Post Race

Let's just say I'm a bit sore today.  My inner thighs, glutes and back are the worst.  Don't get me wrong, I can still walk up and down the stairs, and go about things as usual, I can just tell I pushed myself yesterday.  It hurts, and it feels good.  I know I tried hard and ran hard.  I'm really proud of myself, and of Meghan too.  We did it!  

I was 19th out of 36 in my age division. 160th Overall out of 308.  Not too shabby!

Finish line love

 Having fun all the way to the finish line!

Vigor Half Marathon

Today was the Vigor Utah Big Cottonwood Half Marathon.  It was an early early morning.  Buses were leaving at 4am, so I picked up Meghan just before 3:30am and we headed to the finish.  The buses hadn't arrived yet, so we were a little curious about that, but they finally showed up just a minute or two past 4am.  We loaded into the school bus and headed on our way only to pull over after only a mile or so up the canyon.  The bus had broken down.  Jokes and laughter began to fill the bus as runners made funny comments.  Meghan and I chatted and goofed on our phones, and before we knew it the first bus was back down to rescue us.  We watched the bus driver make a nearly impossible three point turn in the canyon and then pull up along side our broken bus.  Luckily, we arrived with time to spare.  The drop off was actually not the start, and at 5:30am we were lead quite a ways down to the starting line.  It was about a mile walk down the canyon to the starting line, which was strange, but a good warm up.  The race started on time and we were able to start at a pretty good pace.  As we warmed up we sped up considerably and were both feeling really great.  It's a beautiful canyon and the perfect grade for running down.  It was hard work, but was totally worth it.  The last two miles were pretty hard, but not nearly as hard as the end of a marathon!  There were moments that we even ran in the sixes!  I was really very happy with our finish time.  PR, baby!  

At the finish area, waiting for the bus.

On the first bus.

Broken down.  So, what do we do?  Entertain ourselves, of course.

We made it to Solitude!  It seems all of my friends and I carry toys with us when we run.  Hmm...

Meghan, trying to look like her baby daughter who is more often than not, scowling.  

The mile walk.

At the starting line.

Meghan snapped this one not long after the start.

Cruising!

Yay!  

Now, what you've been waiting for!  Our finish time!  Meghan and I crossed the finish line together and both got a PR.  The crazy thing is my second half marathon was 12 minutes faster than my first, and now, my third half marathon was 12 minutes faster than my second!  Yeehaw!  Thanks to my wonderful running buddy, Meghan, for running this race with me and helping me speed along!

13.1 miles

1:55:39

8:50 pace!!!!!

PR time

I'm really really looking forward to the Vigor Big Cottonwood Half Marathon this weekend!  Meghan and I will be racing together again for the first time since we both ran our first marathon, St. George 2012.  The course is the same as the Big Cottonwood Half that I did last Fall and is crazy fast, so we're hoping to finish in under two hours.  My half marathon times have been 2:19 at the 2011 Sojo Half, which was my first race ever, and 2:07 at the 2012 Big Cottonwood Half. The last time I ran the same course it was only two weeks before the St. George Marathon, so I didn't push myself at all.   I'm 100% sure I'll get a PR and quite sure we can come in well under the two hour mark, but we'll see.  What do you think?

How fast will Lightning Mae & Endurance Ney run the 2013 Vigor Half?

Over 2 hours

1:55-2:00

1:50-1:55

1:45-1:50

1:40-1:45

www.poll-maker.com

On my Radar

So, of course, I can't quit thinking about what's next.  I have pretty much decided I'm going to do the Antelope Island 50k in October, but I'm still searching and looking at all my options. I just came across this race, Sapper Joe 30k/50k, that is held in August and am thinking the 30k would be great training for my 50k!  I've talked the lovely Speedy K into running it with me, so it looks like that one will definitely be on the schedule!  I've also been doing a bit of 50 mile scoping and am still eyeballing this Headlands 50 miler in California.  That would be something I'd look at for maybe 2014.

I've also noticed in my search for what it takes to train for a 50 miler, that you don't need to do anything over a 50k distance in training.  It just so happens that in 2013, the Sapper Joe 50k is three weeks before the Headlands 50 miler.  Mighty convenient if it were the same for 2014.  Can you hear the cogs turning in my head?   The Headlands 50 miler is in the Marin Headlands and looks stunning.  Mountains + beach = LOVE!  It starts in Rodeo Beach which is less than two hours away from my Mom's house in Modesto.

Check out these amazing photos I grabbed from the Pacific Coast Trail Runs site!  Who wouldn't want to run there!?

Pirates Cove

 Rodeo Beach

But, of course, I'm getting ahead of myself.  I actually have a race coming up in a couple of weeks.  I'm running the Vigor Big Cottonwood Canyon Half Marathon with my lovely running buddy, Meghan.  I'm really looking forward to that.  It's the same course as the Big Cottonwood Half that I did in 2012, and I loved that.  The scenery is magnificent!

And let's not forget the Dirty Dash with my kids in June.  This race is right after my birthday and about the best birthday party ever!  I'm really looking forward to that!

All this chit chat about races makes me want to go for a run in the morning.  I'll have to work that out...

Rest beautiful rest

I'm still on high from the race and enjoying a couple days of rest.  My body is feeling amazing.  Nothing is really too sore any more. I do however, have a cold now.  I've been pampering myself with sleeping in and lots of foam rolling and vitamins.  I'm now thinking yoga tomorrow sounds really great.  I'm enjoying thinking about what will be next for me.  I did win free entry to a 5k next month and am thinking that I'll do the Vigor Half in May with Meghan, who will be running it.  I really loved the Big Cottonwood Half, and it's the same course.  I'm also scheming about when and where I'll be doing my next 50k.  Yes, I definitely think I'll be doing that again!