With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams...

aarrrggg mateys....it be "talk like a pirate day" but me seems to only muster enough strength to walk like a pirate with a stiff leg...   aarrrgggg

Holy moly people- 3:45 is too early to wake up and run.  I managed to get ready and warmed up by 4:15 (5 min later than planned).  I move so slowly in the morning.

Ran my 11 miles.  Paces were all over the place.  I need to start getting in a groove and finding my marathon pace so I can practice that pace on these silly morning runs.  Avg was 9:19. 

The only good thing was, there were less cars than usual on the roads.  on the spokes I ran off the busy road, I only saw one car that wasn't out delivering newspapers.  The busy road was just about the same as usual. 

No big vans or snakes today.  It's a good thing- I don't think I would have been able to handle much more than just running.

Bonus:  I got to see the moon set just as I started out.  It was an awesome huge orange ball setting into the tree tops.  I'm glad I got to see it, even if it was only for 10 minutes.

Dragging most of the day after the run.  Not so much sleepy, but my body feels tired.  And it's Monday, so I'm going to blame it on that.

Hope all the FRB Herriman folks made it safely out of harm's way.  Prayers for those who weren't so lucky.

SHRUB day!

SHred- level 1

RUn- 3 miles. 10mm pace

Bike- home from work- 7 miles.

I realized I'd left my helmut at home when I was driving to work. So instead of saving gas & not having to drive home twice, I had to drive home anyway to get the helmut. Then I drove back to the school, and rode the bike home so the kids could drive home when they were done.

They got home just about the same time I did, but I had a much better ride home than they did. I just know it! I won't forget sunglasses next time either. Riding south-west in the evenings is rough on the eyes.

tried getting out early, but something came up- so I started 10 min late (4:40).  I made up most of the time, and only got home 3 min late.  Not too shabby.  Of course after stretching and rolling around on that silly foam roller, my morning was gone, no time for breakfast or a nap.  Althought I do believe somewhere in the midst of praying, I may have dozed off for a minute or two.  I'm hoping He understands.

Ran a route that connects my two spokes, so it was a loop.  Only 1/2 mile of out & back near my house.  Hated trying to find a pace.during the first few miles.  I used my Garmin to help me out.  I was cursing it the first 45 minutes, but in the end was glad I used it.  I need to focus on finding my race pace and practicing it.  I think today was a little faster than I'm going to shoot for, but at least it was fairly consistent (just under 9mm). 

One scary part of the run... on the connector section.  There is a swamp, and the road runs next to it/through it.  No lights at all, lots of trees (so no moonlight), and my wild imagination.  I ran right in the middle of the road so no alligators or snakes would come out of the swamp at me.  It's only .25 miles long, but it seemed to go on forever.  Car lights would have been good, but then I would have been too close to the swamp.  In the daylight, this is one of my favorite places to run past because of the beautiful lilly pads among the cypress trees.  Night time is a whole different creature.

The moon was lovely.  It was setting just as I was finishing up.  I was glad I'd been out and had the chance to see it floating among the clouds.  Most of the world missed the beauty.  Lucky lady pirate today- moon treasures and no alligators.

After work 7.7 miles on the bike.  nice ride- so refreshing.

The plan said 10, but I'm doing my long run this weekend instead of last, so I thought maybe it was okay to do less.   I was thinking 6, but then thought, well, I am training, so I'll do 8.  But I underestimated my distances and ended up with 9.  

Beautiful, bright moon lighting my path and keeping me company.  Not too many cars, and no alligators or snakes.  Nice run.  Went slower than yesterday, because yesterday was a pace run and today wasn't.

avg pace 9:21. 

Biking today after work, tomorrow I do believe I will sleep in and take 'er easy.

 10.8 miles on the bike. riding into the sunset. perfect.

This was actually a 24 hour ultra.  I could only stay for 12.  Next year, I hope I get to stay and play with the big kids all night long. 

I ran 20 for my marathon training plan, another 6.2 to make it a marathon, and then another 4 just to say I'd run 30.  I took some walking breaks after that.  Kept track of my miles & those paces on the garmin.  So I know my total running was 40.26.  The other 11.32 miles were the ones I walked.

After the 30 and a quick break to refuel and use the bathroom, I walked a couple of miles & then tried running.  It was hard!!  I didn't realize it was possible to run 13 minute miles.  But I certainly managed. A new PR for me :-)  Took a couple more breaks & had to walk to the car/bathroom a couple times too.  Those miles aren't included- and I had to park up the hill. 

Fun things about the run: 

•  Every 1.57 miles, you're back at the snack/refreshment/re-fuel table.  It's easier when you know there's a break ahead.
• there was a blind runner with his guide there kicking up the dirt for a long, long time.  So impressive.
• All ages, all sizes.  Even one pregnant lady (she ran a couple hours).
• MR wasn't able to come, but really wanted to be there.  So I brought a cut out of his face (life size) and put it on a paint stirrer stick.  I clipped it to my lawn chair so he got to watch all the runners go by through the day.  I even took him on a victory loop around mile 34.  Someone said, "you brought your pacer with you!" 
• The great snacks they had for us.  lots to drink from ginger-ale & coke to gatorade.  Then there were chips, m&m's, gummy bears, BK double cheeseburgers (which are great fuel after 30 miles, by the way), pizza, and (drum roll please).... ice cream cake!!!
• The route.  It was a trail loop that went around a lilly-pad filled lake.  Lots of trees, which was good since it was in the 90's, mostly packed dirt, but enough sand to make you appreciate when it wasn't sandy.  A few hills, but not too many.  And when you'd run past the starting point, you'd call out your # to the volunteers who would put a tally mark next to your number.  I believe the race coordinator said they were doing it "old school."
• This is the largest 24 hour ultra in the US.  So anyone who wants to come next year, I'll be happy to be your host! 
• Watching the sunrise over the water in the east, and then watching it set over the water in the west.  How lucky can one girl be?

I'll tell you, lucky enough that I made it 12 hours, got to run & walk for 50 miles, and found a KFC on the way home to treat myself to some extra crispy fried chicken.  Because if I've ever deserved some fried chicken, it was then.

Pix of MR & I on our loop together:

splits for running.  (ran till 30.26 then ran a mile, walked a while after that).

miles 1-10: 10:11, 9:31, 9:51, 10:08, 9:49, 10:11, 9:46, 9:40, 9:57, 9:43

miles 11-20: 9:26, 9:40, 9:45, 9:37, 10:03, 9:34, 9:52, 9:51, 9:50, 10:01

miles 21-26.23: 10:00, 9:58, 10:23, 10:23, 10:26, 9:59, 8.45 (last .23 miles)

miles 26.23-30.23: 10:26, 10:37, 10:26, 10:26

miles 30.23-40.23: 12.35, 12:10, 10.38, 12:03, 11:15, 11:09, 11:14, 11:18, 10:48, 10:30

over all avg pace was 10:19 (for running).

My marathon training plan will be put on hold for a few days until I can figure out how to walk again without every muscle in my body screaming at me!!!!