7 Weeks to Boston: Elizabeth

I spent the week with my sisters, eating too much and running too little. Hopefully, it doesn't set me back too much because I don't have too much time left. I did use the excuse of tapering for Lake to Lake and was happy with the result. But now I have no time left for slacking. I need to be serious until the big race.

Monday: 4.88 miles, 40:44, 8:21 pace
I ran pushing James in the dark and I was stopped to be warned about rattle snakes. I started with my sisters but when on ahead after the first mile.
Mile 2 was more uphill and I was getting used to the stroller.
I picked up the pace for miles 3 and 4. (7:39, 7:41).
Ran the last mile with my sisters.

Tuesday: 10.68 miles, 1:39:56, 9:21 pace.
This was supposed to be my long run (16 miles remember?). I intended to run anywhere between 11 and 15 miles depending on how I felt. We drove to Saguaro National Park East. I ran a trail for the first 1.4 miles and then ran an 8-mile, very hilly paved loop around the park and finished on the trail. If I felt good I was going to run the 4 miles back to my sister's house. I didn't. It was 85 degrees. I was hot and tired. When I got back to the trailhead I should have finished out the 11th mile but I was so tired and my sisters were there from their 8-mile run and we went home instead. Oh well.

I slacked the rest of the week until Saturday's Lake to Lake relay.

Saturday: Our team took second in the mixed division out of 22 teams!! I ran legs 4 and 10. A full race report will follow.
-Leg 4: 5.18 miles, 36:52, 7:08 pace. It was a slightly downhill run, but I was ecstatic.
-Leg 10: 4.44 miles, 33:28, 7:32 pace. This one was a slightly uphill course, finishing on a substantial incline.

8 Weeks to Boston: Elizabeth

Tuesday: Spin at the gym.

Wednesday: Track workout. 6x800 (3:14, 3:14, 3:15, 3:12, 3:10, 3:09)
This was the my best track workout to date. I felt great and kept getting faster. It helped that we had a big group.

Thursday: 3 mile walk with my sister and niece. A nice brisk walk after a big dinner.

Friday: 4.62 miles, 48:06, 10:24 pace.
I ran with my sister Suzanne. We pushed two kids in a stroller and it was wicked windy.
We followed the run with an ab workout from Runners' World.

Saturday: 6.07 miles, 57:34, 9:28 pace.
I was supposed to run 16, but I promised myself I would run it on Monday in Tucson because I was just too tired. Again, I ran with my sister, no kids and no wind. This was a good, fast speed for her.

Next week, I go to Tucson with my sister. How will my training go?

7 Weeks to Boston: Thomas

This was a bad training week. Many factors contributed to a poor week of running: 10 hours of driving to Salt Lake on Tuesday, a moderately severe head cold, tapering for Lake to Lake relay. Here's what I managed to do.

Wednesday: 4.25 miles on the treadmill @ 7:15 pace with lots of hills.

Saturday: Lake to Lake Relay. My team finished third overall. I ran legs 3 and 7.

- Leg 3: 5.62 miles in 35:23 (6:18 pace).
- Leg 7: 4.35 miles in 28:00 (6:26 pace).

8 Weeks to Boston: Thomas

Monday: 5.05 miles @ 6:50 pace.

Tuesday: Rest.

Wednesday: Speed. 6x800M (2:47, 2:48, 2:50, 2:49, 2:47, 2:46)

Thursday: 8.35 miles @ 7:02 pace.

Friday: Coached Porter's soccer practice.

Saturday: 21.25 miles @ 7:21 pace. It felt good to get in a nice long run at marathon pace + 20-30 seconds. I included lots of hills to practice for Boston's infamous Newton Hills.

9 weeks to Boston: Elizabeth

Monday: crappiest run of my life. I intended to do 12, but felt horrible from the get go. My pace was slow and I would have called Tom to get me had I had my cell phone. First 7 miles, pace was right around 9. I had to go to the bathroom and was out in the farms with no bathrooms. I walked 2 miles and finally found a port-o-potty. I then was able to run home, but was miserable.

Total distance: 11.75
Pace: 10 something.

Tuesday: I tried to go to spin, but the power was out and class was cancelled, so I sat on my butt all day.

Wednesday: 4 miles on the treadmill. Average pace: 7:51.

Thursday:

• piyo in the am.
  
• track workout in the pm.

3 - 1 mile repeats (6:55, 6:52, 6:53) and 1- 800 (3:17)
I was very happy with the workout.

Friday: Turbo at the gym. Great workout. Thanks Ty.

Saturday:

• 1 hour of basketball. I actually played the whole time and had fun. Definitely worked up a sweat.And I even made one basket and fouled many times.
  
• Taught spin at the gym. Good workout with lots of hills.
• 10 miles. Hilly to Toquerville. 8:57 pace. Legs were fatigued, but I felt good.

9 Weeks to Boston: Thomas

Monday: 17.3 miles @ 7:35 pace.
Tuesday: Rest.
Wednesday: 7.0 miles - 1 mile easy, 4 tempo miles (6:49 average pace), 2 miles of hills at moderate pace.
Thursday: Speed - 3x1600M (5:55, 5:48, 5:46), 1x800M (2:47).
Friday: Rest.
Saturday: 12.16 miles (trail run up the twist along the old road to the La Verkin Overlook) @ 7:28 pace.

Dam to Dam Race Report: Elizabeth

Dam 2 Dam 5-Miler, February 14, 2009, Sand Hollow State Park
38:28, 9th overall, 4th in age group (30-34)

Tom and I ran the Dam to Dam 5-miler at Sand Hollow State Park. This is the fourth annual race, and the third time I have run it. Unfortunately, it gets more competitive every year. The first year I ran it (41:53) I took third overall. Last year, (41:57) was still good enough for 2nd in age group. I forget my overall placement. This year, I ran it 3 minutes faster but didn't place even in my age group.

The morning was chilly but better than expected. The forecasts were saying rain and I hate rain. We had beautiful sunny skies, still but chilly air. The race follows the reservoir from one dam to the other. It is a very scenic run and is about half pavement, half dirt road.

Racers are shuttled to the start where we waited for about 45 minutes for the start of the race. Nerves were good. Lots are good friends were there to wait with. I bought the hamstring wrap and put it on 10 minutes before the start. My hamstring was feeling fine, but just in case I wore it.

I started the race at the front because it is just hand-timed and I couldn't lose any seconds getting to the start. I felt good. There were a handful of women ahead of me.

Mile 1: 7:31. I intended to go out at about a 7:50, but I felt okay. I ran with a 12-year-old in my ward. She has potential. My hamstring wrap slipped down and I gave it to a guy taking pictures and hoped I would find the $20 item at the finish line. I caught my friend's husband Jim. Local rival (and 12-year-old's mom) Kasie Watts still ahead of me.

Mile 2: 7:47. I definitely slowed down, but still feeling good. Kasie in my sights, but not really any other women.

Mile 3: 7:45. I caught Kasie at the end of this mile. It felt good. Also caught race director Terry Tucker. One other woman maybe within reach.

Mile 4: 7:41. I'm just running steady. Still ahead of Kasie. Terry re-catches me. Other woman getting further out of reach.

Mile 5: 7:40. I gave all I had. Kasie passed me in the last 150 yards to beat me by 7 seconds. At least one man also passed me. I really had nothing left.

Overall, I am very happy. My first goal was to break 40 minutes. Check. More optimistic goal run between 7:30 and 7:45 pace. Check. I ran 7:41. Third goal. Beat Jim. Check. Fourth goal. Beat Kasie. No go, but I was close and I'll keep working on that one. I have yet to beat her in a race.

It was fun to run with so many friends.

Next race: Lake to Lake Relay, March 7, 2009. Relay group: Glen and Kasie Watts, Ben Ashcraft, Derral Humphries, and me. The 8th ward team.