On the training plan today:
7 miles at a 10:50 pace.
What I actually did:
10.1 miles at a 10:47
So far I’m really not following my training plan all that well. I either ignore the pace or ignore the distance. But I’m really not that concerned. I’m being FLEXIBLE.
Or at least, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
My Garmin did throw a fit again and said I burned 16,000 calories today. I wish I knew why it was doing that and how to make it stop. It just starts acting weird for a couple runs, then it seems to straighten itself out. It doesn’t really matter as long as it gets the distance/pace data correct I’m good, but it’s still an annoyance…
So, you may be wondering, “Jill, what are you training for? You keep mentioning a training program, but you haven’t let us know what you are training for right now.”
So I’m making it official and letting you all know…
I’m registered for the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon on July 18.
The race actually takes the participants through Bryce Canyon National Park. If you’ve never been to any of the national parks in Utah, you are seriously missing out. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this region. Of course, I did grow up in this area so it does hold a special place in my heart. But if you can stand amongst the towering cliffs and colorful rock without feeling some kind of awe or amazement at the beauty and power of nature, then you must have a heart of stone. An ugly gray stone. 🙂
I have no specific time goals. I’m just going to enjoy the beautiful scenery while getting in a good run. My mom is going to do the race that day too, so it’s another girls running trip!
Here are some pictures of the Half Marathon from the Bryce Canyon Country web site.
Here are the results of a search for Bryce Canyon on Flickr.
It truly is a beautiful region. I’m excited.
Jill Will Run 
I am jealous. I wish I could run that race. Unfortunately, I doubt I’ll be able to make a trip. My husband is running a triathlon the weekend before that and there is still the issue of NO MONEY. SIGH. I can’t wait to hear all about it. When we drove to Moab last year, I loved, loved, loved the scenery through Southwest Utah. We both vowed to take a trip there soon.
You are doing a better job of following your plan than I usually do. I look at those plans as “guidelines.” That may bite me in the behind… I enjoy running longer runs closer to “race pace.” Maybe that is why I am fighting injury right now. Hmmm….
The “guidelines” idea is appealing to me now. But I am looking at the long run pace as a way to build endurance without injury… perhaps that’s the logic behind it. I don’t know that I fully understand. Maybe after the RRCA coaching we’ll know more!
Darn, just as I thought I would be able to finally cheer you on, I realized the date is two days after we leave to visit Dan and then go on our cruise. Well, one of these times.
Stub, someday I plan to run another race in Utah so that people can come cheer for me!
I’ve been to Bryce and it is AMAZING! How cool that they have a half marathon-I never knew! WOW!!! I want to do it! Good for you!!
You should plan on it someday, it would be a great escape from your big city life!
hey at least you aren’t cutting all the runs short! that’s usually my main issue 🙂
sounds like it’ll be a cool race! funny about the heart of gray stone line 😉
You’re runs that are “cut short” are longer than most of my mid-week runs, so you’re pretty rockin’ still!
That is one place where if I ran, I would totally be like you and not care about my time. I love that the Southwest is so open and beautiful like that. I have not been to Bryce, but have been to Zion and Monument Valley, and wow, they are truly beautiufl. I don’t have words to describe them.
Zion is stunning too, but in a completely different way from Bryce. I truly love the Southwest, I can’t imagine living in places where it isn’t this open.
I ran that race last year!! It’s absolutely gorgeous. We stayed in the small town that you actually run through during the course of the race, some little log-cabin looking things. haha, it was really cute.
I Must warn you though – its a LONG stretch of downhill running at the beginning. I didn’t train Running downhill, and this was pretty hard on my legs! I got a PR that I doubt I’ll beat for a long time, haha, but wow I was totally Spent at the end of this race.
Thanks for the tip on the course. I’ll keep that in mind! Congrats on the PR, even if it did wipe you out!