Layton 1/2 Marathon Recap

It's been a week since my 1/2 marathon. I apologize for it taking so long to get a race recap in here.

A week before the 1/2 marathon I was sick for about 10 days and hadn't been able to workout. As you can read in the previous post, I was nervous about the race, because I didn't know how I would do physically, but mentally I was ready for it. I just felt ready.

This was my second year doing the race. The first year it was an out and back course, and this year, they bussed us out to the starting line.

The race was supposed to start at 7:30 a.m. and it didn't start until about 8:10 a.m. I was getting kind of impatient at the starting line until I found out that it was out of the race directors control as to why we were starting late. The race director had ordered 9 school busses to get everyone out to the 1/2 marathon starting line and only 6 showed up!

The only other downer about the starting line was it was terribly cold. I didn't dress too warm for the race because I knew as soon as I started running I'd warm right up. But before the race, it was SUPER cold and they only had a very small heater for everyone to crowd around. :(

Finally the race started and I started my heart rate monitor. I normally don't look at my heart rate monitor during the race because it messes with my mind. I can see the time and I'm afraid it'll mess with my mind too much and it'll frustrate me. I decided to look at my heart rate monitor at the 1.0 mile mark and I had ran the first mile in 8:45!!! Woot woot!!! Never run that fast before.

I tried SO hard to keep the pace up for most of the race. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep it up the whole race, but I wanted to keep that pace for as long as I could.

I kept looking for my dad along the race route too, but never saw him. It was really frustrating. However, there were lots of other people along the route that was cheering everybody on. There were lots of cowbells!

I didn't check my watch again until the 1/2 way mark. When I got to the half way mark I looked at my watch and it said 1:08:45. That didn't register in my mind that it was slower than a 10 minute pace until just now, but I still don't care. I felt like I was keeping a good pace.

Soon after the 1/2 way mark, there was a little boy, probably couldn't have been more than 3-4 years old and he was holding a poster board that said "Touch this sign for extra energy!" It was SO cute. Everybody that ran past touched the sign.

Soon after the 1/2 way mark, I started to feel rumblies in my tumblies. I thought "oh crap!" (no pun intended). I told myself though, I don't care if I crap myself, I REFUSE to stop at a honeybucket along the way. That is VERY valuable time.

Right during the rumblies in my tumblies, my earphones kept falling out of my ears. I thought screw this and ran the last 6.5 miles with no music. I should have done that from the start.

I finally crossed the finish line at 2:11:01.1! Yes, that is a new PR. My time from last year was 2:12:37. So, I improved my time by a whole 1 1/2 minutes! That is a LONG time in the racing world.

As soon as I crossed the finish line I headed straight for the honeybuckets. God bless the honey buckets! Lol. Wow, never thought I'd say that.

Unfortunately, the only pictures my dad got was at the finish line. Every time he tried to pull over on the course to watch for me, a police officer told him he couldn't park there. :( So, that's why I never saw my dad along the course. I'm not sure where my camera is right now, so that's why there are no pictures on here.

I was just thinking tonight...the 1/2 marathons are getting easier and easier. I didn't struggle with energy or anything during this race. I'm SO ready to try my hand at a full marathon. I'm going to try & sign up for the Ogden full marathon in May 2012.

Ready or Not

Ready or not, here I come 1/2 marathon. In 2 days I'm running the Layton 1/2 Marathon.

This is my second year running this 1/2 marathon and I'm pretty excited. They've changed the course a little bit and I'm super excited. Last year it was an out and back course. This year, they're bussing us out to the causeway to Antelope Island and then we'll run back 13.1 miles. I'm excited to be running on the causeway. This is a nice run. Last year I saw parts of Layton that I've never seen before and I've lived in Utah my entire life. Lol. It's actually a pretty flat course too.

I wanted to do the full marathon. I emailed the race directors a couple of months ago to see if I could upgrade and do the full marathon, but they never emailed me back, so I'm just sticking with the 1/2 marathon. My first full marathon will be next May.

Earlier this week I wasn't feeling to hot. I'd been sick for about 2 weeks and this last Monday was the first day I felt REALLY good. So, I've been working out every day this week. I've been pretty worried lately about my running this 1/2. Especially since I haven't been able to workout as much lately.

Today while I was at work, I just got this overwhelming feeling that I'm SO ready for this race. I might not set a PR, but mentally I am ready for this race.

Ideally I'd love to finish this race in less than 2 hours, but I don't think that's too practical considering I've been sick and this is the first full week I've been able to workout. Last year I finished in 2:10:00, so I ran a 10 minute mile, but I just don't think it's practical to hope I finish in less than 2 hours. I'll be happy just finishing.


Me before the race last year

Best Time

I had my best time ever running up City Creek Canyon on Friday. It was an out and back 5 mile run. So I ran 2 1/2 miles up, and 2 1/2 miles back. There are parts of the canyon that are pretty steep. The farther up you go, the steeper it gets.

But, I only did 5 miles 'cause that's the amount of time I had available to me. I did it in 50 minutes. So, I stuck to a 10 minute mile the entire time. I'm pretty satisfied with that considering I hadn't been running for a while.

I was so excited to be back out & running. I had gone swimming Friday morning as well. I was feeling pretty good.

Unfortunately, about midnight on Friday, I felt like I hit a brick wall. My cold came back. :( It's more a chest cold than it is a head cold. It really sucks. So, I'm back to taking Mucinex every 12 hours and I hope that it clears up asap.

No matter what, I've got to get up and go swimming tomorrow morning and running tomorrow night. Come hell or high water, I'm going to do my 1/2 marathon next Saturday.

Can I Not Catch a Break?

Can I not catch a break? I woke up in the middle of the night last night with my nose super stuffed up. First thing I thought was "Shit! I've got a 1/2 marathon on Friday night! I don't have time to be sick right now."

So, I got up and took some Sudafed hoping that it's allergies. The Sudafed worked, but then I got to work this morning and took some cold medicine. That worked too! What the hell? Is it a cold or is it allergies? I sure wish I knew.

I just hope that I'm feeling better by the time it's time to run my 1/2 marathon this Friday night.

Marathon Training

I've decided that after my 1/2 marathon in July, I'm going to continue up'ing my mileage on my runs and attempt to train for a full marathon.

If it goes well, I will hopefully run my first full marathon in October. I think I can do it.

I guess we'll see how it goes.

What I Want

This weekend while doing the Ragnar Relay, I figured out exactly what I want as far as a spouse, etc.

My personal trainer, B.J. and his wife Chrystel competed in the Ragnar. I saw them a couple of times throughout the race. They have an 8 year old son too and he was there. He didn't compete in the race, but he was there with them.

That is what I want. I want a spouse that enjoys doing 1/2 marathons, marathons, relays and triathlons with me.

I've always been afraid that if I were to get married and have a family that would be the end of triathlons and marathons, etc., but seeing B.J. and Chrystel competing in the Ragnar this weekend with friends and bringing their son along with them proved to me that you can have a family and still do triathlons etc.

The only problem is, I don't know how to go about finding that person. People have always said that a good place to meet someone is at the gym. Well, they've never been to the gym I go to. Because of the neighborhood and city I live in, alot of people are married. Every guy I've seen at the gym is married. :( Plus, alot of guys when they workout don't wear a wedding ring, so how do you know if they're married or not?

I just don't know how to go about finding someone who likes to do the same things I do. I guess that's why I'm still happily single.

I Didn't Think I Could Do It...

I didn't think I could do it, but I did! Yesterday I went outside and ran 8 miles! Because I've had shin splints a couple of times this season, I've really just been doing the eliptical trainer at the gym and then running on the weekends.

It had been 2 weeks since I had actually run. I'd done alot of miles on the eliptical trainer, but nothing on the treadmill, nothing on the indoor track or on the treadmill.

I was very scared and nervous as got up bright and early to get my 8 miles in before heading in to work. But, I made sure I had enough water, my music (gotta have music) and I mapped out a good route before heading out.

The route I decided to run had a few hills, but they weren't too steep. I got out there and wasn't even winded while running. I even got to run through some sprinklers at a park I had to run around. :)

I thought I was going to run a 10 minute mile. Before I got shin splints, I was getting to the point where I could run a 9:30 mile. But, after I got done with the run this last Saturday, I looked at my watch and it took me 1:21:00. I do have to take in to consideration I was stopped by 3 red lights, so technically I ran it faster than 1:21:00.

I'm so excited!! I have faith in myself that I'll be able to do this 1/2 marathon that I'm signed up for in 5 weeks! Yay!

Running After the Race

Yesterday, I had my Splash & Sprint Triathlon, but then right after the race, I had to head inside and run 4 more miles on a treadmill. Why might you ask? I've got a 1/2 marathon coming up in about 6 weeks that I need to prepare for. I need to get my long runs in on the weekend. I needed to run 7 miles yesterday.

Those 4 miles on the treadmill felt like hell. But you wanna know something? I secretly enjoyed it. Why? It gave me the satisfaction of knowing I can run 7 miles.

Something else that excites me? Because I ran 7 miles along with biking 12 miles and swimming 350 yds, I pushed myself beyond what I normally do (a good thing) and it made me kind of sick. Granted part of the sick was because I'm on new medication for my depression (a whole different story), but I think I was kind of dehydrated too. I'm not sure why. I made sure I drank water on the bike and run.

I've always wanted to feel sick from working out. I know this sounds weird, but I've always wanted it. Why? It makes me feel like a real athlete.

Weird, I know. So, yeah, I'm kind of excited about that. This next Saturday, I have another triathlon. When I get home from that triathlon (it's about 1 hour away), I need to go up to the gym and run 5 miles. :) I will however prepare myself better and drink some gatorade or something on my way home from the triathlon.

I ran 6 miles!

Before I had shin splints, I ran 6-10 miles almost every day and then on Saturday or Sunday, I would do a long run (10+ miles). I wasn't very good at stretching before I ran either. Hence why I ended up getting shin splints.

Well, ever since I had shin splints, it took everything to run between 3-4 miles and I would still be in a little bit of pain.

Well, I now have a 1/2 marathon coming up in about 10 weeks, so yesterday I was determined to run 6 miles. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to do it, but I went up to the gym and guess what? I ran 6 miles!!! Yay!!! I ran it on a treadmill and I ran it at 6.2/mph! Guess what? It didn't hurt either!

I feel like I'm finally making progress from having shin splints, thank God! I just need to remember to stretch before and stretch after and ice down after and I'll be good.

I can't wait to run my 1/2 marathon in July!

The Canyonlands 1/2 Marathon

A couple of months ago I won entry in to The Canyonlands 1/2 Marathon in Moab, UT. I was SO excited to go to this race for a couple of reasons. One being I had never been to Moab and the other is I had a friend coming down from Spokane that I haven't seen in 10 years and she was running the race also.

A couple of weeks before the race I got REALLY bad shin splints, so I had to not run the race; however, I still went down to Moab to cheer on my friend Christy.

A couple of weeks before the race, Christy's Uncle James won entry in to the same race! Yay!!! This was going to be his first race EVER!

The race was on 3/19, so we made the 4 hour drive down to Moab the day before. We checked in to our hotel and shortly there after, we went to dinner at Pasta Jay's. We ended up calling it an early night so that we could get back to the hotel and Christy & James could get to bed to rest up for the race.

We got up the next morning and I took James and Christy to the finish line because they had to be bused up to the starting line. I ended up going back to the finish line around 11:30 to watch Christy, James and her other Uncle Gerard and Aunt Klea run in to the finish.

As I was standing at the finish line, there was one girl that came running in to the race that shocked me because she moved me very emotionally and I seriously got a HUGE lump in my throat and almost started to cry. As she was running the last 100 yards or so, she stopped and bent over and was crying and dry heaving and saying that she couldn't do the rest. I just started yelling at her "You can do it! You're almost there! You're SO close!" I was just yelling anything & everything I could think of that I know I would want to hear if I was in her place. A few seconds later she stood up and ran in to the finish. I had no clue who she was, but I was SO proud of her.

Christy, James, Gerard and Klea did awesome in the race. With this being James' first race, he just wanted his time to be around 2 1/2 hrs. He had only been training for 2 1/2 months. I personally thought that was a fast run for someone who had only been training 2 1/2 months. I mean, I had trained for quite a while before I did my first 1/2 marathon and I came in at 2:10. Well, James shocked us all. He finished the race in 2:01! He finished the race 3 seconds faster than his brother Gerard!

After the race we all went back to the hotel and Christy & James laid down and I went out to try and find some mementos for my family, but didn't find anything.

Around 3:30, Klea and Gerard took us on a simple little hike up a canyon. It was actually a trail for dogs and stuff. It was SO fun. We came to a little river at the end of the hike. It was alot of fun.

We went to a mexican restaurant for dinner and then after dinner, because it was supposed to be a super moon, we took a hike up to Delicate Arch via moonlight. There was cloud cover, so it was darker than a stack of black cats. We all had headlamps, but otherwise, it was dark.

We got up to Delicate Arch and none of my pictures turned out because it was so dark. I find it quite humorous, but thankfully Christy's camera took some awesome pictures. It wasn't too hard of a hike. I felt kind of bad because one of the guys on the hike had a bad knee, but he wanted to do the hike any ways. So, on our way down the mountain, me and Christy stayed behind to help him down the mountain.

I loved it though, while we were up on the mountain right next to the Arch, there were some ladies that had a little bit to drink at dinner and they were singing Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond. Someone brought their iPad up with them so we actually had the music to Sweet Caroline as well. Then they were singing along to Song Sung Blue by Neil Diamond. I pulled out my camera and started recording it because it reminded me of being at the dueling piano bar that I go to every Saturday night. I loved it!

We went back to the hotel, crashed cause we were so tired, and then got up and came home the next day.

I'm bummed that I didn't get to run the race. I've heard it was beautiful scenery, but with more races coming up in April, I needed to sit this race out. I'm thinking of trying to run The Other 1/2 Marathon down in Moab in October.

Here is one of the videos I took while up at Delicate Arch:

Yay! Good News!

I went to the orthopedic surgeon today regarding my leg to find out if it was just shin splints or if I had a stress fracture.

After sitting in the waiting room and then sitting in the exam room for what seemed like forever, they came and got me and I hobbled to the x-ray room. They took 2 x-rays and then I hobbled back to the exam room and seemed to wait for what seemed like forever again. Finally Dr. Johnston's PA came in and we looked at the x-rays and he examined my leg and....I just have a terribly bad case of shin splints!!!

So, what he wants me to do is not run for like 3 - 4 weeks. I've also been wearing the boot that I wore when I broke my leg & ankle 4 years ago and he wants me to continue to wear that when I'm not swimming or biking.

Since I only ran once last week (Monday), next week will be 3 weeks, so he said I can TRY the eliptical trainer next week, but if that seems to put a strain on my shin splints, then I need to back off for a little longer.

He also wrote up an order for a bone scan for me. He said if I don't see any marked improvement within 3 - 4 weeks, I should go get a bone scan so we can make sure that I don't have a stress fracture.

He basically said I've been running too much. He said I should really only be running 20-25 miles a week, and I've been running 30-36 miles, if not more, a week.

So, I won't be running The Canyonlands 1/2 Marathon this Saturday, but I will be down there cheering my friends and personal trainer on. :) I could've probably paid $5 and downgraded to running a 5 mile race at The Canyonlands this Saturday, but I am working on getting better so I can participate in all of my triathlons this year, starting April 2, 2011 in St. George, UT.

So, I'm stoked that they are just terrible shin splints, but can I just say that this is THE WORST case of shin splints I've EVER had. They hurt like hell!

Possible Stress Fracture

I'm not a happy camper. I found out Thursday that my shin splints have great potential to have turned in to a stress fracture. I was texting back and forth with my personal trainer on Thursday and I asked him what I should do about shin splints. We were texting back and forth and he was asking me if it was on the inside of my shin or outside of my shin. He wanted to know if it hurt while I was running, etc.

I told him I haven't been able to run since Monday because it hurt SO bad. I'm to the point where I can barely walk on it and the pain is constant, except when I'm sleeping.

He told me that I needed to get inserts for my shoes and that I needed to get compression socks, but that he has a VERY strong suspicion that it's a stress fracture!

Now, I trust BJ and what he has to say. He went to school at the University of Utah in sports therapy and health stuff, so he knows what he's talking about. Granted, he's not a doctor, but he's had enough schooling and he's trained so much that he knows what he's talking about.

When he said stress fracture, I just felt my heart drop. I was at work and I got up to talk to my manager (I'm supposed to do a 1/2 marathon with her a week from today) and I honestly started to cry.

Not more than 5 minutes before I got a text from BJ I decided that I needed to call my general practicioner to see what I should do about these "shin splints".

I've had these shin splints for probably 3 weeks now, just within the last 1 - 1 1/2 weeks is when the pain has got significantly worse.

I heard back from my general practitioner and he didn't even want to see me. He told me I needed to go straight to an orthopedic surgeon. Shit! Thankfully I don't need a referral or anything because I already have one (I broke my other leg & ankle a couple of years ago and had to have surgery).

I called up Dr. Johnston's office & left them a message. I really wanted to hear back from them quickly so I could hopefully get in that day, but I didn't hear back from them until almost 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. The soonest they can get me in for x-rays and stuff on my leg is on Monday at 2:00 p.m.

I made the appointment, but in the back of my head I was wondering to myself "do I go to insta-care so I don't do any more damage to it before Monday?" Now, my dad is an EMT and he is very smart when it comes to broken bones, etc. Unfortunately he was out of town in Denver. But, I called him up and explained to him what was going on. He told me to save my money and not go to Insta-Care and we would just treat it as a stress fracture until Monday when I can get in to the doctor.

I don't know alot about stress fractures so I started researching it after BJ told me he thinks I have a stress fracture. If it is a stress fracture, they'll either put you in a cast or they will put you in a boot. It takes anywhere from 4-12 weeks to heal. If it's SUPERBAD, they have to do surgery. So, if they cast it, I can't do ANY kind of workout.

I've got a 1/2 marathon a week from today (3/19) that it looks like I'm not going to be doing. I'm really bummed about it. It was going to be my first race of the season. Thank God I didn't have to pay to register for this race (I won entry in to the race), but I'm bummed. I've got a friend coming down from Spokane doing the race and it was going to be exciting to run a 1/2 marathon with someone I know. Plus, my personal trainer is doing this race as well. I was really excited when I heard that because granted, BJ will finish the race before me, but I wanted him to see me in action. He hasn't ever seen me participating in a race. Now...a little humorous, I am contemplating finding a wheelchair and wheeling my way through the race. Haha!!! I don't know. That would be super hard on my arms I think. But even if it's not a stress fracture in my leg, I still am not in enough shape any more to run 13.1 miles in a week.

If I'm in a cast for 8 weeks, I've got 3 races planned in April that I have already registered for. I would obviously not be able to do those races. I will be out about $120. I think that's one thing I'm the most upset about. Plus, after the 8 weeks of being in a cast, you have to do physical therapy and I won't be able to just jump back in to doing triathlons. I was reading and it says after you get out of your cast/boot, you should only up your workout by a maximum of 10% each week as to not overdo it and re injure your leg! Unfortunately, after everything I have read, I'm pretty convinced it's a stress fracture.

With shin splints, you should still be able to run and while you're running, you're shin splints go away. Yeah, I can't even run.

With shin splints, you should still be able to put a significant amount of weight on your leg...yeah, no can do.

This is just not looking good. I am EXTREMELY upset about this. I don't know how far back this is going to set me and it looks like I'm going to be out a good portion of $$$.

I will keep everyone posted and let you know what happens Monday at the doctor's office. Pray for me, send good vibes out to the universe for me. Cross all your fingers and toes. :)

Shin Splints Still

This is getting a bit ridiculous. I STILL have my shin splints. I will admit that I think part of it is my fault.

Monday I was feeling really good, so I went and ran 6 miles that night. I think I might have overdone it that night. My leg has been hurting ever since then.

Tonight is the second night that I've had to not workout because my leg has hurt too much. :( I have been icing it down and taking it easy, so hopefully by tomorrow I'll be able to be back up and working out.

I don't think I'll run quite yet, but maybe do the eliptical trainer instead. I've just got a 1/2 marathon in 10 days. No matter what happens, I'm GOING to do that 1/2 marathon, even if I have to crawl across the finish line.

I just hope that within the next day or so that my shin splints heal. I just hope that it hasn't turned in to a hairline fracture or something.

Winners Podium Here I Come

I met with B.J. (my personal trainer) on Thursday this last week and we did our training on my running. As we were training he asked if I wanted to make it up to the podium this year. I told him yes I did, but I wasn't sure if I'd be capable of doing it this year. However, B.J. told me that he thinks I've got what it takes to make it up to the winners podium this year!

I'm SO excited!!! I think it would be absolutely AWESOME if I made it up to the winners podium! I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

My Passion

I know this might sound silly, but after 3 years of working out and doing triathlons, it really hit me tonight that it is my passion.

I got done swimming and running at the gym tonight and headed back to the locker room to get my bags and a lady apologized to me for having all of her stuff spread out and blocking one of my lockers.

I told her "Oh don't worry, I'm the same way. I've got to have 2 lockers. I bring so much stuff to the gym, it's ridiculous."

She laughed it off and said she brings so much stuff to the gym she feels like she should be training for a triathlon or something. I told her that's what I am doing, and that just struck up a conversation.

She is debating signing up for a triathlon. I told her to DO IT! They are SO awesome! We just got talking and stood there talking about triathlons and how I'd lost over 100+ pounds and how I'm doing 15 races this year, blah blah blah.

As I was talking to this stranger, I noticed that I was getting a lump in my throat and I was getting kind of emotional about it all. I was also getting chills, and it's not because I was cold either. Lol. It was the good kind of chills. I don't think I've really experienced that before when talking about "my story" to people. Maybe it's because the people that I've told my story to have watched it unfold, you know?

But, this just really reinforced to me that what I am doing is what I need to be doing right now in my life. It's what I absolutely LOVE and that I need to share my story with anybody willing to listen.

Seriously, if I can do it, so can you! This is my passion! I wish I had another way to spread the word to people.

I Won!!!

Last week the Salt Lake Running Co post on Facebook that their Free Stuff Friday contest was going to be that they were giving away some entries to The Canyonlands 1/2 Marathon in Moab, UT in March.

My friend that lives up in Spokane, WA is coming down for the race. I hadn't registered for the race, so I thought I'd compete in the contest. I basically had to comment on SLRC's post about the Free Stuff Friday and get as many people to "like" my comment as possible. 1st and 2nd place winners got 2 spots in the 1/2 marathon and then 3rd, 4th and 5th place winners got 1 spot in the race.

I came in 2nd place!!! Wahoooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm SO excited!!! My first race of the season wasn't going to be until April 2nd, but it's now been bumped up to March 18th!!!

My friend that is coming down from Spokane, she's going to let me ride down with her and stay in her hotel room with her. It's gonna be so nice to see her. I haven't seen her in probably 7 years.

Plus...I've never been to Moab. I've lived in Utah my whole life and never been to Moab. Well...I take that back. My dad tells me that I went to Moab when I was like 3 years old, but crap, I don't remember that. Lol. So, it's going to be like seeing Moab for the first time.

The day after the race, we're going to hike up to the Arches! I'm so excited. It's going to be a nice little getaway.

A HUGE thank you goes out to all that voted for me so that I could win.

My First Half Marathon

This last Saturday, 10/9/10, I was able to compete in my first half marathon. I had SO much fun!!! It was up in Layton, UT. I got done with the race and immediately wanted to sign up for another half marathon that is taking place down in Provo, UT on 10/30/10; however, I decided against it since I have a triathlon one week later.

My only goal with this 1/2 marathon was to run the entire 13.1 miles and to not finish last. I definitely succeeded. I'm happy to say that I ran the entire 13.1 miles in a total of 2:12:34.4, which means I ran a 10 minute mile the entire time. I've never run that fast before!!! Another thing that I'm SUPER proud of (I know this might sound silly), but I didn't even have to make any potty stops!!! I was totally expecting to have to make potty stops because whenever I run on the treadmill or run in the evenings and I'm running 13 miles, I usually have to make 2-3 potty stops. After thinking about it though, it makes perfect sense why I didn't have to. I'd only eaten one light meal before my 1/2 marathon; whereas when I run in the evenings, I've eaten three whole meals.

But anywho...here are a couple of pictures and 2 videos. The first video is of us all starting the race and the second video is of me crossing the finish line.

A big thank you to my mom & dad and their cowbells for cheering me on and taking the videos/pictures.

This is a picture of the starting/finish line.


Me before the start of the race.


Me warming up before the race.


This is all of us at the starting line. You'll quickly see me run by. Sorry it's kinda dark...it was at 7:00 a.m.


This video is pretty short, but it's me running in to the finish line.

Canyon to Canyon 1/2 Marathon and 10k

Today I did the 10k Canyon to Canyon with a bunch of people from work. A couple of people did the 1/2 marathon, but I didn't think I'd be able to do it, so I just ran the 10k (6.2 miles).

It started up in East Canyon and went down the Jeremy Ranch Dirt Road. I've never ran on a dirt road before so I was a little iffy about that, but it was fine. They said there would be rolling hills, and after my experience yesterday, I was kind of nervous about that too. But overall, it went pretty well.

I haven't got my official time yet, but as I was running in to the finish line, the clock said something close to 1:10. That's the best I've ever ran.

This run was a little challenging for me because there were some pretty big hills we had to run up. They were so big that I was running so slow I might as well have been walking, but I was hell bent on running the whole course, which I did.

The only problem I ran in to with this run is my earphones. I hate them. They aren't the kind I usually have that wrap around your ear, they are just what you call earbuds, and they kept falling out of my ears. Grrr...

But, anywho, here are some pictures from the race:

Me coming down the last hill to go in to the finish line.

Me rounding the corner to the finish line.

A group of me and some of my co workers from JCPenney who also ran the 10k.

I just got done with the race. Pardon the sweat marks under the boobs! Lol.

Me clipping off my timing chip. They had some weird timing chips that you used a zip tie and attached it to your shoe laces. Never had a timing chip like that before.

Me and my friend Ted. I'm SO proud of him. He ran part of the 10k and walked part of the 10k. This is the first race he's done! Way to go!