SLC Half Marathon

Last year when I was training for the Bear Lake Half, I ran the SLC Marathon 5K as part of my prep (albeit, that day I should have run 8 miles, but still...). As I stood at the finish line watching as the half marathoners came in, I felt a pang of emotion - sadness that it wasn't me finishing my own half, and extreme pride for those that were finishing. I even watched the amazingly talented em-cat cross the finish line - before she was my friend. I SO wanted it to be me - so this year, I made it happen.

The forecast for the weekend was gorgeous - the temperature wasn't going to break 60 degrees until after 10 am, and by that time I would be done and gone. I picked up my packet on Friday and left work a few hours early, ready to mentally prep for Saturday. Saturday, April 17th dawned bright and early - I left the house around 5:50am (an ungodly hour my body only sees on Walk Day) and booked it to the Gateway. I chomped down my banana on the way and made my way to TRAX to head up to the U. I met up with Mya (a gal from my parents neighborhood) and some of her friends to ride the train to the starting line and we chatted a bit, trying really hard to not let the anxiety get to me. I chugged a Vitamin Water on the way up the hill (and it took FOREVER, mainly because of the sheer number of riders), so naturally when we got to the starting line (15 minutes before the shotgun start), I had to pee like crazy. Consequently, so did everyone else.

We stood in line - listened to the sponsors of the race, Mayor Corroon encouraging the racers, the National Anthem, and yup....the shotgun start. I still had my gear bag that I needed to stash with the gear truck for careful transport back to the Gateway - and, you guessed it, we heard the announcement that the gear truck was leaving as well. I wouldn't have cared about my sweatshirt, but my car keys were also in the bag. I made an executive decision to kindly ask a gal in jeans (i.e. a marked non-runner) if she would take my gear bag back to the Gateway and get it with the rest of them. She said she would and I had serious doubts about ever seeing my keys again. But nevermind that, I had a race to run!

I finally started the race (unsure of how late I started, and really hoping I would still be able to cross the finish line relatively close to when I asked my family to arrive) and I knew it would be a great race as I was running down Mario Capecchi and Heartbreak Warfare came up on the 'ole iPod. Love it! The trending for the first stretch was an easy downhill grade and actually quite pleasant.

I got down to about Sugarhouse Park (6 or so miles in) and started to feel it in my hips. I was making sure to adequately hydrate at each aid station, with both water and Powerade, but it wasn't helping matters much. One of the houses along the route was even handing out bacon (why, I'll never know). I kept plugging along, knowing it would all be done soon enough.

I found myself at mile 9 around Liberty Park, and I remembered the few miserable training runs I did there last year. As I made my way out of the park, I realized I was so close to being done, but I was starting the State Street climb - one of the only stretches of road that was pretty moderately uphill. It was at this point that I started seeing an aura in my left field of vision. This has never happened to me before and I was a little freaked out. That hill, and the vision issues all but killed my motivation, and the self-talk got really intense. People were passing me, and I felt like a snail creeping up the road. Perseverance and a few good tunes and I was on South Temple. I saw a guy mouth to the woman in front of me "Only one more mile!" I was so motivated by that!


Working my way along South Temple, I noticed the crowds of spectators becoming more and more prevalent, and I remembered with a swell of pride that my parents would be waiting for me at the finish line. Last year Krista was at the finish line cheering for me, but there's something about having someone who shares your DNA that makes that moment all the more enjoyable. I started watching for them, but never found them in the crowd. I was overcome with such intense emotion and accomplishment as I turned the corner into the Gateway and the finish chute. I remembered the emotions I felt the year before and almost teared up as I started sprinting to the finish. I almost felt defeated as I crossed the finish line with the official time clock reading 2:22:54, and I had to remind myself that I had gotten a late start. I couldn't worry about that - I needed replenishment!


They herded me through the chute and I was bombarded with food and beverage. I wanted to find my parents, and was seriously upset at the length of the lines to pick up your gear bag. I wandered out from the tents and immediately found my parents just outside the menagerie - what a coincidence! We snapped a few pictures, my mom so kindly offered to stand in the ginormous line to get my bag (after I explained what happened, we all started praying that my keys actually ended up at the finish line), and we headed off for breakfast. My second half marathon experience was officially over.


I got home and anxiously pulled up the site to check my official "chip" time. 2:09:31 (overall pace of 9:53). All the emotions of the day again washed over me and my heart swelled with pride. I finished 6 minutes faster than last year, shaving nearly 30 seconds off my pace. It wasn't as fast as I had hoped, but the improvement over last year was enough to make me happy about what I had accomplished. Perhaps I shall entertain thoughts of a third.

Running Woes

You know that scene in Save the Last Dance where she's sitting on the edge of the bathtub and takes off her toe shoe, revealing a bloody mess of her toe? I kind of feel like that. No, my toes aren't bloody from running (yet), but try convincing my brain not to feel that kind of pain. It feels like with each long run, I give a layer of my toe skin as payment to the running gods.

Today's run was miserable. First of all, I was a big wuss and I didn't run outside, despite the gorgeous sun beating in my bedroom window. Second of all, I ate two bowls of Cheerios for breakfast, only about 90 minutes before leaving for the gym. I didn't make my 8 miles (training plan dictated), but didn't feel one ounce of disappointment in hopping off the treadmill and coming home.

It wouldn't be training season without me complaining about my toenails. The first started to turn black just two weeks into training (on the left foot), and the second followed suit about two weeks later. As a result, they haven't fallen off, they're hangin' on for dear life. I thought I'd document the "progress" immediately post-run for maximum effect.

Two black toenails

The left foot also has a beautiful blister to accompany the black nail

I'm writing as I sit in my papasan chair icing my knees (with two bags of frozen peas) in an attempt to ward off the inflammation that is sure to torment me for the better part of tomorrow. Oh, and please try hard not to judge the condition of my toes. They've had a rough 6 weeks.

p.s. PLEASE still pray for Mitch. His condition isn't getting any better, and his family has made the decision to move him to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. It breaks my heart!

I Might Be Crazy

I know it's blurry and hard to read, but it's all there. A combined total mileage of 244 miles over the course of the next 14 weeks. I might have thrown up a little bit in my mouth when I pulled it up and reality hit me.

I am again running a half marathon, but this year a little closer to home. Laura threatened to kill me if I did a race later in the year, so I've selected the SLC Half on April 17th. Training humor (read: horror) stories to come!

13.1...Been There, Run That!

The anxiety started to set in when I first checked the forecasts. It was bleak - high of 65 with a 40% chance of rain. I kept a vigilant watch on weather.com, desperately hoping for a turnaround, but the prognosis kept getting worse and worse. I watched as the high temp dropped from 65 to 57, with the 40% chance of rain holding strong. I braced myself for a long run in a Bear Lake downpour.

Krista and I set off for Garden City around 3pm on Friday, with her 3-year-old daughter in tow. The drive was lengthy and my anxiety was deepening. All the preparation I had put into this weekend, and I felt as though I had done nothing.

We pulled into the Bear Lake KOA just before dinner time and set up our digs in cabin 18. I counted myself lucky I wouldn't be sleeping in a tent in the rain that night. Krista was the most fabulous travel agent making all the travel arrangements. She developed a stress fracture late in her training and was unable to run the race with me, but was bound and determined to come and support me (for which I was extremely grateful)! We did some carbo-loading at the Bear Lake Motor Lodge (a fancy meal of fettucini alfredo, garlic bread, and cheese sticks) and went back to our humble abode for the night. After attempting to watch He's Just Not That Into You, we realized we were far too tired and were able to turn in around 10:30.

I reported to the shuttle bright and early around 6am and hopped on, trying to mentally prepare myself for the challenge that lay ahead of me. I shoveled a banana and a vitamin water down my throat, hoping it would be enough. In my training, my longest run was only 10.25 miles, so I was a little worried about actually getting to the 13.1. I said a quick prayer and started to talk to a couple of the girls on the bus. I got to know a couple of girls from Logan, Traci and Katie, and we waited for the start of the race together.

We waited....and waited...and waited. There was no actual start time posted on the website, nor at packet pickup, but there were rumors that we would start at 7:00 am. 7 came and went, as did 7:30. It was drizzling rain, which was definitely not good for morale. I was thinking about how far I could be along the beaten path, but realized there was no good to that. The runners started to get anxious and started congregating behind the sorry excuse for a "start line" around 7:35. Fortunately the rain let up and we could see patches of sunlight on the west side of the lake. The race director gave a few instructions, letting us know that we would be sharing the road with traffic and that we should be cognizant of what is going on around us, and sent us off with a bang at about 7:40.

I was determined to maintain my pace throughout the race, only stopping to walk if I really needed to. I kept reciting to myself the mantra "pain is inevitable, suffering is optional." I was not going to allow myself to suffer (at least until the end of the race). The adrenaline was pulling me through quite nicely. In fact, Traci's husband managed to snap a shot of me around mile 7 or 8 (as we were going uphill for what seemed like forever - doesn't my leg look AWESOME?!). It was also raining again at this point, but surprisingly, I wasn't bothered by it.

I was feeling my energy plummet as I got to the rest stop at the sign that read 3 miles to go. I knew I had reached the furthest I had ever run before, and decided to have a half a banana to take me to the finish line. I walked for a minute or so while I ate my banana and had a little self-talk. I mentally calculated the time it would take me to reach the end and again convinced my brain (and my legs) that I could make it. I took off again, and to my delight, John Mayer came on the Shuffle. My Stupid Mouth is not one of my favorites of John's, but I figured, if he would take the time to run with me, I would accept whatever he would give me. It was a very pleasant 4 minutes on the route.

The last 2 miles felt like 6 as my legs quit cooperating. I was sending every shred of positive energy to keep my legs moving in forward propulsion. Both of my achilles began to ache at this point, making it very difficult to maintain any kind of technique. I didn't really care, as my only "real" goal was finishing. My secondary goal was 2:30:00. As I got closer and closer to the finish, people began lining up along the route to cheer us on. It was truly appreciated (and motivating - as long as there were people watching, I couldn't stop to walk). I got to the final yards of the route and I was coached to expose my number (which I had pinned under my jacket, assuming I would have removed it by the end of the race). In a "flashing" maneuver, I lifted my jacket and showed the crowd my number, and held the position as I began my sprint to the finish. I crossed the finish line with flair and felt a huge sense of accomplishment as I slowed to a walk. Krista and Savannah were there to greet me with hugs and compliments, proving to me that I needed a "fan club" at the finish line. I'm so grateful that Krista still came to support me!

I made my way up to the pavilion where they had posted the official times and was completely overcome when I saw that I had finished in 2:15:09. I was so shocked that I had to double and triple check in case of error. That was a full 15 minutes faster than my goal - a 10m 30s per-mile pace. I was beaming. I was overcome with a sense of pride in an accomplishment I had worked so hard to achieve. Again, I have to sing Krista's praises for convincing me to run in the first place. I had a really great time, and I think that the experience was a good one - and I definitely haven't ruled out running another half. You won't be hearing me say "I want to do 26.2" anytime soon (or ever), but I'm sure there's another 13.1 in my future. I now comprehend the old adage, "The greater the pain, the sweeter the victory."

Just a Taste.

I'm holding out on writing the full post on the race this weekend...just until I feel like I can do it justice. Suffice it to say, I'm still alive, I finished with a perfectly "bloggable" time, and I made it to church today to play the organ and give my "spiritual thought" in New Member Meeting. The "I MADE IT" finisher picture is all you get for now.

National Running Day

June 3rd is National Running Day. Never in my life did I ever think I would observe this "holiday." To commemorate, I'm proud to say I logged 7.24 miles around the slums of South Salt Lake. Aren't you proud of me? It was a tough one, to say the least. My legs and my lungs were not cooperating, not to mention I couldn't get my heartrate regulated. But I persevered and finished in an hour and a half (almost on the nose).

Now, you should all mark your calendars for next year's June 3rd. I'm taking applications for a running partner.

Weekend Update...

Memorial Day came and went without a hitch. I found myself in St. George, running my very first 10K race! When I started training for the half marathon, I thought I ought to inch my way there (of course, the training would be gradual, but mentally, I needed to run a race longer than a 5K before the "big one") and started looking for 10K's in the area. Finding none, I decided I would be okay, but when I ran the SLC Marathon 5K, there was an ad for a 10K associated with the Washington County Medieval Faire and I immediately decided I wanted to run it. Tiffanie was supposed to come with me, but due to extenuating circumstances (and her having the absolute worst day ever) I ended up going with Eric instead. We stayed in a trashy hotel and woke up at the crack of dawn, but I ended up finishing with a time of 1H 1M for the 6.2 miles. I was beaming with pride...or maybe that's just sweat...We rushed home from St. George and I crashed (right around 6:00 pm - barely able to stay awake during the drive) and managed to sleep for a total of about 12 hours that night. Did I feel guilty? Not at all.

Sunday I went down to my parents' to sleep over, making the rash decision to run the Harrington Memorial 5K in American Fork on Monday morning. This time I suckered Ethan into running with me. He's my little brother, and runs the 400m in track. I was astonished when we crossed the finish line within about 10 seconds of each other. And to think that I was the one who pushed him to beat a 30 minute finish time. Paul and Marianne ran it with us, as well as Marianne's lightning fast little sisters, and her parents.

The remainder of the holiday couldn't have been better spent. I made a pasta salad for the BBQ that evening, and then retreated to my dad's hammock in the back yard. My face was perfectly shaded, and my legs were perfectly sunned, and I spent the afternoon reading and napping.

I came to the conclusion that all weekends should be four day weekends. Perhaps I should plan a move to France...

In case you were wondering....

This is what running in the rain looks like on me: (and I should be ashamed for posting this photo, as it is NOT my finest moment)

As soon "amen" was said, and I awoke from my conference-induced slumber, I hopped to it and got dressed. It was raining, and even, at points, snowing, but I kept warm, and managed to hit 7.87 miles before I called it quits. Despite the rain, it was a great run. In case you were wondering, THIS is what 7.87 miles looks like in the slums of South Salt Lake. It's a wonder I haven't been jumped. And to think, I was going to run at the gym today...

RUNNING for a cure!

Ok Friends...as you all know, I'm a Special Event Coordinator for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. It's a wonderful job and I am blessed to be involved with such an amazing organization with such a focused mission: finding a cure for diabetes. My job involves planning and executing our Chapter's FIVE Walks to Cure Diabetes each fall. Not only do I plan the Walks, but I am also responsible to guide the fundraising activities of the chapter around these Walks.

The past two years, I have asked for donations to support my family Walk team, Cap'n Mac's Mates, as THEY Walk for a cure in Utah County. They have been kind and supportive enough to hop on board and fundraise with me since i got my job in 2007. I couldn't ask for a better family! THIS year, while the funds will still be supporting their team, I will be participating in an additional feat of endurance. Since I am never able to actually WALK on Walk day (because I am working "behind the scenes"), I decided to run a half marathon this year to raise money for my Walk team.

The longest race I have ever run is a 4-miler on Thanksgiving day. A half marathon really will be a challenge for me, and I would like nothing better than to say that I was able to raise $1,000 for diabetes research as a "perk" to finishing those 13.1 miles on June 13th. My goal is always $1,000, but the most I have been able to personally raise is $500. I have been diligently training for this race, and have found it to be incredibly difficult and painful. I know how personally satisfying it will be to cross that finish line, but I also know how much it will mean to the families I work with that I did this for them too.

To learn a little more about JDRF and diabetes, there is a video posted at http://www.supportthischarity.com/cure2008. These kids are actually kids from Utah and yes, they actually have diabetes. You can also read about this on my JDRF post here on the blog.

If you are able, please take a moment to click on the thermometer on my Facebook page where it says "Donate Now." I will love you forever (and probably give you a shout out on my blog for your kind generosity) if you do. You can also click this link: http://walk.jdrf.org/support.cfm?id=87309357 and it will take you straight to my fundraising page. Thank you so much!

validated!

Okay, so I'm about to toot my own horn here. I have been working my tail off for the last 6 weeks training for this half marathon. I've thusfar been discouraged by the number on the scale, assuming that I would lose weight based on the number of miles I'm logging - I haven't lost an ounce. I'm down in size, but up in pounds.

Today a Board Member was in our office meeting with my boss. She had to take a phone call, and he meandered back to my office to say hello. I stood up to go refill my water bottle and he asked me, very pointedly, if I had lost "a lot of weight." Taken very much aback, I responded with a firm and resounding "NO." Then he asked if I had been working out and I told him that I have been training for a half marathon in June. He told me that "it definitely shows" and that I "looked great." I thanked him and went up front to refill my bottle with a huge smile on my face and a huge feeling of validation in my heart.

Thank you Bruce! You made my week!

Training=Pain

"Top results are reached only through pain. But eventually you like this pain. You’ll find the more difficulties you have on the way, the more you will enjoy your success." --Juha Vaatainen

I went for a leisurely 3.75 mile jog yesterday, after a 4-day weekend hiatus. After resting for such a long period, I thought I'd be able to hit it hard and tack another 5-6 miles to my weekly mileage. Not so. My shin splints and joint pain were too much to bear and I stopped at 3.75.

*Here's a little backstory on my shoes: they were my first pair of "serious" running shoes. I did my own consumer research and looked on various websites for the best pricing. They served me well, accumulating close to 1,000 miles on their soles (nearly 500 more than a pair of shoes should earn).

ANYWAY, following this run, I found myself at Salt Lake Running Company, begging a guy named Lance to fix my broken legs. He looked at the soles of my tattered Asics and told me what I already assumed - that i need more of a stability shoe to prevent my pronation. I walked on the treadmill to be sure that my legs aligned properly in the new shoes (they did) and told Lance I would take them. 30 minutes and $144 later, I was the proud owner of some new Mizuno Wave Inspires, complete with support insoles. I have high hopes that they will relieve some of the stress on my legs.

Over the weekend, I also ventured over to GNC. I've had suspicions that I am deficient in a plethora of nutrients, so I self-diagnosed. I returned home with over $80 worth of supplements: TriFlex (Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and MSM for joint health), high potentcy women's multi-vitamin, and an additional Calcium supplement (with added Magnesium). I now take 7 pills a day. Interesting observations of these supplements:

• All pills are the size of a grape
• The multi is green and smells like a horse pasture
• Said multi has made my urine a sonic yellow/green color (in a radioactive-like fashion [sorry for the TMI])
• Having to remember to take said multi TWICE a day might prove difficult.

I'm thinking these changes will help me work through the pain of training (a pain I don't think I'll EVER like). I can't wait to take my new kicks for a spin. Until then, I'll hope that my radioactive urine isn't a sign of something negative.

Tidbits About Training

It's hilarious to think that in 3 months time I will have added "completed half marathon" to my life accomplishments. When I was in Mrs. Scott's PE classes in Junior High, we would do a "fun run" every Wednesday. This "fun run" was a 1.5 mile loop around the school. Everyone laughed and joked about its name - it was "fun" when it was over. It's hard to think back to when I was winded just by running 1.5 miles.

Seasons change and metabolisms slow and there I was, nearing my graduation from college, and I found myself running again - this time by choice. My first run outside was a complete and utter joke, achieving maybe one mile before I dragged myself up my front steps. I declared, upon entering my parents' house, that I would never be doing "that" again. I took to the elliptical for months before I ever dared run on the pavement again.

Moving to Salt Lake brought interesting challenges, and my job was an inactive desk job. I noticed a gain of about 10-15 pounds one summer, and determined to have dropped a pant size before my boyfriend returned from Boston, I started running once more. I later purchased a gym membership, and began to consider myself a serious "athlete."

Little did I know, when reuniting with an old group of girlfriends, that I would be propositioned to run a half marathon. I have been running consistently since about December, but never in quantitative mileage that one who attempts this feat would boast. I had entertained the idea of a half marathon last year (as part of my lame attempt at New Year's Resolutions), but never really buckled down. So, I agreed, and here I am, 4.5 weeks into my formal training and I have a few observations to share.

• Bananas are my fruit of choice - they increase my endurance, decrease muscle cramps, and they're fast and convenient.
• The tone of my skin (not just on my face) has gotten much nicer since I started training! It's much softer and more supple :)
• The inclusion of water in one's diet cannot be underestimated. My goal is to drink one full gallon per day - something I achieve most days of the week. I feel so much better after a run when I'm adequately hydrated!
• Running medicated is the only way to go. My preferred cocktail: 5 Ibuprofen, 15 minutes before starting my run.
• The proper synthetic attire (i.e. sports bras) make a HUGE difference. Not just in support - they wick moisture away from my body and make me feel less of a sweaty mess when I'm done. In that same vein, I've learned I can't run in pants! They make my legs feel so heavy and ultimately slow me down - leggings and shorts only, please!
• My feet and legs have taken a huge toll - I have blisters on the ends of all my toes except the big ones, and I have a feeling that I will start losing toenails within the next 2-3 weeks. My legs are perpetually sore and sometimes I walk with a limp because of it.
• There is no better running partner than an iPod Shuffle. Period.

I have 11.5 weeks of training remaining. I dare say, I'm in for a bumpy ride.