Trail Running Granny

Only 5 more days until the TOU!  My running plan is to do a short easy run with the chicks on Tue, Wed and Thur.   This will be my long training run for ST. George, I have been off my feet for a couple of months, but I think I should be able to pull off doing St. George at somewhere between 4:50 to 5:15, that is what I am hoping for anyway.  My PR for St. George is 4:51, it would be nice to beat it, but I will be happy with a healthy finish.  If I feel okay after the TOU and the doctor says my feet are okay, I will sign up to do the OV50 with Maurine. My doctor's appt. is in an hour.

I am trying to stick to the WW core plan, I have been terrible thru my Paul ordeal and have not been eating well, so I am going to give it my all and focus on getting into good running shape thru my diet and running. It is fun to have so many of you with the same goals and share tips and keep each other motivated! 

I think we should have a Bloggers Winter Getaway in St. George in Jan and do the Painters Half!!!  Just putting it out there!!!!

Have a great week!!!

Okay here is the report from the Podiatrist!

I had a nice talk with the Doc and told him the story, he said I am doing EVERYTHING right!  All the advice I got from bloggers and friends and the PT have helped.  Here is a list of things he said I should do ( I have been doing all of them) and my feet are feeling much better.

#1 never go barefoot or wear flip flops!  But, he looked at my "fit-flops" and said they are fine.

#2 wear your insoles in all your shoes ( I do!)

#3 if you are feeling pain, cut back on miles until they feel better ( I did !)

#4 run on trails when ever possible (I do!)

#5 ice heels ( I do!)

#6 stretch feet thru exersize ( I need to do a little more of this)

#7 he said the Z-coils are great for short slow runs and walks and around the house

#8 take Ibuprofen for inflamation ( I do)

#9 I have saved the best for last he said I can run the TOU and ST. George and the OV50!!!!  He said if I have pain, slow down or  drop out, but basically he said "GO GIRL!!!

Oh, also he said if they should get worse we can do cortizone shots,  but he doesn't think I will need to if I do all of the above.

I feel much better!  Thanks again everyone for all the PF tips!!  I really do feel I am managing it well and I am not going to let it be an excuse to stop running!! 

Did a  5:30 am run with the chicks, they are getting so fast!  I can barely keep up with them, they are carrying on conversations and I am panting in the back. Oh, to be young again!  It is good for me. The chicks, Jen, Desiree and Lisa are all doing their first marathon sat (TOU)they are nervous, I guess that is to be expected, but they are so ready, they will do great and have a nice finish.  I on the other hand will send my chicks along and then moosey on down the road at a very slow pace to save my heels for St. George.  It will so much fun to hang out the night before and do the expo and the pasta dinner and then ride the bus to the start line in the morning. I think they will all break 5 hours, I willl be happy with anything, a finish would be nice!

Sounds like Lisa is up for Painters, I forgot to check with the other chicks! 

An easy short run to Willowcreek with the chicks.  Jenny's mom drove us home.  Tomorrow we are going for a walk and then take a break Friday. Sat. is TOU!

My heels are feeling pretty good.  Could it be the Birkies???

On a side note, Paul had a siezure last night had to go to the hospital. Apparently this is normal for a stroke victim, but it sure was hard to take another set back.

The chicks and I did a 3.77 mile walk, tomorrow we head up for Logan. I am excited to try TOU! It will be a fun time with the girls!!!

Okay, I just went back to WW after  playing hooky for 2 months, I let it slide since Paul had his stroke.  I was down  a 1/2 pound.  I am now 4.8 pounds away from my goal.  I need to just get this done!  I have been going to WW since last Nov. to lose 10 pounds, I am a dirty rotton cheater!  I usually put on weight with a marathon, so I am going to have to really watch it this weekend. Any ideas?  I guess I just need to not have the post pig out celebration, that might help. 

I am heading off to Logan today!  No running, resting up and carbo loading ( I am doing a light carbo load).  I am trying to see if I can do this marathon without gaining 5 pounds!  It is going to be a fun time! 

Top of Utah kicked my butt!  I haven't been this sore and tired after a race in years. I think my 2 months of  dealing with PF and cutting back and my worries with Paul had a huge impact.  Friday night the chicks and I (Desiree, Lisa, and Jen) went to the expo and pasta dinner. It was really fun. My daughter Jana that lives up there joined us. We laughed and took pictures and had a blast.  That night Desiree gave each one of us gift certificates for pedicures at the Shirodhara Day Spa.  I had given the girls each running shirts with the "The Running Chicks" on the back so we could run as a team. 

We were worried about the weather, and I talked the girls into really bundling up, but it wasn't necessary. The weather was beautiful from start to finish.

We started out together and stayed together for about 9 miles averaging about an 11:30 pace. I could tell from the get go I was going to have a hard time. My legs didn't warm up until about mile 3 and from 3 to 9 I felt okay, but at mile 9 I was wishing I was done.  Not a good thing!!  The chicks had 2 potty stops  and that gave me a chance to get ahead a bit, they had to wait in line, so I took off.  I ran with some cute ladies from Toole for most of the race.  At mile 14 or so I had a big cheering squad, Lisa and Jen's husbands were  there with other family member and cheered for me and gave me high 5s. It was a much needed boost,  I was really struggling.  They drove the back roads of the course and got out to cheer us on about 5 times.  I can't tell you how helpful that was! I kept thinking any minute the chicks would catch up and at about mile 18 or 19 Desiree passed me up.  From mile 19 on I felt exhausted, and had to do quite a bit of walking. 

I think I crossed the finish at 5:33, the clock said 5:35, but we didn't cross over the starting line until 2 minutes after the gun went off.  Jen and Lisa were only 2 minutes behind me.  Jenny had horrible knee pain, and Lisa was a rock star to hang with her and keep her company.

It was a great time. I am totally pooped. And my thoughts on TOU is that it is an okay race. The 14 miles down the canyon were wonderful, but weaving around the city was not so fun.  I think the Ogden Marathon is much much better, and I am big fan of St. George.  TOU was just medicore in my book.

I survived, I am a little nervous about St. George, I am going to have to be happy with a slower time this year I think. 

You should check out Lisa's blog, she may give better details.