Each Day Is a Gift

Jogged with hubby (0.5 mile) to the Stake Center for our Stake 5K fun run and Health Fair.  I think the 5K organizers either direct or have connection to the AF Canyon Half.  They have a real finish/start balloon arch.  The course map was professionally done and the route clearly marked.  It's an out-n-back looped course (that shape like the state of TX) around the block of the Stake Center, run the loop twice to make 5K.

The parking lot was filled with families, runners, walkers, young and old, babies and toddlers in strollers, children on bikes.  Temp was surprisingly cool at 8ish.  It was fun to visit and talk running with fellow friends and neighbors.  Soon the "RD" had us (about 300) gather at the start, after a word of prayer and explanation of the course 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, sounding of horn, we're off.  The HS xcountry boys bolted out.  Hubby and I stayed at the back walking out to the road.  I jogged with him on the sidewalk until the first turn where he got on the road and I lost him.  I caught up to Bro. Greenwood (a 3 hr marathoner) running with his 13 yo daughter, Kimberly, who was in my Primary class last year.  We chatted about a-fib that his brother has had.  He has 10 other brothers, along with their dad, they ran SG Marathon one year together.  At about the one mile mark, Kimberly slowed down, Bro. Greenwood tells me to go on ahead.  Mile 1 was 9:08 (171).  

I heard the RD announcing time for those peeling off after the 1st lap (13:xx at 1.5 mi),  I stopped to get a drink from the aid station and encouraged those going for the 2nd lap.   Garrin Larsen (an avid runner and dentist) caught up to me while his little boy race along on the bike.  It was so cute and fun to exchange words with them!!!  I started to pass a few YMs and YWs.  The YWs wouldn't take my challenge to keep up whereas the YMs would pick it up when they saw me coming...very funny!!! :)  Mile 2 was 8:54 (162).

It feels good to be running a little faster passing and dodging walkers some of them made teasing remarks about me lapping them, leaving my better half/running partner in the dust! :)  Last 1.1 mile was 8:09 (176).

My slowest 5K ever in 26:12 AP: 8:44 which is not quite my half marathon race pace.  Granted I didn't race this but treated it like a tempo run.  However what is discouraging is that my average heart rate was 170.  There is no way I could sustain that pace with that kinda heart rate.  I am getting old, slow and out of shape.  Sad but it's reality!

Grabbed couple cups of water, walked/jogged back on the course to find hubby, cheering others along the way, SO FUN!!!  Ran the last 0.25 mile in with hubby to the finish.  His time was 34ish.  Not bad for a double heart valves replacement newbie! :) :) :)  So proud of him!!!  We hang around to "do" the health booths and visit with the families.

Went to WRC and watched Teena perform her awesome KT taping skills and PT talents!!!  She is SO SO SO SO GREAT at this!!!  She had run 17 miles at the crack of dawn BEFORE and then did 5 solid hours of taping and teaching.  That girl has SO MUCH energy!!!! :)  You can tell everyone just loves her and the wonderful service she renders.  After a quick lunch, she worked on my legs and taped my hip flexor, arch and foot.  I was in seven heaven!!! :) :) :)  THANK YOU SSF!!!!

The rest of the afternoon, evening and night was spent preparing food and helping with Wendy's son's wedding reception.  It was a GREAT day! :)