Thankful 13 Half Marathon 2013

Thanksgiving morning I had the opportunity to pace the Thankful 13 Half Marathon.  This was one of my favorite races of the year, next to the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon.  Unlike most Utah races this course doesn’t send you flying down a canyon, you have to earn your time on this one.  Another good thing about this race is that you don’t have to wake up in the middle of the night to catch a bus, nope you start and finish at the same point.   Holly and I paced the 1:50 group.

 

The race started right on time and we were off.  I was a bit nervous that I wasn’t going to be warm enough.  I tried out my new Nike jacket and wasn’t sure how warm it was going to be.

Here's Kenna modeling it for you.  It is quite possibly the softest thing EVA...it's smooth like butta!  It has thumb holes and is thin but it is VERY warm, perfect!  I picked it up at 26.2 Running Co. when we were there for packet pick-up.  I can't tell you how much I love this jacket, so I'm not going to try!!!

  By mile 2 I was warm, so Holly and I took turns holding each other’s junk so we could take off a layer.  This was no easy task but we somehow managed.  I had to lose my fancy turkey hat at this point as well.  It was driving me cray cray and my head was super hot…nobody likes a hot head!  Besides, I was having a panic attack because my airway was being cut off.  I tied the little suckers legs around my waist, it looked like he was pecking my bum :D  Cute bum where ya' from?

 

The course was absolutely beautiful, they had to change the course a little due to some construction and it was even better than before.  I hope the course will stay the same for next year, although according to my Garmin it was a bit short. 

 

There were signs all along the course showing what people were thankful for, I liked this a lot.  I REALLY liked one sign that said “I’m thankful for my ex-husband, thankful he’s an ex!”  HAHAHA, that caused me to have a fine chuckle.  I also saw a sign that my friend Jessica did, her dad beat colon cancer this year YAY!!!  It’s always nice to have something to read to distract yourself.  It’s also nice to be running behind a guy in a full on turkey costume, when he approached one photographer he did a funny little turkey move.  I missed it but Holly sure laughed about it, I can envision it and it was breath taking :D

 

Holly and I attempted to do a jump for one of the photographers, I can’t wait to see how this one turned out, as I flung my arms in the air to give myself a little boost I cracked Holly in the stick :D  I hit the pacing stick and nearly knocked the poor dear over, it was a travesty but might make for some good photography.  I will just add that our tutu’s looked super awesome in our shadows.

They looked awesomer (it's a word) when we were running.

The race was so well organized, everything was perfect!  Holly and I finished the race and wanted to even things out so we did 14 miles, it was FUN!!  We finished just in time for the push-up contest.

  I will NEVER win a race but I can win a push-up contest.  I WON and got a HUGE turkey!!!

Isn't it beautiful Clark?!?  I told you it was HUGE.

  I did 90 push-ups and my whole body was shaking, I’ve never had that happen before, maybe I was nervous ;)  I just need to enter more push-up contests and less running contests I guess ;)

Pacer group shot!  Becky, Weirdo #Uno, Julia, Rachelle and Weirdo #Dos.  Aren't our turkey hats dashing? 

Then I said something that made Holly angry and she came at me with an axe...WTHeck! 

Don't worry, I apologized and we're friends again.

Sadly, race season is over for a while here in Utah.  Luckily, Rachelle invited me to her 2nd Annual Christmas Fun Run, YIPEE!!!  I already know what I'm going to wear too and these little beauties are definitely going to be part of my ensemble, I love them!!!  I could quite possibly wear them every day this month!

These are going to sell out QUICK so if you want some follow this handy little link HERE and order yourself some.  If you use the promo code SNOW you will not only get 40% off but you will also get FREE shipping.  Don't say I never gave you anything (technically I'm not giving you anything but let's just pretend that I am) and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

 

Rock N' Roll San Diego Marathon 2013

Saturday we drove into San Diego and headed right to the race expo.  It was cray cray!!  I got my bib and such without having to wait in a line which was awesome.  Then it got a little crazy, there were oodles o’ people which made it hard to walk around.  We did stop by Pro Compression’s booth to say hi to Mike, what a fine young lad.

#keepittight

Sunday I woke up at 3:50 a.m. and Jake drove me to the starting line.  We were quite fortunate to be some of the first ones there because an officer let Jake drive on closed roads to get me to the start…AWESOME!  Jake had said that he would wait with me for a bit but to find a park would have been near impossible so I sent him on his way.  There were lots of people around so I felt safe.  As soon as Jake drove off a photographer asked me to take my sweatshirt off, to which I replied “Are you some sort of a pervert!”  He thought that was pretty funny and said, “A minute ago I had to ask a girl to take her pants off!”  We had a fine chuckle, he took my picture and that was that.

Once the photographer got me with my shirt off I realized that it wasn’t cold at all, it was 63 degrees and felt great.  I sat on the grass and watched all the people.   I do so love me some people watching!  Everything was so organized.  They had 26 or so UPS trucks alphabetized for the bag drop.  I walked to the end of the million trucks, dropped my bag and headed to the corrals. 

I had no idea what corral I was in so I asked some people.  They looked at my bib and said “You are in corral 3, you must be fast…you’ve practically already won the race.”  That made me feel good, I don’t think I’m fast at all but I’ll take the compliment and run…literally!

The music was blaring and I was ready to go.  There was a moment of silence in remembrance of Boston and we were off.  I went into this race without any goals at all besides finishing.  I didn’t know what to expect seems how I had just done 26.2 miles 2 weeks prior.  I started behind the 3:55 pacer and was content to stay there.

At .2 mile there was a guy standing with a sign that said “Only 26 miles to go!”  I was ready for it.  There was also a guy running who was dribbling 2 basketballs.  I guess he likes to go balls to the walls on his races.  He ran the whole race like that…#weird ;)

The first mile was slow because of all the people and I didn’t feel like weaving so I just went with the flow.  I ran without my music for the first 13 miles and just listened to people around me and soaked in my surroundings.

I was feeling really good so I glanced at my watch at mile 3 and it was a 7:23 min mile…what?  I didn’t feel like I was pushing it at all.  I told myself to slow down, I didn’t want to go crazy and end up bonking and hating it.  I felt like I slowed down but the next mile was another 7:23.  I decided that I had better start paying closer attention to my time, I had to slow down.

I think it was at about mile 10 that I saw the winner heading the opposite direction, I cheered for him and ran on.  It was fun to see him flying by!

There were LOTS of hills, it was a pretty tough course.  This wasn’t a Utah race that sends you running down a canyon.   Even the winner thought it was a tough course.   “I am excited to win,” said the 32-year-old Njoroge, who went through halfway in 1:05:03 but slowed during the course’s hillier second half. “I ran just to win but I am also happy with the time because this course was hard. Really hard.”

I fueled every 5 miles with 3 Shot Blocks and I made myself take water at every aid station.  It was quite humid so I started drinking half of the water and dumping the rest on my head.  I never felt really hot though, the sun wasn’t out so it felt awesome.

We ran around Mission Bay which was gorgeous…loved it!  I started to feel really good and started passing people left and right.  I kept it steady, I was still afraid of going too fast and hitting the wall.  I hit the wall BAD at Ogden and didn’t want to do that again.

People kept telling me that I looked strong and to keep it up.  It’s always nice when people look at you with huge smiles and encouragement rather than like they feel sorry for you because you look miserable :)  

I heard some people say that they didn’t love the course but I love San Diego so I enjoyed every minute of it.  Well, I didn’t love the 2 mile hill at mile 20…#RUDE!  We were running on the freeway straight uphill for 2 miles.  A ton of people were walking but I refused to walk, I eat hills for breakfast ;)

I figured that once the 2 mile hill was over it would be downhill or flat…NOPE!  Hill after hill after hill after hill!  Back at about mile 18 I thought that I may just have a chance at a 3:30 marathon.  I hadn’t wanted to push before then for fear that I would bonk.  When I finally felt like I was close enough to being done to push the hills wouldn’t let up.

Mile 22 to almost mile 26 there were rolling hills, my legs were starting to feel it but I knew I could stay strong until the end.  Of course, I was a sure that every hill I ran would be my last so I would power up it just to get to another one.

There was a nice downhill to the finish so I let the hill carry me and went pretty fast.  I ended up finishing in 3:35:35, Lou said that I ran 26.43 miles.  #UltraMarathon ;)

Not sure what was going on here.

I didn’t go into this race for a PR so I didn’t care.  I just kept running and enjoying myself.  They had bands every mile and HUGE cheer sections, it was amazing.  Such a fun race! 

I am super photogenic.  Check out that HUGE rose my familia gave me.

 I was shocked that my body allowed me to do what I did.  It could have been the elevation.  It could have been that Ogden was just a craptastic training run for this one.  Who knows?  Had I known when I started that I was going to feel so good throughout the race I would have allowed myself to do the early miles a tad bit faster.  There was never a point during the race that I felt uncomfortable, I didn’t feel like I was “racing” I was simply enjoying the run.  Maybe I should move to San Diego…it does a body good!

I was a soaking wet mess.  They handed out sopping wet towels at the finish.

That rose is nearly as big as mama's head!

My family found me stretching by a tree soon after I finished.  My parents have never seen me finish at a race so it was fun to have them there.  It was Kobe’s 10^th birthday so I gave him a huge sweaty hug.  I ran every single mile for him and thought about how I was in the operating room having him at the exact same time that I was racing.  Heck if I could make it through the pain of that day I could make it through anything ;)

Another beauty shot.  I really should be a super model ;)

This race may just be my new favorite!

I attempted to take an ice bath in the ocean…I don’t get in the ocean so that was kind of a big deal.  Unfortunately the water wasn’t very cold.  We went to Coronado which was beautiful.  I think the reason I was able to stay in the ocean as long as I did was because the water was clear, I could see what was lurking in the water.

I’m still on a runner’s high from this race and hope to do more Rock N’ Roll marathons in the future. 

Mike got some great pictures but I can't seem to make them work, sorry for the lack of pics.  I had some good race photos too but who wants to pay $70 for pictures???  NOT ME!  I think that if these picture company's would let you buy your images for $20 they'd make a whole lot more money...just sayin'!

Run of Remembrance 5K 2013

On Monday the whole fam damily did the Run of Remembrance 5K and it was #AWESOME!  I ran it with Kobe which is pretty much my favorite thing EVA.   When the gun went off Jake, Kobe and I started together.  McKenna, Kaden and Steph Numero Dos started together.

#ItBeBright

The first mile was VERY congested so we had a 9 minute mile.  Holly caught up to us with her buggy and Jackson.  I told Kobe to set the pace where he felt comfortable.   The second mile was a 8:34 minute mile and that was with a big hill.  Kobe had said that he wanted to slow down on the hill by the cemetery, it’s a BIG one!  When we got to the hill I told Kobe to think of my daddy who was up in heaven looking down on us, surely he would give us his strength.  As soon as I said that Kobe got a little burst of energy and zipped right up the hill.  I’m guessing this is where we lost Holly, Jake and Jackson.

My cute boy...love him to pieces!

I thought I had it rough having such short legs I can only imagine how hard Koko had to work!

I loved running through the cemetery with all the flags lined up.  I really loved after the cemetery because it had a nice downhill.  We cruised down the hill and again Kobe said that he wanted to slow down, so we did.   Soon after that we passed a guy who was talking to his little boy, he was saying that the pain would only last for a minute and to keep pushing.  And with that Kobe zipped off again.  I wondered if I could keep up for a minute.  I told him to hold off for a little bit so that he could finish strong.  We got to the firehouse and I told Kobe that once we turned the corner to go for it. 

We turned the corner and he started to sprint…then he slowed down so I told him we were almost there and to keep pushing…so he did.  People were cheering for the little feller and I loved it.  We sprinted to the finish in 25:30, the last mile was a 7:33. 

Kobe shaved a few minutes off of last years time which I believe was in the 27 minute zone.  He did awesome!  I wish I could run with him every.single.day!  

Jake and Holly finished right behind us, around 27 minutes I think.  Jake made Run of Remembrance's Facebook page and it is AWESOME...so I stole borrowed it!

He is flying, I wish I looked like that when I run...without the goofy face ;)

Group shot!  Kaden, Jack Jack, Nicolas, Jorge, Holly, Jake, Steph Numero Dos, Koko, Steph Numero Uno and Kenna Corn!

Silly kids!

Holly and I ran back for Kenna and Kaden, they were grinning from ear to ear!  I can't remember when they finished maybe around 32:00, they did great.  

Watching Nicolas finish his first 5K was awesome, he is such a cute little guy!

#I'mADork

LOVE!!!

MUH!

If only Kobe could run my marathon with me on Sunday.  I'm doing the San Diego Rock N' Roll Marathon all alone.  Sunday is Kobe's 10th birthday so I may just run every single mile for him, hopefully he can run with me for a little of it but who knows.

I've never done 2 marathons so close before so I'm a little nervous. I've been feeling good though so hopefully I don't die!

I have no time goals, my only goal is to go have fun and take in all of the sights.  I love, love, love San Diego.

We are spending the week with my parents going to Sea World, the beach, Disneyland and whatever else we feel like doing.  It is sure to be a partay, I'm so grateful to have such loving parents that take us on awesome trips. What a great way to start off the summer :) 

I'm a FAN!

This morning I headed out for my second 20 miler of this training cycle with Holly, Josh, Joanna, Dr. Lloyd and about 3287 other runners.  We truly missed having Pam with us, she is injured right now :*( I HATE INJURIES!!!!

I decided that after my last 20 miler, which was pretty miserable, that I would do everything possible to set myself up for a good run.  I carbo loaded like it was my job!

These little beauties do a fine job of properly loading a runner!

I ate 2 chocolate donuts cause if 1 is good then heck have 2!  I have 2 kids and that worked out good, I have 2...shoes, that's all I could think of.  I ate one for each of my running legs or something like that!

Jake took me on a hot date to Malawi's for some pizza, I think I was pretty well loaded with the carbs :)

I have decided that I am a real fan of running in my Pro Compression socks.  I have run in them here and there but this past week I wore them for 3 of my runs, I think I need a few more so I can wear them every.day!

I didn't wear just any ol' Pro Compression, no I busted out these..

Seems how I didn't do a Shamrock Shuffle ;) or the LA Marathon, I decided to wear my "lucky" socks today!  They did their job wonderfully!

Here is our attempt at getting a jumping photo...#FAIL!

Holly and I did the P90X stretch DVD and I took The Stick to myself right before bed and then slathered BioFreeze all over my legs.

The run was GREAT!!!  The first 10 miles were a challenge as we were running up Provo Canyon, although it's not as steep as Hobble Creek Canyon so that was a relief.

We saw a million runners, walkers, bikers and army guys.  Holly and I thought we were going to be flashed by 2 army dudes...FREAKS!  They were being highly suspicious so I made sure not to look at them, it was quite scary.  Holly said one of them was looking at us real creepy like, yikes!

Coming back down the canyon felt awesome!  I felt like I could have run a marathon today, it was really good.

The hardest part of today's run was the 12 minute ICE BATH that I forced myself to take.  It is so hard to get into an ice bath but I really do notice a difference when I take them.  I showered up, put on a fresh pair of Pro Compression socks and stuffed myself into my "sausage shorts" aka Aspaeris Pivot Shorts.

These shorts are AWESOME!!  Aspaeris is sponsoring Run Your Race Pacers and sent Holly and I a pair to try out.  I have run in them a few times and absolutely love them, the only down side to running in them is that then I can't recover in them.  I don't love being swassy all day, unfortunately.  I LOVE wearing them for recovery and wear them nearly every day.  Needless to say I am wearing them out right quick.  I only wash them if I sweat in them or once a week.  I figure I'm not getting them dirty so I may as well not wash them to death too quickly.

They are really tight which is how they should be but I do feel like I have sausage legs when I wear them.  NO ONE will ever see me in them alone again.  When I first got them I put them on and showed my family.  They gave me some pretty horrible looks and Kenna said "Nice butt MOM!"  They are not flattering at all but it's all good.

They are best worn under things!

Kenna and I got a little silly on my "photo shoot"...kiss it Whoville ;)

 And last but not least I try to imitate the Monican, she's hilarious!

That's Monica's running pose and without even thinking about it I did it, we should be friends :)

I'm sooo a fan of Aspaeris!  Pro Compression and Aspaeris should get together and have a baby, not sure where that one came from but let's just go with it okay?!?

If you haven't tried compression before then I feel sorry for you already, it's pretty much the bomb.diggity!

I think I will be living in my compression gear for the next 2 and a half months.  Here is a glance at some races I will be doing.

April 20th Salt Lake City Half Marathon

May 4th Dino Half Marathon

May 18th Ogden Marathon

June 2nd San Diego Rock 'N Roll Marathon

June 21st ULTRA RAGNAR Wasatch Back

That's a lot of running...I hope I survive.

Sooooo #keepittight!!  I believe you can use promo code BLG13 for 40% off and free shipping on all Pro Compression Marathon socks!

If I hear of an awesome promo code for Aspaeris I will be sure to share, cause you NEED some!