Slackersauce

Felt good to be back. My alarm went off and I fell back asleep so I was running to not miss Stacie and my eyes weren't even all the way open when I got to her house. Took me a minute to wake up and my lungs hurt a little bit. That always happens to me when I haven't run even for four days. And since its been a whole week!! uggh. I cant believe that. I am praying I will be okay for the marathon. I'm starting to get my anxiety stomach already! I need to start having my mental talks with myself already and we still are 7 weeks away! Calm the eff down Lysa. Seriously. Anyway, good to be back, good to be running. Happy anxiety running.

Also did planks and weights when I got home.

The important thing is that I got the distance of 8.

Came home and did total body circuit weights for 15 minutes also.  My thoughts on today's run are this: Stacie has found a new speed within herself. One that I have yet to discover. I think it's great for her and I'm not mad by any means, I'm a bit frustrated with myself bc I don't understand why I cant feel as strong as It seems like everyone around me is! I think I will start bringing my music with me though bc she is getting ahead of me more often than not now. I'm not angry at her, and I surely don't want to hold her back. She does still push me and that is good. I just need to bring my daughter with me sometime so I can feel like the strong one. It would be good for me mentally to run with someone sometime that I can feel like I am the strong one. Does that make sense? Like I said, I'm not angry at her..I'm frustrated with myself. I have been saying "oh maybe I'm just having a bad day.." But those "bad" days are turning into more than just a few. I cant look at it like that. I just need to think that I'm having a good day and I'm doing the best I can. I need to stop comparing myself to anyone else. It's just hard to not do that when I see her so far ahead of me. I don't want to ever NOT run with her, like I said, it pushes me and I have to see this marathon through with Stacie. I ran my first mile with her. I just need an attitude adjustment and I need to incorporate more weights and nutrition. I'm already good with the nutrition, but I could always be better.

Cleaned the house and then did the 15 minute lower body weights and 15 minute upper body weights. {I really like this DVD Stacie}

A lot of  thinking and contemplating today. 

10.43 avg. 1440 calories burned.  After an alone day of thinking, contemplating, crying and praying over running and personal issues, I came out this morning refreshed and rejuvenated. It was nice to walk outside to a cool temp. and even better when it started to rain our first mile. Wish it lasted longer then it did but it was nice. I ran with Stacie and talked to her until mile 9.6 where we stopped to gu. She then told me she was going to push it so I put on my headphones, cranked up the volume to Disco ball World {David Garza} and it was me and the road. It was liberating to me to know that I didn't have to catch her or end with her that I could be okay with my own time and my own speed. We agreed that that is what is going to work best for us. Running is such a personal thing and I just needed to get over the fact that she is stronger than me and just be okay with where I'm at. Me against Me right? I'm so happy that I have the kind of friends that I do. I can't stand people who create drama everywhere they go. People like that are exhausting and  I have enough to think about. I guess that's why I have the friends I do, bc they are like me. They cant get hung up on all the little details. I'm not talking about running, I'm just saying in general. I'm just lucky, that's all I'm trying to say. Anyway, Happy Liberating Running! 

Went to swim laps at Alta Canyon this morning. I don't think I have ever swam laps in my entire life. I was completely idiotic at first and kept sinking. There was a girl there who is on a swim team, probably about 17 or 18 yrs. old and she gave me some tips. Once I followed her advice and practiced a bit, I felt like I was in a groove. It was a lot of fun, I really liked it. A nice and welcome change to running. It's interesting swimming laps bc you are so focused on what you are doing that you don't realize how hard you are breathing until you stop. I didn't think my heart rate was really that high until I would stop to get a drink or take a break. I really liked it. Not that I want to be a swimmer now or anything, but it is a nice change.

Ran the hills at the park a couple of times. I almost made it up the second time without stopping! ha. Then ran home. Did the 15 minute lower body and 15 minute abs {weights} 

Ran the first half with Stacie and then I put on my music and finished the second half alone. Ran our usual route but I was needing a change of scenery so on the way back I just went all the way back to 9400 S the way we came {so down that big hill Stacie} and then down 9400 S to Falcon park and finished at the switchback trail going home.Turned out to be just about perfect distance, I did have to do one loop around the parking lot at the park and then it was 9. I know it's a busy street but I needed a change. I actually don't mind the busy street once in awhile, there is a lot to look at. Anyway, I felt like I finished strong and could have kept going if I needed to so that's a good way to finish. Happy running.

I can barely say the words out loud bc I want to remain in denial, but I went to bed last night with a sore throat and a runny nose. I actually felt pretty good on the run today considering. I stayed with Stacie until the hill at the end and even then, I was not far behind her. I was surprised at how strong I felt considering. I plan on resting now and tomorrow and doing everything I can to fight this off before Friday's big run. 

rest day. My nose is a faucet and my head is a balloon of pressure. I have about 18 hours to kick this. Can I do it?

I did it! I went to bed at 8:30 last night and woke up at 4:30. I wanted to give myself ample time to get advil in my system and eat and go to the bathroom and drink some caffeine etc. Met Stacie at 5:30 and felt pretty good. Even though we just got done not that long ago, 5:30 this morning seems like a dream. Like it was yesterday. Stacie stayed with me until mile 14 and we talked the entire time. It made things go by faster and smoother. At about mile 12 my right Achilles started to talk to me. I just kept going, but now that we are done, it is definitely bugging me. I'm walking with a bit of a limp. I plan on icing it and elevating it today. I'm sure it will be fine. But other than that, I felt strong and good. I was so happy. At about mile 16.5, I started to think about it being done and was thinking how grateful I am that I could do it and that my cold felt better and It made me all emotional for a minute. I didn't let myself go there bc I didn't want to start crying and mess up my last mile 1/2. But honestly, I could  have fallen down and started bawling right then and there.  My avg. time was 10.50 and I feel like I could not have gone any faster, but I feel good about what I could do and am so happy that I was able to pull it off. Happy Long Distance Running.  Oh! And the temp. out there was just perfect. It felt like an autumn day. It was beautiful.

10.01 avg. Ran with Stacie the first two miles then she had to go race the two men running on the opposite side of the street. She won. But I don't think they knew they were racing. Anyway, I went out exhausted and felt really good by the end like I could have kept going. It's funny how sometimes your body decides to wake up the last mile or two. Going to do some weights and then I'm going to burn out later and take a nap. Sounds like a good plan.

Did I really wake up at 5:30 in the morning again to run 9 miles? What is wrong with me? 

I gave the first 3.5 miles a good effort : ) The last 1.5 was killer. It was so hot and a warm head wind plus hills were not making things any better. I was so thirsty, I actually felt kind of sick. Plus I didn't drink my whole gallon of water yesterday and I think that made a difference. I stopped at 5 but wasn't quite home yet. Probably had about .4 more to go and of course Stacie was way ahead of me, suddenly I saw her car cruising on the street toward me, she came to rescue me and bring me my water! She said she needed her water so badly she just ran fast home and knew I would be feeling the same way. Thank you Stacie! I was happy to see you. Home was so close yet so far away! I'm really happy that we have two rest days now until Hobble Creek on Saturday. I'm really looking forward to sleeping in a bit.

Slept in until 8:20!! Booyah!

Okay, first of all this is not the actual time. They still haven't posted it. I will edit when they do. But I know it is somewhere around there. I started out way too fast for how I was feeling. I was a bit sick to my stomach, I'm not sure why but here is what I think. #1- I had eaten toast with peanut butter at four a.m. and by the time the race started late at 8:15, That was completely gone. #2. I am heading into my bad week for running. ya know, girl issues. {not making excuses, it is what it is} And #3. I had some serious blister issues.  I started with Stacie and ran 5 miles with her, but I knew at mile 3 that I might have some trouble. Not a good feeling when you are only that far into a run. I asked her to tell me stories to get my mind off of my stomach. She told me stories for a few miles and we were making great time. 9.25, 9.14, 9.04, 9.11, 9.23, 9.32, and here is where it got bad for me. I slowed way down to 10.30's for pretty much the rest of the race. My blisters were really bothering me, my stomach was still uneasy and it was getting warmer and warmer. I knew at that point that I needed to be happy with whatever my time was and to just finish and hopefully not want to die when I do. So that is what it was. I am happy with my time for these two reasons. #1. The way I was feeling, it could have been much worse.. #2. It still beat my time at the Hobble Creek last year by 5 or 6 minutes. Not a P.R for a 1/2 marathon for me, but still a P.R for THIS 1/2 marathon. I think if this was it for me as far as races coming up, I would be disappointed, but since in the back of my mind I kept thinking that I am about to be  heading into a 40 mile week starting Monday and that I have the marathon coming up, I could just say to myself, It is what it is. Don't get too hung up on it. Still after feeling this way, I wonder how on Earth I am ever going to do double that distance in a few weeks. And also, I don't care if I ever do Hobble Creek again. And the reason is They NEVER start on time, and it really annoys me. Like REALLY annoys me. But overall, I am pleased with what I could do considering how I was feeling today. Not every run is a great run, but they are all still a run. And A Run Is better than NO run. So to that I say, HAPPY RUNNING! Edit::  Official time was 4 minutes faster then I originally thought, that's a nice feeling. I thought I was 2:15. Turns out I was 2:11. : )

Woke up at 5:30 to go run at 6:00,  bc school started today. I had to be  home before my jr. high student left at 7:30. Which I had plenty of time, but I needed to be here to help her get ready.  Felt pretty good, better than I thought I would after Saturday. Still can't believe I'm running a marathon in a few weeks. I honestly don't know how I will do it. Let me re-phrase, I honestly don't know how I will do it without walking and coming in at a really bad time. Whatever. Such is life, it is what it is at this point. I guess all that matters is that I finish it right? 

I'm counting it as 10 in my head bc I was just short of it. I started having some potty issues at about 6 miles but just tried to ignore it. At about 9.3 I knew I couldn't ignore it anymore, I cut a corner short from where Stacie was going to finish and ran home. I figure if I really want to make up the difference, I can run down my street and back later. Whatever. It was a cool dark morning when we left at 5:30a.m. The moon was incredible. Full and yellow. Beautiful. I love the cooler weather. We ran our usual up for the first 4.5 miles and then turned around and ran the exact way back home and finished around the neighborhood. It was nice to avoid all or our usual hills today and go a different route. It's always good to change it up a bit.  Ran with Stacie the whole time and talked, it was nice. ALL of my kids will be gone ALL day today to school. First time I have been alone for an entire 8 hours during a school day since they were born 12 years ago. I'm not quite sure what I will do. I was thinking of walking around my house in my underwear all day and laying around and doing pretty much nothing. Because I CAN! Anyway, HAPPY RUNNING! 

Ran the usual route with the exception of a few streets. Felt a bit burned out this morning,  "do I really have to get up and run again??" Once I was out there I was fine, Stacie took off and I turned on my music and just ran a mellow run. The sides of my big toes are hurting so badly and I don't know what to do about it. They are giant calluses with what looks like blisters deep inside of them but when I stick a pin in them nothing drains. They are red around the edges almost like an infection. It have to lay a certain way in bed so that they don't touch the mattress and rub or it hurts. I put on neosporin last night and a band aid, it didn't really do anything. I guess it's good I'm not running again until Saturday. I  wonder if I should try filing them down a bit, but they are so sensitive to touch that I'm afraid to.

WE DID IT!! THE BIG 2 0!  Scott dropped us off at the top of Millcreek Canyon at about 6:00am It was still dark and cool. I LOVED running down the canyon. It was beautiful, I couldn't tell when it was light if it was the moonlight or the sun coming up. It was so pretty. And memories of that canyon came flooding to my head. I told Stacie some of them. First time I got drunk was up there. First time I kissed my boyfriend was up there. I got engaged to Scott up there, And spend many other nights with friends and family. I love that canyon. When we got to the bottom we had gone 9.4 miles. It was perfect. If only the canyon lasted another 9.6..Then we turned onto Wasatch Blvd heading South. And I'm not going to lie, this part of the run I HATED! It was a brutal headwind and a slight uphill the entire way to the 7-11. The wind was so strong that at one point some spit came out of my mouth and flew onto my cheek. Like someone had punched me or something. It was crap. I was so happy to be at the 7-11. Went in to use the bathroom, Stacie bought gatorade, we refilled our bottles and then we were off again. There were 3 other runners there at the same time doing the exact same thing as us. Then we went down the Old Mill road and got onto a trail behind Market Street, came out at the street where the Cotton Bottom is and headed up Holladay Blvd. Stacie noticed someones landscape fountain thing and we went to wet our heads under it. It was a good call. Felt really good. Ran up and turned left to head down Haven Lane. This is my old neighborhood where I grew up, so I kept telling her boys houses that I had made out with [only 3]  and other memories. Ran up Cottonwood Lane and turned on Viewmont to 4800 S. and then to 4500S. Where there is a park thing about 1 street away from Gretchen's house. That's where we hit 20. We could have walked to her house from there, but we didn't want to move another step. She came to get us and brought with her an ice water and a fresh juice she had made for us. Then she drove us home. I felt really really trashed that last 4 miles. I walked a bit the last 2 miles. But whatever. We did it and that's the important thing. So overall, Loved the first half. Hated the first of the second half and then ended liking the last part of the run.  We both said at the end while we were waiting for Gretchen, "we would have to run one more hour now.." Just have to focus on today's run right? One day at a time. Amazing to say that I have now run the distance of 20 miles! HOLY SHIZ! I can't believe it!

Woke up today with a killer headache so I texted Stacie that I won't be meeting her. Took some advil and laid back down. Did Yoga video today bc even after waking up the second time, my head is still kind of bothering me. Don't feel like pounding the pavement. Plus my body is still a bit sore and yoga felt good. And that's that.

Ran with Stacie the first 3 miles and then we went our separate ways home. Nice run, cool morning, good times.