Believe to Achieve

8:19 AP  after work at 7pm looking at Christmas lights.  and avoiding being hit by cars.

1/2 mile at 8:13 pace   1 % incline.  Then 5.5 miles at 2 %--   8:13 x 1/2 mile, 8:06 x 1 mile , 8:00x1, 7:53x 1, 7:47x 1, 7:30-7:41 x 1, 7:24-7:30 for half mile then back to 1 % incline with one mile at 6:31 then one mile AP 6:15 (had to increase to 10 mph for a bit to get my goal of  60 minutes).  Finished 8 miles in 59:56.  so just under 7:30 AP for all 8 miles.  Sure not easy when I wasn't going that fast the first few miles and at 2 % incline for most of it.  But 2 % felt like 1 %  really.  I sweat a lot.  It is hot in the rec center.  My water bottle cut me on my thumb at mile 4 whan the cap's plastic had a little piece that didn't come off .  OUCH!!  I usually don't have a water bottle so not happy I brought one only to be cursed!!   Over it now I suppose  : D.

okay getting out at 12:30 during the day has got to be the hardest time for me!!  I am at that point when I could totally talk myself out of a run...wishing I had gotten up at 530am before marathon shopping and it would have been done with.  But I didn't do that so I paid the price of running tired and in the cold no sun in the sky day.  See I awoke at 7am got bills paid and the kids off to school with us as the carpool.  Then Troy and I promptly drove to Walmart for our Double coupon and Price match marathon Tuesday (we do this every other Tuesday when I am off).   We got done in a Marathon World Record time of 2:05!!! seriously it has taken us as long as 3:30!!!   We are getting the system done I guess and we had a fast checker.  That makes a lot of difference.  Well it didn't stop there.    After unpacking and putting away all the groceries (over 350 dollars worth for 182 dollars)  I FINALLY took it some kCals.  I had forgotten to eat breakfast in our rush out the door and was surprisingly not hungry until we were almost home.  I ate some wholegrain cereal, small banana and three pieces of turkey bacon (sure felt that on my run).  THEN we drove to Costco and finished up our shopping.  Went to the Dollar Store for whipped cream but they were out.  So came back and was near 1230!!!  Geez.  I just didn't feel in the mood and my stomach was off kilter due to eating a late breakfast and eating some handouts from Costco-- not so healthy ones.   I just headed for the Hills, Cedar Hills that is and got on the Canal and headed south for 3 miles then turned back and went down 1100 north back to my house.  Pace hidden.  Time mode as usual so I ended where  I thought I was at near 8 min miles.  I ended up at 7:34 pace for 8.49 miles.  I was doing better than I thought.   :D.   Shower time.  Oh yah, wore shorts and short sleeves with a headband and gloves and compression socks.  Thighs were red.  It was a bit nippy without the sun.

Met up with Rachelle at 6am at Macey's in Orem.  We ran up the canyon and back. Turned around just over 35 minutes to make sure we got 8 or more miles.  Time flies when you are running with a friend.     Faster alone runs seem much longer to me!!  Nice headwind but not the deathchill this time of year usually brings out of Provo Canyon.  Was able to take my gloves and top layer off.   Thanks Rachelle for inviting me!!  8.54 miles @ 7:58 AP.  Honestly thought we were well over 8 min miles so nice to see easy for us is 8 even.   We seem to have the 8 min/mile cadence down perfectly.  Although we were back 2 minutes and 45 seconds faster than our way up.   All effort based however.   Nothing forced.  All 'au natural'.   Feeling good. 

lazy butt but i did work all day. busy shift!

scary windy run i kept thinking the wind blowing was someone hiding in the bushes. i eventually relaxed.  well almost.  ran 7.43 @ 7:47AP.  definitely thought i was going much slower. stopwatch garmin mode is so working for me.

Since Jane is pregnant I am her replacement with Kim.  I was going to run in Payson with the fun group but Kim needed a running friend and since I am willing to attempt her wanted pace and buck up and do it since my injury is gone,  I figured I mineaswell get a good tempo run in with GREAT company.  We ran up to the Canal via the farm road which of course includes the steep hill by Kim's.  Not fun the first few miles ; D.  Got on the canal and ran til Kim's watch beeped at 7 miles and turned around.  I had placed water at 1100 north and the canal only 1.7 miles from my house but five miles the way we ran.  My watch in stop watch mode.  So just kept going at Kim's pace.  And of course we had to talk the whole way so that was interesting-- a tempo talk run.   Kim is well skilled at talking and running that pace but me on the other hand-- it took some practice and  I just relaxed as best I could.   We stopped VERY briefly twice-- once at  mile 5ish and  at mile 9 ish on the way back.  This run would have felt a lot better if I had not been surprised by my cousin's visit a few days ago.  Most likely her visit will be longer this time.  She hasn't visited in 7 months!!!  SO..of course she made me eat crap with her, things I don't usually eat.  Lead legs o' rama!!    AP 7:12 for 14.88 miles.  Not out of breath just feeling five pounds heavier than usual. The scale showing it!!  When my cousin leaves I am going to stop this crap fest!!!

JRP in the frosty air with Rachelle. Met at Willow Park.  Ran 5.5 miles  NORTH (plan was only 10 total but we JUST had to run UP the STEEP hill at the end).   Just a relaxed unknown pace until we got back.  We turned around in to a head wind and snow pelting us.  Our sweat began to freeze but it was still very runnable with GOOD company.  AP 7:50.  Not bad considering the wind on the way back.  Good times!! 

not sure what is up with my right ankle.  I hurt it about three weeks ago when I stopped one of my daughter's soccer balls when we were playing soccer together.  It hit at the "right" spot I guess to continuously feel it all that night.  The pain I feel is burning "bone" pain.  I have tried not to mention it thinking it would go away.  The bone does appear swollen on this ankle.  When the endorphins kick in after five or so miles I don't notice it that much but a few hours after I run it is painful to walk on.  blah.  It seems that my IT band is part to blame.  Who knows.  It was just a little fun game with my daughter. Geez am I getting old!!!  okay so today I went to the rec with my husband.  Was only going to do five but got carried away.  You know the pain went away after five so I just kept going.  Started at 7.3mph (8:13 pace) and increased the pace every 0.75 miles until I reached 8 miles.  Near the end I picked it up each lap by 0.1.  The mill turns off at 60 minutes so I had to quickly restart it.  62:30 for 8 miles, 2 % incline oh yah. (7:49ish pace).  THEN I tried out the new lateral "elliptical" machine.  Burn baby burn-- a lateral squat --five minutes each direction.  Simulates skiing moguls I suppose.  Woo hoo!!!   This machine did not bother my foot thankfully.   Next == new tires for my Ford Expedition-- just two.  Cheapest I could find came to 295 dollars!!! then my Ford did not pass emissions (again-- third year in a row and we have forked out money each year to pass!!!!!!!   ARGGGHHH!! if this car wasn't paid it would be easy to get rid of it.  We paid it off in less than five years ago and it is 12 years old. STUPID gas guzzler of a car.  We hardly use it because of the gas!!)   Anyway--- tis' the season, right??? so merry am I.  

jusf couldnt get myself to run be4 work.  of course it was warm out. 

okay it was a good thing I didn't run yesterday.  My right ankle has been bugging me a lot.  It was quite painful all day at work walking around.   My right eye has also been red and swollen in the lower eyelid.  I realized it was from painting last weekend.  I awoke Sunday to a very painful eye.  Finally after compresses etc.... I had Troy go out and buy me some antihistamine eye drops.   I think I must have wiped my eye with the stain or mineral spirits (that removes stain) and had a contact dermatitis reaction in my eye.   OUCH!!  The drops have been helping. The swelling is down and the pain is cut in half.  The redness is still there. I am hopeful only one more day of this!!   I took cherry juice concentrate last night-- and got a nice dose of melatonin!!!  I could barely get up after 7.5 hours of sleep at 515am to leave by 530am to meet Kim, Jane and Shandi.   As I took off in a slow trot I was worried I might not wake up at all.   My legs were sound asleep!!  I ran about a 8:40 first mile.  I didn't have my watch in pace mode as usual but I recall where the 1/2 mile is and I was there at 4:20.   I was running uphill at a snails pace towards Kim's.  I almost made it to Kim's (they were late leaving) so I got in extra mileage.     We ran up to the canal AGAIN.   THE WIND WAS FEROCIOUS but COOL not FREEZING!!  We could barely hear each other talk so we had to try and talk LOUDER!!  Jane is doing quite well at 12 weeks pregnant.  She stayed with Kim and I the whole time.  I am sure our last two miles were about 6:45 pace to 6:55.   With my slow first mile it averaged out to be a nice 7:30 even.  Two brief stops.  7:30 pace is much easier for me to chat through :D.   I am sure I am also just getting used to the quicker pace.  Soon 7:00 average will feel easy right??? hee hee hee.  That was a joke!!!!!!  Surprised I went as far as  I did.  Ooops.  Thought I was just over 10 miles.   Friends make any run so much nicer!!! 

12 w/ Rachelle from Maceys in Orem into Provo canyon.  Turned around at 6 miles. Lovely headwind in canyon. 8:05 up. 7:25 down. so 7:45 AP.  chatting away.we left at 6am.  super nauseated before and after run. 

saucony5s on the tm at 8am. started very slow at 827 pace . 1 % incline.  ankle to hip in a lot of burning pain.  mostly ankle bone and achilles.  busitis? arthritis? it band? herniated disc? wore my flats to change the way my feet land and use my leg muscles differently.  2 @ 827, 2 @813, 2@ 800, 1@7:47.  ap for first 6 -- 805. then reset tm and ran 3 at 733 ap. 1 % again.  ap for all 10 -- 7:56.  stupid ankle hirt the entire time.

okay this run sucked!!  MAIN reason (besides a 50 percent improved ankle still nagging)--  I WAS QUITE hungry this morning.  I think I forgot to each much yesterday.  I tried to drink a lot more water to make up for it but that only added to the nausea and weakness.   Oh well.  I am so funny if  I get it in my mind to do sw I just have to do it.  I had it in my mind to run 3 x 2 miles at 6:31 pace with 1/2 mile at recovery pace (8:27) in between but after the first one I was so that much more hungry that I couldn't even focus.  SOOOOO  I thought back to Rachelle's little SW session she did a few days back and thought "okay I can handle that better than what I had planned).  So I ran 6:31 x 2, 1/2 mile at roughly 8:27 then I ran one a 6:22, followed by 1/2 mile at 8:27 pace (I know recovery could be shorter but IT IS SUPER HOT IN THE GYM-- always on Tuesday cause it is cold all weekend so they jack up the heat on Monday and by Tuesday it is boiling).   I then did a 800 at 6:15 pace for 1 1/2 laps and 6:11 for the last 1/2 lap so about 3:05.   1/2 mile AGAIN yup super not into this workout in starvation mode.  8:27 pace. Finished the SW with the 400 in 90 to 95 seconds-- 9.8 to 10.2 mph.  Ran 1.25 mile cooldown at 8:20 AP.    1 % incline for entire run.  Went to pain Dr.  I have three injections scheduled for Dec. 26th.  Two in my degenerating neck and one in my lower back.   Fun times!!  Just getting to old to run fast!!   but not going to stop yet ; D.  I was super nauseated and done with this workout after the first two miles.   Really wish I never read Rachelle's blog this past week.   I would have quit at four miles!! 

HOOOOOLY  HOLLLLLY!!!!!!!!  (it light of the season that reads Holy Holly).   FLIP OUT so I venture out into the FROZEN TUNDRA this morning at 8:41am.  LITTLE did I realizs JUST HOW SO VERY FREEZING IT WAS!!!  UMmmmmmmm...hands almost like the end of Titanic when Leo was holding onto the boat and at about thirty minutes into my run I blurted out to a stranger in VERY stiff SLURRED speech she couldn't understand me nor could I understand myself (was I having a stroke???)-- I said "is it like 20 degrees or something??? I am frozen I can barely move!!"  she and the gentleman she was with looked in shock at me as I ran by.  She later drove by me and honked "merrily" and waved with a smile.  That helped : D.   So  I continued on just thinking maybe I am just completely wimpy today and I just don't know what cold is anymore and I told myself to buck up and continue onward.  I was running UP into Cedar Hills and ran on to the Golf Course trail there then headed west to Lone Peak and continued on the trail then headed East on the new Canal trail and got off at the Deerfield Elementary road.  The wind was blowing and it was humid so it made things all the more Merrier for me ; D.   My ankle was a buggin' but hey it was frozen so it didn't matter.  My arms however around the last three or so miles came alive and my hands were suddenly VERY warm and sweaty.  HMMmmmmm TRUE hypothermia now--- you know when you get so cold your body actually feels WARM now as you silently go down to your frozen grave???  All of my joints in my back were extremely stiff. Probably because my bloodflow was well NOT flowing.  I honestly thought as I warmed up I just must have been too wimpy.  I got in my warm house after viewing my mileage (stop watch and only looked at it for time in a few places.  only wanted 8 miles and I felt like for sure I was running 9 min miles running uphill so I ran until about 72 minutes--well 75 minutes when I got back).  It was a very nice loop.  I visualized a lot during my run that it was the middle of the summer and I was wearing shorts and drinking from the closed water fountains that line the course this time of year.  Oh yah-- when  I ran by the pond behind Lone Peak High School--- the water was quite choppy but not frozen!!!!  I was for sure thinking then that I was making this whole "cold" run up.   Surely the pond should be frozen by now??????   ALAS  I was retelling my story to my dear husband and he proceeded to tell me that his phone read that it was 21 degrees out in Pleasant Grove!!!  FLIP  how cold was it when  I started??? probably upper teens with the WINDCHILL.   I am unsure how I ended up with an 8:10 AP for 9.21 miles.   I was barely moving!!!  Warm shower right now!!! 

ankle pain mixed with lower back burning pain .....arthritis or another herniated diac puzzling pain.  the ankle bone is so very tender.   Worked all day.  No exercise.

so done with this pain.  worked all day.  busy.  tired.  unusually so.  hmmm....haven't been taking iron for over two months.  getting depressed thinking I am back to last years prolem all over again.

13 miles with Cristie (only one stop at a stop light for 15 seconds : D) met her for the first time today at kneaders Christmas run. we were averaging 750 up the canyon at mile four then ran a mile in the snow and that slowed us to over 8 pace as we turned around at mile five. The snow was crunchy and hard.  we then ran past kneaders towards wills pitstop with  scott and brandon who got our ap to 7:35 for 13 miles.  we thought we went only 12.  time flies when you are having fun!   ankle gave up pain signals at mile fourish.   then my left hamsting was an attention seeker.  stop watch.  loved my company today.  It was quite cold however.  Don't know the temp.  Lovely headwind as usual up the canyon. Thanks Rachelle!!

1 mile and ouch hamstring painful. so i joined a spin class that was jist starting. Firat spin class since April.  Death.  I was like can this be over already? i tend to work too hard in spin.  lots of sweat. then i tried the hamstring out again and my right ankle was jist as angry but hamstring looser but not close to normal.  so easy easy easy on the tm for 3 miles...nope  ok u can do 7 to make it 8. first three miles were 820 pace (includ. wu mile) and then i ran 2 @813 then one at 649 and one at 641.  1% for first five. 0 percent for last two.  the last two were easier than spin class!!!!! ap 747 with half mile cooldown.work at noon.  

not the best sleep wheh your kids decide that we need to set more traditions....like THEM sleeping in our room on the floor.   good thing santa claus disguise was removed this year....I accidentally let the cat out of the bag to my almost 10 year (Dec 29).  Oooops.   So I was a sleep at 1030 but awake a 0100 to get presents put under the tree.  Back to bed at 215am   Awake at 545am when Brooke said she just couldn't wait anylonger. We held her off until 6am.  Finished by 730am.  Rachelle was so very nice to come over to my house and we ran a very icy run together. Our first one this year so we really were just checking out how to go about it without fatality and my lower back and hamstring was extremely tight I REALLY needed this VERY easy RECOVERY run to just JOG and TALK.  Thanks again!!!  Rest of the day was at Grandpas at noon a 1/2 mile away then to visit Grandma at the Rehab center in Orem.  We already had my sister and her husband and kids over for a Turkey Dinner (thanks to the Turkey Trot and the 22 pound turkey I won) on Sunday.  We have lots of Turkey still left.  Yup turkey the past three days as well.  Yum!!   8.61 miles @ 8:46 pace.  We almost got hit and each of us had some near miss fallings but amazingly we stood up the whole time!!  NO one plows in Pleasant Grove!!!

Saucony 5s flats.  Love the colors of these shoes.  But-- learned quickly that they are so light because they have holes in the bottoms.  I am not sure how Christie handled that crunchy snow up Provo Canyon.  My feet were quickly wet when I stepped out of the building after my run in a complete blizzard there and back.  Drove VERY slowly.  No need to take risks in this weather.  Okay--- plan??? well no plan but 8 miles.  Oh and of course my lower back and hamstring were quite angry on the left side and my right ankle OUCH even more.  But everyone know I am masochistic and like to whine about my pains afterwards.  I am sick in the head!!  Okay....really no plan.  Kept TM at 1% and ran 8:06 for a mile and got the notion to increase the mph by 0.2 every mile until 8 miles so that means I ran the rest like this--- 7:53, 7:41, 7:30, 7:18, 7:08, 6:58, 6:49 (the last 1/4 of this mile  I got down to a 6:18 pace gradually).  I focused on form and breathing and focusing OFF of my pains as best I could.  Relaxing shoulder and stride.  Felt good zoning the pains out.  AP here--7:22.5 (58:59 for 8 miles) then I ran a cooldown for 1/2 mile at 8AP.  All one percent.  Stretched for almost 10 minutes then did upper body with free weights for 15 or so minutes then a the kettle ball x 2 and some planks-- 2 x 60 sec, 1 x 30 L  1 x 30 R.  Running out of time.  Off to inject my lower back.  : D.  We also just watch Wreck it Ralph.  Really quite enjoyed this Disney Toy Story like show with my kids : D.

no motivation to get miles in before work. and definitely none after work.

snowy trail run with Rachelle from maceys in orem to just before the bridge under canyon road by bridal veil.  it was like  we were on top of a mountain in a blizzard.  the snow capped scenes were breathtaking.  we cruised along no mind to pace. i pressed tje lap button when we turned around so we ran up at 849 pace and down at 759 pace.  ap 8:24 for 11.26 miles.  we didmt stop our watches once and we had to maneuver through high drifts and crunchy footing often.  i came home and rustily got out for what ended up being 2.96 milez more.  i felt like i was barely moving and the snow was falling harder and mh sweat had frozen from the drive home.  ap 8:18. very surprised. total 14.22 miles. finished with some planks and pushups then ice skating  for 95 minutes.  pretty tired rest of day but still cleaned a bit.

I am in a no running before work slump.  Worked 13 hours. Busy.  Babies love coming between Christmas and New Years.  I know I had one on December 29 (today) 10 years ago.  We have to celebrate it on a different day every year.   Her friends are all gone for the break and we are wiped out from Christmas.  Poor kid.  She is getting a party on January 5.  Really should have just kept her in for one more week.  What was I thinking delivering on her due date???? 

Thought I could be up for an 18 miler but I am having a lot of hamstring (sciatica and lower back related) pain that it is funny that I even ran one mile nevermind 14!!  I am soooooo stupid but I just had to detox the four chocolate dipped oreos and several more pounds of sweets I haven't eaten all week.  I am so done with treats right now.   I was VERY sluggish on the mill because I went to bed without my usual treat.  I ate dinner at 7 pm and was quite hungry at 6am at the rec center.  I really thought there was no way.  I wore an ace bandage around my lower back-- a wide BRIGHT orange one.  It helped secure my back but my breathing became irradic and my heart rate seemed higher than normal.  As I removed the ace bandage 10 miles into my run  I realized it wasn't ordinary ace bandage but  one dipped in latex.  I was having an allergic reaction to the ace bandage as I sweated tons and it leached into my lower back's pores.  My heart rate took hours to come down to baseline (54).  I was having a hard time catching my breath for two hours after two.   Weird.  Okay...so this is what I ran.....8:27, 8:13, 8:00, 7:53, 7:47, 7:41, and 7:35.   Reset TM get a drink of water.  AP here 7:53.   Then 7:30, 7:24, 7:19, 7:13 and 0.1 at 7:08.   Attack worse the faster I was going.  Obviously since I was already taxing my system.  I decided it just wasn't wise to continue with the increasing pace so I stopped the TM got a drink of water and stretched briefly.  Then got on for 3 easy at AP 7:41.   1 % incline for entire run.  AP for 14.1 = 7:41.  I slowly walked over to the weights and managed several minutes of upper body but my heartrate was pounding out my chest and I called it quits.