up.  I can't train 23 and expect to race 26.2.  Let's run the whole thing."
R: "Ok."

So, we did.  We ran 26.2.  Where?  All over this town and back!

No crowds, no timing chips, no numbers, no entry fees, no finish tape, nothing.  Just me and my favorite guy ending in our driveway with a high five and a sweaty hug.  I couldn't have imagined it better!

Two days later I was in Denver and got to go to a REAL running store.  I stood in amazement at the wall of shoes.  I was overwhelmed by the hydration systems.  I gawked at the selection of gels and fuels.  Then, I stood waiting to check out and picked up a bumper sticker that read "26.2" and I cried a little.  I had already done it.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

18.01

miles.  At once. It was a progression run so the last 20 minutes had to be "hard".  Well, right now sitting on the sofa I would say hard is qualified just by running the 18 miles.  The competitor in me, at mile 15.5 said go..."hard".  I did.  I ran 2.5 miles in 20 minutes at the end and it was definitely "hard".  My heart rate was holding at a steady 186 and I am 33 years old so that's pretty fired up.  Once I was finished and rested a few minutes.....I had the feeling that I could go 8 more.  I didn't; but I could have....and soon I will.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Running....and Running

6 weeks to go.
18 miles for the long run this weekend.
Looking at photos of the beautiful Colorado National Monument and am getting excited about the beautiful lookout points and scenery (I have never been there before).

LOVE THIS TRAILER FOR THE RIMROCK

Sunday, September 25, 2011

the marathon

26.2 is an enigma to some and everything to others.  What will it be for me?

Thursday, September 22, 2011

52 days

to go.  That's it.  I counted today and November 12 is in 52 days.  My stomach churns a little (a lot).  The elevation profile scares me the most....I mean a flat marathon is one thing....just running running running along on nice flat and level ground.  Rimrock is mean and gnarly with 10 miles uphill right away (2000 feet of gain), then another mile of uphill at mile 12.  Elevation profile of Rimrock marathon
Preparing for this is hard since I have never run a marathon nor have I ever even considered running 11 miles uphill.....why would anyone want to?  Why do I want to?

Monday, September 19, 2011

16.1

miles. Yes 16.1 miles.  That's how far I ran yesterday.  Today I am not sore, just sleepy.  Ready to go again tomorrow (an endurance day full of hills). We have been discussing food for the marathon and gel and liquid and energy stores, so we are continually trying new things. Halfway through yesterdays 16-miler, I had two honeysticks and an almond granola bar.  Ok, I love honey.  But seriously, yesterday at 8 miles, with 8 miles to go, honey has NEVER tasted so good.  I love honey. I will be taking honey sticks to the marathon with me.  Yum Yum

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Why Not to Run at Night

Too many idiots in Farmington that heckle.  Never again will I run at night....even with my Doberman.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

SOAKED

When I woke up this morning it was raining.  It doesn't rain here very much and when it does, it usually lasts 5 minutes and then it's all dry with big blue sky.  Today, it didn't lift.  Do I do my 8 miles easy on a treadmill?  Do I tough it out in the rain?  So, I googled "how to run in the rain".  Recommendations: Wear a windbreaker/water resistant jacket, and a hat.  Well, a few issues....I have one windbreaker and have no idea if it's waterproof since it never rains.  Second I have very few hats just cause I hate my head being hot.  The outcome: 1980s looking runner in a bright orange/red windbreaker with a floppy "Oregon Coast" hat (very fitting for the drizzly weather) with my New Balance Minimus that have that retro look.  I went ahead and braided my hair and headed out.

First obstacle: Giant puddles....drivers here don't care about bikers or runners or pedestrians...it's all about the big trucks and how fast they can go and rev up their diesel engines (sigh-ish growl here).  So, I mostly avoided them...except for one.  I hope I made the driver's day when he successfully soaked me (it certainly would've made my day....idiot out running in the rain).

Second obstacle: Mud.  Wow.  There are some areas without sidewalks.  There are large dirt shoulders and often bike lanes but the bike lanes freak me out because of those above mentioned Dodge Ram and Ford 250 drivers so I often will run on the dirt shoulders.  Well, today they were mud, I was sliding all over.

All in all, a wonderful morning run.  I went faster than I should've gone overall, probably cause the rain was absolutely beautiful and I enjoyed every minute.  This is one of those days that I will reflect on on the morning of November 12....when I am evaluating if I have done everything I could to prepare for 26.2.  Yes.  Today is a powerful day.  8.24 miles in the rain.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Day One


I know many people that have blogs...they blog of their families, their joys, their sorrows and their adventures. I read them frequently. Today I was prompted to start my own.

I have been running lately...to put it in perspective when I say I am going to run 6 miles, I use "only" in the same sentence because a 6-miler has become a short and easy run. Many marathon training programs encourage one to have a running diary/journal and as often as I say I am going to do it, I haven't. So instead I am starting this blog for me to log the next two months leading up to the 26.2 (which scares the crap out of me right now).

Today I ran faster than a tractor. Yep. As I did 8 repeats of a 1/2 mile at 10k pace with 2 minutes rest in between I passed a tractor driving up the street. I don't know how fast he was going but I know I was going faster (just under 8 min/mile pace).

I love my husband, my family and my job.
I love running, violin and my dog.