cheryl

I have to back off running a little until I get my thyroid under control.  If I run too hard, I feel very sick at the end.  So today I went to the Rec Center about 7:30 and ran for 30 easy minutes on their track.  I worked on my "new" technique, which takes pressure off the hamstrings, and had an enjoyable run.  I then did about 6 minutes on the stair climber. Later at home, I did 30 minutes on the stationary bike.  I'm just trying to maintain right now until things are better, then I can hit the training for whatever I'm training for this summer.

I didn't go to my group today, but I did miss them terribly.  Reading all their blogs, I really missed running those hills.   It's hard for me to miss a group day, but I think if I had run those hills, I would have felt very sick at the end.  The good thing is that there's always next time.

What I did, I went to the Rec Center again and ran an easy 30 minutes on the track.  I kept a record of my splits, and I averaged about 47 seconds per lap.  The best thing is, I wasn't sore and miserable at the end.  I'm enjoying running more now that I feel I'm running more correctly and not with so much tightness.  I wanted to go to yoga, but I looked in the class, and it was packed.  I don't think there would have been room for me, so instead, I did 10 minutes on the stair climber, then went home and did some stretching and core work.  Tonight, I plan to play some basketball. 

Too lazy to get up early for the Rec Center, and since my 9 year old is off track and I don't like to leave him alone, I was stuck with treadmill and indoor biking stuff today.  I used to like the treadmill to run, but now that my chiro has shown me better running technique, I don't know if I can run correctly on a treadmill.  I need to work on it.  So I mainly walked, and threw in a little running in the middle.  I spent 32 minutes on the treadmill, then turned to the bike and spent about 30 minutes on it.

I missed the group again because of my thyroid issues, but I did get up fairly early and make it to the Rec Center at 7:30, and ran 4 miles.  I tried to keep things fairly easy, but you know how it goes, you start watching the watch and end up running faster than maybe you should.  I paid for it at the end, because I felt sick for a few minutes, then was fine.  I was pretty happy with my splits considering everything.  I'm going off ten laps being a mile, but maybe it's a little short.  Anyway, the splits were 8:59, 8:10, 7:50 and 8:09.

Today was a bit of a repeat of yesterday.  I once again ran on the Rec Center's track.  I tried not to look at my watch too much and just hit my watch every 10th lap, which is supposed to be about a mile.  My splits today were:  8:42; 8:00; 7:39; 7:43.  I basically enjoyed the run, it was fairly easy.  I did practice running fast one lap, slower the next.  That helps keep it interesting.

Boy, I am getting a little lazy these days.  I thought about getting up and meeting with either Cheris' or Kelli's group, but I just couldn't do it.  I ended up running about 11am on the canal roads mainly.  I did run into Nancy Russell along the way.  She was basically just starting as I was finishing, but we had a nice little chat for a few minutes any way.  I noticed how she looked so relaxed as she was running.  I need to work on that more.  I did the 5 miles in a 9:07 average pace, which, all things considered, I am happy with.

When I got up this morning, I felt like I had been hit by a truck. I  don't remember being that tired in a long time.  And the funny thing is, I did basically nothing yesterday, it was a day of rest.  Anyway, I did not make it out for an early run, so I was kind of stuck because my 9 year old is home and I don't like leaving him.  But we did have fun doing Wii Fit together, we ran a couple of races, then I did the stationary bike for about 20 minutes.  Finally, about 5:30, I made it to the Rec Center.  I was expecting it to be fairly quiet because I didn't think people really worked out at what I consider almost dinner time, but it was packed!  Hard to run the pace I wanted on the track because there were so many people.  I don't think anyone there has heard of the rule of leaving the inside lane open for the runners--lots of walkers in the inside lane.  I made 3 miles anyway, with my times being 8:31, 8:07, and 7:58.  I then did 10 minutes on the stair stepper.  So what seemed like it wasn't going to be a great working out day ended up being ok.

It's been a while since I've "had" to get up early, so this morning was a bit of a struggle.  That is one good thing/bad thing about being sometimes in charge of the group:  you have to go whether you want to or not.  I always want to, but you know what they say, the spirit is willing, the body is sometimes weak.

The news said it was supposed to snow this morning.  So I dreamed that it was bright and sunny for our group, and we all said the weathermen really got it wrong this time.  Then when I got up, I remembered about the snow, so I looked out halfway hoping a blizzard was going on, but no such luck.  So off to the group I went.  Of course, once I got there and got going, I really enjoyed being back with everyone.  We ran around the Tithing Hill area.  I wanted to do a version of what I think the Kenyans do for a warm-up, that is starting really slowly then speeding up gradually as you go along.  However, I couldn't see my watch to tell everyone when it was time to speed up, so we just basically ran whatever for the warm-up, and if you were like me, it was basically the same pace the entire way.  I'll have to try that again when I can actually see what I'm doing.  Anyway, we ran some hill sprints, 30 seconds and 1 minutes, then did a 10 minute tempo run out to the trail and back.  One good thing, I wasn't coughing and didn't feel sick after, so who knows what the old thyroid is doing.  When it's really out of whack, I feel quite sick after running.  None of that today, so that's a good thing.  And the snow was so nice, it waited until we were about done before it started.  We were meant to do this workout today.  Later, I went to the Rec Center with the plan of doing about 10 minutes on the stair master, and I made it to 17 minutes.  Don't ask me why I didn't just continue on and make it an even 20 minutes, let's just say I'd had enough fun for one day.  Thanks everyone for coming to the group and making it a lot of fun.

Another day of waking up tired, another day of having to really work on getting out and getting the run in.  I tell myself missing a day here and there doesn't matter, but then I worry if I miss one it will turn to two and then who knows what.  Even after many years of running and working out, I still have a fear that I'm going to quit one day and do absolutely nothing.  Probably because in my previous lives, that's what I did--I would run for a few weeks, then quit, run for a few months, then quit.  So I've got to get out every day, or else I might become a quitter again.

Anyway, enough of that.  I made it to the Rec Center about 3:00 and ran for 30 minutes, easy run, didn't keep track of splits or anything, just tried to keep things easy.  Then I did 13 minutes on the stair climber.  Fun as always.

What can I say, it was a tough running day for me.  I did enjoy being with the group and talking  with different people.  That's the one positive from today.  My second 5K was 29 something, I don't think I've ever been that slow on that route.  Oh well, we'll see if things get better in the weeks to come. 

Today was a lazy day, didn't do a whole lot of anything.  Did manage about 35 minutes on the stationary bike, that's it!!

I went to the Rec Center and ran for 30 minutes on the track, then I did about 13 minutes on the stair master, then I ran some laps on the track, trying to see how fast I could go.  The fastest I managed was 36 seconds; my previous fastest had been 38.  I then ran several more laps, averaging around 39 to 41 seconds.  It was fun.

It was back to the Rec Center track.  I feel sorry for anyone who ran outside today, that wind seemed pretty brutal.  I guess it makes you tough, though (do you notice how tough and though are spelled almost the same but pronounced very differently, no wonder people say English is a difficult language)  Anyway, I digress.  I ran 4 miles, and I did notice my times, but then my watch didn't work right, so I'm going from memory.  I think my splits were:  8:47, 8:11, 7:47 and 8:00.  I'm still working on a new technique my chiro has helped me with, it does seem to make running a little easier and much less painful--takes a lot of the stress off the hamstrings.  So I'm happy about that.  I also did a little stair master, can't resist that machine.

All I know is I'm thankful for my running group, because the chance that I would have gotten out there today and run in the windy, cold, snowy, windy, windy conditions without them was zero.  No, let me rephrase that, less than zero.  We met at Daybreak.  I had scouted out the area yesterday, during daylight hours, to see good places to run.  Today, when it was dark and snowy and did I mention windy, I couldn't get my bearings as well so we didn't quite run the workout I had planned, but I think we got in a good run nonetheless.  We ran up by the temple, did a couple of half mile repeats, then back down and did hill repeats.  Part of the run when we were running into the wind reminded me a little of St. George last year.  I run with the toughest group of people, nothing stops them from running.  I admire every one of them.

Having a child off track puts a crimp in my working out.  If I was only disciplined enough to get up and running by 6:00, it would be ok.  However, I am only disciplined on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Anyway, I took my son to the canal road about 11:30, when it was fairly warm, and we walked/ran there for about 30 minutes.  It was fun to be out with him, and he got some exercise along with me.  Then later this evening I went to the Rec Center and ran a little more.  Still working on better running form.  Maybe one of these days I'll get it.

I walked/ran to Bingham this morning to warm-up for the big group run.  Met the group at 5:45, and we ran over to Temple View to warm-up some more.  Then we broke up into two groups, the group being chased and the group doing the chasing, and ran about a 3.5 mile run.  I was in the group being chased.  I like doing things like that because I think it gets us running harder than we would otherwise.  I ran the entire way with Nancy Russell.  Nancy, if you're reading this, it was fun talking to you.  Sorry I couldn't talk more, I was in the "uncomfortably hard" stage most of the run.  I was mad at the end because my garmin malfuncationed (or maybe I malfunctioned) and I didn't get any info for the run.  I was curious of my average pace, but it's gone forever, so, oh well.  Rachel and Eric were ahead of us the entire way, then Scott came passing us about halfway thru Bonanza (about 1/2 mile from the end), then Peggy passed us maybe a quarter mile from the end, or maybe a little longer from the end, I don't know for sure.  Peggy was too nice to say it on her blog, but she (and Scott also) pretty much passed everyone (maybe not Rachel and Eric).  But nobody else got us, we were glad for that.  I felt pretty sick at the end for a minute or two (thanks everyone, you know it's a good run when you feel sick at the end), then we regrouped to run one of our standard two mile loops.  I was pretty wasted, and my garmin malfunctioned again, so I didn't really get a lot of info on this run either.  I think it took about 18 minutes.  I know the last mile I averaged 8:51 (the garmin finally worked right).   Kris, Debbie and I then ran back to the high school, and Kris said we got in 7 miles (her garmin worked ok).  It was fun, I feel pretty tired right now.

My "eclectic" day again--a little of this, a little of that.  I read in the latest Runner's World that walking backwards has benefits, so I tried that on my treadmill.  That takes a lot of concentration and I fell off a couple of times.  I then walked forwards a little, then ran a little.  Then later I went to the Rec Center and did 15 minutes on the stair master, then ran a few laps on the track.  A nice workout day.

This was one of those running days that if they were all like this, I would become an ex-runner really fast.  I've been doing a lot of running on the indoor track at the So. Jordan Rec Center, working on my running form, trying to be less tight, more loose, so to speak.  The track is easy because you don't have to deal with any of the elements.  So today I decided to take my training outdoors, and to run on the canal road and work on form.  Well, lucky for me, my worst nemesis was out today, that being the wind.  Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the wind?  Things were bad from the start.  I felt tight, lacked energy, lacked just about everything necessary to have a good run.  I forced myself to keep running non-stop for 30 minutes, and pretty much hated every one of them.  I know 30 minutes doesn't sound like much when I've noticed many in the group ran really long Saturday, but for me to keep at it the full 30 minutes was a kind of triumph.  My brain was yelling for me to stop the entire time.   Anyway, I will regroup and try again another time--and hope for no wind next time.

I returned to the scene of the crime--the canal road, windy, very similar conditions to Saturday when I had a very unfun run.  This time I really worked on not being tense and tight.  I tried to run very relaxed (for me, I don't think I'll ever be able to relax totally).  Anyway, I had a much better run, I actually enjoyed it this time.  So I know what I need to do to feel well.  I cooled down by walking/running backwards on the treadmill.  That's my new favorite thing to do.

The group met today at the 123rd So. trailhead of the Jordan River Parkway.  I got there about 10 minutes before 5:45 just to do a little warm-up.  My main goal today was to stay relaxed, to not tense up and get tight.   When I do tense up is when I really don't enjoy running.  So we ran the big hill there about 4 times.  Debbie and I decided not to do the full recovery, and just run it on our own.  I ran up the hill feeling as untense as I ever have, and it was pretty enjoyable.  I actually enjoyed running today!!  Newsflash!!  However, after the hills I did feel quite sick, so that tells me I'm still a little out of whack.  Because of the sick feeling, I took Part B fairly easy, not running the entire length of the street, not recovering fully on the street.  I think I need to wait until I feel better before I hit speedwork hard.  Anyway, all in all it was an enjoyable morning.  And pretty warm too.

PM--3 mile recovery run on the canal road.  It was quite windy, worse than yesterday.  I just tried to not fight the wind, and felt pretty good.  This run was slow, but it felt good.

Stayed inside and ran on the treadmill.  Did about 30 minutes where I alternated fast with slow minutes-1 minute at 8.0mph, 1 min. at 6.0-6.4 mph, no incline.  It was fun, especially the recovery minutes.

Met the group at Parkway Palisades.  I caught the tail end of the warm-up miles.  Then the entire group did about 1 mile warm-up, then we ran pretty much the entire length of the Jr. River parkway trail there.  The group took off as usual.  I enjoyed running with Kris.  We heard some weird noises in the bushes just north of 104th So., like an animal was being attacked by another animal.  Didn't stop to investigate, like apparently Debbie did.  Just kept on running.  I forgot my Garmin today, so I have no clue of pace.  I felt like we were running fairly fast, then I asked Kris what we were doing, and she said about 9:30.  I have no sense of pace.  We ran back the same way we came, once again I have no idea of pace.  I must not forget my Garmin again!  Later, I ran to and from my father's house, so that added about another mile.  I experimented with different running forms, seeing what will help me be more efficient.  I think the high knees and kick back is the best.  At least I hit 6:27 (for probably just a second or two) running like that.  It was a fun running day.  I felt bad that Debbie went to the wrong location because of my erroneous e-mail, but I think she got in a better run than she would have by chasing us, so maybe alls well that ends well.

Decided to hit Lisa's class this morning at the Rec Center.  I realize I could use some more strength, so I need to be less lazy and just get up and go.  Debbie went also.  It was fun, I always enjoy it when I go.  We did some jump roping and ran ladders in the gym.  We then did strength exercises for the lower body.  It all was very challenging to me.  Glad I went.  I then ran about 2 miles upstairs on the track.  That's it for today.

I debated going to meet some of the BBK group for a 12 mile run, but I've been battling a little cold, so I wasn't sure I wanted to run outside in 25 degree weather (or thereabouts).  So I talked myself out of going.  I was thinking of going to the Rec Center and running on the track, but then about 9:30 I decided I felt ok, so I went to the canal road and ran there.  I'm becoming somewhat obsessed about experimenting with different ways of running, trying to figure out what works best.  I think I may have hit on something today, my garmin says I hit 5:40 for my best pace.  I've never been in the 5 minutes before.  Maybe the satellites were out of alignment or something.  Anyway, I did enjoy the run.  I need to start doing longer runs one of these days.