1/2 Taper Advice needed!!!!

So I am really bad a tapering before a race and usually do not do it before a 1/2 marathon at all.

Some recent history, in April I ran a 1/2 and it was miles 39-52 for the week. It was a hilly course and I ran a 1:35:39. After the race I wondered what I could do if I had not run so many miles that week before the race. So I have 1/2 this Saturday and it will be the 4th time that I have run this race. Last year I ran a 1:35:something and won my age group. I would really like to beat my PR for this race (would love to PR but, this course is hilly and my PR was on a downhill/flat course) and feel like I have a good shot if my left hamstring cooperates. I am still going to run this week but I want to try and cut back and see what I can do on fresher legs. Do any of you have any advice? I am crazy and have a hard time Not running! I know I am not the on;y one who suffers from this disease so share your thoughts with me, things you have tried that have worked for you, or things that you have read about. All signs point to that I should be able to do it but because I did so well last year but I have a goal this time and I am putting a lot of pressure on myself. I would love any and all thoughts :)

Anything but soggy

Today was an epic weather day in Portland! Sunny, no clouds, perfect 75 degree weather. Went out for a run not sure how far I was going to go, just me and my Garmin. It was fabulous!

10 miles 7:15 pace Hoping to run below this next weekend at Helevtia :)

Did I mention that I washed my Ipod? Yes it is dead! I tried putting it in rice, it did not work. I know I can go buy an new one but, I use a shuffle for running and they changed the design and I am not a fan. Anyone have any other tricks to try to restore it?

Shout out to Amanda from Runninghood who is running the Newport Marathon in the morning and shooting for a 3:15. Good Luck!! She is a fellow Portlander :)

Last but not least, I just wanted to give some advice to any new runners or want to be runners out there. Running is a fairly simple sport, while there are a lot of gadgets out there, all you NEED are shoes. While tempting to go to the store and buy the "cutest" shoes, it is important to get your running form evaluated at a running store to see what type of shoe you need. This will help keep you from getting injured. For years I bought the cutest shoes but I am no spring chicken anymore and I have to be nice to my joints :)

National Running Day

So today is National Running Day! Did you get your run on today?

I did 3.5 miles of speed work, mostly because it is national running day. I mean I could not just not run!!! That would be crazy! Cross training is for the birds! I did some but I just had to run :)

What did you do to celebrate? If you haven't yet, get out the door and go for a run :)

Me vs. the elements (aka-no more pretty shoes)

So today I woke up and decided that I needed to run the course of the 1/2 marathon that I am doing in 2 weeks. This will be the 4th time I have run this race. I usually do not drive or run a course before a race. My philosophy has been, it is what it is and unless I am going to back out, race day might as well be the first time that I actually see the course. I know that a lot of people have the opposite view and that is just fine :) Maybe I will change my ways. Any way since I have run this race 3 times before I thought it might be good to refresh my memory because I actually have a goal this time. I won my age group last year and would love to get a PR ( atleast for this race) and win my age group again. Did I really just reveal that?

So I usually am a very simple runner. Shoes on and go run, but this time I actually took a water bottle with 1/2 water and 1/2 G2 in it, I also had some GU Chomps in my back pocket, (decided I do not like GU Chomps and have already purchased some other fuel :). So with that I was off, of course with my Garmin which I just got in December. I held off for a long time thinking that I would not like knowing my pace all the time, but I love it!!!

About 1 1/2 miles into my run it started raining and of course I was on a dirt trail at that point, say good bye to the pretty shoes! I had mud dripping down my legs, it was all good though, it is all part of the experience. So the hills started about about mile 3.5 and everything was feeling good. Have i mentioned how much I dislike carrying anything when I run? Well I do so at about mile 5, I ditched the water bottle and my gloves. I knew to conquer the giant hills coming I needed to be able to run with good form so see ya water bottle. I was so happy to get over those hills and onto some less steep terrain. Ate a few Chomps at mile 7 or should I say choked them down, they were gross! Miles 10 and 11 were a little tough but then I decided to see what I had left in the tank and tried to kick it in to the end (similar to what I hope to do in the race). The last 3/4 of a mile I was running low about 7:08 and a guy thought I was racing him, it was pretty funny especially because I was beating him :) Any how it was a great training run and I really needed it. I train on the treadmill a lot so I always love the change of scenery.

It was a great day to run even with the little bit of rain :)

13.12 miles in 1:36:20 overall pace 7:21 Really happy with this and know that the race will bring adrenaline and hopefully faster running :)

We need to talk fuel, I need to get better about fueling and I will share some of my fueling disasters. I know you can't wait!

Pay no attention to the bulge on my bum, just those yummy Chomps in my back pocket :)

You do not have to run...

Crazy amounts of miles to run a 1/2 or full marathon, you just have to train correctly.

I am so excited for the Timpanogos 1/2 marathon that I am running on July 30th. Not because it is a race, and I do LOVE races but because my sister and 2 of my sister-in-laws are doing it too. My sister got into running last year after moving to St. George (yes, I am jealous of the amounts of Vitamin D that can be soaked up there) and for my 2 sil's it will be their 1st 1/2 marathon. This excites me to no end :) Both are pretty new to running and one just had a baby in Feb. So I came up with a 10 week training program that will get them to the finish line and hopefully keep them injury free! Here is to crossing this off your bucket list Mandie and Heather :)

If you want to see the program leave a comment and I can send it to you.

Had to include this cutie! We start them early around here :) I am not the only one who is in love with my new shoes (Mizuno Wave Elixir 6). bright spring color, fun shoes :)

My workout-

8.6 miles 15 minutes elliptical (just to look at the People magazine)

Embracing the Runner Girl

For so long I have been referred to as the "Runner Girl", I have fought this identity because I felt like I was more than just a runner. A couple of weeks ago I was talking with a friend and telling her that I needed a new identity. She said to me," just embrace it." Simple but so profound, at least to me. I have spend years trying to make a new identity for myself and still always come back to being known as the Runner Girl. So without further adieu I am going to embrace my identity and see where it takes me. I know that I am not just a runner, for I am also a wife, mother, friend, teacher, learner, and so many other things.

Heres to the future and the endless possibilities that it holds. After so many years of searching I am finally okay with me and that is a good feeling. Heck, it only took me 35 years :)

It has been so long....but

I am back and this blog is going to be my new way to chronicle my running adventures. Lately can not get enough of reading running blogs. It is my new obsession and because of this I really need to do keep up with my own :) I never posted my Boston 2010 report so 13 months later, here it is.

http://marathonmommies.blogspot.com/2010/04/boston-marathon-2010.html

I just read my race report again and it brought back so many memories. I am going to get back there sometime soon.

Todays miles:

9.6 treadmill

*my left hamstring is still giving me problems, I am going to try and stretch and roll more. I am so bad at it! I think I just need to carry my roller with me everywhere.