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

Since I'm going to try and run 31K (19.22 miles) tomorrow I decided to not do my 'normal' run today but take things easy. So, I went to my step class (the teacher I love is finally back after having to go through 2 open heart surgeries with her baby!) and man oh man did it kick my trash! I loved it! Sweating like a fool and doing something other than 'forward' motion, I'm glad she is back, because I forgot how much I love this class!

I then went out and hit just a 5K on the TM nice and easy. About a mile into it everyone on the TMs left and I got bored so I kept increasing the speed and finished with an AP of 8:32. I couldn't tell you splits, because I was all over the place. Either way it was a good 'loosen up' run for the trek tomorrow.

If anyone would like to join me PLEASE let me know! I would LOVE some company. I think I'm going to go to the JRP, probably in Lehi since I love it so much down there and start around 8ish. I am flexible on place and time if anyone wants to come and can't make it at that time...or you could come later and meet me for the 2nd half? Just let me know!

Well, that was fun...now that it's over :) I've always wanted to do something like this, but have never been able to until today. So, I did it! I ran 31K for my 31st birthday!! I was SO happy that the weather was to be unseasonably warm and beautiful, that Becca was taking the morning off just to run with me and that I got to sleep in (well, that is a whole 'nother story - suffice to say baby wasn't nice about it being my birthday and I had one H#$$ of a night and didn't sleep much at all!). 

We met at 9800S and JRP ran the bit North that we could then turned to head South to the end of the county. The only problem was the gale force winds - I shouted curses to the wind over and over! I thought for sure once the sun was up it was make the wind die down, but nope. More than once we contemplated what we could do to NOT run into the wind, but we came up empty handed. It was crazy! 

Mile 10 we hit the Maverick in Bluffdale on Redwood Rd and got some energy - gu and gatorade and water. I finally felt like I could take the last 9 back to the cars, especially with the wind at my back. Things went well until about 11400S, man was I tired! My legs were falling out from under me and I wanted a drink. We were SO close, nothing to do but keep on at this point. Becca suggested stopping at Lifetime for some water - dreamy! So we did and I think that really helped get me through the last 2.5 back.

Finished strong and now that I'm recovered and looking at my paces I'm feeling really good! We had a long hard run (thank you wind) and conquered it in good style with decent paces to boot. I'm glad I got my 31K in for my 31st birthday!! Now to go eat back all 2400 calories I burned at Benihana....mmmm!!!!

AP: 8:45 splits: 9:06, 8:45, 8:48, 9:00, 8:54, 8:55, 8:45, 8:58, 8:51, 8:45, 8:37, 8;26, 8:37, 8:41, 8:37, 8:37, 8:40, 8:31, 8:34, 8:42 (last .26)

I don't know how you people do this! (yes, YOU PEOPLE - you know who you are!) 

My legs are just dead! 2 long runs within 4 days is killer and I'm used to a rest day after a long run, so trying to get going at the gym wasn't the easiest thing. I figured I'd rest a bit on the running and just do a few miles. Well, I talked too much and only had time for 2 :)

Started with boot camp - oh man, that class really does kick my trash! Heidi did intervals 20 seconds on 10 off for 5 minutes. Things like burpees, JUMP jumping jacks, high knees, butt kicks, mtn climbers and lots of other fun stuff, then add a killer core workout on top of it. Yeah...good times!

Then (after too long of a chat) I hit the TM and had to start at a 10mm just so my legs didn't kill me and run off. I was able to hit an 8:34 for the last quarter, so I warmed up a bit and I probably could've done a few more miles, but I think I'm good. Ended with an AP of around 9:20 for the 2 miles. Just enough to get the legs moving and work out some of the soreness.

I really didn't want to get up this morning. It was cold and I was tired and it was the first time in 3 nights my baby slept, but since I hadn't seen Sandra for over a week I decided I'd just do it. I found out yesterday that yoga was canceled due to a death in the teacher's family, so since I wasn't getting yoga this morning I decided I would do the extra miles at the gym. 

Sandra decided she wanted to start doing 4 miles and start a bit earlier, so this was our longest run and she did pretty well! The hill at the end really killed her, but the other 3 miles were good paces. 9:48, 9:40, 9:44, 11:11. I was happy to get inside and get warm and snuggle back into bed for an hour!

Went to the gym and although I had found out yesterday they are up and closing on us (seriously, don't get me started about how CRAZY upset I am about this. It will cost me $80 in JUST daycare to use the new rec center and it isn't even open yet. What am I supposed to do in the meantime?!?) I figured we would get our last good day in today, but when I showed up the daycare was closed. I was ticked! I was going to just put the baby in his carseat infront of the TM and get my hour in, but they wouldn't let me. A neighbor of mine that was there and leaving offered to take Adam for me while I ran, how sweet!

So, I got my 7 miles in just under an hour (AP: 8:34) and did a nice progressive run. It took a while to get myself warmed-up and I started at a 9:20, and just increased speed every 1/2 mile until I hit 8:34 and stayed there. Then, a good song came on and I upped it again, then again...well, before I knew it I did mile 6 at an 8:13 pace and mile 7 was a 7:45 pace for the mile and I finished the last 1/4 at 6:58. I really felt good. I honestly didn't think I'd feel good running again until next week. I guess all this stress from the gym closing put a little skip in my step :)

Well, since I now have no gym anywhere near me my sweet neighbor offered to let me use her TM this morning. She works so I waited until morning nap time for baby, grabbed the monitor and the leapster for the 3 year old and we were off to across the street. It wasn't too bad having baby sleep and Nathan did well entertaining himself as well, of course it wasn't very long, but baby steps!

I was going to just do a short 5K, but then I got thinking about how I'm at a weird total for the week (.34), so I would go just enough to round that out. finished with an AP of 8:45. Their TM is a lot different than I'm used to, but I was finally getting into the swing of it towards the end.

Then I came home and borrowed my other neighbor's p90x video and did biceps and back and finished it off with Ab ripper X. Good times and I now feel like I can function today...although now I want to run some more, 3 just wasn't enough!

Oh I had a wonderful run this morning! I was worried about the wind and rain when I woke up, but I got down to Lehi JRP to meet Toby and it wasn't raining and the wind wasn't nearly as bad as it was at home. 

We took off and jumped right into a wonderful pace and kept it pretty consistent the whole time, which is usually pretty hard for me. Chatting with Toby made the miles fly right by and before I knew it, the 5 miles were up and it was time to head back. Despite the weather this was a fantastic and enjoyable run! Seriously, running is my social time and as long as I have good company I swear I could run ALL day! Thanks Toby!

After Toby left I grabbed a bag of stuff I needed to take to my friend that lives just off the trail and ran to her house to drop it off. The poor girl is due Tuesday and in early labor, but couldn't even really talk through contractions. She'd been to the hospital through the night, but they sent her home saying she wasn't progressing at all. Honestly, she was an emotional wreck. Any woman who's been there knows what I'm talking about. So, I stopped and visited with her and I think she really needed something to take her mind off of it for a while.

After leaving her house I ran around her neighborhood a bit and then back to the car, I only had .5 miles left to finish up to 14 so I did a short out and back on the parkway just to even things out and hit the highest mileage week (only ONE other week higher) in over 18 months. The best part is I feel good and if I had more time (wouldn't have visited so long) I probably would've gone a few more miles. It is just wonderful to finish off a high mileage week and feel good and still have some energy left to function :)

AP: 9:02 splits: 9:29, 9:08, 9:13, 9:10, 9:16, 9:10, 9:12, 9:12, 8:59, 9:07, by my lonesome: 8:55, 8:46, 8:31, 8:14 - I love when I can do a progressive run outside and especially when I'm not even trying!