We're still in Ft. Collins so I decided to use the hotel gym. Tried to run a bit on the treadmill, but just couldn't get into it. Therefore ran/walked for about 12 minutes, with about 2 of those at a fast run pace. I had noticed they had a Bosu, so I figured I'd used that. I did lunges on there, pushups with it, plank/oblique/leg crunches, situps, side crunches, side leg lifts/contractions, and squats all using the Bosu. A good workout in a really hot workout room.

So I officially decided to do the 10k at Ft. Collins. I felt good in the morning and hoped for a good day. I've decided that I don't like doing races by myself. I feel so alone and all I focus on is the run. I can't seem to focus on the scenery, people, etc.....therefore the run feels really long. Although we were wearing chips, there was no starting mat so I don't know exactly where the starting line was. I started out OK, then had trouble getting my MP3 to turn on. Had to futz with that a bit, but got it going. When I got to about 3 or so, I was bored and struggling. I kept pushing as I was a bit behind my desired time. We turned onto a trail at 3 miles and were heading back. At about 5 miles I really was done, with lead legs and just wanting to slow down. I pushed, but know I lost some steam. As I approached the finish line, I wanted to kick it in to push it. I did a bit, but not as much as I hoped. I ended up finishing according to my watch at 55:21, and according to the clock at 56:25. I was hoping to break 56 minutes, maybe even 55 minutes, so I was disappointed. Oh well. It is basically the same as last year's Turkey Trot...which I ran after being injured for 4 months and only running one 6+ mile run in training. Therefore I didn't improve at all even though I've been running more. The ext 12-15 lbs probably aren't helping, but I'll need to focus on speed or something for the future.

We're in Ft. Collins, Colorado...day before Bill's marathon. We wanted to get out and run 2 miles to see how we felt with the altitude. Our hotel is right near the Colorado State U campus, so we just did a jaunt around campus. It's a little chillier than we planned...40s, and I don't have running pants. Luckily I can survive in shorts in really cold weather as long as my top and hands are warm (and I did have a running jacket and gloves!).

Last day in Little Rock and got Bill to come down to the hotel gym with me to stretch his legs after the race. He's just walking on the treadmill and I did 20 minutes on the elliptical again, with spurts of backwards in there. Then I did some free weights--chest flies on the slanted bench with superset to chess press. Then I did some crunches. That's about all for today....got to get cleaned up and do some siteseeing and caching before we fly home.

Today's Bill's marathon so I got up to go down to the gym when he left for the race. Did 20 minutes on that elliptical again, going backwards 3x for 2-3 minutes each time. Then I did another 20 minutes on the bike, catching up with a magazine. Another decent workout....now off to catch up with my Running Man.

We're in Little Rock and I'm down in the hotel gym working out while Bill is still trying to wake up. They have some nice ellipticals here, so did 30 minutes on the elliptical. At one point I went backwards for a bit and, boy, that was hard today. Got a good sweat on!

Flew out to Punta Cana for vacation early this morning!!!! Excited to be away on vaca!

Got to the resort and walked around checking it all out. They have a fabulous gym here, lots of machines and weights, exercise balls, and mats, plus great music. It's a great, great gym.

We got ready to go down to the gym to get our workout in. I started to run and realized my right butt really was sore after the Lighthouse yesterday. Stopped right away and decided to just take it easy. Walked for 10 minutes, then decided to do a little strengthening. Did some free weight work, crunches on the ball, and hamstring curls on the ball (trying to loosen up that muscle a bit). Nice little workout after a day of travel.

So, today is 10k race day. As expected, woke up to rain and wind. Got ready and Bill was going to take me to the other girls' hotel to meet them there. We get outside at it's raining pretty steady and there are gusty, cold winds. As we get in the car, I say to Bill--would you think I was a complete wimp if I just didn't do the race? I really hate the wind and then coupled with cold and rain I was really dreading this. He just said, 'it's your money'---so he didn't really give me permission or denial. We drove to the hotel, grabbed the trash bags that we brought for jackets and headed in. Met the group, got our bags on and started heading down to the start line. About 1/2way down, Bill said goodbye and I knew I was going to at least try.

At the starting line, I was chatting with Melissa and her friend Jennifer (that works with them and came down to do this 10k) and learned this was Jen's first race. I asked her what she hoped to run and she said 9-9:15/mile pace. I told her that's what I wanted so I suggested we run together. Then she mentioned that that's much faster than her typical pace and that was her goal. OK, well I'll run with her for a bit and see how it goes.

The race starts and by mile 2 the winds had died down and it stopped raining. Jen and I were still running together and keeping about a 9:20 or so pace. We throughout our trash bags and kept going. At about mile 3 we crossed a bridge over to Kentucky. That was a rough bridge as it was a long incline to get to the top of the curve of the bridge. I stuggled a bit and Jen really struggled. I had said to her earlier that if either of us wants to run ahead of the other, they should just go and she agreed. Yet as we got over this bridge, I was really liking running with someone. I slowed a bit to catch my breath and allow Jen to catch hers and back up with me. As we got to around 4 miles she said she was really struggling. I could see it but she was still doing OK, just slowed up a bit. Right then, I realized that I felt good but it didn't really matter. I saw myself in Jen....the way she was breathing, the struggle she had on that hill, it was all me and my running just a few months ago. I decided I didn't care about my time at this point...what difference does it make if I run a 58 min 10k or a 56 min 10k, I'm not winning so who cares? I thought about how many people, particularly Bill and Ken, have slowed themselves during runs to just stay with me and keep me going. It was now my turn to take that baton and give that to someone else. I think Jen may have wanted me to go on, but I just stayed with her and slowed when she needed it, then gradually picked the pace back up again on flatter portions or downhills. We saw Bill at about 4.5 and that was fun to have that to look forward to and have that nice distraction. After mile 5 there was a short little hill that was a struggle and I just plowed through and then slowed at the top for Jen to catch up. Then at about 5.5 we were crossing another bridge back to Ohio. It wasn't as steep as the first bridge, but still a stuggle. Jen was really waning at this point and I noticed I got a good block or so ahead of her. I saw Gary on the bridge and said Hi, then turned around and ran back to Jen. Let her know she could do it and we were going to finish together.

As we passed the 6 mile sign, we could start to hear the crowd and announcer. At 6.1, I yelled to push it and we sprinted to the finish. She stuck right with me through that sprint. This was her first race and I felt good about how I ran mine.

My GPS says we ran about 6.4 miles in about 59 minutes. After the race, I got 2 text messages with my time, one said 58:25 and one said 59:25. That was odd and I figured the 58.25 was probably right based on my watch. Well, the official time was 59:25, about a 9:34 pace. We still finished in under the hour and it was OK as the start was windy and rainy and Jen got her first 10k done in under an hour--about 7 minutes faster than my first one!

After running longer yesterday, I thought maybe we'd still run about 4 or so today. As we drove back towards the park that we ran to yesterday, Bill made a comment about doing only 1 mile. It had rained most of the day before and there were puddles all over, plus it was just chillier than yesterday and still quite humid.

Ran the loop around Fenton Park and it ended up being 1.55 miles. Ran that in 13:59 (9:01/mile pace).

We're down in St. Louis for Madelaine's first communion. Drove down late last night and really have no big plans today, therefore Bill and I decided to do our longer run today. Mapped out a route from the motel towards a park in Fenton. Thought I may try to get close to 10 miles in, but it was drizzly, and it's been a while since I've run long so I didn't think that was going to happen.

Ran about 6 then Bill turned and kept going and I headed back to the hotel. It was nice to run in a new environment with new scenery.

Ran 7.0 miles in 1:07:28 which was an average of 9:38/mile pace. Ran a little slower than normal, maybe it was because of running with Bill, maybe I just wasn't that into it today.

Labelled this today with a Saturday label, although it's really Friday, just because it was the long run of the week.

Last day in Florida and had to get out for another mile. It's still quite chilly....not the weather I would have liked for a vacation in Florida.

Ran 1.0 in 9:08.

Day after the marathon and Bill's pretty sore. He did great in both his races and I'm so proud of him. He still wants to do his mile, but wants to take it easy.

As we get outside the hotel, we notice it's gotten quite chilly since it rained yesterday. Bill was pretty stiff, so we started out very slow. Sped up a bit, but still took it nice and easy.

Ran 1.01 in 10:14 (10:08/mile pace)

Today's the Marathon Day. Tim and I had made plans to meet up and go to mile 19ish which was just down the road. Figuring they'd get there around 9am or so, and not knowing what the rest of the day would entail, I figured I'd better get the mile in early.

Went out about 7:15am in the nice warm Orlando weather. Did 1.05 in 9:34 (9:06/mile pace)

Today’s the ½ marathon so I was awakened at 3am when Bill got up to go. I never really fell sound asleep so I struggled to get up. Then from 7am on, I was getting text messages with all their progress. I got ready to go running around 8:30am, but Kristin called and Bill finished (got the text). Chatted with Kristin a bit (all three girls—Jodie, Kristen, and Melissa had finished), then Bill walked up to them and I chatted with him a minute. This delayed the run a bit.

Got out there and couldn’t decide if I wanted to do just one mile or two. Ended up settling on somewhere in the middle. Ran 1.75 in 15:26 (8:49/mile pace). Had my music on this morning and I guess that kept me going at a pretty good pace.

Bill ran the ½ marathon and did great—about 2:17! As he puts it, 1/3 done. He’s got the full marathon tomorrow.

Just three of us—Bill, Melissa, and I – met up for the early run. Since tomorrow is the ½ marathon, Bill just wanted to do one mile. When Melissa agreed, we set off.

Ran 1.06 miles in 9:37 (9:07/mile pace). A little better than yesterday, but boy is it humid down here.

Down in Sunny Florida!! Bill and I met up with Melissa and Tim for an early morning run. There’s a nice sidewalk outside the resort that runs the length of all three All-Stars Resorts.

The four of us ran 2.03 miles in 18:56 (9:21/mile pace). It felt as if we ran a little faster than that, but I guess not.

TodaY

Back to the YMCA today. Since I had longer runs both Thursday and Saturday, I was starting to feel my legs were a little drained. Also having some knee pain and hamstring strain, so wanted to take it easy. Did my mile on the treadmill, then did about 35 minutes on the bike (hill workout), then ended with about 20 minutes on the elliptical. While on the elliptical, I did three "intervals" going backward for 2 minutes--with the 2nd minute of each rep sitting back more and doing more work with the thighs. Oooooh, that worked those thighs alot.

Therefore I did about 60 minutes of cardio. Was going to do some weights, but didn't feel like it after doing all this, so left it at that.

Bill's marathon day!!!

Today's Bill's marathon in Park City, Utah. Got up with him this morning and took him down towards the starting line. As always, I have a plan to meet up with him at various points on the run, therefore I don't have tons of time. Yet I have to do my mile. I really didn't want to deal wtih the air and hills again, so I chose to run on the hotel treadmill.

Boy, was this treadmill old. I got nervous that it may overheat or something going at a fast pace. The air is still a little tough for me, so I tried to start out at a normal pace, but had to slow it down. Did the mile in about 10:30.

Then I had to shower and pack to get us out of the hotel in time. Met up with Bill at mile 10.5, 15, 17, and the finish. It turned out to be a beautiful day...a little warm, but not too bad. He did really well until about 18, then struggled. But he still finished, and in 5 hours 46 minutes. Not great, but not too bad since they even advertise that this is a hard course and "you will not make a personal record on this course." This was marathon #8 for him..........only 42 more to go!

Park City, Utah

We're in Park City, Utah for Bill's 8th marathon (tomorrow). Still have to do our mile a day! We found a neighborhood up the street from the hotel with a little park area. It was a hilly area, but this whole area is hilly. With the thinner air and hills, I knew right away this was going to be a slow run. In the flat areas or downhills, it wasn't too bad.......but the uphills were killing me.

Did just the 1 mile in 11:46.