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

Keepin' it even with the 6's this week. Have to volunteer at school this morning, so I drug myself out of bed and did the TM early. I would've just gone outside, but it was too risky - I might have spent an hour just trying to run a 1/2 mile with this crazy wind!! Plus, I'm a pansy :)

Just wanted to kind of take it easy on the TM today, especially after yesterday's exhaustion. So, I did 8:27 pace (.5% incline) for 5 miles, then the last mile was AP of 7:40. Normal start at 7:57, at 1/2 mile went to 7:47, then progressive the last quarter. TT: 50:10 AP: 8:22.

Came home, got kids off then did the shred L2 and 60/60/60 planks 3X with 20 pushups between sets.

A little aleve and some sleep helped a bit with the sick/sore issues. But, then again any excuse for an afternoon nap is good in my book!

No wind + no daycare reservation = early morning outside run.

6.5 miles on the new route I 'discovered' with QP last week. AP on the Garmin is 9:04, but I don't believe it. Not because I'm some sort of crazy pace calculating machine (ha!), but because I forced it to start before satellites were found and so it calculated the time until it hit a mile, but it didn't start recording distance until I was about a 1/4 mile away from home - 1st mile split was over a 10:30. Then 2 8:30's and 2 9:00ish and then another 8:30 and a 1/2 mile finisher at low 8:00. I guess that is what I get for being impatient.

Had a reservation for 10 and I wanted to do spinning, but since class was over then figured I'd just do the bike by myself and read (yes, read while I spin - go on, make the jokes. Especially Becca! Seeing as we always did), but you can't blame me too much. Ipod was broken and I'm in the middle of The Hunger Games. A good compromise of time if you ask me!

Said hello to Kelli, Scott and Wendy; filled up my water bottle; started walking toward the track to the corner where they have banished the ONE spin bike they let you use outside of the spin room (all the rest are 'normal' bikes with the big seats and electronic displays with NO clips). Well, right in front of me (literally like 2 feet) is a lady walking the same direction - then I notice the spin shoes in her hands. AACCKKK!! She's going to get the bike first :( I'm so mad, I ponder what the ramifications would be if I quickly out sprinted her the last 20 feet to the bike and yelled "ha! I win you lose!" then jump on the bike and start pedaling like I was getting the heck out of there :) I tried to be a little nicer when we got there and I asked if she was going to use the bike and she responded positively. She said she was only going to be 10-15 minutes, so I walk away defeated. Sit on the mats (where normal people go to stretch out and do ab work) and open my book and read.

Yup. I just sat and read until she was done. Paid for daycare today for 30 of my 75 minutes for me to just read. Nice. I guess I should've done the elliptical or even started the workout with Kelli, but like my disclaimer before - I'm in the middle of a good book :) Plus, I only had spin shoes and crocs. Not quite good 'workout' shoes.

Finally got on the bike and did 45 minutes - while I read. Consistent, even effort. I need to spin more. Grabbed the kiddos 1 minute before closing and I was done for the day.

I'm dreading my 13 miles in the dark and all alone tomorrow....

Oh my heck. Seriously. Worst run of, dare I say, my life? I don't know what unholy concoction of events (or lack there of ) combined forces against me today, all I know is that there is one AMAZING run out on my horizon. Opposition in all things, right?

Started out well enough. Dragging butt after too few hours of sleep, bundling up for what I knew would be a VERY cold, dark, snowy run. 6:00AM departure from home with nothing in my stomach, but some water. This isn't unusual for me. I did pack a gu just in case I felt like I needed it - ha!

Nothing but fresh footprints in a light dusting of snow and a downhill headwind (which made me excited to run home, because we NEVER get the downhill headwind!), I wasn't the first to put footprints in the snow, which surprised me, but it was nice to know I wasn't the only crazy out this morning.

About mile 4 or 5 was when it started to hit the fan. Stomach just felt nauseated, crampy and blech. Didn't know if I should run to the bathroom or just barf. Figured I'd take the short loop around the lake that I'd planned then stop at the bakery and see what came of it. I was bonking hard and considered throwing back the gu, but my stomach was so upset I didn't want to risk throwing up. I've done enough of that during my pregnancies and I ABHOR throwing up (no, no chance I'm pregnant either - so don't go there!!) so I avoided the gu, besides no water to wash it down with would just make me gag. 

Got to the bakery and it as well as the public restroom Kelli showed me last week were closed. Oh thank Heaven for 7-11! A new one opened just last weekish about 3/4 mile up the road. Although I felt like I'd pushed as much as I could to just get here, I figured I had no choice, but to push ahead. After the stop (and a short warm-up -ahhhh!) I hit the road and felt a bit better.

It didn't last long. By the time I'd gone just 1 mile more and gotten back to my water bottle I'd dropped on my way out (it was 75% frozen and I had to squeeze water through the ice at the top just to drink it.) I was done. I was at 10.10 miles - that was enough to hit my 40 for the week. I didn't want to go on. I only had 3 miles-ish to home, but was defeated and feeling worse every step. I got a drink (which made me gag and almost throw up) and someone passed me running. My pride renewed me. I will go on!

At 10.28 miles I stopped, got out the phone and called Craig. I threw in the towel. Only one other time in my running career have I made the choice to call Craig and have him pick me up and not finish a run. I guess this would be a DNF for me. I told him I was sick and done and to come get me. That short call almost made me get frost bite on my fingers, because I didn't have my glove on - SO cold!! Hung up and decided to just run until I met him. If I walked I'd just get cold, besides, I had to even out my miles - can't leave it at 10.28 :)

At 10.91 I had a flash back of SGM. No waring, just a nice heave from my stomach. Went to the side of the road and puked my guts out. Thankfully, I was on a busy road out here so everyone got to see the crazy lady that not only thinks it's okay to run a gazillion miles, but do it in the snow and the cold pay for her miscalculation and puke. Yeah, I'm sure they had a good nod thinking: "yup, that's why I don't run!" No inspiration coming from me today. I didn't want to wipe my mouth with my gloves, because I didn't know how much longer I'd be in the cold . Just a nice spitting game until I could muster enough to stand up without a big spit string. Running is pretty, isn't it? :)

I took off running again - what else is a girl to do? Thankfully, I then spotted Craig! As I passed the front bumper of the car the garmin ticked to 11.00 - perfect. Couldn't have done it better if I'd tried. Told him he'd just missed the show, he was pretty upset about missing another puke session! Went home, showered and headed off to the ward Christmas party. All the food there just made things worse. Even the cinnamon rolls I'd spent hours making threatened my stomach with revenge if I even thought about putting them to my lips. I had some water and a few bites of fruit. Now, I have only 20 minutes until I can put baby down to bed, pick up my daughter and cross my fingers the older kids don't destroy the house while I sleep for one hour. That is all I have until I have to jet off to yet another commitment today. Maybe by 9:00 things will settle down.

So, this was an epic fail, but all I can hope for is that somehow, my body realizes that this can make it stronger. One of those runs to put in the bank and hope to heaven that it was really worth it. When I get that good run, it will be worth it. The bright spot of the morning was that I got to see a SPECTACULAR sunrise, that I didn't mind stopping for a minute to take a picture and enjoy this morning. Maybe that is what made it all worth it!

The 'small' mountain you can see is the point of the mountain, you can't see Timp behind it, because I've got a crappy camera and it was enveloped in the clouds with just the peaks poking through. It really was beautiful!!! Glad I picked up my head enough that last mile to see and enjoy it.

AP: 9:17 splits: 8:57, 8:53, 9:17, 8:48 (last good mile), 9:00, 9:24, 9:15, 9:25, 9:25, 9:54, 9:44 (I really thought I was running about an 11:00mm pace!!).

New day, new week, new attitude. 

Cold has settled in my lungs and breathing isn't quite as nice as it used to be, but I'm doing much better gut wise. Decided to sleep this morning. No more cold for me. 

6 TM miles in 50:30 AP: 8:25 - nice and easy. Started out a tad slower because a friend was on the TM next to me and I wanted to chat. Plan was to do 8:20's, but I started at 8:34. Mile 2.25 I went to 8:27 and stayed there until the last mile which TT was 7:35. 7:40 pace until the last quarter I went progressive to the end.

Masters swim class afterward. Pulls, kicks, drill, catch up, then a couple 25's of speed. Must've done something to me, because our time trial at the end of class I did a 200 is 3:30. A 15 second improvement from last time and I felt good afterward, exhausted, but good. Not being able to breathe constantly in the water (like you can on land) must mean my lung issues aren't as big of a deal in the pool. Or, maybe it was the fact that the coach put me about 6th in line (she has us line up fastest to slowest for this) and I knew I should've been 3rd. So I had it out for all the other ladies in front of me. Guess what? yup. I passed them :) I do have my pride after all.

Good workout today. I want to get out early and run tomorrow, lets see how motivated I am at 6AM and it's 20 degrees outside....

Fun morning on the TM. It wasn't the cold so much that got to avoid the out of doors, it was sleep. I got to bed late and then read "Catching Fire" too late and I was tired. Glad I had made a day care reservation.

3.5 miles on the TM in 28:30 AP: 8:06 - Started at an 8:20, then went progressive to the last mile under 7:47 and a fast finish.

Hit the weights. Did arms, shoulders, back, then some core and legs stuff. Repeated 3X

Day care heater was broken so they had the kids in the gym, and I decided to run a mile on the track to watch my little guy play for a few minutes. Timed the run with the stopwatch on my phone and finished in 7:17. On a cool down lap caught baby's eye and he started to cry - oops. That was the last of the track for me!

2.5 remaining on the TM and finished just shy of 20 min. - AP: 7:59, nice. Started at 8:06 then at mile 1 went up 1/10th of a mph faster until the last quarter where I went for a fast finish.

Felt good and still had 25 min left on the clock for the day care. Wanted to spin, but took the book and stretched on the stretching machines (one of my favorite things in the rec center) and stretched all of the lower body while I jumped back into the Hunger Games.

I always have to talk myself into the Mexican Mountain Goat workout for a couple weeks. So, we finally got it going since I've been inside and avoiding all the daily hills outside.

Did a 10 min warm-up @ 8:34, and forgot to slow it down for the first incline, but at least it was only 2% and it wasn't too bad. 

The rest of the Mexican Mtn Goat was at 8:57 pace. 2 min at 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 1 min at 7%, 8%, 9% with a one minute 'flat' (0%) between each. Then I needed a 2 min 0% break after the 9% to get ready for the way down. Reversed the order and finished up at 5.8 miles. The last .2 miles I went downhill at a 6:58 (-2%); man, that seemed SO effortless!! TT: 53:10 AP: 8:52.

Masters swim class afterward. I love to jump in the pool after a hard workout. We did a lot of pulls and I hit my descending times like I should have. Almost finished it all, but had to jet off to get my little guys out of the day care.

Fabulous morning! Only, I might get stuck outside soon :( Baby Fartlek was NOT being nice and even had a report written up on him bitting, pulling hair and pinching. Stink. This is the first time he's ever done anything so crazy. I hope he doesn't get kicked out of the daycare - it's cold out there :)

Well, I did it. I ran outside, in the dark, in the cold. Problem? It wasn't all that bad. I was actually hot (over dressed), came inside stripped off the hat gloves and neck warmer then went back out to cool down. I guess 2 shirts, fleece and a jacket, under armor and tights, headband and hat, 2 pair of gloves, 2 pair of socks and a neck warmer are a little too much :)

6 miles, not as fast as I usually TM, but I guess it was a decent pace. Wish it would've been faster, but it was the uphill miles 3-5 that really kicked my butt. No surprise there. 

AP: 8:36 splits: 8:48, 8:18, 8:41, 9:11, 9:02 (both these 9's should be lower! Even though they were the hills - the 8:41 was uphill too), 7:35.

Came home, got kiddos off to school then did yoga X with the baby running around. I missed yoga. Glad the nursery issues from yesterday forced me out this morning. Plus, now that I'm done with The Hunger Games life can return to normal and I might actually pick something up or do some dishes today :)

Got outside again today. The waking up is the hard part now that I've tackled the cold. I was going to do an 8 mile loop, but when the alarm went of 20 minutes early I suddenly concocted a new route I've never run that would be 6-7. Perfect. Reset the alarm, went back to sleep :) Why is it that my brain seems to come up with the most brilliant ideas when it wants to sleep? I couldn't think of a 6-7 mile route I wanted to run last night for loving or money!

Uneventful morning, except that there was an ice cream cone someone had dropped on the shoulder of the road. Funny, but it was still frozen. Not melted frozen, but still in a good soft serve swirl, on it's side partially smashed frozen. Yup, it's cold.

I was surprised when I saw the TT when I hit 7 miles: 1:00:15 - wow. I didn't think I was running that fast, especially with the hill of despair in there. Those miles were slow mind you, but I didn't think the others were fast enough to make up that much. I thought I'd be closer to 1:02 or 1:03. AP: 8:36 splits: 8:54, 8:10, 8:14, 9:24, 9:35, 8:16, 7:41 - besides the warm-up first mile and the 2 nasty uphill miles I hate looks like a good 8:15ish pace, since effort was pretty equal that just goes to show the nasty uphill and how well I really perform going UP!

Went to the gym for spin class, I'd been looking forward to it all week! Good class and I got a bike in front of the fan so I wasn't a horrible sweaty mess :)

Is anybody willing to or running afternoon tomorrow? I can run at 4 in the morning or at 2PM, I hate both options, but will take 2 over 4AM in the winter. I'd love some company if anyone is willing! Just planning on 12ish.

Well today's run made up for last Saturday. Waiting until the afternoon was definitely the right answer today. 

Lauren (10) had a swim meet at 7AM, so I was up early anyway, but for a different cause. She did a great job and will probably take a couple ribbons home. The SLco meets are nice, because they don't charge you anything for the meet - just your early Saturday morning hours :)

Got home, got boys up and then off to Jr Jazz and piano lessons. This whole time I also had 'work' with me and she wasn't going home until 2 or 3. So, after the craziness we had lunch and relaxed for a bit. But, my work's mom came to get her at 1:00! I was so excited - except that I'd just eaten a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese (don't forget the jalapenos!). Yeah, I was expecting a few more hours.

I waited until 2, then got ready. Garmin low battery - crap. 15 min charge and fingers crossed it would last and I headed out. 2 miles in I figured I'd better just run home. I was being pouty about not getting to run with anyone, lunch kept 'workin' its way back to me', and I've been having some emotional issues these past couple days. But, I figured I was tougher than that and I had to press on.

This was my "Tour of Herriman" route. Pretty much touches the N, S, E, W borders of the town, so by the time I was at the E border and at 'the top of the world' at that point I was feeling good and ready for the flight down! I love running DOWN that hill!! Over 300 ft of elevation drop in 1 mile - nice. It does make the flat and then subsequent gentle up feel VERY hard though.

Mile 7.5 I stopped my watch while waiting for the light and I noticed it said low battery - crap! I'm having a good run. Oh well, I'll just keep an eye on it and mentally note where and then switch timing to a stop watch on the cell phone. I hated keeping an eye on the garmin, but I got really good at just glancing at it to make sure the numbers were on and not actually looking AT the numbers :)

Stopped at the rec center for a drink. I felt good and with the fritzy watch thought maybe I shouldn't, but I knew I had a 4+ mile uphill climb home to go and that I would appreciate it later.

I glanced at my watch at mile 10.8 and it was 1:29:xx and I was amazed...hmmm, if I kept up a decent pace I could finish 13 miles (home) in under 1:50. I did have all the cruddy uphill to deal with, but I could do it. I can! So, I pushed on trying to keep a good pace and hitting those hills hard - for me.

I finished in 1:48:34 - awesome. I honestly think this is the fastest 'long' run I've done on my own and without racing. PLUS, I felt good afterward and probably could've tacked on a couple more miles. Even the hills didn't seem all that bad today. Crazy, I know! I guess I deserved a good one after last week, I know the secret fuel now - jalapenos! :)

I also got to watch the sun set - twice (thanks to running SO close to the mountains at one point). I thought about how sometimes it's the sunrise and sometimes it's the sunset, but just being out there enjoying it is the awesome part. We (runners) are an amazing group you know. Everyone is a friend, we smile and wave, then we'll run you down just to show you we can run faster and further than you can :)

AP: 8:21 splits: 9:00, 8:16, 8:16, 8:41, 8:21 6:51 (hello downhill!), 8:08, 8:50, 8:04, 8:36, 8:38, 8:30 - do you see that? Those last 2 miles I usually drag butt home (the hill I hate) I ate 'em up in 8:30's! Nice. I guess that Mexican Mtn goat workout really does help :) It is really nice to see my 'speed' training starting to pay off and that I can hold low 8's without feeling like I'm putting forth a HUGE effort, plus I recorded over 1100ft of elevation gain, so it wasn't 'easy' either. Gives me hope. Good hope. All I want for Christmas is a BQ!

Late night chatting with friends - so it was off to the TM for me :)

6.0 miles in  49:16; AP: 8:12. First 2.5 at 8:20, next 2.5 @ 8:13, final mile started at 7:47 at half down to 7:41 then progressive finish the last quarter.

Felt good today and just had a great time today. I like nice, easy, fun run days like this morning!

Masters swim class to follow. Good workout! Did a pyramid workout 25/50/75/100/75/50/25 and 6 sets of those each time focusing on something different. Speed, pulls, breathing, kicks etc. Since this was my first workout with my new fins I was excited :) Wow, they really worked my legs over good! Also, my last 25 on the breathing I did my 9 strokes/breath!! I did it! Do you know how hard it is to take NINE strokes before breathing? It took the whole rotation set to get it, but I did :)

Had to utilize my pre-school hours today for shopping, so I did what any good mother does - get up and run early in the snow. I was surprised it had snowed! I didn't think we were supposed to get a storm until Thursday. Welcome sight and it was beautiful to run in!! Lovin' some winter wonderland.

I just ran and enjoyed it. New course that I thought would be 6, but ended up 7. Between the snow and long course and a late start I got home late, but thankfully hubby doesn't have a strict work time. AP: 8:58

Came home, kids off to school then I did the Shred L3, showered and got on my way to Target. Thankfully I can now say that besides a couple extended family gifts I am done. Stick a fork in me!!!

supposed to do speed work today. didn't have the mental energy to tackle it. emotionally drained. 

6 miles AP:  8:30 - all at 8:34, but the last one fast starting at 7:53 and progressive to 6:58, my TM company finally left :(

Masters swim. Class was over too fast. Back to the grind....

Since I weaseled out of speed work yesterday I decided to tackle my hills today. Hi-country route, colder than it has been in a while. AP: 8:48 splits: 9:39, 9:43, 9:53 8:09, 8:01, 7:45, 7:07 (last .5) Can you tell the uphill miles from the downhill? :) The 8:09 was 1/2 up and then flat, so that was a nice surprise, the 8:01 has the final 2 uphill pushes as well, so it's nice to see lower paces like that when it is a mixed bag and not all downhill.

my 'work' got suspended from school, so I'm working today and tomorrow, so no gym time - day care doesn't take HS kids :)

Yoga X at home, then errands with my cute date - 4 yr old Nathan, fun times!

Since my 'work' is suspended from school and I had to start this morning at 9 I had no option but to get up early if I wanted to get a workout in. I wanted to do a spin class, so I went at 5:30 and did the spin class. It was okay, not great, but okay. 

Went out to the TM and decided I deserved a fast downhill run. So, I started at -1% at 7:30 pace. Oh, how I love downhill!! SO effortless. Mile 2 @ -2%; 7:19 - mile 3@ -3%; 7:08 - mile 4@ -3%; 6:58 - mile 5@ -2%; 7:13 - mile 6@ -1%; 7:30, but progressive the last 1/2 with increasing pace every tenth to finish at 6:58. 

TT: 43:40 AP: 7:16

Walked a cool down 1/2 mile to finish out my time so I wouldn't conflict with shower schedules at home, but decided afterward I still felt good and fresh and shoul've just finished another mile or two. I could've done 2 more in the time and still felt okay. Crap, oh well.

Now, off to a fun filled day of entertainment for a little stinker that is suspended from school - well, not too much entertainment, I'm supposed to be making her life miserable :)

What a wonderful morning! Again I had to work around Jr Jazz games, and who in the world thinks that making 2nd graders play at 8AM on a Saturday is a good thing?!? ugghh. So, that took me out of the running for all the group runs I'd gotten wind of and I was bummed. Thankfully, Becca is home!!! YAY! It's been quite some time since we've done a long run together and she was willing to risk a lecture to come out here and run with me. 

We went down to the lake, around and home. The run went by way too quickly. I needed another good 6 miles :) Time always flies catching up with friends on a good run. Weather was nice, the air was cruddy, but what could we do? A GREAT run, oh how I've missed them!

Next week for Christmas Eve we have some plans in the works! A nice group run, sometime, somewhere. Lets just say stay tuned and save the date!

AP: 8:41 splits: 8:46, 8:22, 8:30, 8:03, 8:17, 8:55, 8:47, 8:43, 8:49, 8:57, 8:38, 8:57, 9:04

Baby is sick. Yesterday he coughed so hard he threw up and went to bed with a fever. NOT good. I knew I wasn't going to be able to take him to the nursery, so I got up early and got the gym out of the way. Only good thing was I knew Kelli would be there!!

I was lucky and one of the few TMs open was right next to Kelli, so I got to chat away the miles until she was done. Made time FLY by! first 4.2 @ 8:27, then progressive to 7:47 at mile 5 and held that until the last .3 - going progressive to finish at 6:58. TT: 49:50 AP:  8:18

Went and swam since I was missing masters swim and just did my own little mix of my favorite workout stuff. Warm up, pulls with decline, breathing, kicks, 3X100 decline, cool down. Good near hour of swim. Felt great. Now I'm home snuggling with sick baby. He is doing better - still a little fever, but not as much coughing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed this is mostly gone tomorrow.

Another early morning at the gym. Baby is still coughing and just miserable with a slight fever, but that's okay, I'm getting used to not having to deal with day care and paying for it!

Six miles progressive 1@ 8:27 then 8:20, 8:13, 8:06, 8:00 - then 7:53 for 1/2 mile, 7:47 then for the last 1/4 progressive to 6:30. TT: 48:55; AP: 8:09. Felt good even at the .5% incline the entire time. Not too hard, which I liked!

Came home and got breakfast waffles with strawberries, bananas, whipped cream and syrup on the table for my baby girl. She is 11 today. Let me tell you - time FLIES!!! I swear she was just two :( 

p90X plyo with ab ribber to top it all off. Plyo was about the same as I'd remembered, but ab's seemed to be a lot harder - although I did make it through the mason twists the entire time with my feet UP! who-wah!

Now it's off for more birthday fun! McDonalds lunch, movies and pizza for dinner. Heaven help me - I might just barf before the night is over!!!

Another early morning. I'm getting tired. I want to sleep in, but it IS nice to be ready for the day at 9AM and not just be getting started. 

A couple days ago Brent  suggested that I was ready for 400's at 6:30 for speed work, at first it scared me, but then I got thinking that my Yasso's before SGM were 3:20's which would put me at 6:40 pace. Hmm, okay, this is totally doable. So, for speed work today I thought I'd give 400's @ 6:30 a shot, then do a 400 rest between to make it easy for math on the TM.

2 miles warm-up at 8:27, then 4X400 @ 6:31 with rest intervals 400@ 8:57; the last 2 400's I figured the 6:31's were an okay pace, so I'd go for a little bump at 6:27. RI the same. With 1 mile left I decided to do a pace mile, since my goal race coming up is SG half I wanted to do my goal pace for that race: 7:30. After doing the 6:30 intervals one mile at 7:30 seemed like a walk in the park. Went progressive the last 1/4 to finish at 6:00mm. TT: 47:37 AP: 7:56

Then I went to the pool and did some masters swim class stuff. I again just made up my own routine from past workouts. Mix of pulls, drills, speed and a 10 minute kick. That 10 minute kick was hard! I got a 50 at the end of the workout down to :46 though, so that made me happy! Workin' it out baby.

Finally taking baby to the doctor today - it is his 18 month 'well child' check up, yeah are they ever well at these check ups? Murphy prevents that at our house!

Well, there was hope that I might get to the gym this morning, but alas... taking a baby with a cold to his well child check just means immunizations and more feeling crappy. Poor kid, now he has a real fever! blah....

Up early, with a deadline this morning, hubby needed to be on time to work for a meeting, so no fooling around! Got out the door and on my way for my 8 mile loop. I did Juniper Crest UP loop, nice for the downhill there and flat/down back, but it has the monster hill in the middle. Ran into another runner a couple miles from home, chatted and ran a good couple with her until she turned off for home - just before the worst part of the hill. Nice to have some company!

On the last few miles home that are supposed to be nice flat/down easy miles my stomach started up on me again. I think it is either the cold or not eating before I run, either way I'm sick of it! Got light headed as well and wanted to just shut my eyes. Weird, but I just pushed through to get home on time. Walked in the door as hubby was walking down the stairs - perfect timing!

AP: 8:50 (slowest run so far this week! blah) splits: 8:28, 7:52, 7:57, 9:04, 10:06, 8:48, 9:12, 9:09. Can you tell where the hill is? :) then when my gut went out on me, yeah - I'm an open book in my splits! At least there were a couple miles under 8 - what I consider MP.

I've got another day of cuddling a sick baby in front of me, but I will hopefully get to do p90X stretch - I need it!

******Okay, here is the plan for Christmas Eve Run! 1500N at the bridge at Lehi JRP at 8:30 AM. We will bring hot cocoa and muffins, feel free to bring anything else. We figure most people will be doing around 13, so we'll go South and back. You can come and run as much or as little as you want, as fast or slow as you'd like :) Don't forget to bring your stinky blankets so you can stay warm while we party afterward!******

GGRRRRRRR!!! I am so stinkin' done with everything today - SO DONE! Just frustrated, tired and maxed out on the patience department. Got a 4 yr old cuddle bug at 3AM last night, then at 4 he ran to the bathroom and barfed...nice. I was happy I still had an hour left of sleep before heading off to spin and to run. Well, my little cuddle bug had been playing with my alarm clock (they always do, it is battery powered so it can 'move') and it got in my bed somehow. Consequently, I didn't hear it go off! I'm assuming it did. Woke up in a panic at 6 and figured I at least still had time to go run. Little guy wretched a little more in his bucket (which was empty, nothing coming out) and I got ready for the gym and left. 

Decided to do a little mix on the TM. Alternating miles of easy pace/tempo. Miles 1, 3, 5 were all at 8:27; Miles 2, 4, 7:47 then I did my last mile on the track just to mix things up. Good thing I did! I hit stop on the TM and it broke. Said "temporarily unavailable" and wouldn't start again. blah whatever. Timed the mile on the track and hit a 7:19 for the final mile. TT: 48:15; AP: 8:03

Besides getting there late and having the TM break on me around mile 3 the top of my foot started aching. Wednesday something got dropped on my foot. I don't remember what, but I remember thinking: that hurts! So, it had been a little tender these past couple days but nothing to write home about. Well, by the time I was done with my 5th mile on the TM and got off I could hardly walk on the thing. Zinging up my ankle and leg, painful with every step - crap! I mean really?!? what is going on?!? what happened to my foot?!? Well, I pushed through the last mile and hobbled out to the car. Dang it hurts. I seriously feel like I need crutches to walk on it. What happened?!? uuggghhhhh! I am SO frustrated and DONE! I am 13 miles away from my goal for the year, ready for the Christmas eve running party tomorrow and now this?!? REALLY?!? It doesn't feel like muscle/bone pain it almost feels more like nerve pain, but I don't know if that is any better. Maybe just swelling pushing on a nerve?

Anyway, so I get home have prayer and say good bye to my hubby and go upstairs to shower. Well, that little cuddle bug from the night has done a number on my carpet upstairs, oh and the couch (luckily there is a new futon coming for Christmas!). Looks like he missed the bathroom not once, but about five times. GGRRRRR!  I just wanted to shower and get stuff done for the day - now this?!? and I can't walk?!? So, I spend the next 45 minutes scrubbing the floor and it still looks like puke (pun intended). Now I get to spend Christmas weekend cleaning up throw up, hobbling around, wondering if it is a stomach flu the rest of us are going to get and then getting it and NOT spending time with friends and family. I. AM. SO. DONE.

On that note, if the foot feels tolerable I'm still running tomorrow and at the end of the run (13 miles) will hit my goal of 2011 miles in 2011!!! Only good thing to look forward to right now. I may just go find a cave and live there for the next couple months.

******Okay, here is the plan for Christmas Eve Run! 1500N at the bridge at Lehi JRP at 8:30 AM. We will bring hot cocoa and muffins, feel free to bring anything else. We figure most people will be doing around 13, so we'll go South and back. You can come and run as much or as little as you want, as fast or slow as you'd like :) Don't forget to bring your stinky blankets so you can stay warm while we party afterward!******

Merry Christmas to me: fracture in my 2nd metatarsal. One new boot and no running, cycling, swimming for 2 weeks until follow up x-rays...

I couldn't take it. I'm going crazy!!! So, I went to the gym this morning. Wandered around a bit from machine to machine looking for some sort of cardio I could do. First tried the hand crank spin bikes - fail. I just don't like how they 'pedal' it's weird. Found a machine an elliptical/recumbent bike hybrid, seems to work well in the boot. Then I did planks and push-ups. Just over an hour, but enough to make me feel better. I'll try to do at least 90 min of cardio tomorrow.

The insta care called yesterday and told me that a radiologist had read my x-rays and he wanted me in a post op boot and on crutches. I just about died. I told the nurse I was in the Bledsoe boot and things seemed great this weekend - I can walk in it without much pain and I really didn't want to be on crutches!! She said she didn't think the radiologist knew I was in the boot, so I'm assuming the doc at insta-care didn't note that he'd given me the boot and this radiologist saw my x-rays and thought they'd just let me walk on out of there. The nurse said the Bledsoe boot was better than the post-op cast and crutches, so to stay in that and follow up with an orthopedic doc unless I heard from her again. So far so good. Made an appointment with Dr Brinton on Jan 10th and I hope to weasel my way into the office before that - I've got a call into the nurse.

Still a lot of swelling and pain. I've got fat piggy toes and my foot is huge. When I wake up in the morning it almost looks normal. I can't wait until I can function at least without this boot on! I'm really not doing well as far as emotional life is concerned, but what can I do? Hang in there and do the stuff around the house I never have time for :)

Spent the day in the lodge at Brighton watching my little ones ski. Baby Fartlek and I just hung out and ate and stayed warm. Too bad it was like 10 flights of stairs to get between the car and our table. YIKES! I was SO tired of stairs. I can walk them easily, but dragging this heavy boot around and a baby on my hip makes for quite a workout. (yes, I know I'm supposed to stay off it as much as possible even in the boot, but I'm a mom! I can't help it. I tried, I really tried to limit the trips, but you gotta do what you gotta do).

Really stunk to not run and then not ski either. I need to go to the gym...

Actually got up and went to the gym this morning. Yesterday I had a pity party - cookies, m&ms, movie, popcorn, soda....yeah, a good pity party. 

Did the modified recumbent/eliptical thing for 40 min, but it really bugs my butt. I don't like it much. So, I moved to the stair climber (it is a modified one, pedals on a 45 degree angle - and my PT said that if no pain and in the boot this would be okay). It was a little better as far as sweaty effort goes, but still not great, just 15 minutes. So, I did a last ditch effort on the bike. Actually worked out really well. Kind of awkward with the boot on, but it doesn't hurt at all. I got a good workout for the 15 minutes - 4.5 miles and tried for the last 5 minutes to keep my mph at or above 18 on level 12. I had a sweaty drippy face after that! Felt great to have crusty sweat drying on my face :)

Total of 70 min cardio work.

Came home and slept - I'm tired and lazy now.

I've always thought about doing a cleanse, but always scared because I need fuel to run! But, since I can't run and my husband is going to be in Singapore for the next 2 weeks I've been thinking this may be the perfect time to do one. Does anyone have any suggestions for me on how to?

Okay, okay - nobody freak out. I didn't really 'run' these miles, but you know what? I'm going to give myself a break for Christmas and New Years and realize that I AM worth it and even though they aren't 'pure' miles - I'm counting them! I worked hard for them, harder than running anyway, and persistence, grit and determination helped propel me 52 laps around a track. It may have taken 4 hours and my quad and knee are SO stinkin' rotten sore right now that I may not be able to walk in the morning, but gosh darn it! I did it! I deserve these miles!! So, my gift to myself is a little leniency on my 'pure' miles calculation and I'm taking my 14.25 miles I scooted today!

Through my whining and complaining with this fracture my sweet neighbor who just had major surgery on her left calf to remove malignant melanoma (and who listens to my crazy whining and complaining about not being able to run even though she just shakes her head and tells me if I want to have to ice myself when I'm done with an activity that hurts me I should just bang my head against the wall for an hour :) ) told me I could borrow her knee scooter so that I could go to my race today. Well, it gave me hope - and fun ideas! I could go and cheer every one on and scoot a few laps with my running pals. Hey...this just might work after all. I was excited!

Scooter Pride baby! :)

Picked up the scooter last night and on the way into the Olympic Oval I decided to ride it, practice - right?!? Well, all was well until I hit a crack on the sidewalk and went flying over the handle bars. HA! Talk about feeling dumb and embarrassed. I'm already a gimp then this? People infront of me and behind me asked if I was okay. I quickly popped up and said "yup, I'm good" I was thinking "don't look at me - hurry, get me out of here so you don't recognize me!!" Luckily nothing like this happened again.

The race was a 4 hour race at the Oval and you could start or finish any time between 8-12 and you could run as much or as little as you wanted. All I needed was one lap to not DNS or DNF - I'm in! :) Chatted with Maurine, Leslie, Maynard and some ladies from a Tri group at the rec center that do the masters swim class. Before the leaders came around to complete their first lap I started scooting. Half way through the first lap my quad was BURNING on FIRE. Oh boy...this is going to be a long 4 hours. Well, after a few laps Becca got there and we started off together. I would do every other lap to let my quad rest, but then I figured out I could raise the platform your knee is on - bingo! Not nearly as much quad pain. I then could do 3 or 4 laps at a time.

Had some great chats with Becca, despite being interrupted nearly every lap about questions or comments from other runners about my situation. All of it positive. People were calling me inspiring - HA! Trust me, no inspiration here, just hard headedness! I didn't think I'd do all that many miles: 4-6ish, but 2 hours in they told me I had a 10K done...rockin'! It was then I figured if I could let go of 'pure' miles I could finish my last 13 miles. I could do this, I just have to be nice to myself and realize that I've worked awfully hard for this and that I deserve it! Not just in an 'everybody gets a trophy' kind of way, but in a much more personal way. I had too much invested and too much conquered this year to put myself in this 13 mile hole. I was going to claw, crawl, dig and kick my way out!! So, then the race was on...

I'd scooter 3-4 laps then walk one to give my leg and knee a break. Everyone wanted a ride and I told them they could gladly take a turn. It was hard - seriously hard. You have no idea. My arms, hip, back, quad and knee are so terribly sore I'm not sure I'll be able to walk tomorrow!! I think running even 20 miles would've been easier on my body than what I did. Not so tough cardio wise - although still good, but my pony tail never got wet :) but muscularly, ouch. Well, at least on one leg.

I was ecstatic when I asked how many laps I was at and they told me 2 shy of my 1/2 marathon. Wow! I still had like 20 minutes left...I felt like a rockstar. Many people had left and especially after 3 hours the crowd thinned a TON, but I was still there...still plugging along, to the bitter end!! We finished our 2nd to last lap and they said 1 minute left, but they would let you finish your last lap as long as you were over the line when time ran out. So, I parked the scooter and walked in my last lap. I certainly wasn't fast - 6:30, but I did it. Very proud of my new found scooting endurance :)

Won a prize in the raffle (some crazy chia seed energy/hydration drink mix...not so sure about it, maybe in smoothies), and even confiscated a pocket full of Milky Way Midnights from the aid station :) I think Becca and I were the last to head out - the bitter end!

They have me recorded for 52 laps which is 14.28 miles, but with my analness I will have to just call it 14.25, but probably closer to 14.5 since I was on the outside of the track :) My fastest lap was 2:20 - cruisin'! Probably one of the laps I made Becca do some speed work. It was great to scoot with friends and chat along. This really totally satisfied my emotional need that running fulfills. Still not the same physical needs, but man - this was good!! I seriously have never participated in such an awesome race. But, I don't suggest anyone do it next year...I don't want it too crowded or expensive :)

I ended up 85th in # of laps completed out of 260ish participants and 42/160ish women. Not too shabby for scooting :) So, I hope you all can forgive me my sin of tainting my pure running miles, but dang it - I deserve this one! Best.Race.Ever.

Thanks for an awesome time Becca! (don't mind the crappy picture, we're not professionals and had just spent 4 hours running/scooting in circles :) ).