It's July already?

When did July happen and where'd June go? This year is going by SO fast! It's crazy. Before you know it, it'll be December.

So, to start off this month on the right foot I got up this morning and went on a 4 mile run around the lake. You know how it takes me 2 miles before I warm up usually, well now that I'm prego it takes me 3 miles. My first 3 miles were around a 13 min pace and my last mile was in the 11 min range. The thing that sucks right now is that I'm in that stage of pregnancy where people look at you and think, "Hummm...is she pregnant or is she just gaining a lot of weight?" The silly thing is every time I pass someone while running I feel the need to explain myself in my head, "Yeah, I know...I'm going insanely slow and I look over weight, but I'm pregnant. I'm aloud to be slow." The silly thing is I've only gained about 3 pounds in the past 2 months which isn't bad considering I haven't been running.

(See...you can totally see my "Is she overweight or is she pregnant" pudge.)

I'm proud of my run. Even though my thighs burned and my legs felt dead for the first 3 miles, I'm glad I got out there and did it. I'm glad that I did it without stopping and I'm glad that I was able to do it. :)

My first run post marathon...

...not bad, not bad. Considering I didn't eat before I went. I shoulda... I guess those are the things you learn when you run while pregnant.

I felt good besides my legs being drained of energy. My arches felt fine, my thighs were a little achy, and my IT issues didn't act up at all. I ended up going about 2.41 miles which wasn't bad. I made myself not look at my watch cause I didn't want to focus on pace or anything, I just wanted to get out there and run. It kinda sucks going these short distances cause it takes me about 2 miles to warm up, so I tend not to enjoy the first couple miles. It's all good though, at least I'm out there running, right?

This morning was the perfect morning to run. I loved it! It wasn't too warm, there wasn't a breeze, and it wasn't too bright out either.

I was able to get in another 10 minute run today, I don't know how far I went or anything, but I'm teaching B to ride a bike, so I ran beside her the whole time and felt great. I need to bring water next time, but other than that, it was fun being able to run along side of her. Heaven knows last year at this time I was still getting winded while running. It's amazing how you can improve when you keep on keeping on. :)

Finish Chelsea's Run Virtual Race

This morning I thought it would be best to use my last training run to do my Finish Chelsea's Run Race. I started by going around the inside of the lake by my house.

I tied the ribbons Kayte gave me around my wrist while I ran. They had fun blowing in the crazy wind that comes when you run around here.

After running about a mile I saw a tree that had blue and orange flowers around it. Orange and blue were Chelsea's favorite colors, so I thought it was fitting. I didn't see another tree like that for the rest of my run, so I'm glad I stopped when I did and put them on there.

I finished my 2 miles in 24.30 and had a nice time doing it. I took my time and enjoyed the run. I'm glad I could be a part of such a great race.

I have a picture of me at the end of the run, but I look like I'm not fully awake and I look bad, so I'll spare you. Haha!

Go sign up!

Run with Kayte, me, and all the other virtual racers. :)

Crack of Dawn 8k!

This morning I got up at 3:45 and headed over to pick up my mom and dad for the Crack of Dawn 8k.

We got their before the sun was coming up over the mountain and drove up to the start in the Mill Creek Canyon. We were the first ones up there and we waited for a good 30 minutes before the buses came up with all the other runners.

It was a little chilly up there, I think it was around 45, but we figured that once we started moving we'd warm up. The weather was perfect, it had rained the night before and the roads were all drying and it had that really yummy rain smell up in the canyon. I love that smell.

The race was about to start at 6:00 and we were standing in the potty line. It's a good thing we had timing chips for this race cause we were about 1.06 late crossing the start line. We started out and the down hill started killing my IT band. I don't think I was warmed up enough, so I told my mom to go ahead of me and that I'd catch up to her when it leveled off, if it did. I walked/ran the first mile and ended up doing the first 2 miles at a 12:45 pace. After that my leg warmed up and I started rocking it. My next mile was in the 10s, the next was in the 9s, and the last mile (or .94) was in the 8s!!

Here's my attempt at taking a picture with my iPhone while running. :) I think it looks cool! My leg felt awesome the last 3 miles. At the end there was a little itty bitty hill and after running almost 5 all down hills your legs say, "Oh wait...I just ran 4+...I think I'm tired now." I pushed through and my last mile was at a 8.33 pace.

I crossed the line around 55.20, but my watch said 54.14. Not bad, not bad!

This is us right after finishing. I really love running races with my momma.

Running is a family thing!

9 days to go!!

I can't believe there's only 9 days to go until my first marathon!!! I can't wait to run it. It's going to be amazing! Plus, keep an eye out for Saturday cause I have a great giveaway coming to celebrate my marathon. :)

I have to be honest though, I was SOO pumped for this marathon, but once I started having IT band issues I have lost almost all motivation. The only thing that's been keeping me going are the long runs each week. I love my long runs.I think that's a big reason I've been slacking on my blog, it's not just because the laptop's in the shop. I don't know what my problem is, but somethings gotta change!  I've lost my "muchness".
This morning was a changing point for me. I got up and took the kids on a run around the lake. I started out walking, just cause I'm not used to running with a stroller. Anyway, I start to run and B, my 5 yr old says, "Mom, are you running?" I reply, "Yep, I'm running." B says, "Are you sure mom cause grandma goes a lot faster when she runs." Hahaha! Why, thanks B...I'm glad to know that you don't even know when I'm running cause I'm THAT slow...

Then after picking up my pace to show B that I can run fast too, I stop to walk cause I'm a slacker like that. After walking for about .25 B says, "Mom, can you run again when you get to that tree?" So, I run as fast as I can until I get to the tree and walk again... So, after another .25 she says, "Mom, can you run across the bridge?" "Sure, B...I can run across it."

It's sad when your 5yr old realizes that you aren't putting in 100% and makes you do Fartleks just so you get a workout. :) For the whole 5+ miles she had me running to different things and running down hills until I reached a certain point.

Thanks B, for helping me realize that I need to put in 100% when I set a goal. I love ya girl! :)

Today I did 5 miles, Monday I did 2. I skipped yesterday cause I didn't make it a priority. Tomorrow, I'm getting up early and doing the same thing I did today, but running a lot more of it.

This Week's Runs + An Update

Now that it's 2 weeks from my marathon it's TAPER TIME!!

Exciting!!

This week while I was gone from "blog world" I was able to run  all my miles + a 17 mile run on down the Provo trail.

I saw waterfalls and a beautiful river.

About 80% of the trail looked like that. The weather was perfect and my legs felt good. It was a nice run. When I got out of the canyon I got lost for a little bit, but after about 20 minutes I was able to get back onto the trail. It was a pretty uneventful run other than a guy stopping and asking how many miles I was running and another guy yelling out of his truck, when I was lost, and scaring the crap out of me. I would totally run the Provo River Trail again, it was really nice.

I think I'm ready for the marathon. I know I'm not going to be fast and there's no way I'm going to do it in under 4 hours, but I'm going to do my best and keep running and finish. :)

This weeks runs are going to be easy & simple:

Monday: 4 Miles

Tuesday: 3 Miles (My 28th Birthday Run!)

Wednesday: 5 Miles

Thursday: 8 Miles

Friday: OFF

Saturday: Crack of Dawn 6k with my momma!

Sunday: OFF

This weeks goals are to run all my runs, have an awesome Memorial Day weekend, enjoy my 28th birthday with LOTS of family, and have a fun little race this coming weekend without hurting myself. :)

I hope everyone has a great week!!

I'm alive..

I'm alive and still running. My laptop died and is in the shop and all my photos are on it. I really need to learn to back that thing up more often.

I've run all my scheduled runs and tomorrow I'm thinking I'll do my 17 miler! I new distance record, I can't wait to tell you guys all about it. :)

I have tired lead legs...

Ok, so eating a Gyro from Mad Greek 20 minutes before a long run probably wasn't the best idea, but I did it and now I've learned my lesson. I'm glad I have a stomach made of iron cause I hate puking. The only issues I had were stomach cramps and a couple of side cramps from the food. The other thing I learned was waiting too long to run isn't the best. I should have gone earlier this morning rather than waiting until 1 in the afternoon. I was really hoping to run 20 today (I know it wasn't scheduled.) just so I could do it before the marathon in 3 weeks, but it doesn't look like that will happen. I started out my run thinking that I'd do a 5 minute walking warm up so I wouldn't get hurt, but that 5 minute walk ended up being 1 miles worth of walking, then I ran a little and my legs were EXTREMELY tired and felt like lead weights...ugh...it didn't feel good.

So, I'm run/walking around by the copper mines feeling like I have cement blocks tied to my feet and feeling sooo down because I know there's no way I'm going to do 20. I get tired of all the traffic and the lack of a shoulder for me to run in so, I called J to come pick me up. I ended up doing a little more than my scheduled 12 at 12.84, but for some reason I feel SOO completely defeated. How can I one week run almost 17 and feel awesome and the next week feel so defeated because I ran 12.84?

I know, I'm weird...I've been having mood swings, my legs feel like lead, and I've been feeling light headed. I think I need to get more sleep and drink more water. I wish the next few weeks would hurry up so I can run my marathon. I just want it to be here already.

I think my IT band injury has thrown everything off for me mentally.

A new friend...

Yeah!!! I did it. I saved up and sold stuff on ksl.com and bought myself a BOB Revolution Duallie today. I LOVE IT! I went on a 4 mile jog around the lake with J and the kids. Oooh, I don't know what I did without this baby. It's such a smooth ride.

I love that it didn't feel like I was pushing a ton of weight like the old stroller. It's my first jogging stroller and I'm SOO glad I have it and I can't wait to do more runs with it!

Tomorrow's run is a 12 miler! Yay! I love long runs. :)

Are you serious Bob?

Before I start to rant lets get that Le Creuset winner announced...

The winner is Michele over at Run Michele Run!

Congrats Michele, email me your mailing info at runmommatwitchrun (at) gmail (dot) com and we'll get that right out to ya!

Who watched The Biggest Loser last night? I can't believe Bob and Jillian. It's so frustrating, I just don't know what to say...I think Tall Mom says it best. I don't know about you, but I haven't lost any weight while training for my marathon. I've gained 5+ pounds. I just think they were WAY out of line for going off on Daris like that. I think it's even MORE reason he should win. I was SO mad last night about it all. They aren't setting a good example of weight loss.

Anyway...yesterday I got out and ran 6.75 miles in the pouring rain.

Don't those clouds look like fun? Haha!

About 2 miles into my run it started pouring on me. Other than it being a little chilly it was really refreshing. I enjoyed myself. Today I have 7 to do, but I'm going to have to walk/run it cause yesterday my leg was acting up some and I think it was cause it was cold outside.

Proud of myself.

Today I got up, got dressed and went for a run when J got home from work. Sometimes I have to convince myself to get out and run, but today I just did it. I love when that happens. :) 4 miles done...kinda slow, but at least I did it. Tomorrow's 6 miles, I gotta get it done early.

A new distance!

I ran

16.25 miles

today!!!

For the first 8 miles this is what I looked at. Too bad it wasn't that flat the whole way there. There were so many hills, but it's all good. It helped me work on my posture and using my abs more, which is what the PT said to do so I wouldn't have pain going down hill. Amazingly enough she was right, I had no pain, no aches, I felt completely fine, other than my sore muscles from yesterday's hike.

After going so long on the open road I turned the corner into Herriman and passed by a few farms. It was really nice, the only thing I didn't like was the fact that there were a few little turns that had no shoulder for me to run on, so I had to be really careful. After going a few more miles on that main road I got into the main part of Herriman and ran out of straight road once I got to the little splash park. Too bad it wasn't on, I would have loved to run through the water.

J was waiting with the kids at a playground and I had about 3 more miles to go. Since I ran out of straight road I had to turn my brain on and remember where I was going in the neighborhoods. I got lost a couple times, which added the extra 1.25 to my run.

So, the pluses about my run: I felt great and could have gone longer had I not run out of straight road. I feel great about the marathon, I'm gonna do awesome!

The negatives about my run: I ran out of straight road, I lost my road ID, and I wish my distance could have been longer. I was tempted to do 20....:)

Hike to "Y" mountain

This morning J's dad, bros and I hiked up to the "Y" on Y Mountain. It's a tradition of theirs to hike it each time they come out to visit. So, since J's pop is so impressed with my running that he invited me along. This hike is pretty nuts. It's only 2 miles total, up and down, but it is CRAZY steep. We started out J's bro, Ant is in ROTC so he hiked with his 50+ lb rucksack, and was ahead of everyone for the first little bit, until he started getting tired and then I passed him and everyone else.

 

I beat all these tough guys up the mountain and had to wait for them for about 5 minutes before they finally got to the top. Then...I beat them all down the mountain. How cool is that, all these tough guys were beat by a girl! Haha!

The view from the top. Pretty cool, huh?

The last time I hiked up to the Y, it took me FOREVER and I was huffing and puffing up the whole thing. It was pretty pathetic. I'm glad I could do it this time without any problems.

The only bad thing about doing a hike like that is my thighs and butt are SOOOO sore...not the best thing to have right before a big long run the next day. No worries though, I'm going to run it with no issues. I can't wait!

My wanter is broken....

I want, I want, I want.....

After missing yesterday's run because I procrastinated and because there were no baby-sitters home, I've decided I want one of those babies! A BOB Revolution Dualie Stroller...I want it SOOOO bad. The only thing that sucks is the cost...maybe if I have it for 20 years it would be worth it. I gotta save up for this baby. Maybe it'll be a Christmas present to myself this year.

Today I didn't wait until the last minute and I got out and got my 9 miler in. I felt good! There weren't any aches, but I could feel myself tightening up so, I stopped a couple times to stretch. It's crazy to think that my marathon is only 30 days away! Oooh! It's happening, it really is. I can't wait to see how I do. I really like racing the half marathon, it's my new favorite. I wonder if the marathon will become my new favorite distance after this race. Tomorrow's going to be an easy 5, I think I'll get it done early so I can enjoy the day.

Whoa...I never thought there would be a time that I would say, "I'm going to run an easy 5 miles today." It's SOOO cool to be able to say that and mean it.

J's dad flew in today. He's back for some R&R from Iraq. He ran a marathon and was on the cross country team at BYU in his hay day, so it's fun to be able to talk running with him. He even wants to run a couple runs with me while he's here. Fun, fun!

Run to Walk Family 5k

Today's race was FUN! I'm telling ya, it's such a great thing running as a family. Sure, everyone finished at different times, but it was fun to talk about it when we were all done.

Hayley and Adam were amazing. She did it in 26 and Adam did it in 19. I could only dream to do it that fast. I can't believe this was the only picture I got of Adam today. Lame...

Mom and pop before the race. :)

Mom was 2nd in her age group and did it in 34 (I think.). Dad did it in 36, but I'm not sure. All I know is he finished WAY before we did. He kept saying, "I had to do this every day for 34 years and now I'm paying to run!?" Hahaha. The joys of being in the Army. :) At least he's retired now and doesn't have to do PT if he doesn't want to. I think he enjoyed it.

Here's Mr. J before the race started. He was all ready. He screwed up his back a couple weeks ago and his PT told him he couldn't run, so he walked... He's such a tall guy that his walk is my jog. So, while pushing 3 little kiddos in a stroller and putting up with one of them getting in and out of the basket in the back while he was still going.  B got in and out of the basket and ran about a mile of it.

Poor guy, he's not used to going that fast for so long. The last time he did a 5k was a year ago with me. He just laid there on the ground for about 15 minutes. It wore him out!

It's all good. I still love him! :) We walked it in 44.02, not bad considering he was pushing over 100 lbs in a non-jogging stroller. He puts up with so much. I'm glad I have such a great man!

Before the race I ran 4 miles around the riverwalk and then did the 3 miles with the race. Good times!

6 miles!

This is my "I just got done running 6 miles and feel great" face.

I felt great. I waited a little too late to run, but I got it in before the sun went down. I even went a different route. B had a t-ball game tonight so I figured I'd run to the t-ball field. I thought it would be at least 6 miles away, but it ended up being only 3.4, so I finished up my 6 going around the neighborhood. I love that I'm feeling better. I love that I'm even getting back to my regular pace. Yay! I really need to do my stretches more often, it's just so hard to do it. Ok...so it's not hard, I just don't make time for it.

Tomorrow's going to be an easy day. Today was a great day. I can't wait to have a great one tomorrow. :)

Winner, Winner!

The winner of the Wireless Walkman is #56 Alinda!

Congrats Alinda! Email me your mailing info at runmommatwitchrun (at) gmail (dot) com.

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Sorry, I've been a little MIA. You can always tell when I skip out on a run. I tend not to post cause I don't want to admit that I skipped. Hahaha. :) I ran today though!! I went around the lake and had a pretty good run. I need to remember to warm up before I run, my legs were achy today, but I did it. I'm getting SO close to marathon time. It's crazy. I need to re-excite myself about it. It's so tough when you get hurt.

Oh well, tomorrow's a new day and I'm getting back on track with eating and running.

Tomorrow I'm going to answer some of the questions you guys sent me. Comment and ask some more I love hearing all the questions. :)

Provo City Half Marathon

Sore, sore, sore...my legs are sore!

I did it! My 2nd half marathon is under my belt! I saw my friend Sue at the start. It's so cool that we're running all these races together. The next one we're going to do is the Utah Valley Marathon. She runs the 5ks and I do the longer ones. She's an awesome lady! I'm glad I was able to meet her through the blog.:)

I was able to run the whole thing and it wasn't until about mile 11.5 that my knee REALLY started hurting and that was only because there were these little hills that took us under bridges on the river trail. Each time I went down the hill it was painful. I pretty much had to hop down the hills. The crazy thing though, was when I went back up the hill there was no pain and I felt fine. I was able to run it in 2.33.38, not bad considering it was snowing, hailing, and raining the whole time and I had a bum knee. I was drenched when I finished. J missed the finish again, but it's all good. I tried my best to not give him a hard time. I know he tried. It was really nuts out there today.

Right now I feel good other than being sore. I can't wait to see how I do with the full marathon. :)

Good to go!

Well, I went to the pt again today and she said I was good to go for the half on Saturday. :) I'm excited to see how I do. I'm not expecting a PR, but wouldn't it be awesome if I did? I walked 2 miles yesterday and ran 6 without any problems. I love that I'm not aching anymore. My legs are sore from all the swimming, but it's all good. It's really interesting how many different muscles you use doing different things.

Tomorrow's an easy day when it comes to running. Just 2 & 2. I hope to get it done early cause I have a ton of cleaning to do.

EXERCISE!

2 miles walking, 4 miles running, and 500 meters swimming....DONE!  It's been years since I swam a 500. It felt good! I can't wait to do it again.

Jeez, this  is going to be a boring post cause I'm tired.

I just want to say thanks to everyone who's given me support. It means a lot to me!!