5/08/10 - 12 miles

Today I completed my longest run in over 3 months and it wasn't too bad.  I got up and ran early since the rest of the day was packed with activities including preparing to honor our mothers.  I ran a route that I haven't ever done before which kept me from focusing too much on the distance and more on what I was seeing.  I ran the 12 miles in 1:42:55 which is an 8:34 pace.  I drank Powerade at miles 3, 6, and 9 and had a GU shot at mile 6.  I felt pretty good but my right hamstring continues to be a problem area for me.  I am going to do some extra stretching in that area and hope to get it loosened up in the next couple weeks.

5/07/10 - 5 miles

I'm back!  Not that I ever really left but I haven't had a race that I was training for so I didn't see much reason to post my runs.  I have continued to run after completing the Salt Lake Marathon last year and have documented some of the races on our family blog.  I have debated if I wanted to run another marathon and if so, which one.

Over the past couple months, I have felt an itch to run another marathon.  I was very disappointed with my results in Salt Lake as a result of cramping.  I want to run the race I imagined and this has driven me to search for another marathon to run.  I contemplated running St. George again but the dates conflict with General Conference (Tanner's first time to attend the priesthood session).  I looked at the Utah Valley Marathon but again the timing was not good.  So yesterday, Camille was looking at our schedule since we are spending a week in Provo in July at Aspen Grove.  She saw that one of the events associated with the Days of 47 celebration is the Deseret News Marathon on July 24th.  We will already be in the area so this should be perfect.  The race is less than 12 weeks away but because I have already been running, I should be okay.

I have a renewed commitment to get out and run at least 5 days a week and adjust my eating habits to those of a runner.  I'll admit that I'm feeling a bit of anxiety because I know that training for and running a marathon is hard work and requires discipline.  But I'm also excited to improve my time and complete the race without the injuries that have plagued me previously.

Today I got up at 5:15 and ran an easy 5 miles before family scripture study.  The days have been warmer lately so my running will primarily be in the morning or at the gym on a treadmill if later in the day.  I ran the 5 miles in 39:13 which is a 7:50 pace and my average heart rate was 169 bpm.