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?