Begin Again

I'm wearing my Halloween Half Marathon shirt today (I keep my jacket zipped) to remind and motivate me to run again.  It's been exactly two months since my last jog (and race) and with all the Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas goodies...well you can see the double chin, right? 

New Year's Resolution #1: Run a Marathon 

Short Term Goal: Run the Thanksgiving Point Half Marathon on April 30th.

That gives us 4 months. 

You in?

Thanks Papa!

Papa, you are an inspiration to me and I look up to you.  Thanks for your example and all you do for us.

I was there!

Null

No blog entries because of no running as of late.

Begins again this week. 
Looking for other races to key in the motivation factor.

Edit: and no camera.  Bummer.

See More Funny Pictures by Dweebist

Halloween Half Marathon Photos

Nike, Marathon, and Dean

This is Dean Karnazes most recent blog from Runner's World.  I thought it was very clever and interesting (and not too long). For those of you who don't know, Dean is probably the most famous runner in the U.S.  He ran 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states, then wrote a book about it and is also a best selling author.  Below is his entry from 11/01/2010:

Nike!

In 490 BC a Greek foot-messenger was dispatched to Athens from the battlefield of Marathon to tell of the defeat of the invading Persian military (Ed.: Or did he?). After arriving in the capital city and proclaiming, “Nike!” (victory), the exhausted runner collapsed to his death. His name was Pheidippides, and the lore of his accomplishment stays with us today.

This year marks the 2,500-Year Anniversary of his heroic undertaking. The Athens Classic Marathon took place on October 31st, which happens to correspond with Halloween. Being of 100% Greek ancestry myself, I wanted to commemorate the occasion, so I dressed in a traditional Greek runner costume and ran the Silicon Valley Marathon (which was also on October 31st).
Let me tell you, I have a new appreciation for what Pheidippides did! My costume was much lighter-weight and more flexible than the battle gear he wore, but it still was brutal running a marathon in it.
Here are some photos to share. As difficult as it was running a marathon in this outfit, I’m glad I did it. I feel like it was one small way to pay homage to our patron saint of marathoning.
Long run Pheidippides!

Jake's Edit: The distance between Athens and Marathon is 26.2, hence, a marthon is 26.2 miles.

Halloween Half Marathon Run Down

Running a long distance race is a funny thing. The purpose is to prove to your friends, family, the world, and, most importantly, yourself that you can run such a long distance (13.1 miles) and in doing so you completely incapacitate yourself to walk normal for the next 2-3 days. At least that's my story.


My legs hurt.

Every muscle screams out in protest against their overuse yesterday. Yet what a satisfying and invigorating feeling. Was it worth it? YES! Will I do it again? Several times.

The day started early when I met the speedster Eric at the University Mall and jumped on one of the many buses heading up to the starting line. The old retired school bus had us worried about it's abilities to get us to Aspen Grove. In fact, the headlights went out and we had to get a police escort to the starting line. Upon arrival we headed for the heated tent and spent the next half hour with hundreds of other runners pinning on our running numbers, putting on our running gear, stretching out, and getting ready to run (yes, there was a costume contest as well). At 9:00 we headed out toward the starting line. Eric gave me a good-luck fist bump and headed up to the front of the pack waiting at the starting line. The organizers provided us with pacers, meaning that they hired runners to maintiain a constant pace so they would cross the finish line at 1 hour 30 minutes, 1 hour 40 minutes, and so on. I found the runner holding the "1:50" sign and decided to try and keep pace with him.

The trail lost 2000 feet during the first 5 miles and it was a killer on my legs. Trying to keep a constant pace when you are running down a steep hill is difficult. I found myself running ahead of the pacer - by far. Soon I passed the "1:45" and the "1:40" runners. In my mind I was thinking, "It's taking to much energy to hold back so I'll just go with the downhill flow until I hit the flat stretch, then I'll slow down and allow the "1:50" pacer to catch up. Then I'll stay with him to the end."

It didn't happen. I kept the pace.

When I came out of the canyon, at mile 6, the sun hit and it started to warm up. I ditched my gloves at mile 7 (on the interstate). The provo river trail was beautiful. I kept thinking that I should slow down and enjoy the scenery and the experience but my mind wouldn't let me. "Keep going," I thought, "if you can maintain this speed you'll do awesome."

Katie, Lizzy and Leah were waiting around the 9 mile mark with their blankets and cameras (we searched our apartment the night before but still couldn’t find our camera. The video camera did just fine though). I spotted them from a long way out but they almost missed me. If I hadn’t patted Katie on the shoulder as I passed she might have missed me entirely. They met me again at the 10 mile marker and Katie ran with me for a little ways before stopping. At this point I was in pain. I had run way too fast for how I had trained, but I didn’t want to be one of those novice runners who starts out their first race way to fast and dies at the end. My pride wouldn’t allow it. My calves were in knots and my right quad was stiffening up but I was determined to finish strong. I was so close.

Coming around the bend at mile 12 I could see all the spectators lining up at the finish line. They stretched a mile out. As I was trying to catch up to the fairy in front of me (I’m not being rude, it was a Halloween race and the guy in front of me was dressed up as a fairy) the “1:40” pacer passed me by. I speed up in an attempt to keep up and finish as close to an hour and forty minutes as possible, but I couldn’t maintain his speed. I was out of energy and he slowly increased the distance between us. Coming to the finish line I spotted my parents and Josh cheering my on in the midst of the crowd. It meant a lot to have them supporting me in my first race. Seeing them gave me a burst of energy and I sped up and crossed the finish line at 1:39:46.7 (I guess the “1:40” pacer was a little overambitious).

Katie found me and gave me some water and a few orange slices. I was exhausted but my spirits were high. The race hurt but I had a great experience. We didn’t stay for the post-race activities because there were 10 million people there. The post-race nap was good enough. Now I’m working on getting me legs working again.

STATS
Start Time: 09:12:55.000
Stop Time: 10:52:41.727
Chip Time: 01:39:46.7

Place: 267
Participants: 2,456
Gender Placing: 174
Division Placing M 25 to 29: 30

What do I do now?

Year-to-Date Summary

I started running in August.  In October, I nearly ran 90 miles.  I would love for this pattern to continue, but with the weather turning for the worse and no more races to keep my motivated, I assume it will decrease.  Katie and I are looking at alternatives to running outside, but a pass to Gold's Gym is too expensive (and the year commitment isn't attractive either).  Any ideas to help us keep going? 



P.S. Halloween Half Run-Down coming soon!

Dog

We won "Best Overall" for halloween costumes at APX. 

Rockin' the hair.

This is tomorrow!

I'm kinda (scratch that, really) nervous!

Fly-By Marathon Race

Check out the new Kicks!

Put this on my "WANT" list.

the Nike +

check it out

Easily findable for $20

Edit: My wife says that I could give this money to a charity and help feed a starving kid for a week.  She said that I could be saving lives instead of having an unnecessary toy.  I don't want it anymore.

Edit #2: Yes I do...

Failure

The guide called for a 4 mile run yesterday. 
It was too cold.  I carved pumpkins instead.

I decided to make up for it by running early this morning (6:30ish).
It was too cold.  My bed was too warm.

I failed. twice.

That makes 3 days without running.  My race is in 4 days.  Am I in trouble here?

13 Mile Run Down

Last Monday Katie's big bro. Eric was kind enough to run the second half of the Halloween Half with me.  He ran slower than usual to stay with me and I ran faster than normally could to try and keep up. We had a good chat.

His opinion, right or wrong, is that it's better to run the full distance of a race (in my case 13.1 miles) before you actually compete in the race.  That way you're not thinking, "I hope I can finish this race."  Running the mileage before hand allows you to focus on things such as pace setting and speed. 

Taking Eric's advise I set out to run 13 miles on Friday.  I mapped out the distance between Kaite's parents house in Mapleton and our mortuary (in case the 5 people who follow my blog have forgotten we live in a mortuary in Spanish Fork) and found that it was roughly about 6.58 miles one way.  I laced up my shoes, threw on my brightest colored shirt and took off. 

Put it on your records that I realize it was a little dangerous to run in the dark on long roads that have no lighting, but I was extremely careful.  I ran into oncoming traffic (meaning I ran on the left side of the road) so I could see the cars coming from miles out.  I would get off the road and run in the weeds till they passed.  Looking into getting flashing lights, headlamps, etc., but for now a yellow shirt worked. 

When I got the the Newrens Hannah was sitting on her computer cooking a pizza all by herself (on a Friday night).  Lame Hannah.  After a little convincing Hanna strapped on her running shoes and hit the pavement with me.  She did really well and we kept up a good pace.  Katie was at a wedding shower (or a Luau) and was determined to pick me up on her way home to save what little time we had left, on our date night, for us time.  She reached us just before we got back to Spanish Fork main street.  So I guess I only ran 12.5 miles, but I'm going to call it 13 miles.

It felt good.

My hipflexers were a little sore on Saturday, but I still managed to get two football games in that morning (and a BYU game).  Throw in some Ruth's Chris in Park City and Saturday was a busy day.

I'm pumped for this week.  It's supposed to be a rest/little mileage week.  I just ate nachos.  They were good. 

Just Ran

13 miles.

I'm Scared

I'm scared and nervous that I'm going to die during my race next Saturday.  I'm not worried about finishing the race; I'm confident that I can do that. I'm worried that my body's not ready or prepared to run 13.1 miles, after all, the furthest I've gone so far is 10.4.  I wanted to run at least 13 miles this week (cause next week is a rest week), but I'm not sure when I have the time.  In an effort to curve the brutallity of the half marathon Leah took me out for another 3 miles tonight.  We ran to Grandma's and Grandpa's.

Edit: Happy Half Birthday Leah.  She turned 6 months today (the 20th)!

Morning Running

Finally got the mattress of my back this morning.  It was cold.  I didn't eat anything before and had no energy.  It hurt and I wanted to walk several times but this quote kept me going:

The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy...It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed.  

                                                             --Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ

Travis...and some other guys that I don't know.

My little girl - running the pink marathon!

We are one good-looking family!

The Pink Series Half Marathon

Official Results

Katherine Maughan
Bib #: 67

Overall Place: 97 out of 373

Time: 2:03:02.6

Age Catagory Place: 16

This was an excellent way for me to get excited for my race coming up in two weeks.  We woke up at 5:20 to finish our preparations for the big race.  After meeting Katie's mom and three sisters we were on our way to Park City.  Arriving early Katie checked in and received her bag of goodies, race numbers, and timing chip.  We drove to the area designated as the starting line and I saw a large crowd of women dressed in pink.  "Must be the starting line," I thought to myself.  Wrong.  It was the line for the Honey Buckets.    After an hour of warming up, inhabiting the Honey Bucket, nursing, stretching, and spraying each other's hair pink, the race began.  

After the runners had left our view we grabbed a map and tried to catch them in our car.  We - Katie's mom, little sister, Leah, and I - were able to catch up a few times and cheer them on.  At the 5 mile mark we stopped and cheered on the racers until we say Katie, Hannah, and Lizzie run by.  All three of them looked good.  Spirits were high and the competition was on.  Lizzy was a couple hundred feet in front and Hannah and Katie were running together.  Apparently Katie had been in front but had to use the bathroom (no Honey Bucket here).  We caught up to the runners again at the 10 mile mark to cheer them through their last 3 miles.  Lizze and Katie were now together and Hannah was close on their heels.  

There was a celebration going on at the finish line.  Live bands, men in suits (with pink ties), water bottles, food, massages, oxygen bars, and boothes were all provided to pamper the runners.  I got into position right behind the guy announcing the names of the women as they crossed the finish line.  Soon Katie ran through the balloon archway, red in the face and smiling.  Lizzy was only a minute behind and Hannah came in soon afterward.  All three girls were cheerful and happy. They did awesome. 

We spent the next hour or so enjoying the venue and relaxing.  As it turns out, I was the only one to win something at the raffle.  The announcer called out, "The first guy to reach me wins our next prize."  I was only steps away.  The prize was a sonicare toothbrush that I have to go pick up in SLC.  We also got a ton of free Pinnacle Security gear, which is ironic since I work at APX Alarm. 

All in all it was a great day.  I think Katie is the bomb.  She amazes me with her talent and athleticism, even though there are a million other reasons why I love her.  She keeps me happy, healthy and wise.  Katie, you rock my world.  "...because you ran like a girl."



Do you ever....

Do you ever get that feeling over overwhelming pride and joy for someone you are close to when they do something great?  I feel that for Katie right now.  She's my hero.  Race synopsis to come.  For now, sufficeth to say that she finished in the top 100. 

Katie Rocks!

"Nuff Said.

Click Here for her Blog

 Katie's all packed and ready to go for her half-marathon tomorrow.  I'm pumped to go support her (even if it means missing my two football games).  It's been a good week in running.  I think I might run a few miles while Katie is doing her race (how do you really watch someone race?). 

In other news we signed up to receive the Runner's World.  Apparently their creative cover design teams needs some new ideas.  Check it out.  Blue background.  Same girl.  Same outfit.  Lame. 
Good content.  Bad covers.

Weekly Mile Report

10.4 miles on Monday
3.2 miles on Wednesday
6.44 miles on Thursday

Running Advice #1:  When running long distances, don't run by your house half-way through the run.  Your body will plead with you to stop and go home. 

Happened to me last night.  Mind over Body.  Thankfully.

Legs

My legs are real sore today.  Should I run 3-5 miles tonight or rest?  any running pros out there with advice?

10.4 Miles Tonight

That's like 10 scoops of Rocky Road ice-cream!! 

I'm thinking of signing up now (and paying the mulah) for the UV Marathon. Comments? (There's no refunds)

This Week in Running

Not the best running week, but better than last week.  This weeks goal: 20 miles (at least).

Rain Run

Katie ran 11 miles yesterday!  In an attempt to keep up with her the plan was to run 12.  I didn't make it.  After 1.5 miles I turned around.  It was pouring and cold.  I did, however, set a new PR for 2 miles - 7.6 per mile.  

Leah takes baths.

Recap

Katie makes the best dinners.  She keeps me healthy.

After taking a week off of running for the busy season at work I started back up with a 6-point-something run around hobblecreek.  It was heineously hard.

Katie was sad.  I don't know why.

Yesterday I ran 5 miles with a new PR.  0:39:41.  7:57 per mile.  Sweet.  I think I ran so fast because of these puppies...

These new running shoes were Katie's bday present for me.  Awesome.  (the tights were included).



This is why you're fat...

The Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Pizza Burger.  The guy below probably ate it the night before his race.

A Couple Reminders While Running...

Avoid the Underpants Run (a Pre-Ironman run).

Use the bathroom before you run.  Stop if you need to.

80 hour week.

Logged. 

No running this week.  Start again today. ..giddy...

Good Night

It's 2:09 AM on Thursday morning and I am just leaving work.  Log me at 19 hours today. 

Screaming at me

My calves are itching to go running.  "Enough rest!" they yell.  Sorry little calves.  Two days more.

Good Morning

It's 4:25 AM and I'm at work.

I've already logged 30 hours this week.  That's nothing compared to Justin though.  He was leaving as I pulled up this morning.  I haven't managed to run yet this week and it's killing me.  Whenever I drive past someone running I get jealous.  Saturday I plan on running as long as I can.  I have managed to eat somewhat healthy. 



Here's breakfast today

Edit: Sorry for the crazy eyebrows. 

Edit2: Yes I did blog first thing when I got to work.  Don't judge.

Will.i.am + Sesame Street = Good Song.

I'm calling you out!

Just registered for my first half marathon - the Provo Halloween Half. 

Proof, you ask?  proof provided.

I know it's expensive, but I had to do it. 

I'm calling on you all to come run it with me.  Just do it (Steve, Spencer, Pete, Scott, Bryson and Marc).

Props to Eric for running it with me.  He's the running pro. way fast.

anyone else?

8 miles

Ran 8 miles today. 

Felt good. 

Started at the top of Hobblecreek and went down to Mapleton Park. 

Legs hurt.

(Didn't Eminem have a song about 8 miles?)

BMI

Newest Inspiration: BenDoesLife.  This guy used to weigh a ton!  He wasn't happy so he got motivated a lost over 120 lbs.  See his story here.  He went from being a 300+ lb fatty to running an IRONMAN.  Maybe I want to be an Ironman.  Not likely.  Maybe...

In unrelated news - My BMI has dropped from 27.5 in August to ...

25.1.  You can see off to the right that I am still considered overweight, but just by a lousy .1.   I hate you .1.   

Introducing The Palmyra Loop

Wednesday's are Katie's 2.5 hour classes.  That means daddy-daughter time.  Leah and I created and ran the Palmyra Loop.  Takes me right past the Peterson Place.  Used to live there.  Good times.  (sigh)

Weight Watchers

Man!  Talk about a demotivator for the well-intended.  Read full article here.

 

  

Peaches, Plums, Salads, and Sushi

I just discovered that I love these sweet juicy balls of health and nutrition! I've had peaches and nectarines before (plums were always too scary) but I always viewed them as gross and messy fruit. I've realized over the past few weeks that if I don't branch out and try new things (or old things again) I'm going to be eating bananas, strawberries and ... well just bananas and strawberries over and over again. So I've reached out to other fruits that I've never really given a chance before and discovered that I really enjoy them. I guess it goes to show how the power of the proper perspective can actually change a person. I usually get up to go to work between 4 and 5 and go to bed around 10. As you can imagine I never really have time for a good breakfast (which is an important part of eating healthy, I know but...whatever) so I grab some fruit and eat it in the car on my way to work (peaches and nectarines are a little to messy so I eat them at my desk when I get to work).

One of the awesome perks of working at APX is the delicious cafe they have here. If you work at least 80 hours during the previous pay period (I usually have 100+) you get 12 meal tickets to the cafe which is catered by Guckenheimer (the same company that caters Google). Whoever creates the menu each week is probably a little too health conscious because management actually told cooks that we needed some burgers, hot dogs and other common (and less healthy) food. They just recently did away with the vegetarian line and replaced it with the grill. They still have a salad line with some pretty delectable salads. My favorite is the APX Salad (that's what they call it here). It has spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, onion, bleu cheese, candied walnuts, dried cranberries, and some sort of dressing. It looks like today I'll be having the Southwest Chef Salad with pepper jack cheese, turkey, roasted corn, avocado, slow roasted balsamic tomatoes, cucumbers and bleu cheese. Salad. Everyday. Except on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Those are sushi days here. The Happy Sumo caters that. I usually get it once a week and the portions are extremely small but delicious.

Dinner is where I get variety. Katie makes the most fabulous dinners each night. She doesn't feel like she does the recipes justice, but the way she performs with her skills and skillets (while having a baby strapped to her chest) makes me believe that I am the luckiest man alive. She's a great cook. Last night was taco salad, simple yet good. She treats me well.

That's all I eat. Or rather, that's all I've been eating for that past month. Fruit for breakfast, salad for lunch, and a healthy portion of dinner. No snacks. No gorging. I'm down to 164 lbs and I feel good! I don't know how long I'll be able to live like this, but for now it's working for me. I find myself debating between enjoying the sweet things in life and enjoying a desirable level of fitness. For now I guess I'm trying to attain the fitness level and find the right balance between the two. ...is anyone reading this?

Week 4

I'm catching up.

I started out strong on  Monday with a 6.5 mile run around the new ballpark here in SF, but experienced my first battle with complacency towards the end of the week.  Katie's half-marathon is less than a month away and it's crunch time (in terms of training).  We're planning at least 7 miles today (We'll see if that really happens; Leah's sick).

Monday 09/13: 6.5 Miles with Katie and Leah
Tuesday 09/14: Football (2 hours)
Wednesday 09/15: 3.2 miles & 1.5 miles to my parents house with Leah
Thursday 09/16: 2.5 miles around the library & main
Friday 09/17: Sit-ups & Push-ups
Saturday 09/18: Football (2 hours)
Sunday 09/19: Rest

Week 3

My legs don't feel quite so sore anymore.  I have noticed that I feel better, physically and mentally.  It's funny how that works, but when I run and eat healthy it seems that my quality of life increases.  I feel invigorated.  Since Katie is running her first half marathon (The Pink Half Marathon) on October 16th we decided to start working on distance.  Up to this point the farthest we've run is 3.22 miles around The Loop so we decided to pull a 4-miler on Tuesday and a 5-miler on Wednesday.  I've found that I run a lot better if I enjoy the scenery.  It's a lot easier to run through the grasslands and forest of Mapleton than it is to run on Spanish Fork Main.  We conquered the 5 mile run with nobility.  We ran a little slower so we could solve the worlds problems.  We talked about the Floriday pastor threatening to burn the Koran on 9/11 which led to a discussion on the building of a mosque at ground zero in NY.  When we came withing 400 yards of the finish line, Katie and I had a race by sprinting to the end.  It was great.  I'm lovin' it.

Monday 9/6: 3.22 miles
Tuesday 9/7: 4.15 miles
Wednesday 9/8: 5 miles
Thursday 9/8: 3.22 miles
Friday 9/9: 3 miles
Saturday 9/10: Football
Total Miles: 18.59

Week 2

After the first week of training my calves began to tighten up and they felt sore throughout much of the day; I was so pumped up and excited to get home and run that I didn't even care.  The motivation to run a half marathon had become my drug and I couldn't get enough pavement beneath my feet. 

This is what happened the second week of my training:

Monday 8/30: 37 minute run (roughly 3.5 miles)
Tuesday 8/31: 30 minute tempo run
Wednesday 09/01: 3.22 miles with Katie and Leah (in the stroller)
Thursday 09/02: block intervals
Friday 09/03: 3.22 miles
Saturday 09/04: 3 hours of football
Total miles: 15

Week 1

I began my training regime on August 23rd when on my in to my office I passed a weight scale.  Since we don't own one at home I decided to hop on.  I tipped the scale at an all time F-A-T: 175.6 lbs.  This is the heaviest I've ever been since she-who-must-not-be-named took me on a 6 month binge.  I knew I had put on a few pounds since I had gotten married (155), but I guess I hadn't had a reality check.  I kept saying to myself, "I'll shed the pounds with Katie when she goes on her post-pregnancy diet."  Apparently all she had to do to loose the weight was nurse.  Since that diet was not available to me I decided I would take matters to the road. 

Another motivater was watching my in-laws run the Hobble Creek Half Marathon.  When my fifty-something father-in-law crossed the finish line I asked myself the dangerous question, "could  you do that?" 

The answer was a depressing no. 

I was determined that by the next time Mom and Dad Newren decided to run 13 plus miles, I better be running with them - in front of them. 

So what did I do about it?  This:

Monday:  3 mile run
Tuesday: 3 hours of football
Wednesday: 30 minute run to Macey's and back
Thursday: block intervals (sprinting a block, jogging a block)
Friday: yoga/push-ups/sit-ups
Saturday: 4 mile run
Sunday: day of rest

When I came into work on Friday, I jumped back on the scale and weighed 170.2 lbs.  I lost 5.4 lbs in that first week.  Victory.

This is the Goal

A few months ago I created a bucket list. There's so much I want to do before I die and I finally decided to make a list.

Item #1: Run a Marathon.

And so I begin.

Training log to follow.

Complements of Steve T.

Officer Oops!

#2 Dad

Pineberry

These are genetically altered berries.  They have the appearance and form of a strawberry but the smell and taste of a pineapple. Genetically altering fruits?  hmmm...

I want a Pet Kangaroo!

The Power of One

Centimeters