I can do it. I will do it NINE times!

Happy New Year!

After much partying and a pulling of an all-night-er to enjoy all of the New Year celebrations, I went over to Steve's house where we had a fun first run on the new year w/some of the club: Bill (for a bit, hope his back gets feeling better soon), Steve, Mike and Holt. I was surprised by how awake I was after getting no sleep last night - the run wasn't sleepy or blah or anything! Went out with they guys and they thankfully kept it really slow at the beginning, so it was even easy for me (thanks) and I turned around at 3.35 for an out-and-back 6.7. Judging from my random disappointment that my foot wasn't miraculously better, I must've been subconsciously hoping something of the sort would happen for the new year. No such luck, though running on the soft dirt trails made it a bit better with it only hurting lots for the last 1-2 miles. Avg. 7:52/mi. (DS2 36)

Some running-related "New Years' Resolutions":

1- Not get injured. Ever!
2- If #1 works out, run everyday! (Except Sunday rest days.)
3- Get to th 2,000 mark on mileage,
4- Change my text from purple to blue. :)

Not quite sure whether these were fast or slow miles, but they felt GREAT! I have no idea how or why, but my foot was feeling almost completely back to normal - a couple twinges here and there with a titch of soreness after, but no really hurting like it has been for the past few weeks. Cross my fingers and hope it stays that way! Ran out-and-back on the river trail, first couple with RJ, Decker, Austin, Jeff and Holt, all but Holt turned back at 2 or 2.5, I went to 3.5 with Holt where he kept going and I turned around. Kept the miles pretty quick, mostly 7:00-7:15's and even managed a sub-8:00 on the mile with the 2450 hill back up to the school. Avg. 7:16/mi. (DS2 43)

Afterwards, I had a big adventure! My dad took out my wisdom teeth tonight and it took forever - between 1.5-2 hours or something. They were really really hard to get out, one of them he had to cut in half to get out and another left behind a very little bit that took ages to finally dislodge. And we ran out of laughing gas so I had to be coherent during the whole thing. Also we found out that the lidocaine ran out for me in about a half hour, so he had to give me more of marcaine instead. It wasn't the worst thing ever, but the marcaine hasn't run out yet, so we'll see how I feel tomorrow. I don't want to mess up my new year's resolution of running everyday yet, so I'm determined to run at least a mile tomorrow.

P.S. I went with as close to royal as I could find. :)

After a long day at school, I managed 4 slow laps around the track. I ran with some sort of low glide-step to minimize bouncing. First half felt pretty good (surprisingly), but second half I got a little sorer in the face. And speaking of my face, boy is it ever swollen. I'm trying to post a picture so you can all laugh at it. Because I do look really hilarious. (DS2 44)

Another slow track mile today, first 800m I ran with Steve Everett. Face is a bit more evened out today, still hurts and looks really funny. One of my friends told me I didn't look like me, and I can see what she means. (Yes, both faces in the new profile picture are me.) What a 'before and after' picture... eeek! (DST 45)

Around 11 I went out and ran a mile around the park by my house. It even started sprinkling/raining - it was so nice! And it was even kinda fast - 7:25! Then I walked a bit with my mom in the rain. Face is still huge, though the swelling is falling a bit, so now I have a massive double chin. Hahahaha! BTW, this whole running while I'm still swollen needs to stay on the down-low, since my dad told me I couldn't. It's a secret. (DS2 46)

Swelling is finally going down, so I thought I could up the miles a (very) little. Both the stitches on the left side fell out sometime today, though I don't know when, so I fear I swallowed them (eew). Ran to Harts and back, not an awful run, not excellent, ran with Fre and Holt. (DS2 47.5)

I actually went mileS today! Two of them! DI loop. It was cold(er) and by the last .5 my face hurt again. More tomorrow!? (DS2 49.5)

Went 3 whole miles with Ashley J today on the Arctic Circle run. Started out kinda fast and I felt out of shape, but Ash was feeling pukey, so at the turnaround we slowed up a bit and it felt good. Looking forward to some more miles tomorrow! (DS2 52.5)

Bank run w/o the extension. I think I should've gone a little shorter today, since my left side of my mouth was sore for lots of it, but I'm still glad I ran more than I have for a week! Still feeling kinda out of shape, but I guess it'll come back sooner or later. Let's hope for the former. After, I got my stitches out, and I'm officially 'allowed' to run now... cough cough... :) (DS2 57)

Green Springs 6. Started out planning on a 5, since yesterday's 4.5 wasn't the greatest, but when I got to the turnaround I felt great, so I kept on - I was even tempted to go 9, but decided against it. But it felt great to finally get into a good faster rhythm like I haven't for a while. Had some bad luck with traffic lights, but overall, it was an awesome run. And the weather has been so nice, T-shirt and shorts weather the last couple days! (DS2 63)

For the last week or so, I've been mentally debating whether or not I should run the Half, after backing off for my foot and wisdom teeth so much. My last few 'longer' runs had been feeling slow, tiring and out-of-shape, but after today's triumph, I signed up for it on my way home from school. I'm not expecting an amazing race, though, and if I feel like I shouldn't, I can still do the 5k.

Decided to go "long" today - I did the AP 9. Got out a bit late since I had to do laundry and homework all day, but I like running in the dark, so it turned out rather nicely. Altogether, it wasn't too bad of a run, considering. Still not feeling quite up to snuff, but I think my first attempt at something longer than 7 for a couple of weeks turned out rather well. Another tally on the "run the half" side of the slate! If I can run 9, I can run 13.1! Or at least attempt it... :) (DS2 72)

Went running around with some hooligans from school - Kimzey, Holt and Austin - we kinda started on our way to the firestation hill loop, but it turned out a bit convoluted with a some random new trails in the desert. Mostly really fun, except for when the guys tried to ditch me after I took the long way 'round Sandberg's pond and they took off on a trail I didn't know existed, so it took a lot of hard breathing to catch up. But I did!! Felt really quite nice until the catch-up bit at the end. (DS2 79.3)
 

Washington Parkway, ran the first few miles with Jeffry, Decker and Austin and we played a fun game - we attacked each others' shadows! Much fun, though it probably looked rather odd to passersby. Ran it pretty easy, legs a little bit tired, but not bad. (DS2 87.3)

Foremaster run, Ethan started out with me, but only did AC, so I had to brave the chilling headwinds on the Riverside Drive portions all by my lonesome. So so so cold! I've been spoiled this last week with nice t-shirt-and-shorts weather and I didn't like being cold again! A little sore this morning, but it wore off by the afternoon and the run felt really great leg-wise (though my hill-running skills are sorely lacking). (DS2 93.4)

Ran with the club tonight, started off talking with Steve, Marcie and Bobbie, then ran the second half with the Wildbull! Was actually planning on going shorter, but it felt nice and the company was good, so I kept on and ran the 7. Started out with rather nice weather, though it got colder by the end - numb fingers! Excited for the race... but scared, too!!! (DS2 100.4)

Nice easy sunrise tire run, a bit stiff but nothing I won't get over in the next...day... :) 7:36/mi avg. And I found out that my new jacket fits in my shorts' pocket! (DS2 104)
Good luck tomorrow everybody!

Woohoo! My legs are dead and sore! After being totally sure I would completely die with my inconsistent training the last while, I had a very pleasant surprise PR! Didn't warm up really beforehand, just a little strides, stretching and hopping around at the start line. Before the start, Marcie, Michelle, Ted, Mike and I were planning on going out together, but when the gun went off, Michelle and Ted took off like insanity, so I stayed back with Marcie, Steve and Mike. Sadly, I didn't hit my start button hard enough (or something) so I realized when everybody's watches beeped at 1 mile that mine hadn't started yet! So I didn't get a split for the first mile, but I got the rest after 1.05 or so! (Though my old 101 isn't quite as accurate as those newfangled 205s.)

1- (off Marcie's split) 6:10 felt good and pretty comfy, though I realized that I hadn't used the potty before starting, oops

2- 6:45 settled into a good groove with Mike and Steve

3- 6:41 good pace

4- 6:42 staying consistent

5- 7:05 oops, let it get a bit too comfortable here

6- 6:32 got mad at myself for that last mile, so I left Mike and Steve (sorry) and made up a little time from the previous mile's slowness

7- 6:43 back to the pace, got running with a couple of random guys which helped keep it quick enough 

8- 6:48 a little slower, but decided to stick with this fellow who was aiming at a 1:27

9- 6:46 those rolling hills around Bloomington SUCK, legs getting tired, thought about taking the gu I had stached in my pocket, but was afraid of it making me sick, so I didn't

10- 6:35 again mad at myself for seeing a 7-something pace everytime I looked down, so I started kicking myself, though my buddies ditched me around here :( was tempted to use the porta-john but didn't want to waste time, so I held it

11- 6:45 knew I had a good time coming and was just trying to hold onto it, right hamstring started getting really cramped and tight

12- 6:47 got energized a lot by cheers of people going the other way since I was in second place, probably would've been much slower otherwise

13- 6:33 started trying to kick it in with about half mile to go and Sasha helped a bit got my legs going and finished! And didn't die! (DS2 117.1)

All in all I'm so so so happy with this race! I was sure I would get about a 1:30 or slower, but I feel like I pushed it pretty well and I got second overall in this race for the second time in a row! Probably won't have the chance to run another half in a while, so I'm glad I went out on the limb and ran the half today. Hopefully the next half I do I'll get in some better training and run something crazy fast like MichelleL or something! Thanks lots to Steve for hosting and sponsoring everything and Mike and Marcie for helping me run faster at the start than I would've otherwise! You guys are AWESOME!

Went out in the late morning in Farmington while the nephews were at swim lessons and preschool, pretty chilly out and had to avoid snow and ice on the roads.  Was afraid my legs would be mostly useless and way sore from the race, but they felt ok. Ran a 2.1 mile loop around the neighborhood, was planning on going only twice around for a 4-miler, but felt all right at the end of the second loop and took the third one. Though the legs weren't all that sore, they were still fatigued and my miles went from being comfortable at around 7:30 pace on the first loop to being comfortable at around 8:15 pace on the last loop. Avg. 7:52/mi. (DS2 123.4)

School again. Bleh. But the run was good! Ran the Wash Pkwy loop, started off with Jfree and Decker, then when Holt, Kimzey and Austin caught up to us, I went with them. Got a bit tired aerobically on the uphill sections and the left knee was weirding out like last week on this run, but overall, it was a rather triumphant run, we even got a couple of the miles under 7 with avg. at around 7:15/mi. Fun fun fun run! Yay for St. George weather and t-shirts! (DS2 131.4)

Foremaster with Holt, Austin, JeffF, and Kimzey. Legs still feeling easy breezy and fast! Except for downhills - I hate those. On the last couple miles, I kept picking it up because I thought I was slowing everybody else down and ran the industrial hill mile 7:20! Sweet. (DS2 137.5)

Since I'm trying to get back into lifting weights regularly, right after school I ran a grass loop warmup, lifted 2x11 of everything, then ran a grass loop cooldown and went home.

At 5pm, I went 7 with the club. There were quite a few of us today, so it was fun to rotate around in the group and talk with different people about whatever during different parts of the run. And I jumped in a puddle and got my feet all wet! On purpose. :) A little stiff today, but mostly just going smooth and nice like this whole week has been. I'm getting spoiled with all these good runs! (DS2 145.5)

Boy am I sore! The little lifting I did yesterday has done me in, I think. And I'm starting to get a sore throat. And I feel whiny! My body wanted to do less and my mind wanted to do more, but ended up running an easy Green Springs 6 with Jeff, and we talked a lot to keep our minds on something besides our tired legs, since they (mine, at least) were stiff, uncooperative and sore the whole way. At the end, I was pleasantly surprised that our average was 7:34/mi with one mile on the downhill back under 7:00! Hopefully my legs will feel more like legs tomorrow. (DS2 151.5)

There is a need for a place to put down very slow miles, because that's what I ran this morning - it was cold, my legs were so tired and I was congested and sick, it was not very fun. But I did it! Ran out on River road around on Riverside, up Mall Drive and back home on River road with a couple of detours to make it 10 miles. 8:14/mi avg. (DS2 161.5) 

Snow, snow, snow! What a crazy run! Did the River 8 - we started off into some nasty wind with the snow pelting us lots and it hurt muchly. Once we got past sunrise tire, the wind wasn't against us anymore and from then on out it was a fun fast run. Nobody had a watch, but we were cold and ran fast - I think I got a new time record on the last mile up to the school! Also, we got to run in some very messy muck on the crossing to the paved trail, so my shoes have finally become filthy... bwah ha ha ha ha ha! I don't think I've smiled so much in a run since I ran the steeplechase at SUU last year. Good times. (DS2 169.5)

Ran to the cemetery and did  a couple of tempo miles with an easy one in between, went with Decker, Willy, Holt, Austin and Kimzey. Legs are sore and a bit stiff from yesterday's lifting (2x11 again after our run yesterday) and fast running, plus I have the remnants of a sinus headache -presumably from running in the snow with a cold- so the tempo wasn't the most excellent. But, I guess if you average the two they were almost right on goal pace... 6:14 and 6:23 (gp 6:20). After, we did 4x100m grass strides and ran back to the HS. The guys were going pretty quick on the last mile down on Riverside, so I stuck with them and that mile was 6:40-ish! My left knee is getting tighter and left foot sorer, I think I'm going to call April up for a massage soon. Good run for the most part.Avg. for the whole run 7:05/mi. (DS2 177.8)

The boys all ditched me today! Which was probably good since I think I needed a break. So, since I randomly signed up for a 10k this Saturday, I decided to do my longer run for the week today. Went out on the GS-Desert-Middleton run, legs were sore and the wind was against me for the uphill out, but after the first 4.5 at 8:00-8:50/mi pace, I started feeling good and cruised the rest of the way back at around 7:00-7:20/mi pace. When I got to the HS, I ran most of a big grass loop and a couple laps around the track to get to 10 miles. Total avg. 7:53/mi. Really great run with some wonderful scenery; felt nice to go out on my own and relax. (DS2 187.9)

Big grass loop warm up, then lifted weights - still just 2x11 easy. Next week I'm upping it to 3x11, big grass loop cool down. Will run more with the club this evening.

Ran the usual loop with the club, quite a few people out today, which was fun. In our group, only Fre, Austin and I did the 7-miler, 7:30/mi avg. and I was dying. Not really, but my legs felt really tired and heavy the whole run. Glad I resisted the urge to go donate blood at our school's blood drive. (DS2 196.4)