At what point did you call yourself a runner?

This question was brought up in our car during the Wasatch Back by Tall Girl. I've been thinking about it lately with the half marathon this last week, and I wonder- can you still be called a runner if you run for fun and not time? It took me a really long time to call myself a runner. Even after completing my first marathon I didn't feel like I could call myself a runner. Not because I didn't love it- because I did. The answer was simple. I didn't feel like I was fast. I know that fast is a relative term and those people that I admire and wish I was like are not fast when compared to the elite runners. But man, I'd love to be as "fast" as them. I did speed work religiously. But I never seemed to really get as fast as I wanted in the time I wanted. It was easy to overlook just how far I had come in that pursuit of some elusive time. And getting pregnant or injured every single year and having to quit running didn't help. It felt like I was starting over after each break. So when did I actually consider myself a runner? I don't know if there was a big moment when it happened. No fireworks in the sky or ribbons pinned to my shirt. Maybe it was when I quit doing so many other things in the cardio arena and ran more than anything else. I'm not sure. But I'm happy to say that I am a runner. I'm still not fast but I'm out there doing it and loving it. I run for fun. I still care about times. I can say that I don't all I want, but deep down I do. It's not because I'm in competition with anyone else. I don't even consider myself to be competitive. It hard for me to run with someone who IS competitive. I don't ever want to hold someone back. And it's not so that I can say that I run a "so many a minute" mile, but it's tangible evidence that all my hard work is indeed working. Will I ever be satisfied with my speed? Probably not. Because no matter where we are, I believe it's inherent that we want to be better. It's what drives us.

So, back to the half. I ran it last year. I ran faster than I had ever run before. It was an amazing race with a finish time of 2:02. I was so shocked and happy. And I felt like I pushed as much as I possibly could. I also ran it injured and really trashed my IT bands. I was out for months after. But that time made it all worthwhile. I knew that I would probably never do a repeat of that time. It was one of those fluke things. So even deciding to run it again this year was hard. I mentally prepared myself to not be disappointed. I knew I was leaving the watch at home and somehow I was going to make this a fun run. Heather and I wore some fun socks and had a great time. We got lots of comments from other runners as well as spectators and it made it fun. We even heard the comment at the finish line from a guy saying that he had seen those socks pass him up in the last miles. My calf hurt almost the whole race, but never really bad. We stopped at each drink station and stretched a few times during the race but tried to keep the pace up. At the end we were really pushing it. Heather knew I was o.k. with whatever time we ended up with, but being the great friend that she is, she pushed us through and our time was 2:00. It was pretty awesome. I honestly couldn't believe the time clock as we passed it and I made her give me a dorky high five across the finish line. Really, really awesome. Now I just have to worry about being faster next year. Ugggg.

So now it's your turn. When did you consider yourself a runner? And talk to me about speed.

(thanks to Mel- our unofficial photographer for hanging out and documenting our totally awesome socks!)

So for this week:

Monday August 24th- 6 miles with hills Calf was good until the very end of the last hill. Wasn't just sore this time. It hurt like an injury. Went in and had it worked on.

Tuesday August 25th- 8 mile bike ride

Wednesday August 26th- 7 miles speed work Calf was sore after the second mile of speed work but didn't really get worse. Stretched really good. Hope it's o.k. for the weekend!

Thursday August 27th- 11 mile bike ride

Saturday August 29th- Top of Utah 1/2 Marathon!

What happens when you spoil a child and then take away her favorite plaything? Well after the wailing and kicking and screaming fit are over with, that's when you realize that you've spoiled the child in the first place. But of course it's too late by this point. I have become that spoiled child. Heather, my running partner has become that luxury that I don't want to give up and have become accustomed to having on my long runs. She's the reason I don't have to take anti depressant drugs or pay for expensive therapy on some guys couch. She makes me laugh and forget the miles. And as I found out this week, she's saving me a lot of money on buying a gun that my husband insists that I need to pack on me if I'm going alone in the pitch black of early morning or late at night. Can you imagine?

Heather had her knees worked on this week and was banned from doing the 20 miler. I don't know who had it worse, her NOT being able to run or me knowing that I'd have to do it alone. I woke up at the bright and early hour of 4 a.m. to eat, looked outside at the pitch black that it was and went back to bed. I was just too nervous (scared) to run in the outer part of the city where no one would hear my screams for help. Waiting until it was light wasn't any better because I figured by the time I'd finish it would be 1000 degrees and I didn't want to do it. I'd already told Heather that she'd be just fine not doing the 20 miler, that it was only one week and she'd be fine, so talking myself out of the run should have been just as easy. I went school shopping with the kids, canned some peaches and was miserable the whole time having that run in the back of my mind. Finally at 6:45 my husband shoved me out the door and made me run it. I was miserable and was going to be until I did it. It was 93 degrees.

The first hour was hot but o.k. I made sure to drink every mile and aside from thinking that the lining of my nostrils were going to burn up and start bleeding (you know, like in the movies right before someone dies...) from running past the very ripe sewage treatment plant, things were good. The sun was going down and it was cooling off. At about mile 10 I realized that I was in the same dark predicament that I was in earlier that morning. I was alone and it was DARK. As in no moon, pitch black dark. Janz had come to bring me my headlamp and more water and mosquito repellant but had forgotten my hat. My plan was to head to the track and run some laps so that I didn't have to get further away from home. I got there and started to run only to get myself all freaked out there. I was the only one there. It was so dark that I couldn't see the bleachers or if someone was hiding on the side. Plus we have some construction going on at our high school and I was nervous about that. Then a car pulled over to the side of the road, turned off its lights and just sat there. I ran a couple more laps and then stopped to get a drink. I decided that I was just too nervous to stay there so I got out my phone to call my husband to tell him I was leaving and as soon as I pulled open my phone the car turned on its lights and pulled away. That didn't help me at all. After I met my husband again and he insisted I get and stay on a well lit road or come home, I headed up to Main Street and ran up and down that a couple of times. By this point I was done mentally as well as physically. Only my calf was really bothering me. So I only completed 18 and 1/2 miles. I took a nice ice bath, drank a recovery drink and went to bed. Kuddos to all of you out there who are brave enough to do it alone. I'm just glad Heather's back in the game and I won't have to do anymore longs runs alone. This summer training is tricky.

Monday: 5 mile bike ride with the trailer. Have I mentioned that this should count for double. Really it should.

Tuesday: 3 mile recovery run. Calves are still very sore.

Wednesday: 8 mile speed workout

Friday: 18 1/2 mile run. Calves are really sore.

Saturday: 4 mile bike ride

Is it really August?

Saturday's run was interesting. It was an adventure. Instead of August weather we experienced more like February's weather. I woke up to the sound of rain. Normally I love running in the rain. It's my favorite weather to run in. But it was unusually cold. We were running down a canyon. And it was still dark because it was 6:00 in the morning. I debated wearing a long sleeve shirt over the top but didn't want to have to mess with another something around my waist so I left it home. Plus I always heat up pretty quick so I knew I'd be o.k. I've decided that I need to get some arm warmers. They would have been perfect on this day and probably for all of spring and fall. They're on my list.

So the interesting highlights include me HAVING to find a bush to relieve myself for the first time ever. Heather was good enough to stand as a lookout up on the top of the road and tell me if I could be spotted.

We watched a hawk hover in the wind and then dramatically dive down into the weeds and catch a mouse right in front of us. After returning to it's nest it hovered right over the top of us. It was SO cool.

And last, but not least, it poured. And poured, and poured. I kept wondering if our husbands were going to come and rescue us. If either of us had cell phones I'm afraid we could have called for help. Our arms looked like they were sunburned because they were so cold and were just getting pelted by the rain. We were both soaked. Every step felt like I was stepping in a puddle, which I wasn't. My shoes were just sloshing like I was. We made our way around the reservoir and headed back down the canyon. There was a river running along side of us and the cars going 60 mph were sending out walls of water every time they passed us. There was only one big wall of mud by a huge semi truck. I'm sure I let out a little scream as I saw it coming and turned my head and body just in time to get a back full of water and mud.

Like I said, it was quite an adventure.

Monday August 10th- 6 miles with hills

Tuesday August 11th- 11 mile bike ride. Visited the chiro that morning. He worked those IT bands pretty hard. Told me to take the next day off because I'd be sore. He wasn't kidding. I have bruises again!

Thursday August 13th- 7 mile run. Was supposed to be a tempo run but was one of the most miserable runs of my life. I made all the classic mistakes: didn't fuel up after my last workout, started too late so it was HOT, started off the tempo running my speed pace (After two miles of that I was done!). Consequently it was a struggle to finish the run. I had NO energy. It was definitely NOT a tempo run. Later that night we went on a 5 miles bike ride with the trailer. I was still feeling drained. Bad day.

Friday August 14th- 4 mile easy run, 8 mile easy bike ride

Saturday August 15th- 16 mile run down the canyon and around the lake

Gotta Love those Step Down Weeks!

I've never really trained in the summer. Not seriously. And not for a marathon. I feel like I can't miss a single work out or the whole race will be in jeopardy. I know this is probably not true but I don't want to leave anything to chance. So vacationing becomes a challenge. One thing I really like about this training schedule is that it has a break week. The mileage increases for 3 weeks and then you get a step down week. I am finding that I need those weeks both physically and mentally. Somehow the timing was just right for our little trip. I did miss one running day but don't really feel too bad about it. My IT bands and piraformis have been bugging me a little since last week. I've been to see the chiro twice so hopefully that helps. I keep thinking that getting help before I'm in total pain will pay off in the end.

Monday August 3rd- 10 mile bike ride, boating fun

Tuesday August 4th- 7 mile run

Wednesday August 5th- 10 mile bike ride, rock climbing

Friday August 7th- biking on trails and canoeing

Saturday August 8th- 7 mile run

The first of three

Just a few ways that you know you're on a 20 mile run:

* the week worth of complaining and stories about your combined 12 kids as well as in laws, ex-husband, and other problems have all been thoroughly hashed out and problems solved during the first half of the run. (Maybe the world's leader's should all talk about their problems on a long 20 miler. Just a thought.)

* you've seen roadkill in two of every kind. (same concept as Noah's ark, just backwards. Then your running partner points out that there are two of you.)

* the flies stop following the cows and start following your stink.

* your whole lower half is numb yet every body part from your bellybutton on down hurts.

* the last 4 miles consist of naming every part that is hurting.

* the delirious laughter set in and the slightest little thing will set it off.

* at the end that inevitable sense of accomplishment sets in and overrides the extreme pain if only for just a few moments.

Monday July 27th- 10 mile bike ride

Tuesday July 28th- 5 mile tempo run, upper body weights

Wednesday July 29th- 9 mile bike ride with the trailer and monster headwinds

Thursday July 30th- 5 miles with hills, upper body weights, 6 mile bike ride

Saturday Aug 1st- 20 miles!

Calf Issues

Every single time I start out on a run, my calves are very tight. It is my whole lower leg truthfully, all around my ankles but mostly my calves. They eventually loosen up after around 4 miles, but that first part is brutal. And then, on the last couple of long runs (16 and 18 miles), I've gotten a few calf cramps towards the end. Nothing that lasts, but it's enough to scare me. I'd forgotten just how bad they are. So I've adjusted my eating. I always eat a banana before a run and then Gatorade and gels during a run. Before my 18 miler I drank milk, ate a banana and did the gels and gatorade religiously even though I felt like I was pretty sugared out by the end. And I took an electrolyte pill before the run and at mile 12 as suggested by my uncle. I had felt a cramp before the pill and then again right towards the end. What more can I do? I started doing a little more research on the web and discovered what might just be the problem. Lack of circulation. I have those IT band straps cranked down pretty tight so that they don't slip and I'm not messing with them the whole run. I think that may be the problem. So for my first 20 miler this weekend I'm going to experiment with those a little. I will probably still keep all the other stuff in my routine, but hopefully that will fix the problem. Other than that, the training's going really well. It's been fun, for the most part and I've even surprised myself. I think I mentioned that Heather and I did a magic mile together to determine how fast we should be doing our speed work and tempo runs. We're really at about the same pace, which makes it convenient for training. But when I looked at how fast we had to do our mile speed work, I didn't think there was any possible way that I could do it. But to my surprise, I was able to do it and though it was really hard at the end, I was pretty excited that I made it through. I guess no matter what level you are at, you can surprise yourself.

Here's what I've been up to. My goals are to make my weight training more consistent and use my new bike to cross train. My first bike with gears. I need some heavily padded shorts for sure!

Thursday July 9th- full body weights

Friday July 10th- 4 miles easy

Saturday July 11th- 6 miles with hills

Monday July 13th- 5.5 miles with hills

Tuesday July 14th- 20 minutes of stair running YUCK!

Wednesday July 15th- 6 miles with 4 miles tempo 9:20 pace

Thursday July 16th- 3 miles easy

Saturday July 18th- 16 miles down the canyon and around the Reservoir average pace of 10 minute miles. I was pretty sore after the run, mostly in my hamstrings for about 2 days.

Monday July 20th- 3 miles easy, upper body weights, stretching

Tuesday July 21st- 7 miles speed workout

Thursday July 23rd- 18.6 miles- Peach Days 10k route x 3. I didn't time this workout, but it was slower than the past weeks due to a hilly course and a good break around each loop. But we made it through.

Friday July 24th- 4 mile bike ride

Saturday July 25th- 5 miles with hills followed by 8 mile bike ride

Now, onto the marathon training

The post Wasatch Back glow has faded. I really can't wait until next year. What a great experience that was. I was on cloud nine for a while and now the reality has set in that I am in full blown marathon training again. It's a little scary, a little exciting, and a lot of unknown. But I am excited to try again and refuse to end on a bad marathon. This one's gonna be good. I feel like I've learned a lot from my mistakes and am ready to go and use that knowledge. I'm trying not to think too much about that actual marathon day and just focus on the training. Which is completely opposite of what I did during my first marathon training. Picturing that finish line was a motivational vision for me. Not this time. I know I'll make it to the finish. Even if I'm dragging myself across with bloody knuckles. I know I'll finish. I just want to finish well this time and feel good. Is that too much to ask?

I've had a real treat lately. I've had a running partner. It hasn't always been the same person, but it's been a partner. It's not that I don't still enjoy running alone. Because I do. But those long runs go by so much faster with a friend to talk to. I had the joy of running with Mel on my 12 miler. She is a faster runner than I am but since it was a long slower run, we were able to run together. Honestly, I felt so much satisfaction finishing that run faster than I would have ever run it by myself. It felt really good. I'm always amazed at how long that feeling of a good run lasts. Days even. I've also been able to run with my good friend Heather. We ran our first marathon together after not training together even once. Circumstances just didn't work out. We live really close and now that we're running a second one together, it's been fun to train together. We push each other. We have great conversation. During a long run you just have time to talk about things you wouldn't normally have time for. We've also been doing hills together. That's been really good. We keep each other motivated. At the end of our last 14 miler I was feeling really good. It was the first time I have run that far in over a year. It's starting to come back to me now how great and accomplished I feel after those long runs. I hope that feeling lasts!

Tuesday June 23rd: 4 miles

Wednesday June 24th: full body weights

Friday June 26th: 4 miles and full body weights

Saturday June 27th: 12 miles with Mel average pace: just under 10 minute mile

Monday June 29th: 5 miles tempo

Wednesday July 1st: 5 miles with hills

Thursday July 2nd: 3 miles easy

Saturday July 4th: 14 miles average pace 10:40

Monday July 6th: 5 miles with hills

Wednesday July 8th: 6.5 miles

Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay 2009- Part three

Time flies when you're having fun! After our breakfast we headed off to meet the rest of our team that finished running through the night and at the crack of dawn. You could tell we were feeling refreshed because Sarai got the whole bunny getup on to cheer our runners along the course. The adrenaline must have started to flow knowing it was our last leg, because I wasn't feeling tired at all. You'd never know that we only gotten a little bit of sleep.

There goes Tancy just crusisn' right along!

Waiting for Mel to come along.

You'd never know that this was AFTER her run! She looked great! It had started to rain by then. It wasn't too bad and in fact kept the temperatures down.

Tancy cheering for Sarai! She had the longest leg in this set of legs for our car and she did just awesome! She had 7 miles of big hill that she just kept going up.

Our car isn't looking so good after the rain.

Me and Ang right before my last leg.

The hand off. I started with the bunny ears on. It didn't last long.

My last leg was 3 miles of brutal downhill with a mile of flat at the end. It was raining pretty hard by now and the wind was the strongest headwind I've run against. It was so loud that even with my i pod turned all the way up, I could barely tell which song was playing. I just kept my head down (mostly so that my hat wouldn't fly off and so that I wasn't pelted in the face with the rain), took short quick steps and let the mountain carry me down the hill. I was running faster than I have ever run before, for a sustained distance, and at the bottom of the hill stopped to tie my shoe and then took about 20 steps to catch my breath.

I picked up again and tried to sustain a good pace even though the wind was now pushing me sideways. I was so excited to see the exchange point and know that I was all done. I pushed through to the end and passed the bracelet on to Cameo. Then I walked over to my teammates only to have to make a detour to the weeds and throw up. I had just pushed myself to its limits. It felt good. My average pace for this leg was 8:40. I made a quick cool down jog around the parking lot and got in the car. I was totally on that runner's high. And I was done!

We met up with the other half of our team to hand off for their last brutal legs.

We're all done with all our legs! Truly an awesome feeling. Now it's just a waiting game to all cross the finish line together! I really couldn't believe we were all done. The time had just flown by. I was almost a little sad. But not too much when I knew we were finally going to get to take a shower and eat real hot food. Which is what we did next.

Angie let us shower in her hotel and it was one of the best showers of my life. After I brushed my teeth I actually felt like a human being instead of a wet, sweaty monster. We went to dinner together and talked about what a great time we had just experienced. Our team really got along so well, even with being tired, sore, and did I mention tired? Everyone was so patient and cheered each other along the whole way. What a great group of women! I really hope we get to do it together again next year.

While we were in Park City showering and eating and enjoying ourselves, the rest of our team was really having a rough time. Those last couple of legs are the most difficult in the whole course and it was really raining down of those girls. The trail was muddy and on top of it all, the lightning started. Even after all that they had been through, 2 of the girls backtracked and found their runner who was pretty scared of the lightning and just wanted to finish. Amazing!

We all crossed the finish line together with the team behind us saying, "I can't believe we're getting beat by the bunnies!" We finished 27th of 82 overall the women's teams and 19th in our division. It was truly an experience I'll never forget, friends that will last forever, and one I hope to repeat.

Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay 2009- Part two

The Energizer Runnies keep going and going and going....all through the night! After our brief stay on a church lawn we headed up to Snow Basin to exchange with our other van and give them a break. We even got to experience real bathrooms here instead of the delightful Honey Pot. Mel's husband was one of the volunteers here and she got to see him for a while. We met up with the other half of our team who had kept us right on track, time wise. Really, I can't explain how amazing the whole team was. We had some really accomplished runners on our team. I was grateful to be a part of it. It was getting dark and pretty chilly. But it was beautiful. The great thing about it being so pitch black was that the stars were stunning. I don't think I've ever seen so many stars or them shining so brightly as I did up there. It was incredible. Almost unreal.

Mel and the team chatting with her husband. It was really crowded and traffic was crazy up there.

Tancy gearing up for her first run in the dark. She cruised down the hill so fast that we missed her as we were parked on the side of the road. Everyone wore glow bracelets and necklaces so that we could see our runner coming. Somehow (maybe a little dozing...) we missed her and by the time we realized it we had to book it down to make the exchange! She put us ahead by over 7 minutes on this leg alone! By the end of all our nighttime legs, our team was ahead of projected time by 40 minutes! Everyone was amazing!

Mel all decked out and ready to run!

Sarai patiently waiting for her turn!

The hand off from Cameo to Angie-

Cameo finishing her 2nd leg! Go girl! Only one left!

A random runner who appreciated our lighting up the dark night!

Waiting for Angie to come by! Letting her know where we were!

There's the queen of the hills! 8 miler with a killer hill at the end! You're the WO man!

Showing off those guns!

The nighttime run was by far my favorite. I didn't have any music and was alone for most of the run. There were a few times I was worried that I had missed a sign to turn because I couldn't see anyone. But then a van would pass by and by the way it was decorated I knew I was on the right track. I could spot a butt lamp in the distance and that became my new goal. I passed 4 runners during my 4 mile run. I was having a great time and was in the groove. I had a particular song running through my mind that I kept repeating over and over. It had a good beat and my feet just stayed with it. I ran an average of 9 minute miles and felt great. I was pushing it but really felt good. If you've followed my times at all, you know that this is fast for me. Lately, on the last few training runs I've been able to run in the 9 minute area and it's been fun. There's something about the solitude, and the darkness and just trusting that you're on the right track and that your team will be there waiting for you in the end, that was almost spiritual. Lots of object lessons in that run- all the safety gear: reflective vests, headlamps, butt lights, signs on the road, rustling in the brush next to you, stars above, team mates cheering for you and keeping you on track, the last mile marker, the finish line...you get the picture. I kept a prayer of thanksgiving in my mind especially during this run for the opportunity I had to experience this. Ten years ago I would never have believed it. Just goes to show you what the human mind, body, and spirit can do even when it doesn't know it yet.

After we completed our legs at 3:30 in the morning we had to drive 20 miles to our resting point. Our luxurious accommodations would be a high school complete with the most disgusting bathrooms (they had been well used by thousands of runners by this point) and non private showers and the gym floor to sleep on. Poor Mel couldn't stand the smell and slept in the van. The rest of us opted for the auditorium floor that wasn't as crowded as the gym. But it still was a sight. The stage, steps and isles were covered with sleeping bags and blankets with worn out runners. I really wanted to change into something that wasn't wet with sweat. A nice janitor (poor dude) let me into a small room and locked me in (it was a push door so that I could get out- I will admit that I was slightly nervous about this, although not nervous enough not to accept the offer) so that I could change in private. Needless to say that we took a sponge bath with baby wipes and ditched those nasty high school showers, ate a little something, brushed our teeth and tried to get some sleep. It wasn't easy with people moving all the time, zippers zipping, and me worrying about getting stepped on or something getting taken out of my bag. But I managed about a hour and a half and actually felt rejuvenated. We got cleaned up, ate a little breakfast, packed up the van again and headed out to meet the other half of the Runnies for our last leg. Clouds were rolling in and it looked like rain. Little did we know...

Part 3 to come...

Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay 2009- Part one

I've really been struggling to put into words this great experience that I've just had. It truly was one of the best things I've ever been a part of. It was wild and crazy and so much fun and pain all at the same time. I think one of the most amazing things that I saw and experienced was the teamwork and camaraderie that we shared. Everyone did a part, everyone trained for their specific legs, and everyone was patient and kind. It was an adventure that I'll probably be telling my grandkids about. I am simply amazed with the women that I was surrounded by. They were incredible and it feels like I have 5 new close friends.

Our team was the Energizer Runnies. Very last minute we all started talking on our blog about how to decorate our van and costumes- you know, the important part of the race. For never having met any of these women before, I already knew they were going to be amazing because of the ideas that were flying! I volunteered to make bunny ears. Mel got shower loofas for us to pin on as tails and she made an awesome drum out of a lampshade from a thrift store. Saria made a couple of battery packs for us to wear on our backs. Cameo came up with a great idea for the van and it was all thrown together two days before the race.

We met for the first time at Angi's parents house in Logan for breakfast and decorating and loading up the cars. Angi's folks made us french toast, scrambled eggs and had fruit, bagels, and juice. It was perfect for meeting everyone and then trying to match faces to names that we were all familiar with. We had two teams, 24 women, all of which I'd never met before. I'm not shy once I get to know you, but I'm pretty quiet if I don't. But it wasn't like that here. I felt like I'd known some of these women through their blogs and it was a relief meeting them in person.

Tancy- modeling the outfit!

The start! And we were off! I had thought we'd have a lot of free time in between running but I was very wrong. The time just flew by. We were not very good at giving support to our runners the first couple of legs. But we learned quick. The race does not provide ANY water at any point. We were in charge of supporting each other. Good thing Mel and Tancy were so patient with our inexperience. We almost missed a few exchanges, had some close calls along the way, but that made it all the more exciting.

Can you spot Tancy in the bunny ears? They came in really handy for finding our runner and for spotting the other team at the major exchanges. Plus it made for some really good comments that we overheard like this one, "Man, I just couldn't catch the bunny. She was just too fast and ahead of me the whole time!"

Mel- finishing up her first leg!

Sarai getting a drink during her first run.

My first leg about 3:10 in the afternoon- I was so hot and my stomach didn't feel good. It was a real struggle the whole five point something miles. It was pretty much uphill the whole way and I was so glad to see the exchange point! I knew if I could just get through that run that the rest of the legs would be o.k. I had a couple of surprises along the way. My family drove up to cheer me on and seeing them was great! They leapfrogged a while and I looked forward to seeing them in the distance. I also had a great surprise of my friend Jody coming to watch me. I was so shocked that she would drive all the way up there to support me. It meant a lot! I also got several messages on my phone from friends all along the race course checking on me and wishing me luck. I am sometimes just overwhelmed by the love and care of others. It makes me want to be a better person.

My exchange to Cameo. I ran an average of 10:20 minute miles during this leg. I started out too fast and I will admit that I walked a few times to catch my breath. Not what I wanted to do, but live and learn. I was so glad to be done!

Cameo finishing up her first leg! Wow, it was a crazy uphill the whole way with dust flying in her face. Some of the drivers were very courteous and drove slowly and others were not. Cameo didn't stop once! She rocked that hill!

Angie was next with a good section of uphill and then a wild, steep downhill that was on a rocky, rutted out road. She had to leap over sections of road. There were places where it was a tight fit with the cars and runners on the same road. Dusty, dirty for her too. But she again was awesome!

Our poor bunny van just doesn't look the same after all that dirt.

We had each done our first legs and you would think that we'd have a lot of time to rest and stretch our legs after all that running? Well, we didn't. We made some sandwiches and ate on a church lawn, changed out of our wet stinky clothes, and then tried to lay down and rest for a minute. We then realized that we didn't even know how to get to the next exchange point or how long it would take us. We only had about 3 hours in between those exchanges and that went by fast. We got directions and headed out for Snow Basin....

Ever notice?

Running aint pretty. I know some of you may disagree with me. You're thinking of the smooth paced runner who looks like they're floating on the surface of the pavement. Or maybe you're thinking of the great bodies that grace the covers of running magazines. I am not that runner. I am the hair filled and dripping with sweat, knees knocking together, ankles scraping the opposite calf, gasping for oxygen, looks like they might trip themselves (oh wait, I've done that) kind of runner. My thighs don't look like I run. My calves might a little, maybe it just hasn't moved up the line yet. But that's not what I'm talking about.

I'm talking about the after effects of running. Not just the sweaty, stinky clothes that you have to peel off. (My husband asked me if I was going to have to cut my clothes off a couple of weeks ago...uh hum...I did not.) Not the limping around like you're a cripple or laying with ice on your knees either. I'm talking pure vanity here. Running has not been kind to me. And I have the tan lines to prove it. It's not just my shirt lines or my short lines that look ridiculous in a swimming suit (not that I've been brave enough to even put one on yet this "summer") but it's the shoe line that really gets me. I was in my cute skirt walking over to church in my cute little sandals when I look down to admire my toenails that are so cute and I get a glimpse of my lovely tan line. Not so cute. I might as well have been wearing my running shoes with my cute little skirt. I looked ridiculous. I know what you're thinking. Just sit out in the sun with your shoes off for a few hours and problem solved. O.k. maybe. But this is what really gets me. I have a tan mustache. Yep. I get it every year. For some dumb reason I tan right above my lip darker than anywhere else on my face. I even started this spring by putting sunscreen ONLY above my lip. Didn't help. I still got it. I try to use cover up under my make up on my upper lip. But it eventually wears off. I am totally aware of how vain this is and how unimportant it is in the scheme of the universe. But still. A tan mustache? Come on!

Now before you think that I've totally lost it...I haven't. You see I know I'm going to get these crazy tan lines and I still choose to run. Guess I don't care as much about my appearance as I thought. Truthfully, I am so grateful to be able to run. When you're injured you really get grateful and I'm trying to remember even though I'm not. The ability to run is something that should never be taken for granted. It might not always be fun. It might be hard. There might be setbacks and progress may not always be what we want it to be. But the simple motion of putting one foot in front of the other is a blessing. Running doesn't take any special talent. There's not too much coordination involved. Just one foot in front of the other. But what a blessing. So many are not able to do that simple motion. I'm so grateful for the chance to experience the exhilaration of feeling the pavement beneath my feet and the motion of moving forward. I really love to run.

Last week:

Tues. June 9th- 5 1/2 miles hills

Wed. June 10th- 6 1/2 miles fast

Fri. June 12th- 6 1/2 miles fast

Sat. June 13th- 8 1/3 miles

Taper time!

Mon. June 15th- 3 miles

Wed. June 17th- 2 miles

Marching on...

The race is coming up so quickly and I hope I'm ready.  This is the last week of real training and then the taper begins.  Then my marathon training begins!  I'm so glad my body has been able to hold it together.  (knock on wood!)  

Friday May 28th:  4.25 miles in the afternoon 82 degrees.  It was hard.  I was about a minute per mile slower than normal.  I was getting goosebumps and feeling nauseous by the time I got done.  I'm not used to the heat.  But I need to get used to it!  So... I'm acclimating!

Saturday May 29th:  10.5 miles late, late morning.  It FELT like 1000 degrees but the thermometer said it was only about 80 degrees.  My feet felt like they were on fire towards the end of the run.  I tried to make my pace be around 10:30-10:45 minutes per mile.  I reigned myself in early in the run because I threw in some big hills around mile 7.  It was a killer.  I still ended up doing a bit of walking up the last hill and then it was a struggle to even get home.  I was nauseous and dizzy and weak.  It was hard.  But I gotta get used to those hills in the middle of my long runs.  I'm sure the heat didn't help.  Hopefully it will get easier as the training goes along.  

Monday June 1st:  4.5 miles pushing the jogging stroller.  That should count for more.  I felt surprisingly great for how bad Saturday was.

Tuesday June 2nd:  25 minutes jumping rope.  I decided to count how many jumps I was doing.  (Am I bored or what?)  2000 jumps in 25 minutes.  I thought that was pretty cool.  Also did full body weights.  

Wednesday June 3rd:  5.5 miles with trail hills.

Thursday June 4th:  4 mile recovery run with full body weights.

Saturday June 6th:  morning run 3.75 miles fast.  7 miles in the afternoon.  5.25 miles at night.  I wore all my outfits that I plan on wearing in the race.  I also wrote a detailed description of this day on my family blog if you're interested.  Seriously one of the best days of running ever.  Especially the nighttime run.  Amazing.

Monday June 8th:  4.5 mile easy run.

You Tube to the rescue

One of the girls on our team suggested checking out You Tube for videos of the Wasatch Back.  There are quite a few of them that are really good.  They have been getting me pumped about this race and the teamwork that will be involved.  This particular one gave me a new favorite running song as well.  "The Distance" by Cake.  Give it a listen, I bet you'll love it too!

Only 3 more weeks!

The Wasatch Back is only 3 weeks away!  I'm a little freaked out and nervous and very excited!  Check out Tall Girl Running's blog for a great description of how I think we're all feeling.  My family drove the course on Monday so that I could check out my legs and get a feel for the course.  It was good to see exactly where I'd be running.  It is some of the most beautiful scenery I've seen.  But it really reinforced to me just how long it really is.  187 + miles is a long way!  What an adventure I've gotten myself into!  I am also really grateful to those 11 other amazing women that I will be joining for this experience.  I've never actually met any of them, but I'm sure after those 24 + hours together in a van we'll know each other maybe better than we would wish!  There are some really steep uphills on some rough terrain that are pretty intimidating.  I'm so glad there was someone willing to do those.  I really can't wait!  And it will give me a good base to start my marathon training for St. George.  I made it through the lottery this year with Heather (my friend that I ran my first marathon with) and Angi and Missy my two friends from high school.  I can't wait!  It's always better to suffer with friends than by yourself!

What I've been up to since the last report: 

These keep me accountable!

Monday:  Jumped rope for 25 minutes

Tuesday:  6.5 miles with trail hills.  

Wednesday:  5 miles

Thursday:  Ran the high school bleachers for 30 minutes.  Kicked my rear!

Friday:  4 miles easy

Saturday:  10 miles   kind of dreaded it.  I had a hard time getting out the door and an even harder time finishing it.  Just felt tired.

Tuesday:  5.5 miles with trail hills.  Full body weights.  

Wednesday:  4 miles

Thursday:  lower body weights

Friday: 5 miles

Saturday:  5.5 miles fast, ballet class, 6.5 miles fast at night in the pouring rain.

Monday:  4.5 miles slowly.  I was SO sore from Saturday's events I had to take it easy.  I don't remember being that sore even after the last marathon.  Of  course that could just be my memory playing tricks on me.

Wednesday:  jumped rope for 40 minutes.  Upper body weights

Thursday:  3 miles with hills.  My ankles and calves were still a little sore, but not too bad.

More miles without injury, yeah!

Thursday:  3.75 miles recovery, stretching, and 4 mile walk

Friday:  6 miles trail run, hard hills

Monday:  3.2 miles+ 5.5 miles in the afternoon

Wednesday:  5.3 miles

Thursday:  weights

Saturday:  6.6 miles in the pouring rain

Monday:  6 mile trail run, hard hills

Tuesday:  2.5 miles 

Wednesday:  5 miles 

Thursday:  3 miles

Saturday:  5 miles in the morning +  6 miles in the evening

It's getting closer to the Wasatch Back and nervous excitement is definitely here.  Our legs were assigned, then changed by the race directors, then switched around again.  I ended up with the best leg of them all.  I was kind of worried about the 2nd leg change.  The last one was pretty tough and I'm so worried about injuring myself.  I had decided not to complain and I would just tough it out and do it slow.  But it was changed and I think it worked out really well for me.  I can't wait to spend 24 hours with these amazing women and accomplish over 178 miles together!  It's gonna be awesome!  I've been pretty diligent keeping myself under control, resting when I need it, and going to bed earlier.  If I can just make it through this, I think I'll have a good base to start building my next marathon upon.  I signed up for the St. George Marathon with some friends.  We don't find out if we're in yet until Monday night, but the plan is if we don't make it in to that one to run Top of Utah.  That's the plan!  But I've very aware of how plans also change!