Rest Day...4 Mile Hike!

This is a few days late but I have had technical difficulties!

Sunday has always been a rest day for me...wait a minute, I am totally lying right now!  When I first started running I ran 7 days a week, no matter what!  Finally a friend of mine kindly pointed out that we all need at least 1 day of rest per week.  After all, Sunday is referred to as the "day of rest" right?!?  I decided to listen to my friend just to see what would happen.  I guess I figured I would lose all strength and the gains that I had made in my running for that week...guess what?!?  I didn't, in fact I felt better than ever taking that one day off every week.  Everyone finds what works for them.  For me, I enjoy taking one day off mid week to enjoy a spin class.  I ab.so.lutely LOVE spin, it's a nice break from running and by golly it's just plain fun!  Then of course I take Sunday's off...that's a day meant for family in my book!

As much as we love running it's important to realize that doing the same activity day in and day out creates muscle imbalances.  Throw some biking in the mix or better yet some strength training.  The best way to avoid injury is to avoid muscle imbalances.  Besides muscle imbalances our bodies need time to RECOVER!  If we run every single day when are we allowing ourselves to recover???  Believe me, if you are someone who runs 7 days a week try taking one day off a week.  It's just one day, you'll live and guess what you will feel so much better!

This week was Papa Jex's b-day and for his big day he wanted to go to Norma Jean's Diner for some breakfast (don't ask me who the heck Norma Jean is cause I do not know).  We enjoyed some family time and then headed off on our own little family adventure.  Jake and the kids wanted to hike Bridal Veil Falls, okay that's easy enough!  5 minutes and your done, LET'S DO IT!!  As we started driving up the canyon Jake decided to take us to Sundance instead.  We walked around for a few minutes and decided to hike Stewart Falls.  I had never hiked Stewart Falls and decided it would be a fine family activity.  We got our little guide book from the forest ranger gal and I saw that the hike was 2 miles one way.  No big deal, I can do 4 miles in my sleep!

I can run 4 miles in my sleep but hiking straight up a mountain on tired legs is no easy feat.  We had a great time despite the HEAT, it was way hotter than I had expected it to be.  At one point, Kobe said "today sure was a good day to wear deodorant!" :D  It was dang funny!  On the 1st or 2nd day of school his teacher told them that they all needed to wear deodorant because they were super stinky...she's way funny!  By the end I was starting to feel a little funny, dizzy at times.  I think the heat was getting to me a bit and poor Kenna was about to whizzle in her short pants.  McKenna and I started to run down the mountain which was kinda scary.  I rolled my ankle a few times...trail running is NOT for me!  That along with my dizziness may not have been the best mix but I just wanted to be done. 

From the second I woke up this morning I felt tired and worn down.  All I really wanted to do was lay in my bed and do nothing all the live long day!  I'm glad I didn't, we had a fine time together as a family.  This week my kids start their new gymnastics schedule and Kenna has to go 19.5 hours a week...HOLY CRAP!!  I am never going to see the little miss.  I'm glad we were able to spend some good quality time together this weekend.

I hope you all had a great weekend!!!

Top of Utah 1/2 Marathon 2012

Leading up to this race I was SUPER nervous.  The fact that I was pacing it and not just doing it for myself scared my pants right off of me!  I wanted to make sure that I did everything in my power to have a good run.  On Friday, I went to Jorge's House of Pain for a not so sensual maaasage and then Holly and I did P90X Stretch.  My legs felt all loosey and nice, I then wore my compression sleeves for the most part of the day.  Because I didn't want to be accused of wearing soccer socks at Costa Vida I left them behind.

We arrived at Granny and Papa's house (Jake's grandparents) in Logan and chatted with them for a while.  I love these people, they are a crack up!  We looked at old scrapbooks of when Jake's grandpa was a Fighter Pilot back in the olden days ;)  It was neat to see a lot of the things that he had accomplished.  We also stumbled upon a picture of me when I was prego with Kobe...heaven help me, I was HUGE!!

Before I went to bed I slathered my legs in MaxFreeze and put on my compression socks.  Jake was kind enough to drive us to the buses at 4:50 a.m.  We looked for our "pace master" for about 15 minutes and finally gave up and jumped on a bus.  Luckily, Holly brought her blanket (which I thought was a snuggie) so we were able to keep a little warm.  It was quite cold up the canyon.

Finally, about 10 minutes before the race started we (Holly and I paced this together) saw our "pace master" and  received our fancy schmancy singlet's and pace bands.  We were all set and nervous as can be!  We decided pretty quickly that I would be in charge of keeping us on pace and Holly would be in charge of the pacer sign.  Every time Holly went to look at her watch she nearly whacked me with her stick :D  That and my OCD and pacing went along quite nicely together.  The constant worrying about keeping us on pace helped the time fly by.  All of a sudden we were at mile 7...how in the world did that happen?!?  We had a few guys we were pacing and chatting with.  It was fun to hear about them and some of their past running experiences.  At about mile 11 or 12 we lost our guys, there was a hill and they fell behind.  We picked up a couple of others at this point.

We had to slow down a little there at the end, as to not finish ahead of schedule.  We had to tell a few people to go ahead and finish strong!.  We finished in 1:40:08!  I would say we did pretty dang awesome for our first pacing gig!

There we are hard at work.  Me checking the clock and Holly checking her watch! 

I absolutely LOVED pacing and I can not wait to do it again!!!  I felt awesome the whole run.  It was a comfortable pace but it was a good workout.  It wasn't so slow that I felt like I wasn't getting a workout.  YAY for pacing!!

After we finished it was off to watch a few friends finish a Half Ironman!   It was so amazing to watch these people.  We were there early and were able to see the first finishers.  I am so glad that we made it in time to see our friend transition from the bike to the run.  I WILL learn to swim...mark my words, I will learn to swim.  I want to do not only a half but a full Ironman.  Now that I've put it on the blog I have to do it, right?!?  If anyone wants to give me swimming lessons for free I will let you ;)

Pacing!

This Saturday will be my first time ever pacing a race.  Holly and I were asked to pace the 1:40 group for the Top of Utah Half Marathon.  To say that I am FREAKING out would be a bit of an understatement!  I know that I can finish in that time but for some reason knowing that other people are counting on me to get them to the finish freaks my freak!!!  I looked up the average pace for that time and it is about a 7:40 min mile!  That is very doable but what if I am having an off day?  What if I trip and fall on my face?  A pacer shouldn't do that...not that I've ever done that but with my luck holding a pacer sign might just send me over the edge. 

This was taken at the TOU Marathon last year.  If I can do the full I can do the half right?!?

The only thing getting me to the starting line is knowing that Holly will be there with me.  She is MUCH faster than I am so for her to do a 1:40 half is like me dropping and busting out 100 push-ups...not hard!  Okay, maybe it's a little hard but I can still do it on any given day.  So what happens on September 8th when I have to pace the Mt. Nebo Half Marathon all by myself?  Just typing this is sending me into a full blown panic attack!!!  Talk about pacing...I'm going to wear my shoes out pacing this kitchen floor ;)  Actually, after Saturday's race I will be pacing the 1:45 groups and that I am comfortable with!

I have been asked to pace the Big Cottonwood Canyon Half and also the Halloween Half.  The only race that I have actually done is the Halloween Half (read about it there) so that one I feel comfortable with, I know the course and let's face it it's by far the most entertaining race around!  Plus I can just wear a mask and no one has to know that it was me if we don't make it ;) 

I figure I will try this first race and if pacing isn't for me than I can easily get out of the others.  I really hope that I LOVE it!  Not only do I get to do races for FREE dollars but if I can help someone(hopefully many someoneS) attain a goal then I will be pleased as punch!  I also think it will be nice to do these races without having the stress of "racing" them.  I love doing races but hate the stress of having to PR at every race.  Sometimes it's nice to have a change of scenery and just enjoy the run, which is what I hope pacing is for me.  I hope that I can get over the stress that is put on me and just concentrate on the people that I am pacing.  Get to know them and hear their story, maybe even make a friend or two ;)  After the Utah Valley Half Marathon a cute little gal came up and thanked me for "pacing" her.  She said, "I just told myself to keep up with the tiny, little girl wearing bright pink!" :)  She made my day.  I only wish that I would have known I was pacing her so that I could have given her words of encouragement along the way!

Have you ever followed a pacer?  If so, what did they do or not do that you liked?

If you have ever paced a race do you have any words of wisdom?

First Day of School!

Let's start by getting today's workout out of the way, today was leg day and it was tough!  After an hour long leg workout I headed outside for a run. 8.25 miles, it was the perfect morning for a run!  Now on with more exciting things...The first day of school!

 

Such cute kids :)

McKenna started 7th grade today...Jr. High!  When the crap did that happen?  The thing that scares me the most is that EVERY time I drove past the Jr. High last year there were kids canoodling under trees!  Are you kidding me?  So I have told Kenna again and again that there will be NO CANOODLING under trees!  The other night Jake said, "No cadoodling!"  I told her she can cadoodle anytime she wants but no canoodling!  She asked what cadoodling was and I said, "I'm not really sure but I think it's some kind of drawing thing." 

One other funny about Kenna is that last night she saw some Wet Ones on the counter and asked if she could use one to take her make-up off.  She asked if there was anything "special" in them.  I said no.  Suddenly, she said with extreme excitement, "Vitamin E and AloEE"  Not aloe but aloEE :)  I laughed and corrected her.  Her response was, "I know!  I'm not as dumb as I look!"  Ha ha ha!

Kobe started 4th grade today!  It seems like just yesterday that I was bawling my eyes out as I dropped him off for his 1st day of Kindergarten.  He got an awesome teacher and has a ton of great friends in his class.  Oh. my funny little Koko!!  I sure love those cornies!!

Last night as we were preparing for the big day I heard some racket going on outside my house.  I looked out to see some neighbors doing our yard work!  I was a little overcome with emotion.  Of course I made the daughter pose for a picture for the blog :)

I must say that our yard has never looked so good!  Not only did they mow and edge but they bagged the clippings...Jake NEVER does that!  I am so grateful for great neighbors.

The reason for the good deed was because Jake is living it up in So. Cal...RUDE!!  He went for work but all night he felt it necessary to send me bragging texts...I'm staying at your favorite hotel...in one of your favorite places...going to BJ's for a delicious pizookie...here's a picture of the beach!!  WTHeck ;)  I told him he was making me quite angry but he just kept bragging it up.  Oh yea, well I get to stay home all day and be a SLAVE ;)  I asked Jake if he had told this particular neighbor that I REFUSE to do yardwork, he said no but I still have my suspicions.  Steph + Yardwork = Huge snakes attacking me!

I must say that as sad as I was to see the cornies go, I am sitting here in a clean house enjoying Extreme Makeover Weightloss Edition in silence...it's quite lovely :)  My house has stayed clean for over 4 hours now, I can't remember the last time that happened...probably about 3 months ago!

A 20 Mile Half Marathon?

The training schedule for today called for 20 miles...that's a VERY long ways!!!  Today was also the Hobble Creek Half Marathon, what to do, what to do?  Holly and I got on one of the first buses and headed up the canyon.  We waited a few minutes for it to get light and headed UP.  We made it 3/4 mile before we decided that we no longer felt safe.  We ended up doing 5.50 miles before heading to the starting line.  We ran this race as a "training" run, we weren't racing it and thank goodness for that.  I am sad because after today's run I had to admit that "Gin n' Juice" (Energy X) does NOT work for my long runs.  I've kind of known it for a while but sports drinks upset my stomach and I like how cheap the Energy X is.  I think I need the calories in GU Brew and the taste isn't too bad either, problem solved!

We did the race and then tacked on the last 1.50 miles.  This is how I have felt ever since...

20 miler done and done :)

I'm not going to do a recap on each mile or any of that fun stuff.  I know you are disappointed and all but I have had something going on in my little pea sized brain that I want to put out there.  The other day I was on the Facebook when I stumbled upon this

I saw it, laughed my head off and moved on.  Then as I was getting all done up for the day :D that right there was funny!  By done up I mean I showered, threw on some sweats and slapped on a little make-up.  I'm not one of those high maintenance beauty queens...much to Jake's dismay I'm sure ;)  Any who back to my story.  I was getting ready when McKenna wandered into the bathroom and started admiring herself...for a good 5 minutes I might add!  I was laughing so hard and immediately showed her the above saying.  She said "MOM!!"  Then she giggled and went on admiring herself.  Later as I was telling Holly how funny it was, she pointed out how sad it is that we ever lose that confidence in ourselves.  True dat!!  I think we all have times where we lack confidence and are continually putting ourselves down.  If I could have one wish it wouldn't be world peace, it would be that we could all be comfortable in our own skin and be our own biggest cheerleader!  Not that I don't want world peace but every beauty queen out there is already wishing for that one so I think we've got it covered!!

The other day I was training someone and she kept comparing herself to another gal who was there working out.  She was putting herself down and it made me ANGRY!  I wanted to slap her (don't worry I would NEVER do such a thing:) and tell her that she was just as good as the other gal she just had to believe in herself.  I kept my mouth shut when I shouldn't have.  Then I realized that I do the exact same thing day after day...and I wanted to slap myself ;)

I honestly don't know if I ever had that confidence that McKenna has but I sure wish I could dig deep inside myself and find it!  I also hope with every ounce of my being that Kenna never loses it!!!

Let's all try to be our own biggest cheerleader, let's build ourselves up rather than tear ourselves down!  Okay?!?

WHY????

I need to know when in the world this happened....

Yes, her friends passed me up over a year ago but come on!  It feels like I just birthed the child and now she is nearly as tall as me.  That's just not right!  Last weekend we went to the good ol' Juab County Demolition Derby.  Jake handed the ticket taker guy our tickets and he said, "Hmmm, let's see what we have here.  2 kids and 2......uhhhh, never mind!"  We looked at each other and laughed and that was that.  I was standing behind Kenna like in the above portrait, apparently he was confused by my size :D  If I could just get some botox or something I could probably get away with buying kids tickets to all events!

Last week we finished up our back to school shopping and we bought Kenna some dang cute Converse.  I thought they looked a little big so I tried them on...they fit!  Not comfortably AT ALL but I wanted to see Kenna's reaction.  She didn't think it was fair that I fit her shoes but she doesn't quite fit mine yet...hee hee hee!

Cute right?!?

I need to know why kids have to grow up so ding dang fast.  It brings great sadness to my heart.  McKenna will be starting Jr. High next week and Kobe will be in 4th grade :*(

 

The other day Kobe had his shirt off and I was AMAZED at his abs, he has a full blown 6 pack.  I tried to take a picture but it doesn't do them justice.

We were at 7 Peaks today and I was having him flex his abs...I guess that's not as easy as it seems.  I kept trying to show him how to flex them and I heard some chuckles, I looked over and one of the worker dudes had been watching us and was quite amused.  Kobe kept sucking in or pushing out, don't worry he finally figured it out.  He also offered to train me so that I can get abs like his...I wish!

Now we have to jet off to buy Kenna a "Trapper Keeper" do they still call them that :)  

Oh wait, I have to share a delicious treat with you.

Have you tried these??  Oh my, they are scrumdiddlyumptious!  I just wish the serving size was 3 to 4 cups not 3/4 cup.  Honestly, who eats 3/4 cup of cereal?  Who comes up with these things?  The best part of the above cereal is that it only has 8g of sugar.  Now when I need a sweet treat I can have a huge 3/4 cup of Chocolate Chex.

I've got to somehow get myself geared up for a 20 mile run tomorrow...wish me luck!

You Gave Them Permission To Hurt Me Like This!!

Back in June I ran the American Fork Canyon Half Marathon.

 This race was put on by a hospital and was to benefit cancer.  As I ran and read the signs all along the course I decided that it was high time I get myself to the doc for a skin cancer screening.  I searched high and low on the Internet machine for a woman Dermatologist.  I had heard what happens at these said visits and wasn't about to have some man inspect every inch of my body.  I know I am weird but that is something that I am just not comfortable with.  I finally found one and called right away, I had to wait until August 1st to get an appointment.  The day finally arrived and sure enough she had to remove 4 "scary" moles.  Yesterday was a follow up appointment to get one more questionable thing removed from my wrist.  It hurt like the DICKENS!!!  Oh holy crap it hurt!  He gave me a numbing shot and started at me with the scalpel, I could feel much more than I was hoping to.  When the chick cut me up I didn't feel a thing.

I made Jake go with me for moral support and when we got home and my wrist was killing me I said "You gave them permission to hurt me like this!"  That's what Steven said to Nacho, if you will recall!

  The Dr. also informed me that a spot they had removed from my face was precancerous and he was going to have to freeze the area.  NOOOO!!!  I had a wart frozen on the first visit and it hurt worse than the woman cutting me up.  He froze my foot for the 2nd time and preceded to freeze my FACE!  Now I'm just waiting for it to turn black and crusty, but guess what??  I don't care, I'm just so grateful that a friend got me into this race and that it inspired me to take care of myself.

This is a race that I will support every year.  I have to be pretty conservative with how many races I pay for, get 2 kids in competitive gymnastics and you'll understand.  The things I do for the beautiful children of the corn.

Anyways, this is a race that I will gladly pay for!  I know that the proceeds go towards a great cause and I absolutely LOVED everything about this race.  Plus, it quite possibly could have saved my measly little life.

I have really missed blogging as of late (especially when I stumbled upon THIS post that I did a year ago) and decided to attempt this whole blogging thing again.  My biggest problem is that I can think of about 6,876 things to blog about but can never decide which of my brilliant ideas I should go with ;) JK!  So what do you get?? A picture of my gross hand.

Speaking of gross hands check out what happened to McKenna at gymnastics...

That my friends is what happens when you slide all the way down a rope.  For conditioning she had to climb all the way up the rope without using her legs.  Well, she was at the top and she started sliding down and couldn't stop herself.  I can not even begin to imagine how blasted bad that had to hurt!  She is so much tougher than I am!