Runnin' Mama

Oh the winter...

2010-01-31T10:21:00.000-08:00

I like to snowboard. Outside of that I HATE THE WINTER. It messes everything up! You can never plan any sort of running schedule because of the weather. Ok, I know, back in the day I would run through anything. In fact, I remember one run where my friend and I were determined to do a 13 miler but it was snowing- and when I say snowing I mean blizzard. We still went. We looked like snowmen. We were asked for a ride probably 10 different times. We would just laugh and say in a giggly, endorphine amped voice, "We like this!" We would run through fog (inversion) down in the riverbottoms out of the canyon and have ice crystals hanging from our eyelashes- and we liked it! But I have found over the past year or so that doing that is not very comfortable. It really stretches my motivation thin so 9 times out of 10, if it is snowing, raining or blowing faster than 5 mph I won't do it. I will resort to sitting my butt on the spin bike while watching reruns of the Biggest Loser online. Once in awhile I will go to the gym and get on the hamster wheel but that is a totally different post for another day. I am ready for winter to be over. We live so far away from the ski resorts that we only get up there every 2 weeks or so, so I can just be done with the snow. Yesterday was absolutely beautiful. I was able to run outside in just tee shirts and capris and was just fine. However, days like that- as nice as they are- are secretly evil because they give you a little piece of something you want but know you can't have. You know that weather will not last forever because it is January..........in Utah.

Hello Again!

2009-09-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

I know it has been awhile.... So here is what has been going on in my running world.
YES!!! I am still running regularly. Now that the burning question is out of everyone's mind I can move on. I can't really remember the last thing I posted about, and being I am too lazy to click back and read my last post, I will just say what races have been done this year so far.
Besides a bunch of 5k's I did the Salt Lake Half in April, the Bryce Canyon half in July, and then the Park City half in August. I found something interesting, though. I didnt register for the Park City because it was closed by the time I got online to do it. But my friend was running it so I decided to just be a tag along. I figured since I didn't pay for it and wasn't getting a shirt then why gut myself trying to beat my time? So my friend and I ran it with her mom. Our pace was quite a bit slower but I have never had so much fun on a half marathon! I love that race and I will do it again next year. I will even pay for it! I have my eyes set on the Snow Canyon half in St. George at the beginning of November. This one I will do my best to beat my best time this year. So, if anyone wants to go along let me know! There is also a 5k so even if you are not up to a half there is still something for you to do and be involved!

It has been awhile

2009-03-24T17:21:00.000-07:00

I have finally signed up for another half marathon. I didn't know if I would feel good enough to do it but I ran 8 miles (of hills) in AZ this past weekend in hot weather and felt great! So, I figured I can at least finish the Salt Lake half in 3 weeks. I am so excited but still a little nervous after the long siesta I have taken. But I have come across some great new running partners that help light that fire again. I know that I will not beat my best half time but hopefully I will beat my worst. Anyway, I can't make any promises that I will post again before then so wish me luck!

I know, I know, I know....

2009-01-11T14:07:00.000-08:00

I have really let this blog dwindle. I don't update it nearly as much as I should but I find that I don't have a lot to talk about. Nothing earth shattering in the running world for me yet. (i.e. I haven't won the Boston and I haven't made it on the US team yet) I still need to register for Ragnar... I am such a procrastinator! Anywhoo, I did have a bit of an epiphany (did I spell that right?) the other day. Let's face it, I haven't ran a lot since I had surgery but I have been BUSY!! Lame excuse, I know. But I have started teaching a spin class 1-2 nights a week as well as hopping on our spin bike a couple times during the week at home. So the other night Ryan and I went to the gym. I decided I would run on the treadmill since my running shoes were feeling a bit neglected. I cannot tell you the difference in my run! I had so much more stamina! My leg turnover was quicker and I didn't tire near as easily as I thought I would. Now that I spin regularly I see how it really does compliment running. So, now I am all amped and pumped up to run regularly again. Just in time, too, since training for the Ragnar starts next month. So, if you feel as though you might need something else to help you running out, SPIN!

My Past weeks in Running (or lack of...)

2008-12-29T16:34:00.000-08:00

Christmas is a very difficult time to get the motivation to work out. I worked out but when it came to running it didn't happen. I had surgery 2 weeks ago and something about recovery time didn't help that either. So, here I am. I ran last Friday- only 3 miles but it was on top of 3 inches of snow and ice so I am going to go ahead and say it was 6. I forgot how hard it is to run in the snow! But, I did it and felt good about it. This week I plan on doing better even though the kids are still out of school. Thank goodness for DVR'd shows and Rock Band to keep them occupied.

Turkey Trot and the running week!!

2008-11-30T17:55:00.000-08:00

I know that I already posted this on my other blog, but it is only appropriate that I post on my running blog!

I finally did my first race of this year. I am so amped and ready to do farther distances. I am thinking maybe a half the first part of next year. Let me know if any of you have ideas for some around that time. (preferably closer to home) My time did end up a bit slower than the first time I did this race but that is ok. It won't be too difficult to get my time back down. I ran this with my friend Nicole and then found my good friend Nat (in the picture) while we were there. She is going to join my RAGNAR team with her husband, brother and dad! I think I have a full team now! YEAH!!!

Anywhoo, this past week was a good running week. I have hit all my runs without having negative running thoughts. Now back to my trip down memory lane. This one is from my days of only running on the treadmill before I started doing races. I was at Lifestyles gym running on the hamster wheel. There was a lady running about 3 treadmills away from me that caught her foot and tripped while running at a high pace. She tried to catch herself but her foot caught her leg AGAIN which caused her to flip around, land on her butt on the tread and then get booted off. For any of you who know me, I find such humor in things like this. I was laughing so hard I had to stop running. (She was fine, just a little tread burn so it was ok for me to laugh.) I couldn't run for about 5 minutes becuase I couldn't stop laughing.

WITH THAT SAID.... two weeks later I was running on the hamster wheel again, when MY FOOT caught the back of my leg and down I went. I grabbed the handles and tried to pull my legs back under me. After 6 strides and really loud banging I finally was able to pull my feet back under me.

I won't laugh at anyone ever again when they fall on the treadmill.

Running Week 11/24/08

2008-11-24T10:48:00.000-08:00

This past week was CRAZY busy. I found that I had all sorts of motivation. I did all the runs I planned on as well as threw a couple of spin classes in the mix. I have started doing my long runs on Monday's. It seems to be the day I have the most motivation being that I had Sunday off from caring about running and what I eat. So Monday is damage control day. So, last Monday I finally got out and did a 6 mile run. I know it isn't far but you would be suprised how hard it is for me to break away to do more than a half hour run. I have the Turkey run on Thursday- my first race ALL YEAR! Pathetic, right? It is sad to me that I finally get all my motivation back when the warm weather moves out and the inversion sets in. Actually we have all been spoiled by the Indian Summer we have been experiencing. Maybe that is where the motivation comes from.

Anywhoo, back to memories of funny running experiences, my friend and I were getting ready to go on our long run. I had been having some pain in my knee so my friend said that she had IB800 I could take. So I went over to her house and she told me to go ahead and pull the medicine out of the cupboard and to get her one as well. So, I pull the 2 ibuprofens out, take mine with water and then put hers on the counter until she was ready for it. After she gets her shoes on she comes into the kitchen and asks where the pill is. I point to the one on the counter. She takes one look at it and says, "That's not the Ibuprofen- what did you take?" Aparently I don't read labels. I had pulled out her husbands amoxicillen and taken one.

Now, I have some great memories since moving down here and running. My "running partner gone prego" and I were on a 13 mile run through slush. I think the slush was 6 inches deep in some areas. We got really good at running in the car tracks, however, I still seemed to get soaking wet by mile 3. My shoes were sloshing with every step. It was miserable. And if that wasn't bad enough, "I had to go". We were in the middle of nowhere on a nice country road and the ONLY option I had was a ditch that sat about 3 feet off the road. So, I looked for a moment where we didn't see any cars coming and down I went. If someone would have driven by they would have seen a head sticking out of the ground. Luckily no one did.

Why I run...

2008-11-19T21:39:00.000-08:00

I know that it really isn't time for an update, but I want to take a minute for a little reflection. I think that since I have been running and going to spinning a lot more my mood has been fantastic and I love everyone. Gotta love those endorphines, right? Anywhoo, it is my dad's birthday today. He is on his 15th year of his 49th birthday as he puts it. We hadn't had the closest relationship growing up and it wasn't until about 4 years ago that we really started to try and mend things. Since then I have been so greatful to have developed the relationship we have. He has had totally high cholesterol as well as blood pressure for several years. I have been so worried about him because I have a lot of years to make up and am not ready to let him go. I saw him the other day after a few months and realized that he has lost a lot of weight. He isn't running or doing anything drastic other than eating right and exercising. He looks SO GOOD! His blood pressure and cholesterol have both gone done and he was able to fire his fat coach. :) I even see a difference in his mood. He seems happier. I am so proud of him for making this goal in his life and accomplishing it. I almost wanted to put 100 lbs. so that he and I could go on the Biggest Loser together but now I don't need to. So this brings me back to why I run... I have always ran because, A) I don't want to gain weight, B) I enjoy the freedom I get from it C) It keeps me sain.
But after seeing what losing weight has done for my dad's health, I found that I need to add one more reason to my list and that is D) it keeps us around for our families who love us and worry about us.
This goes farther than just running, though. I need to start eating a bit more healthy and drinking a lot more water. I have known this all along but it sinks in a bit more when you see the results in someone close to you.

Week in running 11/15/08

2008-11-15T16:54:00.000-08:00

Oh... I could have done better at running this past week. I found that I didn't have time. However, I found time to go play volleyball and go spinning a couple of times this week as well as pilates. So it wasn't a matter of not being motivated, it's just that I like doing so many other things, too!
During one of my runs this week I found my mind wandering back to past long runs that I have done. Some of my greatest memories come from the long runs I did with my friends. Of course I mentioned the one run we did in the middle of a blizzard in a previous blog, but there are so many funny things that would happen before and during.
One morning a few years ago, I and a group of friends were just finishing up a run by running down our parking lot at the condos where we lived. The parking lot had just been repaved so there were no markings on the pavement. My friend, not seeing the speed bump, stuck her foot straight into the speed bump and tripped. All I heard was this "HUUUHH!" I look over and she apparently was a cheerleader, because she did this total tuck and roll the second she tripped, completed a perfect summersault and jumped right back up and kept running. All she said was, "I tripped and I am ok!!" We were all busting up laughing at 5:30 in the morning because that was one of the greatest things we had ever seen. I had never known people tripped when running because it hadn't ever happened to me. Not more than a few months later, I was running to work (yes, I could do that where I worked) at 5:00 am. I had dropped down off of Geneva road and was headed the last 1/2 mile to my work. The road was in the middle of being repaved. It was in the very early stages so there were many pot holes. I had my ipod on, running at a good clip, when down I went. My foot stuck straight into the side of a pot hole and I smacked staight down. I hit with my arms down infront of me and instantly pushed my body back up and kept running. The first thing that goes through your mind is "did anybody see that?" My answer was yes. Not only was it right infront of a driveway where cars were waiting for me to go by so they could pull out, but my brother in law drove by right then. It was at that moment I knew how people tripped while running.
Another memory I have, and this one was more of a life lesson for me, was in the middle of one of my Moab half marathons. I was around mile 5 when I came up upon a lady that was having a little issue with her shorts. She had apparently gone into the bathroom and when she had pulled her shorts up the outside flap that covered her left "cheek" had gotten caught up in her waste band so it was exposing her rear.... and she had a wedgie. O h, I giggled about it and pointed it out to the person I was running with. This went on for about 10 minutes or so when I noticed a lady run up to her and whisper in her ear. The lady with "the issue" quickly pulled her shorts out and down. It was at that moment I wished I had been the one to tell her that. What if that had been me??? I would have been so embarrassed if I had ran about 5 miles exposing my butt cheek. I felt so bad the rest of my run because I wish I would have helped her rather than laugh. I wasn't laughing at her, I was laughing at the situation. Anyway, I have vowed to myself if I ever come upon anything like that again, whether running or not, I will most definitely help the person out.

Past Week in Running 11/2/08

2008-11-02T10:06:00.000-08:00

This past week has been pretty good with running. I went 4 times but also went spinning twice. The first run that I went on I had Allie with me so I had to push her 25 pound butt in our 65 pound stroller. I know that it really doesn't weigh that much but it seems like it when you have to push it up hill against the wind. I managed to muster out 4 miles that day. (I really think that I would have died had I tried to go any further.)
The next run I did was the next day. I went with my friend who had surgery a few weeks ago. She did fantastic I might add...
The run I did on Saturday I noticed that I felt great! I felt the way I used to when I was training for marathons. My pace was up, I cruised up the hills and recovered quickly. I had to hurry because I had to go coach our young womens volleyball game (which no one showed up to) so I was only able to get 3 miles in. The way I felt, though, was that I could have done at least 3 more at that pace. This excites me. Maybe by pushing the stroller with "the girl" sittine in it, it improves my running quicker. Maybe on days that I run while she is in school I could throw a 25 pound bag of flour in her stroller and push that around instead. (kidding)
Anyway, I am excited to see how this week goes. My goal for next Saturday is to run 6 miles. It is going to get harder to get out and run being the weather is now starting to get cold. We have all been so spoiled with how long it has stayed warm.

Ragnar Race

2008-10-26T21:58:00.000-07:00

I am totally wanting to do this race in June. I need to get 11 more people signed up and excited for it, though. It is from Logan to Park City on June 19-20. How much fun would this be? I am choosing to do leg 6, 11, or 12. I have spoken with a couple of people that have done it and they absolutely loved it. I would like to get our team together with people who WILL NOT FLAKE OUT by the beginning of Dec. If we register before January then we will save about 20.00 each. Otherwise it will be 100.00 per runner. Each runner will run 3 different legs of the race with 12 runners per team. If you are wanting to do this then please sign up in the comments section. I have about 5 people who are already on board with it. Here is the link to this race-

http://www.ragnarrelay.com/

Also, training for this starts in February so it is past the worst of the winter. You can find the training schedule on the link above.

My First Post

2008-10-26T10:25:00.000-07:00

I used to be quite the die hard runner until two years ago but have found up until about 2 months ago I had a hard time with motivation. I believe it has been ever since the Moab Marathon 2 years ago that I was just a little burned out. With several things between now and then that were road blocks it has been hard for me to get back into it. Until now. I am so excited about the coming year and the races that it brings. However, I still find that I struggle with the motivation a bit.
I came into contact with my first running partner and good friend this past week and she informed me that she had a running blog. As I read through it I found that I was longing for the feel of finishing a 20 mile run. So, I figured I would copy her (I am admitting it, Janice) and make a running blog for myself. Maybe by getting into the loop of runners again I will find the last little bit of motivation I need. I have had a few different running partners, but life happens and things come up that they aren't able to go. It is hard to get out and go by yourself- and cold. I remember a long run I did before the Moab Half 5 years ago. We started to run, it was cold, but fine. Within the first 3 miles it started to snow! We ran the remaining 10 miles in a blizzard. We looked like snowmen. I can't tell you how many people stopped to ask if we needed a ride. We just said "No- we like this!" ??? I want to feel that way again. So, with winter coming I know that I will need all the help I can get.
So, this is my first post on my official running blog. I have one race coming up- it is the Thanksgiving Day run at the Orem rec. It is a small one, but I have gotta start somewhere.