Auntie Em Goes Running

Track workout - well, a mini one anyway.  Warm up on the track, including .5 miles in barefeet.  I did some intervals at 5K pace, which felt much harder than 5K pace, but didn't cause any excessive coughing or difficult breathing or pain in the lungs.   So, all is good, just some fitness is missing here!  Ready to get it back.

Ran this morning, and rode the new bike this afternoon!  That was fun; the new bike goes faster just by being its fast self; I don't really do anything different, and it goes about 2 miles an hour faster than my other bike (that's a lot on a bike)!  And, that was me still all weak and puny from being sick, so wow, just wait until I am my old self again and strong and really TRYING to ride fast!!!!

It is, however, a whole lot different than my regular road bike, and I think it is best for me to get used to it in small bits.  It feels so different in terms of body position, and it is also a bit friskier to control.   Baby steps.  

We have actual full on sunshine here today, and 70 degrees.  I have been pinching myself all day; still think I might just be dreaming.

A second sunny day in a row!  Started the morning with a ride over to the start of the Girls on the Run 5K Fun Run.  I am not coaching this Spring, so I was a running buddy for one of the girls I coached last Spring.  So much fun to run with her and see how much stronger she has become.  Last year, she walked at least half of the 5K; this year she ran the entire thing, and surprised herself by passing some girls she thought were way ahead of her.  

After that, I did my own little run, and bicycled home.  Busy day, trying to get a lot of gardening done and dealing with the mess the house painters have left around the yard.  They haven't started painting yet, they are just cleaning the cedar shake sides of the house.  I can't remember what that is called, and I keep calling it "waterboarding".  I know that is not right, but the only other word I can think of is sandblasting, and that is not quite right either.  Waterboarding does describe what they are doing.

Two bike rides today.  First bike ride at 8:30 with my bike group.  Wasn't sure my fitness level was up to this ride today, so I dropped back down to a slightly slower group than I usually ride with.  We averaged 16.8 mph for the 32.3 miles.  I felt stronger than I thought I would, particularly since it is a quite hilly route, with some major climbs near the end.

I then met some girlfriends at 11:30 for a more casual ride.  We rode 28.9 miles on flatter terrain, at a slower pace, probably 14.5 mph.  I was good and tired by the end, and had a flat tire 5 miles from the end of our ride!  Between the four of us we had all the proper equipment to change it out, and it only took us 30 minutes!  Clearly, we could all use some practice with bike maintenance.  I was lucky to be with friends who could help.  

It is 76 degrees now!  And we actually have a few more days of "summer" weather ahead, according to the weather forecast. 

Just yoga; giving my legs a rest after all the biking!  Just in case they needed it.

Slow and steady, just moving for 35 minutes.  No coughing, though, so that's progress.  Second day of antibiotics, so I should feel better soon.  Its just going to take a while to rebuild distance and speed.  Right?

Track workout.  Stronger than last week; i was able to do 5 400s at 5K pace, plus wu with 1.25 miles barefoot on the track.  Not great, but definitely better than last week.

yoga and a short run.

Just a run.  

Time for a mountain trail run!  Haven't done this for too long, and it was lovely to spend some time just wandering around up there.  This particular loop has a very brief beginning on flat trail, then a two mile climb, which gets quite steep near the top.  I can only manage to run up a little more than half of this right now, then it was walk/run, walk/run.  Still, my fitness seems pretty good, considering.  I will work up to it.

Group bike ride!  I rode the new bike, which was scary, since I've never ridden the TT bike so far and amongst other people.  It worked out well, though, as I am now totally comfortable with the TT on all terrain and for a longer distance!  Whoo Hoo!

Running only.  Not any time for anything else.  It is graduation day, and my parents are here for Mimi's graduation, and it is VERY busy.

Swimming in the morning and bike riding in the afternoon.  A long slow ride with massive headwinds; I was good and tired.

Definitely not a great track workout.  Recovering the speed stuff is definitely the hardest part of recovery.  I think I will take a break from track, where I feel some anxiety at not hitting my paces, and just to fartlek speedwork for a few weeks, not worrying about pace.  I don't like feeling stressed, but I want my speed back!

Beautiful run this morning!  Recovery run from last night's miserable track workout.  I pedaled over to Galbraith Mountain, ran for 1.5 hours, up the mountain, then a few laps around several loopy trails, then back down to my bike.  MMMM, shot blocks for breakfast!  I feel totally revived.  Guessing at mileage here, since it was a no watch, no pace run.  Slow though, because steep and technical.

Awoke early this morning by a phone call from my mother, telling me that my father was taken to Boise (three hours away from their home) by helicopter to the pulmonary ICU at St. Alphonsus hospital.  I ran to clear my head and make a plan, then came home, packed, and drove to Boise.

Spent Friday evening visiting Dad in the ICU; very disturbing to see all this "life Support" equipment.  I do not believe it is supporting his life at all; just supporting the medical machine.  

Acceptable run on the paved river trail in Boise.  100 miles of paved trail on both sides of the Boise River.  I guess its nice, but I miss my trails.  At least it is warm and dry here.  Very grateful to have running in my life.

"long" run.  1.5 hours on the river trail, including a loopy course through a bird sanctuary, which was quite beautiful and peaceful, but also paved.  I did a little over 10 miles, slow and easy.  Later, I went to a hilly trail place on the edge of town and ran a few with my hubby.  It was hot later in the day, so he did not want to go far.

My other brother and sister arrived in Boise today.  We have taken Dad off of "life support" (hooray!), and he immediately sat up and started living again.  

miles this morning on the river trail and bird sanctuary again.  So flat, so paved.  Sigh.

A t paced run with my brother Doug.  96 degrees!  I am just soaking up the heat, and loving every minute of the dry warmth.

Dad is lobbying to go home, and I am in agreement!  Even with the obstacles to getting him there, he cannot let himself die in the hospital, and I totally get that.  Maybe tomorrow, but it will have to be by ambulance.  Whole family is gathered, for the first time in a long time, and its quite the reunion.  

Quick run this morning, from my hotel to the hospital, where arrangements are being made to get an ambulance to La Grande, three hours away.  I leave first, to arrive at Dad's house in advance of the rest of the caravan, to meet the hospice workers and get the equipment set up for Dad's arrival.  

Dad is very focused on getting home, but says he might not make it home.  I know he will, and he does.

Not "easy" miles at all!  Mountain run, thankfully on trails, very steep and technical.  My cup of tea exactly.  Not getting enough sleep the last week or so.  

We were up at 3 when Dad woke and needed something.  Trying to let Mom get her rest and not be disturbed.  Everyone is here, so I'll go home tomorrow and come back later when more hands are needed.  It appears that he will live day by day anyway, and is going out into his garden, etc.  

A swim this morning in the public pool here!  Beautiful pool, and not crowded at all in the early morning hours.  At home, I am so intimidated by the early swims, all "masters" and stuff.  Here it is very mellow and I have a lane all to myself.

Later, flying home to Bellingham.  My hubby drove home in the car several days ago.  It will be good to be home.

Making up some of the lost sleep!  To make things even harder, Boise was absolutely flooded with young soccer players while we were there, making hotel rooms very scarce, so we had to scramble around every night for somewhere to stay, and moved every day.  It was a little stressful, and even the sleep I got was not good sleep.  My own bed was lovely!

I worked at the Padden Triathlon this morning, assisting bikers getting ready for their races.  Kind of sad, since this was supposed to be my first tri.  I am not doing so well on racing plans this summer, between my illness and my Dad's illness!  

Taking the day off anything active; I am just too tired.

Rode for an hour and forty five minutes, and covered 32.8 miles at average pace of 18.6 mph!  This is FAST for me.  Especially fast considering that I rode alone, with no pacing/drafting assist for all but five miles.  And during that five miles, I was pulling others up the hills for most of it.  Pace felt comfortable.  Did I mention the course is quite hilly?  

Running today was 1.5 hours and "easy" pace.  Got together with a friend and enjoyed the sunshine and warmish temps.  Kept it flat.

Early morning mountain run for my birthday with my son!  We ran until he was hungry on Galbraith Mountain, my favorite.  These say easy miles, but really a hill workout; I love that.  Followed up with yoga and a second coffee.

Evening run with a large group of my training friends.  Supposed to be five easy, but a couple of us wanted to run a tempo run, so we did!  

 Home now, and waiting for my birthday dinner - it smells so good!  A great birthday.  I feel 12.