Goals for Week 24 were these: Run according to marathon schedule which is 2-3 milers, then a 6 mile run on Saturday. Stretch a lot. Eat well. Swim once. Bike at least once of 10 miles or more. Find a Yoga class. Relax more and realize that you have done enough for your marathon training and you can't turn back now. What is done is done and even though I may feel that I could of or should of ran more, it's over. Just relax and enjoy the journey of getting to, running and completing the marathon.
Monday: Sculpt class, walked 1.58 miles
Tuesday: Sculpt class, biked 8.19 miles, ran 3.20 miles, walked a bunch.
Wednesday: Sculpt
Thursday: Ran 5.10 miles
Friday: walked a bunch
Saturday: Swam 1500 yards, 1 yoga class, got a massage!
Sunday: Walked 5 miles
Good things about Week 24: I taught all three of my classes of Body Sculpt, ran, biked and swam this week. I also found a yoga class and got a massage.
Bad things about Week 24: I was told to do only walking until the marathon. Not sure if this is the best advice, but I'm going to take it in hopes my hamstring which is really tight, and my IT band which is tight when I reach mile 17 will loosen up a bit. I have been doing everything I can to loosen them, massage, A.R.T. treatments, laser treatments, heat, foam rolling, regular roller and so on. It's killing me not to run. I wanted to go to 6 on Saturday or more, but I am taking this advice and hoping things work out for me to run well on Saturday. So this next week will be a lot of walking and resting.
Totals for the week:
Running: 8.30 miles
Walking: 6.58 and a bunch not recorded
3 Sculpt classes
Swam 1500 yards
1 Yoga class
Biked 8.19 miles
Totals for year:
Elliptical 22.26 miles
Running 355.85 miles
Swam 20,167.30 yards (11.46 miles)
Body Sculpt classes 66
Zumba classes 19
Biking minutes 762 (12.7 hours) Indoors
Biking miles outside 100.88 miles
Step classes 1
Yoga classes 6
Nia classes 1
Push ups on toes outside of teaching class:175
A question I had about running shoes answered HERE!
Goals for Week 25 of 2014: Do everything I can to relax this week so my legs will be at their best for the marathon on Saturday! Complete the marathon without hurting myself further. Do my best, yet be careful. Walking when necessary, running when I can. I will be doing a 4 minute run/1 minute walking interval for the entire race. I have already subbed out one of my Sculpt classes this week and will only be directing my other two Sculpt classes, not doing any of the exercises, as to rest all my muscles, hopefully.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Resting
So much for a taper in running. How about no more running. I was told by my A.R.T. provider to completely rest until the marathon. 9 days of walking only. Hope it's all worth it.
I have a really tight hamstring. Plus my IT band is a little tight.
So lots of heat, rest, stretching, eating right, calm walking, foam roller, 2 more A.R.T. sessions. A massage on Saturday. Plus more rest and hopefully all will be fine in 9 days and I can run an awesome marathon!
I can swim and bike carefully, but no hills biking and no running. Boo. It will be a hard week, but it will all be worth it on the 21st! Bring on the marathon.
I have a really tight hamstring. Plus my IT band is a little tight.
So lots of heat, rest, stretching, eating right, calm walking, foam roller, 2 more A.R.T. sessions. A massage on Saturday. Plus more rest and hopefully all will be fine in 9 days and I can run an awesome marathon!
I can swim and bike carefully, but no hills biking and no running. Boo. It will be a hard week, but it will all be worth it on the 21st! Bring on the marathon.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Dam to Dam Half Marathon - Des Moines, Iowa - May 31, 2014
2720 301 W40 Michelle Clark, 41*, Iowa City, IA 54:53 1:55:29 2:40:35 2:33:31 11:43
Here are Jason's results:
2896 347 M40 Jason Clark, 43, Iowa City, IA 54:54 1:55:31 2:40:35 2:33:32 11:43The first number in our results is where we placed overall out of our gender. The 2nd number was where we placed in our age group. Then our age group. Then our name, our age, our City and State, then the first number is our 5 mile time, then our 10 mile time, then our Gun time, then our Chip time (actual time), then our pace per mile. We were okay the first 5 miles, but by the 2nd 5 miles we were just so hot and humid. The last 3 miles were the absolute worst. We feel lucky to have finished.
Jason was 2896 out of 3412 Males. 347 out of 411 in his age group.
I was 2720 out of 3947. I was 301st out of 446 in my age group.
All results are HERE !
Here are pictures from the event.
![]() |
| Jason and I before the actual race started, but after we had ran almost 4 miles. We were sweaty and felt gross already. |
![]() |
| Some of our Rooster friends. Jill and Dean! |
![]() |
| A plane flew overhead with this message. |
![]() |
| During the middle of the race was hundreds of flags with bagpipe players. It was really neat. |
![]() |
| Jason soaking his feet after the race. Here is a picture of my food that I only ate half of. Wasn't hungry. |
![]() |
| A very tired picture of us after the race. We were so glad to be done. |
![]() |
| My race bib and medal. |
![]() |
| Jason's racing bib and medal. |
![]() |
| Another Dam to Dam shirt that I picked up. I like this one a lot. It is cotton so I'll wear this one out shopping and the other one to work out in. |
![]() |
| Here we are in our actual Dam to Dam shirts that were in our packets with our finishing medals. |
Week 23 of 2014
Goals for Week 23 were these: Run 4 separate times. Find a Yoga class and take it. Bike twice of more than 10 miles each. Swim once. Keep walking at least 1 mile a day. Keep eating right.
Monday: Ran 1.07 miles in the rain in early morning, Sculpt class, ran 3.02 miles in the evening.
Tuesday: Biked 13.63 miles max speed 36.3mph average speed 12.8, Sculpt, walked some.
Wednesday: Sculpt class, ran 8.17 miles, walked a bunch.
Thursday:1.01 Elliptical, 3.03 Fast Walk/Run, walked over a mile during lunch.
Friday: Biked 14.08 miles max speed 28.03mph, average speed 14.8 mph. 6 miles biking with Jason to go to downtown Iowa City and back home. Lots of walking.
Saturday:Walked 2 miles, Ran 10.02 miles
Sunday: 1 mile walk with my dog Abby.
Totals for week 23:
3 Sculpt classes
Lots of walking, almost daily
Elliptical: 1.01 miles
Biking: 33.71 miles
Running: 25.31 miles
Lots of stretching
Good for week 23: I ran 5 separate times. This is amazing for me and usually doesn't happen. I biked three times, twice the biking was more than 10 miles. The third bike time was a casual ride with Jason to go downtown to the Arts Festival and back. I walked almost every day. I taught all three of my Sculpt classes. I found my elliptical and used it for a mile. I made time to have amazing stretching. Meaning, even though I never made it to a Yoga class this week I did make time to do 15 minutes a day of stretching in yoga poses, that I feel have been significant to my overall health. I have been great about logging in everything with the program My Fitness Pal. Even logging in the naughty stuff I consume. I only consume cookies or naughty things on days I run really far. My weight stayed the same this week and it's not that I even expect to loose any more at this point, just want to be healthy. I have been really good about taking in enough vitamins. Staying within my calories for the day. Eating vegetables and fruits every single day. Taking in proper amounts of calcium, magnesium and potassium. I'm sleeping amazing and haven't felt tired.
Bad for week 23: Couldn't make it to a yoga class. Life has been a little crazy this week, which is why I found it interesting that I got out and ran 5 separate times. But Yoga just didn't make it in my life. I need it bad. I like it, just it has a schedule that doesn't meld well with me or my family's schedule. I need to find Yoga classes at other places I don't teach at with hopefully better schedules. Swimming, well let's just say I just didn't make time for it. Could have done it on Friday morning and went for a bike ride instead. I definitely need to make time to go swimming more especially since I have a triathlon in August. I have put my swimming on the back burner and this is a mistake since it's my weakest sport. Had more sugar this week that I have in 10 weeks. I need to work on better nutrition all the time because when I do I feel amazing!
Totals for year:
Elliptical 22.26 miles
Running 347.55 miles
Swam 18,667.30 + yards (10.60 miles)
Body Sculpt classes 63
Zumba classes 19
Biking minutes 762 (12.7 hours) Indoors
Biking miles outside 92.69 miles
Step classes 1
Yoga classes 5
Nia classes 1
Push ups on toes outside of teaching class:168
Goals for Week 24: Run according to marathon schedule which is 2-3 milers, then a 6 mile run on Saturday. Stretch a lot. Eat well. Swim once. Bike at least once of 10 miles or more. Find a Yoga class. Relax more and realize that you have done enough for your marathon training and you can't turn back now. What is done is done and even though I may feel that I could of or should of ran more, it's over. Just relax and enjoy the journey of getting to, running and completing the marathon.
Monday: Ran 1.07 miles in the rain in early morning, Sculpt class, ran 3.02 miles in the evening.
Tuesday: Biked 13.63 miles max speed 36.3mph average speed 12.8, Sculpt, walked some.
Wednesday: Sculpt class, ran 8.17 miles, walked a bunch.
Thursday:1.01 Elliptical, 3.03 Fast Walk/Run, walked over a mile during lunch.
Friday: Biked 14.08 miles max speed 28.03mph, average speed 14.8 mph. 6 miles biking with Jason to go to downtown Iowa City and back home. Lots of walking.
Saturday:Walked 2 miles, Ran 10.02 miles
Sunday: 1 mile walk with my dog Abby.
Totals for week 23:
3 Sculpt classes
Lots of walking, almost daily
Elliptical: 1.01 miles
Biking: 33.71 miles
Running: 25.31 miles
Lots of stretching
Good for week 23: I ran 5 separate times. This is amazing for me and usually doesn't happen. I biked three times, twice the biking was more than 10 miles. The third bike time was a casual ride with Jason to go downtown to the Arts Festival and back. I walked almost every day. I taught all three of my Sculpt classes. I found my elliptical and used it for a mile. I made time to have amazing stretching. Meaning, even though I never made it to a Yoga class this week I did make time to do 15 minutes a day of stretching in yoga poses, that I feel have been significant to my overall health. I have been great about logging in everything with the program My Fitness Pal. Even logging in the naughty stuff I consume. I only consume cookies or naughty things on days I run really far. My weight stayed the same this week and it's not that I even expect to loose any more at this point, just want to be healthy. I have been really good about taking in enough vitamins. Staying within my calories for the day. Eating vegetables and fruits every single day. Taking in proper amounts of calcium, magnesium and potassium. I'm sleeping amazing and haven't felt tired.
Bad for week 23: Couldn't make it to a yoga class. Life has been a little crazy this week, which is why I found it interesting that I got out and ran 5 separate times. But Yoga just didn't make it in my life. I need it bad. I like it, just it has a schedule that doesn't meld well with me or my family's schedule. I need to find Yoga classes at other places I don't teach at with hopefully better schedules. Swimming, well let's just say I just didn't make time for it. Could have done it on Friday morning and went for a bike ride instead. I definitely need to make time to go swimming more especially since I have a triathlon in August. I have put my swimming on the back burner and this is a mistake since it's my weakest sport. Had more sugar this week that I have in 10 weeks. I need to work on better nutrition all the time because when I do I feel amazing!
Totals for year:
Elliptical 22.26 miles
Running 347.55 miles
Swam 18,667.30 + yards (10.60 miles)
Body Sculpt classes 63
Zumba classes 19
Biking minutes 762 (12.7 hours) Indoors
Biking miles outside 92.69 miles
Step classes 1
Yoga classes 5
Nia classes 1
Push ups on toes outside of teaching class:168
Goals for Week 24: Run according to marathon schedule which is 2-3 milers, then a 6 mile run on Saturday. Stretch a lot. Eat well. Swim once. Bike at least once of 10 miles or more. Find a Yoga class. Relax more and realize that you have done enough for your marathon training and you can't turn back now. What is done is done and even though I may feel that I could of or should of ran more, it's over. Just relax and enjoy the journey of getting to, running and completing the marathon.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Week 22 of 2014
Goals for Week 22 were these: Run 4 times. Long run of 17-18 miles. Bike twice of more than 5 miles. Stay healthy, continue eating right.
Monday: Ran 9.51 miles, walked a bunch later in the day
Tuesday: Biked 7.44 miles, Body Sculpt class, some walking.
Wednesday: Sculpt class and ran 5.02 miles
Thursday: Biked 12.50 miles, some walking.
Friday: Rest mostly, stretches, with some walking
Saturday: Ran 17.50 miles, lots of walking, lots of stretching.
Sunday: Rest
Totals for Week 22:
2 Sculpt classes
Ran 32.03 miles
Biked: 19.94 miles
LOTS of walking.
Good for the week: Ran 4 times. Saturday looks like once, but I consider it twice because I ran over 4 with Jason before our Dam to Dam Half marathon, then we had a little break for a half hour, then we ran the Half. I was going to run on Thursday afternoon since I biked Thursday morning, then lot of stuff happened. Biked twice for decent mileage. Need to get back into 10 or more miles every time I bike with a long ride somewhere in the week of 20 or more.
Bad for the week: Didn't run on 4 separate days. This is what I really feel I should be doing. Even if the 4th day is only 2-3 miles.
Totals for year:
Elliptical 21.25 miles
Running 322.24 miles
Swam 18,667.30 + yards (10.60 miles)
Body Sculpt classes 60
Zumba classes 19
Biking minutes 762 (12.7 hours) Indoors
Biking miles outside 58.98 miles
Step classes 1
Yoga classes 5
Nia classes 1
Push ups on toes outside of teaching class:168
Goals for Week 23 of 2014: Run 4 separate times. Find a Yoga class and take it. Bike twice of more than 10 miles each. Swim once. Keep walking at least 1 mile a day. Keep eating right.
Monday: Ran 9.51 miles, walked a bunch later in the day
Tuesday: Biked 7.44 miles, Body Sculpt class, some walking.
Wednesday: Sculpt class and ran 5.02 miles
Thursday: Biked 12.50 miles, some walking.
Friday: Rest mostly, stretches, with some walking
Saturday: Ran 17.50 miles, lots of walking, lots of stretching.
Sunday: Rest
Totals for Week 22:
2 Sculpt classes
Ran 32.03 miles
Biked: 19.94 miles
LOTS of walking.
Good for the week: Ran 4 times. Saturday looks like once, but I consider it twice because I ran over 4 with Jason before our Dam to Dam Half marathon, then we had a little break for a half hour, then we ran the Half. I was going to run on Thursday afternoon since I biked Thursday morning, then lot of stuff happened. Biked twice for decent mileage. Need to get back into 10 or more miles every time I bike with a long ride somewhere in the week of 20 or more.
Bad for the week: Didn't run on 4 separate days. This is what I really feel I should be doing. Even if the 4th day is only 2-3 miles.
Totals for year:
Elliptical 21.25 miles
Running 322.24 miles
Swam 18,667.30 + yards (10.60 miles)
Body Sculpt classes 60
Zumba classes 19
Biking minutes 762 (12.7 hours) Indoors
Biking miles outside 58.98 miles
Step classes 1
Yoga classes 5
Nia classes 1
Push ups on toes outside of teaching class:168
Goals for Week 23 of 2014: Run 4 separate times. Find a Yoga class and take it. Bike twice of more than 10 miles each. Swim once. Keep walking at least 1 mile a day. Keep eating right.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Week 21
Goals for Week 21 were these: Run 4 times, according to my marathon schedule, which means two 5-6 milers in the middle of the week, one longer run on Saturday, this week would be an 8-10 miler. Swim once, Bike at least once. Complete all scheduled classes. I really should try and get back to a Yoga class, so I'll put this down as a want for the week for a goal. I need to do this, however with my children's crazy concert schedules at the end of the year, the last couple weeks have been tough to fit it all in.
Monday: Body Sculpt, 1 mile on Elliptical
Tuesday: Body Sculpt, 5.02 miles running
Wednesday:Body Sculpt, 5.53 miles biking, walking.
Thursday:3.05 miles running, some walking.
Friday: Rest mostly with lots of walking.
Saturday: 10.57 miles running
Sunday:Rest
Good: I ran 3 times, that's better than nothing. I completed all my scheduled classes. Got out on the bike once. Did a lot of walking. Dusted off the elliptical with 1 mile.
Bad: I need to be running more miles and more often. Hard week with the graduation party and relatives here. NO excuses next week.
Totals for week 21:
Biked 5.53 miles
Ran 18.64 miles
Elliptical 1 mile
3 Body Sculpt classes
Walked over 5 miles
Totals for year:
Elliptical 21.25 miles
Running 290.21 miles
Swam 18,667.30 + yards (10.60 miles)
Body Sculpt classes 58
Zumba classes 19
Biking minutes 762 (12.7 hours) Indoors
Biking miles outside 39.04 miles
Step classes 1
Yoga classes 5
Nia classes 1
Push ups on toes outside of teaching class:168
Goals for Week 22: Run 4 times. Long run of 17-18 miles. Bike twice of more than 5 miles. Stay healthy, continue eating right.
Monday: Body Sculpt, 1 mile on Elliptical
Tuesday: Body Sculpt, 5.02 miles running
Wednesday:Body Sculpt, 5.53 miles biking, walking.
Thursday:3.05 miles running, some walking.
Friday: Rest mostly with lots of walking.
Saturday: 10.57 miles running
Sunday:Rest
Good: I ran 3 times, that's better than nothing. I completed all my scheduled classes. Got out on the bike once. Did a lot of walking. Dusted off the elliptical with 1 mile.
Bad: I need to be running more miles and more often. Hard week with the graduation party and relatives here. NO excuses next week.
Totals for week 21:
Biked 5.53 miles
Ran 18.64 miles
Elliptical 1 mile
3 Body Sculpt classes
Walked over 5 miles
Totals for year:
Elliptical 21.25 miles
Running 290.21 miles
Swam 18,667.30 + yards (10.60 miles)
Body Sculpt classes 58
Zumba classes 19
Biking minutes 762 (12.7 hours) Indoors
Biking miles outside 39.04 miles
Step classes 1
Yoga classes 5
Nia classes 1
Push ups on toes outside of teaching class:168
Goals for Week 22: Run 4 times. Long run of 17-18 miles. Bike twice of more than 5 miles. Stay healthy, continue eating right.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Marion Arts Festival Half Marathon 2014 - Marion, Iowa - Saturday, May 17, 2013
If you could ever have a super perfect day for running, this day would be that day. Jason and I woke up around 5ish a.m. to start getting ready for our long run. I heard the usual from him, "Why did you sign me up for this?" I laughed. He always says that and then he will continue all morning and throughout the run saying things like that until we are done, then he is very happy.
The weather was perfect. The wind was only 3-5 m.p.h. It was sunny for once since a week ago. All we've had is rain and cold lately, so seeing the sun was so nice. It was cold, when I say cold, perfect running cold. The morning started out around 38 degrees, and for May in Iowa, that is really crazy. By race start it was around 45, maybe colder. I had chosen a tank to run in because I knew it was warming up to low 50's and I'd get hot, plus my compression sleeves on my legs, shorts and then I put my running skins over my shorts. Now this is where I went wrong. My legs got warm, thankfully not too warm. However, I didn't need the extra skins on. I could have ran the entire way in shorts with that warm sun out.
Jason and I ran together. I felt amazing and I felt I could run his speed now, so we ran together. This was nice to help each other along. We started out WAY too fast though with a 9:21 mile pace. Now if this was a 5K, then that would have been fine, but we still had 12 more miles, so we needed to pull back a little.
At mile 5 we heard a rooster make it's cock a doodle do noise and I said, "Jason, even the roosters are here cheering us on." At mile 7 there was a long hill of over .50 of a mile. It was a hard climb and slowed us a little. Mile 8 was up and down hilly. Mile 9 was mostly downhill and we had one of our fastest miles of the race. Mile 10 we both felt calf pain and decided to take 10 second to stretch each leg. Mile 13 I was falling apart, especially in the last mile that was mostly uphill. I was complaining that my body hurt outloud. Jason said to me, "Michelle, everyone hurts right now." We pushed to the end and finished great.
The awesome thing was I beat all my mile splits from the race 2 weeks prior, except for mile 9 and 13, this time my mile 9 was 2 seconds slower, and mile 13 was 14 seconds slower, still pretty consistent with most of the mile splits in the 9 minute something range.
By mile 9 we both knew if we could keep up this amazing pace then we would both get new Personal records, and we did. My individual race results are HERE! Jason's individual race results are HERE !
Full results are HERE!
Great things about this race:
1. It started on time
2. There was a option to get a dry fit shirt or not. I choose to save money and just get the cotton one.
3. Chip timed with a built in chip on your bib so you don't have to worry about giving your chip back.
4. Bib for your scrapbook
5. Plenty of food after the race to re-fuel
6. The weather was perfect. (Race directors LOVE this)
7. Accurate times yelled out at EVERY mile split.
8. Plenty of water stops.
9. Packet with goodies in it like a granola bar, fruit treats, chapstick, lots of race advertisements, samples of Bio-freeze, Advil, Leg Cramp.
10. Ton of volunteers everywhere. Even the Mormons showed up to help
11. Finishing medal
Things that could be improved:
1. HEED at the water stops. Sick, this stuff needs thrown out. It doesn't taste good and everyone complains about it. As one racer we overheard saying, "This tastes just like the stuff they make you drink before a colonoscopy.
2. Take the hills away, there were quite a few of them. Ha
3. Nothing more, it's such a great race and worth traveling to.
Two years ago I ran this race and my time was 2:32:05. This year my time was 2:09:04. This was a 23 minute 1 second improvement on this course! Such a great day and here are some pictures:
Our race splits:
The weather was perfect. The wind was only 3-5 m.p.h. It was sunny for once since a week ago. All we've had is rain and cold lately, so seeing the sun was so nice. It was cold, when I say cold, perfect running cold. The morning started out around 38 degrees, and for May in Iowa, that is really crazy. By race start it was around 45, maybe colder. I had chosen a tank to run in because I knew it was warming up to low 50's and I'd get hot, plus my compression sleeves on my legs, shorts and then I put my running skins over my shorts. Now this is where I went wrong. My legs got warm, thankfully not too warm. However, I didn't need the extra skins on. I could have ran the entire way in shorts with that warm sun out.
Jason and I ran together. I felt amazing and I felt I could run his speed now, so we ran together. This was nice to help each other along. We started out WAY too fast though with a 9:21 mile pace. Now if this was a 5K, then that would have been fine, but we still had 12 more miles, so we needed to pull back a little.
At mile 5 we heard a rooster make it's cock a doodle do noise and I said, "Jason, even the roosters are here cheering us on." At mile 7 there was a long hill of over .50 of a mile. It was a hard climb and slowed us a little. Mile 8 was up and down hilly. Mile 9 was mostly downhill and we had one of our fastest miles of the race. Mile 10 we both felt calf pain and decided to take 10 second to stretch each leg. Mile 13 I was falling apart, especially in the last mile that was mostly uphill. I was complaining that my body hurt outloud. Jason said to me, "Michelle, everyone hurts right now." We pushed to the end and finished great.
The awesome thing was I beat all my mile splits from the race 2 weeks prior, except for mile 9 and 13, this time my mile 9 was 2 seconds slower, and mile 13 was 14 seconds slower, still pretty consistent with most of the mile splits in the 9 minute something range.
By mile 9 we both knew if we could keep up this amazing pace then we would both get new Personal records, and we did. My individual race results are HERE! Jason's individual race results are HERE !
Full results are HERE!
Great things about this race:
1. It started on time
2. There was a option to get a dry fit shirt or not. I choose to save money and just get the cotton one.
3. Chip timed with a built in chip on your bib so you don't have to worry about giving your chip back.
4. Bib for your scrapbook
5. Plenty of food after the race to re-fuel
6. The weather was perfect. (Race directors LOVE this)
7. Accurate times yelled out at EVERY mile split.
8. Plenty of water stops.
9. Packet with goodies in it like a granola bar, fruit treats, chapstick, lots of race advertisements, samples of Bio-freeze, Advil, Leg Cramp.
10. Ton of volunteers everywhere. Even the Mormons showed up to help
11. Finishing medal
Things that could be improved:
1. HEED at the water stops. Sick, this stuff needs thrown out. It doesn't taste good and everyone complains about it. As one racer we overheard saying, "This tastes just like the stuff they make you drink before a colonoscopy.
2. Take the hills away, there were quite a few of them. Ha
3. Nothing more, it's such a great race and worth traveling to.
Two years ago I ran this race and my time was 2:32:05. This year my time was 2:09:04. This was a 23 minute 1 second improvement on this course! Such a great day and here are some pictures:
![]() |
| Jason and I before the race. See how we are dressed in long pants and sweatshirts/jackets. It was COLD for May. |
![]() |
| This is something you RARELY see. A missionary name tag with ELDER ELDER. Super cool. |
![]() |
| Post race with our medals on. Happy to be done. |
![]() |
| Home in our race shirts that we earned after taking a shower and relaxing a bunch. My shirt was WAY too big. Should have gotten a small, cause I was swimming in this shirt. Hope it shrinks a ton. |
![]() |
| Jason's bib, finishing medal and instant race stats. |
![]() |
| Michelle's bib, finishing medal and instant race stats. |
![]() |
| Close up of the awesome looking finishing medal! |
![]() |
| Back of the shirt with all the sponsors listed. I feel this is important on a race shirt. All of the sponsors do tons to make a race happen and should be recognized on the shirt in my opinion. |
![]() |
| A variety of fun things in the race packet. There was a sample of Advil as well, but I already took it. |
Our race splits:
Mile 1. 9:21
Mile 2. 9:42
Mile 3. 9:37
Mile 4. 9:44
Mile 5. 9:33
Mile 6. 9:44
Mile 6.55 there were timing mats that said: 1:03:12
Mile 7. 9:53
Mile 8. 10:02
Mile 9. 9:36
Mile 10. 10:16
Mile 11. 9:55
Mile 12. 9:57
Mile 13. 10:07
.19 on my Garmin watch we had an 8:55 pace going
2nd half of race was 1:06:10 so as you can see we slowed down by 3 minutes for the 2nd half of the race.
Race final time at end of 2:09:04
I beat my personal half marathon record by 7 minutes 26 seconds. Jason beat his record by 1 minute 5 seconds!
Such a sweet day!
I beat my personal half marathon record by 7 minutes 26 seconds. Jason beat his record by 1 minute 5 seconds!
Such a sweet day!
Week 20 of 2014
Goals for Week 20 were these: Run 4 times, according to my marathon schedule, which means two 5-6 milers in the middle of the week, one long run on Saturday. Swim once, Bike at least once. Complete all scheduled classes.
Monday: Body Sculpt, walked some
Tuesday: Body Sculpt, Ran 5.03 miles
Wednesday: Body Sculpt, walked some
Thursday: Ran 4.13 miles, swam 1000 yards, walked some.
Friday: Some walking. Rest, Rest, Stretch a lot, Rest, Big day on Saturday!
Saturday: Ran 13.20, walked 2.5 miles, had a little running quickly as I'm beat up from the race.
Sunday: Rest and lots of stretching
Good for week 20: Taught all three of my Body Sculpt classes as scheduled. Walked a lot, which I feel is helping me get in overall mileage. I walk on my lunch sometimes now, since I really shouldn't run in my work clothes, I swam once. I actually had an awesome rest day on Friday that besides having to work, I rested well, stretched, used heat on sore areas, stretched more. I believe this helped me for Saturday. On Saturday I ran the BEST Half Marathon time ever for me. My goal was to beat my last personal best time of 2:16:30. I felt really great, the weather was cold and perfect, so I gave it my all. I ran a 2:09:04. Sweet! Other than a calf cramp at the end, I felt awesome. My husband and I ran together and this gave him a Personal Best as well by over a minutes. Great day for both of us.
I ate super well this week and have now been following My fitness pal for almost 3 months now, paying attention to my nutrition levels more than anything to make sure I get the proper nutrition for running. I've lost 11 pounds.
Bad for week 20: Didn't run 4 times. Planned on it Wednesday and I didn't get up early enough to make it happen. Bike workout didn't happen. I need to make more time for biking on a regular basis. This week should be better overall since my children's early morning seminary class ends this week, thus giving me extra time early morning for my workouts and them sleeping in, so I don't have to be up making breakfast and lunches.
Totals for Week 20:
Ran 22.36 miles
Swam 1000 yards
3 Body Sculpt classes
Walked 2.5 miles plus much more I didn't measure. I would like to get a Fit Bit thing to see how many steps I really take in a week.
Totals for year:
Elliptical 20.25 miles
Running 271.57 miles
Swam 18,667.30 + yards (10.60 miles)
Body Sculpt classes 55
Zumba classes 19
Biking minutes 762 (12.7 hours) Indoors
Biking miles outside 33.51 miles
Step classes 1
Yoga classes 5
Nia classes 1
Push ups on toes outside of teaching class:168
Goals for Week 21: Run 4 times, according to my marathon schedule, which means two 5-6 milers in the middle of the week, one longer run on Saturday, this week would be an 8-10 miler. Swim once, Bike at least once. Complete all scheduled classes. I really should try and get back to a Yoga class, so I'll put this down as a want for the week for a goal. I need to do this, however with my children's crazy concert schedules at the end of the year, the last couple weeks have been tough to fit it all in.
Monday: Body Sculpt, walked some
Tuesday: Body Sculpt, Ran 5.03 miles
Wednesday: Body Sculpt, walked some
Thursday: Ran 4.13 miles, swam 1000 yards, walked some.
Friday: Some walking. Rest, Rest, Stretch a lot, Rest, Big day on Saturday!
Saturday: Ran 13.20, walked 2.5 miles, had a little running quickly as I'm beat up from the race.
Sunday: Rest and lots of stretching
Good for week 20: Taught all three of my Body Sculpt classes as scheduled. Walked a lot, which I feel is helping me get in overall mileage. I walk on my lunch sometimes now, since I really shouldn't run in my work clothes, I swam once. I actually had an awesome rest day on Friday that besides having to work, I rested well, stretched, used heat on sore areas, stretched more. I believe this helped me for Saturday. On Saturday I ran the BEST Half Marathon time ever for me. My goal was to beat my last personal best time of 2:16:30. I felt really great, the weather was cold and perfect, so I gave it my all. I ran a 2:09:04. Sweet! Other than a calf cramp at the end, I felt awesome. My husband and I ran together and this gave him a Personal Best as well by over a minutes. Great day for both of us.
I ate super well this week and have now been following My fitness pal for almost 3 months now, paying attention to my nutrition levels more than anything to make sure I get the proper nutrition for running. I've lost 11 pounds.
Bad for week 20: Didn't run 4 times. Planned on it Wednesday and I didn't get up early enough to make it happen. Bike workout didn't happen. I need to make more time for biking on a regular basis. This week should be better overall since my children's early morning seminary class ends this week, thus giving me extra time early morning for my workouts and them sleeping in, so I don't have to be up making breakfast and lunches.
Totals for Week 20:
Ran 22.36 miles
Swam 1000 yards
3 Body Sculpt classes
Walked 2.5 miles plus much more I didn't measure. I would like to get a Fit Bit thing to see how many steps I really take in a week.
Totals for year:
Elliptical 20.25 miles
Running 271.57 miles
Swam 18,667.30 + yards (10.60 miles)
Body Sculpt classes 55
Zumba classes 19
Biking minutes 762 (12.7 hours) Indoors
Biking miles outside 33.51 miles
Step classes 1
Yoga classes 5
Nia classes 1
Push ups on toes outside of teaching class:168
Goals for Week 21: Run 4 times, according to my marathon schedule, which means two 5-6 milers in the middle of the week, one longer run on Saturday, this week would be an 8-10 miler. Swim once, Bike at least once. Complete all scheduled classes. I really should try and get back to a Yoga class, so I'll put this down as a want for the week for a goal. I need to do this, however with my children's crazy concert schedules at the end of the year, the last couple weeks have been tough to fit it all in.
Friday, May 16, 2014
Columbus Half Marathon, Columbus, Ohio--May 3, 2014
A beautiful, slightly cold day in Columbus Ohio started the morning of May 3rd. The forecast said we might get some sprinkles of rain, but not much. I under dressed for the weather so I would "Go out cold". I've been reading that you don't want to start out hot, or get too hot at any point, try to keep your body cool. It's better at water stops to throw water on your head to cool down than to drink it, IF you are already properly hydrated that is. I hydrated WELL the day before my event, plus did absolutely no exercise for 2 days prior to my race so I could have FRESH legs. I feel this helped me tremendously.
I took it relatively easy the first 5-6 miles at around a 10:30 pace, not knowing how my legs would do since I had a bad calf cramp earlier in the week, but to my surprise, I felt awesome, so I started to kick it up a notch. I was running some miles in the low 10 minute mile pace or high 9 minute mile pace. Sweet and I still felt great. My overall average pace was a 10:27 minute mile! That is sweet for me and I know I could have gone even faster because I didn't really try until the last 6-7 miles. I know I'm on track for a sub 2 hour half marathon! Here are my detailed RESULTS. The pictures below are my three favorite pictures. I look silly and my hair was a ratted mess, but I felt awesome.
My mile splits were the following:
Mile 1: 10:08
Mile 2: 10:27
Mile 3: 10:15
Mile 4: 10:24
Mile 5: 10:38
Mile 6: 10:03
First 6 miles were 61:45
Mile 7: 10:20
Mile 8: 10:15
Mile 9: 9:34
Mile 10: 11:05 this is when I stopped to wait for a porta pottie that never came open and I never go to go, so I decided it wasn't worth waiting anymore and ran more. Looks like I wasted 45 seconds. Boo.
Mile 11: 10:05
Mile 12: 9:59
Next 6 miles was 61:18 with the 45 seconds lost at the non bathroom stop.
Mile 13: 9:53
I took it relatively easy the first 5-6 miles at around a 10:30 pace, not knowing how my legs would do since I had a bad calf cramp earlier in the week, but to my surprise, I felt awesome, so I started to kick it up a notch. I was running some miles in the low 10 minute mile pace or high 9 minute mile pace. Sweet and I still felt great. My overall average pace was a 10:27 minute mile! That is sweet for me and I know I could have gone even faster because I didn't really try until the last 6-7 miles. I know I'm on track for a sub 2 hour half marathon! Here are my detailed RESULTS. The pictures below are my three favorite pictures. I look silly and my hair was a ratted mess, but I felt awesome.
![]() |
| My Mom and Dad with me right after the race ended. |
![]() |
| The shirt, my bib and the awesome medal! |
My mile splits were the following:
Mile 1: 10:08
Mile 2: 10:27
Mile 3: 10:15
Mile 4: 10:24
Mile 5: 10:38
Mile 6: 10:03
First 6 miles were 61:45
Mile 7: 10:20
Mile 8: 10:15
Mile 9: 9:34
Mile 10: 11:05 this is when I stopped to wait for a porta pottie that never came open and I never go to go, so I decided it wasn't worth waiting anymore and ran more. Looks like I wasted 45 seconds. Boo.
Mile 11: 10:05
Mile 12: 9:59
Next 6 miles was 61:18 with the 45 seconds lost at the non bathroom stop.
Mile 13: 9:53
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Week 19 of 2014
Goals for Week 19 were these: Recover from the Half Marathon with some swimming and biking. Still follow marathon schedule. Try to get out and run 3 times. Walk a lot.
Tuesday: Body Sculpt, some walking
Wednesday: Body Sculpt, some walking..
Thursday Ran 2.46 miles, walked some, felt beat up.
Friday: Ran 3.02 miles, Elliptical 1 mile, Biked 6.41 miles
Saturday: Ran 8 miles, walked 2 miles
Sunday: Walked 2 miles
Good for Week 19: I ran 3 times. I swam once and did a great swimming workout. I biked once.
Bad for week 19: I didn't run on Tuesday as planned, still felt beat up from the Half Marathon just days before. I did walk a ton though, just didn't measure the distance. Forgot the garmin and was down the street by the time I thought about it, it was about 2 miles.
Even though I ran 3 times, as my goal was set to do, I didn't run as far as I needed to, or spaced out like I should (in my opinion). I want to run Tuesday 5, Wednesday 2, Thursday 5-6, Friday Rest, then Saturday long run. As you can see it didn't work out that way. As for the biking, I planned on 13-15 miles, but the wind was horribly strong and I turned back way early. I need to learn to bike in the wind better. I can do it, but don't like to. Also, if I don't run, I need to bike or swim instead. According to Runner's World it says if you don't get in a run, then bike twice as far as you were going to run. Thus getting in that same amount of cardio for your heart and strength in the muscles in your legs.
Totals for Week 19:
3 Body Sculpt classes
Lots of walking, about 6 miles total
Ran 13.48 miles
Biked 6.41 miles
Swam 1600 Yards
Elliptical 1 mile
Totals for year:
Elliptical 20.25 miles
Running 249.21 miles
Swam 17,667.30 + yards (10.04 miles)
Body Sculpt classes 52
Zumba classes 19
Biking minutes 762 (12.7 hours) Indoors
Biking miles outside 33.51 miles
Step classes 1
Yoga classes 5
Nia classes 1
Push ups on toes outside of teaching class:168
Goals for Week 20: Run 4 times, according to my marathon schedule, which means two 5-6 milers in the middle of the week, one long run on Saturday. Swim once, Bike at least once. Complete all scheduled classes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)










.png)












