ShufflingSista

I can't believe I'm not sore from my 12 miler yesterday.  That gets me really excited for Sat! (or is the pain just waiting until tomorrow to kick in?)

I'm trying to figure out my Gold, Silver, Bronze goals for this race.  My 1/2 PR is 1:59 at Hurricane 1/2 last year.  I really didn't want to ever run a 1/2 over 2 hrs. again- BUT I was in better shape then.  From my struggles with pace in recent runs it would take a miracle to get under 2:00 this Sat. But MAIN goal for Sat. is have fun running with you bloggies- I'm thinking:

 GOLD: anything under 2 hrs.  SILVER: 2:05   BRONZE: 2:10

(subject to change due to peer pressure -....hee hee..)

UPDATE:  The above entry I thought I was putting under Sunday- oops.  Anyway- today MONDAY I ran a 5.68 foremaster loop w/ Buff & Heather.  I could've been a bit longer, like 6 would've been good- but I'm pretty happy that I'm not sore and our pace was 9:17 av.  I'm still loving the new Mizunos.  Getting psyched for Sat!

Ah! Got 8 hrs. last night.  Feels so good! I had set my alarm for the 6am weight class knowing I wouldn't really get up... I WILL get some toning and stretching in today though.  Its my New Yrs. Resolution to make it to the weight class 1x a week, but last week after I went to the class,  I was sore for 4 days. I decided not to do that to myself before the 1/2.  So I will do upper body and abs today at home.  I probably will not run today, unless I hook up w/ Sara this afternoon for an easy 4. 

Wed- challenging 6 miler w/ strides

Thurs- easy 5

Friday- walk to stretch out legs before race

This is my modge podge taper plan.  Just listening to my body.

Update:  Snuck in 3 easy miles while my daughter was at sports practice.  Ave pace 9:43.  Also did some push ups.  Will get in some more ab & arms in the morning at the gym.  Decided to go to spin instead of run tomorrow morning..

Hey Guys- I copied this from Steve's post on the discussion forum.  Check the discussion forum under News & Announcements/ Painter's Pre-Race Party- there's a map there to Steve's. He also needs a headcount.  I still think the Hoopers are paying too much and doing too much work.  I'm going to call Kendra and see what I can do to help!

Ok - Here's a little more info about the Pre-Race Pasta Dinner at Steve's House.

Date: January 18th, 2008
Time: 6:30 pm to whenever
Where: The Hooper's - 450 West Pebble Dr. Washington UT (See Map Below)

We will be having a basic Spaghetti Dinner with whole wheat pasta -your choice of Vegi or Meat Sauce,
Salad and French Bread or Dinner Rolls.  There is no need to bring anything - However, if you want, you can bring
a desert, a specialty salad or whatever sounds good. There will be no cost for the dinner.

We will need to know who's coming - A few of you have already RSVP on this forum and that's great. 
We will be making a final count on whose coming by 6pm Thursday - So Please RSVP before Then.

If you have any questions please contact my wife Kendra @ 435-773-3248.

UPDATE: Went to spin class this morning.  FUN! Tried to find the balance of getting a good workout but not pushing too hard- don't want to be sore for Saturday.  Will run tomorrow.

Great run today! Maybe TOO good for a taper week? This either means Saturday will be a good race day or I over did it today.. Only time will tell! Decided to try out my "virtual partner" on my new Garmin.  I wasn't sure what to set it at since lately it seems I've been running about 9:20 or 9:30 average.  I decided to set it at 9:20 just to see if I would stay ahead of the partner on a 5-6 miler.  I really suprised myself.  I averaged 8:35! I knew I was going fast today, but it didn't even feel race pace or THAT fast. I felt good today- refreshed- perhaps from getting more sleep lately and drinking more water. I hope this run doesn't make me sore for Saturday!

Just posted and it got erased.  Let's try again.  Tomorrow is the half- yah! Haven't worked out yet today, but plan on walking to stretch out the legs.  Then in the am before race do a few strides/jogging to try to warm up.  Not sure what to wear tomorrow- don't want to be too cold or weighed down.  Should be about 30 degrees- any advice from you seasoned runners? (they way I see it since we're running from 9-11 am it could warm up 10 degrees in that amount of time)

It will be fun to have such a good FRB representation.  Really will MISS LYBSTER & MICHELLE though! Let's run it for those gals!

PR! (beat my previous 1/2 PR by 6 minutes- maybe really about 4 minutes since this course was a bit short...)

All showered and cozied (sp?) up in my Painter's sweatshirt- time to get down to the nitty gritty race report.  Whoo- hoo! I'm stoked, still on my runner high.  This race and the days leading up to it were nearly perfect if only Michelle & Lybi where here to enjoy too!

Ok- start w/ FRB party last night.  Really good time.  Not as awkward as the first party where I didn't know anyone.  This time faces were familiar and even when I saw Marcie & Josse for the first time it was like I knew them.  Good food and a very nice party put on by Steve & Kendra- THANKS! (I think my family of non-runners even had fun!)

Sleep last night was good EXCEPT I got a charlie horse at 3am that woke me up in major pain! I got up and tried to walk it off, but I was really scared because it hurt to walk on.  I took 800 mg ibuprofen to reduce inflamation and went back to bed (I know- I brought up ibuprofen- a no-no to some of you...) I honestly didn't know if I'd be able to run the race.  I tried to go back to bed and not think about it until the morning. Luckily come morning it was almost back to normal so I went for it!

Heather & I met up a few minutes before the race and walked to warm up.  I set my virtual partner (garmin) to 1:55 hoping I could make it.  Let me say the 1:55 really came from Sasha's prediction for me.  I probably would have been lazier and just tried to beat 1:59 my former 1/2 PR.  But I'm really thankful Sasha gave me that extra push with his prediction and made me perform to a bit higher level. Heather & I stayed together almost the whole race and she finished just about 30 seconds after me.  Here's the splits:

1- 8:47 feeling good, warming up, getting hot FAST

2 - 8:16 ditched the gloves & headband, feeling good

3 - 8:20 still feeling good, passed up water stop

4 - 8:10 great

5- 8:38 looking forward to water and gu in about a mile

6 - 8:07

7- 8:29

8 - 8:38

9 - 8:55- I passed up the chance to gu at mile 8 and was really fading here on mile 9, decided to take some gu without water- worked out good, glad I didn't wait any longer

10 - 8:35- back on track

11 - 8:48- things are starting to get tough, anxious to be done- saw Sasha heading back and he was a lifesaver! He really cheered me on the last 2 miles, my body didn't want to do faster than 9 min. miles after mile 11- SASHA- THANK YOU!

12 - 9:08 - hanging on, wanted to push it but was afraid I'd pass out or something

.88- 8:53 - Whew!!! Done!!

I didn't see the clock, nor was I really sure exactly where the finish line was?! My garmin clocked 12.88 for distance.  So if it was an accurate course then Sasha's prediction would be just about right on for me.  I'm very excited about my time!