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!
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