Patience; the new endurance sport.

AP 10:17.  I ran 'fast' twice every other 1/8th mile.  It wasn't very effective in terms of the AP.  But I have to get back to sprinting a few times a  run each week. I just want to get back to easy 9:30s! I ran down a hill last week where I ran a 7:11 mile in 2010 during my Boston Marathon training.  I can't believe I'm struggling for 9:00's now. I try to focus on the fact that it is so great to be outside and in the canyon these mid -spring days. I'm finding some joy in Spring now that we are rounding the corner to summer.  Spring can be such a frenimy.  Sweet and perfect one second, stabbing you in the back the next.  It's not my favorite. But my garden is growing the roses soon to bloom. Every once and a while I get a whiff of sweet flowers in the air.  I love that. 

Just a quick, short fast jog and down Timpview Drive.  I've decided that distance running (particularly keeping a marathon traning schedule) and raising teenagers is incompatible. You need to sleep in order to run properly; and if you have teenagers approaching summertime, you better not sleep too deeply, lest you (and they) miss midnight curfew or you don't hear the click of the door closing behind them late into the night after you already said they could NOT go to someone's midnight sweet sixteen birthday bash.  I have not had a good night's sleep in 2 weeks and I am terrified of whats in store for the summer--particularly for my son.  This is the summer I have two full blown teenagers whose instincts are driving them to hunt and gather, take risks, find mates, and stay up till the break of dawn.  It is happening.  Both have committed to cross country training at 7 a.m. My son has lots of good friends running so I am keeping my fingers crossed he develops the discipline to sleep early and get up to run.  The testosterone has hit and he's developing his broad shoulders and lean muscles.  I'm sure the next two summers are going to keep me awake. Praying and praying for wholesome, physical sporting activities to monopolize most of his time and energy. Heaven help me.

Today the running gods wanted me to run without my Garmin. It was 0% charged and dead as a piece of plastic--which was good news in a way.  I needed time away from it.  I am sick of my abysmal splits/AP and the feeling I will trip or fall down if I run any faster than a 9:00 m/m (look out Granny's a comin'). Monday's run (although getting my distance back), the run was just depressingly hard. I was beat, maybe from running 10 on Saturday (before I'm properly conditioned). But today, I did what I call my "favorite loop" without my Garmin;  and I FELT GREAT.  I never needed to slow down, catch my breath or walk.  My legs felt strong, nothing hurt and my blood sugar was still 72 when I returned.  The cool rainy days have allowed me to run in the mid morning.  I have loved the lusciousness of this rain.  Yesterday was delicious.

Ran my favorite loop but cut off the first uphill .3 on Timpview and did two times around Vintage park. i walked up the lovers lane hill and still managed an Ap 10:08. Chilly this afternoon!

 10:31 AP I went up to run with Smooth and her neighborhood runner friends. They each remembered me from runs we'd done in 2011. One in which I got a speeding ticket in the middle of Nowhere West Lehi at 5:15 am driving over to meet them at the trailhead and the other when I almost keeled over of hypoglycemia in the savory wooded region of the Rose Park area on the northernmost end of the JPR. Fun times. Smooth and I were only going to run 10, but the morning trail was cool, the mountains beautiful, the conversation uplifting, and the company excellent. For the first time in a long time, I remembered what a training run with buddies feels like. It was euphoric. I finally am fit to run with company but now my favorite running pal is now going to be gone for 3 years. She is going to be an amazing mission President Mom. I have desperately needed a shot of Susanna and will forever be grateful she, Larry and Eric were safe in Boston. Some people are energy vampires they suck you dry and leave you exhausted. Some people are flowing fountains of love and light. She is the latter. She gives me good energy, makes me cry and softens my heart every time we run together. I always come away wanting to be a better person. There is no one stronger, more inspired, more filled with positive energy and faith than our girl Smooth. Now we have to share her with Australia. Next week is UVM and so I'll come to the course around mile 21 or 22 and head down to the finish. Maybe I'll find some buddies to cheer for or even pace to the end. Hopefully Smooth can come. If she can Ill have someone drop me off at the 13/half point and run the finish. Larry "gave permission" for smooth to run the half marathon (and we just laughed knowing theres no way she can only run the half. Whats the difference between 13 and 26 anyway, haha). I am looking forward to hearing all Susanna's mission president stories in 3 years time. Excited for UVM. If things keep going well this summer, I am going to run it next year.