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 had all intentions of going with Tom today to watch him in the tu tu run. I was going to hang out for the pre race warm up, do some running myself, watch him and Michelle come in, and do some running after with Tom while we waited for awards. However, our youngest daughter came in to me in the middle of the night and said, "Mommy, I feel like I might throw up." We barely made it to the bathroom on time. I decided I had better not be gone quite as long in the morning since big brothers weren't likely to be much help to a little sister who is throwing up. So I was going to drive in separately and watch the race and then come home. When Tom got in to the race area he called me and told me to forget about coming in. The traffic, roads and parking weren't worth it, especially since the weather conditions were going to mess with the great race he had planned on running.
By that time the girls had woke up and they both ate breakfast and you would never believe that one of them had thrown up in the night. All was well, even after she ate some breakfast! So I decided to go get my run in.
I decided I would be happy with the bronze today since there was a few inches of snow everywhere I would be running and it was still coming down good! But once I got going and feeling the beautiful, peacefulness around me I knew I would get the gold! I decided the bronze is there to get me out and going and the gold is there to keep me out.
I felt a little like a celebrity runner today. Almost everyone who saw me wished me a good morning, way to go, you're ambitious, good job, beautiful day, ect....I didn't run into any other runners but lots of people out shoveling snow or playing with their kids. They all seemed to go out of their way to wish me well.
I haven't heard from Tom yet so I'm not sure how the race ended up.
Snow, beautiful snow! And much needed snow! Have a great day and a great weekend!
Tom and I have both had a rotten weekend. I haven't been able to eat anything since Saturday. Not much sleep either. So I don't think it was in my best interest to get out today. We'll see if that changes later.
I finally felt like I could get out again. I was a little worried because I haven't eaten anything or been able to sleep since Saturday. Tom has been able to take a few days of work to be with me here at home and has taken great care of me. He ran with Beth and I this morning. It felt very good to get out and run. I planned to do whatever my body wanted and it wanted the gold.
I was able to have Tom as my running buddy today. Had a great 5 miler where he was giving me a little training on some striders. I think that might be kind of fun to start doing that a bit.
WOW! If you have never had a chance to really stop and look at the blessings you have in your life, I recommend going out for a run with your significant other in a beautiful snow fall like this morning. Tom and I enjoyed 5 miles with huge snowflakes coming down all around us by the billions! I almost felt like it was the first time I have ever even been in snow. I felt euphoric as I contemplated the great things that I have in my life! Fabulous five miles!
4.5 gives me the silver for today. Almost didn't get out. Thanks to Tom for helping me with the 'get up and go' on this one! Also thanks to my running buddy, Beth, who surprised me with dinner for my family on a night that I had no idea what I was going to feed my family! More tender mercies!
Tom and I bundled up for an early morning run today. I don't usually go at that time, but knew that I wouldn't have another moment the rest of the day to get a run in. In fact, I am barely going to have this minute to write. I thought of the positives and negatives of this morning's run.
Negatives first....early, dark, cold, a good stretch of nasty cold wind.
Positives....it was early, but I couldn't sleep anyway. It was dark, but that made it so we could see the beautiful stars in the sky. (including 2 shooting stars to wish on!). It was cold outside, but I have a running husband who has made sure I have all the greatest cold weather gear to keep me nice and warm! I got the gold on a day that was almost too busy for even a bronze. I averaged a 10:30 pace. And last but not least, got to start the day with some great quality time with Tom!
I think Beth was hoping I wouldn't come by to pick her up this morning because when I got there she was still in her PJs. She got ready and headed out with me anyway. She was only able to muster out 3 miles though. I don't know if she was just too cold or not into it or what. She can usually handle 5 miles with me. So I left her at 3 and continued on for 2 more. I was going to try to keep my 2 alone around 11:00 minute pace. But I ended up with 10:40 for one and 9:51 for the last one. I decided that running is good for the brain and the soul as long as you don't sit and dwell on the 'woulda, coulda, shoulda's'.
Very sad news...Tom and I, along with the rest of our neighborhood sat and watched our friend's house burn down last night. We had all been to a ward party when someone came to tell them their house was on fire. We don't know the total damage right now, but I am sure they have lost everything! What a sad holiday season for them. It made us take a look again at our own lives and realize the many blessings we have.
Tom went out early and picked up 10 or so miles and then came back for me. I thought waiting and having the sunshine would help out. But it was soooo cold! The temp was maybe high teens, with the wind chill it was like 5! Tom said that if we went down to the river bottoms we wouldn't have the wind as bad....WRONG! It was just as bad and then we had to go UP a hill INTO the wind! We thought that when we turned the corner we would be home free...WRONG! The cold wind slapped the side of our faces, we wondered if they would be black with frostbite when we finally made it home. But it was kind of cool to watch the drifting snow blowing past us giving us a "heavenly-cloud like" feel!
I feel like it was a good run anyway...here's the lowdown.
10:31
10:22
12:06 (eek, up hill into the cold, cold wind!)
9:22
9:49
2:35 (pace 10:20)
Have a great day today. Don't forget to count your blessings! I know I am counting and I have lots to be grateful for.
Beth surprised me with a new fleece face warmer that she had made! I told her it was my most favorite Christmas present! It felt so good to pull it up over my cheeks this morning when that wind was whipping at me AGAIN! We were able to get 5 miles in today. When I left her at her house I pushed toward the wind for an extra .50 just to prove to the wind and cold that I am woman hear me roar!
Quite bummed about the Moab half! I thought for sure we would all be running that together this year.
It was a little harder to be motivated about going out today. Maybe because I had to go it alone. I've been use to having Tom or Beth along lately. But I did get out and get my five in. I didn't have it in me to push into the wind for a bonus .50 like I did yesterday, but felt good about the results of today's run anyway. I just ran without checking the Garmin a lot. I decided to do whatever my legs and lungs wanted to do at any given moment. Here is the end results....
Today we didn't have the cold and wind, we got the wet and sloppy instead. I completely over dressed! I forget that right after a snowstorm it isn't the bitter cold that I have been running in lately. Tom got a few miles in while I was getting the kids off to school. Then we got 5 together and ended up at the elementary school to watch our 4th grader, Tani, as Mrs. Claus in the Christmas program. She did an awesome job! She even had a solo and didn't even seem to break a sweat! Way to go Tani!
Treacherous road conditions this morning. Lots of ruts that were frozen over. Seemed like a good equation for a twisted ankle or some other injury. Luckily I was only out for a 3 miler today. 11:03, 10:27, 10:15
This has been one of the great running weeks of my running career! I would assume it is my highest mileage week ever. When I did half marathons a few years ago I only ran 3 days a week. I didn't understand the logic and enjoyment of running 5 - 6 days a week. Today I met up with Tom after his fabulous PR 10K, (see his blog for details!). A little over a mile to get to him and then we were able to finish off 5 miles together. The weather was beautiful! Sun shining! Temps about 25 degrees. No wind. A little slush on the roads here and there, but mostly good footing! Thanks for the encouragement from all of you!
9:36
10:37
10:40
11:32 (this mile included the lovely "Heartbreak Hill" in the upwards direction)
Dang! Just did the whole write up and then lost it! I hate it when that happens! Now I don't want to explain as well, but I'll try.
I wasn't planning on a run today since I have a bunch of last minute things to get done. However, I was feeling a little blue this morning and emailed Tom. He mentioned that a run might be in order. I decided to gear up and head out! I grabbed Rui and we started off. I wasn't planning on trying to go fast, but I knew I had to hurry to get the run done so I could move on with all the other things on the list. I went down into the riverbottoms by way of Heartbreak Hill. From my house, through the riverbottoms and out at storehouse is about a 5K. I ended up doing the first three miles in 28:58. (I know that seems very slow to a heck-uv-alot of you, but to me it was pretty speedy.) I would have tried to see what I could get an actual 5K in, but I was spent. At about 2.85 a couple of dogs came after Rui and I had to use up any extra energy stopping a big dog brawl. So when 3 miles came along I slowed down for a cool down. I wogged the last 1.35 up hill to my house. Glad to get out today. It helped the blues for a minute, but I'm needing a little more to lift the spirits today. I'm thinking the call to Japan at 4:30 just might be the ticket! Can't wait to talk to my missionary son! BTW, life really is good and I am grateful for this beautiful time of year! I just have a lot of things weighing on me as many of you do also. Next week our sister in law will be going in for surgery to take her whole cancerous colon out. We have no idea what will come along with that. I also have a brother who is serving time in jail. It is so hard to see family members suffer. Plus the house fire of our friends a few weeks ago. It's just hard to always be happy and cheerful when there are so many things that are sad with these earthly lives we live.
I hope you all have reasons to be happy and joyful this Christmas season! I am starting right now to only have happy and joyful thoughts and experiences for tonight and tomorrow!
Great Christmas here in Spanish Fork! We had a great time with the kids and my parents and brother who were able to stay with us. One of our highlights was our hour talk on the phone with Lee Choro, (Elder Lee), in Japan. He sounded so good! Just like he was next door! I did very good and didn't cry until about the very last minute. It was a little hard to actually say goodbye. But what a wonderful present to talk to him!
After all the festivities of the morning my parents and brother all moved along to see other family members and the kids were all still having fun with the new merchandise, so Tom and I went out for a run. We didn't have a distance or time in mind, just a nice run together on Christmas. We ended up with an Uneventful, but very enjoyable 10K. I'm going to put my times in for my info.
It took a little coaxing myself to get out today. Luckily I am fortunate to have a little leeway on the times I can run. I got out at about 3:30 this afternoon. There was a light snow with me all the way. I was able to find one long road that wasn't slippery or slushy so I used it to go back and forth on a few times. I really do love it when people look at you like you're a little crazy for running in this kind of weather! One little old lady about took me right out of this world! She came right at me on a 25 mile an hour road going at least 50! I'm glad I was watching what was going on and was able to get out of her way. Maybe with snow all over me and I just blended in with the scenery. Whatever the case, I don't think she saw me at all! I'm not sure I still want to buy cars from little old ladies if they drive like that! Anyway, average pace was 10:35. I went out with the intention of staying at 11:00 but what I did felt right instead!
A solo run back and forth on the only decent road I could find. Average pace 10:16. Overall time 44:06. Then off to Park City with the fam for the day. BRRRRR up there!
First of all a reminder of my personal daily goals.
4 miles = bronze
4.5 = silver
5 = gold
1-3 = participation ribbon
0-1= goose egg
So today I really had my mind set on a goose egg. Everything really would be ok if I didn't go out and run today, (some people may argue that). I even had several excuses in my mind. Too cold, I'm going long tomorrow, I've had some faster miles in this week, I want to stay in and work on my Christmas puzzle, ect... Anyway, come 2:30 and all of a sudden I want at least a "participation ribbon" for today. So on with the gear and out the door! I knew if I could just get out I was sure to get at least 3 miles in. In the first mile I had to push a kid who had just broken down on his four wheeler. I helped him for about a block. That put the heart rate up a bit more than I was planning. Then I ended up on a road that had about 6 inch drifts on it. My bad, I figured it wouldn't be a good route, but I took it anyway. I ended up having an enjoyable run with some great prayer and thanksgiving time in it. I've been trying to make sure that is a part of my runs lately, especially my solo runs!
I needed to get a long run in today. (10-11 miles). Luckily I had Tom to go along with me on this one! We were able to get a nice tour of every corner of Spanish Fork! Most of the roads we found were clear. I am noticing that my training this time is going much better than any other time I have ran. I really think it is the 5-6 days a week running. I never even feel sore the next day. I am wondering if I will feel it a little tomorrow or not. I believe in the active recovery. Thanks Sasha!
Wow, the last run of 2007! I am excited to start a new year and log all of my miles for 2008. I did my 5 miles alone today. Had some decent roads to run on and some beautiful sunshine on my shoulders! I am excited that my overall time was 50:38 for the five. Almost under 50! Here are my times for today. 10:21 10:19 9:52 10:12 9:53.
OK, now for a bit of humble pie. Today Tom and I looked on the internet to the reports of the Painter's half that I ran in 2000 and 2006. My times weren't exactly what I had remembered. So I have now changed it in my personal info. For some reason I had 2:20 and 2:10 in my mind. But in reality they were 2:24 and 2:17.
