Salt Lake City Half Marathon



My poor quads are still burning and the lactic acid is staying strong. I have only gotten sore once before in a half marathon (this was my 22nd). My Salt Lake City half marathon was mostly downhill, which led me to pull off some 7:55 mile paces, but unfortunately, my quads were so sore by the end. Mile 11-12 was uphill and unfortunately, my body didn't kindly take to shifting from quads to other muscles and it slowed me down. However, I was fine with my finish time.

But, the race was beautiful with 70 degree temperatures in one of my favorite cities. The beautiful and fragrant spring flowers greeted me throughout the course, as did cherry blossoms with the wind blowing the pink blossoms all around. I loved this race and would do it again anytime. I love SLC and I love running, so put them together when it doesn't involve snow and I'm a happy girl.

I also celebrated an early birthday while in Utah with my cousins. We ate delicious thick banana splits and milkshakes at Leatherbys, discovered daffodils and spectacular colors of tulips at Temple Square, and toured the Gateway.

My poor brother was supposed to travel to Spain and France on Sunday, but his flight got canceled with the volcano. Soo sad.

I have been waking up early, stupid early. Friday I got up at 5am for a work function, Saturday I got up at 3:30am AZ time for the race and Sunday I got up at 5:00am AZ time to take my brother to the airport, only to have his flight canceled.

This weekend I will be in LA, then my birthday, then off to Peru for a full marathon, then a triathlon in Arizona, then the Great Wall of China marathon--my even poorer quads.

Ironman

I entered the Ironman lottery to go to the World Championships in Hawaii. Guess what? Yet again, my name is not on the list. .Wasn't meant to be...NYC and Hawaii weren't meant to happen this year. But I have the SLC half, Lima, Peru full, Great Wall of China full and a tri, so can't complain. Someday, somewhere my name will be on a list. I am hopeful. Doing another quick aquathon race this evening (swim and run).

Fun Stuff

I can still salsa dance like I never stopped. I forgot how much I love it. I did a 5K race today and raised funds for Haiti. And...I came in first in my age group. Yeah! I got a medal that says First Place Female 30-34.

NYC

I entered the lottery to get into the NYC marathon. You have to enter the lottery to get in. Here is my rejection:

"Dear Jennifer Purdie,
We’re sorry, but you were not selected in the ING New York City Marathon 2010 lottery. We appreciate your commitment to running with NYRR."

I'm pretty bummed out about it :( All of my friends got in except for me. Someone over Facebook emailed and told me to do the NYC or Boston Marathon for charity. He said his wife raised money for one of the marathon charities and got in to these races.

Happy Easter

I got woken up from an Easter nap by an earthquake. I thought I was going crazy. It's Arizona and AZ doesn't get earthquakes. I've been in quakes before in Washington and Chile, so know what they feel like, but could hardly believe this was happening in the southwest desert. I guess stranger things have happened.

I'm engaged!!!



He is Australian Curtis Stone. You may have seen him on Celebrity Apprentice, Take Home Chef, the Today Show, Biggest Loser or Surfing the Menu. He is the love of my life and he gave me a 5 carat diamond ring. I am moving into his LA mansion and I get to listen to his accent for forever. April Fool's Day! This isn't even a believable April Fool's Day joke. Been playing jokes all day already. I love this day.

Good Traveling News

April 16-18th: Salt Lake City to run a half marathon (No Boston Marathon for me that weekend. Someday, like maybe in 20 years or when pigs fly, whichever comes first)
April 23rd-25th: Running in Los Angeles and celebrating my birthday, which actually falls on the 27th
April 30th-May 2nd: Lima, Peru Marathon and visiting a very good Peruvian friend
May 10th-May 18th: Great Wall of China marathon

Plus, a duathlon and a triathlon in between those events...but not training much since Ironman Arizona. Oh well, finish times do not matter, right? Wrong, but I'll have to try not care :)

My roommate of 7 years moved out and I'm living solo. Yes, I have a security system!