Before the sickness hit...

HT Training group at Washington Community Center

(I am the dork that did not take off her goggles)

Finally. I get to tell you a little bit more about my St. George weekend in January. I will stick to the high-/lowlights.

First time driving from Flagstaff, AZ to St. George, UT. Definitely not as bad as I thought it would be. 5 hours. I can handle 5 hours. Especially when I don't have kids to entertain in the back seat. The route is very scenic and I get excited that I get to live in this beautiful part of the country.

But, as usual, a long drive the afternoon before a race messes up my nutrition. I tried to be careful with snacks but I don't think I drank enough. I got into town around 5 pm and went to packet pick-up. Considering that it was a running race and not a triathlon, I ran into quite a few friends and enjoyed catching up with them. That's what races are (almost) all about.

Skipping dinner was probably a mistake but

a) I just was not hungry because all I had done since lunch was sit in the car and eat (healthy) snacks

b) We had a swim workout with Coach Heath at 7 pm. I am not a fan of swimming with a full belly.

Swimming with so many friends was great. We had about 6 people of all levels in our (25 yard) lane, so it was a party with more than a few traffic jams. I am not a fan of parties in my swim lane ... unless I have a race the next morning. I was really enjoying the craziness for about 50 yards until Coach M informed us that we are now going to swim a timed mile. Oh, and I was going to lead the lane. Gulp! So much for a nice, fun swim! I quickly turned the pleasure of leading our troop over to Devan Tandy because there is not much that I hate more than swimming a straight mile. Talk about being bored out of my mind! I also happen to be the worst lap counter ever. Long story short: I was not feeling it. We ended the workout with a super fun relay which was just what I had hoped for.

Of course by the time we got back to our condo, I was starving! But by now it was about 9 pm and really too late to have a decent dinner. Not sure what I ate but it was apparently not the right thing. As I said before, I was also starting to not feel so well and cough a lot.

The highlight of the trip: staying in a condo with Jen, Anne, and Missy! I was really ready to hag out with some of my girlfriends! (I also really enjoyed getting to know Steve, Tony, and Robert but ... you know ... they're guys.) Jen, Anne, and I shared a king-size bed and definitely stayed up past our bedtime. But if I had to choose between a PR and great girl-talk, I would choose the girls any day.

That is how Day 1 went. Now, excuse me. I need to go on a date with my husband. I will tell you about The Aftermath in the next post. And let you know who was right about the bike ride.

Comments

New PR at a High Cost

St. George Halfmarathon Report I have a feeling that this is going to be long . Even though I am going to tell you about the rest of the weekend in my next post. So. Sit back and enjoy, if you are interested. A few days before the race, I told Karl that I have two options : 1. Run the way I usually race. Conservative . Start out at a decent pace, log negative splits, finish feeling strong and in control. 2. Start out faster than usual, hang onto that pace for as long as possible, die a slow and painful death. Karl just laughed . He knew how unlikely it was that I would choose the second option. But, to be honest, the idea kinda grew on me. It was a running event, after all. No pressure. Simply a way of testing where my fitness is at. On my way to St. George, I called Coach M . She told me I was going to choose the second option. Oh, how I love to have coaches! No need to try to figure things out in my own little head. I just ask and do as I am told. There was ju...

I am so lucky

I feel the need to write. My thoughts are all jumbled. Can I make sense of them on paper? Writin g gives me perspective and makes it easier to let go. Last weekend I was very frustrated, mad, self-centered, unhappy , wallowing in self-pity. This weekend I was more balanced, a little more patient, trying to be less selfish, happy . How did it happen? I have had to deal with myself for almost 30 years now and, luckily, have figured out a few things on the way. Like how to feel at peace with myself , my family , my life . It shouldn't be complicated to be happy in my circumstances. I realize that. But sometimes it still is. Sometimes being a mom and wife doesn't come easy to me. Sometimes I think everyone would be better off if I wasn't a mom and wife. Sometimes I wish it was easier to just take off and do nothing but swimbikeruneatsleep for a week or two. It's not helping that my German teammates are doing just that. Right now. On a beautiful island. In the warm...

Oceanside 70.3 Race Report

(Grab a chair and get comfy, cause this might be kinda long.) Left Thursday morning with my questionable travel companion , Nate, who turned out to be awesome. Who wouldn't want to go on a road trip with a nice guy who is a Coach, about to turn Pro, happens to have worked as a bike mechanic, and likes things low-key before a race? Score ! I was super excited to see my friend, Carlee , as soon as we got to the hotel. She provided plenty of entertainment! Both nights I went to sleep with a smile on my face and had to force myself not to look at her or I would bust up laughing (again) for no apparent reason. She is that cool and funny ! I was super duper excited to see the ocean ! I had not been in a few years and it was my first visit to Oceanside. I had been envisioning myself in a beautiful beach town bathing in warmth and sunshine all winter long. This was going to be the reward for many treadmill runs, trainer rides, and bricks in freezing temperat...

Sarah Borst Jarvis

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