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

Well, I got to run with Smooth on the JRP! It was sprinkly rain and windy, but it was the best run of the year! Great company is always the winner in my book. Daisy ran with us and it was a beautiful morning. Other than the patches of ice we had to tip toe over, it was perfect. I also got to see Chad a couple on times on the run too! A nice haunt south on the parkway. A classic with classic friends.

I couldn't sleep because of this crazy world we live in, so I took Adam to school and then took a nap before I got out to run. I did my normal Monday route, which is my Graffiti Rock loop. I start at my house, go to the middle school and then take the trail up and over to graffiti rock and then run down from the cove. So it is about 1.5 on the road, 3 on the trail then a couple miles home on the road. The trail was great when I started and it was over 50 degrees! Then I started getting mud sections, then they got worse, but by the time I should've turned around I was closer to the end so I just kept going; but it was slow going! Things did clear up a bit, but I still had muddy shoes. Not that it bothered me...I love a good mud run. I just hate abusing the trails. Then the next couple miles home on the road were nice and downhill...totally worth the effort to get there slogging through the dirt. 

My uphill and start miles were slow and the slogging miles were worse, but I had some good downhill miles around 8:30mm. Still had a full ap of 11:34, but I'm trying to look at the good side and be positive. 

Regular Tuesday Ten, except I did the loop from my house because no one else was running. I kind of hate doing it that way, but I would be more annoyed having to drive 3 miles to run by my house...so I do the loop the hard way when I'm alone. It is nice to have the first 3 miles of nice downhill, but then I have flat and climbing for the next 4 miles! Today it was SO windy that it was uphill into the wind what seemed like the rest of the way. I do get one good downhill mile at 8, but then the last two are flat/uphill home. So I had a good pace on all the miles except the uphill into the wind ones. Still finished my ap at 10:15....but 7/10 miles were closer to 9! So, a good early morning run even if it was windy at least it was warm. 

I've been trying to get speedwork on the treadmill since on Wednesdays, but I had to leave home early and couldn't hit the gym. So I did my neighborhood route early so I could get home in time to get ready before I took Adam to school.

It was windy again... warm and windy! The wind even kept me up through the night, it was crazy. Miles not uphill and into the wind were decent, but the other two were rather pathetic. Oh well, at least I'll run tomorrow!

Regular old Shaggy Mountain for the morning crazy run. Daisy was being very protective of her front paws and with yesterday's issues I chose not to take her...which is always sad for me when I don't get to run with Daisy. But I did have Kristyn and she was tired and sore so she was okay slogging along with me slowly. I actually did a lot better at keeping up than I thought I would and even had an 8:25, 8:09 and 7:52. So the downhill, as always was good. I even had one of the split miles at 9:29 and 10:20 on the last big hill. So it was a good morning with great company. Love my shaggy mountain route! 

Well, I was meeting Rachel Small (Martinez) at Wheadon Farms for a run after dropping off Adam at school. She had a meeting at 8 so I did a few miles myself before she got there. I ended up with 5 miles and figured we would do 5 or 6 so I was good to get a longer day in. I got back to the parking lot and just decided to walk the big loop unil she came....well, a few minutes turned into 90 minutes! Daisy and I just walked, I knew her meeting was for her son so I figured it had just gone long and I didn't want to push her plus, I knew she'd need a good vent session after and all I had was picking up Adam at 1, so I just kept walking. I finally got to a point where I figured I was getting close to do it or don't time. I sent her a text to tell her I was starting on the loop, but maybe I could meet her somewhere along the way if she finished her meeting. I hit the start button on my watch, ran 10 steps and she called me! HA!! Isn't that the way it always works. So I walked one more loop and then she pulled in and we got our 5ish mile loop started. However, I didn't realize how tired my legs were from so much walking! Plus, I had no fuel which I didn't think about until after the run but man did I drag those 5.25 miles with Rachel. For different reasons we both opted to take a walk break at different times, but taking those breaks out we kept the AP at 9:52...better than the 10:12 I did solo! So, it ended up being a decent morning with lots of time on my feet. Good company and Daisy and I had a fun windy morning outside with friends. I got Rachel and Daisy got Coco! Oh, as a side note, it was so cute they both were happy to share a bowl of water and drank together, noses together. It was so cute! I love my puppy. 

Well I almost dropped out of the run. I wanted to sleep in and not wake up early, so I slept in and then decided I wanted to be lazy and not run. But I did it anyway. Then I thought "I'll just do 8 and not the upper loop to make it 12", but I'll start and see what I decide when I get there. So, I drug myself out of bed and got ready and started my run walking uphill (which I normally do on this upper Shaggy loop - it is SO steep at the start!). I got involved in my podcast "Fartlek Running Show" and then Herimanology that before I knew it I was going up the upper loop. So, I did what I didn't think I would do. From then on, I ran further than I thought and pushed faster than I thought I would. I had a really good 2nd half of the run. Granted that is the downhill part of the 1700ft elevation gain loop, but it is basically out and back, so I earned every step of the downhill. I ended with my last quarter mile at a sub 7mm pace. It isn't long and as I mentioned it is really downhill, but I did it. My legs were turning over and doing well. I probably don't give myself enough credit for what I do accomplish, but I feel so slow and weak lately...sigh. But, I got it done with a 12:49AP with all my uphill walking. So I'll try to pat myself on my back and keep moving on.

Well, I actually had a good run today. It was around noon and I ran without ear coverings or gloves even though it was only 34 degrees. The sun made it wonderful. My AP for the short run was 9:29 which is fairly good for myself lately. My uphill miles were over 10, but my downhill miles were closer to mid 8's. So I'm just glad that I can push out a faster mile or two occasionally. 

Tuesday ten solo...again. I've gotten the loop down from my house that makes it exactly the same distance, but I don't have to drive to Chad's. It is a good and bad thing. I hate the loop this way having the 3 miles of good downhill first, but what do you do? Not moving so I guess I better deal with running uphill home as I've done forever :) 

The pace was slow, but I guess I better get used to this especially if no one will run with me and make me push myself. I'm not good at doing it alone on the road. I guess I should start hitting the track? But where? Sigh...whatever, I'm running and working out and trying to lose weight, so it will come eventually, right?? 

Did a weight/lift class after taking Adam to school at the rec center as well. I'm getting there, right?

Treamill miles at the gym after dropping Adam off at school so I didn't have to deal with the snow and cold. I did 3/4 mile warm-up then did 1/4 mile pick ups with 1/4 mile recoveries until I hit 3 miles, but did the last one faster and faster for an extra 1/4 mile. My on paces started at 8:30ap and got faster each one, but I did recovery faster too. So when I got to 3.5 I still had a few minutes left until class started, so I just went up to 4 miles. Time was 36:20 so I got an ap of 9:07 for everything. Much faster than I run on the road and I had the treadmill at 1% incline, but I think the treadmill isn't callibrated and it says faster than it was. 

I then did the spin/lift class I like. You do 10 minutes on the bike, then do 10 minutes of a lift circuit and repeat for the hour. It is really fun and a good way to get some lift and biking in. 

Shaggy Mountain just like every Thursday! Kristyn and Chad joined me and it was worth it, because I worked hard to keep up. My AP was 10:00 which for Shaggy lately for me is a good pace. My finishing downhill miles were 8:18, 8:22 and 8:04 for the last .22 

I felt strong and was grateful for friends to keep me going! 

I was going to go do lift at 10, but I fell asleep and didn't want to wake up. I was still cold and just wanted to snuggle in a warm bed. The issue is I fell asleep and then when I woke up the snow had gone CRAZY!! One day I was truly glad I had gotten up early and done my miles early. 

NOTHING! The snow was enough yesterday to make me crazy and anxious, so I took today off. Slept in, worked for a few hours on the couch and then got heart pizza for my kids for dinner. A total day off...because tomorrow is not one. So I'm taking a lazy day to get ready. Hopefully no more snow accumulates! 

What a day! It couldn't have been better if I'd planned it. Melissa Soper came to my house at 8am and we took off on a journey of 45KM for my 45th birthday! I went out of the Neighborhood along 13400S toward Oak Hollow Elementary then took the trail to 6400W and for the first time I ran North on the road all the way to Herriman Blvd then grabbed the trail by the Herriman seminary and ran down to Midas Creek Elementary. We took that road to Daybreak Lake trail, so we came up under the road by the dam and then ran the trail around the lake to Bingham Creek Park and grabbed that trail all the way to 4000 W. At that time we crossed the road and jumped on the Welby Jacob Canal Trail, which we then took all the way down to Porter Rockwell Blvd. We did stop a couple times at gas stations just off the trail and to safely cross at intersections when traffic was too busy. But it was the first time I'd taken the trail the WHOLE way and I loved it! At Porter Rockwell we went down to the Jordan River Parkway Trail and took that until we finished our 45km (almost exactly 28 miles) just passed Thanksgiving Point golf course. Craig was there to pick us up, so it was perfect.

At the bottom of the hill on JRP (just below the Camp Williams Cemetary and above the Apostolic church) Soper stopped and told me we needed to do our Cosmic Brownie Birthday celebration...so we did! HA! She had brought a cosmic brownie AND candles AND a lighter. If the darn wind wouldn't have been so strong I would've actually gotten to blow out candles :) Instead, I just got pictures and a treat. It was perfect. Soper and I finished up the last couple miles then she treated me to Swig on the way home - totally worth the 28 miles! 

I truly don't think the run/day could've been any better. I did walk here and there after mile 15ish, but the mud on the trail occassionally made it mucky and difficult. But the company was the best I've had for quite some time! Getting to spend 5 hours with someone as wonderful as Soper is a gift that can't be duplicated. I will forever treasure the miles that I was able to have and the conversation that just flowed between the two of us. Sigh...I wish every run was this good! 

When I got home I had some visitors. Lauren and her family had come down and we got a great surprise from our sweet Reed. Then after a shower I got treated to dinner at home from Cafe Trang! Pho, spring rolls and egg rolls. I was happily stuffed with sore legs and just got to chill listening to little Reed giggle with his uncles all night. A perfect day for this crazy old grandma :) 

Rest Day as always! However, I truly was still so happy from my run and day yesterday that I was just on cloud nine. Poor Daisy was sore and doing little walking, but a lot of resting. But, oh how I wish I could feel that happy every day. Running is the best. 

Played with my sweet Reed and took him on a walk to different playgrounds to try and find a dry slide. But, he just fell asleep. So I got a nice recovery walk :)

Got up early and after Saturday didn't want to do Tuesday ten and no one was willing to go along, so I just did my 7 mile loop along the trails to Monarch Meadows and back. It had snowed just enough that it was crunchy crust on top of the frozen rain/ice. I thought I was fine until about 3/4 of a mile in I slipped pretty good and fell on my butt and my arm hurting my shoulder as I tried to break my fall. So, then I started going slower watching for the slippery snow. But I still got the full run in! 

Took Adam to school, walked on the TM for 30 minutes then did a lift class at the gym to round out the day. 

Treadmill miles with 2 1/4 mile pickups and 2 1/2 mile pick ups at low 8's - high 7's. It feels good to put some speed down. BUT I jumped off the tread when I was done and because of my weak shoulder I kind of fell when I should've been pushing myself up and so my foot missed the edge of the treadmill and slid down the outside edge. I was fine, just laughed. BUT I now have a HUGE hematoma on my shin and the swelling is so bad I just want to cut it open and let it drain. So, I've got compression socks and ice on it while my feet are up. 

Oh, I did my bike/lift class afterward as well...gotta get it done :)

Shaggy Mountain alone...but it was good. I still got up and out and it was snowy, so I can't blame others for not driving to my house! I did well until at the top of the first hill on the dirt road I rolled my ankle and fell. I was breathing hard so I had to recover and sit in the snowy road for a few minutes...good thing no one drives there! Then I started going slower and the mud wasn't frozen in places so it was a squishy mess and I gave in and walked. Then on the downhill after the new pavement my feet slipped out from under me becuase the mud WAS ice. I landed on my rear and back and then hit my head on the ground. I again stayed there for a good minute to recover...sigh. All the good, the bad and the ugly this week. I did finish the run slowly, but surely the rest of the way with NO issues. I came home and I KNOW I had recorded my run because the miles dinged at all the right spots and I knew it had finished and my HR had gone down to recovery levels when it dinged...but I must've deleted the dang thing!! So, I don't know my pace, but it might just be better that way this week. The snow globe run was fun though, can't complain about that! 

I decided on a loop I could do that I've never done before from Wheadon Farms. I wasn't sure how long it would be, but I figured at least 8. The only issue is, it was all uphill home and I did a trail section as well at the end. The snow wasn't my friend, BUT I DIDN'T FALL!! The first day after 3 that I didn't hurt myself on a run. So, it was slow and when I hit the snowed in trail there was a slight bit of walking up a hill and then some slogging through a long puddle that I thought was frozen. Wet feet and snow logged trails make for some fun memories. I ended at almost exactly 9 miles and it was a perfect cool down and then jump in the car to head to Athlecare. 

A good start to the weekend. 

Ahh, the beautiful day!! I got to run the MCT with Smooth. It was a nice, easy run with good walk breaks as well. Smooth isn't quite back to where she was before she got sick this winter. But neither am I, so I just enjoy the miles! How can you not with Smooth?!? It was a lovely morning, weather and company wise. Almost 4 hours on my feet is always a good day, I'll totally take it. 

Well, I'm not sure how I did it. It wasn't my intention to try and run fast today, but I actually had a respectable pace. Which is so sad considering where I used to be...someday, maybe someday, but right now I'm out getting it done. It was a nice warm morning and I miss warm runs! I'm excited for warmer weather. Anyway, did my out and back SMH route, but took the long way home. I gues my body was just ready to actually run a decent pace. It probably won't last through tomorrow, but one day was nice. The only 10+mm that I had I walked through the mud and did a big go-around on the trail, so it feels like a win. AP: 9:28 - 9:49, 10:38, 8:47, 8:38, 9:26, 9:32, 9:09

Maybe I'm getting a touch of speed back somehow? Sigh, what is really sad is that a 9:33 AP for this route IS speedy for me right now. But, I'm getting it done. Slowly, but surely. I was impressed I only had 2 miles over a 10mm and those were the crappy uphill. So, I've definitely got some places to improve AND I had 4 sub 9mm on the downhill on the way home...only because Kristyn and Chad joined me today so that I could run the regular route not the one from my house and try to keep up with them. Running with others always pushes me more than when I run alone! 

Anyway, it was a good run morning and I felt good about the paces but not like I was killing myself, which is even better! 

AP: 9:33 - 9:56, 9:40, 10:37, 11:07, 9:34, 9:43, 8:46, 8:37, 8:50, 8:46, 8:22

I got to meet Toby at JRP and run with the beautiful superstar! It was a great 6 miles, but certainly not enough time. I'm used to long runs with Toby, so I told a lot of long run stories that I should've made short run stories so that we could chat more. But I know we will get together again soon! 

Chasing Kristyn and Chad kept me moving well on this Shaggy Mountain! I averaged a 9:53AP which getting under a 10mm ap on this run lately is amazing for me, so I'll take it! The uphill miles were still 10s and I had one 11, but the dowhill miles were 8:16, 8:10 and 7:45, so I'll take it! A nice Thursday morning run. Then I  actually woke up after my morning nap and did the 10am lift class. All good things...so far a great week!

All I did was a nice easy walk around Summit Academy HS while Adam had track practice. That said, it ended up being 2 hours and Adam did a long run of 9 miles! So I ended up walking over 5 miles...but, I kept myself entertained with podcasts and then a work meeting.