Believe to Achieve

Slept only two hours after Saturday's fiasco running experience.  Went to work and while the rest of the world relished in the extra hour I got to work it.  Yup, 13 hours and 45 minute shift.  It was the battle of mind over body.  I endured.  Came home Sunday to sleep only 3 hours with an Ambien CR.  Had four pills to try and that was the last one.  Since they don't work on me that's it with sleeping meds.  On to herbal teas.  Finally slept last night as I was getting congested.  I took half a benadryl, which helped.  Sniffles pretty much gone now.  Made it out for a run at 7:07am for only 6.1.  Even though it was really 8:07 it was still cold to me.  Just took it soooooo easy.  Some 10 minute miles.  Just getting in some mileage where I can.  6.1 in 56:22 (9:14).  Like that.  No overdoing it here.  Not sore at all from Saturday: D.

With the extra hour of daylight in the am sleeping problems worsened.  Slept 1 1/2 hours from 7 to 830am.  Tried and tried to fall asleep.   Took ibuprofen around 11am, got back in bed and slept from 1130 to 130pm.  Decided to go running.  Ran like an inch worm, creeping on the roads ever so slowly.  First mile 10:40!! : )  I was in slow motion just making tiny efforts, not caring about pace.  More concerned about feeling alive.  Ran up 1100 north to the canal, at times picking up the pace, but not long.  Pace 9:21 average for 6.51 miles.

Just get out and run, run.  The weather too beautiful to pass up no matter how drained one might be.  I got to wear shorts and a nylon t-shirt, never cold.  Perfect temps with awesome autumn colors.  Wanted to turn back at the 5 mile mark and make it 8.5 cause I was feeling fatigued but found some power within to pull myself through.  I am going to need this power at Squaw Peak next June (50 miler).  Working on my mental toughness wherever/whenever I can.  Mind over body.  That is the key to endurance events.  Ran my new hilly loop through trails and the canal into and out of Cedar Hills with the addition of last week plus a .5 mile cool down.  Average pace for total =  8:23.  First mile 8:58.   Last mile 7:11.  Cooldown 1/2 mile 8:32.  Pigged out on chocolate milk, less processed tortillas, and cottage cheese.  Will eat all night.  Work next two.  Slept two four hour blocks last night, no meds needed.  Ahhhhh!!!!!    Side Story:  On my run as I stared at Lone Peak High School's track thinking I should do speed  work(lack of energy convinced me otherwise) a guy was on the track then he hopped over the fence and came running in my direction.  Well about a 1/2 mile earlier I passed a guy with a backpack and beany on about 18- 20 years old roaming around the road up from the pond. He was walking towards the school.  I stood staring at how to get into the track but it just  wasn't worth my effort today.  So I turned to get back on the trail and there was the same backpack guy.  The guy from the track, dressed like a jock, was sprinting towards him.   I overheard him say "Man, I got to talk to you right away!".  Okay a jock and a suspicious not dressed for the weather ipod, backpacker, beanie man chatting.  I pretended and actually tried not to hear them.  I was worried I might hear something I didn't want to hear and then be this witness person.  The backpack guy made eye  contact twice with me and had this clever smile on his face.  Drugs?  Friendly banter?  Girl troubles? Who knows?  Another woman on the trail from the opposite direction with two dogs also stared at the two.  Who has time for this?  Away I went.  Left to my own suspicions.  

Slept three hours, briefly up and then slept another 1 hr 20 minutes.  Nice day.  Drank some water got dressed to run and headed out in a long sleeve nylon shirt (hot pink) and my only shorts I rarely wear (others in the wash) which are biker shorts and black.  Sooooo stepping into the outdoors wooooo!!! heatwave!!  The breeze was a warm one and the temps had to be in the 70s.  My double layer socks and shorts were bugging me.  I felt hot.  I wanted to tear off my shoes and run barefoot ( I ran my cool down without shoes, ahhhh!!).  Felt I should pick it up and see if I could jump start my brain/body.  First mile 8:45.  Last mile 7:08.  Average pace: 8:11.  This was a hilly course  up to Deerfield Elem. and back in a loop.  I felt strong on the uphill : D.  Ran a 1/2 mile cool down at 8:44 pace.  Stretched and meditated.  Work tonight and then I finally get three nights off.  Those always pass all too quickly : ( (((  This warm front must mean ugly weather approaching. 

Met Josse at  6am at the mouth of the canyon.  We ran on the Provo River Trail to the lake and beside it for 1/2 mile (all on the trail) to make it an even 10 out and back.  The weather was very nice.  Canyon winds at the start for just 1/4 mile.  So glad.   We both wore shorts and were fine with just our nylon long sleeved shirts and a short one under it, gloves and headbands.  The scenery on the trail was relaxing.  The way out was lovely making it to 10  at 1:25 (8:30) without looking at my watch really for pace.  The way back we picked it up to an average of 8:00.  Came in at exactly 1:20:07 to the gate at the parking lot.  The wind the last 1/2 mile was atrocious,  BRrrrrrrr!!!  It knocked the breath out of us.  However did I survive running up 7 miles last Saturday on a much colder day?  I shiver to think of that living nightmare : D.  Total time 2:45:00 for 20 miles =  8:15 avg pace.  At least now I can eat whatever I want.  But I will probably eat healthy.  It makes me feel and run/recover better.  Thanks Josse!!  PS  I need a nap now.  

So I am getting back into the A.M. groove.  I used to love morning runs and I am starting to like them again.  It has just been hard with the shift work.  But I am suddenly feeling better---the clocks back mode has actually benefited me.  Now it is lighter and I can get out.  I always dread Spring when they change my mornings to dark!!!!  I have also been sleeping better.  Not awesome or anything just actually getting some hours in, instead of minutes.  So I jolted out on my run cause I was wearing shorts and it was colder than I thought.  I resisted the temptation to walk back inside to get on my tights.  Red legs were in this morning.  All of this run was impromptu.  Thought about what I would do while getting dressed at 630 am.  Got out at 6:38am.  Ran my 5K route warm up plus the .34 to get to the start at a decent pace (23:40 for the warmup 5K= 7:38).  Oh great now that was too good for a warm up I thought now I have to make myself nauseated or something to really feel it.  That earlier pace was surprisingly easy.  Weird.  OK the 5K tempo was next.  Surprised to be at the first mile at 6:43.  Yay.  Next mile a lot of uphill and last mile a good downhill section but ends on a uphill.  Yuck.  But my time was respectable for me at least (20:58.66!!!! avg pace there 6:46).  I was pretty happy with that.  Didn't feel nauseated until the last .05 when I tried to sprint at the end to beat 21 minutes.  Thought I wasn't going to do it.  Glad I did.  Ran a 4.59 mile cool down at 8:12 pace.  Total mileage 11.23 miles at 7:38 pace.  Work tonight.  So going easy tomorrow, if at all.  Loved this early run on uncrowded terrain.  Brief sunlight at the end so my legs were still reddish at the finish.  Mind over body.  Ate nothing before run.  Couple of sips of gatorade taken before starting out and after the first 5K.  

Felt okay after 2 hours sleep, two hours up then almost three hours sleep so went for a run.  Probably last warm day.  Ran 8.3 miles (.74 with Amber who is quick) @ 8:18 pace.  Feeling really good.  So glad.  Lovin' the fall.  

Nice and easy pace.  Hilly route up to Cedar Hills and behind Lone Peak on Canal and Cedar Hills trails.  Same route as last week.  Left early at 6:50am.  Wanted to leave earlier so that made me speed it up at the end and I wanted it all to be easy.  The price you have to pay laying in your bed thinking about running and not at that moment.  Busy day.  Mom is coming to visit.  Big vacuum day  just completed on tired arms, just from lifting daughter onto monkey bars yesterday.  I guess I should work the arms more.  They aren't dead tired just a little sore, wimpy. A little more tired running then my big energy day Monday, go figure.  Should sleep well tonight.  11.08 miles @ 8:18 pace.  First mile 9:10, last mile 7:42.   

Detox run.  Was feeling sluggish and achy after eating out yesterday --blame it on the mexi-beans. So just got out late at 930am and did a couple of mile repeats.  No plan just came to me to do them.  Like I would start out on this two mile loop and then say "why don't I just go to that other two mile point and sprint a mile home?" to make it a 3 mile loop with some speed.  So I did.  First mile 8:45 nice and wake up pace, second mile 8:17 (all up hill), third mile down then uphill at 6:13 pace.  Yay.  Liked that and it wasn't all out so I wasn't near nauseated.  Did that route again.  Like when you do a fast mile then the easy miles are faster with much less effort.  Second round splits--- 7:42, 7:38 then the last my speed mile at 6:05!!!  HELLO!!  Liked that.  Ran another different 3.16 mile loop to avoid passing the same people three times already and a couple of bull dogs that scared me at first as they began to chase me until I said "NO".  Ran a 1/2 mile cool down at the very end at 8:34 pace.  Avg pace for the totoal 9.62 miles= 7:43.  Feel detoxed now.  Going to go eat well.

7 am run. Tried to leave earlier but couldn't pry myself out of bed, so the 10 I wanted was cut by 1.5  miles.   Surprised it is not freezing out yet but still needed gloves and head band and long tights.  Today was my easy day.  Ran 8.5 mile various route which included, unfortunately, the big uphill to Mt. Timp temple off 700 north coming from the west.  It is there that I came to this test question:  "You know you are a competitive Runner if....."  

1.  on your easy run days you are so NOT going to let speedy boy pass you like the wind and not want to yell out "HEY its my easy day, don't think I can't keep up with you!!" (that happened on the hill today, so of course I picked it up, dreadfully on the uphill).

2.  you wish you had a shirt that read "I am going easy, today"  Or "I am running 20 miles, how far are you running today?"

The list goes on of course.  But I stuck to my guns for the most part.  Ran 8.5 miles at 8:38 pace : DDDDD

Okay this started out as a 4 miler than as I got to the mile at 9:00 thinking truly that it was like a 10 to 1030 pace I was like I guess I feel better than I thought so I just picked it up from there and decided to loop here and there as the high winds and pelting snow began to fall around 2.5 miles.  Woman VS. Wild.  I was determined to be stronger than the storm and I truly felt really strong even with the head and side winds up hill I had a pace of 8:11.  By the end of my 6.7 mile run it was torrential.  Pace 7:55 for average.  I thought why am I stopping.   I did for thirty minutes and thought why not go out and see what its like to break 60 miles in a week.  The snow had stopped the wind was still fierce and the temp had dropped and my sweat had already cooled me but again I was not going to let that stop me.  I just kept winding here and there picking up the pace feeling again very strong.  Last mileage was 5.54 miles with average of 7:49.  Total miles 12.24 @ 7:52 pace.  Worked last night slept four hours from 730am to 1130 am.  Work tonight.  Big turkey dinner happening at my house tomorrow with my mom, sister and her husband and 7 kids.  So much for a day of rest.  I think I made 60 miles here goes the submit button to see, cross fingers   : D>

Got my "can" out at 650am.  Alarm off at 630am.  So thought I should roll over but had too much to do today with mom in town and a ortho appt.  Ran up to the canal on 1100 North at  (The Big Hill, 8:56 pace) and today I wanted to go south so I did all the way to 1600 north in Orem where there I found my gatorade/powerade drop off from this past Summer's 20 miler with Josse and Melanie. It was well hidden so not even touched just some weeds trying to grow around it.  So I took no thought but for a moment to swig some down, nice and icy to match the air.  Brrr it was this am.  I wore this huge pull over wool-like old jacket (given to me by an old high school beau years ago, 1987).  So that kept me warm and made the run bearable.  My nostrils burned for the first bit of the run I almost turned around to get tissues to stuff in there to keep em' warm.  That feeling passed thankfully.  I again felt strong on this run.  I think it is because it is soooooo freezing that running fast keeps me warm (kind of like if you fall into cold water it is bettter to keep movin' or you would die real quick).  First mile 8:40.  Last mile 6:58.  Cooldown 1/2 mile @ 8:18 pace.   Faster by only 2 1/2 minutes on the way back since I had the big downhill for 1 mile there.  Phewww!!  Surprised avg pace still below 8 even with 9.4 miles on the dirt trails.    : DDDD!!!   So total mileage 13.45 miles at 7:57 pace.  Going to eat well.  Feeling really good.  Sleep really helping my running.  Finally.

Cedar Hills again. Skipped the part on the canal (tired of frozen clay running after yesterday) so route shorter thankfully.  10.49 miles at exactly 8:00 pace.  This is that very hilly route so I am good with this time.  My pace has improved on this run by 18 seconds per mile at what I would consider a comfortable pace.  Not pushing it.  Surprised first mile 8:20.  Last mile 7:45.  I got my braces adjusted yesterday with new elastics to bring my front top teeth all together and I am suffering with a terrific sinus like pulsating intense pressure in the forehead, temples, bridge of nose and of course the teeth.  It was ailing me in the run.  The headache is making me dizzy with some fuzzy vision.  This happened in August and lasted a week.  I at least stopped the tech from putting in the latex elastics.  She almost had them all the way on when I stopped and asked her.  She left the room and came back and said "sorry, there is a bag here just for you, of latex free elastics".  What a pain I am.  Glad I don't have to fight the fatigue that problem caused me in August.  Latex allergy is not fun.  Anyway, body felt fine brain not so, so this was a mediocre run cause I couldn't enjoy it very much with the pain.  The last mile was a good one knowing I could complain at home to my mommy who is visiting for one more day.  I am thankful for moms.  Oh and I also didn't sleep well as Brooke, my nine year old threw up all over the place and we (Troy and I) had to do the big spray/hose down at midnight and I hadn't been able to sleep because of the pain.  Brooke is home from school today.  Lucky ducky as my mom spoiled the grandkids by buying them a Wii  yesterday for their birthdays (Aug, Oct, Dec).  Brooke gets to play with it while the others have to go to school.  But not before I get her to do her homework and piano.  I am not that much of a pushover.  She is feeling better btw.  Sorry long post.

A couple of words  :  the Wii  got Mii.  Yah that's right grandma spoilin' my kids with the wii.  I play a little bowling getting into the moves like I am really there and this morning my left leg/hip/foot is ailing----sciatica!!!!!  I am such a wimp.  My nerves have a memory and those moves are not running form!!  Nonetheless I had to drive my mom to the airport after getting the kids all to school and hubby had an interview right by the airport so I stayed with him.  We didn't get back from SLC until 230.  We had a nice lunch on Subway and it was there that we learned my husband really wasn't hallucinating when he saw a bright light in the sky, brighter than lightning and slightly longer.  The Subway counter guy said "Are you all having a nice day?  Did you hear about the Meteor that flew over us last night?"  I started to laugh in surprise.  Troy only a few hours earlier was telling me the story of how last night he was watching "A Haunting" and then for some reason he looked outside and at the same moment, apparently, that the meteor flew over him.  His second thought,  (after realizing it wasn't lightning because there were no clouds in the sky) was that a spaceship had landed somewhere  : DD    I soooo wish I were awake for that.  Anyway time slipped away and so did my run.  I work in a 1/2 hour so I only got in three.  Could have squeezed 3 more but honestly my left buttock is a buggin' thanks to the Wii getting to Mii!!!  3.07 @ 8:30.  

So did not feel awake enough to run.  But forced myself because I could not fall asleep after sleeping 3 1/2 hours.  Eating crappy playing a role in my sleeping along with staying up all night.  Plan to fix that starting now.  First mile slow at 8:40.  Really thinking I was going faster but brain still back in bed.  Was freezing with head band and gloves two nylon shirts and shorts with capris sweats.  This is how I get when I am tired.  So I was really wanting to be done.  But when I got to Kim's (hoping she was home so I could do a wake up speed work on her TM, but she wasn't) I felt warm enough to take off my capris and wear shorts.  Eventually I could take off my gloves and fold up my head band.  The cold was just sleep deprivation.  It was chilly but not that chilly, the sun was out and it was 1pm.  Anyway I managed to pick up decently even on the steep uphill climb to the canal via 2600 north across Canyon Rd (the private drive to it).  Kept going and felt good enough now to get my 10 in.  Ran to Battlecreek drive and there did the first mile of the Strawberry Days 5 K as a little speed.  I was distracted by dodging cars and changing songs on my ipod and running on very uneven old sidewalks to avoid the sloping roadway that could cause anIT injury.  The mile was fair given those distraction (6:12, which was mile 8-9).  I ran well home.  Last mile 7:20 felt easy.  1/2 mile cooldown at 8:18 pace.  Total mileage 11.35 at 7:58 pace.  Finally awake and again freezing.  Off to a hot shower.  Work tonight and  then its off to see New Moon at 1030am with Troy.  I got someone to come in for me at 3am after she sees the midnight showing of New Moon.  I am so thankful for that.  

ZippO ZerO  Nada.  Yup after working until 445am (replacement late after she watched new moon with a bunch of friends) and then we got a sick kid so I stayed longer and slept from 515am to 830 then again from 9am to 10am then rushed to New Moon at 1030am (which I enjoyed wasted as I was).  Began to get terribly nauseated from lack of sleep that I went home and slept from 130 until 330 grossly, awareness sleep.  Could hardly get out of bed from the nausea,  and gross all over feeling from lack of sleep, not sickness.  Bummed I never once felt that running was a good idea so I guess I take a break day yet not feeling like a break.  So hope to sleep tonight.  Going long with Mel and Kim at 6am in the bitter cold.  

Ran in the warmer Saturday morning temps than expected for 2.25 miles @ 8:07 pace and arrived back to my home to meet Melanie just walking up to my house for our 15 miler.  Ran up to meet Kim and then ran up to the canal on the big up hill.  Ran to 1600 North.  Mileage here 15.31 @ 7:55 pace.  Kim said pace could be slightly quicker as her was on auto stop and sometimes it doesn't stop when she does, but we only stopped briefly twice (two minutes twice). Total mileage 17.56 @ 7:56.   Was still quite nauseated from yesterday so ate and drank very little. Glad it wasn't freezing out but hands are frozen as I write this.  Need to get in the shower.  Kids up early when I  got in the house as Troy accidentally had the dance schedule wrong.  He thought they needed to be there at 830am but I told him about three times it was 930 am.  That must have been three times he "tuned me out", as husbands often do : D.  Anyway busy day, dance, piano recital, BYU vs. Airforce home game.  

EXTREME RUNNING workout.  So I couldn't sleep at 4am but too early to go to the gym with Melanie (opens at 5am).  By 5am I was tired again so I laid in bed trying to sleep with a noisy sleeper.  Not happening.  Alright already I will get up.  Now it is 520am.  Got in car and drove to the gym.  A first in over a year.  Tried out the TM space (small) and it hit me that I was way over dressed, so I started stripping off clothes and even then that wasn't enough.  My goodness it was like St. George on that balcony of a TM area.  Holy Moly.  I was like a Chicago Marathoner 2008 revisited.  I was sweltering.  My muscles were not going to give and I thought 10 min. pace on the TM was fine enough.  And then I added the 1 % incline like I like to and chatted with another TMer.  She was taking her cloth and wiping her brow every few seconds.  I wasn't sweating at that pace because it was sauna-like, zapping the heat from my body.  Every mile I planned on picking it up until I got to a 6:15 but I got to 8 min. pace (4 miles @ 8:42 avg) and said this is it I am heading for the potty which is inconveniently placed on the lower level.  I drenched my head with cold water and just the run to the bathroom was soooooo refreshing.  Luckily I saw Melanie checking in and I just went up to her and told her the sweltering news.  She was going to run outside so of course I joined her.  Oh yah 24 degrees, so lovely, as my sweat starts to form icicles on me.  I premeditated my not liking the TM so I brought my heavy wool-like coat, gloves and head band, thankfully.  Soon my butt cheeks were numb and my palms sweaty.  We did a hill work out (Micron Hill, Mel calls it).  Its a doozer of a hill plus we ran up a hill to get there.  We ran her Monday 8 mile easy pace route.  Even lovelier were the snow-capped surroundings and slick roads and speedy cars.  Really the scenery was very nice.  Beats the heck out of the TM.  Oh I will return to the TM but probably at PG Rec.  Hopefully it is NOT blazing there.  Got to do some TM speedwork.   Anyway ran the 8 miles at 8:56.  So nice to run with Melanie.  So I got home and since I torchered myself to the extreme temps I thought why not get to my original goal of 15 today.  So, again with sweaty clothes I was out my door for another 3 miles.  This avg pace was 8:06 for 3.13.  No icicles on the ground here.  Just colder temps.  Oh yah!!  I didn't warm up until the last mile.  Met my goal.  Long post.  Happy day!!   15.13 miles at 8:42 pace.  Warm shower (done), long nap and a 12 hour night shift coming up.

Invigorating run post 4 hours of am sleep.  Went out in shorts and two shirts, head band and gloves.  The miles got easier and easier.  Pace nice and easy.  First mile 8:48.  Last mile 7:50.  Was going to run 5 but felt really good, weather cold but comfortable with the sun out.  Ran up to canal via 2600 north and headed north to Deerfield Elem and on to the new path below Lone Peak. Good news,  it is just about done!!!  In fact totally runnable.  Soooooo come join us Thursday  8AM (Thanksgiving) at 550 East AF off 700 North (road below Mt. Timp temple), go west of Temple down the hill on 700North.  You will see the park there, take 550 East (goes north) and keep winding on that road for 1/4 mile.  Nice HUGE grassy park area.  New Trail.  We are going to a do a group run now (about 7 miles)  because no big response from people (poor announcing on my part).  So if you happen to read this and want to run, please come and enjoy the early am run with Mel, Kim and I.  Ran today a total of 9.67 miles @ 8:14 pace (1/2 mile cooldown at 8:19). Stretched and had some yoga moments :DD.

Didn't sleep well.  Darn cause I had a plan to torture myself with a 15 miler (5 mile warmup, 5 mile TM speed, 5 mile cooldown).    So I still did with the sad sleep.  Got up at 540am.  Geared up.  Ran to the PG rec center (3 miles @ 8:47) then, peeled off my additional layers and warmed up two miles on the TM at 8:34 then 8:00 pace (1 % grade).  Yay not sweltering here and NOT crowded.  Felt wasted already.  Oh well, paid the $3 so got to get going.  Progressive tempo run at 5% grade.  Not liking a grade at all to start with.  Wishing I ate something or had some GU or gatorade.  This is going to be hard.  No stopping in between here goes:  6:44, 6:40, 6:35, 6:31,(totally parched sprinted to the water fountain, took 25 seconds) then finished with a 6:27 (last .3 at 6:11- 6:20).  Not a pretty sight.  Occasionally I had to hold on to the rail and let my legs go, my heart was at its max.  Yikes.  I am out of shape or need some sleep or something.  Then 2 mile cooldown on the TM at 8:20 to 8:34 pace (1% grade).  That seemed like it took forever to run two.   Ran home 3 miles at a slightly quicker pace then the way there but boy my sweat was a freezing.  I think it was colder outside than Monday.  Probably 20 degrees?  Brrrrrr!!!  I think I  can only do this workout every two weeks.  Totally not for me.  Hope it gets easier.  I think I will try mile repeats so I can have a break in between.  Legs were okay, heart was the issue.  Probably fatigue.  Made it to my 15 mile goal today.  

Did it (as opposed to "Do it"). Came home  from night shift at 645 am.  Dressed in running gear then Vegged on couch until 745am when my watch alarm went off telling it was TIME.  Yes, time to pick up Kim and meet Melanie at the park.  When we got to the park there was a HUGE hot air balloon about to take flight and a small group of people watching.  We took off running at 8am sharp, up the new trail that leads to Lone Peak.  Of course Melanie and Kim's "easy" pace was shortly quicked to 8s and it was a very hilly course I had made out for them.  We crossed on the trail north of Lone Peak and on to the trail at the Golf Course and took that to the mouth of the canyon.  I had to have music while they talked as I was a complete zombie on NO sleep.  Managed to stay up with them, hung back at the HUGE up hill coming up out of AF canyon and up on to Canyon Rd.  Took a right a few roads down to another up hill climb that lead to a nice downhill test your leg speed area, as I gained back up to Mel and Kim.  It was nice run acutally.  A great workout.  I kept Kim and Mel with me as I was in CONTROL of where we were going.  We got back on the trail briefly just north of Deerfield Elementary then got on the road that passed the new Walmart in Cedar Hills and ran straight passed Lone Peak HS to finish up on my  "balloon" course.  Finished on the trail that was newly finished.  We were at just over 8 miles at the end but Melanie had run an additional .44 miles before we drove up so she was now close to 9 so of course the Garmin OCDer had to  even it up to 9 (just poking fun Mel) and when we added for her, well now Kim had to get to her 9 (same as mine) so we did.  Whatever, I was already a zombie what's one more .44 miles?  Basically ran total 9 miles @ 8:10.  Miles one through 5 were tough uphill climbs so average pace more, for at least one mile (thanks gals).  Last few miles were at 7:27  to 7:51.  So much for taking it easy. Happy Thanksgiving.  I went to bed for three and currently writing this then going back to bed until 4pm.  Dinner served by mother-in-law, thankfully.  Work tonight.  Nursery unusually busy.  A bunch of little "turkeys" are being born.  Also saw several bunches of "turkeys" on the roads today.  Everyone getting in the exercise before the gluttony :DDDD

Nice and easy run. Placed on call  in 6 hour increments for work last night.  Not called in but gave me crappy sleep, thinking I would be called in at any moment.  Wasn't even going to run today because I was supposed to be working but then thought I should to make up for lost hours at work.   You know earn my keep kind of mentality.  Insane, psycho, addict whatever you want to call it.  I don't know.  Was going to run 8.2 but added on for the heck of it.  Avg pace 8:34.  Geez  I don't even think I am at 60 miles yet.

Ran the MOST  awesome run EVER.  Thanks Kim.  Picked up Kim and met Melanie at the gas station at Smith's Marketplace in Lehi.  We ran 6 miles up Suncrest Drive (start elevation 4828 ft., end elevation 6243 ft.  Net gain= 1420 ft, mostly in miles 2 thru 6).  Avg. pace 9:30 on the way up. Spectacular views, headwind, cold temps what more could you ask for?  Tried to take off my wool-like 80s pullover but nope, too brisk a wind.  Biggest Rocky moment at the top.  Breathtaking.  The rich life exemplified.  Nice remote homes and a chapel on a hillside.  Too wonderful.  Views overlooking Draper/SLC and Utah Valley on the other side.  Too much I say.  Felt so good at the top I sped down at 7 min/miles.  Kim and Mel were taking it easy.  I felt too good to pass this moment up.  Ran 72 miles this week and I feel GREAT.  No aches, no pains.  Crossing fingers.   Helps if I get sleep which I got at least 5 hours of good sleep last night.  AHhhhhhhh!!!  Littlest daughter sick with the flu, high temp, sore throat and stuffy nose.  Started Thanksgiving Eve.  Should have known she was sick when she was lying on me the whole time we were at grandmas.  I thought she was being cuddly.  Total mileage 13.11 @ avg pace of  8:18  (Mel had to add in a mile at the end which we did by running to the stop light to the west and circling into Smith's Marketplace parking lot, passing the YUMMY smells of the new Kneaders, but deadended with the smells of sewage a few minutes later, lovely, last mile 8:03)

Goal 15, oops went over :D>    Anyway ran ALL miles at the GYM in Lehi.  Last day of my free trial.  No treadmills available (four broken down) at 555am.  So I hit the indoor track.  Saw Bec, she let me know the outside track  x 8 =  1 mile.  Gross!!  Crowded on the track but doable.   Ran first mile 8:16.  Second mile 8:05.  Third 7:17.  Forth 7:03, last three miles in 22:20 so avg pace 7:26.  Avg for 7 miles =  7:34.  Heard Melanie cheering for me on my last lap.  Good timing.   She wasn't prepared for outdoor running so we hit the TMs.  Got a good one this week after initially starting out on one like last week, and this one happened to be tilting to the left.  Not good.  Glad another TM next to Mel opened up after .2 miles.  Ran 8.5 miles on the TM.  First 8 at avg pace of   7:39, last 1/2 mile cooldown at 9:05 pace.  All the TM miles at 1 % grade.  So loved the company again.  Much nicer in the gym this week.  NOT sweltering and my TM had a built in fan and I had a fan above me. Yay.  So total mileage a whopping 15.7 at avg pace of 7:39.  Whatever.  Not sure why.  Just cause.  I think my antidepressant dose in respect to mileage must be in the 65 to 72 mile range :D.    I feel good.  So far.  Slept well last night.  Work, of course, tonight.  I work every Monday night.