Each Day Is a Gift

Thanks to Karen's encouragement/support/love and driving us to the Olympic Oval; I started off 2020 with a run, err a jog for me as I am slower than tar these days.  Eric got in over 14 miles, Karen ran 10 and I got 8.5 in the New Year's Revolution Run. 

My running has really declined the last three years, although I still managed to finish 6 marathons a year.  I run by my lonesome self about 3 times a week.  I have gotten so fat and slow that it's embarassing.  My asthma was getting so bad that I finally saw my doctor and renewed the medications.  I started taking the Symbicort inhaler on Nov 1.  It's beginning to show a bit of improvemnt 2 months later.  I need to be consistent in taking the meds, eating less, running 4 days a week. 

My Garmin 220 (which I got in 2014 when I came home from my mission) has not been holding its battery charge for over a year now.  Trying to decide if I should pull the trigger and purchase a new GPS watch.  My reasoning of not wearing a watch: 1. I don't want to or need to know how slow I'm running.  2.  I already know the distance of my running route. 

Anyhow, I don't know if anyone even reads my blog anymore since I've not been active on here for quite some time.  I'd love to hear what suggestions you have on a good basic GPS watch. 
 

West from Center St on MCT to 1600 W >  east to Dry Creek Hill > west to 800 E > south to home.

MCT west.

MTC east to Dry Creek Bridge in 45 min using the phone's timer at 4:1 ratio. 

Legacy Center. Run 1 lap Walk 1 lap ratio in 30 min.

MCT to bathroom by Lone Peak HS.  Carried 5oz water flask.  Took 2 bathroom breaks. Used phone's timer for 4:1 ration.  11 miles in 2:30.  Signed up for SG Half.
 

Legacy Center. 24 laps (3 miles) steady state, paused after every 8 laps to drink. Total time = 35 min.

38F wind S16mph felt like 28F.  4oz OJ.  Ran east to 810 E trail access west to 1500W. Drank water at 1500W bathroom then turned back home via Center St. 

Cell phone 5min timer. 4:1 ratio.  Fast counting 200, slow counting 60.  Lots of expectorant, more from chest with headwind.

5.5 mi in 1:13.  AP = 13:16

MCT west running via Center St.  Stopped briefly for drink at 1500W bathroom turn around.  43F will be about the same at the SG Half start, so plan to wear same gear: long sleeve top, black Boston no-lining jacket, cap with thin head bands, capri.  

4:1 ratio per cell phone timer.  5 miles in 60min. 

Got up at 7:00.  Breakfast of oatmeal in half n half, with 1/2 banana, few raspberries and blueberries.  6oz water.  Lowell and I left the house at 8:35 as planned.  Got to Dixie Center with 18 min to spare.  Met up with Amanda and Hailey.  Used the restroom then walked to the start.  Saw Karen and Evan Tree so visited with them a bit while waiting to start.  The announcer said starting temp was 25F.  Race started right on time at 9am.  We jumped in after the 2:30 pacer.  Karen, Evan, Lowell, Hailey and Amanda quickly ran off ahead.  I just loved this fun atmosphere of this race with over 700 participants.  Well, mainly I like races where we just walk up to the start instead of riding the bus to the start! :)

My only goal is to finish this thing before the time limit of 3:30.  I broke my tail bone on Oct 17 last year and hadn't run for the next 6 weeks.  I ran a handful of times in December.  In January I did 9 runs, mostly short runs on the Legacy Center tiny indoor track.  The longest run was last Fri on the MTC for 11 miles. which took me about 2.5 hours.  I had not worn a GPS watch for months.  This morning Lowell slapped on my wrist one of his older Garmin watches and showed me the start/stop button.  So I decided to start running at every 5 min interval, walking for 30 sec. in each interval, so run 4.5 min and walk 30 sec.  I also walked through every aid station taking a cup of gatorade and a cup of water.  I ate a Gu at the third aid station which is just before mile 7, so at half way.  I took off my headband at mile 5, shed the jacket after taking the Gu at half way.

The first couple miles were on River Rd with gradual incline.  The next three miles were running up to the Bloomington Hill neighborhood and by the golf course.  Then the course spilled out on Brigham Rd for the first of two significant inclines up to mile 7.  Then we dropped down for a quarter mile and turned into the trail.  I saw a group of family members cheering on couple of ladies ahead at the turns before the trailhead.  Then I recognized Barbara, mother of Kathie Phillips.  I asked if Kathie was running this to which she said no.  Soon I caught up to the two ladies and recognized Kim (Kathie's younger sister) right away.  We exchanged hugs and chatted a bit.  It was SO great to see her.  I tried to hang with her but she's a much stronger runner than me.

Around mile 9.5 my left calves started to cramp so I walked and pulled out the Hyland cramp tablets which I dropped at which time a lady looked to me in my age group passed me.  I looked at my time after mile 10 and figured if I kept a 13min pace I'd make it under 2:45.  I was leapfrogging with a young man who has some kind of vascular disease that affects his left lower leg.  His left calf is bigger than the right calf and has very visible bunches of varicos veins.  I encourged him along with a taller man who was coughing at one time.  Since I was coughing quite a bit from my asthma, I asked if he too has asthma to which he said no and that he just had a cough.  He was very complimenting of my run despite having asthma.  Anyhow, I had the usualy cough, blow nose, spit during the walk interval.  Never did get into wheezing mode so I was not pushing the pace at all.  Now with 5K to go, I just concentrate on not letting my pace got higher than 12:30.  I passed the lady (who might be in my AG that passed me earlier) at mile 11 and never saw her again until after the finish.  When I passed the 12 mile marker, I called Lowell to let him know I had one mile to go.  He had of course already finished and was planning to run back to find me.  He said, "one mile left ?!! liar, liar, pants on fire!" Then I said, yep, see you in 15 min. and we both laughed.

Saw him soon at a bend looking down at his phone.  I yelled out to him and just in time for the walk break and he pranced right along and then sprinted ahead to snap a few pictures of me.  He said he told Larry when I called so he'd be at the shute before the finish.  I waved to Larry and looked ahead at the finisher clock showing 2:39:xx.  So happy to have finished in 2:38, well under the 3:30 time limit.  Lowell ran a 2:13 and won his AG. 

A little side note:  The last time I ran this was in 2018.  I crossed the finish line with TJ in 2:19 and we both took 3rd in our AG.  It's sad to realize how much slower I've gotten over the last few years.   Today we had perfect weather, in the 30s, sunny no wind.  Legs felt good.  We walked over to Cracker Barrel for lunch.  After shower at Lowell's house, we drove home in the afternoon.  Larry commented that I should just do Halfs from now on, so much easier on the body and on him! Haha!!!

25F East wind @9mph cloudy.  MCT west via Center St. doing the 4.5min to 30 sec ratio.  5 miles  TT: 61min.  Drank at the turnaround (1600W restroom).  Legs a bit heavy today.

Snow turned to rain.  Off to Legacy Center with the hubby.  Ran 1 lap Walked 1 lap.   24 laps total = 3 miles.  TT=39 min.  Lots of mucus today.  Did take Symbicort and Albuterol pre-run.

Rainy and cold.  Picked up Wendy to go walk/jog with Karen at the Legacy Center.  Karen and Amanda were working out on the rowing machines.  Karen had already ran.  Amanda joined us for the last couple laps.  Fun chatting and catching up.  Didn't really keep track of the laps.  Figured we were there for an hour so may be 4 miles. 

Was going to run long today.  Very very foggy out there with poor air quality.  So got on the dreadmill.  First time this year and for the life of me cannot keep going.  Slow jog/walk watching a Neflix.  New shoes...the only way I'd break them in is on the mill.

33F. Wind 9mph NW.  Breakfast of Chobani yogurt and water.  Started out light snow going east via 810 E MCT.  A bit windy and chilly going north and west.  Did the run 4:30min to walk 30sec ratio using phone timer.  Turned around at mile four (Highland 2nd trailside drinking fountain).  Stopped to drink at mile 3 and 5 (Mitch Hollow restroom).  Light snow gave way to cloudy to partly sunny the last couple miles.  Runny nose galore.

33F, wind 5mphSSE, partly cloudy.  MCT West via Center. TT=1 hr.

5 dreadmill miles in 1:00:38, cool down 0.25 mi

Legacy Center. Walk 1 lap Run 1 lap.