Each Day Is a Gift

December 25, 2024

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Location:

UT,

Member Since:

Oct 14, 2008

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Age Division Winner

Running Accomplishments:

85 marathons, 5 times Utah Grand Slam finisher (division winner twice).

7 Bostons (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016).

Two 50Ks, one 50 miler (Pony Express).

A handful of AG wins in all distance races.

Marathon PR: 3:57:09 (Boston'08)

Half Marathon PR: 1:48:41 (Bryce Canyon '11)

10K PR: 47:50 (Spectrum 10K '09)

5K PR: 22:31 (Nestle 5K '08)

Short-Term Running Goals:

2017 Races:

June 10 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:13:43)

June 24 - Morgan Valley Marathon (5:49:01)

July 8 - Hobbler Half (2:19:37, 2nd AG)

July 24 - Temple to Temple 5K (27:43)

July 29 - Timp Half (2:08:01, 3rd AG)

Aug 26 - Mt. Nebo Marathon (5:16:16, 3rd AG)

Sep 16 - Huntsville Marathon (4:48:53)

Oct 7 - St. Geroge Marathon (4:57:11)

Nov 4 - Canyon City Marathon (5:30:07)

2018 Races:

Jan 13 - St. George Half (2:19:45, 3rd AG)

Mar 3 - The Woodlands Marathon (5:01:35)

Apr 6-7 - Ragnar So. California

June 1-2 - Ragnar Wasatch Back

June 9 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:19:22)

June 30 - Morgan Valley Half

Sep 1 - Pocatello Marathon (6:00:43)

Sep 15 - Huntsville Marathon (5:37:08)

Oct 6 - St. George Marathon (5:25:43)

Oct 20 - SoJo Marathon (5:29:23)

2019 Races:

June 1 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:44:24)

June 22 - Morgan Valley Marathon (6:15:13)

Aug 31 - Pocatello Marathon (5:38:47)

Sep 14 - Big Cottonwood Marathon (6:03:51)

Oct 5 - St. George Marathon (5:57:46)

Oct 12 - SoJo Marathon (5:55:45)

2020 Races:

Jan 18 - St. George Half (2:38:28)

Feb 15 - Sun Marathon (5:51:54)

May 5 - Conquer Covid-19 Virtual Marathon (5:49:07)

May 16 - Clear Creek Canyon Half Marathon (2:32:15)

May 25 - Utah Valley Virtual Marathon (5:33:110

June 9 - Independence Run Virtual Marathon (5:55:22)

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run happy and healthy all the days of my life. Be an example and inspiration to my family.

Personal:

I'm 64, retired RN, happily married, nana to 14 beautiful grandchildren, mother to 6 children (1 daughter, 5 sons) who are kind, hardworking, caring, wonderful people! Wish they live closer!!! :) :) :)

Picked up running in 2005 at age 50, to stay healthy so I can take care of my husband who had endocarditis resulting in AVR and MVR in 2004, end stage renal failure in 2014, kidney transplant on Dec 30, 2015. Six months after the kidney transplant, we discovered that he has a rare auto-immune disease that was probably triggered in 2004 with then the undiagnosed infective endocarditis. The doctors had to make up a name for this rare disease, Monoclono Gammopathy with Renal Significance (MGRS). It is not curable. After desperately trying different chemotherapies, the doctor finally found one immuno-therapy, Daratumamab, that works to treat the MGRS. It is a miracle!!!

Grateful for the gift of life, blessings, dear friends and loved ones!!! Thankful for the ability to move, walk, jog, and yes run!!!!

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00
Saucony Guide ISO Wide Lifetime Miles:						311.91
Saucony Guide ISO Lifetime Miles:						313.31
Sacony Guide ISO (2) Lifetime Miles:						225.26
Altra Torin (sz 7) Lifetime Miles:						44.49
Saucony Guide 10 (2020) Lifetime Miles:						60.91

Fri, Jan 29, 2010

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
19.00	2.00	0.00	0.00	21.00

All I can say is: IT'S DONE!!! Not pretty but done!

Woke up super tired (bad sign); so stayed in bed to stretch. Diddle-daddled all morning 'till 11 before heading out. It was so hazy I couldn't see the mountains. Weary of traffic and its fumes I decided to run on the JRP (bad choice).

I carried 2 flasks of gatorade in my fuel belt, leaving the gu in my car thinking I would take it on the return at mile 10 (big mistake!) My stomach started to growl at mile 3. It's almost 4 hours since I ate breakfast (bowl of oatmeal and banana). Took a sip of gatorade which tasted so good.

Mile 4 and 5 are uphill, with snow and ice on the west side of Jordan River. Had to walk thru some icy patches. I could see lotsa footprints, paw prints and deer droppings in the crusty snow. All of a sudden I saw some fresh animal poop that's NOT deer droppings. Uh Oh! I forgot to bring the pepper spray Wendy gave me for Christmas. Some of the paw prints run up to the hill side. Yikes, wonder what kinda wild animals roam these hills. As if on cue, a silver tail fox ran across the trail 15 yards in front of me thru the ravine and up the hill side. That freaked me out!!!

I started to pay closer attention to the paw prints, mostly of deer, horses and dogs. Then I saw a few sets that have CLAWS!!! I have never felt so vulnerable in my life! Here I was all alone! Kelli, Scott, anybody...I need you! Can I fend off a fox or cougar with my fuel belt or cell phone! My heart was pounding with fear. Tried to run faster but hard to get good footings. I prayed so hard and vowed never to be so foolish to run solo here again.

Finally made it to the top and decided to run extra around the Veteran's Memorial Park (safe sanctuary). Running around the cemetery somehow gave me peace which calmed my heart. Couple of vehicles passed me on the return down which gave me the idea to run on the road and by pass the section of the trail where I saw the claw prints. When I ran pass the area where the fox was, I got startled by some barking dogs from the house down in the ravine.

Made it safely back to the east side of the river (mile 8) and realized I hadn't drank anything since mile 3. I bonked big time the next two miles, my legs were noodles. By the time I reached the car at mile 11 I was famished. Ate one gu w/ water and psyched myself out for 10 more miles heading to the south portion of the trail. This time I carried 2 flasks of gatorade, 1 gu and 1 flask of water.

Half mile later the gu kicked in and I was revived. I ran pass a Spanish speaking family consist of father, mother, grandmother, a little boy and a puppy named Nacho. SO HAPPY to see humans! Aside from the fox, I saw some deer, stray cats (which I thought were dogs 'til I got closer...so blind), cows, several flocks of geese flying over head and ducks swimming in the river.

Drank gatorade at mile 13. The trail was closed 4 miles out (south of where I parked) for construction of the road bridge. Drank gatorade at the turn around (mile 15). Took second gu at mile 17. Passed the Spanish family. Nacho and the little boy ran with me for a little bit...so cute! :) Reached the car at mile 19 and drank the last flask of gatorade. Ran back south again passing the Spanish family for the 3rd time. Turned around after one mile and finished 21 miles in 3:35:43. AP @ 10:19 with the last 2 at marathon pace. YES! DONE!

Note to self: do not run a "hurry" 11 miler the day before a 21 miler. Remember to fuel well before and during the long run. Better run in urban area when alone. Next week's 20 miler will be better and faster!

Inspire 5 (1) Miles: 21.00

Night Sleep Time: 8.00	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 8.00	Weight: 0.00

Comments

From allie on Sat, Jan 30, 2010 at 11:35:24 from 98.202.24.36

smooth - what an awesome week of running! i am glad the fox, dog, horse and cougar left you alone. way to go on the 21-miler.

From Kathie on Sat, Jan 30, 2010 at 14:05:54 from 63.248.105.188

Scary, that is why I hate to run alone too!

Really though your dedication is going to pay off at Boston for sure!

From JulieC on Sat, Jan 30, 2010 at 17:12:28 from 65.100.254.91

I go to read your blog this am and see your 21 miler to MATCH mine today. Funny. We must be working like a presidency or something? : D. Way to get it done on tired legs.

From Kelli on Sat, Jan 30, 2010 at 17:28:42 from 71.219.89.82

Oh, dang! I wish I had been with you to protect you from the animals with my cell phone!!! That trail is a little freaky, especially when you see the paw prints and wonder what they are! I can not believe you ran it alone, silly girl!

I hope you had some ice cream at the game last night! I know Teena did, but hopefully you enjoyed some for me, too.

Awesome week! You are truly AMAZING!

From Bec on Sat, Jan 30, 2010 at 17:32:39 from 76.23.55.210

You had an interesting running week didn't you? Running from humans and animals. Be careful out there, we don't want to send the search party.

From Teena Marie on Sat, Jan 30, 2010 at 18:17:53 from 174.52.45.85

Laughed so hard when you told me about your close encounters the first time ... now I am laughing again!!! Oh Smooth!!!

Congrats on the 21 miler at the end of an incredible week!! You are crazy doing that after your fast 11 miler the day before!!!

Also, thanks so much for the fun evening. Ry and I couldn't stop talking about you and Larry. We admire you both so much!!! :)

I love you, SSF!

Hope the baby shower went well. Take a nap!!! :)

From RAD on Sat, Jan 30, 2010 at 18:25:48 from 67.172.229.125

What a crazy week you've had! Now I know that I need to recover and start running again so that I can be your 'running body guard!' From back-hoes and foxes!

Way to keep your head up and improvise and fuel well. Your adrenaline runs are AMAZING! :)

From vinh on Sat, Jan 30, 2010 at 20:40:29 from 71.68.254.197

Whoa nice 21 miler Smooth! I'm surprised you didn't run 10 more =P Hope you have a great weekend!

From Andy on Sat, Jan 30, 2010 at 22:19:06 from 198.60.114.178

Great job on getting through such an adventurous run. The toughness that you earned from this run will come in handy. I am always looking for foxes when I run and can't seem to find as many as I would like.

From Emily on Sat, Jan 30, 2010 at 23:10:19 from 71.219.137.145

I love reading your posts! They are so entertaining and descriptive! You are so amazing for running that far all by yourself! I am sure you will sleep well tonight and I hope you rest up tomorrow. Thank goodness for Sundays!!!

From MarcE on Sat, Jan 30, 2010 at 23:32:15 from 206.225.68.39

Smooth...don't run alone! You'd make a great appetizer for a cougar! Glad you learned something..nice run, too!

From Smooth on Sun, Jan 31, 2010 at 16:40:06 from 174.23.232.65

allie ~ THANKS! 69 miles this week! The most I have ever run. So glad I got her done. WooHoo!

Kathie ~ Funny how our minds can play trick on us. Wish so badly I had someone to run with. Hubby made me promise to never run on the JRP alone again...he's more concerned about perverts than wild animals.

Julie ~ Yep, got to uphold our duty as Pres and VP of the NSAIRC! Your 21 miler was much prettier than mine though!

Kelli ~ I miss you terribly! It was the happy memories of our last run trudging thru snow there that kept me going. So you did protect me w/o being there! Nope, I didn't eat any icecream at the game. Teena ate enough for the three of us. On second thought, no one can ever eat enough ice cream in your honor. If there were ever an ice cream eating contest, you'd be the champ!

Bec ~ Sure was interesting week running outside. Made running on the TM that much more BORING!

SSF ~ You and Ry are so very welcomed! Larry really likes Ry. He said you and I are so much alike and both marry to men who are so much alike. Miss you already. Can you believe it's been a week already since our road trip?

The baby shower was a wonderful family event. Nap? What's that?

Rachel ~ Yah, when are you going to run again? I need your company! Miss you!

vinh ~ Seriously, I think if I don't have anything else to do in life,,,I'd be running all the time. Very pathetic!

Andy ~ THANKS! Hope I could be half as tough as you.

When I saw that fox all I could think of was the incident I read about a runner being attacked by a fox which chomped on her arm. She was so brave to hold the fox so it could be captured and tested for rabbis. HORRIBLE!!!

Emily ~ THANKS! I am grateful for the Sabbath. I truly need the rest!

Marc ~ I don't think running with another person would help. Any running partner would be faster than me and I'd still be the appetizer for a cougar! :)

From Kelli on Sun, Jan 31, 2010 at 22:16:21 from 71.219.89.82

Yes, indeed! Sign me up for that contest (as long as it is not chocolate ice cream!!!)

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