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

Traditional 6 mile loop; Mirabella up. Nice to get out and on the road - especially with company!

COME ONE COME ALL - Black Friday run. Lehi 10AM. Donuts, chocolate milk, me and my favorite Pirate! Run as much or as few as needed to work off what you ate the day before, so we will be running all day :)

It's a Dekker girls sale: For a limited time there will be buy one get one free Dekker girl workout opportunity. Running shoes and a good appetite are required. And the shoes are actually optional.

From home to the Pumpkin run route then a short cut home to avoid the big hill back up to the park. I love being able to get out early, have a running partner and avoid daycare costs at the gym. I think QP needs to move here...  :)

Afterward I did the shred at home and then 3X 60/60/60 planks with 20 push ups between each set. Never mind the fact that a 17 month old was crawling on my back and under/around me the whole time.

Don't forget and spread the word!! Black Friday run, Lehi JRP 1500 N, 10AM.

It's a Dekker girls sale: For a limited time there will be buy one get one free Dekker girl workout opportunity. Running shoes and a good appetite are required. And the shoes are actually optional.

6.3 miles up on the high country loop - hills galore. Now I remember why I don't like that loop :) but, anything to entertain visitors! The last mile home was nice, especially getting our own little Thanksgiving day parade. Check out QP's blog for pics.

Don't forget and spread the word!! Black Friday run, Lehi JRP 1500 N, 10AM. I will have good food and hot chocolate afterward too :)

It's a Dekker girls sale: For a limited time there will be buy one get one free Dekker girl workout opportunity. Running shoes and a good appetite are required. And the shoes are actually optional.

Since I had QP and JT in town for the holiday I drug them to the Turkey Trot. When my daughter saw me signing up she said she wanted to come - perfect! and it was :)

We parked at Leslie's house and got to walk over with her while she started her early walking of the course. She is SO wonderful and I love that lady so much! It was nice to visit with her for a bit and catch up. We picked up our packets and had enough time to take them back to the car and still make a potty stop before start time. Like I said - perfect!

 Me, JT, Lauren and QP in the warm gym waiting for the start.

As we walked out to line up what did I see?!? ALLIE!! Standing at the front of the mat looking all focused and ready to win. So, I ran up to her and gave her an unexpected (and possibly unwanted) hug and threatened to hang out with her at the front and try to win :) But, seeing as that wasn't a possibility, I just threatened her if she didn't win and went back with QP, JT and Lauren to the back of the crowd. We did lose Lauren for a few minutes, but I stood on a light pole and she found us. whew.

They started some fun music and we were just about ready. So, what do I do? I start dancing and prancing - and fall off a 2 inch curb and twist my ankle. Fell down on my butt to hopefully not continue to cause damage and felt a nice little pop in my ankle. Crap. Nice. Really?!? Whatever. I tried to walk it off as the race was starting and I could barely put weight on it. At this point we are moving with the 2000 other people toward the start line and I'm just cussing myself. By the time we get there, I decide to just go for it. I cross the mat and take off. I felt the ankle for the first few steps, but then adrenaline took over and it was out of my mind completely for the next 3 miles.

What wasn't out of my mind was that there were WAY too many people to try and run fast at the back of the crowd. Couldn't get through and looking at my garmin there was over 1:30 that I was running slower than an 8mm (closer to a 10) as I tried to weave/push/elbow/cuss my way through the crowd. That is the bad thing about starting at the back. There was one big mess to get through and I got on the sidewalk and just went for it. Then we all funneled into the finish line (which is about 1/4 mile away from the start, but on the course) and I nearly came to a dead stop here and I could NOT move. Then I see JT to my right getting through. What the heck? Out of my way people! I got through the mess and got back on the sidewalk and just weaved around the others there until it looked clear enough to hop back on the road. Hardly noticed the first hard hill thanks to the crowd - good thing about starting at the back.

I was pushing myself and trying to remember it was just 1.5 miles of uphill and then just one short uphill on the home stretch. C'mon girl, you can do this! I wanted a 22:XX min time, this is a rough course with 432 ft elevation gain (as per Cottonwood Heights) over the course on an out and back, so definitely not PR course, but one to really show your guts. The last steep uphill turning onto a neighborhood street I started losing it, then pulled myself back in and passed a few more people. This was the only other time in the race (other than the beginning crowd malfunction) that I hit over an 8mm pace.

When we hit the turn that finally revealed the downhill I was relieved, but tried to keep pushing myself. I don't think I do push myself on the downhill as much as I should, this is something I think I could work on: Keeping my downhill effort consistent with my uphill effort and not thinking "yay! I get a break." and fall into an easier stride.

There was one turn on the finishing mile that put you right into a head wind and then your last uphill climb, and it is a doozy. But, I powered through it. I knew the downhill stretch to the finish was on the other side. I only got passed once the entire race, and it was just before that turn - by a guy with a jogging stroller, crap. Oh well, that is another good thing about starting in the back - lots of people to pass! :)

The downhill I tried to just let go, but I still wasn't equal effort to the uphill, but maybe I shouldn't be. I felt like I was done - 5K's make me crazy I don't like running so fast and then being done so fast. I'm definitely more suited to endurance. I tried to stay strong and pass the last couple people on my radar, but it is hard when you know that chip time you are really in front of all the people a good minute in front of you - bad thing about starting at the back.

I saw that clock at 24:xx when I finished and was mad at myself. I really wanted that 22:xx; I knew we were behind on the clock, but I knew it wasn't 2 minutes worth. Then when I saw I was just over at 23:06 I was bummed. If it wasn't for the traffic jam at the start I could've hit the 22:xx. Oh well, there is always next year :)

JT finished close behind me and as I was walking back to get Lauren I saw QP finishing. Perfect! So, we waited for her then all 3 went back for Lauren. There are SO many little kids. She is 10, so in the 11 and under category and there were 70 girls!! Crazy! We only went back .2 until we saw her then ran her in. She saw me and said "no. go away." but with a smile on her face. I told her we were all here to run her in and she was a good sport about letting us embarrass her.  Later she told me she doesn't like that when I run with her I always talk to her and say how proud I am of her and that she is awesome and doing a good job. So, I can run with her, I just have to shut up next time :) How old is she again?!?

We walked back and waited for the raffle and results. The more I walked the tighter my ankle got and the more swollen it became. It is nice and swollen and I'll have a good bruise to show for it in the morning. Good thing I've got a roll of athletic tape and know how to tape up and ankle for tomorrow's run! No one won anything at the raffle :( not even an entry to the SLC half, which is what I wanted. I love it, but that race is SO expensive. Lauren finished 14th in her AG at 34:45. She looked at my placing before they announced it and I couldn't believe I'd taken 3rd in my AG! Wow, there are so many fast people at this race I've never placed before and didn't think it would happen with my slow time this year, but hey - I'll take it!! They give ribbons 5 deep and I was SO excited when they called QP as 5th in her AG and so we both got our ribbons!! No turkeys or pies at this race, not even medals - just ribbons, but I'm proud of it :)

Sorry the pic is blurry, but you can't be picky when asking strangers to take your picture with a camera phone! Sister winners with their ribbons!

A wonderful morning with great company, and as always a proud mama to watch my girl that won't run with me finish a race and feel good about herself. I love that girl! I couldn't even run 1/4 mile to the school without stopping when I was her age and she is already kickin' it in 5K's and a great swimmer! I guess I should shut up about it now, so I don't embarrass her.

AP: 7:22 (7:26 according to the race time, my garmin has it at 3.14, but I did SO much weaving this doesn't surprise me). Splits: 7:43, 7:25, 7:11, 5:58 (last .14) I love the progressive run and the fast finish! I'm still kicking myself about that first mile and all the stopping. whatever, I'm over it.

Best run of the season! Had a great crowd show up for the 2 for 1 sale on the Dekker girls :) I love having a good excuse to do a running party. Kelli, Chad, Annette (my SIL), Steam8, Catherine, Eric, Elliot (the cutest one there), Allie, Smooth, Wendy, QP and I all showed up with the promise of good conversation, running and most importantly food! :)

We ran South on the JRP to the lake, around the dirt loop and back. The cutest running family turned around at mile 3ish, and a few others around 4.5 and 5, but QP, Kelli, Annette, Chad and I all made the full loop which put us at 11.25 back to the cars. Well, Chad dropped off at home (good thing too, if his knee hurts after another run with me I'm going to know for sure that I am just BAD luck for him and won't ever run with him again!!) but he joined us (showered and warm -jerk!) for the good food afterward to pick up his car. We also got to meet his lovely wife and cute as a button little girl!! 

The weather was just perfect! Couldn't have ordered a better November running day and visiting with hot cocoa (and whipped cream of course!), donuts, oranges and juice afterward was obviously the best part of the run. Chad's daughter was told that this is why daddy runs, so that he can have a donut party and didn't she want to start running now? Gotta get those recruits young!

Eventually we all got cold and full and headed off, but I had such a great morning!! It is definitely a run that I will enjoy for years to come - memories are the best. A big thank you to everyone who made the effort to come and make this run SO amazing for me and QP. I really can't thank my amazing running friends enough!! I know there were lots of others that wanted to come as well, so we will definitely make sure you are there next time so you can enjoy all the fun!

QP got some pics, but I didn't get any :( You'll have to check out her blog soon to see if they get posted.

AP: 8:51 splits: 9:20, 9:02, 9:00, 8:37, 8:55, 9:14, 8:50, 8:42, 8:45, 8:26, 8:42, 8:21 (last .25) I must say these splits and especially the finishing ones. I was running with QP and the elevation change isn't all that easy to take, but she was busting out some speedy miles for the finishing of a long run and a long week. I checked our AP about 2 miles out from the finish and we were at an 8:57, so we pulled the average down quite a bit to the finish. If you know me, you know how much I love a fast finish :)

Early morning trip to the airport :( just lost my running buddy. She thinks she has to go home to her family and job or something crazy like that!

Came home and slept and since I had no where to be until 3PM I asked Kelli if I could tag along with her and Scott. Luckily they didn't want to leave until 10AM to let it warm up a bit. YAY! I got some sleep and felt great. Chilly to start, but I was actually pretty comfortable once we got going. I met them about 2 miles from their house and just a mile down from mine. I thought I was being clever cutting out the uphill at the start - I would regret this!

We ran out to the lake around and back. Thanks to Kelli I now know where the hidden public bathroom and water fountain are - YES! She knows all the good stops. Scott was the best body guard on the run and always telling us when to cross, when big trucks were coming (when we had to run on the R side of the road) and then pulling me up the hills. I miss running with those guys. Great company and good miles!

When we got back to the point we met and I went home I now had another .70 climb UPHILL and they got to turn and go 1.8 downhill home. Shoot. Should've driven to their house and taken the 2 extra miles. I hate having to always finish uphill to my house.

Had a great run and the ankle is holding up well. Seriously, a couple aleve and some good sleep cure all. Thanks Kelli and Scott for letting me tag along!! Another perfect run.

AP: 8:41 splits: 8:38, 8:38, 8:33, 8:31, 8:27, 8:43, 8:50, 8:39, 8:50, 8:48, 8:57, 8:30, 8:43, 8:50, 7:13 (last .10) I really need to run with Kelli more. Seriously. NO paces over 9mm - even on my hill of despair home without her I kept it at 8:50. I like these splits :)