yeah, so...

here is another update:

friday -- I'm pretty sure I took this as a rest day. I was going to try and at least get my core workout in, but didn't really remember that until I was drifting off to sleep that night. whoops!

saturday -- the worst long run of my life. or, the one in which anna falls. okay, so seriously I think everything was starting to catch up with me last saturday. I. was. tight. and tired. and fourteen miles? seemed like forever. by the end my little legs were just shuffling along. and within the last 1.5 miles of being done with the whole sordid affair, I tripped. I'm not even sure if I tripped over anything! there's a huge possibility I just didn't pick one of my feet up off the ground! I took a tumble right there on the sidewalk and scuffed up my hands and my right knee. and my shoulder and hip were sore afterwards too. the fall seemed to happen in slow motion, but my muscles were so tight I had no control, of them, of the situation. it definitely humbled me.

monday -- four miles + core

tuesday -- five miles

wednesday -- swimteam
500 warmup
6 X 50 drill
3 X 100 {slow, medium, fast}
200
3 X 100 build
300
3 X 100 {slow, medium, fast}
cooldown

thursday -- three miles + core

it's not a race, but sometimes it feels like one

I went out this morning after it had stopped rainny/snowing... the skies were still in shades of grey, but there were blue patches poking through here and there. the air in the city was clear. it was a beautiful run.

it ended up being a tempo run motivated by me being faster than the other runners out there. I just can't help my competitive nature sometimes. I ran past a couple people, determined to not be repassed, but for all I know they turned and went down another block a short time later. I never saw either of them again, even after I made my turnaround and headed back the other direction.

4 miles

{post script}

I love this picture because it shows my support team in action. in every marathon I've done with pete in my life, he's been on his bike riding the course. he's there to cheer me on. he's there to give me anything I need. he's the bright spot up ahead. it makes me happy. now if only I could get him to run one with me!

I have a lot of big dreams these days. and it's funny, I don't think I would have been as likely to accomplish them before peter came into my life. I truly believe that. he is my motivation + my bedrock of support. I feel like I can do anything with him by my side.

{for more official race photos, please click HERE.}

14 on the schedule, 26.2 under foot: the valley of fire marathon race report

I've only really done it once before; run a marathon without actually training for it.

sometime the week before the race I had the crazy idea. why not just do it? my game plan: run it slow and not care about anything. it was a training run with a little bit extra thrown in for good measure. it was another state. no big deal, right?

it's funny how the experience is completely different when you've put in months and months of work specifically for one race. the anticipation. the excitement. the dread. you dream of doing amazing things; of PR's, of BQ's. this was not that. the fact that I was just about to run 26.2 miles without putting in that work didn't even sink in until about one minute before the gun went off. I freaked out slightly then, but quickly composed myself and joined the crowd. I was going to run a marathon without training. I have done it before, I could do it again.

the valley of fire marathon isn't exactly for the faint of heart. it's a small race and a hard course. in fact, they don't even claim you'll PR.

right there situated in mile one is a big, huge, fatty hill. and after that? more hills. the whole course was a series of rollers. some steep, some not as steep. oh, and did I mention that the course was comprised of two out and backs? so every hill you conquered, on the way down all you could think about was running back UP on the return trip. see why it's not a PR course? it was just plain hard. but it was so beautiful it kind of took your mind off the hills. at least a little bit. {if you've never been to the valley of fire state park, you should take a trip out there someday. it turns out november is the perfect time to do it. I couldn't have asked for better weather. especially for running.}

I stuck to my game-plan and just took things as they came. I told myself I was allowed to walk any hills to save the legs. I felt surprisingly good throughout the whole run. I ended up walking the steep hills, but mostly trudging up the others. I never felt the need to walk because I just wanted to give up and quit (like in fargo); I was just out there havin' a good time.

I tried to break the run up into sections in my mind. the distance seemed easier to tackle that way. if I can just get to the first turn-around... once I get to the half marathon split... when I get to mile 20, I'll just have a 10K left... I knew that if I could get to mile 20.5--the second turn-around--I would make it. it was a steady climb up until that point, and I knew that the last 10K would be all downhill. I'm not sure I could have made it otherwise.

I was getting tight, but was still able to keep running at a pretty good pace. I was passing people. I just had to keep my feet moving. and the miles flew slowly by.

I'm not sure I'd recommend this race. as is, I'd say run the half. that's definitely the prettiest part of the course. if you're not looking for a fast time or a lot of crowd support, and maybe if they improved a few things, then I'd say go for the full. for starters if you say you're going to have gatorade {and then say a few days before you're going to have heed instead} you should have at least some sort of sports drink on the course. there was nothing for the first half of the marathon. the second half did have the heed, but I had never even heard of that stuff let alone used it in training. yikes! and definitely put out better mile markers. yeah, there were some out there (and I loved the corresponding american flag set out by each of them. very patriotic.) but I never really seemed to know quite where I was. a little frustrating, but maybe in this case it was a good thing. and if you talk to peter {this is his biggest pet peeves in race organization} have better traffic control. he saw people almost get hit by cars at the finish line area. and it's always scary as you're running on the shoulder of the road and there are big motor homes and cars passing in both directions at the same time. yikes! at least close one lane of traffic and dedicate it to runners!

but with all that being said, it was a beautiful course and I really did have a fun time running it. especially since I can say that I did it without training. after the race I was hanging around the food table {by the way, they did have donuts not only at the end but at aid stations as well. if only I could have better taken advantage of that!} talking to other runners. some guys--now these are guys that had run 60+ and 100+ marathons. experts, if you will--were saying this was one of the hardest courses they've ever run. {I agree; it was akin to the lake tahoe marathon} that you need to take your normal finishing time and add one hour to it, then you will have your valley of fire marathon finish time. I kinda liked that. with their logic if you take my 4:40:55 and run it through the reverse of that idea, I'd have a 3:40:55 boston qualifying time. I'll take it!

top left: look! a tarantula! posing mid-race for a photo shoot with a spider
top right: running through the redrock formations
bottom right: the hardware

m + t

mon: 4 miles + core
I felt ok throughout the run. somewhat tired/tight, but nothing major. my hamstrings bugged me slightly, so I was very careful when I was doing my lunges, etc during the core workout. I iced the hamstrings, calves, and achilles afterward. I was pretty tired later in the day.

tues: 45 minutes on the elliptical
my stomach/GI kinda went wonky. no fun. but I kept at a pretty mellow pace, as it were.

post marathon long run

okay, I'm still working on the race report. be patient.

here is the status of my calf: I took a rest day and all is well. I think I just had a really tight knot or something.

BUT I went running on thanksgiving morning with peter {I tried to tell him that since we went running that morning that gave us a "free pass" and we could eat anything we wanted. yeah, he didn't so much buy it.} and was having some serious issues with my left hamstring. yeah, I know. is the pain just traveling up my leg or what? so I took friday off too.

saturday I just jumped right back into my training plan. it was a lower mileage week anyway, so it was perfect for the post marathon legs. actually, can I tell you how easy my recovery has been? I wasn't too incredibly sore the following days after the race {like I didn't feel that my knees were on backwards, or I couldn't go down stairs without holding onto the rail and wincing in pain} and it was really easy to get back into running again. well, with only a few minor aches and pains.

yesterday's long run wasn't that bad, though my legs were feeling pretty tight by the end. I just need to go see my massage chica, I think. and I only had random aches and pains that didn't stick with me through the whole run. success!

10.5 miles

the difference of pain

ack! I went to the gym to have some low-impact elliptical fun and now my left calf is hurting! while I was working out I noticed it started bugging me a bit. like the motion was pulling it a little if I had too high of a resistance or whatever. so I toned the already mellow workout down another notch or two. when I came home I iced the calf for a bit. but it still kinda hurts.

my other calf hurts too, but it's a different kind of pain. more of an I-just-ran-a-marathon-two-days-ago kind of pain. the left calf is more of an injured pain. yikes. it looks like I might take tomorrow completely off. hopefully this is nothing major.

45 minutes; elliptical

another update

t: I might have taken an involuntary rest day. . . I didn't want to run, but our gym membership still needed to be renewed. . . I might have had good intentions to do yoga or something, but I think I just ended up doing errands and stuff all day. can't really remember.

w: I really can't remember what I did any of these days {with the major exception of saturday!} but I'm pretty sure I did some sort of short run. probably around three miles.

h: I did a short run? maybe something like two miles?

f: rest

s: 26.2 miles. yep. coming soon: valley of fire marathon race report.

s: rest {aka sit in a car for five and one half hours} + short walk with the husband

m: walked about three miles

update

okay, I've been kind of a slacker and haven't been updating the blog after each workout... let's see what I can remember...

w: just my core workout, I think.

h: 4 miles. maybe. I'm pretty sure.

f: 45 minutes on the elliptical.

s: 12 miles. my ankle didn't hurt. my legs felt a little tight overall, but nothing major. my right hamstring has been bugging me a little bit since, though.

m: 3.5 miles + the core workout. I made sure I iced the hamstrings afterward.

long run + m + t

the weekend long run. ten miles again. I felt pretty good, actually. things of note: ankle pain came and went; pain on the inside of the left knee made a brief appearance. overall it was okay. I think my body is adjusting to a training regimine again. I am glad I put the one long uphill stretch in the middle of the run instead of the end of the run as I had originally planned. smart move on my part.

10 miles



monday: the rain came and went all day. I was busy all morning with errands, et cetera. by the time I got around to the run, the rain wasn't bad and it was getting dark quicker than expected. I was feeling surprisingly good. I ran it at a pretty good pace--it felt like anyway; who knows what pace it actually was--and my hamstrings didn't even feel that tight.

4 miles + core workout



tuesday: I did a pretty mellow recovery run.

3.5 miles

w + h + f

wednesday: first snowy run of the season. loved it. well, I could do without the big, fatty flakes in my eyes, but whatever. it was still a great run and super pretty outside. just as I was getting done with it, the sun came out and everything cleared up. super gorgeous. {I got the brunt of the storm during the middle of the run; super blizzardy}

4 miles + core workout



thursday: did a quick loop because I was trying to be time efficient. yeah, still didn't get everything I wanted to done yesterday. such is life, I suppose. any uphill kicked my butt. I just felt sluggish. my ankle hurt the first mile or so, but then the pain kind of subsided. my hamstrings (especially the right one) are pretty tight.

3 miles



friday: I walked {and ran -- I've been in the habit of nearly missing (or completely missing) buses lately} to/from a bus stop that is kinda far away from my house. when I finally got home from work, I did my core workout. you should be so proud of me, I did it three times this week. I am right on track. too bad it's kickin' my butt!

pool

went swimming at the local pool. it felt good. pete and I didn't share a lane, and actually had quite a productive workout. pete was even doing flip turns; I am so proud.

whenever I get back in the pool I get nervous about my left shoulder. I'm happy to say it didn't hurt. let's hope that as I put swimteam back into my regular routine I don't have any more problems with it. because seriously. I'm done with injuries!

the workout felt really good. I always love the way swimming makes me feel afterward. I will say, however, that I am still feeling yesterday's workout. I am sore. the run + the core workout + raking one billion leaves really threw my muscles through a loop. they don't know what to do with themselves. let's hope they figure it out soon.


500 warm up
4 X 50 kick
12 X 25 IM (sans free)
50, 75, 100 descending
25 breast
500 free
100, 75, 50 ascending
25 breast
4 X 50 hypoxic (strokes per breath: 5/25, 7/25)
100 cool down


1 hr; swimteam

the plan: 45 minute run, 15 minute core

I wanted to go exploring this morning, so I went in the opposite direction that I usually go. I had pete's watch on because I wanted to run for time rather than a set distance I thought I should run. 45 minutes was the plan. I ended with 48:00:36 on the display.

I actually took this run pretty easy, compared to my "easy" runs last week. I certainly didn't push it. my ankle didn't really hurt per se, but my tendon feels pretty tight. my legs were a little tight as well (I think it's from jumping right back into this training routine--they need some time to adjust) but overall I felt fine.

the run ended up being over five miles, according to the mapmyrun.

afterward I (and I really mean afterward... after I stretched... after I ate... after I showered...) did some core strengthening exercises that I plan to do three times per week. I picked it up off of runnersworlddotcom a while ago, but I copied + pasted everything into a document for easier printing and now I don't know the address to the article or anything. so sorry if you were dying to know what it all entails. maybe in the near future (especially if I stick with it and it actually helps me get that toned mid-section!) I will devote a full post to the routine. get excited.

5.36 miles

the rest

tuesday: I think I just walked for about 3'ish miles. (that is walking to/from work)

wednesday: did the sugarhouse perimeter loop again. so it's about 3.5 miles, I think.

thursday: walked around again, about fifty miles (or so it felt like--I walked home from work + walked to the DI to run some last minute halloween errands)

friday: took a nice long nap after work. totally took a holiday rest day.

saturday: long run. 8 miles. my legs felt tight. my ankle was feeling it for the first mile. then it subsided. then I would feel some discomfort on and off throughout the run. by the end of the run I was feeling pretty strong, though.

three and one half miles

I did the 3.5'ish mile loop. I was planning on running it pretty slowly, as a recovery run. but it turns out I had to run off some pent up energy and try to work some things out in my brain. my body has held up pretty well since the first long run of ten miles. at first my ankle was a bit tight, I guess you could say. but by the end of the run it seemed to loosen up.

3.5 miles

saturday's long run

I decided to kick my butt into gear. since I totally flaked out on training for the valley of fire marathon in november, I wanted to really set my sights on something else. and actually train.

I found the sedona marathon a couple months ago. it's in february. last year's race day landed on my birthday. too bad I didn't know about it then. oh well. but I figure I have plenty of time to train for it. I'm not going for a BQ or anything, the course seems too challenging for it anyway. so I'm just going to run it for the fun of running + another state. love it.

so with that in my mind I ran my first long run on saturday. I wasn't even planning on it. but sometime in the mid-morning I just decided to. I put on my gear and went out the door. I didn't have a plan for the route, or the mileage. I just stuck a gu in my back pocket and decided I'd take it if I needed it.

I ended up doing a park to park route. I headed over to some familiar ground: 17th south/liberty park. I ran around the perimeter and took the gu just as I was passing the drinking fountain again to leave the park. that was around 4 of 5 miles. then I ran up and over to sugarhouse park. and ran around the perimeter of that park. then home.

after the run I looked up my route on map my run. I figured it was around 8 miles. actually, it was 10. I don't know if I really needed a ten mile run to start off my training. I probably over did it. I hope my ankle doesn't blow up because of it. but oh well. it was so nice to be out there for an extended period of time. it was such a beautiful day.

my ankle has been feelin' it a bit, but not too bad. we'll go forward from here and see how things hold up.

yesterday + today

tuesday: ran somewhere around 4 miles. maybe a little more. I took the garmin {because I finally found it!} but I kept losing my satellite signal, so it was totally inaccurate. lame! at one point it told me I was running a 40-minute mile. yeah, don't so much believe that. {guys, I'm really not that slow. I swear.}

wednesday: eliptical at steiner. I just set it to 45 minutes turned up the tunes and then dove into the mags off the rack. the time flew by.

recooping + emergencies

I forgot to mention that last wednesday pete came home and took me on a little run. which was nice of him. because I wasn't going to go. due to the fact that I was getting sick, I didn't think I had the energy. it turns out I did. and I got to show pete some of my racing strategies as we passed people at sugarhouse park. now all he needs is a race.

I didn't do anything active the rest of the week. my cold hit me full throttle, and we're lucky that I can actually talk again.

this morning I was feeling well enough to get back out on the streets. unfortunately, though, I had one of those bathroom emergencies midway through. yikes! I made a b-line to the nearest park bathroom and all was well. I pretty much just took the run easy since I'm just recooperating. it was a nice autumn run.

3.5 miles

bike + swim

bike to work: it's only about a three mile roundtrip, but man that ride back up the hill seemed hard today. I don't think it should really feel hard; I need to get on my bike more.

joint swimteam: pete and I hit the pool tonight. it was pretty awesome. we should never swim in the same lane. nothing but shenanigans from that boy. and we only lasted a little over thirty minutes. it was a good reintroduction to the water, though. {it's been months for both of us} I am happy to say that I could bust out some butterfly. though I'm not saying it looked pretty. because I'm pretty sure it didn't. but I was just happy that I could make it to the other end of the pool.

oh, and btw, they have closed the outdoor pool for the season. now we all have to adjust back to the yard pool.

some of my thoughts

the weather is starting to cool off considerably around here. and I think that's going to be really good for my running. it seems the best time for me to run is right when I get home from work in the afternoons, right before I have to make dinner or other obligations take up my time. this is when I'm most consistent. so now that the temperature isn't going to be a factor, I just might get back into a routine. finally. {and can I tell you how much I love cold weather running?!}

my run today was pretty good, other than the fact that I was pretty hungry. nothing too major happened. I tried to make myself go easy, cut the run short a little bit as to not overdue anything--I've been a little sick the past few days + I haven't really run in a week + I already walked about 2.5+ miles today. but of course I went the full route.

my left ankle is feeling a little weird now, post run. it's reminiscent of the early stages of the pain I felt in 2006 {that pretty much sidelined me for the whole season} I think it's from over stretching it. like from folding over on my ankle, if that makes sense. but I haven't really done anything that I can think of to make it feel this way. very weird. but what's even more weird is that random pain I sometimes get in my right big toe. you know that feeling when your toe just needs to pop? and you do and everything is okay? well, I can't get it to pop and it just keeps hurting. it feels like it's broken or something. but then the pain pretty much goes away. this has happened a couple of times recently and it's totally bizarre.

I've been reading around the blogs lately about all the people doing their fall marathon... I'm kind of bummed + jealous. but let's be honest, even though I've been telling everyone I'm going to run one, I'm not. a) I haven't been training at. all. and 2) a good friend of ours is getting married that weekend. so good excuse to bag the whole idea.

and do you think if I did the utah grand slam, I'd actually PR in one of the races? you know, if most of these marathons were just training runs. and if I had one {or two?} key race, like st george? because I think to train for something like that you get a really good base under you, but once the season starts you're not running as much because you're busy recovering from races. maintaining. reverse tapering. it seems like at the end of the season people are really strong. I don't know, it's just something I've been thinking about. maybe the slam + the BQ could go hand in hand and I could cross them off the list at the same time.