Going back in time: Running…

So here is the deal:  My brain is fried from grading all day long and I really can’t think of a thing to write about unless you wanted to hear all about my anger at the people that created the ‘serving size’ on the back of my king size symphony bar….lies, all lies.  Who really shares their symphony bar with 4 other people?

I added a race recap tab at the top of the blog and as I was looking through my old personal blog (not a running/food blog and I only wrote once a solstice…I didn’t even know running blogs existed, how did I survive?), I found my race recaps from my first three marathons.

Yes, this is just like your dad retelling you about his glory days 20 years ago so that you will still think he is cool and speedy.

From my old blog:

Salt Lake City Marathon 4/17/10

Wow! I haven’t posted in a LONG time. Get ready for picture overload:)

Doing a marathon has always been one of my biggest goals. I decided in January that it was time to finally do it! Training is a long process especially when you live in Utah and the weather forces you to do your long runs on the treadmill. The golds gym members and employees probably think I am psycho due to the fact that I would sing out loud, get emotional watching Oprah and bring a meal to eat as I ran for three hours straight during the training process.

Many blood blisters, missing toenails (TMI???) and chaffing experiences later it finally came down to the last two weeks of training. I decided that I wasn’t going to run during my tapering period except for one five-miler. I did spin, some weight training and the elliptical but I felt like my body was feeling really warn down from so much running. Not only that but I really do enjoy being lazy and during my spring break I made sure to be located on my couch as much as possible. The day before the marathon I made sure to be extra lazy. We ate a lot (I don’t believe in carb loading but more like calorie loading), we watched a lot of TV and finally went up to Salt Lake to pick up the bib and walk around the expo.

Neither of us slept very well that night but we woke up at 4:50 AM and we were both in really good moods and full of energy. We hurried and grabbed breakfast (cinnamon sugar bagel from Einstein’s and almond butter) and rushed up to Draper to pick up my aunt and cousin who were doing the half. I am so happy that they decided to run this race with me because they are HILARIOUS!! They really calmed my nerves and made me forget what I was about to do as we waited at the starting line for 45 minutes.

The gun went off and I started to make my way through huge herds of people. Being a marathon virgin I made sure to read a lot of articles and stories about making sure to save your energy for the last half and to take it easy at the beginning. About 1/2 a mile into it I thought, “That’s lame….why make myself go slow when my body and mind feel so fresh and I have so much energy.” Danny and Shelly were the BEST cheerleaders ever! They came to 7 different areas and took so many pictures. It gave me a boost of energy every time I saw them (along with the no-doze and other legal aids that I took:). My dad and sister also were at mile 20 and the finish line. Rachelle even ran next to me for a little while. The weather was PERFECT and the route was really gorgeous! I think I am addicted to marathons. I hit the wall HARD at mile 23 and it was by far my slowest mile.

I finished in 3 hours and 20 minutes. 20 minutes faster than I needed to in order to qualify for Boston. I took first place for my age group and 45/1007 (including men) and 5th overall woman.  Every time I passed a man running that looked like he was a hard-core runner I got the biggest high. They probably thought I was going to burn out.  I don’t have a competitive bone in me;)

Okay this is way too much typing so time for pictures. P.S. I am really sore! P.P.S I need to learn how to run and drink gatorade at the same time. I was a sticky mess by the end.

I look really happy, once again people thought I was crazy. Please note I didn’t post pictures during miles 22-26! I looked like I was going to kill someone.
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Water boy

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Sprint towards finish line….. Yeah that is a painful look!
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DAD!! Mom wasn’t able to come because she has been really sick… but she was able to watch me on her computer because of the GPS system in my phone.  She followed me the entire time and she told me that at times she was crying, and yelling out loud at the computer to cheer me on.
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Me and the gorgeous sis.  Yes I did not eat five creamies (Utah’s delicious brand of popscicles) right after I finished.  (****the other container in my hand next to my water is Chocolate Milk, yep…I have been using that for recovery since day one).
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For some reason I cried a few times a long the way and especially at the end. I felt my Grandad (who loved running/coaching track) was there cheering me on the whole time.
My favorite running buddies! My aunt and cousin:
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Going up to get my medal for first place in my age group:
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Admiring the shininess:)
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I am going to run in the BOSTON marathon next April. I am already looking at plane tickets!  (Yeah, the Boston thing didn’t happen)
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I posted my training plan HERE for my first marathon just in case you were wondering.  You can also see the finish line video HERE.

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What was the very first race you EVER did?  First marathon?

Was this the lamest/laziest thing I have ever done on the blog and should I take it down right now or do you want to read the other two recaps from my old blog at some point too?

Where do you get your training plans?

-My first one was from Smart Coach at runnersworld.com

Rate your day 1-10?

-4 so far but in aproximately 32 minutes until I fall asleep it will be a 10.

How did you find out about running blogs?

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49 comments

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I think I was 4-5 in my first race ever. I used to do the 1-mile fun runs for the races my parents ran!! They ran college track together. Cute, right?!?!

I’ve never followed one specific training plan. I like to mix & match. I’ll probably get stricter with that when I start training for my first marathon!! SOOON!!!! I haven’t pikced one yet, but soon!

I don’t even know how I found running blogs, really. I think through magazines? And then the bridge was wedding blogs when I started wedding planning. And now. I’m addicted. :)

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My first race was the Salt Lake Marathon 2010!! HOLLAAA You schooled me by a good 20 minutes though. Those last 6 miles I wanted to cry my eyes out.

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Man, you are speedy girl! I don’t which is more amazing – that you did your long runs on the treadmill or that you BQ’ed on your first marathon. I would love to read your other race recaps!

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Omg! I loved it! More archives please- that was great.
I write my own plans to fit into my busy schedule based loosely on the runners world plan.
My day was a 6 but would have been better if it had not been pouring down rain and 33 degrees…
YOU were the FIRST running blog that I read!!!

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The first was a turkey trot in middle school. I had never ran before (other than in gym class) and my Mom asked me to do it with her. It was awful. I complained the whole way..told my Mom I would never run again and thought I would never finish unless I walked. Moms really do know best—now I’m a running addict and loveee everything about it:)

For running blogs..I google some key words of what I’m hoping to read about or have questions and type blog after and they pop up. But I narrow it down to a few favs..obviously yours is at the top…its more REAL! Thanksss for that..I feel like you don’t need to impress anyone…

No worries with the 4..totally relate. But low-totem pole days are followed by the best days..make the best of your day before 10am and your day will continue tooo go that way..that’s how I keepp on track!

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I’m impressed that you ran your long runs on a treadmill. I don’t think I could cope. I just forced myself to run in blizzards. My first marathon was SLC marathon 2009. I also ran the 2010, but I’m not as fast you.

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OMG your marathon post made me cry…

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Is this supposed to encourage me to run Chicago? Haha. I do keep checking to see if registration is open yet…

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LOVE reading the archives! Can’t believe you WON and BQ’d on your FIRST marathon!! You are amazing. And your’s was the first running blog I found! I found it through someone posting on their blog about it. It’s definitely the best!

P.S. you should be proud – I’m finally dragging myself to a pump class tonight, which is the first one I’ve been to since we went…and it’s at the gym closest to my house which I’ve never been to yet. I’m actually nervous – is that weird?! probably. :)

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” Who really shares their symphony bar with 4 other people?”

I wanna know who eats only part of a candy bar/chocolate and comes back at a later time?!?

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Love love love this post! I’m going to be posting some re-caps of some things I did before blogging too and I was kind of worried about that, so thank you for making me feel better. You aren’t lame, and I’m not lame, so there is no way that this is lame. I want to read the other two!
My day is about a 5, but I just scored a GIANT bag of candy from a holiday work party so I think its about to upnotch to like an 8.
I’m thinking I’m actually going to post about how I found about running blogs at some point (a plan is formulating in my head muahahaha (evil laugh) so you will just have to wait and see!!

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Very 1st race – Texas Marathon w/ my daughter (we did the half). It got me hooked. I found out about running blogs through my friend Teresa who told me about you when I was training for my first race. Again, I am hooked.
My day is a 5. It has ben rainy, cloudy, crappy weather here in Texas for the past 2 weeks and I am so ready for some sun. I am going on a group run tonight in the rain and I’m sure by the time I am done I’ll be at an 8.

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I loved reading this!!! How fun. I look at my old race pictures all the time. You really rocked that! Can you do a blog about how to run faster for slow people like myself??? I was thrilled at my 4hr time but would love to be in the 3something time. I think you should do recaps ALL the time!!! It’s so motivating! I can’t remember my first race, I grew up doing Race for the Cure’s 5k so who knows. My first BIG race was a 1/2 marathon in Taiwan. Crazy fun. My day is prob a negative 5. Got a sick baby and cabin fever. Yuck. So keep up the recaps and maybe teach me how to be fast while your at it!!!!

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My first race was a 5k in Portland, Oregon is December 2008 (to conclude the Couch to 5k program I had done that fall to teach myself to run more than 30 seconds at a time!). My first marathon was the Berlin Marathon in September 2010. I like to call that two year period Couch-to-Marathon ;)

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My first race was a swim meet when I was five years old! I consulted the book Advanced Marathoning for my latest training plan, but didn’t stick to it exactly. I don’t remember exactly how I found running blogs, but doing so motivated me to chase a sub 3-hour marathon. I just ran the Tucson Marathon in 2:59, and have blogs to partially thank for that!

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First race was Corporate 5k… technically the Bike Race may have been first.

lol at least you posted so we know you’re still alive!!

Day was pretty boring but all days right before the holiday are at LEAST 7-8 status bc IT’S ALMOST CHRISTMAS!!

I think I found them through PB Fingers blog originally? so through healthy living blogs??
NOW I’M ADDICTED.

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wow lady you are such a speedster. Way to freaking kill that marathon. What happened with Boston?

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Hehe you speedster. I love seeing the old photos! I love looking through previous blog posts, it’s like a blast from the past.

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Well, this one made me cry (I’m such a nerd – fairly new to running and am planning on doing my first half this summer) so bring on the others!! It’s inspirational to hear about people’s early runs and to see how far you’ve come!!

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My first race was a 1/2 marathon in 2008!
I loved your old school race recap and would love some more!!!
The first running blog I found was Skinny Runners because I was googling Garmin reviews. After hers I found yours and have been hooked on both of yours since (plus a few others and then starting my own)

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My first race was the indoor mile freshman year of high school. I did not listen to the coach about pacing and I totally crashed and burned somewhere during lap #6. My first marathon was Surf City 2010. I know a guy who wrote a book about marathoning and how to BQ, he writes/oks my training plans. I had a pretty awesome day today. Nothing special happened, but it just felt like a good day. Not sure how I found out about running blogs, I guess it just happened!

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Girl – you is the sh*t. I can’t believe you BQ’d and won your AG on your first marathon. So inspiring!

What was the very first race you EVER did? First marathon?
— First race was a Halloween 5K, October 2010. I think it was 33:xx. First marathon will be November 2012 – Richmond Marathon. So looking forward to it!

Was this the lamest/laziest thing I have ever done on the blog and should I take it down right now or do you want to read the other two recaps from my old blog at some point too?

— No answer to the first part, yes please to the last. I needz more inspiration.

Where do you get your training plans?

— I’ve done Higdon, SmartCoach. My next half is from the book “Run Faster”. I’m still working out where the marathon will come from – maybe Advanced Marathoning.

Rate your day 1-10?
– 8. Got to have a great lunch with an ex-boss/friend, ate a heavenly persimmon, made progress on a project that had been stuck for a week.

How did you find out about running blogs?
– I found HealthyTippingPoint and CarrotsNCake from the Marie Claire article months ago, and then the rest from links in posts from there, I think.

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I loved reading this recap. Please do more! Um and by the way..you rock! First marathon and first in your age group?! AMAZING!

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I found out abt running blogs from your cycling class- I’ve always been a running nerd (since I was abt 12- so I was so excited!!) and loved this post!!! And my day was a 10!

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Before i knew there were running blogs I went to the forums at runners world. It was either in the nutrition or training forum that i came across your website. I clicked on it and was reading all about you making your lunches for the week (ginormous salads) in tupper wares and i though I am totally like this girl. and that is how my blog world began………….and someday I will start my own probably just as everyone else is on to something else.

Hope you are sleeping and read this tomorrow. The teachers mental state pre-Christmas break…….I am right there with you! Unfortunately we have 4 days next week still.

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loved this! the pic where it looks like the b man is high fiving you is so cute! i hope that you have that framed up in your house somewhere.

what an amazing 1st marathon story. loved my first, the other 5 weren’t so great but i still have hope!

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I loved reading this, don’t take it down! You are awesome for getting first place in your first marathon. I’m not even sure how I found out about running blogs. I think I found one blog one time and just started finding all the others!

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i liked the ol’ recap! I don’t have time to get caught up on all you bloggers’ running history so it’s kinda cool if you pull out some of the best ones for us!

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What a great post girl! You are awesome and definitely an inspiration for how great you did on your FIRST marathon and how far your blog and you have come today! My day was about a 5 and then I realized my mom made homemade chicken spaghetti after I got of work and it quickly became an 11! :)

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Loved reading this, keep em coming!

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Damn Girl!! First place and a BQ the first time around!! Wow!! I’m speechless!!

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My first race was the local 5 mile turkey trot a few years back. Before that I just ran to run and didn’t even really think about racing. First marathon was this year in Hartford :)

I found running blogs the old fashioned way. My friend emailed me and asked me if I read some and the rest is history.

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That’s such an amazing time for your first marathon!

My first race was a little over a year ago- Hot Chocolate 5k in Chicago. I had already been running for a bit but then I found a race that involved chocolate… sold.

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My day was a 5, started off good, got annoyed with some things at work, but then ended better! :)

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My first marathon was TOU in 2005! I actually found out about running blogs because my sis-in-law emailed me a link to your blog and said she thought it looked like something I would like to read. She was right! I’m hooked on healthy living blogs now, and even started my own running blog.

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You are incredible! 3:20 for your first ever marathon!? That’s amazing! Post more of these! My very first race was the Bridge to Bridge 12K in 2007 in SF, and I think I walked part of it – I’m not sure I knew what “training” meant back then!

Training for the marathon I followed Hal Higdon’s Intermediate Marathon plan – and I loved it! I didn’t miss a single training run and it helped me so much!

Today was…. a 6 (- pts for work, + pts for a pedicure and pilates) but it will soon be an 11 when we make our homemade pizzas for dinner! I hope your day gets to a 12 in 32 minutes!!

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Great post–definitely don’t take it down! I love first marathon stories, and yours is a great one. Way to totally kill it on your first time out, Speedy!

The first race I ever did was a company 5k that my coworkers dragged me to in 2007 (freezing rain!), but I didn’t really get into running until a friend convinced me to run the NYC Marathon for a charity she worked for in 2010. I finished, albeit slowly, and immediately wanted to sign up for another so I could beat my time. Now I’m hooked!

I used Hal Higdon’s plan first, then took a running friend’s advice, and now I steal plans off of blogs like yours. :D Thanks!

Like Susan, I found HealthyTippingPoint from the Marie Claire article (linked from Jezebel) when I was training for my first marathon, and then I just kept clicking links. I love the tight-knit community of young women fitness bloggers, and reading all of your stories has kept me excited about running and signing up for more and more races!

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I love reading race recaps!
My first marathon was San Francisco. My first race was a 5k that I did when I was in the Air Force. I was exhausted afterwards. ;)
I have used Runner’s World to get my training plans too although now I come up with my own or a do a variation.
My day was about a 6. Crazy busy with work but just had some cinnamon toast and that kicked it up a notch.
I honestly just stumbled onto your blog somehow and yours was the first running blog I started following. :) xo

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Janae – I had never read the story of your 1st marathon before…. BUT I LOVE IT!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!

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Thanks for posting this- SO fun to read! I remember the first time I read your blog, the first bit of the post was along the lines of ‘this is not a healthy living blog’ and then you proceeded with sharing your fro to, ice cream and candy eats…and then some crazy ass distance you ran that day- I was hooked!

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First race ever was a 5k (while training for my first half). I finished in 24:xx and placed in my AG!! I was sooo thrilled!

I loved this post! I love reading race recaps, even old ones. I think they are so motivating.

Recently I used Brad Hudson’s Run Faster book and LOVED it. I got the recommendation from Blue Eyed Runner and she was so right about. I blew my half PR out of the water. I’m going to use it to train for NYC next fall :)

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I use Smart Coach as a guide. I run 3 days per week so it works for me. My first 5k was a disaster. I ran/walked it and wondered why someone would pay to do such a miserable thing. 4 years later I’m on my way to my 3rd marathon.

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my first race was the chicago marathon…it was SO much fun i did it again the next year…then suddenly became addicted!

ive used runner’s world too but for boston training im using hal higdon yayyyy.

i think that was an awesome post!! the fact u took first in ur age group is amazing!

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I love your excitement and enthusiasm. It never seems to wane. I know you are not all sunshine and roses all the time, but your love of LIFE always shows, Janae. So fun to read about your first marathon!

The first blog I followed was Random Thoughts from the Zoo. She is a Utah mommy to 8 (pregnant with number 9) who is funny, gorgeous and runs! She just ran her first marathon this year at St George. And I think I found your blog through hers :)

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I LOVED THIS POST! Vintage HRG, heck yea!

I cannot get over what a sweetly supportive husband you have, you two make such a great pair! :)

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I would LOVE to read more race recaps, training plans, etc. I recently signed up for my first half (in May) and started looking for some good running blogs. I found your blog a few weeks ago and LOVE it. But I just don’t have time to go back in the archives of all my new-found running blogs, so I was so glad to see a race recap today. Keep ’em coming!

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I love love love that first picture of you and Billy. It is so sweet.

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What was the very first race you EVER did? First marathon?

-First race…hmm, I guess spints in HS. First ‘grown up’ race was the 2010 R&R Philly 1/2 marathon…the beginning of the obsession. First marathon was the 2011 Pocono Run for the Red. I BQ’d but by less than a minute, and registration probably closed well before I would have been able to register anyway.

Was this the lamest/laziest thing I have ever done on the blog and should I take it down right now or do you want to read the other two recaps from my old blog at some point too?

-I thought it was interesting…lets the ‘newish’ racers know we haven’t been missing all of this for years and years!

Where do you get your training plans?

-Combined some basic plans from Runners world and other locations…I tend to improvise a lot.

Rate your day 1-10?

– 7. Husband and I took the day off to do some christmas shopping.

How did you find out about running blogs?

-I’m not exactly sure…was linked to one via another not too intriguing blog and somehow now have quite the list of regular running blogs I read. It’s motivational for my own running, but kind of makes me feel like a stalker :)

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Your first race is like your first kiss — it will always hold that special place in your heart so share away!

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