Fuel SMART,Train HARD, Run FAST.

Long run down main early this morning with long rolling hills. Felt so good for this run today. Ran calm and strong. AP at 7:50min/mi. One more hard workout on Monday then taper.

6 easy miles near the temple this am. Did a few 1 min pickups at the end. Ughhh, Im not really sure how to taper. I feel like I am just going through motions. Anyone feel like that?

Did some 800's on the mill today. 7x800 at half marathon pace with a 45 sec rest between each. All were done at 6:23 pace, except for the last I did around marathon pace. Comfortable and effortless for me today. I resisted the urge to go faster all in the name of the wonderful week of tapering:) Averaged 7:00 min/mi for a total of 8 miles today including warmup and warmdown. Feeling energized.

Ran in some crazy wind early this morning for a total of 7.  I hoped to get in 8 before work but the wind was too relentless. I'm pretty sure I did about a 13 min mile at one point as I finished up the hill with the wind. The best part about this is that I DON'T CARE CAUSE I'M TAPERING!!:) YEAH!

This morning I woke up at 5:30 to travel to Spanish Fork for a 5k. After warming up I went to the starting line and saw a girl named Holly who has won it in the past. I knew she would take it again, and that was okay, I was not going to challenge her on 5:50 miles today, perhaps another time:) The gun went off and she went out like a bandit with some guy. I followed behind them the entire race.I felt smooth and comfortable for the most part. The grade had some drawn out hills but nothing too tough. The first mile was flat with a small up hill, second mile was a gradual uphill and the third was a gradual downhill. The last 200 m was frustrating! I guess the police were off so they left thier post and runners vulenerable to cross a busy 4 lane street. So after almost gettting hit by TWO cars each coming different directions, I had to stop and wait for traffic with the finnish line just ahead of me. I give myself another 10 secs at least for my own personal records:) Attempted to pull myself together for a fast finish for the last 30 seconds of the race for an official time of 19:40. Without looking at my splits at the moment, they were around-  6:14, 6:26, 6:23, and 5:30 (.10). (6:20 AP). I finished 3rd overall men and women, 2nd in women and 1st in age. This was a smaller race, I think only about 100 participants total. Nice cool morning and a great toon up for TOU next weekend! Oh, and the best part...the course actually measured dead on at 3.1 according to Garmin!

Ran early this morning and did 2 miles at race pace. Felt fast and scared me but oh well, I know it always feels like that. Trying to figure out a race strategy...do I start off slower, same pace or go out fast like I always do and burn up at the end but still have a good time, but not a good time doing it?.Open to your tips and what works for you.TOU is a challenge for me to figure out due to the downhill in the beginning but not the end. Hummm,.....

Not worth the effort for this one. Hurry and made dinner for the kids, packed up all their bikes, jackets, water bottles, pumped up tires and loaded it in the back of the car with one stray neighbor to the Legacy Trail for 5-6 miles. By the time we found the trial (due to construction) it was dark. So I ran with the double stroller  and two girls on the side riding their bikes. After a short while on the trail, it was making me nervous so we turned around for a total of 1.3 miles. I once had a friend that said it wasn't worth running if you do less than 3 miles. That always makes me laugh:D Oh and here's the BEST part....Garmin says AP of 12:13. Ha ha ha ha!

Warm up with 2 miles at 6:50 pace on TM. I got nauseous for some reason. Maybe its nerves or something. I've bit off all my nails and my left eye has been twitching for the last 2 days. Soon I'll start biting at my shoulder....

This is the kind of stuff I've been doing in my training, all ready!:) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn6Xt9Cga30&feature=email

Ummmmm, I didn't do anything today. What's going to happen to me on Saturday? Ummmmm be awesome I guess.

This morning I woke up just before 5 am. Arrive to the busses and got in the long Honey Bucket line. 10 minutes left before start  changed shoes and it stormed like crazy! We had rain and hail. So much fun!! But a total blister fest. Got lined up after finally meeting Allie in person. I saw an eye of a tiger when I looked at her and knew great things were going to happen and hoped for it to rub off on me:) Gun went off and about 10ish girls were ahead for the first 5 or so miles. No warm up like I wanted, but does anyone warm up for these? Hummm. Most of this is TMI, but a journal entry for me as well:)

Splits were:

1. 6:42- Trying to wake up my body, it felt a little fast. Aprox. 10 girls ahead from the start.

2. 6:48 Found Kam from the blog and had short talk with him for a few miles.

3. 6:41 

4. 6:47Lots of rain

5. 6:51  Lots of rain and hail and felt like a wet rat, but a fast rat!

6. 6:53 Passed a girl. 10k was around 41ish.

7. 6:59   Took a decaf GU

8. 6:48  

9. 6:51 Passed another girl and ate a banana.

10. 7:00

11. 7:04 Wanted to push ahead but reminded myself to hold back some till later

12. 6:54 Took another decaf GU

13. 6:52 Crazy cramp in my right foot and limped part of the mile but prayed it away. I believe just under 1:30 for half split.

14. 6:46 Passed a girl and a girl passed me. In 6th overall. No fifth girl in sight. Started to compete.

15. 7:01 Out of the canyon and could feel it but knew there was a little down hill left.

16. 7:04 Saw family cheering!

17. 7:09 Took a caffinated GU. My sister ran part with me with words of encouragement.

18. 7:03 slow but feeling energized

19. 7:35  Small ups and downs and turns but energized and mentally tough.

20. 7:44 hill. Despite time, felt really good here.

21. 7:05 . Still mentally tough with the mantra, "You've trained for this!"

22. 7:21 Took a caffinated GU and needed it. Gradual uphill. Expected the wall but it never came. Lungs felt great, legs were tired though.

23. 7:50 hill, I'm making this hill stuff up, not sure where it was but rolling and winding through neighborhoods. This felt like a tough mile but stayed focused.

24. 7:44 Dedicated this mile to my sister who has some serious health issues . Took a small wrong turn in my borderline state of delirum and focus.

25. 7:26 Dedicated this mile to my husband and all his hard work and support, sister ran with me some.

26. 7:33 Dedicated this last mile to my self, my hard work in training and my patients who I always encourage them to do anything they set their mind to.

Last .39 I didn't get due to not stopping my watch but I felt like I had a decent kick with horrible form:)  Measured .19 over according to Garmin. But Garmin has steered me wrong before.

Placed 45th overall male and female, 6th overall females, and 1st in age. I believe my gun time was 3:07:18.6.2. A huge PR for me by 22 minutes from my first and only other marathon in 2008. I received a nice moose trophy and $50 bucks that went straight to my babysitter when I got home. So worth it and so fun!

Afterwards got a massage and sat in the cold ditch with Kam while we visited with our families and discussed the race.

Thank you to friends and family for all your support. Too bad you all received texts for some reason that I placed 3rd overall. I knew that wasn't possible unless the two ahead of me were Masters and they weren't, they were young, strong women! Congrats to all!

I've got to go crawl down the stairs now. 

Today I went to the gym and did 4.5 miles on the elliptical for 50 mins and rolled out my muscles. Feeling on the upswing. Legs are less sore this time than they were for the Hobble Half. Excited to do another race in the near future. This week will be easy cross training, and then I'll start incorporating some easy miles next week for a reverse taper. Should be fun!

3 mile hilly walk today. Off set that by eating a loaf of pumpkin bread when I got home. It looks like my appetite is back.  Legs are 95% back. Can't wait to start running again!

I went to the gym early this morning for some cross training. The treadmill was staring me down, but I didn't give in. Instead I did 2 miles on the elliptical with 5x1 minute pickups. After that I did 1 mile on the row machine (10 mins) and core exercises. Rolled out my muscles, iced and used the tens unit on sore spots. I wonder if everyone always has an achy area after a marathon?

This morning I took the kids on a hike by the temple with little buddy on my back. Hiked about 2 miles total but took forever. Easy run of 5-6 planned for Monday and throughout the week. I think I'll start some pickups the week after that then back to tempos and intervals. This cross training is soooo boring.

2 mile walk with the kids.

Easy 5 down Main Street early this morning. I'm not really a fan of the late sunrise this time of year. Entire run done before the sun comes up. Blah. But a good time to assess the leftover aching pains from the marathon. Right ankle and right knee a little bothersome, but fine. Slow pace, but good to be moving again:) Weights, cross train and easy run tomorrow.

This morning I ran down Main Street with my compression sleeves and btw I change my mind, I like running with them. I felt pretty energized but my pace didn't reflect it- but it didn't need to either. Pushed the last two miles for the uphill portion and felt good. Nice easy AP at 8:24 for 7 miles.  I'm thinking of running the Provo Halloween Half in a month. Has anyone ran that race or have heard anything interesting about it? I think I will exchange the half I was planning on in Idaho for the Provo. Seems smart to me.

Today I was going to meet with a running group, but it got cancelled last minute so I went to the gym for some cross training. 50 mins/5.5 miles on elliptical and some easy core and weights. Hopefully I can get out for a hike or bike ride tonight.

I wore a bright orange reflective top today with good reason, however it didn't prove to be too helpful after nearly being ran over by a man eager to get to work on time. Scared me to death, but not the first time either. Time to get smarter. I think I'm going to start wearing a full reflective vest, with a small headlamp to shine directly in their eyes while I pass the street. No more assuming their eyes meeting mine translates to, " I will not run you over."  At least I was not french kissed by a giant yellow lab this time. That was fun.

On any note, it was a good 10 miles total. I felt energized and legs and lungs felt full functioning again. Easy pace for the first 5 then pushed the last 4 for the hilliest part of the run. When I got home, ran a slow mile with my 8 and 5 year olds- back and forth on the street. They want to do that each morning, but we'll see 2 days down the road.

AP at 8:04. Fastest was mile 8 at 7:09 and slowest at mile 2 (car encounter) at 9:02. This is a challenging run to get a steady fast pace, but I think pushing up the hills has really improved my running economy over the year. I love this area!

 Yesterday I signed up for the Halloween Half Marathon in Provo. I'm excited to do that. I think I'll be a superhero this year if I can find the right costume. 

Lessons learned today: buy a reflective vest and headlamp,  not all french kisses are good, hills are good for me, and superheros are fast!