Patience; the new endurance sport.

got stuck at sundance for 2 days.  they didn't let anyone in or out.  they opened the lift for 3 hours on thrusday and we got the whole mountain (after 4 feet of fresh powder) to ourselves.  It brings tears to my eyes just to remember it.  One of the greatest things that has happened to me in my whole life.  Me, my sister and our kids skiing our hearts out --the mountain to ourselves-- for a whole afternoon.  No words to describe my joy.

I have to report how moderate running (3-6 miles instead of 6-8 miles a day) has given me my life back.  I have kicked anemia, I have a handle on the exhaustion, I am running 10 m/m again with ease; and on top of it for the first time in 3 years I am skiing without getting tired half way through a tough hill, out of breath or having my legs/quads shaky ready to collapse.  I have been skiing like a champ and have been able to handle some pretty heavy choppy snow with ease I have not felt in years.  I can only attribute my new strength and energy level to my reduced running schedule.  I have felt really great now for about 3-4 weeks.  I do believe that backing off and eating everything in sight for these past few months since Park City Marathon has helped me regain strength, focus, energy, and general health.  I'm fat, but I'm strong again and thrilled to feel so much energy skiing.  Even just jogging my measly 4 miles is a joy instead of the energy sucking burden it was just months ago.  Just sayin for anyone suffering exhaustion due to over-running.  I didn't think I was doing that much running, but I guess I wasn't ready for last summer's marathon of marathons.  

The ground is still deathly frozen and the air quality too bad to try and run on the road. So I watched Good Hair on the TM.  In the same way I could never have a boob operation, wear stilettos to work, or sport acrylic nails, I could never maintain straight hair. I would shave my head or wear a fro...I can not even shave my legs with any regularity.  I would also advocate beards for men out of sheer laziness.  Up with nature! Big, fat, hairy nature.  After running I did 500 sit ups, 50 push ups on the floor while the dogs took turns trying to lick my face. It was maddening.  Outside there were little snow flakes flying around in the air and I temorarily lost conciousness while I thought about last Thursday.

first half of Inception

2nd half of inception

I don't mind the movie watching treadmill running.  Although I should be more worried about getting in shape for the National Marathon in March.  Whatever.  I'm more interested in Utah Valley and if by March am feeling strong, would like to try and qualify for Boston again.  Today, I've been spending my time looking at the sunshine feeling as if I  may die if I don't get up the mountain  soon. Maybe tomorrow I'll go up with Haily.  I don't love Saturdays, but why miss a chance for some girlfriend chatting.

Ran outside for the first time in a while.  It's hard with the block solid ice frozen onto the sides of the roads and sidewalks.  It was clear once I got down to the bike trail--but the mouth of the canyon is about 10 degrees colder than the rest of the trail.  I'm skiing with friends this weekend and am excited to get out above it.  They say it's going to be 4 degrees on Tuesday.  4? 

Catherine left me a message yesterday and said she had exciting news!  She's either pregnant or she's moving back. Those are my predictions.  I'd hope more for the latter, than the former because I'm selfish and old.  I'll call her back today to see what she's up to.  Going skiing tomorrow w/M.  The say it's going to be between 4-7 degrees.  Seriously?  That should be pretty interesting up on the mountain. A real calorie burner :) Maybe we'll bump into Thayne.  Today's run was brought to you by Super Size Me and a 3.0% incline (10 m/m ap).

Worked a few hours and then got to do ski therapy with Michelle.  The snow was actually pretty darn good.  This quick run was made possible by an episode of Nip/Tuck.  I wish they'd make everyone watch this show.  I mean, if they make women who want abortions watch movies about what they are doing to a baby, they should make everyone interested in externalizing the internal hatred they feel about themselves through plastic surgery to at least watch the surgery they think they want to have, to see what they are actually doing to their bodies.  I dry heaved three times in a half an hour.  They should have never taken that show off the air.  10 m/m  a/p 3.0 incline

Yay!  Cath is coming back by May 1, and she's even going to live pretty close by.  I am so excited!  Double Yay!

For some reason I was euphoric today running with a perma-smile down the road at lunch.   Some guy honked and waved.  I couldn't see who it was. I have been feeling great since I cut a large bit of emotional cancer out of my life that was a long time coming. I thought I had done it a long time ago, but it required a final round of chemo.  Also, the little bit of sunshine at lunchtime glared off the snow, felt warm and made me remeber how gorgeous winter snow can be in the sun. I am waiting anxioulsy for the next big storm.  I've been having so much fun skiing with friends this year.  Also, the sub 20's let go and I was able to get some significant ice off the front porch. I know winter can be dreary, but I feel like I have it beat when I can play in the snow and run on the road, and get my face in the sun when it shows up. 9:13 ap

Cath, secretly reading my blog and never commenting in public realizes I am not doing my mileage, and am skiing every day instead......so she sent me a text last night, telling me that she had just finished her 15 miler, a suble reminder of where we are supposed to be on our Hal Higdon marathon training schedule for the DC Marathon in March.  Whoops.  So out of total guilt, I got on my treadmill and pounded out 10 miles before morning while watching The Fugitive.  Makers of action movies ought to have runners on treadmills tell them where their editing lacks pizazz, cause no one can tell you the movie got a little slow in the middle like a person on a treadmill who has to run 15 miles.  I know the TM isn't best to train, but I am hoping the DC Marathon is more a visit to my sister's house and a way to visit Cath for 5 hours while walk/jogging the monuments around town.  By the way, I am so psyched because my BIL has been at my hosue all week buyin a repo'd cabin at Sundance.....it belonged to a really good friend of mine's parents....oops.  I don't know how long that will take to get around.  Maybe they won't notice it was my sister.....But MAN, it is a great piece of real estate.  I am so excited to have her here (at least on holidays). 

Celebrating racial justice in the whitest way I know how, skiing with my friend Linda.  To make up for it, I posted part of MLK's I have a dream speech on the FB page's of all my racist aunts and uncles--who all think MLK days shouldn't be a holiday. I had to remind them just yesterday that my children's best friends are black when they launched into their Michelle Obama jokes. 

I am feeling so much stronger.  Ran 9:13's with no sweat.  I did sweat, I mean, it wasn't hard. 

Sitting at my desk at 11:00 a.m., wondering about the success of the passing storm I casually checked the snow report and saw it snowed 26 inches at Sundance.  I coughed twice while walking backwards out the door mumbling vague excuses, and  then drove as fast as I could toward the montain.  Once there, I was practically alone, except a handful of vagrant snowboarders....Besides the sketchy weather, the place was buckeling down for the film festival.  I took a hard, agressive push on the first run and realized that snow was only about 4 inches powder on top of rocky ice from the frozen rain just days before.  I skiied hard until I hit a bad block of ice going really fast, tumbled forward onto my shoulder, and then slid down a really steep mountain upside down on my back.  I spent 30 seconds looking at the sky behind my skis which were up in the air behind me as I hit the tops of a hill full of frozen moguls.  I went back to work by 2:00 and felt depressed about global warming.  I re-read the National Weather Service report and saw what I had sadly missed hours before.  I read snowfall: 2-6 inches.  I missed the hyphen. That's what I get for wishful thinking.

Sort of freaked out that I've really got to get myself in gear for DC.  I've increased my daily mileage and have one 10 miler somewhat under my belt.  I spent the rest of my afternoon teaching 11 years olds to ski.  Although it was icy groomer the whole day, it was deliriously sunny.  Nothing lifts your spirits better than an afternoon with 6th graders skiing through the magical forest and practicing 'french fries' in the bright winter sunshine.

I wasn't intending to do my long run today--especially on the treadmill.  I planned to run 15 tomorrow, but I was watching Salt and got carried away.  Forget Nancy Drew, every young girl needs Evelyn Salt.  I had to stop a couple of times during my run because I got 4 really great writing ideas and had to jot them down before I forgot.  Salt really inspired the badd  A in me.  I was on fire.  It's nice anyway to get the long run out of the way today since I have a futsal and a baskeball doubleheader again tomorrow and my sister is showing up to outfit her new house at Sundance.  I'll be nice to have the extra time and energy to do funner things than run this weekend.  Also, it wouldn't be smart to try and push two long runs in the same week when I haven't done any solid running.  I'm getting there.  If I can just be in shape by the time I hit DC I'll be ok.  I just want to keep it in the bank for UVM. 

Closest to 40 miles since August, and I'm doing ok.

Rita Hayworth in Gilda. It's amazing how tawdry those old 40's film are.  We think things have really gone down hill in 'modern times'. 

Mortal Kombat

Catch 22

I'm starting to worry about how much I run on the treadmill vs. the ground anymore. I only get out every ocassionally. Since today was sunny and mild, I chose to go outside.  But I am currently addicted to my pre-dawn old movie treadmill festivals.  It's no way to train for a marathon.

Ran the first 4 with Jos. It's good to be on the ground and with company. There were lots of runners out. The thaw makes everyone come out of hibernation, also anyone training for an April (like Salt Lake City) Marathon is out. After Jos left, I ran back up and down the canyon to get another 8.  I'm not going to lie, that last mile was painful. The difference between the ground and the treadmill is, well, it's just plain harder.  Also, the air hurt my lungs. Came home, ran another 3 on the treadmill. I ran the first 12 miles 9:40 ap then the last 3 were all 11's.  Getting to 17-20 miles is the hardest part.  It's been a while since I was up into those miles and  while your brain remembers how it used to be, you hamstrings do not.

Here's a tip.  You know for sure when you need a new running bra when your boobs fall out the bottom.  It's so ironic becasue most of my life I've spent spilling over the top. My, how time and elastic fail you.  Also, don't be lazy like me and put your running bras in the dryer.  Let this be a lesson to you.