Memorial 10K

Just before the firing of the gun at the Memorial 10K. I hadn't been feeling good for most of the week, but decided to give it a try anyway. On Friday, after sleeping almost 20 hours, we left for Orem. I felt better but definitely not 100%. But there was no way I was gonna pass up running if at all possible.... Thanks goodness come Saturday morning, I was feeling more like myself. The lightheadedness and dizziness went away. I was stoked that I was gonna be able to rock it at the race. To my surprise, My good Friend Lamon Mack, showed up at the start of the race to watch me race. IT was So good to see him and chat before the race. At 0800 the gun went off... About a half mile in, a lady in front of me cramped and suddenly stopped in front of me.... I attempted to move out of her way but in the process twisted my Left Ankle. It hurt so bad..... I struggled running. The pain with each step just shot up my body. Here I was only a half mile into the race. I said there is NO way that this is happening to me.... For the next 1.5 miles, the pain continued to throb and i really struggled to keep myself going. At this point, I wasn't in a race vs all those who were running, but rather in a race over myself. Two miles into the race I had stopped for an aid break to get some water and Gatorade. I cleared my mind and asked myself what do I want to accomplish from this... Am I done or can I go on.... I battled my Body, my Mind, and I decided to go on.... I fought through the pain with each step. I don't know whether the pain went away, or that If my ankle was just so swollen that I went numb, but the run became alot easier.

Then I came to this sign.... Mile 3 If you had down the 5K the fun would almost be over...... Well Great!!!!!! It was so awesome to be at the half way mark, but to read this and know if I had run the 5K I would be done.... I had to tell myself, Your better than this.... Just keep running, and I did. Even though my ankle and foot was on fire, I just kept on running.

I had to post this pic of Mt Timp... A pretty sweet shot I think!!!!

Yea Mile 4.... Getting closer but yet still over 2 miles away. YES I was towards the end of the pack, But goal was to Just Finish..... The best part.... I wasn't LAST, there was a big group behind me... I struggled this whole race but I was determined, If I can make it 4 miles, what's 2.2 more gonna hurt..... ALOT!!!!!!

Looking up to Provo Canyon.

Oh the pain..... But at last Mile marker 5.... Almost there I can feel it. I was feeling actually better at this point. Oh my ankle and foot killed, but I was adjusting to the pain, and was running alot better at this point. Partly I think cause I knew that I was almost done.

I was Hurting to much at the finish line and Forgot to take a picture of the finish. I went back after the awards ceremony and snapped a pic of the finish line. This by far has been one of my most CHALLENGING races, but also one of my most REWARDING races..... I was ready to cut my foot off when I crossed the finish, but I felt so good. I did it..... I didn't give in...... I picked myself up and I finished the race...... What a great life lesson it is.

Just a side note..... I wanna thank my family for all their love and support. They mean the world to me. I have enjoyed watching my kids catch the running bug with me. Their support means the world to me, especially as I crossed the finish line with all of them, cowbells and all, cheering me across the finish. You guys are the best.... THANKS :)

Good DAY

What a totally insane week it has been for me. After coming off the high of the Ogden Marathon weekend, I really struggled to find any time to run at all. I was able to run 3 miles on Monday and then Nothing the rest of the week.... Today I had to get my long run in preparation for the Memorial 10K next weekend. I am SO excited to get back on my 10K training schedule and push the extra miles. SO today, I came home early from Fathers and Sons so that I could get my run in before it heats up. I started out today with a set distance of 5 miles. I pick a very challenging course that had an elevation change of 350 ft which had many rolling hills. As I started to run, I just FELT AWESOME.... Instead of running 5 miles, I knocked out 7 miles in 1:28:00. Well you have gotta love the runners high. It feels so good. I feel awesome. If it wasn't for the heat I felt that I could have easily knocked out several more miles. Well good times. I am looking forward to running the Memorial 10K. Bring on the fun..... :)

Ogden Marathon 5K

The 5k starting line took place at the mouth of Ogden canyon at the Tibermine Steakhouse. It was a little chilly to start the morning off with the canyon winds.

This is the River Trailways. HOLY COW.... Let me tell you, This was such an awesome course. Running along side the river, through lush trees, and a gradual downhill, Not bad in my book.

Coming off the River course coming into the more Urban area of Ogden.

The Ogden river.... DID I tell ya this was a SWEET run....

AND now my Favorite part....... THE FINISH LINE.... Gotta love this. I crossed at 37:25 a whole minute and a half better than my old Personal record. This Race Rocked on many different Levels. The Expo and packet pick-up at the Union Station was AWESOME, not to mention the opportunity I had to meet Bart Yasso, Only the chief Editor for Running world. HE is just amazing. He is training for an ultra marathon by running a marathon every weekend. Now that is not just a weekend warrior.... The Expo was way awesome, The shirts Rocked. The race was way organized, and I have never seen a more positive and energetic bunch of race Volunteers. They were simple amazing with all their words of encouragement, Cow bells, and refreshments. WAY to go Ogden, It is now a MUST DO RUN NEXT YEAR..... but This time I'm running the Half Marathon. Overall, Very impressed and loved every minute of this experience. I am glad that I am seeing some progress in my running. Now I hope that as I make a change out of my 5K runs and into a couple of 10K that I will also continue to love and enjoy the opportunity to push myself and overcome the challenges that come my way. Bring on the Memorial.....

Good Times

What a week of training. I have so far recomitted myself back to a training schedule to prepare for all my upcoming races this year... And I have to say, so far, Its good to be back on a Routine. I have found that If I stay on schedule, that I do SO much better. It has been a good week. Next weekend, I head up to Ogden to run in the Ogden Marathon 5k. I am SAD that my cheering section will remain home. Oh well, Maybe next time... I am excited for this to be my last 5kfor a while. In the past 5 weeks, I have ran three with ogden making 4 5K's. I have had Nothing but a BLAST running them... They have been so much fun and I have made some good progress. I am looking forward to running a couple of 10K's over the next couple of races. I like the 10K's..... They are longer but I LOVE the challenge that they bring as you attempt to Rock out 6.2 miles. I am still LOOKING forward to September and my First EVER....... Half Marathon.... Its gonna take alot of discipline and hard work, But If I stay to my training schedule, It is Possible. Should be tons of fun. Thanks again for all your love and support. It does mean alot to me... ROCK ON!!!!!!!!

PS.... GOOD LUCK Cory with the Marathon and Melanie with the Half. Tear it up. :)

Provo Half Marathon and 5K

MAN, What a race. Going into it, I knew that It was gonna be cold, but I didn't expect everything to be Thrown at us... It was so much fun getting up with some of my favorite friends to run this race. Lamon and Mary Mack, just ROCK!!!! They are so awesome and of course, they ran the Half Marathon under two hours. Katie and I ran the 5K. It was so much fun getting up for Dinner the night before at the Brick oven and just chilling before the race began. Congrats to each of ya on a great run. I'm so proud of all of ya..... I also got to run with another good friend of mine Camillia Dougal from Price. I guess the camera wasn't out when we ran into them.... SO let me tell ya all about the fun we had at the race.

The night before we knew that there was going to be a freeze warning. the race temp was to be around 33 degrees. When we woke up to get ready, I knew that being cold wasn't in my ST George Blood. I got to the start of the race to see my good friends off, and of course it started to rain. As we started our race, we ran into not only rain, but Snow and heavy Hail.... It was so Cold but also a blast. I made me push harder. I will have to say for the record that it was probable one of my worst runs, but when I crossed the finish line, I had recorded an official chip time of 38:36.9, A new PR by 1/100. SWEET, I will take it knowing once again that I still have tons to prove to myself. I know that I am only competing with myself, but I want to keep pushing myself to only get better and of course in shape. I have just had the time of my life running these races. I totally appreciate all the support from my Family and friends. Thank You, It means the world to me!!!!!

SO I know that I need to get recommitted to a new training program, so I have now created a 9 month training program to help me accomplish my goals and get me through all of my upcoming Races. OK I am going to Announce that I plan to run 3 Half marathons by the end of Jan 2011. In September, the Disneyland half, in November, the Snow Canyon Half and in January 2011, the St George Half (painters). This is really gonna put me to a challenge. I have several other 5K and 10K races mixed in there to keep me going. Sure hope all goes well. Well Time to go knock out my first run on this training schedule. Gotta love it. Time to enjoy the open road....:)