Believe to Achieve

Long run with Kim for the New Year.  Could hear the answer machine go off downstairs 20 minutes later got out of bed to see who called.  It was Kim my running partner so I had to call her.  We (she wanted to do 7 or so) ran 12.07 miles.   Kim got a garmin so our pace was pretty good even with the special footing on black ice and the up hill thru cedar hills.  Chilly but runnable.  Enjoyed the conversation run at 8:24 pace.  Some miles 8 some 8:45.  But way good New Year run.  Thanks to Kim getting me out.  Was pretty tired after only sleeping three hours yesterday running 8 miles then staying up for the New Year Fireworks (held at my inlaws).  Got to see the movie 7 pounds before in theatres.  Brother in law got it somehow.  Hadn't even heard of the movie.  Good movie, though provoking, terrible tragic.  A Real tear jerker.   Sobbed too. I just do that at those kinds of movies.  A must see especially if you use a cell phone.  HAPPY NEW YEAR and HAPPY RUNNING!!!!!!!!

ATTENTION MUST READ:  Afternoon:  Went sledding with three kids and husband.  Actually I was a nervous wreck.  We went to Tibble Fork (The Bowl) and it was unorganized chaos.  My worry has history.  I crashed into a tree while sledding when I was six years old, got sixteen stitches in my forehead (hairline, upside down V, think Harry Potter), knocked in my baby teeth (they were hanging loose, and dislocated my jaw.  Soooooo... I stood in awe over the many stupid sledders including my own husband who defied me and continued to take my girls up.  If you know the bowl (opposite the lake of Tibble Fork) people come down from different angles without looking, at least the majority and the others stand at the bottom where sledders come flying thru and knock them down like bowling pins or jump out of the way if they are lucky.  But of course I am just standing telling my husband how worried I was (on the incline away from sledders...I thought) then bammmm I was taken down by a flying saucer sled driven by a kid about 12 years old.  It was like someone took a sledge hammer to my ankles (luckily I had Moon boots on, yes I still have a pair from the 80s) snd I fell straight to the side landing hard on the right side of my body.  I currently have a wicked head ache and lots of muscle aches and pains.  I was a lunatic up there.  I couldn't wait until it was over and all my little kids were in one piece at the end.  Amazing how an experience can change you.  I feel like I was the one that did all the sledding with the hit and run.  Arghhh.....well at least it was the right side, lately my injuries have been on the left so I am now evened out. Be careful if you go sledding, really.

My 5K in 24:53.   Sloshy afternoon WARM run.  There must be a storm tomorrow?   Ran relatively swift in the slosh (8 min avg) at 230pm.    1.3 Cool down and .45 warm up. 

Night: Neck and back pain setting in significantly.  Need a nice long snooooze after a nice warm bath and a nice bowl of peppermint candy ice cream.  Oh yeah. 

Also thinking of visiting my chiropracter to re-align my spine after my tree-like fall to the ground.

So....Kim and I were supposed to meet to run at 8am.  I am so glad she called at 750am to cancel as we both could hear the howling of the wind.  It wouldn't be so bad if it were already cold but to have a nice warm front yesterday to yikes weather is too uninviting.  So....I slept in until 9am.  Oh yeah.  Sore arm/shoulder all night with headache so I got up to get out all the kinks and work the muscles.  Didn't get to the bath last night as my kids needed to take showers and we have poor water pressure and if I take a bath when they are they find me (my 8 and 6 year old) and try and succeed to jump in with me.  No relaxing there. 

Anyway....I made it out in to the frozen Tundra and thought...hey yesterday short sleeves and slosh but today geared up and ice skating?  Yes my first mile was shear what the heck am I doing?  What am trying to achieve here.. breakdown and go over to Kim's on her treadmill I thought.  But as I neared her turnoff at .8 miles I kept heading straight and things got better from there. The frozen tundra had begun to thaw as it neared high noon so my body all dressed in black began to also thaw out with the bright sunshine.  Thank you sun.  I was feeling good.  The adrenaline rushing as still dodge car gaming is an added bonus to my midday run.  Amazing how I stood and waved (or at least flapped my arms about) to get the attention of a cell phone driver pulling out of the Mt. Timp Temple parking lot and she did not even blink an eye as she nearly clipped me.  I stood back to let her pass thinking of course it would not be in my favor to show her.  It is really quite fascinating.  Yesterday a little old man in the knick of time saw me and swerved further to the middle.  He could barely see over his dashboard of his SUV.  I figure with all these near misses I am meant to linger here on earth a long time.  Ran a total of  7.2 miles in 8:32 pace.  First mile slow due to extreme ice skating conditions (9:35) last mile 7:57.   Hope you all got out there too!!!

Got out again in the frozen tundra.  Saw one walker and had to wave as hadn't seen any one for 6 miles.  I would have froze to death if I walked.  First mile 8:04 even with jumping around icy roads.  Went up hill after that for 2.4 miles (Cedar Hills) so pace was avg at 3.4 mile mark (8:34).  Last half over to Lone Peak High School and through some ice terrain neighborhoods still kept faster pace (mainly to stay warm).  Avg pace for 7.85 miles was 8:02.  Pretty happy with that as my muscle were cold.  Last 1.5 miles pace 6:56.  I had to jump areas to avoid ice but sidewalks for once were a welcome site.  I guess we all shoveled our walks on slush day. Too bad the city didn't get out then to do the streets.  0.3 mile cool down to avoid blood pooling.  Getting better at getting stretching and cool down runs in since it is supposed to be good for me.

7.85mi/8:02

8pm everyone outside having fun in the snow and I was being enticed to the elements of snowstorm running. So I got dressed in casual running gear and went out. Nice snowfall from the sky and on the ground. It was a very nice run for some odd reason. Roads were snowpacked and no pace could be had but that wasn't the point of my run as it was to just get out there in the glorious weather. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 3.81 miles in 37:28. Last mile 9:04. Good for legs to do some digging and lifting high to get good footing. Going longer tomorrow am and I look forward to it. Oh by the way worked all night last night and slept only 3.5 hours today so feeling really functional for the lack of sleep. Work kept me busy consistently all night. Not much of a break with nine patients to watch out for. Need my runs.

"Running in a Winter Wonder Land (sing with me)... in this weather you could be considered inSane, but pretend that you don't give a darn.  We'll be having lots of fun with Mrs. SnowRunner Woman.  You can too,  if you're in Town.  Later on we will perspire as we take a warm shower"....I could go on, I hope anyone reading this caught on to singing it to Winter Wonderland.  Okay got out for a long run in this stuff.  It was fun.  Tried to own the roads to keep safe moving from one side to the other on the busy streets to give me a wide shoulder.  Lot of "your Insane" stares but like the song above I didn't give a darn.  Ran 10.35 miles (probably longer with all the swerving from side to side)  in 1:28:35 with  terrain deep to the shins at one point for three minutes around the hidden Highland pond off of West Park Rd from Alpine highway or Lone Peak High School if you are on that side.  Amazing when I got through the unplowed part of the parkway the entire park was plowed to the pond and around... I was thankful but come on?  The traffic there is miniscule yet our public streets to our homes remain Unplowed.  Could someone enlighten me here? 

10.35mi.  (1:28:35)  Avg pace 8:33. 

Had to take my Ford in for hopefully minor repair (did not pass emissions).  So after doing two car pools, successfully getting 9 kids to school on time, I drove to the auto shop in my running gear and iPod in tow.  Took off running a varied route thru out PG and AF.  Started across street from Purple Turtle and zigzagged my way thru town and past AF hospital then up by the Temple and back over to my home.  I am actually loving these snowcapped packed roads.  I rarely feel uncomfortable with my footing lately(knock on wood) and it is getting to be challenge-trail-like so it makes it fun and more of an all around work out.  Ran 7.2 miles (last mile felt easy and was a 7:16)  then my round the block .5 mile cool down and lots of fun stretches at the end.  This has helped immensely with recovery.  Also does everyone love salmon?  Perfect post run treat, grilled with salt and pepper and a little lime juice.  Way good for you, those omega 3s you know.  If you think you hate fish but haven't tried salmon, it is a must.  It doesn't even smell really (like tuna does).  Happy running!!

7.2 miles in 1:00:15 (8:22). 1/2 mile cool down 4:28.

Nice running happening out there.  Hope everyone tries it.  After a while (a few runs outside) you get used to the footing.  Ran 1100 North to Canyon Rd thru Ivory Homes up 600 west to Farm Rd to Deerfield Elem to next road past it on west side down and over to my 800 rd (did this in 3:40 at comfortable pace for me even with the slosh), last mile 7:19 with a lot of maneuvering due to a car and lots of slosh/ice melt.  Did the usual 1/2 mile cool down slower today 4:32.  Glad I got the miles in as I work tonight (6pm to 6am) and tomorrow night.  Hope to get in a couple of miles tomorrow afternoon to make it 40 this week.   I think the first time ever in at least 14 years.  No joking.  I was never big on miles but lately I am finding a big rush in doing it and it is helping my pace a great deal.  Hope to have some PRs as I pass 40 soon (February 7th). 

Avg pace:  8:28 (for 7.82 miles) ; 4:32 (1/2 mile cool down).

Woke up at 2pm (after all night shift, briefly awake at noon).  Got out to run by 255pm.  The sun and bright white snow was calling me.  Roads clearing quite a bit.  Some not so good still amazingly.  Ran slllooowwww (first mile 9:45 in sleepy head mode, body felt okay brain just not able to tell it move quickly, so obeyed the signal).  Must have picked it up cause pace avg just below 9 by end of 7.33 miles.  So I was glad about that.  Still feel tired-head like and can't tell how hungry I am.  So I guess  I will just eat to see if it wakes me.  Off I go on in two hours back to an all night shift.  No running tomorrow just sleeping and resting up for a new week of running.  I made a new record for me of over 40 miles of running (45+ WOW!!)

7.33 miles in 1:05:47.  (8:58 avg pace). 

So my day consisted of gearing up for a year in (bet you can't guess)....BRACES for not crooked teeth (minor imperfections of course) but for a way OFF bite that has caused my TMJ/jaw pain and  from what I understand could be contributing greatly to my occipital neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia trigger points (daily headaches).  My jaw has been locking up for years and pops like crazy every time I talk, chew, bite whatever.  So after long struggle with myself I decided one year is a good trade off for total cure (rather than unnecessary jaw surgery even though there is bone wear from my three decade problem).  I guess as my teeth have moved as I got older the problem along with daily stressors which make me clench my teeth have progressed the problem to what Dr. McMillan calls an interesting case (meaning one he finds more challenging for himself, which he stated he likes).  I got back from the upper teeth teenage makeover at 1045am and said alright now lets see how my body likes running with them.  I dawdled around my house cleaning here and there (worked two nights in a row and you know how the house can get without a mom)  and didn't get out until 1105 so since Amber gets out at noon I had little time to get my wanted miles so I booked it at first thinking just get the five in a be happy at a easy pace but then I felt unusually great (like my teenage body was back) and I just kept going and going (like the energizer bunny).  I was surprised to see my pace on the last mile was comfortably 7:30 or so, so I looked on the course tool to map my run and WOW I had run 7.74 miles in 7:29 pace.  First mile was 8:03 too.  I am the bionic woman with my new teenage attire.  Hope it lasts.  Eating with them was tragic (like from the movie (cartoon) Emperors New Groove and the Emperor asks Isma as he looks at her smile "How long has that been there?" and it was a piece of green stuff stuck in her teeth.  Hope you enjoyed my entry.  Sorry so long but a lot to say today I guess.  The usual 1/2 mile cool down at the end brings me to 8.24.  Yahoo!!!! Wish I was doing Painter's.  Going skiing with the family instead.  Must make sacrifices so family can handle my addiction.

7.74miles (Avg pace 7:29).  1/2 mile cooldown (4:18).

Ran at first relaxed but stressed as had orientation meeting for two hours with manager this am and was pressed again for time.  But this time husband home so didn't feel so bad staying out extra 20 minutes to get run in.  Ran a varied route up to Deerfield elem by way of 1100 north and canyon Rd. etc... and back down my 800 rd (3:41).  Last mile I wanted to slow down but downhill for first half so 7:19.  First mile 8:31.  I just feel good and the pace feels easy.  I hope that means well.  No aches or pains (KNOCK on wood) except I am probably going to lose weight on the BRACES DIET.  It feels weird to bite into food.  I am on a soft food diet and not much appetite with all this metal in my mouth.  Sadly chocolate chips don't even sound good. 

Total miles:  8.12:  7.62 miles (avg pace:  7:57), 1/2 mile cool down(4:24).

Ran a varied route with husband.  He has been running the treadmill sporadically and I think I was pushing him too hard. The outdoor air was hard on him.   I slowed down for him which was good for me to do.  Should give my body a break.  Ran 5.76 with him (9:09 pace) then 2.62 on my own (8:30 for two then 8:46 the rest). 

8.38 miles (Avg pace 8:59).

Sleepless in PG run.  Slept four hours after 12.5 hour night shift.  Took forever brushing teeth/ flossing with these darn braces.  Getting less sore though.  Manage to go out for a run at 1pm felt sleepy like.  Moved slow or rather had no sense of pace since had no sense of self.  Mother-in-law dropped off some organic blueberries and black berries.  MMmmmmm good.  Ate some blackberries  then made my whole wheat blueberry pancake recipe minus refined anything.  Great antioxidants they are especially when the next nurse coming on shift piled on the perfume that others were complaining of burning eyes and I was getting my usual headache and memory issues.  I also had the burning eyes.  IHC is smoke-free now but need to pay more attention to the policy about perfume free. 

5.38 miles (Avg pace 8:30).

Actually slept for five hours after getting back from all nighter.  Woke at noon, walked around picking up then decided to do run and kill two birds with one stone and stop at my daughter's elementary school to do the homework papers.  It is only one mile from my house but  I took a four mile loop before stopping the 2.9 miles more plus a real slow half mile cool down.  Stretched well then ate yummy blackberries again and some more whole grain blueberry pancakes with organic raspberry jelly on them.  Yumm!!!  The braces diet has helped to lose another pound so far but I don't think I need to lose too much.    I was 123.5 this morning after a tall glass of water.  But I do think it is helping my joints and frame not to be carrying extra weight which makes a me more efficient runner.  I have been concentrating on form, relaxed hands so shoulders stay relaxed and running with my jaw splint in helps me not to clench.  So far no major headaches (just from perfume overload at work at change of shift) but if I control my breathing then do yoga breathing out in the cold fresh air after I leave the headache dissipates yet I can stilll smell perfume residue on my clothes as I am changing out of them.  I usually take sauna like showers to try to detox and of course eat nutritiously.

6.9 miles (avg pace: 8:25); 1/2 mile cool down (slow didn't time).

Got in a long run in 30 minutes before leaving for a long day skiing.  Our first out this season and my six year olds first lesson.  Freedom for two and half hours was great but she caught on quite well.  Better than one day on the bunny hill last year with me placing her between my legs (not a good idea if you don't want to feel wasted at days end).  I didn't have to do any of that this year, just ski backwards to have her follow my tracks and keep an eye on her.  She even got off the second stop of the chair at Sundance.  She was a little trooper.  I am wiped now.  My run this am started at 630 am.  I ran just under four and then met at Kim's.  Kim didn't want to go as early as I had plans to leave at six.  I ignored my alarm then but got out soon enough.  Ran an additional 6.3 miles with Kim.  Kept good pace for all of it so we wouldn't freeze our tails off.  Had red marks on my stomach and thighs and those two large things I carry around for added fat storage.  Even a hot shower didn't diminish the redness.  I had to do the triathlon-like shower/change/dress take off so as to not tick off my husband for getting in just before 8am with plans to leave our house by 830am.  My kids were flaking without me there so we got out at 840am.  Not too bad.  Avg run pace for 10.12 miles (8:01).  Avg sprint for the ski day pace (6:30, just kidding but it did feel like it was like MOVE!!  MOVE, MOVE!!).  Now I am home feeling completely tired and ready for bed.  Hope everyone did well at Painters.  As for me I finished with a personl best biatthon here in Utah County. 

Do I get to count skiing as miles?  I guess when I skated and used poles to get places uphill or flat.  But I didn't put on the cross training mode.  Don't know how to change that yet.  Nonetheless, spent a beautiful day skiing at Brighton. Our first as a family and my second since college years (1987).  High speed quads are the way to go.  My 6 year old went down without fear for her second day skiing.  Later got a lesson and now refused to go on the Green Circle runs (easiest).  She was skiing and seeing ABBA songs from the movie Mama Mia.  It was quite a site.  She followed her sisters and I through the trees on the trails made off main courses.  It was a heck of a lot of fun and the weather was warm, my hands were sweating.  We can't wait to go back.  Opted out of running in the am as I had to work tonite (Monday) and we needed an early start (didn't want "the look" from my husband either).  I was put on call but was called in just as I nodded off for 20 minutes at 950pm.  C'est la vie.  At least I got to unwind a bit after the big day of skiing. 

Lately my pace is speeding up so technically some these miles are fast but I guess now my fast has to be faster since my usual fast speed is my regular speed now.  Slept 4 hours after the night shift.  Woke and ate a nutritious lunch of blueberries, ricotta cheese and black beans.  Tried to nod off again but the sun was calling me out to run.  So I got out there at 230 pm and ran 6.15 miles in 7:55 pace and 1/2 mile cool down at 9:02 pace.  Inversion made me nauseated.  Chest felt tight didn't help that an intern came into my work at 5am wearing extremely strong perfumed lotion.  Instant nerve pain on the side of my head thru my spine down to my lumbar region.  A fellow nurse also with allergies (but asthma) told her to stay away ruder than I would be but I was glad she was told but still this young girl made no attempt to wash it off after the suggestion was made.  She was also updated about IHCs policy about not wearing perfume.  I feel bad that she was "attacked" verbally by my co-worker but at the same time glad I didn't have to be the only one to have try to say something.  It affected my thinking the rest of my shift which luckily was only an hour and 1/2 longer.  Perfume fumes make me lose memory.  It sounds funny but I am like a stroke victim when I smell it.  My heart even starts to skip beats (lots of them).  ON and on I went sorry.  But I feel really strongly about the chemicals we are putting into our environment and how it affecting EVERYONES health even if the person thinks it is not affecting them.   I will stop here.  A topic for another blog perhaps. 

6.15 miles (7:55); 1/2 mile (9:02)

Shortest run in a while.  Felt very heartburn/indigestion-like as I left for my run at 2pm.  Kind of felt that way yesterday too in my run but this time it went to my intestines and the rest of the story is too graphic to describe...basically I had to track down a cell phone (spotted a postal worker in her truck and asked to use it) and call my husband for a ride home as I was too grossed out.   Anyway the pollution seems to be the problem for me these last two days running.  I felt more tightness in my chest and I think along with the perfume at work and lack of a good sleep schedule my overall body burden was high.   I decided it wasn't worth getting out there again today.  Headache this am should have been a clue but I tried to rise above it.  Didn't happen.  Plan to run at least 8 miles down the drain.  But you know what, I am sort of glad, cause I was getting a little obsessive with getting in my miles and now I can just give myself a hug and say "it is okay"  and run better tomorrow or the next day.  Life isn't all about running even though some days  I focus more on it than what should truly be important.  Got to take a big recertification test for Neonatal Rescutation (passed) and got home at 8pm to get my kids one at a time on the piano, then say our prayers and listen to one of my daughters read to us from the scriptures.  So all in all I got a lot in today (oh and also did my visiting teaching, in place of the am run I was going to do).

3.4 miles (8:31 pace)

Too much SMOG stayed inside and read for the first time TWILIGHT.  Pretty much read all day.  Got a little into it.  More than I thought I would.  Figured half the population (woman) around here couldn't be totally off on it being a "can't put down" kind of a book.  Think I will see the movie now.  I saw some trailers which look like they changed the ending to the way I wanted it so I am glad.  NO RUNNING, again.  Very low miles this week and I don't care.  The unhealthy alert status on air quality scared me away a bit.  Indoor quality poor with all the cleaners at rec centers so I was stuck, had to read a good book.

Dragged my lazy self out to get in a good 7.71 miler (8:06 pace average) which pace started real slow (9:30 first half mile).  I was taking advantage of a clear, but brief blue sky evidence that perhaps the air quality was better.  However by the end (last three miles) going by a few trucks and a laundromat I was beginning to feel the pollution again and SEE it for that matter.  It was scary to see that I was running into it.  The haze once again taking over the community.  The break in the clouds lasted only so long.  I picked up the pace the best I could (last three miles at 7:48 pace average) but chest feeling the grime rubbing in my lungs, no joke.  I couldn't even stretch well outside due to all the exhaust smells.  People aren't paying attention well to the news (at least five homes were wood burning as  I passed them).  Okay enough at least I finally went running weather it helped my health or hindered it more I don't know.

7.71 (8:06 pace).

Afternoon post night shift run.  Up to Cedar Ridge (good uphill).  Work tonite so hopefully the long run woke me up.  Avg pace for 7.76 miles (8:06).  Last mile 7:13.  Babies falling from the sky so work is very busy. 

Ran with Troy for 5.13 in icy snow. Pace 8:59 (stopped watch when waited for Troy but still went slower to stay closer to him). Ran a second loop at a 7:55 pace. I love the post-snow runs. It makes it an adventure. 1/2 mile cool down.

Ran 4.16 with husband in the FROZEN TUNDRA!!!!!  Holy Cow!!!  Brrrrrrrrr!!!! I went another 1.32 without him.  He fell but didn't tell me as I was a few strides ahead but noticed a wet mark on his sweats.  He said "I'm fine".  He likes to be the tough guy.  No emotion (about falling).  I can still feel the effects of the inversion, the cars all smell awful getting into my lungs.  I need to be up in the mountains.  Pace with hunny (8:29) pace on own 7:52.  Glad I got out there.  But glad it is over.  My chest still feels tight.  Running felt fine (thanks to endorphins) it is a muscle tightness like I get with fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue.  Hope it passes soon.  

Three night shifts in a row started last night.  And busy busy busy I was.  So too overwhelmed to consider running plus too involved in the second book of the Twilight series New Moon, couldn't put it down after waking with only five hours of sleep before going into to work again.  Bye running, for now (just two days off)

Done with that stupid (but intoxicating) book. Don't have the third in the series so I am safe from distractions today. Actually slept five hours got up for two and 1/2 then slept again for almost three. My dreaming was distracting as I dreamt about immortality and true love. Wish I felt like running. Body extremely fatigued, brain the culprit. It doesn't like sleep deprivation. It likes to sleep at night not during the day. One more night alleluyah!!! My sister in law had her baby right before my shift so I get to take care of her just after delivery and my very adorable nephew weighing in at 8 pounds 12 ounces. This should help the night pass more quickly.

Just had to get out and run even though for some reason  I couldn't sleep my usual first five hours.  It was broke sleep.  I woke at 1000am then struggled to get back to sleep but stayed in bed until noon.  Just got in my running gear and got out there.  Felt better and better as I went out.  Actually used my new running shoes for the first time (Christmas present ).  Loved them but probably pay for running over nine miles in them without first getting used to them by walking around in them for a few hours.  They are the same make and model so shouldn't be too much difference.  I did a hard run up 1100 north to the top for the Rockie Moment at the top and I even went to the base of the trail up there and turned around.  I ran a good pace considering the major uphill.  Ran and Ran to get out the two days off kinks. Pace 8:18 average for the 8.65 miles.  1/2 mile cool down at 9:02 pace.  I feel utterly and completely mentally depleted.  Two more hours until bed for me. 

Kim and I ran our long run together ( in the hours just before sunrise, arghhh).  She wore a garmin, I wore my usual lap watch.  The course tool put me at 8:28 average pace.  Her garmin 8:45.  How?  Our fastest mile was 7:44 on her garmin, slowest 9:10. I am just trying to figure this out.  We did meet and my course was longer but she helped me to go faster so what is the deal?  I suppose the cold plus my three night shifts in a row and no sleeping well at all last night just made it seem like I was putting forth more effort, but for calculation purposes I am going to my course tool average since that is what I have been going by.  We shall see when races come up how well my running has been this Winter.  I have actually run with people with their garmins and some would read a fast mile and I would be like my idea for the mile from ones I mapped out is here (another 20 or so seconds down the road), so now it is the opposite.  The garmin made me slower.  

I guess I sort of figured it out.  I ran .82 miles longer than her and at a 8:00pace.  Quick when I started due to freezing temps (tried to warm up) and quick to end (glad it was over).  This makes up some of the discrepency.  Getting over it.  Just trying to see if I GOTTA GET A GARMIN......NOT!!! (yet at least).