Chug-along-chica!

4 miles, and it was COLD this morning.  We went straight from being 70 in the morning to being 45.  This makes me worry for my dear friends in Utah.  Where did fall go?

I have something very special to share with you today.

This is Shae.  She is the best friend I've ever had.  We were inseparable as teenagers.   I called Shae a couple months before I turned 30 (freaking out about it) and left a message to tell her that I felt like I was turning into a fossil right before my own eyes.   She she responded with a message notifying me that she had registered us both for a race, Pat's Run (4.2 miles) and to start training.  So I did--1 mile 3 times a week.  (I was so awesomely prepared for my race that I was able to run sub 13:00 min. miles for the whole race--I was pretty stoked.)  2 months later I met Sasha and Sarah Pachev.

   This is Shae holding her very first baby, Ava, a much anticipated and precious little girl.

Ava birth was a miracle.  Doctors all said that Ava would not survive labor--her little body was not built for life in this world.

We are all so very grateful that they were mistaken.  Ava was a fighter.  She survived the birth process and lived for 15 hours.

 Thank you, Ava!  Thank you for fighting so your mother and father could hear your little voice and your hold you in this life.

I do not believe that it is the length of time we spend on the earth that changes it--it is the love we bring to it.  Ava's mission is complete.  I love you Shae.  I love you Dan.  I love you Ava.

This month I run for Ava.

4 miles on the treadmill.  I got up really early, got dressed in my warm running clothes, took 2 steps in the pitch darkness, turned around and hopped on the treadmill.  I am being a ninny these days about running alone in the dark.

Thanks so much for the kind comments on yesterday's blog.  I know it is sad to see, but I think it is important to honor her little life in whatever way we can.   I thought a lot about her on my run today.    I want to be a fighter, too--not just always taking the easy way. 

Today I taught my last day of Tuesday preschool (it's a co-op) until February!  That means Tuesdays will go back to being an almost normal workload day.  Yea! 

1.5 with my 7 year-old son.  New PR for him: 14:21.  He is really showing improvement, and it is all thanks to effective bribing.  He gets a smoothie if he runs sub-10 pace at least once a week.

2.5 tonight outside.  Man, it was GORGEOUS.  Perfect temps, nice fresh scent, and no traffic.  Love it.

Guess what I did today?  IREGISTEREDFORTHERAGNARRELAYDOWN HERE:THEDELSOLRELAYANDIAMSOEXCITEDIABSOLUTELYALMOSTCANT CONTAINITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

If it goes well I will register for the St. George Marathon this year.

1.5 with my little boy and 2 on the treadmill.  I'm feeling pretty proud that I have been getting up super early for all my runs this week.

Can I ask you guys something?  Remember how my little guy (3) had that high fever last week?  Well, he has a fever AGAIN.  No other symptoms.  Just really groggy, sleeping alot.  No coughing, running nose or anything.  It got up to 102.8.  No one else in the house has had any fever or any other symptoms.  I took him to the pediatrician and she said his ears and throat were NOT infected--no other signs of infection, and that it is probably just allergies.  What?  Do allergies cause high fevers?  I've never heard of that before.  Have you?

Did you see the mileage...I mean, did you SEE the mileage?   This is the rebirth of the long run for me, and what a glorious birth it was.  I met up with Camille and her cute little friend Bethany to run this morning.  I was skeptical.   I don't usually run more than 4 miles in a day, and usually I break that up into 2 runs, so I almost never run more than 2.5 miles.  Can you believe it?  I FEEL GREAT!  I did it, and we did NOT fade one bit.   10:07 on average, with just a tiny bit of a negative split.  NO sick feeling in my stomach, NO chaffing, no refueling, no water, and still NO whining.  Well, minimal whining...I got a little bit of a blister from wearing shoes for the first time in a jillion years.  

Camille, thanks so much for running with me!  What a great run.  It felt shorter than the 2.5 I usually run alone.   You and Bethany are fun! 

 We are hoping to do this again--yea!  Running buddies are the key to happiness.  I totally have that runner's high feeling right now and can't wait for the rest of my day.  Happy Saturday to you all!

***Later*** Oof, I am a little bit tired & stiff.  Methinks I shall be sore tomorrow.