Patience; the new endurance sport.

8:40/8:50/8:27/9:10

I posted my splits because I invited my daughter to run with me.  She's getting serious about soccer and I've been teaching her what I understand about conditioning/interval running/aerobic capacity, etc.  First she was reluctant/lazy to go. She wants to do the work, but she lacks the self-motivation as of yet.  Anyway, we got out there and I can tell that she's out to punish me; mad I'm making her run, and wanting to show me she's a faster runner.  She taunts me with the 7:34 mile she ran to earn her Presidental Physical Fitness Award.  She tooled through the splits on my Garmin from the Marathon on Saturday and said "you ran a bunch of nine-and- a- half  and ten minute miles?  I could do better than that" and so forth.  Of that I have no doubt, but for the first time in my life--she lit a small competative fire in my heart because I wasn't about to let a novice 13 year old runner show up her mommy on the second or third round.  So I kept her pace and told her what I know about form (head up, soft hands/elbows back-midline, midsole strike).  After talking to her about 100 yard sprint repeats and Yasso's and Fartleking she watned to sprint.  So I gave her a 400 yard measure and cut her loose.  In the end she was really happy she came-- and I was suprized how easy it was to run with her (and how NOT sore I am after running a marathon on Saturday).  I will NEVER get over the 17 miles I ran at the Squaw Peak 50.  That was the hardest thing I have ever done to date besides qualify for Boston.  But it was fun to be with my girl.  I'm proud of her.  She's a good girl.

Ran in the afternoon. The sky was filled with huge white thunderheads in the distance and cotton from the cottonwoods floated through the golden air of late day. There were a lot of fisherman standing quietly in the river casting their lines. I ran to see the lake, and turned around as the sky started to go grey. I ran back thinking of my son at camp, wondering if he'll remember where he packed his rain slicker and if he misses his Mama.

My legs were tired.  More tired than Monday or Tuesday, which is weird. Shouldn't I have been more tired Monday or Tuesday following a marathon on Saturday?  Whatever, I am so tired of trying to figure out why my legs feel so dead all the time (exhaustion? Iron? lack of training? over training?).  Also, this thing with my knee started last week when I jumped over a snake (somewhat involuntarily) on the trail, and I landed weird.  My knee hurt after that and today it hurt the worst.  I iced it a bunch of times since then, but it still hurts a little.  Also, my achilles (just above my achilles tendon) is sore.  I feel like complaining, it's the wind and the rain. 

The sky was so clear, and the air is crisp and clean. They say we'll see a rise in temps by 20 degrees.  So long spring.  All of my roses are now in full bloom. That always makes me happy.  I love how much color can come from one rose bush.  I plant the yellow ones next to salmon colored juipiter beard, I planted the white ones next to purple salvia, I planted the red ones next to red sweet william and lavender.  I love the contrasting colors.  These  blooms are only fresh for about a week each year--this is the week.  One of my favorite roses is called fragrant cloud.  Most roses are so hybrid-ed they no longer smell like roses. Fragrant cloud has not been genetically modified a million times, and so still has that intense rose smell.  I could smell it all day long. I hate going to work on days like today.  I just wish I could be running all morning and working in the yard all afternoon. 

I am loving this latent spring chill.  It's so good for a.m. running.  I am also in a really good mood because there is now access (although still illegal) through the new tunnel so I don't have to bypass my trail by going half a mile thorugh the neighborhood.  The chill in the air reminded me of a business conference I took about 10 years ago to Mt. Hood Oregon.  Whenever there is a certain moist chill in the spring and summer it reminds me of that place.  I'd only brung regular summer weather running gear with me and by the time I was done with 5 miles, my hands were frozen into claws and I couldn't pick the rasberries along the road.  There was a river, like mine, only the whole way was blackberry and rasberry bushes and the sight of Mt. Hood in the distance.  I love my rivertrail though.  I never get tired of it. I feel like the river and the fields are just for me.

Josse and Catherine came and we ran the trail down to the jetti. We saw the Triatholon start down at the lake, and ran back.  It was such a beautiful, clear, sunny day.  The cool blue sky reminded me of the day I brought my son home from the hospital 11 years ago this month.  Josse's cute pregnant belly made me think of it too.  I loved listening to Cath and Jos talk as we ran along.  I always learn something new when Josse shows up.  We ran a little over 6 with  Josse, and then Cath and I ran a few more, then I my daughter asked if she could go with me a couple more.  Still I was done by 9:30 and headed to the Farmer's market before it was too hot.  I love the farmer's market.  Coolest thing in Provo.