Get Fit

Staring my training for the Other Half Marathon in Moab. I'm following Hal Higdon's training guide, which helped me run the Chicago marathon.

Ran on 11th Ave. Took me 34:23 minutes.

Ran on 4th and 1st Avenue with neighbor Emilly, who I used to run with while I was pregnant but haven't since May. It was good to catch up with her again, and to run with a partner. She was kind enough to go as slow as I needed, which averaged 11:28 minute miles.

I was supposed to run 3.5 miles, but ran out of time in the morning since Chad needed to get to work. I'm quickly learning my time is not my own, being a new mom. But soon enough, Jack will be old enough for the jogging stroller. Whether I will have the lung capacity to push the stroller is another question. I ran from my house on 4th Ave to Virginia street and then on 3rd Ave to I street and back to the house. I was glad I cut it short, since those 2 miles were tough.

I ran it in 25:07, average pace of 10:57

Hal Higdon says to either run 2 miles or cross train. So I opted for yoga, which rocked. It was 45 minutes of mostly sun salutations. I'm not very strong, but it felt great to move my body.

Ran on 11th from Virginia to the salt shed at the horseshoe. It felt pretty good and I tested whether I could run faster and no, I didn't collapse doing it.

Ran it in 37:25, average of 10:26

Hal requires 40 minutes of cross training today. Does working in the yard count?

Ran from my house up 4th through Federal Heights, through the U. golf course, over the bridge and to the edge of Ft. Douglas. I felt great at first and even pushed it a little bit, but I was beat on the way back, even though most of it was slightly downhill. My hip flexors were pretty sore. I don't think I'm totally healed from giving birth b/c my body now aches, but luckily I could take a long nap today b/c I'm on maternity leave.

Ran it in 57:05 minutes, average pace of 11:25

Ran from my house to 800 South on 800 E. and back on 900 E. and 1000 E. The beginning felt great, b/c it was slightly downhill. But I am happy to have run it in 35:20, an average pace of 10:05. It also helped to listen to MIA "road runner" song at the end.

Ran from my house up 4th through some of Federal Heights and behind the Greek houses on the way to the U. Ran to 400 South and then home along 1200 E. Felt good and I pushed it up some of the hills in the Aves on the way home. My lungs were burning and it was short, but I did it.

Ran in 36:27, average pace of 10:25

Ran roughly the same route as last week's 5 miler--from my house through Federal Heights to the edge of Ft. Douglas. I'm happy to report I was slightly faster (56:43 was total time) and my average pace was 11:20.

The first 2 miles were identical to last time and I did it faster this time: 12:19 vs. 12:53 for the first mile and 11:31 vs. 12:05 for the 2nd mile.

It probably helps to have done it already and to have a partner. Ran with Emily and her dog Roscoe. She's awesome to go so slow with me, considering she runs 6x a week now.

Ran this morning from my house to South Temple downtown to check out progress on City Creek Center and to check out downtown since I haven't been there since my maternity leave. It was wild to see all the destruction on the block. The run down was great. I had a lot of energy. Of course, it was slightly downhill. The way back was tough.

I ran the total in 40:14, average pace of 10:04.

first mile was 9:18

2nd: 9:21

3rd: 10:59

4th: 10:37

Felt very sluggish, I'm assuming b/c I ran 4 miles two days ago. Ran in 42:15, average pace of 10:24.

Ran from my house downtown again and back. Didn't push the hills hard.

Ran from my house up to Wasatch Drive over to 2100 S. to pick up my car at the Kmart parking lot. Took 1:04, average pace of 10:40.

It was the longest I've run in months, which felt good but it was slow going and tough. The time doesn't count when I stopped to ostensibly tie my shoe and sat on the grass for a spell. I walked one minute each mile--a treat.

Ran from my house on 4th to and through Memory Grove and then zigzagged back to my house. Average pace of 10:25, total of 43:06. I felt really slow going uphill and didn't have much left in the tank by the time I was done...I'm sick of this heat and can't wait for fall.

Ran in 32.59, average pace of 10:01

I was supposed to run 4, but got a slow start and had to get back in time for Chad to go to work. Ran from here up in Federal Heights, behind the frat houses, through the U. and back.

Ran the Spanish Fork 5K in 26 minutes, average pace of about 8:23. It was great running weather--nice and cool. We ran from the library along a river next to donkeys and ranch dogs and back. I started out too fast and had to slow down. On the way back, I passed a kid who kept running hard and then walking. With the finish line in sight, Chad paced me and I felt I couldn't run as hard as he wanted. I told him I was going to throw up. Then I could hear the kid coming from behind and I thought, "I'm not going to let him beat me" and I pushed it more than I thought I could.

He must have thought the same thing and we were both all out. He bested me. Strangely, I found myself thinking it was rude that he did that. But duh, we were racing.

Oh, and what's with the handful of women I saw there who were running hard and get to the finish to care for their infants? One woman was far ahead of me the entire time --meanwhile her husband's trailing the pack pushing 3 kids in a giant stroller. Impressive.

Ran in 46:11, average pace of 10:15. Ran from my house up through Fed Heights, through the golf course and almost to the end of Ft. Douglas. On my way back I felt pretty sluggish but I had to muzzle my inner whiner when I saw a woman running pushing a jogger stroller and going uphill while I was going down.

I was supposed to run 4.5 but had to get back early enough for Chad to get to work. Ran up Memory Grove and zig-zagged back to my house. I checked out the burned house on 6th Ave by Smiths. What idiots those teens were.

Ran in 43.26, pace of 10:09--which really masks the slow pace I took going up Memory Grove --that was an average of about 11:13, but really, I watched myself going like 14-12 minute miles.

Ran from my house through the U., past Steiner's and into the neighborhood south of 900 South. Good run going out, but I felt like I was running through mud on the way back during the 4th mile--even a slight incline wears me out. But I was happy to note that my way home was shorter than the way out. Total time was 1:09:21. First half took me 35:15. Average pace was 9:55.

On these runs, I'm noticing a lot of wasted fruit throughout the city. Apples and pears are just dropping on the ground. I did the same thing with my apricot tree the first 2 years we had our house, but this year I made jams, canned apricots for future babyfood and dried it into leather....Why isn't everybody else like me! (joking)

Ran downtown and back. On the way out, I decided to go where the traffic lights led me so that I wouldn't have to keep pausing to wait for traffic. But on the way back, which is slighly uphill, I was more than happy to wait out the red lights :) I purposefully decided to run downhill first b/c my stomach felt a little funky this morning. I'm blaming it on the wild mushrooms we bought at the Farmers Market. After we had them in hand, and paid $6 for enough to feed 2, the seller told us they were "slightly toxic" if they weren't cooked. I think I'll stick with portobello and oysters from now on.

I really like running downtown, though it can't be good for my knees, running on the sidewalks. The sidewalks, as all visitors to SLC know, aren't busy. And I seem to discover buildings I've never noticed everytime I walk or run downtown. And I really like seeing the malls being ripped apart by the back hoes. Why is it so cool to watch buildings be demolished?

Since joining this site, I find myself having to think a lot more during my runs--I feel like I need to notice things so I can write about them on the blog. Anybody else feel the same way?

total running time was 44:50, average pace of 9:59.

This was a strange run, only because my intention didn't really match the results: I was supposed to run 4.5 and intended to just run 3 b/c I thought I was going to be running 8 on Saturday. But my route was obviously longer than I expected. I am very happy to report that I ran -- without walking-- from my house on the slight incline to Virginia and up to 11th Ave. I'll take that 11:50 pace for the first mile.

Had a great run with Julia, Lisa and Mark up through Federal Heights, through Ft. Douglas and a little bit on the trail above Research Park. I was def done by the end...my hip flexors were sore. But it was nice to have the distraction of friends. And the weather was great--clouds threatening rain that never materialized.

Took us 1:32:07, average pace of 11:31

Also did core yoga class earlier in the day.

Felt super sluggish today--I think I looked more at my watch than the scenery. I couldn't wait for one mile to pass so I could walk a minute. Which is bad--once I got it in my head that I was going to walk, that's all I could think about.

Ran from my house up Memory, on 11th and home through the cemetery. Took me 52:43; pace of 10:32

I'm starting to feel all this mileage and, maybe, the cold. I feel stiff and a little achy starting out. Ran to Liberty Park and back. Felt better than Tuesday's 5 miles--probably b/c it was mainly flat and slightly down or up.

Total time 46:39; average pace of 9:25

This is approximate. I was in Jackson Hole visiting my grandparents and ran 25 minutes out from their house in the national elk refuge and back. It was gorgeous. The aspens are on fire. But it was a mistake--too much running this week. I felt like I was running on my bones.

Felt much better today after a 2 day rest. Ran to Ft. Douglas and back. Took 47:25, average pace of 9:28

Went to a core class at the gym at night.

Ran for 50:36 down 4th, up the stairs, around the horseshoe and home on 11th through the cemetery. Average pace of 10:07

Had to get the long run in before we went to LA. Ran over to Sunnyside, up to Foothill, up Wakara and through the U.'s medical campus, to Jewish Community Center on the trail to the ritzy neighborhood above 11th. It got colder during the run and I slowed down--my last mile downhill was my slowest.

Ran 1:36:46, average pace of 10:45

Was a very long run since it was on a treadmill in a hotel in LA. I would have preferred running outside, but the homeless men we saw as we drove in to town scared me away.

Ran on the treadmill again. Tried to do some sort of speed workout: Warmed up 1/2 a mile and then ran 1/4 mile at 9 minute pace. Then slowed then ran 8.5 minute pace and 8 minute pace.

All I can say is that I'd much rather run in California than Utah. I ran in Santa Barbara on a track that paralleled the ocean. The view was awesome. I tasted ocean spray. And I could run an 8:59 pace (my best was 8:29) and feel like it was nothing. I was at 41 feet sea level and it was flat. It was a great run.

Longest run I'll do before the half. I felt good until the last mile, which is what happened during my last long run. Started out with Chad and Jack for 3 miles and then was on my own with my Ipod. Ran through Ft. Douglas to the entrance to the This is The Place monument. Meandered through the old houses, which was fun. I haven't been there in years. Ran about 1/2 a mile up Emigration--even go whistled at! -- and decided I didn't really want to go home the same route so I went on Bonneville shoreline for a couple of miles. It was fun, though the uphill was longer and harder than I planned.

by the time I was done, I wasn't really sure I could run another 3 miles....

I'm tapering for the Moab 1/2, which is a good thing since I now have a head cold that may even keep me from doing the race this Sunday. Ran 4 miles at an unintentional very easy pace: 11:46. Ran in 47:04. I was pushing Jack in the jogger stroller, which definetely slowed me down. And the cold.

Any advice on what to do? Should I bag the 13 miles? I have a couple of days to get better, but I'm not sure how bad I can feel and still run a 1/2.

Ran pretty slowly around the avenues--average pace 10:42. I'm feeling quite a bit better, so I plan to run the 1/2, though not very quickly :)

Well my goal after having Jack was to run this race and I did it!

It was a beautiful course in Moab, parrelleling the Colorado River. We had views of the river and snow-dusted red rocks. The first 6 miles were great. I felt really good and the splits were 8:50, 8:34, 9:15, 8:47, 11:50 (included bathroom break) and 8:58. The last half was really tough: lots of hills right in a row. I ran with Helen, who I know could have gone much faster, but she was kind and stuck it out with me. But even the last miles didn't take us that long: 9:34, 10:32, 9:41, 10:05, 9:14, 9:52, 8:18.

The lack of sleep the night before really caught up to me at mile 11. I went to bed at around 9, but couldn't really get to sleep. It may have been nerves, but probably had more to do with the fact this was my first time away from Jack.

And mile 11 was tough because my longest training run was 10 miles, so mentally it was difficult to keep going. In fact, I bribed myself by walking 1 minute at the 11 mile-mark. I wanted to do that at 12, too, but Helen and I convinced ourselves to keep going.

Chad did awesome, coming in 4th and winning his age division. This for a guy who wasn't sure if he was going to race until it started.

This is a guesstimate. Ran on 11th ave up to the 2 mile marker in City Creek. It felt surprisingly good to run again, now that my quads aren't still sore from the hills on the 1/2. Karen, in town from Austin, kept me at what felt like a fast-ish pace

Probably too many miles so soon after the 1/2 marathon. Ran from our house up Memory Grove and City Creek to the 3 mile mark. Mentally, I was prepared to end at the end of City Creek...But it was a beautiful fall day, despite the cruddy air. Ran mostly behind Chad (pushing Jack) and Karen.

This was a much-needed run up to Ft. Douglas. It was the first in my first week going back to work. I need to do a better job of fitting runs in in the morning b4 going to work. But I think it would require getting up too early. And while Jack is getting better at sleeping through the night, I still find myself pretty tired in the A.M.

It was a beautiful run this morning with Chad and Jack. Ran up to Ensign Elem, up to 12th or 13th Avenue, down Memory Grove. The temp was great, if not a little too warm, the leaves were falling. A great day.

Ran with Chad on trails in Deer Valley. We were lucky enough to stay at Stein Erickson this weekend and had a babysitter for Jack. The altitude really got to me, though. As well as overall laziness. My mileage is pathetic. Clearly, I need another race goal to get me out the door. Oh, and some warmer morning weather.

Trying to get back into a routine. It's not easy, but worth it.

Ran to the U. and back--before working from home.

Ran with (behind) Chad at Bear Lake golf course. It was too warm for mid-November!

Finally got back to running. I've been sidelined with a cold (and a bout of laziness) but it was a gorgeous way to get back into running, with snow blanketing the valley. Ran with Chad and Jack through the cemetery and down Memory Grove

35:57; pace: 10:52

In 38:06; pace of 10: 15

For real, I'm trying to get back on a sked. I even signed up for the 5K, 10K and 15K series, so I have to start running again.

Today, however, was probably not the best day to go. A yellow day, I could taste the sooty air. And my lungs are definetely suffering for it.

Ran in 31:46; average pace of 10:34.

In 29:54 ;average pace of 9:49.

Ran up Memory Grove and back home. total time 40:49; average pace of 9:37.

Ran (in my new jacket, hat and gloves!) through the cemetery, down and 11th and back. Average pace of 9:29, in 34:05. I meant to run on Christmas (what a gorgeous day) but instead we ran around the valley visiting our relatives.