I parked 3 miles from where I was meeting Catherine so I could warm up before we met on her end of the trail. I got in 3.5 before we met.. Then I knew I'd have 3 or more in case she could only hack a few miles. She's just been given 'medical' clearance to run (2 months post baby). But I still feel like an enabler. I made myself feel a little better by talking with her sternly about taking a good absorbable calcium, drinking huge quantities of water, and getting enough sleep. She's one of those obsessive over-acheivers and needs to chill if she wants to balance both nursing and running. I think I've persuaded her to blog here so other post-partum running moms can give her tips about how to stay strong and encourage her to get sleep (which I know is impossible with a little baby). Geez, can you tell I feel guilty taking her out running? It's not my fault! She wanted to! I wanted to take her maybe 4, but no, she said "I feel ok, let's do 6!" Who can resist an offer like that I ask you! I keep trying to remnd myself that, she's half my age, and an accomplished athelte. There are lots of marathoners and tri-atheletes out there right now running at 8 months pregnant--this is Utah after all isn't it? We are obsessive pioneer stock with no more plains to cross. We WANT to run, we NEED to run. I just don't want her hobbeling up to me when she's 80 complaining about her osteoperosis and her icky dentures (cause her teeth fell out due to lack of bone density lost to nursing while running). I guess I saw a lot of that in South America and it still kind of haunts me. Anywho....Sasha was way up on that end of the trail, running hard and fast. He has a way of running that you can tell it's him from about a mile a way. He probably didn't drive all the way across the valley to get that far up the canyon like I did. Whenever I feel like a hero for doing a long run on a Saturday, I have to remind myself that serious runners do that many miles every single day. If I'm headed toward an Ultra next year sometime, I will too eventually. We'll see how it goes up to St. Geroge. 50 miles this week -- it doesn't feel any different than 40 from the week before. I'd like to keep this up to see if my body likes doing this over time. | 