Patience; the new endurance sport.

I still can't get over the fact that someone took my bright yellow Payson Onion Days 10K shirt.  I left it at the waterfountain two Saturdays ago and it was gone when I returned 45 mintues later.  Who wanted such a hideous shirt?  What could it mean to anyone who didn't run that particular race?  So now the three times I've gone by that waterfountain I wonder about it.  Ah well.  Today my legs were absolutely dead. I kept thinking I'd warm up, but never did.  I realized by and by it wasn't my legs, but my lower back.  I know I'm getting all jacked up again over my piriformis/glutes.  I keep remebering how tapering last year at this time felt like my undoing.  As soon as I wasn't keeping 50 mile weeks, my muscles stopped holding all my injuries together by force, and I fell apart.  I know half of this is in my head.  I got over the last back trouble I had a few weeks ago, but it took two full weeks (post massage) for it to get better.  I may just have to call Natalee (MT) again before it gets too late in the game.  (6.4/9:43 ave)

My MT has a real day job now and couldn't come over yesterday, so I let everyone at home take turns digging their heels and elbows into my piriformis while I lay on the carpet.   I told them I'd let them watch an hour of TV if they helped me.  My son who thought it was 'gross' at first to touch my bum later enjoyed how much it made me squirm and he actually found the best places.  Poor kid, now he's scarred for life.  But, it totally worked. I have to remember to do my PT streches throughout the day. But today's run felt very good-- although a short run, I ran two 8:45's and a few 9's with Marsha, who thought that was pretty fast.  Nothing hurt or was sore during or after the run.  Yay!  Also, I keep forgetting to give the good news about our little friend Aubrie who was successfuly transplanted a week ago Sunday.  Here is a link to the story that ran on the front page of the Daily Herald last Sunday:   http://heraldextra.com/news/local/article_cd785174-226c-5a70-a415-7a3e23223cca.html

I had to run at lunchtime today. I went to a fantastic reunion/wedding reception attended by 65% of all my favorite people in Salt Lake yesteday, so I didn't get to bed until midnight.  MIDNIGHT!  Unless I'm watching Saturday Night Live, that just doesn't happen anymore.  I am usually a goner by 9:15.  So I was sleepy today. Trust me, you do not want me on your team when I get less than 8 hours of sleep--which is today. But I went out and gave it my all.  The effort actually made me cry involuntuntarily a few times.  I stopped twice and significantly slowed down at least 3 to catch my breath.  I wanted the run to be a sustained steady pace, but found it hard to maintain what I hoped to be 8:50's.  Ave pace 8:56 (how heartbreaking is that? .6 off).  8:52/8:55/8:31/8:43/8:52/9:13/8:59/9:31 (9:45)

It has become so dark in the mornings, that today I ran with a headlamp.  It totally works.  We've been running down the middle of Lakeshore and it's not smooth pavement and I am afraid of tripping and falling over in the dark.  Also, last time we almost kicked skunk as it crossed the dark road.  Skunks don't move very fast, they just raise their tail and keep on walking. We almost got sprayed. That would have been icky.  Thus the headlamp.  It will buy me a  few more weeks of non-treadmill A.M. running so I won't have to haul my treadmill inside until after SGM.  Everyone hates the treadmill but me.  I never have the time to watch movies or TV shows.  So standing in front of the TV for an hour or more is a huge indulgence. I already have 5 movies I want to see lined up next to the TV waiting for the first week of October.  In the meantime, I'll use the headlamp and keep to the road.  Although today I had to make a concerted effort to run slowly (9:30's) I do like running in the dark becaue I run a lot faster than normal and it doesn't seem as hard--like running in your sleep/dream running. Weird.  It is a strange sensation to to be in the dark, moving forward.  It heightens all other sensory perceptions--particularly the Jason Voorhees sensibility. Maybe that accounts for the fast running.

Today was the day I put away the Garmin for the sake of my mental health--which was the best decision I could make for today.  I had THE BEST run.  It was a beautiful morning, the running felt good, and 6.4 took less than an hour.  That's all I can say. Also, a word about compression tights and running skirts.  I fell in love recently with the running skirt with the pocket on the outer thigh of the inner shorts.  I loved the skirt so much I also got a race skirt that ostensibly holds your race number, but I love it because I can wear on top of the many unused compression tights.  I love compression tights of all lengths, but I am only brave enough to use them while on the treadmill (at home) or on the trail in winter when I know no one can see my big, fat, black spandexed behind.  Anyway, that little race skirt, has given new life to all my compression shorts.  What's funny, is that for a girl who talks too much & too loud, and who can not lay claim to a whole plethora of female charms-- I sure do like wearing a skirt.

I did not get around to eating enough on Friday and so felt like I was passing out half the run.  Poor Catherine, running with the starved/crazed elderly.  She's a good friend.  We're actually kind of excited just to get Saint George out of the way (how will the day go, our energy level, will our children give us the swine flu the day before?) Here's to no rain, temp's above the 30's, and no headwind this year. That said, we're both signing up for Ogden :)  That is if nothing breaks or falls off next Saturday.