cheryl

Met with the BBK group at the JRP trail at about 126th So.  It was a windy and cold morning.  There was a fairly strong wind running south, I didn't like that at all.  Then when we turned around, I was sure the wind had stopped because I felt nothing.  Then we turned around again and I realized the wind was still going strong.  The group was running (as it seems like is always the case) a little faster than I wanted to go.  I ran by Eric for some of the time and wanted to talk, but just didn't have the extra oxygen to say many words.  I really dislike the wind, so I didn't like this run too much.  It was fun being with my running friends, but I was glad when we were done.

Later I put in an extra two miles, running very slowly on the treadmill on a 13% incline.

Take it easy day.  After doing some chores at home, I went to the Rec Center and ran for 30 easy minutes on the track.  There were still a lot of people at the gym at 2:00 pm.  It's fun to run when there's lots of other people around.   When I'm by myself, it's too easy to quit before I really should quit.

I'm starting a program at TOSH with my boys, so I went for the first time this morning and did fast hill sprints on their treadmill.  Then I went to the Rec Center and ran on the track there for 30 minutes, kept it pretty easy, threw in a few accelerations along the way.  I was glad I didn't have to run outside today. 

I first went to the Rec Center and ran on the track there for 30 minutes.  I threw in a few little pick ups here and there.  Then I got on the treadmill and ran for almost 30 minutes at a VERY slow speed and 13% incline. (Kelli, believe me, if you go slow enough, it's not really that hard.  But thank you for being impressed by it).  I watched a few of my favorite shows during that. 

I just couldn't face the icy, slushy streets this morning, plus I've had my one fall of the year and didn't want to risk another, so I went to the Rec Center and ran on the track there.  Kris and Dean were there, and Aaron also, plus Debbie came a little later.  I ran 40 minutes, which I'll say is 4 miles.  I must have enjoyed it, because later I went back and ran an easy 30 minutes.  I'll count that as 3 miles.

First thing this morning, I spent 30 minutes doing core exercises.  Then later I got on the treadmill and ran an easy 30 minutes at a 3% incline, then ran some sprints, then ran 1 mile at 8.5 and no incline, then finished with an easy about 10 minutes.

Last night I played basketball with other women from my stake.  There were some younger women there who had played high school basketball, and playing against them, I felt every one of my many years.  I wasn't able to run the court real well because of hamstring pain and other leg pain.  So that's why today I practiced sprinting, just so I can get faster on the basketball court.  And somehow I have to get rid of the hamstring issues, that's why I'll be focusing more on strengthening the core.

The first thing I did was go to the Rec Center at 5:30 to warm up.  I thought if I could run a little before meeting the group, maybe my hamstrings wouldn't be so tight.  I met the group at 5:45, and what a large group it was--one of our biggest of the winter.  My warm-up didn't help too much, because I still felt stiff and tight.  Plus it was cold and windy, and my first thought was, I left the warm Rec Center for this?  But I plugged away and managed to fight the wind during the first part of the run.  I pretty much hated every step I took.  Then Peggy said we were going to do it again, and I seriously thought about just calling it a day and going home then.  But I stuck with it and managed to get through it again.  The only part I enjoyed was coming north up 2700 W. with the wind at my back.  Anyway, today just wasn't a fun running day.  Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the wind?  Plus, I didn't really get to talk to a lot of people.  I heard Kelli was there and I read her blog where she said she was there, but I never saw her.  The warm weather where it is light and we can see each other can't come soon enough for me

I'm on a quest to get my hamstrings and other things feeling better, so I've decided to do core training every day.  I spent 30 minutes doing that after getting the kids to school.

Later I went back to the Rec Center and did a little more running.  I like going there in the afternoon because I pretty much have the track to myself.

And then tonight I played basketball again.  That was fun, my legs didn't hurt as much as they did Tuesday.  I felt like I was running the court better.  Maybe my core work is already paying off.

Very easy running at the Rec Center

I ran on my treadmill for about two miles, then went to TOSH and ran on their treadmill for probably 4 miles, then worked on core exercises.  It was fun.  I was sorry I missed the group run at Riverton, but I wasn't sorry to miss out on the cold.  I think I'm becoming a winter wimp!

Three easy treadmill miles.

I stayed inside and did treadmill running.  I started with a very easy run/walk of about a mile, then to the main workout of 30 minutes of at least 6.0mph, fooled around with the speed throughout, but mainly stayed in the 6.0-6.7 range, with a 2% incline.  Took a break, then ran 10 minutes at 7.0 and 1% for 5 minutes, 2% for 5 minutes.  Watched Ghost during the run, that was good.  I like it when there are good movies to occupy my mind.  Let's hope for good streets and good weather tomorrow.  Will this be the time of the dreaded inversion?

I met with the group at Parkway Palisades and we ran our two mile loop, which took me 17:51, then we ran over to Lampton View and up Tithing Hill.  It was pretty fun.  Warmer than I expected, I could have worn shorts but didn't because everyone gives me a hard time when I show up in shorts.  The group was pretty big this morning.

Tonight Julie Beck came to speak at our stake for enrichment night.  She was great.  I remember how people were bothered by her talk in conference about a year ago where she talked about "mothers who know."  I was wondering how she would be tonight, if she would give a "guilty inspiring" talk or just an inspiring talk.  I was thoroughly impressed.  She seems to be a great lady.

I knew it might be tough for me to get a run in today, and since I never feel like running first thing in the morning (expect on group day), I thought I'd better get something in, so I rode the stationary bike for 30 minutes.  Then I helped in my son's class for a couple of hours, then I came home and did chores, then I tried to get up the energy to run, but it just wasn't happening.  Finally I went to the treadmill room, looked at the treadmill and said I'd just run for a couple of minutes, then when I got going I found that I was really enjoying it and didn't want to quit.  It turned out to be a great run when I was totally expecting nothing today.  You just never know when you're going to have a good run.

I met the BBK group at 5:45, and we ran two "easy" approximately 3 mile loops.  I kept up with the main group on the first one, then knowing I was going to TOSH later, decided to keep the second fairly easy.  It still felt like I was pushing it just a little.

Later I did make it to TOSH and ran approximately 3 miles on their treadmill.  I always kind of dread that workout, but am always glad after that I did it.

Later tonight I'm planning to play basketball.  All I can say is, I'm tired!!

My hamstring tendons were really bothering me today, so I thought a day off from land running would be the smart thing to do.   Since I still wanted to "run,", I went to the Rec Center to do pool running.  Unfortunately, there was a water aerobics class in the area where I wanted to "run," so I had to be imaginative and figure out another workout.  I ran some in the lap lane, and also swam some laps (if you call doggie paddling "laps.")  I felt challenged by the workout, and I think my hamstrings thanked me later for laying off today.

I wanted to rest my hamstrings some more, so all I did today was 30 minutes on the bike. 

Three very easy treadmill miles.

I had told myself last week that I wasn't going to run again until Tuesday, but today I was feeling pretty good, felt rested, just felt like running, so I did.  I was able to put in a 5K on the treadmill in 23:51, with a 1% incline.  I was pretty pleased with that, legs felt pretty good during the entire run.  My legs have been feeling better; I'd like to think they're healing up, but I really think it's the advil I've been taking.  Oh well, whatever works.

Met with the group at Elk Ridge Middle.  The plan today was to hit some hills.  We first ran up a couple of streets in Glenmoor that went uphill, just to prime ourselves to get ready to really hit the hills.  Then we ran the hills on Skye Dr. in Glenmoor.  It was fun doing hill sprints.  It was more like a traditional type speed workout that we used to do.  More of this fun stuff will follow in the weeks to come.  Big group today, it was fun being with everyone.

Easy run on the treadmill.

I met the group at Bingham High at 5:45.  The plan was to run some 2-mile repeats, hopefully 3.  We were only able to get in 2 1/2 repeats, which was ok.  Didn't like running out in the inversion, but didn't really notice any adverse affects, besides this terrible smoker's cough.  Hopefully it will clear up by the next time I run outside, which will probably not be until next Tuesday. 

Here are the details of each run:

#1- 2.1 miles; avg. pace 8:30; fastest pace 7:19

#2 - 1.99 miles; avg. pace 8:28; fastest 7:05

#3 - 1.24 miles; avg. pace 8:26; fastest 7:14

It was fun being with my fellow running friends.  I couldn't run like this by myself.

Today was my "eclectic" day, a little of this, a little of that.  Not too much of any one thing.  I lifted weights, worked on my core, pool ran for 30 minutes, walked on the treadmill for 20 minutes.  How does that sound for a fun day?

My "max effort" day at TOSH, then a little more running when I got home.

Ran on the treadmill at home, did some fast and slow running.

We had a fun workout today with the group.  We met at Peggy's house, then went to the neighborhood east of 13th West and ran up a street that was a slight incline for almost .5 mile, and then did 30 seconds up a steep hill.  I felt sluggish on the long street, and stronger on the short hill.  I think when I know I only have 30 seconds of pain, I can perform better.  It was cold, but a fun workout.

Later, I put in 2 very slow miles on the treadmill, and then at 9:30, I went to play basketball with my stake team.  I'm giving myself one mile for all the running I did. 

Just easy running on the treadmill, then some biking.

I found out today that my thyroid may be going out of whack again.  That is good news and bad news; good news, because it may explain why I've felt sluggish lately on runs, it's the thyroid, not just because I'm getting old.  But it's bad news because it seems to always take so long to get it back into balance.  I need to do what I should have done many years ago, and just have the thyroid removed.  Maybe that's what I'll finally do.

The group met at the Parkway Trail at 9800 So.  We first did a warm-up on the new section, heading north, then we ran two tempo runs starting at the parking area.  My garmin's battery was dead this morning, so I don't have all the particulars.  I ran the first tempo with Debbie and Kris.  It was fun being with them.  Then on the next, I didn't really plan to pick up the pace, I just felt pretty good, so did.  I met up with Britta, Kelli and Rachel and ran with them for a while.  Then Kelli took off, then Britta took off, and I tried to stay close to Rachel.  I actually felt pretty good today, my stride felt a little stronger and I can actually say I enjoyed the second tempo run.  Usually I just "endure" these kind of runs because my hamstrings and other things hurt, and it's not too fun.  Today was better.  I've been going to a new chiropractor, and maybe all the stuff  he does is actually working.   I did feel a little sick (not too much) at the end, which confirms that the thyroid is a little out of whack.  If I can just get my thyroid and hamstrings under control, I might have a pretty good running year.

Later, I ran  sprints for acceleration, then I played basketball on my stake team.  We have fun.  I enjoy just running up and down the court the most.  I do need to warm up before playing because you immediately start running fast, and for me, that's a big strain on the hammys.  I will count all this extra as 3 miles.

Not much in the way of exercise to report--I walked/ran for about 15 minutes.  I will count that as one mile.

I went to the Rec Center and ran for 30 minutes, then practiced a new technique my chiropractor has shown me that might take pressure off the hamstrings.  It did seem to work, I was less sore after this run than usual.  I then took my dog and walked/ran along the canal road.  That is always pretty fun.