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!!!!!

Daily Mile

Meghan and I ran today with this motley crew.

Hey!  Matching shirts!

I was feeling good again today and it was another beautiful day to run with my beautiful friend!

3.31 miles

37:37

11:21 pace

It's a Jogging Stroller Party!

Today Katherine and I had a fun little neighborhood run with our littlest ones.  I always forget how much work it is to push that stroller!  It was a nice feel good run on a beautiful sunny day. 

3.27 miles

41:21

12:38 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

Mountain Love

It was a beautiful morning in on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and down in Corner Canyon this morning.  I love this run and I was happy to have company.  Lindsay came down to my neck of the woods for this early morning south valley mountain run.  It was fantastic!

On a bit of uphill.

Beautiful winding single track on Clark's Trail.

Oh, how I love those signs!  

At the top there is a bike pump and tools!  Very cool!

Mountain Lion bridge.  At least that's what I call it.  It now has not one, but two pictures of mountain lions fixed to it.  This is actually Bear Creek, or so it says on the bridge.

More blasted uphill!

On top of the world!

I love these mountains!!!

12.5

2 hr 55 min

14:00 pace

Hill time

I just came in from sneaking in a run while my girls are practicing for their upcoming musical. Their practices are on 9800 south here in Sandy, which is one long hill. I ran uphill first, which is always harder, but then the reward at the end is so sweet! I love running down hill! I got down to a 7:45 pace (maybe even faster, I'll have to check my Garmin later.) Plus there was a tiny bit of trail at the top of the road, which always makes me happy!
Ahhh! I needed that!

3.2 miles
33:45
10:33 pace

Fortitude

Today I decided to test my fortitude.  First, I went to the gym with Jeff this morning and did legs.  Squats and leg presses until my legs shook.  Calf raises, leg extensions, the whole number.  Jeff kept asking me repeatedly, "Are you sure you're going to go running later?"  YES!  Of course I'm going running.  I had already planned it with Katherine.  There was no way I was skipping.  The last time I did legs I was oh so very sore... for days!  Despite what could have been a horribly painful experience, I laced up and met Katherine for a run at Dimple Dell Gully.  We decided to head west instead of east and mix it up.  The trail was lovely and there was lots of soft sand, wood chips, and fantastic winding single track.

There was also some very colorful graffiti.  Believe it or not, I miss graffiti.  Utah has way less, and way less impressive, graffiti than California.

Hey!  It's me!

Sketchy rape cave?  Smoking cave?  I don't want to know cave.  I'll look at it from a distance, thank you very much.

Friends.

Amazingly, I didn't hurt!  I could tell I had done leg work this morning, but I felt good.  I was a little tired, and walked a bit more than usual, but it worked out as Katherine had just gotten over the stomach flu.  Most importantly, we had a wonderful time.  Of course!

4.15 miles
54:07
13:03 pace