Okay, it only took me more then a week to write this. You know, having a 2 & 4 year old keep me busy. And I just signed Evan up for Soccer so I’m really excited. And I’m training for a FULL marathon. This takes up a lot of time. 
 

Quick stats: PR’d with a time of 1:53:34. That is an average pace of 8:40/mile.  
 
Rain. It hasn’t rained all winter, but since we have a race of course it’s going to rain. BUT, it wasn’t cold or windy and didn’t rain that hard while I was running- so it was great weather actually. My neighbor Michelle was running the 5k, her first race since having her baby almost 3 months ago. So we carpooled while her husband watched all 6 kids. THANKS Todd! 
 

The race started at the Dixie center. I think we got there around 8:am. The 5k starts at 8:50 and the half starts at 9:am. It was raining when we got there so we went inside the Dixie center and got in line for the bathrooms and stretched a tiny bit. We went outside and ran under the bridge and I saw another bathroom. So I went again. It was nice not using port-o-potties, but there were some if you wanted to wait for one in the rain. Michelle went to line up and I waited under the bridge staying dry. I ran a tiny bit back and forth. I’m pretty sure I did not warm up enough.
After the 5k’ers took off I went to line up. I met some guys from Vegas. They even took a picture with me. I helped one guy with his watch since it was same Garmin 405 as mine. I saw Tricia Baird up in the front, said hi and then scooted back a little. They had a countdown and we were off.  
 
I started running, a little too fast, slowed a bit. I saw Aimee pass me and I just tried to keep my pace and not go too fast the first mile. I saw the 5kers along the path heading back to the finish and I was looking for Michelle and just as I was about to give up looking I heard her calling me. Then I saw the 5k turn and thought maybe I should just turn and finish, but then I was running way to slow for a 5k, so I kept going straight. lol 
 
We went to River Road and and a patriotic guy was about to pass me, but on the uphill I passed him back. I found out he was 74 years old and finished just 3 minutes after me. I hope when I’m that age I can still run like that.  
 

I kept running up the hills and down and couldn’t wait to see mile 7 because I knew that was the last hill. And when we turned right on that last hill I thought oh it’s so long! So I told myself not to look up, I just looked at the ground so it wouldn’t be so far. It didn’t look like it was going to rain hard, so I took off my jacket. I was tempted to throw it to the water station but kept it just incase of a downpour.
I was doing really good about eating every 30 minutes, which has helped me tremendously. And I took 3 anti-fatigue pills before we started and took one an hour in. I only drink water. Not sure if I need to change that a bit, especially for the full marathon coming up. I used to eat at mile 6 or 7. No wonder I was dying at every race. I need to like GU though, eating the Shot Blocks takes so long! 
 
At mile 8 we started on a trail for the rest of the race. It was nice. I didn’t really talk that much to people. It was hard enough running at that pace. I listened to my iPod and kept thinking I haven’t walked yet! At the last water station it was a 180 degree turn and I walked for about 10 seconds around the turn and drank some water. Then I saw mile 12 and thought I should run faster- only 1 mile left! I was running about an 8 min mile and thought maybe that’s too fast too soon, but there was a girl in front of me (with a bigger butt) and I really wanted to pass her, she was running with a guy. Then this girl that was cheering said, “go girl in pink, get that girl!” So after following her forever- I saw the end coming and picked it up, I finally passed her, then I heard Tricia cheering for me- since she finished way before me, so I went faster, then Aimee was yelling for me and started running ahead of me and told me to go faster and finish with the clock still saying 1:53. And I did! That last little bit I past a ton of people sprinting to the end. Though with chip timing who knows where people really finish overall, but it’s fun to sprint at the end and pass someone. But right after I was so done!  
 
They handed me my medal- But I had to take a double look because it weighed nothing- oh because it wasn’t medal, it was rubber- but I liked it. Then I definitely wanted to eat something because I did not want a repeat of the Vegas race. (getting sick). I got some chocolate milk, because everyone brags about drinking that after, though I don’t think I’ve ever drank cold chocolate milk before, just have never liked it. And then I got a Texas Roadhouse roll with their butter. Ohhh that was so good!! And I loved the chocolate milk too! I also never had a cramp or side-stitch. This was the first race I didn’t get one! And I know it’s because of Aimee and speed work.  
 
Michelle saw me finish and then after I ate it started raining pretty hard. We decided to just leave. I know I didn’t win. haha. And results will be posted online.  
 
My original goal was to try and stay with the 1:50 pacers. Well at mile 7 I couldn’t stay with them up the hill. So then I kept thinking about the 1:55 pacers. I really didn’t want them passing me. So that was on my mind the whole time. lol. Then my other goal was to try and keep every mile under 9 minutes. Well after one of the hills I thought, well that’s out the door. But after looking at my splits I was so close! 
 
I really enjoyed the race. I loved the challenge of the hills, they didn’t seem as bad as when I drove the first eight miles the day before. I loved finishing strong. And I loved getting a PR! Since I beat my Bryce Canyon time- which is a fast downhill course. It’s nice to know that I’m improving. I wonder what my time for Bryce would be now? My next race is a 10 miler, the Dam to Dam at Sand Hollow. I did the 5 miler last year and had a great time, in the rain as well. Then I have the Sand Hollow Marathon 3/31/12.  
 
Here’s some pics from the photo people.  
Thanks for reading! Sorry it took so long…. 
 

I ran my 7th half marathon today! I’m still shocked because last year I only ran 5K’s.  And last year I weighed 180lbs in March and 160 lbs in Oct.  And now I weigh around 130-133.  I’m trying to get under 130, hopefully by March- spring break in Havasu. . But I need these holidays to be over so there’s not desserts everywhere.

My first 5K. March 2010

The Freedom Run 5K was also my 4th day of running in a decade!  I got a medal for the 5k walk. I finished in 43 minutes.  This was also three months post pregnancy.

I also just finished up week 3 of 18 for training for the Sand Hollow Marathon.  We’ll see how that goes.  lol  But in 5 weeks is the St George 1/2 marathon that I want to PR in.  So I need to beat my Bryce Canyon PR of 1:54:44. I think I can, I think I can.  With the help of all the classes I do at Desert Fitness and Aimee Langston is training me once a week with speed workouts and hills, I should be able to.

So…The secret Hostess Half Marathon.  Who doesn’t want to run, eat a donut, run -eat another, run- another donut, run- eat a cinnamon cake, run- eat a Twinkie?  Well that’s what I did!  I was worried about getting a stomach-ache, but I think it gave me lots of energy. lol.  I met a lot of people from FB in person and had a great time.  I met Shannon from www.stgeorgemom.blogspot.com and we run the same pace so I had someone to talk to, which makes 13.1 miles go by so much faster!!!  And she’s doing the Sand Hollow Marathon too, so I even have a running partner to train with now.  Because I can’t imagine running 20 miles by myself, or 18 or 16 or even 14. lol.

December in Hurricane is cold.  And it was 25 degrees at 8:am.  It’s only cold if you’re standing there not running.  My hands finally warmed up about 2.5 miles and at the turn-a-round I took off my long sleeve top that was under my jacket. I gave it and my gloves to Mike.  Mike and the boys were at the second stop.  Evan had a sign and a cow bell cheering everyone on.  :) The hardest part of this race is running after stopping.  I finally feel good then I have to stop to eat.  I didn’t carry my water pack because I knew I had to stop to eat so I drank the water supplied.  I carried my phone in the belt clip that I usually have on my water pack.

Here was the first stop.

We passed a few horses.

Since I live a mile from here I pass these horses all the time.

2nd stop, first time seeing Mike!

Here is the best fan!

This sign was made for my first half.

Shannon and I running.

I took a big bite. LOL

Pretty I know.  But it’s proof I ate it.

4th stop.

4th stop. I had a cinnamon cake.

This was the turn-a-round. I LOVED the tree!

And Melissa (just out of pic was volunteering in the 25 degree weather 7 months pregnant!

The best crew at a water station!

The finish line was at the park.

Mike and the boys went to McD’s after the turn-a-round then met me at the finish just in time!

Finished! I LOVE the medal!

I finished in 2:02.  I thought that’s pretty good for taking my time at the stops.  It was hard to eat fast and wash it down with water.  My running pace was 8:52/mile.

All the runners before the start.

Can you spot me??  I stole this pic from FB.  Thanks Cory for a great race that was not sponsored by Hostess but by a runner who loves to eat Hostess.  And I was lucky enough to run this secret race.

Thanks for reading!

Amber