Patience; the new endurance sport.

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!  

Got to ski yesterday afternoon and ran into McKenzie getting on the bus to the parking lot at Sundance.  I am so out of shape for skiing.  The snow was perfect, but I try to control my speed to the point that skiing really makes my quads burn and I can only go down the hills in segments.  What happened to the days of taking the whole hill in one fail swoop?  I feel like I'm getting old, and all I can think of is " I hope it doesn't wreck my knees before I get to Boston".  Today I ran outside and it was marvelous to see the blond dry grass shooting above a blanket of fresh snow. I love the fresh snow. It's like a down comforter for the world.  The white and light yellow of the landscape was so pleasant, I just let my eyes rest upon the easy colors and breathed in the fresh, newly cleaned air.  The lake is now frozen solid.  I keep seeing my hawk, but today saw one of the Eagle's that nest somewhere near here.  I was running along, and all of a sudden I heard a sound like maybe a coat falling out of a tree, but when I looked up, there was an eagle flying down his wing span was huge above my head and he was swooping low.  Was I going that slow?  Do I look like prey? He was magnificent.  I've only seen an eagle one other time along the trail in 14 years.  

Had a great New Year's Day spent with Michelle and Marion taking the kids sledding down 'dead man's hil.' by Michelle's house. That was one awesome sledding hill, and the snow was great.  I hadn't seen those guys since the November birthday Soupfest Extravaganza.  It was a fabulous way to start of the New Year. And now I know how to lose at Hearts, and Gin Rummy. I love learning new games to lose.  Catherine texted me to say she had a crazy idea to run by me on today.  So she showed up this morning at 8 and shoved a Utah Grand Slam application into my hands.  What?  She thinks I can run 5 Marathons next year, plus the Boston Marathon?  Who does she think I am, Smooth?  Sorry, there's only one Smooth and it's not me.  But so running out into the gorgeous snowy morning, even arthritic and stiff from the cold, the day was so pleasant by the river and the lake that she had me talked into it.  We can just run for fun, we won't race.  We'll only try to BQ again at St. George (I didn't have the heart to tell her that BQ-ing at the end of the season is a bad idea, but then again, so is running marathons...period).  Am I seriously going to do the grand slam?  The deadline is today.  Can I really run Ogden 3 weeks after Boston?  I havnt run Ogden in three years, I love it and I want to run it, but 3 weeks after Boston?  Maybe I can hire a trainer.....or a sherpa, or get a segway.....