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

Back in the saddle. 

The run felt better today than running has in quite some time, but not up to what 'normal' feels like for me. Still feeling sluggish and slow, but getting better. My hip flexor is getting better all the time, but I still have to get it warmed up and the first bit of a run is still more limping than I'd like. Still SO much better than even a week ago. I can hardly even feel it now while I just walk around. 

Hit the TM at the gym. Plan was to do 5 miles, but when I got to 5 and still had over 6 minutes left to hit my 'time' I decided to go for another one and just push through having to reset the speed a couple times during the 'cool down' (it decreases the speed 50% each minute, so it's annoying, but whatever).

First 3 miles @ 8:57, nice warm-up/recovery from Saturday. Quads are sore from the downhill! Mile 4 @ 8:49, 5 @ 8:34 then the last mile was under an 8:00. I don't know how fast, but I started at an 8 and went progressive to a 6:58 for the last tenth. The last mile I went for a decline. Since I'd done 5 miles of uphill, I figured I deserved some down :) So, the pace was faster, but effort about the same - until the last 1/4 mile sprinting. AP: 8:43

I then did FIT class. I really like doing that class, especially now that they let us do the Bosu work with our shoes off. I feel like it really helps my stability/strength in my feet, ankles and hips that I lack.

Ran home and then got my oldest daughter off to the orthodontist. She got braces today. Crazy, I'm not old enough to have a child that can get braces! I'm only 22!!!

On the track again...just can't wait to get on the track again. 

Oh my! I made the mistake of meeting up with the BBK's this morning. I knew that the track was on the docket, but I figured I would just run. We did about 1.5 warm-up then went to the track and started a speed workout.

100's sprint/recover for two laps, then 200's sprint/recover for two laps. My problem was my pride. I had to try and hit it. I couldn't let everyone else go without me, so I pushed. That first workout certainly wasn't my best, but it helped me warm-up the legs for the next one.

400M  at goal 1/2 marathon pace, then 1200M recovery at pace +40 seconds. My goals were: 7:40 1/2 pace and then 8:20 recovery pace. We did 3 sets of this one. I tried to watch the garmin and stay on pace, which is always hard for me, but it kept me a bit more honest. I figured that my AP for the miles should come out around 8:10's - and I was nearly right on the money! There were a few times on the paces I noticed I was too fast, but it was nice to be able to slow down a little. Problem is, I'm bad at 'feeling' a pace and keeping it consistent so the next time I'd look down it was too slow. Glad it all evened out :)

We then went out in the neighborhoods for a cool-down. The meanest trick was that the first part was uphill. I was spent! We got back to the cars at 6.6 miles, and I couldn't help it. I had to even out the miles. I would've stopped at 6.5! Oh well, so I went to the other end of the HS and back to round it all out.

AP: 8:41 splits: 9:27, 8:49, 8:10, 8:12, 8:12, 8:52, 9:05

Boot camp was cancelled this morning due to the lady that does it having to drive up to Youth Conference. So, I just came home and did Jillian's Shred level 2. It really is a nice good burst of strength and cardio. No gym today. Work, meetings, babysitting, housework, airport and getting to see family!!! At least the day will end well :)

Easy little 5 miler this morning. After a late night, we were all exhausted and I just couldn't help myself with sleeping in. Didn't get up until about 9, it was wonderful. 

Got to the gym later than normal, but no biggie - except it was hotter than normal in there, and I was in a different place, so I had no breeze. Blech. Started at a 9:13 pace and went progressive every 1/2-3/4 mile finishing most of the fourth mile at 8:34 pace. The last mile I took my downhill liberties again and went sub 8:00. Most of it was at 8:00, but I did a fast finish at .25 going to 7:30, then the last .1 at 6:53.

Did my PT/Core work and then some stretching, then got the heck outta Dodge.

Days have been so busy lately I now have 3 days of housecleaning to catch up on before dinner...blech. So, I'm turning off the computer now. Have a great mid-week!

Another early morning with the BBK's. It is SO much easier to get up and run in the summer than the winter! Even if I still insist on staying up until 11:30 PM.

Luckily, the BBK's were just out for a nice easy run this morning. They are all running the Riverton 10K on Saturday, so I was actually able to almost keep up. Always a good thing in my book. I think only one person did the prescribed tempo run. Legs are still coming back, but I think I twisted my ankle on my Saturday run (stupid truck made me run on the dirt) and it keeps getting tender and swollen every day. No pain with running or walking, but tender and swollen. I tell ya...one injury to another this year!

AP: 9:06 splits: 9:31, 9:16, 8:53, 9:12, 9:00, 8:59, 8:38 (last 1/2)

Working early again this morning and I'm hoping her ride comes on time so I can go to yoga. If not, I might be a little ticked off! I really hope I have the energy and availability to get all the crap around the house done that has been on my list and not gotten done all week!

Nice easy long run with Kelli, Wendy and Scott. Got out before it got too hot, but I need to start bringing water with me on these warmer runs. Summer has kind of jumped down our throats and I forget how much the heat dehydrates you. Thankfully, Kelli and Wendy carried water and I bummed some off of them and drinking fountains at the lake and city hall saved me :)

AP: 9:24 splits: 9:42, 9:57, 9:15, 9:21, 9:05, 8:58, 9:07, 9:35, 9:14, 9:23, 9:29, 9:38, 9:22

I'd like to say the pace felt easy, but there were times it certainly did not. I just keep wondering when my 8:30's and 8:40 long run paces are going to come back! These legs have to recover and remember how fun it is to run soon, right?

Thanks to all for letting me tag along, it was a wonderful summer run :) I love group runs, they are SO much nicer than going alone. Running is my social hour! Thanks as well to my hubby to stayed home an extra hour so that I could get the 'long' run done on Friday so I can run the 10K tomorrow with my sister and not have to worry about getting more miles done in the HEAT. I have to be to a baptism at 9:15, so 11:00 is just too late/hot to run, and 4AM is too early!

Anybody have any good early morning runs planned for July 4th? I'd like to do 10-12, but need to be home by 8ish to get to parade land.

What a wonderful race!!! Sometimes it's not so much about the end time, but the journey you make while getting there. 

Got a call last night that my niece wanted to do the fun run. She wanted to know if Lauren (my 10 yr old) want to do it with her while the moms ran the 10K. Lauren was game. I was excited to have her up and racing with me. She was a perfect angel to get up early and get to the park to get registered.

*traditional honey bucket pre-race photo. Mom's and girls.

Met up with bye-wing and did the normal pop stop and then went to line up. We started at the front (off to the side), but waited for the majority of runners to pass before we joined in the crowd. Didn't want to get trampled! The fun run and 10K run the same route at the start, so we got to hang with the girls for a while, but then they turned and we still had a 4 mile loop left :)

bye-wing did a great job! Coming from sea-level running to Utah running is difficult, but she handled it in stride and kept her breathing steady and even the whole time. There are a few good uphill portions of the race, but it is nice to be able to see the top of the hill and push to the crest then recover. Explained the ROOLS to her so she would know why you must pick up the pace on the hills and you couldn't whine.

I like the course because there is one section of out/back so you can see all the leaders at their 3.5ish (well, that is where we crossed them). I had a great time encouraging all the lead runners and everyone that followed as we crossed. Those BBK's are stinkin' fast! All in the lead.

Around mile 4 we started leap-frogging a lady who was prego (5mo) and we got to chatting (yeah, I know...can you imagine? me? chatting in a race? hahaha) she remembered my shirt from last year at Ogden when I was running prego! How funny! What a small world. That is why I love to wear a good shirt. Totally worth it when people remember and talk about it afterward.

My favorite moment was when we passed mile 5 marker. Bye-wing said "oh! YES! FIVE! That is just what I needed to see." With the hills behind us and only 1.2 left, she knew she'd made it and hearing that in her voice made me smile. We pushed through to the end and the prego lady was in front of us. I told Bye-wing "go catch her...you can't let the pregnant lady beat you" (this was probably more for me than her :) ), but true to her good nature she said "maybe she needs the confidence boost more than I do." I told her she was too nice, and that in a race you can't be nice! She just simply replied "this isn't a race for me, just a run". Dang it! Can't argue with that logic.

However..... about 100 yds later we turned the corner to the finish line and had a 1/4 mile or so left. Well, the race finally got to the runner. Bye-wing opened things up and shot towards that finish line like nobody's business. What the heck? Where you been hiding all this speed girl? I looked at the Garmin and she was at a sub 7:30! Now I KNOW she's been holding back on me. I think it is time for this girl to get some speed going. Easily passed prego and nearly caught the other 3 people waaayyy in front of prego. That finish line always inspires quite well :)

(I'm in the back with the pink visor stopping the garmin. Bye-wing is the happy finisher...yeah, she beat me. But, I let her win :) ).

I was SO proud of the work bye-wing did in the race, good consistent push and a nice finish to cap it all off. I think she will surprise herself at Des-news! Had a great chat with the gaggle of runners at the finish line, and some good snacks as well. Our daughters were there at the finish and they had both finished 2.2 miles in just over 28 minutes. My daughter said she felt like she could've run the whole way, but wanted to wait for her cousin when she got a side cramp. I think this comment came as a result of me telling her that I wanted her to push and try to run the whole way since it was a race (that we PAID for) and not just walk. Either way, I think she did a great job and I am SO proud of her! It was fun to have her there and to see how proud she was to join 'the runners' at the finish line (and the snack table). I think I need to find a 5K for her to run with me this summer.

Overall, a great race and a wonderful morning! It is SO fun at local races to see all the familiar faces (especially as they get their awards) and to chat afterward (yeah, yeah...I know, me and chatting). Happy 4th of July everyone!!!

AP: 10:47 splits: 10:48, 10:24, 10:57, 11:19, 11:18, 10:40, 8:48 (SEE?!? This girl is holding back on me! last .34)