December 31, 2011

It is the last day of 2011. This has been a big running year for me. While I don't have any great accomplishments to report I do want those that see this to know that I am still running on my treadmill 2 - 3 times a week. I usually warm of for 5 minutes run for 30 and cool down for 5 mins. I run at a incline of 6 and a speed of 5. Nothing super great, but I am glad I am still working out and feeling good.

September 28, 2011

I love that the marathon is over and I can run for how long I want and as fast as I want and I don't have to worry about it. I have only run a couple of times since the marathon but I am loving it. I have gone between 4 - 4 1/2 miles. I have been trying to do some harder runs. I try and hit three pretty good grades. I have been feeling great! I don't know that I will update as much now the marathon is over but I thought I would write what I was doing now in case I ever want to look back and remember :).

September 12, 2011

I figured I should update my running blog because soon the marathon will be over and I will look back and wonder what runs I did and how they went. Two Saturdays ago I ran an 18. I don't think I have been that nervouse for a run. Before my foot started bothering me I would be excited to add a few miles to my runs. I couldn't wait to accomplish it and have it done but when I knew I had to run an 18 I was so nervous. I think I partially felt like I was starting over because I hadn't ran a really long one in like 4 weeks and I know I was scared it was going to hurt. I knew I had felt great after the half but I was still nervous. Well the run went great. I felt great and even at the end I thought I could do more. I mean don't get me wrong I was glad to be done but it wasn't one of my long runs where I completely died at the end and didn't want to take one more step. I ran 7 or 8s in the week and felt great. It is staying dark here for so long that I have been running a mile or so on my treadmill before getting outside to run. I wish running on a treadmill was even partially like running outside. I did a 15 on Saturday and I was slower over all for that run, but I did go run the last 5 miles of the marathon so I knew what to expect. I seriously can't believe the marathon is on Saturday! I hope it goes smoothly and honestly I just can't wait to have it over with :).

August 29, 2011

The Half was on Saturday and it went amazingly well! My original goal with this was to beat my time from last year, but I got a little nervous with my foot pain and I think I said I wanted to do at least 1:50. I was so happy that I was able to beat my time from last year and the thing that even made me more happy is my foot hasn't bothered me for one second!! I have known that good shoes were important, but I never could have imagined it could cause that kind of pain! I am SO glad I went and got new shoes. It seems to have done the trick. I am pumped for the whole marathon in less than three weeks!

August 24, 2011

I got up and ran 8 this morning. It went pretty well. Monday my run was pretty slow but I did try to add some hills for training. On Monday I was close to 9 min miles but today I averaged just over 8 min miles. Like 8:15 or something if I remember right. My foot is feeling good as well which is really encouraging to me! I can't wait to see how Saturday goes. I have been so nervous where my run was slower on Monday and then with my foot I just have worried I wouldn't be able to do it and come off not hurting but today I am confident I can!

August 22, 2011

So training has gone down hill way too fast :). I ran a 3.6 on Friday just to see how my foot would handle the run. I was planning on doing 10 on Saturday, but woke up to thunder and lightning and went back to bed. I really am wishing I wouldn't have done that now because I am a little freaked out. I was talking to my husband and I said you realize the half is next Saturday right? He got this surprised look on his face and said so you pretty much blew training this week huh? I was like uhh yeah! Seriously! Which it is just dumb to be worried because I seriously could still run a 13 in my sleep but I really wanted a PR and now I have set my goal at 1:50. That sounded a little over confident but really a 13 shouldn't be a big deal at this point but where I pretty much haven't ran in a week and a half it just makes me nervous but running is a mental game right so if I tell myself it will be easy it will right? Any way, my plan for the rest of my training totally depends on my half on Saturday. If I can come off my 7 today, my 8 on Wednesday, and the half on Saturday with little or no pain then I think I will try and push a 18 - 22 the following Saturday, if I come off hurting I think I will try and just run under 15 and pray that the 26 doesn't kill me. At this point, I would rather run and be a little slower than expected then not run. I am really open to every one's opinions, so if you are a runner or know somebody that knows somebody that runs I seriously would like to know what they would do. You see I have this trianing schedule and no where on it does it account for an injury so where do I go now that I am not on that training schedule?

August 16, 2011 -- Foot Pain Update

So from Sunday's post I am sure you gathered I was pretty bummed about my foot. I had decided to get up Monday morning and make a Drs appointment. I really didn't know what else to do but I knew if it was a bad injury that running on it would only make it worse. Well when I woke up Monday my foot was feeling so much better. It felt more like the aches and pains you have if you are on your feet all day. I decided to go another route and go get new shoes. I went to Runners North and the guy out there was great. We tried on some different shoes and did some running and I am feeling confident this will help. I will be honest I did a little fasting and praying on Sunday. I know this is an answer to my prayers. To some that may seem something crazy to fast and pray for but this is something I feel like I have worked so hard for! I am still doing tons of icing and elevating when I can. I really wanted to get out on a run today but my husband told me not to. I am going to give it a few more days and see how I am feeling and then probably get out and see how it feels maybe Friday or Saturday. I am going to forgo running my 22 at least for now. If I continue to feel this good I will do the half in a week and half and see how I feel after that. If I feel good enough I will try and do a 22 the week after that. I hope I can do the 22, but if not as long as I can run the marathon I will be happy :).

August 14, 2011

So I am starting to wonder if I have lost my mind. My foot started feeling better towards the end of the week and I was going to try and get out Thursday but had a schedule conflict so I decided I would just run 12 on Saturday. I was camping so I just ran down the canyon for 10 miles and then back up for two. The 10 miles felt great and I was hitting some nice times on my miles. My foot was hurting but not unbearable so I decided to keep going. There was a couple of times I got some sharp pains but they were short and I felt like I would be ok. The last 2 miles up hill about done me in but I finished and in a super good time that got me all excited for the half in two weeks. I got back to camp and relaxed and tried to elevate as much as possible. I stuck my foot in the river for a minute but talk about frost bite :). When I got ready to leave early afternoon, by foot was sore but I wouldn't call it pain so I was pretty excited. We decided to go to the fair that night and that was a big mistake. My foot was killing me by the time we left and I seriously wondered if I would make it to my car. We got there, I got home elevated and iced my foot. Today I woke up and this is when I realized my stupidity. I haven't done much down hill running. I am talking very little. In fact, it is something I had planned on doing a little more so the Half didn't kill me. Well I got out of the bed this morning and I don't know which hurts more my foot or thighs. OUCH! I am seriously so sore and I had to laugh at myself a little. I didn't want to look like a wimp at church so I was trying so hard not to limp but I don't think it worked :(. I honestly at this point don't know what to do. Everyone keeps telling me to go to the doctor but I guess I am scared he will tell me something is really wrong. I can live not doing the half, and in fact have kind of told myself it might not be the best idea but to not do the marathon seriously brings me to tears. I feel like I have worked towards this for a year. I knew after the half was over last year that I wanted to do the full. I even toyed with trying it last year but didn't feel like that was the best idea. I tried to keep my running up all winter so when I started out I would start strong. I have felt so good after all my runs and minus some (what I feel is normal) soreness and tiredness I have felt great. My foot has never hurt in the past and it didn't hurt during the 20 miles. So why after? Why after I was rested and should have felt great. I don't know whether to go to a doctor because I honestly don't like medication. Don't get me wrong I know it has its place but I don't feel like it is natural so I don't want to go and just get drugged up. If there is something really wrong, I can live with that but I worry that they will just say try ibuprofen or something and that isn't going to fix it. I feel like that will mask the pain and even maybe set me up for further injury. I wish someone would just tell me what to do. I have asked a few runners and of course they really don't know what the pain is like so they can't tell me what to do. I am relying pray at this point. Wish me luck and pray that I will get better so I can do the only two races I have planned this year ;).

August 8, 2011 Part 2

Ha ha! I spoke too soon. I got up to do a few things and my foot is hurting already. If you have any suggestions I am open to anything!

August 8, 2011

I ran my 20 on Saturday. It was a little harder than I expected but I finished and I ran the whole time. I started out strong and it was nice and cool so I couldn't have asked for better conditions. My goal was to finish under 3 hours. I figure if I could do the 20 in 3 hours that would give me an hour to play with 6 extra miles. I met my goal so that was good! My SIL road her bike with me again and I really needed the encouragement the last mile and a half. When I am done and looking back it always cracks me up how hard that last mile to two miles is. I know that my body is tired and stuff but it really is the mental game at the end that gets me. I know I have such a short time yet I want to quit so bad. I was really tired on Saturday after the run. I know I need to get a few more calories in me during my run. I tried to do a granola bar this week and that wasn't happening. Trying to chew that and swallow was just too hard. I only had one bite so that didn't help me much. I think the gew is the way to go. I will just have to do small amount but at least I don't have to chew :). Later that day my foot started hurting. It started hurting a lot. I tried to stay off of it as much as possible but that is hard with little ones. Yesterday was not any better I was hoping after a nights rest it would feel better but it hurt all day. I tried laying down and icing it as much as possible. The ice definitely helps but once I am up for very long it is hurting again. This really makes me nervous. My knees hurt some but they have always hurt but this is so out of the blue. It didn't hurt while I was running at all or even when I finished. It was hours after I was done it started hurting. I decided to take some ibuprofen last night to see if it is just inflamed if that will help. Taking medicine always makes me nervous because I don't want to mask an injury with meds. I iced before going to bed and this morning it doesn't hurt at all. I am going to take it easy today and hope I can keep running this week. If not I feel like I am far enough into my training that I can take off a few days and let it heal. I would much rather not run a few times and be a little slower than not be able to run at all :). Wish me luck I have a 22 in two weeks and the half is in 3 weeks!

August 2, 2011

Wow! August already and the half is only 3 1/2 weeks away. I am not worried about it all since I have done several 13s now and I ran an 18 not last Saturday but the Saturday before. I really had planned on sitting down and writing right after I ran because it was so amazing. my SIL road her bike with me the whole way and it was seriously so great! My friend also joined at mile 8. Having so much support is so wonderful. I am so thankful to those that have supported me and helped me a long the way. My 18 went extremely well I think. I had Powerade waiting for me again at like mile 9 and 16. My SIL also brought a gew (how ever you spell / say that) along for me. I only did half at a time. I did the first half about 10.5 and it wasn't too bad. Both my support riders told me to take it and drink water so that is what I did. I took more at mile 12.5ish and I thought I was going to puke. I obviously didn't get quite half the first time so the second time was more than a mouthful causing me to gag but I was able to keep it down. After my first drink of Powerade I seriously felt so good. I think it was at mile 11 I told my support team. I can't believe I have ran this far and I feel great and can still talk! About 16.5 miles my body really started feeling it. I tend to get really crampy, like menstrual cramps, on my long runs. That definitely hit and my hips were really hurting by the end. I came home and loaded up on chocolate milk and let water run over my legs for a few minutes. I don't know if you have done that before but I HIGHLY recommend it. I read it in one of my runners newsletters and I can't believe how much it helps. Having the cool helps slow the blood flow and makes it so the blood doesn't puddle in your legs. It is hard to describe but it feels so good and my legs felt like a million bucks after. Ok maybe not that good but there is definitely a difference.  My right knee has been hurting a little after my runs. I have been trying to ice it some to try and help it. I hope it will heel itself so it doesn't cause me any problems during the rest of my training. Over all I feel like training is going well. I have a 20 on Saturday that I am looking forward to!

July 11, 2011

I can't believe how fast time is going! Training has been amazing. I ended up doing two 9.5 and a 13 that week in my last post. All of those runs went much better than the 11.3 the Saturday before! I averaged 8:31 per mile on the 13. I was pretty happy with that! This last week I did two 6's and a 16. I was planning doing more during the week but since Andy had to work early all week I could only get in 6 before he left for work. I have also found that I feel great only running 3 times a week. I know that most training's will have you at least run 4 but I feel like if I can run 3 and feel good then I am going to keep that up. I know the training I am doing wants you to run about every day, but I just don't think that will happen for me. On Saturday, when I did my 16. I was pretty nervous. I think I almost made myself sick worrying about it. Friday I even started to have a sore throat and I was thinking seriously this run has to be good tomorrow. I woke up and it still was a tiny bit sore but I popped in some gum and started. I had to hit a bathroom break at 3 and 9 miles. I wish I really could cut those out but oh well. I was so thankful to get a text from a friend at mile 8 saying she was going to join me! I seriously had just been thinking I wanted to text her and tell her I really needed her but knew I couldn't :(. It was honestly an answer to my prayers. She even brought me ice cold water! I had Powerade and water waiting for me at mile 9 and 14. That was a welcome treat as well :). About mile 12ish, I was getting tired but still plugging away. I ended in 2 hours 18 min and some odd seconds. It was great. That averages out to be 8:38 per mile. I was so happy with that. I kind of set goals before I go out and I am really hoping to average under 9 until at least mile 20 so I have a little room to play when I actually run the marathon. My goal for the marathon is under 4 hours. I honestly don't care if it is 3:59:59 :). I also want to run the whole way. This weeks training is a little easier thank goodness. I will probably only get two runs in because we are headed on vacation. I did a 6 this morning and was a little slower than normal but I think I am still recovering from the 16. I am shotting for 11 on Wednesday!

June 28, 2011

Well I officially started my training today. I really probably should have started yesterday but couldn't drag my lazy butt out of bed :). I ran 11.3 on Saturday and I was pretty sure it was going to kill me. It was by far the WORST run I have ever had. I was planning on getting up at 6 and going because the weather has finally got nice! WHAOO! But I stayed up late watching a movie and woke up at 7:30. I was so bummed but knew I had to go. So I got ready and headed out the door. It was hot to me immediately, but the funny thing of it was when I got back I looked at the temp in my car and it said 61 degrees so it wasn't so hot that I needed to feel the way I did. I know it was totally a mind game. In my mind I wanted to be done by 8 but knew it would be 9:30 now so I was just bummed to begin with. I forget sometimes all the mind games there are with running and the mind games definitely won on Saturday. I was planning going 12 but my body shut down when I stopped at 11.3 for a drink :(.

This morning I got up and got going at 6. I was planning on going 9 but ended up doing 9.5. I felt good most of the run. I did have to stop for a potty break. I was very thankful my In-laws were on the way. It amazes me how hard it is to get going after those stops. Sometimes I wonder if that is just a mind game too because sometimes I will stop a couple blocks from home because I have reached my distance and don't want to run one more minute but then I will walk half a block and run the rest of the way home because walking is too slow :) I seriously can't believe there are 12 weeks until the marathon. I am so excited and nervous all at the same time.

June 20, 2011

Gymnastics is over so I should hopefully be more consistent. I did two fives last week and missed my long run due to state. Official training starts next week... Wish me luck :).

June 11, 2011

I have tried to kick my running into high gear this week. I got up and ran 5 yesterday and did a 10 today. I was a little slower than I wanted to be on my 10 today, but for the most part felt great. It is now down to 3 months until the big marathon. I really do love running but I really wish I was past the training and just ready for the big race day. I am glad I will have the TOU half in August to look forward to.

June 9, 2011

I seriously can't believe that I haven't updated this for over a month, but in all reality I have been slacking off for about that long. It is gymnastics season so my runs have been few and far between. I have only been running 1 to 2 times a week and I even went 10 days without running :(. I got back to it this week. I ran a 5 Tuesday night and a 4 last night. I got the training schedule I am going to be using. Here is the link:

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-244-255-9215-0,00.html

Luckily I have a friend that customized it to me so I will really start training soon, but for now I am just going to try and find a schedule I can do 4 - 5 times a week and then increase the runs as suggested. I can't believe there is only 14 weeks until race day! Whahoo! I am excited to run and excited to get it over with.

May 7, 2011

I ran a 12 today. It was pretty good for the most part. I need to figure out a better plan for dropping water / drinks. I just was dead at about 10.5 miles. I think if I would have had a little more to drink I would have felt a lot better. I felt good about my time and am feeling a little tired today but good. I think I will try and do a 14 in the next few weeks.

May 6, 2011

I thought since I gave a little update yesterday, I would let you know how my five went yesterday. Not quite as good as my run on Tuesday. I ate a lighter breakfast and lunch because I knew we were having a big dinner and I just don't think I had enough gas to go on. I found though that I like going up hills almost as much as I like coming down them. For some reason when I come down I get a lot of side aches. The hills are just hard in general, but I usually have little to no pain. Running outside is such a great thing. I even did my run without my iPod because it was dead. This weather is wonderful and I love to focus on all the beauty out doors.

May 5, 2011

My SIL asked me the other day if I only update the blog when I am running. Fortunately, I could answer no. I have been trying to run at least two 5 mile runs and one 10 or 12 mile run a week. Every week is different, but I am still running. Last week I ran two fives and a ten. It all went really good. Tuesday I ran a 5 on my tread mill and seriously felt amazing. I have had a few people tell me if I ate healthier I would run faster / feel better and my response to them in my head was I kicked your butt so why not worry about your self :), but in all honesty they were both right. I have been watching what I eat this week and could already tell a difference on Tuesday. I am excited to hit the road today and do a 5. I am curious to see if I feel as good or even better today. For all those interested, I am tracking my fitness and calories at sparkpeople.com. I love the website and I am trying to practice what I preach. I have friends all the time telling me that they have started exercising and haven't lost any weight. I have read a few sources that say you lose more if you are tracking your intake (food diary). I was getting discouraged because I have been running quite a bit and was facing the same thing. My weight was staying the same or going up. I decided that I had to be eating more than I realized and trust me if you aren't tracking, unless you do not like to eat, you are probably eating too much!!

April 20, 2011

I swear my running is getting more and more sporadic but I have decided I am just going to try running 3 days a week for a while and see how that goes. I ran two fives and a 10 last week. The 10 was probably the best I have had in a while. In the past I have dreaded not listening to my IPOD but didn't turn it on right a way and it was like mile 5 before I realized I hadn't. It was very nice to listen to my surrounding and just enjoy being out doors. It gave me a lot of time to think and reflect on things I wanted to change. My husband was suppose to bring me a drink because I didn't have time to drop one and I wanted to get going before it was too late. He called me when I was 1/2 a mile from home saying he couldn't find me. I really felt great the whole time and even finally got a mile under 8 minutes.

Last night I went for a run and had to push two of my kids. I only ended up running 3.7 miles and had a break in between to drop one of my kids off at soccer practice. I won't be doing that again. I was surprised how much harder the two were than just the one I normally go with.

I also talked to a friend after my 10 mile run and he said I was good to kind of keep up this pace until the middle of June and then really kick up the training. I will probably continue to run 10s and 12s at least until then. Depending on what my Saturdays bring I really would like to get in at least a 14 before the middle of June but my weekends are going to get crazy here for the next couple of months so we will see.

April 10, 2011

Since I have been great at writing about my accomplishments I thought I should be as good to write about my failures. This week has definitely been one of them!! I ran twice. Yep you heard my correct. Twice. I ran a 5 on Wednesday and a 5 on Saturday. I have been trying to read as much as I can about running lately because although I do it often I am a beginner for sure and with out my trusty trainer I am worried I will make some major mistakes while training for this marathon. One thing I read was to make sure I didn't get discouraged if I missed a long run, or a run or even a week of running. So although I definitely slacked off this week I am not going to get down I am just going to move a head and be glad I have plenty of time to make it up.  So here is to a better week and more motivation and good weather I think would help too :).

April 2, 2011

I ran 12 today. What a work out :). Seriously I thought I was ready for this but some how about mile 7 I got off and was thinking I was at mile 8. Really who does that? Obviously me. So anyone out there that might not get this it is really hard to be a mile behind what you think you are but I recovered and kept going. the first 8 miles (with the exception of the being off a mile thing) was true bliss. It felt great. I was cruising along loving life and then then I turned up 4th East to head home and then I realized why the first 8 miles were bliss I had a tail wind (Is that right?). Well yeah then I turned around and was running into the wind. Is this normal when you are running south? It seems to be lately and is quite annoying. My friend was watching  the girls and I was oh so tempted to call her and say hey will you come pick me up. No I wasn't going to cut my run short I was just going to head north 4 more miles and be happy. I decided what wouldn't kill me would only make me stronger plus I had a drink waiting for me that was CALLING my name. I did it. It was hard as usually but now I am done and feel great. I was proud of my time. It was 1:43. Which is only three minutes slower than the half I ran last year and this was definitely (I hope) not one of my best runs. Maybe I can beat that time come August. I am still doing five during the week but I can't decide if I should bump this up. I really need to get over to a friends and ask him what he would do.

March 19, 2011

I ran 10 miles on Saturday. It is funny to me how I always look forward to my long runs and then as I am running them I wonder why :). When I woke up on Saturday it was a little cold and it looked like it might storm so I knew I wanted to wait a few hours but didn't want to wait long or it might storm on me. I left around 11 and it was windy but the temperature was actually really nice.  The first couple of miles were great and then from mile 2 - 5 I was running slightly up hill and into the wind. What!? I obviously didn't plan my run to well :).  I wondered if I was just being a wimp but when I mentioned the wind to my husband and how bad it was he was like I know I was out in it too and I can't believe you were running. I hit mile 4 and I thought I might not make it to five but it leveled out a little and I was able to get to five. At mile 5, I turned around and yes down hill with a little wind behind me! My thighs and butt were on fire. I really didn't feel that out of shape, but I was feeling it today. I realized what an amateur I am when I realized at mile 6 I hadn't eaten and I didn't drop water any where! Luckily my BIL was at his house that I ran by and I called and he brought me out some water! What a life saver!! When I got back to my SIL that had my kids I just laid on the grass for a minute. It felt great to be done! I was tired most of the day and my lower back was killing me. I remember these feelings from the first of last year when I started running. Hopefully it will get a little easier once I get a few more miles under my belt. On a little more exciting note, I realized what an accomplishment this was a little later in the day when I realized I had never ran that far by myself. If this isn't anything exceptional to you it was for me. I have been a little worried about training for the marathon without my own personal trainer like I had last year. It made me realize I can do this all on my own. What a great day!

March 5, 2011

Saturday was a great day here as far as weather goes, but I had a list of things I wanted to do and running wasn't really one of them. Which is funny because I sent in my registration for TOU that morning. As I was driving home that morning, I saw a neighbor out running and thought man I really should make time for a run today. Baby B has been sick so she wasn't thinking me leaving was a great idea so my hubby thought it sounded like a great idea to push Baby B in the stroller. I really wanted to do at least 9 but I quickly talked myself out of that if I was going to be pushing a stroller. I decided 7 pushing a stroller had to be the equivalent of running 9 by myself right? It actually went really well for about 4.5 miles and then on a little hill I got the worst side ache. OUCH! I couldn't decide whether to stop and try and walk it off or try running through it and see if it would go away. About a quarter mile into it I decided to pray that it would go a way and that I could finish my run. It was close to mile 6 but it did go away. I had some really slow miles in there but was still pleased to be averaging 9 minute miles.

March 4, 2011

Running! Such an interesting thing to me. I started run 5 miles the 1st of March. I guess I haven't really said much about my training schedule but I am going to do one a friend in my ward suggested. It is pretty simple. Run a certain number of miles Monday - Friday (my case 5 now) and double on Saturday. Yeah the doubling hasn't been happening with the weather and I refuse to do it on a treadmill. I usually get 4 days of running in and hopefully that will turn to 5 once the weather is nice. Any way, back to running in general. The fives have been killing me. I can't figure out why. I know part of it is I got in a slump and haven't been running as much, but the other thing I am thinking is diet. My SIL motivates me and I don't think she realizes but after a conversation with her the other day I decided I needed to make some changes. Funny how when you put your mind to something you can do it. I have improved my diet a little (ok drastic to me) I have cut out the oreo's. I have always liked them but lately it has been ridiculous.  I am a total chocolate person but lately my down fall has been cookies. I went to Wal-mart and although they were screaming my name I ran out as fast as I could with some yogurt and am feeling much better. Really! In just a few days I really can feel a difference. I think the running thing will take some time, but I did 5 outside today and it was much better than my 5 yesterday on the treadmill. I always think that running will get easier but it really hasn't. It kicks my butt every time I go out. Sometimes (like coming off the hill at first dam) I feel like I can fly. Other times I look at the road ahead of me and think I don't know if I can make it to the end of the block. When it is over, I look at my times and distance and I think really I did that. It feels great to have that accomplishment. I wish everyone could feel that. I wish everyone could run. It seriously is amazing and I really do love it!

February 16, 2011

I ran on my treadmill Monday and it wasn't too bad. I got to go outside again today. My husband had told me it was suppose to blow really hard so I might want to go before it got to bad. I started out running and I had wore a jacket. Hello I didn't know it was quite that warm outside today. I knew I needed to get rid of the jacket and quick so I dropped it and headed up to the dam. This is all slightly up hill and usually the wind is coming out of the canyon but the wind wasn't bad at all. Until I turned around. Again that through me for a little loop, I always count on that down hill and wind behind me coming back to boost my average speed a little. The back of my legs started hurting around mile three. I did stretch before I went out but I just think this up and down is really tuning some muscles that haven't been used on my treadmill. At mile 4, the good stuff kicked in and for about a half mile I felt like I was running on air. I saw my old running partner and was really said she wasn't with me, but felt good at the same time that she saw me at the height of feeling great! That lasted for a good half mile ( I was hoping it would stick with me at least the last mile :) ) and then it was just a count down until I was done. I am really ready for that great day where I feel like a million bucks but I think getting outside again is a little more of an adjustment than I thought.

February 12, 2011

I hit the road today literally. Today was the first day I have ran outside since November. It was suppose to be so great because I have been complaining about how hard the treadmill is, but it wasn't quite as great as I was hoping. I started out great. Looking down at my watch my pace was 7:20. I thought oh yeah! Then I hit the dug way and things started going down hill quick (or up hill I guess depending on how you look at it ;) ). I have been running flat on my treadmill so I knew the hills would be a challenge but I really wondered if I would make it up it. Luckily I did. After that I felt pretty good for a while and then this guy ran past me like I was standing still. REALLY?! Granted I was only 8 something according to my watch but seriously :). For some reason when people pass me it always kind of throws me for a loop. After that it was good until about mile 5 and then I was wondering if would ever end and then my watch died. I know I count on it a little too much but I was bummed. I knew it would die but there was a little hope that it would hold out for the 8 miles I had planned on. I still felt good with my time. My cell said 12:01 when I left and I got back at 1:04. According to map my run I was right under 8 miles so I averaged a little over a 8 min miles. Running is funny to me though looking back on this today I think it really wasn't that bad :).

Introduction

I think for most people that will be reading this know my story, but for those of you that don't. Here it is. About a year ago I started running with a friend. I have never been a runner and never wanted to be a runner, but after having my third baby and nearing her first birthday I knew I had to do something or I would start packing on the pounds. When I heard a friend was running I decided I would try it. Another friend had once told me that it seemed like after she worked up to 4 miles she started to see a change in her body. After I ran that first time I decided I wanted to try and run 4 miles with out stopping. I was surprised when I was able to work my self up to 4 miles shortly after starting. Once I was able to run 4, I decide I would ask another friend if she wanted to go running. We start running together and before long with out knowing it I was training for the Top Of Utah Half Marathon.  I ran the TOU Half last August and I am hooked. I am determined I have to run a marathon once in my life so I am shooting for the TOU Marathon this September. I started this blog because I want to be able to look back and see what runs I did and how I felt!