Its A Finial Countdown.... T minus 6 and counting

Strange to think that this time next week, I will either be passed out cold in a medical tent, or have crossed the finish line to complete my first ever half marathon. I am praying for the latter for sure. I have worked so hard to get to this point but I still have alot of butterflies about this race. But Im hoping the excitement will take over and carry me through the race. I have decided to sign up for the new Cedar Mountain half marathon on Sept 18th. I figure that I have trained for my half, might as well have the opportunity to run 2 for the pain of one training. Well fingers are crossed, and I will see yall at the Finish Line.... Wish Me Luck!!!!!!!

Running to the End

If pictures are worth a thousand words, I sure wonder what I looked like as I finished my last Long run this morning. This is HOW I FELT...... Beat, but not Beaten.... The last two miles of my 12 mile run, seemed like an Eternity.... Will power and pure determination to finish the run was the only thing that kept me going. My feet ached so bad that I wasn't sure that I was actually gonna make it back to my car... I was sure praying that I wouldn't have to crawl back, Now talk about a picture......LOL :) I decided this run to remove my super green orthodics..... ummm Big mistake. They are going right back in for my next run. Wont make that mistake twice. Overall. It was a really sweet day to go out for a run. I saw many runners and cyclers out and about that you never felt alone. I picked a slightly harder course than the last one, in large parts, that there is a hill in my half marathon that I haven't trained for. SO off to Washington Fields I went. I just cant believe how far I have come. This sat will be my Taper run in preparations for my first ever Half Marathon. I am so excited and Nervous all at the same time... Today I kept repeating in my mind.... NO GUTS, NO GLORY....... Bring it On!!!!! :)

There is nothing quite like the feeling of waking up at 4am, in order to get your long run in while it is still cool (80 degrees) outside. I have actually found the experience to be very refreshing. I love the solitude and how peaceful things feel in the middle of the night. No one is awake, it is just you and the open road. Yesterday, being my only day off this week, I headed out on a new route that I have only driven to run. I parked my car at Summit AC, and started out on my journey, if completed, would be the longest run of my entire life. I ran from the summit, turn towards Washington Fields and then out on old Washington Fields road towards Warner Valley. It was a fairly nice out and back, but in the end, I gps myself to be 12.01 miles. I did this is 2 hours 41 min. Not bad in my book. 13.1 miles is just around the corner. I am starting to get way excited to think and see the progression I am making. Now I realize that I am way slow, but my goal for now is to finish the race. I will work on gaining speed as time goes on. Looking back on 8 months of running, I have gone from the couch to running 12 miles. Not bad. I am so excited for Disney... Gonna be a blast. SO my next long run will be on Monday again and not Sat due to my work schedule, followed my my taper run on that following sat of 5 miles.... Then it will be time to lace up the shoes for the happiest race on the Earth.... Gotta love it....

Training, oh the Joys!!!!

It has been a busy work week this week, and I haven't got around to posting yet. Last SAT, while up in Spanish Fork, I went for a sweet run around Salem. I ran next to the canal, into woodland hills and through the river bottoms for a Astounding 10.1 miles in 2 hours 15 min. I was so surprised and shocked that I was NOT only alive and living when I finished, but that I also felt great, and a little sore.... It made me look at 13.1 as something I know that I can achieve. This week, my goal is to run 11 or 12 miles. Due to changes in my Life Flight schedule, I have to postpone my long run until Monday. I have planed a sweet 14 mile run, but plan to run between 6 and 6.5 miles out and back on Monday. Hopefully I can pull it off. Disneyland Half marathon is right around the corner. I have had several smaller runs this week, but am really looking forward to knocking out the Longest run of my Entire life. I love this picture. No matter what comes our way, If we are willing to stand tall, and believe in all that we have given, No storm or trial can take us down unless we allow it ourselves. Always believe you can be successful in whatever you put your mind to... Its working for me.... :)

"When people ask why I run, I tell them, there's not really a reason, it's just the adrenalin when you start, and the feeling when you cross that finish line, and know that you are a winner no matter what place you got."
~ Courtney Parsons

Time for Training

WOW I can't BELIEVE that it is already August.... Im am just a little over 30 days away from running my First EVER Half Marathon. I remember when I was in High School and in P.E., we had too run the MILE.... a mile, holy cow that is like forever. I ran a sweet mile in high school around 6 min, but I never found any joy in running. I ran because it was required for school, wrestling, and football. I never found any fun in running 4 times around a track. I just ran as fast as I could to get it over with. To me running seemed impossible. I never thought that I would ever run a 5k and a 10k wasn't an option. I remember when I first woke up early on a cold morning in Jan out of the blue and had a desire to go for a jog. ummmm Random I know. That started my running adventures. Looking at a 5k and knowing I had to run 3.1 miles felt like I had a huge obstacle of climbing Mt Everest. Not only did I run a 5K, BUT I was alive when I crossed the finish line. I found that As I continued to run, I felt this excitement, a rush of energy, a love for putting one foot in front of another, overpowering the thought of distance at hand. Down went the 5k, and then the 10k. A dozen races later, I am now facing the steepest climb of my running adventures,the Undaunting 13.1 miles. NEVER EVER in my life did I ever think that this would or could be a possibility. I may not be the fastest runner, or even a middle of the pack runner, But no one can take away the joy of accomplishment as you cross the finish line. What great satisfaction there is to see the challenge in front of ya, to over come both physical and mental obstacles, and to hobble across that finish line and know that you gave it your all. If you ask if I am sacred to death of a Half marathon, I would say YES.... 13.1 miles is an eternity, but looking back on high school, so was the mile. Training isn't easy. It is alot of work, but I LOVE IT!!!!!!! On Sat, I woke up at 0400 to get my long run in. This past week, the mornings have been warmer than normal and very humid. I had my goal of running 8 miles, but was only able to knock out 7.25 miles in 1:35. I felt good, but several times felt a little overheated. I have been running with a hydration pack, which i love and helps for my long runs because I can carry everything on my back and I don't have to prearrange any water drop off locations. I am looking forward to august for a whole month of solid training in preparation for my half marathon. I know that what seem like a impossibilities if broken down into pieces, can be very possible. Well Wish me luck and I will continue to post my weekly trainings leading up to my first ever 13.1 miles. Man I love being a Pavement Pounder.... Let the GOOD TIMES Roll......

"Cause when push comes to shove, you taste what you're made of. You might bend 'til you break, cause it's all you can take. On your knees you look up, decide you've had enough. You get mad, you get STRONG. Wipe your hands, shake it off and you STAND!!!"

Speedy Spaniard 10K

SORRY That it has taken me forever to finally post my race report of my running of the Speedy Spaniard 10k in Spanish Fork on July 24th....

Overall, I was pretty happy with my results. I wanted to run this race with mike, who used to run like crazy. He hasn't been running much as a late but I talked him into running with me. I haven't been running so well myself while I was caring for and taking care of my Daughter 2nd degree burn to her hand. I was only able to run Bryce 5k and once before this race :( But overall I was supper excited to post one of my better 10k times at 1:18:53. It was quite the rolling course for the first 3 miles and then a gradual down hill for the last three. The first three miles, Mike and I continually had to keep encouraging one another to keep it going.... The last three went well. I love a gradual down hill course. I feel that I could have shaved a couple more minutes off my time, but considering all that has taken place in the month of July, I was STOCKED with my time. This is my last race before I really take the plunge off the of the deep end to run my first ever Half Marathon. 13.1 miles, man it sure is gonna be a challenge but also a thrill.....

Bryce Canyon Half Marathon & 5K

Brtyce Canyon ROCKED!!!!! What A RUN. It was a good run and a much needed high. The past 2 weeks I have been fighting everything that comes with a 2 year old who suffered 2nd to 3rd degree burns to her hand following an accident with the stove. It has been Impossible to train these past two weeks, but I was going to run Bryce no matter what. SO glad that I did. I had a ball and loved running through the beautiful red rock country of the Bryce Valley. I actually ran better than I thought I was going to. I did stop for a bit to help a lady who threw her back out during the run until medical could get to her. Overall I am not ashamed with a 40:31 5K. It felt so so so so GOOD to get back to running. As I watch all those amazing athletes who ran the Half marathon, I reflected on my goals of running a half, and even started to question if I could ever get there. Well Six weeks from Today I run the Disneyland Half Marathon. I am so Excited and Scared all in the same sentence. I restart my training for my half next week. I know that I am behind but My kids come first..... I will make It. I am gonna train hard and work even harder to be as possible ready as I can. It was awesome to see alot of my friends from St George run Bryce. You guys rock.... Looking forward to running the Speedy Spaniard 10K next weekend.

Hurricane Trail Rivers Run

I was so bummed that I wasnt able to make this run. I had it all set up to be off of flight early so that I could run early the next morning... Well 16 hours later, I arrived home, completely worn out and wasted tired. I really wanted to take the challege of this run, and hear that It truely was a Challenge. Next time I'm in. For now, I am shifting gears to Bryce Canyon.

Running With Angels

What A fun race. Mikayla and I thought it would be a worthy cause to help Support the Women's center of Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in conjunction with Pam Hansen's book "Running With Angels". It was a Charity event that brought alot of emotions from families who have lost Loved ones especially little children. They released white doves before the race in Remembrance of them. It was such an awesome experience to be apart of. The race itself Rocked... We got to run through the gardens at Thanksgiving point which is simple Heaven On Earth.... Mikayla and I ran the 5K in 40:13..... We didn't have our camera when we crossed the finished, But Atlas we got a pic before we left the race. It was so much fun running with Mikayla. She is quit the little runner. I am looking forward to this weekends Inaugural running of the Hurricane Trail Rivers run. It will probable KILL ME, but I'm gonna make the Huge leap and finish that race. Sat also started my Half Marathon training. I'm still a little nervous, but so Excited for my first race. I love being a Pavement Pounder....

Bear Lake 10K

The Frigid cold Bear Lake... It was such an awesome venue for a race, but boy was it sure cold, rainy and wet...

My Escort....:) LOL.... Before the race at the start line. We had at wait for the other buses to arrive, Did I mention it was COLD and WET...

My cheering squad... I love them to pieces. They brought their Cowbells that we got at the Ogden marathon to the race. They rang them with every runner and got alot of thumbs up and smiles. They always bring a Huge smile to my face when I see them... :)

I just love the finish line more and more... I found this race to be one of the harder races I have ran. I am guessing the Altitude had no part in it....LOL But overall it was a sweet run and I loved our time up at the lake.

I just loved the medal and the shirts from this race. It was a pretty awesome place for a race. I was a little slower with my time but feel overall that I did well. I am still running a sub 12 minute pace. As I continue to work hard, run and lose weight, I am hoping that I will gradually get better over time. I have loved my time as a runner. People are so nice and so willing to give ya pointers. I have never once ever had anyone look down on me. I remember at this race being passed by the lead runner from the Half marathon...Man he was cruising.... As he passed me, he said Be strong, You look great, your almost there. OK I know for some this wouldn't mean a thing to you, but to me, He easily could have said, hey slow poke get out of my way, I'm gonna win this race or something like that....Instead, he and many of the other runners were very complimentary of the other slower runners. (For the record, The marathon, half marathon and 10 K were all started at different times). I have never seen such great sportsmanship in my life. It gave me more motivation to push a little harder, to give a little more, to fight for my pride, and that is what sports and sportsmanship is all about. To all you pavement Pounders out there...Thank you!!!!! I love this sport and one day I hope to give back to it what it has given to me....