Believe to Achieve

Left late.  And it is way too humid for me.  I ran what I call the sprinkler route.  I ran from one sprinkler to the next.  Very refreshing.  Kept me out longer than I thought I could last.  With my chemical allergies/fibromyalgia humidity is a killer.  46 minute run.  I don't do much speed work.  I rely on local races to improve my times.  But I will try to step it up the next few weeks. 

Run easy to my usual spot in North P.G. to the 800 meter start.  Did 2 by 800 at 6:36 pace.  Then a mile at just under 7 minute pace.  Someone rolled down the window while I was doing my 800 with ear phones on to ask directions.  I kept on running as I was in the zone.  Felt really torn afterwards.  Should have been a better person to stop and help.  Personally being a runner I would never ask a fast runner for directions.  A jogger yes but a booking it runner no.  What do you all think?  I feel guilty enough.

Biked to American Fork Rec center (3miles), swam one mile freestyle.  Haven't done a complete mile for over a year.  Did it in just under 36 minutes.  Felt great and had a lot left.  Biked home.  Love cross-training.  Giving my joints a good break. 

Ran from Timponoke campground down 1.5 miles then back up.  Took it real easy.  Exhilarating run in the mountains, but a little too humid.

Woke up at 4:50am in P.G. and made my way over to the race for packet.  I was hoping to know the course but oh well.  Not keen on Snake-like endings on flat terrain (it was flat right?).  Planned for a 7:15 to 7:30 pace.  Ended up at 7:25.  I was glad with that.  First mile 7:20, then the rest as follows: 2- 6:53 (oops better slow down), 3-7:18, 4- 7:17, 5- 7:30, 6- 7:37, 7- 7:09, 8- 6:54, 9- 8:02 (longggg?), 10- 7:20, 11- 7:37, 12- 7:47 (spray painted bright orange on ground, going slow enough to see it), 13- 7:30.  It is a mental game for me.  If I don't know the ending or where the miles are I panic and my breathing becomes labored and I of course slow down.  Glad to actually find the mile 12 on the ground as I wanted to pick it up the last mile.  Took two gus.  Had to pee the first half greatly!!!!  Makes for pace problems but managed anyway.  Improved last years time by five minutes.  Can't run hobble creek as a race (didn't make the cut).  Bummer as I have run it at least 7 times and I really wanted to get under 1:34.  When I ran 2001 Provo half I came in at 1:36:12  (much different course) and was 1:34 at Hobble Creek.  I think I could do it  because I won't be stupid and camp the Thursday nite before and get no sleep and eat over 15 marshmallows on a campfire (yup, I did that last Thursday).  Oh well.  It is not St. George yet.  Hope to run HOPE to HOBBLE on August 30th.  Any thoughts on this run from you fast runner bloggers?  I think it may help my strength and endurance.  My plan August 23rd with permission from Runners-corner is to run the Hobble Creek half at 530am with all the markers in place and try for a PR with my good fast runner friend Melanie (she had a baby two weeks ago, yes she is fast).  My husband will be dropping me off and Melanie's car will await us at the bottom.  Then it is off to three soccer games (two I coach) of my three girls.  Have a great week!!!

Easy run to help release the lactic acid.   Thighs sore.  Ankles tight.  Need more support in my shoes.  Probably need new ones.   Stomach trouble at 45 minutes so stopped so as to not have accident.  Walked half mile home.

Ran up 1100 north to canal trail and over to cedar hills and back down.  Stomach trouble again at 45 minutes.  Stopped for five then made it home slowly. What is going on?  Realize a little intestinal bug involved.  Husband having same problem.  By the way as of Jan 2nd of this year I got my husband to transform into a runner over the following months.  He has lost 45 pounds and even ran the Speedy Spaniard in 47:10!!!!!  He played soccer all summer so no other races.  He may be convinced to run a marathon but first the half.

Losing weight without trying.  Feeling weak.  Took day off.   Need to hydrate. Was going to swim but neck pain and burning nerve pain down arm acting up.   Shoulder and other muscle aches. This is usual for me.  Chronic pain. Trying to get used to it.  Not taking anything for it.  Just being tougher than the pain most days.  If in a bind I take one half of a soma (muscle relaxant). 

Biked 6 miles (to American Fork Rec center and back), swam 1 mile freestyle, half mile other strokes.  Improved mile from last  weeks to 30:48.  It was  a yard pool today (they alternate at AF from the 25 yards to the 50 meter length every other day, didn't know that) but swam 65 laps the guard told me made a mile.  I prefer the long pool (50 meters), lot less flip turning.   Apparently it may be good exercise to flip turn 64 times.  Timed my slow breast stoke for 25 yards (27 seconds) and back stroke (28).  Fly (22 seconds).  Not sure how good or bad the times are.  Haven't swam in several years.  Was on the Ossipee Otters swim team when I was 10 and under back in my homestate of New Hampshire.  No swim team in high school so just waited around not swimming until I decided to do a triathlon back in 2003.  The Salem one.  It was in April then and I froze so greatly that I never thawed on the bike or run.  I did come in third overall  for woman after two road bikes.  I used a mountain bike.  But because of the near death feeling of the frozen Salem pond I haven't returned.  My health deteriorated for   quite some time after that race.  The water was scary (to me).  Now I am reconsidering venturing back to the triathlon.  Is there a way to change my original template for this site back to the tri-template so I can write down miles for swimming and biking separately?  I am computer challenged.  I think since they are getting rid of softball and baseball in the olympics they should add text messaging as an olympic sport.  It is right up there with badminton and table tennis as far as hand eye coordination.  I don't text either.  So no medal for me.  Have a good day all!!!

Tempo run.  Not really fast but not really slow for me either.  Did MY 5k I clocked around my home.  Just ran at a 8:28 pace.  Legs floppy/sore from biking and swimming yesterday.  Tommorrow is 18 to 19 so I didn't do much mileage.  I have this nagging burning pain in my right ankle on the outside.  It feels like I could tear something and then it goes away after several minutes and doing some ankle twists while trying to run.  Anyone had this problem?  It happened in last weeks half marathon and for a week before that in my runs.  Hope it is not serious.  Would hate for something to snap and give up my goal for this year at St. George. 

Had my husband drive my friend Kim and I to a couple miles up past Timponoke (sp.) campground  at 445 am.  We started running at 515am.  Because I had to watch my daughters soccer game at 8am we had to pick up the pace after the first 7 miles.  It was pitch black at the beginning and still had to dodge at least 15 cars before getting to the fork where we turned up and ran to the Tibble Fork Reservoir potty (2.4 miles).  We then went straight down the canyon toward Kim's house in PG.  We ran 19.5 miles at a 8:24 average pace.  I am pretty sore today.  Did too much on my legs last week I think with the swimming and biking.  The night before my legs were extremely tight and sore from stretching after my brief run yesterday.  Part of what I have been dealing with physically.  I hope to figure out this fibromyalgia thing.  I am on a stict diet of avoiding possible allergenic foods (yeast, sugar, corn) and eating lots of whole grains and vegetables, taking vitamins (yeast free) and probiotics.  I have gotten a lot better.  I don't have as much burning nerve pain and numbness.  But this thing switches areas of my body  so I have to switch my training focus when it takes over my legs.  I will now have to rest several days.  I am also extremely allergic to perfumes and colognes/cleaners etc.  If anyone wears it at a race (or anywhere) and I am close by I get an immediate headache, lightheaded, labored breathing and muscle aches.  I have to stay to myself until the approaching starting time as anyone wearing a strong scent will kill me off.   The fresh, cool mountain air is therapeutic for my health situation  I would have taken it slower on the run if I had more time but still I wasn't dying at the end. It felt like a tempo run.   We ran eight minute pace for 3 to four of the last miles.  I wouldn't recommend this run on a Saturday to anyone.  The traffic was atrocious (sp.).  It was more like dodge car--ing.  Our pace would have probably been much better if we didn't think every turn we might get hit and this was at 7am.  I guess something was going on up in the canyon my husband said.  Hope everyone else had a great run!!!

Easy run.  Loop around my home for 3.7 miles.  8:46 pace.  Relaxing post long run run.  Lactic acid pretty much gone.  Biked twice to school (total 4 miles).  Walked one mile.  Not sure how fast I will be able to go at the 530am start at hobble creek without pace setters around me.  C'est la vie.  Too busy with two soccer games at 8am (coach both).  My husband will coach one, I the other.  Only time where two games at same time so need to leave early on run Saturday.  Plus even though I had someone who didn't want to run Hobble Creek that won a spot they aren't allowing name changes this year.  I never run a race under a different person's name.  If I am going run a race I want my name behind it.  Good luck to all of you that get the extra push of other runners on the road.  Melanie and I will try to push the pace on our own. 

Easy run to my 800 meter road in upper PG then ran two by 1/2 mile (800 meters).    Times:  3:08, 3:05.  Ran back up once to do the second one.  The third half mile is from a stop sign to my house. This 800 is partly uphill so was 3:12.  Got to take it easy or I get a super duper headache and major exhaustion.  Felt great and still do.  Getting hot again outside in the am.  Glad I went at 630am. Will take it easy next few days and hope that Saturday's run down Hobble Creek is at my goal pace of 7:15 (I will take faster). 

Biked six again to recreation center and back.  I get there and they changed their routine on me so  I get to swim the mile again on the yard pool.  65 laps.  Yuck.  Too many flip turning after eating a light breakfast.  Took me to the 1/2 mile mark to feel like not losing my cookies.  I can hear my mom say "don't eat before swimming you'll get a cramp"  hey and I did.  Moms are always right.  I stayed pretty much the same pace as last week mainly because I was all excited to get back to the 50 meter length pool and got there and they changed to the new high school schedule.  Okay, okay enough.  It was a nice swim.  I did the mile in just 32 minutes.  Bike pace is faster now on my mountain bike.  Hope this teaches my legs to turn over faster in my tempo runs.  Took a nice warm bath this evening after coaching my daughters soccer game.  I get too involved.  I played field hockey in high school.   We were a pretty competitive team.  Anyone watch the field hockey in the olympics?  Pretty tough/rough game. Brings back fond memories.   I always came home with ball prints on my knees. 

Absolutely nothing.  Except help at the cannery for 2 hours canning peaches and riding with my kindergarten on my bike to school for her assessment (a whopping two miles,very slow).  My shoulders are very tight from canning.  I carry a lot of stress in my shoulders.  Two days to the starting line.  My husband will be driving us to the start at 5am.  We should start around 530am.  Hopefully we won't have to manuever around too many buses on the way down.  I feel safe once we are on the trail at mile 8.  Hope the drivers can see us.  Not sure I can get a PR in these conditions.  Perhaps I should go at night around 7pm?  but then the mile markers may not be up.  I am not a night runner either.  What to do. 

Changed our Hobble Creek race date to this morning at 550am from Saturday as we chatted about the logistics last night on the phone (Melanie and I). Since I had two soccer games and she has 5 kids and a husband leaving on a camping trip we decided it would be best. Avoiding the parading buses up the route was also an incentive. The weather was cool but I started in shorts and shortsleeved shirt. No problem. We put water at mile 4 and mile 10. Therefore we were lacking on hydration and could have done better if it truly was a race. We ran it in 1:34:10. Melanie 20 seconds faster. We ran the FULL course, thru the ridiculous trail that takes away your speed for a moment. We were at the halfway point (6.55miles) at 46:01 (7:00 pace). Wow haven't run that fast in over 7 years. The second half was 2 minutes slower. Oh well. Our last 5K was 22:43. I assume the course ends around that building in the park again for 13.1 cause that is what we did. We are glad to be done. Good luck to all you golden ticket holders!!!!!

Ran a slow four plus mile run to try to remove the stiffness.  Ankles stiff and sore.  Thighs tight, hamstrings tight but not as bad as after long run last Saturday.

Ran to Cedar Ridge Elem by way of 600 west etc... up farm road and back down on trail at Heritage Park to Deerfield Elementary turne right for .2 miles then turned left toward Lincoln academy and down my 800 meter road to see what my pace was (7:22) from Heritage park to home.  So 3.5 mile or more of tempo running.  Felt great second half which is why I started tempo running.  But my ankles are quite stiff.  Lay off spaghetti squash as I read somewhere you should if you have gout or pseudogout which can cause aching joints.  Been eating tons of spaghetti squash.  Still avoid ibuprofen as much as possible so I don't get a bleed again.  Although it helps the inflammation I can't stand the stomach pain.  I am looking for a wholistic treatment in that respect.  PS I don't have gout per se I just can't understand how intense my joints ache in my lower legs that I figure it might be diet related since inflammation and food allergies go hand in hand.  Hope this makes sense.  Been studying up on nutrition and body healing  due to my health problems.  I learn things everyday.  

Swam a mile (1600 meters) after biking to rec center.  Got to check the difference as I know 1625 yards (25 yards times the 65 I was doing on the short pool) is shorter than 1600 meters.  Obviously with my times.  I did the 1600 meters in 34:20.  Faster than three weeks ago at just under 36 mintues.  The last two times I went I swam 1625 yards in under 32 mintutes.  So now I got to check the conversion chart.  Felt fine.  Good work out.  I also did 200 meters of cool down with back stroke and breast stroke.  Had to get back home for kids on their way to school so quick cool down.  Rode to school and back with kids (2 miles round trip).  Will do that two more times today.  Good easy exercise.  I like this cross training.  It is strengthening my arms and shoulders.  Hopefully they can carry me better in the marathon.  Anyone doing Hope to Hobble this weekend?  I am for the first time.  Sounds very fun.  I love the back country. 

Ran up 1100 north in Pleasant Grove from my house in 23:54.  Went around row of trees then did second split to home at 16:55.  Amazing what a steep hill can do to improve your time (seven minute difference).  Felt good.  Last mile is half uphill so was 7:02.  Improved that route time by 1 and 1/2 minutes.  This was an impromtu run.  I have been dealing with asthma like feeling in my upper lungs due to the fires polluting the air.  My ankles are much improved since laying off the squash.  I am feeling stronger.  My bike mile splits are faster.  Rode my bike three times to Manila Elementary (two mile round trip).  The way back is easy as I have to wait for my kids.  Difficulty breathing well because I came in contact with some pretty strong cologne that made it much worse for me and also gave me a burning headache and shoulder pain.   Yes it is weird but cologne/perfumes/cleaners cause my muscles to spasm and my nerves to burn especially my face and shoulders.  I can actually pass out if I don't get away quickly.  Last year at St. George marathon was fascinating.  Took benadryl the night before and still had a super duper headache before the race.(Benadryl doesn't help my headaches but I was at my last resort the night before).  Able to release a lot of toxins running the marathon so felt good by mile 15 and was able to qualify for Boston again in 3:41:13.  The first half was nine minute miles.  Second half I picked it up to 8 or less.  This year I plan on starting at 8 and going to 730 for the second half considering I am in better shape and am able to avoid more of the chemicals I am allergic to because I now know which ones are setting me off.  I have many food allergies too.  Slowly getting better though.  Running is still my friend. 

Ran with my husband for a brief run at a slow pace (9:00)which felt hard because I am feeling yucky.  I still have this asthma-like feeling in my chest  but now I feel nauseated and achy.  My daughter woke up with a sore throat and cough so perhaps I am fighting the big bad ugly once more as my other daughter had it pretty bad last week.  I was glad I escaped it then and hope to now as I am running 21 on Saturday, the Hope to Hobble Run with the club.  May rest tommorrow.  Hope to come out of this soon.  Don't feel like eating but probably should. 

Day off.  I feel gross.  Achy and flu-like and slight raspy throat.  My daughter woke with a horrid cough and swollen tonsil that migrated to her whole upper respiratory tract by the end of day.  I have intense nausea as well.  Trying to beat it as I AM RUNNING 21 tommorrow no matter what.  My body loves to "pretend" it is sick when it knows I am taking it out on a long run.  Tomorrow is also my husband's 39th birthday and there is no better way for him to spend it than at a BYU football game.  Hopefully I regain strength by then (4pm).  I feel okay one moment then bam I feel gross again.  This weather change feels nice but must of changed my body's immunity.  I hear it is going around.  So watch out!!

Hope to Hobble A GREAT RUN!!!!  Totally invigorating yet challenging.  After not sleeping having nausea and achy feeling I managed to drive myself to the mouth of the canyon where the group of us drove in several cars to Hope campground.  Started out slow as it was dark, uphill and dirt (couldn't see potholes) then got my first wind after three miles.  Managed to stay even paced to the summit (11 minute miles, 2 hrs 5 minutes to mile 11.2).  Then it was a lovely rocky downhill for 11 miles and ended on 3 miles of road to the Hobble Creek golf course.  I felt great at mile twenty (or 20.7 as someone clocked in a car) so I decided to run the last three miles (some people end it at the road).  Came in at 3 hr 33 minutes 31 seconds.  The total mileage is somewhere between 23 and 24 miles.  If 23 miles my pace was 9:16 average (really 7:30 for the last 11.8 miles).  If 24 miles then my pace was 8:53.  I was the second girl in and came in with a bunch of 1:28 to 1:30 Hobble creek half marathoners (all guys) so I felt pretty good about myself.  It was awesome to have many water/chocolate milk/pretzel stops.  I definitely have to do this EVERY year. 

Rest day.  Moving quite well.  Trail running is much easier on the joints.  My feet don't hurt at all.  My quads are the only part of my body that is sore.  Survived BYU game in 100 degrees.  Went into the bathroom took off my shirt and soaked  it under the sink (I had to do this three times while I was at the game, no I didn't care about the stares) along with my hat.  I was a walking air conditioner.  AHHH!!!!  That is how I survived the eggs on a frying pan feeling I had going into the stadium.  I have a terrific cough that got worse and worse as the day went on.  My daughter's is worse and she is still feverish.  I was surprised I mustered out 23 miles on how bad I felt the night before.  I think running is my natural immune booster if I don't push it too hard.  I am going to beat this thing!!

Ran an easy run with my husband.  Gave my husband an Ironman Timex watch for his birthday Saturday.  Tried it out today.  He is going to get faster now.  My legs slightly stiff at the start but felt quite well after the first mile (9:40).  Which pace we increased to 8:36 by the end (34:59).  Felt I could go faster but trying to keep easy days easy, run smart to avoid injury.  We managed to come in seconds before the wind and rain.  Perfectly planned somehow. Still have this horrid cough, kept me up quite a bit last night, went away on the run, but back as soon as it ended.  I plan on running the Spanish Fork Half this Saturday, got to stay healthy.  I will be happy with anything under 1:40 since I heard it is a flat/rolling hills course.  Anyone do this one and can tell me if this is so? 

Now as I don't know how to switch to the triathlon mode (if anyone knows please comment) I put my biking with my running miles.  Biked to school and back (2 miles) and thought maybe I will crosstrain today with biking 20 as this ridiculous cough is holding me back.  But as  I started to get on my bike I decided to ride to the new PG rec center (3 miles from my house, like the AF recreation center) and try some speed work in case I do the half this weekend.  I began on their new  outdoor track but being made of tires (the track) and very new I got a headache after the first lap from the tire smell.  I finished four easy laps at 9:30 pace then to the recreation center to go on the treadmill.  I did a five minute warmup at 8:57 then increased the pace to 6:40 for an 800 at a  0.5% incline then back to earlier pace for 1:40 then repeated this for a total of four times but increased my pace each time until at 9.4-9.5 miles per hour for the last few minutes (6:19 to 6:23 pace).  I felt I could do at least three more but was getting sick from the smell of cleaners coming from a dispenser in a nearby bathroom door that was open. This recreation center is only two months old so all the new smells were enough for me.  I did brief recoveries to work on my endurance. The cough gone during run but back after the run of course but better during the cool air bike ride home (total bike 29 minutes).  Took it easy on the bike.  Refreshing for my legs.  Now to hydrate and take it easy until Saturday. 

Biked to school and back (2), about to do it again to get my kindergartener.  Got up the focus to do 7 miles at easy pace (8:30 to 8:50 the last five miles).  The first two were up hill and were just at get thru it pace of just under 10:00.  The next three and 1/2  were uphill but not as much and the last one was straight down (1100 north PG).  I took it easy as the nagging cough won't let up and my legs feel heavy from yesterdays speedwork.  Decided to mail in my SF half entry even though I am torn:  will I make my cough linger more or should I help coach the soccer game my daughter is in?  Just found out yesterday that the tournament starts this Saturday and our game is at 8am.  It is double elimination so we still would have one more game if we lose and if we win at least two more after that so I feel I can sacrifice the stress of coaching/watching the game for a good tempo workout that offers so fellow runners.  I like to be involved and wish two good things weren't happening at the same time.  Happens a lot to all of us.  Now to stay healthy and strong until Saturday.  I think I might try to take it real easy at first to do it more tempo then a race. 

Biked to walmart and back at a good pace (7 miles).  Having a good time biking.  I feel so free and fast (faster than running). 

REST DAY.  Felt lazy all day and actually a little depressed.  Without my running my brain dwindles.  I didn't even ride my bike.  I was completely stagnant.  Got to get going tomorrow.

Ran to 600 west and up to farm road and down my 800 route.  Did two by 800 easy at 3:23 and 3:27 (more uphill).  Felt good.  Not sure if good idea to do this before the half tomorrow.  Not even sure about the half tomorrow at all.  A little race anxiety since I don't know the course.  Anyone?  Took 39 minutes.

Okay here is the report:  After my bike crash yesterday and a wicked migraine from the whiplash, I suppose, I tossed and turned and got up to the bathroom 4 times.  I felt achy like I was an old lady that fell and broke a hip.  My knee swelled (serves me right when my neighbor asked yesterday morning "how do your knees hold up?"  I said "my knees are great, they are bionic".  But then I said "I better knock on wood".  Well that didn't work since I crashed on my bike about three hours later).  Tried to think "it's okay" just run thru the swelled knee pain.  I even broke down and took ibuprofen in the middle of the night.  At 530 am I made my way over to SF.  Met PURPLE PONYTAIL WOMAN, KIM.  Great job killing your goal time, Kim.  Anyway, still feeling achy and now chilled (cold at start), I hung out in my car for a few minutes ate two fruit snacks (the wholesome kind that are 100% real).  I talked a little to Josse and Michelle (Fast Women).  I wanted to get under 1:40.  I met that but it wasn't very easy.  I am still feeling achy and flu-like.  But I told myself "just do it" (thanks NIKE) and I would somehow feel good about it later.  I do but I have to say I am disappointed I didn't win one of the zillion great prizes.  Here is my breakdown:

1--  7:42, I better pick it up if I want 1:40 or better

2-- 7:31

3-- 7:50, wrong direction with the time, took GU before this.

4--  7:40 I think my goal is dwindling, unless I do a negative split (HOPE)

5--  7:27

6--  7:52 the hill starts just before here

7--  7:40  decided to be stronger than the hill

8--  7:07  yay a downhill

9--  7:27  that pace didn't last long

10-- 7:19  okay maybe I can get my goal

11--  7:27  not liking my iPOD music, why do I have Philadelphia playing?  Fumbled to find a better uptempo song.

12--  7:29  I am okay with this as now I am at the last mile and plan on picking it up, can I?

13--  7:08  Ahhhh, glad my effort showed on the clock!!

.1--   .37    (6:10 pace I believe, I do a weird way of calculating but I think I got it right).

GRAND TOTAL:  1:38:22, Does that really mean I will get a 3:16:44 at St. George.  Would like to dream so. 

Actually not sore (lactic) after the race.  Just my neck, shoulders, and left knee are sore from the fall on Friday on my bike.  Knee still sore.  Swelling going down.  Hip feels out of place probably the way I ran to not feel the knee so much.  Did some stretching.  Super Duper migraine.  I am used to these but getting real tired of them.  I had one everyday for a year and they ended finally in late June when I changed my diet to grains and no processed foods and avoided all the allergenic foods I was told I was allergic to.  I ate at a friends house on Friday before the race and she had soup  (lots of soups have MSG in them).  I try not to be too fanatic about restrictions so I had some.  Along with my bike wreck, I think I was in trouble for a migraine.  I usually have to wait it out.  Lortab touches it briefly but I only take a half cause I don't want to feel drugged.  Also a mild muscle relaxant too.  I was glad not to feel lactic at all and actually walked just as normal as I do.  I find this hopeful.

Biked to elementary school and back.  Hip out of place causing IT band issues all the way to my left foot.  Darn that fall.  Oh well what doesn't kill us makes us stronger right?  Anyway was nervous about running but really I felt great, yay!!!   No soreness just pure runners pleasure.  Ran with hubby for 3.5 miles at 8:45 to 8:50 pace.  Faster at the end because my husband had fresh legs.  He didn't run Saturday.  He coached my daughter's soccer team.  They won in penaly kicks.  It was AWESOME!!  It came down to the last kicker on each team.  Our goalie dove for the ball!!!  I am so proud of the team of girls we coach.  On to the next tournament game tomorrow night.  I feel really good now that the headache is gone.  I am trying to think of a strategy to get the projected time Michelle and Josse think I could get which is double the SF half time (3:16:44).  I think perhaps more along the lines of 3:20.  My first goal is to beat 3:30.  I think I can do this.  I feel so much better than the last two years I ran.  Two years ago I trained for only 3 weeks and ran a twenty the week before and came in at 3:46 missing Boston by 34 seconds.  I wasn't trying so that was interesting.  The next year 2007 I had this headache that wouldn't go away.  My half times were slower and I had chronic fatigue badly.  I learned I was allergic to perfumes/cleaners/ colognes and slowly got better as I avoid them (still getting better).  I ran in at 3:41:13.  The first half 9 minute miles as I was worried about myself because I was in ER the Tuesday before with a wicked migraine.  The second half I ran in just under 8 minute miles.  I felt great.  This year my half time is much faster and I just did Hope to Hobble (23-24 miles) and felt awesome in the mountain air.  When it was over I felt I could keep going.  I think I will try the Squaw Peak 50 miler next year.  Anyway lengthy report is now over. 

Ran up to Murdock Canal via 1100 North Pleasant Grove.  Always exhilarating.  Many stares (it is steep).  Got there in 16:56 (1.9 miles straight up).   I think my fastest so far and still felt like I had more.  Ran the trail to Lone Peak High School (just below it) and then began my 4 by 1 mile Tempos.  First was 7:36 (with a very steep climb for 0.2 miles and moderate for 0.3 miles) so felt wiped out after mile one that I got water at the firestation park in Cedar Hills and walked to my next mile start just a few trees a way.  Nice and even pace at 7:30.  Then another at 7:32 and my last at 7:23.  There done.  No more for me.  I think tomorrow is a very easy day.  YaY!!! Total miles 10 in 1:25 ( avg 8:30 pace). After first 1.9 miles of uphill pace was 8 for 3.8 miles then slower until 4x1 mile.   Needed GU or some kind of nourishment.  Can't wait for taper starting MONDAY.  Did you all notice triangle lady is gone?  I wrote an email to Sasha.  Thanks Sasha!! 

This was a run to "try" to get rid of my almost four day migraine. It gets worse thoughout the day and goes away while I sleep but back again when I wake. Got to break the cycle eventually or I will be where I was at July 2007 when I had one everyday until last June. Instead of getting better with the run it just kept creeping in stronger and had to take a strong medication, darn it. After my daughter's soccer team win tonite when I got a huge adrenaline rush the head isn't so bad. We won in a shoot off 3-1. We actually didn't have to shoot our last goal with our best kicker. The original score before penalty kick off was 0-0. It was pretty much a mud fest. Even I was covered from the knees down. We play again Saturday morning. When to get my 20 miler in? I tentatively have 430am Saturday on my mind with a new runner friend that I just learned is also running SGM. She hasn't done any long runs yet (except a 13 miler). I figured we would take it easy to end up at a 9:00 pace, nothing strenuous. My body is wanting to taper. My friend will appreciate this. But 430am? The sun won't even rise before we get back. So we will have to gear up warmly and enjoy the night.

Okay so I am not in triathlon mode here. But the miles are 6 biking (to AF recreation center and back). I improved my time with biking by over 1 minute. I heard biking fast helps with running turn over. I hope that is true. It seems I am able to run faster easier since adding in biking. It has stretched out my adductor muscles (inner thighs) and making me more flexible. I also swam 1.5 miles. The first mile I swam consistently moderately fast. I was out of breath after the first half mile so I cut the pace a few seconds the second half of the mile. I swam 1600 meters (a mile) in 34:22. If I kept up with the first half pace I would have been at 33:20. It felt good to slow down. Pretty much this was my ceremonial swim. The bubble to the AF pool is going up starting Saturday so noone can swim at the pool for over a week and then the bubble (goes over the outdoor pool so it is indoors in the winter)will be in place. It is large and white. No windows so the lovely mountain views and open breeze will be gone. I took it all in and will count the months for the openess of pool swimming next Spring. I feel great now that the headache is gone.

I was just going out to do a regular run and got to my first mile spot of a short route I do and was thinking "I feel like I am going at a my usual easier pace". Imagine my surprise to find it was 8:00 minute mile. I was like hey my body must be adjusting up so that an easy pace is actually faster now. My last mile was 7:37 as I did a loop course (just over 4 miles)that I usually do in the winter or an easy run. I was surprised by that time too. The rest day on Wednesday and the pool/bike yesterday must have helped with muscle recovery. Now for tomorrow at 415am... We changed the time to 15 minutes earlier so that my friend could have time to rest if needed at the water stops and I can be back in time for the marathon of soccer games for each of my three girls(8am, 9am and 11am) and not to mention the later BYU home football game. I am exhausted thinking of my schedule. For some reason I am dealing with insomnia. I don't feel tired after I wake up at 3am. So I walk around get a drink and read. What's the deal? Headache is back from the shoulder to the top of my right head. Neighbor had a meeting at her house (outside, because of my allergies) and her scented candles breezed out her back window and hit me hard. I really wish there was an easy cure for this problem. I may have to wear a mask to the starting line of St. George (just kidding, I will just go to a far corner). Count your blessings this isn't one of your allergies. Scents are everywhere and in almost every product. Meanwhile... Hope you are all gearing up for the last long run. Have FUN!!!!

Yay. Its over. Marathon soccer day and marathon early morning run day. Yah we left about 420am. The roads to ourselves(almost). Got to see a cop pull someone over just after our first mile. Thought he was after us. We were actually at a pretty quick pace for starting out (8:30) so we cooled it down a bit. By mile 3.5 we were at a average 8:50. Since Brooke hadn't run her more than 13 yet and has had to bail out on SGM twice in the past I thought it wise to go easy. It was however a hilly course as PG, Highland, Alpine and Cedar Hills terrain have enough of them. It was about 9 uphill and 9 down. With just over two of flatter terrain. Well we stopped probably a total of 11 minutes. She had her GARMIN. First experience having a GARMIN at my side. Somehow after mile twelve stop it was turned off. We noticed this after about two miles or 17 minutes on my watch. So after restarting it and getting back to home we were at 18.78 so we added 2 miles and rounded down in case it was just under two miles. So total miles= 20.7. Average pace with all the stops 9:38. So with 11 minutes of stops calculated off the pace that makes our running pace average at 9:05. The big uphills we took it real easy on but our last three going all downhill were at 8:15 based on my watch. The weather was perfect. I got home to my husband ready in the car to take off to the first of three soccer games. Our other car broke down the day before so I had to quickly switch shirts, grab a snack and take off for game 1. Middle daughter Brooke scored four goals. Then played goalie most of second half and didn't get to touch the ball. Troy left me there to get to our oldest daughter's tournament game. Needless to say I arrive 10 minutes into the game (got a ride to field from Brooke's coach) with one sick child (she spiked a fever while watching Brooke's game) but she kept me warm as I was chilling in the cool dew morning. Sadly we lost (1-0) as I had to take a potty break (the bathrooms are on the opposite side of Discovery park, a journey). I get back in time to see my awesome goalie forget her position and go to kick a wet ball, miss and the other team score. She loves being goalie and does well. She just forgot to use her hands two minutes into the second half. She played offense the first half. We tried to score and dominated from there on out but the refs looking at their watches blew the whistle. I was timing it too and they ended it two minutes early. I was a sore loser coach. The refs have done this at a few games because they look at what time it is not their timer. ARGGGHH!!! If I was just ten steps earlier/closer to my goalie she would have heard me say "use your hands". It is not up to a goalie to win so I knew we could score. But darn those refs. And thank goodness this is only 5th and 6th grade. Bur our team had worked hard. And we beat the team they lost to last twice. So it was hard to take. This is why I like running. It is solo. You can speed up or you can slow down. You are your own captain. You set your own PRs and you can control yourself. As a team you got to do it together. If one player decides to stay up until 2am and another has a baptism to go to an hour after the game so doesn't come, the team is weakened. I love team spirit. But running will always be my first love.

Ran up 600 west.  Again glad to see my easy feeling pace was an 8 minute mile.  I continued on  then for a total of five miles.  The last mile felt very relaxed and not at all pushed or difficult breathing and was a 7:22.  I hope to be feeling this good a SGM especially the last half when I plan on picking it up a bit.  Total time= 38:45.  Piriformis  (hip)muscle feeling better after looking up some stretches on the internet and using my hand massager.  I am also trying some visualization.  I hear what you can conceive you can achieve.  So everyone get visualizing your best case scenario.  Let's see how we turn out.  Good luck.  Enjoy. 

Ran easy with husband back from Elementary School walk to school day (one mile there walking and one mile back running 8:52).  COSMO was our crossing guard.  Pretty fun for the kids.  Then we ran another 4.2 miles around the Mt. Timponogos Temple  and back home.  Last mile easy but at 7:57 pace.  Enjoyable run with husband.  I feel like soccer should still be going on.  PG starts too early then of course ends too early.  It is fall.  Time to still play soccer.  Got to get my girls involved in the other leagues to still be playing I guess.  Count down.  Not too long now for the big day at SGM. 

Something is going wrong with my computer.  I can no longer type in my mileage.  Very freaky.  It just gives me a list to choose from.  So here goes without the ability to add the miles this is what  I did.  I first ran about 2.4miles warm-up to my 800 route.  I ran 6 x 800.  I felt great the first four the last two (wanting negative splits) were more difficult.  But I achieved my goal of going faster each time.  I ran at 1000am to simulate St. George heated conditions.  Probably will be hotter if the weather doesn't change soon down there.  Anyway my splits were with an 800 meter recovery run back to the start of about 4:30 minutes to 6 minutes after each one except the last when I just kept running to my house 1.2 miles away.  Again here goes: 

1. 3:12

2. 3:10

3. 3:09

4. 3:06

5. 3:05

6. 3:04

Total miles 9.2.  Glad only one more intense speed work left  next week.  Running 15 this Saturday.  Can't wait to hear how my friends do at TOU this Saturday.  Wish they made it into SGM with me.  But good for them to try a different one. 

Ran with husband for an easy loop to American Fork Hospital and around their little outdoor trail and back home.  Getting warm at 1000am.  Taking it easy today and Friday.  Running down AF canyon from Tibble Fork Reservoir Saturday.  Kim Taylor, a speedy friend, wants to run it in 7:30 pace.  With the downhill that may be fine.  Not sure if I do marathon pace or not.  I guess it is a good idea and okay two weeks before.   She wants to do 12,  I wanted to do 15 so we compromised and we are running 13.5.  If  it feels easy I should cross my fingers and hope it does for 26.2 miles at St. George.  Any advice if marathon pace is what we should be doing?  What is everyone else doing this Saturday?  Have a great run. 

No not a long run.  I biked my running route from last Saturday with a few cuts.  I was going to just do 10 but then it was such nice weather I kept going.  My back started to ache so it was getting long but luckily  on the downhill I could just stop pedaling and straighten up.  Lots of hills in Alpine.  More noticeable on a bike.  Lots of bikers out too.  I loved the ease of biking (minus back issues) with the cool breeze brushing over my face.  It was a feel good easy workout.  Should have done shorter since running hard tomorrow.  The problem with biking is non-observant cars.  As I started out after helping in my daughter's 2nd grade class, I almost did the exact fall as two weeks ago.  I was cursing myself, "not the knee again, you knuckle head Julie".  Somehow I saved myself  but only a few yards ahead I was nearly  taken out by the opening of a car door on the street side where I was riding.  I swerved, got an adrenaline rush then thought "if I ran into that door, all my training down the drain" .  Maybe I should go home and skip the biking.   But as you read above I stuck it out.  What a beautiful ride.  Hope all of you have tried the pleasures of cross-training like swimming or biking.  Try it.  It really gives certain muscles a break.  ENJOY. 

Met up with Kim at her house (1 mile jog-9:18) at 550 am.  Drove to temple to pick up Jane and Becca.  Kim and I have run a few times together before.  Just met Jane and Becca.  They are the same pace so we had a good run after driving and parking at Tibble Fork Reservoir (AF canyon).  Ran all miles under 8 and 7 miles were at 7:30 pace.  My legs were tired from yesterdays bike ride.  I knew I would pay for it.  Not much traffic in the canyon.  Did not  feel like I was going to be run over this time.  We ran to the golf course from the street that Lone Peak is on and parted ways with Becca and Jane as they wanted to only do 12 and head straight back to the temple.  We ran on the golf course running trail and up that steep hill (good thing it is brief) and over to the "farm" road.  We were then 3 miles from my house.  So our time was 1:47:46 and having lost the garmin effect with our former running buddies we were left to our own analysis.  We kept up the pace.  Kim is going to do great at St. George.  I was getting winded that the last 0.3 I slowed on a steep downhill.  I think we were at 715 pace.  My last mile by myself was cool down and since I know where the marker was I could tell just slowing down wasn't much slowing down (8:14) so the previous pace was probably as I described.  Then off I went to the two last soccer games of my daughters. Both at the same time so we (Troy and I) did the half-time switch.  He coached Amber's first half (6 goals) and I her second.  Brooke's team finally met up with a team that would make them work (2-1).  Brooke has been getting a cold and seemed "not herself"  on the field.  She managed to make a pass to her teammate right in front of the goal for the win.  Of course I missed it as I was up watching Amber monopolize all the 4 and 5 year olds.  The other coach said "wow that girl is good, she will probably make the olympics some day".  That was nice of him to say.  It would be great to see if she continues to be aggressive in the years to come.  Her dad is a soccer maniac but he hasn't taught her to play at all.  So interesting.  Must be a born into talent.  Why am I going on like this I know not.  I was all excited to view "live results" of the TOU game like their website says "click here" but not apparently working.  Bummer.  Cool idea though.  I am skipping out on the home BYU game today and the next two.  I am letting each of my daughters go to one game.  Then I will go to the last.  I am tired of sitting for four hours especially after the last two when I had just run super duper long runs.  Go Cougars!!  Hope all you had some good runs today.  Congrats on the TOU runners.  YOU"RE DONE!!!! HURRAY.  Unless of course you are running the Grand Slam.  Then we will see you in two weeks. 

Not doing anything.  My back and left knee are giving me trouble.  Over did it with the bike ride  Friday and tempo Saturday.  My calves feel really tight, not lactic just tight.  I am sure a good rest day will do me good.  My body is screaming for it.  Also, my headaches have been awful.  But today it has mellowed out.  I love to run in the rain so I hope some of you got out there in it.  I am in that "did I do the right training?" frame of mind right now.  Sometimes thinking I should just get the 330 marathon and not push it.  Then the other half of me says " this is it, you are almost forty, I can do it (3:20)".  I guess I have to wait to see how the race day "magic" might induce stronger feelings or contrary. 

Ran with husband Troy an unusual but scenic route after 1.5 miles.  First mile 8:05.  Fresh legs always feel great.  We toned it down after that to about 8:20 to 8:30.  The last mile was 7:28 though.  My husband knew where the mile marker was and began to pick it up.  I felt comfortable at the half mile mark left (4:00) but he kept picking it up as I tried to stay with him.  I was like hey slow down I need to be careful of  my knee.  The darn knee/hip is really putting a damper on things.  It can't hold up for 25.2 miles at that pace (7:30) unless I can do the mind over matter game or get some relief soon.  I think my hip is out of place.  I need some tweaking at the left hip.  It causes pain to radiate the length of the sciatic nerve--hip, hamstring, side of knee, to the bottom and inward side of my foot.  Reminds me of my last months of pregnancy.  I am trying ibuprofen and even walked around doing laundry with an ice wrap.  Not good as I didn't notice it had fallen low off the wrap and was pretty much giving me a freezer burn.  Got to pay attention to my icing techniques.  This is marathon laundry day so I can't rest and ice.  Got to keep going, and going.  Will hopefully rest at the park while my kids have piano.  How do you get a hip back in place without seeing a chiropracter?  Or how much does Dr. Brady cost?  I don't have an insurance that covers chiropractic care.   Thanks for any advice. 

Ran a simulation heat run at 2pm for only two miles.  I was too busy with kids off to school, car repairs and cleaning to get a run in early plus the muscle relaxant flexeril put me in a daze the first half of the day I was lucky to get any tasks done.    I will definitely not take that med close to the marathon.  Benadryl last year was bad enough.  My first mile nice and easy 9:45 and last mile8:41.  Hip feels normal I think.  Apparently it is really relaxed.  I still feel slightly dazed.  I did ride my bike to school and back twice and to pick up my daughter then to pick up our car at the shop (6.5 miles).  New brakes and exhaust fixing up needed to pass inspection.  Already for the drive to SGM.  I can't believe it is getting to be the week mark.  The weather is a lot warmer than last year and it seems it will hold up.  That means one glass of water for my mouth and one for my body at the aid stations.  I don't do well in heat.  But the water bath helps.  Happy running!!!

1040am run (another warm weather simulation)--Brief warm up of 3 minutes before running my 5K route I mapped around my neighborhood a year ago.  Short run for I had some appointments to get to.  First mile I was thinking I sure hope this is faster than race pace (it was) cause while it felt fine I didn't think it could feel fine for 26.2 miles.  It is a hilly course so that made me more hopeful of my ability, but only time will tell.  Here goes:  mile 1:  7:08    Last 2.1 miles: 14:30 (I don't remember where mile marker two is so  I did a cumulative).  Total 5k time=  21:38.  With some figuring that meant my last two miles were at 6:54 pace.  Wow.  The 800s have paid off.  This time was faster than my Nestle 5K in June which is an easier course so I feel good about my effort.  My heart was skipping beats at the end probably due to sugary pancake syrup just before the run.   I like to run with not much in me for that reason.  Effort felt strong/hard but not all out.  So someday maybe I will do under a 21 minute 5K.  Maybe racing it will help my pace.  I am glad it is over.  Quick workout.  Brief cool down of 0.4 miles.  Now time to bask in laziness (and  in ice on  the darn left sciatic nerve), except for a 10 miler  on Saturday (I am going to go a lot slower than last Saturday) and a short tempo run next week and maybe 2x800 meters somewhere in there.  It should feel good to be over quick with speed workouts and cut the mileage way down.   Good luck to all my running blogging friends!!! 

Just biked to school and back twice (4 miles).  My headache is pretty intense.  I describe it as burning pain to the back of the right side of my head that shoots up to the right side of my face and eye and down to my lumbar region of my back.  Intense burning.  It also goes down my right arm at times.  I just grit my teeth most days and fight hard not to be too concerned.  After many doctors I think my next step is chiropractic/acupuncture.  I am sure I brought this on with my run yesterday as I described in an earlier post about my brain malformation.  This is just bad timing to get this intense.  I will still run 10 tomorrow.   I won't let this get me.  It just gets old.    I have read a lot of you bloggers are getting stomach trouble.  I would recommend avoiding food handled by others (going out to eat) the next week.  Big bad bugs are out there and they don't stop food handlers from working with your food.  I sound paranoid but it is so true.  Once I had a waitress tell me as she was waiting on us that she felt awful worse than ever (she sounded it too) but couldn't call in.  Scary.  I tried to remain calm.  I am nurse by the way on a NICU so we are pretty obsessive there.  Hence my philosophy on eating out and staying healthy the week before a marathon. Happy eating!!!  Oh and take some probiotics!!!

If only I had a garmin I would stop this extra mileage problem.  It is just that when I envision a route and think it is only 10 miles then get to where it is about halfway and realize the way back is longer and we our over time oops, oh well.  But this darn knee hip problem is really acting up.  Sooo  I am going to a chiropracter my friend Melanie swears by that works out of Provo.  My hip is definitely the problem but then my knee throbs.  The piriformis muscle is the issue (deep in the hip).  A good wack to the hip (back in place) oughta do it.  Everything feels good except the leg which pain is not easy to run fast thru.  So we slowed it down a bit to help relax my hip.  Average pace 8:30.  Then off to lagoon  with my family for we had free tickets for food and parking and the park thru my father-in-laws work.  It was pretty much marathon amuzement day (I don't do any wild rides due to my headaches).  12 hours of continous walking.  I was exhaused that I finally slept for 7 hours straight.  I am still dealing with insomnia so this was good for me.  Plan for this week:  Rest, Recover, Refocus, Remember.  If I can take the time to do all this I should be ready. 

I had taken a muscle relaxant, flexeril (1/4 of a pill) to try to get rid of the intense burning pain in my neck that radiates to my eye, shoulder, arm and lumbar region.  I then threw them all out because they make me drowsy/fog-like and irritable as well as extremely thirsty.  It did not take away the pain.  I have had this pain linger on for weeks at a time.  Finally I am going to a chiropracter at 900 am Tuesday.  I feel like a very poor aligned automobile where my bones are actually rubbing against each other impinging nerves all over my spine.  I hope it goes well.  I did eventually manage to get out of my house after cleaning my kitchen floors (won't be able to move well to do this next week, want all my cleaning done so I can relax post-marathon).  It was 1100am when I got started and first just stood in my front yard thining how am I going to make it thru with this burning pain?  But I remember it does go away if I continue on in my run (but returns right when I do).  So I ran 5.4 miles.  First mile 9:03 with each mile feeling easier and easier I ended up with my last mile at 7:30 and it felt easy.  The heat simulation run was good for me to.  I figure it should benefit me cause I hate the heat and it will actually be cooler on race day so running should feel easier?  Well the remainder of the day I just gritted my teeth living for tomorrow (my chiropracter appt).  No meds touch the pain so I figure a skeleton doctor could do the trick from what I have heard from you all.  Stay tuned for outcome of my tune-up.  Total time running:  44:30.

NO running as my burning headache had been pretty bad and wanted to focus on my appointment at 9am.  The chiropracter Dr. Bowers in Provo said my neck was shifted to the right at the first vertebrae and I have tons of trigger points (part of the fibromyalgia diagnosis I stear away from thinking I really have) and muscle knots (same thing I guess)  along my shoulders, pecs (upper chest) and under my arms and down my  right arm.  I was told in June I had carpal tunnel, elbow tunnel (don't know the true name for it) and thoracic outlet.  Dr. Bowers said they were all related to the same muscle underneath my arms by my chest from all the knots and no blood flow, hence nutrients getting to this area very well.  I tend to agree with him since surgery to open up spaces is not an option for me.  He massaged the areas of concern for 20 to 30 minutes then adjusted my neck, shoulders and back.  He even tried to adjust my TMJ I have had for years.  Yup I have that too.  I am a walking malalignment.  I was in two car accidents and hit a tree with my head (pretty hard, knocked out my baby front teeth and gave me 16 stitches and a doozy scar on my forehead) when I was six years old.  I also fell down the stairs with my walker when I was 1 my  mom said and landed hard on my head. This is speculated to cause my TMJ.  Never knew chiropractics could have straightened me out then.  Dr. Bowers actually adjusts babies too that have rough deliveries.  The TMJ is not a covered item with insurance (some pay $1000 towards care for it if you are lucky) although it is a joint in the body used everyday like a knee, very interesting.  A well-known TMJ specialist said he could fix mine plus braces to realign the way I bite for $7000.  Can't justify it unless money fell from the sky.  But sometimes the tension in my jaw, the continued locking of it and my headaches sway me otherwise.  Sorry this is going on and on.  But after 39 years I try to just deal with it all.  I refuse to be one of the many people I see come in thru my work (I am a NICU nurse) addicted to pain killers (yup they just had babies too!).  Well after the marathon, scraping of my shoulders is indicated and ultrasound waves to my neck.  Probably a good leg massage as well.  If you made it this far or even if you are about to fall asleep, thanks for hanging in.  I will now focus on SGM even though through a blog you never know what people are really dealing with so everyone have a good three days of taking it easy, analyzing, breathing in and out, eating well, sleeping as best you can, and be greatful for our gift of being able to run.

I decided to add this at the top before you fall asleep at the end.  You never know what good you can do in an early morning decision of which route to run.  I encountered two moments to help out a stranger and I thought if I chose a different route I wouldn't have helped out. Even though I didn't get a thanks I felt good I could be of service.  About five kids were biking to school at 745am and one got his back pack caught in his wheel pretty tightly.  He had no idea what to do and was standing in the middle of the road confounded.  I simply instructed to take off the back pack, lifted up the chain and removed the tightly woven strap and he sped off without much to say.  Then I met up with the same bikers crossing the road and one girl was crying due to an "injured" ankle from another rider.  "no blood"  I said.  "you just feel more pain due to the cold, you will feel good soon, and after my gentle reminder about "where are all your new helmets that were passed out to you last week at safety week to every kid at Manila Elementary? (my next door neighbor, mother of four, her helmet although crushed, saved her life as she was in ICU for three months last year)... but that young girl was off too (she said her new helmet caused her last accident... interesting).  Wow hadn't even got to the first mile mark and I was feeling like I saved  the world (or at least tried), not really but... it really does pay to be at the right place at the right time for both sides. 

Now back to my story...  I went back to the chiropracter due to my hip and knee acting up with this run which feels really great during the massage, ultrasound heat and stretching and realignment then whamo in the car the nerve is still acting up.  I am not sure what to think.  But really I want the nerve pain to migrate to an arm, I really don't need them too much in a marathon.  I felt great cardiovascularly (is that a word?) and my whole right side was like this is easy, but no the left hip was like "ry doing this for 23 more miles and I will show you"  I am now looking for a miracle to have this nerve pain transform out of my leg/hip/knee/foot within 60 hours.  My last mile felt very easy despite the pain as far as respiratory effort   (7:03) which I was happy with but a half hour after the run the nerve pain set in.  The same burning pain that I feel in my head neck and shoulder often.  I figure one of these days I get a correct diagnosis.  I have gone from multiple sclerosis, chiari malformation,  fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, multiple chemical sensitivity, lupus  to yeast overgrowth.  Some day answers will come.  In the meantime I choose to run.  I tried to stop running in the past because I got comments it was due to running, but low and behold the same pains even after taking off for a month.  Okay enough already.  Don't feel sorry for me if anything be stronger from reading my story.  The power  of the mind (over matter) is achievable.  I want everyone to remember that at mile 15, 20-26.2 etc....  This too shall pass if you are at that point in feeling... or say to yourself....  I can do this,  turn a frown upside down and smile those miles away.  It truly works.  I will be at the starting line no matter what.  See you all there sooner than later.  Get lots of sleep the next two nights.  I hope to make it by the blog party, but my husband will be in the hotel watching the BYU football game tuning out the kids so I may have to stay behind to entertain at the pool.  Another long post.  Thanks for hanging in there.  ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzss.

Okay that was a quick run even though it was run sloowwwwlllly. Ran with hubby. First mile 9:49 second mile 9:00. I was thinking hey this is nice. Do I even want to run fast? ..... of course I will try.

Here goes 24 hours later (really enjoyed the nice fall weather in St. George Sunday am, but I was told we were all a part of history, since it hadn't rained for the marathon in 25 years, a day to remember for sure):

1:  8:00  (sad to not find my friend Kim, lost each other with a potty break before race start).  Wore a plastic bag over my head, a Target one to be exact, bandana-style!

2:  7:38   No problem.

3-4:   Too dark and crowded to see mile marker three so cumulative time 14:57 (maybe even split of 7:29)

5-6:  Still dark and crowded: 14:36  (7:18s).  Too fast but felt easy so I thought maybe I can do this, should have eased back I guess for some steam at the finish.

7:  Oooops 7:06.  Was this way down hill?  ....cause I felt so good. 

8:  Bigger ooops.  Slowed on purpose on Veyo a bit too slow 9:01.

9: 8:09.  Finding it hard to get a pace here, but thinking I hope this is uphill still.  Just couldn't tell with the wind and rain.

10:  8:11.  Am I just running out of steam or what.   I really am thinking magic might happen at mile 15 like in the past.

11: 8:33.  Well the magic better happen quick cause I am not liking the effort not showing on the clock.

12: 8:05.  Okay better.

13: 7:56.  I'll take that. 

13.1 1:43:10.  Double that makes 3:26:20.  I am thinking this is good cause I always do better here on the second half.......wishful thinking.... here comes the headwinds even stronger...Dear Mother Nature:  Are you having fun today?

14:  7:19.  Where did that come from?  But feeling more positive now.

15-16:  14:31 (7:15s) Getting pretty hopeful cause I sure love mile 15.  Forgot to hit my watch this time as I cheered other runners to try to get them to chase the darn 3:20 balloons.  Wondering where my friend/training partner is?  Probably a mile ahead. 

17: 7:33  No big deal but beginning to feel tightness in the hip where my sciatica had been acting up.  Try to exercise my foot to change the way I was landing.  Foot very stiff and arch and toes are in pain.  But I forced them to move to help my stride.

18-19:  15:49  (7:55s, if even)  Losing energy quick.  Lactic acid coming on thick. Brain becoming more and more drained, like working three night shifts in a row kind of feeling.  Wish I could have slept the last few weeks.  Didn't see mile 18 going up that ridiculously placed hill, but glad it was behind me and not in front of me when wondering where it was.

20:  8:04.  Whatever!!!  Hello body we are going downhill.  YOU like downhill.  Body's response:  Save energy, must save energy, going to meltdown soon.  Post partum friend Melanie rubs shoulders with me.  Go chase the 3:20 balloon I told her.  Last year she ran 3:11 but this year she had a baby July 29th.  So she was in front of me why is she now coming up to me?  I must have missed  passing her.  I cheer her on as she wizzes by.  So long speedy friend.

21: 7:09.  That was the last of my strength.  It was my brains way of trying to get my body to act ALIVE already.  Body's response: bad move, now I am going to meltdown in 4, 3, 2, 1 miles (that equals the 25.2 mile marker). 

22: 8:24.  What am I a yo-yo?  I think I am coming in and out of consciousness or my songs all have different tempos.  Somehow "another one bites the dust" does not seem appropriate right now, because I am about to "bite the dust".  But I see another friend Dr. Scott Mumford.  He had time enough to tell me he hit a wall at 18 and was barely hanging on.  I told him it was pretty tough and away I went. 

23:  7:52.  Now that's better body, brain start working together already.

24:  8:04.  It is still downhill but I am beginning to feel like I am going in slow motion.  Liked all the spectators though.  They were good to still come out in the rain.

25:  8:39.  Diagnol street dragged on for me.  Knew I was going to lose it soon during that mile.  Hello brain.  Are you there?  I mean are we trying finish strong or not?   Brain's response.  Sorry, signing out.   Zero mental ability.  Smoke inhalation. Vision getting blurry.  See all the people passing us?  You are in a pathetic state.  Body:  if you say so. 

25.2:  1:20.  That has to be off looking at my watch now.  No way was I running that fast.  Perhaps mile 25 I pushed my split button too late.  I don't know if I really saw mile 25 now.

26.2:   9:21.  The finish looked like a great place to be it was just that I couldn't really pull out the strength to get there.  I was like running in place or something.  I think I will go back to not wearing my iPod.  I am not sure it helps my concentration in a race.  Crossing the finish line was bless-ed.  Two army guys held me up:  Am I in heaven?  (just kidding).  That's when my vision turned wavy and they walked me to the tent.  I was glad I didn't pass out.  I felt very cold, so the blanket felt great.  Oh, about 20 seconds after me at the finish I was in shock to see my friend Kim.  Like where were you?  We were running together the whole time practically.  The same half split etc..  I am sure way different in between.  But there she was.  Like a true training partner.  And guess what?  Good old chip timing placed her 8 seconds in front of me but we were #114 and #115 for women out of 2180.  We were happy together.  That was a cool way to enjoy the whole experience of SGMs history making day of rain.

Absolutely nothing.  But I failed to mention in my race report about my ankle skin tear.... major ouch after the affects of the cold and rain wore off.  Like a razor cut to the back of my ankle, in feel, shape and size.  Don't remember any razors along the race course.  And I didn't shave just before running.  So my guess is that having bought new socks I had failed to find that tiny plastic piece they hook socks with and you cut  or use your teeth to break apart so you can wear your socks not all connected.  Well that is all I can think of cause I don't know what else could have been rubbing me like that and causing such damage.  I couldn't even go in the pool afterwards due to the intense stinging from the water/chlorine.  It is keeping me at bay with my rest period too.  No way do I want to run.  The cut is placed at the back of my ankle where my ankle touches my shoes.  My other ankle showed no signs of rubbing that's why I figured something was in my sock.  It is a hard place to have a cut because as the scar is healing it hurts to flex or stretch my heal at all.  The cut was deep.  It didn't stop bleeding after the race for a few hours.  Like I would wipe away the blood and it would keep bleeding.  Just like a razor cut.   Man oh man does it burn.  On the bright side NO blisters whatsoever.  Very odd as I usually lose both my second toenails.  Soreness getting better.  Not running until Friday if my ankle allows. 

Went to Clear Creek Camp with my 10 year old daughter Courtney.  We hiked one mile up and then back down.  With 10 year olds and teachers we stopped four times going up so it was very low key.  It was absolutely gorgeous up there with the leaves changing and the cool mountain air.  Visualized myself running on the trails.  I am thinking of running a lot more trails since Hope to Hobble run that I loved.  I am actually going to do the Squaw Peak 50 miler next June 6th.  A nice day hike is how I will look at it.  I know it is 50 miles but I have always loved the mountain runs.  So I just have to do it.  So I will do Antelope Island Run (50K) as training next March and Ogden Marathon 3 weeks before at a nice and easy pace (9:30 to 10 minute miles).  But for now I am going to enjoy the Fall runs around my home (the canal and PG's canyon).  I love this time of year!!!!  P.S.  Ankle itching like crazy,  I guess a sign of healing. 

No soreness and am raring to go but this darn scab on my ankle is placed where it would rub off again while running.  So here I sit and wait...... for the healing to take place.  It still continues to itch and burn while healing so I definitely don't want to do anything to slow the process down.  Perhaps this is for a reason.   It may be that I should be taking it easy for my bones and muscles to heal as well. 

Same as Wednesday. The scab is forming more but still can't wear sneakers without feeling it rubbing.  Tick Tock Tick Tock. 

Colder now so not as excited about getting out there.  It feels like Winter.  Went to BYU women's soccer game last night with 11 of our 16 soccer players including my daughter.  The season ended a month ago but we thought we would take them since my friend's daughter is the captain and she had $1 tickets for us.  We had a great time.  Wanted to run cause the air was warmer last night.  Still waiting for the darn ankle to heal.  It will be a while. 

4.2 in 33:57. (8:03).  Ran with Troy.  Felt great. 

Nice and easy first mile just under 10 last mile 9:03.    Avg pace 9:30. Total minutes 47.

Got enough exercise going with the entire Kindergarten to Pumkinland (two bus loads full).  No running. Ankle scar healing quite well now.

Medium pace.  Ran up 1100 North to canal and up to Cedar Hills and down across to my 800 Meter/1/2 mile road and felt awesome!!!  The first mile being up hill for last half was 8:15 to the canal in my fastest time of 15:37 (very steep grade).  Ran slower on the canal for a few minutes then back up to pace.  Ran my 1/2 mile in 3:24.  Left leg trying to do the same old same old but heart felt like it could go faster.  I just wanted it to feel relaxed and it did.  Then ran  easy to my last mile mark and ran a 6:50.  Developed a muscle pain in the left mid-back region at about 3 miles that after two hours from running is quite painful with certain rotations.  Not sure why this happened.  Probably will ice it and see if I can reduce the inflammation.  Total time 57:10.   So average pace 8:10 for the 7 miles.  Probably longer run than 7.  Not shorter though.  I was training my legs to try shorter quicker strides and it worked better for my body for some reason.  Glad to have the endorphins back after taking all of last week off to heal my ankle laceration.  Felt like a Saturday due to UEA so can't believe I feel this good  so early after the marathon.  Wish I had the means to fly to NYC and run that marathon on November 8th.  I would just love to be in the spirit of that run at a nice and easy recovery pace.

No running, just intense pain and spasm in my upper left back behind my rib cage.  It continued all day yesterday even until the dreadful BYU game last night and is still happening today.  Nurse friend thinks it may be a heart attack but I have had this before but just not as intense.  It is all a part of toxin build up  I believe as I was exposed to many perfumes and fertilizers at Pumpkinland then ate popcorn when I was told I was sensitive to corn on an allergy test, my fault there.  I think they all (allergies)  just targeted one muscle in my back and brought an episode of nausea, burping and esophogeal spasm.  It took my breath away all day yesterday.  I tried pepcid and ibuprofen.  Then I talked with my mom who went to the ER  a while ago with a similar problem and they told her it was esophogeal spasm after checking her for a heart attack.  Since we get the same headaches etc... I figured I wasn't going to die.  The pain was ridiculous though.  Up there with labor pains no joke!!!  I purchased some generic Davascon and chewed up two of those tablets (they contain magnesium) and after several more hours of burping today the pain gradually subsided but my rib cage is still very sore, presumably from the spasms  Glad this is about over.  

Ran in the country in a town North of Summit thirty miles from Jordanelle reservoir.  We had the pleasure of staying in a  large nice cabin with all the modern day amenities!!  Got up waiting for the sun to rise so daylight and a reflection of sunshine so decided to get going at 8am so I could be back to make breakfast with my husband for everyone.  I ran a very hilly course much like You've Gotta Be Kidding in the Wasatch Back Relay.  At least 2.5 miles of steep terrain.  The downhill was tricky as my rib cage is still sore and some residual snow pack on the road making for some possible slipping.   The way up was great no snowpack as sun must get this area more during the day.  I did a loop.  Later in the day we drove to a place nearby where I ran so I clocked it on my car (the first half) and ran that steepness in 26 minutes and it was 2.25 miles.  I knew I started slow due to my guarding of possible spasm and joint pain everywhere ( my brother in law who invited us there had put on very strong cologne, he tried to wash it off for me but it was still hanging on his clothes- so my headache stayed on and joint pain progressed thru the night there).    Funny thing is he hates cologne but he put it on because he had a job interview. Why?  Do people get jobs based on smell?  I sufferered for that one.   I genuinely hope all of you readers never get this allergy but if you do you become way more concerned about your environment that you almost feel as an outcast.  Outdoor allergies that most people do get to pollens etc... have better medicines for them and removal techniques.  Researchers still don't know where the allergy for chemicals lie and therefore traditional antihistamines do not work on them.  Instead a strict diet and probiotics is prescribed after finding food allergens thru testing and pending help in the future by detoxifying.  Okay I went off on a tangent.  I came back a longer way to make it about 5.2 miles (58 minutes).    Was very joint tired.  The air probably has less oxygen too.  The elevation is greater here by a margin. 

Ran with Troy.  First mile 9:36.  Last mile 7:00.  Nice and easy the rest of miles for some conversation.  Ran into the woman who set Troy and I up.  Very worried for her because she thinks her ex husband put a device in her back that controls her.  Made for interesting running conversation with my husband.  She wanted him to write up something legal in for no one to touch her body after she is found by police and all evidence to be held secure.  Wow!!!!  They got divorced a few years back and have two kids.  Every time we see her she talks on and on about her ex doing this or that.  It is sad.  Her kids need her to hold it together.  Anyway, we slowed our pace a bit after this to absorb in the info.  We changed topics and began to enjoy our run more except my husband was kicked hard in a soccer game a week ago and his chest has been hurting him a great deal.  He groaned a lot during the run.  I think he may have a cracked rib.  But all you do for those is wait it out.  It is his right chest.  Got some difficult news today more than the above mentioned one.  Hope to make it through this trial a better person. 

Felt good and strong from the start so decided to keep the pace and do my mapped 5K.  Relaxed time trial except for picking it up the last 0.1 at a time of 22:09.  My warm up was also quick that I usually jog.  Just felt great.  Body responded well.  Pace 7:09.  First mile 7:16.  So last two quicker.  Brief cool down as I was needing to get to a job interview. Dealing with a lot of difficult stress in my life right now.  Feeling a little Job-like.  Thankful for my running.  Always thankful for running. 

Up 1300 west with husband.  Told him I was doing 5 miles but decided to go a different direction and ended up 7.   Started getting indigestion feeling again after 4 miles so couldn't go too fast.  Was aiming for 9:00 anyway to help me recover.  Very freezing!!  I wore my SGM shirt (black) and still didn't feel warm, even ear muffs.  The shirt was too thin for me and the breeze was too cool  Pace up hill strong 9:15 straight up.  Took the Cedar Ridge Elem. Parkway trail path back to Deerfield Elem.  Still cold writing this as I had to immediately go VT and came back made some oat and flax muffins before finally showering before VT again and froze with we hair.  Hope I am burning off some calories as an ice cube.  Husband hung on strong.  He is tough.  Sweating buckets though as my sweat froze in mid air.  Are many bloggers doing the Halloween runs this weekend?  Not sure about night running.  So may do the one in SLC.  Or nothing.  Just a nice and easy long run on the canal, perhaps. 

Ran to 200 South Pleasant Grove (High School rd.)  to canal and back to 1100 North on canal.  Used course tool.  Just realized it was available in this way.  Could have had a V8.  Sorry just having a trip into the past.  Was tired and cold again.  Managed 7:27 for last mile.  Otherwise pace 9:20.

Ran to meet with Kim at 640am then to meet Jane at Temple (Mt. Timp).  Ran to what we call Farm Rd. (silos) and up to mouth of AF canyon.  Cold wind and all up hill.  Turned around at Golf Course and ran on trail to Deerfield Elem then East and then south back to temple.  Kim nor I wanted to run the 1.8 back to our house so Jane was nice to give us a ride back to our homes.   My sweat froze up quickly so got in the shower and steamed the cold out of me.  Ran 9.3 (course tool, hoping it reads less than actual, considering the trail zig zags and I drew a straight line with the tool) so pace was decent for the mighty uphill for the first half (8:55 average).  First mile I know up hill was 9:15.  Not bad with tired legs, hills three days in a row and this was the farthest and longest of the hills.  Yay for rest day tomorrow.  Yes I know I said I was going to do only two today but Kim called last night and I didn't want to say no.  We all were within 35 seconds of each other at the SGM yet never saw one another except on the bus ride up we sat together.  Next year we hope to conquer the 3:15 mark, mother nature should be on our side next year based on history. 

Ran on and off around my ward passing out flyers with my husband about the Halloween Party we are having.  Yup on the activities committee.  We have some fun planned!! including a hayride and hot chocolate after a chili cookoff, cake walk, parade and other games for the kids.  After passing out the flyers we ran just two miles.  8 munutes and 7:15.  Cleaned all morning so had already worked up a sweat so glad to only do four.  Is anyone doing the Turkey Trot in Orem?  Also new this year is Fleet Feets Turkey Trot (5K) in American Fork.  Just wondering what some of you are doing? 

Same as October 16th (1100 North to Canal to Farm Rd to my 800 to last mile marker to home).   First mile ran with husband.  He wasn't intereted in a long fast run so he veered another way.  I zoomed up 1100 North the steep part to the canal (16:03, 26 seconds slower than the 16th but actually faster to that point after leaving hubby by 6 seconds because first mile was 35 seconds slower than two weeks ago).  The best part was no indigestion/chest pain this time and I felt strong so I made it into a speed workout.  Ran the rest in 7 minute and under pace.  My 800 road time was 3:25 on very tired legs but I was able to kick it in the last mile at 6:29 pace (it helps when a small  yapping dog chases you the last tenth).  I was happy with that and my total time was 53:20.  That is 3:50  faster than two weeks ago.  Yay!!!  My headaches have been a lot better lately.  Knock on Wood.  Not as many allergens this time of year I guess to add to my already chemically sensitive body.  So far I have found out I am low on an important liver enzyme that breaks down toxins.  I will see if the supplement works.  Apparently it needs to be manufactured by the body and taking it orally isn't as effective as researchers want it.  I will try anything.  The enzyme is called l-glutathione.  I can't wait to be free of these symptoms.  Prayer has helped too.  It sounds so basic but it is true. 

Well, another beautiful day.  Ran with Troy.  I am trying to have my easy pace be faster than the old easy pace so my body gets used to it so I can go longer faster someday.  We went 5.35 miles per course tool.  Average pace 8:28 (Goal 8:30, so glad with that).  First mile 8:50.  Last mile 8:03.  Good hill work out once again.  Can't get away from them here in Pleasant Grove.  Headache free, again.  I am currently knocking on wood.  Tonite is the big party.  Been running around here and there and feel slightly overwhelmed, but hey now have time to blog.  Amazing.  I must be doing okay on time then. 

Real Slow.  My legs are drained from "pumps" with my eighties outfit yesterday and running around all day getting the party set up.   It was a big success.   Actually had extra chili/Soup and rolls!!!  Last year we had to bee line to the store for rolls and not everyone got enough soup.  So we planned well and everyone came through on their sign-ups.  The hayride was the big hit.  My husband drove our SUV (glad gas prices have fallen) and pulled my father in laws trailer with one hay bail covering the bottom (way plenty of hay in one bail).  We had hot chocolate out at our pavillion too and some took it with them on the ride.  Many took several rides.  We also had face painting, fish pond, other games and cookie walk for the kids.  Oh and an adorable costume parade thru the eating area before breaking for all the activities.  We did it to some cool Halloween music.  Therefore,  my legs are on strike.  They are pulsating as I type this and are desperate for a massage and bath,  so off I go to try to beg my husband for a foot and leg massage. 

Someone want to tell me how 2.5 miles of Trick or Treating can take 3 hours?  Hello that is a marathon in itself.  My legs are wiped out and I am going out on a 12 miler this morning!!!  Oh the mountain of candy my kids have.  They were real troopers.  One wanted to keep going after we picked up her very active friend (they are 10) that saw all Courtney's candy after trick or treating at her house and was already out of her costume.  She quickly redressed and got out with us.   My legs are burning and constantly aching.  I took a naprosyn.  I hope it works.  Hey, and what is up with 7am being pitch black outside?  My kids had early day at school (8am) and they usually go at 9am.  I got them up in the dark.  Boy did their school create a little monster (or two) with that change on Halloween.  Grumpy, grumpy my littlest was in the morning.  I was amazed my five year old last three hours trick or treating.  At 1030 am today my middle daughter Brooke gets baptized!!  Oh yes.  The infamous scheduling of baptisms after a major sugar high and a 3 hour Halloween Marathon!!!  I hope we can maintain peace.  The Relief Society's President's daughter will also be getting baptized.  We are glad we didn't get the 9am spot that the other ward in our stake got.   Anyway,  nonetheless, we are excited for this wonderful day.  We have had at least three Family Home Evenings this month teaching our daughter more about baptism.  She is already telling her little sister "you know I am eight, so I can't color in Sacrament, I have got to listen".  Parenthood....the joys!!!!

Met with Kim and ran a half uphill run for 12 miles in 1:46.  Probably a little longer.  We ran strong but talked the whole time comfortably.  Some steep uphill, intense for a moment.  We ran up the Cedar Hills trail.  Awesome with all the leaves covering the ground.  Spectacular weather!!! I started out with headband for my ears and a second shirt based on my last two Saturdays and immediately removed them when I met up with Kim.  We totally enjoyed our last day of warmer than normal temps.  Besides nerve pains in my legs and feet I kept up strong because it was just too beautiful.  Did I say how wonderful today was for running?  Hope everyone got out there!!!!   Avg pace: 8:45.  Last mile just under 8 and didn't really pick up pace so I think the course tool is off due to the corners and turns in the trails not shown on the map.  Oh the baptism today of my daughter Brooke went well.  My daughter was beaming!!!!  Wonderful day!!!!

Ran at 6:45 am knowing still like 7:45am so what should I wait for?  This time change thing gets me every time.  Basically it is about change because I end up complaining in the Spring too.  So which do I prefer?  Light in the morning of course!!!!!  So I ran another hilly run.  Like I said, difficult to get away from them unless I want to run on more congested streets.  No thanks.  So I ran up 1300 west with some twists and turns thru different neighborhoods then to the infamous Farm rd up to the fire station in Cedar Hills but turned left ( awesome tough but exhilarating uphill!!! Really builds a lot of strength).  Then to the Cedar Hills path going South to Deerfield Elem right then down thru some nice neighborhoods (rarely a car in sight) and to my 800 road (easy pace of 4:01).  Picked it up last mile but still felt pretty easy, muscles slightly tightening but heart loving it (7:27).  Then decided to do a cool down since reading the new Runner's World about cooling down.  So jogged real easy around the block.  Not counting that in my running time or distance total.  Total:  59:25.  Avg pace: 8:15. 

Hey, does anyone know where I can rent Spirit of the Marathon?  Or I guess buy it a good price?  I have not seen it yet and have checked Hollywood video and Blockbuster and they don't carry it.  Thanks for any help here.

Ran a 3 by 3200 not intentionally but first one I ran so I could come back and wake my daughter at 715am (too busy to run later in the day).  Then second one while she got dressed. On Tuesdays and Thursdays she has school choir so she goes an hour early and I almost forgot as I was getting ready to run.  The third after I drove her to the school.  A thirty minute lapse here as my other kids were up and needed me.  Glad my husband was home so I took off for my third 3200.  It consists of running the back way to Manila Elementary followed by a completely different way back so it goes in a loop.  One mile both ways.  Pretty good loop.  Good hill both way.  Not too steep just right.  Not really racing them just at a feel good pace which I was glad averaged out at 8:08 for the six miles.  It is getting easier and easier going at a faster pace for my easy runs.  Yay!!!  Just got to keep it up as the weather is changing.  Brrr... it was chilling on my third two miler.. as the winds came a blowing.  Happy Voting!!!!

So I am lying in bed thinking okay let's get going on a run it is 7am.  I answered myself with no let's wait til the kids are off to school so I put on my sweats  and peak out the window much to my surprise Voila!! a mega storm.  Ah No!! I am not ready for this kind of weather running.  Not gonna do it.  It wouldn't be prudent.  (Dana Carvey acting out George Bush).  Anyway..... I wait for a change in the weather pattern.  I may have to drag my husband to the PG Recreation Center and do a treadmill run.

So we made it to the Rec Center.  The weather was on and off flurries to big flakes... so forget outside running.  The treadmill speedwork was now on schedule cause if I am going to pay money to use it, it better be a good workout.  My husband ran the track for 50 cents while I paid the big $3 for the treadmill and darn it I forgot my ear phones.  Makes for a very dragged out focus on something to get me thru kind of workout.  Yuck!!    I ran a modified Allie workout.  She is way too in shape for me.  Wish I had a young bod.  It was 1x400 (6 min/mi), 1x 800 (6:18), 1 x 1600 (6:40), 1x 1600 (6:40), 1 x 800 (6:27) 1 x 400 (6:00).  All with 2 minute recovery at 8:45 to 9 minute pace.  First warmed up with 18 minutes at 845 pace then cooled down with 7 minutes of gradually taking the pace down from 9 minutes.  Glad that's over mainly because of the cleaners around me.  The fresh air outside felt awesome!!  Hope I don't get a headache later.  I usually do in this situation.  But I am hoping to be doing better these days. 

Took my hubby out on a run.  How long he asked?  I said maybe 7, 8, or 9.  I logged it in the course tool (the run I visualized) and it came in just at 9 (redone more accurately after the run, 9.2).  Sorry hun. First mile slow and easy trying to warm up in this COLD weather (9:35). After that while going uphill, Troy's knee was bugging him and his chest from the kick to it in a soccer game four weeks ago.  So he kept telling me to slow down. We were probably at 8:45 to 9 in the middle.  I felt great so I was glad that he thought I was pushing him so I slowed for him.  I didn't want to leave him stranded.  But his advil kicked in the last three miles so he started pushing the pace.  We ran 7:37 our last mile (I have the mile marks to my home in all directions that lead to it).  The  1/2 mile before that I clocked us at 8:32 pace (my 800 road).  So average pace for total run (which route I loved!  up and around a park in Highland that is like abandoned by Lone Peak High School after passing the Tri City Golf Course- long up hill- like three and half miles).  Awesome.  Just felt great.  Besides the burning headache I had ALL night the cold weather kind of puts it in remission while I run.  Endorphins help too.  But it is still here as I type.  Burning down my neck and spine and my right eye twitch is back.  It is my lot I guess.  I try to find a cure but most days I say to myself just another marathon to get through.  You can do it.  Some times this mantra gets old and I lose my positive attitude.  So I am glad running can keep me in check most days.  Average Pace: 8:55.

Easy run to and around Elementary school for three miles, stopped at school and helped in my daughter's second grade class.  Ran to home (another mile).  Total miles:4.4 in 38:19.  Average pace:  8:42.  Lovely easy run.  Gear up for 14 tomorrow. 

Left at 630 am up since 2am on and off, mostly on.  Didn't feel tired either.  Felt like we pushed it yet the course tool says I ran only 13.7 in 1:59:45 (8:44 pace).  Last mile was even 7:51 and the pace checker half mile pace was 8:06.  Does anyone know how accurate the course tool is?  My butt didn't warm up the whole run but at least we all (Kim, Jane and I) wore black so the tiny bit of sun we did get near the end began to show some promise on our frozen bodies.  Glad its over.  BRRRrrrrrrr!!!!!!!  Now to get ready for two girls indoor soccer games and a BYU football game.  

My 5K.  First mile at 7:17 relaxed pace.  Second mile just slowed a bit (8:30.  It was raining and I was soaked and I had a "deja vu" feeling.  Like didn't I just run 26.2 miles in this exact weather?  Third mile started to pick it up and last 1/2 mile pushed it hard to make the average at 7:24.  5K time 22:55.   Not bad for not going too fast until the end.  I was drenched at the end and then just did a .6 mile loop for cool down.

Ran up 1100 North to canal in just under 16 minutes (best 15:39).  But wasn't trying to beat it.  But ran strong remainder of miles to get pace quicker each mile.  Last mile 6:30.  Mile before 7:08.  Total average pace:  7:39.  Ran at 7am.  Working first night shift as a nurse at AFH in a long time.  Used to work NICU for 16 years and worked days 6am to 6pm forever.  So this was tough for me the last two hours especially waiting to go back to sleep until I got my kids off to school at 9am.  Luckily next shift I work Troy will be home in the morning so I can sleep.  Having headaches after acupuncture still  so wonder if I will ever find a cure.  Get worse if I breath in fragrances (artificial, perfumes etc...).  Darn it.  Wish I was "normal".

This is supposed to be yesterdays entry that I wrote so really today I ran the 7 miles and on Tuesday I ran all over town doing errands (in my car) so doesn't count. 

Woke after only four hours of sleep and a night shift from 6pm to 6am at 2 in the afternoon.  Kind of like the dreadful third leg in wasatch back relay feeling kind of run .  Ran a decent wake up pace (first mile wondering where my body was in relation to my brain) after a mile or so.  The pace was fairly decent considering my need for normal sleep.  Pace: 8:39.

Major nerve pain headaches past few days.  Bordering on incapatible with a functional life.  Like how bad can they get without killing me?  Anyway....  Ran with husband felt good out in the fresh air and felt okay to pick up the pace.  Surprised by the course tool we had run 5.8 miles in 48:30.  That's an 8:22 pace.  Not sure how long I will keep up the better running as the health is declining from working nights again.  Something is up...like something isn't being checked on me here.  I am a nurse without a for sure diagnosis.  The nerve pain was in my left face to the side of my head to the base of my skull to my shoulder and blades somewhat going to my arm and hand.  It has subsided a bit but suddenly it will strike again, kind of like trigeminal neuralgia but persistent and not as intense.  My ear feels under water when this happens but my friend in audiology checked for me.  No fluid there.  "normal", so obviously neurological.  It goes in a pattern after it is in my right side of my head and down my neck and spine burning like the dickens.  My mom still thinks I may have MS because that is how her dad felt with it.  So far no plaques on MRIs so I think it is environmental cause perfumes and strong smells trigger it until I get way fatigued.  Sometimes it attacks my legs (no headache at this time, yay) but then my legs throb in constant nerve pain mostly in my thighs and feet and I just have to sit down.  It is no fun and I am finding I got to be strong so perhaps this trial could be overcome and I can be cured.  Sorry about pouring out my feelings today it has just been one of the worse "attacks" in a while.  My thinking also gets confusing and I get very forgetful.  Any advice please feel free.  Any known cures come on over and heal me.  IN the meantime I fight to live with strength and run with hope. 

I guess I post this run under fast miles.  Must be the weight loss and stress/anxiety helping to run faster without feeling like I was running faster.  Part of my plan I posted a bit ago (to improve to where running faster felt easier, meaning my baseline easy running pace would be quicker).  The nerve pains are great in the neck/tmj/ back and shoulders but running improves the pain (thank you endorphins).  I was amazed my first mile pace was 8:01 and my last mile was 7:14.  Avg pace for 4.7 was 7:51 (used zoomed in course tool to be exact as possible on mileage).  

Can't remember exact mileage or route as I am writing this on Sat the 22nd of Nov.  I just know I ran.  Probably at a quick pace but also probably longer I just can't remember right now.  Brain cells dying being up all night.

Ran next to five year old daughter my 5k.  Needed an easy run being tired from being up all night as a nurse at AFH.  New job.  Nice and easy pace of 9:15. 

Pace 7:44 at 2 in the afternoon after sleeping 3 hours and working the ENTIRE night (12 hour plus shift).  Was in a fog like state so was surprised at my pace.  Stress/Adrenaline phenomena I suppose.

5.2 miles in 39:46.  Felt easy again.  A little too much adrenaline working 12 hour night shifts now and sleeping only 3 hours when I get home.  Afternoon runs nice in the cool sun.  Pace swift but oddly comfortable 7:38.  1st mile 8 last mile 6:53.  YaY!!!

Adrenaline still in high gear.  Hope to do a Turkey Trot this Thursday but have two night shifts in front of me (12 hour shifts) so who knows how my head and body will feel.  Felt strong the almost the entire time during this run. My iPod kept me going though at the end.  Feeling very tired in the head like I did before the SGM without sleep when I ran out of fuel the last two miles.  I got to re-learn how to fall asleep.  I love that feeling when you doze off in to a deep sleep but haven't been there in a while, hence my fast pace with all this pented up adrenaline.  It couldn't be that I am just getting faster?  I am almost forty.  I have lost 18 pounds since May.  Maybe my body likes this smaller me.  It has been five  and 1/2 years since I weighed this (after post partum depression with my third baby born Dec. 2002).  Okay so I ran the 10.2 in 1:21:51.  Avg pace: 8:02.  First mile 8:04. Last mile 7:29.  Some really good uphill by the Tri City golf course and Cedar Hills Drive.  Good down hill at the end. Phew!!!

Easy run, but brain is EXTREMELY fatigued.  Only slept two to three hours after night shift.  Couldn't go in for second night shift.  Slept only four hours last night.  What the heck?  Reading up on melatonin and from what I can tell I am lacking greatly in it due to night shift work and stress.  So I need to buy some supplements.   I have been grumpy.  So this is not good.  I couldn't wait for the run to be over.  Just trying to go easy and not fatigued myself more.  4 miles in 35 minutes.  So 8:45 pace.  Not thinking I should do a Turkey Trot.  I have two hours to decide. 

5K starting at Fleet Feet in American Fork (by the Walmart) that looped around Target and the Movie Theatres then the backside of Walmart/Home Depot then the front side.  Not fully knowing the course (but well marked as to which way to go, and saw the two mile mark on the ground) I think I could have run faster just was timid at first and then managed to come in after a bandit girl (she missed registration) so apparently I was first.  I kept an even pace for the first two miles then passed the girls that passed me but was always somewhere between 1st and third not including the bandit.  I was very tired in the head due to lack of sleep STILL but felt strong during the run.  Can't wait to figure out this sleep thing.  Bought some melatonin to try to regulate my sleep.  Got another 12 hour night shift tomorrow night.  Yahoo!!!  At least I had the last two nights off.  Overall pretty happy I won a Turkey and came in 1st overall.  Wouldn't have been this way at Orem though.  Hope all you Orem runners had fun too!!!

7 miles in 7:48 pace.  Not bad after three days off due to not caught up on sleep after a 12 hour night shift on Friday.  Didn't get to sleep until Saturday night.  So I missed out on my usual Saturday run.  Some adjustments with being back to work full time.  Thighs sore from race Thursday.  Feel good right now though.  Headaches better last few days (knock on wood).  No major exposure.  I wear nose plugs these days and it works when in areas of perfume.  Darn Trigeminal nerve.  If my nose is plugged well I don't get a headache.  Amazing. Was suppose to sign up for the 50 miler today but now with working nights How do I Train?  I better sign up soon. It is probably closed, I just remembered I was supposed to do it today but due to work I didn't write it down.  Anyone signing up? 

Christmas light run.  Just felt like finally getting out there and that was at 7 pm tonite.  Very scenic with all the lights.  Highly recommended.  Ran the first 3.3 in 8:04 pace.  Then a little half mile cool down at 9:04 pace.  Used course tool for mileage.  Able to get more exact with the course tool when I zoom in.  Didn't realize this before so liking the course tool more.  Even after harsh winds weather felt warmer than usual.  I am glad I got my run in.  Hope to tomorrow before two twelve hour night shifts Wednesday and Thursday.  (sleep would be helpful too).  Goodnight!!!

10.2 miles.  First mile 8:15.  Last mile 7:29.  Decided to slow it down since I work tonite.  Avg pace: 8:17.  2 1/2 minutes slower than last week but was intentional. Didn't want tired legs tonite.  Taking tomorrow off to try to sleep before the next shift and piano recitals. 

Worked last night so slept during day until 2pm.  Went running at 3pm (nice to see sunlight).  Ran a two mile loop then remembered to pick up daughter and friend from school just in time then ran another two mile loop (different route) Took it real easy as plan on running long tomorrow (12 or so) morning.  Avg pace:8:59.

Ran with Kim to just north of her road then over and down to manila Elem west up hill and over to 1100 north to the canal road.  Followed canal to Lone Peak High School then turned south to Mt. Timp Temple then turned right on 700 north in American Fork to 300 East AF then left to 200 North AF which turns into 1800 north in PG then home down 1300 west where Kim and I parted for 1/2 mile.  Chatted the whole time.  Glad we thawed out after the first mile and 1/2.  Kept mind off cold to chat a lot.   Pace decent but muscles chilly so no real force of pace just easy for all of 12 miles.  Avg pace: 8:49.  Busy running week so good to take it easy on my second long run.  Two night shifts tired me out a bit.  Should catch up on sleep tonite.  Get to do day shifts this next week.  Yahoo!!!

Adrenaline running out.  Felt fatigued during run and before.  Felt a bit better after two miles.  Avg. pace 8:48

Just didn't have time to run with dentist appts and piano and sheet washing.  I just didn't make time as time was running out.  Considered a night run but talked myself out of that too quickly.

Worked dayshift from 6am until 645pm.  Sooooooo I just didn't run since I "ran" all day.  I am running tomorrow.

Met with Kim at 1045am.  She had to push her little boy.  He cried sadly for about 5 miles despite a lolipop and attempts to sing (while running) for him. We ran faster near the end it was quite to up hill course with some down too.  With the course tool it came out to 7.85 miles.  Avg pace 8:30.  I was tired from the start but felt good midway thru then fatigued again by the end.  Last mile 7:38.  I guess our uphill with the stroller put our pace slower.  I offered to push for a bit so my shoulders are burning.  I use to do the stroller thing now my babies are grown.  At least I got a decent run in with decent weather.

Got out early when thought about going later then realized the forcast.  Calm before storm best time to go.  Pressed for time as part of activity group for our ward and Christmas Breakfast soon.  So I ran comfortably hard up 1100 North had a "Rocky" moment at the top swung around the pear tree line and back down at a swift yet far from all out run down hill.   (pace here about 7-7:20) depending on grade.  Avg pace 8:38 as the steep climp I was at 9:40 pace.  Didn't feel the need to run it hard so took it nice and "easy".  Wish I had more time because I really felt like I could do another five or so.  Off to the breakfast, busy busy day happening. 

Ran with Brenda up 1100 north to discovery park to farm rd to my 800 run.  Thought it would be real cold but surprisingly comfortable.  Enjoyed my first run with Brenda.  She is just getting back into running after kids etc... Avg pace: 9:30.  The calm before the storm... like Saturday am run before the cold winds.

Am I the only one that went out in the snow today? Call me nuts but I LOVE to run went it is snowing.  The drivers out there are another story.  I just move from one lane to the next to give me all the room in the world away from passing cars.  It is a system I have of conquering the scary drivers who still try to text and talk on their cell phones just after pulling out in the white stuff.  Wow they are talented.  Hope they don't hit a crazy runner.  Amazed I was even able to go at an average pace of 8:56.  Slick roads, couldn't push the pace EVER.   Cause when you do, SLIP.  I slipped about three to four times  (just the feet)  and one big slip on a downhill.  Good old left knee took the hit again.  Ran it out and convinced my knee it was Okay to keep going. So I continued on another four miles.  This definitely is an adrenaline rush run with the dodging of cars and careful footing.  I need to take the advice in the Runners World and screw in some screws in the bottom of my sneakers for traction.  My 80s music really kept me going!!!  Time to go Skiing. 

Treadmill time.... to slippery and snowy outside. Called Brenda and she was nice to let me use her treadmill since I work tonite and won't plan on running tomorrow like yesterday after Tuesdays night shift. Fun treadmill. It had a bounce to it that made it easier on my joints. Left knee and IT band acting up due to fall on Tuesday. Hope it doesn't last long. Pace avg. 8:45. Last mile 7:30. Also did five minute cool down. Ran just after lunch so felt winded with the food in there. C'est la vie.

Running in a Winter Wonder Land... in the Winter you can ....So Pleasant Grove, and Cedar Hills needs some help with the plowing and the shoveling.  But I did manage 10 miles in this terrain (three with my down-hearted husband who headed home to make just under 5) I felt the need for a loong run since I work the next three night shifts in a row.  Yeah that's right, down right not good for runnig.  Avg pace 8:57.  Was at a slow pace with my exhausted hubby but made it up in the next 7. 

Ran on Kim's treadmill after only sleeping four hours after my night shift. A little wobbly at first due to tiredness but woke my body up after mile one. Kept picking up the pace even got to 6:11-6:20 for several minutes but mainly ran at 7:00 to 8:00 pace. Felt good. Kept it at a 1%incline. Cooled down over 7 minutes. Ran 7 miles. Avg pace with warmup/cool down 8:08.

Ran in the Winter Wonder Land.  Slick snow blocks for roads but did okay in spots.  Course tool reads 4.84.  Pace 8:40.  Two dogs came up behind one with a loud growl but lucky he deterred.  I thought I might miss a butt cheek, phew.  That happened to my friend and since hearing that I am more paranoid.  She had stitches where no one would want them.  Ouch!!!!Happy Holidays (and Running, of course!!).

Okay so I wasn't the only NUT out there in the sub-zero temps (with the wind chill in Cedar Hills).  I actually saw one guy by himself (he went straight as I turned right just seconds before I would have passed him).  My racer spirit lost out as I decided to keep to my task of completing a 10 miler for some obsessive reason.  I was competing against the elements. I had some gross nausea the last few days as my littlest daughter (5) threw up the last few mornings to add to my weakness.  So on I went on my windchill and icy road run (no melted ice along the way for reprieve) thru the neighborhoods of Cedar Hills.   NO sun until Alpine highway down thru Tri City Golf Course when suddenly Ahhhhhhh NO wind and some Sun shine melting areas of the road to a nice slush that sticks to your shoes and makes for careful footing as I again meet the ice patches (about 90 percent of the run)  Using the course tool I ran over my goal at 11.4 miles.  Average pace: 9:07.  I think with all the intense conditions I did pretty well.  Glad again for 80s music and my iPod.  Oh and glad all the "in shock" drivers had their cell phones out of site and their eyes on the road (and me).  I am sure I got points for being a definite NUT today.

Got out again but this time at 11am with the sun shining (at least).  It felt better as there was really no wind.  Went 4 with Troy then went out for two more.  Course tool put  me at 5.91 miles.  Probably 6 with all the weaving in the streets to avoid major slippage.  But got to write it this way so I can work harder.  Avg pace with Troy 9:01.  First mile 9:23, last mile 8:31.  Pace on my own (icier route) 8:47.  Sun decided to hide on me so I flaked on my goal for 30 miles this week (which goal I made while running today, so I am not too disappointed).  Anyway glad still hanging tight with the outdoor runs.  I do not like treadmills.  If I had a treadmill it would need to be out in the woods.  Really.  You just can't beat the outdoors. 

My baby's birthday.  She turns 6.  Had a party from 3-530 with 6 of her friends.  We went to jump on it, ate cake and found the hidden presents (and of course opened them).  I worked the night before so getting only four hours of sleep was a bummer.  But Happy Birthday AMBER!!!!

Ran up 1100 North.  Quickest time so far in 22:20.  Not the quickest down by about 30 seconds due to the icy roads near my home.  1100 North was pretty good.  The hill is quite the incline.  Anyone know how to figure out grades?  meaning the slope of a hill?  1100 is quite a work out.  2.5 miles uphill and very steep in parts.  So my heart and lungs deserved the "Rocky Moment" at the top.  Or is it Rockie?  I don't remember.  Pace on the way up after first mile at 8:40 was 9:06.  Did the resting .2 loop (some lovely flat area up top that goes around a line of flowering pear trees.  Then picked it up down the hill to a 7:12 pace avg.   Had to slow down a bit near my home due uncleared roads.  But nonetheless quite a work out .  Did a cool down run of .45 miles around my home.  Avg pace for 5.2 miles 8:10.  Cool down nice and easy.  Have to work tonite again which messes with my muscles and brain.  C'est la vie.

Ran a route up to cedar hills minus wind. Went after incredibly long shift at work.  Many babies being born to beat the new year.  Didn't get a break for lunch and could only sleep three hours with my kids at home.  Slept another hour when I kicked them out to friends.  Then decided to get my last 2008 run in. So I did a nice hilly route to cedar ridge elem and through their snowy path (kind of fun).  Roads are much more clear.  Beware of black ice though.  I try to stay on snow pack to avoid it.  Ran an 8:42 pace for 7.6 miles.  Slower on the up hill (9:22) so obviously around 8 to 820 on the downhill. Did .5 mile cool down.  Body felt fine, head had lack of sleep feeling.  Hope to make it to midnight playing games then setting off fireworks.  It will be tough.  Happy New Year All you fun running friends.  Make sure to run tomorrow and ENJOY!!!