Fuel SMART,Train HARD, Run FAST.

9 slow, sick miles this am. Tummy was mad after 3 miles. Survived 9.

12 miles with Kam this morning. Lots of wind, but good day. Three more later on today for a small "running clinic" with some girls in Utah country who want some running feedback. That should be fun!

10 miles on Bountiful Blvd this am. Felt great.

I wore socks for gloves this morning and they worked great. Not sure why I spend time looking for gloves each morning. Problem solved.

9 miles on Main. Pushed the last 5 to low 7's. Tired to push the hills for this weekend's hilly 5k. AP for 9 miles at 7:52. Felt fine, tired climbing last hill.

Well, not too much accomplished today. I woke up early to run 10 miles with some intervals and could barely walk. Last night before going to bed I stepped funny and triggered a pinched nerve. This has happend two other times in the past 5 years so I knew if it lasted, I could't run the next day. I decided to get my clothes on anyway and walk a little in hopes it would go away. I walked about 400 meters but then had to stop. Dang it. Not a big deal, it usually disapates throughout the day and goes away in 24 hours anyway, but a waste of a good opportunity to run. So I decided since I was up and dressed to do some lame floor exercises while watching TV. I think I did some planks, situps and leg lifts but stopped each when I was tired:) So not much effort or vigor in today's workout. I was already over the floor excercises before it began:) OH well.

5k this weekend. Planning on 6:20 splits. Supposed to be a hilly so it will be fun.

My body is WIGGING out. Woke up this morning to do another run and ended up running/walking800m before my ankle had sharp pains. Apparently it's not over. It is either a pinched nerve or a bone spur. I can't remember what it was diagnosed as when I was in college, all i know is that it flares up every so often out of no where.

I have to show up tomorrow since it is a series and complete the race, but I'm pretty sure I will have to walk most of it. Dang. Aside from ankle stuff, my neck is strained, my right eye is twitching and my head hurts. I think it is all stress related. Crazy work week.

I was shocked with today's results. I have been battling crazy pain in my ankle this week and this morning was no different during my warm-up for today’s race. Picked up Kam and traveled to Weber State for the first race in the Strides Winter Racing Circuit. After a small warm-up it was clear to me this would be a painful difficult race, but needed to be done to stay in the series. I went on my own and decided more running would do more damage so I needed to save it for the race. I defiantly did not feel prepared for a fast pace nor warmed up, but I was just hoping to survive today.

The race started off slower than I thought. I began with no pain at all and was shocked! I kept waiting for it, but it never came (till after the race)! I was in the top two for the first mile at 6:48 some uphill. Mile two was steep uphill, I fell back to 4th place at 7:23 pace. Last mile was in the top three at 6:18 (downhill) and sprinted in the last 20 meters to catch second place, and first in series (so far). Very surprised today. 6:44 AP.

Kam brought his A game today and PR'd by a minute from last year and finished in the top three for his division. Great things for him this year. Slow warm down afterward and came home. Tasted blood afterward and laughed like a coughing old man afterward. Fitness needs work.

Fun goodie bag today with cool Tech shirt, ear warmers, and my favorite kind of Nike No Blister racing sock! Sweet!

Intresting day today. I took  the last few days off since the race on Saturday due to ongoing ankle pain. So I went to the gym to do some low impact exercises. I thought it would be a good idea to warm up my foot in the hot tub first. I was so careful to sit on the side and not get my pants wet, but that was all in vain when a lady jumped into the tub and drenched me and my underside. I looked like I had a complete accident- so I just went with it. Anyway, I did 20 mins on the elliptical  and ran just under a mile. I had limited time since I had a Podiatry appointment in 45 mins. 

I picked up my son from the daycare and walked to the car to realize I locked my keys and phone in the car, so I limped  and carried my son across the street and went to the appointment. Aside from seeing the Doctor, it went like this:

"Hi I'm Tara, I have an appointment at 10:00. And unfortunatly,  I locked my wallet with my insurance card, money and everything in my car, so I will have to bring that in later. "

 "Ohhhhh, well, that's no problem. Can I see your insurance card?"

"Uh oh, remember that's in the car."

"Oh yeah. (ha ha ha with some typing) Hey it looks like we have your insurance card scaned into our computer! And it looks like you have a $25 co-pay. How would you like to pay for that today."

"Do you take toes as collateral because my wallet it still locked in my car (said with a smile of course)."

I laugh, she does not.

"Well, okay, I will just make note that you have not paaaaaaiduh."

I look down as she draws a circle on a blank piece of paper then tucks it away somewhere random. That was weird.

I go in and see the Dr and take some x-rays. Then he tells me I have Sinus Tarsi Symdrome, a fancy word for pain located in the cavity on the outside of the foot just inside of the large ankle bone. He tells me to rest it for a few days, ice, NSAIDS and sent me out the door with cortisone injection to the injury. An overuse injury pinching the nerve is what he guesses. Not a big deal, will be back running by next week. I'm bummed I've lost two valuable weeks of training, but I would rather be out now rather than during marathon season.

I walk up to the receptionist and ask to use the phone because it is also locked in my car.

"Sure who do you want to call?"

I call my husband at work and laugh as I  explain the situation to him. Meanwhile, the receptionist is staring at me. I tell him I have no ride, I'm locked out of the house, I need to pick up the kids in the next 20 minutes and I just got an injection and can barely walk, plus I have the baby without a stroller with  4+ miles to walk UPHILL. Literally. So I tell him I will just walk to the kids school then home, carrying Landon, limping:) We both laugh about it, but my laugh this time is a scared laugh. I knew he couldn't get off work, nor did he have access to his personal phone at the moment with phone numbers ( and the receptionist already tried to find several of my friends numbers in the white pages with no luck.) So I hang up the phone and she smiles and says,

"It sounds like you have it all worked out! Give us a call when you get home. You can pay over the phone so you don't have to come back in today." I think she missed the boat somewhere, long ago. I smile and tell her thank you:)

I begin walking up the hill with Landon on my shoulders. After 3/4 mile I get lucky and my friend pulls over and tells me my husband got a hold of her and she came to get me! Oh, such a good ending!! So success in a day like this comes from finding out that I don't have a very serious injury, having a good friend who is available at the drop of a hat, and realizing my spring season is not ending but just beginning:)

Happy running or limping, wherever you're at. 

Today I jumped on the treadmill before work. I planned to take it easy and felt really good. Ran 6 miles at 7:15 AP. My ankle is a bit sore now, but I am hopeful I can resume normally...

These were some tough miles. Walked and ran. Felt like 1000 pounds.

Change of pace workout. 1.5 mile warm up then ran 5 miles straight without breaks- changing the pace. It went 1600 (6:30), 1600 (6:11), 800 (7:00), 1600 (6:11), 800 (7:00), 800 (6:11), 800 (7:00). 10k was around 42:00 mins including part of the warmup. . Felt tired the last mile. Half mile cool down.

3 miles total. 1 mile warm up then 6% incline with change of pace every 200 meters. Pace range from 6:30-8:30. 1 mile is all I had today. A few warning signs...massive sweating during the warm-up, no energy, and an elevated heart rate after my warm down (165bpm) Huh.

I don't really want to know the answer to this equasion....3 weeks of less than ideal training+hurt ankle+lack of energy= An intresting 10k this Saturday but will give it 100% of whatever I have that day. May the 10k gods be with me.

On a brighter note, It is my son's 2 year Birthday today! Elmo cake and bounce house action tonight at my house!:) The kids are so excited!

**Time posted is a complete guess.No official time and no watch to boot, will post later today. 

 Isn't a big part of racing about strategy? When you're going to push it, when to hold back, who to stay with, how to pass, when to pass, running the tangents, when to surge... That's what I thought after a group of girls formed a circle around me just after the finish. A wolf pack showing their fangs! The first one says, "Hi what's your name?" I responded. "Well Tara, how come you didn't lead the race?" Instead of going into detail about my injury, fitness level and hopes to be able to run the entire thing, I opted for a simplified answer, " I just tried to hold on today and do the best I could." The next one chimes in from behind. "Yeah, but that makes it harder mentally on the leader." Another one adds, "Just go in front next time!" I reply, "No I don't think so, I don't like to lead early on, it's too much pressure and scary on a course like this, you don't know what the end..." Another cuts me off "Yeah, well, that's not fair, you make someone else do all the hard work!" And with that they all ran off in a group as they each took turns turning their heads while delivering a well seasoned stink eye, I must say. Wow. That was a first. I sat their stunned for a few moments and thought about running after them for further clarification but was pressed for time and needed to run home to relieve the sitter. However thinking about it, it would appear the issue might have been wasting too much energy on intimidation rather than competitive racing.

Turning back the clock... I spent the early morning hours in bed listening to the wind and wondered how it would impact the race today.  I drove to Ogden and began warming up. I already had some doubts when my Garmin died after a night of recharging. I hate that watch. Warmed up about 1.5 miles and stopped with the feeling I was on borrowed time with my ankle, so left it at that.

The race started out well. Since I was running blindly, I threw time out the window knowing wind and hills would be exigent. I made a strategy early on to run with the leader until I felt comfortable taking the lead. Then I would sprint to the finish in a dual competition. That was the plan. I ran comfortably behind the first girl for the first 4 miles- with gaps ranging 2-5 seconds. It felt relaxed and easy, but I also knew what was to come. The first 3 miles were pretty downhill with a tailwind. The last 3 were back up the hill with a greedy headwind, especially the last 1.5. 

At 4 miles, she turned around and deliberately moved to the side as she motioned me to pass her. We were all alone on the street at that moment, and I took that as a "stop drafting off me!" cue. Dually noted, I took turns drafting off of her and other men, and others did the same to me. All is fair in my eyes... so I passed her and took the lead, but knew she would pass me again as we were approaching the last 1.5 climb to the finish.

The wind was strong and I wanted to walk. At the top of the hill she had gained about 50+meters on me and I was tired! My heart felt like it was going to explode. It was apparent I was not conditioned for this today. I decided to resign my plan and let her take it. I didn't think I could gain back that ground either with about 400 meters left and feeling complete leg fatigue. I kept my eyes focused just in front of me as several guys passed. I looked up again and thought she looked closer than before....maybe there was a chance. I put it in double drive X10 and sprinted to a 1st place finish, maybe only a few seconds ahead (no watch or results yet). Yes!

I immediately felt dizzy and sat on the curb to get myself together. Several men approached me, all commenting the same, "You looked like death up that hill", " I didn't think you were going to make it!" Wow, you looked tired!" Then to top it off,  the wolf pack confrontation.

Here's my two second soap box -> Every competitive runner has a strategy, and if you don't, then you're goals are different. I don't tell people how to run their race, don't tell me how to run mine. Rant over. What do you think? All comments and opinions are welcome:)

Next race is a 10 miler. The strategizing begins.....

I'll post the time after the results come out later today. I am guessing around 43?  Felt like 6:55ish pace for most of it. No clue.

 Happy running!

My legs are still sore from the race. Ran 3 miles easy on the treadmill then ran 2.5 miles at <6:15 pace. I wanted to run a 5k with the first two miles at 6:15 then drop the pace to 6 or less for the last mile for a 18:40's 5k, but my little guy came in screaming and I couldn't ignore it for another 3 mins....so had to stop....dang. The last time I ignored him, he jumped on the treadmill with me, causing me to stomp on him, gain two unsightly bloody goose eggs, and PTSD as a bonus. One more reason to go to the gym. Returned back and thought about returning to pace for the last .5 but suddenly felt "too tired":) and felt too much time lapsed for the same effect. Oh well, excuses. I went with the easier option and  jogged the last half mile for cool down.  6 total. 

Two new shoes to add to the list....another pair of Brook Ravenna 2's, and Mizzuno Wave Nexus 5. I like these because they are on the lighter side for stability shoes, but durable enough to last at least 400 miles. And to me, that is stretching the shoe budget since I haven't seen any testing shoes yet.