Fall long runs and the Harvest

Confession: I never run hills. I am usually at the track ,so I avoid hills in that regard, but a month ago I not only embraced the hills I ran long really long. 16 miles! Yea! finally. I was going to go the track, but I was pretty sure I would loose track of my laps and end up running less or more and that drives me nuts! This was going to be a really long long run. I needed that open road. So I headed up the canyon. It was in full swing of changing colors and falling leaves so the scenery couldn't have been more perfect. I was thinking that I would run two miles up, then two back to my car and repeat four times so I wouldn't have to carry that much liquid with me. Bad move. I started running and decided I had enough with me ( 17 ounces of water and 32 ounces of gatorade) dumb!

I was really fine for the first half. I was running at a more intense incline that I had anticipated, but didn't really notice till I drove the route later. I just kept going. My music was great and so I wasn't noticing my depleating water supply. I got to the top ( mile 8 ) changed my shirt ( what is it about running that makes you more of an exhibitionist? Oh yea necessity! I had a jacket that put on after stripping in broad daylight on a street. Never wouldn've done that anywhere else. I still use the changing rooms at the gym, but I had no choice otherwise hypothermia may have set in.) About mile nine just as I had finished Journey's Don't stop believe in my ipod cut out. I had forgot to charge it the night before. Honestly I think I would've thrown in the towel, but I had no way else to get back to my car other that run it. To my surprise though it was a really theraputic run. I watched for animals, listen to the river and really relaxed. However as I was slowly rationing my liquid I ran out officially two miles before the end. Some people stopped there car and asked me if I was okay. I am sure I looked like death because I was seriously dehydrated and my left foot was screaming at me, but I told them I was okay and kept going ( I was afraid if I asked for water and they didn't have they might have convinced me to accept a ride and I wanted to finish!) During those last two miles I saw water bottle after water bottle on the side of the road. I was so tempted to pick one up, but I figured botulism wouldn't be worth it. during the last eight or ten minutes I sang to my self journey's song ( partly becuase it was stuck in my head) and finally made it to my car where my wonderful water and powerade awaited.

I then went and took the quickest shower possible and headed off to bed for a nap! I had a test the next morning and figured I would do fine, I knew my stuff, but I needed a nap. Well I ended up sleeping almost 18 hours and I woke up totally confused and then furious realizing that I had missed my test. I was so happy I had completed my run, but just figured I had failed this class. I wrote an email to my teacher explaining what had happened. My BF told me not to say I'd been running, in his words "he'll think your insane." But I also knew my professor was a marathoner. I figured he'd understand. He did. Not only did he understand and let me make up the test, but he kind of thought it was funny. What a lucky break. But it shows the amazing brother and sisterhood that accompanies the running community. And I am thankful for that.

I also finally made it to 30 miles that week. And since then I have also done another 16 mile run ( on the treadmill which actually went pretty well) I wasn't super psyched to run that long on a machine, but it did help me work on my form and allowed me to drink whenever I needed to. My other longest run since has been twelve miles, which was awful because I had to stop almost every two miles. But I made up for it two days later with a great ten miler. Altotether in came in at 86 miles for september and I am hoping to beat that for October! We'll see.

Also I picked everything from my garden this year!



I didn't get as much as I had hoped I planted peppers, tomatoes and onions, but I only grew one little tomatoe and a bunch of onions, but the peppers did the best. I think the biggest problem was the pots. I couldn't afford to build a raised bed, so I did pots and I think I will plant everything differently next year so I can actually make spaghetti sauce. I don't even think I'll be able to make verde with what grew, but I'll see what I can come up with. I also got a score back from a test I was sure about this week and I did okay! I also managed to do the same for a quiz this week. I think I am on track to graduate! Yea. I am so excited for the rest of the year, and I can't wait to see how my training and goals turn out. Here's to more hard work, and long and fabulous fall runs.
Happy Harvest!
Meagan

Remembering why I love this sport

I don't always like the journey. I have a small amount of paitence for what seems like busy work. Work that fills the allotted amount of time I am required to be in class. Work that fulfills a requirement that basically reiterates everything I have already done in a class, but does nothing to help me learn something else. That is why sometimes I am so surprised sometimes that I love running. I love the act of running. I love the training portion of it. As monumentous as running the marathon in January is going to be and as much as I desperately want to be able to go the distance sometimes it just takes a fabulous run to remind myself, that yeah I can do it, I will complete the marathon, but I think for most runners who find themselves constanly out on the road, the track, the treadmill we answer that question that people are always asking ( "why would you ever want to run that far?") with every workout. We train because we love to train. We run because we love to run.

Don't get me wrong, my sights are absolutely set on finishing the Walt Disney World Marathon in January, but this past week throughout my runs I am reminded of why I wanted to invest so much time into one goal that all comes down to one day of 26.2 miles.

I downloaded some new music to my ipod and was excited to try it out this past week. I was feeling really run down on Sunday, so I bagged my long run. Monday though I made it to the gym for five miles on the treadmill with new music. I thought it would be harder than it was, ( And maybe it was considering my pace) but I enjoyed every minute of it and loved the energy that the combination of music brings to essentially running around on a hamster wheel. On Tuesday though I was sick as a dog, but the weird thing was as sick as I was I wanted to run, I kept thinking "it will make you feel better... however the fatigued sick little devil on my shoulder won out and I went back to bed. Friday I felt good enough to want to get out, but I had classes that were taking priority as well as meetings with counselors to finally get a confirmation- that yes if you pass all your classes this semester you will graduate! I went to the gym that night to do a long run, but they were closing early. Saturday I attempted to do a Tempo run on the treadmill. I can't ever think of a reason why I would do speedwork on a treadmill, but tempo's on the treadmill make sense for now as I am trying to incorporate them into my training. Kind of like bumper gaurds for bowling when you first start out. It went well. I did the first 1.75 miles as a warm up them tried to maintain a 9:40-9:49 minute pace for two miles, finished that and then added another 1.25 mile cooldown.

Sunday my goal was fifteen miles. ( If your keeping track that would have given me 30 for the week.) I woke up late, but decided I needed this. I was gonna go for it. However despite my love for the track, driving back to Logan this past week ( At 5:30 in the morning) I thought about how it would be a beautiful long run if I ran early enough in the morning. Despite the heat at 11:00 I went out anyway. I also chose the road that eventually leads into I-15, because it had mile markers and I still can't just go run. I have to know my miles. I parked at a hotel and walked up to a mile marker. I was nervous about carrying a pack with me for my first fifteen miles, but I needed the water. I started my run and was surprised how comfortable it became. I was enjoying the scenery ( but not the dead skunk smell) and was holding a pretty even pace. I stopped about every two miles for water and powerade from my pack and also got a lot of strange looks from people in their cars, but kept at it. I hit the 6 mile mark and decided I should turn around so I could go to work. On the way back though I found that second wind, that kick where you know you have it in you to push the pace. I also knew that I had to cover 7 miles no matter what, ( I had talked my self down to 12 as the clock sped up and my pace crept up) so I might as well run through. Several times during this run I would crank up the music and sing along. ( I am sure I looked crazy, but I didn't care it was my workout and I was going to enjoy it.) I passed bikers and waved and shared in this family of those who must sweat, because we love it.

As I made it to my final mile marker that brought me into 13 miles I was overwhelmed with how much my legs were talking to me as I walked back to my car. I hadn't been in pain or really felt like I was tanking, but it was weird that my body knew what I was expecting of it, it knew I had to get back to the car before it could rest and then it let me know about all the aches and pains. I think that is what training will teach me. That our bodies have the power to keep us in this state of disbelief. That if there is anything really serious going on we will be made aware, but until then they are content to just let us pound away at the pavement and sing like no one is watching.

Here's to loving the training
Meagan

Quit or Commit

Quit or Commit. That's what I've been wrestling with these last few weeks. Not running of course, but weather or not I am going to really become a marathoner. I have come to that point where running has become just something you put on your checklist and there was one week in the past month where all I ran was 5 miles.

Not a good way to start off marathon training.

Running itself and the continuation of it is easy, but training I've learned is another thing alltogether. A runner can run her three to five mile loop every morning and call it good. A marathoner needs to make sure her workouts are meeting not just that day's objective of excercise, but that day's intended workout, that weeks intended mileage and that months bench mark of work completed. It is not just about running. It is about training and not about training harder. It is about training smarter.

However. I am not liking having all my workouts written out and decided for me before I even drink my morning Dr. Pepper. A few days after I ran my debut long run I scoured the internet for marathon training plans. I also reffered to back issues and current issue of Runnersworld magazine. I then applied to the plans what we runners do to our bodies: I honed and I fine tuned. I scheduled long runs for days that I believed I would have extra time. I scheduled rest days with optional or mandatory swim or weight lifting. I even carved out six weeks where I would be running hills ( or in my case walking hills, but in a weight vest.) and I begrudgingly started to inch up the mileage on speedwork days.And alas my longest long run since the 18th of June has been 11 miles and I have yet to run more that 22 miles in any single week since that run.

Talk about having an identity crisis.

I can blame my watered-down-oatmeal approach to training on alot of things. The heat. The power bump that rendered my alarm clock useless. My sweet boyfriend who showed up at my house one morning to take me to breakfast. ( where I ate way to much and called a long run at 5 miles instead of the prescribed 14 again.) Or I can blame it on one person who holds all the control when things get out of control: Me.

I think my problem is I was overwhelmed once the plan was out there in front of me. I need to take it the way I approach running itself - one mile at a time. I also need to realize not doing something 100% does not equate failure. I have to be willing to do the best I can while still maintaining the integrity of the training.

So here are three goals I am going to work on:

1. Make sure I run at least 3 times a week ( including a maintenance run, a speedworkout or tempo run, and a long run.) This will be a tough one I think. It is so easy to just do two 5 milers back to back and then a long run, but I know the speedwork is important, because it will help me improve and that will hopefully keep me interested. The key is to get in early in the week so that its not constantly hanging over my head.

2. Swim or weight lift at least once a week. This will be a sanity and time saver. Weights I can do just in my room on days when I am running out of time and swimming is really good for days when my right hamstring is talking too much.

3. Work on waking up earlier. I think just setting my alarm clock for six has not been working. I'm going to try to work up to that in increments of 15 min and see if that will awaken my inner morning person. I also think getting it done early would ensure that it does get done. My boyfriend doesn't support the running thing. I am trying to get him on board with it and he is doing better, but I know going out to dinner or to a movie will always take precedence because he will never understand that it is more than a way to stay fit.

On the schedule for tomorrow: A speedworkout. I'm thinking a 1.5 mile warm up with 4 repeats of 1200's and 1600's with a cool down of another 1.5 miles will be a great way to start to the week. However if I feel like I can do all 1600's or only 1200's then I'll consider it a successful day of training.

Here's to not only committing to the training, but to the actual workout itself and accepting it once its done, because I am committed. Quitting is not an option.

Meagan

The official long run

Last week I did it. I broke out of the half marathoner mentality and took that step forward and literally ran the extra mile. I finished a fourteen mile run. 14 miles! The funny thing is I would've thought that seeing as how it was my fourth run of the week it would've made it easy to hit my 30 mile mark. It didn't. I did two maintenance runs of 3 and 3.25 miles and a speedworkout that came in at 4.25 miles. But I gave it a really good effort and I was really stoked with the way my speedworkout turned out. I did a total of 5 repeats of 1200's and 1600's. Starting with 1200's. I started and ended both 1200's at 6:36 which I think means I am much more consistent with pace than I ever thought. The good thing is that my first mile repeat came in at 8:33 and then the final at 8:25. I think that is a really good sign that I was able to shave those 7 seconds off and that I didn't think I was going to be able to make that reapeat faster,so yea:) If only I had been able to hit 30 miles!

The fourteen miler went really well though. I had my bagel, Dr. Pepper and bananna for pre run fuel. ( A defineate go-to breakfast for long runs from now on!) Then just brought water and Powerade to the track. I ran for three miles and then took a drink and five minute break. Then ran for five more miles, then took a Powerade break. I got back on that track and ran until twelve. I was gonna stop at eleven, but pushed for twelve, because I figured it would be easier to get back on the track for eight more laps. I was right. I got back on that track and I knew I was gonna be slow, but I was really loosing steam. I ran a couple laps and thought about how it would've been so great to have someone at the track, just for those last couple laps to pull me through. I thought about saying a prayer, but some how that just seemed a little too self indulgent. I mean I do need to get my mileage up and my endurance up, but I also don't really need to. So instead of a prayer, I just asked Christ to run with me. Seems really silly, but it was nice to feel like someone was with me. Like I would disappoint more than just myself if I didn't finish. I had a reason to finish.

I ran two more laps trying to focus, I was plodding along at turtle pace by this point, and encouraged my self with a strong ARRRHHHHH! Not sure what it means, or if I creeped out any strangers that were possibly nearby, but it did pick me up a bit. When I hit the 13 mile mark and knew I could finish. I turned my focus back on. I ran solid and to the tune of Bonnie Tyler's Holding out for a Hero. I had a good rhythm and I remember in that last lap she was talking about fire in the blood. I just pushed and repeated a mantra of "fire, fire, fire," talking at this point to my quads ( they really needed the attention and encouragement!) and I finished! I felt invincible. I mean I was kind of out of commission for the rest of the day, taking an extra long shower was almost taxing (took a fifteen minute ice bath first) I took a nap and watched a movie, but the nice thing was that I really wasn't muscle sore the next day. I irritated some sort of muscle or whatever in my left glute, but I was fine on Sunday.

I am so thankful this run went well. So thankful for the help I recieved in getting over this mental hurdle, and I can't wait for the next long run! Here's to all the things we aren't sure we can do and to knowing that yeah, it is possible. Rock on and fire!

Meagan

Excuses

How on earth can I have an excuse to not run when I can run on this?

I always can tell a runner from a non runner by the way they define good and bad weather. To some an 80 degree day with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky is deemed good weather. No thanks, not my kind of weather, but I'll run, because I need to. When you're a runner you live for those days that are perfect, say 55 degrees, slightly overcast and strong chance of rain? Wohoo! Where are my running shoes? This past Sunday was a hot day. I wasn't tempted to bag as I needed this run to make up for the days that I had missed, but it was a scorcher with a high of 82 degrees! ( Thus my 14 miler became a 7 miler - making it 19 for the week.) Yesterday was about ten degrees cooler, but today it shot back up there and I gave myself an out as I "waited for the perfect time" to go run. It never got cool enough and then I got busy.

I am tired of my own excuses.

I am trying to come up with solutions to exercising problems. I need to be more dedicated. I need more of a schedule. Heat is defineatly a problem. I am hoping to get a gym membership this year, so I can run and swim all year round, but until then I need to find ways to really get the workouts in- in any form- regardless of what my excuse is. Do I have a pulled hammy? Okay lets do some in door planks, push ups and tricep work. Too hot outside? Get out the bike and create my own air conditioning. Charli puppy ate a hole through the only clean sports bra? Find that swim suit and get in the pool and push it! Can't sleep? Well leave the window open, listen to some Bach, or take a pill ( and I don't really do pills!) Too tired to get out of bed for early morning run? Think how tired you'll be once it warms up!

I am really hoping to find more energy and solutions this summer. I am also going to try to get that gym membership so I can take more classes. I am not good about doing strenght work at all and I think it would be fun to work out more with people and that seems like it would be the perfect opportunity to get in the workout on the days where my excuse list for not sweating is longer than my last tempo session.

So in an effort to nip my "I didn't have time to excercise" excuse tomorrow here's to signing off early and getting to bed.
Meagan

Don't Honk for Gu! ( GU Giveaway!)

Recently I was at the track. My beautiful track on an even more beautiful rainy cloudy day ( I love rain!) and I ran my three miles and then headed for home. On the way I stopped at the store. I was driving very slowly and to my right a car was exiting his parking spot and so I waited so I could have it. It couldn't have been more than three seconds when the driver in the vehicle behind me laid on his horn. Now for those of you who don't know this about me. Let me make it very clear there are only a few reasons that warrent the appropriate timing and use of the car horn.

1. There is a child or adult lying behind/in front of your car.
2. There is a puppy/kitty behind/in front of your car.
3. There is an object lying behind/in front of your car and you shouldn't run over it.
4. You have been kidnapped and the kidnapper does not look like a lost tourist who needs help.

Drivers: IF NEITHER OF THESE SITUATIONS APPLYS TO THE CURRENT SITUATION YOU ARE FACING - PLEASE DON'T USE YOUR HORNS.

Many people think that it is okay to use their horns for other purposes. Such as saying hello to the driver next to them, or telling them their lights are not on ( true story, I was driving one day and this guy honked at me and gave me a dirty look, I got out of his way, drove behind him, drove in front of him, slowed down/ sped up. Thirty terrifying minutes (of which he honked at me the whole time) later I am shaking as he pulls up to me and motions for me roll down my window and angrily tells me "you need to turn your lights on!" I said "oh!" and smiled and then waved. He glared at me as he rolled up his window and muttered somthing to his wife.) Then there are those who honk to tell people to speed up, slow down. Or like the situation I had the other day, they honk to tell people that they are in a hurry and your causing them to wait five seconds ( and it wasn't even five seconds) is so inconvenient that they feel the need to communicate in the most confrontational, obnoxious,and meaningless way possible. Think about it no one knows what a honk actually means and when coupled with the fact that the person responsible for expressing such an action is driving a gazillion ton vehicle how on earth are we supposed to respond to a honk with anything other than "oh yeah, hit me. My mechanic thanks you and your husband/wife will hate you" Of course there are other ways or mechanisms with which to respond when drivers issue such statements of self importance.
1. You can mutter bad words
2. You can count to ten
3. You can respond with a visible gesture ( However I would suggest using #1 instead. A gesture is confrontational and that's kind of the point of not beating your steering wheel, but however at least its much easier for the other driver to translate than a honking horn.)

Okay okay, I might be taking this a little too personal. But there is a reason that I don't live in New York. Although horns honking in New York wouldn't bother me as much, becuase they would be honking at my poor taxi driver not me and he can retaliate with his own. ( I think I have used mine a total of three times in the eight years I've had my car and yes once was because a car was inches away from backing into me see the first set of rules and refer to number 3.)


However here comes the giveaway! I will give away a box of GU to two readers (who become followers) who also let me know in the comments their way for being paitent on the road that doesn't involve their horn. Lets pass this along. Please be paitent on the road. Please drive carefully and with consideration. And when all else fails run it off.

Last week: 9.8 miles

Well I didn't make it last week. I did that trail run, then my five miler and then those three miles of 1200 repeats and after that run I was out of commission with a pulled or sore left hammy until Wednesday. I did actually go to the track on Sunday because I was so sick of not running, but I decided that I wouldn't risk further injury and just walked for about 45 minutes instead of doing a glorious long run.

This week I have done two workouts so far. 2 miles on Wednesday and then 2 X 2400 meter repeats today. I just ran out of time or I would've done more. ( Also the track people showed up and they practice the shot put right on one of the lanes and I didn't want to get bludgeoned so I called it a day.) I'm thinking I'll do a five or six miler tomorrow or maybe more repeats since I didn't work it that hard today and then a long run for Sunday. I don't want to write it, because I don't want to jinx it, but I am just going to go for as many miles as I can. We'll see what happens. I'm trying to stay positive with this running thing. I do love it and I am trying not get bogged down in the constant "I missed my 30 mile goal". I will keep trying and hopefully at the end of the year with all of my full marathon training the miles will all even out.
Meagan

Summer!

School's out for the Summer! "I ain't got not class, I ain't got no principles" Alright I won't recall every word of Alice Coopers song, but I am done! Wohoo! I only have one, count it one more semester in this sucky marathon I have called college. Yea! Almost done! I also did okay on grades this semester. Not awesome, but I did okay and I'll take them all.

Well for the week of April 26- May 2 I ran a grand total of... wait for it... 16 miles! Bummer dude. But that was an awesome number compared to last week. I got a big fat goose egg for last week. So I am trying to make up for it big time this week.
Monday: Trail run, Hike up the 1.8 miles in 36:36 which was pretty fast especially for not running it. Then I ran down. for 21:19. However I think that was my last run down that trail. It is really populated and getting more rocky and worn down by the week. I was really focused coming down, and kept reminding myself to be careful and to focus, but I slide on one part, slide not tripped so I think that says something about how careful I was, and came within inches of hitting my head on a very large rock. However I felt this workout the next day and not cuz I was injured or anything. So that was good.

Wednesday I ran a total of five miles. AGGG! I was focused. I streched. I poured it on for that last lap ( ooh that reminds me of a good song I have yet to purchase.) and I came in at blah. I don't even want to write what my final time was or my pace for those miles. It was a good run, so I am trying to focus on that.

Thursday I had a great workout and a new speedworkout. I got to the track and stretched then I did a little bit of strength doing lunges and squats around the track ( 1/4) of mile. Oh my gosh. I could feel it right away. It took me about four or five songs to complete this. Then I did repeats. I wasn't sure I could handle the usually speed workout of a two or three mile warm up followed by two or three mile repeats with 800 meters thrown in there at the end. So I did 1200's X 4. This was interesting. It was long enough to maintain my interest, (800's are usually sucky repeats - what song would I listen to? ) but not so long that I was tempted to cut it after two repeats like I do with the mile. They were still kind of slow!, but went as follows:

1st: 7:51
2nd: 6:53
3rd: 6:49
4th: 7:15

Interesting right? The difference between the first was really warm up difference, (I was expecting that) but the middle two were pretty close and I usually can't do that ( My last mile repeats went something like 8:29, then 8:46.) I can't get the times that close. So I was really happy with this. And I was also happy that I eeked out those last 1200 meters. I wasn't sure where it would come from. ( I still think I could've pushed a little bit more on that last one though.)

The good thing about this workout is that I feel it! I was so sore yesterday and I am so sore today. Its nice that I am sore like this without it being an injury kind of pain, but it also lets me know how week my glutes and legs are. It really shouldn't hurt this bad. Yesterday I rested and I should've iced, but didn't, but I did stretch before bed. I elevated and taped up my legs. I don't have anything really for compression so sometimes as a "last-resort-I-want-to-run" I use the tape on the achy parts of my legs or feet and call it good. I don't think it did the trick and I should've got up last night for ibuprophen, but I couldn't walk down the stairs to the kitchen one more time - thats how bad I hurt!

This morning still in pain I decided I needed to do something so I went on a "hike" I went just for an hour on a great trail up the canyon by the river and it was beautiful. I wish I had had time for a two hour hike, but I made sure to stretch after and before so that's good.

Tomorrow! I want to do that fourteen miler I keep trying to get in! We'll see. I think maybe an ice bath is on the schedule for tonight after work, because I need a long run. They are my favorite and I don't want to start off a week with a long run. That messes with the schedule.

We'll see what happens. Also note worthy, but kinda gross so tune out if you are easily queased. I lost a toenail! The one next to the big toe on my left foot. I was kind of creeped out and sad since I had a pedicure lined up for the next day ( which I canceled.) People warned me that might happen, but I figured it only happened to those running 60, 70, or 80 miles a week. I guess it is just a runners rite of passage, one I will have to get used to. It could also have its perks. Can you ask the girl painting your toes if she will only charge you for nine toes? :)

Have a great night, and all those who go long on Sunday I hope we all have fabulous runs!

Music and Miles

Here's Last Weeks Recap! I had a total of four cardio workouts. They went as follows
Tuesday: Trail run, hiked up the trail, but then I ran the 1.8 miles down.
Friday: Ran 3 miles
Saturday: Ran 7 miles
Sunday: Ran 2 miles

I thought that I'd do better, but oh well. Schools been really in my face lately so this is just how the cookie crumbled. I will say though that even though I only covered a distance of 3.6 miles on Tuesday it was probably the workout that burned the most calories and used muscles I usually ignore. It takes me about an hour to do this workout, but its always awesome and I always feel it.

Then I had my little 3 miler ( at the track of course), was gonna push it, but I had work later that night, and I didn't want to risk pulling anything before my long long run the next day. I was planning on a fourteen miler again, but on Saturday I ran out of time and steam. Sunday I ran two, just because I needed a sweat session. So I ended with a grand total of 13.8 miles. Yikes. It is so hard to get the miles in.

I don't know why its so hard to get on board with this thirty miles a week. I thought by now it would be a habit and normal, but it hasn't been easy. I updated my ipod this week though. I thought new songs would force me to get my butt out there at least five times a week, but we'll see. My new list includes:

Goodnnight, Travel Well The Killers
Funny Little Feeling Rock N Roll Soilders
At Last Etta James
Mama, I'm Comin' Home Ozzy Osbourne
Danny's Song Kenny Loggins
Sober Kelly Clarkson
Bille Jean Michael Jackson
Beat It Michael Jackson
Black or White Michael Jackson
Laura Scissor Sisters
I just died in your arms tonight Smokie
Let's get it on Marvin Gaye
Poison Alice Cooper
School's Out Alice Cooper
That'll be the Day Buddy Holiday and the Chirping Crickets
All Shook up Elvis Presley
Jailhouse Rock Elvis Presley
Break so Easy Jonathan Rice
Bitch Meredith Brooks
Here for you Ozzy Osbourne
Crazy Train Ozzy Osbourne
Goodbye to Romance Ozzy Osbourne
You can't kill Rock N Roll Ozzy Osbourne
Unchained Melody Righteous Brothers
Love Aint No Stranger Whitesnake
Won't get fooled again The Who
Holding Out for a Hero Bonnie Taylor
Footloose Kenny Loggins

Some of them are songs that I don't really see myself ever running to, but I just wanted and didn't want to make a separate playlist for. But I also tend to warm up to slow songs and others are just awesome running songs ( I.E. Poision, Bille Jean for speedy miles and then some Ozzy for fast or slow miles. Its funny I always thought Goodbye to Romance was Goodbye to Roman. Then I saw it written and realized what it was and the song made much more sense!)

Music is an incredible motivator for me. I hope I can get at least four runs in this week. Including a long run, but I have finals this week so I will probably only go for 8 or 9 and call it good. I'm going try to spend more time on school this week but am planning on running because a week without running is like skipping two meals a day. I would not be able to concentrate. Continuing to run, helps me continue. I probably won't do any speed work though. As funny as it sounds speed workouts take a lot of mental effort.

I am also constantly pulling hammies, usually my right, and I think it's because I am favoring my left leg and I am not sure how to counter act that. I feel like I stretch enough, but then your not really supposed to stretch on cold muscles so I always feel like its a catch 22. We'll see what happens this week. Maybe I'll start walking a lap first?

Here's to one last week of school!
Meagan

Rhythm and Blues + New Shoes

Well I am not doing well in the "getting the miles in" department! The week before last went like this; a two mile run on Wednesday, then on Saturday I did a total of 3.5 miles of speed work ( 2 mile warm up with one mile at 8:40 and then barely
eeked out another 800 meters for 4:44- I wasn't feeling it at all!) However Sunday went okay. I was supossed to do fourteen miles. I kept trying to psych myself up for it, I was a little nervous, but I was going to do it at the track so its not like I was going out of my way and running the risk of getting lost. I also didn't have that halfway mark. So I could constantly push just a little more, and not have to worry about leaving enough time to get back , because my car was right at the track.

I also came fueled and prepared. For breakfast I had cereal,a piece of pumkin bread and a Dr. Pepper. I had a GU right before I started at the track as well. And then I set up my own little "aid stations." I had a container of cut up oranges, water, and Gatorade at one, then I had another GU and water at another. I'm sure people who were at the track thought I was a little overzealous, but this was supposedly going to be my longest long run of my life I wanted to be prepared!

It started out okay. I was running pretty solid and was speeding up from an 11:00 minute pace for the first two miles. I hit four and a half and stopped by the bleachers for a drink and oranges. I kept at it till six and half and stopped again for fuel. Ran until six and three quarters and not only did I stop for water, but I actually had to walk the next quarter of a mile. I ran for three more laps and stopped again (water/ gatorade)and walked another quarter. I did the same drill for the next mile and then for mile nine I ran until the half and considered my options. I wanted to go for that fourteen miler, but I was running out of steam, I had terrible rhythm throughout (despite the fact that I had my Blue ipod and was loving the music) and I just didn't want to continue this run/walk routine that I had going on. I could have pushed I think four or eight more laps, but I was also maintaining a terrible pace and didn't want to do any worse!

I finished that last lap running and came in at 1:56:xx. I can't remember the seconds, but it worked out to like 11:11 per mile! Holy! All of my half marathon miles have been faster than that! But it was a good run and as much as my hip flexors were hurting that Sunday, they didn't hurt the next. Although I did pull a hammy in my left leg and didn't run for the next two days and then the rest of last week just flew by and I was only mentally and physically able to get out last Sunday for one and a half miles, but it was an important one and half, becuase I did it in my new shoes! I went down to a running store over the weekend and had my gait analyzed and yep I'm an over pronator and got a pair of pink and black Mizuno's. I was a little concerned at first, but Sunday's test run proved that they will work just fine. I also rediscovered my trail shoes, so I will hit the trails today! ( I had misplaced them for a while - looked everywhere, but I had actually stashed them in another shoe box.)

I think I will need this run, I am beyond exhausted all the time. I came home from classes today and was way tired. ( Although I was so happy that I was able to write an evaluation for a class that has just been choas and an excercise in busy work.)
I took a nap and now I really have no energy so maybe this will help give me some more endurance for the rest of this awful semester. I'm trying to be positive about it, but I have no idea where I am going from here. I only have one semester left after this and then who knows.

I was eighteen when I started college. Since then I have lost so much faith in the education system and in my own ability and desire to be a part of it. My boyfriend of two and half years keeps telling my that we need to set a date and get married. I keep telling him fall 2011, because I'm thinking if we get married before we both finish our college educations we might not complete them. And how would I tell my future kids school is a good thing and that it will all be worth it one day, if I know I am lying through my freaking teeth? I swear I am one more failed test away from getting my tubes tied lol, because at least then the buck would stop with me.

On the plus side I do know that eighteen year old Meagan would be proud that I have completed four halfs. She would be proud that despite the pending degree's lack of value at least its almost done. She would be proud that despite everything I will continue to run and test my limits. (Sanity included!) She would be glad that I am on a better track now than I was year ago today.

So here's to finding better rhythm and remembering to take life one step at a time

Canyonlands!

Well race morning started out like any other. With the alarm going off. I was nervous. I wanted to do well, but I was as prepared as I thought I could be. I had my new socks, I had lots of chocolate mint Gu and bless the hotel they had breakfast (I had made sure of that earlier). So I fueled up on waffels and milk and headed out to pick up my packet and then on to the bus. I managed to catch the 7:45 bus and was under the impression that the last bus would be 8:15, but I made a critical error in not knowing what time the race started! I thought that it started at 9:00 am, but after getting up to the race I realized it would start at 10:00. It was freezing! I had heard that there would be a car that would transport our extra clothing from the race start to the bottom, but I didn't have any clothing that I thought I could risk not getting back if it got lost, so I just had my blue jacket ( with pockets that zip for my gu's!) and an old race shirt. It was cold and they updated us on the temp changes: "Its now 36 degrees, Hey its gone up to 38 degrees!" I walked around to warm my self up and drank the wonderful hot chocolate they had for us which was so appreciated!

The other racers and I started the half mile walk up the hill to the start and I realized that we were leaving the porta potty's behind! But I figured I would catch them again on the way down. The run down the hill was pretty quick, but almost all the other racers had the same idea and I actually had to wait in line! It cost my time almost 4 and half minutes. At mile two was the first water station, nice! I kept running and thought I was okay, becuase at that station I was just under 23 minutes and I usually take a while to warm up. Unfortunatly though I drank at every aid station and had make a pit stop at the next porta. I got to mile 7 and remember thinking that it should have been mile 8. At mile ten I checked my time to see if I had beaten my time from my previous long run of ten miles for a 1:45, I wasn't even close coming in at 1:55. I was kinda bummed, but kept running. I remember waiting for mile marker 11, but either it wasn't there or I missed it. I saw my parents a few hundred meters later cheering for me. Yea! I love that they come to my races and that they support me. Its always nice to have fans, but I didn't exactly show it. Dad had the camera and said to smile, but I couldn't do it. I was exhuasted, tired and I was bumming hard about my time being so slow. I was really loosing my focus. At my second half marathon the Top of Utah half they had brought the puppy and I had actually been able to stop and a talk to them around the same point in the race (and wonderful Charlie dog was lickin my face, I guess I was salty!) but I knew if I stopped my suffle here- and it was a shuffle- I would not be able to do anything more than 17 minute miles if I could move at all! I kept running and was just dreaming about that finish line. I was pushing as much as I could, but I had lost too much time with eating too much in the morning and drinking so much before the race and I crossed the line in 2:26:06. Later that day I was eating lunch with my mom, dad and cousin (who was driving a van shuttling racers that day!) and Dad started to tell someone my time and I shushed him, I was pretty embarrased about it, but I'm okay with it now. It was a learning experience. You'd think for my fourth half I'd be a little better at getting my ducks in a row, but now I think I really will be ready for a P.R. this summer. If I can find half that's close to home. It really was a beatiful run and the aid stations were awesome! Lots of gu, water, and gatorade. I wish I had felt a little better and that I hadn't been so obssessed with time. ( But darn it I shoulda done better, I put in the speed work!)

On the schedule for tomorrow- my longest long run ever! 14+ miles for tomorrow that's my goal. I think I will have two gu's plus Powerade and I think I will bring cups to place on the benches next to the track so I can stay hydrated. We'll see how it goes!!!
Happy weekend and running,
Meagan

And the madness begins...

All right goal #2 come on down! Yesterday I officially took the first steps to accomplishing the second goal on my list for 2010 and registered for the 2011 Walt Disney World Marathon! ( Jan. 9 ) Crazy! I was fine with it at first, but as soon as I received my confirmation I was filled with the realization, that it is two half marathons! Back to back. I am hoping that it doesn't suck the fun and good out of the happiest place on earth nor the joy out of the long run.

Of course with the long run there in lies my solace. It is my favorite run and I think as long as I can find the time to put in twice the mileage and get in the habit of doing three hour long runs every week (eventually), then I think that I will do okay. I'm also hoping that I can continue to add miles to my achy left foot without permanent damage. We'll see...

Here's to the madness and one long journey,

Meagan

P.S. Race report on Canyonlands coming soon!

If you can't say anything nice...

Recently I had a conversation with a co-worker about why I am getting this weekend off. I told him excitedly that I was going to be running in the Canyonlands Half Marathon! Instantly he went off. He told me his brother in law runs marathons, that they are not good for the body, and that even after running one and putting in the training he still is a "really big guy", because they don't help you loose weight.

Right. Okay. Well then.

First of all did he just call me "fat"? And secondly I am sick of people thinking that running is all image related. Yes it would be nice if I could have Kara Goucher's muscle tone, but sheesh there is more to the sport than the pursuit of burning calories and shedding your former self. Running for most of us who get it is a way of life or a happy escape. Sometimes both. Running also has more benefits to offer than he realized. His bro in law may not be the spitting image of Tom Welling, but what about all the good extra benefits that running brings to the table? Such as: lower chloesterol, lower blood pressure, more energy, more patience. How about the possibility of being less inclined to succumb to depression? Did he think about that? No. He took a very defensive stance against running ( my guess is because he has never found any joy in exercise and has given up on making it fun or a priority in his life.) and belittled how complex the reasons for running really are.

One of the things that I have repeated to myself over and over is that I run, because I can. I run because for those nine weeks in 2008 I couldn't ( Hence my love of Tom Welling, Erica Durance and my support of the Christopher Reeve Foundation. It was Smallville that kept me from going insane from staring at the wall while riding the sationary bike to recovery when I broke my left foot. I can't read or even listen to my ipod on the bike, because I am either moving to much to concetrate or not enough to find that rhythm that I need in order to listen to music.) I run, because there is nothing that feels so good as that runners high where everything in a workout falls into place. The time, the place, the rain, the shoes. Even the fatigued muscles. Everything. Sometimes - and this is where you are going to call the men in white coats to come take me away - I even look forward to taking an ice bath when I'm done.

I did a tempo run today. Wasn't as long as it should have been, but the track team showed up today ( I didn't think they would be there this week, but hey at least they're dedicated I gotta give them credit.) The idea was to take ten seconds off my mile time, but I was faster than that today. I wish I knew what it would've been if I had finished 5 or 6, but I ended with an average of 9:42 per mile. Not too bad. While I have now been obsessing over the time an thinking I should've been faster or more consistant. I am reminding myself to be proud that I was able to do as well as I did and grateful that I am able to move at all. I know I talk about that alot, but a fellow runner was sharing her story about not being able to run with out pain and how she has seen countless Dr's, PT's and sports guru's about it and it got me thinking that maybe we should be more proactive before injuries pop up. Ever since I broke my foot, I am so very very careful not to make the same mistakes I made. I don't run in any pants that come below my shoes, they all sit at the ankle. I also make sure that I stretch or walk first and I never, never run in shoes that are not my running shoes and I also never use my running shoes for anything other than running. I am wondering if this is enough though. I don't know what I would do without a run to really melt the stress away and think maybe I should talk to a P.T on excercises I should be doing to really prevent injury. I'm also going to go to the Salt Lake Running Store to get fitted for shoes. I used to think I was an overpronator, but I'm not so sure anymore. I've heard that they really examine your feet and your running and then use that info to fit you to a shoe so I am really excited to learn what they have to say. I guess I'll see how it goes. I also am a firm believer in ice baths especially after long runs. I know that it has helped me so much so I will continue to do that in hopes that all of these things will continue to enable me to run injury and pain free for as long as possible.

Here's to sure footing,
Meagan
P.S. Does anyone have a foam roller? The Stick? Which one works better/ which would you recommend?

Running on Emtpy

Well the miles this week didn't quite add up. Even with five days of running, I never quite had the time, or energy to finish. Especially today. I forgot about daylights saving, woke up late to begin with and lost that extra hour so I only ran two miles today. I decided to run despite the late starting time, because I skipped yesterday completely and was cranky as a result. I also didn't get in any strength this week. I was just so focused on just trying to get the track and class that I didn't have energy for weights.

The good news is that I was able to pick up the speed this week. The bad news is that I was only able to get in a total of 12 miles. Holy Moly I never would've thought I would end on that number this week, but that's just the way it went. The good news is that because I didn't run hard today I don't have to take tomorrow off. And my morning will entirely free as tomorrow is the first day of spring break! I'm thinking speedwork for tomorrow.

Hopefully I won't be running on empty this week as much as I was. I'm going to try to meal plan, stick with it and get up early enough to strength train, or warm up and eat breakfast. I also recieved Girl Scout Cookies in the mail yesterday. Mmm. I love cookies ( I tried to make oatmeal ones on Friday night and they turned out awful no idea why I can't make cookies!) So they will be my reward for completely finishing a planned workout this week seeing as how I chucked all the cookies from Friday.

I'm really hoping that I will be able to get in 30+ miles again this week, but I'm not going to push it if I think I am loosing steam, because I want to be really stoked for Saturdays Half! Canyonlands Baby! Here's to one last week of training and fueling well!

Meagan

Goal Success!

I made it! And it only took nine weeks of workouts into the new year to get there! Wohoo! As you know on my goal list for the year I wanted to make it to thirty miles a week on average and last week I finally felt like I am getting these goals off the ground: I ran a total of 31.5 miles! I ended up taking Friday off then doing an easy warm up run on Saturday of three miles and then strength traning. On Sunday I resolved to do at least 8.5 so I could make my goal. I got up plenty early ( still not early enough though) and made it to the track after eating my gu. After stretching I started my last run of the week. The first three miles were tough as always, but then each lap got easier and easier. I was kind of resolved to quitting at 8.5, but then I thought that I wanted to even out the mileage so I would end at 9, but then that would leave me with a 30.5 for the week. I didn't like either option and decided I might as well end solidly in the double digits for miles, because if I ran 9.5 I knew I could push to ten. Those last four to eight laps are really more mental than physical anyway.

I took Monday off (and did a ten minute ice bath on Sunday after the run) Yesterday I ran, was just going to be an easy run so I ran two and half miles. Today was supposed to be the tempo run of five to six miles, but I was running out of time and cut it short to two and a half again. However my pace, was twenty-eight seconds faster per mile today so I was happy with that and I will try to do awesome on speed work tomorrow. I'm not sure how that happened, becuase I am dead tired today, but one of the things that I think attributed to the faster speed today was that I had karate class this morning before my run. It was also "hard" day where we do stretching and strength and bag work so I think that warming up really helps increase the speed. I'm just not sure how to incorpotate it before every run, becuase I get psyched out so easily and usually if I am doing it during the week I am running between classes ( to avoid going during the track teams practice) and before work and am always just squeezing it in. I know that its not a fluke though during the summer my fastest times were again always at night and thats probably because I had a whole day of moving to warm my body up. I will have to find some way to get warm ups in before regular runs. I also have to find a way to fuel better in the mornings than I do. Food does not really sound good when I wake up ( unless its bacon, ham and cheese omletes, but that's not healthy and I don't have time to do that usually), thus probably why I have always gravitated to my morning Dr. Pepper, becuase I can drink it at my own pace and it is calories. In the mornings I always crave salt. I never know what to eat though. Usually it is a cheese stick, but that's only fifty calories. I used to eat cheesetoast with ranch in the morning that was perfect, but I always ended up throwing away half the loaf, because I never finsish the whole thing and usually can't handle more than 300-400 calories tops in the morning. Hard boiled eggs worked well for a while, but I haven't gotten around to boiling them yet so maybe I will do that this week.

Only 25 more miles to go this week! I would like to get in a swim, but I don't have a gym pass. Hopefully I'll get one this summer so I can train really hard for a sprint triathalon this summer. Last years was so awful! I was so slow and as people were finishing I was just coming in with my bike for the run part so I would like to find a trainer for a few sessions of help with either swimming or biking. I must get faster. It was such a slow race last year, that will not happen again! Part of the problem was that the run part was horribly marked so I will try to learn the route part early if possible.

Here's to the rest of the week! May you accomplish all of your goals, get your zzz's and get to your destinations on time! ( Yeah I'm still working on that!)

Meagan

Embracing the Run

What a week! Do you ever approach the end of the week feeling like you've been holding your breath the whole time? Yeah thats how I feel this week. Its been okay, but I feel so exhuasted and don't feel like I've gotten as much done as I needed to.

Well Monday was the only day I worked, but it was an eight hour shift and while I felt really busy I am grateful that I have a job and that my schedule seems to be back to normal. ( Was only getting one day a week for a while.) Classes have been okay, but can I just put out this plea to the universe: if you are a pedestrian please use the crosswalks, sidewalks etc... I almost hit a guy this week, because he just stepped off the curb and into the street trying to dodge his way through traffic. Speaking of which traffic this week has been awful up on campus, but I think it will settle down now that the job expo is over. I have had two quizzes due this week I had such high hopes for the one, but I recieved a 77.5%. Grr. I know that I could do so much better if I had just five minutes more to finished them, but they are timed and online so even groveling wouldn't do me any good. Yes I will try to remember the cardinal rule of racing and testing: pace yourself!

On the running front I have done okay this week.
Monday: 3 miles
Tuesday: 7 miles
Wendnesday: Speedwork: 3 miles warmup followed by a 8:29 min mile then a 8:46 min mile then 4:00 minutes for 800 meters.
Thursday 3 miles.

I am hoping to get a ten miler in tomorrow, a serious strength training session ( with just me and my weights and maybe a workout dvd) on Saturday and then a 4 or 5 mile tempo run on Sunday. I was supposed to do the tempo today, but I just quit today, because I couldn't talk myself into finishing all of it when I was loosing steam at one and a quarter. I am glad that I finished my speedwork on Wednesday though. It didn't start out that well. I went down to the track now that it is all snow free. I was about a mile and a half into it when the track gods and goddesses showed up. I continued running, but at about two and a almost a quarter they asked me to move to the outside lane. I said okay, finished the lap and drove to the campus gym.( I would've run on the outside lanes of the track with them if it had been just an easy run or even a long run, but it takes so much some days just to psych myself up for speedwork and I'm still not sure what the distance difference is between those first inside lanes and the outside lanes. Anyone know?)

I finished the rest of my warm up ( 1200 meters) and then did my first one miler. That first one miler is always the fastest one. In theory I believe you're supposed to be able to beat yourself with mile repeats, but I don't think that will ever happen unless I am really holding back. I was really hoping to do better than last weeks 8:17 minute mile, but nope that didn't happen. I did an easy lap and then started again. I ran as hard as I could, but the basketballs from the courts kept bouncing into my lane and people in general were as unaware of runners coming at them as the pedestrians outside were of cars. (I was unfortuneately guilty of this too as I finished the last lap of my first mile and stopped and then had to book it out of the way as these two guys were right on my tail.) The last half mile I really pushed. I think it really helps me to improve speed and speed work, because I'm sure that if I did a 3 X 1 milers I would always wimp out of the last mile, but the fact that I've modified it helps alot - it forces me to physically and mentally push myself those last 800 meters.

I am really happy that I am on my way to a 30+ mileage week especially since I will need to do some serious mileage makeup to even out what I will need to make my mileage goal for the year, but the weird thing is that I usually feel so incredible after runs and this week they seem so blah. I'm not sure why, but I just haven't felt that runners high I usually feel after workouts ( especially 7 milers like on Tuesday- it was kind of a make up long run since I didn't do one on the weeked) So I am going to try to make the most out of the rest of the week. And the good news is I will have tomorrow morning off so I can do a long run. Those are the best and I am going to try to do everything to make sure that it goes well. I am going to be grateful for the ability to run and for my beautiful track ( even though I know that its not mine I just get to use it.) I'm going to accept the off weeks where everything seems to make you late for the next thing and stop beating myself up for it and try to do better next week ( I think that will be better next week, because there were so many cars on the road and on campus for the job expo!)

All in all I have to remind my self to be grateful to run. I have to remember why I love it. Part of that reason was because it was soley mine. I could do what ever mileage or pace I wanted and feel good about it. It was one of those things I also started again, because no one could tell me that I had screwed it up. I defined the run. When I started up again two years ago I started because I wanted to be able to run again. I wanted that ability. Yes I wanted that old high school body back, but I also wanted the seemingly effortlessness that went into that body. ( It didn't feel like that then though. I still felt fat in high school lol) The funny thing is though I was much skinnier in highschool, but I didn't put in nearly the effort, time, or mileage that I am putting in now. I would drink on average four - sometimes more - Dr. Peppers a day. And though I "earned" them ( For every can I drank I would "debt" myself a half a mile run or 2.5 miles on the bike.) The effort never balanced out the calories. Now on my bad days I am drinking 3, but my time and mileage put into working out has tripled. I stress over my time and think about how I could've gone faster. I record not only my miles ran, but the miles I bike and the yards that I swim. I use to be really good about strength training, but slacked off a bit. I just don't love it. I can never find that rhythm that I love so much in the middle of a long run, but am trying to find a place for it.

On days where things don't go as planned I have to remind myself to embrace the opportunity to _________. Even if I have to use the opportunity I always use- the opportunity to move and run! I have to remind myself to embrace the opportunity to change. I didn't want to leave the track on Wednesday, but who knows maybe moving to the indoor track made my miles faster? It could have and now that spring is here I know I will have a full spring, summer, and fall season of running on that Heaven sent track where I can completely enjoy being out side and cranking up my awesome new blue ipod!! I love the solitary that comes with the scenery. I love seeing other runners show up with their furry running friends, because I understand that bond between dogs, people and running.
Hopefully next week will start out better, but more than that I hope to not let the negetive get to me and to remind myself as I did in painful parts of the Rodeo Half to "embrace the pain" :)

Love and forward motion,

Meagan

Speed Work(s!)

Okay I just had to share! I went running today at the indoor track on campus and after doing three miles of warm up on the tredmill I went down to the track to complete 3 X 1 miles. I felt really good and had my trusty new blue ipod with me and also did something I usually don't do - I stepped to the outside runner lane. I think the sheer act of doing so forced me to be faster. I felt like I had to prove my worthiness of taking up space in that lane by really running fast. I pushed and I pushed and I kept telling myself that I shouldn't be holding back just because I had two more miles to go after this, but I could tell I could've gone faster if I hadn't had two more on the schedule, but to my sweet surprise I managed an 8:17 minute mile! Man that was huge for me. It felt so good. Especially after my really really slow miles that I ran in the half marathon on Saturday. After a slow lap I prepped myself for another fast mile. I ran, but not as hard as I had before and I'm not sure how much of it was or wasn't physcological. I think it was probably a pretty even 50/50, becuase mentally I was still impressed with my first mile and secondly my legs were yelling at me and I could feel the fatigue setting in as I finshed that last lap for: 8:50, slower than I would've wanted, but I was happy that it was a sub 9 minute mile. I was also intrigued that this was my all out fast mile at the begining of my speed work last week so I know that there must be something to this speed work thing and to really allowing myself to warm up at a compfortable pace for at least thirty minutes. I fininshed the workout with 800 meters that rang in at 4:08 which again helped me mentally because I was pretty sure that it would've been a much slower mile, but I knew that I could push ( or trick!) those fast twitch muscle fibers into hanging on for just half a mile. It was an awesome workout today although I can feel my trusty or rusty old left foot starting to give me attitude again as usual, but I think that I will make real progress in the speed area this year.

My ultimate goal that I added to my full life list last week is to run a mile in 6:40 which sounds huge, but it is only 37 seconds faster than my fastest recorded mile. (five years ago) I think I may have run a 7:0X once, but I can't find it written so unfortuneatly its like it never happened then. I think also one of the things I seem to have forgotten is that I started with one milers and built up to longer runs after I had gotten faster. I have pages and pages of a running journal that is just one milers that are all sub 8:30, but then I didn't start adding miles for a while (I did find a 5 miler that I had done that I finished in 41 minutes flat that is going to be my new unoffical goal for a tempo run this year .) I hope you all had a great week and that your runs help you feel like you are moving more forward than backward. I know for me that I am now on the right track to faster and faster miles.
Happy speedy running,
Meagan

2,490 Feet of butt kicking elevation, baby!

Thats right, I climbed over 2,490 feet in elevation in the most beautiful half marathon I have ever done- Rodeo Beach. The race was held in California and wow I've seen some pretty beaches, but this one takes the cake. Mom and I flew out on Friday morning and landed in Oakland, from there we went to the hotel. ( Hotel was nice enough, but the area was a little iffy). We went out to Alcatraz that day and had so much fun. I love history and seeing as how Shawshank Redemption is one of my favorite movies I was excited to see an actual prison. The prision itself was a lot bigger than I imagined, but I was totally surprised to learn that the warden and staff all lived there on the rock with their families! There was once a school, grocery store etc. It was a real town, but everything has long since closed down. After Alcatraz we went to the Ghirardelli factory mmmm. Definetly worth the walk. It is amazing what that company has done by including one ingredient in everything they sell.

We got back to our hotel pretty early and I got all my running gear ready for the race in the morning. I had my mint chocolate gu ( four of them one for before the race, one for during the race, and a couple extras just in case I lost the first two lol) then my fully charged ipod, my trail running shoes, and the most important item: my brand new par of merino/silk scout wigwams! They are the most comfortable pair of socks I have ever worn or run in.

Race morning everything seemed to be going okay. We got up in plenty of time, but were worried that we wouldn't find the race start. We went down to breakfast-sigh... it really was just a continental breakfast: danishes, coffe and juice, but I wasn't really thinking about fuel though because I was way nervous. ( On a side note I will never again let anyone at the hotel I work at complain about anything in our continental breakfast we have everything!) Well we got our cab and after giving him our directions from the website - and then correcting the poor guy when he missed the turn off we got to the race way freaking early. I stretched and got my number and gulped down a ton of water as I had forgotten a water bottle ( stupid move!)I ate two of my gu's before the race, becuase we didn't realize how remote this place was (no restaurants, stores or even vending machines nearby) and all the food had been taken to the aid stations.

Hightlights of the race:
The start went off and I forgot to set my watch for about the first 200 meters! I tried to listen to music, but and this was the weird part - I couldn't find that rhythm/run beat so I bagged the ipod early. I was really surprised how well the birds, wind and other runners kept me entertained! I also got separated to the back of the pack quickly and ran alone for a about fifteen minutes until I caught up with another couple and she graciously let me stay on her tail as we cut through a ranch ( part of the course- not a short cut) and waved to the rancher. A few hundred meters later we saw the first wonderfully stocked aid station! I drank like three cups of water and ate a handful of red gummy bears and kept plugging along. I kind of caught up to the the group and we were going down a hill, when I tripped on a stick and got dirty and then basically jumped in a mud puddle. :) About two miles later I am completely behind everyone and running along and following the pink 200 meter markers when I missed a turn went left not right and went a quarter of mile out of my way until a woman and her dog said they hadn't seen any runners and said to go back the way I came, so I retraced my steps and found the trail again. I then took a phone call from Daddy (who was still in Salt Lake) and chatted on the trail while running. He asked when I had last seen someone and I said "Oh I saw people about a mile and half ago" he said I must be going the wrong way because he thought I said an hour and a half ago :). I made it to the second rest stop for more water and kept at it, but man it was hard. By about mile ten I saw Mom who had gotten worried about me (aww...) and was walking up to meet me and we ran the next three miles together and I finished! Whoo hoo! One of the best parts of the race was when I was going up a hill ( after this hill I tripped over a stick going down and laid there in the middle of the road for a while until I said "Okay Meagan get up- the full marathoners will be here soon" he he he) and off to my left was the beach and water and off to my right going up I could see the tips of the golden gate bridge. That was awesome! After the race I gobbled up oranges and water and a wonderful lady who also ran the race offered to give me and Mom a ride Sauslito (she was training for the Boston Marathon and ran this race with a broken toe! Yowza!) where we had an awesome lunch and shopped before taking the ferry to Fishermans Warf, then back to the hotel and then yummy pizza dinner.

On Sunday I could walk better than I expected and we went to China town and hung out there before getting on the subway and then on to the Bart system where we ran into neighbors of ours who had just come for the weekend to goof off too. ( Small world!) All in all it was a great weekend, trip and challenge and while I was so much freaking slower than I thought I was gonna be at least I finished and now I have a new bench mark of "level of toughness" with which to compare "hard" workouts to! Awesome race and I can't wait for Canyonlands in a month!
Love and blister free/broken toe free races,
Meagan

P.S. Thanks for the "Christmas" trip Mom and Dad!

My Untimely Need for Speed

I am not a fast runner. I am a distance runner and distance will probably always be my forte. I remember the week before my first half marathon, how nervous I was that I wouldn't be able to complete the distance. My longest "long run" for training up to that point had been eight miles and it was a slow eight miles. I had run only slighly longer than that a handful of other times (once at SUU years earlier I had run ten miles on a whim one day just to see if I could do it.)so I was really loosing it prior to my race wondering why I had signed up for this race. Also I had read in runnersworld that a usual training plan should be about sixteen weeks. I had given myself fourteen and had just come back from breaking my left foot.( for the second time.)
But something happened that day. As hard as that race was, most of it was magical. I was pumped with awesome music and the electric atmosphere of the start and loved running through the different neighborhoods. When the race got hard I thought of three things: My neighbor who had been diagnosed with cancer. I thought about how I wanted to finish so I could donate my medal to Medals4Mettle in his name. I thought about Christopher Reeve and all those who are paralyzed and how when the pain was awful how they would have loved to be able to feel this kind of pain, and I thought about my first running partner- Kenai, my Siberian Husky who loved nothing more that to run and had he been there he would have been pulled me the whole way. Towards the end I also kept replaying the song "Hurts so Good" by John Mellencamp and I pushed as hard as I could to the end. I did finish 13.1 miles. It was awesome. It was one of the most powerful feelings that I have ever had. The interesting thing was this though: I finished in 2:21:58.
An average of 10:50 per mile. Not only was it not fast, but it was mysteriously close to my all out pace when I ran tempo runs ( within about eighty seconds.) After my race about a month later when I decided to really push my tempo pace runs. I ran 3 miles full out for 27:22. Hard stuff. I thought I would be able to run faster now, but I have not always made speedwork a priority. I have tried to find a place for it these last couple months. I did speedwork two days ago and after warming up for almost half an hour I ran a 8:50 mile. It felt so hard, but the thing that makes me mad is that I know I was holding back. I was like "Meagan you sill have two more mile repeats to go, don't push that hard." As I was wheezing and doing my easy lap I talked my self out of more mile repeats and broke it up and did two 400's and one 800. At least I got in the milage that I wanted, but of course that wasn't the point of Wednesdays workout.

I went back yesterday just to do a maintenace run and then today for a tempo. I bonked today at two miles after realizing that I wasn't on pace not even close and quickly loosing steam. ( I wanted 9:50 min miles for six miles and ended at 20:15 for two!) I then talked myself into seeing if I could finsh on the treadmil- was gonna do four then said three and then I just quit at 1 and half. The point of all this is, if I hadn't been trying for speed I would have had no problem getting the miles in. I maybe would have finished somewhere around an hour. All I wanted was to shave an average of ten seconds off my usual mile pace and it psyched me out. Im going to try to really focus on my running objectives of the day. Yes a tempo run is trying to train your body to run at the pace you want, but sometimes it is not going to happen and I am just going to have to adjust especially if I want to get in the miles and stay focused on the fact that I have two half's coming up in the next six weeks! That what makes it so untimely, I know that speedwork is a part of training and that I shouldn't feel guilty about workouts that have me doing 6 X 800's especially when I know that the distance part is going to be on my side, but I always want to have run longer.

The good thing is though that regardless of the physcial characteristics of the race I know that I can do it. Distance is really all about two things: pacing and acting on what you believe. And I know I can do the distance. And I do know that one day the speed will come to me- it just might not come as soon as I would like it to!
Love and forward motion,
Meagan

Faith

It has taken me a while to understand what this word means. It is one of those words that you hear your whole life and take for granted its existance. Faith is said to be 'complete confidence in a person or plan'. I find it fitting, because as I was growing up and in school I believed in plans. I also had a lot of faith in people and in their intentions. I also believed that people were exactly what they appeared to be. I didn't understand pretenses for a long time. As a result of that as a kid I believed that all anger or happiness directed at me was a direct result of something that I did or did not do and sometimes even now I have to remind myself to beaware of false emotions and actions of others and to really keep the faith.

Fast forward a few years. I am twenty five years old, and I am still in college. I am working part time in customer service and it is one of those jobs where I am constantly looking for the good in people. I don't want this blog to be where I go to vent ( although I just might from time to time...) so I will try to make this short. I had a customer who was difficult yesterday. She called to state a problem and to yell. I tried to help her fix it and she hung up. We repeated this song and dance for a while and are still playing at this game again today. However there was man who was waiting for me and listening to my end of the conversation and as I hung up he asked if I needed a hug. Aww! :) ( I said, "No, I'm okayish") He told me not to worry about it. That there are people who are unhappy and need to make others feel like everything else is that person's fault. He was so genuinely nice. ( He also gave me a five dollar tip and told me to buy a drink. I did- a cold can of theraputic-cure-all-Dr. Pepper.) This man gave me faith yesterday. He gave me faith in people and in myself. I am going to try to remember that this year. I am going to remember him and not the woman on the other end of the phone. I am going to look for the good people at work this year and commemorate them on this blog.

I am also moving forward this year. Mentally, physically and emotionally. I am going to graduate from college. I am also going to build on the steps I took last year to run and train to become a better runner. 2009 was just about the action itself. Now it is about how can tone my running. I am also going to serioulsy enter training for a full marathon. ( Disney World 2011 here I come baby!) I am going to appreciate more fully my ability to run and my ability to live. Here are few of my 2010 goals:

1. Graduate
2. Train for Walt Disney World Marathon 2011
3. Run four half marathons
4. Do two trail races
5. Do one snow shoe race
6. Take a self defense class
7. Take a CCW class
9. Start a garden this year ( build a raised bed for it)
10. Start a compost bin
11. Do Pedal to the Point ( in August)
12. Visit Yellowstone
13. Read eight nonfiction books ( not for classes)
14. Find children’s books to read ( in Spanish and German)
15. Listen to 11 new artists
16. Find a piano to play
18. Cook 30 new recipes
19. Become a morning person
23. Participate in a sprint triathlon
24. Take scuba diving lessons
26. Apply to Graduate school or have a meeting with a counselor
31. Average 30 miles a week ( running)
32. Do one swim workout a week
33. Cover 1000 miles on the bike this year
34. Be on time to classes and don’t miss one class!

We'll see how it goes. I am definately going to give these goals my best and I am going to appreciate the gift of time this year and take advantage of it. This year is about a more motivated me,so I will end this post and start this new year off with a quote that I hope to constantly remember and put into action.

Our Greatest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other

people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others."

—Marianne Williamson


I hope that we will all have a fabulous and faithful 2010!