My play by play

I started to write this on my personal blog but decided it fit better here...
here's my recap of the big day-

After going to bed at 9:30pm the night before in a nice comfy hotel bed sans kiddos- sleeping with funky dreams (including wearing the wrong running shoes, going to the wrong starting line, etc, etc) I was awoken by Kristen knocking on my door. Luckily I had set all my clothes/gear out the night before and took a couple minutes to brush teeth, get dressed and meet her in the hallway. That could explain why I looked like this at the starting line:

We made a pit stop at the porta potties (along with at least 500 other nervous runners) and then ran over to the rest of you crazy girls. The starting bell went off and Jess said "Let's go" and we were off. In all the craziness Kristen left her Ipod in her jacket so she went back to get it. So we started without her (what the??)......not a great way to start the race. But oh well.
It became glaringly obvious that I was not to stay up to speed with you Jess and the rest of the girls. I ran with Brooke for a bit but then she sped up and I decided to stay at the speed I was comfortable with.

Around what I thought was mile 6, it occurred to me that the mile markers were further apart than what I thought they should be. Shortly thereafter I ran past the MILE 4 marker!!! YIKES! I seriously thought that somebody was going to announce at the end that it was a big mistake and we had actually completed a full marathon instead of a half.
My favorite sign ever!

I'm not sure if it was because I had never run the course before or what but the first half of the course proved to be tough. There was a part where it winded all the way down a canyon trail type thing and then all the way back up (mile 7). I had my GU and didn't have the urge to puke it up- thank heavens.
Everything was ok until about mile 10 when my knee really started to bother me. I have never had knee problems so I had no idea how to deal with it. I kept trying to "run it off" but with no luck. Two ladies asked me if I was ok and I told them I hurt my knee. They told me to walk because "there's always another race," to which I cheerfully replied, "I NEVER WANT TO DO THIS AGAIN!" I ended up run/walking the last 3.1 miles and severely screwing with my time (and my knee). But my original goal was ONLY to cross the finish line.
As I made my way towards that blessed line, I heard an older chap say, "I just can't believe anyone goes over 2 hours to do a 1/2!" I would've punched him in the jaw but his age saved him. HOW RUDE.
What a beauty- you know you're all jealous!

It was as amazing crossing the line as I had dreamed it would be- with a cheering section and all. I cried into Josh's shoulder that I had hurt my knee really badly and that I was embarrassed. He told me how proud he was as any good, supportive husband should do (thanks Joshie) and I was relieved it was over. I could barely walk. My knee was now throbbing and I had to sit down.
We took some quick pics of the group (minus my running partner Kristen) and then hung out for a bit before I had to say my final goodbye to Jess, Clint & Owey (they move on Thurs to BYU-I).

My only regret is that I gave off the impression to Jess that I was upset that I had done the race. And that there were a few moments of complaining along the 2:38 hours (final time).

I am proud to say that I was able to take it all in and feel lucky to be running, have good weather and know that I was accomplishing a big goal that I never even dreamt possible. Thanks Lup for pushing me outside of my comfort zone. I love you SO much!!!

Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.
Brian Tracy

And while I'm on the I love you's-
can't help but say how much I love these guys!!!!!

And no pic of the rest of the cheerleaders (Mom, Dad, Yvonne)-
thanks for always believing in me!!

Thanks to all of you for your support over the past few months- it was an incredible journey!!!
GOOD JOB EVERYONE!!!

P.s. I know it sounds like I just won an Emmy or something but for me, running 13.1 miles straight was just about as likely as me winning an Emmy.

Good Luck!

Girls, I just wanted to say "Good Luck" in the race. I am so proud of all of you and so bummed I'm not there. Have a wonderful race and maybe I can join you next time (I hope there's a next time!). Take Care!

plans

hey all. are you ready for this?
we have so much going on right now what with all the packing our lives away and trying to soak in all the CA sunshine (i mean rain... boo) that race day still seems way far away when in reality it is (dun, dun, dunnnnn) the day after tomorrow. so here's the deal.
the inlaws come in tomorrow night. we will be leaving here at o-dark-thirty (aka 5 am) on monday to get up there in time to register and park and all that. the ma and the pa i think will be at the race as well as the inlaws, the hubby, and the babe. also miq's whole clan. so, since this is like a giant family affair, i for sure can't bail on everyone even though i really want to hang out with all of y'all afterwards too. so, my parents kind of offered to bbq at their house after if you want to. they don't have a pool, but they have a spa and a wii. (that has to count for something right?) and if you really want to swim, we could always head down to our place to use the pool at our complex. i just can't promise a warm and inviting home to relax in since we are pretty much all in boxes now.
so. what do you think? any takers?
regardless, can't wait to see all your skinny little bums at the starting line. bring your cell phones please so we can meet up?!

Race Day Plans

Ok girls! We're almost there! I can't believe it! I've been nursing a hurt foot all week but it is feeling significantly better so I am PRAYING really hard that it is ok come Monday. The forecast looks good, not too hot I think.

I'm curious as to everyone's plans. When are you arriving, checking in to the race, who are you coming with, where are you going after? I think that my plan is this. Check in to the race on Sunday depending on the hours and how church overlaps them. Morning of- Drop one car off at the finish line area so we have a close parking spot then have Aaron drop me off at the starting area alone. Hopefully I can nurse or pump right before he drops me off. Then Aaron and the baby will go home and later walk from our house to the finish line area so that they can be there and since one car will already be there. (I just don't want to have to walk home even though its probably less than a mile!).

Last time I didn't bring my own water or anything, just myself. I felt like this was a mistake. Even though there were plenty of water stations, it seemed like one or two times I was DYING of thirst and there were no water stations around. This time I think I'm going to put gatoraid or something like that in my waist pack water thing and have that. Mostly drink water at the water stations but also have that around my waist for when I need it. It will also allow me to bring my shot blocks.

I haven't looked up the rules, I know some races are no longer allowing ipods. I hope that this one allows them because even though I plan to try to run with you girls I am so slow lately that I think I might be on my own for at least the second half of things so I do plan to bring my ipod loaded up with some exciting new songs (which I have yet to find).

Then I guess my last step would be to run! And run, and run and run. For 13.1 miles. My only goal right now is to finish. I don't think I'll be fast but I just want to DO it.

We don't have a big house or I would totally offer to have everyone over afterwards. We do have a community pool and a big green belt area so we could gather there if people were interested since it is close (like I said, about a mile from the finish line). If anyone needs a place to shower, nurse, change, whatever, you are more than welcome over at our house. If anyone is coming the night before and wants an air mattress or a couch I can offer you that too but that's about as good as it gets. Or if everyone is heading back down to San Diego after we are also welcome at my brother in law's who has a huge pool and back yard and everything but it is kind of a drive (Scripps Poway). I think it would be fun to socialize afterwards, its just finding the best spot I suppose.

Anyway, I want to know everyone' s plans!

it's good to be back home again

I'm not sure when the last time is that I've posted but, it's safe to say that it has been awhile. I have been pretty good about training except for this past week. The reason - I was in Utah helping my sister with her 4 kids (including a 1 week old baby) while her husband is out of town. Having a 6 month old myself didn't make the craziness any less. So, the two of us watched 5 kids under 7 for 1 week while also throwing a bridal shower at her house...all just one week after she gave birth and while my little one just had to be teething (of course!). Needless to say, I only got out to run once for 4 miles. I was pushing a jogging stroller and running at a much higher altitude so it felt like much more. This afternoon we flew back to SD and one of the first things I wanted to do was go for a run. I know it sounds crazy. The 4 miles felt great. I'm hoping to be able to run tomorrow with jess and "break in" my tank. I'm thinking of running on Thursday as well just because I missed so much last week. I can hardly believe the race is less than a week away but SO glad. It's time for it to be here! Speaking of the big day...any celebration plans for after the race? Are we planning on meeting someplace to start this bad boy together? Just thought I'd throw some of these thoughts out there for discussion since race day is so close. See you all soon....in just 6 days that is!!

4 on the coast

buenos dias.
this morning i got to run 4 miles on the coast and although i felt sluggish, it felt good to get it done. it's funny how just a few months ago running seemed to consume my life. i thought about it all the time (mostly dreaded it), ate what would be best for running, planned my life around it, etc. and although i still have been very diligent about my training, it has taken on a different feel. it's just not as big of a deal as it used to be. it's just something i do. and i like that.
saturday i got to run for the first time with my sis. like, ever. did we ever go running together miq? i don't think so. they were down for the weekend for drew's birthday and joined us for the cf walk. mom, julia, clint and owey all walked along with shar and her family while miq and i ran the 4 miles. it was soooo hot down at mission bay, and we all got sunburned. it was fun to run with miq though, even though we were dodging walkers the whole time and pretty embarrassed by our spandex in front of people we actually knew. oh well. and here's mique sporting the spandex. shucks, i don't have any pictures of me. how did i miss that? :)

doesn't she look hot? love you miq!
i got to run on the coast today since clint's last day was friday and i really want to make these last few runs memorable here in san diego. pretty sure it'll be a little different in idaho. oh, and i wore my run girl run shirt today. breakin it in. it was great. no problems.
and now, only one run separates us from d-day. i thought i would be so much more nervous, but i really am not. i know i have worked hard to be ready. i am physically and mentally prepared. i am confident of what my body is capable of. and overall, i am just excited to reach the culmination of this whole experience. but really, it won't be the end, because i'm addicted now. (especially when people keep telling me that it looks like i never had a baby.)

Note to self...

Do NOT get sunburned any time in the next week. Wearing a sports bra on a very sunburned back is VERY painful! (I made this mistake today) So despite our crazy warm weather (which I am PRAYING will be gone by Memorial Day), I am going to lay on the sunscreen all next week because this sucks!

Also, just wondering if anyone has gotten their shirts. I was totally scared by the whole "sizes run extremely small" thing since I would be a large or xl even if they ran normal. I ordered a 2xl and I had to pay EXTRA so I really hope it fits! Has anyone received theirs yet?

I have been meaning to post a pic but I just can't seem to get one (leaning out the car window with my cel phone is NOT the way to get a picture) but they posted all of the street closure signs along the race route. It is SO scary when I see them because I am like, wait that is because I am going to be running on these roads! For 13.1 miles! AHHHH!

eminem+christina= true love forever,m

5 miles today would have been impossible had it not been for a few clutch moments from my good friends christina and eminem. just like all good friends, they always pull through when you need them the most.
my mom came to watch owey this morning for the last time (boo-wah) and i headed out the door to face the heat and the hills. somehow that combination managed to suck out all the energy and motivation i had in me within the first mile or so, and i was just not excited to be running. at one point, the little whiner voice in my head almost talked me into cutting the route short and it was then that eminem saved my little runner life. ok, not really, but once i heard that first line i knew there was no way i was doing anything but 5 miles today - like it or not.
"Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity To seize everything you ever wanted-One moment Would you capture it or just let it slip?"
i know. so cheezy, but it get's me every time.
renewed energy, i overcame the whiner in me and pushed forward through the streets so aptly named:

yes, longrun drive and high bluff. pretty much sums it up.
yet still i had the steepest hill of the course in the last mile, and i was fully prepared to skip back to eminem to get me through it. and that's when my girl christina showed up.
"'Cause it makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter"
and that's how i made it through 5 miles today folks. true story.
oh, by the way - i ran 3 on tuesday. woopdee.

push through

last night i ran 5 miles on the treadmill. had to push through my laziness and lack of discipline these days.
watching dancing with the stars to distract me definitely helped.
so, 5 miles, 50 minutes. yippee.
i have no idea when i am going to run today- i just can't find it in me to push the stroller.
ordered shirts for amy and i - hopefully they'll be here in time!
13 more days!

Eleven

All the gory details here.

only 7 more.

so, you may think i am talking about 7 more miles to do after the 6 i ran this morning to equal a half-marathon. while that is true (sick) that is not the 7 i am referring to. i'm talking about the 7 more runs to do... # 7 being the half-marathon itself. i must say, the thought of only 6 more training runs evokes all kinds of emotion: excitement, fear, thrill, anxiety, nausea (is that an emotion?), anticipation, terror... you know... all the good ones. i have been looking forward to this for what seems like forever and the last few weeks have definitely dragged on. but, now that race day is a little more than 2 weeks away, it kinda freaks me out.
anyhow- this morning was fine. nothing too eventful. unless you count my running to victory at the end of the 6 miles going up hill and finally getting to the stopping point to hear horns honking and a car full of young women and leaders from our ward flailing out the windows at me. on their way to a service project, i'm sure the last thing they wanted to see to inspire "good works" was me in all my sweaty spandex glory. and the humiliation begins. i guess i'd better get used to it and get over it. or i could just move away to a place where no one knows me and won't care if i am sweaty and spandexy. like maybe rexburg?

p.s. should i be worried that i have posted 6 of the last 7 posts? peeps? are you out there?

beware of the groove...

i finally found my groove again after several "not good" running days lately. this morning my mom came to watch owey while i ran and i was able to get a good 5 mile run in. i felt great- no foot problems, no sore muscles, a good course, and good music. all in all, it felt awesome to be back.
side note: one of these days i want to do a humanitarian service project that involves carrying several dozen extra sports bras with me as i run and handing them out to perfect running strangers who have yet to understand the power of a good sports bra. or two. don't you think their lives would be changed forever? i do.

shirts...

i decided to just post the shirt to the zazzle website and let you all order it from there if you want it... see it on the right? hope that's ok!! sorry it took me forever...

A good Samaritan!

So remember the whole lack of motivation thing? Yeah issues. Anyway, Monday didn't happen and I started feeling REEEAAALLY guilty. Especially when Aaron leaned over that night and asked me if I thought I was even going to be able to DO the run. So I knew I had to get out there today. My neighbor was nice enough to come over and watch Z so I could go while he napped. I brought my cel so she could call me if she needed to. I did 4 miles with the dog and it was good. My foot fell asleep but not for too long, it was a nice cool day and it felt good to be out there and not be slacking. Then I got home and after my neighbor left, I realized something. My phone was no longer in my pocket. My new phone. The phone I got when I LOST my last phone. The phone that Aaron made me feel SOOO guilty for having to get. The THIRD phone I've had in the 3 years since I've been with Aaron. I knew I was screwed. I was running down on the trail by the middle school which had just gotten out. Surely some little 7th grader had already scooped it up. And they were probably texting people or doing something else that would cost me a fortune. I debated. Do I wake the baby up and go back out on the trail to look for it? Do I try to get Aaron to call it and pray that a NICE kid scooped it up? Do I go get a neighbor kid and tell them I'll give them $20 if they can find it on the trail? I didn't even want to TELL Aaron but I was desperate. I asked him to call the phone. He did. And someone answered! A nice old woman who was riding her bike on the trail with her husband had seen it and picked it up. AND, so I wouldn't have to wake up my baby, she rode it over to my house to return it! How nice it that!? It really made my day, and made me realize that there are really great and wonderful people out there. The woman probably thought I was nuts because I was practically CRYING about her returning my phone. She was so sweet about it. Anyway, it was a happy ending to my day. I have to get two fillings tomorrow but I really hope I can get out there one more time before my girls' weekend to Vegas and then I think I can get in a semi longish run in Vegas with Michelle.

wow.

that was a rough run. it was raining this morning, and even though my mom had offered to watch o while i ran 5 miles, i didn't feel good about doing it in the rain. i just knew it would be my luck to slip and break my ankle or come down with a serious cold (like the one clint currently has). so, i waited it out and hoped it would clear up. i hit the road around 7:00 tonight, not giving me too much time before dark, but i was still aiming for 5 miles. since i didn't map out a course, i just kept running until i felt like i needed to head back to safety. (even though our area is super safe, it still freaks me out to be out alone at night.) the first 20 minutes were reallllly rough. my feet felt like they weighed 50 lbs each and i had a gnarly side cramp (probably since i had eaten only 30 min prior). i finally got into a groove, but still haven't felt like i've had a "good" run in about a week and a half. in the end, i only got in 4 miles and am a little discouraged that i've hit a bit of a wall lately. any advice???

that's it... i'm moving!

the treadmills at our gym are out of order again. i guess i'll just have to move. like maybe to rexburg.
since the elipticals were being used by other disgruntled night exercisers, i decided it was the bike or nothing. not a big fan of the bike, but i knew i had to get my muscles going somehow. i thought i'd go 4 miles on the bike, but that didn't take very long, so i just went for a half hour. 7 miles or something. biking uses totally different muscles and although my quads feel like they just got a major workout, i am not sweating, not dying of thirst, and overall it doesn't even feel like i just did cardio. weird. running rocks. back at it tomorrow i guess.

need i say more?

but you know i will...
pretty good run today. i was definitely feeling it after only running once this week in an attempt to rest my feet. i have switched shoes to the ones i got to rotate in, but since they have better cushioning i think i will wear them race day.
anyhow- amy already wrote about our run and there were definitely good and bad about it. it was not near as easy as the 9 we did a few weeks ago, it seemed to be ridiculously hot for the am, and a lot hillier than we had hoped for. but, in the end, we made it, and i am sooo glad! i have been starving and exhausted all day as a result, but i feel good about just adding 2 more miles to that. no biggy!
one thing amy forgot to mention was her husband's comments on how we looked (and smelled) when we got home. he mentioned something about a gatorade ad (lots of sweating). this is what i think he meant:

don't you think?

Long time no post

Well, I feel like I haven't posted forever, maybe I haven't. I feel like I've been slacking a little and today I was thinking it was because I didn't have the pressure to report to anyone and that was bad for me. Also, I just wish the race was like two weeks ago or something, I am having a really hard time staying motivated.

This week and last were uneventful. I feel like my new shoes are giving me some issues so I think I might have to take them back. The foot falling asleep thing is worse than ever and so frustrating. I'm also getting a weird pain in one toe which I think might have to do with the shoes. I am going to switch back to my old ones until I figure something out.

I did 7 today and even though I would have really liked to do an 11 mile or more one I had a CPR class at 8 am and I knew it just wasn't going to happen. And next weekend I'll be in Vegas. Then the next week is the week before the race, can I run a really long run the week before? Do I want to? Should I? Should I just say 10 is good enough? I am a little nervous about this.

e·l·e·v·e·n· m·i·l·e·s

where do I begin? how about where we began at around 7am this morning....11 miles from home! jess and I had a good run & kept a good pace (10 1/2 min. miles). I will say that my body knows that we ran a long one today. I am feeling like I just want to lay on the couch and take a nap. All in all it was great -the weather was nice (though it could have been a bit cooler) & no major hiccups along the way. we are ready to tackle this half...but still need to wait the 3 weeks until it is here. I am excited that the longest of of our long runs is complete. I am grateful to have such a great running buddy (thanks, jess!) & for all the detailed conversations we have along the way to help pass the time. we are lucky to live in such a beautiful area where we can catch glimpses of the waves crashing in the ocean to help keep us in good spirits. most of all, I am happy to check this 11-miler off the training schedule - done, complete, finished......HOORAY!

(just to spell it out for ya)