Patience, the NEW Endurance Sport!

I want to take this WHOLE week off!  Saturday KICKED my BUTT!  I stopped to stretch probably 50 times.  I am surprised I ever made it home :)  All of my runner friends tell me that every runner has bad runs, and we all survive!  OK.  I am just gonna have to go on faith!

I may not die!  That is all I have to say!

Same old run up main street and back.  I am feeling MUCH better today.  I may recover from last saturdays CRAPPY 10 miler!!!

I went out on the highway toward Santaquin today.  I needed a change of scenery today.

Easy peasy walk with David.  He is still healing from a pulled calf muscle and I needed a few more miles and this was perfect.  It's nice to walk once in a while.  I remember the days, not too long ago when this loop was really hard for me to even walk.  Ah, sweet progress.

I ran to Salem this morning on the highway.  I was a bit of a chicken and waited for the rain to stop.  It wasn't to bad of a run at all.  Much better than last saturdays 10 miler on the Salem canal path.  The cows were out at very pleasant :)  A few dogs tried to eat me, but I told them to go home and they did.  Hot 6 grain cereal for breakfast seems to not cause me any tummy trouble on my runs.  Good to know!

This week is my first 10 miler in Provo.  I am very excited and super nervous.  This week is my 20% mileage cut back week so I will be doing some easy running and a bunch of Yoga- my miracle "cure all" and injury prevention.  (plus a little zen for the mama of a bunch of roudy chillins)  You know I think I love running because none of my babies can catch me.  I LOVE the "alone" time with me and the cosmic universe ;)

I am really learning to LOVE my cut back weeks.  Although the first run after my long run and my rest day is not always the greatest.  Is there a name for the first mile or so of a run?  I can't think of any nice word for it. 

Anyway- I am really excited about the 10 miler this weekend.  Whats everyones favorite way to taper?  Remember I am a very slow (fast at heart) and low mile girl, but working on it.  "Must live to run another day"  I am in this for life and am in no hurry to get fast.  Ok- a little hurry.  I want to do Hobble Creek in 2 hours and SGM 2009 in 4h.  Pipe dreams?  I've got speed in my jeans (a little giggle with that).

Great run today!  The temp was PERFECT, the breeze was most excellent and I am so glad!  Short and sweet- I have got to get to work.  I love being able to say, "yeah, I ran (whatever it was) today."  (especially the really long runs)  I guess I have been hanging out with little kids so much that I really need the kudos from grown-ups :)

I have decieded that blogging brings out the Polly Anna in me.  I am way less whiny and I find myself looking for the beauty in my run to report in instead of the nasty.

This morning the brids were out and singing away.  The 50's are such nice temps to run in.  I am trying to treasure them as I know they won't be around for long.  The mountains are SO green right now and it smells so nice outside.

I think my feet are getting bigger.  Can they spontaniously grow over night?  They are already HUGE to start off with, but boy do they seem snug in my new shoes.  I am going to go and get a new new pair this week.  My new ones (of just a few weeks) will have to be used for my shorter runs.  They are not working at all for my long runs.

Nice easy run :)  BEAUTIFUL weather and temps!  Srping -when it deciedes to be spring- is wonderful!  My calfs complaied a bit in the beginning, but they gave up when they saw it would do no good!  My ave pace was 12:41 (inclucing walking), best pace was 8:25 (prob for about 10 sec :) 

Lap #1-   1.12 miles (uphill) 12:28

Lap #2-  0.93 miles  11:02

I will walk 2.5 mi tomorrow and yoga in prep for the Provo Riverwoods 10 miler.  I am very excited and am hoping for the best.  If nothing elce- the pancakes at the end :)

Yoga yesterday afternoon was AWESOME!  I always forget how much I LOVE it.  You'd think I could remember from day to day- but every day I am still amazed at how brilliant it is!  yogatoday.com has free classes everyday with 3 different instructors.

For cross training, I weeded my flower beds.  I am pretty sure that is not what is meant by cross training, but what the heck!  I am also making bread.  Thats got some arm work included, right?

I am eating my carbs and praying my running partner gets better for tomorrows Provo 10 miler.  She just got back from Mexico and is still dehydrated from the humidity and heat.  She's a nurse, and I am hoping she hooks herself up to an IV today ;)

Anyway- I am pretty nervous about the race.  Two weeks ago we ran ten miles, and the first 7 were great, but the last three... well I am guessing i hit a wall of some sort.  The week before we ran 9 and it was just dandy.  I don't know what made the difference that week.  On our 10 mile training run, we did go faster than usual, between 10:30 and 11:30 the whole time.  I was impressed and happy with that, but, it felt like someone had beaten me for two days after.  So... needless to say I am a little aprehensive about the run.  I keep rehersing in my head over and over, "shady, downhill, slow is good, just have fun, no pressure."  The devil side of me says..." must go fast or the pancakes will be gone!"  I am constantly surprised at how ying-yang I am.

Good luck to all of you tomorrow too!  Big day for us "fastrunningbloggers"

Lap paces: 10:35, 10:59, 10:49, 10:30, 10:54, 11:10, 11:03, 11:14, 11:10, 10:42, 11:02, 10:37, 10:34, 9:18  Best pace- 6:03  Ave pace 10:55 (exactly what we were going for :)

I'm not quite sure how I ended up with so many laps, I thought I only pressed the lap button at the mile markers- oh wait, there was a potty break and 2 water breaks... that is probably it.  Anyway- not real scientific, but it really ROCKED!!

My official time was 1:52:??, but we started late, because my running partner was stuck in the potty.  Anyway- it's all good and I just wanted to be done in less than 2 hours.

Now, I may have my head in the clouds, but I am thinking that there is a very good shot at doing Hobble Creek in 2 hours-ish.  We'll see :)

OH- note to self- it was FREEZING when they dropped us off.  Just for future reference!

BUT!!! it was BEAUTIFUL!  Perfect running weather and temps!  WOW!  I really loved it and will do it again!

I did an major carbo load yesterday- rice and cake :)  Oh- my poor neuromas in my right food were KILLING me.  I litteraly prayed the last FIVE miles to not stop for the pain.  New shoes monday- 2 sizes bigger and quadruple E's.  Wow those bad boys really can scream!

Alright- who hijacked my legs and made them so SORE!  Needless to say- I walked today with a token jog here and there.  I am going to walk 2.5 in the morning and night until they feel better.  I am hoping by Wednesday they are healed, because I have a 5 mi run with my friend Kim R ( I have lots of friends named Kim :)

Nice day though, and I ran into my friend Jill and ran home with her to her beautiful garden.  Took home a bushel of oregano and a overgrown radish for my bunny.  Thumps LOVES radish greens.

I LOVE the warm weather!  It feels SO good to be warm all the way through!

I headed out for another attempt at a run tonight.  It went much better.  I walked for the first half and ran home the second.  It was dusk and very nice out.  I am going to do a bit of yoga and then go to bed.

On a strange note, I ate about half a watermelon, half a pineapple and a banana today.  I guess I am craving some vit C, potassium, and water!  I dunno, strange, but it sure tasted good!

I hope ya'll wanted some whine with breakfast, because here it comes.

To quote my 2 year old, Will, "poopie, poopie, poopie."  Someone shot my "Polly Anna" and the prognosis is very dismal.

The first half of my run, was a walk, interspersed with very crampy calves trying to run.  I spent more time in down dog than I did moving, as to try to stretch them out.  The walking was nice.  I had a nice time with Kelly Clarkson, Il Divo, and Van Halen ;)

The second half, my calves quit cramping up and let me, ever so slowly, run home.  The broadway cast of Hairspray and Billy Idol brought me in.

I am going to get a bike helmet today and do some biking while my lower extremities are still boycotting running.

Serenity now!!!

Yeah!  My legs are healed!  Ya'll said they would, and ***presto*** they did!

I got up at 6 for Yoga.  I LOVE yoga, incase I haddn't mentioned that today.

Great run today!  Kim R. and I ran up Payson Canyon.  WOW is was so nice and beautiful.  Michelle, you were right- we were alone most of the time.

We walked about the first mile and and a half.  (It's about 1.6 miles to the mouthof the canyon from my house)  My calves are still very tight.  We stretched and that didn't seem to help much.  More walking helped a TON!

Once we began to run, we ran uphill at 12:28, then headed down for 11:27 & 11:15.  I hit the lap button several times during the run to give myself a general idea of my uphill pace and down hill pace and flat paces.  Average over all pace for 5 miles with about 2 miles of walking 14:12.

Easy slow run with plenty of trips onto lawns for s sprinkle or two :)  Thanks to all those who water in the late morning!

It's nice to be running normally again.  Is that an oxymoron?  I actually said last night to my running partner, "Oh, our long runs is no big deal this weekend, it's only 6 miles."  Now for some, that really is no big deal, but for me to have 6 miles be no big deal is HUGE!!!  Anyway- big progress for me :)

Notes for today's run.  The soreness is all gone.  The tight calves are for the most part resigned to the fact that they are going to have to run and have surrendered.  1 point Marion.  The first mile of the run was not great 13:20, but the second and third were much more relaxed and natural  12:19, 11:48.  1 point Payson Main Street, 2 points Marion.  I ran at 6 am, 1 point Marion.  So as far as points go, I am ahead :)

I am hoping to get some yoga in this morning.  I really need the prana.  I am a prana junky!

Oh, and I am the first to post this morning of my running commrads.  1 more point for Marion.  (Hey- do you think I can eat these POINTS?)

Not a great run today.  Felt terrible.  (the times confirmed it was not to hot)  I knew it would be bad when I cursed the sun this morning.  I have been retaining water all week and it is really bugging me at this point.  I am going to eat all fruits and veggies and drink a bunch of water today and see if I can get myself back in ballance.  I feel like a swamp.

13:45

12:34

12:28

My grandmother taught me to say nothing if I had nothing nice to say.

Goals for the week-

#1    Eat good stuff!!!  (good FOR me, that is :)

#2   25 miles this week.  That's all!  Must stick to the plan! (last week I went over plan by 3.5- this overzealousness is what injurs me)

#3   Yoga class 2 x's.  Mini yoga sessions everyday.

#4   Run by 6 am every day.  5:30 am on Saturday. (even if Kim R cries)

#5   Run faster than I want to on shorter runs.

#6   Take water- I panic if I even get a little thirsty.

I took a nice 3.5 mile walk with hubby this evening.  It was really nice out and we found a little path up Payson Canyon to explore.  We will be sure to bring the kids up there.  It would be great to see where it ends up.

Had to work this morning, so I am late posting :)

Alright, I am back and feel fine!  Great run this morning!  Woo HOOO!!!  My calves tried to whine, but I "relaxed" them, and they DID! 

30:43 min,  12:17/mi  total average,  7:25/mi  best pace, Laps; 12:08  (.38mi), 11:59   (.43 mi), 10:47  (.45 mi), 9:19    (.6 mi), 11:18   401.6 feet ;)

Alright, so I am a little OCD with the lap button, but hey- I find the information very informative :)

Time: 56:19, average pace 12:34, Best Pace:  7:16 (this all includes walking warm-up/cool-down and a potty break ;)  <if I use the stop start button I never remember to press start again >

Laps--- 11:22 for .91m,  12:14 for .55m, 9:59 for .56m, 9:04 for .61m, 10:28 for .36m, 9:43 for .16m, 8:16 for .19m, 10:09 for .2m

Great run.  I sounded like a steam engine, but hey, we (me and Kim R) were smokin' (in our world ;)  I am really glad we did it.  It is amazing how slow 11 or even 10 m/m feel when you've been running faster.  It was great today.  

I am hoping to do a fast run each week.  We both want to be faster.  We are so well matched that it gets hard to push past the norm.  It has been so great to have a running buddy though, when one is down the other is up and keeps the other going.  And NO MATTER WHAT KIM R SAYS< she likes running at 6am with me ;)

Time-53:54, Ave pace-12:34, Best pace-6:53

Laps-  11:08(.95m), 11:05(.45m), 7:53(.29), 9:44(.89m), 10:03(.13m)

I started today with about 20 min of very low intensity yoga.  Boy my hamstrings were tight and not ready to wake up.   It felt really good after about the third sun salutation.  Yoga is such a miracle ;)  Anyway- day three of 6 am runs.  I really like having my running all finished and being ready for the day so early.

Now about the run- it was hard :)  This goal of mine to run faster than I have to, is a little rough, but it feels SO good to record the times and see that I have been able to go faster than I thought I could.  Running 10:55 at the  Provo Riverwoods 10 miler, really has done a trick on my mind.  If I can average that for 10 miles, I can go faster, or atleast that fast on shorter runs, right?  Anyway, we are making major progress, in my books, and I am very excited!!

Yesterday I ate very well!  Lots of fruit and veggies, fresh sugar snap peas and raspberries :).  I also made apple cinnamon bran muffins.  Yum!  I went over my POINTS budget for the day by a touch, but I was hungry and the scale showed a loss this morning.  I am really trying to make better food choices to keep my energy up for running.  I would really like to actually place in my age group sometime in the next year.  I don't have to be first, just a single digit would be GREAT!!!!  Dreams dreams!! ;)

(-1.8 lbs from last wed)

time-31:43, av pace 12:35, best pace 7:47,  Laps- 12:48(1.13), 9:44 (.82)

Alright- KimR is the speedy one. I could not move it at all for the first half.  I was sluggish and pokey.  KimR had to stay home cause she wasn't feeling well this morning :(  The first half was pretty slow and tar like.  The second half was a bunch better.  The only hard part about running the shorter distances, is that I start to feel better, just as it's time to stop.

Hey I saw Kim and Tom running down the canyon this morning.  I recognized the St. Geo t-shirt on Tom before I recognized Kim.  I almost yelled "hel-ooooo, fastrunning blogger,"  until I realized I could actually greet them by name.  Cool to see fellow fastrunningbloggers.  Although, I sort of feel like the token slow guy on the blog.  Kind of like affirmative action for running blogs.

Tomorrow KimR and I are going to do our long run down the canyon.  Nothing fancy, super slow and cooler and DOWNHILL :)

-1.6 lbs from last week

Is a lazy run the same as an easy run?  If so- we had an easy run day ;)

Kim R & I had a great run down Payson Canyon and around town.  The official "Payson Canyon FOX Club" has begun downhill training.  If you don't know what "fox" is referring to, see Tom's blog yesterday ;)  Let's just say, we are Hot to Trot! (and we smell like fox's when we get home)

The down hill was great.  My husband dropped us off at the hairpin turn just above Maple Dell (exactly 6 miles from my house).  We took Toms BRILLIANT advice, and ran with small, shuffle strides at a controlled, slow pace- no show boating.  After we got to the mouth of the canyon we ran the roads along the hill (above the canal trail) and then on the canal trail for a bit and then back the same way to the mouth of the canyon and back to my house.  We sat for a minute and soaked our feet in the creek in my yard, checked out our splits and drank some Gatorade.

Life is good.  If we are not too sore, we will repeat this again next week but with a bit more speed on the down hill.  We'll have to see how it goes.

I am planning on swimming laps and water running this afternoon at my brothers cool pool.

Time 1:59:15, ave pace 13:10, best pace 5:40, Laps (the running ones :)10:32,10:56,11:05,12:05,????,11:31,8:58,10:10,10:40 (there was a really pitiful, lovely, walking lap before the 11:31) [these are not true splits- many are more than a mile and some are less- the 8:58 is only .6, the 10:32 is 3 miles, etc) We had a couple funky stops- some idiot left a fire at beer can flats and an adventuresome potty break in the woods.  I need to press stop, these side trips ruin our ave pace.

-3.6 lbs from last friday! woo hoo!  I was wondering when my FAT was going to surrender!!! (oops I said the "F" word... sorry ;)

Time 32:14, ave. pace 11:52, best pace 8:00, Laps-10:56,9:33 (solid real miles ;)

Beautiful short run today.  Wasn't too hot at all.  We left at 7:30, so Kim got to sleep in a bit.  I got up and did an hour of yoga this morning.  It was a great mellow class by Necia on YogaToday.com.  I just love that site.

Now, as for my goals- I broke #1.  I did do a fair bit of walking, so maybe I really didn't break them too badly.  Oh well, life to too short to beat myself up and I am feeling pretty good. 

NO SORENESS TODAY!  ( I am such a KimLee wanna-be)  I swam for about 6 hours yesterday afternoon with my kids and brother, Dans family.  We had a GREAT time!!

Have a GREAT weekend everyone!!!

-.4 lbs from last Sat

This Weeks Goals

#1- DO NOT GO OVER 31 miles this week!

#2 Run 31 miles this week

#3 Yoga CLASS 2x's, mini yoga everyday.

#4 DO NOT EAT LIKE A MAD CRAZED FREAK AFTER MY LONG RUN.

#5 Eat more fruit.

#6 Go on a bike ride.

#7 Be really cute and friendly!

Last Weeks Goals in review-

#1    Eat good stuff!!!  (good FOR me, that is :) Pretty good at this one.

#2   25 miles this week.  That's all!  Must stick to the plan! (last week I went over plan by 3.5- this overzealousness is what injurs me)   BAd BadBad- I went 29 miles.

#3   Yoga class 2 x's.  Mini yoga sessions everyday. Only 1 class, but mini yoga every day

#4   Run by 6 am every day.  5:30 am on Saturday. (even if Kim R cries)  We did great with this one :) Kim did not cry even once ;)

#5   Run faster than I want to on shorter runs.  Did it!  We were SMOKIN'

#6   Take water- I panic if I even get a little thirsty.  DId it!

How does that song go?  "One bad apple, don't spoil the whole week of runs?"

It's monday, what more needs to be said!  I got really sick in the middle :(  I am guessing my body wasn't very happy to be running at 5:30 am.  What a WIMP!!!  Kim was VERY brave and non-wimpy.

1:07:14,  ave 13:23, best 8:00, Laps- 19:47 (.69mi), 11:18 (1mi), 12:07 (1mi), 19:39 (.5mi, walking, trying not to throw up), 10:54 (1mi), 10:30(1mi), 16:03 (.26mi)