cheryl

St. George marathon

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Location:

So. Jordan,UT,USA

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Marathon Finish

Running Accomplishments:

St.George marathon 2007 - 3:35

Short-Term Running Goals:

Run St. George in under 3:30

Long-Term Running Goals:

Be able to run well for many more years; keep injuries at bay by realizing that stretching and strengthening are not optional; yoga is not optional either!

Personal:

I'm in the grand masters category and I hope my best running days are still ahead. I have four children; my son is a junior at Bingham High and runs on the track team.

Miles:	This week:	18.00	Month:	54.00	Year:	1107.50

Sat, Oct 04, 2008

Race: St. George marathon (26.2 Miles) 04:01:14

Total Distance

26.20

It was my birthday today, so I have to stay very positive in my race report. So I'll start with the positives: I am now a member of the St. George marathon 10-year club! And I did qualify for Boston so I have at least two more years to run it if I ever decide that's what I want to do. Any other positives? I completed the marathon with a minimum of walking after my legs rebelled early on. I ran the most even splits I've ever run at this marathon. Usually I negative split by three or four minutes, or positive split by many, many minutes (when I've faded badly at the end). Today I ran the first half in 2:01 and the second in 2:00, so pretty even for me. I was faster than I was when I first ran it 13 years ago. Now the negatives: I was 26 minutes slower than last year. I can only blame about 10 minutes of being slower on the weather, so how do I explain the other 16? I certainly was not undertrained, I ran MUCH more this year than last, I ran much more this year than any previous year, and yet this was my second slowest SGM (besides two that I don't count because I had some health issues during those). I think it all comes down to hamstring/piriformis issues that have bugged me pretty much all year. Aerobically I feel fine, my legs just always feel weak and achy and there is always pain in the hamstring area of both legs. It always takes me a while to loosen up, but with the weather today, I don't think they ever loosened up. So until I get these leg problems taken care of, I will not be setting any more PR's or apparently not even getting close. My husband says my problem may be one that doctors can't help, the problem being getting older and entering the change of life (she whispers). I hope I still have one or two last hurrahs left in me. Stay tuned...

My fellow BBK members--what a great job all of you did. I take some vicarious pleasure in your accomplishments by helping to hook us up with Steve and having him reveal to us the secret to marathon running: lots of miles! Thank you Steve, you're great!! And Sasha, your encouragement and your willingness to answer any questions I've had is always appreciated! It's been a lot of fun being a member of this blog. I enjoyed meeting many of you Friday night.

On a side-note, I have to add one more positive on this day: OJ Simpson was convicted of armed robbery and could be sentenced to life in prison. It's interesting, 13 years ago in 1995 when I first ran SGM, he had just been acquitted of double homicide in that wonderful trial I'm sure all of you remember. I still remember being mad when I ran the marathon. So his legal issues make interesting bookends to my 10 years of running the St. George marathon.

Comments

From Michelle N. on Oct 05, 2008 at 21:03:13

Great job Cheryl. You are so awesome and I thank you for all of your wisdom in our speed work. We all have our bad days, but you are an excellent runner and 4:01 is still a great time. Happy belated birtday.

From Jody on Oct 05, 2008 at 22:27:26

Great job! I wish I could have seen you Saturday, but I was in a daze. You are such an example of dedication and hard work! Thank you!! Happy Birthday!

From Tom on Oct 05, 2008 at 22:31:27

Good job Cheryl! Hey I can relate to the hamstring/piriformis hassles, I've fought this off/on for years now. And I think the cold/wet/windy conditions just magnified any lingering aches/pain problems. Congrats on the BQ and joining the 10 yr. club!

From Cheryl on Oct 05, 2008 at 22:37:07

Michelle-thanks for the comment. Great job for you at the marathon! Without all those stops you would have been many minutes faster, so I say you met your goal!

Jody--You did great also, that time for your first marathon is awesome. It took me 8 tries to get that fast at SGM. So look what's in store for you, faster and faster every year.

From Cheryl on Oct 05, 2008 at 22:38:44

Tom--thanks also for your comment. It was fun to meet you and Kim Friday night. You both did great.

From Julie on Oct 05, 2008 at 22:39:13

Happy belated Birthday. Great job on your race. You are a big part of the success that so many of us had at St. George. I have learned so much from you.

From Cheryl on Oct 05, 2008 at 23:03:07

Thanks, Julie, that's nice of you to say, but you guys do all the running, so I can't take too much credit. I think Steve's ideas really helped. We should have tried this big mileage thing years ago! Think what you'll do next year if you improve as much as you did this year!

From Cheris on Oct 06, 2008 at 00:23:24

You are totally right, I think Steve and his plan of lots of miles did wonders for us--I know it did for me! Thanks for all the encouragement, even when we thought it was crazy! You and Peggy have always taught us so much, I hope you can get vicarious pleasure out of lots more races--and pleasure over your own times, as well. (Although 4:01 is a dang-good time.) BUT I do think the weather can acount for a lot of lost minutes. We can always say "Remember that year when it rained the whole marathon? I RAN through that!"

From Debbie on Oct 06, 2008 at 01:02:07

Cheryl, I am proud of you! You give us all strength, you are so persistent, and fixed on the goal. You are an example to me. As I told you, factoring in age (in a whisper) your the fastest in our group!!!! Happy Birthday!!

From Mark on Oct 06, 2008 at 11:36:33

Great job getting out there and doing it and then reflecting on the positives even though it wasn't really the time you wanted. Maybe you've tried this already and this is tired advice, but a good sports massage therapist might help with hamstring/piriformis? Mine has done wonders for me (hip/lower back in my case)

From peggy on Oct 06, 2008 at 11:52:36

Way to go to make it into the 10-year club. Another goal accomplished. And I think you have more great running years ahead. After all, you're only my age!!

From Cheryl on Oct 06, 2008 at 14:29:41

Thanks, everyone, for your encouraging comments.

Cheris--You did great and I always, always, always appreciate your upbeat and positive attitude!

Debbie--That's about the nicest thing anybody's ever whispered to me. Don't know if it's true, but thank you anyway!

Mark--Thank you for your comment. Who is your massage therapist? Do you know of any good physical therapists? How about psychiatrists (that one's a joke! I think).

Peggy--You're right, I almost forgot we are the same age, so next year I expect to do as well as you. No more age excuses!! You have only a few more years before you're inducted into the fittest AARP group you've ever seen. Did I mention everyone at the 10-year dinner looked a little older, but they all looked in great shape!

From Kelli on Oct 06, 2008 at 15:59:42

Cheryl, you are a true inspiration!! Just think of how many young people you beat---thousands!!!

What a way to spend a birthday---a marathon in the rain. Lovely. I think I would have chosen Disneyland int he sun or something!

And that OJ thing is quite interesting!! I did not know he had been convicted, but it is due time for him to be behind bars.

Thanks for all of your advice and help the last month and a half, I know it helped me tremendously! You are GREAT!

From steve ashbaker on Oct 06, 2008 at 18:37:16

Cheryl, You are way too hard on yourself. Anybody who fights as hard as you do in a race will always have my honest respect. I am glad you gave yourself some credit though. Interestingly enough I seem to have have the exact same problem right now. It is not so much in the back as it is in the piriformis area. Coincidental that we also have hamstring issues too?

From Mark on Oct 07, 2008 at 09:59:49

Unfortunately I am in the Tampa area, so my recommendation wouldn't help very much - unless you find yourself out this way, in which case I'd be happy to pass along her contact info. I talked to other injured runners to find my therapist. Good luck on your recovery and training - you have some good races ahead with your positive mental attitude.

From Cheryl on Oct 08, 2008 at 00:31:21

Steve--it is interesting that we have similar issues. I hope you get over yours sooner than it's taken me. Actually, I'm still not over mine, but my goal for the next few months is to get totally healed up. Hope things are going ok with you otherwise.

Mark--that's interesting that you live in Tampa. I've lived in St. Augustine and Jacksonville, so I'm a Floridian at heart. And go Rays!

Kelli--Once again, thanks for always leaving nice comments on my blog. I really appreciate it.

From Kelli on Oct 08, 2008 at 13:18:19

You are ever so welcome, Cheryl! You are amazing and I just want you to know it!

From Brent on Oct 08, 2008 at 21:00:08

Cheryl, congrads on the 10-year club again, very great accomplishment.

Stay Kool, B of BS Rools out

From erico on Oct 09, 2008 at 00:48:53

Cheryl, hear you have been secretly doing recovery runs on your treadmill. Probably watching flashbacks from the OJ trial. I have to say I am pleased with the outcome of the latest trial, and it shows that bad behavior eventually catches up eventually.

Happy Birthday! Wishing you lots of healthy running for the upcoming year.

Thanks for being an inspiration to get out there on the pavement no matter the conditions and give it your best.

From Cheryl on Oct 09, 2008 at 21:57:36

Brent--Thank you for that. I enjoyed meeting you and Sylvie at the Friday night gathering, and then seeing you again at the 10-year dinner. Good luck with your running.

From Cheryl on Oct 09, 2008 at 22:04:16

Erico--Rumors of me secretly running on my treadmill have been greatly exaggerated. Thank you for your nice comments. You are an inspiration to me also. What a great running group we have, it's been a lot of fun.

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