Marathon Fever

I must be sick or something I registered to run Surf City Marathon February 7, 2010 with some gals in my running group the race is on Super bowl Sunday. It will be nice to go to sunny Huntington Beach – CA in the middle of the Utah winter. 9 of the miles were along Pacific Coast Highway and the last 10 miles of the race runs on the beach's trail (see picture below)

The average temperature on race day is 48 at start and 68 at the end of the race. It is going to be nice.

Hopefully the high miles will help me loose weight again. I have gained 10 pounds from stress this year. I can't wait till 2009 is over this year has been a hard and stressful year for me and Jason.

Private

Sorry folks I want to be able to post more personal things in my life and don't want the world to have access to it. So I am going to make my blog private.

Please leave me your email and I will add you to my fan club :)

PR AGAIN!

This morning I ran the Hobble Creek Half Marathon. I got a PR (personal record) according to my watch I ran it in 2:36:07 so another minute off my time. I am waiting for the official time to be posted but it shouldn't be much different.

Because they started the race so late it is probably the hottest race I have run. It was suppose to start at 7:15 but they didn't start till 7:45. I couldn't get myself to run the last few miles. It took so much for me to run the last 1/2 mile. I felt much better at Provo River Half.

I called my mom after I ran it and she was saying how she was sad that I wasn't running Top of Utah Half with her next Saturday. She said she would pay for me to run it with her. I can't pass up a free race so I am running another Half Marathon next Saturday. I am going to take the race a little slower and stick with my mom. It will be my 3rd Half Marathon this month and my 6th half in a little over a year.

When I got home from the race I thought it would be a good idea to take an ice bath. It was really cold but I am sure my legs are singing praises to me for doing it. I haven't taken an ice bath since last summer. I haven't been able to get myself to take one after running in the winter because I would come home shivering after the drive home from SLC.

Happy 5 year and Congratulations to Jamie and Casey

Today is mine and Jason's 5 year wedding anniversary.

Jason's little sister Jamie got married today to Casey Ortega on our anniversary. They chose today because it is Casey's dad's birthday today who has passed away. Here is a picture of them outside of Provo Courthouse after they got married with their little boy Max who is 2.Max was so cute he was in a matching outfit as his dad. Jason's grandma explained that his mom and dad were going to get married and say "I Do" so when we went in the court house he kept saying "I do". He is such a smart kid. The best present we got today is when we got home someone had mowed and edged our lawn.

Jason hates mowing the lawn he was saying on the car ride home how he wished grass only had to be cut once a year. Then we got home and someone has done it for us.Thanks to whoever mowed our lawn it made Jason's week.

Vibram FiveFingers:

Update about my Vibram FiveFinger shoes that I got last week.

I ran in them Saturday and today both runs were a little over 3 miles. I felt great the entire run Saturday I had a really fast pace (for me). But I can tell that my feet are using more or different muscles than in normal running shoes. My big toes are a little sore today after running this morning it is on the bottom like I need to build up or remove callus's on them.

Now I need to figure out if I want to attempt to run a long run in them.

New Running shoes

So I am having problems with my feet when I run. The top of my foot always hurts after I run over 10 miles. Sometimes it hurts for a few days after the run. I looked into some shoes called Vibram FiveFingers In the spring when I was looking for new running shoes. They look really weird and were more than I wanted to spend on a pair of shoes I didn't know anyone that had used them. So I didn't get them at the time.

This past week I was on a family vacation to San Diego when my parents came to pick me up my dad came out with a pair of these shoes on and said he loved them and got them 2 weeks ago. He wore them the entire trip. My feet were hurting on the trip wearing a pair of Puma shoes that I had just got at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale. I don't think my shoes should hurt my feet when I sitting in a car all day. So today I took the Puma's back to Nordstrom's and went to the local running shoe store and purchased a pair today. They said to try them out today around the house and if I don't like them I can take them back.

I have to start out low miles in the shoes and at the store they recommended to start out on only grass. I will keep you updated on how they work out.

Here is a picture of the shoes.



From http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/index.cfm

6 Reasons to Wear Vibram FiveFingers:



1. Strengthens Muscles in the Feet and Lower Legs - wearing FiveFingers will stimulate and strengthen muscles in the feet and lower legs, improving general foot health and reducing the risk of injury.



2. Improves Range of Motion in Ankles, Feet and Toes – no longer ‘cast’ in a shoe, the foot and toes move more naturally.



3. Stimulates Neural Function Important to Balance and Agility - when wearing Vibram FiveFingers, thousands of neurological receptors in the feet send valuable information to the brain, improving balance and agility.



4. Improves Proprioception and Body Awareness – those same neurological receptors heighten body awareness, sending messages about body mechanics, form, and movement.



5. Eliminates Heel Lift to Align the Spine and Improve Posture – By lowering the heel, our bodyweight becomes evenly distributed across the footbed, promoting proper posture and spine alignment.



6. Allows the Foot and Body to Move Naturally, Which Just FEELS GOOD.

Update

It has been a busy and crazy summer. Here are some pictures of some of the events so far.

Here is Jason and our niece Grace playing in a water area at my works summer party. This is my nephew Kole wearing a hat that I crocheted for him.

In July I went for a Saturday run with my running group up to City Creek Canyon. Here are some pictures from the run.

I got a new PR by a little over 20 seconds at the Provo River Half Marathon yesterday and I took 8 minutes off my 10k time from last year. I have decided not to run a full marathon as planned this fall. I am under trained and Jason's work laid of 20% of their employee's and he got laid off. So we can't afford to travel to Portland as planned.

I have registered for 2 more half marathon's this year. I am running Hobble Creek Half Marathon and Halloween Half www.halloweenhalf.com I am exited to run these races

We are taking off for a week in San Diego today. My parents have decided to go on a family vacation every and pay for the hotel room every other year instead of Christmas and Birthday presents. It is nice to get to go on a nice vacation and not worry about paying for the hotel room.

Emigration Canyon

This morninig I went with my running group up Emigration Canyon for a 12 mile run. My longest run now that my foot is better before this was 7 miles so I was dreading the 12 miles 6 of which were up hill. I ran with my mom and we took it slow.

I ended up speed walking for part of it and could almost keep up with my mom when she was running and would catch up when she walked. It was a pretty morning but I think I like running in the cold better than the heat. You can layer up in the winter and there is no way i am running in just a sports bra and shorts. I don't have the body for that.

After 5 miles of up hill hell I asked my mom and the other lady that was running with us if they were okay if we turned around a mile early they were both up for it. We ended up running 10.3 miles. I am okay that I didn't do the entire run.

Here are some pictures I took on my phone on the run.

Jason is Running

So my husband has caught the running fever from me. He has started running whenever I run. It has messed me up a little because I like to run in the morning and he likes to run at night. So I run my mid week runs with him in the evening and on the weekends run with my group.

I feel bad because he always stays with me when he could run a lot faster than me. He is registered to run the Provo River Half Marathon with me in August and depending on how the training goes he might run the Portland Marathon with me. I am not going to register him till he runs over 15 miles to make sure he still wants to run the marathon. I don't want to pay $100 and have him back out of the race.

Our training is coming along great he doesn't have any pain. I have a little knee pain but I think it is the 5lbs I gained while I was out for 5 weeks. We are behind on our training schedugle and are trying to catch up to the mileage.

We ran 5 miles last Saturday and We will run 7 miles this Friday or Saturday (Saturday I am volunteering at Utah Valley Marathon so I am missing the group run). Next Saturday we will run 10 miles then the following weekend we will be caught up to the mileage of the group and can do the 12 mile canyon run with the running group.

On another note I have to speak in church on Sunday. I am stressed out about it. I haven't talked in church for 10-11 years.

Drug Dealer

Jason’s sister came over to visit yesterday and she told Jason she ran into some one that she knew. She asked the girl what she was doing and she told Jason's sister that she had just purchased some drugs at my neighbors house(the house is kiddy corner from us).

So today I called the Police and filed a report. The police man asked me if I noticed if there were cars always at that house around the same time of day. I have no clue but after Jason telling me about what his sister said it kind of made sense in the past there has been a lot of cars over at the house sometimes.

So I facebooked all my neighbors because a lot of them are stay at home moms and have asked them to watch the house and to call the police if they notice anything. I am going to be a fly looking out my front window now.

Watch out drug dealer you are going down.

Portland Marathon

I have chosen my fall marathon I am running the Portland Marathon October 4th.


When I was talking to my husband about running the race and going up to Portland he shocked me and said he would run the marathon with me. I almost fell out of my chair :)

I told him I would register him if he starts running with me and sticks to the training for a few months because the registration is expensive and you can't wing a marathon.

If I hit my goal I am going to order this Vermont Teddy Bear.

This Vermont Teddy Bear wears running shoes, blue running shorts, a white Portland Marathon T-shirt, and a runner's bib that can be personalized with a name, number, and race time.

Ogden Marathon & Race for the Cure & SLC Marathon Pictures

Because I couldn’t run the Ogden Marathon Due to my stress fracture Jason and I did support crew for my running friends. I didn’t want to miss out on all the fun. We set up a card table at mile 23 and handed out small cups of Coke, Fig Newtons, Pretzels, Water, Gatorade, Salt, Excedrin, Band Aid’s.
We had a great time it was fun to see my friends and cousin on the course. If you run a marathon get a family member or friend to be around mile 22-23 you hit the wall around mile 18-20 and having someone at mile 22-23 helps you push through those 3-5 miles knowing they are there waiting for you. Then after you see them you only have 3-4 miles which I would just tell myself I have a 5k left. My sister was at mile 23 of Salt Lake Marathon and it pushed me through the wall.
I saw some interesting things while watching the runners. Here is a list of some of the stuff we saw.
I couldn’t believe how many guys had bloody nipples. I just cringed when I saw them.
A runner dressed as a Clown (he was in probably 5th place)
A runner dressed as the statue of liberty
A runner with his face painted camo
Girls with princess crowns
A running few army men
1st place runner passed my station just before hour 2 of the marathon.
My cousin Nancy
My mom running 13.1 miles doing the marathon as a relay
2 people from the neighborhood I grew up in
And a lot of people that looked like they were ready to pass out
I know I saw some other crazy stuff but I can’t think of them right now.

Race for the Cure was great I walked it with some family members. Here are some pictures from the day.

I wore a pink Wig

My Nephew thought it was great playing in the cold water at the Gateway Mall

My mom and I early on at the Salt Lake Marathon & me crossing the finish

I purchased these pictures from the marathon I have them hanging in my office. I took a picture of them with my camera phone.

Good News I am out of the Boot that I had to wear for my stress fracture. I am suppose to wear it 8 hours a day this week but my foot feels better so I stopped wearing it Saturday. I haven't had any problems. I want to start running but I am going to follow the Doctor's orders and wait till Friday to start running.

I need to blog more so I don't do a big data dump in one post.

Why??

Why does all bad things hit at the same time?

Lately it seems like everything bad is happening at the same time.

I have blogged before that I got a stress fracture in my foot from running the Salt Lake Marathon. I couldn't run the Half Marathon that I was going to run while visiting my sister in California last week. I am also pretty sure I am not running Ogden Marathon on the 16th that I registered for last November and is the main race I wanted to run this spring and I can't transfer the registration to next year or another runner. Running is one thing that I do for myself and what has been keeping me going. I haven't run in almost 3 weeks and probably won't for another 3 weeks.

My husband has been having a lot of health problems and hasn't been working for a few months and the doctors haven't been able to find the right medications to get him feeling better. With not having his income we haven't had enough to cover all our bills and we have had to use almost all of our savings that we have built up.

We have great medical insurance but we have a deductible of $3,000 before the insurance covers anything. But guess what we hit the deductible amount last month and have %100 of our medical bills covered for rest of the year.

I was noticing on warmer days when I tried to use my car's air conditioning that it wasn't working. I thought it was just needed coolant so I checked it and it was low I filled it up and then we didn't have warm days for a few weeks. Then we had a warm day and it still didn't work so I took it in for repair. They said a rock or something must of bounced up under my car and broke the condenser and my AC wouldn't work unless we replaced it. I guess that is what happens when my drive to work is 25 miles each way.

Then I have noticed that our couch that we purchased December 2007 was bowing in the middle whenever someone sat on it. I had noticed it for a while but first thought it was just getting broken in but it was getting really bad. I talked to my brother and he said the frame was broken and would be easy to fix. I called RC Willey about it and it's warranty was only 1 year but it would only be $70 to have a repair man fix it. I think $70 is worth mine and my brother's time to just have a repair man fix it.

Our Fridge died the last Wednesday while I was in California visiting my sister. Jason didn't want to pick a fridge without me (which I am glad I got to pick it out). So Jason lived out of a cooler or ate over at his mom's house. I got home Sunday and Monday morning we went to RC Willey's first thing and picked a fridge out.

Then today while I was doing yard work our renter (we have a basement apartment) told me that the washer in the apartment isn't working and she had told Jason on Saturday I am the one that deals with all the Landlord stuff and Jason totally forgot that she told him. The washer is probably 15+ years old it was my parents old washer and we used it when we got married and left it in the apartment when we moved upstairs because we had to get a gas dryer for upstairs so got a new set and left the old downstairs. I could just not replace it and let them get their own washer and dryer. But it is nice when trying to find renters. So tomorrow after work I get to go shopping for a new Washer.

I was having a pitty party for myself yesterday because of everything breaking and Jason's health problems. It was one of those days that I just wanted to crawl under a rock and stay there.

I have know that I needed to have a better attitude about my hardships and remember that they are all just trials and that I can make it through anything. I am thankful that I have great family & friends. I have a great job at an awesome company. I am very blessed to have a home to live in, and that I have enough food to eat 3 meals a day. Which is more than a majority of the world doesn't have.

I am just hoping and praying that things turn around for us soon.

It is Official

It is official I just found out I have a stress fracture in my foot. I can't run for 2-4 weeks. But I should be okay to run Ogden Marathon. I just need to research and figure out what I can do to cross train. Tomorrow will be kind of nice it will be the first Saturday in about a year i will get to sleep in because I don't have to get up for a training run.

Here is a picture of my itchy boot I am suppose to wear.

Ouch My Foot

While running the SLC marathon at around mile 17 my foot started to hurt. I thought it was just normal pain from running so long. After the marathon I could barely put any weight on my foot and limped back to my car.

It has hurt all week when I walk or put weight on it. I have been doing RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate) all this week I even have a ice pack under my desk at work. My legs feel great I could do a 10 mile run today if it wasn’t for my dang foot. After talking to 2 of my experienced running friends they think I have a stress fracture in my foot.

So I haven’t run at all this week and I am going to the podiatrist tomorrow to see if they can tell me what is wrong. If it is a stress fracture I hope/pray that I can just stay off of it till next Saturday and it will be better because I am going to California Tuesday to visit my sister and while I am out there I signed up to run a Half Marathon next Saturday along the American River Parkway.

I will let you know how the doctor appointment goes.

SLC Marathon

My first marathon was awesome. I ran with my mom till mile 18 then ran ahead. My cousin Amber was at mile 21ish cheering me on and my sister Danielle and her family were waiting at mile 23 so that really helped me to be positive to think they were there waiting to cheer me on.

Here is a picture of my mom and I at around mile 3

Here is a picture of me around mile 23 at the last mile.

I learned that taking half a xanex the night before helped me sleep through the night and didn't make me nervous in the morning or during the race.

I felt a lot better then I thought I would. The only pain I had were my feet like always. My right foot started hurting around mile 17.

I am exited now for my half marathon in 2 weeks and 2 weeks after that the Ogden marathon. I had gotten into bad mood about running the past week but after running the marathon I feel positive about running again.

I will post more pictures later my mom had her camera with her while we were running so we got better pictures than the above that are from my blackberry.

If anyone is interested in start running my running group is having its kicking off on May 2nd to start the new running season and they are an awesome group.

Oh yeah on another note I am pissed at my Nike + system it won't upload any of my runs it just deletes them when I plug in my Ipod. I don't know what to do I think I am going to have to buy a new Nike + and see if that is the problem or I might just bag it and just use my garmin and worry about it in the fall when I start running inside again.

Salt Lake Marathon

Tomorrow is the big race. It is my first full marathon. I am nervous about it but know I can do it. I have done my training runs and haven't had any major injury's. I know once I get going i will be okay.

Learn something new every day.

Did you know Apple headphones are magnetic? I didn't know until my headphone was laying on my desk on a paper clip and when I picked up the headphone the paper clip came with it. I thought it was interesting. I will have to try my other headphones at home to see if they are also magnetic. I wonder what I will learn tomorrow. :)

WHAT WAS I THINKING

I have been wondering this weekend what was I thinking signing up to run a full marathon then i think I didn't sign up for just one but two this spring and the first one is this Saturday. I shouldn't be so stressed out about it but for some reason I am so nervous and Ogden is going to be even harder than Salt Lake because Salt Lake I am running the entire race with my mom and doing it more as a training run and Ogden I am running it by myself.

I have done my training runs and have ran 20 miles twice this year but 26.2 miles is just overwhelming right now with other stress that I have in my life right now.

I just hope I make it through the next 6 weeks.

Baby Kole Present

If you Know my brother Paul he loves Nike Jordan's. So I got him the cutest baby present. I got him some baby Nike Jordan shoes and shirts. I can't wait to give them to baby Kole today.

I am an Aunt again

My Brother Paul and his wife had a baby boy yesterday. I went and visited them today had he has the biggest hands and feet. His hair is long enough to do a fohawk.

Canyonland Half Marathon Pictures

Before the race

After the race.

I am an Aunt again

My sister Michelle had a baby girl yesterday. I am exited to go visit them in California next month and see the new baby. This is their smallest baby weighing 8 lbs 12 oz.

Canyonlands Half Marathon

I ran Canyonlands Half Marathon yesterday. It was a awesome race for me I got a personal record of 2:37:27 which is about 8 minutes faster than my record.

here is a picture of me at around mile 8-9

There are drummers close to the bottom of the canyon. You can hear them for about a mile.

I am a little sore in my thighs and my dang foot hurts again.

This Saturday we are scheduled to run 24 miles for training. I can't believe I am crazy enough to sign up for 2 full marathon this spring.

On another note my sister is having her baby tomorrow. I am exited to meet her new little girl when I go out to California end of April

GROSS

KSL had a news article called Utah ophthalmologists working to ban eyeball tattooing. Click Here to check out the article. But it says people get tattoo's on their eyeball that is the grosses thing I have ever heard of doing it makes me want to throw up.

Canyonland Half Marathon

Saturday is my first race of the year and my 3rd half marathon. The weather is going to be nice and warm in Moab the high is going to be 73 and low of 45. I am ready for the warm weather. I usually don’t get spring fever but this year it is bad.

I feel ready and trained for the race. I have a friend in my running group that said she wants to run it with me. She is great to run with I have run my other 2 half marathon’s with her. My only worry is her time goal is 10 minutes faster than my goal. She thinks I can run her goal but we will see come Saturday.


I ordered new running shoes Saturday. I went to Ossine Shoes they are awesome if anyone needs new running shoes I recommend going there. I have been wearing the wrong shoes for the past 4 months and didn't realize it. That’s what happens when you try to self analyze what type of running shoes to wear.

These are the shoes that I ordered Brooks Adrenaline GTS9. They didn't have my size so they had to order them in they should be here Wednesday or Thursday. I am hoping and praying they really will be here before I leave town for the race.

I Made It

I had my 21 mile training run on Saturday. It was a little cold but overall it was a good day to be running. We were worried a storm was coming in but it waited to come till today. I fueled with Peanut Butter Pretzels, Starburst Jelly Beans, and Peanut M&M's.

I felt great the entire run till the last mile when my feet started killing me. My big toe nails were hitting either the end of my shoes or the seam in my shoes. I also felt like there was a pebble in my shoe but i lived.

After the run my mom, Christi, and Josh went to lunch at Kneaders Bakery I got a sandwich, soup, and berry cheese cake.

When I got home Jason had started the tub for me I relaxed in the tub for a hour drinking Diet Sunkist then I took a 2 hour nap.

Moab Half Marathon is in 2 weeks I am exited for my races to start.

Blankets

Here are 2 new blankets that I have made in the past month. Sorry the pictures are bad I am too lazy to get my camera out.

This blanket is for Kole my new nephew that is coming in a few weeks.

Emigration Canyon Run

Today I ran up Emigration Canyon with my running group. We ran 6 miles up the canyon and then 6 back down. It was a great run I almost didn't go because my life has been a little crazy. I am glad I went. Here is a picture of us at the spot we turned around.

Camille, Christi, Stacie

Me, Christi, Stacie

Sorry the pictures are bad they are from my cell phone.

Today's 18 Mile Run

Today is the farthest i have ever ran in my life. I RAN 18 MILES. I can't believe i did it. I felt really good 4 of us from my running group chose to run at the Salt Lake Olympic Oval. I didn't want to run that far when it was snowing outside.

While running we saw Apolo Anton Ohno working out there on the spin bikes and then he ran the track for a little. We also saw the USA speed skating team working out. It helped the time go by to be able to watch the speed skaters.

I love running with Angie in my running group she is so great to always have something to talk about. Thanks for running with us Angie.

Color Me Mine

Here is Jason's car that he made on my birthday at Color Me Mine.
He didn't like how it turned out because it needed more coats of paint.

Here is the plate that I made for my birthday I like how it turned out.

I am exite to use it for the next family birthday.

Finished Projects

Here are some pictures of some projects that I have finished this year.
This is a blanket I made for my sister's baby coming end of March.

This blanket is for one of my coworkers.

I like how it turned out.

I am working on 2 other blankets

A brown and turquoise blanket for my sister in law's who is having a baby boy in March or April.

I got a call from my neice Sarah in California and asked me to make her a new blanket because she lost hers. She is so cute I would make 10 blankets for her. She told her mom "just call Liz she will make me a new one" (I made her a new blanket last year she lost blanket #1 in a hotel going home from visiting Utah).

I started the blanket and was almost half way done and she called me exited because she had found her blanket in her laundry hamper. I am almost finished just 2 more hours and it will be done. I am going to finish it and keep it for someone or keep in incase her blanket disapears again.

I will post pictures of both blankets when they are done hopefully in 2 weeks.