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...