I am still alive -really...

You know there's been ENOUGH winter when...























Slacker Slacker Slacker!!!

ME!

This winter has been a bigger challenge to keep running for me than last year. Last year I was out in the very freezin' temps nearly every day. I was a he-woman! This year I have been a she-man. Not sure what that means but it seems like it would be the opposite of he-woman and so I am going to use it.


Last year my cut off temp was 11 degrees. This year it started about 28 and then kept going up, and now it's about 40! I am not a fan of the cold. I did my best and went out as frequently as my wimpy body would tolerate, but then I discovered the treadmill. I have never owned a treadmill. Now I know why. When the weather got to be too dangerous with ice packed roads and snow covered streets, I decided to stay at the gym after my Body Sculpt (weight training) class and run on the treadmill. I never run farther than about three miles on it though and so I know I am losing some of my stamina. I have learned one thing though....I HATE THE TREADMILL!

I don't like to see how far I still have left to go when I am already feeling like killing over. When I am outside running it isn't an issue how much time I have left. I know how much farther I have to go and that has never been something I focus on when I am outside. There is something to be said for fresh air and being out in the world around others. They also added two cardio classes at the gym that I attend each week that helps to substitute for a couple of runs. I enjoy them even if it is a pain to get up at 5:30 a.m. five days a week now.

There hasn't been any races to train for either and so that has contributed to my lack of motivation to get out as well. I was asked to be part of a team for the Wasatch Back in June or July and I am having serious doubts if I can do it or not. It sounds very grueling, in many ways harder than a marathon. I have been really stressing about that.

I just want winter to END so I can get back out there and enjoy my runs again! Has anyone else ever got in a winter rut before? I hope I haven't lost too much in my slump!

Snowman Shuffle

The SNOWMAN SHUFFLE 5K was held last Saturday. The weather was a little chilly, but right before the race the sun came out in all it's glory and really warmed things up. It was no comparison to last year when we ran in a flippin' blizzard! This year was so much better.
They had approximately 140 runners. I was happy that I got 2nd in my age division. 42nd overall. But disappointed that I ran 14 seconds faster last year. My time was 27:52. Last year it was 27.38. With the conditions being so much better I thought I would be faster this year. But I guess it makes a big difference in my training. I haven't been running as much this past month as I usually do and it takes it toll. I have had a harder time climatizing this year for some reason. I do not enjoy going out in the bitter cold at all!


This year I paced myself much better than last year. Last year I started out fast thinking I could maintain that pace the entire race. I was wrong. I had to slow down and even walk for a short distance, which is taboo for me. I really had a hard time getting back into my grove after that. This year I started out even more slowly than I normally do because I wanted to conserve some energy for the big hill. I maintained that pace pretty much the entire route. I did push it down the hill to make up for lost time going up the blasted thing, and I got a killer side ache about a half mile into it, but was able to relieve it after about another half mile.

Ready to run!

Here we are with this year's sweatshirts. They are much cuter than last years, but I wish they would make them in women's sizes instead of just mens!

Julie crossing the finish line in all her elf-dom.

Here I am accepting my 2nd place ribbon. Last year I didn't even place in the top three. So even though I was 14 seconds under last year, I was happy. They also widened our age range this year due to the large number of runners. There was a span of seven years in my category. I didn't beat my record, but I still placed.

Mike, Andrew, and Neil also ran it. I was bummed because Andrew and Niel's time was better than mine this race and I always finish before they do. I think they have been training harder!

Cheese!

All in all it was a fun run. I am pretty sure the weather will never be better for this run than it was this year. We were all shedding our jackets before the finish line and there were several runners in shorts and tank tops. Pretty unusual for a Utah December run! My lungs weren't even burning this year running up the very steep and very long killer hill! Can't wait until next year... or can I?

Turkey Trot!

Today was the annual ...

I wasn't totally set on running it this year since my running has been almost non-existent the past two weeks. I was afraid I wouldn't be conditioned enough to run the 4 miles at a fast pace especially in the cold. I am not a fan of running in the cold!

But my friend Julie called me early this morning and said she was going to do it and so I decided I would too. We headed to the park and registered.

I was happy to see Kiela (one of my Young Women girls) registering too! She is on the far left.

No - registering isn't this much fun....we were just having a moment (inside joke!)

Here we are getting ready to line-up looking all fresh and spry!!!

Here is Julie AFTER the 4 miles not looking so fresh and spry. She finished with a huge amount of blood on her shoe! She wasn't sure what was going on because she didn't feel any pain. Looking at the blood was pain enough for me! When she removed her shoe and sock, she discovered that one of her toenails had been cutting into the side of one of her toes. Ouch! I was amazed at the amount of blood that could produce! She really is a trooper!!!

My time was 34:53

One second off from last year! Unfortunately it was one second slower instead of faster. But, oh well... I survived and I finished. In fact...

I WON a Pumpkin Pie because I took 2nd!!!

I was happy because I took 3rd last year.

As I was running I was so excited because I knew I was in the lead of those in my age division. That was until about a half a mile into it when I saw Jennifer D. pass me! As she ran past me I said GOODBYE to my TURKEY! The first place winner in each age division won a turkey. DANG! Maybe next year!

Kiela won 1st in her age division! Woo-hoo!

This is a photo of all those in our ward that ran it. Here we are looking like we are getting ready to go to a ward dinner! They gave out pies to some of those that didn't place since they had extras. Mike (the tall guy) got 3rd and Julie did too.

By that last half mile I was thinking they should change the name from the

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to the

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I was feeling a little wobbly! But, I am glad I did it. The pie was heavenly!!!

Spooktacular Run

Today I ran the Spooktacular 5K in Mantua. I had never ran this one before and it sounded fun since I am HUGE Halloween fan. I mainly wanted the shirt, but they ran out because they weren't expecting such a large turnout and so they promised to mail them. I didn't decide to do it until yesterday. It was either this or a long run today. I thought this sounded much funner!

I was pretty jazzed though because I took 1st Place in my age division!!! And 18th overall.

My time was 27:08 which isn't my best for a 5K, but I wasn't surprised because the altitude is higher in Mantua (in the mountains) and the first part was pretty rigorous with some major and looooong lasting hills! I was definitely struggling more to breath on this race. It was one of (if not thee) hardest 5k's I have done so far due to the hills and altitude. The temp was pretty chilly. I think at race start time it was somewhere in the high 30's. Brrrr...... Can I just say once again that I am NOT ready for winter! Bring back the heat!

Julie also ran it. Here we are before the race showing our muscles toughness.


Running through the campground.

CHEESE!!! Look at that hair! What a boof!

It was a beautiful course and a gorgeous (though cold) fall day.

Julie nearing the finish line.

My 1st place ribbon and the cookies I won. Yes - cookies! Wouldn't want those calories I burned during the run to not be immediately replaced now would we? Hmm....seems like granola bars would be more appropriate! Oh well, I was just grateful for anything since I didn't get my shirt! It was well organzied and they had a great turnout. I would guess about 75-80 or so runners in the 5K and about 40 in the Kids K. There were about 10-12 in my age division...(age 40-49). It made me excited and motivated to get planning the Memorial Run for Tyson!

We did it!

It really was...

What a Slacker!

I can't believe what a total slacker I have been about posting on here, as well as reading all my favorite other running blogs! I think without a huge goal in mind (aka MARATHON!), I just didn't have a lot of motivation to post.

BUT, I have still kept up my running. I probably average about 20 miles a week. Some weeks more and some less. This week will be fitting into the less category. I pulled a muscle in my back at the gym on Friday morning and so that has put me out of commission for a while I am fretting. I guess I can't complain because it was PERFECT timing considering winter decided to show up early this year...yeah like on FRIDAY! It snowed this weekend and today's morning temperature was 27 degrees! YOWZA! That is a bone chiller morning. I have to admit I was glad I had a good excuse not to attempt a run this morning. I know I am not even close to being climatized and I dread getting used to running in the cold again. Didn't I just barely DO that? Summer just flew! Mainly because where I live we didn't get spring. Winter decided to ENDURE and ENDURE until about June, when it suddenly decided it was time for summer. Now, we aren't getting our fair share of fall! It seriously went from being in the 80's to almost overnight in the 20's! It only confirms to me I really hate winter! So WHY do I live in a place that has winter for nearly six months out of 12? Who knows? I'm crazy that way I guess. If I could I would be a running

for those six months and only run when it's warm! But, then I would miss some of my favorite things that occur ONCE I am climatized, like running when the snow is softly falling, feeling the peace and quiet of a winter morning, and being able to be outside and soak in that little bit of sun that does shine through every so often. I have come to NEED the time I spend outdoors, no matter the temperature. Being outside just somehow restores my soul and gives me what I need to feel good inside and out. I can tell a big difference in my mood when I am not able to get outdoors and enjoy nature. Just being outside for even a short walk does my mind and body wonders. Sooo....I will quit my griping about the cold and just focus on how much better I will feel after I force myself out in those freezing temps! I promise...At least once my back feels a little better! Who knows by then maybe it will have warmed up some!!! I can always hope!

Peach Days 10K

I have been such a slacker about posting on here as of late. So much so that when I went to post the Peach Days 10K results I did it on here instead! What does that tell you??? I decided it would be much easier to link to it than re-do the whole thing. I could copy and paste but photos don't like to do that! Sooooo.... for the FULL story please go HERE.





Here are a few photos so I will at least have some record of it on here!

The cool t-shirt and my medal!

Almost there!

My official time was posted as 53:43! I shaved over three minutes off of my time from last year!

I won third in my age division!!! WOOT!

Mirian, Me, and Julie

Jen brought me these amazing flowers!!! I still can't believe she did that!

PURPLE MAN!!! To read more about him go to the link above!

It was a great, although tough race this year. I am glad I did it and I am once again looking forward to next year!

Top of Utah Half Marathon!

Oh the aching feet! The sore knees! The screaming hamstrings! The painful hip flexors! The entire aching body! That's what you get when you decide to run 13.1 miles without any walking breaks. And get it good, you do! Trust me on that...

I ran the Top of Utah Half Marathon on Saturday and it WAS GREAT!!! A much better experience than my first one, although I think I was much more prepared and trained for that than this one. Now, when I say it was great, keep it in mind that I do NOT mean the time spent running. No, no, no.... the great part is the fact that I DID it and FINISHED and had a great time! Not to mention the fact that I wasn't part of the road kill we saw along the way!

The best part was Jen decided at the last minute to run it too! She has been having some knee issues and wasn't sure if she could, but she did! I was so glad I didn't have to go it alone. We stayed together and kept each other going the entire distance. It was quite the experience from the get go. Jen picked me up at 5 a.m. and then we drove the 30 minutes to the park where registration was. It was pretty nippy, but that didn't stop all those crazies from doing it. They bused us up to the starting point and then we stood in line for the porta potties. That was an act of bravery in itself because these were much more "scent" sational then most. I did get some good lung strengthening while inside it though because I couldn't (or wouldn't!) breath! As soon as we finished our business, we were smashed as tight as sardines waiting for the starting gun to go off. We wanted to move to the back, but it was impossible to even turn or move in anyway. Talk about squished! It was crazy! I am not sure, but I think there was close to 1500 runners!

Still very dark. We had to be on the buses by 6:15 a.m.

That's Jen smiling wondering what in the heck we were thinking!

I didn't get a very good shot of the porta potties. There were 10 times this many!

As we were riding the looooong bus ride up, I was looking out the window thinking how VERY, VERY far it was and I was going to run it???? We rode the exact route we would be running, only in reverse. Jen told me to try and not think about that. Very good idea. Before we began, I noticed my iPod's little light was on which means the battery is near death. GREAT! I had forgot to charge it! I was not happy! I have to have my running songs during these long runs or I might die. Really, I might! I actually almost forgot to even bring it with me entirely. I was just not as prepared for this run as my last one. It's a miracle I remembered my running shoes! I decided I would hold off on turning on the iPod until mile 10 1/2 where the mile and half hill began. I knew I would need it most then.

Patiently waiting for the gun!

As soon as we started out, I got a really nasty side ache and it just wouldn't go away. I wish I knew what caused those things so I could somehow learn to avoid them. I ran with it for about the first two miles and then it decided it wanted to switch to my other side. And switch it did. After another mile or two, it finally went away. Thankfully! The course was GORGEOUS and it was a lot of down hill while we were in the canyon. I wonder if that is why my feet felt like they were literally on fire for most of it. My knees are obviously not used to the down hill and so they started to hurt about mile seven. The temperature was perfect and we had a wonderful and refreshing light breeze. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was 60 degrees when we finished. We saw some interesting road kill in the canyon including two skunks, one unidentifiable animal, and we counted up to 14 smashed snakes. Counting the dead snakes helped to keep my mind off my lack of tunes. I was just grateful I didn't end up as part of the road kill! Even though there were a few times I actually wish I had. There were more than a few times that I really wanted to quit.

I took this as we were running...

Looks a little tired don't ya think? Hee hee

Neither of us took a watch and so we had absolutely NO idea how were doing with time. We decided that this was going to be a FUN RUN (the biggest oxymoron around btw!) and that if we had our watches then we would be worrying about our time and trying to push it harder. So since we liberated ourselves from them, we just went with the flow. Neither of us stopped to walk at all, and only slowed down while at the aid stations to drink some Gatorade and eat an orange slice. On the very last aid station at mile 11, I actually stopped to drink it and I noticed my legs completely stiffened up on me. I was getting real tired by then and Jen said she was too. But we kept on moving knowing that we only two more miles to go. The uphill at the end was pure cruelty on the race organizers part! I think every single race I have ever ran always ends with the last stretch being uphill! Why do they do that? I figure they must not be long distance runners or they would make sure it was always downhill! Same concept of a man designing kitchen appliances or bras!

This was about mile 11. We had lots of people cheering us on! Thankfully!

When I saw that finish line way in the distance, it was a sight for sore eyes legs. Dave had brought McKay and Taylor to cheer me across it. I was grateful for their support. I am amazed how much it boosts me when I see even total strangers along the route cheering me on. It really helps. The best part was my time was 2:02:04!!!! Not bad at all for an old woman! I was excited about that. I was hoping to finish by at least 2:10. Jen and I checked out the trophies because they are so unique and not your typical trophy. They are these Aztec looking runners on a rock. Pretty cool. I have to say I was coveting one! We didn't stay for the awards because with over a thousand runners, what is the point? In my mind there was no way I even stood a chance for an award. In this race they give awards to the top six in each age division, which I think is great. Most races only give out the top three. When I got home and checked out my place on the website, it said I came in SEVENTH in my age division! OH! How sad!!! That meant I only had to run 56 seconds faster to have placed sixth and receive one of those cool trophies because the sixth place runner was 56 sec. ahead of me. If she had been three or four minutes faster, then I wouldn't have cared so much. But 56 sec! I could have easily cut that off my time. IF I had only known. Oh well...coming in seventh out of 45 or more is pretty encouraging to me even if I didn't get one of those cool trophies! But dang! Actually double dang because some of them were purple!!!

The TOTALLY AWESOME TROPHIES!!!!

I was so completely tired and exhausted when I got home. I took a Celebrex immediately upon walking in the door, but I think I should have taken it before the race. I wasn't too sore...yet! But oh boy! I was directly after! My knees were the sorest they have ever been. This is a new thing to me to be so incredibly sore. I really couldn't walk without looking like I am 90 years old. I iced the knees, hoping that would help somewhat. I didn't feel any relief until Sunday morning, but then my quads were sooooooooooo sore! I think my entire body is pretty angry at me for putting it through that! Walking downstairs is a joke unless I go backwards. Even then it takes me four times longer than it should. I am now kicking myself for not following Jeff Galloway's plan of walking one minute for each mile you run. He claims that will totally eliminate any soreness after. Next time.... WHAT? Did I say next time??? I must be also having some kind of mental distress along with the physical or I wouldn't have said that! However, during the run I decided running a full is not for me. There is NO way I could have added 13 MORE miles to that run and still be among the living. BUT....today, I am now thinking I could do it if I was trained well enough. Crazy! Totally insane I know!!! But... isn't that what all runners are? I am beginning to really believe that! Well, crazy in a sane sort of way.

Here we come....almost there!

Trying to wave and run at the same time....surprised I didn't trip!

Almost to the finish line!!! Whew...

WE DID IT!!! I think we look a little bushed!

Trying to recover

My fans!

This place was packed!

Totally crazy!

Using our last bit of energy to grab the Gatorade!

Here I am back at home icing my knees.

My buddy McKay letting me hold him!

I wrote most of this on Saturday, and I am posting it on Monday night. I am still pretty sore. Yesterday it was torture to sit down or to stand back up. Talk about screaming quads and hamstrings! Today I am finally able to walk without looking like I broke something!

Overall, the experience was great! I am glad I went through with it even though I really needed a bit more training. Next time I want to run it under two hours. Yep, there is that "next time" again! Hmm...