running survey!

1. What is your favorite type of cross training?

I've been doing spin classes, which are really really hard, but I always feel awesome after it's over.

2. What is your favorite song to run to?

Katy Perry- Roar

3. What brand of shoes do you wear?

I used to only wear Asics, but then I got analyzed at a running store and they told me I'd been wearing pronation shoes but I don't actually pronate. So now I wear Mizuno Wave Sayonaras. And I love them.

4. Do you wear a hat when you run? 

No. But I probably should, because look at this hair. 

5. What temperature is your favorite for running?

60 degrees with the sun out.

6. Do you run solo or with a buddy?

Always solo. Anytime I run with another person, I feel like I am holding them back and they are annoyed.

7. Are you a morning, noon, or evening runner?

My very favorite time to run is 9am. But since I have a job, I have to settle for 5pm runs on Monday-Friday.

8. Do you have any big races coming up?

Not really. Thinking about doing the Winter Running Series in January, which is a 5K, 10K, and 15K, all two weeks apart. The next race I'm signed up for is the American Fork Canyon Half, which isn't until June.

9. What is your favorite post-run snack?

Diet Coke and Cheez-its.

10. What is your favorite distance?

10K, because I can run it without requiring a ton of training or stress. But I also love the feeling at mile 13 of a half marathon.

11. What is your favorite race?

American Fork Canyon Half. 100% of race proceeds are donated to help pay for cancer treatment for patients who can't afford it. And it is so completely inspiring and motivational.

12. Do you wear a Garmin?

Yes. Used to wear the oldest one they made, but Chris's parents gave me the Forerunner 10 for my birthday this year. It's pink and cute!

13. What is your least favorite race?

The SheRuns 10K that I ran last summer in Heber. It was poorly organized and not well marked at all, I got lost and ended up running an 8K.

14. Who is your running idol?

My sister and Hungry Runner Girl

15. How long have you been a runner?

I ran my very first race in 2007. And it was brutal.

16. Do you run with your wedding/engagement ring on?

Never. I don’t like anything on my hands.

17. What is your favorite workout?

Long runs are tough, but I love the feeling of pushing myself to run farther than the last one. I also am getting more into speed workouts!

18. What do you drink to stay hydrated?

Water. I took Gatorade in my hydration belt during the Haunted Half and it was pretty delicious though.

19. Where is your favorite place to run?

Provo Canyon

20. What do you carry on a run?

iPod nano on every run. If it’s longer than 6 miles, I will usually bring fuel (Power Bar energy blasts are my new favorite) and a hydration belt or pack with water.

Haunted Half

So, back in August, my friend and I decided it would be a good idea to sign up for a half marathon in October, since both of us were struggling with motivation, and a race always helps with that. Well, fast forward to the week of the race, and boy were we cranky about it. It was almost like someone had forced us into doing it, instead of the truth, which is that we paid our own money to sign up. Neither of us had trained as much as we wanted, and with interruptions to normal life like vacations, getting sick, work trips, and dog sitting, we just didn't feel ready. But it was SO much better than I thought!

Bald...always a good look!

So in Utah, there are a lot of really pretty canyons that people like to run down. This race started with a bus ride to the top of Emigration Canyon, which is close to downtown. It was pretty chilly up there, but considering that it could have been snowing, we counted ourselves lucky that it was 40 degrees. The first 7 miles were downhill, so I was making good time. Then the course turned near the University of Utah, and the rolling hills began. Most people were walking because mile 7 was pretty much all uphill, and it was tough. There were some really fun things at the aid stations, like mini cake bites, bobbing for apples, and eating a doughnut on a string. I didn't do any of them, since it seemed like a good way to have runner's gut for the rest of the race, but it was a fun idea.

Miles 9-10 ran through Federal Heights, which is a really cool neighborhood in SLC. Sometimes when Chris and I like to dream, we imagine ourselves living in a house up there. Part of mile 11 ran through 2 cemeteries, but luckily nothing jumped out or tried to scare me. There were a few more uphill parts, then a few more downhill, but it wasn't too bad. The last mile was on a walking path through a park, and then I crossed the finish line! I immediately requested a drive-thru for a diet coke, and Chris obliged. It's always fun to see a friendly face at the finish line, and especially when that face will walk to the car and pick you up, instead of making you walk an extra half mile to the closest parking spot.

This medal glows in the dark, which probably makes it worth the run!

I would definitely run it again, but I would add more hill training!

Also just signed up for the AF Canyon Half....coming up in June!

Remember...

Remember that time when I decided I was going to blog every day to help keep me on track with all of my goals?

...yeah...

But here I am again, trying my best to get back into the groove! My half marathon is 43 hours away, and boy am I nervous. I ran a half in June, but haven't quite done all of the training runs that I should have done, so I feel very unprepared. I read this interesting post about what to do when you're not really ready for a race, which helped. So I'm trying to let it go...knowing that the runs I did do will help, and that it's not my first time running a half, so I know what to expect. It's okay if I don't have an awesome time, because honestly, I don't care much about time anyway, and I never really have an awesome time, even when I train :). I still beat everyone on the couch!

So that's what's up. Also, I had a very fabulous vacation last week. Chris was on fall break from school, and one of my besties scored us buddy passes for flights and a free hotel room that was only a half mile away from Disneyland, so that's what we did! We actually left a few days earlier and went to San Diego to visit Chris's grandparents and my other bestie, who is living down there for grad school. The buddy pass situation was a little crazy, since we couldn't get on any flights to San Diego, but it ended up working out just fine because we got on a flight to Orange County and then just rented a car. It was so fun to see friends and family, and then on Sunday we headed back to Orange County to pick up my friend and her little guy at the airport. They had some flight troubles too, but finally got to the Ontario airport around 10:30pm.

Coronado Island

Beach = Love.

The next day, we went to California Adventure, which was awesome. They built a new area called Cars Land, which looks exactly like Radiator Springs from the movie, and there are a few rides and shops. Plus, there is an AWESOME ride - we actually waited in line for fast passes as soon as we got there at 10am, and the fast pass time was 6pm! It is so popular. The ride takes you through the town and gets your car ready for the race, and then you come up next to another car and race through the hills of Radiator Springs! So awesome. The last ride we did was a water ride, and we got totally soaked and freezing, so we headed back to the hotel and went to bed at like 9pm that night.

In line for the fast passes

On a very crazy, very fun Mater tractor ride

Here's a trick: fill your bag with lollipops to entertain a 3 year old in line. You're welcome.

Then the next day was Disneyland, which was super fun (as always). The lines weren't too long, and we figured out some tricks with fast passes so we were able to go on more rides. My friend's son is 3 1/2, but is unbelievably tall, so he could have gone on every ride in the park except Indiana Jones. We took him on Pirates, but he was pretty scared, so we stayed away from roller coasters and anything else that might have scarred him for life. The coolest part of the day was when we went to Mickey's Halloween Party! They sell separate tickets for the party, and you can come into the park starting at 4pm and get a wristband. Then, around 6pm, they kick everyone else out who doesn't have a wristband, and the party starts! Everyone (except Chris) dresses up, and there is trick or treating, tons of cool decorations, and the rides are pretty much empty. So we walked onto a bunch of the bigger rides, plus got about 4 pounds of candy each! They don't mess around. It was awesome, and I want to do it every year until I'm 100!

On the Matterhorn

Waiting for Star Tours (PS did anyone know they made it 3D??)

A kitty, Frankenstein's monster, and a skeleton!