Patience; the new endurance sport.

It was actually hot to run during lunch today. Everyone in DC on Saturday was complaining about how cold it was there, I absolutely prefer to run in the refridgerator than the oven. So today when it was so hot outside, so suddenly warm after so many weeks of the 40's, I was shocked. I took a water bottle and was glad I did, I drank all of it. My Garmin wrist band broke right at the finish line at the DC Marathon and so I have no idea the pace, only the mileage because it's a regular route.

Was going to run with my friend Shawna, but she had company fly in unexpectedly for the weekend so she rainchecked till next Sat.  Luckily Jos was taking the dog up to the Bonneville shoreline trail and let me and my dogs tag along.  I waaay overdressed.  Because of the cold temps last week in DC, plus it snowed 19 inches at Sundance, plus all week long I was freezing....I thought it would be windy up top.  I should have known.  I night skiied with the kids last night and it was positively balmy.  Got to the mountain top with long tights and a long sleeve shirt, gloves, etc.... and I swear it was sunny and 70 degrees by 7:30 a.m. like summer. We met up with Karen who was running up the other side of the hogsback, and then we turned around.  I don't know if it's because I lived at Sundance all week (owing to the fact it was closing this weekend) or if it was the trail running, or if I'm fatigued from the marathon and travel last week or what, but I am more sore today than I was after the marathon.  That trail running was rough on my hamstrings. I am going to have to turn up the running to get over skiing.  I always get really bummed when the season ends.  But there is spring to look forward to.

I am sore  and achy !  I don't know if it was the trail running on Saturday or the 3 day skiing marathon at Sundance.  I took full advantaqge of those new weekend inches, and I have no regrets of not skiing enough times (time permitting) this season.  Whatever I did,  my ham strings are killing me.  I vaguely recall realizing the existence muscles I didn't know I had after running those 17 miles of the Squaw Peak 50 miler with Jim last year too.  I think it was the trail run with Jos that did it.  I'm sore in weird places (like my inner thigh, which never happens).

9:21 AP Took the doggies down the River Trail. There were baby leaves! There was the slight sheen of green on the far away tall branches! The Canyon walls were lush with green grass, and the river fat with icy clear overflow. Even with all the fresh snow that remains on branches, tucked into the North Face corners of everything, and on rooftops, Spring is here! With Sundance is Closed, I'm ready to join the chorus of people complaining about the cold weather. Except, I still prefer these chilly spring temps for running.

9:38 AP, which would have been lower, but I ran up "goliath hill" and my first mile was 12:01. While I ran, I counted and tried to name all the kinds of flowers/bulbs blooming.  There were boys riding their girlfriends around fast on their motorcycles, carloads of teenagers who always honk and hang out of their windows to give me a high five, and lots of walkers.  I ran past so many people's houses I used to know including one of my cross country friend's from high school Lisa Rowberry.  Lisa and Heidi Hughes were the fastest girls on the team. Lisa in particular I remember because she always ran double the mileage we were supposed to, double the work outs, and she rubbed pure DMSO on her legs.  Because of this, her breath always smelled of garlic. It's still not clear to me why she did that.  Heidi was more naturally talented and took 3rd in state with a 17-18 minute  5K. But Lisa was hardcore.  I wonder what happened to Lisa Rowberry and her bottle of DMSO.

ap 10:00 Took this one easy. I'm sleepy.

All this snow with no good use for it, makes me want to put my head under the covers for the rest of the day.

I had to get going at 6 am because of my daughter's soccer game in Salt Lake at 10.  Today was the morning of maddening eyeball snow.  I am grateful it wasn't sticking to the ground, but now my neck is sore from hunching over to to protect my face.  I should have worn my trusty running hat to protect my eyes.  What I did see of the day made me pleased...The snow and the river were fat with spring.  There were more baby cows this time than last. I have no idea what the AP was 9 or 10ish? My Garmin--which has given me trouble since I bought it (shorting, turning off, not reading the same as other Garmin's, beeping maniacally and wihtout cause while charging) finally bit the dust.  I think it was the wet snow that did it in.  The strap deteriorated the the National Marathon, but this time I think it's a gonner. I need to go see Steve Orrick.  My left hamstring--the one that gave me such trouble in '08 is acting up again.  Smooth suggested myabe I needed to do hipflexor exercizes.  I'll find out, because I'm not going to last the season with this thing pulling like it is on both ends of the attachments.

The .06 is for Rad :)

Today's AP 9:53 was brought to you by tween children, offering to ride their bikes alongside their mama up the canyon, where-at mile 4, a tire popped completely off the rim for no apparent reason.  We then ditched the offending bike in the bushes at Nunn's park and they each took turns running .5 miles distance while the other rode the remaining bike.  My daughter in teeny-thin little flip flops/alternating with barefoot, and my son in horribly crafted (worn through to the soles and flat footed) favorite pair of canvas converse.  I have to say, regardless of their terrible shoes and sudden without-a-choice necessity to run, they kept up, were cheerful, and coperative.  By the end they were pretty pleased with themselves.  It turned out to be quite fun and made my daughter ask "how far do you run in a Cross Country race?" It turned out to be a happy accident.  We went back later to get the bike we'd ditched.

The cold ick outside just made me want to sleep all day.  The cold and mountain snow no longer secretly thrill me.   It's been like that since Sundance shut down. As easy, balmy, and fun as yesterday's run was--today's was chilly and lackluster.  I ran uphill and more uphill.  Two straight miles uphill.  It was hard but I didn't want to run where there were cars so I ran up rock canyon until I hit mile 3.  I got home and my calves were sore.  That never happens. I have the calves of a daughter of the Utah pioneers. They are usually the least of my problem. 

9:36/9:03/9:29/10:03/8:26/8:41/9:18/9:08

Up Provo Canyon kinda slow and back down kinda quick.  Headwind, blustery skies, fat, loud rushing river, hints of green.  I love the waterfountain.

9:17 average.  I feel ok about this run.  I ran 10 repeats (of only about 300 feet each) but it was the first speed play I've attempted for 2 years. I wish I had an air funnel going down my throat.  The back of my mouth doesn't feel big enough for air when I run "fast". (I run fast so badly and suck air so loudly, I am only attempt fast running when I am sure I am alone).  Even the dogs get concerned; although pick up the pace with me, they look back more frecuently to make sure I haven't died.  Anyway....shorter run than usual, but I feel good about the improved paces from February.  I really do believe that taking the Chlorophyll with the iron has made a difference.

I awoke to 4 boys, all over 6'4 sitting in my kitchen taking turns using their huge, fumbely, sausage fingers to delicately fish blackberries out of a glass bowl in the middle of the table.  I have two boys from Spain and two from Chile (here for exhibition/Friendship basketball tournaments in Vegas).  Blame my husband, if it were me, they'd all be in school.  anyway....yesterday afternoon, I got to be the proxy Mom for one of the boys when the Coach from BYU Hawaii came to offer him a scholarship, and the position of point guard.  So my Pablito, who graduated Juan Diego Catholic School with honors while he lived with us, will be the new point guard for BYU Hawaii.  I am so happy for him. He's worked so hard and he's a good boy.  I don't believe in sports over scholarship, but these boys give it their all.  Not all of them turn out to be Jimmer, but they all eat and breathe basketball.  It is gratifying when their hard work pays off and they will get a free education because someone's interested in how they play ball.

Yay for negative splits! 9:36/9:28/9:20/9:20/9:25/9:42/9:10/8:51/8:39/8:38/9:05/9:13/9:03  = AP 9:11

Ran up the canyon easy with Josse and ran down the canyon with Ericka while Josse ran a few tempo miles.  Josse ran back to meet us toward the end.  I am greatful for the diem sister training team. Those are some tough, good girls.

9:23 AP In addition to thinking about Susanna and Marisa's races, missing my friends who wanted me to come to Boston 'anyway' and called to reminisce about how awesome last year was for all of us, I spent much of the day obsessing about Desiree Davila. I cannot believe a 2 second win kept us (women) from the first American win since 1985. What would that look like coming down Broylston Ave? To lay it ALL on the line like that for a 2 second loss? I can't imagine it. I am even more impressed Davila hails from Chula Vista (my neck of the woods). Those Kenyans though, with their high altitude, long legs, and generations of cattle hearding on foot. Who can beat em? Today's run was mild, and pleasant. I have decided 8 miles is my favorite daily distance when I've got the time. I really need 2 to warm up, 2 to break the bank, and 4 more to keep the pace strong. Going downhill in the canyon helps (mentally) relearn faster turn over. So I've been enjoying my canyon runs--going half way on an uphill makes turning around so easy. I need to stay away from Goliath and Rock Canyon. I'm pretty sure those 35-40% inclines for more than a mile each was what was getting my hamstring/piriformis/hip all jangled and yanked.

I was sad to learn about Grete Waitz yesterday too.  Dead of cancer at 57?  Wow.  She won the NYC marathon at a time I was just starting to pay attention to running.  Running was becoming popular in the late 70's and women in greater numbers were marathoning.  It always gets to me, how nothing protects us from death or illness.  Not victory, not wealth, not youth, not love.  When it comes to life and death, God is the author of our story.  Today I am dead tired.  Feeding an army of huge men day and night for a week, hosting my sister for Easter, working tax deadlines, getting ready for a fundraiser. Also, my adorable tiny mother in law wrote me to appologetically announce she has breast cancer, but doesn't want to be a bother. I thought being outside for a bit would help me, but that last one just took all the wonder out of my day.  I dragged so badly that when I stopped running I leaned over and dry heaved a few times.  

I hit a a wall after learning about my MIL. Also, I have forgotten to take my iron for a few days and can feel it.  In addition, I have had a fabulous headache since yesterday. I am nauseated beyond understanding and my vision is weird.  So either I have a cluster migrane or a brain tumor.  Either way, at least I don't need a mastectomy this week.

9:01 AP Sebastian wanted to come along with me today.  The boys we host for tournaments are always curious about my running since they only ever see me in the morning (post run, sweaty and in spandex feeding them breakfast).  I've had some ride a bike alongside, or run a few miles with me, but no one ever stayed and ran the whole shebang.  So we got going along the canyon and chatted in Spanish about weight training, good nutrition, and running & interval/circuit training.  Of all the boys I've hosted, he's the most dedicated both mentally and physically (ie the guy is totally ripped).  He's 206 lbs and had never run over 4 miles before.  It was fun to have a huge man like that begging to know how much farther.  He pushed a pretty good pace though.  Of course I stepped it up slightly to show him how it's done.  He's young, he can take it.

9:09/8:49/8:27/8:48/9:37/8:59/9:39/9:26  rain, snow, sun.  Someone tell e.e. Cumings I am sick of the little lame baloon man.

15 miles about killed me. Not my best 2 weeks on record. I will be happy to get to a less complicated and more tranquil place sometime soon.  This weather is killing me. SNOW on APril  30th???  I am officially sick of it.