I started running in the fall of 2007. I truly believe I was inspired to start running and I have seen some very big blessings come my way because of following that inspiration.
Ran Boston Marathon 2013 & 2014. My favorite PRs: 2011 at the SG 1/2 and 5K where I ran the 5K in 22:22. 2013 Nebo 1/2 (downhill) 1:36:15
Short-Term Running Goals:
Long-Term Running Goals:
Running throughout life with Tom. Staying healthy and happy.
Learn from others, learn from myself, work hard, do my best, enjoy!
On running and on life.....
On occasion we need to make a second effort - and a third effort, and a fourth effort, and as many degrees of effort as may be required to accomplish what we strive to achieve.
~Thomas S. Monson~
Personal:
Going to St. George? Bag the hotel and stay in one of our condos instead!
Wow...I can't believe we are already to a fresh, new month! June passed by so quickly and I'm sure that is what will happen to July and August.
Kay and I were able to get some runnin' time in together this morning. It was great to be with her. She has had some major knee issues keeping her away for quite a while. I think she is getting to the bone on bone stage....very sad. But for now she is plugging away with the pain. After a few miles we were joined by Natalie. By the time I got back home I only had about a half mile left for Rui so after his short run we had a nice little walk. He loves his time out on the leash!
Four for the Fourth. I went out alone and headed up past the pioneer cemetery. When I got there I couldn't stop myself from going in and enjoying a few solemn moments by myself. There is a bench that looks out over the whole south part of the county. From there I could see clearly without any smoke from fires in that direction. It was also nice because the mountains I could see were not black and burnt. As I sat there looking over the valley and thinking of many blessings and trials the sun rays popped over the mountains over my left shoulder. It was a tender moment that was needed from the hubbub of everyday living.
At 5:00 this morning I walked out into the darkness and saw the most beautiful star lineup ever...and then a star burst right across the sky in front of me. It made me happy that I had gotten out of bed and was headed out for my long run.
Tom joined in shortly there after. He wanted 2 less than I was planning so I ran with Dan and Carolyn the three mile way and he ran the one mile to meet up for the rest.
We ran a lot of our regular river bottoms area for the first 10ish and then headed out to Mapelton and ended up in Springville. We had taken a car in last night so we would have a ride home. When we got to the car we enjoyed a little stretching and then went down to get us some breakfast from McDonald's. (Breakfast is the only thing you will find me buying there.) We took our breakfast and went up to watch some of the Hobbler Half people crossing the finish line.
It was fun to meet up with several running friends and watch the excitement of race day without actually racing.
When I got home guess who was anxiously awaiting his turn to get out....yup, Rui. So I grabbed his leash and took him for a nice little walk...no run for him today. But he is always happy for whatever I have to give him.
Joy Nybo was nice enough to wake up early and take her hubby and 5 more of us up Payson Canyon this morning. Tom and I got out earlier than the rest and ran up a bit and then down. Maybe next week I will be ready for an all-down-steep-stuff-run. I just want to be very careful with my knees. Still on plan for a grand slam year with no injuries.
I'm sure 6.5 miles doesn't even touch the big piece of absolutely wonderful chocolate cake I had last night at a wedding! But the cake and the wedding were both delightful! Tom's cousin's son (Brady) married our friend's daughter (Merika). We had a very enjoyable evening with many family and friends. I love to get together like that!
My plan for today was to get a 6 mile tempo run in the middle of my 13. I started out a little sluggish and wasn't sure I had it in me today so decided to just see what happens. After a 3 mile warm up and visit with other runners for a few minutes we started off. I was keeping it easy at first as Tom and a few guys took off a bit faster. The group I was in was lagging a bit so I decided to try to catch the guys and see if I could get my tempo run in after all.
I ended up with a 3 mile/2mile/1 mile progression run. The cool down miles and the Rui mile felt a little harder than I would have liked them to. But I'm glad the guys gave me the motivation I needed to get some faster miles in there.
Three other things define this morning's run:
The "skunk puddle". Carolyn could smell a skunk and then she saw something in the road, therefore it must be a skunk. Everyone stops to sneak carefully around....a puddle.
Dang Chad did his sneak up behind Carolyn and I to give us both an early morning scream session. I hope no one in the river bottoms was yelling at me for waking them!
Bug breakfast....I need to run with my mouth closed...bug in and right down the throat before I knew what hit me. I'm sure it was still wiggling as he took the slide to my tummy. Yuck!
Today's run takes me over the 1000 mile mark for this year. It was a beautiful morning for a run. The air was crisp and a bit cooler. It was nice to run with the group but I ran mostly with Kay and had a nice start to the morning and the week.
Not my favorite night, great run and then not my favorite day. Without going into detail Tom and I were NOT able to get much sleep last night. I "woke up" I say it that way because I was not asleep) at 4:20 to get ready to run down Payson Canyon. Luckily the run went really well but needless to say I was tired when I got home.
Instead of hydrating and eating well I went back to bed for a few hours. When I woke up something was not good at all. I was passing out and hearing buzzing noises. My face was a very wrong color. My cute 11 year old was here with me and I told her that her brother was down stairs and she needed to get him. Anyway....felt terrible, tried to get some gatorade in me and ate a piece of toast with jam. I had a hard time getting much in me and fell back to sleep for many hours. I woke up feeling quite a bit better but as the evening has continued I really don't feel well at all.
Yesterday I had a booster shot at my yearly checkup. I am wondering if these symptoms are actually from that. I really felt like I hydrated right and it was definitely not hot and it was only 8 miles. I am hoping to get a good night sleep and feel much better in the morning.
This evening we went to our 3rd son's final city league baseball game of his career. It has been fun watching him. They lost in the championship game but had a good time.
One more thing...a friend of mine is in the hospital waiting to see if the donor lungs that came in today are a match for her....It kind of puts things in my life in perspective.
I went to bed still feeling quite yucky last night so I decided today would be a good time for a rest day. I am feeling much better so far today. Too bad I have lots of catch up work around the house since I wasn't much good at anything yesterday.
My friend who went in for the lung transplant got there to find that the lungs would not work for her BUT another set with her same rare blood type had also just got there. They had to postpone the surgery a few hours but she has now gone into surgery. Crazy stuff. Her hubby keeps giving facebook updates and said everything is going great. This gal sure has had a positive outlook through her whole journey. She is a great inspiration to all!
I took a few days off since I wasn't feeling well. Today I got out there and could hardly make it through 2 miles. I came back to get Rui and see if he could perk me up. I barely made it one with him and ran into Annette who was just starting out. I brought Rui back and joined in with her for a bit. FINALLY...I started getting out of that nasty funk! I hate when it feels so hard....if it always felt like this morning I would understand why most people hate running. I just hope tomorrow's 20 miler is much easier than today's first 3 miles!
Update: My friend with new lungs is doing well. They call her the poster child of double lung transplants so far. I hope it continues.
Sad news is my best friend's mom passed away. Life continues to have its ups and downs just like it was meant to have.
Luckily I can say the morning was pretty and the scenery was beautiful but the run was dang ugly! Only good thing about it is that it is done! Glad to have Tom, Carolyn and JaNae to help me make it through this one.
My favorite part of the run was when JaNae and I came down off Harry's Hill and around the bend to the sun coming up from the east and looking out over the beautiful valley that we live in to the North/West. Amazing! We were both feeling the gratitude of living in such a wonderful place. It was our little morning spiritual uplift for the day.
I actually had to plug through the last 3 miles alone. I am just happy I did it when I really wanted to bag the whole thing. I hope next week feels much better. I suppose after having the issues of earlier in the week it may not have been the best time for a 20 miler.
Payson Canyon with about 6 others. Such a fun run. I'm glad it is going well so far. It is one of those fine lines....trying to decide how much is enough but not too much.
Today's run felt much better than last week. I am happy it was only 15 though. "Only 15" not sure when I became that person that could say "only 15". :o)
Today's wildlife report. Cute little bunnies who hopped right along side me for a short distance. Monga spider who stopped me in my tracks! Dozens of bats swarming on one section. I hate bats! I just kept telling myself, "they are more interested in all the bugs in those trees than they are in me!"
Glad to have my mom and dad with me in SG to help with some condo remodeling. Time to work.
