TOU!

Mindy and I went to pick up our packets last night. Wow, there are a lot of people that are registered for this. We picked up our stuff at the finish area in Providence. It was kind of a fun atmosphere there. A few vendors were on site....ICON had some of their Nordic Track clothing there at 50% off. I got me 2 running tank tops and Mindy got her a really cute running skirt. Great Basin graphics was there with some TOU clothing; IHC Sports Clinic; Kangaroo that was these small pouches that had super strong magnets on these little pocket pouches, so that you could hook them to your running shorts; Runners North was there with just a few energy items like Stingers, GU, Sports Beans; and Brother Bryan's family was there selling stickers for a fundraiser for their son who has. I had the worst headache so I picked up a Dr. Pepper! I know that pop is not what you should be consuming the day before, but sometimes you just got to do what you got to do.

I tried to eat a good pre-race meal........spaghetti. But, I guess my nerves were getting the best of me, and I could hardly eat a bite. I settled on my stand-by, egos with peanut butter and powdered sugar and a glass of milk. Sleeping that night was not that restful. I kept waking up, remembering things that I needed to take and playing my running strategy over and over in my head. Wondering....and questioning. I set my alarm for 4:30 am. The plan was for me to leave my house at 5 in the morning and go pick up Mindy. I made me a banana, pineapple, and strawberry smoothie and toasted a plain bagel then loaded it with creamy peanut butter. I was gathering my stuff and was just about to head out the door when I realized that I had forgot to put my race bib on my shirt! I usually do that the night before! Oops!! I also decided to KT Tape my foot that morning. So, I ate half of the bagel, took the other half with me, along with the rest of my smoothie and headed out the door to get Mindy.

We arrived at Zollinger Park to load onto the buses. That was quite a site.....I wish I would have snapped a picture.....10 or more school buses all lit up in the dard, waiting to take us up the canyon. I haven't been on a school bus since......1983! So we started walking with all the rest of the "insane" people headed for the bus. We sat 2 to a seat. It was a really warm morning, and I'm sure that alot of the "warmth" was nerves too. Up the canyon we go.....

When we arrived at the canyon, a TOU volunteer got on the bus to give us some last minute instructions. We got off and kind of mulled around the starting area when along came Dave, my nieces husband. I talked him in to running this too. We visited with each other until the start.

Bang! Bang! and the race is on. Along the route the TOU volunteers had written things on the road in chalk; you are insane, heel toe heel toe, half way there, and others that were too smeared to tell what they said. The aid stations were well stocked w/gatorade and water, bananas and oranges, and Vaseline and bandaids. At mile 6 my right arm was getting chafe marks, so I was one of the ones who needed the Vaseline! At the start I was debating on whether or not to run with my running belt and water bottle. I decided that I would. I was glad I did. I used the water to cool me off, drinking a little here and there. Started eating some Sports Beans around mile 3 and took my first GU about mile 6. I stopped at all of the aid stations, as I remembered my friend saying that her husband skipped an aid station last year and passed out on Hollow Road. At mile 7 there were these 2 little blond girls, about age 5 or 6, that gave me the "high five" as I passed them. I'm not sure who got the most out of that, them or me. At mile 9 there was my support crew......my mom, Jacque, Ashlee, Jenny, and Krista......signs and camera at the ready. I ran over to them and gave my mom a hug. I sure needed that! Took another GU after I saw them, and off on the highway I went. When I hit the Maverick my legs started to feel like they had icy hot on them. This was playing mind tricks with me, as I was trying to figure out what was going on....dehydration, a salt issue, body overheating and trying to cool the core down, beginning of shock.......your mind plays tricks on you....thinking too much. I ended up running right past my friend Jill who was waving her arms and screaming my name.....I didn't hear or see her!!! There was this little girl who was squirting people with the hose in Millville. I was appreciative of that cool down. As I hit mile 12 I could see the finish line. I knew how close it was, but every time I glanced up, it was far away. Mind games again.

My niece's husband, Dave, ran this too. It was fun to visit with him at the start and see him at the finish. He kicked my butt! Next time Dave!

As I crossed the finish line, there was one of my new friends, Marianne, passing out the medals. I have her a big hug. I finished strong. No iv treatments from the EMT's, I did not have to stop at the port-a-potties, no cramping, no vomiting, and I have all 10 toenails!!! My time was 2.29.52. My goal was under 3 hours. I would have liked to been faster.....but don't all runners say that after a race?

Less than 24 hours to go!

......Tomorrow morning is the big day, yet somehow I do not feel as prepared as I think I should be. I am sure that it is because of all the traveling I did the past month.

We got back on the 19th of August, and on the 23rd I did 6 miles, and my legs felt sooooo HEAVY!!! Not sure what the deal was. I ran an easy 3 miles last night at the gym. Legs felt better last night. I think that I am just going to take my breakfast with me tomorrow and eat it on the bus. We are supposed to meet at the finish line in the morning and take the bus up the canyon to the start. Buses load between 5 and 5:45 AM!!!! That is TOOOO STINKIN EARLY!

I am picking up my friend Mindy in the morning, and I will meet Dave (my nephew) somewhere???? There will be aid stations at 3,6,9,11, and the finish, so I am debating on whether or not to take my running belt w/water. I will be fine in the canyon and on hollow road, but once we hit the highway, it will be getting hot. I guess that will be a last minute decision. My goal is to come in under 3 hours. that gives me a lot of walking time if needed and keeping an 11 minute mile pace. I think I will try to go a little faster in the canyon. I have done the canyon race before, so I know where I can increase speed and not get too tired.

NERVOUS....................

Trail Running!

For breakfast today i found this little joint called The Otis Cafe. And little is an understatement. 4 booths, 1 table, and 5 bar stools. To get to the bathroom you had to cut through the kitchen passed the grill! Let me say.....The best homemade molasses and wheat bread....ever!! Some guy came in and sat at the counter, and they got him his own coffee cup that was hanging on the wall. The cinnamon rolls were homemade and huge. Would definately go there again. We got lucky, when we walked in there was actually a place to sit.

I took my family on an adventure today. The directions were not that clear, but we found our destination. It was this trail that led to a suspension bridge. It was awesome. I would purposely lag behind so I could run to catch up with them. The bridge was amazing! Wondered how they got all the concrete back there to anchor this thing.


It was about 1.5 miles down, so a 3 miler. I walked a bit up, then passed the camera off to my daughter and said, "see ya.". It was so nice running up, and no one likes running uphill. It was so peaceful, cool, a bit humid, lots of fresh forestry smelling air, and easy on my feet and legs. I think I have discovered that trail running IS what may be my next adventure.

Ocean Shore, WA

Nothing better than waking up to the sounds of the ocean, and going for a morning jog! Today I explored the town of Ocean Shores, WA, on foot. There street systems are really messed up! They are like a maze, and there was so much foliage that you could not see where you had been. Had to rely on memory of street names! Did an easy 3 miles today. It was so nice not having to get out by 6 am because of the heat. I think I left around 7:30 am ish. Nice and cool, a bit humid but nothing that was too bad. About every 5th home I ran by was for sale. Lots of vacations homes and property for sale here. The town is very dog friendly, in fact I saw a couple playing golf and their dog was out on the green with them! You don't see that too often.

Restaurants had good fresh sea food. Jacque finally tried "fish and chips" and liked it. Ash had the fish and chips too. I had crab cakes and got sick, so the next night, I stuck with the old stand by of "chicken fried steak." When they brought it to me, it was HUGE!!!

It's really weird here. You go to the beach and in front of you is the Pacific Ocean and you look behind you and it is a rain forest! LOVIN IT!

I am READY

Just got back from the gym. Yes, I did the big 13 today!!! Now I know that physically I CAN do it. I did divide it up though, 4 on the eliptical, 6.1 on the treadmill, then the final 3 on the eliptical again. Thought that this would be better on my knees today. My right foot is felling alot better. I think that this traveling which is making it so I can not run as often is actually been good for the healing of the plantar faciatis. My left foot seems to "go to sleep" after a while. This is a really weird sensation. No idea what is going on there!

I did do some speed work today. Legs felt really good. Tried some HAMMER GEL, Tropical.......YUCK, it was like gagging down flavored corn syrup. It was a sample that I recieved from the Hyrum Triathalon. It did not upset my stomach, so I guess this is a good thing. I usually stick with the GU brand. Hate to switch brands without trying it out first.

Last week while in Cali, I was able to manage to get in one day on the treadmill, an easy 3. For the next two weeks, I will be tapering off, getting ready for the "Big Day" August 27th!!!!

For my recovery drink today.........Yummy homemade smoothie. Banana, strawberries, OJ, and protein powder. Yum-O

11---ish

I am going out of town tomorrow for the week, so I better try to get in at least 11 miles.

I planned out my route, even told my daughter which roads I would be on and given her a time frame of when to expect me back. Well, this morning rolls around, and it is POURING RAIN!!! Off to the gym I go. Eleven miles on a treadmill...............oh how I was dreading this run.

Luckily I have a couple of movies on my ipad. I took it and watched an old Star Trek movie, and MegaMind.

I didn't really eat breakfast today, did find some sport jelly beans to munch on, but man........was I lacking in the energy department. This was the L-O-N-G-E-S-T 11 miles EVER!!