Saturday Fun...

Every morning when I have arrived at the pool, every lane is doubled up in the deep end.  Today, Saturday, this is the beautiful vision that I was able to behold....

NO ONE in the deep end.  It was perfect.  I didn't have to wear my purple running socks!  My feet didn't have to get shredded up!  And I could do my aqua jogging without any impact on my knees.  I will say though, that an hour and a half of 'running' water laps seems endless.  But, chalk it up.  Another water workout done and recovery to the knee in a quiet pool. 

And somehow this caught my eye everytime I turned a lap...

Thanks Rec Center...for the reminder that I am not running.

And then on the door as I head out...

I know you just finished swimming here but there's a local half marathon next month.  Hope you can make it Ms. Aqua Jogger.  Thanks again Rec Center.

And it's perfect running weather here.  My view on the way home...

Not the best pic but just know it's beautful blue skies and mid 70's.  Love it.  Hopefully I'll be back on the running circuit in another week.  Fingers crossed.

Happy Weekend!

It's All About The Feet

So I haven't purchased my aqua shoes yet. This is a good look, right?  My feet are literally tore up on their soles.  When I woke up this morning I thought, hey, I'll just wear my running socks.  That'll work.  And it did, for the most part.  I've got a big circle blister right at the ball of my foot.  But no shredding today.  I'm really not cheap, it's just that I think I'll only be aqua jogging for another week or two.  I'm thinking the socks will work. 

Today it was 30 second sprints, in the pool.  My heart rate was up so I figure it's a workout.  For some reason though it just doesn't feel like it.  I'm breathing hard, but not sweating.  I'm running hard and then recovering.  And to top it all off... the blue haired ladies are giving me the crazy looks like I'm the lightweight that can't swim or do water aerobics.  Whatever. ; )

I'm in the pool 4 days a week and doing some core/strength and stretching the other days.  I'm new to all this serious recovery stuff.  It's pretty nice.

And I did finally get a real legit summer pedicure.  You'd never know that I'm missing 3 toenails.  Don't mind my cat, she wanted to be in the pic too.

And just this afternoon, I went out my front door to find this stuck to it...

It's like they already know.  But if they really knew how bad it was behind my front door they would have sent their whole crew to my doorstep. ;)

I'm off to finish cleaning today so that we can actually enjoy the weekend!!!  Have a good one!

TTT: The New Game Plan: BQ or Die

1.  So I'm borrowing the beloved tag line from our newly cupid shot boy CK.  When we met up way back in February I mentioned that AFTER he BQ'ed I might need to borrow it.  And now that he is distracted with all things 'manly' I'm swiping away.  The twelve is over, sadly.  And now I constantly get asked, 'So, now whaddaya gonna do.'  Because running 12/12 just wasn't enough.  And if I didn't have this crappy ITB, I would consider keep going.  But alas, my body seems to need rest and recovery.  Crazy.  But next up....  training harder than ever and hitting less than a 3:45 in September, which will help with the new tag line.

2.  Aqua jogging is tearing my feet up.  Who knew that you really have to wear those aqua shoes for purpose and not just fashion.  I'm going to have to buy me some today...

3.  How bout the header???  Let me just answer everyone's first question now.  No, unfortunately those aren't my legs.  But a girl can dream.  Hopefully the new header will help me post more than once a week.  I really have lots to write about, I haven't even really wrapped up this 12/12 in an appropriate fashion just yet.  I'm on it though.  Just trying to adjust to summer...be patient. : )

Happy Thursday!

Three Things Thursday

Before I start, can I just say I LOVE TTT?!?!  It just takes so much pressure off...I can always come up with three random, non-related things. : )

1.  Two more school days left.  Does anyone else cram more in the last week of school than the whole rest of the school year knowing that you'll have ALL the kiddos home for the next. three. months. 

2.  My first pair of shoes...post-12...which are NOT running shoes....

I know.  So cute right?  It even just shows the toenails that I still have.  Bonus.  Thanks to my cute sister Callie...she thought is was about time to update my shoe closet from nike to cute summer heels.

3.  After this last marathon my IT Band decided to call it quits.  I'm just glad it waited til #12.  

And because of it I am now resigned to the pool.  It's now aqua jogging for me.  I'm aware of a few of you out there that are currently or have recently had to spend some pool time for recovery.  I hope to be as strong as you and not lose hope. 

Any aqua tips you'd like to share???  Summer plans???  Cute shoes???  I'm up for anything today!  Two more days left til summer officially begins.  Yahoooo!!!

Oh yeah...btw...Marathon 12 - Check.

So it's May.  It's the end of the school year.  Life is crazy busy, right?  Time passes by way to quick.  And there's not enough hours in the day.  And it's Friday.  And I'm finally getting around to telling you....

I DID IT!!!!

MARATHON #12...COMPLETE.

12 MARATHONS IN 12 MONTHS!!!

I ran the Ogden Marathon last Saturday!!!  Building up to this race I had a few little set backs, (a bad ITB, a bad head cold and solid sheets of depressing rain for a week) which caused me to disappear for a bit from blogging.  So I went into this race a little quieter than I thought I would be.  I had pushed my hopes for a sub 4 behind me.  Kinda sad.  But, I was running my twelth marathon in twelve months.  Holy crap.  It was already here.  I couldn't even believe it, still can't....

It was an early start...I had to set my alarm for 3:15 am.  I woke up to some light rain showers but was praying they'd disappear.

Started the race with some friends...  Brooke, Trisha, and Natalie.

And then this guy tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if I'd take a picture of him and his friend.  When I looked at him...it was my friend from last summer!!!  We were in the Deseret Newspaper together...  This was John Bozung's 315th marathon!!!  Amazing.  And over the 2000 runners at the marathon start, he tapped me on the should.

The marathon start could not have been more gorgeous.  Rain had passed and the mountains looked beautiful.

  

The first three miles are so quick that it seems everyone is running in a sideways blur... ;)

We ran along the river the majority of the race and with so much rain in the past week as well as the snow melt the river was crazy high and moving like rapids.  There were a couple sections came up to the outer line on the road!!

My goal this race was to finish feeling happy and strong.  I wanted to hold back in the early miles.  Stay around 9:00/miles and hope that my knee would hold out.  It held out til 13.  But I still stayed in the 10:00 family and was ok with that.  It's so hard to be realistic and optimistic. 

I picked this race as my #12 for a reason.  It is just gorgeous.  The canyon we run through was cool, green and had a wonderful downhill!!  And it's a local race for me so I was able to see friends through the course.  My cousin Melanie ran it as a relay with her friends and I saw her at mile 7.  I saw my friend Jan around mile 20, she was running her first marathon ever and looked awesome!  I saw the friends I started with back and forth throughout the race.  It's nice to be able to exchange energy with familiar faces. 

My Garmin died at mile 23.  Crazy.  So the last three miles were all on feel.  I wish it would have worked, it may have helped me to finish faster, stay on a better pace. But no big whoop.

At mile 25 I came out of a secluded trail and as I looked around I saw one of my friends jumping and screaming my name!  I was totally in shock.  I had no idea anyone would be coming.  I looked around and saw my friends Anna, Suzanne, Robynn and Jessica.  They brought signs and gave just the boost I needed to finish out the last mile.  And I had a few salty tears too.  I wish I had a picture of them.  So awesome.

I pushed through that final mile feeling pretty great.  Official finish time... 4:23!!!  I'll take it!  Fastest race since last fall!!!  Yay!!!

It was such a crazy Saturday that my cute mom was the only one able to be at the finish line.  She's been such a great support through this whole year.  Well, really, for always.  : )

 As you can imagine, I have so much to write and talk about.  But for now...I did it.  I have so much gratitude for this amazing experience and feel completely blessed to have been able to run all these races and to have had the experiences I've had.

So definitely more to come!!!

Three Things Thursday in 5 Bullet the Blue Sky Bullets - U2 Edition

1.  It rained all day and the clouds parted that afternoon for a beautfiul night of U2 madness.

2.  I went with my best friend from high school.  So fun.

3.  At the end of 'All I Want Is You' Bono broke out the harmonica, I may or may not have had a single tear drop, and went into the chorus of 'Love Rescue Me'.  My personal favorite moment of the night...along with 20 other moments...

4.  And I have decided that Bono needs to market his own energy drink.  That guy at 50-something, rocked that concert like he was 22.  AMAZING!    Bonogizer anyone?

5.  Big post tomorrow...I promise... :)

How do you blog again? I can't remember....

Do you feel guilty about things?  I've been in outer blogger oblivion and seem to be completely out of touch.  I feel as if I need to apologize.  I'm not sure exactly what for.  But anyways...sorry.  I'm back in full affect.  Well maybe half affect.  I think part of my problem is I've had so much I've wanted to write about and it turned out to be a little overwelming.  So I did what I do with my laundry when I'm overwelmed.  I just don't do it. : )

So before I jump back into what is my running blog...  Guess where I'm going tonight...

Bono and I go way back.  U2 played the background soundtrack to my teens years, that I'm pretty sure were just yesterday... 

And really.  Who doesn't love U2?  I'm sure it's going to be amazing...And I have awesome seats!!!  Maybe I'll catch a towl, the Edge's guitar pick...something!!! 

Favorite U2 songs?  C'mon, let's hear em?