I'm not crazy...I'm just bored!!

Okay, well I've finally done it! Way to start out a new year. Kelli, after your pleadings to join I finally did and I loved reading the blog, then actually finding the names of the people that I ran with this morning, since I couldn't ask you and I was horrible at remembering the names anyway. I think this is a great way to track what I do and keep up with others! It is late and I need to hit the gym tomorrow (especially now that I have the sleep counter working!). Loved the run this morning, just not the wind and cold...my knees didn't like it. Looks like Saturday's weather will keep me at the Oval! All others on the BBK that Lucy and I have ran with please bring yourself to my attention, because I think the cold shakes on the way home before the warm bath completely froze my brain and I can't remember names. Hope to run many long, fun and inspirational runs with you all, if I can keep up with my measly 9 min miles! But, no where to go but up (or down if your getting technical), right?

Today has been a mix of ups and downs. I did Lisa's body building class and my normal hour with Mike (my trainer), so I felt really good about my workout even though no 'mileage' was clocked. Then, I got a great lunch date with Steph at Chick-fil-a. A great healthy meal inspite of the small fry and few licks of icecream that I had. However, this is where the good ends and my stress starts. Stupid phones! My cell phone decided to stop working this morning so I thought it wouldn't be a big deal since it was under warranty to get it replaced. Boy was I wrong, long story short after an hour and a half of running from Herriman to West Jordan and all around twice including waiting in who knows how many lines for who knows how long I finally found out that no one in the state of Utah had my replacement phone and that I could get it "overnighted" and recieve it by Tuesday or Wednesday. HMMM?!? Is this confusing anyone else? Well, with the stress of that and trying to get ready for Lauren's baptism in the morning I got home and had to have a piece of chocolate and instead of making my chicken and veggies like I was planning scarfed down a belgin waffle with syrup....MMMM! So, I guess I'll start again tomorrow. I also will try to run evening at the oval if anyone is interested.....anyone, anyone, anyone?

The weekend was great, but I woke up Saturday with a horrible sore throat and congestion and felt like I'd gotten run over by a truck. So, I still woke up and could barely swallow this morning, but went to aerobics. No 'miles' logged, but a great 1.5 hr workout, especially for living on Motrin. I'm going to try to do 9 tomorrow; 6 with BBK and 3 at the gym. We'll see if the cold and snow scare me off tomorrow morning or not! No regrets about not running this weekend though, because I'd much rather give my body sleep and rest to get better. I did do a good hour or two on DDR :) so there were some 'high heart rate' times.

Finally, I get to report miles. I did the body building class at the gym then ran 4, but I did keep it at 8.5 min miles! Thats good for me, because I usually race 8:20 - 8:30 min miles. I'm trying to slowly ramp up my training pace so that I can push a little harder on race day and not feel like I'm going to die. I'm still looking forward to Myrtle Beach next month: warmer weather and lower elevation! Hopefully, its a great running day, I'd like to see under 1:50, but I think realistically I'll finish around 2:00 (hopefully under since my best so far is 2:02 or close to it). I am 15 pounds lighter and in better shape, so we can always keep our hopes AND training up, right?

Today I got to do the kick-boxing class! YEAH, well, if anyone's ever heard Kelli talk about it you can probably sense the sarcasm in that statement. I ran a mile afterward and then did Ab's class then another mile (both at 8:30 min miles). I'm looking forward to a good 6 tomorrow morning, I know it will be cold, but I'm just so excited to be outside I HATE the treadmill so much. I think it may be the primary reason I didn't run before 1.5 years ago, when I'd try to run I always did it on the treadmill and could never go over 3 miles. I can go farther now, but its painful (emotionally and mentally). Hopefully I'll get to see a few more of you tomorrow and meet some more new people that I can entertain on the blog.

Today I had a great run early this morning with the BBK's. I could hardly believe how many people were there! I had a great time and besides the wind nearly freezing my face off as we ran south felt really good the whole time. I have no idea how fast we ran, but I had a good time. Funny thing, I don't know why I was so anxious, but I could hardly sleep last night in anticipation to wake up early and go running! I don't think that has ever happened before, I must really miss the road! Then I was able to go to Yoga at the gym which my hamstrings definately needed, I've started getting a little knot in the right one when I run. With Myrtle Beach coming up I will do anything possible to stave off an injury, even if that means forfeiting more time to do the things I know I should (stretching, yoga etc, not just beat my body daily). After yoga I begrudgingly went back to the treamill and did another 2.5 at 8:30 min miles to round me out to 9 today. YEA! I feel great.

I have been beaten! Today Mike literally beat me down, there was a point where my whole body was shaking so bad that I knew I was going to die if Mike didn't count faster. After 45 minutes of complete punnishment that for some reason I pay for and keep coming back for each week I walked on the treadmill. I was thinking about running some intervals, but after I could barely walk TO the treadmill I decided to simply do incline walking. I walked for about 3 miles at 15% incline, I honestly don't remember what the exact mileage was, but I did get 1400 gain of vertical feet! WHOO HOO! Now if only I would've had some great scenery to go along with that gain, oh well, I did have some great company.

Kelli- I missed you this morning, I'm assuming you knew it would be a lovely day so you're running outside. Sorry, all the muddy buddies are gone so I can't make a personal delivery this week for an after run snack, but I think you'll probably be better without it. :)

I wanted to say how grateful I am for my wonderful, beautiful, healthy happy miracles that I call my 3 children. I met a lady at the gym today who lost her 4 mo old baby to SIDS just 3 weeks ago. I expressed my sympathy to her and I was so impressed with how great she was doing, her faith is amazing and she is very optimistic. I'm sure she has more than a few moments, but if it was me I think you'd have to commit me! Either that or put me on so many drugs so that all emotion was gone and turn me into a zombie just to get through the day. Its one of those small things in the day that makes you want to get down on your knees and thank the Lord for your trials and blessings! I love my 3 children, they may drive me crazy most of the day, but I love every minute of it - or at least I'm now trying to!

Any plans for a Sat run? I'd love to get a long one (10-14) in and early in the morning. Let me know if I can tag along with anyone's plans. I think its supposed to be a nice day!

Wow! In retrospect I had a really good run, but there were a few times I thought that my face was going to freeze off or that if I had to run through one more pile of snow I was going to quit.  However, I think it sent me on a high when Kelli said we finished the 1/2 course in 1:58. That for me is a personal best and the way I felt (like quiting at 7.5 mi) I know I could do better if I was healthy (got a cold thats stuck for about a week now) and it was reasonably warm. So, now my sub 1:55 goal at Myrtle is looking better and better! However, Kelli and the gang won't be there for me to chase, so we'll have to see how I do trying to push myself on my own. I just have to remember Kelli's words "your not breathing that hard" :) and push just a little harder.

As we ran south along the river I thought the trail was never going to end (obviously hit a wall) and then I saw Bangerter, and I knew we didn't have to go much past that. I expressed my excitement to Kelli who told me we were only 7.5. UGGGHHH! I thought for sure right then and there that there was no way my frozen knees, butt and hips were going to take another 5.5 miles! But I thought, well if you turn around now you'll still have to run back to your car and it will still be about 10 miles, so just keep going. Sometimes rationalizing works against you and sometimes it works for you, so I kept going. Then just a jaunt later (and with our backs to the wind and going a nice downhill) Kelli told me we were at 1:42, "great only 20 minutes a couple miles left!" Then she gave me the GREAT news that we were really at 11.5, I couldn't believe it and was so excited. I also knew my water was close. I picked up water (which had frozen over) and was ready for the downhill sprint to the finish, then the stupid snow came. The trail was covered with unplowed snow and even when you weren't walking you were at about that pace. The last 1.5 took us 16 minutes which wasn't our typical pace for the rest of the race, due to the snow. So, the whole point of this rambling comes to if it weren't for the snow I know we'd have finished in 1:56 or less. Wow, that impresses me so much I can't hardly stand it. For the rest of the group that was a pathetic slow pace I'm sure, but I felt great ... well at least now I do and thats what counts, right?

Today my mind will not wake up! I'm not sure why, but its just really tired and wants to sleep another 10 hours or so. Not much mileage, but I did the step class and AB's class at the gym then ran just one (not enough nursery time to do more) to warm up my hamstrings and stretch out. My right ham has been bothering me for a couple weeks now, not all the time just intermintintly. This is the kind of thing that screams to me "You need to stretch!" I always forget to, I'm usually in such a hurry that I don't and then it just gets tighter and tighter and I know I'm close to risking injury if I don't start taking care of it. So, that's my focus this week, stretch morning and night and work those hams a little looser so I don't injure them. My mile was at 8:30 and I felt good with it, especially after I noticed that the incline was up to 2.0 and I lowered it down to my normal .5 - felt tons better :).

Another great run with the BBK's! I really have so enjoyed running with all of you, I feel faster and stronger than I have in welll....forever. The 6.5 or so was on GOOD hills for the most part and I tried to keep up with Kelli and almost did (except the 2 mile hill loop, Kimberly became my newest meet on that one!) Overall, she had a 8:40 pace and I couldn't believe it! I thought it was definately slower, because I felt so good. I really like to know at the end my pace and mileage and am toying with the idea of getting a garmin like so many other faithful runners, but am still not sold just yet due to cost and that I would hate to know that stuff in the middle of a run - especially a long one! I really like to run against myself more than anything or anyone, because I'm the only one I can ever beat; I just run my own feel good pace which varies sometimes from minute to minute. After the early morning I did the body building class at the gym and rode a stationary bike for 30 minutes and stretched well. Hamstrings seem to be loosening up a bit, but this morning it was my arch that had me troubled. I'm going to try to get my laundry folded so I can go to SL running company and get a shoe fitting and new insoles which I think will help as well. I've been running on the same insoles for about 9 months now (3 pair of shoes)! Feeling good and loving life, can't beat it!

Today I opted to do Kickboxing and AB's class and take it easy on the running. A break is always good for the system. I don't know if I'm getting sick or what, but I just can't seem to wake up and function these last few days, I'm more zombie like than anything. Then I get on the scale at the gym (I'm supposed to be at my goal weight to go to Myrtle Beach) and I can't get it to budge. I feel like I'm making a concentrated effort on eating, but I just can't get it to budge. Its frustrating, but my running is doing so much better its hard to complain. As long as my head can wake up tomorrow and not be in a fog I will come to running group. I really look forward to it so that I can get yoga in at the gym! Got to use the 1.5 nursery hours the best way I can!

Today I ran 6.5 with the BBK's, and thank goodness for them because I learned a good lesson this morning. That is, if you eat 5000 calories of junk the night before you try to run (or do anything, including trying to wake up) you will fail. Your body cannot perform with just sugar! I thought for sure that we were running a good sub 8:30 pace because I was so exhausted, but found out that it was more like a 8.45 pace. I so would've stopped after two miles if I hadn't been with the group ... so here's a shout out to all of you that I could barely keep up with this morning: thanks for being there and dragging me along! I went to yoga and had a great time stretching and relaxing, now its off to the bathrooms to scrub. My eating WILL be better today (promise!).

My sister sent this to me a couple months ago and for me especially today, oh it rings so true!

The Top 5 Reasons for Running

Reason #5

CALORIES:  Running burns lots of calories so we burn enough calories to allow us to occasionally have a Mcflurry, French fries, or whatever else floats our boat.

Reason #4:  

MUSCLES:  Running builds our muscles which helps us look great in our running skirts and muscles burn lots of calories which allows us to occasionally have a Mcflurry, French fries, or whatever else floats our boat.

Reason #3

ENDURANCE:  Running gives us the endurance we need to make it through the exhausting job of being wife, mother, and teacher, and also gives us that extra boost of energy to go out and have a McFlurry, French fries, or whatever else floats our boat.

Reason #2

TRIPS:  Running gives us the opportunity to take weekend trips with our family and friends to new and exciting places where we visit new places to get a McFlurry, French Fries, or whatever else floats our boat.

THE #1 REASON FOR RUNNING IS!...

RACE DAY!   We finally get some justification and gratification for all of our early mornings, dog bites, and hard work.  We get a chance to meet the challenge and push our performance to new limits.  And we get to wrap it all up with a McFlurry, French fries, or whatever else floats our boats, because weʼve earned it!

Today I had to go to the doctors in the morning to get my recommended shots for the cruise in March. YUCK, my arms are sore now and I don't think its getting better soon; good thing I don't run on them! I did my personal training and then a 45 min cardio interval ride on the bike. Trying to take running easy this week to give my body a little break and variety to hopefully help pop my weight out of the rut I'm in. Planning on running Butterfield tomorrow with Eric and the gang (all us Painters orphans anyway), and I'm really looking forward to it! My weight was back down to my low today so yesterdays good eating did me well and gives me strength to get through the weekend, I hope anyway; however, now that you all know WHY I run a good long hard run might just need a reward :)

At the bottom of Butterfield Canyon I felt great. I won't tell you what I was feeling after running the 4 miles up and knowing that Alan's auto stop (which goes at 15 min miles) went on that last hill. No idea about the pace, but I don't think I want to know, it might just take something away from the accomplishement of running 8 miles on the 2-3 inches of snow up the canyon! It was nice to run close to home, I haven't done that for a while. I toyed with the idea of running there and back, but 3 extra out and then back after the canyon scared me a little, as well as running along Bacchus early/dark morning when there is no shoulder normally let alone with the snow piles! Plus, Lucy joined me on this one and that makes small shoulders even less tolerable for me. When I finished and streched a little (IT on right knee is now aching a little from uneven surfaces) I felt like I wanted to run back home and not drive so I guess thats a good sign.

Great run today and still feel good about miles even though it was only just over 20 for the week. That is still really good for me, and the way my body has felt this week its GREAT! I'll try to ice and be kind to my IT the next couple days as to not aggravate it, I would be very upset if it kept me from Myrtle. Oh, how I hate getting old! Everything seems to bother me more and longer and won't just go away, it always comes back sooner or later. I feel like I'm only 22, but unfortunately on days like today reality hits a little harder.

Congrats to all you Painters finishers! Can't wait for the fun news on Monday (at the gym with Kelli) and Tuesday on the run. Have a safe drive home.

Today I did a little cross training in step class and then worked my core in the 30 minute Ab's class. Since my husband was home I got the extra time to then do 2 easy miles on the treadmill. Just enough to get things warmed up, but I forgot to stretch, so I did it at home when I was cooled down. I usually feel pretty spent after all that, but today chatting with Kelli about Painter's made the time fly by and I thought I really should've done another mile, even though I was at 8:30 min miles. I'm looking forward tomorrow running with the group and trying to keep a great pace. IT on the right knee is still a little tender...I will be taking the RICE approach this week to hopefully stave off any interruptions in running.

Ran again with the BBK's and we did hill work, which is just what I need. I always slow WAY down on hills and they are so challenging for me. Cheryl had us sprint up and recover down the hill about 6 or 7 times. It really was beneficial to me. I could definately make the recovery and do it again until she had us run a 1/4 mile afterward one of the sprints and I slowed down to a near crawl until we got to stop. THIS is my problem, when I get hills with no recovery I slow way down to recover my breath (breathing is SO hard in this muck! I need wind or rain or even snow to be able to breath again). Downhill is much more my specialty, I can relax and let my stride/legs just go! No idea what the AP was for the out/back miles to the hill, but it felt on the fast side (for me 8:30 or so) but really good! Afterward I went to the gym and did some weights/resistance and then 20 minutes on the eliptical. It was a good workout, I just wish the scale would've agreed with me! I just need to back off the popcorn and treats when we go to the movies (like yesterday) then the scale might like me again :). However, we now all know my top five reasons for running (see last weeks entries), so I guess I deserved it ;)

Did the kickboxing class at the gym and then did abs class for 20 minutes then took the last 10 minutes of nursery time to warm up the glutes and hams and then stretch the crap out of them, because they are so sore from yesterday's workout. I'm going to try to swim tonight while the children are in class, its just sounds like a nice cross workout today. We'll see if I can stand being wet (thats what I hate most about swimming is being wet afterward). Always need a good break from running I think. I'm also trying to nurse my IT since I could even feel it yesterday on the eliptical.

Met the BBK's for a Bingham High run. It was good. I think it was under an 8:30 AP for the nearly 3 - 2mile repeats, with some pushing to faster paces of about 7:20. Wow, that really impressed me. I didn't think I could run that fast that long. It felt pretty good too, thats the sad part, now I'll feel like a whimp when I'm only running 10 min miles on the dreadmill. Afterward I went to yoga at the gym and did some great stretching including hip openers and spimal twists (my favorite). Then I spent the next 6 hours walking around discovery gateway, I've never seen my children so NOT bored! I finally had to drag them out of there so that I didn't have to fight rush hour home. Glad we all had a good day, I just need a nap now!

Okay, so I only got one mile, but you must understand that I was walking at a 30% incline! So, my vertical foot gain was over 1200 feet! I'm ready for a hike now, too bad there's too much snow in all the good trails. I did my personal training with Mike and did heavy repeat sets. I don't feel too bad now, but I think I will in the morning. Good thing we only did one legs set so I can run tomorrow. After my long day yesterday I feel asleep watching my favorite Thursday night on NBC and other than walking up to bed around midnight I slept until almost 9 AM! Oh, I really needed that rest. I'm a little groggy today, because I think I got too much, but am feeling energized and ready to takle the day and that hasn't happened in a while. Looking forward to a long run tomorrow in the air that is a little warmer and has been cleaned out some by this rain!

Because of work I had to ditch Kelli on the Riverton 1/2 course and had to go at the break of dawn (6AM) but I was resolved to run the distance. I had never plotted a course 13 plus before so I just added a few different routes together. I had no idea until I drove it afterward that it was so long!! This is the longest I've ever run in my life, and the best part is I feel like moving this afternoon and I'm not dead. Maybe I can run the Ogden full afterall, we'll see, its still 10 more miles than that. My AP with my rustic means of looking at the clock when I started and finished and dividing the mileage (which I drove in a car) I was at a 9:30 pace. Which for running up Emmeline and 'Herriman Highway' to 7300 W (a steady, long incline) I feel really good about. I think my early miles were a lot faster, but at around 13 was when I could feel that last hill and almost took the shortcut home, but I was determined to do more than 14 so I kept going, even if it was SLOW. I'm really impressed with myself today and have all those BBK's to thank for the inspiration, coaching and conditioning. I CAN RUN!

Cross training in step class and then 3 miles on the treadmill at a 8.27 min/mile pace. Felt really good and wished for more time in the nursery. Contemplating running Ogden full this May, but 80 miles/week really scares me. I think I may just have to commit and then grab running by the horns and go for it.

Went early morning with the BBK's and did 6 miles and most of it hill repeats (funny, I accidentally typed 'hell' instead of 'hill' freudian slip I think :) ). I really want to improve my hill work, and it is not easy. I feel like a strong runner until everyone kicks my trash on the hills, I can't even catch them on recovery and they sound like they're breathing normally and I'm sucking wind! Someday, I just have to keep going, right? I must say I am better now than I was 8 months ago, so I know I can keep improving, especially with all the help I've got around me (BIG THANKS)!! I then went to the gym did 1 mile at 9 min to warm up then did  interval repeats of chest, back, legs (squats) biceps, triceps and abs. I then finished with 4 miles at an incline at 9-9:30 min miles. I'm trying to get my brain wrapped around doing Ogden full in May. I think it would be a great accomplishment and push for me. Always something new right? If I just sign up, then I have to do it because heavens knows I can't waste money (thats why I have to eat all the junk in the house and can't throw it away). Here is to a 40 mile week! JUST DO IT !!

Today I did the kick-butt, oh, I mean kick-boxing class this morning and then ran 4 miles starting at 9:30 pace for the first two, then bumped it up for the last 1.5 miles to a finishing pace of 7:40 min miles (the last 1/2 mile). It was good because I even had the treadmill at a 1% incline, where I usually run at flat. I'm excited to get my 40 miles in this week and am proud to say I've paid for the Ogden full in May. I now need all the advice and help I can get to get myself ready for it! I'm open for the advice and don't want to get hurt ramping up too fast, so please help me out all of you vetran marathoners!

Did the early work out with BBK's to get in a few extra and finished with 10! Yea, I feel good about the miles and a few of them were pushing under 8 min miles. I got my Garmin yesterday and didn't have it set to see my mile splits, but the AP was 8.48 min miles, which for having the first 4 or so around 9:30 pace I feel good about it! I'm now getting excited about Ogden and pushing myself to get 'er done. A little secret: When I was in college about 8 yrs ago a girl in my class was training for a marathon and I idolized her and thought (in my head only, never spoken) that I would/could run a marathon before I was thirty. Well, here I am I'll be 29 and am really living a goal I once wouldn't speak out loud. That really honestly doesn't happen to me. I'm ready to get training, I'm already planning on how to run while on my cruise for 2 weeks! I did Yoga after running and I don't feel nearly as tight or sore now either. I'm so up on my miles (Goal was 40 this week and with the 14 on Sat I'll be OVER that :) ) I think I'll take the day off tomorrow and spin with resistance training. I LOVE TO RUN!!!!

Did resistance and spinning today. A good recovery much needed by my foot; I've had some achy pain on the outside - top and bottom of my right foot. I think it was caused by old insoles and shoes. I've been icing it 2-3 times per day and it usually feels better around 3-4 miles, but then will ache again once I've cooled down from the run. It does seem to be getting better and it only started last Saturday, so I'm hoping it goes away soon. A good recovery day like today helps me look forward to a good long run tomorrow! I think I'll be going with Kelli and Scott on the Riverton 1/2 course, with the extra from finish to start I'll end up around 14. A great mileage week for me! I usually only have 25-30 so I don't want to increase too much too fast, so I think I'll try to stay 40-50 for a few weeks, then slowly ramp up in March and April. I don't know if this will help me for Ogden or not, please feel free to give unsolicited advice on where to find good training programs. I'm always open for advice!

Any adivce about the foot? I have gotten new shoes and insoles and it has been better lately. I think its the peroneal tendon and it looks like from reseach rest and STRETCHING your calves (the back of my legs are SO tight and I'm so bad at stretching!) are the best recoveries. HMMM? back to stretching, you'd think I'd learn some time that flexibility is as important as strength!

Thanks for the great run this morning Kelli! We did the Riverton 1/2 with Nancy and I tell you, good company on a long run makes all the difference to me. I think thats why I started running to begin with, a good hour or so to chat with fun people who love the same things you do. We ended at 14 even and finished in 2:03 with an average pace of 8:50. I must say that amazed ME if no one else. I felt pretty good most of the time, there were a few places that I felt it was all I could do to keep up, but then others where I felt GREAT! The hills on that course didn't seem to bother me as much last time, but this time I really felt them. Thats what a bag of chocolates and popcorn and carmel will do for you eaten just 10 hours before a long run (I did give in last night, darn it!). My foot didn't hurt at all this morning and I can barely feel a little ache afterward. I think the day off did more for me than I really know, I always take Sundays off as well so I'm hoping to come back Monday full of energy and optimism and no aches to use as a crutch. RUN ON!