Reflections

I just realized there are only 3 1/2 weeks until the Missoula marathon. Time goes by so fast.

For the past few weeks I have been thinking about how my running/training has changed over the course of 13 years. When I first started running longer distances I wouldn't eat anything before or during the run and I would only drink water (gatorade made me sick). I could run 18 miles like that and not feel yucky...what is up with that? I also would run 6 days a week, no cross training, no strength training. I look back and think how stupid I was. I had several stress fractures, one in my greater trochanter, which put me completely out of commission for over a year. (But, I was thin, and that was all that mattered to me at the time). Not being able to run for that long was a real eye opener. That is when I figured out I needed to do some strength training. I haven't had a stress fracture for over 8 years (knock on wood). I eat before, during and after a long run and I hydrate properly. I weigh a bit more than I did back then, but I feel better, more fit. I think that is what is most important, feeling good. I love that my kids see me working out everyday and I want them to know it is important to be healthy, strong and fit. And that it is okay to eat junk food now and then. I don't want them to have the crazy body image issues that so many girls (and boys) have these days.

Birthdays and Running

Well, today is my 37th birthday!  Wow, I'm getting old!  I found a little skin cancer on my stomach, and I'm starting to notice wrinkles around my eyes.  No, this is not going to be one of THOSE posts...I just want to say I feel great!  I ran a 15 mile run on Saturday and it went great, I tried a new "trick" that a friend of mine has done and I didn't get sick and I felt good the rest of the day, AND  had no bowel problems.  I alternated my hydration with accelerade  (has protein in it) and gatorade endurance (has more sodium than regular) and I ate a GU/Hammer Gel every 5 miles. Heidi, I like the raspberry, yummy!  It was a great combination. I am hoping maybe I found a solution to my problem. We'll see when race day comes, with the added fatigue and  stress, but for now, I am really excited to have found something that works!  Thanks Running Chick!

The Ogden Marathon

So,  here is the recap of the Ogden Marathon.  

It was the perfect day to run a marathon.  The weather was great.  It was such a pretty day. Most of you know that the St. George marathon is my all time favorite race...well, Ogden is a very close second!  The course is beautiful, the race was well organized, it had a "St. George" feel to it.  The aid stations were great and I especially loved the watermelon!  It was a friendly marathon as well, people were willing to talk and it was just fun.  I met a lot of great people.  I was able to meet up with a friend of a friend, whose name is Becky and her cousin Janice.  We rode together on the bus to the starting line and it was great to have someone to talk to and hang out with until the gun went off.  What great women they are!  I am so glad I was able to spend some time with them and get to know them a little bit.

The race was going very well for me and at mile 7 I was able to run with Jeff Galloway and his "fans".  I ran with them for about 7-8 miles.

That was probably the highlight of my day.  He is so awesome and I learned some things from him.  He has run over 139 marathons, is an Olympic champion in the 10,000 meter, has a column in Runners World, and has written several running books, for those of you who don't know.

I started feeling nauseated at about mile 18-19, which has proven very normal for me.  I have to figure out how to avoid/fix this!  I was sick the rest of the day, and ready to NEVER run another marathon again...I think it must be like giving birth, after awhile you forget about all the pain that is involved, and you do it again.  (Sunday I was back on track and I'm ready to do 

St. George in October!)

When I finally saw the finish line, I was able to get up the momentum and race to the finish.  I had to do it under 5 hours.  AND I DID IT!  Spectators were lined up along the several blocks to the finish line and they were cheering and I was feeling very weepy which then made me not be able to breathe.  So I was trying to run and breathe and not cry the last few yards of the  race, which was hard. You know it's a good race when you are not only physically spent but emotionally spent as well after it is over!

The Post race treats were great too.  Jamba Juice, Great Harvest bread, fruit, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  They know what a runner needs after a race!  (unlike the SLC marathon with their hot dogs and nasty tacitos).

I am so glad I did the Ogden marathon.  It will probably be one I do every year from now on!

Fun Run

Ethan and I ran the Foothills fun run a few weeks ago.  Now, this was Ethan's first race and he did AWESOME!  He ran so fast, "like a cheetah"  It was fun to run with him.  I am so proud of my boy!  I can't believe how fast he is growing up.  He is seven already!  I'm glad he had fun and he definitely enjoyed the post race popcorn.  Way to go Buddy!