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!!!!
45F, 12mph NWN wind, sunny blue sky, wore 3/4 zip top, capris and headband. Ran around the hood with Wendy, Karen and Leslie east to 800E to MCT to 200W.
My daughter and I signed up for the Woodlands Marathon before midnight last night (before the entry fee increase). It will be her first marathon...WAHOO!!!! :) :) :)
36F, 80% humidity, calm, sunny blue sky. Quick short run with Karen and Leslie. AP: 9:14. (9:23, 9:16, 9:10, 8:40)
Hosting a mission reunion at our house tonight...busy preparing for food, cleaning house, etc. We're excited to see some of our missionaries! :) :) :) :)
No running today. Got up dark and early to take hubby to dialysis. Got home to pack and make a sack lunch for us. Drove down to St. George Dixie Center for packet pick up. Got to Olive Garden and waited for nearly an hour for a table of 8. So great to enjoy dinner and visit with Teena, Ryan, Lowell, Susie, Suzette and Seth.
Got to the Larsen's just before 8 at Santa Clara. So much to catch up on with Scott and Judy. While hubby and Scott watched the BYU-Utah States football game, Judy and I talked the evening/night away. Hit the sack after midnight. Too excited to fall asleep.
St. George Marathon (26.2 Miles) 04:19:43, Place in age division: 40
Easy Miles
Marathon Pace Miles
Threshold Miles
VO2 Max Miles
Total Distance
15.25
11.00
0.00
0.00
26.25
9th SGM. Marathon #52. 5th marathon this year; over the last 4 months.
Woke up at 3:15, got 2.5 hours sleep. Drove to Worthen Park at 4:30. Plan was to meet Teena at 5 by the tennis court. :) The bus lines were very LONG and moving very slowly and there were NO buses!!! Waited with Kelly and Tyler S, Lowell, Suzette, Seth and Teena for over an hour for the bus to come! Ate my banana and yogurt, hit the port-a-potty in the park. The wait was very stressful if not for the company of good friends. I think we finally got on the bus around 6. What a sight at the start to see flags waving southward which means tail wind, YAY! Took couple of pictures. Made a quick trip to the PoP; then it's time to drop off clothing bags. So bummed that I didn't have a chance to look for MarcE, Kathie, Brad, Lark and RAD. Lowell and I jumped in with the 4:15 pace group. Based on my TOU time of 4:18:33 two weeks ago, I have these goals in mind: Ecstatic (sub 4:10) Happy (4:15) Satisfied (sub 4:25 BQ).
Lowell and I had a lot of fun making new friends and reading all the signs posted on the road side, some of them were hilarious. My nose started running almost immediately so it was very annoying. I could not get in a good rhythm. I'd slow way too much on the ascend and try to make up time on the descend so we were hanging well with the 4:15 group. On Veyo I tried to run but my lungs would not co-operate so I'd take 10 seconds walk breaks here and there. It was very disheartening when others were walking as fast as I was running! 5K came in at 29:58. 10K in 57:54. Got to the half in 2:08:35.
I started to pull away from the group in the downhill miles of 15 and 16. It was in the 17th mile that I ran into a dear friend, Lark, whose goal was also to get a BQ of sub 4:25. He had surgery a year ago when he broke his leg in a bike accident. I was so proud of how well he was running and pushing through these challenging hilly miles. I felt so grateful for the ability to run and absolutely love love love the beautiful colors and scenery that SGM course is famous for! :)
After walking and taking in fluids at the aid station just before mile 19, I proceeded to run when suddenly my shins started to cramp up bilaterally. The muscles in my lower legs were convulsing wildly. Lowell passed me as he cheerfully introduced me to a girl. I was in so much pain that I could not go with them nor the pace group. I tried lengthening or shortening my strides to no avail. I even got a side-stitch like cramp in my left flank so I tried to breath deeply. The cramps subsided a little on the incline; only to return on the descend at mile 21. I took my last and 4th Gu with couple of salt caps and ibuprofen. I had gu'ed at 7, 13, 17 (one salt cap), 21 (2 salt caps & ibuprofen). I prayed with all my heart that charlie horse would stay away. I'd stomp hard when the calf muscles threaten to cease up. I tried singing (in my head) "Call to Serve" and repeating my mantra "smoothfastrong" which helped very briefly.
Saw Susie cheering at the bottom of Bluff. She asked how I was feeling, I mouthed the word "cramp" pointing to my legs and tried to smile away the pain. I took a popsicle handed out by a little kid and ate couple of bites which tasted good but the pain was knotting up my stomach. I willed myself to keep one foot in front of the other as runners passed me left and right....SO different from TOU where I was the one passing other runners. I was grateful for the spectators' cheers during those painful torturous two miles. As I passed the mile 26 marker, I attempted to give a little push but my left calf immediately objected and I nearly fell. I heard hubby cheering and turned to wave to him as I stumbled to the finish putting on a brave smile. I did not look at my watch during the last 5K so I was very happy to see that I finish in 4:19:43, although a little disappointed that I ran 61 seconds slower than TOU.
Supper happy to see Brad (Maynard), TJ, RAD at the finish. EXTRA excited to find out AmberG won!!! It was a GREAT day and SGM weekend!!! And hubby did well waiting for 3 hours at the finish...not an easy feat for him!
Some self evaluation and thoughts ~ I did the best I could with the limited and dismal training over the last 19 weeks. I started back running in the middle of May when I returned home from Australia. I did the Ogden Half Marathon (on a whim 'cause Lowell got me an entry from the RD at the Expo) on May 17; finished in 2:35 and cramping the last 2 miles. Then I quickly ramped up the mileage and signed up for some marathons as long runs: Sogonapmit in July, Park City in Aug. Pocatello and TOU in Sept. I did no speed work, zero cross training and very very little hill running. My nutrition was sub-par. I cannot remmember the last time I had an uninterruped 6 hours sleep. Life has been rather stressful to say the least.
OK, enough excuses...now what to do to move forward. Running will continue to be my therapy and give me joy. I love the marathon distance. No matter how many marathons one runs, the last 5-10Ks are always the hardest and one always feels a sense of accomplishment or huge relief when one crosses the finish. I love the challenge of 26.2. I love the journey. I love how it makes me a stronger person in all aspects of my life. The key is to find the right balance and never give up. Each run, each race is a gift, to be opened and accepted with joy and gratitude! :)
Above all, I am forever grateful for wonderful friends!!!! :) :) :)
Teena can carry someone THREE times her weights/size!!! :)
AM: Last day of PD training. Then the dialysis nurse came to do house visit in the afternoon as part of the PD regulation. We passed with flying colors! :)
PM: Then the Kinghorns came over to visit and answer their questions concerning their mission to Australia Sydney South Mission. Dave was hubby's colleague at the bank and he recruited him and his wife to serve as mission office senior missionaires for our mission.
Got up at 6am to do PD with/for hubby. Toby drove to my house at 7am to run with me. She had already run 9.5 miles dark and early with Kellie. What a great friend to meet me and run slow with me! I just LOVE her!!! She is full of goodness, love and vivacious spirit!!!! :) Temp was probably in the low 40s but at least no wind! :) We ran west then south on 3rd west and got on the rail trail on 2100 N. I hadn't run there for a month and did not realize that the trail was closed off for a new road construction. So we got to run around packed dirt, thank goodness there were no construction crew. Then we ran east on MCT to the Dry Creek hill and turned back home via 800E access to 600E. It was a nice chatty run. I am so very grateful for Toby!!!
Since I hadn't run for a week, legs felt fine. I wanted to run some more but needed to check on hubby! :)
Busy afternoon catching up on house work, etc. and made a huge pasta salad for the "former stake presidency retreat" at the Skousen's huge cabin up in Wahlsburg. It was so great to go up the canyon and see the gorgeous Fall colors. The cabin is on 60 acres at the east end of Wahlsburg. The cabin, the barn and private camp-ground is amazing. The view is spectacular. What a fun evening! I am so glad hubby got to visit with his former counselors and executive secretary. This is a much needed and appreciated lift for him! :)
Ran with Wendy, Karen, Leslie for 5 miles then we picked up Amanda to run 2 with her then I ran home by myself. Temp was 30, sunny blue sky and calm. Ran east on MCT to Dry Creek, turned around at the bridge then west to Amanda's house. Was fun to listen to all their Fall break vacation/travel plans.
No running today! PD clinic day with PD nurse for iron infusion, with Dr. Cline and dietian. Hubby and I are learning a lot. He is adjusting well to PD.
Ran with Karen, Leslie on MCT east to tunnel by Smith's then turned around west to Center St. It was an easy conversational run. At mile 4 I started experiencing tachycardia with no warning. My heart was pounding so fast as if it would jump out of my chest. I stopped running and walked until the heart rate slowed down. An uneasy sensation of chest tightness or heaviness got me a bit worried. My friends jogged me home.
Today is my 59th birthday!!! Rachel spoiled me by spending the day doing the things I love with me!!!!
1) We went to the Draper Temple bright and early!
2) Then we went hiking in Corner Canyon. Accessed the trail at Kyote Hollow Trail head > Clark's Trail > Ghost Falls > Canyon Hollow Trail.
Gorgeous view of the valley to the west. We can see the three temples, and in the distance where we'll be running SoJo in couple days! :)
LOVE the crunchy leaves and Fall colors!
3) To top off a happiest birthday, Rachel treated me to Thai food...YUM!!!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Rachel for a happiest birthday!!!
When I got home I found birthday presents from Toby and Karen!!! I am the luckiest girl EVER!!!
Finished the day with dinner at Texas Rd House with hubby, Jeff, Jen and Skylar! Can't ask for anything more!!!! SO BLESSED AND SO HAPPY!!! :) :) :) :) :) :)
Hubby spent the day yesterday while I was gone, shopping for a new car. Don't ask me why! He just likes to spoils me, I guess. So I got to spend the day test-driving a new car and cleaned out my car for the trade-in. Needless to say, no resting or carb-loading!
SoJo Marathon 2014 (26.2 Miles) 04:31:39, Place in age division: 2
Easy Miles
Marathon Pace Miles
Threshold Miles
VO2 Max Miles
Total Distance
26.20
0.00
0.00
0.00
26.20
Signed up for SoJo at the last minute. Marathon #53, my 6th since July. Really wanted to run Goblin Valley instead but hubby urged me to sign up for this one because it's closer to home. Plus I get to hang out a bit with RAD. And Lowell wanted a "threepete". I ran this in 2012 and loved the community support and wasn't too crazy about the course and it was windy. Luckily the weather was perfect this year!
Got up at 5am and ready to leave the house at 6am for a 6:30am meeting at RAD's house...but I couldn't find my purse. Looked everywhere in the house, the garage, the cars...may be I left it at the car dealer's yesterday! Frantic, I woke hubby and let him know I'm driving his car without driver's license. I've only test drove my new Tahoe briefly yesterday and drove hubby's car once to church. I was one nervous nelly driving in the dark without driver license with me (no speeding), in an unfamiliar vehicle; and did I mention I'm directionally challenged? Needless to say I was 20 min late when I got to RAD's house where everyone (Rachel, her husband, her daughter, Becca and baby) were sitting in the car inside the garage WAITING for me! I was so ambarrassed and felt terrible to make everyone late. I knew RAD had bunch of race bibs/packets, pacer signs and pace bands to pass out at the start! SORRY, Rachel!!!! She is amazing like that, taking care of bazillion things and people!
Got to Copperton City Park and found out the first two buses were delayed due to drivers not knowing where to go. So, I'm not the only directionally challenged person! There were a total of 6 portapotties and thankfully, the lines were short. When it was time to line up, I shed my warmups in the car and walked over to look for Lowell who was oblivious that the race has started. He was talking with John Bozung and had not shed his warmups and dropoff bags. Needless to say, we were the sweepers! Well, he missed his chance running with RAD and got stuck with me! :)
We thoroughly enjoyed running through the sleepy town of Copperton with her quaint houses, small business, the firehouse and soon reached the cemetery at the edge of town and off to the road skirting the copper mine ahead. The sun peeked over the Wasatch mountains to the east behind silver clouds. We could almost see the temple that we will run by in couple of hours...that is SO far away. We looked at Mt. Timpanogos, and pointed out the canyons that we'd run through so many times together. I LOVE living in Utah!!! :)
We had fun chatting with fellow runners, a mother-son team (in neon yellows in the pix below), a big guy carrying 8 gels on his fuel belt, couple of ladies, and out of nowhere Becca zoomed past us. Thought she started the race with RAD, guess she was still taking care of baby when the race started?
My lungs just won't cooperate on the uphills. I urged Lowell to go on ahead to catch RAD but he just kept taking pictures.
Crossing the road to do the tangent...not good idea...there were lots of empty tour buses and dump trucks coming on the left lane.
I absolutely love the littlest volunteers...they are the cutest angels ever!!! :)
Lowell told this little dude: "DON'T smile! DON'T smile!" So obedient!!!! :)
The early miles were great! Lowell took a pit stop at mile 11ish by the Herriman HS; so I walked and texted hubby who found my purse, whew!!! As we approached the corner by the HS turning east, Lowell gave me a strip of bacon. I had gu'd at mile 7 and 11, so why not! I yelled out "thank you" to the traffic cop as we crossed the intersection turning east...a bit of bacon decided to go down the wrong pipe...COUGH!!! CHOKE!!! COUGH!!! CHOKE!!!! Finally, I asked a gal with a fuel belt flask running by if I could take a squirt of water to dislodge that salty sucker! Lesson #1, never eat, yell and run at the same time!
Running past the Half start is not the same as in 2012 when hubby, Jeff, Jen and baby Skylar were there to cheer and Karen waited to run the last half with me! This year, there were not a soul there cheering, only a timing mat. My watch read 2:08:39. Lowell was optimistic that we'd get our BQ! Nah, no way! His pace was slowing as we approached mile 14. He started to talk to random people out walking around this Day Break neighborhood. He talked to an 80 yo lady walking (she ran SGM in 1980 at age 48 and took first in her AG).
Something was not right with the aid station placement in this stretch. There was an aid station at mile 14+ and none until mile 18+. Luckily I took a Gu at that station thinking it was mile 15, but then desperately needed water by mile 17. We're now running uphill on the west side of the road by the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.
May be the sight of Angel Moroni is "aid" enough! We made it up temple hill alive!
Such irreverent crazy runners! TOO MANY fast moving vehicles!!!
Lowell picked up Abbie, a 24 yo BYU girl running her first marathon. We encouraged her along. She really needed an aid station. I picked up a very tall and skinny girl walking under the Bangerter Hwy viaduct. I said, "we'llwalk in the viaduct shade then we need to RUN to the aid station which is surely not too far ahead." She followed. The aid station was near a gas station by a busy intersection, manned by couple volunteers who just stood there and the curbs and road was littered with cups and gel packets. Clearly these volunteers looked disgusted and did not want to spend their Fall break standing there! Sad! I grabbed a cup each of water and gatorade. I didn't wait for Lowell, decided to get this done!
The next couple miles were winding in a neighborhood through a traffic circle, I soon found myself running alone and trying to catch the lone runner up ahead. I was afraid that I'd take a wrong turn. I caught up to and soon passed two girls as we turned onto a main road again. There were some shady trees and gentle downhill after the turn which was so NICE as it was getting sunny and warm. I passed the mile 20 marker and my phone rang. It was Wendy!!! YAY!!! She's waiting for me at mile 23! That uphill at mile 20 caused my shins to start cramping. I was running at 10:30s pace so I told her I'd see her in 30 min. At some point I had to run on the sidewalk, as the road was not coned off, and very narrow shoulder with speeding cars coming from behind. One aid station had the volunteer's SUV parked at the curb in front of the table, so runners had to run around his car into the traffic from behind....crazy!!!
I was so happy to see Wendy!!! She talked to me, sang to me, kept encouraging me and I just willed myself to put one foot in front of the other. I was SO tired, hot, stressed from heavy vehicle traffic and simply spent! The last couple miles on the JRP were hot, humid, death march...why do they make the pathway so winding?!!! I did not look at my watch...I just kept telling myself, 15 more min. 10 more min. 5 more min. Then I saw the 4:30 pacers around a bend. AT last, I could hear the finish, couple more turns and the finish was in sight. Jeff, Jen and hubby were there and I high-fived them!
No charlie horse, just lead legs, and took 2nd in my AG. So grateful to have such wonderful friends!!!
Isn't this the cutest baby you've ever seen!!! She is SO adorable and sweet!!!
Rachel's hubby drove us home with 4 seat-belted children and the 5 of us women and a stroller in the trunk! :) Will never ever forget this great end to a wonderful day!
Walked with hubby. Legs felt fine, just a slight stiffness. I can probably do Goblin Valley on Saturday if I want to....but not going to....I don't want to be gone for so long and far from hubby!
So glad Karen texted and woke me up for a run. I would've stayed in bed. Very little sleep last night. Left ankle had a bit of niggle, wearing the Altra with forefoot strike was perfect and the niggle went away.
With Karen and Leslie. AP: 9:46. No pain, niggles or tightness. Guess I didn't push hard enough at SoJo. Very little sleep last night. Hubby has not been able to sleep until 2 or 3 in the morning. He'd get very very restless and would get out of bed and pace the floor, then he'd get tired and get back in bed toss and turn for a few min. and then get out of bed and pace the floor till his legs give out and get back in bed or sit at the edge of bed. This goes on from 10pm to 2 or 3 am. Sleep aids used to help him fall asleep around mid-night. Walking in the morning didn't make any difference in the sleep pattern. Now with the cooler weather (he gets cold easily, wears sweatshirts indoor with 70s temp), he hardly goes walking and sleeps in the morning (because he only gets 3-4 hrs sleep at night). This is a complete opposite of what he used to be, a morning person. He used to get up at 5am and get a lot done before commute to work.
5 easy with Karen, Leslie and Wendy. AP: 10:21 So tired and sleepy. Only had 4.5 hr sleep. Would've stayed in bed if I wasn't woken up by Karen's text for our run. I started bawling half mile into the run so everyone walked with me and gave me shoulders to cry on!
With Wendy to Highland Glen Park. Only had a yogurt before run, so was starving after the run. Wendy fed me breakfast of "maple french toast bagel" and fresh chilled raspberries! Yum!
Spent the afternoon helping our neighbor clean, box up for moving, raking leaves. LOVE this beautiful Fall weather. Jealous of RAD and Toby running GV50K today! Wish I was there.
Got 5 hours sleep, albeit broken up, was the most I've ever gotten lately! :) Ran with Karen and Leslie for 3, then ran to pick up Amanda for 2, last 1 home by myself. Was windy and cold at the start but the sun quickly warmed things up.
Slept in the downstairs guest room; got 5.5 continuous sleep...very tired when Karen's text "kicked" me out of bed! :p Ran with Karen and Wendy on rail trail. I was pathetically slow on the uphill. Love the sunny blue sky.
With Karen and Leslie on MCT. Cold enough to see your breath, incredible sunrise, blue sky morning. The Altra feels great on my feet with smooth strides. 6 miles in 57:38. AP: 9:36.
Wendy, Karen, Leslie and I drove to parking lot west of Highland Glen Park at 8:15 to run on the MCT through Highland, Cedar Hills, PG, Lindon. Wendy ran 3 with us (to the first restroom at PG) then turned back since she only had time for 6 so we bid her goodbye and continued on. At mile 6, Leslie needed to stop/stretch/walk and would catch up to us when we turned back. Karen and I kept going till we reached a bathroom at mile 7.6 where we drank and gu'd. On the return we did not see Leslie, thinking we either missed her or she'd turned and ran back. Nice temp, partly cloudy sky, calm, beautiful view of the valley below.
In the afternoon, we all went to lunch at Thai House. Such a FUN Halloween day with my friends! :)
Gorgeous view of the valley to the west. We can see the three temples, and in the distance where we'll be running SoJo in couple days! :)
