Patience; the new endurance sport.

Blicky treadmill miles. I alternated between 8:30's and 12:00's the whole run.  Man I suck, it sure takes a long time to run slow.

I totally forgot to log my run yesterday--lost track of time I guess.  Or maybe my schizophrenia is kicking in and I 'lost time' as they say.  The moon was so full and so bright today, I ran without the headlamp.  The moon was sort of low in the West sky, and so bright I could hardly look at it straight on.  It threw so much light it made moon shadows of us running, and of the leafy tree branches.  There were 3 groups of runners on the pre-dawn road this morning.  I'm always glad when there are more of us out there.  I'd like to be able to use the trail instead of the road, but the shade from the trees make it too dark and icy in the a.m. during the winter.  I wonder how the road will treat me once it snows-- they say that'll be this weekend!!!! I wish the snow would hurry; I crave that muffled peace and purity in the world, that only a white blanket of snow can provide.  That and my Sundance passes are burning a hole in my glove compartment.

I spent 7.5 miles 'at the movies'.  Watched 'Yes Man'.   Jim Carey is such a great performer, it was cute, was a positive message, and made the run easier.  It's kind of funny though to watch a movie at 6:00 in the morning.  Why is that? I've amped up my sit ups routine from 200-300 and my ribs are sore!  Last year I started that 100 push ups-in-a-row program.  But there was no way I could get past 60 without stopping for a long time in between reps.  This year, I'm thinking of joining runeveryday.com  You have to run at least one mile every day of your life, for the rest of your life.  After you've done it for a year you can sign up.  The idea of doing something small but active, every single day of my life really appeals to me. I've shared this idea around with a few friends in my neighborhood who I think could use a little help in the 'get moving' department.  I got a report back that one of them has been doing it now for 5 days.  Sometimes it takes a small, do-able challenge to get you going.  I'm into that.  I'm all about baby steps (this message brought to you by: what About Bob).

What a wonderful treat this morning.  I asked if I could join Josse on her trail run (she was nice to let me come help her run easy, and she can chalk it up to yet another hour of compassionate service).  It was so beautiful to be outside and partake of the glorious clear skies and all 13 degrees of mother nature (minus a few more for windchill).  Whew, I almost lost a few toes at first.  But besides running with one of my favorite people, going out in the morning sun, to run above the valley floor, above the canyon on a clear day was simply  spectacular.  I am always amazed by the places I don't know about.  The shoreline trail overlooks the whole valley and winds across the mountaintops in big loopy trails.  I loved the fields of yellowed grass down below us and how the mountain tops looked so close and rocky.  I had no idea that was all there.  It had a solid climb at the beginning that really got me breathing hard right away, felt great and was just what the doctor ordered.  What a great start for the day.

Today Catherine came over and we ran down the jetty, and to the end of the shoreline trail.  It was chilly (not as chilly as yesterday) but in the low 20's and howling wind.  The cool thing about today's run was that, at the lake shore, where the waves come lapping into the land, there was a 3 feet deep hem/border of shiny, clear ice sheets broken up into pieces that rolled around in the surf.  It looked like floating broken glass, and it sparkled in the sun. When I looked further out to sea, the tops of every wave sparkled like snow in the sunshine. I think it was so cold, the tops of the waves were freezing in the wind, and then the ice crystals blew to shore where they collected along the waterfront like shards of glass.  Catherine, who is very fond of Hal Higdon, said that Hal says that winter running should be measured in terms of minutes, not miles.  Hal says that running 10 miles in sub freezing temps is like running 15 miles in the summer. So, we ran 70 minutes and had to stop a few times so I could stretch my hams a few times.  The cold really does a number on my tendons.  It was however, so wonderful, to run in the morning light two days in a row.   Yesterday Josse and I talked about how important stretching is.  I need to get back to 15-20 minutes of it a day.  I try to stretch while at work, and before bed.  But I've slacked off, and now I'm paying for it in the cold weather.  I could also use another massage soon, I just feel really stiff these days.  

A word about my treadmill.  I looooove it so much it brings grateful tears to my eyes. It's a NordicTrak7000 model with an extra long wood deck.  I bought it 5 years ago and have never once regretted how much money I paid for it (I do miss my arm and leg, however).  The motor, the deck, and the belt have been meticulously matainted and I am so very grateful to have it in my house when it is 12 degrees and dark outside at 6:00 a.m.  So, since my grand return to the treadmill I think I will post my movie reviews because the treadmill and the weather combined have me hanging to 10MM for dear life.  I feel like a hero just for running at all-- forget any fast running. Anyway, after watching 'Yes Man' last week, I wanted to find another movie that sported an equally positive and 'anything's possible' message. So I tried to watch Field of Dreams, which I never saw when it was new.  I don't think I have ever hated a movie as much as I hated Field of Dreams. I have tried not to hate Kevin Cosner, because I wanted to like Dances with Wolves, but now it's official. He's an idiot. OK, Field of Dreams was a movie about grown-up teenagers from the 60's trying desperately to find meaning in the transcendental time they wasted being on LSD at Berkely and dissing their parents who died before anyone could appologize for being stupid teenagers.  However, rather than accept the responsiblity for being idotic and young, the middle-aged hippes begin to give creedence to their lingering acid flashbacks, and build a baseball diamond in the middle of an Iowa cornfield so they can make money on  other people and/or ghosts, who also are having acid flashback and equally searching to place value on their much wated time as hippies,or who once played baseball for the major leagues but are now dead.  Baseball, of course being the symbol of 'old America' and of their parents traditional values.  However, the baseball field & the players, as well as any meaning to the time young people lost in the 1960's to civil disobedience, preservation of  American 'freedom', and of course drugs, turns out to be wasted and imaginary-- lost on the rest of the sane people, particularly those running on a treadmill at 6:00 a.m. The end.  Join me next week when I review: Food, Inc.

I had to drive to Salt Lake and back in really terrible weather, and when I returned, it was almost sunny down here.  I took my lunch time on the trail, trying not to slide into trees or smack my head on the pavement.  It's interesting, I enjoy running in the snow and ice so much I think it's because I know I can't go really fast.  Just like driving to Salt Lake today.  The snow forces you to slow down (if you're smart you will).  I'd be a much better person, more together and calm if I could just go slower.  The day was breathtaking.  I only saw two others on the trail--which had been plowed, by the way!  A young BYU cross country runner and two older runner guys with a pit bull.  I day dreamed the whole run and let my eyes fall over the landscapes made soft and pure by the snow, cut in half by the thick dark river water.  Down by the lake I found my hawk who followed me by flying ahead, perching, and watching me run underneath him.  He changed trees by flying ahead of me 4 times (about .2 of a mile).  My Dad loved hawks and owls.  I  see this hawk fairly often.  It makes me think of my Dad to see him.  I wonder if perhaps that hawk is my animal spirit guide (totem).  I'm so deeply impressed by his size, nobility, and grace.

OK. Hi.  Its 4 degrees outside.  I am not exaggerating.  It's really, truly 4 degrees.  It was 2 degrees at 6:00 a.m.  Luckily Marsha talked me into going to the BYU track.  I have never run around a track, except in X-country in high school.  I don't like to do any kind of exercise that requires me to get in my car to go somewhere to do it.  I hate the gym, I am allergic to chlorine, I prefer to avoid sweaty people I don't know,  it uses gas and takes precious time I do not have.  Even the smallest impediment (like having to drive somewhere to exercise) will stop me from doing it.  Which is why I live where I live.  If I couldn't walk out my door and be on the river trail in 15-30 seconds, I don't know if running would appeal to me, and I am not running down a city street to breath exhaust. So anyway, Marsha offered to drive us.  It was like getting chauffeured! I walked out my door, got into the car, she delivered me to the track, and then took me home.  I offered to drive, but she has to drop her daughter off at swim practice anyway.  How lucky is that?  The track, by the way, is like magic.  While it's boring to run in a circle over and over again (there are a few interesting things to look at, mostly the young handsome group of ROTC and the pictures of the past 20 years of BYU track stars), the track is made of rubber or something.  5 miles was like a walk in the park.  It left my legs and hips feeling like new.  I mean NOTHING hurt or ached at all afterwards.  All this running in sub-teen temps leaves me feeling like I'm 90 years old, arthritic and brittle. Hooray for the track!  At least for today. 

Merry Christmas FRB!!

Ran outside w/ Cath down by the lake. It was perfect running weather, the trail was a little icy though.

Been running on the BYU track and have been loving it.   All these winters, and running outside every day takes it's toll on me.  But to run inside, on a rubber track, in warm-ish air, in the light is a revelation.  I always thought I'd die of boredom on the track, not so.  I feel so lucky to have an indoor track so close by.  I totally plan on doing my speedwork there until March.  Starting next week, I'll be throwing in a few extra fast laps.  I've enjoyed my ice-cream mile, hard running hiatus. 

I made it! last day of '09.  Last day of my on air radio programming, last day of taking over 200 calls a day, last day of 12 hour days.   Marsha and I were the first ones one the track, and so took the opportunity to go backwards (go the opposite direction). I've been worried about this since Kelli told me to be careful going only in one direction. Anyway....I get to work  2009 wasn't a bad year, but I do like the idea of a new year!