Winter Is Here (For Now)

Its been a chilly few days. Starting Friday and continuing through the weekend, we were lucky to break 50 degrees...in SOUTHERN ARIZONA. Im not sure if its just me, but when its cold and wet out, I need a lot of motivation to get and run. Sometimes I feel like this:

This especially applies when it is cold! Im from Arizona, I can deal with heat. But I am NOT used to the cold at all.

However, I do have clothes that are temperature appropriate to be wearing in this wintery weather. Of course it is all black, and when it is raining/snowing and the sun just wont come out, someone has to wear something bright. So I end up looking funny (again):

This weekend, Matt and I decided we had to try to run. We set out on our three mile loop and decided if it was too cold or miserable, we would only do three and not keep going on our 6 loop. Around the 10th step out the door, it started snowing. What luck we have!

At mile 2 the excitement had worn off and the cold started to set in. Also, my leg injury started to feel like if I pushed too hard, or too far, it would pull again. So we decided to stick to 3 miles, and thoroughly enjoyed hot chocolate and apple cider when we got home. 

Sunday was also cold, but at least it was sunny. We were super busy because we picked up my brother from college, then made gingerbread cookies with him. After the cookies were made I had an itch to go running. Matthew wanted to spend time with my brother and play some video games, so I took the dogs for a run. I took Zolten for a 3 mile run alone, then I took Storm and Dakota together for 3 miles. For never having run more than a mile on a leash before, they did excellent. And, due to lots of pulling from the Storm and Dakota, I also got an arm and core workout! Talk about multitasking!

Monday warmed up nicely, and we ran on the track at lunch. But it was an evening to rest, so we couldnt take advantage of the nicer temperatures for a long run. Then another storm blew in! This is crazy. We hardly ever get more than one or two winter storms a year, and now we have 2 in a row. This storm was to arrive, and depart, Tuesday night. We were supposed to get a lot of wind, some rain, and possibly even snow. Waking up Wednesday to rain, I knew we wouldnt get much running in at lunch. The temperatures only rebounded to the mid 30s by lunch time.

So Matt and I played racquetball. We used to play once a week or so, but I am a perfectionist and can get a little competitive, so he didnt want to play with me anymore. But this game went well. I didnt keep score, I didnt go for the fancy shots, and I just had fun. It was a good way to spend lunch time. We still got in a little workout, but also had fun together.

Wednesday after work I felt like we had to run. I really need to avoid the holiday weight gain, and I keep feeling like Im gaining weight. Matt thinks Im crazy. I have maintained my weight relatively well, only gaining about 1 pound since Thanksgiving, and I tried the dress on December 2nd and it was loose. So I should really just relax a little bit.

Anyways, back to the run: We (I) decided I wanted to do 9 miles. I also have been feeling bad for the dogs. We leave them crated all day while we are at work. Then we usually crate them again when we go running. When its cool, or cold out, I feel comfortable taking them. In the summer, Im too scared they will overheat. So for tonight, I decided to take each dog individually for 3 miles. Zolten did well again, and it was nice having Matthew to switch off holding the leash! Storm did pretty well too, although she started to get tired about half a mile from home. While we were running with Storm, the sun set, and it immediately got COLD. So poor Dakota only got to go on a one mile run with us. We just couldnt take it. Even dressed appropriately, wearing ear warmers and gloves and long socks to cover the 3 inches that my tights dont cover, we froze! But Dakota probably doesnt know the difference.

Im ready for the weather to be good again! The temps are supposed to rebound for the weekend before another (yes, ANOTHER) storm moves in on Christmas Day. I see running in our weekend plans!!!

Reasons The World Isnt Ending Friday

Lately, there has been a lot of talk about the end of the Mayan calendar coming up on December 21st. My first question is "what time of the day". If the world really does end, I would love to know what time that will be happening, so I can be out running with Matthew and my dogs. Then we can "run through the end of the world". We are awesome like that. But............the world cant be ending next week. First, and most importantly of all, its completely against what the Bible says. But besides for that fact, here are my top 7 reasons why the world cant be ending.

1. I am a Costco shopper, so I have a surplus of some items of food. I was looking at some of those items and noticed they have an expiration date for sometime in 2013. Now, if the world was ending, why would my food last longer than the world? I think it would have been a pretty good trick if the food companies put Dec 21 12 as the expiration date on all the food though..........

2. There are presents under the tree and in the stockings. Christmas is 4 days after the "end of the world". Why would anyone have done any Christmas shopping, let alone all the wrapping, if no one was ever going to get to open them?

3.I have already registered and PAID for a race in January. Enough said.

4. I have not yet ran a marathon. I am certainly not going to run one in the next week. I probably wont even run one until December of NEXT year. Running a full marathon is something that we are (probably myself more than Matt) very motivated to do. So, the world cant end before that happens.

5. I am getting married to my best friend next year! The wedding is planned, the dress fits, everything is paid for. Therefore, the world cant be ending.

6. We booked and paid for our honeymoon Monday night. Im looking forward to going to Hawaii with Matthew and doing things that I am afraid of (para-sailing) and things that he is afraid of (snorkling, swimming in the ocean) and just spending time with him in general.

7.I already have the first 4 months of next year's workouts planned out. Creating a training plan takes a lot of work. I certainly would not have bothered with it if I thought I would never see the time to put it into action. Matthew has learned this about me: once I write something down that I am want to do, I am going to do it. Rarely are there exceptions, and usually due to injury or illness related. 

All over facebook right now there are funny posts and pictures explaining either why or why not the world will be ending. While I think most rational people do not truly believe the end is near, people wouldnt be making such a big deal of it if there wasnt a hint of fear or belief. But, just as when our calendar ends we go to a near year, I believe when the Mayan calendar ends, we will start a new cycle. All I know for sure, next year is going to be a wonderful year for Matthew and I. A wedding, honeymoon, and hopefully even a marathon.

Winter is Coming for a Visit!

Its been hard to get in the holiday spirit this year. I dont know if its because it has been in the mid 70s daily, or because Matthew and I have both had recent travels for work, but its just been difficult. I usually put up the Christmas tree, hang stockings, and even put up lights around the house all around Thanksgiving. But this year has been slow. And also unlike most years, this year Matt and I get the honor of having Christmas dinner at our house! Partly because we are having relatives coming to town, and partly because my parents are leaving town shortly after...but the reason doesnt truly matter. I am very excited to have Christmas dinner at our house this year. Long story short, I had to get the decorations up!

 Luckily, the weather has decided to put a little winter spirit into Southern Arizona. Its going to be cold for the next few days, and it might even snow! So it seemed like the perfect time to make my house look like its ready for the holiday season. We got the tree up last weekend, but neglected to fluff and decorate it until yesterday after work.

But, alas, it is complete!  We even finished wrapping all of the present and put them under the tree. With the amount of stuff under there, you would think we have a bunch of kids...but no. Most of it is clothes that we have bought and wrapped just to feel like we are opening presents. Of course, there's a few special secret things under the tree, and stuff for family members and the dogs too.

 So now that we are in the Christmas spirit, and the weather has gotten cold and cloudy, it was time to go for a run. Earlier this fall I had bought some running capris and even a pair of tights. I have been wearing the capris for my lunch time workouts, mainly because I dont want to walk out of my office wearing running shorts; I get enough funny looks for "working out", I dont need more for wearing short shorts. But I have never worn these articles of clothes for long runs, so I am excited about the weather being cold for a few days!

Today, I wore a warm long sleep shirt (also new), a tee shirt, a pair of funny colored capris (not so new), and shorts. Why the shorts over the capris...because they hide the inevitable wedgie that running tights give you. And even though I LOVE these capris, they are quite funny looking without shorts over them. I dont think color fade clothes will regain popularity...if they ever had it. Sadly, the picture Matthew took does not show the funny colored pants, but maybe thats a good thing!

Matt dressed much more like a normal person. Except the head lamp. Good one Matt! I guess it is my fault, I told him it would probably get dark on our 7-10 mile run. It didnt get completely dark, but another mile and it would have been. Better safe than sorry. (I stored mine in the nifty backpack).

The run went OK, I guess. I got in a 3 mile run at lunch today, and had some strange aches and pains, but nothing too bad. My foot is better, most of the time. Instead of hurting on these runs, it just goes numb. So I wont complain about that now! From the first half mile of this evening's run, I knew it was going to hurt. My old injury flared up, and just kept getting worse and worse. But I am stubborn, and I needed to run!

Running with Matthew by my side is so much better than running alone! We were talking throughout the run, even singing at one point of the run. It almost didnt matter that my leg felt like a brick every time it hit the pavement, I was just so happy to have my running partner back by my side. I finished 7 miles, slightly slower than I would have liked, but considering how much it hurt, Im just happy to have finished it. Matthew went on to do an extra mile (to burn off the donut he ate at work).

Im starting to believe that running is almost as much of a mental game as it is physical. And a large part of that is about pain management. There are times when running is amazing. When there is no pain, no boredom, no frustration. But lately its been the opposite for me. Ive been hurting since the first half marathon, and especially since the second one. Ive been battling a few injuries, running alone, and getting more and more frustrated with every run that doesnt end well. But I need to manage my expectations about running, just like I need to manage pain during the run. I have gotten pretty good at running through aches and pains. It hurts, but my mind is far more stubborn than my body. We have only been running for 8 months now. We are still beginners. I should not expect for every run to be easy. If running was easy, I dont think I would like it nearly as much. It has taught me a lot about how strong I am, how much I can do if I put my mind to it, and has brought me a lot closer to Matthew. Since I dont want running to be easy, I should accept that there will be hard days. There will be days where running is the last thing I want to do, but I need to get out and do it anyways. And someday, there will be a day when I can no longer run, so I need to be thankful for the incredible gift that running has given both Matt and I, and just go along for the ride.

Old Man's Disease

The past few weeks have been pretty terrible running wise. Matthew was out of town for two weeks, I was sick, then was battling a leg injury. Then, Matthew finally came home and I was ready to get running......

But my big toe had a different idea. I have dealt with Gout for the past few years, and while it has always been a pain in the toe, it has never really gotten in the way of anything I truly wanted to do. But this Sunday I was ready to get out and run 8 to 12 miles with the best running partner ever (Matthew!!!), then I walked out to check on the temperature...and BAM. I felt that semi familiar feeling deep in my toe. Lots of curse words went through my head, but I sadly told Matthew about it. He didnt allow me to run at all!

I do have medication that is supposed to stop the attack from getting full blown aka walk on crutches for a week, so I started taking that yesterday. And last night, I discovered the lovely side effects, nausea. TERRIFIC. I got a crappy night of sleep, and woke up tired, grumpy, and still in pain.

I struggled through the morning at work and was excited to get to the gym. My toe shouldnt stop me from core and upper body strength training..........but severe nausea can. :(

So after many weeks of feeling crappy about running, I have to wait even longer to get started again. Im worried that I have lost too much fitness  that I will have to start over. I hate feeling incompetent as a runner and as a person. I cant wait to get back out on the road and training for another half marathon. I know its just a matter of time and effort until I healthy and able to run again. Until then, I need to get in the holiday spirit. My tree is up but undecorated, the stockings are up but empty, and the presents are piled up but unwrapped.

On a happier note: I am getting a garmin forerunner 410 for Christmas. I know I am not supposed to know my own presents....but when a fiance asks if thats what I really want, then see the tracking number....I just know. Now I just cant wait!

A New Outlook

Ive been in a running rut since I got sick a month ago. Almost no run has been "good", and I have had a huge amount of self doubt lately. I have found it difficult to run the planned distances, even with Matthew by my side. We havent ran the whole planned distance since our first half marathon and I have been extremely disappointed in my mental, and physical, performance.

Matthew is gone for the next two weeks, and it gets dark around 5pm now. I get home from work around 330, so that doesnt leave much time to run after work. I do get in a run, or at least a workout, at lunch everyday, but there is no way to get in my planned mileage.......or is there?

We have three dogs, Zolten, Storm, and Dakota. I decided to try running with them...but dont ask me why. Our dogs are "leash trained", aka they will allow us to put the leash on them before taking off pulling as hard as they can, usually for the whole walk. So I am not sure what I was thinking when I decided I would take them running with me!!!

I needed to get in 3 more miles to keep my sanity yesterday, and it just so happens I have three wild and crazy dogs who love walks. So I took each dog out for 1 mile each.

First up was Zolten, our 60 pound 6.5 year old german shorthaired pointer. She is our biggest, and oldest dog...but the most hyper. I have a heavy duty leash for her since she has a pulling problem, and has failed doggy obedience class. Surprisingly she did amazing on the run! After she figured out what was going on, she got her little doggy legs moving in cadence with mine, and we completed the mile in 9:02. Not bad for her first time running. And I was happy.

Next up was Storm. She is our most well behaved polite mannered dog. She is approximately 3 years old and 50 pounds. She is the biggest cuddle bug dog I have ever met and is usually fairly well behaved on the leash. I dont think she really understands running on a leash. She kept trying to sprint across streets then slow down on the sidewalks. She would swerve right in front of me then turn around and sit. Maybe she doesnt like running...yet. But she made it the full mile as well, in 9:04. Not too bad of a time...now to fix that behavior!

Last, but certainly not least is our newest addition to the family, Dakota. Shes about 3 years old and 50 pounds like Storm is. However, she is completely opposite of Storm behavior-wise. She is a punk, there is nothing else to say. She wasnt sure about going with me since the other girls had to stay behind, but once she realized it was ok, her ears perked up and she seemed fine. We were going at a pretty good pace and she was actually behaving really well...until 0.6 miles in. She started running into my legs every few steps, she would try to stop and walk, she even tried to sit MID RUN. I ended up having to encourage her quite a bit to finish out the mile, and we came in at 9:11. She needs some remedial running training as well...maybe a Couch 2 5K for dogs. 

I had been in a rut. Nothing felt good about running and my motivated was squashed. But running with the dogs was a very enjoyable experience, despite the small issues we had together. While Matt is gone for the next two weeks, I plan on running with them more often. Its fun and different, and I feel safe running alone with three cute and cuddly dogs. But the best part of running with the dogs..........bed time!

Feeling Incompetent

Im sure everyone has those days, or weeks, that they just feel off. Since the last half marathon, I have not had a good strong run. I havent felt like running or been motivated to get out there and push myself. When I do run I cut them short and struggle to even finish the abridged version. I dont get it.

Im hoping this doesnt last very long. It is really a horrible feeling and just thinking about it makes me feel even worse about it. I started running so I could lose some weight and fit into my mom's wedding dress. The dress fits...and now I have to maintain for another 5 months. Maybe I am a little bitter about the fact that it is going to take constant work, for the rest of my life, in order to stay at the level I am at...or was at a few weeks ago.

Or maybe its because I had to travel for work the week after the HM, then it was the week of Thanksgiving, and now Matthew is traveling for work for two full weeks. Maybe that is what is causing the funk. Running alone sure does suck. Matt and I almost never actually talk during the run, but it is very comforting to be with him. Running has brought us closer to each other, mainly because we have set out to do something we thought was impossible just a few months ago. We have had to help each other and encourage each other to get through each and every run. We have done it all together...and now Im on my own for the next two weeks.

My goal for the next few days is to get feeling better, get my motivation back, and have at least one good long run. Is that really too much to ask for? I just want to feel like a competent runner, and not like the completely incompetent runner that I have been feeling like the past 2 weeks.

So I Dress A Little Strange

When I started running, I could hardly stand to wear running shorts. They are so short...and my legs werent exactly thin. But I got over that issue after a few months and have come to love my running shorts. All of my running clothes are the most comfy things I own, and I can often be found lounging around in a running shirt.

This weekend, it was about 50 degrees out, so I decided to try some of my super cool cold weather running gear. I bought the capris a few months ago, and they didnt fit. But I have lost some weight and some inches so they fit now YAY. But, as with my issue with running shorts in the beginning, I was not comfortable wearing ONLY running capris. So I wore shorts on top.

Top it off with a long sleeve shirt and a super cool bandana...and I look pretty dorky. At least I didnt freeze to death...or chafe! Score 2 for the capris!

Oh, and Matt looks pretty silly too in his cold weather clothes. Compression shorts are about as warm as he goes.

Mental health

There is something amazing about a good hard run on a cold day under the sun. 

We finished training early today so I got to run outdoors!!!!! Right by the hotel there is a small pond and a path that goes all the way around. The path had some fun ups and downs. One lap was about 0.4 miles. I ran at a quick but manageable pace. At 2.8 miles I went as fast as I could to finish my planned 3 miles.

Out of breath, legs burning, and nose running I finished the run smiling. And life is good again. A good run does amazing things for ones mental health!

No Running Blues

This week I am in Washington D.C. for work. We are locked in training for 8 hours a day. We don't even get out at lunch. I haven't gotten in hardly any miles and they have all been on the treadmill. I'm getting really bummed out. Little exercise, long days of sitting, and eating out nightly has taken a toll.

I can feel the difference between my normal lifestyle and this travel one. Im sad and sluggish and have aches and pains all over. I'm ready to be home!

A painful half.

Why do races have to be so early in the morning...and 2 hours away? Three days before the race it had been almost 90 degrees, but the morning of the race it was only 2 degrees above freezing. I don't really like cold weather and have zero experience running in it.

We were the first runners to arrive and get our bibs, then quickly scurry back to the car to defrost. We stayed in the car as long as possible but we knew eventually we would have to get out to get ready to run.

 The race was staged at a high school stadium and the best part of that was they had real bathrooms! Best pre race toilet stop ever!!
Before we got half a mile, Matt was hit with a sharp side pain and we almost had to stop and walk. He complained for another half mile before the  pain went away.
 










By mile 2 I started to feel my toes and they hurt already. At mile 3 I dodged a spider and felt my hamstring pull. Great. 


Around half way, there was a group of kids with signs and one said "chuck Norris never ran a half marathon". I love seeing encouraging people on the route. That was the pick me up I needed to get through the next few miles.


 One thing that really started to piss me off was a group of 3 girls. They would run for a minute or two then stop and walk. Now there is nothing wrong with that...except that when they walked they would be three wide. The running lane was about 3 wide in most areas so it was incredibly frustrating. We passed them and they passed us at least 15 times in the first three quartets of the race.

 

By mile 10 I was fading fast. I grabbed a banana from the aid station and did my best to keep pace. Between mile 11 and 12 things started to fall apart quickly. I got a horrible side pain (but not as bad as the last half marathon) and Matt got his strange pain. We really struggled to keep moving.

We rounded the corner  toward the finish line and Matt saw the race clock. He knew my goal was to beat 2:15:00...and about 100 yards away we had 8 seconds to make it. I had assumed we lost too much time when I had to walk for a minute so I wasn't thinking about meeting my time goal. We took off as fast as possible but I knew it wasn't possible. We crossed the line at 2:15:04 and promptly collapsed to the grass. Our only hope of breaking our goal was the official chip time.

After a few minutes of laying down we got up and went to the free food. Then when we got the strength to walk to the car we went and turned the heater on. In over 2 hours it had only warmed up 7 degrees. Yuk.

This was the most painful race I have done. It almost makes me question my ability as a runner. And really makes me question whether I want to attempt a full marathon.

Our chip time came in at exactly 2:15:00. One freaking second short of my goal. Maybe next time I guess.

Cold & Cold

We have a half marathon coming up this next weekend. I had a great run on Sunday and felt confident for the next half marathon. Then, Sunday night, doing absolutely nothing, I got punched in the face with a cold. All week I have had a hard time breathing, and its almost impossible to breathe while running. For the whole week, my mileage has been a measly 6 miles, all of which have been a struggle. I am still planning on running the half this weekend, but maybe I shouldnt expect to meet my original time goal. Maybe just surviving and finishing will be enough.

Also, we have been enjoying lovely temperatures lately in the high 80s, with lows in the 50s. Well, this weekend, a cold front and winter storm are moving in. GREAT! Its going to be all of 35 degrees at race start with a high of 58 for the whole day! Terrific! Running with a cold IN the cold.

Oh, and have I mentioned, I own running tights.......but have never ran more than a mile in them! So I cant wear them for the race for fear of severe chaffing. Not pleasurable. I also havent worn my capri's for longer than 2 miles, so thats not an option either. And that doesnt even begin to approach the "what kind of underwear do you wear with tights!?!?" issue...guess it will be running shorts, long socks, and a long sleeve shirt. Wish us luck!

Firefighter's Charity 5K

Exactly one week after the A Mountain half marathon, still slightly sore and tired, we dragged our tired booties out of bed for another race. Yes, it was only a 5K...but we had big dreams for today. We wanted to PR.

Matt hadnt run all week due to his toe hurting. He finally decided to call the doctor, but they didnt have any appointments until Monday. So he had no choice but to run on a slightly painful toe and hope something wasnt broken.

There were only about 120 people at the race, the smallest by far that we have done! Matt thought he could do really well in the field of runners. I wasnt so sure. I told him he can go ahead of me. I know he can run faster than me...he is a whole foot taller than me!

I kept up with him for the first 3/4 mile. I crossed the 1 mile marker at 7:30 (the fastest mile I have EVER run). I had to slow down after that as I was having trouble. I saw Matt at the turnaround point and told him the time. I think he sped up even more! I had a hard time finishing the 5K at all, let alone keeping the fast pace.

I crossed the line at 25:35 and promptly felt like dying. Matt had crossed nearly 2 minutes before me and already had grapes and a banana in hand, which I snatched as soon as I had the strength!

Overall, this race was a success. We both PR'd and didnt die. I never thought I would get my 5K time under 27 minutes for the year, let alone to where I've gotten it. So Im happy and dont plan on trying to break it until next spring. I dont know about Matt's intentions, he always wants to be better. As long as no one dies, Im ok with that.

Taper Tantrum & the Tucson A Mountain Half Marathon

The taper period before a large race can be quite traumatic. After struggling the last few weeks to complete my long runs, I was not feeling particularly confident in my ability to complete the upcoming half marathon. Even worse, the half marathon goes up A Mountain in Tucson. A 1.5 mile climb that gains nearly 500 feet, then 1.5 mile fall...all of that in the middle of the race!

We tapered for two weeks. The first week of the taper we cut mileage to 75% of normal. I didnt have any trouble during this week mentally, but I struggled physically. All that rest can wear you out! My legs felt heavy during runs, my breathing struggled to stay under control, and I lost even more confidence. The second week of the taper, we cut mileage to 25% of normal. We only ran twice in the evenings, both 6 milers. The first 6 miler of the week I was feeling horrible. I just could not keep pace, or focus. I had a slight panic attack at mile 3, then got up and finished. This definitely worried me about the race!

The night before the race, we had gotten a hotel room a mile away from the start line. We got up there, and lo and behold, a car had run into the hotel and it was closed. So we got moved to a partner hotel down the road...and officially in the ghetto! It was an interesting night and I didnt get much sleep. Thanks nerves!

Race morning was fine. It wasnt too hot or too cold. We picked up our packets really early and brought our shirts to the car. We ran a little to warm up, then sat around and waited for the start. I visited the port-a-john a few times hoping, no praying, for something to get moving. But of course, it wouldnt. Thanks, nerves, again!

The course did a 5K loop before taking off on the long out and back course. Luckily, that meant we would run by the port-a-johns at the 3 mile mark...just when I needed it! After a brief pause, we were all business to finish the race! I was pumped! We were actually doing it!

Throughout the course, I kept thinking of all the hard work we had put in training to get to this race and how important the race was to me. My parents were even driving up from home to watch us finish. I think all this added to the stress, which finally broke at the top of A Mountain. I got a horrible side pain. Not a stitch or a cramp, but an internal organ area pain. It lasted 2.5 miles and every step sucked. Then, as quickly as it came, it went away.

Matt's legs started to give out around the 12 mile mark, and again at the 13 mile. We were so close. I told him just keep going, we will see the finish line any second now. Then we did! I saw my parents with their cameras, and my brother recording a video. Matt grabbed my hand and we ran the last .1 mile together, hand in hand. I shed a tear about 20 feet from the finish line, then smiled for the camera (of course!). 

We got our finishers medals and found my parents. I think they were as happy as we were! 6 months ago, I told my mom I wanted to run a half marathon (this was the day I ran 1 mile straight for the first time ever), and she said "Lets start at 5K". To finish a half marathon, with her there cheering me on, was a great feeling! We posed for some pictures, went out to IHOP for breakfast (and splurged on food we would never had eaten on a normal day), then drove home. I smiled all day.

We were pretty sore the next day (or two, or three). Matt hurt his toe during the half and was sidelined for a whole week. I ran a few times, feeling pretty good each run, but I could feel the mountain for a few days!

The Great Pumpkin Run 5K

A Halloween themed run, through a pumpkin patch, and ending with a race through a corn maze! It sounded fun, but we didnt sign up in advance. The night before the race, I looked up the address online and it was a full 2 hours from home, and started at 615 AM. I guess it was going to be an early morning.

What we didnt expect, was that the temperature would go from summer to winter in one day! The day before the race, it was almost 90 degrees. The morning of the race, it was a brisk 44 degrees at the starting gun. We were under dressed and COLD.

The race was another cross country style race, an area we are certainly deficient in. We zigged and zagged back and forth through the pumpkin patch, making sharp turns, jumping over dead and broken pumpkin, and running in tire tracks. We looked back about half way through the course and the field looked really cool. Lines of runners going back and forth...and for the first time ever, we were towards the front.

We got into the corn maze and Matt took off, bouncing off the walls of corn to his advantage and not missing a step going over the planting rows. I stumbled a few times, hit the corn once or twice, and was relieved when I got out of the maze and saw the finish line. We both PR'd at this race, by large amounts.

The best part of the day was picking pumpkins after the race. We picked four different pumpkins, walked through the little crafter's market, then went to the mall. Overall, a great (and cold) day!

Saguaro National Park 8 Miler

The Saguaro 8 Mile run is a challenging run through a National Park. It is kind of like a roller coaster ride with it's up and down. Until mile 4 when the course changes from a fun up and down to a complete up hill run. 1.5 miles straight up the side of the mountain. It was a challenge to not stop running, but I knew if I stopped, I probably would have a hard time stopping. After getting to the top of the hill, I was hoping for a nice downhill race to the finish, but boy was a wrong! It continued to go up and down like the first part of the course all the way to the finish. I can honestly say I left everything I had on the course for this race!

This is how Matt felt about the course profile!

After the race...exhausted!

Im confident as ever!

After the race, I asked Matt if he would want to do it again next year. He said climbing a hill like that is something he only wants to do once, so no. I said "We'll see", then we hobbled to the car. We were sore for three days after this race, and I started to think the same as Matt on the whole never again thing...

Tombstone Vigilante Days 10K

Every year, Tombstone Arizona celebrates it's history and holds the Vigilante Days. The organization dresses up in old western clothes and walks around Tombstone. Its pretty much a tourist trap...but they hold a 10K. This isnt any ordinary 10K. Tombstone is known as "The Town Too Tough To Die", and the 10K had 2 hills called "The Hill Too Tough To Climb". Not one, but two! And they were tough! It was another hot day (the summer in Southern AZ sure is hot), but at the 2 and 4 mile marks, they had a water station and a misting shower to run under. It was awesome turning the last corner and running the last quarter mile on the famous Allen Street which was lined with fans of all ages, shapes, and apparel. The finish line was at the entrance to the OK Corral, and in the courtyard, a keg of free beer for all the finishers. Beer at 730am: no thanks, but an interesting post run hangout to say the least. We took a quick picture with one of the Vigilantes, then went home to ice our blistered feet. Our first experience with hill running had left some lovely toe tip blisters. Surely, it wouldnt be the last.

 

4th of July Freedom 5K

Today's only goal was to beat our prior 5K time. It was a hot and humid morning and we struggled to wake up on time to get up to Tucson to run. That hour and a half drive seems to take forever at 4am!  We even drove through fog on the way up to Tucson, definitely not something seen every day in Southern Arizona.

About to go into the fog.

This race was much smaller than our first one, so finding our proper place was much easier. We lined up and took off! What we didnt know was that this race was on gravel and dirt paths, and with the rain the night before, it was more like mud bogs and gravel roads. All the runners crossed the small wooden bridge at the same time, which the bridge wasnt too appreciative of. It started bouncing up and down and felt like it was about to snap! But we survived the bridge and had a good run. We accomplished our goal, finishing in 29:02. It was a great way to start the holiday!

Lining up!

After the race, yes, I know Im red.

Meet Me Downtown Tucson 5K

Our first race was the Meet Me Downtown Tucson Night Run 5K. We were not sure what to expect as far as the whole race thing went. We got there really early and got our bibs and shirts and got ready to go. An hour later we lined up. Another predicament...where do we line up in the big mob? Surely we werent fast, but we were going to be running. We picked a spot and hoped for the best.

It was over 100 degrees, even after the sun had set. It was a struggle to run the whole thing, and once we turned the last corner and saw the finish line, I turned to Matt and asked if he had any kick left. Of course he said no, then smiled, then took off. I took off after him. We finished in 31:02 and argued about who really finished first. In the long run, it didnt matter. All that mattered is we finished, together!