Work will win when wishy washy wishing won't

I have a friend who may join in on some of my workouts in the week, so I told her I would post my weekly schedule on my Sunday blogs.  This week starts the first week of my 24 week marathon training.  Can you believe it is only 24 weeks to the SGM?  I hope I get in!  But if I don't, I plan to run the Top of Utah marathon in September.  So either way, I'm officially training for a marathon!

 Monday - Friday:  5 - 6 miles each day.

Saturday: 7 - 10 miles. 

All miles this week will be between 9:30 and 10:30 pace.  There will be some hill and strider workouts mixed in. 

Day one of the official marathon training.  Up and at 'em and got 'er done!  Six miles in the mild morning with Coach Tom.  We did what we will refer to as some "Dork Drills"  with the last mile. One of the drills is to run for 20 seconds with our arms out in front of us in a nice ballet form.  The other one is to hop on one foot for 20 hops and then the other one.  These are part of our plan we are following from the book "Brain Training for Runners".   (Can you see why we are calling them "Dork Drills"?)

Just thought I'd mention the chickens we saw crossing the road in front of us during Saturday's run.  As we watched them cross we realized that they really DO just cross the road to get to the other side.   So next time that question is asked, you know!

Tom and I headed away from the wind to start out this morning.  We went down to the river bottoms from Bishop's Storehouse.  We did 2 thirty second hill repeats at "relaxed sprint" pace, (an oxymoron there!) in mile 3 or 4.  Kept it at a very easy pace for everything else.  Not much excitement, but a very enjoyable morning.  We did see a freshly dead raccoon and a bat that was struggling on the road flipping around.  I HATE BATS!  There was a noisy rooster and a grunting cow.  Other than that, pretty uneventful.

I could feel Tom awake a little earlier than I prefer to wake up, but since we were now both awake we decided to get going on the day.  We were welcomed outside by our lovely friend who is the new W.   Instead of WOW, (warriors of winter) we are back to WOW, (warriors of WIND)!  We figure Mother Nature is just helping us get tougher by adding a good dose of resistance to part of our run!  

Are there any American Idol fans out there?  Tonight I think it is the end of the line for Jason or Brooke.  I hope Brooke gets at least one more chance.  I'm OK if dreadlocks goes home.  It better come down to both of the Davids as #1 and #2.  They both deserve to win.

Also, for any Biggest Loser fans.  While we were at Disneyland we saw Mark.  He looked great.  It's amazing what all of those people were able to accomplish! 

Just in case you think I watch every reality show on TV, I don't.  I watch Am. Idol mostly.  Biggest Loser a bit and none of the others!  I also love to watch the Jazz!  Especially now that it's playoffs! 

I hope you all have a good day today.  And I hope it rains a bit for us.  April showers bring May flowers.  I'm tired of snow, but I love springtime rain!

Rainy and windy to start out.   Ended up OK.  Tired and ornery to start out.  Ended up OK.

Two 30 second striders for the drills today.  Tom put in 6 miles in the yucky weather before coming back for me.  Not another soul to be seen out walking, running or riding bikes.  

Our girls start their official presentations of the play they have been working on all year with their theater class.  I'm sad I can't see opening night because I have to speak at a Stake Leadership meeting.  I wonder what I am going to say at it?  Haven't done a lot of prep on this one.  I may find myself in a very awkward situation.  I guess I will probably learn something from it though.  Oh well, I'm sure whatever happens the sun will still rise in the morning.   

I haven't had to run by myself for a while.  Tom has worked it so he can do my runs with me most of the time.  Today we had the chance to sleep in a bit, (which we needed after that heartbreaking loss to Houston last night), so I ran solo in the sun.  My garmin messed up and told me I was going 26:30 for my first mile.  I do believe I was going a little faster than that.  So I reset the garmin for the last 4 miles which said I had an 8:55 average pace.  

Tom and I headed west to do the Leland loop this morning.  Came up through the ballpark trails and through the river bottoms.  It was a very nice morning here in our neck of the woods.  We were able to wear shorts and long sleeve shirts.  Didn't need the under armor.  That feels good.  Starting out was just a bit nippy, but not bad at all.  My kneecaps and ears were the coldest, but running seems to warm things right up and it was about perfect.  I would guess the temps to be in the mid 30s.  Tom continued on for about 7 more without me.