Race Report: Holiday Heros 5K

I ran a 5K on Saturday morning.

A snow storm came in during the night and left about 3 inches of snow on the ground in the morning.  So needless to say, my husband was NOT excited about running this race with me.

But being the good man that he is and not wanting to disappoint his wife on our anniversary (7 years!), he got all layered up and promised to pace me to a new PR.

And pace me he did.  A whopping 32 seconds faster per MILE than my previous best 5K time.  And he even let me beat him at the finish line by .3 seconds.

A new PR of 24:38 - 7:55/mile.

Which is fast.  For me.

AND!  For the first (and I'm sure ONLY) time - I won my age group!!!!  And Tyson won his.

We're pretty much rockstars.

I have to say - I'm pretty much in love with this race and plan to do it next year.  Not just because I did so well.  And not because it only cost $10.  And not because of how close it is to us.  All of those things were awesome.  But the best part was:

Race Report: Just Cuz Half Marathon

It was 20º. 

We started almost a half an hour late trying to get everyone up to the start line. 

There was a flash mob just before the gun went off.

There was ice on the road for the first three and a half miles.

I almost fell a few times.

I was dressed as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

I finished in 2:05:45.

If I Die Tomorrow...

Hypothermia.  That's what it will be. 

Dressed as a mutant turtle.

Three Things Thursday

1. Sometimes Katie doesn't love having her picture taken.

2. Sometimes she does.

3. And sometimes... I think she's up to something...

Forgotten Ideas Lead to Vacation Bragging

Sometimes I get great ideas for things to blog about.  I'll think about it as I'm driving home from work or getting ready for the day or when I'm out running errands.

And then I forget.  I forget what the heck I thought was such a good idea for a new post... and then here I am after a week of no new blog posts... and I'm staring at the screen willing that forgotten idea to come back to me.

So, until I get another great idea - that I will promptly forget - I'll talk about...

Currently I'm debating on signing up for a half marathon that will be 2 weeks after I get home from a 10 day trip to Hawaii.  Which means that I would need to log 2 long runs (10-12 miles), plus normal training while on vacation.

That's a lot of running that would take time away from the beach and swimming with turtles and dolphins and I don't know if I can commit to it.  It would be a great way to see the island, but - 2 runs that are 2 hours long probably won't fly with the husband that will be taking care of an 18 month old, plus the other people that we are going with, who would be waiting around for me to finish my run before we could go anywhere.

Have you trained for a race while on vacation?  Would you do it again?

Three Things Thursday

1.  That half marathon on Saturday could have gone better.  It was mostly a downhill course and by mile 9 my IT band was very unhappy... so I hobbled the rest of the way in.  I have another half marathon the first Saturday in November - and the first 8 miles are downhill... so... I guess my knee won't like that either.

2.  I am pretty much a horrible blogger these days.  I don't have the time that I used to with job changes (and a cute little girl to spend all of my extra time with).  It's kind of embarrassing that I have this blog... and I don't ever talk about running.

3.  Happy 1st Birthday to my pride and joy!

Race Report: Sojo Half Marathon

2:07:51

Inflammation or Stress?

Confession time.

My foot hurts.  And from the self diagnosis that I am doing from the internet, it is most likely one of two things.

Extensor Tendinitis - which is inflammation of the tendon that runs along the top of your foot.

Or, it's a stress fracture.

So... I have a race in less than two weeks.  What is your expert opinion that I should do? (Not that I can guarantee that I will listen - I've paid money and I don't like wasting it.)

Try to get in to a doctor right away (which kind of a doctor?  Sports?)?  Rest and cross-train all week and see how this weekend's 6 mile goes?  Pop lots of ibuprofen?  Try tying my shoes differently?

Here is where the pain is located:

It doesn't hurt all of the time... it feels like a bruise, actually.

Any advise?

Race Report: The Dirty Dash 10K

My race report?  It.Was.Awesome.

AWESOME!

Barf, Mud and Tears

So that 5 mile race that I did on Labor Day?  I finished in 44 minutes and then immediately walked over to the closest bushes and barfed.  It was awesome.

Not.

Next week I'm doing my very first mud run.  The Dirty Dash.  A 10K course of mud and obstacles.  Its going to be so much fun!

In other news, my "baby" took her first steps last night.  And I burst into tears. 

Weekend Plans

I love signing up for races last minute.

I will have an automatic PR on Monday morning.  I'm running a 5 mile race, that they are cleverly calling a "steeplechase".

I'm going to wax religious for the next few sentences.  Prepare yourself.

South Jordan, Utah is the only city in the world to have TWO LDS temples.  So the run is from one temple to the other.  And the money is donated to a fund that gives LDS members around the world the opportunity to travel to their closest temple.

End religious waxing.

... ... ... ... ... ...

Nine miles on deck for tomorrow morning.  It's my husband's birthday and he is finally getting more than the local channels installed today and plans to spend all day tomorrow in front of the TV, so I have to get the run out of the way early.

I think I'm already regretting this decision.

Dread{mill}

Let me start by saying how much I love having a treadmill in my basement.  I love getting home from work, putting Katie down for a nap and then heading down to get in some exercise while she is asleep.

But I have a very hard time running on a treadmill.  Like, gasping for breath, staring at the numbers thinking, "I've only gone a mile??"  I am incapable of "zoning out" on the TV or a movie for more than 5 minutes.  My eyes always wander back to display and I watch the numbers counting my mileage move in super-slow-motion.  And I'm walking a LOT more often than I would on a normal run outdoors.  A LOT more.  It's quite ridiculous.

Any tips or advice, would be appreciated.  I'm still getting some time in running, which is better than nothing, but MAN!  It is so hard for me.  Is it just going to take more time in until I'm used to it, or what?

Race Report: South Valley Half Marathon

This pretty much sums up how I feel/felt about the race that I "ran" on Satuday:

Poorest performance in a half since the first time I ran the distance.  2:29:40 is the official time.  A good 20-30 minutes slower than I had hoped for/boasted about/planned on.

The course was harder than I thought it would be. (3 miles up hill??)  It was hotter than I thought it would be... and around mile 9 I just kind of gave up, after being passed by the 2:10 pacer, the 2:15 pacer and the 2:20 pacer.

I'm not proud of it.  I'm embarrassed.  A lot.

The race was gun timed and when the gun went off, I was still waiting to get in the Honey Bucket.  So I started out 1:30 behind everyone else and was running WAY too fast, trying to catch up to the 1:55 pacer.  I never even saw him.  The closest I got was the 2:05 pacer and I didn't stay in front of her for very long.

There are a lot more boring details that I could complain about and try to use as an excuse.  But the bottom line was that I wasn't prepared for the course and hadn't trained as well as I should have.

Adding to my embarrassment were two great bloggers that waited and waited and waited around for me to finish for a photo.

I'll be running with you in October, Blaine!  And Candice, you are so pretty.

Here's the Thing...

I don't like blogging about running anymore.

OK, that's not really true... but I feel weird blogging about running.  I mean, does anyone really care about my mid-week runs and how slow I went and what I felt like and how I saw this many runners and only one of them acknowledged me? 

Does anyone really care about my long runs and how slowly I go and how many times I walked and how I tried a new flavor of GU and liked it?

Mostly I just want to talk about this:

And I do... a lot... on my personal/family blog.

... ... ... ... ...

Anyway, I ran 12 miles this morning.  And it took me WAY too long.  Like, 30  minutes slower than what I had hoped to be running for the half marathon in two weeks.

Confidence boosting, wouldn't you say?

Labor of Love

10 miles on deck for tomorrow's long run.  My goal is only 3 walk/GU/water breaks.  Its going to be hot, so I'm going to try to get out even earlier than normal.

I issued a challange to my non-runner friends to run a half marathon with me on October 15th.  So far only one person has said that they would do it.  My thoughts are along the lines of if I bring only one person into running "how great shall be my joy".

Right?  Isn't that the ultimate goal for all of us runners? To share our love of the sport and get our friends and loved ones and the fat people of the world out running?

Horsepower

I ran 8 miles on Saturday.  It was hot and I was sweaty.

... ... ...

Changing gears...

... ... ...

I grew up in a town that my boss lovingly refers to as "the armpit of Idaho".  And in that armpit, I rode horses.

I love horses.

We (being my parents and I) moved to Utah when I was 14 and about to start the 9th grade.  So in the last 12 years, the only time that I get to ride horses is when I pay an arm and a leg to go plodding along on a 20+ year old "trail horse" in places like, the Oregon Coast or Yellowstone.

Oregon Coast 2007

Yellowstone 2008

Star Valley, WY 2009

Anyway, the point that I'm getting to is that I got to go horseback riding last week.  At the same place where I had spent 9 of my first 14 years riding several times a week.

And Katie had her first horse ride.

And she loved it.



Like Mother:

Like Daughter:

2011 Riverton Country Mile 10K

I ran a 10K on Saturday morning (with my dad).

I didn't do as good as I had hoped.

In fact, I totally sucked (my slowest 10K yet!).

Stats:

1:01:07 (9:50 min/mi)

68th place overall

9th in women 25-29

Thorn Sweating + 5 Miles

The Boring Runner hosted a virtual 5K for Saturday morning.  I had 8 miles to run and planned to "race" my 5K the last 3.1 miles.

One thing I've learned in my years of running is that things don't always go according to plan on race day.

I finished my 8 miles in an hour and a half after stiff legging it to a gas station bathroom for three-quarters of a mile.  As I was using the facilities (I had a few minutes to ponder), I was trying to come up with a clever way to work it into my race report.  I wasn't getting much inspiration, so I got out (after peeling the toilet paper from my sweaty legs - you have to have a barrier, right?) and finished my run. 

I developed a blister after 4 miles, so I had that to help me home too.

You know you always wanted to see a picture of my foot.

So my plans to race home didn't work and I have to use my first three miles of my run.

Finish time for the Sweat Your Thorns Off Virtual 5K: 29:36.  Pretty weak.

Monte Cristo

Raise your hand if you love Monte Cristo sandwiches.

*raises hand*

I made them on Father's Day for the hubby.

(extra special note: I am NOT a food blogger and therefore have horrid pictures of the food that I make)

They were OH SO DELICIOUS.  And easy.  And on diet - which made them even better!

So this "diet" "thing" is going well so far.  Have I ever even told you what it is?  Its The Abs Diet. 

Oh, but I'm not losing weight yet.  I'm gaining it. 

For the moment, I'm okay with gaining.  I've been lifting weights for the last 2 weeks and am gaining back the muscle that I lost during my 6 months of lazing around after having Baby K.

But if I'm still gaining by this time next week, I might have to freak out.

You have all been warned.

P.S. I did "speedwork" last night.  And trying to do 400m repeats on anything other than a track is not easy or enjoyable.

On the Wagon

Our diet plan allows us a cheat on one day per week.  We get to eat whatever we have been craving during our week long dieting... and boy, do I ever cheat!

Getting back on the wagon is easier said than done the next day.  Week days are much easier to diet because I am working all day and don't have access to the temptations that call my name all weekend long.

... ... ... ... ... ... ...

I have a half marathon in less than 9 weeks.  And I haven't been running.  That changes TONIGHT.  I just printed off a training plan that I, Whitney, do ever so solemnly promise to stick to until I cross that finish line on August 20th. 

And then I will start it right back up again for the next race that I have on November 5.  I have PR-crushing-dreams/plans for this race.

It will be mine.  Oh yes, it will be mine.  (Name that movie.)

Post-Op

Katie's surgery went great and she did so well.  I couldn't get enough of her in her little gown.

She quickly charmed all of the staff and had many friends on her way out.

Diet related news - I had lost a pound, and then gained it back in 1.5 days stressing out about her surgery.  Yay for stress!

A Warm 3 Miles

I ran on Saturday.  I know, right?

I thought I should share since this is my running blog.

...

...

...

I suck at blogging.



The End.

"Powerfoods"

My diet consists of 12 groups of foods that I get to eat from 6 times a day.

Nuts (raw or dry roasted - no extras like salt)
Beans (the musical fruit)
Green vegetables
Low-fat/fat-free dairy
Instant oatmeal (plain-jane stuff)
Eggs
Lean meats
Natural nut butters
Olive oil
Whole grains (carbs = deliciousness)
Whey protein powder
Berries

You can have other fruits and veggies and even juices too.

So, you know... it's basically all of the "normal" healthy foods that you SHOULD be eating, as opposed to refined flours and processed junk and greasy fast food and candy and soda (yes Adam, I call it soda - but I also grew up calling it pop).

Foods I can still eat on my diet:
ice cream
pasta
peanut butter on toast (my go-to breakfast)
popcorn
Faux "Bran" Muffins
chocolate milk

And it's not like I CAN'T have sugar or refined flour... it just needs to be rarely.  I can live with that.

But it's only Day Three.  So far I don't feel like I'm missing anything... but we will see how I feel on Week Three.

Four Letter Word

DIET.

I have never, ever in my life been on a diet before.

Until now.  Today is Day 2.

Can I check in here every week and let you know how I'm doing?  It's a 6 week plan and the goal at the end is a six-pack.

Yeah right.

I have several pounds to lose and a half marathon to train (better) for.

I also have a blog that I neglect.  Sorry about that.

So here's a question - you couple of people that actually read my blog - do you want to know about my new diet program, or should I just keep it to myself and only write about my (hopeful) weight loss once a week?

Ogden 1/2 Marathon

This is my "I woke up at 3:30am" face.

We had to wait about an hour up at the start line. (That's my brother-in-law messing with his ear buds.)

I got to see Princess Leia.

My dad took some video of us running (what is up with her weird form?). *WARNING - ALL VIDEO MAY MAKE YOU MOTION SICK*

More video - I was DONE.  This is just after Mile 11 (it makes me laugh.  Yes, I was walking (and weirdly, I might add)).

Less than a mile to go and - oh man - am I huffing and puffing!  Feel free to make fun of me.

They had horse statues all down the last 1/2 mile to the finish line.  I loved them... even if this picture says "I'm in pain!" (and yes, less than 2 minutes after saying, "Don't let me stop" I stopped.)

Our support (my husband with Katie in our jogging stroller, my mom (trying to take pictures), my sister with her newborn and 2 year old in the stroller)).  And my dad saying - Hey a pep band!  I love pep bands!

And then we (that is to say, I) tried to sprint in.

And this is what the Garmin says I finished in.

My offical chip time says 2:10:13.  So I beat my B Goal.  Hooray for me!

I didn't get a picture of me and my dad after the race.  We've run 7 races together and this was the first time that we FINISHED together.  (I may have begged him not to leave me.) 

The last 3 miles hurt and I really struggled.  My pace was all over the place during the race.  Anywhere from 8:40 to 11:20.  Plus some walking.  That's what you get for not training!

But I did it, and it's done and I hope that run it again next year.

The End.

Antsy Pants

Normally, the day before a race I'm cool as a cucumber.

This is not the case today.

It could be because of the fact that I haven't run a half marathon in over a year.

It could be because the forecast is for rain.

It could be because I will have to wake up around 3am to get ready and drive over an hour to make it to the loading buses by 5:30am.

It could be because I have NOT trained well at all.

It could be because I don't know what I'm going to wear.

It could be that I have to hurry through the race to drive another hour down to meet with an ear, nose and throat doctor to have my baby checked out so that she can get tubes (we've had 5 ear infections within the last 2 months).

I'm going with C) All of the above.

But I'll be running as fast as I can make myself.

GOALS

A) Sub 2:04:15 for a new PR
B) Sub 2:15:00
C) Finish in time to get Baby Girl to her appointment.

I will tell you right now, it's going to be C.  And I'm okay with that.

Wordless Wednesday

Revolution

I finally took Baby Girl with me on a run.  She fell asleep after 1.5 miles and I made it 6 miles before she woke up.  So my 9 miler turned into a 6.5, but that's okay.  I liked having her along and it was a new challenge figuring out how to run with the BOB.  I was surprised at how much slower I was with it.  So those wonder women that run sub 7 minute miles with a double are seriously AMAZING.

Anyway, the knee didn't bother me at all and I felt really good for the run (just slower... which was probably a good thing for me - I'll call it a taper).  Now I just need to get a run or two in tonight and tomorrow and I'll be ready (but not really) for the race on Saturday.

Lazy

Confession time.  I don't train properly for races.

Case in point: Saturday's 10 mile run.  I ran 10 miles after not doing any running for a week.  The previous Saturday I had run only 3 miles.  On the treadmill.  I think that I didn't run during that week either.

Anyway, what I'm getting to is that because I don't train like I should... I get a nice case of Runner's Knee.  Awesome.

It's my own fault, so I'm trying not to complain.  And I'm planning to train better in the... 10 days... that I have before my race.

I'm cool like that.

What's that?  You want to see another picture of my cutie pie?  You got it.

10

I've got 10 miles on deck for tomorrow's run.

And here's a confession: I haven't run at all this week.  And last Saturday?  I only ran 3 miles.

So... tomorrow is going to hurt.  And I can't say that I'm looking forward to it.

Happy Star Wars Day...

...and May the 4th be with you.




Live long and prosper.

Wait...

My Little Buttercup

I have not fallen off the face of the earth... but I haven't had much to share that isn't all about how much I love being a mommy.

(I really love being a mommy)

BUT!  I did get 3 runs in last week.  Two short ones on the treadmill and an eight miler on Saturday.

Those eight miles could have gone a lot better if I would have fueled better - I was out of energy 2 miles in.  But I was pleasantly surprised with how well I did and how little I hurt the next day. 

With a month until Odgen, I know I'll be able to get the mileage in that I need to be ready for race day.  This probably won't be my fastest 1/2 (which is a bummer, since the course is all downhill), but I'll just try to think of it as a training run for the other races I plan to run this summer.  The first one of the season is always the hardest for me.

But who knows - maybe I'll run faster, knowing that this is waiting for me at the end: