The Jackpot Report

Race report time, cats and kittens! First of all, I did not get the 50 miles that I was freaking out about. And I'm perfectly fine with it. Let's hear why!

The weather was not cooperating; it was unseasonably warm in Henderson, Nevada. Heat is my Achilles heel. I knew after the first hour of running that I wouldn't make it to 50 miles. Once I came to terms with that, I was free to just relax and enjoy the run for the new experience that it was. 

The course for the race was a 2.38 mile loop around a little lake. Apparently, it's also a bird sanctuary, so there was some wildlife to enjoy during the long hours of running in circles. 

I did all those things and more. 

I wondered if I would get tired of the loop, but I didn't! With the whole course being visible, it was fun to see all the runners. Everyone was so supportive and friendly. There were many high fives and words of encouragement as we passed by each other time and time again. I also enjoyed being able to pass by my own aid tent about halfway through each loop. 

An oasis in the desert heat.

We had a cooler full of ice, which I took full advantage of throughout the day. I also organized my gear into some boxes, so I could find things easily. This paid off when runner brain hit and I couldn't think clearly. All the non-food things were in one box, iPod, Trail Toes, Ruby's Lube, the Fixing your Feet book, my flashlight and headlamp, etc. And the other box had my bags of Tailwind, gels, chews, electrolyte tabs, etc. People passing through thought my box idea was brilliant. 

The aid station that the race provided had a dunking cooler so we could soak our hats and bandannas in ice water to keep cool. I loved that feature. I also loved loved loved the watermelon. I think I almost ate an entire watermelon over the course of the race. Another thing I really liked eating were the bean burritos. Those things were AH-MAZE-ING. As the day progressed and the sun went down, they started bringing out the brownies, cheesecake, burgers, and hot dogs. I just couldn't bring myself to eat anything that heavy or rich though. I did have my very first ever Cup of Noodles. I was just looking for some broth, since the sun had gone down and I wanted something warm and salty. It was the giant industrial size too, I only managed to eat a third of it and then I just drank all the broth. I felt pretty good after that. 

One of the feeling good moments.

I had so many periods of feeling good, then bad, then good again. The first downturn I took was about 3 hours in. I felt a hot spot under my big toe on my left foot. I never get hot spots or blisters, so I knew I needed to take care of it, ASAP. I got to my tent, took of my shoes and the left sock, and examined the area. There was no blister yet; I had caught it before it turned into anything serious. I slathered some Trail Toes (it's great stuff) over the area and put my sock back on. Then I changed into my other pair of shoes (I was running in Hokas, the Bondi and Tarmac models) and I felt brand new after that. 

I enjoyed about an hour of feeling renewed, then I tanked pretty hard around 4 hours. My stomach was not feeling very good. I had to take a few minutes to just sit very still in the shade of my tent. But I made myself get up and keep going. At about five and a half hours, my stomach was feeling much better and I perked up substantially. At this point, I also allowed myself to listen to my iPod. I wanted to make it to around 6 hours without any music, that way it was like a little reward. I cranked up my jams and I was on my way. Hours 6 and 7 were fantastic. Shuffle mode knew I needed some fun music, and songs by Flight of the Conchords kept coming on (I'm the hiphopopotamus, my lyrics are bottomless). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfqiC92INO4   I was cruising around the course, the sun was finally going down, cool air was coming in, and a gorgeous sunset was brewing. 

Another downturn hit around 8 hours and that's when I really started wondering if I had another 4 hours in me. I did a fair bit of moping and face pulling, but I got back out there and just kept plodding along. At just after 9 hours in, I decided that it was dark enough and cool enough to change into a long sleeved shirt and I exchanged my visor for a buff. Putting on a clean shirt after you've been sweating in the same one for 9+ hours is a little slice of heaven, let me tell you, 

The last hour was the most difficult. I firmly believe this is because my brain knew it was the last hour. The closer it got to the 12 hour mark, the more things starting hurting, the more aches and pains popped up, the more my motivation waned. But my youngest brother was there to help me through my second to last lap. He offered to pace me, which blew my mind, since he doesn't run. AT ALL. He saw how slow I was moving though, and he knew he could just power walk me through the lap. And that's what he did. That lap seemed to go by very quickly. I was grateful to have that support when I needed it most. 

It's a running joke now that my mom always has to take a picture of me stopping my watch.

I decided to stop at 11:46:55, since I knew I couldn't get another full lap in before the 12 hour mark. My mileage total was 42.84, a new distance PR.  And that was totally fine by me. My brain just wasn't having it anymore. My body could have kept plodding along for who knows how long, but the mental part was toast. So I got my medal and hobbled my way back to our tent. 

A little grainy, a little bit of a crazed look in my eyes. Whee!

After I got over to our tent, I tried to just sit down, but that still put some pressure on my feet. So I ended up just lying on the ground, which turned into pathetic shivering on the ground. The nice man who had set up next to us brought me over a Muscle Milk shake. That helped more than he knew. I didn't think to bring anything for afterwards, we just had snack type food, and I was done with that. We got everything packed up and I bid my fellow runners adieu. There were still so many out there, tackling the 24 hour and 100 mile events. I did not envy them then.

After I got back to the hotel, had a hot shower, and a bit of real food, I was feeling pretty decent. My legs weren't burning up like they were after my first 50K, I actually slept a bit better too. Sleeping after a tough effort is always difficult for me, but it wasn't too bad this time. And when I got up Sunday morning, I was feeling basically normal, like I should go out and get some more miles! Weird.  My recovery through this whole week has been going very well and the run I did last night felt super duper. I must be getting better at this whole thing.

And since I've been feeling so stellar, I decided to sign up for the race again for next year! After I signed up, I sent a text to my mom telling her that I had signed up and paid for next year's race. Her response: "Of course you did.". What I didn't tell her was that I signed up for their new 48 hour event. If you're reading this now, mom, surprise! Your daughter has lost her mind! I'm thinking that 150 miles sounds like a doable distance in that amount of time. And just reading over that sentence makes me question my sanity. Oh well! It's going to be a blast. And a trial. And a party. I even peer pressured my running friend, Jamie, into the 12 hour event. I know she's going to love/hate it as much as all of us out there did. 

Until next time, happy running!

A race report and a revelation.

I'll start with the race report, that way, when I get to my rambling emotional stuff, you can bow out. My first race of the year was the St. George Half Marathon. I haven't run this race before, so it was fun to get out and run about the red rocks and palm trees.

I enjoyed this race. The organization was good and we were smart to stay at the hotel that was practically at the start line. Packet pick up was easy and the expo was a decent size. The course was pretty nice. Who am I kidding, I was just happy to get out of the cold, dreary weather of Utah County and down to sunny southern Utah. I especially liked the bike path that we got to run on for the last 5 or so miles. It was nice to get off the road and away from the traffic. I've done some training runs down in St. George while on vacation, but I had never found where to get on that path. Now that I know, I can use it in future training.

Enjoying the bike path.

Flying through the finish.

I went to this race with a great group of runners. The people that I rode down to the race with waited patiently at the finish line for me, the slowest of the Meet Up folks. That was kind of them. I felt very strong through this race, which was a pleasant surprise, since it came just a week after my 33.26 mile effort. I'm feeling quite optimistic about my upcoming ultras with how well things have been going with my training. Which means I better rein in that optimism, because every time I've felt ready, something has gone horribly awry.

Success!

So now we're to the part where things get all deep and emotional. You can tune out, I won't even mind. I've been thinking about why I run. It's been on my mind more than ever these last few weeks. It's funny, as I logged on to write this blog, I saw a blog post by my friend Jeremy that went into depth about why he runs. I guess it's that time of year or there's something in the water...

I had a realization about why I spend hours upon hours running. I've realized that I run so long because of my aloneness. Aloneness isn't exactly loneliness, but it's similar. Loneliness, to me, encompasses an element of sadness. I'm not all that sad. Just alone.

I've always had trouble connecting with people. It seems to get worse as I get older. I've always been just a little "off" I suppose. I was never popular, I never dressed right (still don't), I never followed the popular music scene, etc.

Not fitting in used to bother me more, and I tried so hard to fit in. I spent too much time trying to look right, say the right things, pretended to like the things that others liked. I forced myself out of the house for weekends on end, going out with guys I didn't care for because the weekends were for dating and that's what normal people do.

Finally, I found that if I filled my weekends with races, I had an excuse not to go out all the time. I had to go to bed early during the week to get my training in. It gave me an out. People didn't like it, so they left. And I was okay with that. I hit the point where I only want to spend time with the people who truly understand me.

So running all those races is one thing. But why the longer distances? I've figured that out too. How much better is it for me to run when I'm feeling my aloneness than to binge eat, or wind up in some dive bar, sharing a drink we call loneliness (But it's better than drinking alone! Everyone sing along, you know the words). It's a healthy outlet of sorts. I spent over 8 hours last Sunday in the act of running. I found a lot of peace in it. I understand myself, so I don't mind spending all that time alone with my thoughts.

So  running is my aloneness therapy. And then, when it's race time, I get to be a little less alone. I get to be part of a group trying to accomplish the same end. We all have to go the same distance. There's a sense of camaraderie, shared goals, purpose. And for a few hours (more than a few hours, depending on the distance) I belong.

In this life, there's very little we actually have control over. There's a saying out there about running. It's something along the lines of "running is an honest endeavor, you get out of it exactly what you put in", And it's true. I can control my efforts, my dedication, my attitude about it. When I feel like everything is spiraling out of control, as it so often does in life, I can go for a run. When I feel sad, I can go for a run. I can have a good cry when I run and no one knows because I can pass it off as sweat. When I feel happy, I can run and enjoy the feeling of moving my body. And after every run, I'm in a better mental  place than I was before I started.

So that's why I run. You can do with that what you will. Another therapeutic blogging session, courtesy of yours truly. Until next time, run happy. Or sad, or lonely, or alone, or however you need to run.

The fear report

The realization of what I have done has come crashing down on me, which is strange. On the advice of a very dear friend, I am writing as a way to deal with things (things like, let's say, emotions, and stuff).  And as an act of bravery (or stupidity, you decide), I have chosen to put this writing out into the aether.

Why should I be so terrified of this year's race schedule? My training has been going amazingly well. Last Saturday, I ran 33.26 miles in seven hours (about 7:20 if we count the time spent changing shoes, shirt, bathroom breaks, etc). Even counting that time spent doing things that would keep me comfortable, that is still 1 hour and 49 minutes faster than my first official attempt at that distance back in June at the Trail Rail Run. And then I ran another 5 miles on Sunday. Because it seemed like the thing to do. It wasn't easy, but I didn't have to stop and walk so I must have been feeling well enough.

So why, now, today, am I scared? I've been obsessively number crunching since Sunday night. I desperately want to get 50 miles in during my 12 hour event next month. And all of the sudden, I'm overcome with doubt that I'll be able to achieve that.Not just a little doubt, but oppressive, consuming self doubt.  The thoughts that are filling my head now are all about how I shouldn't linger at the aid stations. I should perfect every little move I make. I know that I'll need to change out of my wet clothes once the sun starts going down or I'll freeze to death. And now I'm overly concerned with how long that is going to take. I know I can't skip that, or I'll be miserable, and possibly hypothermic if I don't change.

Why is it all of the sudden so important to get 50 miles in 12 hours? That works out to an average of 14:40 minute/mile pace. When I see those numbers, I KNOW I should be able to do that. But then I realize that I will have to stop. Eat. Change. Cry. Have a massive breakdown. Rebound. Eat some more. Those things take time. Time that cuts into that minute/mile equation.

I've been able to run a consistent sub 6 hour marathon this past little while. So I should be fine, right? Probably not, since I have to run two sub sixes to make 50 in 12. And as you keep going, you get tired. You slow down. Okay, well maybe YOU don't. But I sure as hell do.

And that leads me to the fear of my first official 50 mile event. There's a 14 hour time limit, so I shouldn't be having panic attacks, right?  Right?! Well guess what. I'm panicking. Big time panicking. I know a lot of it has to do with the fact that I don't want to be last. Again. Second to last is perfectly acceptable. Why is second to last so perfectly fine? I don't know. I just don't want to be last. I've been the last person to finish a race multiple times. As in more than once. As in, it happens more frequently than I am happy admitting. But for some reason, I love the last person. I love to stay and watch them come in, if I've somehow managed to not be in their place. I am always so proud of them. It seems like they worked harder than anyone to get to that finish line and they didn't give up. I often cry at finish lines, watching that last person come through. So why can't I love being last?

Scared, That's what I am. Scared to be last. Scared of how much it will hurt. Scared to fail. Scared that people will make fun of me because my very best effort is something that would shame them into never participating in another event. Does this happen to other people? Am I just losing my mind? It's just running, what's the big deal?

I've made huge strides in my progress as a runner. I need to focus on that. Perhaps all that's happening here is the fear of the unknown. I don't know how much pain is waiting for me during these events I've put on my plate.  My longest run to date was last Saturday's run. A couple of years ago, I never would have dreamed I could do anything over a marathon distance. And I have 4 times now, and I haven't felt all that terrible afterwards. But when I try to fathom doubling that distance, which is scheduled to happen this October, I get sick to my stomach. I shouldn't mention the fact that I've also committed to my first 100 miler, one year from now... Eep. Who does that?! Who commits to run 100 miles when she hasn't even completed a 50 miler without dying?!

That sick feeling, it's the same way I felt at the starting line of my first marathon,even my first half marathon. Oh, who am I kidding, my first 5K scared me. I guess that means I should keep that in mind. Once it's conquered, it's not going to have the same effect as it once did. I just have to do my best to show up prepared, in body and mind. Give it all I've got. And If I happen to be last (again), I should make it look good.

Huh, I do feel a little better now that I've got that out.

Until my next race report (or cathartic writing sesh), happy running :)

2014 out, 2015 in!

Some people I know hate when a new year rolls around. They hate the passing of the time, they hate getting older. I, however, love it. Each day that passes in my life brings better and better things. Sure, there are the standard ups and downs. And my past is not full of unicorns and butterflies. I've had my fair share of bad things happen in my life, but I've long since realized that attitude is everything in this life.

 2014 was pretty darn good, ladies and gentlemen. I set out with a goal to run 1200 miles for the year. I beat that goal by a tidy sum, racking up an even 1300 miles. I logged my biggest month of mileage in December with 171 miles. I ran (well, walked, ran, and zombie shuffled) my first ultra marathon. I finally got myself off the pavement and onto some trails. And in doing so, I've met some of the most inspiring people.

2014 was a year where I feel like I've actually found myself. I've come to a place where I am more open than I've ever been. I'm more confident, more focused. I still have moments where I struggle. I wouldn't be human if I didn't. But I can't think of a time in my past where I've been so wholly happy with the direction I'm going.

You all may be wondering how all this super personal stuff about me relates to running. Or maybe you've figured it out (because the people who read my blog are no dummies). It all relates to running. All of it. The way that running has challenged me, rewarded me, and fulfilled me, has changed me and all for the better. And the best part is the people. Seriously, the runners that I have met are some of the kindest, most patient, generous people I've ever encountered. I spent far too long feeling like I didn't fit in with "runners" because of my slower pace. But when I think back, not once did any other runner make me feel like I didn't belong. That was all in my head.

I want to give a special thank you to my friend Jamie for sticking out a four hour training run with me a few weeks ago. It was cold and wet, and I wasn't moving fast. But she didn't seem to mind it at all. I had never done a training run with someone else before. I probably apologized to Jamie for my pace about a hundred times. But she just stayed positive and supportive the whole time. While I have been at races with other people, we hang out at the beginning and the end but not during, except for the Route 66 Half, where I ran the entire race with Geof. I have to say, having someone to keep you going when you don't want to keep going makes all the difference. I'm really grateful for the people who are willing to spend some miles with me and help me make my goals. And the longer I run, the more people I meet who want to spend those miles with me.

I still have some insecurities with running with others. And heaven help me if an attractive man wants to go running together. Especially if it's someone I really look up to as a runner. One of these days, I'll be able to put my ego aside and go out and run with anyone who offers. That's something I am going to focus on this year. Like I said, it's all in my head. No one I know would ever make me feel inadequate (because I kicked all of those types of people out of my life a long time ago).

2015 is going to be a blast. I've built up a solid base to do well with the running goals I've set for this year. I am aiming to run an ultra marathon distance once per month through the year. I even got a jump start on that by getting in two runs over 26.2 miles in the month of December. I registered for a 50 mile race today. That was a scary thing for me, but also really exciting. Hopefully, by the time that race rolls around, I will have run 50 miles twice before, by way of the two 12 hour events I'm doing before then. The 12 hour events don't seem as daunting, because there is no set mileage. I think they will do wonders for my confidence when it comes to these bigger distances.

So there you go. Y'all know more about me than you've ever wanted. Let's all have a wonderful 2015. Let's make the most out of every moment. We'll never be here again, so make sure it means something. Show your gratitude. Let people know how much they mean to you. Hug more. Laugh more. Don't take yourself too seriously. Go out and have adventures, get messy, get lost. That's how to live, and learn, and grow. Plus, it'll give us all some cool stories to tell when we get old.  Until next time, happy running!

November/December race report

I, being the race addict that I am, managed to get three more half marathons in after the main racing season ended. If I had had a bit more money for travel, I could have fit in a few more. Curse my first world problems.

In November, I traveled to exotic Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the Route 66 half marathon. I decided to throw in the 5k the day before the half marathon. I really don't like the 5k distance. I never actually get warmed up before the race ends. But this one went pretty well, except for the mistake I made of starting at the very back. Turns out, I don't *totally* suck at 5Ks. I spent too long weaving around people to get free to run my pace. It was definitely nice to have that as a shake out run after the time spent traveling.

The next day was the main event. My friend Geof and I had been planning on running this race together for months. And then he had to go and get Plantar Fasciitis. He was a trooper though and didn't drop from the race. So the plan for the day changed from getting a shiny new PR to just getting through. It is nice not to worry about a finish time. It gave us a chance to really enjoy the scenery. There are some really gorgeous areas in Tulsa. And hills? Forget about 'em. There were some inclines, sure. But hills? Nah.

Having fun along the course.

It was a really well done race. I was happy with the course, the organization, the medal, and the company. There was a great group of runners out there, so many Marathon Maniacs and Half Fanatics. The weather cooperated and Geof finished strong. I might go back for the marathon one of these days.

The medal spins. I like spinner medals. I'm easily entertained. 

The next race in November was on Thanksgiving, my annual running of the Thankful 13. Now I love this race, which is why I come back every year. But this year was really rough on me. Not because the race is tough, it's a pretty nice one. It was mentally rough. Back in the early days of my running, I didn't know any other runners, really. I'd do my thing, nobody was watching. As long as I finished under 3 hours, I was pleased. Now that I've been doing this for a few years, I know quite a few runners. And many of these runners that I know are really good at running. And many of them were at this race. And they were all planning on sticking around at the finish line until I crossed. Ouch. I didn't realize that would affect me as much as it did. It made me very self conscious and quite frankly, I was embarrassed by my (what was an average time for me) finish time. And ever since that race I've been struggling with the mental aspect.

A nice medal can take the sting out of any disappointment. 

I know that a big source of unhappiness is comparing yourself to others. I know it; I understand it. But it doesn't really seem to matter that I know it. I still feel frustrated with myself and my abilities. With me, improvement comes slowly. So I just have to be patient. It took me years to break the 6 hour marathon mark but I got there. I just have to keep the right frame of mind and not get caught up in the comparison game. It's a daily struggle.

Alright, enough of the heavy stuff. My last race of the year was the Baker's Dozen half marathon down in Hurricane, Utah. This was a loop race, and you had to eat at least one treat per loop. I was nervous about that, since I really am not the biggest doughnut fan. Thankfully, they quartered the doughnuts so I only ended up eating one whole doughnut for the entire race. And it didn't bother my stomach much. I also had a little hot chocolate each lap, which helped warm me up on that chilly morning. At least the rain held off until after the race. My mom actually ran the 5k that was with this half. It was her first race and I am so proud of her for taking the plunge. She was so nervous but she did great.

Wooooooo!

I think this is the biggest medal I have ever received. 

So that's it for race reports this year. I may do a year in review in a couple of weeks, I'm sure y'all are waiting with baited breath for that. I've got some big stuff going down in 2015 so I'll make sure to keep up with the blogging. Until then, happy running!

A busy October

October was a busy running month for me. I scheduled myself five half marathons in one month. Really, it was more like three weeks. I started with the Mountain View Trail Half out on Antelope Island. This was my first ever trail half. And I have to say, it was pretty darned fantastic.

Running around with these guys? Very neat.

It was such a beautiful day out on the island. I was thrilled to see herds of bison just roaming around the trails. It turns out that the faster runners would have to break up a herd to continue on the trail. Being slower, I missed all that excitement. I took a very leisurely attitude towards this race. I carried my phone to make sure I could get pictures and I ended up stopping for a lot of photo ops.

Moving right along.

Bison herd! 

I probably should have tried a little harder in this race, I finished second to last... And my slow finish lead my mom to think that I had been trampled by a rogue bison. I didn't have any close calls, I was just enjoying my jaunt around the island. Next year, I'll step it up a bit.

Before the race, exited to be here!

After the race, still excited to be here!

My second race for the month was the SOJO half marathon. I ended up liking this race more than I thought I would. After enjoying the trails so much on Antelope Island, I was less than thrilled by the prospect of running though the suburbs. But the Daybreak area is filled with interesting architecture and I was pleased with the course. I ended up running a nice, strong race. I was trying to run conservatively, since the next day I would be running another half down in Moab. But sometimes, you just feel so good, you can't hold back. 

Finishing strong!

With my brother afterwards, he did the bike tour.

After I got cleaned  up from the SOJO, we hopped in the car and headed straight to Moab so I could get my packet for the Other Half the next day. The Other Half is a tough course, but I love it. This was my third year running it. I did all I could to recover my legs once we got to the hotel. I did an Epsom salt soak, foam rolling, and some yoga. It must have worked, since I was only three minutes slower than my time last year. The hills didn't seem as daunting this year. Maybe that's because I feel like I know the course now or maybe I'm just getting stronger as a runner. Either way, it's always phenomenal to run in Moab. 

Moaaaaaaaaabbbbb! Whoooo!

Then it was recovery time. I spent most of the next week on the spin bike at the gym to take it easy on the legs. I had a big weekend coming up since I scheduled two half marathons in one day. It seemed like a good idea at the time I signed up. I managed to convince my running friend, Jamie, to join in the madness with me. She jumped at the chance. We were both excited and I was still pretty optimistic when race day arrived. The first race was the Haunted Half. It was a nice run down Provo canyon. Since it was down a canyon, I ended up running faster than I had wanted to. But again, I was feeling really good, so it was difficult to dial it back. I just hoped that the 5 hours I had between races would be enough to make the second half go smoothly. 

Just a couple of spooky skeletons, running crazy miles.

I recovered with a Beto's breakfast burrito and an hour and a half nap. Perhaps the nap was a mistake... My legs had stiffened up during the nap. So I spent some more time with the foam roller and hoped for the best. 

Ready to run! Again.

As you can see, we used awesome gear to keep us motivated for this two-a-day. Our outfits got a great reaction from the other runners. Our spirits were high as we set out on our second half marathon of the day. I was a little stiff at first, but then I settled into a decent rhythm. The night was perfect for running. The temperature was ideal and the sunset was incredible. There were quite a lot of spectators out and the little kids were the best. They loved seeing all the costumes and they all wanted high fives. I actually felt pretty good until mile 9 (mile 22 for the day), so I counted that as a sign that I had trained well enough. I even found the strength to dig deep and have a nice sprint to the end. Although, after the race, I sat down and then had a difficult time getting back up again... I will say, it was worth it to take on this challenge. 

A gh-gh-gh-ghost!

In my opinion, two halves with a break in the middle is more difficult than just running a marathon all at once. The fatigue that settles into your legs in between the races is the big obstacle. But it was still such a blast! Plus, I got to level up in the Half Fanatics and we all know how much I love medals. Two in one day? That makes it the best day.

I have a nice bit of a break before I head to Tulsa for the Route 66 Half Marathon. And then training gets serious. I have two 12 hour races scheduled next year, with the first one being in February. That means my winter will be filled with much running. But hey, that's going to help burn off all that good holiday food! I eat, therefore I run. 

Until next time, happy running!

Behold! The power of the internet!

For the last two months, my internet has been unreliable at best. It hampered my blogging abilities and frustrated me on countless occasions. But the problem has been remedied and now you can all read about the last 6 races that I've run! Hooray!

Half marathon number 46 was the Park City half. Having sworn an oath never to run the full marathon in Park City again (and there was lots of actual swearing, the curse word kind), the half seemed like a nice option. I should have known that it would be a hilly beast anyway. That's all Park City knows how to do. I still had a nice race, and the shirt and medal were much better this year than when I ran the full.

I was going to beat that guy, so help me.

Very pretty medal.

Then there was the Top of Utah half marathon, half number 47. I was worried about the weather for this race, as the rain had been coming down in buckets the night before. It was a chilly, damp morning up the canyon, but the rain held off while the temperature remained nice and cool. I always run better when it's cool outside. I finished feeling really strong. Most of my races lately have been better the second half than the first. This bodes well for my future ultra aspirations.

I never look like I'm moving all that fast, but I was moving right along.

Moose swag is the best swag.

Half number 48 was the Murdock Half, along the new-ish Murdock Canal trail. It was a very small race, so I knew that I would be one of the last people across the line. And I was,but not the very last. I managed to beat 2 other people. But all of us finished in under 3 hours and we were all quite pleased with ourselves.

The shirt is cozy. I like cozy.

Half number 49 followed on Labor Day, with just one day of rest between half 48 and 49, I wasn't expecting a fantastic performance. This race had less than 30 people. I was by far the heaviest person there, and the course was straight up a mountain and then back down. But you know what? I wasn't last in this race either. Again, I beat two other people. And I finished in a much better time than I thought I would. I pushed hard on the uphill and flew back down. It turned out to be a nicer race than I had expected.

I have yet to see this "monster" they speak of.

The ever important watch stopping picture.

All of this jam packed racing was leading up to my 50th half marathon, the Nebo Half. I plotted and planned to have this one be my 50th, because it had been my very first. It's one of my favorite races. The course is gorgeous, the medals are stunning, and it's always been perfect on race day. This race was no exception. I finished in a very good time, only 4 minutes off my all time best. I had a nice support group with friends and family both running and waiting at the finish line. We had a little tail gate party afterwards to celebrate. The day was everything that I had hoped for.

Whee! Happy with this day/race/everything!

My friend Melissa, smashed her previous best time by nearly an hour! 

Hanging out with our trainer after, basking in the glory.

I'm sad this picture didn't turn out better...

All of these glorious half marathons were leading up to my last big race of the year, the Big Cottonwood Marathon. And when it came to the week of the race, I plain just didn't want to do it. I kept threatening to drop down to the half. I don't know why I had such a bad attitude towards this race. I really liked it last year. My training was just fine. I hadn't bombed any of my long runs, I was feeling healthy and fine. I just didn't want to run that far.

My friend Jamie and her husband were both running this race, and she had threatened me with a stern face that I needed to suck it up and run the full marathon. I'm glad I did. It turned into my best marathon experience ever. Like of all time, ever. There were so many Marathon Maniacs there one in particular really helped me through the last 10 miles. Cody became my marathon friend and it made all the difference. I don't really get to run with people much, since our paces are all so different. But Cody and I had the same pace and the same philosophy towards the race.

Feeling fine on one of our agreed upon walk breaks.

The last 10 miles went so well, I ended up beating my previous best time by 13 minutes. That's huge. I had no idea I was capable of a finish like that while still being able to walk the next day. I felt so good for the entire day even. I guess all that training really is paying off.

Look at my watch! Look at it! The time is amazing!

Wheeeeeeee!!!

PR baby. Yeah.

So there you have it. If I could have blogged more regularly, there would have been much more detail. But pictures are more fun than my rambling. I have all kinds of craziness coming up this month and I'll try to keep up on it all. Until then, happy running!