Back With a Capital Vengence!

Sometimes you just need to do things. 60 minutes of RUNNING on the TM, 6.33 miles, no walk breaks, no problem :)

I don't feel like death after yesterday's run - yay!!! 

30 minutes of RUNNING on the TM. 

Legs felt a little tired considering the big 6.33 the other day and I didn't stretch as well after so I've really tightened up.

Wowza am I having a great week! First ride up Emigration in almost 2 months and I set a PR by a whopping 2 seconds. And I was afraid I wasn't even going to make it to the top :) 

Ummm so I guess there was a marathon in St. George today so I got up early and rode from the finish to mile 16 passing several police officers whom were very vocal about their belief that I would not be able to ride up to Snow Canyon, "it is way steep you know." Apparently I look like a wuss on a bike. Rode up in the dark with a very dim headlamp and ran smack into a bush that was growing well into the middle of the bike trail (important for later in story). 

Watched the front runners cruise through mile 16 and hopped on the bike to follow them down canyon. Was flagged down by fellow cyclist about a mile down trail who asked if I had a CO2. I graciously gave him my one and only cartridge because, well I never get flats, only to get my own flat 2 minutes later. I hastily changed the tube and flagged down another biker for a pump. Obviously I am not capable of pumping up my own tire or Mr. Police Man was bored as he insisted on pumping up my tire for me. As I ride away, I hear the police officer yell that my back tire now looks flat. Seriously?!? Crap!   

I get to about mile 18 and now both tires are flat. I chuck my bike off the trail and start to cry and throw a tantrum like any mature female. Seriously. Seriously? I then do the next smartest thing and just start running with my bike. I make it to mile 19 and my calves are on fire. Bike shoes don't make the best running shoes so I do the next smartest thing and start running in my socks. Some cyclists stop to try and help, but since I have 2 flats I am pretty much a hopeless case. I pass about 5 other bikers with flats and another with both tires flat and I vow to never ride my bike again. 

At around mile 21, two of the most selfless bikers stopped to help and were determined to get me riding again. Turns out the trail is littered with thorns and goat heads and my bush running over doomed me for the ride. We picked about 8-10 thorns out of each of my tires and then I sat down to pick 2-3 out of each foot. If anyone knows these two gentleman pictured below, please let me know! 

Got to the finish, luckily before the race was over, to cheer on some of the finishers and to round up two slightly delirious runners, whose identities will remain anonymous. Congrats to all you runners out there!!! You motivate me to continue moving despite my never ending challenges! Headed back to SLC via Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe, Utah which involved sleeping in a bus in a trailer park and soaking in random bathtubs scattered throughout the hillside. Always an adventure.

Fixing flat #1 with Officer Friendly

Fixing flats #2 and #3. I owe these guys a big, cold bee... Dr. Pepper! Someone please know them.

 Nice.

 A certain marathon stud kicking back.

 Oh yeah and some running.

Hour errands walk around the Ave's followed by best massage ever! Shins and calves are super sore from my pathetic attempt at marathon spectating last Saturday. 

30 minutes of RUNNING on the TM. I have been successfully running for about 5 weeks now without any sort of major blow up or meltdown. I might actually be back which feels surprisingly odd. I have been defined by my broken-ness for the last year plus so now I need to transition back to thinking myself a runner.  

Bikes, errand, bikes, waffle cone wednesday, bikes. 

Yup you read that right. 7 RUNNING miles on the TM. May go back for more later :)

PM2: 1 mile of real road RUNNING to Smith's to get Epsom salts and Kale. 10 Delicious Ways to Eat More Kale in case you were wondering.

Grandeur Peak hike. Gorgeous! 

Warmed up on the bike and then 30 minutes of run/walking on the TM followed by my super intense hip flexor strengthening routine. No more slacking on the hip exercises!!! 

First ever Sbarro run. Ran from me casa to 11th ave, down Memory Grove, to the City Creek food court, and then back home. Feels good to be running outside now, especially in the rain.

My PF is back with a vengeance and my lower legs are killing me though and I don't understand why. Previous to this year I have never even had sore calves after a big run. Is this just what it is like after a year layoff? Is my form weird because I think I am still favoring my good side? Is this just what it is like to get older? Is it the shoes? Is it all the stretching I am doing to try and make it better? Is it my diet? Or is it because I sit on my bum most of the day? This article scares me!

If you exercise for 30 minutes a day, she says, “take time to reflect on your activity levels for the remaining 23.5 hours,” and aim to “be active, sit less.”

Think cycling season is over. Froze my freaking bum off riding down Emigration. Soooo cold. 

Got a free entry into the Buffalo Run 50 something today for being such an amazing volunteer this year :) Think I got signed up for the wrong race though... ha ha ha!

Quick little RUN on the TM.

A little nervous for the big family relay this weekend. I need to run around 10 miles over 2 legs this Saturday. I think I can do it, but I just really, really don't want to mess anything up since I am finally making some real progress.

Here is a clear illustration of my nervousness. I have only had four 10+ mile weeks in all of 2012. Just for fun, here is my weekly mileage for the past year:

December: Surgery :(

Jan-May: Negligible

June: 4.2, 9.9, 14, 4.5, 7

July: 3.55, 17.55, 7.9, 0

August: 1, 4, 2, 2, 4.2

September: 2.1, 3, 3.55, 7.40, 12.53

October: 11.25, 8+

The Fall 50's course directions: Start running at Gill's rock and don't stop until someone hands you a beer. 

I have to say that is was pretty special that my first real big run race dealie was with my family in WI. It was pretty much Wisconsin's version of the Ragnar, but with lots and lots of beer. 

Found out the night before the race that I would be running 3 legs of the relay meaning 4.5 more miles than the 10 I was already freaked out about running. Not to mention the fact that I was totally sleep deprived after my "red eye" on Friday morning.

Leg 2: 6.5 miles in 53 minutes. Was shooting for 9-10 minute miles, but hovered around 8's and it felt AWESOME. So much for WI being flat. Leg 2 began and ended with B Street type hills - what the heck? 

Leg 9 & 10:  Was already sore from my first run 5 hours before so I have to admit I wasn't too psyched for 8 more miles. Ran the first five miles in the low 8's and then met up with my few months shy of 70 uncle and ran to the finish at a glorious (more relaxed) pace.

14+ miles - and it wasn't that bad - cannot freaking believe it! The hip held out well, but my calves and abs have never been so sore. No hip or quad soreness whatsoever. Well maybe a little psoas stiffness, but not much more than a typical day in my office chair. Weird. I think I am ready to step things up a bit. I still think it is pretty crazy that I ran that far considering I have only done about 3 runs over 5 miles in the last year...

Calves and achilles are still pretty tight and sore from the Hoodle Doodle, but the hip feels fine and loose. 

Elliptical and then ran for 5 minutes on the TM. Legs aren't quite ready to run after the big weekend so I destroyed them further with a ton of squats and misc PT.

I picked a funny time of year to finally be able to run. Lovely run up City Creek and down Memory Grove with the thunder, snowflakes and all! 

Biking in the HCI closet gym. Really want to get me a bike trainer! Anyone have one hiding in their garage they want to get rid of? 

What a glorious day! Yup, glorious. First real trail run of 2012 granted there was a lot of hiking. The one good thing about coming back from a serious injury is having all these firsts to celebrate. And celebrate I did with a snow angel on one of the Avenue's Twin Peaks. 

Started at Morris Meadow, turned around when I heard gun shots a little too close at the base of Black Mountain, hopped over the Twin Peaks, down some trail I've never been on to the main BST, and then back to MM. Holy stoke!

Lazy Sunday cruise on the Legacy Parkway. Got a really bad case of the itchies, which hasn't happened in a really long time. Exercise-Induced Anaphylaxis and Urticaria can actually be lethal. Weird! 

Walked to Smith's to get cough drops, cough syrup, and ice cream. I have been sick more times in the last year than I have all other years combined. This is getting ridiculous and I am super annoyed. Is it because this is my first year working in a hospital type-setting or is it because I am a stress ball and not taking very good care of myself? Here's what I need to do:

1) Get more sun this winter and take Vitamin D supplement. 

2) Drink an EmergenC every day if not twice a day. 

3) Better manage stress i.e. yoga at least once a week, massage once a month, and learn to chill the freak out.

4) Eat more garlic!

5) Develop a hand washing compulsion.

What else can I do?!?