Running = Hot Chocolate

You both (Cynthia and Lindy) can reach for the ice-cream while I reach for the hot chocolate. This morning I decided to brave the cold weather and run outside. I donned my beanie, two shirts, running jacket, scarf and headed out the door. I forgot my gloves which my hands deeply regretted. I was glad I wasn't the only crazy one willingly stepping outside, there were a few other runners on the trail. Love the dedication of runners. When I got home I was bone chilling cold and made myself some hot chocolate to warm up from the inside out. But despite the cold, I loved running outside. I'll probably keep doing my weekday runs at the gym on the treadmill and my Saturday long run outside until it starts to defrost a bit. Just wanted you to know I was cold.

Must there be a goal?

Im just curious if we are all the same, or if this is just me: I have NEVER just stepped out the door to run, thinking Ill just go as far as I feel like going. There has ALWAYS been a time or distance goal. A goal that must be completed.

This morning my goal was Cynthia's goal. Cynthia's goal was 8 miles. When we got back to my home, and my Garmin said 7, I temporarily lost my mind and thought this was just right. Ten minutes after Id been home and started helping the children with things, it popped into my head- WE MEANT TO RUN 8!!!

I have just felt uneasy the rest of the day. I cant stop thinking about it. Should I walk out the door right now, and run one more mile? So I can sleep tonight? What is wrong with me? It wasnt even on a training plan I am following. Its just what Cynthia said we had to do today.

Okay, now you all know that Im wacked out. So tell me truthfully, must there be a goal?

Running = Ice Cream

So I'm sitting here eating a bowl of ice cream and watching Biggest Loser with my family. Why do I feel ok about that? Because I ran 5 miles this morning. So thanks to my friends that make that possible for me. I wouldn't run without them. Running is a large part social for me, although I do love to exercise and I REALLY enjoy racing, and working towards a goal (the next race). You can't really work towards anything when you're spinning along on an eliptical machine. I started running with Lisa about two years ago and I've built myself up to be able to tag along with Lindy now too. :)

On Saturday I ran the Islands 5k which is a nice little community race. It was fun to see a bunch of people from the neighborhood/church/school all together to run a race. I was SOOOOOO proud to see my little boy (9) finish 2nd behind a 20 something year old man in the one mile fun run! I was literally tearing up as I headed over to the start line of the 5k.

I did this race two years ago - my FIRST ever race and a time around 34 minutes. This year I felt like a runner, I knew I could beat my last time no problem. I fell in with Lisa next to two friends I haven't run with before. I wasn't really trying to stay with the group, but we all stayed together for the entire race. I think it was good to have them there. While I couldn't really chit chat, it was nice to have the distraction, and like I said before, I run for social reasons anyways! I tried to only look at my pace each half mile and every time was happy. I shouldn't have told Lisa how fast we were because she decided that we were too fast and dropped back about half way through. I felt pretty good for the first two miles but the last mile I was definitely struggling. Once we turned into the home stretch I had a little surge of energy and pushed to the end. I felt really wierd for the first minute or so after finishing - I thought, so this is what it feels like to work so hard you're gonna puke? I was lightheaded and my face and arms were tingly, so clearly I worked hard! I finished in 28:30 which was a 9:11 pace. I was very happy with that, as I'm pretty sure I shaved an entire 2 minutes per mile off my last official 5k.

I was thinking it might be fun to have an area to post our race stats on here. Just for fun. I'm totally competitive, but another thing I love about running is that I'm basically just competing with myself. I don't care if I beat anyone else (OK, maybe I care a little...) but I REALLY want to beat my last time every time I race. I also love hearing other peoples successes and seeing what races they do, when, where and why. (By the way, in the picture I'm the runner on the left - this was after finishing my first half marathon with Lisa and Lindy.)

Treadmill Running - love it or hate it?

The air quality in Utah right now is icky (gotta love the inversion) and it's still a bit chilly to run outside in the early morning so I've been running at the gym on the treadmill. I've been too sick to run for the last week but today I managed to knock out five miles on the treadmill. Much rather run outside - but I'll have to wait for at least another month or so. Anyone want to share the longest run you've done on a treadmill? Can you imagine running a marathon or even a half marathon on a treadmill? That would be torture for some - but it's been done before.

Islands 5k 1/24/09

I just ran the local "Islands 5k" race this morning. It was a small community race. I enjoy this race because its fun to go and see a bunch of people you know participating. Noah also ran this race, and it was his first official running race ever. I was proud of him. He got 34:50. He ran the whole time. Way to go Noah!

This is the first time running a 5k that I could pace myself. My last 5k, years ago, I didnt know what to expect, so I just went out running as fast as I could, and felt like my lungs were burning by half way.

This time around I was working off my last time- trying not to go my all-out fastest, but just fast enough to guarantee a faster time than the last one. So I felt pretty good having a goal pace- I felt controlled this time, rather than feeling like a tired swimmer treading water.

I could see 3 female runners ahead of me after the half way. I was hoping that there werent more female runners in front of the fastest one that I could see. The fastest woman I could see was way ahead of me. I knew I wouldnt catch up with her. I hoped maybe Id pass the two girls right in front of me, if I stayed steady. There was a girl in a white shirt, right in front of me. And a girl with gold shorts right barely in front of her. As I got close to the finish line, I asked myself whether to try to pass white shirt. I decided that i was definitely going to get a pr, and that I didnt feel like hurting myself in a finish-line scramble.

Had I known for sure that she was indeed in my age group, I may have had the motivation to try to pass her. She seemed not to be struggling, though, and probably wouldve given me a good fight. So its just as well, I suppose, that I just finished comfortably.

I took 2nd place in my age group, (White shirt got number one in our age group), and I was the 4th girl overall. My final time was 22:13.

Congratulations Cindy and Lisa for also achieving PR's. I hope youll post details of your race!

Marcie, this is Awesome! I love the picture, the quotes, all of it! Im so excited! My heart is beating fast! Im such a running geak.

So my introduction is this- Ive loved running my whole life. I remember first running laps around my parents pool table when I was very young. Then I graduated to laps around our horse pasture, then to longer runs down the street with Marcie to the gas station. Sometimes to get icecream, and then run home. I should clock that run now- Marcie were we even getting a half mile? Who knows, but back then it felt like a long run! I guess i wasnt very serious about speed until I had a Garmin strapped on my wrist about 2 years ago.

I just ran the PF Chang's Rock n Roll Marathon in Phoenix Arizona. On Sunday. Ive done a couple of short runs this week, since sunday, and planning to do a 5k race tomorrow. Trying to tell myself to just take it easy tomorrow, but its so fun to try to get a pr. So I guess Ill just go and see how I feel. I can tell my muscles are still not fully recovered from Sunday, so we'll just see what happens. I can always rest next week, right?

I dont have any pictures to post yet, but Ill work on getting some uploaded soon.

Marcie

I live in UT and have three boys. Two are two-years-old and the third just turned six months. I love running but have taken a huge break the past two years. I run regularly but haven't had the time or enough sleep to train for anything competitive. But one of my new year's resolutions is to run a couple of races this year. I'm still trying to figure out which ones I'll run. I ran the St. George marathon quite a few years ago and have run several half marathons and 10k's. I'm ready to get into the racing scene again which means finding some time for those long runs. I'm excited for this blog - looking forward to sharing our training and race experiences together!

me & my family

my running accessory

Here We Go!

I talked with Lindy the night before she ran the marathon and I mentioned it would be fun to have a running blog so that we could give each other support and keep track of our training schedule - so this is a start. I'm not quite sure how best to keep a training log on this site or if that's something everyone wants to do. I tried to upload a calendar where we could all input our mileage but it didn't quite work the way I would have liked. So if you have any suggestions, let me know. As of now, we can just create a new post and record our mileage. In order to post to this blog, I'll need your email and then I'll invite you to be an author.

I think it would be fun to introduce ourselves so let's hear a little something about everyone.