"If we don't suffer enough we won't remember it."

I guess I over did it on Saturday.  I think it was the 4 hours of yard work after my 20 mile run that did me in, the shoveling, squatting, and lifting (sod and heavy rocks).  I have pain in my left quad and right achille's tendon, just like before Utah Valley in June. 

So today was an easy 8 instead of the 10 or 12 I would have liked to have done.  8:12 / mile.

8 easy, lots of little aches and pains.

4 miles at about 7:30/mile pace

10 discouraging miles. 

At mile one my left knee all of the sudden hurt so bad I thought I was going to have to walk home.  This was the same pain I delt with after the Utah Valley Marathon.  I haven't been doing the Physical Therapy exercises like I should the last few weeks.  Only 1/2 the routine twice a week instead of the whole thing three times.  Am I going to have to do this stupid exercise/stretching routine my whole life!? 

I stretched and ran a few more miles, stretched again, ran a few more, stretched again, and ran a few more.  I actually felt good the last two miles so that was encouraging.  I wanted to go 16, but settled for 10. 

8 mile Provo Canyon part trail run with Melody and Rebecca.  It was nice to sleep in a little and go in the light.  It seemed late when we got done.  Minimal knee pain.

6 miles with Melody and Josse. 

8 miles up/down Provo Canyon while my kids were at school/youngest in preschool.  I didn't feel well, hopefully it was just because of the heat.  It was very hot by the time I went.  Or it could be because I was up with my 3 year old girl for two hours in the night and only got 6 hours of sleep, one hour sleep, up a few minutes, two hours sleep, up for two hours, then three hours sleep. 

4 easy miles.  It seems like all I'm able to do is easy.  I feel like I'm getting a head cold.  Hopefully I can get myself well rested and feeling better by next week!

4 miles with Mark and 3 miles with my son on his bike.  We ran to the cemetary to see my dad's grave. 

Nothing! Slept in and was going to go later, but the only time of day I had to run it was raining and my little girl would have been soaking wet in the stroller.

Easy with Melody, Marie & Josse

4 miles easy and ice in the river.

4 miles easy with ice in the river.

I ran the Top of Utah Marathon Saturday.  This was my 13th marathon.  1/3 of my marathon's have been total desasters, 1/3 have been only ok, and 1/3 have been really good.  This was one of the really good ones, 3:03 is a new PR for me.  My previous PR was 3:07 at St. George.  I'm hoping for more really good ones as I've learned from the desasters and only ok's.

My goal was to be in the 3:03's or under.  The mistake I usually make in the "only ok's" is going out too fast and crashing the last 6 miles.  I planned to run between 6:50 and 7:00 min/mile pace the first half in hopes I would be able to keep my pace around 7:00's, not slower than 7:30's at the end, and I did just that. 

I felt a little discouraged the first few miles as there were so many women in front of me I couldn't even count them all, 10+.  I decided to just focus on my plan and how I felt and not worry about everyone else.  Around mile 6 I passed a woman and continued to pass someone about every 2 miles, but for more than 1/2 the race I really thought I had no chance of placing.  (I was 1:29 something at the 1/2.)

At mile 16 I passed Marryann and asked her what place she was in.  I found out I was in 5th.  I flet good and kept my even pace, passed another at mile 19 and another at mile 22.  I think it was around mile 23 I passed Ali.  She was struggling, a bad race for her is a great race for me.  That put me in 2nd place which was where I wanted to stay.  The first place girl was way out there, no hope of passing her. 

I was uncomfortable for a long time, but didn't get the "shutting down" can't take another step feeling until into the last mile.  Going up the hill on the little road between Main St. and 100 E. about 3/4 mile from the end (yes it is uphill but you would probably only notice it if you were running the end of a marathon) I really struggled, whole body shut down, felt like everything was cramping up.  However after I turned the corner and headed back downhill things got a little better. 

I had my watch set on the mile split average and just focused on each mile.  I didn't even look at my cumulative time so I was really excited when I saw the race clock at 3:03 and could tell I was going to finish before it hit 3:04.

I called my boys and told them I had my fastest race ever, took 2nd place and won $1,000.  My 8 year old said, "Can we have $400?"  He wanted to buy the Lego Deth Star.  I said no to the Deth Star, but said he and his brother could each get any $30 Lego ship they wanted.  My 6 year old asked for the Lego Deth Star too when I talked to him and said, "But you have the money!"  Again the $30 ship was all I was willing to do.  So we made a trip to Toys 'R Us that night.

I can't end this entry without saying something about my dad.  He was the one who got me into running.  We used to run together and he's the first person I always want to call when I finish a race.  He died 4 years ago of cancer.  He would be really excited for me.  I also feel like being able to run without experiencing any injury pains or problems was an answer to prayer and for that I'm really grateful. 

Ran 8 easy miles wtih Maire, Josse, Melody, Rebecca and Amanda. 

This was my easiest marathon recovery.  My legs were sore for a few days, but not so bad I couldn't walk the stairs normally.  I got better socks, so no blisters and I remembered to cut my toe nails so I'm not going to lose any of those either. 

The only thing bothering me is my head cold.  I could feel it coming on a few days before the race and and am just glad it didn't materialize until afterwards.  I think not getting enough sleep on Friday and Saturday nights is what finally really brought it on.  I was so tired when I went to bed Saturday night, but woke up in the middle of the night and it took a long time to go back to sleep.  Then I woke up early in the morning and couldn't go back to sleep then either.  I kept thinking about the race.

Nothing today.  Took Tylenol PM to try to get more sleep so I can get rid of my head cold.

9 miles up/down Provo Canyon/Bonneville Shoreline Trail.  The fall colors in the trees were beautiful.  Usually I wouldn't be able to do this type of run only a week after a marathon.  I felt really good, almost over the head cold too.

Easy 4 miles with Kelli and Amber.  Haven't run with them before.