Thursday, September 18, 2008

That's THIS Weekend?


I think it finally hit me today that I have to run a full marathon this Saturday. I haven't even really been thinking about it. I'm sure it's because I'm not counting this one as my "real" marathon. This is just my last long training run before my real marathon in St. George in two weeks.

This marathon training experience has been completely different from the last one.
First of all, I'm training with different people. My friend and neighbor that I've run with the last year, introduced me to this group at the beginning of the summer. I've really enjoyed getting to know them, and they are crazy fast, so that's really good for me. I like to run with people who are better than me. I like to be pushed to my limit.

So, I've been training significantly faster than my last marathon. I'm not Boston fast, but there are people in my group who can consistently qualify for Boston year after year. I admire them. That is like the ultimate accomplishment in my eyes.

I've decided that maybe I'll wait to try to qualify for Boston until I'm a few years older. Then the qualifying time is a little easier.
At my age (30) I'd have to finish in 3 hours and 40 minutes to qualify. That's a 8:30min/mile pace. To put that into perspective, my last marathon I finished in 4 hours 28 minutes. I'd have to shave almost a whole hour off my time to qualify.
My goal is 4 hours. I think I can do it. Actually, I really want to do it in 3:59.
Then I can say I did it in the 3 hour mark.

So, this Saturday, I'm running the Top of Utah marathon in Logan. I've heard it's a gorgeous run, and is downhill for the first 16 miles. I love running downhill. I've learned how to just let the hill carry me down, and with minimal effort and I can "fly" down the hill. I love that feeeling. Then it goes back uphill the last 10 miles. I can do short, steep hills pretty fast. It's the long, slow climb that kills me.
I run up Gordon Ave. at the end of all my runs. And I still hate it. It the kind of hill that if you're driving in a car, you don't even notice that it's a hill. But, running at a shallow incline for 1 mile and a half can be really, really demoralizing.

I've given myself "permission" to walk the last 3 miles, if I absolutely have to. But only because this is my training run. I probably won't. Because I get in race mode, and my competitive nature kicks in, and the adrenalin pushes me to try my hardest.

So, today, I am going to go stock up on my GU (caffeine is my friend), take it easy tomorrow, and then have a nice, relaxing, fun run on Saturday.

But, for now, I have to go drive to preschool, volunteer at 1st grade, babysit my neice, do laundry, vaccum, drive to Karate, drive to soccer, cook dinner, go to bed, start all over again.

Thus is my life.....

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

i know you will do grrreat!!!!! and i love really love your new background!!!!

Robin Beck said...

Hey good for you on running another marathon! I ran the Seattle Marathon, Portland and one in Idaho. I really did find I like 1/2 Mary's better! Now I like mountain climbing better. But I do miss being out there running. Watch out for mile 18! I'll be thinking about you! If I was training for a marathon I wouldn't be decorating that is for sure Sher~! Have fun out there!
Robin~♥

Wonder Woman said...

Good luck on Saturday! Do you know what the weather's supposed to be like up there? I hope it's not 50 degrees and raining. Not that I've heard that. I'm just saying- I hope it's not!

I hope you get everything done today without making yourself crazy! Sometimes, it's nice to be so busy, other times it's just draining. So be happy and have a fun day!

Peggy said...

Good luck! My brother-in-law did that marathon in his wheelchair a couple of years ago, and he did say it was beautiful. So good luck, and have fun!

Jan said...

You can do this Sher. No problemo. Good luck and think about Nacho Libre in his stretchy pants and cape. You have to have a hero on your mind right. :)

Anonymous said...

Good Luck! We should try to meet up in St. George. I will email you my cell #. don't you love how the marathon/running bug bites and there is no turning back. Have fun on Sat.
Kristen

Mikki said...

Good LUck!! You are amazing. Quite busy too!

Amy Simms said...

Hey! I cleaned my bathrooms today after reading your blog a day or two ago and laughed as potty words ran through my mind.

Good luck on the run this weekend. I hope you finish in the time you want. Even if you don't, be proud of yourself. Any 30 year old with three kids that can run for miles deserves to feel proud! You rock!

Jessica said...

I know you will do great! Maybe I should run the marathon so I can have sugar again. I'm dangerously close to cheating. Everything sounds good...ice cream, soda, candy bars, cookies, brownies. Okay I need to focus! Good luck!!

LITTLE MISS said...

You are CRAZY (I say that with an envious undertone)...my husband used to run 20 miles up Logan canyon back in the day--now he's lucky if he makes it 5 miles on these Georgian hills. (Meanwhile I jog 3 miles on the treadmill and then pat myself on the back with a chocolate milkshake!)

so again i'll say you're crazy and stick my tongue out as you run past(secretly cheering you on from 2,000 miles away!)

Natalie said...

I like the nacho libre comment. I think that you should run in your wonder woman costume because you know if the shoe fits you should wear it. Best of luck, I wish my knee would heal so I could run the 1/2. I was working toward that all summer long. Dang it!

Elisa said...

I will be in Logan on Sat for a football game. I think I shall make posters that say "Run Sher Run. See Sher Run" And then "run like the wind..." Would that help you not walk those last 3 miles.

Ditto to the email you sent me. how awesome we are friends because of blogging... how sad we live around the corner and are too lazy to talk on the phone or walk to each others houses... but yea! for blogging bringing us together!!

Good luck manana!

tiki_lady said...

amazing! you have done so much. way funny about the lobster farts, thanks for the heads up, or maybe I should say heads down. LOL

I was just in Boston yesterday. I love that place! If it is a goal of yours I know you will accomplish it. I admire anyone who likes to run for fun! me, nope.

Nick and Stacey said...

Yeah for Logan!!!! Good Luck, my borther in law is running this marathon also! You guys are crazy!