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

wimped out on the running today. I've been carrying around too much emotional baggage this weekend and just wanted/needed to sleep. Also, it was one of those days where you know the little aches and pains that are hung over from a long, hard run Saturday will thank you in the long run if you don't pound them into the ground? yeah. there was that too.

Spin - holy hannah haven't sweat that much in a spin class in a long time. Good workout.

Swim - 1800yds total, 500 kick, 800 free broken down, 400 pull hard. Felt good!

Now I'm feeling guilty for not running, but 10 with 5 at tempo tomorrow should be enough to remedy that guilt :) and hopefully these lingering aches will disappear!

booo...I'm sick of not running now, but was threatened to not run today. Doctors orders. I didn't think I'd have to say anything or make a big deal about it, but I guess I do. I've had a neuroma in my R foot for a couple weeks (around SLC half) and I honestly didn't think there was anything I could do for it. After getting fed up with the 'rock in my shoe' all the time I started researching what I could do and I found out I could get a cortisone shot - awesome. So, I called and made an appointment for Monday afternoon. I thought I'd be able to run through the shot and it would be no big deal...nope. Doc told me that if I run on it while I can still feel the pain of the injection that I can risk rendering the shot ineffective. Crap. So, no running today; however, the good news is this afternoon it feels SO much better! I walk without feeling it. I'm excited! So, the day 'off' was worth the pain free Ogden...definitely. 

I did do spin class today, again, and Allison really is an awesome teacher. Great workout! I did nix some of the standing climbs because it bothered my foot a bit. 

Took Adam to his swim class and had a great time!

Can't wait for tomorrow's run. I finally am missing running and want to get back at it!

Aaahh, nice to see some miles back!

Met Chad and Paul for a good morning run - okay, I used them, I'll admit it. I knew the pace would be fast, that I'd keep up and that if I was meeting someone I'd actually get out of bed. But, don't we all use each other this way? I hope the answer is yes!

7 mile loop from Chad's house UP to my house then a beautiful 3 mile descent back down...awesome! I love not having to run uphill home. It did feel kind of weird running by my house, but driving to the run. Oh well, it was worth the downhill finish and the 20 min extra sleep to not run down there.

The most exciting thing on the run was the mouse that tried to attack me and eat me. He ran out into the road right by me - I screamed like a girl (yes, at 5AM) and it kept running next to me and trying to cut in front of me. GET AWAY! It finally dropped back...Chad and Paul were just laughing at me. Yes, I'm a girl.

AP: 7:57 splits: 8:29; 8:22; 8:18; 8:33; 7:24; 7:23; 7:16; 7:22 (last .15) - the 100+ft/mile uphill was the first 4 miles and honestly I'm darn proud of those splits for my uphill times! I don't always keep a good pace uphill, but those ones make me happy! Then the three downhill...well, after you've put so much effort into running the uphill, it is hard not to give at least 80% of that effort and run fast downhill. Again, I just felt good!

Quickly went home, showered and went to a doc appt with hubby at 7AM, then home and got kids off to school then back into gym clothes and off to the rec center. So, I'm calling this my AM and PM workout :) a 3 hour break is good enough to do that, right?

6 miles on the TM - 8:06, 8:06, 8:00, 8:00, 7:53, 7:48 pace until the last .3, then went progressive to finish at 6:58 for the last .10. TT: 47:50, AP: 7:58

Nice MP tempo for 13.15 miles, just a little broken up. Felt good though, and even on the TM I was talking to my neighbor and laughing. This is a good sign - especially since I was at a 1% incline (okay, so I dropped it down to .5 the last 3 miles).

Masters Swim. Got there late (started the run later than normal due to normal kid issues) so I only had 30 min to swim - I think I did 1200 yds...with some chatting involved :) did my timed 200 at the end of class in 3:35. Which isn't my best, but for the end of a hard workout...I won't complain! I used to do 3:45-4:00 on my speed trials, so I'll take it!

Urban Trail loop with what is becoming a nice big crowd! I love having lots of new stories and fun to throw around. I actually kept up today and didn't get too far behind...just on the daybreak hill, but that doesn't surprise me. I did make everyone stop a couple times for a drink - this cough/cold that is hanging on makes my throat dry. I really love this loop...and the people I get to run it with!

AP: 8:51 splits: 9:46 (I really can't believe this was SO slow!), 9:08 (the hill..how was that faster than the first mile?), 8:44, 8:23, 8:52, 8:26, 8:46, 8:42.

Came home, took Lucy on her 2 mile loop - that poor dog drags SO slow after about 1/2 a mile. I gotta whip that puppy into shape! Then got kids off to school and went to the gym.

Spin class. Did intervals of strength, endurance, speed, agility (jumps). Excellent workout!

Then I did some arm and core weights with Kelli - she always does the best workouts, so I just tagged along for 20ish minutes.

Went home and mowed the lawn, watered all my new plants, fertilized and round-uped the yard. Whew! Now I have my Saturday chores taken care of. Blech...still putting off bathrooms that MUST be done today....ugghhh....

 ****Brent of BSRools is embarking on his Ironman Saturday! Feel free to send him a little FRB love, I don't think it would hurt :)****

SATURDAY RUN: I'd like to do a good hillish long run, with MP tempo after your legs are nice and tired from the uphill :) So, I wanted to see if anyone would like to meet at In N Out Burger at 12600S and Bangerter Hwy at 6AM on Saturday. We'd run up to Yellow Fork Canyon and then turn and come back. I do SO much better with company :) Also, I can put out water at mile 4, 8 and 12 (4 and 12 is the same spot) for anyone who would like to come. Let me know if you are interested...it will be fun!

I wasn't sure I could do it - like always. I was tired, worn out from running crazy all day yesterday and a tough racquetball game 9-10 last night. But, I knew I wouldn't regret it, I just had to do it.

Tackled the hi country hill loop -over 900ft of gain in the loop, 200-250ft/mile for the first 3 miles. My wonderful hubby went to work late so that I could sleep in and run in the daylight when I wasn't afraid of the mtn lions eating me. No, really. They take down horses that live in hi-country frequently, so they certainly wouldn't hesitate to nab me in the breaking dawn. I can't find my mace and Lucy can't run that far anymore, so I'll only go with someone else or in the light. 

Anyway, just went out to tackle them. Felt decent (for hills) on the uphill and then when the downhill hits it is just amazing! A friend that lives on the upper loop I'm too much of a pansy to tackle yet, (but will!) drove past and kept me company for about 50 yds. That was a nice break in the toughest part of the climb.

After the toughest climbs you get a little reprieve before hitting an Ogden like hill for about 1/2 mile. I decided on the break I was going to push and try to tackle it like I want to tackle Ogden. I didn't look at my pace, just kept the effort where I thought I could maintain the Ogden hill. You do get a good 100 yd downhill, but then it flattens out - just like heading to the dam at Ogden, so again I went to Ogden in my mind and just tried to keep a comfortably hard pace. I was happy to see the splits for those miles come in at 7:56 and 7:32. I really can do this...I can and I WILL! My confidence and resolve is growing daily.

There are 2 other short, but steep hill climbs on the way home and I resolved to tackle them with a good pace as well and I did. I really felt good heading on home, the only way I get downhill home :)

Got home and kids were ready to go to school and hubby headed out for work (until probably midnight tonight...whatever). Now I've got a day to fill with family fun and housework again :) That is what I get for being lazy the first few days of the week!

AP: 8:30 splits: 9:20, 9:32, 9:28, 7:56, 7:32, 7:35, 7:24 (last .3)  -I think this is by FAR the fastest I've ever run this loop. The slowest split only 9:30? I'm usually a LOT closer to or over 10mm.

***DON'T FORGET ABOUT MY AMAZING SATURDAY RUN! A gradual uphill (2-3% overall) for 8 miles, then you turn and get to run MP (if you want) back down. Best 'last run' for a full I've ever done! Let me know if you're coming and I'll drop water for everyone at miles 4,8,12 - Meeting at In N Out Burger on 12600S and Bangerter Hwy at 6AM. *** c'mon guys...I need some company :(

I was SO excited to have such a big group this morning! Paul, Kelli, Amy and Kim all came to tackle this run with me. We started late (and I'd told everyone we'd leave early, but it was MY fault I we were late!), but headed out at 6:05, dark and COLD! I only had a running skirt and a t-shirt. SO bitter cold, I left my stinky jacket that doesn't zip up on - it was a pain, but I was thankful for it. 

I really wanted to pull sub 9mm up the hills, but I barely missed it! 9:00 for the climb to the top, but I think that is the fastest I've EVER run those hills in my life, so I'm not going to complain. I did drop my jacket at mile 4 when we stopped for a quick water break, but I was nearly warm by then.

After using the pop at Yellow Fork we headed down. Goal was to run MP miles on the downhill grade after burning them out and having fatigued legs from the climb. A shorter run and tempo, but hopefully more realistic. Paul humored me and said he'd run MP (7:45 -7:50 was my goal) with me. Well, the miles down the canyon kept ticking away 7:25-7:35; crap Rachel. SLOW DOWN! But, I then decided to just go with it. Now my goal was to not lose pace. Hold it. You set it, now hold it! No falling off pace when the course doesn't have such nice downhill.

We again stopped half way down (mile 12) for a water break and did a re-group. I thought for sure that next mile would tick in slower...nope, hangin' on! All right girl, you can do this. I then decided I was just going to run comfortably hard. I can talk and not feel like I'm gonna die, but still pushing pace. Miles still came in on time! Finally the last 1/4 mile I was done. D-O-N-E. As we turned to go to the cars my garmin said 15.81...last .2 stretch to the finish. Hang in there and give it your all. Still had to do a turn, but then we clicked 16. Whew!

I was happy to see that my AP had pulled down so much and that I'd exceeded my MP goal. This is starting to sink in. I CAN do this...and I WILL do this. My body can do a 3:30, I just need my mind to let it. Perfect 'lucky' run in the bag. Now...taper time baby! Let the madness begin :)

AP: 8:15 splits: 9:23 (why such a slow start, I swear it was faster than that! blech); 8:56, 9:01; 8:38, 8:40; 9:02; 9:09; 9:09 (1200 ft of elevation GAIN at this point, the last 2 miles were the worst at 200+/mile); 7:24; 7:26; 7:28; 7:36; 7:24; 7:36; 7:26; 7:35; 6:52 (last 31 feet recorded...see I tried to push a strong finish). I think I like running downhill :)

As a side note, this morning has been crazy! I got home, sent dad and boy #2 to soccer; showered, got me and 3 other kiddos to the game; went to flag football clinic to make sure son #1 could do 11:00 clinic instead of 10:00 assigned time; back to son #1's soccer game to drop off all the boys with dad; took daughter to volleyball to coach while dad finished #1 soccer then took him to flag football; had back to back volleyball games (lost one, won one); dad got back with 3 boys to watch last volleyball game; then volleyball pictures...then, finally...HOME! Then to clean out the car from the mess of the morning transitions (between cars and uniforms and blankets and treats etc) and now, finally at 2:15 I finally get to sit down! WHEW! I don't know how you "soccer moms" do things. It takes 2 people, 2 cars and a lot of coordination to run a family of kids to their crap ALL day on Saturday. Luckily, when we got home the neighbor wanted to take the 2 oldest swimming and baby is napping now. I might just get a few things done before I have to leave again at 4:30 for a tri clinic and work. Nap anyone?