18-Mile Assessment

Yesterday, Amber, Brian, Jocelyn, and I ran HWY 18 again.  Brian and Amber ran 20 miles and Jocelyn and I ran 18 miles.  That put us a couple miles before Veyo hill.  I want to give an honest breakdown of my run so I can learn from it and then not ever repeat it again.  

I woke up the morning of the run but, this time I was simply not in a positive, go-getter mood about it.  In fact, I just DID NOT want to do it!  Normally, when my alarm goes off in the too-wee hours of the morning, I am dragging but, not outright not wanting to do my run.  It's more of a feeling of hating to be awake so early and nervous about the run but, also anxious and ready to get out there and get the run going and see what kind of a run I can have.  Even though I didn't want to do the run yesterday I thought going and doing it was better than not going and skipping out on an important training run.  So, Amber Sheffield kindly dropped all of us off (as well as Autumn Cluff, because her running partner was injured and couldn't run) at our specific spots.  The weather was beautiful, stars everywhere.  I was afraid we'd have rain, thunder, and lightning but, it was fairly clear.  We started our run and everything felt fine.  I felt good, energized, and was running on track.  Then, Veyo hill came and started my speed-walk up the hill.  About 1/2 way up the hill I noticed I was not breathing well and my legs were extremely tired already.  However, I didn't listen to my body and I pushed myself harder, just so I could get that hill over with.  Well, I wasn't quite to the top, didn't have good control of my breathing, and hyperventilated, which then set my asthma into high gear.  And, once I have those things happen, it messes with my stomach and I get pretty sick.  I had my inhaler and took it but, it was too late for that.  By that time, I couldn't run very well because my stomach was flip-flopping all over the place.  I was probably only 3-4 miles into my run.  Then, I threw up.  So, off I kept trudging.  I would try to run but, my body didn't react well to that.  I tried taking my energy chews but, my stomach didn't react well and, I threw up again and one other time after that. Somewhere near mile 6, Amber and Brian caught up with me.  I was SO GRATEFUL to see them.  For some reason, when I'm struggling on the run, it always peps me up to see someone I knew.  So, we stuck together until we hit our 2nd water drop at mile 6 for me & mile 8 for Amber and Brian.  We took a few minutes to have our water and gatorade and breathe.  It was a good break for me.  I even got to see a couple ladies (Heather & Danyelle) that I've made friends with, after seeing them on our Saturday runs multiple times.  We got back on the road.  I stuck with Brian and Amber for maybe 30 seconds and then I had to walk again.  I was walking as fast I could go. I even got to see a tarantula!  I would try running here and there and the usual places that I can run without a problem, I really struggled and fought through.  Just past Diamond Valley, shortly after our 3rd water drop, at our 10 miles, it started to sprinkle.  It felt very good but, I was also worried about having a repeat storm from a few weeks before.  So, I got my butt into gear to outrun/walk the storm.  This was in between Diamond Valley and the Snow Canyon overlook.

By this point, I remember thinking I was SO BURNED OUT for the day!  I even made the weak move of calling my friend Cheryl and asking if she would come get me.  Being the kind of friend she is, she said something to the affect of, "Laura, I would be more than happy to come get you.  You know that that is going to mess up your training though.  You make the choice."  I'll admit that at the time I was mad and ticked off that she would say that.  I didn't want to hear that and I wanted the easy way out.  However, now that I'm in my right mind and can think without emotions, I know that she said and did the right thing for me and what I needed.  So, THANKS Cheryl!  I love you for being frank with me because that's what I needed at that moment.

So, I cried for a few minutes as I continued on.  Then, I got over it and tried to get going as fast as I could do.  I knew that it wasn't going to be pretty but, I was going to do the best that I could do, which wasn't much.  So, I put little goals in my head.  For example:  If you I can make it to the overpass at the Ledges, then you can stop at the overpass and have a break.  Just things like that.  So, I made it there.  I stopped and started to cry some more.  I was SO TIRED and WEAK and my stomach was a mess.  Right then, I heard my phone ringing.  I wasn't going to answer it but, I changed my mind.  On the phone was my friend Brittney.  She wanted to know how my run went for the day.  Once again, being the emotional mess I was, I began bawling and tried to explain how I was feeling.  Brittney calmly, yet sternly, told me that I was GOING TO FINISH!  We talked about how speed wasn't the concern right now.  Right now, we needed to focus on my breathing, getting it under control, and then just finishing as strong as I could.  Just one foot in front of the other.

At around 3 miles left, I rounded the corner and happened to see Kristine Sewell, who goes to church with me.  She was there to pick up her husband, who was also running the marathon route.  I stopped and said hello to her and even kept my composure and didn't cry.  What was even harder for me to do was to not ask for a ride back down to my car.  I wanted to so bad because I was really DONE at this point and just wanted to curl up into fetal position, cry, and then go to sleep, ha ha!  But, I didn't give in, said goodbye, and off I went again.  

My next sign of weakness came when I realized that Brian and Amber would be driving up at any minute, to go pick up our bags from the water drops.  I thought to myself, "Hey!  I know they'll stop and see how I'm doing, and then I'll just hop in there car."  So, I watched for car after car to come.  Finally, I see them and guess what?  No luck for me, they didn't stop.  Ha ha!  Then I thought, "Well, I bet they'll stop for me on their way back down."  So, I continued going.  At about a mile and a half to 2 miles away from the end, I saw them.  Well, they didn't stop.  Instead, true to Brian form, he was waving wildly from the car and woo-hooing, I think!  Ha ha!  I didn't have any woo-hoo in me so, I just waved.  So, of course, I cried some more!  Again though, looking back with a clear mind now, I am SO GLAD they DIDN'T stop because, I would have felt even worse about the run, knowing I was so close and didn't finish.

Shortly after that, my friend Brittney called again.  She wanted to check in, make sure I was ok.  I had just around 3/4 of a mile left, I could see the blinking lights that warn you that a stop light is ahead.  I knew I was close.  I just had to finish.  I was pretty ornery, as you can imagine.  I just kept a going and FINALLY made it to my car.  I opened the car and just kind of fell onto the drivers seat and cried and cried.  An old lady, that was there cleaning the church, came up to me (scared me TO DEATH) and asked if I was ok.  I told her I was, just tired!  She smiled and told me to hang in there.  What a sweet lady!  Then I drug myself up into my seat, cried a minute more, then headed home.  First, I called Brittney back, to let her know I was done.  Then, I called my Dad, to talk him through what happened.  As I was talking to my Dad, I pulled up in the driveway and below is what I saw:

Talk about thoughtful and kind and caring!  Brittney and her husband, JJ, had come over to my house and did this for me!  They even talked to Mike, warned him what kind of run it had been, and just kind of gave him a heads up.  Smart people, ha ha!  So, when I walked in the door, all the kids gave me hugs, told me they loved me.  Next, I saw Mike and he just wrapped his arms around me, told me he loved me, was proud of me, and asked if I was ok?  Then, he proceeded to make me a breakfast that included eggs, turkey-bacon, and toast!  Then, he told me to shower and then head to bed.  Mike was EXACTLY the kind of hubby I needed him to be!  He knew I just needed some space and some rest and I would be ok.  So, I showered and it felt SO GOOD!  Then I climbed into bed and zonked out.  That was around noon.  Next thing you know, I get woken up at 5pm and Mike was taking me on a date!

What I learned from this run is #1:  I cannot use all of my energy on Veyo Hill or I WILL NOT make it the rest of the marathon.  After Veyo Hill, I still have 19-ish miles to go!  I also know I have to make a different game plan.  Since I cannot attack Veyo Hill the way I originally planned, I will have to go slower, which means I have to make up the time in other areas.  So, I need to take advantage of the areas where I am going downhill or feeling good and make sure to run AS MUCH if not ALL of that as I can.  Also, I DESPERATELY need to work on my breathing pattern on Veyo Hill.  I used to struggle in other areas but, am doing so much better.  However, Veyo Hill is a different animal.  I really need to count in 3 out 3, or at least in 2 out 2.  I have to be smart!  I also learn that I CANNOT let my emotions and mind get the best of me or I am for sure done!!!!  I needed this run, as much as I hated it, to happen right now.  I would rather it happen now, then to happen the day of the race and look back with regret and I-shoulda'-coulda'-woulda's forever!  I'm also grateful for the moments of this run where little temptations and obstacles came upon me, that I really had to decide and dig deep to find out what I wanted.  And thank heavens Amber and Brian didn't stop because I think I would've given in!  Ha ha!

Facial Side-By-Side

I lost one of my chins!!!!  Yay!!!!!  This is great progress and nice to be able to see it!

12 Mile Run!

This morning we (Jocelyn, Amber B., Amber S., and myself) ran 12 miles.  I have to say that I was VERY excited to be running just 12 miles, rather than the 16 or more that we ran last week!  The run went a lot better than last week.  I only had shin problems during the first mile/mile and a half.  After that, I felt a lot better and relaxed.  We started our run at a great downhill spot (Diamond Valley) so, it helped start the run out on a positive.  

The temperatures were really warm today.  I was sweating pretty good in just the first mile.  By mile 3 and 4, I was dripping but, it actually felt good to have it trickle down my back and neck.

Again, there were a lot of awesome and positive runners on the road!  Everyone is really good about cheering each other on and saying hello!  It makes the run so positive and such a good experience!

My feet really started burning at mile 10!  They did so good, until then!  Hopefully my shoes come in this week but, I'm really afraid they won't be in, in time for next week's 18 mile run!  So, I need to figure something out for next week, so I don't break down and want to die!

The run through town, which will be the last 3-ish miles of the race, are tough for me!  It's mostly flat, the roads are weird, and mentally it's just tough.  I am counting and planning on it being easier to push through on the day of the race.  With people lining the street and cheering, I really think that will go a long ways to push me to the end!

Time to Change Shoes....AGAIN!!!!!!!!

I bought my first pair of actual running shoes in December 2012!  They were fabulous, loved them!  They were the Brooks Ghost series, purple/teal/white!  However, my little piggies (toes) fell asleep every time I did a run on the road!  This was ANNOYING and it also caused my toes to hurt quite a bit.  I also ran a hole into my shoes, where my big toes would hit.  So, it came time to get new shoes, and in a bigger size.  Since I loved the shoe, and the only problem I was having was sleepy toes, I ordered the same shoe, but a whole size bigger.  I experienced rare sleepy toes, usually only on the "birdy" toe (toe next to the big toe).  However, a new problem came to pass.  On my runs that were anything longer than 4 or 5 miles, I started to develop blisters.  Some of them were downright nasty!!!!

Those are pictures of the biggest creatures that developed on my feet!

Today I was out doing my mid-week run.  When I had about 1 1/2 miles to go, the part of my feet that ALWAYS gets blistered, starting BURNING horribly!!!!  Usually if I run, then my feet feel better than if I walk.  Not this time.  So, I ended up taking my shoe off, within a 1/2 mile of finishing, and walking.  My pinky toes have also cut through and made a hole in my shoes. That's when I decided it was time to go into the Running Center and look at the possibility of new/different shoes.  So, they had me try on the same brand (Brooks) but, a different style, on the right foot.  On the left foot, they put on a pair of Asics.  I ran up and down their parking lot to compare.  I was thinking/feeling that the Asics felt more natural and cushioned.  So, they put them on both feet and ran again.  Oh my goodness, it felt like I was running on a cloud!!!!  And even though my foot is rubbed raw, it still felt wonderful with this other shoe on!  So, I've ordered the Asics and they will be here soon!  I CANNOT wait to run in this new shoe!  It's wider so it'll give my feet more room and my pinkies will stop hurting!  I hope to stop developing blisters and stop rubbing my feet raw!  To be continued..............

Yesterday's 16 Mile Run

Yesterday was our 16 mile run!  We met at Vernon Worthen Park this time, so that we wouldn't have to start up the Veyo hill to begin our run!  Right as we are getting ready to leave the park, I realize that I left my iPod at home!  I was SO MAD at myself for doing that.  I had no time to go and get it so, this 16 miler was going to be VERY STRANGE without music in my ears! 

The drive up was interesting/funny, well at the least the first little bit.  We start out going and I ran a stop sign and missed a turn, all within about a minute!  I was hoping it wasn't an indication of how the rest of the morning would go, ha ha!  Then, as we're driving up the highway, I keep seeing red and blue flashing lights.  We all thought it was a cop!  However, the lights would stop and then a few minutes later it happened again!  My stomach was up in my throat!  Then, I realized that Connor and Rylie's lunch boxes were in the very back, and they had lights that go off if you shake the lunch box!  So, no cop, just lunch boxes.

We started our run and it was pitch dark!  It was so weird running without music.  I was nervous about hearing coyote's or other weird noises.  The first 1/2 mile went fine, running well but, all of a sudden my shins went into a tight, extreme, horrid pain!!!!  It was AWFUL!  I had to stop running and try to stretch my leg out.  No luck.  So for another 2 miles I tried to walk it off.  It was HORRIBLE!  I cried and cried and didn't know what to do.  I couldn't stop because how was I going to get home?  Turning around, and going back to my car was NOT an option for me.  So, I just walked as fast as I could stand.  So, I had to do that for almost 3 miles, before the pain finally subsided and I could begin jogging again.  The first few miles of leg pain really put me on the slow track.  I like to at least get 5 miles in each hour.  The first hour I was BARELY able to get 4 miles in.  I had A LOT of distance to make up, if I wanted to stay on track.  I did my best and I did well the 2nd hour of my run.  I actually got 5.12 miles in on the 2nd hour.  So, I was at 9.12 miles at this point and was feeling good.  We had had a water/gatorade drop at mile 4 and mile 8.  Unfortunately, when I got to the 8 mile drop, my water was nowhere to be found, and my handheld water bottle was empty.  Well, around mile 10, there's an area of the road where there's a big space on the side of the road to park cars, or whatever.  Here comes Joel, the man who manages where we live, and he has a cookie sheet full of cut-up fruit.  There were peaches, oranges, apples, bananas, and even watermelon!  For some reason he keeps calling me Lauren, ha ha!  Anyway, he says, "Hello Lauren!  I'm so proud of you!  You're doing it!  Come stop and have some fruit!"  I took advantage of that and had THE BEST peach!  Then, he says, "Do you need some water?  I have an extra bottle!"  He was heaven sent!  So, I filled up my water bottle, drank the extra, and was on my way.  I felt refueled and excited!  So, down the road I continued.  Mile 11.5 came and I started to really feel the impact of NOT having any music in my ear.  I was bored and the thoughts of how hard this was, how much further I had to go, etc. started flooding my mind and I started slowing a bit.  My foot had had a blister, previous to the run, and at this point I'm pretty sure is when it popped.  It was BURNING and hurt a lot.  So, on I kept going.  

On our usual long runs, we end at the church that's just past the intersection of Snow Canyon Pkwy/Bluff St. (Hwy 18).  However, because of ending at the park, we ran past that church.  Last week my group did the run to the park but, I was out of town and didn't do the run.  So, for me, it was mentally hard to see all the other runners stopping at the church and being done with their run.  For me, I still had almost 3 miles to go.  That bummed me out.  After mile 14 I really felt done.  I was in tears and had had it!

This run was nearly a 4 hour run!  Sheesh, that sounds crazy saying that!!!!  However, it didn't defeat me and I'm still ready to keep moving forward and to keep pushing!  This run was fun in a lot of ways too!  There was a lot of runners out on the highway, and such a great man of them!  I'd say 99% of them would say hello, shout encouraging words, even ask where I was from, how far I was going, and were just so friendly!  I even met up with a group who were going the pace I was and that was a lot of fun!  I met a mother-daughter pair running and they were SO GREAT!!!!

I feel like I'm getting a handle on my re-fueling process during my runs!  I've been really working on doing better and drinking and hydrating better.  The last 5 or 6 long runs I've noticed I haven't been having the stomach issues I usually get between mile 6-9!  I still am getting hungry around mile 10 so, I am going to try taking little packets of peanut butter to try and fill that hunger.

Cheryl did an AWESOME thing for me, well, all of us!  Amber had to be back home asap for things they had planned for that day.  So, she couldn't wait around for me to finish my run.  I also felt bad having to have Jocelyn waiting around, especially since she had a babysitter with her girls.  So, I talked to Cheryl and Cheryl agreed to meeting up with me, after I finished my run, and taking me back up the highway to pick up my car.  That way the other girls weren't waiting on me and it took a lot of pressure off me.

Nancy did an awesome thing for me too!  Mike is out of town and I was EXHAUSTED and hurting so, she let Connor and Rylie go over to her house and play with Preston so that I could get a much-needed nap in while Corie was taking a nap!  I have THE BEST of friends!!!!!

8 weeks exactly, from yesterday, is the St. George Marathon.  I'm still nervous and scared to death but, at the same time, I'm SO EXCITED and just feeling like I just want to do it!  The training is tough sometimes and really wears me out but, I know it is really helping and definitely preparing me for the marathon.  I'm looking forward to next week, when we'll only have run 12 miles.  I laugh that I say ONLY 12 miles!  I never, ever thought, that in a million years, that I'd be thinking 12 miles was a break for me.

I'm EXTREMELY sore and stiff from yesterday's run!  Oh I hurt!  I have to waddle/limp my way around and that gets SO EXHAUSTING!  I can only imagine what I'll be like the day of and after the marathon, ha ha!  It's amazing to me to think I did a 1/2 marathon a month ago, and that since then, I've gone 3 miles past that.  And, I physically felt SO MUCH better after the 16 miles, than I did the 1/2 marathon.  That's encouraging!

The Eve of the 16 Mile Run!

I've decided I really need to be better about posting my thoughts, breakthroughs, downs, etc. on here.  After all, this IS for me and to look back on my journey.  I want to remember as much as I can.

Tomorrow morning, I will be running 16 miles with Jocelyn and Amber B.  I've never run a 16 mile run yet, so I'm anxious to see how it will go.  I've been gone the last 3 weeks so, I've missed running on the marathon route (Hwy. 18).  I'm feeling positive and ready to do this!  We will be doing something different, for me anyway.  Instead of ending at the church, right after Snow Canyon Parkway & Hwy 18/Bluff St., we will be ending at Vernon Worthen Park.  We are doing this so that we don't start on Veyo Hill!  That would be TOUGH!  I'm excited about this change because I have yet to run the last 3 miles that will be in the marathon.  So, this way I can familiarize myself with the route more.

It's 9:15pm and I'm heading to bed now.  I have the some butterflies and anxiety that I get EVERY Friday night, before the long run.  I don't think that will every go away.  I just to carry myself and tell myself that it's no big deal but, really, I'm shaking all over, nervous, anxious, and ready to do it!

A Much-Needed Good Run to Help Fuel My Mind!

On July 29th, I did a 10-miler long run!  I had to go through 4 cities to complete the run!  This included Paradise, Hyrum, Mt. Sterling, and then finished up in Wellsville.  It's crazy to me out much further the miles seem, when I ran in Cache Valley.  It was actually kind of discouraging and sad, as my Dad would drop me off each time and I would see him drive off.  One time I caught myself thinking, "Wait!  Come back!  Take me with you!"  That, of course, was my 15 mile run, when I ran through Nibley (included a BEAST of a hill), Hyrum (freezing and stinky winds from the canyon), Mt. Sterling, and Wellsville.  Anyway, back to my 10 miler, the first 2 miles were NOT pretty!  One thing I've noticed about Cache Valley is that there is no or little room on the side of the white line.  If there is any gravel, it is not level at all!  And it seems like the people of Cache Valley are either not used to runners or are not courteous to runners!  So, the first 2 miles (starting in Paradise) I found myself either running in the bushes or trying to not get ran over.  Once I rounded the corner from Paradise into Hyrum, past Mtn. Crest High School, things got SO MUCH BETTER!  I came to love the run from Mtn. Crest to Wellsville!  It was beautiful, wide enough room to run, and not much traffic so, I wasn't worried for my life.  I loved running through Hyrum, because the road that I ran on went right past my Grandma's house.  So, each time I ran by, I would stop and have a short but great visit with her and Carl!  I looked forward to this and it was nice to have a place to fill up with water and make a potty stop too!  The run around Hyrum Dam is a little tough because it has a nice hill coming up out of it but, still beautiful!  Mt. Sterling was another one of my favorite places to run!  It was BEAUTIFUL and also very peaceful!  I also loved running past and seeing all the horses!  Wellsville wasn't my favorite spot to run!  I guess because it's usually the end of my run, I'm sore and exhausted, and there's this one dang hill that kicks my butt every time!  However, the last day I ran in Cache Valley, I ran that hill and conquered it!  I felt good after this particular 10 mile run!  I felt happy, motivated, and encouraged!  Chalk another happy run up!