making a comeback!

Well we are home and had such a WONDERFUL trip !!!! I wouldn't know how to sum it all up, but we packed the week FULL of FUN and SUN !!!! We went to the Polynesian Cultural Center, Pearl Harbor and many sites in two fast filled days on Oahu. Then we were off to Kuaui.... there we layed in the sun and played of the beach as much as possible (which was quite a lot!) We ate entirely too much wonderful food and enjoyed hawaiian shaved ice in every possible form. My personal favorite was the kind that had ice cream on the bottom and then on top of the shaved ice either sweetened condensed milk or coconut cream....yum! (Yes the next few days of sugar withdrawl will be PAINFUL !! ) We also ate more pinapple than I think is actually legal, but it is just so darn gooooood !! We snorkeled a little, boogie surfed and played it the sand. We saw big turtles in the morning running one day and played with the sandcrabs. Oh that reminds me I did get some running in most every day, even though it wasn't very much. Usually when I run at sea level it seems really easy, but most days with the humidity it wasn't. One morninng we saw a small black tipped shark while running too. Even though the morning runs were usually short and sweet, and sometimes short and hard (some days we found some nasty routes with yucky hills) we usually saw things we normally wouldn't have seen and were glad we went out ! All in all it was a great time!!!! Now back in reallity, I need to get back into my running and better eating routine, but I couldn't go to Hawaii and not fully enjoy the culture and food! I had hoped the week away would help the foot, but I think playing and running around the sand was anyting but a rest for it. Oh well I'll take it one day at a time. It might take a day or two to get back to the routine anyway. For now I'm trying to catch up at home, and waiting for our luggage to arrive that didn't apparently make the same flight home with us. When that gets here, I'm going to be up to my neck in laundry. We got in at 9:00 a.m. and said hopefully sometime tonight! As much as I'm not looking forward to the laundry, blow dryer, curling iron, ect. would be nice!

So I finally got out today. I don't know why, but I just had to force myself to do it too. This morning just felt blah, and told myself all day I would go later, but the later it got the less I wanted too. Now that I have, I'm glad I did and it felt pretty good. I didn't go all that far, first because I plan to go in the morning and didn't want to ruin my morning run and second it's dark and no one will be home untill a little later so there was really no one home to see that I made it home so I just stayed close and did loops near the house. I did get one truck that went by with the window down that yelled something out that I couldn't hear due to earphones, that gave my heart a little scare, but other than that all was well. Hopefully tomorrow I'm a little more motivated and energetic!

I didn't feel as light on my feet today as I did last night, I am blaming it on a really bad nights sleep. I really didn't get into any real pattern untill after 3:30 (at least that was the last time that I looked at the clock) and then tried to sleep in and finally gave up after 3 phone calls. I should have pushed myself a little harder, but I wimped out! As for last nights run, I know I could have pushed that into more but saftey won that battle. I really like running in the dark. I'm not sure why either. I think one reason that I like it is because I don't focus on whats ahead I just go with how I feel, not worrying if there is a hill and it's going to be hard or whatever. Unfortunately I don't run early very often to go in the dark, and don't always feel comfortable at night. Well I think I'll try and get another mile tonight and then hopefully by Monday this body will be ready to get back on track for my 30 mile a week goal!

So I was going to run this morning after work, I was feeling great and very awake.  But one of the girls at work wanted to talk and talk ect. and I missed the window of opportuninty!  I was hoping to get a few in in the morning and then a few before I headed back to work because I knew the afternoon time would be short.  So I was right and headed out with very little time to spare to do 2 quick miles.  Once I got out it was about 58 degrees and beautiful!  I was totally comfortable in shorts and t-shirt and decided to add on at the end inspite of lack of time because it was so nice! (totally paid for it when I got home though!)  I didn't make 5 for the day, so I'll have to make that up somewhere in the week, but got more than I thought that I would.  Nice little squished snake in the road along the way, I guess that he couoldn't resist the beautiful weather either! 

Well today was the day that I decided that my body and mind needed a PUSH and a SHOVE in the right direction! It's been almost 3 weeks since I've done any kind of longer run and I have had a difficult time making myself do so. Well when I got out it was another beautiful day! I don't think that you could ask for anything better, this weather just screams "get out and run!'' At times it was almost hot (how quickly I forget the true hot days of summer) but once I was into the run about 4 miles my body started to give in and just go the distance. Now that I'm done I'm glad that I got it over with and hope that the rest of the week I will have broken the mental barrier that has been limiting me. Average pace 10:07 for the run.

Was beginning to think I might not make it out today, but I finally did around 4:30. It was yet another beautiful day to get out and enjoy! I hope these last a few more days but I think we are pushing it now. I am trying to make an apt. at TOSH to have a gait analysis done, called the guy but didn't hear back, to see if there is anything that would help with the hip or the foot. I also need new shoes so I'm going to get those this Sat. too. I have to take my daughter to Primary childrens on Friday for a procedure and would have loved to get both scheduled but it doesn't look like that will happen, but I can still stop and get the shoes Sat. on the way home. My friend who is a PT says that one of the things that she thinks will help would be to strengthen my core, so I guess I'll start working on that. Not sure how I'll go about it though... sit ups I guess? (I'll ask my personal trainer friend in the a.m.) I'm running in the morning with a friend! Yea! I'm also a little scared though... she's in a lot better shape than me (she's a personal trainer) but said she didn't mind my pace because she's used to doing various paces with clients. She lives just down the street and teaches my kids violin/piano lessons. I'm not sure what to expect, we'll just see how it goes. If we have a adequate pace for both of us and could hook up once or twice a week or even just some long Sat. runs I would be thrilled! Wish me luck in the morning! :)

So I went running with my friend Kara today. I'm not sure what to think of the run, loved the company and definately feel like I got a much harder workout than normal but our avg. pace was 9:49. I usually hit around 9:58 and it's not uncommon for me to have a 9:49 average, so I don't know what made todays run that much harder? At the top of a aprox. 1 mile steady climb, that isn't that steep but never levels off, she stopped us and checked our pulse, mine was around 190-200. I felt like that was a little high, but Kara didn't get to excitted and when I asked she said the only way to get it down is to keep running. She suggested to add sprints in the middle of a run from time to time, I fugure like fartleks and she thought that would help too? So my analysis for today is good workout, felt like I pushed myself pretty hard, but a little confused as to why it was so hard? I'll look forward to running sometime next week with her again, but I'm not sure I could manage a long 7-10 mile run unless she tired out. Another difference is that cardiovasularly she is more fit, when I start to get tired, she was just feeling her body kick in and had some ummph, when I was feeling ummphed out!

No goose egg today, BARELY...... Really a matter of time today, I have to be to SLC in a few hours to take my daughter to an apt. at PCMC, then the good news is I managed to get an apt. at TOSH after her apt. for a gait analysis (so I will get a little more running in today..... LITTLE). I hope he can solve all my problems! ( I hope I'm not to disappointed when he doesn't) but if not maybe just a little insight would be o.k. Sat. on the way home I'll pick up some new running shoes, that couldn't hurt the situation! I packed my running clothes to get in a few miles while in SLC. I hope that I do, probably won't make 30 for the week, but I didn't see this little bump in the road when I set my goal. Well almost the official weekend, YEA!! HAPPY RUNNING :)

Got up and did a quick run at my sister-in-laws and it felt o.k. Wouldn't have been to bad but I was constantly worried about getting lost in the gigantic subdivision they live in.

As for the gait analysis that I had on Friday, I'm not sure if I really got any answers (ping goes some change!) He said that my gait and form were actually pretty good, but since I was having pain in that hip, he really looked for a problem. He said that my left leg is a little stronger (more muscle) and that each leg kinda has a different pattern that is different from each other? He said the left could be stronger because it compensates for the right. Also that I had a small amt. of hip rotation in the right leg and that could be causing a bursitis. He recommended an orthotic to be made for both feet that builds up the out side of my right foot slightly that would help with that rotation..... So then the next day on the way home I stop at the Running Corner to get new shoes. I tell them that I need orthotic friendly shoes that aren't too squishy (friday said not to much cushion that allows more movement, irritation in the hip) and told them about the pain in the hip and the PF. The owner took a look at my shoes and in about 3 minutes told me what the guy Friday said. Looking at my shoes there isn't much of a wear pattern that is obvious at all, more at the tips of the toes and then (I coudn't tell) but a subtle difference in the left/right and he said that my left leg was a little stronger ect. He said my form was good by looking at my shoes and said this gait was actually hard to teach people. He watchced me run and said I had pretty good form, we found shoes with a little insert for the PF and I'm hoping to solve the problem with the shoe change and not the orthotic and he thought that was a good idea, he said something about orthotics and that if this didn't help then give a try? Which is what I was thinking all along. I ended up with Asics TN694 speedstar II. They also told me my old shoes were the kings of squishy! So I hopeful (but not too) that I can help things out with this and get my milleage back up!

I was excitted that the owner at the Runners corner told me good things about my form, I'm just not sure why I can't make that produce more speed? But I guess I'll be patient with that.

Another beautiful afternoon for running! ( I really don't know what I'm gonna do when these end!) I wore my new running shoes and they really felt good. I tried to incorperate some of the suggestions I recieved at the Runners Corner from Hawk and it felt good too, but I just stuck to kinda doing it in strides. I felt tired towards the end, but my weekend was all messed up eating and sleeping and I'm running after the night shift so I think it's just that stuff, oh and Monday! I know that it's too soon to tell, and it could be due to low mileage at the end of last week and Sunday off, but the hip really feels good post run today. My foot doesn't feel too bad either! I would like to hope the shoes are going to help and I don't think there is anything wrong with being a little optomistic either so I'm hoping it is going to be a good thing!!!

Ran in shorts and t-shirt again today in the afternoon! Who would have ever thought that one week before thanksgiving that would be happening, sure feels nice! My run today felt hard, about a 9/10 on a hard scale. I'm not sure why either. I felt like I did push myself, but the time didn't show it (DARN!!) One of the other problems was I got ssssooo thirsty! I don't know what is up with that, I almost cut it short just to get a drink. Maybe I'm a little behind on fluids and it's just showing up in the runs? My hip did start to hurt around the last mile, (darn again..) but not to bad and I'm icing everything down good following the runs and several times inbetween. I was thinking about when I ran consistently a few years ago and never had this problem, I was going to the gym regularly so maybe a little leg/hip work to increase the tone around that area would help out the hip? Definatley worth a try!

I got my maid back! Well it's really just me, but I got some good cleaning in today and I'm not going to quit till it feels like the place shines!!! That is after I work, sleep and then run tonight and tomorrow, then back to the scrubbing, sometimes that feels sooo nice!!

Wasn't sure I would even get out today, but sure glad that I did. Run felt really good. It was rather cool, hands and arms got pretty cold, but I think that the cooler temp. helped with everthing feeling so smooth. I did 3.87 by myself and then picked up Callzee for one mile and then did another little by myself. Came home feeling energized instead of dead like the the last couple of runs, this did alot for the mental end of my running which was definatly needed! I've also decided that I would start adding some strengh training for the hip flexors and legs, that may help with the hip by increasing the muscle and tone to decrease movement and irritation there. Can't say it will help but I'm willing to give it a try!

I've posted on the forum, but I'll put a little blurb here too! I signed up the team under Fastrunning bloggers anonymous. Just go to the Moab half site and then to registration and look under teams (I guess) There are ONLY 6 people per team so we will probably need more than one, so lets get this one going!!!

I went running with Kara today. These are a little more of a tempo run for me, which is good helps me keep a more consistant pace. My ipod for some reason won't download the run for today so all I have is the avg. time which was 9:34 for 2.86 miles. Kinda a shorter run, we got a late start today. I'll have to get out and do some more later this evening, (when it's a little warmer) to bring up the mileage for the day. Nice run though, a little challenging on the hill towards home but other than that it felt fine, then I started to fall back a little!

I'm really excitted about my run today. I didn't go first off this morning because I wanted to wait till it got a little warmer outside. But then as always when I put it off I find myself talking myself out of going. Well somewhere inside the running me found myself in running shoes and out the door! I think I waited till it was almost to warm because instantly I was warm, but I got going and things felt pretty good, not great but good. I knew that in order to meet my weekly goal, because I was a slacker yesterday that I would have to do 5 miles today and then 6 tomorrow or the other way around. I was leaning to the 5 today, but when I was headed towards home it I realized that I could split and do 5.5 each (duh!) But anyways... I hit a ever so slighty down hill section (when I'm going up it, it doesn't seem ever so slighty uphill, but what ever?) I was feeling pretty good and decided to push it a little. When I got to the end of the road I was around 9:00 per mile (that's fast for me) So I backed of shortly after and recovered a bit and then pushed again. By that time I was to my house and pretty thirsty and ready to quite around 5 miles. I decided to get a fast drink out of the hose and at least hit 5.5. The water helped a ton and I kept going and found myself pushing it on the same section as before. When I got home to my surprise I had been doing pretty well the whole time and my times went like this 9:21, 9:23, 9:41, 9:30, 9:46, 9:39 avg. time 9:33. I know that's nothing to brag about but for me that's pretty good! But the best is yet to come....(DRUM ROLL) NO ... hip pain or PF pain the whole run!!!! I don't know what the difference is but I'll take it! I haven't ran 6 miles pain free for months!! I'm pretty thrilled! If I can eliminate pain I think that I can start to push myself a little more! I'm really thinking the new shoes must be helping but because things have been so irritated in there that it's taking some time to heal up (I HOPE!!!) But I'm icing right now and going to do some leg work outs next. Maybe I'll even feel like doing 6 again tomorrow!!! Happy running and Happy weekend!!!!

Well I did it!!! First time that I've hit 30 miles in a week since mid October. Maybe that's why things have felt a little bit hard this week (duh). I didn't think it had been that long since I've had a good running week, I guess the body is entitled to rebel a little. Todays theme was "running on emotion." Last night was also the first night that I've had a husband and all kids home on Friday night since late Aug. (Not including Hawaii, but that's not the same.) The girls all were in seperate directions and Ted and I went to dinner but it was sooo nice to just hang out as they came and went and have a chance to just talk with them and each other! We stayed up way too late, till 12:00 waiting for the oldest to come home, and then talked with her till around 1:00. She will be leaving for college in Jan. and although is an adult and very independant has a hard time with some of the house expectaions. (You know that old show Growing Pains? I used to love to watch it... and now I realize how well the title fit!) I know it must be as hard on her as it is us! Then I read Lulu's "Thankful list" on the forum before I headed out today and I felt so bad that she would be leaving us so soon! Well we talked about all the things that we wanted to do today, that currently aren't getting done, so I'm off to get started!!!

I worked last night and the thing that woke me up today was the wind! So to avoid it I put my run off till this evening, following going to dinner with the kids and my in-laws. We stuck to salads but even after that I felt a little urpy towards the end of the run. I told myself I had to do 3 and would have liked to do 4 but I at least pushed past the minimum goal a little. It did feel pretty good for the most part but I never did avoid the wind, just ran with it in the dark instead, oh well the temps. were still great and I hear that is going to change tomorrow! :(

Ran bright and early for me today! Got up and went with my husband around 5:30. I thought it would be colder than it was... Nice surprise! We went 3 miles together and then I went another 2 by myself. Even though sometimes my pace is faster than it was with him I started to fall behind towards the end of the 3 together? I can't figure it out... I have done the same with mt friend Kara. The other day we ran 2.87 together average pace 9:30, felt like it killed me. The next day 5 miles alone average pace 9:30, felt hard but good? Today same story I finished with average pace 9:40 for the 5 today, and when I was with my husband there was no talking going on, just me hanging on! One thing that seems to hold me back is my lungs, I don't feel like I breath effectively... is there something that can help with this? My legs always feel fine it's just the huffing and puffing that seems to slow me? I guess that it is part of the overall fitness aspect to running but for others that I talk to including my husband he says that his legs fatigue first.

Well, really felt good to get out and get it done early today, wish I had the disipline to do that everyday!

Trying very hard to get a run in today and get out the door speedily too! Not doing very well at either, UHGG! I did one mile on the DREADMILL, and started a load of laundry. Did another and packed some clothes. Started #3 and got in 0.5 and had to take a phone call. Went back for another mile and then the phone rang again.... I'm not getting packed and not getting in much of a run either, need to focus on one so I'm done for the day, wanted five but....I'll try to make up for it later in the week (I hope!)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!!

Went on a nice run with Mik'L today (see her entry for details, mine will be the shrt version).

It was a little on the cool side, but we actually warmed up enough to shed a layer and then cool off and wish that we had it back.  I'm glad that I got it in because the rest of the week went down hill from there.  I can say this... running 6 miles with someone to talk with is so much nicer than going it alone, and goes by so much faster!! I love that!

Not too proud of the run today, but I did get out so I'm going to take credit for it.  I ran around a fieild by our family cabin and hoped it would be longer than it was.  The first part was a little up hill and sandy and rocky so I was working pretty good for about a mile and a half and then enjoyed a nice down hill run the rest of the way which felt good.  I should have extended but I couldn't make myself repeat the loop with the not so fun start.  The other road that I could have gone down has a dog that my sister-in-law already has scars from and I didn't feel like the adrenaline rush of how I could possibly out run it or hide from it so I wimped out and went home and had another lunch of all the bad Thanksgiving leftovers!  I know that Monday is going to be painful!  I have over-indulged for 3 days now and it will soon be time to pay the piper with my own self to thank!  But it was all worth it  we had the best Thanksgiving enjoying being with family and realxing!

JOYFUL & TRIUMPHANT !!!!!! That is the word for today!!! I thought that it would be very painful and difficult, but I was pleasantly surprised that although running today wasn't a walk in the park, it wasn't too bad! I could have gladly bagged the idea of running due to the many things I have to do today, but realized that if I just hurried and got it done I would be soooo much better off! (A few TOO MANY extra calories consumed this week ready to be burned off!) So now it's off to get the house cleaned up and the Christmas tree in and decorated for FHE tonight! I love the Christmas Holidays and I'm determined to enjoy them this year and not get STRESSES OUT!!!!

I got my run in early with my husband this morning. It was a little on the cold side, but overall not terrible untill the last half mile or so. Today I kept up with him better than the other day, I think he slowed down a bit and we were more consistant with our pace. I like running with him, it pushes me a bit but not too hard and then he stops around 3.5 miles and I do the rest at a more realxed pace. I'm not sure if the first is a bit of a tempo run, but it feels like it. We need to get some better cold running gear, I am still cold an hour after running and a cup of hot chocolate!

What a crazy day... I started or finished, I'm not sure which with a run when I got home around 6:00 this morning. I only did 2.5 but it was treadmill miles and after working all night that was a enough for me. I then went to bed for a bit and had to be somewhere at 11:00 and to a work mtg at 1:00. I'm now home trying to regroup and do dinner and the plan is for 2.5 more tonight, I'm feeling pretty tired but I'm feeling pretty determined because Friday and Sat. look a little iffy due to going to the BIG CITY for a MD apt at PCMC for my daughter and then speed shopping to do as much Christmas as I can get done as I have not yet started and there is much to do there! Stayed tuned I hope to not disappoint....(Myself more than anyone!!)

Well I finished and actually liive to tell about it!!! Hoping to get to bed early and run with the hubby in the morning!

I've been needing a long run for a while, more mentaly than physically. Running short on time today (no pun inteded)....but I got it done and I'm glad. My legs were a little on the cold side the whole time, perhaps even numb so I can't tell if I had much hip pain. Maybe a jab here and there but so far so good! I plan to strech and ice and cross my fingers that it handled it o.k. so I can continue to keep building that base! Husband bagged on me to make me sleep in ( he does have to shop with me this weekend and a rested wife is a happy wife. He hates shopping but with a cranky wife it's too much for him, not that I could blame him!) Also he thought that it was going to be colder than it was. He jumped on the treadmill and it really worked out because I never would have gone long if I would have ran with him. Legs felt a little sluggish and slow but average time was 9:48 so I can't complain for an inpromptue ?sp longer run!!! Hope to get a few miles in Sat. but looks liike the big goose egg for tomorrow!!!