back at it.

well vacation was so fun and relaxing.

we had the best time.

ate TONS of boardwalk fare

soaked up some sun

froze a little bit

played in the sand

put our toes in the ocean

rode some rollercoasters

ate pizza my heart

in capitola

& twice in santa cruz

and i think i gained 5 lbs. literally.

but yesterday i was back at it.

training...

with a renewed focus.

i have 100 days til the marathon.

eeeek!

yesterday i ran an easy 8,

and this morning ran an easy 10

my "easy" pace is getting faster & faster

today it averaged 9:52

i'm so excited...

i'm thinking my marathon pace could possibly be 9:15-9:30

maybe?

tmr is a recovery run of 5 miles

and then

sunday is my first 15 miler!
can't wait!!!

wharf to wharf race report

so we were finally on our way...

i couldn't believe it.

rich still wasn't feeling the best,

but he was going to make a go of it

and we were all excited

to get this vacation started.

finally got to santa cruz

and it was FREEZING.

we couldn't believe it

it had never been this cold...56 degrees @ midday

so crazy.

had some food and checked out the race route.

such a gorgeous 6 mile course right along the ocean...

beautiful.

got up sun morning at about 6 or so.

had a bagelthin w/pb2 and a banana

got ready and was out the door

by a little bit after 7

met up with my friend, lisa & her friends at the shuttle

we rode the shuttle and made it to the start line

the crowd was HUGE

we got in line to use the bathroom

and waited

and waited...

for about 45 minutes.

the race started while we were in line for the port-a-potties

such a huge crowd...

it took ten minutes for me to hit the starting line

and from there on i stayed to the left hand side of the road

and weaved in and out

i was running up on curbs & even in the dirt

about half mile in, the road narrowed and i was walking...

walking...

i couldn't believe it.

first mile 10:24

second mile was just as crowded...

still dodging & weaving

mile 2...10:01

third mile was still packed...

i remember there being an uphill and thought people would slow

and move to the right...

nope they started walking right in front of me.

still weaving in & out

i was passing people on the hills

felt so great!

mile 3...9:17

i felt like i could not get going...

i would surge when i could and then would have to slow down..

it was driving me bonkers

mile 4...8:43

mile 5...8:57

last mile...things started to open up a bit...

followed a girl who was clipping along pretty fast

stayed with her

until the final downhill

when she pulled away.

i felt like i could finally run

and i was running fast

mile 6...8:25

last 300 feet i was running at a 6:49 pace

so happy for it to be over

final time was 56:08 by garmin

official time was 1:07:00 since everyone has the same start time

i had fun, but didn't feel like i had my best race

headed over to the beach to grab my goodie bag & t-shirt

and took the shuttle back to the hotel

i didn't feel tired or worn out

my best race is yet to come

picture of lisa, laura, & me in the porta-pottie line :)

so...as i write this

we are going.

it's been up in the air.

the kids have been sick.

rich is sick.

not much of a fun vacation to santa cruz

w/my little race tucked in the middle

with a sick family.

but we are going.

we're gonna make the best of it.

rich is being a trooper.

he knows it means alot to me.

i've been training for about 14 weeks.

not specifically for this race,

but for my marathon in november.

but this race is important.

it's a marker to see how far i've come.

my original goal

when i signed up to do the 6 miles was 54:00

and i thought that was a stretch.

in fact, on the race sign-up it asks approx finish time...

and i put...57:00.

i was scared.

scared i wouldn't make my goal.

last week, i ran a 6 mi training run in 52:18.

that just amazes me.

i'm my own worst critic.

rich tells me all the time

that i sell myself short.

he's right.

i need to just shoot for the moon.

i may just suprise myself.
the other 14,999 people running on sunday

better watch out :)

new improved goal...

51:30

run.

in april 2009, when i started on this journey to get healthy
i had no idea that it would lead me to where i am today.

what was my motivation? & how did i do it?
i was tired of being tired...
just wanting to lose weight & feel better about myself...
i didn't want to wear a size 16/18 anymore...
i didn't want my legs to rub together anymore...
i didn't want to be embarrassed of myself anymore...
that decision brought me to weight watchers...
& exercising...
which brought me quiet, alone time with my Savior on that treadmill...
everyday...
HE helped me realize what a special person i was...
it was impressed upon my heart, like never before...
what my savior did for ME...
and how much HE loved ME...
and how much i needed HIM...
that time spent with HIM was savored and treasured & looked forward to...
everyday...
it was where i realized...
HE is with me always...
HE is my strength...
HE has forgiven me...
HE has given me new life...
HE is my purpose...
HE is my love.
which ultimately, led me to LOVE running
which brought me back to my love of competitive sports
which motivates me to make healthy eating & exercising a permanent change...
for me and my family.
a change that will honor HIM...
our bodies are HIS temples...
i strive to be healthy & run
in thanksgiving to HIM.
i run to HIM
& for HIM.

edit: photo added later.

found my new tempo...FAST

well...fast for me anyways :)
you guessed it...it was tempo run day.
love tempo runs.
especially after a day of rest,
my legs felt so fresh.

on the schedule...
8 mi w/6 @ 9:00
was actually hoping to beat my last 6 mi.tempo run
from a couple weeks ago (53:34)

headed out and it was still dark,
but seemed to lighten up pretty quickly this morning.
a couple times i wondered if i had looked at the clock wrong
and left later...but nope... normal time.
so just cruised along for my warm up mile,
stopped for a second to stretch before i hit the tempo miles.
and then at mile 2 i was off.
i got up to speed and the legs felt awesome.
look down at garmin and i'm cruising at about 8:15 pace
WHAT???
better slow down.
slowed it down...and tried to keep it at about 8:45 pace or so.
just cruising now....
miles 3 & 4 felt tough for some reason.
stopped quickly to get a drink at the fountain
and i was off again.
TONS of people on the trail today
bootcamps going on and lots of people walking.
tried to really push it the last mile,
then an easy mile cool-down.
here's the splits.
i was so EXCITED to see them when i got home

10:20, 8:22, 9:02,8:50, 8:37, 8:51, 8:36, 9:55, 1:02(8:59)

8.11 miles total
avg. pace for whole run was 9:04
for 6 tempo miles 52:18 WOW!!! that is a new PR for me.
i can't wait for santa cruz.
i'm just a little worried about how big the hills might be.
i think i'll do one or two of my runs this week over at woodward park
to get in some hill work.

ohhh and i got my new Gas Cap in the mail yesterday.
tried it for the run this morning.
super comfortable & holds the GU's tightly without any movement.
didn't use any GU's on this run, but took them along for the ride.
plus its super cute :)

a surprise...and a sunrise run

i've been following the pfitz plan pretty closely and today was a scheduled long run of 13 miles

no problem..had it on my schedule since the beginning.

surprise arises when...

i pick-up the book again from the library yesterday...

and its the second edition book.

had no idea they updated the book...and the training plans.

so i'm looking over all the updates to the book

and training plans and notice that my long run of 13 miles

now includes...8 miles at marathon pace.

wish i would have known that before i did an hour of strength training/core work

ok.

well...i really don't know what my marathon pace is going to be.

or what i'm capable of.

based on my last 6 mi tempo run time (53:34)

from the mcmillan calculator... MP is 9:58.

and from vdot calculator ...MP is 9:41.

so my plan was to try to run in between those two times.

rich was working today, and its going to be 103 degrees today...

so i needed to get an early start this morning.

woke up at 4:45.

and was out the door at 5.

legs felt tired right away from the strength/core work

i did yesterday.

and i couldn't see my garmin to tell if i was on pace

because it was PITCH DARK!!

i stayed on the sidewalk/trail until things lightened up.

the run itself was pretty uneventful.

but after a couple miles my legs loosened up

and i got in a groove.

here's the splits: (need to figure out how to just copy info from garminconnect)

10:45

10:08

10:12

10:30

10:28

9:59

9:54

9:55

9:59

9:44

9:50

9:39

9:37

0:56(9:07)

yay! i did it. i can't believe it! those 8 miles averaged out to about 9:52 pace.

so excited. and this is just the beginning of marathon training.

13.1 mi. total

avg pace 10:02

2:11:36

weekly total 40.02 miles

yearly total 505.23

off to go rest up, eat, and pack.

gonna spend a couple days with my sister.

you know it was a good workout when...

you look like you just got out of the swimming pool
and sweat is dripping from the bill of your hat :)

yep...love those kinds of workouts.
had intevals to do today.
the goal was 8 mi total w/6 x 800m @ 4:05 (400m RI-3:00)

i was thinking of heading to the track this a.m.
but...decided to sleep in a little bit
and do the workout on the treadmill instead.
i wore my garmin just to keep track of my heart rate...

so i'd have an idea how hard i was working.

started out with 2 easy miles warm-up (10:30, 10:30)...felt great

HR 141 4:03 HR 165
HR 141 4:03 HR 166

HR 136 4:00 HR 170
HR 146 3:58 HR 172

HR 145 3:56 HR 172

HR 152 3:50 HR 174

this one felt so great...i decided to do another one...

HR 147 3:47 HR 174

2 easy miles cool-down. (10:00, 10:30)

9 total miles...about 90 minutes

how did your workout go today?

happy running.

week 2

glad today is a rest day...up late last night watching fireworks and hanging out with good friends. i ate way too much. i tried to be really good with my eating the whole time, but as the night wore on...i splurged with a piece of strawberry pizza and some snacky stuff.

well...the first week of training is in the books. all went well. and today is a rest day. gonna plan on stretching a bunch & resting my legs.

got my race packet in the mail for the wharf to wharf race on the 25th. i'm #1914. i'm getting really excited for this race. Lots of fun, family & friends :)

this weeks plan:

monday: rest day
tuesday: 5 mi easy core/strength
wednesday: 6 mi easy
thursday: speedwork 8 mi total w/6 x 800 @4:05
friday: core/strength
saturday: 5 easy
sunday: 13 mi long run

total mileage for week: 37 miles

a little speed

went to bed early last night...
i was a little bit nervous for my run today.
on the schedule was a tempo run...
8 miles w/6@9:15.
this is basically a simulation of my race
at the end of the month.
my goal for the race is to go sub 54:00
and this tempo run would give me a good indication
if my goal was even attainable.

the alarm went off at 5:15.
got up...threw on my shoes, garmin, ipod, & hat
ate a yogurt,
and headed out the door.
the first mile was a warm-up..
felt good.
eased into a faster pace...
and surprisingly, it wasn't as hard as i thought.
the whole run felt really good.
during the last mile, i started to get a mild headache..
dehydration.
need to drink more.
but i did it...
here's my times for the run
10:16,8:57,9:01,9:01,8:55,8:59,8:41,10:23
the first and last miles are warm-up, cooldown

by my calculation, i ran 53:34 for the 6 miles.
i'm beyond excited.

also added up my mileage for the month of june...
138.93 miles
that is the most i have run in a month...
ever.

total for the year so far is 447.67
not bad considering i didn't run for 2 months.

off to read my new runner's world magazine that just came in the mail :)
happy running.