All it takes is all you've got

2 mile warm up, stretching 7X25 second strides.  10 miles total 7:50 ave. pace.

It felt like Springtime here in CO this morning!  28 degrees is a massive heat wave compared to the negative temps I was acclimating to last week.  I was wearing tights and a long sleeve shirt and sweating big time.  Could have been more comfortable in shorts for sure.

My body is feeling kind-of sluggish because I started coming down with a sinus infection yesterday.  I'm pounding the Emergen-C and Airborne hoping this congestion goes away soon and doesn't work its way down into my lungs. 

Met Running Republic at East Boulder Community park.  My favorite meeting place because it is the closest to my home, only 20 minutes.  Temp at my house was 28 degrees, but in Boulder, it was only 18 degrees.  I would have brought my warmer gloves had I thought about it a bit longer, but as it was my hands were a little cold in the thin liners.

20 minute warm-up, stretching, strides. 

4X90 seconds hard with 60 seconds easy. Pace was 5:39, 5:20, 5:56, 6:02 up and down hills, over ice patches

3X4 minutes steady with 2 minutes easy.  Pace was 5:57, 5:59, 5:48 up and down hills, over ice patches.  Last one was mostly on dry sidewalk.

4X60 seconds hard with 60 seconds easy. Pace was 5:07, 5:43, 5:37, 5:28.  Mostly flat, but some more ice patches.

10 minute cool down.  Total 8.73 miles at 7:46 ave.

Darren is going to Perth, Australia for a couple of weeks to visit Colleen's brother for the Holidays.  He said Colleen is already there and its like 90 degrees.  *Jealous*  At least our forecast is for the mid-40s or above for the next 10 days.  Not bad! 

Easy 10 around Standley Lake in 7:54 ave. pace.  SO nice out there today.  Very calm and a warm 34 F.  Quiet too.

Weird morning.  My kids all woke up around 4:30 a.m. today.  Why?  I have no idea.  I kept hearing them not realizing what the time was but feeling like I just wanted to stay in bed for longer, pretending like I was not hearing them.  Then finally at 5:15 a.m. I lifted my head to see what time it was and realized I'd better get them to go back to bed for another hour or two so they wouldn't be zombies all day.  Breanne was already dressed for the day, ready to rock and roll.  Abe was still mulling around in his PJs, but starving for breakfast.  Ali was ready for some milk and more sleeping.  So I got Ali a milk and put her back in her crib, got Breanne a water and talked her into going back to bed, and got Abe a bowl of oatmeal and talked him into going back to bed too.  By 5:35 a.m. I had gotten them all back down to bed and I could have just gone running then but it was still dark and I was still tired, so I went back to bed too.  Woke up to Ali tugging on my sleeve again at 7:30 a.m. Can she climb out of her crib now?  Guess so.

Wow.  What a beautiful day today is.  Went running in 40 degree sunshine at 7:30 a.m. with shorts on.  Out and back on Big Dry Creek.  Running felt easy today. Almost effortless.  The sinus infection that has been bothering me since Sunday is almost completely gone and my body feels strong and fit.  I am SO grateful to feel this good right now.  Its never easy to stay healthy and uninjured but when it happens you just have to recognize that it is a gift from God and give thanks.

Stretched and rolled out on my foam roller for a good 30 minutes after the run while eating breakfast and watching TMBG songs on You Tube with the kids.  Ali was climbing all over me, jumping on my legs and giving me hugs even though I'm sure I didn't smell great.  What a little cutie she is.  18 months old is SUCH a fun age. 

16 miles in 7:29 ave. pace. 

Not quite as effortless running today as it was yesterday, but still enjoyable.  My legs were pretty tired and I had to stop and stretch my left quad/hip 4 times to keep it loose.  I'm going to roll out on the foam roller again for a while this morning.  9.15 miles 8:10 ave. pace.

Aaron took our 3 and 5 year old kids with him yesterday afternoon to look at houses and buy another investment house.  Abe reported to me that Daddy bought a good one because it was "real nasty."  Aaron has previously taught him that the "real nasty" houses are always the best deals.  This one had a leaky pipe in the basement with dirty rotten towels soaking up the mess and smelled of cat urine throughout.  

While the others were gone house hunting I took little Ali with me to the gym and lifted weights around 4:30 p.m.  Ali did not like being left alone in child care without her siblings.  She sat on Miss Adel's lap the whole time and would not let Adel help any other kids.  Have I mentioned how much I LOVE the child care provider at my gym?  Adel is SO great. She is probably in her early 50's and has worked in the child care at Bally's for a LONG time.  She is from Europe somewhere, I'm not actually sure where, I'll have to ask her where she's from the next time I go in 'cause she has a sweet accent and hilarious mannerisms.  She works all of the child care shifts except for maybe one or two shifts per week when 21 year old Erica comes in.  Adel is so funny and friendly and cute with the kids.  After sitting on Adel's lap for an hour yesterday while I lifted weights, Ali was smiling and giggling and blowing her kisses as we left.  Pretty obvious that Ali loves her.  I love to see my kids grow fond of great people outside of our family.  It brings joy to my heart.

Met at Potts Field to run with Running Republic. 

20 minutes warm up, stretching, strides

3X1.5 mile repeats in 5:47, 5:49, 5:59 pace (last one had more hills and I was tired)

During our cool down we saw this guy trying to pick fights with cars.  He must have thought he was pretty tough.  I wonder if he's ever actually won a fight with a car?