Patience; the new endurance sport.

This was my lame attemt to "Train" for the Freedom 5K with my son.  He's been so chubby this past month I'm starting to get a little worried.   So taking him on a run starting up hill, in the canyon full of people, in the full heat of noon day didn't provide for great parenting moments along the trail.  He was pretty whimpy and I did my best to ignore him to show him how to man it up a bit. As I suspected, he thought he was a hero for doing 4 miles and bragged about it the rest of the day.  We're going to bomb the 5K, but hey--it's me and my kids running.  What more could I ask. 

I have not run since June 11th but had to do the Freedom Festival because I signed the kids and me up waaaay back in April.  16th out of 101 ladies in my division isn't that  bad-- seeing how I was expecting to BOMB it. My daughter has been doing some pretty serious work outs with XC so I was hoping she'd shine.  Instead she spent the first mile goofing off with her friends until I found her at mile marker 1 and pushed her forward and said "You can not let a flabby 43 year old Mommy beat you ....GO!"  So she cleaned her self up and made two nice splits to the end.  We did all have fun  (even my son who hasn't run a step himself since his school's 5K in May).  Happy 4th!  I ended up running 5 more miles get to the parade and then back home (better than traffic). My girl ran with me one of those extra miles, but let her Dad take her in the car the rest of the way home.

Dropped my kid off at the mouth of the canyon for her group work out, and took off to run a few miles and back. I'm starting to be able ignore the sound of the traffic in the canyon and focus on the river. Was looking on the ground to see if I could find the RHPC markings from last year's half marathon. Man, it's so hot and humid these days with all the clouds and rain. It feels just like the east coast....I'll be there soon. Can't wait.

I made the mistake of seeing 3 doctors today.  I only have had a little time off and needed to take advantage to get everything done that I've been putting off.  But I hate getting touched and prodded, and bled, and injected....all of which happened at all of my appointments and now I just feel old and defeated and violated.   

I missed running with the real runners this morning and opted for resting my leg until the injection sites were less sore.  So late in the afternoon I ran from Bridal Veil to Vivian Park and back with my girl.  Taught her the ways of icing tired lets in the stream.  Even though it was an easy, fun run the icy water felt fantastic on my legs.

I am so thrilled at the prospect of NOT training for a marathon that running seems fun again. I don't really want to think about St. George. Maybe I just have to accept that my body can't do what it used to do (speed nor distance).  Maybe my wrecked hamstrings and sad variety of exhausting ailments have sucked the joy out of trying hard.  I don't know. But I do know that running--at any pace-- for no better reason than to be near the sound and sight of the rushing river, and to be one of the few witnesses of the cool morning daybreak is enough for me. I tried something new today that felt kind of good--I walked backwards up the big hills instead of running them.  

Walked/ran up to the cemetery taking the opportunity to walk backwards up the hill again.  I love how it makes my quads burn.  Watched the valley come alive from the mountaintop, I adore the view of the valley and the lake from up there.  Came home and did my 300 sit ups and 60 push ups and other stuff.  I love feeling strong without feeling exhausted.  It's such a nice change.  I always want MORE though. Who knows, I might join the gym again to take a spin class. 

Ran and remarked the course for the first 10K of the Red Hot Pink Chicks for Saturday.  I marked 'the scenic route' and the straight route depening on what Jos and I decide when we got set up the markers tomorrow.

RHPC!! We set up the course markers last night.  It was so fun to be out on the trail in the full moon, sneaking around with flashlights. The night was beautiful.  The morning topped it.  The full moon still hung low in the sky cradled by the fat pink horizon.  The sky was blue and the morning still and perfect as only a summer's day can be.  My friend Chrysula from Australia, living in NYC (well, Connecticut) came and so I ran the 10 K distance with her.  I really felt like running more and had hoped to run 10 total.  It was fun to see everyone at the start.  It feels like a running reunion.  There was a little wind at the mouth of the canyon, but otherwise it was perfect temperature. I had a nice chat with Chysula and it was fun to see everyone.  Lily won the prized red hot rooster. Said goodbye to Michelle in case I don't get to see her off to Hong Kong.  Got a few more miles in running back up the trail to collect the trail markers.  I'll miss Michelle.

I have been so busy I never got my run in so I ended up running at midnight.  It was delicious to be the only one out in the relative cool of the evening, alone with the night shadows. But this humidity has kept the evenings rather hot.

Probably not the best idea to do 2 runs within 8 hours of each other.  I woke up and hurried to get in a run before the trip.  It was pretty cool until the sun came up.  I'm looking forward to getting the heck out of here.  I was pretty beat by the end of this run.  My legs were tired.  I just don't know how it's going to be to keep up the running while we are driving and driving.  I'll have to get up around 5:30 or 6:00 and take my girl with me every day.  Her coaches are expecting her to maintain her training while we're gone. 

Jackson Hole, WY.  On our way to the Tetons.  Ran the trail just outside of town with my girl. It's been fun to run with her.  Although she's not like a running "friend" like I'd imagined.  She doesn't talk to me, and there is an element of "parenting" even in the running together. She gets annoyed because I want to make an even 5 miles, or because it's time to sprint.  She rolls her eyes and balks a bit.  Then toward the end, when she knows we are on the home stretch, she leaves me in her dust running fast back to the cabin while I look up at the mountains.   I really need to get back here to ski sometime.  It's beautiful in the summer--breathtaking, and I love Jenny Lake in the Tetons during the summer.  But I have never skied Grand Targee or Jackson Hole, and when I see the slopes carved through the trees in Summer it makes me want to come back. Everyone says the skiing here is the best.  Wyoming has been breathtaking....the wildflowers are out in record number because of the wet, late Spring.  So many varieties and the mountains and valleys are deep green.  It's so nice to get away.  I think I will be running in a different state every day from now until next week except today and tomorrow (I'll be in Wyoming for almost 3 days). 

The air is so thin. We ran a little dirt trail around Yellowstone lake early in the morning. We ran until there was a warning sign that a bear was frequenting the trail we were running down. And since a man was killed by a bear here last week, we turned around. It felt so hard to catch a good deep breath. But the crystalline lake, sparkling blue water, green pine trees and multitude and variety of wildflowers kept me in awe. Yellowstone has been amazing.

Keystone, South Dakota.  The air smells so good here.  Like dirt, pine needles, and clean air.  Were I to do this again, we'd stay in Custer. Regardless the kids thought Mt. Rushmore was pretty cool.

Ran down a dirt road that crossed over South Dakota into Iowa with my girl.  It was so hot, she was not used to the heat and humidity.  It made a miserable run for her.  I on the other hand was elated running through corn fields and country roads.  I love vacation running.

Ran around old Nauvoo.  It feels like a miniture Salt Lake City.  Everyone walking around the City in the early morning feels just like it does in Utah.  Ran and walked the Trail of Hope.  It's been a very enlightening journey here.  As luck would have it, we got to see the pagent last night after Carthidge. 

Got to the farm in Hartsville after the epic cross country trip. Ran my usual track around the 100 acres, and over into the country roads lined with tobacco, soybeans, and cotton.  It is HOT here.  I leave for RI this afternoon for the weekend. 

Ran down Easton Beach toward Second Beach.  It's surprisingly less humid here than in SC.