Running in the Rockies

After 4 days of not running, it was hard to drag my sorry bum out the door this afternoon. But the temperature had warmed up to 32 (from -6 this morning) and the sun was shining and no wind ... I had no good excuse. I took the same route as Thursday, but my pace was faster and I felt better.

I've been doing a lot of research on treadmills lately as I curse the cold and the snow. But I still haven't come to a great solution. Do I spend a couple hundred dollars for a machine that moves but might die in a year, or over a thousand for a machine that might not need repairs for 4-5 years? I want to run outside most of the time, so the treadmill will be a backup ... but if it's loud or a lemon, I might resent it. What a ridiculous dilemma! I've also wondered if a gym membership with baby-sitting is better than an expensive treadmill - but in the long run, it's actually a lot more expensive. Ugh. We need to decide sometime very soon because I missed my minimum requirement of running 4 days last week.

I took a totally different route today - a loop which started out downhill, had a lot of flat ground in the middle and ended with my mammoth hill. It was tough to end on a steep hill - and I'm sure that I looked ridiculous going 14:00 pace and huffing and puffing - but I made it! My legs felt good today and I was surprised that my pace was steady during the long, flat stretch. I'm so used to hills that I assume I can never keep a consistent pace. ;o) This evening, my right knee is acting "out" but my legs don't ache like the did last week. Maybe I'm finally getting used to a longer run? I don't know. I need to set my sights for my next race! ...

I actually had uninterrupted sleep last night!!! Audrey slept through the night. Although since I'm still nursing, it wasn't as peaceful as it could have been. But hey, I'll take it!

My run was the same loop as yesterday, but mile 2 was really hard. My legs were aching so bad that I almost turned around or starting walking. But habit is starting to win out over my wimpiness and I just kept going -- the pain and tightness finally eased up toward the end. Even my hill at the end wasn't as bad as mile 2 today - and mile 2 is FLAT!

Has anyone seen the movie Bleak House? It's based on a novel by Charles Dickens. It's very interesting, but it's LONG!!! It's 8 hours long, so we keep having to watch it a few hours at a time. We've still only watched a little over 4 hours. I can't believe we're only half way. Anyway, if you have absolutely nothing to do one day, it's pretty good!

It was actually 50 degrees today and I didn't get out to run in it!!! I couldn't believe it! It was extremely windy (in fact, last night was freaky with the gusty winds) but that wasn't the reason I didn't run. I just kept having places I needed to be in the morning and then I was soooo tired after lunch and was about to take a nap when my sister-in-law and her 3 children came to visit. This evening, we had a ward potluck and while we were there, I asked my friend if she would mind if I came and used the exercise equipment at her apartment complex after dinner. She's offered before, but we've never been able to make it work. So, even though it was 50 degrees today, I actually ran on a treadmill! LOL How ironic. It was very interesting to be on a treadmill. The urge to walk was stronger and the miles dragged by - especially mile 2. The last 2 probably felt the fastest because I found a groove. But, wow, did I sweat a lot more! ;o)

I think I definitely want a treadmill. It's nice to just run after the girls are all in bed. They all go down at 7:30, so it's easy to fit a run in before it gets late. But I don't feel safe running in the dark. I certainly don't want to run on a treadmill regularly, but it has it's advantages! I think I also feel better today because I went to the chiropractor yesterday. He said my right leg was a full inch shorter because I was so out of whack. It actually felt weird after being adjusted because I had gotten so used to being "out."

So while I was running and my friend was on the elliptical, she asked me if I run to get fit or to lose weight. I had to smile, because to be honest ... I RUN TO BLOG!! That should be my new motto because it's surprisingly true. I love having a log that I have to own up to; and having it public makes it even more motivating to me! I love all of you!!!!

(PR for weekly mileage - small triumph!)