Running in the Rockies

Well, sadly, I caught some kind of stomach bug that kept me up all night throwing up and most of the day in bed so I had to miss my scheduled 4 miles today. Drat.

Okay, embarrassingly, I'm feeling tons better than yesterday as far as health ... but I still missed my scheduled 6 mile run today because Breaking Dawn was finally out and in the bookstores. No self control, man. None! (hee,hee)

Today's run was without a doubt the most beautiful run I've been on!!! It's our long run for the week and a friend of ours (Dawn and mine) said we should try running around Rampart Reservoir for our 12 miler. So, we blissfully headed up there at 6:00 am thinking that we'd be home by 10:00 a.m. HAHAHAHAHA!!! We finally got home at NOON! The drive was twice as long as we expected - an hour instead of half an hour - and the trail was very, very difficult!!! True, it was the most beautiful location to run, with pines, aspens, wildflowers, glistening blue reservoir, and the peace and beauty of the Colorado Rockies .... BUT .... we hadn't anticipated:

1) Being 2500 feet higher in elevation than usual would make it harder

2) We didn't bring enough water (considering the elevation and difficulty)

3) The constant hilly terrain which, though beautiful, was exhausting!

4) Both of us have had a stomach flu followed by Fast Sunday, so we hadn't eaten and drunk enough in the last 3 days

5) WE DIED!!!!

My garmin kept telling me that I had a weak GPS signal all through the run, and by the end, our Garmin's were different by 0.7 of a mile!! But just for interest sake, here's a rundown of our average pace, which tells the story of our demise (hee,hee):

1 - 10:28 fresh out of the gates, nice downhill, feeling great!

2 - 10:54

3 - 13:16 the hills begin, but still doing great and enjoying the scenery.

4 - 13:22

5 - 13:29

6 - 13:28

7 - 16:35 starting to walk on a few uphills

8 - 19:21 (I'm not sure why this one is so out of whack.)

9 - 13:03 crossing the dam - flat, but I was seriously running out of steam.

10 - 16:43 more walking, starting to feel exhausted

11 - 16:35 absolutely exhausted, out of water and bloks

12 - 17:52 wishing for death to come (hee,hee)

13 - 19:43 (walking to the car - actually a mile and a half) We were so dead by here. Even though we had run out of water about 2 miles ago, the only thing that kept one foot moving in front of the other was the vision of water bottles in her car and a soft seat to sit on.

Possibly the most difficult run I've ever experienced. Both of us really felt it in our legs - maybe from the constant hilly terrain and roots and rocks to avoid - but we were expecting it to be the hardest on our cardio. I've been exhausted all day today, but the only soreness I've felt is behind my right knee - weird place, huh? Anyway, there's the story of my first 12 miler - I decided while running that I would SHOOT myself if I ever considered running a marathon. ; )

So, we went out of town this week and I didn't realize until I was preparing for my Wednesday run that I had forgotten to pack some socks. But there was never a graceful time to leave our hosts and buy some. I finally got them Thursday night and was able to run Friday morning. (Sorry, Lybi, I'm too wimpy to run bare footed for more than a quarter of a mile.)

We were in Salt Lake today, so I ran all around downtown. I sure felt conspicuous in my running shorts while everyone was modestly dressed to go to the temple. (hee,hee) It was a pretty hot and humid day, but still a great run. I have to say that I'm impressed with runners who run in the city, though. It was really awkward with all the traffic lights.

For whatever reason, my Garmin took forever to acquire and then I stopped the timer and forgot to restart it for a little while. So. my best guess is that I went 6 miles. Considering yesterday's route and today's - I'm pretty sure that it was 6. I went earlier this time, and was happy to see many other runners out and about today. I was wondering where all the runners were yesterday. What a difference a half an hour makes! I really like running 6 miles. It's a nice easy time - one hour. I like the feel of it - not too long, but still a good, healthy workout. I tried to focus on my breathing and not let my legs dictate my pace. My legs love to complain and slow me down (not in a bad way, just a "hey, I'd rather be sitting" kind of way - hee,hee)

Well, now I know that I'll at least survive my half marathon in 3 weeks!! But, ... ugh. 13 miles is a LONG way. At this point in my running career, 6-7 miles is my happy point. I can still push my pace, if I want, and come home feeling great. 10- 11 miles is about where I would like to stop. Getting to 13 is a painful experience. I walked to take drinks of water or my Cytomax drink (no GU or bloks today); and after 11 miles, I actually moaned when I started running again. My legs were so tired!

I took the route that my 1/2 marathon is going to be; but I couldn't find the trail for the first mile and ended up having to cross a cement "bridge" that had water flowing over it. So, from mile 1.5 on, I had wet feet. Nice. But the first 3 miles literally FLEW by! I was amazed every time my Garmin told me I'd gone another mile. Coming back, I again couldn't find the correct path back to the park which will be the starting/ending point, so I had to go on the road for a while. I've stretched for a while, but I'm still a little sore and tired. I hope to be able to squeeze a nap in today. ; )

But, hey, I DID IT!!! 13 miles has been conquered!

3 miles in the trail/park with Dawn and Laura.  I added 2 more afterwards when they headed home.  The back of my right leg hurt when I started (straight behind the knee), but it seemed to do better after a while of running.  This is the spot that hurt after my 2 last long runs.  I'm not sure what's causing it.  It feels like I hyper-extended my knee and hurt the tendon back there.  It gets better after a couple of days; but it's still slightly worrisome.  Anyone know what might be causing it???

I decided to give my leg a few days rest before running.  I don't want to injure it before my race.  So, 6 miles today by myself in the neighborhood.  We've had a freakish cold spell lately and yesterday and today have only gotten up to about 60 degrees!!!  I actually had to turn on my HEATER in the middle of the day ... in August!!!  Crazy.  Next week will be back into the 80's luckily.  I'm not ready for cold weather yet.  We got a lot of rain along with the cold front, so the world smelled like heaven today as I was running.  Isn't it funny that rain can make everything just smell better.  Well, I guess not everything - manure and mold are some pretty huge exceptions. ha!

I wonder if 10 miles will ever feel like something other than torture.  ; )  I have to think that it would since, a year ago, I asked the same thing about running ONE mile.  haha.  How perspectives change.  

Although it was still long, it was  much better than my first attempt at 10 miles a few weeks ago.  And I was all by myself today, rather than running with a partner; so I feel especially good about keeping focused.  Until the last 2 miles, all my splits were sub 11:00.  I stretched out for quite a while when I got home, but my hips are still a little sore.  I think I need to see the chiropractor again - my back and pelvis have been really bugging me.  Maybe I'll even splurge and get a massage as part of my pre-half preparation.  Sounds good to me!!!  ; )

I tried something interesting today - Chi Running!  I finally watched the DVD my brother, Heber, lent me (he sent it last year - how embarrassing it's taken me this long!!) and decided to try it out.  I had almost no energy this morning.  We stayed up too late, it was a bad mother morning, and I was feeling lousy.  But I went anyway.  It was such an interesting experience!!  I actually got tired of the constant leaning forward feeling, but it's very true that it's easier on the legs.  My obliques were actually a little tired toward the end, though, from having to pull in my abs while leaning forward.  I went much faster than usual (because it was hard not to), so I ended up walking about 5 times and yet my average pace was still as good or better than usual.  Very interesting.  Also, I felt so much more invigorated after my run.  I don't think I've felt that way in a long time; so either it was the Chi running technique or the shorter distance.  I'll have to try it more to see if it's the key to my new running.  ; )

I actually meant to go 6 miles today, but at 4.75 I felt a pain all of a sudden in my left knee and left hip; so I figured I would cut it short.  I still don't know what happened.  I probably could've run through it, but I'm a week and a half away from my 1/2 and getting nervous -- plus I was just passing the shortcut to my house.  And ... well, I'm a wimp.  (hee,hee)

I tried Chi running today, but my form wasn't as good today.  It's hard to maintain on hills, more specifically the downhill portion.  I might have to watch the video a few more times to keep it fresh in my mind too.

On the treadmill tonight.  Wow, I forgot how hard it is mentally to watch the miles slowly tick by and how drippy sweaty I get on the treadmill.  Whoosh.  The treadmill really is easy on the joints, though.  I stayed at 10:30 pace for the first 3.5 miles then bumped it up to 9:30 for a mile.  Ya know, I think I have some kind of mental block about running faster or longer.  Even though my breathing wasn't crazy doing the faster pace, something in my head kept trying to tell me to slow down or even stop.  I've got an internal wimp that I'm not sure how to kick!  Any great ideas??

I did it, Lybi!!  Thanks for your motivation - 8 miles on the treadmill (while watching Stardust - cute movie; I love it)  Wahoo!!!  The first mile was 11 pace while the others were all 10:00 at a 2% incline.  The last 1/2 mile, I cranked it up to 8:50 pace so I could get it over with quicker.  Ha!  My left hip is feeling tighter after running lately.  Tomorrow I'm making an appointment with my chiropractor - hold me to it!!

... now I need to shower and get to bed before midnight.  ha! 

Ya know those runs where ya just don't wanna keep going?  Well, that was tonight.  I even increased my speed on the treadmill to try and get it over with faster, but after 3 miles - I was done.  That's the only problem with the treadmill: once your brain decides you're done, you can just step off; if I was outside running, I'd still have to run home.  Oh well.  It's my taper week, right?   (wimp)

By the way, I went to the chiropractor today and my hip is feeling good.  I made another appt for Friday just to make sure.  Can you tell I'm a little nervous?  ha!   ; )

It's turning out to be a week of evening runs on the treadmill for some odd reason.  I kept playing around with the speed, but I kept the incline at 2%.  I'm looking forward to Lybi and James coming in tomorrow.  With my other sister and her family plus my parents coming this weekend - we're gonna have 20 people in this house.  Woohoo!!!  I won't have time to be nervous for Monday!  :)