my next poison

On my post about "Post race blues" I had mentioned maybe running the Rocket City marathon in Huntsville AL, on Dec 12Th. My sister in law (who lives 1500 miles away) commented and informed me, her BFF moved to Huntsville a year ago. She also mentioned if I decided to run this marathon and not Atlanta, then she would fly out for a quickie visit, and come down to the marathon to cheer me on... or to visit her friend.. what ever :)

So this is my next marathon. Rocket City marathon, in Huntsville AL, on Dec 12Th. This will be marathon #6 for the year and #12 total. Nothing like those marathon maniacs out there. But, if you know me at all, if I had the time, kids were bigger and had the money, I would be a marathon maniac as well. A marathon every month sounds like so much fun to me.

Don't forget to check out Tall mom's giveaway. This is what she is giving away. Click here to view more great Brooks for her goodies.

Tall moms giveaway and my next poison....

If you have not yet read or found Tall Mom's blog.... now is the time. She is a fantastic blogger and she is so much fun to FOLLOW. She is hosting the BEST giveaway yet. Brooks for her is donating this super cute jacket to be given away by Tall Mom. Check it out, offer ends Sunday.

Stay tuned for which marathon I have picked.... and why. I know you are all on pins and needles. :)

Post race blues..........

I ran my first recovery run yesterday. The quads were still screaming at me, but I knew I needed to get off my rump and get moving. 1 1/2 days of vegging and watching TV was enough. Just walking down the stairs was still killer for me. I knew it was going to be a very slow, easy run, so I didn't take MR Garmin or the iPod. Not sure how fast/slow I was, but it definetly was slow, not fast. It felt good to get the first recovery run (3 miles) over with.

Today I ran 4 miles at a much faster, yet still recovery pace. I took the iPod, not Mr Garmin. Legs are much better, but looking forward to Yoga class and a nice easy 3 miler again tomorrow. I am still in weight loss mode and so not pushing my workouts, is pretty frustrating. I know the recovery process is important, so I am trying to be patient.

Does anyone else get the post race blues??? I do, and I am trying to pull myself out of it by finding my next marathon....
I think I have my next marathon down to two choices.
Choice A.... Atlanta, Ga Marathon on Nov 26Th... Thanksgiving. How fun. We are NOT going home to Utah for the Holiday, so how fun to run a FULL marathon instead. Depends on what the hubby thinks would be fun, it's his holiday break as well.
Choice B.... Rocket city marathon in Huntsville AL, on Dec 12Th. This race looks fun, and sounds like an easy BQ. We shall see.

Louisville marathon race report

This is the Louisville Water Tower. The race started and finished here.

Just a few feet from the finish line.

A few feet closer to the finish line.

Yucky me.... the medal we received was so not worth showing... cheap little medals for cheap little races.

I can't help but think of how stinky I was, every time I look at this pic. :)

We ate out on Saturday at P.F. Changs and my fortune said "The beginning is always the hardest" I would have to say, this was definitely the case in the race for me. Not hard as in hilly, but we were sent to run on an ever so small bike path. Just feet after the race started, I knew I needed to stop and pee. The port-a-john was right there and empty, so I stopped for a quick pee. Happy I did, I had to go bad. So once I came out and joined the crowd, and then hit the bike path, it was so frustrating. The path was so skinny, and the pack was not moving as quickly as I wanted to be moving. I ran on frosted grass a lot, and even twisted my ankle once. UGH... At mile 1.5 it opened up to the road. Pheww*

I was just running to run, I was feeling good. Came to mile 6ish and had a water stop. I walked through and took my first Roctane. Mile 8 it thinned out and the halfers turned around. It felt good to be a part of the few to continue forward along the boardwalk/path aside the river. It was so nice to have it thin out and quiet down. I love that feeling. The course soon turned into a covered bike/walking path. The trees were gorgeous, it was a little muddy at spots and we had to jump a puddle or two. I took another Roctane at mile 13. We looped around a neighborhood and a park, and back to the 13/16 mile marker. I was feeling great. Passing other runners left and right. I was beginning to think I should maybe slow down, to be sure I had some left for the end. I didn't slow down. :) I took another Roctane at mile 17.5, and continued to feel awesome. By mile 20ish, I was wondering if I would be able to keep up my pace. I did. I never really looked at my Garmin for my pace, I just knew I was feeling great and knew my pace was.. a good one. Took my last Roctane at mile 22 and by this point, I was wondering if a BQ was in sight. It was, I just didn't pick it up enough until mile 24, where I called the hubs to let him know I had 2 miles left. I was feeling so good, and couldn't believe at mile 25 my pace was faster then it had been all day. I was pushing so hard the last mile, thinking, just maybe I could BQ. I came in at 3:42:16.... close, but not enough. I am very happy with my time. I went into this race just hoping to come in UNDER 4 hrs. Coming so close to a BQ was a bonus. I have qualified twice in the past and actually ran Boston in '08. I now have a new goal for the next marathon.... I am hoping to run one more marathon before the end of the year. Any ideas which one it should be? I am thinking St Judes Memphis Marathon on Dec 5Th... we shall see.

Stats:

Chip time: 3:42:16

Gun time: 3:43:19

1st in my age group (30-34) {only 9 of us}

76Th overall out of 312

I haven't plugged in my Garmin to see my mile break down. Maybe I will do this later today.

Missing my sisters.... and what to wear

*ME* The TWIN* The older SIS*

This picture was taken in Utah this past June. While I was out visiting, 2 of my sisters (I have 6) and I went for a trail run. Talk about fun fun fun...... I miss them so much. The one in the middle is my twin sister, and the one on the far right is 15 months older then us. I {heart} my sisters!

Just thought I would blog real quick. I am feeling antsy and ready. I want to jump in the car right now and drive to the start line and get this party started. I am ReAdY.....

I am trying to decide what to wear. I think for sure I will stick with my fave long shorts, but not sure what to wear on top. The weather reports are saying the clouds should clear, and it should be a high of 54, but I am leery. I think I will start the race with throw away gloves, and a throw away long sleeve top. I am always afraid I wont see my clothes again. I usually stop at the Goodwill and purchase something cheap and then don't need to think twice about losing that top. I will end up either in my "Livestrong" tank top, or just a green short sleeve top. I will see how it looks/feels in the morning.

If you have not yet entered Tall Mom's necklace giveaway... go check it out. She is always hosting the best giveaways, plus I think she wins the award for most colorful blog. She simply rocks.

T-minus 5 days.....

WOOT WOOT.... 5 days till marathon day.

I am excited for this Marathon:

* because it is my #11.... YAY!

* because it is doubling as our 12 yr anniversary get away

* because I LOVE THE 26.2 distance.. can't get enough.

* I will be kid-less for 2 1/2 days

* the course is a flat and fast out and back (my kind of race)

* I am needing to scratch this itch I have had since my last marathon in June

* I am feeling good and positive about a sub 4 hr.... (I know I have BQ in the past, but after moving and a lot of weight gain (14 lbs down) it has been 1 1/2 yrs since a sub 4 hr)

* I have some new/fun songs for the playlist

Not so excited:

* feeling a slight twinge behind the right knee... yikes

Not sure there will be another post before Sunday, so to all other runners with a big race this weekend..

GOOD LUCK.

**Go check out "Will run for Margaritas" she is hosting a Drymax sport sock give away. I need me some of those babies.

It's taper time baby!!!!!

I ran my last long run before the marathon yesterday. I was able to run 22 miles, and it felt AWESOME. I was surprised how good I felt. I really think I could have kept going, but already got a late start, so by the time I finished, it was already 11:30. The marathon is Oct 18Th in Louisville. The hubs and I will also be celebrating our 12Th anniversary that weekend. I know he would rather be hunting (opening day of Muzzle loader is the 17Th) be he is so good to me and knows I am itching to run another marathon. This will make for #11. I am already trying to decide where/when #12 will be.

Congrats to all those who ran/finished the St George Marathon on Sat.

So I got in the pool and swam laps on Friday for the first time in 2 1/2 years. It felt GREAT, and I was able to swim nearly 3/4 of a mile. Can't wait to get back in the water, maybe tomorrow.

My new side challenges for this week on my FBF are #1 Eat at least 3 FRESH fruits and veggies a day. (remember we are required to eat at least 5 f/v a day, but this they need to be fresh, no juice replacements, no applesauce etc etc) not a problem for me.

#2 is to pick my own indulgence and kick it for the week. I have decided to give up chips, and bread. The no bread will be a toughie for me. I know I can do it, it's only 7 days.

Have a great day.

My FIT BY FALL Challenge

Denise over at Running Journal has been hosting a weight loss challenge. We just send her our % each Monday and she posts them on Wednesday. Really no rules, just eat healthy and lose weight. I have a 6% weight loss, and a few of you have asked me what I am doing.

First off.... over the last 1 1/2 years I have gained nearly 20 lbs. (moving,emotions,love food) So to start out, I was really needing to lose a bunch of weight anyways. It's not like most of the other girls, who I am sure are already teeny tiny and don't really need to lose in the first place. I NEED TO LOSE. I run all the time, and I have continued to train for and run marathons, but the weight seemed to sneak on. I was never watching or caring what I ate. I was very relaxed in my workouts, and I just didn't give any of it much thought. The Big move to Ky really messed me up. (emotional eater)

So about the time Denise started her challenge, my cousin offered up a challenge called......

There are 4 teams of 11.

Each person is responsible to get as many daily and weekly points as they can. Every Monday we turn in our points to Becky and as a team you accrue your team"s points. The 3 teams that DO NOT win for the WEEK, all (members) put in $5 to the pot. At the end of the 16 weeks (Nov 23rd)

the team with the highest grand total, wins the pot.

Here is the point break down:

Daily pts:

Exercise 6 days a week for 5 pts a day:

Drink at least 48 oz of water a day for 2 pts:

No eating after 9 Pm for 1 pt:

No sugar treats for 5 pts a day:

5 fruits/veggies a day for 2 pts a day:

Weekly:

lose 1 lb= 10pts.... has to be a whole lb

Monthly:

Measure hips and waist for 5 pts for half an inch or 10 points for a whole inch.

We also do different weekly side challenges like: No soda (14 pts) extra cardio (15pts) journaling (14pts) Fresh F/V (7) these points are all extra, on top of our daily normal points.

So my dear fellow running buddies... this is how I have lost 6% of my body weight in 2 months. YAY for me!

I will be starting up this same challenge in Jan, and it will be called Slim by Spring. Again it will be a 16 week challenge. If any of you will be interested then, let me know. I am on Facebook (I have my profile on this pages side bar) and that is how I keep in touch with most of my friends doing this challenge right now, seems to be easiest this way. It is so much fun and if you are competitive, this is right up your ally. I love having a team to chat with (on our FB group page) about my weaknesses and strengths. It helps me stay motivated, knowing I have an entire team depending on what kind of points I will accrue.

Facebook me, and we can start a list for the January (Slim by Spring) if you are interested. :)

Have a great day.