September Challenge Reminder!

Don't forget the September Challenge!  Those who entered, post your miles (don't worry if you didn't meet your goal) and any great story about your challenge experience.

Can't wait to hear some great stories!

If you had meant to enter all month long, but totally forgot..... hurry and enter here.  Post your goal, story, and results (all in different posts, each one is an entry in the random drawing.)  No penalty for late entries.

Post your final results by Sunday Oct 3, and I'll select the winners Monday!  Good luck! 

I love primary!

Today Callie had a talk in primary (children's church meeting) that we forgot to prepare.  So as we were talking about it today, we decided to talk about how Heavenly Father and Jesus answer our prayers, sometimes before we even know we need something.  It came from a sweet story about a family during the depression who's dad had a job, but the company wouldn't be able to pay him for a while.  After praying, mom got the inspiration to sell her homemade doughnuts so they could buy food.  But after a few weeks they ran out of yeast and couldn't get any more.  They prayed again, and dad arrived just after that with the mail.  It had a sample of yeast the company had sent for advertising.   The story ties to Isaiah 65:24 "Before they call, I will answer them".

So she was just going to read the story, and share her testimony of Jesus, but then we had two really special experiences.

First I was in the church library waiting to check out the childrens songbook, (I play the piano for the children's singing time.)  and my friend Heather came for one as well.  She was looking for a specific song and asked me if it was in there.  Turns out it isn't, but inside the copy she got from the library, was a sheet of paper with the song printed on it.

Right after that, Callie told me her throat hurt and asked for a cough drop.  I didn't have any, and said maybe we should keep a bag in glove box from now on.  Then her face lit up and she said I think we did!  I gave her the keys and sure enough there was a bag in the glove box.  Last time we went shopping we scored a great deal on cough drops and Callie suggested we leave one in the car.  I asked who she thought had given her the idea? She replied Heavenly Father!

So her talk was updated quickly to include her recent experiences with Heavenly Father preparing blessings before we even know we need them.  

On the way home, we realized there was one more to add to our stories.  When did Heavenly Father choose to give her these experiences?  Right when she needed them.

Food. Reward or Punishment?

So I was reading this story in the paper this morning about Drew Carey's incredible weight loss.  He's lost 77 lbs and looks fabulous!  Well, like most weight journeys, he had some bumps in the road.  After he finished a 10k, he ate an ice cream cone, then a whole pepperoni pizza, then a cupcake.  The next day another pizza.  After a few days, gaining a few pounds and feeling sick, he posted this valuable lesson on his mirror:  "Eating crappy food is not a reward--it's a punishment."

This lesson came right on the heels of  "The Dirty Dash", a 10k mud run I did with my friends yesterday. (Race Report and pics this afternoon)  When we got done, I was starving!  There weren't enough water stops and the fruit at the end was delicious, but not enough for me.  

Well I just did a 10k, so off to eat we go.  Decided on Taco Bell, ordered a couple tacos and a gordita cruch (I think), but then, since we are in Heber, I HAVE to go to Granny's and get a carmel-cashew-brownie shake and onion rings.  They are to die for!  I love Granny's shakes and onion rings.  Been eating them for almost 30 years and will continue till I die.  Good thing I only get up there a few times a year.

Well either one of them would have been fine on their own, but both restaurants were not necessary. It's not like I got any nutrition from either one.  So my stomach was in pain all night long, I never felt like making or eating a healthy dinner.  Good thing only 2 kids were home and there were leftovers and fresh fruit for them.  For the record, I didn't eat the second taco.  It doesn't make me feel any better, but I didn't.  

I had bought cinnamon swirl bread to make french toast with for Sunday breakfast.  I really didn't even feel like eating, but the kids did and it tasted good.  But the tummy still hurts.

Like Drew, there are battles I will continue to fight.  A little is ok, it tastes good.  A lot hurts and brings back all kinds of feelings of self loathing and anger.  

So I will amend Drew's quote, "Eating a lot of crappy food is not a reward, it's a punishment."

Don't forget, the September Challenge is still open for your goals and stories, win a great prize pack!

I'm gonna do the Dirty Dash!

Woo Hoo!  Saturday is the Dirty Dash!  I can't wait.  It sounds like crazy fun.  The Boise one was last week and holy cow did those folks get MUDDY!  

 

This is the first time I've done a race/run just for fun and no expectation of a good finish time or mile splits.  I mean really?  How could you expect a fast run when you are slogging through such sections as "Razorback Alley", "The Pig Pen" and the "Slop 'n Slide"? 
If you want to read more about it, there's a couple articles on this page.

So watch out for the "Dirty Delicates", cause no one is going to have more fun than us!

Don't forget the September Challenge!  Post your goals and why, I can't wait to see all the stories!

A Run and a Winner!

So yesterday my friend Kim ran the Top of Utah Marathon, and as I am not ready for one yet.... I ran a 1/2 in her honor!  I'm working on building distance and not stressing about time, but I have to check my time anyway.

But before I could do that, I had other responsibilities.  Yesterday I had the honor of MC'ing a local 5k.  I was invited to do so specifically "because you have a loud voice that anyone can hear a mile away"  I'll take that as a compliment.

It was a super fun 5k organized by a 14 year old young man as a part of his Eagle Scout project.  Wow, he did a great job!  There were 180 runners between the 5k and the kids run and so far (donations are still pouring in) he has garnered about $1500 for the new Mountain Trails Elementary schools library!  If you would like to donate for Austin's project click here.  I think the donate link will be live for a week or two.

So after the race, when it was nice and HOT, I geared up for my run.  About a mile into it, I realized I was going to go much slower than I'd hoped and would run out of time to finish.  I also had forgot to drink even 8 oz of water that morning.  I had two mostly frozen water bottles in my hands and gu in the pocket.  Not good.  Decided based on the first couple miles to turn around early and finish the run in the evening.  We were headed out to the lake for the last good day of the season anyway.  So did 8.9 in 1:32:55, for a 10:23 pace in the morning.

When dusk hit, I took off again for 4.2 to finish it off.  Was well hydrated and felt good.  Finished that in 37:05 for  a 8:50 pace.  BIG difference.  Finished strong and felt so much better than the morning.  

I told Mark this morning I felt like I had a hangover.  (For those who don't know me in person, I am only imagining.  I have never had a hangover and in fact have never tasted alcohol, so this would rank among my worst headaches of all time).  He informed me a hangover was partly due to dehydration, so I probably did have one.  Hmmm.  

Anywho, I was very proud to run another 1/2 distance, even broken up, just 3 weeks after my race bomb.  Decided to do another half in 6 weeks so I don't end my season on a sour note.

So without further ado or blah blah blahing about myself:

We have a winner for the Road ID giveaway!  

Courtesy of Random.org,

Elizabeth wins a $15 gift certificate to Road ID! Elizabeth, please email me your address and I'll get it off to you.  onedailyrun@yahoo.com

If any of you are interested in a Road ID, please use the link on my blog and 10% will be donated to my friend Jim Hughes' medical trust.  

Thanks for all your entries.  I love doing the giveaways!

I FEEL SO AWESOME!!! I'm doing another giveaway!

Today was my tri.  After the stress of the TOU/2 marathon, I just wanted to race stress free, no expectations.  Thus, I didn't swim for the last two weeks, only went on one bike ride and did no speed training at all.  Just ran for miles.  

I had this tri on the calendar for a few months.  It's a free, low key event put on by a friend of mine, one in the spring and one in the fall.  The spring one I did well and wanted to improve my time this fall, but ehh, with recent events on the mind, decided to do it just for fun.

Last night was supposed to go like this: 

nice pasta dinner, relaxing walk around the block with hubby and in bed with a great movie by 8:30 so I could be asleep before 10pm.  Then wake up around 6, get ready, fill my water bottle, eat a little and take off.  On the way, stop and set up t2, drop off the cooler with recovery drink for everyone after the race and be there 15 minutes early to calmly visit with my friends before the swim.

What really happened:

My awesome friend wrote an amazing book about her mom (who had multiple personalities), love, forgiveness and the gift of peace the Savior can bless us with, it's called Mother Had a Secret.   Well she had her book launch party last night, so of course we had to have a girls night out and go buy our books and get them personally autographed! Then Olive Garden was the perfect place to carboload!  By the time we got home it was already 9:30.  

Daughter calls and needs a ride home from volleyball tournament.  Luckily she calls back and has a ride.  When she gets home, I could tell she needed to talk, so I took her with me to drop off my food co-op order to my friend so she could pick it up for me.  And we sat in the car till 11:30 talking.  

Finally off to bed.  But I'm so excited about the book, I have to read 2 chapters before my eyes refuse to stay open.  Morning! Marks alarm goes off at 4:30 for work!  YAY!  I try to doze, but between that and getting daughter off to 2nd day of volleyball tourney, and trying to catch a few extra winks, I end up not getting out the door on time and after setting up t2 and dropping the cooler off, I get to the pool to set up t1 exactly when it is supposed to start.  So great to get such a good night's sleep before a race, UGH.

I also took a huge chance and ate something completely different for breakfast.  I know HUGE no-no!   I have some Rokit Fuel and just never tried it.  Mixed a little water in and downed it.  It was soooo good!  And it sat well in my stomach, no issues today!  Highly recommend trying some.  You can win a pack in my SEPTEMBER CHALLENGE GIVEAWAY!

Fortunately it's a small, casual tri and no one is stressed about starting on time.   Oh yeah and did I mention it was 42 degrees this morning? So fun to run out of the pool in a dripping wet tri suit!

Distances: Swim 800 yards, Bike 12.3, Run 3.2

Times are an estimate from my amazing, fabulous, incredibly untechnical $7 Walmart watch.

Swim was my best ever!  15:56, a good 30 seconds faster than my best.

FREEZING!!  Fast choice, risk the cold and just throw on a jacket or pull pants on over a wet body.  Hmm.  Decided to go with the jacket and hope to become numb as fast as possible. t1 ridiculously long due to trying to dry as much as possible.  about 4 min

Bike, Ears went first then legs and finally feet lost all feeling.  It was so cold!  But a reasonable time, about 41 min.  Ended bike in 3rd place over all, but I am amazing at t2...

Dropped bike, ripped off bike shoes, slipped into running shoes with ibungee elastic laces (lightning fast!)  throw the helmet as I run away 30 seconds!

Off for the 5K +.1.  Legs feel like frozen Jell-o.  I'm in second, (because I'm lightning fast at t2)  About a third the way in, still haven't hit my stride and Dale slowly passes.  Crap, 3rd again.  But as we hit the top of a slight incline and start a little decline, it hit's!  My legs are fine, turnover increases and I make my move! Back into 2nd.  Aha!  near the turnaround I determine Trevor is only about 30 seconds ahead of me. Oh yeah, I'm gonna do it.  About a 1/2 mile from the finish I passed and felt sooo fine!  Coming to the finish however I heard the pitter patter of big feet.  OH NO YOU DON'T the sprint was on and I finished 5 seconds ahead!  Run time about 28 min.


MY FIRST WIN!! 


Total time 1:29:27


So one of the prizes was a $15 Road ID Gift Certificate.  There were extras, so one of you gets to win one too!


1.  Follow me on the blog, comment to let me know
2.  like Road ID on Facebook here. Comment to let me know.
3.  Go to Road ID's website here. Comment with what you would get and why.
4.  Post on your blog, facebook or twitter.  Comment for each one.
5.  Bonus, enter my September challenge giveaway and comment to let me know.


Enter by midnight September 18 and courtesy of Random.org, I'll choose and announce a winner on September 19.  Good luck!

September Challenge with PRIZES!

So after failing  missing my goal for the TOU/2, I am regrouping.  Last year, I took a week off and never really returned to pre-race mileage.  

So this year, I got my tushie out Monday morning and did a few miles and then Tuesday night a few more.  (they were run/walk---very, very slow)  That was to finish up Tall Mom on the Run's   80 miles in August challenge.


Now I am issuing my own challenge to you and myself.  In order to hit 1000 miles by the end of the year, I have to step it up a bit.  So, my personal challenge is 100 miles in September.  


You however, can choose your distance challenge!  Take what you did last month and bump it up!


To officially be a part of my challenge, and be eligible for the end of the month prize..... you have to do the following:

1. Be a follower of my blog.  And comment to let me know you are now or already were.
2. Comment and state your challenge and tell me why you chose your distance.  (give me a good story)
3. Repost this giveaway on your facebook, blog, twitter (leave a separate comment for each one.)
4. At the end of the month post your mileage and whether you met your goal or not, why etc (good stories again)

The winner will be chosen by random.org, but must be qualified!  In order to qualify you must do at least numbers 1, 2 and 4.  Number 3 will give you bonus entries. (each comment is an entry)  


And you will win: (drumroll please!)
A pack of Shot Bloks
A pack of Rockit Fuel
A Zoot visor
And a 1 year subscription to Fitness magazine.


A second winner will be chosen based totally on my bias.  I'll pick the best story, no judging criteria have been established.  It might be the one that makes me cry, belly laugh or that reminds me of me.  Don't know yet.  This winner will receive a 1 year subscription to Fitness magazine.


Good luck on your goals! Can't wait to hear the stories and see the success!


{HUGS}
 

Have been humbled

Saturday I ran the Top of Utah Half Marathon.  Awesome course, well supported, perfect weather.  Yet I failed.

I did this one last year and had a stellar experience.  Under 2 hours and felt great.  But this summer has had more down time (some injury, some pure lazy)  There were a couple weeks where I only got a long run in.  

Given that last spring I had hoped to hit a pretty lofty goal and had revised to "please let me beat last years time", I really bombed.

My chip time was 2:07:12.8, or 7:50 slower than last year.  What happened?  PRIDE.

Despite low weekly mileage, I assumed that because I did it last year, I could do it this year.  Wrong.  Running is not a forgiving sport.  There are no gimmies.  You will earn every second shaved off your time.

Since I don't get any bragging rights on the time, I'd better learn something out of this.

1. Don't sing along out loud to your ipod.  Not only do people stare at you, you get out of breath and get a stitch in your side that takes a mile and a half to get rid of.  


2.  When you are out of breath, keep jogging even slowly.  Walking a little to catch your breath lets your muscles get cold and you have a hard time getting going again. Thus resulting in more walking.

3.  Having a rocking playlist tailored to the race is AWESOME!  Just don't let the item number 1 happen because your playlist is so awesome.  (#1 started up because Living on a Prayer came on at exactly the right time--half way through the race, think about it)


4.  When items number 1 and 2 happen, don't let your brain tell you all the reasons you can't make it.  Your body will go as far as your mind will.  Unfortunately mine shut down all positive thinking around mile 8.


5.  When you finish the race and you are in more pain than you have been in since you gave birth 10 years ago, forget the awards and drawing and go back to the hotel room for an ice bath.  Thus avoiding limping down the street to the car in front of 2396 other racers and their families.

Looking back, it wasn't the worst experience of my life.  (I thought that when I crossed the finish line)  I know I need a bigger running base.  I worry too much about speed work when I should be focused on endurance.  I lost this race because I assumed once you do it you own it forever, because I didn't keep my breathing under control, and mostly because I didn't keep my mind under control.


In spite of my time, I did place 28 out of 103 in my division.  So that helped me feel a little better.

I'm not letting go of my goal.  Next year, I want to run this race in 1:44:48.  


The training begins NOW!