Run Like You Stole It!

Or run like you stole my dream....
So, I had a goal this year to finish in the top 3 overall in my age division in the Strider's Winter Racing Circuit. It's 5 races, 5K, 10K, 10 mile, 1/2 marathon, and a 30K. It was all going so well. I was kicking butt. After the 10 mile race, I thought I could really do it....Then I got sick. My 1/2 marathon was a dud, and I knew my chances weren't good after that. My 30 K went well enough, but it wasn't enough to place...I finished 5th. I was fine......Until....Rick, who in the beginning said, "Yeah, I guess I'll sign up, but I don't really want to." Walked next to me and said, "Hey! I took 3rd place overall. *smile*" Is it wrong that I'm not all that happy for him????? *sigh* Whatever!!! I'm trying to be happy for him.


The 30K.
This was our last race, 18.6 miles. Even though Rick took 3rd overall he struggled in this race. He made a huge mistake. He took a GU (It's an energy gel to provide calories and electrolytes for long distance runs) without water. Funny thing, he's made this mistake before...go figure. Anyhow, it makes your intestines cramp and swell. Not a fun experience.....especially if you do it in the first 3 miles of a 18+ run. He finished, but he felt like "you know what" all day and night. His time 2:30. He did announce his retirement from distance running after this race. He said, "People who run over 13.1 miles, and pay money to do it, are just stupid. And after I run Ogden, I'm NEVER doing it again!"

I had a great race! I was on target at mile 16 to beat my time from last year... even though it was raining, and snowing, and freezing. Then...I hit the wall. My body slowed, and started to show signs of dehydration, but I hung on. Mile 18 my left leg cramped, seized, and wouldn't bend. I really thought I'd have to hop-walk .6 miles to finish, but I gave it a little time and it kinda started to work. Needless to say, I didn't beat my time.....but I finished. My time 2:53

I also wanted to give a shout out to my friend, Teresa O., who took 2nd place in her age division...way to go girl!

For those of you that don't know, Rick will be doing his first marathon May 16th, so wish him luck. AND, if you have nothing to do....Go watch him finish. I am doing a sprint Tri that day, and I don't think I'll make it there before he finishes to support him. He should finish between 10:10am and 10:30am. The finish line is at 25th street and Grant in Ogden. Brooke and Tom are running the 1/2 that day if you'd like to see them finish, call them for an approximate finish time.

One Of Us Kicked #$% And One Of Us Got Our #$% Kicked!

Strider's 1/2 Marathon.

Fist of all. I'd like to give a big shout out to my dear friend Craig for providing the pictures for this entry. Only a DEAR friend would insure all the pictures of me would show me in the best light. Thanks Craig....No, no...really.



Well, Let's start with the good news...because the bad news is clearly about me. :) I guess the best news was about the weather. The storm that was expected didn't really pan out. We had some snow flurries, but the snow that was expected on the road was non existent...great news right? Wrong, because the head wind made you feel like you weren't even moving, and that's really hard on your head. However Rick apparently didn't seem to notice much because he finished with a time of 1:39:18 a 7:34 sec average mile time. I am always in aww. He's a great runner and I'm really proud of him. He was a little disappointed because of the headwind. In all honesty it did slow him down....it slowed down everyone. But his goal was was to finish in double diggets (meaning in under 100 minutes) and he did. Way to go baby!

A picture truly worth a 1000 words.....But, I'll try to keep it to a minimum. Well, as you can see the breakfast after rocked. Strider's put on the best breakfast they've ever done, and I was grateful there was something good about the @#$% race. Because my race sucked! My worst 1/2 time ever....I'm kind of getting sick of writing that line. I've been sick for 3 weeks, and I didn't have great expectations from the beginning, but my goal was to finish all of my races better than last years.....and that just didn't happen. My left IT Band was more a hinderance than the cold that had moved to my lungs. I had to stop and walk a lot, but I didn't quit like I wanted, so I guess that'll have to be what I'm proud of, because finishing 2:04 is not a proud moment for me.


Craig and Missy.
Craig said he hit a wall at mile 5, and I know his pain....however, looking at his time, I don't think he walked like me. 1:45. Missy, who is always amazing, and I have nothing but respect for finished 1:57, and I'm really proud of her.

Teresa, and Missy.
I bow to Teresa. She is a great runner, and so consistant. I think it's her possitive attitude that makes her great. She finished 1:57 also. I really wish I could have stayed with her and Missy because they always inspire me.

My running friend Stacy was on her way to Mexico, and she didn't miss a thing. And my running friend Becky isn't running this year because she's pregnant, and I'd rather run 10 marathons than be pregnant.

The rest of the day Rick and I spent on the couch in front of the the TV. Asking ourselves the same question everyone else asks us.....Why the hell do we do this to ourselves?......We're still not sure.

P.S. My foot has started it's annual "fall apart". The question above becomes stronger for me as it becomes more and more raw....hope you're not eating. ;)

Rick Can Kill The Hills!

I'm really amazed every time Rick runs the hills. There are some really, really steep ones in the race we ran this weekend, and Rick can run up them like they are flat ground. 10 long miles of hills is what the race was, and I'm not looking forward to doing it again ever! Rick had a killer time of 1:14:03 that's a 7:25 min mile pace. I dare ya to go run it on flat ground let alone ugly, steep, hills.
I ran a 1:27:27 which I'm really proud of. I finished with a better time than last year, and I really thought I couldn't improve on my time. I felt like crap for 2 days after, but I did it.

I know we have some family members running 1/2 marathons in the next couple weeks, and I'm really cheering for them. Good luck. There's nothing like accomplishing something you've worked so hard for, and running makes you feel so good about yourself. If you haven't run before or in a long time, I recommend getting off the couch and putting on a good pair of shoes.....After all Spring starts on Friday!

Movin' On Up!

UP THE HILLS! Strider's 10K


Rick and I ran the Strider's 10 K today. It turned out to be a beautiful day after about 2 weeks of snow. The snow made it really hard to train, but all in all we fared just fine. Well, as fine as we could, after the huge hills that is. The total elevation change is 1063 ft. Rick finished 5th in his age category, and Tiff finished 2nd.

Rick's time: 46:02
Tiff's time: 52:24

Striders 5K

If you want to be a faster runner.....You should run faster! Some great advice I read. :)

Rick and I ran the first of our Strider's Winter Racing Circuit Races. It turned out to be a great day. It was supposed to rain and snow, but it ended up being beautiful....thank goodness. This race is a 5K that feels like a 10K. It's got a ton of hills and it killed my calves. My goal was to get a better time than I did last year, and I did improving by 12 seconds, and Rick's goal was pretty much.... just finish as fast as he can, and he did. He had a great time. He finished 8th in his age category and I finished 4th in mine. We have a lot of running to do to train for our next run...It's a hilly 10K. Yippie!
Rick's time 22:19
Tiff's time 25:36