Top of Utah Half Marathon race recap

Top of Utah Half Marathon was one of those late night races that I thought would be an awesome idea, and surely I could fit it into my schedule!  One of my Ragnar buddies even told me she would run it with me.  Well, turns out she never signed up, didn't tell me and the race sold out.  My son and then my daughter were going to come with me (the race was about 80 miles from my house) but then they decided not to and I didn't push it knowing what teenagers are like if you make them do something they don't want to.  I ended up going by myself.  (Matt was out of town - I'm not sure he likes that I race so much, "do you have to run all of them?" I think was the quote)

I had just driven home from Rock Springs and then 5 hours later I left for Logan.  I had decided to stay overnight there so I didn't have to get up at 4am and drive there.  I have to say, the drive was pretty.  I was in Logan for the start of Wasatch Back and had great memories.  I stayed in a pretty cheap hotel but it was in a decent part of town so I thought it would be OK.  For the love!  It was awful.  It was clean though.  All the non-smoking rooms were sold out and so I had to stay in a smoking room and it was smelly.  I opened the window and headed out to the store for some food and Lysol.

The "kitchenette" with my roast in the microwave.  At least that worked out OK.  The plugs behind it could not have been to code..bahahaha.  The first thing I did was pull off both bedspreads and throw them on the floor.  You can see the Lysol on the nightstand, which I had sprayed everywhere.  Hey - I made it work.

Up at 430 to catch the bus and wait.

Hanging out in my Savers jacket.  I had to wait about an hour at the start line and it was cold!  It gave me a chance to pee twice and snack on some delicious energy gummy's and applesauce.  I found that I could sit and pull my knees up in the fleece and stay pretty warm. 

The start.  What a mess!! So crowded.  I tried starting with the 2:00 pacers, but it took at least a quarter of a mile before we were jogging.  I have such a beef with people that start up close and are obviously NOT that fast.  I think I was weaving in and out of people for 4 miles.  Couple that with my run/walk and I was running a lot harder not smarter!!

I didn't have to toss my jacket for over 2 miles and then the weather was PERFECT!  Cool with a slight breeze at my back on occasion.  It really kept me cool and I realized I wasn't going to have many excuses not to beat 2 hours.  The downhill was pretty gradual and didn't bother my quads at all.  My foot ached the whole way and I spent a lot of the race thinking of things I wasn't doing to help it heal, but it didn't slow me down. 

Garmin RECAP:

13.17 miles in 1:59:16

I listed my splits and where I should be every hour.  I was 2 minutes ahead within the first 5 miles and never really lagged behind.  Luckily I was a little faster in the beginning by just enough that a couple of slow miles at the end didn't hurt me.  Imagine my SURPRISE when I hit the finish line and it said:

2:00:40!!!

I must apologize to those that I ran in with when I dropped a naughty swear word when I saw the numbers.  That was super rude and goes against my "this should be fun" attitude.  FORTY seconds..grrrrrrrrr!!!  

Here are my splits:

1 mile     9:05

2 mile     9:13

3 mile     8:22  (Getting my groove on!  Feeling sassy!!)

4 mile     9:13

5 mile     8:57

6 mile     8:49

7 mile     9:09

8 mile     8:25

9 mile     8:58

10 mile    8:31

11 mile    10:00 (the slight hill and I was feeling it!)

12 mile    10:05

13 mile    8:53 (Hello push to the end!  I've never been able to do that!)

.17          1:30

I have tried to extend my run time in between walk breaks.  I am working at about 7 minutes to 1 minute.  When I am running easy I try to go a couple of miles after mile 5.  I'm not absolutely sure but I think I took 8 walk breaks during the entire race.  They are about a minute - but I sometimes take a little more when I'm fueling.  I only used one gel from honey stinger, somehow the taste of honey makes my gagging minimal and a few of the energy beans.  I didn't use or need any of the water stations since I brought my handheld.  I tried to get plenty hydrated the night before and ease up that morning so that I didn't need to stop and pee and it worked.  I didn't feel dehydrated at all during the race, but that wouldn't have worked if it would have been a hot race.  I didn't use salt pills either - again, I would have had it been hotter. For information to runners who hate it when people just start walking, I pull WAY over to the side before I slow down to walk.  I know the rules!!  Although farting should be allowed - we are outside!!  

I really busted it in the end and by the time I hit the finish line I was running a sub 8 min/mile and feeling like I was going down.  BUT, I did it, grabbed my awesome medal and found a place to catch my breath.  I haven't pushed myself like that at the end of a half before.  It makes me feel like I'm pacing myself much better and have something at the end.  I should have stayed up and leaned on something because after my foot had a minute to rest it was almost too painful to walk.  But I forged on just fine and was able to get some after run snacks, my race bag and hobble to my car that seemed super far away.   

New goal:  Make friends with other lone runners.  I was taking this picture when a lone runner asked if I wanted her to take the picture.  I should have taken her up on it.  I noticed a lot of them but apparently I was having a rare moment of shyness.  I know there are lots of fun gals out there that end up at races alone because I saw some.  It would make it a lot more fun!

Back to skanky motel, called Tera with all the details, showered and made it home after taking large amounts of ibuprofen.  

TADA!!  

The guy at the race bag pick up saw my bib and had my bag for me and called me by name.  Maybe he felt bad for the gimp, either way - how nice is that??

My foot hurts SO bad.  I should expect it with a run that long.  The thing I didn't expect was the sore toenails.  So frustrating to buy a brand of shoes that works awesome and then when I change models the new model is a tad too short.  Really?  I need to go to a men's size ELEVEN to run in??  I must be smashing my feet longer.  Oh well, all the pain was assuaged by looking up my official time:

1:59:07

word.

I did it!

Blog on............

Dragging...

I have been reading a lot of running blogs lately.  I certainly don't do anything that doesn't have to do with running because that is ludicrous!  I have found a common theme.  Tired, burned out.  Are we all running races at the same time and running is burning us out?  I have stayed on the plan for my half marathon and feel ready, but I don't feel like I had to run that much.  To avoid injury and to get my foot to hang on there I only run every other day.  Some runners run every day.  I am not that motivated.

Speaking of half marathon.  I have one tomorrow.  It's the "Top of Utah Half Marathon".  This will be my 3rd half marathon and the first time I run this particular one.  I've heard a few things about it.  One thing I heard was that it was an awesome downhill beauty fest.  Then I heard, from a fellow flight nurse, that the end was a bummer.  what?  For the love....   I spent a couple of hours the other night checking out the elevation and how to run it with negative splits.  I would like to beat 2 hours but I also want to enjoy it.  Looks like I have an easy downhill until about mile 10.5 then over a mile of a slight uphill then basically flat to the end.  

I drove home from Rock Springs today after 2 days of nothing.  I've been home for 2 hours and I haven't even done anything to pack for this race. Doing nothing sucks my motivation. I'm staying in Logan, Utah tonight so I don't have to get up at 3am to get there in time.  I'm taking one or both of my teenagers.  This should be fun.  

In better news, I think my foot is getting a smidge better.  I continue to ice, rub and rest.  I have been wearing KT tape since I bought it two weeks ago.  I change it every 3 days.  

Wearing a sock to bed so the edges don't roll down.  Showing how I tape it.  It tickles when I pull it off.  Then icing it.  The blanket looks pink but it is read, but not to be confused with the red in the top left picture..that is more magenta.  I love my blankets!

Hoping all this work will pay off tomorrow!!

Blog on............

Yep, it's a random day of pics with a little TMI.

Running today.  Five miles on the treadmill, 3 miles at half marathon pace.  The workout was good.

Went to run at the gym.  I grabbed a bottle of water from the freezer and since I hate the all the condensation I threw on one of my hand crocheted cozy's. 

Was able to get my favorite locker at the gym....tee hee.

Showing off my new purple Lululemon shorts.  I really really like them.  Even though I'm a little bloated from yesterdays Hot Mess, they are really comfortable.  I am surprised how nice the back is, seems just a bit longer for coverage.  Good thing, since the price is a tear jerker.  They are the Turbo Shorts.

They are for running.  I had to go home and change so I could go to yoga.  Again, this exercise thing is confusing.  But we all know we can't wear running clothes to Yoga.  These shorts have a zipper on the back and that is PAINFUL during Yoga or Pilates.  

Dinner with two of my munchkins.  A delicious sushi dinner.  It was nice to spend some time with them before I leave for work tomorrow.

Word.

Here comes the TMI.

I have some bills I really want to get paid off.  I've been chipping away at them for the last 3 years and have made minimal progress.  I have decided to really set my mind to getting them out of my life. Working overtime is helping but i've had to make some additional sacrifices.  One of them is the ...umm....waxing sacrifice.  So I bought my own sugar wax and did it myself.  I'm feeling pretty successful!  The strips are washable and this is where they were this morning, drying.   I've also looked into dying my own hair.  I can't quite commit to that yet, so I'm sporting the grey look.  Keeping up this old body is exhausting!!  

Blog on........................ 

Broads with Rods

I've never had so much trouble with pictures on my blog before!  I finally figured it out, but I'm sure I'll forget by the time I have to post a bunch of them again.  

Last weekend Matt and I joined Jason and Tera and we spent 2 days fishing on the Green River just below Flaming Gorge dam.  We had 2 guides, which is the ONLY way to go!  The first day we stayed with our hubbies and fished, but the next day the girls spent the afternoon in one boat.  Our awesome guide James really took good care of us and we were really having a blast and catching lots of fish.  

Tera and Jason Fishing

My first catch of the trip.  James taught me how to hold a fish without dropping or killing it.  It's my first hold without a towel too!

Matt was super excited.

BIG FISH!  

First day.  That is our guide James.  The last few hours I just sat and enjoyed myself...drank.  

After a long day of fishing we went to get some delicious grub at Snatch....errr  I mean Snag restaurant.  It's right on the water and I must say, the food was delicious!

A Matt and Kathee action shot.

Check out that form!

Matt is in the zone.

I'm in the zone too.  The take my picture zone.

Start of the second day was beautiful.

Day two and we are looking fabulous!

Out of order - but start of second day again.

Matt and I again.

The broads - waiting for Jimmer to get their rods ready.  Assuming the chillin' position.

Jason's catch.

Tera and I ....we are hitting the rapids and we both have a fish on!

Matt catching another big one. 

I got tired of having the same "holding the fish" pic.  So, I stuck my finger in it's mouth.  Fish abuse? Doubtful.  I'm sure he liked it - look at those eyes, so bright and excited.  Bahahaha

Almost a smooch.  What a grip!

Tera fishing the way you should fish.  Relaxing!! 

Smoking a fish - or what?  Tera the fish whisperer.

The end of the line.  The real Broads with Rods!

She's a beauty!

I really did kiss this fish.  They are much better kissers then you would think.

Green River Wrecking Crew

Jimmer, Paul, Jason, Tera, me and Matt

Good times with great friends!  I'll be doing that again.

Blog on..........

I lost my mind!

But only for a moment.  Maybe two.  I was actually trying to think of when I did my speed runs and I couldn't remember.  Now I do.  All this working!  I love it, hate it, like it.  
Saturday after I got some sleep (flew until 3am) then I headed to the gym for my speed work.  It's just too dang hot to run outside after 9am.  I am completely ready for Fall.  I only did 4X400's.  I started at 8.8 min/miles for the first 400, walked fast in between each one.  My next 3 400's were at 8.6 min/miles; 8.4 and 8.4 min/miles.  Much faster then my half marathon pace of 9.30min/miles.  I ran 10 min/miles for 2 miles before and after for warm up and cool down.  Total I was on the treadmill for one hour.  Not too shabby!

Sunday I worked a 12 hour shift in the ICU.  It was awesome.  I worked with some fabulous people that are awesome nurses.  I don't like working next to incompetent nurses - it makes me crazy and I worry about their patients.  Plus my running/Pilates/drinking/style/working and hanging out with buddy, Tera was working too.  Day went great, had good patients and put in a good day of OT.  

Today was Pilates athletic conditioning and errand running.  I feel tired and crappy from not sticking to my Paleo lifestyle and eating chocolate cake and popcorn.  I thought I'd feel better if I took a nap.  When I woke up - I had lettuce from lunch on my neck.  LETTUCE - ON MY NECK.  Not a fresh piece of delicious romaine - no, a wilted, moist old piece of lettuce from lunch. 

Completely indicative of the way I have felt for about a week.  A hot mess.  

Tomorrow is a 5 mile run with 3 miles at half marathon pace.  Another day with another chance to turn this mess around!!!

Last three days of fun.

Airplanes.  Utah National Guard. 

Audrey3.  Our magical money pumpkin. She's orange now and the damn plant has powdery mildew.  I sprayed it with milk but I think I'm going for the big gun tomorrow.  I'm going to spray it with a fungicide.  PLUS - the plant started growing again and we have 2 more pumpkins growing.  We have a total of 4 that I know of and 2 of them are on the sidewalk.  It would be more awesome without the white mil-dewy leaves.  

My view before I lay back and get my eyelash extensions refilled.  It's good for at least an hour nap and I love the no mess makeup.  

Blog on................