Saint George Half Marathon! Again.

Last Saturday, a week ago, I ran the Saint George Half Marathon! My good friend Kelly came down with me and we ran the whole race together. It was so great, definitely my best race yet. I took 8 minutes off my last half, the Top of Utah last August. My time was 2 hours 17 minutes, and I felt great at the end!
Kelly and I match pace really well, helps that we are the same size exactly! Running and chatting with a friend just made the miles fly by.
I've been using a good stretch to help with my I T band tightness and it's helped a lot. I didn't feel anything until about mile 11 and it wasn't painful, just getting tight. It feels good to feel good, be healthy.
I love racing, it's amazing how race-day adrenalin gets you going. The weather was perfect as well, it was probably 50's when we started and warmed up to 60's by the end. And it was sunny, I love that. The only thing I didn't love about this race was the trail was washed out from the river flooding a little while ago so we did a double loop, not ideal but fine. It was mostly paved trail running, that is so nice.
Talia watched Naomi and Kelly's baby, Ruthie while we ran, so nice of her. Kelly took off to get back home and I played the rest of the day with Talia and company, we went to lunch and I ate waaaay too much. I felt entitled. I was starving after that race. And then we saw a movie, Gulliver's Travels, very funny and cute!
Erica came down that night and we left for California and Disneyland the next day! I had a really fun weekend and great week!
So now that I have done 3 half marathons can I be a counted as a real runner? I think so.
I might have a race this spring, but for sure my next half is the Top of Utah in August. If you want to register it sells out super fast, March 1st is the day to remember.

Naomi and her cousin Trey at lunch

Me and Naomi

Kelly and Me before the race

Afterwards, we made it!

This is a link to my race photos, that I don't want to pay to purchase! But they are fun to look at!

http://orders.racephotonetwork.com/QPPlus/Images.aspx

Talia, Wes and Dylan at lunch

Next on the list, new running shoes. I'm thinking the Asics Nimbus 12. In white and PINK. Because, why not?

Top Of Utah Half Marathon!

I started this post Saturday afternoon, after the race, here is what I had so far:

"This morning I got up at 5:30 to get dressed and ready for the Top of Utah half marathon.

I was so nervous that I had a hard time eating. I ate some cereal and orange juice and hoped it would be enough!

The finish line is just a few blocks from my house and I needed to be there by 6 to ride a bus up to the start line. The race started up Black Smith Fork canyon at the Hyrum electrical plant and went downhill through the canyon until we turned onto Hollow Road in Nibley. From there we ran out to the highway for a short distance then back into Millville and then South until we made it to the finish line at Zollinger's park in Providence."

This race was awesome. During training for this the furthest I ran was barely over 7 miles. I just have a hard time going any longer. It's a total mind game. So I was positive I would be walking at some point, I just couldn't run 13.1 miles continuously.

My brother in law, Brock ran the race too, and he listened to Harry Potter while he ran. I think he made it to Potions class by the end of the race. I think I might try loading a book on my shuffle for my next long run, what a great diversion. I found Brock at the start line before the race and we started off together but ran separately after a while.

About a mile in I found a friend I had talked to before the race, Makaylee. She's a friend from high school and it had been since highschool since we had seen each other. She said she was only going to listen to her ipod when she really needed a boost to get her going, and I liked that idea. Save it for when you need it. We turned our music off and just talked and caught up on the past 10 years of life. It was nice running without music but talking to a friend made the miles literally just fly by.

By the time I saw a mile marker we were at mile 8. And I was feeling really good. I just couldn't believe I was still going strong, it was an amazing feeling. Race Day Adrenaline was playing a big part I'm sure.

My feet and left calf were feeling sore around mile 11 but I was so close, and they were just achy, not enough to hold me back. I wore my IT band strap to help stabilize my leg so my knee wouldn't hurt. It worked like a charm, I had no pain there at all. I also paid attention to where I was running on the road, totally avoiding the bank on the left side so I wouldn't put extra strain on it.

At mile 10 we decided it was music time and then Makaylee started really going fast! I kept up and we just kept on going. Before I knew it I could see the finish line in the distance, about a mile or so away. I was there!

The last half of a mile was packed with people cheering everyone on. I was feeling a little exhausted but it felt so good. It was so awesome to cross that finish line! I am so proud of myself for running the whole race! I never thought I could really do it, but I did!

I admit that I did have to walk while drinking water or Gatorade at the aid stations for a few seconds, I just haven't mastered drinking-from-a-paper-cup-while-running. I did try, and ended up with a sticky arm. Skills to work on I suppose. There were also orange slices which were awesome. Brock said something like "I have never had oranges that tasted so good. In my life" and that pretty much sums it up.

My final time was 2 hours 23 minutes, that is the chipped time. I crossed the start line about 2 minutes after the start gun so my time on the clock as I passed the finish line was 2:25.

I took about 20 minutes off my last half marathon, that was my first one too. I did the St. George half marathon last January and ended up walking off and on the last half of the race.

The reason I stopped running during that race was because of my knee, it was hurting because of the IT band issues. I didn't know what the problem was. But after I slowed down I got cold and my body was tired. I was also less prepared.

Finishing that race was hard. This race was such a different experience, so much better! I'm looking forward to the St. George half again in January, I'm hoping to run a 2:10 race. It's a colder run and it's not downhill like the TOU half, but I think I can do it.

There were around 2300 runners for this race. It was an impressive sight seeing everybody at 6 a.m. in the cold, dark morning air boarding buses. The start line was an amazing sight too. It's a good feeling to think, we're all in this together. I can do this because they can too.

I love running now. I know I still gripe about it sometimes but it's been such a great hobby/sport/activity for me for the past year. I finally understand why so many people run. It feels so good.

I don't have any photos from race day, just the ones the zazoosh photographers snapped.

Here is a link to a photo of me from the race. I look happy, and I am!

View Photos from Top of Utah Half Marathon

Registration will open up in, I think, April for 2011.

Who's with me next year?!

Half

Well, I did it!

A few Saturdays ago, I "ran" a half marathon. The St. George Half Marathon. More correctly, I completed the half marathon. That is 13.1 miles thank you. 

It was great. Actually it was great to finish and the first 7 miles were great! I ended up walking some towards the end but finished that thing running. My knee was giving me trouble past the half way mark. 

Talia and Wes were awesome and came down to the finish line to see me there, it was cold but they had bundled up their two boys and Naomi to see my big finish. I was a cold, tired girl when I made it to the end, but the important thing is that I made it! Tal and Wes are so awesome, they took care of, and played with, and fed Naomi all that day while I ran and then recovered (hot bath) and even took a nap. Thanks guys!

A few things to consider before my next half. And I am planning on doing more.

First, maybe I should stick to the warmer weather runs. I like it hot. And I swear I am partially cold-blooded.

Second. I needed to be a little more prepared. I was a little under-trained. But it was ok in the end.

Third. Don't eat Gu, protein bars, etc. They are gross and kind of made me feel sick on the run. I think I'll pack snacks I like. Maybe my favorite peanut butter-chocolate chip granola bars. Something appetizing. And maybe carry a Gatorade flavor I like. Lemon/Lime is yuck.

That's all I think of. I had a good run, I love my NikeFit shirt and capri's they are so comfortable. The shirt is for cold weather, but I was chilly still. My shoes were awesome, new Asics from my in-laws for Christmas. Big thanks for those. I really do love them.

Now I'm taking a little break for a week or so, then back to the gym until this snow melts away! 

I think I want to do some shorter races, maybe the Ogden Marathon 5K in May. But my next big run will be the Top of Utah half in August. And I'm recruiting running buddies. I'm not very fast though. Let me know if you want to run with me, or run the races too.

"You can't wear the same thing every day"

That's what she said.

And it's true, I really needed some additional workout clothing. I have one pair of capris I like to wear and then a pair of yoga pants that are a little too loose (and short) for running.

So with the help of Erica I found some great running capri shorts, a half zip top, in red, and a long sleeve underarmour top, that last one in purple, nice.

I wore the shorts and half zip today for a run with Erica, and I'm in love. The top is for cold-weather and it was perfect for today.

What workout gear do you all love? Where do you buy, what item can you not live(workout) without?