Our first run together, saying goodbye, running reunion and YOUR running accomplishments (you guys are amazing)!

(PS If you are reading from your phone today and the ads are all over the place… I am SO sorry and I’m trying to get it fixed asap!!!)

First thing today I want to thank all of those people who have served in the military to keep us safe.  Thank you so much for your sacrifice.

On our run together today we ran right by the place that we ran on our very first run date together.  I even wore the exact same outfit that I did on our first run date for the occasion (I remember things I don’t need to remember ((like what outfit I was wearing on a certain day)) but rarely remember the truly important things;)

Andrew tells me now that he felt like he was going to die on our first run together but that he was trying super hard to play it off like it was easy ha!  It was a rough trail that we did that day and I remember thinking he was just killing it out there!

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Andrew is training for a half marathon (I’m doing it too) and he is adding a mile to his long run each week.  That meant 9 miles for us yesterday and some stops at my favorite water fountain.   Oh PS we are doing a half marathon on Thanksgiving, we also have both kids for this holiday and there are going to be a lot of pies that day so turns out it might quick turn into my favorite holiday this year.

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This waterfall only happens for a brief time each year so I wanted to show it off to Andrew.

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The kids make me think my jokes are funny but I think Andrew pays them in chocolate chips to laugh like this.

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In the afternoon it was warm enough to go to the park so I took them to a brand new one by the Orem library (Utah people with kids you must go to this one… it is the best park I’ve ever seen).

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For the evening we went up to Andrew’s parents’ house because a bunch of family is in town for a wedding this weekend.  Andrew’s parents always have the prettiest salads with our dinners over there.

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Some delicious comfort food and a side of Andrew squeezing his eyes shut.

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One of Andrew’s aunts then brought out a ton of caramel apples that she made that day.  The apple pie caramel apple was my favorite and I made sure to sample many of them:)

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Who knows what is happening here but they love their time with cousins.

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Brooke is going to be gone for the weekend so I made sure to snuggle her to sleep.  I’ll miss her!

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Oh and Josse is all healed up and running again so we are going to have a nice reunion this morning! Looks like it might be my first run with running tights this season…

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What amazing people you all are!  Keep sending in your running accomplishments to [email protected] !! Thank you!

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Ha Nguyen!!!  “Yesterday I ran the NYC Marathon for the third time (it’s my 4th marathon as I ran Chicago about 3 weeks ago).  I finished in 3:27:44, beating my Chicago Marathon’s record (3:33:15) by over 5 minutes!  I wasn’t expecting to have such a great race, as I barely logged in any mileage after Chicago.  And Chicago is flat while NYC is hills hills hills.  I think what I’m most proud of though is how far I have come since I started running a couple of years ago.  I ran my first NYC Marathon in 2014 in 4:31.  Last year, I didn’t train for the marathon and finished in around 5 hours.  This year I definitely put in more training miles and strength training, but even if you told me a couple of months ago that I would ONE DAY be qualified for Bosotn, I would have laughed it off.  And now I’ve BQed twice, all within 3 weeks of each other and I still am amazing by what my body is capable of  When I was bonking hard around mile 23 (darn that hill on fifth ave), I remember a post form your blog about focusing on the positives.  I kept reminding myself of how good my form is, and how fast I am able to run, and how far my running has improved, to distract myself from the pains and the nauseous feeling.  And it worked!”

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Porter!!!  “This past weekend I ran the Greenville, SC Spinx Run Fest Carolina Marathon!  It was my third marathon and I was so glad to be able to run around my college university for my last marathon as a senior.  Ever since I was 18 I trained with the mindset to BQ but could never accomplish it.  For this training cycle I decided to change my mindset and let myself run for the sheer enjoyment of running.  I worked hard in training but never let myself get overly frustrated or down on myself and it was incredibly refreshing.  I stepped up to the starting line feeling confident in my training and excited to face 26.2 miles with a new attitude!  The race was amazing, I stuck with a pace group until mile 16 and took off with 10 miles to go.  I hit the wall pretty hard around mile 22 but never let my pace falter.  I crossed the line in 3:27, my very first Boston Qualifying time.  It was the hardest and best thing I’ve ever done and it still ells so surreal.”

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Maureen!!!  “I ran a personal best at the Cape Cod Marathon Half on Sunday and turned 55 on Tuesday.  I got a 2:03:44 and am so excited!”

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Caryn!!!  “I am an avid half marathoner, but decided in college to try a marathon for the first time.  My first marathon was awful (I don’t even remember the time), and I vowed never to do one again!  Four years ago I signed up for the Marine Corps (living in DC, it just looked like an awesome atmosphere), and ran a 4:30.  I was so happy to have finished in a somewhat decent time, but knew I might be able to do better.  I took a marathon break to focus on the half, but this year decided to get back to it, and won a free entry to Marine Corps.  I trained really well, and ran a 3:44! I know that I can get my BQ now- I was so close this time! I was so proud of myself and felt so accomplished with an almost 45 minute PR. It definitely made my month (and maybe year)!

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What are your Friday night plans?

Anyone training for a big race right now?  It seems like a lot of the big races have come and gone!  Anyone running CIM?  

What was the last running injury that you had?

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36 comments

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Friday night will consist of me doing absolutely nothing exciting and I am pretty happy about that- long runs sedate my Fridays pretty nicely! My last injury was in my IT band and before that, my Achilles, but I am bound and determined to be healthy because in spring I am running my first marathon yikes!! I have been avoiding race-time predictors like a champ because aint nobody got time for that kind of pressure and really, the marathon is a whole new beast!
Mitch and I’s first run together was about 18 months ago when I could barely run 4 miles in a row and let’s just say he had to drag my sorry booty haha! LOVE that you two run together!

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GOOD.FOR.YOU!! Enjoy doing absolutely nothing.. I love those kind of nights! Yep, definitely not fun injuries at all! I am stoked for your first marathon and please keep me updated with how it is going!

LOVE hearing about you and Mitch’s first run together:)

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No big Friday night plans–hopefully relaxing and going to bed early. Life has been really rough lately, and I just need some peace. Maybe I’ll take a bubble bath.

I’m training for a half marathon in my city in December. I’m going to use the 8-miler Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving to get a gauge of where I am fitness-wise, but I’m hoping to be ready to have a great half next month!

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I am beyond sorry Natalie that life has been rough right now. Pamper yourself tonight and take it easy. Let me know if you need anything!

So excited for your Turkey Trot and half in December!

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I’m in Ohio right now visiting my son but we’re driving back to Tennessee tomorrow and I’m trying like crazy to convince my Mom that we NEED to drive by Frozen Head State Park in Morgan Country Tennessee on the Way home so that I can get back my motivation and determination to go run where the Barkley Marathons are run every year because it’s where I grew up and I really really want to run at least one or two loops at least once in my life time…..

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YES YES YES you need to drive by that:) Your mom has to agree! Oh I hope you get to! Let me know how it goes!

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I love that you remember what you wore for the first run, I would remember that too!

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HAHA good to know I’m not alone:) I mean it was a huge decision so I better remember it!

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I’m just relaxing this weekend. I’m working but nothing too crazy.

Which half are you guys doing? I’m trying to find some this winter to keep me motivated to run through the cold. :o

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HEY GIRL!! Enjoy your relaxation!! It is the Thankful 13.1 … come on out to Utah!!!

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My Friday night will be hitting up Red Robin with the hubby and then grocery shopping! The stores are usually empty on Friday nights lol. My last running injury was my abdominal longus (I think that’s right). It was basically my inner hip/groin area and I quickly realized how debilitating that is. I’m technically still in the healing stages but I have my full range of motion back.

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Oh I love Red Robing (we might have to copy you)… have a blast! Great call to shop on Friday nights (we might copy you on this one too). Okay, that injury sounds incredibly painful but so glad you are on your way to recovery!

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Dealing with an injury now! No fun…it has lasted WAY.TOO.LONG! We are getting some miles in still, though. We ended these past seven days today with 9 miles for a total of about 77 for the past 7 days, so still low-er mileage versus our “in-training” mode. However, we did NOT do much by way of faster mileage due to my injury (left hip/groin issue). I just want to get to the point of running with zero pain again! I am of the frustrated variety today:(

We will just chill tonight. By the time Fridays get here, we are typically too beat to do anything fun. We save that for Saturdays…though also no plans for tomorrow, so really nothing on our agenda this weekend!

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Oh girl, I am so so sorry that you are still dealing with your injury, not okay! I am glad that you can still get in some of your miles though! PS 77 miles would kill me off ha.. you are incredible. Hoping that hip/groin problem goes away completely asap!

Enjoy your Saturday!

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We’re big party people here. ;) I’m going to pay some bills, clean the house and head to bed at a decent time because my daughter and I will be getting up nice and early to run tomorrow.

It isn’t a big race, but I’m training for my first 5k. I haven’t ran more than 2 miles since my last re-injury back in April 2007. I’ve been too scared. But in February 2017 I will begin training for a half marathon that will take place 10 years after I was told I wouldn’t be walking on my own. It’s very emotional.

I was always re-injuring my knee, which became an official disability in February 2008. First trip to the ER for it was 12/13/04. Since then, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve re-injured it. I know that the last time I was back in occupational therapy for it was 2010/2011 (roughly a full year) and since then, I’ve been scared to run more than 2 miles. This blog has given me the courage to start again. I’ve been so much more careful than before and I’m finishing up my fourth week of training for my 5k. I actually ran more than 2 miles yesterday, terrified of how I would feel. No true pain. Some muscle aches, but no pain in my knee or back. It feels like a miracle.

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AHHHHH that is a HUGE race… I am so excited for your first 5k and the fact that you aren’t injured especially after what you were told about not being able to walk on your own and everything that has happened over the years. That is AMAZING Stephanie, amazing. Wow, you have gone through so much! Seriously. Congrats on your 2+ miles yesterday. I am so excited for you!!! NO PAIN!!

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Today is my in-laws 55th wedding anniversary and we are all going out to dinner at their favorite restaurant this evening.

The plantar fasciitis rupture was my last injury and I’m glad it’s healing. I still can’t do long runs but I get in a few 3 – 4 milers now.

I’m not signed up for anything at the moment but I think I’d like to run Bermuda one year. It’s in January and it’s usually in the 60’s that time of year.

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55 YEARS… that is awesome! Enjoy the celebration and delicious food! Okay, the rupture sounds beyond painful! I want to come run Bermuda one year too.. that sounds heavenly!

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It’s lovely, I know! And they dated for 7 years first! (oddly, so did my husband and I) They met when they were 16.

The rupture was painful, walking wasn’t fun. On the other hand it wasn’t a constant pain the way a stress fracture is.

I’m not as fast as you are but we can meet up in Bermuda!

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I remember toward the end of my marathon training I was having a lot of ankle pain. I trained for what felt like FOREVER so I was really ready to get the marathon done and have time to recover. I ran a half marathon on Thanksgiving last year and I PR’d (it was mid-marathon training cycle)! Unfortunately I’m not home this Thanksgiving so I just plan on making up my own race that day!

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That is awesome that you PR’d on THANKSGIVING!! I love it! Enjoy your own race this Thanksgiving:)

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My hubby and I have a run-night/date-night tonight :) We are maybe going to build a fire too because the temperatures are in the (high) 40s. LOL! I have a few half marathons on my radar, but not until December and/or January. We have a 5K on Thanksgiving that I will do. What better way to start off a day of thankfulness than by running! I wish we had a half to do. I would be even more thankful if I got to run 13.1 miles :)

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Oh, I LOVE that Sam! I completely agree about a race being the best way to start Thanksgiving off! Good luck and I’m excited for your upcoming half marathons! PS just come race in Utah on Thanksgiving if you want to do a half:)

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Those caramel apples sound delicious!

Tonight I’m having dinner who’s in Calgary from out of town. Whenever we get together we pick right back up from the last time we caught up.

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Oh that is the best kind of friend, you can go months or even years without seeing them and then when you see each other it is all so natural and easy!! Have a blast Fiona!

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I’m also that kind of person who remembers all those details lol.

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HAHA yep, those things are important to remember!!!!

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I’m runnng CIM! Tomorrow will be my last long run before taper. I’m really nervous because I haven’t ran a full in almost 2 years due to injuries. (Last one was a strained hamstring.) I’m really working hard towards a goal so I just hope it works out.

Have a great weekend!

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AHHH LAURA!! I am so so excited for you! Good luck on your last long run before taper time and continuing to stay injury free! I am so excited for you, PLEASE let me know how it goes!

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My Friday night will be spent at my local Crossfit gym — doing a “Special” workout in honor of Veteran’s Day. I have no idea what that means, but it’ll probably hurt.

No big race and no injuries (Thank goodness!!)

Just sore legs and blistered feet!

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Hey Janae and Andrew, my wife and I will be headed to Vegas after I get off work Saturday morning. I’ll be running the half marathon Sunday night with my wife’s cousin. I’ve never run this one before. I’ve heard it’s a lot of fun.

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I’m still dealing with/recovering from a hamstring pull in February of 2915, just six weeks shy of my very first half! I just started back up slowly this past July, and can run 3 miles comfortably at a pace range of 10-12 minutes., three days a week. I recently increased to four miles but am finding that recovery between is a lot longer. I’ve also had to increase my yoga days when I’m doing longer runs.

Busy weekend for me though: family came in today, I gave staff training in the AM on Saturday and just hanging out with the brother in laws the rest of the time!

Thanks for all the motivation!

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I have a half marathon in Richmond, VA tomorrow! I cannot wait for the 32 degrees at 7 am :) That apple pie looks incredible – is there a recipe you can share?

I had a question about the Garmin watch in your picture. Do you like it? I have it and I love mine – however, I’m having syncing issues! I can’t get it to work with my phone. Have you run into this before?

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Oh my gosh everyone did awesome in their races!!!!! So inspiring! I am in need of some inspiration as I will be at the hospital getting x-rays on my foot today. Boo :(

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All of those running accomplishments are so amazing! I love these posts… so inspiring!

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Nothing better than caramel apples!! Those ones look soo good!

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