Winter Training Circuit 10 Mile

Today was the Winter Training Circuit 10 mile race and it was tough! I ran it last year with my friend, Rachel, but I must have been distracted chatting with her because I don't remember it being so brutal!  The course started at the Dee Events Center in Ogden and looped through different neighborhoods with lots of hills. It was a great day for a run and I felt pretty good, but I kept getting side aches. I'd slow down my pace a little bit to get the side ache to go away, but it kept coming back. It was so frustrating trying to run with a side ache.

My boys came to cheer for me and Will tried to take a running picture of me with his camera. When I passed him, he was holding up his camera and yelled, "got it." I looked at the camera later to see the picture he took, but there wasn't one. He's such a cute boy!

Anyway, I was so happy to cross the finish line. I ran 1:07:24.6, which is 6:44 per mile and took 1st place. My time wasn't great, but I'm happy with it due to the tough, hilly course.

Done with the Thumb

Since Xav was 8 or 9 weeks old, he's been a thumb sucker. When he first started doing it, I loved it because it helped him sleep through the night and he looked so cute doing it.

This last month has been rough on my Xavy Baby. He's been diagnosed with RSV, croup, h-flu, mono and an allergy to Augmentin. He got really dehydrated with the mono and h-flu, and his lips cracked and bled. His left thumb got a big crack along the knuckle, and he'd put his thumb in his mouth to suck, then immediately pull it out and say, "owie, mommy, hurts." The crack was getting bigger and bigger because he kept trying to suck it. I decided to cover it with a band-aid and ointment as much as possible to help it heal. One night I didn't take the band-aid off and he kept it on the whole night, and slept well! I couldn't believe it! Xav hasn't sucked him thumb in over a week. I'm so happy he broke the habit!

Winter Training Circuit 10K

The Winter Training Ciruit 10K was today and it was another rough week. Xav got diagnosed with mono and has been so sick! I feel so bad for my poor baby. I feel like we've been to the doctor's office every other day for the last little bit. I'm ready for spring time and healthy boys.

I was more excited to race the 10K today, than the 5K a couple of weeks ago. The 10K is a much better distance for me. I still feel like I have to sprint the whole time, but I can slow it down a little bit compared to the 5K. I began the race and felt really good. My first mile was 5:54, and I thought that was a little quick for a hilly course. After that, I locked in to a good pace and just went. It felt good to open up and run hard. The course was around WSU, so I was familiar with the roads. It was nice to run around Ogden. I have good running memories there. I ran 39:57.8 (6:26 per mile) and took first place. I felt good the entire run...I love races like this!

I've started doing tempo runs and speed workouts a couple of times a week. It feels good to be on a training schedule again. I'm still trying to increase my mileage, but it seems like life happens and I don't get all the miles in I'd like, but I will soon enough.

Winter Training Circuit 5K

The Winter Training Circuit 5K was today and I wasn't feeling very ready to race. It had been a rough week because both boys had RSV and were miserable. They felt awful and weren't sleeping well, so no one was getting any sleep. I feel like the stars rarely align when it's race day, I just have to give it the best I've got.

A 5K is a hard distance for me because I feel like I have to sprint the whole way. I like longer races when I can lock in at a comfortable/hard pace and go. I rarely race 5Ks because I don't like to sprint for 3 miles. It's been years since I've raced a 5K, but today was my lucky day :) 

I started the race feeling really good. The course was around my old college apartment, so I was familiar with the hills. It was nice to run through the area, and brought back lots of good memories of college running. I kept telling myself I only had to go 3 miles, that's nothing compared to what I usually race. The course was pretty hilly, but I felt good throughout the whole run. I was so happy to have a good race after such a terrible week. I ran 19:35.8 (6:18 per mile) and took first place. I couldn't have asked for a better race. It's nice to be back racing again.

I was excited to race for Oiselle. This is the first race I've run as a Oiselle team member. I wore my Oiselle singlet, but didn't get any pictures from the race. I'll have to make sure Jeff has a camera at the next race.

I'm trying to get my weekly mileage up, but I've been stuck at 38 miles for a few weeks. I've got to have a break through week soon, so I can get cranking more mileage for my marathon training. I'm getting excited to race Ogden!

Back at it...

I love running in the snow. Twice the work for half the speed. ; )

I've taken a few months off of consistent running and I've decided that now it's -2 degrees in the morning and snowy, I'll get back at it :) 

Lagoon trail!

The Ogden Marathon is approaching shortly, so I've got to get running and racing again. I've mapped out my weekly mileage and I've started lifting weights a few times a week. I'm going to register for either the Salt Lake Training Series or the Winter Training Circuit in Ogden to get me racing again. It feels good to be back in a training schedule and I'm getting excited to start racing again.

Winter Fun

Bundling up to go shopping

The boys have loved winter! Here are a few things we've been up to.

Going to the Zoo

Seeing the lights at Temple Square

Playing in the snow

Sledding

Flying Will's helicopter

Making Christmas tree hats at Story Hour

Making a slide down the stairs with a mattress and cushions

Merry Christmas

Will couldn't wait for Xav to wake up to open presents.

Christmas was great! The boys were so fun to watch open presents. They were so animated and got so excited. Will got a Thomas train with a "constroller" and Xav got a big wagon.

After we opened presents at home, we went over to Grandma and Grandpa Fowler's for breakfast and more presents. Grandma Fowler made the most delicious breakfast with quiche, stratta and orange rolls. We got to see some of the Fowler cousins and the boys had fun running around and playing with them.

We came home and got ready for the Losee family to come for dinner. It was so fun to have everyone together. It was a little chaotic, but we loved it! This year we had a sibling and in-law gift exchange of our favorite things. It was so fun to see what some of our favorite things are. I ended up with some Astroglide thanks to Levi.

Xav was so excited about his wagon. He had to be right in the middle of putting it together.

The Losee Cousins

The boys made this Christmas so fun. We just love them so much.