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!
So my 4th marathon is in the memory bank. It was my slowest marathon to date, yet I feel good about the whole thing considering what I was able to bring to the table for this one. I had assumed that I would probably be in the 4:15 - 4:30 range, I just wish that it would have felt a little bit easier than it did.
In July I hurt my achilles and took 4 weeks off when I should have been ramping up my miles, this past Wednesday I decided to start getting sick and the weather was nice and warm! So I feel very good about how things played out. I took it easier when I felt like something may be on the verge of getting hurt and I ran a bit faster at other times. I was diligent in taking some walking breaks as I had promised myself and my PT dude.
My parents and our daughters were at the finish line for us this year. It's the first time my parents were able to come to a marathon and watch. I was excited to see them as I ran to the finish line but I never saw them and they never saw me. : ( There were a lot of people coming in when I was coming and I must have blended in with the crowd. They were able to see Tom and Terry come in though.
It was hard to see lots of people go down or have to be shuttled off the course this year. I'm curious of how many DNFs there were.
It was fun to have Terry and his family with us at the condo again! It was also fun to meet Jeff Shadley and his cute family who stayed in our condo next door.
I am writing this report back at home on Sunday and feeling quite well. For some reason I don't get quite as stiff and sore in my muscles as most people. I will take things easy this next month and then I think I will put some time into 5K speed work again like I did last winter.
Yesterday Tom and I went over to the PT pool and did an hour of pool running.
This morning I went out for a short and sweet run. Short=3miles, Sweet=slow, feel good, perfect temps! I have been feeling very good since the marathon. It was nice to go out and feel good today. I'm afraid this may be the last day of the perfect temps for a bit. Hopefully more will come after this cold spell that is approaching.
Six with Tom in the glorious fall weather! LoVe It!
Today we heard from our son in Denmark that he has been transferred for his last 6 weeks. I'm sure that is hard to have a change like that right then, but he has a wonderful attitude and is doing some great things! Can't wait to see that boy!
On my own with my own thoughts today. Kind of peaceful. Enjoyed the river trail along with many others. I'm always surprised how bundled up everyone gets when it's 50 degrees though. I'm in shorts and short sleeves and they are in layers of longs!
Beautiful days don't get much better than this. Absolutely gorgeous outside today! Tom and I enjoyed the trail and there are only a few grasshoppers left...that helps make it even more beautiful!
After my run I usually take my doggy out for a walk around the neighborhood. Today I was lucky to bump into 3 gentlemen from my neighborhood and sat out and chatted with them for a bit. Ben, Phil and Richard. Two of them were having fun telling me all about their running and pole vaulting days. The other one had fun telling me his "running from the cops" stories. They all had lots of stories to tell and were so excited for a new audience to listen! They were giving me quite the chuckles! The thing is, two of them are older and have health problems and the one that is probably 8 years older than me is dying of liver cancer. And yet, today as they talked and remembered their glory days they were all very happy and you would never know that any of them had any health issues at all. It's amazing how stopping to listen can help someone in need. I need to stop and listen more often. Not only to neighbors but to my very own wonderful loved ones!
Tom and I have been taking advantage of him working at home and going out in the later morning in the sunshine for our runs. This morning we decided to get out in the dark morning with the SF gang. It was still shorts and short sleeve weather though so it was nice. And the big ole moon up there lighting our way for the first while was quite enjoyable!
Not many with our group this morning, just us, Hal, Doug and Lori and their son,Tyler. Even though there weren't many in our group today there were lots of people out and about. Lots of fun to see people enjoying health, beautiful weather and beautiful surroundings!
This morning there was a mighty chill in the breeze to start with. I just ran around wherever the wind blew me. It was kind of nice to mix things up a bit. Still able to be in shorts and short sleeves. Love it!
I went out with Tom into the dark, chilly, windy morning. We decided to start out going west so we wouldn't have to run straight into the wind at the beginning. We headed down to the ball park where I was happy that they keep the bathrooms open. Then we turned east but the wind wasn't as bad now that we were warmed up. As we headed up into the river bottoms we noticed a little red in the sky between the east mountains that told us eventually there would be some sunshine coming our way.
We went up 5 mile hill and back toward home. Tom was finishing with 6 but I was doing my long run so I ran around the block while he went in the house to bring me a drink. It was nice that I didn't have to take the time to go into the house...that seems to make it hard to get going again.
I headed back out and the sun was starting to shine. I went back down into the river bottoms and up the trail. It was so pretty with the colored leaves all over the trail and the golden corn stalks shining in the sun. Then looking through the trees and up to the mountains covered in all their colorful glory...who could not enjoy a morning like that!? It made me realize that I not only love to run, I love that I CAN get out and run! And I love that I'm out enjoying one of the beautiful seasons God has created for me!
At the top of the trail the mighty wind was just a howling! I grabbed a drink at the fountain and let the wind push me back on my way. A pebble hopped aboard in my right shoe with about 4 miles left. I really didn't want to get it out so I kept doing the shuffle kick to get it somewhere that it didn't bug me too much.
I decided that since Tom would be doing his own thing today I may as well wait till the sun was shining to go out since I would be alone either way. It was a good choice, but it took too long to get out the door. I knew that once I was out there I was going to enjoy things, I just had a hard time taking that first step today.
But true to my thoughts, it was very nice to be out there! This kind of beautiful day isn't going to be around much longer here in our parts. I am happy I was able to go out and run in the crunchy leaves! LoVe It!!
This morning I went to my friend's house and did some circuit training. I am hoping to be able to do that a few times a week. After sending the kids off I went out for a run. Next week I hope to start throwing in some speed work.
Waited around till just before lunch to run with Tom. I love when he can work at home!
Our good neighbors just remodeled their already-nice-house. So today they came to ask us if we knew who could use their "old" sofa and love seat. ME!!!! I so needed them in my basement! I am so excited! Yay! Thanks good neighbors!
Well I didn't have to pay for this or actually race it and I didn't get a bib number and I didn't get an official time but I did run it as a pacer and I did get a shirt and a medal so I will call it a race.
Tom and I paced the 2:30 group which was actually quite fun. A little different experience for both of us but we really had a good time with it.
