Documentary Review "The Last Mile"

Slow day at work.  We did a flight early and I'm all caught up with all my paperwork.  I decided to look through Amazon Prime and see if they had any good documentaries or films that I could rent and watch.  I have pretty much watched the death out of Netflix, HBOGo and Amazon Prime.  I should read a book...I know.  

I love a good book, movie or documentary on running.  I love to talk about it and plan and buy stuff.  It has really become my life and defines part of who I am.  This documentary addresses that feeling.  Why do we run?   

       

Here is the trailer for it. 

John Burkett is a runner and a film maker.  He set out about the country asking people why they run.  What he found is interesting and fascinating.  I became just a little bored during the interviews with the pros but when he moves to talking to regular people it started my running motor.  Turns out they aren't just regular people.  

In the end it's true that there is no secret.  People who run, and love to run, just do.  For ALL the reasons.  My frustration with not having enough time to put in the training and rest that I need was lessened.  My excitement to get on the next training plan spiked....kinda like a "new running shoe" day.  Well, not quite but close.  

Of course I only have to convince myself.

I rented it for 2.99 off Amazon as a prime member.  It's a little over an hour long.  It's a great way to spend 3 bucks.  I recommend it, especially if you need a little jump start or motivation.  

Speaking of next race.  I don't have a planned race until Oct. 24th.  I'm running the SLC Haunted Half in a penis costume.  I'm kidding.  Probably.

I was sick with the flu after the Timp Half on August 1st and have just in the last few days been able to get back to work and not feel like I'm going to puke.  I'm even feeling my energy increase. 

Complimentary early morning helicopter pic.  

Best job ever.

Hoping for a nice run on Wednesday to kick off a non-training couple of weeks.  I'm going to Bali in September.   (yeah!!!)  I'm taking my running shoes.  I'm not really training until I get back.  It will not be a fast half marathon.  Guaranteed!

What is the least amount of training you've done for a half marathon??

   

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

Timp Half Marathon Recap

What?  I ran a half marathon?  I didn't even speak of training!  I know, my blog has been on a BAB (big ass break) and I have 3-4 half posts written but not posted. I'll get back to that another time.  For now lets get some feel-goods on the half marathon I layed down last Saturday.

First of all, after the Marathon I really needed a break from everything.  I wanted to sign up for at least one half marathon this summer to keep me motivated.  I choose the Timp Half.  It's a downhill half marathon that gets lots of good reviews.  But then I also wanted to mix up the training and I surprisingly found one I really liked through Shape Magazine.  (Weird....I know)  

8 week Intermediate-Advanced half marathon training.  

It was nice to do something different and the circuit training is nice.  It really worked my core.  My goal for the race was to be strong and feel strong. I wanted my legs to show up to the game and they did!  I was a little slow at the end, but overall I felt amazing! 

The day leading up to the race was just a comedy of "do not do before a race" things.  On Thursday night I flew all night long and Friday I didn't get near enough sleep.  I did get some sleep Friday before the race but I was behind and I was also dehydrated.  Dang work!

The morning of the race I realized I forgot my water bottles.  BAM!  So I spent more time at all the aid stations making sure I drank plenty of water.  

Here are my splits.

Mile 1 - 8:56

Mile 2 - 9:27

Mile 3 - 9:21

Mile 4 - 10:03

Mile 5 - 8:37

Mile 6 - 8:03

Mile 7 - 8:26

........and I ran out of the canyon......

Mile 8 - 10:19

Mile 9 - 10:31

Mile 10 - 11:06

Mile 11 - 10:51

Mile 12 - 10:42

Mile 13 - 10:30 

Mile .29 -  8:48

Total 13.29 miles/ 2:09:30

Official:

I feel confident I can beat my PR of 1:59 in the next year.  I just need to plan better and keep training!  

Peeps I ran the Ragnar with last year

I didn't even pretend up this hill.  It was a walker....

Not a horribly bad finish photo!  Yippee

My TomTom showed the race was a little long.  I did get a little slow on the last half of the race but dang I felt strong.  I still like to walk occasionally but some days I was feeling like my head would not get into the game because I was too busy concentrating on when my next walk break was.  In the months since the marathon I've really got my head into the game. A lot stronger.   

I ran with Amy, well we went together but ran separately.  She kicked some ass and PR'd.  Also ran into some friends.  It's always so much fun!

So happy to feel excited about running again.  It was edgy there for a bit.  Glad to have done the race.  It was well organized and I really enjoyed it!

Here's to another update this summer!!

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

Ogden Marathon Recap

This recap will be almost all in pictures.  

I don't have much to say.

It rained from mile 2 to 26.2.  A lot.

It was freezing.

I wore my 6 dollar throw away rain jacket from Savers the entire race.  

I was slow. 

For a while at least.

So true.  

Everyone who ran yesterday was super hardcore.

We did have a great time.  I got us a hotel room a block from the finish/bus pickup.  We met up the night before and really just had fun and talked. I shared this sweet experience with fellow flight nurses Amy and Deb.

TWINNERS shirts.  Love the shirt, hate the color.

Amy and I hanging out talking and posting stuff on our phones

Amy figured the timer out on my phone.

Danger!

Fact.  Danger.  hahaha

I had rice and chicken in my teeth.

The morning started way early.  4am to get to the buses by 5.

Finish line forecast.  ew

Long wait by the fires in the cold.

Hoping for clear skies.

We found us a helicopter pilot!  Congrats Clint on meeting your goal by 5 minutes!  Animal!

SOOOO many runners!  Took us 7 minutes to get to the start line.

Amy ran with me and Deb took off and finished over an hour before we did.  This was before the swearing began. 

More then half way.  Stopped at the potty - which took over 5 minutes to get clothes down to pee.  Soaking wet all the way through.  And yes, that is my throw away black jacket.  I have a really cute outfit under it. We also had some gummy bears.  At this point we just wanted to finish.   haha

AND WE DID!!!

Over 5 hours...but heck, at least we weren't pulled off the course from hypothermia.  

First marathon in the bag.  Yes, I already want to run another one.  I really would like a do-over.  

I actually felt pretty good during the run.  The problem was there was no chance to warm up the muscles.  At the start the front of my ankles were very painful and tight, which had never happened.  When that went away everything from my glutes to my knees was so tight.  Not cramps just painfully tight.  I was scared to do too much stretching because I was SO cold.  The cheap gloves I wore stayed on about 13 miles.  They were finally SO wet that I threw them away.  I tried tucking my fingers in my jacket and that helped. My fingers tingled for 2 hours after my hot shower.  Our shoes were absolutely filled with water for more then half of the race.  They were heavy and coupled with the tight muscles we pretty much gave up any hopes of under 5 hours after the pacer paced us.  Amy's jacket that was suppose to be water proof couldn't stand up to the rain.  Actually neither jacket kept us dry but I stayed dryer longer.  

Fueling

The one thing I was most nervous about turned out great.  I had a Luna bar, Honey stinger waffle and banana before I ran.  I had mixed a Clif gel (cherry chocolate is my fav, but they didn't have those on the course) with one of my applesauce (this brand has a flat screw on top which fits better in pockets) and put it back in the applesauce container.  I also carried one applesauce without anything in it and one hazelnut butter.   In my water bottles I had one water and one Skratch hydration.  I used half the mixed applesauce at 45 min and 1hr30min.  After that  I would have a half of a gel then a little bit of applesauce.  At mile 20 I finished the applesauce with the hazelnut butter.  I drank a couple of poweraids and had a cup of water at each water stop.  No stomach upset at all.  I'll keep that system and tweak it when I train for my next one.  

I'm just a little sore today.  My back hurts a little but dang the front of my ankles and tops of my feet hurt SO bad.  My toes are fine! (miracle - lots of Vaseline on the toes) I thought with the new socks and soaking feet I would be screwed.  A day of eating crappy food and watching season 10 of Dancing with the Stars (first time watching) is what this day is doing.  

Met Jeff Galloway in the elevator!!!

YES!

I do have his books and I use the 5/1 running ratio.  He had his hand on my shoulder and was shaking cold!!  

BAD ASS

My finish stats.  

5:23:10

...and I didn't die.

Thank you Amy.  We had a real bonding run.

AND..we slept together.  

I'm not talking about the hot shower.  No pics, didn't happen.  ;)

You know your freezing when you don't care who sees you naked.

Huge props to the organizers of this marathon!  It was one of the biggest races I've been to.  So many volunteers and they were so awesome.  Most of the time when I took a cup from a hand it was just shaking.  Two shaking hands passing off cups of water.  I am so very thankful.  Ton's of water stops, plenty of portapottys, lots of Clif products, oranges, bananas, band aids, Vaseline, whatever we needed.  There was trucks driving the course hanging out silver warming blankets.  I felt like we were being watched closely for safety and taken great care of by all the volunteers.  Some awesome cheer leading going on!  The course markings were spot on and the timing thing with the app was great!  Amy and I got notices when our friends passed certain points.  Then we smacked talked them for being so fast.  ;)

Funny how marathon training takes over your life.  I can't wait to get back to having some time.  My bathroom needs cleaning...

Dino half recap and the Marathon countdown begins!!

One week before my first marathon I ran a half marathon.  Crazy?  Yeah buddy! But how could I pass on THIS medal?

Photo credit:  Tera Schatz

With these people

Photo Credit:  Kind stranger

The usual subjects.  Jason and his wives.  

Me, Jen, Ashley, Tera (real wife...we make her sleep with him) and Jill

Dream pants FOUND

I don't regret a minute of it.  I love traveling, going to dinner and hanging with these people so much.  We don't really run together but it's still a blast.  

Before we ran we sat in the car and I worked on looking really smart with my glasses on.

Photo Credit:  Jen Quarry

I was actually adjusting my glasses.  Maybe.  

The race itself was awesome!!  It was storming like crazy the day before but race day we had just a little light rain and cloud cover.  Nice and cool.  I bought a sweet zip jacket for the start and then dropped it off at one of the aid stations.  

My goal was very simple.  Run it slow and easy.  I stayed with or behind the 2:30 pacers.  I stopped at aid stations.  Ate a few oranges and drank water at each one.  I even stopped to pee at one point.  I kept my "run 5 minutes, walk 1 minute" approach.  Sometimes I had to run a little faster to get past annoying people.  Mean?  Well, there are people that annoy me and I'd rather just not run next to them.  Like the three girls all across the road.  One of them yelling at the pacer to slow down and why does her neck hurt.  I wanted to chime in something catty but I didn't.  I'm growing up so big!

OFFICIAL TIME:  2:27:44

The last mile I just eased in.  Ran almost the whole time and ran past the pacers.  I'm thrilled.  I wasn't too sore except the hammy on the right that has been tense.  I kept the slow pace and I had a blast.  

A beautiful course!  Easy downhill and lovely scenery.

photo credit: Me

I'm covering his scary face but it's a COOL medal!!

photo credit:  guy that works at the hotel the doesn't wash crotches.

We took the after pic at the hotel because it was freaking cold once you cooled down and we had tossed the jackets.

STINKY  (aka Jason) took second in his age group!!

WOOT WOOT

I took 6th.  Can you imagine if I actually ran it.  Dang, I love getting old!

So whats the marathon plan?

I want to run it under 5 hours.  I want to keep it easy and slow at first.  I would rather finish and be ultra slow then kill myself trying to make some fast time.  It's my first one.  I want to take the time to learn my own do's and don't of marathon running.  I will be doing my walk/run that I hear lots of "poo poo" about.  Like it's cheating or something.  It's easy for me to start running again and get in a groove.  Towards the end I just run how I feel.  I don't force the walk breaks after the first half.  I have some negative split numbers that I'll be looking at during the race.  

I'm most nervous about fueling.  I don't think it's going to be hot so I'll be wearing my capri's with the pockets.  I did take one Clif GU and had it at mile 9.  No stomach upset.  I think I'll take some applesauce (2 with stuff mixed in) and then have GU's also (provided at aid stations).  Thinking about taking a packet of hazelnut butter.  Jill told me it helps with that feeling that you are just REALLY hungry.  It happened in my 2 long runs around mile 17.  

I also had a new fuel belt to try.  

Nathan Mercury 2 hydration belt

I've had a tough time finding a belt I like.  Finally the belt makers have figured out how to put a little stretch into their belts instead of just clips.  I had to make a few adjustments but after that it stayed put and felt great.  I have 2-10oz flasks.  In one I put some SKRATCH hydration in lemon/lime and the other water.  I also took water at the stations and drank some Skratch every 45 minutes.  I switched to Skratch when I bought a small pack to try on my long runs.  I like the taste and it appears to work.  I do use my go to NUUN before the race and drink one the night before and anytime I think I need some extra electrolytes.  

Plan for this week:

I have some great aches and pains that I'm ignoring ala taper.  Stretching, rolling and hydrating.  I'll do a short slow run.  I'm trying to eat healthy and good carbolicious.  Did I mention I'm hydrating?  I had my pre race illness already, hopefully.  I had a headache from HELL last night.  I blame Rock Springs.  Heehee

I'll end this ridiculously long post with my favorite Marathon/running memes.  Laughter will get me though....or not. 

Then I'd be dead.  Fear.

 All the great memes.  I hope thats what my race looks like.

Bulls would make me run faster.  FACT.

I'll consider it.

I do NOT want to chafe mid run.  I'll be properly lubed. Trust me.

Hope I don't start a crotch fire.

What do you carry for hydration?

Always asking for Marathon advice?

Is it really Saturday?

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

A picture recap. Del Sol Relay.

That picture I posted of those toes are really gross.  Every time I see it I want to pop all the blisters.  And it makes me a little nauseated.  SO it has forced me to write another post.  

Spending some time at the SL Hangar for work so until we get a fixed wing call I'll do a little rambling.  

LAME PICTURE RECAP

I didn't take very many

Stayed at Heathers house.  It's huge!  I got some serious steps going from my room to the kitchen.  She also has 3 dogs. 

And they are awesome!

The Van/Night before

We removed one seat out of the FishBowl and it was perfect!  

Love these guys!

Showing them how to do a selfie with a nice camera

John and Jeffrey hanging out while John hooks the van up

HOOKED!

TEAM 55

The Young and the Rest of Us

 Race Start

Beautiful morning

Ragnar

Jeffrey may or may not have been in the crapper when the rest of the 7am's left.  Better late then never!!

My arms look cool in this selfie.  I was using my new camera I bought for Bali

Happy to be running!!  teehee

John and I

After sending John off for the last leg.

We are all done!  Well, except for John.

Another selfie.  Just to bug the boys and show off the awesome headband that Heather let me borrow.  It was a lifesaver

Dang it's night.  

Now its day!!  I think this is before Ken's run or after.  I don't know.  I think he's hopped up on the GU.

The Fishtanks

"We are in the white van over here"

Never gets old.

John and I

Waiting for someone

Steps I took that day......BAM

 The MEDAL!!

As soon as we share all our pics I'll post some team pics.  It was a great time and I've already started planning for my marathon.  I have a lot of ideas and plans to increase my miles and speed. (Thanks Heather!)  I think the last two years of stress have really taken a hit on my body.  I'm feeling so much better I think it's time to start fueling my body better and improving my training.  

AKA.....I'm going to do my best!!

Marathon 5/16/2015

Any training help would be most appreciated!!

Blog on.........