catherine's running efforts

My first run this week. I met Toby for a fun out-and-back. She's the perfect running buddy. After we parted I went to the track to just do a faster lap because I was feeling rested (you know...not having run since Saturday) and bring my total up to 5.  

10:09, 10:04, 9:55, 9:42, 8:35 (9:40 ap) 

I hope everyone gets a chance to read Lindsey's comment on her recent race report. I don't run as much as I could, and I don't have nearly as much going on in my life as she does, but I understand her perspective on priorities/making tradeoffs. I admire her and all the other people who are very successful (with multiple definitions of success) runners while also balancing work, spouses/partners, children, and life. I'm grateful that there are so many here on the blog who are willing to share how they do it. 

After yesterday's nice run I thought that I'd maybe do 5 miles in the morning for the rest of the week. But last night we found out that Tigger has ringworm. We were planning on leaving early this morning for St. George and then heading to Mesa and Tucson tomorrow for a cousin's wedding and to see my new nephew (and to try to meet up with Arizona FRB friends!), but I guess ringworm's pretty contagious and my sister didn't want us to bring Tigger and we couldn't find anyone who could watch him. I was pretty sad last night so I stayed up late crying a little bit and emotionally eating some cookies (ginger lemon cookies from Costco - so good) and slept in a bit this morning. Then I stayed home with Elliott and packed some more for our move. 

I thought I'd go to the gym when Eric got home but I was hungry so we just had dinner, and by then it was pretty late and I was about ready for bed. So I just went out for a couple of miles (slow because my tummy was full, but not as slow as it felt). I was proud of myself because usually when I'm ready to go to sleep I just don't run. 9:25, 9:19, 8:54 for .25 (9:19 ap)

Also we got some pepper spray the other day for me to carry when I run because where we're going to move in Provo is a couple of blocks from the river trail (aka rape trail) and I'm usually only scared running by myself in the dark, but what the what! people get attacked there in the daytime. Eric and I did some practice shots with the spray and I took it with me tonight and I felt fierce. I'll probably still try to get Eric to come with me on the river trail when we move there, though. Eh...those attacks just make me so flapping mad. I kind of want to go all vigilante and spend all my time patrolling the trail with the zombie slayer the local gun store sells. Except that I don't think I believe in guns. And that gun scares the crap out of me. 

Friday 5 with Eric and Elliott. Elliott wakes up a little after 9:00 and I didn't decide I wanted to join the run until a little after that, so we didn't get started until about 9:45 and it was pretty hot. Usually I try to do these runs so that each mile is a little faster, but today I wanted to keep each mile under 9:00. I felt like I was comfortably pushing, but by the end my legs were heavy and my quads were tired. I think this is a good speed, though - not for every day, but maybe for twice a week.

8:55, 8:54, 8:58, 8:27, 8:36 (8:46 ap)

Eric takes care of Elliott on Saturdays so I totally slept in until she was banging on some pots and pans and Tigger was whining. Then it was too hot outside for running so after I had 3 mini mint patties and a few sips of diet dr. pepper I went to the gym. 8 miles, 9:05 for each, 1% incline. There was some cinderella-type movie on, but with a dance competition/audition twist. It was okay. Then I stopped by the new fabric store and wanted to buy stuff but didn't, and then I bought a caramel apple on the way home because I was stressed about this next academic year and I'm totally an emotional eater.