All it takes is all you've got

8 miles in 7:47 pace

Lately I've been noticing a variety of unique smells that add enjoyment to a run.  Someone's dryer vent blowing the smell of freshly cleaned laundry into the air.  The sweet, delicious smell from the doughnut bakery (which smells even better than it tastes.)  Someone's wood burning stove giving off that comfy campfire smell.  Freshly showered teenagers and their recently spritzed cologne.  The crisp air aroma of wet trees.  

Sometimes a smell takes me back in time to another memory where I experienced the exact same smell.  Recently it was the smell of a wet, muddy trail that immediatly took me back almost 8 years when Aaron and I (just recently married) went to Lake Powell with friends.  We were camping on the beach in the middle of July and it had been raining lightly all night.  When we awoke and came out of our tent the sand was soaked and the smell of wet mud was peaceful and clean.

7 miles in 7:51 pace

Wasn't sure what time Aaron came to bed last night, but I know it was after 2 a.m. so when I awoke at 6:15 a.m. and all three kids were already awake and it sounded like it was hailing outside I decided to just take the kids with me to the gym so Aaron could sleep a little longer and  I wouldn't be pelted on my run.  

 Ran on the TM, took it easy for the first 6 miles then just decided to bump up the pace to 7:08 pace for the last mile to see how my hip responded to a little pick-up.  Seemed to handle it fine.  Maybe I'll try a little more pace pushing later this week.

Fell into a black hole somewhere in my mind.  Felt really tired, emotionally drained, and no motivation to move my body at all.  Luckily, Aaron cast me a line and began belaying me out, but I still had a very tough day.  We did some P90X together (his new employee, Will let us borrow his copy) and it was a killer workout.  No running though.

6 miles in 7:56 pace

Feeling a little more mental stamina today.  Wore running shorts in the warm sunshine.  Vitamin D is a good thing.

7 miles in 8:05 pace.  

Quick weekend get-away for me, starting today.  My Sister-in-laws, Elisse and Ashley (plus Ashley's kids) came through town on their drive back to SLC from Dallas and stayed with us one night. Elisse happened to be awake and ready to run when I came out of my room at 6:30 a.m. so she joined me for the first mile of my run but she decided to run around the pond and back home for three miles as I was off to get more mileage.  Beautiful weather!

After our run we ate breakfast, took the kids to the park for a bit, feed the kids lunch, cleaned up lunch, and joined our office staff, Shawna and Judy for the routine Friday Sushi take-out.  After Sushi, I tucked my girls in for naps, left the baby monitor with Shawna, (who watched the kids until my babysitter got there after school) and I left for Utah with Ash and Elisse.  I had purchased a one way flight home for Sunday morning so I join ALL the Kennard sisters for our beautiful, talented, youngest sister, Emily's baby shower on Saturday afternoon.

We left Denver at 1 p.m. and Ashley drove the first half.  After a quick stop in Wamsutter (I love the awesome name of that town) I volunteered to take the wheel and picked up the pace a bit to arrive at my Mom's new house in East Layton at 8:15 p.m.  Lots of fun, interesting, uplifting conversation on the drive followed by a nice visit with two of my siblings and their families until after midnight at Mom's.

7 miles in 7:54 pace

7 a.m. run around my Mom's new neighborhood in East Layton with Mom at my side on her bike.  Went to Layton High School and ran around the park where I used to have high school Cross Country races.  Then back East to the roads above Mom's house to explore the area.  She lives in a nice neighborhood.  I like how there is a small farm with a rooster and some sheep a few doors down.

After breakfast my Mom took me to my SIL, Dawn's house to carpool to the Baby shower in Draper.  Lots of good food, creative gift giving, encouraging words to the soon to be Mom and an overwhelming amount of descriptive pregnancy, labor, and birth talk (of course, what would a Sister's baby shower be without that?!)

After the shower 4 of us did a little shopping together and had dinner at Nate and Chris' house in NSL.  Then we all met back up at Emily's house in Sandy to "pamper" her.  Ended up putting her crib together (after one trip to Home Depot), organizing all her baby clothes and items, cleaning the baby crib bedding and putting it all on, packing her hospital bag, and massaging her feet; all the while giving birthing and new Mom tips.  Emily is now ready to have her baby!  I am so grateful that I am a part of this awesome family of sisters who love and take such good care of each other.  It was so uplifting to spend the day with them with no needs or concerns of my own, knowing that my kids were at home being well taken care of by Aaron and feeling so grateful for the blessing of Family and service.