Create.

8.1 miles -- AP 8:44

4 easy with Ry, AP 9:19 (Sophia ran the first .5 with us), but the last mile was an 8:14 - which included me running ahead so that I could push the pace up Home Stretch Hill - ran that hill (.4 miles) at a 7:20 pace.

Then 4.1 on my own: alternated 800 m at 5K pace (~ 7 minute mile) with very slow easy 800 m. Felt hard. Right knee was really hurting and it was windy. Have know idea how to translate this run into anything concrete. Hmmm ...

Ultrasounded knee before run, ice massage and tens unit after about 90 minutes after.

11 miles and lunch with Smooth and Lowell!!! How I love them both! :)

40 minutes elliptical

6 miles

45 minutes elliptical

5.5 miles

around the world core (reps of 17)

Some sort of tummy virus.

Going to stay in bed as much as possible.

On the bright side: my bib for Ogden is 3332. Smooth says that 3s mean alive and that 2s mean easy. So my thought process is this: If I take it easy during the marathon I will cross the finish line alive. PERFECT!!! :)

10 minutes elliptical

5 miles

So ... as usual I procrastinate getting ready for the race until it is almost time to go to bed. In my process of doing this I realized that my watch was almost dead and I could not find my charger anywhere!!! WHAT??? I looked everywhere. Couldn't find the silly thing. Hmmmm ... I have run very little since Boston (due to my silly leg/s) and most of that has been on the treadmill. Could it be that I left it in Boston. No way -- they would have called. Long story short ... they have it. Gave them my credit card and hopefully now it is in the mail!!! What a start! Luckily my friend Stevie has the same watch. He was nice enough to charge it and bring it in the morning

I had no idea how this race would turn out for me. My bib number was 3332. Smooth said that meant: Alive Alive Alive Easy. So, I interpreted that to mean that if I took this run easy that I would cross the finish line alive!!! Sounded perfect!!! Going in, I really wanted to run around a 3:45, but had truly decided that I would be happy with whatever, as long as I didn't make any stupid moves like I did at Boston!

Went up with a bunch of my running buddies from the neighborhood. The only bloggers with us was JohnnyV (who doesn't really blog much anymore) and RivertonPaul (cousin of JohnnyV), needless to say, I think many of the my friends will begin blogging now. As fortune would have it, we saw Andy, Lowell, and Rich Borget as we were deciding which bus to get on and were able to ride up with them. Although I missed the rest of the bloggers tremendously, it was fun to be with this group as I have not spent much time with them at all. As we were waiting for the race start a bunch of us started calling out Smooth's name -- but no response .

Before I knew it the race was off. I was shocked at how well I felt, I quickly wanted to change my plan and really race. However ... common sense (for once) kicked in and I settled for a not super easy, but definitely not a pushing it pace. My biggest fear was hitting the wall hard like I did at Boston -- I was almost certain it was going to happen (likely around mile 16 - 18) but my goal was to stave it off until the 20s. 16 came -- no wall, 18 -- still no wall, 20 -- I was definitely tired and slowing, but no wall, 22 -- same thing, 25 -- slowed way down, but nothing like Boston. Saw Andy, what a welcome site (it pays to be one of the harem) and MrsFit. Crossed the finish line in 3:38:18, my second best marathon time. AND ... I felt 100 times better than I did at the end of Boston. Make that 1000 times better.

Smooth told me she was going to run around a 4:20 ... I should have known better. I totally missed her!!! Stood at the finish line waiting and fearing as the clock was approaching 4:40. She snuck up behind me and I was SO HAPPY to see her. I am always amazed at how cheery she is even after suffering another major attack by that dang charlie!!!!

I think the only bummer part of the deal this race was everyone was talking about seeing Allie at mile 20 (I didn't see her). Dang!!!

Came home, chilled while I gulped down a slurpee watching my hot hubby do yardwork, attended a wedding reception, and then saw Letters to Juliet (cute show). GREAT DAY!!!!

Will take this week off and just crosstrain. I think that is what is best for my body.

Super fun day working out and shopping with my SSF!!! :)

15 minutes upright bike

15 minutes elliptical

12 minutes abs

AM yoga

morning:

Went to the gym to bike and swim this morning. But after I finished on the bike I realized that I left my stinkin' swimming stuff at home.

30 minutes upright bike

70 minutes elliptical

evening:

Roughly 12 mile bike ride with Ry. So much fun!!!

30 minutes upright bike

30 minutes arc trainer

20 minutes indoor rower

20 minutes elliptical

** Wondering which is better: just working on one machine so that there are no breaks or breaking it up like this so I use different muscles and am not entirely bored. Hmmm ....

45 minutes upright bike

1 mile swim

2 miles treadmill - Just wanted to test out my leg so that I can plan Saturday. Quite a bit of tightness, but no pain. :)

9 miles

Not as great as I had hoped, but not horrible either. Still at that point where I have to find just the right pace or things don't feel right. I can't really describe it as pain, because it doesn't hurt. It just feels really tight and weak. Does that make sense? I am talking about the opposite leg as the one that gives me problems with anterior compartment syndrome. That leg feels great. I think what I am dealing with now still has to do with compensating way too much at Boston.

10 miles -- Felt a little better than Saturday (other than this/these stinkin' cold/allergies  -- still don't know which it is)

20 minutes elliptical

******************************************************8

Oh yeah ... you all have to try this ... my kids, Ry and I LOVE IT!!!!!

4 Tablespoons brownie mix

2 Tablespoons water

- mix it in a cup that you can put in the microwave

- microwave for 1 minute

******* It makes the best little brownie ... so yummy and warm and gooey ... AND ... no oil, butter, eggs, etc. The only problem is that it is so easy that a 5 year old can do it so you have to be careful not to continually make them throughout the day like I did yesterday!!!! I have tried it with muffin mixes as well ... it works ... but the brownies are the BEST!!!!

60 minute upright bike

800 m swim

2 hours - 13.67 miles

***

Easy pace (although it did not feel easy - legs were heavy, clunky, and sore) with 5 800s in the middle at HM pace.

I feel kinda used up. Does that make sense? Blah.

***

Oh yeah -- I tried the brownie trick with a fiber one mix ... it worked. Are fiber one muffins really good for you though? I think it is kind of deceiving since the sugar grams are still pretty high. Hmmmm ....

AND ... I am going to take a nap today. YES!!! :)

PM

yoga

am

30 minutes upright bike

30 minutes elliptical

around the world core (reps of 17)

pm

60 minutes treadmill (6.6 miles)

lower body strengh training

60 minutes upright bike

hip strengthening exercises and stretches

15.76 miles -- my legs are so heavy -- not sure if it is still the aftermath of two marathons in the past 6 weeks or if it is the lower body stuff I have been doing.

** After looking at all my lower body issues these past couple of years and trying to figure out what the deal is I have come up with a new theory for myself. This might sound totally lame but I am pretty convinced that my gluteus maximus is not maximus enough. Seriously. Seems like my lateral rotators are super weak, especially my stinkin' bootie muscles (or lack of bootie muscles might be more appropriate). Here's to a bigger and stronger tush. Will see if  my theory holds true ... giving it 3 committed months of working on those dang lateral rotators. :) 

** Big regret today: not running with my SSF. I woke up feeling blah and didn't even know if I would make it 10 miles. Just was not feeling it. Smooth was right, I would make it if I chose to ... I should have listened to her and ran with her. Big mistake on my part.

** Another stupid thing I did today was begin my run with the wind at my back ... that made the last half miserable. Yes, I am a big baby!!! Seriously.

My daughter, Rylee, was giving me piggyback ride yesterday down our hallway. She wanted a picture of her carrying her mother. Payton was the photographer and he took this shot when we weren't ready (Rylee wanted me to fix her bangs) -- it is my favorite. I have the best kids in the world!!! :)

8 miles with my SSF

Went to Lehi High School to do some speedwork on the track. I know this sounds crazy, but I have NEVER ran on a track before. My speed as of late has really been quite stinky, and hence I have avoided working on it since I hate being disappointed with the splits. What a copout.

~ 2.25 miles warmup

dynamic stretching

5 X 800 meteres with 400 meters jog in between (albeit I walked 200 meters after the 3rd and 4th 800 ... seriously ... what a baby.)

Splits for the 800 meters were: 3:29, 3:29, 3:28, ? (forgot to hit the lap button), 3:25

The best part of the run by far were our cool down miles (~ 2.25) which we did barefoot on the astro turf on the football field. I LOVED THAT!!! It felt so good to run barefoot on that surface. Every now and then I would run a sprint or jump in and out of a tire that was on the field. Too bad there is not an astro turf marathon. Man that was heavenly.

One last thing:

MY SSF ROCKS!!!!

(SERIOUSLY ... THERE IS NO ONE ELSE LIKE HER! HOW DID I GET SO LUCKY?)

PM

Lower body strength-training