Weekly RUNdown and Turkey Trot Recap

I am learning something about myself since I've started doing this weekly RUNdown- I am really good and motivated at the beginning of the week, but around Thursday everything falls apart.  It's not good... at least as far as running goes anyway.  In other aspects it has been great!  I've had more sleep, spent more time with family, and generally enjoyed myself over the last few weeks.  After a year of hard work and dedicated running, I think it's a good thing to put less pressure on myself.  (This is me talking myself out of a guilt trip.)  Here's the RUNdown:

Monday: Hill Sprints with Mindy.  5.04 miles (271 ft. gain), 9:12 pace.
Tuesday AM:  Yasso's!  4 sets: 3:10, 3:23, 3:19, 3:21.  This was the first time using the "workout" function on my Garmin.  It was awesome!  The only thing that annoyed me is that I couldn't tell what my pace was.  It was great not to have to mess with buttons and worry about going over a half mile.  I will definitely be using it again.
Tuesday PM:  IT Band strength training exercises- hips, buttocks, calves, feet.  45 minutes.
Thursday:  TURKEY TROT 5K
Friday:  Black Friday shopping from 3:30 AM until 3:30 PM.  This totally counts as a workout!

Last Week's Goal:  Strength train twice a week.  Failed.  Again.  What is with me?!  Let's look at the positive.  The past two weeks I've been consistent at strength training every Tuesday.  That's better than I was doing before!

This Week's Goal:  Do a long run with a tempo in the middle at marathon goal pace- 8:12 mile.  I would like to do a 12 mile run with 4 miles warm up, 6 miles at 8:12 pace, and 2 miles cool down.  I've missed doing a long run for two weeks in a row.  It's time to get. it. done.

Now for the good stuff, race recap.

I. LOVE. THIS. RACE.  It's so very small town- no chips, no official bibs, no official start line- just a place where everyone gathers in the street to run.  Lots of families turn out for the race and there are bikers and walkers and strollers and kids on scooters.  Everyone is so excited for Thanksgiving and that is what makes it so fun- the feeling in the air is tangible.

My Turkey Trot Bib (Yes, they are actual bibs)- Name, favorite number, and "WILL RUN FOR BUTTER!"  Ain't that the truth.

The race was a lot bigger than it was the year before.  (I'm sure it's because it was 40 degrees warmer this year than it was last year!)  Last year we all came in with frost beards.  You don't believe me???  Here's the proof!

This is my BIL Austin as he crossed the finish line last year.  It was -5 degrees!  He won an award for best frozen beard.

Look close- I've got a nice frozen goatee on my face.  I started waxing shortly after this.

You never can tell just who will show up for a race, so I was just planning on running the best I could and let the chips fall where they may.  I was hoping to place so that I could win a prize.  (That is the other great thing about this race- the prizes are seriously awesome- skull candy headphones, one hour massages, overnight stays in Park City, running gear, entries to marathons, and the list goes on).

We started and I came around the first corner and Darcy was there cheering for us!  She couldn't run this year, but she was the best cheerleader ever!!!!  It made me so excited and after a bit I could tell I was running too fast.  I looked at my watch and I was running a 5:58!  Best be slowin' down, Amy.  Throughout the rest of the race I felt like I ran pretty consistently.  There is a hill in the middle of the course so my middle mile was slower, but I was definitely putting out maximum effort.  My splits ended up being:

Mile 1- 6:54
Mile 2- 7:14
Mile 3 (.95)- 6:41

2.95 miles 20:33 with a 6:58 average pace/mile.

I am very, very happy with this even though I didn't win anything this year.  The winner of the women crossed in 17:50 and second place wasn't far behind her.  Isn't that amazing?!  I was the 5th woman to cross the finish line.

The cool part about this race for me was that it is the only race that I ran last year as well.  I improved over last year and that was my main goal!  Last year I ran the course in 21:48 with a 7:20 average.  So I had a 22 second/mile improvement over last year!  I'll take it!

My family is still coming off of our holiday hangover.  I swear I could have slept all day today if I wasn't responsible for three other lives.  This week is pretty calm compared to the last two weeks so I have high hopes that I will be able to hit my workout goal.

How about you?!  I've missed you all!  Tell me what your favorite part of this Thanksgiving weekend was.