Long Run Rant

(The little aspen trees on the side of the path are just about the only color of fall to be seen around here, so I had to document it.)
I did my first long run (20 miles) since the marathon on Saturday. I haven't felt like myself since the marathon since I haven't really been running any significant distances. I've found I really don't feel like I've gotten a workout unless I do a longer run. I've been doing more strength training and slow jogs on an inclined treadmill. It feels really good to be stronger, but it doesn't help me feel relaxed and happier like distance running does. When I went on Saturday I left Sarah home with the boys, knowing that Ron was going to be in and out of the house. I wasn't sure how long I would be gone. I really shouldn't have been gone that long, but I couldn't stop. It was so beautiful out and it felt so good. I think it's a small price for my kids to pay for a mentally and physically healthy mommy, right? This is the first time I've don't that by-the-way. I don't normally abandon everyone and I don't expect to make a habit of it.

Doing some research...

I started looking up how one begins to train for 100 mile race. None of what I found out really surprised me, but I'm questioning whether I really want to be as selfish as it would require. Here's just a few things this one ultramarathoner does throughout the year before a 100 mile race:

1. Two workouts a day, both at least 10 miles. (Okay, maybe manageable)
2. Long runs are all at least 22 miles. (Doable)
3. Every 3-4 weeks run 25-50 miles instead of the usual 22 miles. (Mini Chi would freak!)
4. Weight training 2-3 times a week. (When?)
5. All weekly long runs should be on a trail with hills. (Anyone know a nanny?)
6. Track workouts of 800 meters at 80%-90% effort. (Ouch)

Obviously I would have to do those things to be ready to run on a trail for 100 miles, but looking at it broken down like that, it's clear that I would have to be away from my family for hours every day. A nice idea, but unless I don't ever want to sleep, probably not going to happen. I do have a goal though, to wake up and run before my kids need to get up for school so that it doesn't take up half my morning anymore. I can get it out of the way before I start the day. I set my alarm last night for 5:00 AM, and then turned it off at 11:00 PM before I fell asleep. I'm such a chicken. I really, really hate getting up early.

Tomorrow. I'll start tomorrow.

P.S.

The headband is called Bondi Band and they are on the web.

3:40!

This is the only picture I have of the starting line because it was SO COLD I could not take off my gloves. I was shivering so uncontrollably. I wanted to try and get in to the bonfires but it was so packed already I couldn't have gotten close. When we had to take off our sweats and put them in the bags for the trucks to take back, some total strangers and I huddled up together until the gun went off. It was painfully cold! OH, and Stacey, the DJ at the starting line said that the only state that wasn't represented in the marathon was VERMONT!! Funny huh? It was quite a party going on. Things have changed since I did this marathon 13 years ago. I was surprised to only see one person I knew from Salt Lake and just a couple I knew from St. George.

I'll be happy with a personal best of 3:40. I also have to attribute that faster time to the fact that I didn't have to use the potty once after I started running. I usually have eaten and drank the whole hour before the race starts. This time I didn't start drinking till the race started. I ate a GU and drank a whole bottle in the first half mile and drank A LOT during the race, but still didn't need to pee. That makes a huge difference considering the lines at the pottys. Thank you for the playlist suggestions! It helped so much to have great music at the points that I really wanted to start walking.


I found lots of nifty new things at the fitness expo picking up my number the day before. I was glad to have them. The greatest one was this headband. It's just a strip of really thin spandex-like material. Perfect because it covers your ears when it's cold, but it's not super thick and HOT like most sweat bands and ear warmers are, so I could wear it the whole race and it kept the sweat out of my eyes but didn't heat me up. I can't read the label very well, but I think it says "bana band." Some girl cut strips of spandex, put a stitch in the back and is selling them for $8.00 a piece. I bought three!


I also got a little belt made out of the same stuff that holds about 8 GUs. Really soft and lightweight. It's call the "Spibelt." I can't remember how much a paid for it. They're on the web.

I also love the Nathan's Bottle Holders. I was lucky enough to have a niece volunteering at mile 13 so I gave her a bottle of my favorite energy drink to hand me. It was a miracle I saw her because I didn't realize I was at mile 13, so wasn't watching for her. She just happened to be the girl I took a cup of water from and said, "OH! AMY! Got my bottle?" and of course like a good little niece, she did. Yeay for Amy. I've blogged about the Nathan's things before. I like them better than the other's I've tried because they hold on to your hand tighter so that you barely have to grip the bottle. It's also padded so it's more comfortable. They also hold about 3-4 GU packets in an outside pocket.

At the fitness expo I sampled some stuff I had never seen before by Cliff Shot. It's a recovery drink. It was so yummy and it has a few things in it that Perpetuem doesn't. I asked if I could buy some and the guy looked kind of surprised and said, "Uh, no. We don't have any to sell." Ok, so thanks for the sample. Then about 10 minutes later he chased me down and said, "Hey, we don't have many people that love this stuff so why don't you just take this." and handed me a $40.00 container of it for free. Yeay for free crap! It has a little bit more sugar, less fat, and more protein than Perpetuem. Exactly what I think Perpetuem needs to change. I mixed them together for the start of the race and the bottle that Good-Little-Niece Amy handed me.

When you're not an elite runner, so much of a race is finding all the "stuff" that will help you get to the finish line without the blisters, chafing, cramping... whatever. Many a race was ruined for me because got some weird problem happening in the middle of a race from eating something wrong or bad choice of clothing. I think I found a great combo of products that work for me. For the people that are done with the thing in 2 hours they don't have to worry so much about those things!

Registration for the Wasatch 100 is in January. It's a draw for a number, so no guarantee I will get in, but I will let you know so that you can all sign up to run a leg of it with me as a pacer! You know you want to.

Thanks for your encouragement, y'all!!

I'm not even going to look

at this catalog. I'm not at all tempted by this adorable top.

Positive thoughts... positive thoughts... positive thoughts...

I'm just doing speedwork and hills this last week before the race. I don't have any injuries bothering me right now, so I think I have a good chance of doing pretty well on Saturday. I would be happy with a 3:40, even happier with a 3:30. I'm not sure if that's achievable for me but I'm trying to think positive. If I get another 3:50 I'll be disappointed. Come on 3:30!

The cure for all ails.

I've been in an especially bad mood lately. Sorry everyone. My brain is tired. That's the only way to describe what I've been feeling. Overwhelmed maybe. Stressed out. I forced myself to the gym today even though I really would like to stay in bed for a week, and now I'm fine. Exercise is magic. Running is the best kind of exercise (I think) because putting one foot in front of the other doesn't take a lot of concentration or skill and you can let your mind just go somewhere else and meditate. I came home feeling like I can now face my life, which is, by-the-way, pretty great. I have nothing to whine about. I feel so sad when people say to me, "I don't know how you do that. I could never do that." They so totally could! And if I could get them to come with me for a few weeks, they would see how easy it is once it's a habit. Anyone can be a runner, excepting those that have some kind of injury. You just have to decide you are and do it. I think the world's problems could be solved by our leaders just taking a long jog together before any meetings or policy decisions are made. Maybe I'll send a letter to someone and see if I can get that put into law. If anyone reads this blog that doesn't run, I challenge you to try it for 21 days straight, except Sundays. They say that's as long as it takes to make it a habit and get over the hump of starting something new to where you enjoy it and see benefits. 21 days... you have been challenged.

P.S.

Going through the carwash.

Marathon Madness

"Marathon Madness" was the name of the mixed tape that Ron made me while we were training for the St. George Marathon 13 years ago. Yes, that's right. I said "we." Ron ran it with me and never put on a pair of running shoes ever again. Gotta love a man that will make a mix tape! This will be the first time I've run this marathon since then. I was signed up to do it last year, but at the last minute decided to go to NYC and watch a taping of SNL, which turned out to be the funnest time of my life. The marathon last year was pouring rain and cold, so it was a good choice.

So, now I need to put together my "marathon madness" mix for this marathon. I'd love your suggestions for the playlist. I'm going to put some of my choices on the Project Playlist that is playing on my sidebar.

17 mile monday and new goals.

Mini Chi giving me a low "five" at mile 4. I think that's the last time I'm going to make her run with me. She broke my heart today when I put her in the jogger. That was the last longish run I will do until the marathon too.

So last year I was thinking about trying to do the Iron Man St. George in 2010, but since I don't own a bike and don't really want to train for three sports, I have decided that a triathlon is maybe not for me. Smart, huh? After the marathon I've decided that I am going to start training for the Wasatch 100. Doesn't it look like a beautiful running trail? I'm not a fast runner, but I really can go as long as I have fuel. It's exactly a year from now. Think I can do it? I kinda think I can. I like that no one I know (except my old neighbor, Kelly) has done it. Every runner I know is doing Ragnar and the Iron Man and I've never liked being trendy. So a hundred mile race it is!

JOY

20.5 and more favorite things.

DMSO, check. Lots of water, check. Hammer Gel (bleh), check. last two packets of GU, check. Bottle with Perpetuem, check. Tissues, check. Diapers/wipes, check. Blankie, check. Binkie, oh... forgot the binkie. Go back home, add half a mile to the run. Binkie, CHECK. Sunscreen for Mini Chi's legs, check. Body Glide, check. Foam knee strap thingy, check. Nano, check. Phone, check. Garmin, check.
I always feel kind of bad doing this to Mini Chi. She cries when I put her in the jogger because she knows she's going to be stuck there for quite a while. She always calms down when we get started though. She looks back at me and smiles every once in a while and grabs the cord to my headphones to listen for a while. I'm going to miss her during the race.

We did 20.5 today and felt mostly good. 12 miles right on the button my knee started hurting. The same mile marker every time. I was even wearing the knee band too. Race day will be a crap shoot if that acts up. The pain went away within a few minutes. I hope if I baby it until then it will be okay.

On to some favorite things...
Athleta has formed a dangerous business relationship with GAP. I have a GAP card, which can be used at Banana Republic, Old Navy and GAP, and now Athleta. This means that you can use the rewards at any. one. of. those. stores. This is dangerous because now I can justify buying the things from Athleta that I like for me and tell myself I will use the rewards at GAP for the kids. (They have to have clothes, right?)

This hat calls to me.
These boots do too.
This hat... this HAT!!!

I ate a whole wheat bagel before the run today and I think it was just the thing that helped me feel good the whole way and after.
The K Swiss Running Skort. It is really light weight, the seams are thin so there's no chafing, more breathable than the Nike one that's twice as much. I can't wear a running short after being spoiled with this skort. I need a few more.
This Under Armour jog bra is different than any other. It's kinda silky and super thin seams so no under arm chafing. That is the spot that always kills me after a long run in any other kind of top, even when I use the body glide. I really hate running with my tummy showing so I wish they had this in a full yoga style top. They don't, so I'm going to be crossing the finish line in my underwear. Sorry.
I am 10 pounds heavier and one size bigger this year than this same time last year. Thus, this is my lunch every day. Cooked greens (this one's kale), onions (sometimes leeks), fresh tomatoes, some chicken, white balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper on top. If I feel rebellious I'll sprinkle some parmesan on top. I know, it's an acquired taste.

Treadmill Friday

I watched Bronco on The Mountain with the other coaches of all the Mountain West teams. Ha!

I wasn't sure I was going to be able to run at all today because of the night I had. See, we have this puppy... He sleeps in a crate, like all good puppies. Last night he started barking at 1:00 AM, so I go out to let him outside, and it is too late. His crate has a couple inches of urine in it. Yeay. From watching Ron deal with this same problem a few nights ago, I learned that I don't want to push the crate out the door before letting Bob out, because if I am outside with him when he gets out he'll jump all over me with his uriney feet. So I decide to open the door to the outside, which is right next to the crate and then open the crate so he can run outside. A little urine on the floor is better than all over me. BUT when he got out of the crate, before he went outside, he SHOOK pee all over the kitchen. Once he was outside I pushed the crate out, checked out the damage and left it to deal with in the morning. (I have a hard time sleeping once I've been awake for a while, so I thought it best to try and get back to sleep as quickly as possible and salvage some of the night.) BUT I couldn't go back to sleep because of the thought of the pee now drying all over everything and the phantom smell of urine in my nose! SO I got back up and spent the next hour cleaning the kitchen, then went back to bed and spent the next hour listening to the puppy barking to be let back inside. I do not do well without a good night's sleep, so I'm pretty proud I got to the gym at all. (See, the story completely relates to running and not at all about family, which I try to not post about at all, except Sarah.)

PS. The puppy will remain outside indefinitely.

Coral Canyon Trail

Whenever we are driving to and from Coral Canyon, I see paved trails going off into the hills. I love running on these trails, so I decided today to venture over with Sarah in the stroller and check them out. I figure I need to do some hills, I might not be running a lot, because I'll be pushing the stroller, but a fun break from the usual. This is what it looks like from the bottom.
I turned on the Garmin so that I could keep track of how long these paths are, expecting to be hiking around for quite a while and just turning back when I needed to. I got around the bend at the top of the hill and... after a half a mile found myself at Highland Park. Hmmm, the adventure wasn't quite as exciting as I thought it would be. Of course when Mini Chi saw her favorite park she screamed to get out and play. SO, I walked for a total of a mile and played at the park. Oh well, now I know.
It is a really beautiful trail though. That's Pine Valley Mountain in the background.

Age 2: The Year Champions Are Made.

The Beam: 10

The Front Roll : 10

Costume: 10

Creativity of Choreography: 10

(Whew... looking this good in leg warmers is hard work.)

The Tumble Tramp: 10

The Hurdles: 10

The Rings: 10

Not bad at all for a fist day.

Running is expensive?

I never thought about it before, but I am noticing after cleaning out my stroller after a run that I spend about $6.50 a run in GU! Yikes. I find it at Harmon's for $1.29 a piece and just buy the whole box because I go through them so fast. I haven't found anywhere online that sells them at bulk prices low enough to pay the shipping costs and still save money. Costco has diamond rings but can't sell GU? Ron has some Hammer Gel in the fridge that I am going to use until I am forced to either find something else I like or find it cheaper in town. Hammer Gel... Bleh.

GU: Very expensive.

Liang Gu: Not so expensive.

Drive to Kolob Canyon/New Harmony Fire

This time of year in Southern Utah is sooo beautiful. Cool breezes makes it bearable to get out and enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. As we were driving up Kolob Canyon I was thinking about how we live in this area that people come from all over the world to see. How blessed we are. We don't get out and enjoy it enough. I repented of that today and renewed the annual National Parks Pass. We are going to venture out on these trails this fall.

We also drove across the highway from Kolob to New Harmony. That is where the wild fires have been burning out of control all last week. It destroyed several homes and other structures.



Sleeping beauty on the ride.

Rise and Shout!

That's right folks. It's football season. I don't know if I ever feel quite as happy as I do after the Cougars have pulled off a win. The blue and white gets me all.... gitty.

Drum Lesson Wednesdays

On Wednesdays Noah has drum lessons in Coral Canyon. I noticed on a map that there is a big park near his teachers house, so I thought I'd take the kids and check it out while we were waiting for Noah to be done with his lesson. We ended up staying for two hours. Those of you in greener areas of the world might not understand how cool it is to find a fun green spot nearby to hang out. Notice that the park is abandoned because people here aren't in the habit of playing outside unless they're at a pool. It's one thing I really miss about SLC. Playing at a park in the summer.
My phone doesn't do this view justice. It was a really beautiful view!
There is a rock climbing wall and three different playgrounds, plus a huge grass hill to run up and down. I think we are going to make this park visit a regular on Wednesdays.

Thursdays, in case you are wondering what we do on Thursdays, is piano day. The kids have lessons one right after the other in the afternoon. We wait for each other at Blue Bunny Ice Cream on Main Street. Across the street there is a little cafe called "25 Main" (It's on 25 South and Main Street. Get it?) Anyway, Stacey, you would love this place. Excellent cup cakes! The food is... meh. But a very hip and cool little joint. Anyone that visits should check it out. Today we got an assortment of cupcakes... Chocolate Cappuccino for me, Strawberry Cream for Josh, Peanutbutter Cup for Ryan, Chocolate Chocolate for Noah, and we took home a Banana Cake and Orange Cream for Dad. All of them excellent! (for $2.75 a piece it better be!) I still have dreams of opening a bagel shop/bakery one day kind of like 25 Main. They don't have bagels though so Stacey's and mine will be better. And it will be called... something in Portuguese. Haven't decided what yet. Possibly "Puxa Vida." It's catchy and no one would know what it means.

Note to self.

long runs on days when there is a major forest fire nearby =

infections. Stick to the treadmill on those days in the future.

Plea for sidewalks where there clearly needs to be a sidewalk!

Please put a sidewalk all the way down 1450 South and all the way down River Rd to the jogging/bike path! Everyone that uses the path has to walk along this glass-ridden-zero-shoulder-55 mph-River Rd. to get to it! Thanks.

17.5 again today and it's getting easier. I just might be ready to run 26 in a month. No pains today at all.

17.5 friday (and a few more favorite things.)

I ran 17.5 today as an experiment. Just over a month to to the marathon and I have so many injuries going on right now I wasn't convinced I could even do it this year. I pushed through and by about mile 14 I felt fine. There's a few things that I will take with me on race day for sure.
If you get "jumper's knee" or patella tendonitis, it can feel like a stress fracture in your shin. The strangest pain I've ever felt. The tendon really wasn't where I was feeling the pain. It was sharp pains in my shin and up my femur. Someone suggested I try the knee band and sure enough... It was just tendonitis. It still can hurt a little running around a corner but the pain goes away after. Thank you $9.00 foam band thingy.

This stuff is magic, I swear. Anything is bugging me, I rub this on it before I run and within a few runs I have no more pain. It takes a few times using it. It isn't a pain cream. It really loosens things up and helps them heal somehow. You can get it at natural food stores. I haven't researched about it, so please no one tell me it's poisonous or something. I do know that it's the thing that Michelle Pfeiffer uses to kill her cheating boyfriend when she combines it with White Oleander in that movie. ("White Oleander is a Good movie, btw. Depressing, but good.)
Oh man, how did that picture of Mini Chi get there?! Oh well. She would tell you that the things you need to take along on a 17.5 mile run are a soft blankie, some animal crackers, and a baba.