Believe to Achieve

Slept four hours from 730am to 1139am.  Yay.   Tried to go back to sleep.  Not happening.  Got up for my planned 10 miler, route undetermined until I am out the door.  Ran up 1100 north to canal and ran south for total of 45:03 minutes then turned around.  Not sure of pace or distance until I course tool.   I figured I was faster than 9s so 45 minutes would be safe to get 10 in.  Distance was 5.24 miles to turn around in 45:03  (8:35 pace, includes steep hill to canal, of course) and return time 42:23 (8:05 avg).   First mile 8:36, last mile 7:35.    Total distance 10.48 @ 8:20 pace.  Easy run but became "sleepy" on the way back. Stretched well outside.  Weather cool to non runners but I wore shorts and a two nylon shirts and head band pulled way up.  Removed goves after first mile.  Nice to see the sun for a run.   PS:   I signed up for the Squaw Peak 50 miler,  hopefully I get in.  It filled up in one day last year.   That day is today, Dec. 1st.  Barring a post office catostrophy,  I should make the list.  NO turning back now. 

Last Wednesday's workout, 2nd edition.  I decided instead of two cool down miles on the TM, I would run 2 min recoveries after each mile at 8:34 pace since last week I had to hold to the rail a couple of times briefly.  Didn't have to hold this time but wanted too.  Tough workout.  I guess cause Monday's long run was done quicker than usual.  Made it though.  Ran slower to the gym than last week in 27:22 (3 miles).  Freezing out but totally warmed up significantly after the first mile.  No make shift leg warmers needed, just my 80s green sweats over my shorts (sorry Kim). Just did trotting pace which felt lovely.  Rude awakening on the TM.  The TMs at PG Rec are not high quality.  They are the same version of the lower models at Lehi.  And they have like ten of the same ones.  No option but to run the TM that you can feel the pounding.  Not good.  Ran on it last week so I'll stop complaining, but after Monday's workout on Lehi's upper model TM...I have been spoiled.  Kim's is the same way.   A lot lower impact.  Almost aided type feel.  Anyway....ran a two mile warmup eventually getting to 8:34 pace.  A little sore in the left knee from Monday's 56 lapper on the track.  No brainer there.  Ran 6:44 pace at first and quickly changed it up to 6:40.  Here are the splits:  6:40, 6:40, 6:35 (why, 6: 40 was nice ?), 6:35, 6:31.  At the end of each repeat I picked up the pace to the next level or two higher.  So the last mile I ended at the 6:11 pace for like 30seconds (that's all I could handle.  Mel you are too speedy for me girl!!).  Two minute recovery between at 8:34.  0% grade cause I was a wimp today.  Not a good day to die.  One mile cooldown at 8:34.  Ran home just as slow to the second on the way back and it was the more downhill direction.  I ran a few miles for Smooth.  She would be glad to know I didn't finish so strong today.  I was peetering home enjoying the fact that I was done and I deserve to run easy.  Sweat crystalizing of course so wore my wool-like 80s pullover for windchill control.  Total miles 15.  Work the next two nights.  Really plan to run 5 miles tomorrow.  Nothing Friday.   LONG run Saturday.   

Slept from 8am to noon.  Wake up nauseated every time.  Just body not liking sleeping during morning.  So I drink a cold glass of water, it helps and gear up.  Actually look forward now to these runs.  High noon, sun out.  Freezing but that doesn't matter.  Wore shorts, , headband, gloves, nylon t-neck and my infamous SGM finisher shirt from 1995.  The one with the big sun on it.  Still love it.  Was going to do 5 but felt too good so kept going.  Thighs reddish but didn't bother me.  Ran easy which I didn't have much idea of feel.  When it is cold it is hard to tell.  My breathing was very un-labored and it was one of those runs you feel you could keep going and going so I kept adding on going in the the old town of PG on broken sidewalks etc...very enjoyable.  Course tooled route at 9.35 so pace 8:23.  Very easy.  Work tonight.  Off tomorrow (from running), do you think I could contain myself.  Gearing up for 20 on JRP Saturday.   Course tooled the run starting at Melanie's house.  Would be a very nice flattish course, brief hills around Thanksgiving Point and the turn around would be at just over the point of the mount (prison).  So hope it is not freeeeezzzzzing.  There is really no wind cover there.   OH well :D.  Must toughen up.

A DAY OFF.  Slept 3 1/2 hours after my night shift.  Just hung out with my daughter Courtney.  She stayed home from school.  

Chilly start at 5:38 am.   15 degrees.  Warming up slowly.  Ran 4.65 miles  (8:21 avg) around a loop by my house before driving to meet with Josse and JulieE at the Orem Soccer park.  First mile 8:45.  Last mile 7:40.  Feeling really good.   Second course started at Orem Soccer Park on the canal trail all the way to a bit past Canyon Rd.  Coursed tooled the distance at 15.48 miles.  Avg pace to turn around 8:12.  Avg pace on the way back 7:58.   Total average pace: 8:05 for 15:48.    Felt great the whole way.  Great conversation run with friends to pass the time away rather quickly.   Time 2:05:10.  Took one GU.   One banana before second course with some water.  Thanks Josse and Julie.  Another 70 mile week, feeling too good.  Don't know if I am going for 70 next week.  Why stop when I am on a roll?  I take every day as it comes.  You never know if plans will change due to something unforseen.  Happy Saturday.  Off to FESTIVAL of TREES.  Total mileage for this morning  20.13 (avg for runs together 8:09),  Yay!!

Oh yah, bring it on.  17 degrees and 3-5 inches of snow on the ground for my running pleasure at 6:27am.  Was supposed to leave at 6am but I was enjoying my warm bed  and then I contemplated my day and there just was no way to pass this time up for my run so I dug deep and drug myself out of bed and into THE GEAR.  The same things I have been wearing lately to weather the frozen tundra of Utah dessert.  Anyway, just got out there followed car tracks for a bit and then I enjoyed more making my own footprints in the snow so I stayed on the side walks and ventured up 1100 north on to Canyon road twisted back to 600 west then up Farm rd. to Cedar Hills up and over to the mouth of AF canyon via some awesome hillage and then massive freezing head winds at the mouth of the canyon and then a nice tail wind to brush me through the golf course Cedar Hills trail.  This is the only point in my run I got to run on real ground (until the last .2 miles) as there was quite a bit of snow drifting happening out there in the open.   Couldn't get across 4800 north due to lots of traffic and treacherous conditions for crossing over to the extended trail so I stayed on the Walmart side and took a varied route back to my house extending for additional two miles.  A lot of the run was on the side of the road to sneaker-deep snow to avoid being taken out by some skidding driver.  It made it more snowshoe run like and hopefully strengthening my legs more for the big climb in June.  When I got to near my home there was some cleared areas of road that made me feel like I was on a conveyor belt moving me along at a swift pace as I no longer had to trudge the snow under my feet.  It was a funny feeling.  First mile 9:00.  Last mile 7:36 (don't know how I managed that in the snow but I did :D).  Total mileage 13.75 at 8:37 pace.  Wanted 15 but I got out too late and I couldn't pick up the pace much.  Oh well.

EXTREMELY NAUSEATED when I awoke at 1130am (wow 4 1/2 hours :D),  so I had to  RUN soon.   Ate lots of junk last night at work.  Work party from Wallaby's.  Really not my type of food. Too starchy and meaty.  Then tons of peanut m &ms.  Also not good for me.  Love plain ones much better.  White bread too which doesn't sit well.  And some root beer.  Oh I want to throw up thinking about it.  It was pretty much a nausea run the entire way.  Glad the sun was out to try to dampen the "frozen wind".  Temp below 20.  But really I have adapted.  Didn't feel frozen anywhere with all my layers.  Thought of removing my pullover but why?  I wanted to detox so I had to try and sweat well enough and I did.  I began to welcome the wind to cool me off. Stretched well when  I got back.  So nauseated right now as I write this.  Can't shower as husband is working on the plumbing in the basement.   I might be a snowman soon as my sweat starts to freeze.  Ran a similar route from last Thursday's run but added on what I would thought make it 10 but I was way over, that was surprising considering the icy, snowy and sometimes slushy roads with brisk wind chill.  Total mileage 10.58 @ 8:23 pace.  

Looks like there is no hope for a run today.  Heater broke down in the night.  50 degrees on the main floor with wind chill.  Smells like burnt rubber.  Was up at 6am trying to pry off the fan from the furnace (clogged filter from all the embers flying may have cause the motor of our fan to finally give, EVERYBODY CHECK YOUR HEATING FILTERS!!!!  NOW!!!).  Our filter was thick with filth.  I used to have a schedule to change filters, I think all my night work got me off my cleaning schedule.  I don't remember when I last changed it.  Not good.  So now on the coldest day of the year I am without heat.  I have no real desire to run right now.  I am very nauseated still.  Probably from the burnt rubber smell that the furnace gave off before the fan stopped working.  Bring it on I say.  JK.  I would rather be warm and cozy right now.  Heading for the upstairs to where we have a second furnace.  We are thinking of plugging in our microwave up there and secluding our little family there.  One big family adventure, survivor edition coming up : DDDD>    Neighbor furnace guy coming to check our furnace soon.  Oh please let it be the $5.00 part.  Yah think?   Not here.  Probably the $300 one.  Enjoy your warm homes everyone.

BRRRRRRrrrrrrrr!!!  Zero, I mean "0" degrees at 711am in Pleasant Grove.  Yes I got myself out there (late again, contemplation not helping my mileage).  Geared up as usual but added my neck warmer (again eighties style) from my teenage years skiing in SUB-zero temps in New Hampshire.  This weather ain't nothin!!  Never really cold, NUMB but not cold.  Wore soccer socks to my knees under my green sweats (sorry Kim) and my eyelashes immediately frosted over.  I wiped them often to have some visual.  Then I realized my eyebrows were frosted over.  Thighs and bum numb so didn't matter what the weather was like by now.  Fingers, chest, pretty much all of my upper body was toasty.  Kept that pull over on of course.  I am sure I got a few "who is that Nut in the streets?"  kind of looks but I really was feeling survivor-like.  At about mile 6.5 my right middle toe was in piercing pain.  This has been happening since the cold weather runs.  I think my nerves have frozen up sending pain messages to my feet.  Oh well.  Thawed out pretty good in the car pool drive to school this am.  I was seriously melting like Frosty.  Had Troy take a picture of me.  Will try to post it later.  I am also running 8 more miles this PM on the TM.  Why?  I know not.  It is just I felt too good and I barely got started this morning.  Partially in charge of a big ward Christmas Dinner tonight so lots to cut and cook today.  Ran 9.42 miles @ 8:20 pace.  Last uphill mile felt like I was running in place, stiffly, and was 8 flat.  Weird.  I honestly thought I was in slo-mo. 

PM UP DATE RUN:  Didn't think I would make it out to run.  No TM time so ran AGAIN OUTSIDE.  At least now it was 230 pm and 15 degrees.  Sun helped.  I was hot from working on the Christmas Party for tonight in the HOT gym of the church so didn't think to gear up much.  Wore shorts under regular very baggy sweats, no pullover (shocker), short nylon shirt with a BYU sweatshirt (80s style of course).  Headband and gloves a must but felt surprisingly warm on this run until the end when my fingertips sweat started to freeze from blowing my nose on my gloves.  No cold just lots of draining in the cold.  Ran rather quickly for an ICE cold run.   Had lots of red marks on my abdomen, neck and wrists.  7.92 miles at 8:01 pace.  Wowsers.  I did it., 

Sadly I DID NOT MAKE THE LOTTERY FOR THE SQUAW PEAK 50 MILER!!!!!  They will post the 60 person deep wait list later.  Question is do I want to bank on being let in?  Last year everyone on the wait list were offered spots to run it but not until May.  Blah, Blah!!  Post office error?  My luck is running out.  I made the SGM lottery  the last three years and given a spot one year.  We shall see if I even make the wait list because everyone with a post mark Dec. 1st should make it on there.  I mailed mine in the wee hours of Dec. 1st as I worked the night before. What to do?  Perhaps I should just train for a fast marathon?  The new and improved Utah Valley Marathon, offering money to the master's division.  I don't like this predicament. 

1030am run:  11.31 miles  up and around over to the canal trail a varied route with a lot of hills.  The canal was nice with some 4 wheel tracks on it to make it smooth.  Felt colder today.  The sun behind a thin layer of clouds not helping.   Hands sweaty but too cold to take off gloves. Wimpy me. Thermometer at the end of my run at Manila Elementary read 18 degrees as I ran passed it.  Pace 8:08. 

A measly 7.5 miles.  Tired.  Very busy night shift, no time for sitting much even for a break.  Slept 4 hours.  Snowed about 5 inches.  Slushy, snowy run.  No sun.  Hey but over 20 degrees!!  First mile felt out of body slow at 8:55.  A lot of weaving around slushy/icy spots for a bit.  Ran a two loop route just to get in 7 or so.  Really had to drag myself out today.  Could have added more on by the time I ended but decided I deserved a break.  Threw a couple of MP miles at 6:59 and 6:56.  Felt easy but I was sleepy.  So just took it easy in between.  Avg. pace 8:07 for 7.52 miles.

Totally turned off my alarm and drifted back to sleep until 8am.  Ooops.  Finally got out there just before 10am.  Ran to PG rec center.  Mega-slushy icy run.  Doesn't help if some sidewalks were plowed because those just left a sheet of ice behind.  Too risky there and too risky a lot of times on the roads.  Lots of drivers looking down at their cell phones while passing me.  Yikes.  So I peeter to the rec center.   First mile 9:27,  oh boy this is gonna be interesting.  Second mile about the same and it wasn't as much up hill but it got way more icy and way more slushy.  Bring it on.  Just before reaching the rec center some major slush pile was covering a pool of water.  I stepped in it.  Instant air conditoning for my right foot.  So glad the temps are now in the 30s (I think) and not zero.  Got there in 28:02 (9:20 avg).  A couple of near misses (sliding, cars too close) to get my adrenaline going.  Planned 9 on TM but decided to warm up on the track for 2.  Got the 4-1-1 about the track length- some said 5 1/2 = mile.  Others said 6.  Noone said which lane.  I am sure to the uncompetitive runner it didn't matter both were miles to them.  There were about 7 old men and women walking the track the entire width so it got pretty interesting running in and out of them.  The outside lane was anyone's slow or fast, stroller or walker.  Oh well.  I just ran 12 laps in 13:46.  So that makes it 6:53 pace.  First mile was 7:07, second a 6:40.   Got on TM after drinking up.  Glad track was over because someone arrived with some wicked cologne.  Put pace at 6:58 at  1 percent (changed to .5 percent after first mile).  So ran 2 at 6:58, 2 @ 6:53 and one @ 6:35 average (ran from 6:45 to 6:11) to finish strong.  Total MP miles 7.  5 on TM, 2 on track.  2.1 mile cool down on the TM at 1 @ 7:30 to 8 pace.  Questioned the track distance so called them.  Apparently 6.3 laps is a mile (after she had to ask a few people) on the outside and 6.5 if inside.  With all my weaving probably 6.2.  Who knows.  No garmin.  Santa visits next week.  So my pace would really have been 7:24 and 6:56.  That is more realistic as it felt easy.  Can you tell I like numbers?  Ran home.  Tried to avoid the same big (now bigger) slush river and stepped right in it again.  Yay three miles with a slushy foot.  Then I decided to try some sidewalk and another hidden slush-puddle nabbed me, falling and getting my hands/mittens soaked and knee all muddy.  Not hurt.  Just miffed.  3 miles @ 8:14 pace home. Glad I added a little to my TM run so it came to 15.  Did anyone read this far?  Thanks.  PS if you want a good true story read get "Shattered Silence, the untold story of a serial killer's daughter".  I am not quite done but it is very much a can't put down kind of book.  You really feel for this girl and amazed at this demon of a dad.  He never hurt her or her siblings or ex-wife (physically at least, emotionally yes).  It is one of those "so lucky to get what I got" kind of story yet you are inspired by her strength to overcome the memories and be a strong woman, have a family and be happy.

WAYYYYY TIREEEEEEEEDDDDD.  Sooooooooooo busy at work and had to stay over until 735am!!!!  (went in at 6pm).  Was pulled to Orem Communtiy Hospital for the first time in a decade.  They were suddenly swamped.  Enjoyed it,  nice remodeled unit 4 years old.  But man, long, no real big break, night.  Finished the book.  Really was inspired by it.  Amazing what people go through based on choices.  Read it.  Not sure about running today.  Slept three hours and brain just a wreck and body following. 

PM RUN @ 410pm starting at my girls' dance studio by the Walmart in Cedar Hills.  Ran a hilly, icy path route thru the golf course and on 1/2 un plowed trailways.  Kept me on my toes.  First mile was not into running but really got into it and felt good after two miles.  Air not too bad.  A cool breeze thru AF canyon, not bitter, amazing.  6.12 miles at a lovely 8:57 pace. 

For Amber:  Ran 15.35 miles @ 8:21 pace.   That's with areas of corn flake running, ice skating, and where are my snow shoes running for at least two miles of the run.   The rest was dodging high speeders and battling achy bones and I wanna quit now moments.    Ate crappy.  Eating lots of cookies at a cookie exchange party and del taco Mon.  night at work.  Nutrition and running go hand and hand.  Glad that's over.   (for the un- abridged version you will have to wait :DDD).  First mile 8:47.  Last mile 6:58.  

Stomach issues (del taco? other food reaction?), MAJOR migraine at work last night- twitching of a nerve beside my right ear, nerve pain in shoulder, scapula, down spine to right butt cheek to right foot.  It is one of my MS-like episodes I have in a pattern.  Refuse to go back to non-extra miler doctors so I self treat and live with it.  During one of these episodes that last from 24 to 72 hours, if I smell perfume oh boy baby does the nerves get angry and then I can't see well and my vision gets squiggly and I get very light headed.  Such was the case of perfume overload last night at work, especially at change of shift.  Eating nutritiously helps tons.  Detox runs like today helps with a post run HOT shower.   Hurt so good massages help tons.  A coworker worked out some knots along my neck and shoulder blade.  The pain was INTENSE.  But hey, it was supposed to be a hurt so good one.  Slept almost four hours this am.  Got up and planned to detox my GI system by sweating hard in my run.  Joints achy and I felt colder yet temps are probably warmer.  When I am tired my senses are aschew.  Anyway ran 6.63 miles  @ 7:47 pace then a 1/2 mile cool down at 8:22 pace.  Total miles = 7.12 @ 7:50 avg.

Slept a broken 4 hours and got up at 1130am.  Out for run at noon.  Felt cold at first (because of tiredness) but got quite pleasant at end.  Told myself I was only running 3 to 4.  But the pace was so lovely, therapeutic to the  body and soul that I kept going.  Did a two steep hill loop I hadn't done in a while up around Mt. Timp Temple and down and back up taking it real easy on the uphills as this is a recovery/rest day run.  Very nauseated at the beginning of the run.  I run when I get up in order to get rid of the post night shift gross sleep nausea.  It usually works.  It did.  This was a no iPod , sidewalk run.  I get bored on the streets with nothing to challenge my feet on an easy run so I go from crooked sidewalk to uneven sidewalk to add some "adventure".    Birdies were chirping so I guess they think its warmer too ::: DDD.  Pace 9:05 for 6.32 miles.  Hope I am up for the early riser tomorrow am with Kim and Mel.  Blah.  Its supposed to be 17 degrees.  Hey at least it won't be zero.  After that week I  can run in any weather.

Details later.  2.25 alone @ 5:40am.  14 together with Kim, Jane and Carrie.  Last one home.  Total 17.25.  15 miles at 8:22 pace.  Last mile 7:36. 

Icicle forming run at 6am.  Butt cheeks, face cheeks and thighs were numb the entire run.  My pony tail was crystalized and stiff, the air was thick (Major Inversion) but we had an enjoyable hilly run from PG to Alpine on 6000 west to Westfield Rd and down Ranch Road by Westfield Elementary and Timberline Middle school (where my kids ballet performance The Little Match Girl will be tonight).  We ran by there thru the Alpine circle and down by Lone Peak turning at Walmart taking the scenic route back.   Fun in the dark the first 1 hr 20 minutes with some Christmas Lights on and fog and howling dogs and potty breaks in snowy fields.   Loved the run cause I loved the company.  Great route too.  I am loving the hills these days. (elevation gain almost 400 ft, not bad).   PS It is a good thing I had to be back by 815am or I would have added more on.  To each his own (insanity). 

A varied hilly route around by Kim's house then Manila Elem. up 600 West and over and down to Canyon Rd by Cemetery through town to 600 west turning west  going by Mt. Mohogany Elementary and more west then up and then back to 600 west (Are you lost yet?) heading back home up a hill and down then up.  Tried to keep the pace even, picked up in places and had a few at 7:18 to 7:22.  Avg pace 7:43 for 10.18 miles.  Felt good.  Picked up strep throat Saturday.  Luckily had some antibiotics.  Taking tons of probiotics.  Same throat situation as before the Bryce half in July.  A large white patch that I could finally remove after two doses of amoxicillin.  It was gross.  I will try to spare you the details.  Weird it was "stone" like.  Feeling better with each dose.  No other symptoms except slight chills/achiness.  After run I feel refreshed and detoxed :D.  Hopefully I can continue this way.  I work tonight and tomorrow night.  I don't work the holiday so I have to work Tuesday night which is unusual for me.  Probably will barely get 60 miles in this week if that.  So much a happening.  Tis' the season !!!!

Slept from 730 am until 1100am.   Should have known I'd waken to Winter Wonderland when I drove home this morning in a already warm car, no frost and like 45 degrees out.  Wish I felt like running  then but was too tired from my busy all nighter.  When awoke was thinking of not running today but then remembered how much I love to run in the fluffy white stuff.  I feel like I am skiing.   I was on the ski team in high school, cross country and downhill, so I am used to "gliding in the snow".  It was quite the pleasant run, pace relaxed, easy at 8:22 for 8.01 miles.  Could have kept going but towards the end I couldn't feel my feet, they were wet from some slushy areas I ran thru and now had frozen up even though the outside temp was totally perfect to me.  Listened to some Christmas songs in my iPod to guide my open sleigh.  Totally recommend such a run.  Sidewalked ran the majority of the run to really feel the crunch under my feet of the three inches of snow already there.  Huge flakes a fallin'.  Beautiful.   Need I say more?

Fell off the face of the earth.  No really, it became apparent that I really must do some shopping for Santa instead of run today.  I really was going try and sneak in a run but I got the "look" from hubby and the "okay so if your not going back to bed we got to get going" (shopping).  Bummer but in the end more necessary for a Merrier Christmas here at Girl Central, The Crossleys--  including myself since Santa picked up something extra special at Runner's Corner today : D.  No surprises here.  I am on the "in" with Santa.  Now I will just have to make it up the next three days....yikes.  Okay, bring it on :  D.

17.01 miles @ 8:24 pace.  Same route as Saturday with a little cut off by Kim's early on to make it only 17.   Wintery blustery day.  Snowing, hidden patches of ice at times, speeding cars and 396 ft gain rolling hills throughout.  Drug my feet.  Have a pretty painful sore throat trying to go to my head but I won't let it.  Mind over body mantra going on.  Really had to tell myself to "just keep swimming, just keep swimming".  Yes I was just Dori the fish just then.  In fact I could barely remember where any of the miles were from just this past Saturday.  Brain dead here.  Ready for a hot shower and more last minute Christmas shopping :D.

Trying out my new Christmas present a garmin 310xt (waterproof). Surprise surprise. Feeling like a brand new runner. First, jack frost was nipping at my nose. Wore this ridiculous 80s neck warmer for the first mile. I think it was 8 degrees. My mother in law said her phone red - 12. Don't think so. Splits just for fun-- 8:13, 8:16, 8:33 (up hill), 8:06, 8:04, 7:45, 7:29. Avg pace 8:04 for 7. Think I am done for the day. No time on Christmas day to do anything by yourself without looking antisocial : D.   MERRY CHRISTMAS (my kids are definitely spoiled : D).

3 at 6am with Kim, 10 more with Kim, Jane, Carrie and Adrienne, 2 more by myself.  One stop.  FREEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZIIIIIINNNNNNNG !!!!!  And I am getting a head cold.  Was going to back out when I awoke with a  continued sinus headache and scratchy throat at 4am but decided a detox easy pace long run would hopefully keep me on the mend.    Besides a frozen tushy and face and thighs, the run was great as the company was.  We enjoyed freezing to death together.  Actually felt myself thawing in my hot shower after my run. Did the return/exchange thing and had NO line all four stops.  WOW!!!  That was easy.  Run also easy: 15 @ 8:40 pace.  See how lovely we were to one another.  Just trotted cause all our muscles were STIFF, nerves were in shock.  Don't you want to join us next time ?  : DDDD 

Major congestion.  Finally it has gone to my head.  Amber also complaining of same headache I had Christmas night and then while I was at work last night she spiked a high fever.  I wanted to go home from work but they wouldn't let me so I wore a mask when in with the babies.  Long night but really I never felt tired but for once, just foggy-brained.  Slept only two hours when got home.  Got up for two then slept again for 90 minutes.  You know how hard it is to sleep with a cold.  I awoke to a fuzzy tongue from breathing in from my mouth.  How's that for comfy sleeping?  I sure hope to kick this soon but it will put a damper on any mileage or quality (speed) running this week must recoup well, take it easy.  I am supposed to work Mon, Wed and Thurs nights.  I will call in if I don't improve.  Amber and I stayed home from church today.  RESTING drinking 7up.  

MASSIVE INVERSION.  Temp reads 8 but feels like   -2.  For real!!!!  Not a good thing to run outdoors.  This haze is supposed to be with us until 3pm and then it will be partly cloudy, and repeat same weather history for tomorrow.  Arghhh.  I feel gross.  The congestion downpour just won't stop.  I am using way too many kleenexes.  Totally bummed.  Called in sick, of course.  Now I will have to work all of New Year's Eve so I don't lose more hours.  I could have had the second half off.  Oh well.  I will TRY to run at the gym later around the track for maybe 3 to 4 miles.  But I think I am opting for a NO RUN day as hard as that is for me to write here : (((((

3pm run--waited for the haze to lift and me to have even the slightest desire to get out there.  I basically had to just "play the part" by getting geared up and moving towards the front door. Scary when NONE of the frost has melted from the night and its the afternoon.  I could hear the wind with my iPod on and my foggy-filled up sinuses.  Oh well, it has already been decided that I am Prez. of the NAIRC so why let my group of followers down when the going gets rough? Because of this cold I started to sweat sooner so I was able to remove the 80s pullover before the first mile and just wear it around my waist.  Oh I was a sight, with regular baggie sweats and old soccer socks to the knees, a t-neck, headband and gloves.  Brought the only modern item with me-- my new garmin.  I was in shock to see my pace to be rather quick for how I was feeling.  After two miles I was down to a 7:31 pace.  Ooops.  I think it is those Menthol honey lemon cough drops opening my nasal passages.  I was probably getting more O2 to my brain then usual so I faired better.  Weird.  I began to feel a big sinus headache coming on a few minutes after my last bit of cough drop melted in my mouth.  Mile splits:  1-  8:26, 2-  8:02,  3-  7:52, 4-  7:42,  5-7:42,  6-  7:28,  .56 @ 7:35,  cooldown .48 @ 8:50.   Avg.  pace 7:55 for 7.04 miles.

Left out my door into the frozen tundra haze at 6:57am.  Ran 11.12 miles @ 8:04  pace.  Ran the 10 mile loop I ran with the girls on Saturday, only in reverse with an add on at the end.  My garmin has a VP (virtual partner) display.  I put his pace at 8:15.  I gained on him at mile 6 and was almost two minutes ahead by the end.  Pretty fun to watch me gain on him.  I am a slow to warm up kind of runner and once I get going I can go and go so this is great tool to have on my garmin.  I will eventually decrease his pace as the weather warms and during races to help myself stay focused.  I will write splits cause I can.  This phase should pass soon, no worries : D. Splits:  8:48 (downhill), 8:09, 8:10, 8:33 (lots of uphill), 8:11, 7:44 (some good downhill) , 7:40 (up then down), 8:01, 7:48, 7:38, 8:06 (mostly uphill) and .12 @ 7:59 (uphill).

Winter Storm Advisory Run. Ran to the PG rec center on the upper back roads to avoid  a collision with a car since there was nowhere to run but the tire tracks or snow piled high sidewalks.  I ran on both.  It was quite the site.  Knee bend running then sloshing then skidding to remove two inches of snow from the bottom of my shoes then finding a brief patch of wet pavement where the plows just put ice melt on then avoiding the snow plows themselves.    Pace to rec center a whopping 9:51 for 3.08.  Then 2 miles around the track at 8:15 avg. Then 5.25 miles on the TM (1 % grade) starting at 8:20 pace and ending at 6:40 pace (briefly).  I went up in increments by .1 mile per hour every half mile for the 4.5 miles.  The last .5  miles I was so not wanting to run speed at all so I took the frog in the warm water approach to speedwork.  I went up in increments of  .1 miles per hour for every .05 miles ran until at 6:40 pace for .05 miles.    How's that for pathetic?  Avg pace for 5 = 7:54.  Cooldown .25 miles.   I was not into the TM at all and my  clogged sinuses have made a ravin' comeback.  I coughed all night long.  I forgot to take  1/2 of benadryl and midnight is too late to take that so I am not comatose the rest of the day.  Ran home 3.06 miles at 9:13 pace (wow, an improvement). Off to work tonite and tomorrow night.   Total mileage 13.39 (sorry Smooth :D).

This tops in at number three in my worst runs ever run in my life.  Sinus congestion intense.  Cough ridiculous.   Nausea to the nth degree with other stomach issues.  Combined with a 1/2 mucinex taken last night at work and amazingly 5 hours of sleep after my very busy night shift I felt out of body and entirely gross.  No cough drops today, the thought made me more nauseated.  So bronchial coughs throughout my run in the 1pm air.  Sunny and bright from the snow reflections on the run to heighten my senses and dull my motivation even more.  My muscles were achy.   Breathed a ton of perfume and cleaner last night at work which is probably the main culprit for my weakness today.  Someone sprayed strong deoderizer around the unit because someone thought they smelled throw up.  Lovely.  The cleaner was worse for me and sent me into a major coughing attack.  Embarrassing.  Just wish I could have fallen back to sleep because I felt so drugged when I awoke.  This sounds terribly depressing of a report.   I will hopefully recoup soon.  I am not going to take any cold meds they only compound the problem  6.22 miles at turtle pace of 9:37 in sloshy slosh.   First mile 10:47 when I just wanted to lie down and play dead.  Last mile I decided to pretend I was a runner and ran a 8:22.    This too shall pass  : D.