Provo River Half Marathon Report - August 8, 2009

(I'm gonna add pictures to this post when I get around to it, so stay tuned.;)

Today I ran my long awaited, 4th half marathon. Okay, so maybe I haven't been waiting that long to run it but the past few weeks have gone by SO slowly. The esposo usually drives me to my races, but I was "supposed" to be in the parking lot at 4:45am this morning so I let him and Baby J sleep in. I don't run in the morning, and I had never gotten up to run a race that early in the morning, so this was a new thing for me.

I got ready, had a piece of peanut butter toast, started drinking a Powerade, and took an Immodium. I couldn't find the stopwatch I usually run with, so I used an old one that I didn't know how to work very well. (Yes, that was blatant foreshadowing.) I got to the start of the race and their were several buses lined up. I got on the second one and we were off pretty quickly. My fellow runners and I were taken up the Provo Canyon and then past Vivian park, which was about 5 miles up a steep hill. It was still really dark outside, but I saw about 40 people standing around next to a bunch of porta-potties. We then waited for what seemed like forever. I popped about 3 blackberry shot blocks while standing there. I've been fighting off a cold, and it was really cold for August, so I also made frequent trips to the porta-potties to blow my runny nose and pass time. I started worrying that my immune system was gonna slow me down during the race but knew there wasn't anything I could do about it now. (Just to add a fun fact, I read recently that you're 6 times more like to get an infection after running a marathon because your immune system is suppressed.) So, cheers to recovery time I guess.

Per advice I received on the Marathon Mommies blog, I started taking Immodium before my last two half marathons so nature wouldn't call while I was running. In the Provo City half, it worked like a charm. The second time I ran the Salt Lake half, it worked well too, until after the race when I started getting sharp pains in my stomach. After realizing that the race wasn't gonna start when I thought it was, I started worrying that I would start getting the sharp pains this time during the race, since I took it so early. Having to wait so long sure gave me a lot of time to second guess myself.

The race finally started at around 7:05. I was off to a quick start, but screwed up my watch at the start, and consequently, wasn't able to time my race. You'd think with a college degree I'd be able to figure out how to use a stop watch, but I guess I'm not the sharpest crayon in the box. I even practiced last night because it wasn't my normal watch, but I started the timer too early and then tried to stop it, and never got to the right screen again. I figured I'd just try to judge how fast I was running from the markers and people around me, and hoped for the best. Unfortunately, I didn't see any mile markers until mile 5, which was a major bummer. I thought I was running at a good pace though, so I wasn't too concerned. Around mile 7 there was a turn-a-bout where we ran back up the canyon, uphill, for probably a little less than a mile. I also wasn't expecting that, but it didn't turn out to be a huge deal to me.

I was bugged that there weren't as many aid stations as I thought there were gonna be, because I felt thirsty a lot of the time. I took my Vanilla Powergel around mile 7 with no water until like mile 9 I think. (I don't remember.) For the next few miles I was feeling okay. Then around mile 11 I started getting sharp pains in my stomach, reminiscent of those I felt after the Salt Lake half. I slowed down significantly and was moaning out loud. (So embarrassing.) A girl running next to me looked at me with a concerned look and I started feeling like I wasn't gonna finish the race. I'm glad there weren't a lot of people on the trail running the other direction because my face must have looked so sad. I started feeling like such a loser thinking about facing my husband and brother at the end waiting for me. I didn't want to let them down. I started speeding up and just decided to fight through it. (I don't usually get too many pains in my side while I'm running this distance, so the only thing I could think of that was causing my pain was my stupid Immodium.) I'd say about half way through mile 12 I started feeling a better and the pain subsided. I wasn't sure how far it was to the finish, but when I started seeing more people surrounding the path, I decided to kick it in. Even though I was unsure on what my time was going to be, I felt really cool because people started cheering me on because I was giving it everything I had. My official time was quickly posted on a tree at the end, which I thought was super cool. I finished the race in 1:42.35. (That's a 7:50 pace.) I met my goal and set a new PR, so I was happy about that, but somehow it felt a little anti-climatic because of the way I struggled the last few miles.

But anyways...it feels great to have met my goal. I feel like I'm starting to tap into something I haven't found before with my running, and I'm excited to set the bar a little higher and run another race.

Easy Run and 4 week 10k schedule

Today's Workout: 3 mile easy run at an 8:49 pace.

Tomorrow's Workout: REST

Saturdays RACE DAY!

I'm getting antsy to run my race. It's easier to not meet your goals when you don't tell the whole world what your goal is. Now I'm gonna feel like a loser if I fail.:) I guess that gives me some added motivation!

The esposo told me today that he's really losing motivation to workout. He was a football player, not a runner, but I convinced him to run the Swiss Days 10k with me on September 5th. That gives us roughly a month to train. He ran it last year with me a few months after I had BabyJ and vowed never to run a 10k again. He's gonna be hooked before he knows it.

Anyways, I decided to use the Runner's World SmartCoach to make a 4 week training schedule for myself. I want to try and run the race at a 7:35 pace, which I think may be stretching it because two parts are uphill and it isn't considered to be the easiest 10k. I printed out the schedule but I'm so confused why it has me running my easy and long runs at a 9:18 pace. I don't really understand how that's gonna translate to a 7:35 pace. Maybe I need to keep looking for a better schedule...If anyone out there has used SmartCoach or another short schedule with success, please let me know! I have no idea what to do.

Maybe I'll make my own schedule using the McMillan Running Calculator Marlene sent me.

Speedwork and New Running Songs

Workout Today: 10 minute warm-up at a 8:47 pace. 6 X 400's at a 6:07 pace. 1 mile at a 8:34 pace.

Workout Tomorrow: Maybe rollerblading.

I was feeling cliche with the "thoughts" I was putting in my posts, so I'll just stick to bold workout updates. I FINALLY got new running tunes today and Icecube definitely helped me put my "back into it." It's amazing what peppy music can do for you. I'm a pretty tame person so don't tell my church congregation I'm a closet Eminem fan. Haha. His songs are so awesome to run to.

Here are 20 tunes that are putting a skip in my step...

(If you don't like hearing potty words like me, you can find a lot of clean(er) versions of some of these songs online...)


1. Don't Stop till You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
2. Fighter - Christina Aguilera
3. Lose Yourself -Eminem
4. Feeling Good - Michael Buble
5. Sing for the Moment - Eminem
6. I'm a Survivor - Destiny's Child
7. The Time of My Life - David Cook
8. Hands Up - Black Eyed Peas
9. Let's Get It Started - Black Eyed Peas
10. My Milkshake - Kelis
11. Thriller - Michael Jackson
12. Numb - Linkin Park
13. Till I Collapse - Eminem
14. Cup of Life - Ricky Martin
15. Sabatoge - Beastie Boys
16. Running - No Doubt
17. Cryin' - Aerosmith
18. The Final Countdown - Europe
19. Loser - Beck
20. Icecube - You Can Do It (Put Your Back Into It)

PS- If any of you watch "The Next Foodnetwork Star" I was so bummed Jeffrey didn't win. The end.

Last Long Run Before Race

Today's Workout: 8 miles. First 4 miles at an 8:03 pace. RI for 45 seconds to chug Powerade. Last 4 miles at an 8:05 pace.

Tomorrow's Workout: Rest

Glance at Next Week:

Monday:
Yoga- Gold's Gym

Tuesday:
10-20 minute warm-up
6 x 400m (400m RI)
10 minute cool-down

Wednesday:
Yoga- Gold's Gym

Thursday:
3 mile run, easy & relaxed

Friday:
Rest

Saturday:
RACE DAY!

I know my schedule said to run my last long run today at an 8:20 pace and I ran faster than that. I also know that that might have been a bad idea...If it was, I'll learn from it, and if it wasn't, I'll still learn from it I guess. Candice, over at I Have Run, was nice enough to email me the course for next Saturday because I couldn't find it online. (What race doesn't post the course?) So lame...Anyways, I thought the whole race was on the Provo River Trail, and I could practice the first part ahead of time, but I guess part of it is on the highway up the canyon, and I opted not to get hit by a car before next weekend. So, I did my run on a treadmill today.

I stopped at 4 miles to drink from my Powerade since I haven't refined the fine art of drinking sports drinks without them going up my nose on a treadmill. I've never run with a fuel belt during a race, and I don't really want to. I think my Nathan fuelbelt is awesome, but it's still more annoying than not running with one. Using aid stations while running is much easier than slowing down on the 'mill or usingthe belt. (Atleast for me.) I have this thing with stopping though, so it still bugs me that I stopped during my workout today. Whatever...I'm done with my long runs and it REALLY IS TAPER/REST TIME!!!!!!! Hurray!

Excellent Easy Run

Today's Workout: 5.25 mile easy run, about 3/5ths uphill

Tomorrow's Workout: 8 mile run, no slower than 8:20 pace

Thought: "As if you could kill time without injuring eternity." ~Henry David Thoreau

Today I ran one of my favorite runs and it felt great. It's not my favorite because it's flat because a large portion is uphill. It's a favorite because it's beautiful, and that's exactly what I needed today. I left my stopwatch at home and just ran and needless to say, it felt great. I'm excited about my long run tomorrow but am unsure how fast I should run it. I'd like to run 8:00 miles for my race next weekend. My schedule says to run at my projected half marathon pace + 20 seconds, but I'm tempted to run it quicker than that because I'd actually like to run the race a little quicker and I figure it's better to train for a little under your projected goal. If I just run the race at a 7:59 pace, I'll be the happiest girl this side of the Mississippi. I'm thinking I'm going to take off the 20 seconds tomorrow and shoot for an 8:00 pace. Any suggestions? Criticisms?

5 miles

Workout Today: 5 mile progression run at an average 7:48 pace.

Workout Tomorrow: Easy run somewhere

Thought: “Life is a gift, given in trust - like a child.”-Ann Morrow Lindbergh

I found out a friend died today. We went to the same church and talked occasionally online, so we weren't that close. I just can't get out of my mind how precious life is! We have to make the most of what we've been given because we never know when it'll be over or taken away. Tragedy sometimes makes me feel sentimental and clingy so I thought I'd give my husband a break from my boa constrictor cuddling and come downstairs and write on my blog. I wish I could say these "seize the day" feelings were a lead in for an awesome run, but I settled for average today. Tonight I was supposed to run 6 miles but I ran 5 miles at a pretty good pace for me. I should have run farther but I've had a hard time getting into it this week. I've had a lot on my mind...(Just trying to figure out whether to go to grad school or not.) Usually, running helps me clear my mind, but I just haven't had it in me. The good news is, my legs felt fresh and strong after my run tonight. Hopefully they feel the same way this Sat. on my last semi-long run, (8 miles,) and on race day next week.

Cross-training and Regrets

Today's Workout: 1 hour of cycling

Tomorrow's Workout:2 miles easy, 3 miles at ST pace, 1 mile easy

Thought: "There are no regrets in life, just lessons." -Jennifer Aniston


Yesterday I thought that I would run hills today, but I decided to stick to what my schedule said and cross train. After reading a bunch of blogs of serious runners I've started to regret some of my training, and therefore, felt like I needed to start making up for lost time this week. Maybe that's what I should actually do, but I decided I'm just going to stick to the rest of my schedule and do what I have planned. I'm not sure if I'll meet my goal for my next half. I'd like to see the cup half full because a lot of running long distance is just mental. I've learned a lot training for this race though, and hopefully that will help me tap into something bigger and better when I train for my next one.