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!
I decided to go on my long run today instead of tomorrow since a few of my friends had to do today. I am very glad I have it done and get to sleep in tomorrow! It was nice to have the company of Carolyn and Stephen.
Met Carolyn, Dan and Chad in the rain. Thought we might get poured on but just got the mugginess of it all. But a nice start to a good ole regular week.
There were nine of us to run down Payson Canyon this morning. Carolyn and I were the only girls. When we got dropped off up on the mountain Carolyn and I started walking in the dark toward the "little girl's trees" while the guys walked over to the "little boy's trees". As we were walking over there we could see two eyes reflecting straight at us from our headlights. We looked for a minute and wondered if it were eyes or just a reflection on a sign or pole...and then we heard the grunt/snort! They were eyes and they were conected to something that did not want us looking or going their way! We didn't wait around long enough to find out what kind of eyes they were...we just ran back and was very happy the van had not left yet and we were in the van! The guys were brave and went over to investigate....they got a kick out of it when they got over and found.....a cow....not a bear like we had imagined! I'm pretty sure we will not live that one down. But to tell you the truth I am mighty glad it was a cow and not a bear!
Other than that is was just a glorious run down a beautiful mountain on an amazingly beautiful, starlit morning! LOVE IT!
I'm glad the guys don't seem to mind having me around...without Carolyn today I was the only girl. The first 5-6 miles I did not feel very well and was not sure how far I would get today. Luckily I was able to get through the bad part and enjoy the good.
Payson Canyon again this morning. My plan was to go faster the first 4 miles and then just take it in the last 4 miles. I didn't intend to be with the speedy guys for the first part but decided to try it as we started out. Happy to say I was able to get to the 4 mile water stop with them! After that I slowed it down and let them keep it going from there.
7:48
7:14
7:03
7:12
8:03
8:10
8:09
8:56
I was glad I was done. I am pleased with the splits.
Great run/walk/hike up and down Loafer Mountain today with Tom. I thought I was going to make it without a fall but got a little too confident and fell a couple miles before the end. Luckily made it through without much damage.
Tom and I went out to do some hill work this morning. He ran the whole long hill...I decided to only do half the long hill. I did 10 so that is kind of like doing 5 of the long. It is probably good for me to get out and do hills a bit more before SGM.
Tom and I decided to try to sleep in a bit today but the doggy decided to wake us at 5:18....grrrrr....I'm sure he was protecting us from some big, bad boogey man though so I guess I should be grateful.
Anyway, I went out on my own after the girls got off to school. I had to take something to my daughter at the Jr. High so I decided to run that way and do the riverbottoms loop. What a joke at that time of day! Holy Cow....I honestly believe I would be safer in the dark alone on any road than on that one at that time of day! It is just like being out on a state highway only more narrow! I was pretty much playing Dodge Car for a couple of miles. Not my idea of fun. I am thankful for the two or three people who actually drove slow on that road. I tried hard to give them a big thumbs up so they knew I appreciated them.
Crazy night and morning. Last night Tom and I ended up down at some friends house until close to midnight helping them unflood their basement. This morning at 4:10 we woke up to head up Payson Canyon for a 20 miler. Shoved 12 people in the Suburban along with coolers of water/Gatorade and spent the time dropping water along 4 spots The further we went the worse the weather became. It was just to risky to get out of the vehicle at the top. We were all bummed but came back down gathering all the coolers on the way down and came back home to bed. After about an hour or so of sleep we were all able to get out one way or another and get some miles. I was out of gas way from the beginning. I didn't know what I would be able to do. Luckily I was able to pull out 16. Not pretty, but 16 miles is 16 miles. I actually went up Harry's Hill twice. Then I ran into Tom and some others who almost had me talked into HH a third time. Luckily I got smart as we started and I turned around. I would not have made it without some nourishment which was a couple miles away even without going up and down again.
So I was hoping for 20, planned for 20, went out for 20, then thought I might get 0 or maybe 3 and ended with 16. That will have to be good enough.
Payson Canyon morning! I always love it! Today I got to run it on my birthday. I finished up today with 10 miles which brings my last 7 days miles up to the total of my new age. :)
I was pacing this race with Tom for the 2 hour group. As you can see it was a fail for me. I knew going into it that it was going to be hard for me with this year's training and some down time for sickness and back issues. But I was hoping it would have a little more down hill to make it so I could pace this one ok. I should have traded the 2:10 girl but I didn't. Anyway, I wasn't much help pacing so I decided to let Tom go and just take it in however it came. I ended up having two POP stops which didn't help matters either. So I decided that since I was a pacer I better find others to help along the way even if it wasn't the two hour people.
Some of the trails had been washed over with the big rains and it had some pretty bad places. At one of those places a gal right ahead of me tripped and skidded on the rocks. I helped her up and tried to comfort her a bit and give her some encouragement. She was road burned pretty good on her arms, legs and tummy. She was awesome and ran it off.
About two miles from the finish I found a lady who was struggling a bit so I decided to run with her and help motivate her. She stuck with me to the end and we ran across the finish line together. So even though I failed at my first job I still had the opportunity to help others along the way. In that case I don't feel like a failure.
Looking at this race helps me realize I don't want any pressure for SGM. I am just not ready to prove anything out there this year so I plan to just go and have a fun time. That may mean going fast sometime, it may mean walking sometimes, it may mean stopping to help someone along the way or taking pictures with the crowds. I'm not quite sure what it means right now but I know I am not worrying about time for SGM... I may even leave my watch at home.
