Each Day Is a Gift

Debated whether to do the scheduled LT run or wait till tomorrow.  Since there was no lingering soreness or fatigue from Saturday's Halfmary, I decided to go for it.  

3 miles warm up:  9:33, 9:19, 9:08

5 miles tempo:  8:34, 8:27, 8:20, 8:13, 8:00

2 miles cool down:  9:05, 9:22

TT: 1:27:22.  AP: 8:44

The tempo pace felt hard.  I think I should have run them a tad slower, but was in a hurry. That last LT mile felt more like 10K race pace than Halfmary race pace.  I will take it easy on tomorrow's MLR. 

AM/PM yoga.

There was quite a commotion in front of my house this morning.  Two snow plows came to a halt as a small black SUV lost control and skit into the ditch on the opposite side of the road taking my old mail box with it.  The hood popped open as the SUV's front wheels went deep in the ditch.  My neighbors rushed out to help.   Within minutes, police, ambulance, firetruck and toll truck came to the scene.  The driver was the only person in the SUV.  They put a cervical collar on her, slid a body board underneath her and lifted her to the stretcher and onto the ambulance.  I hope she's okay. 

14 miles in 2:06:46.  AP: 9:03.  Splits: 10:22, 9:47, 9:36, 9:29, 9:23, 9:18, 9:15, 9:13, 9:12, 9:10, 9:00, 8:48, 8:55, 8:53.  

This is a big week with only one recovery day tomorrow (Wed).  I have a baby shower on Sat. so I may have to do the 11 MLR on Thu. , the 21 LR on Fri. the 7 GA on Sat.  Hope the weather and air quality co-operates!

Happy running everyone!!!  :)

6 EZ PZ  AP: 10:03

15 min. flexibility

30 min. core

I emailed Hyrum to ask for discount for UVM.  He replied immediately!  Impressive!!!

Extra sleep + blue sky/sunshine + recovery run + adrenaline from barking dogs and one rude construction worker = Hurry up miles!

11 MLR in 1:38:17.  AP: 8:56.  Splits: 9:39, 9:17, 8:53, 9:18, 9:17, 9:03, 8:33, 8:48, 8:31, 8:35, 8:18.

Here's the incident:  I ran past a barricade on Bull River Rd.  I have done it many times the last couple weeks.  The barricade blocks off the section of Bull River Rd access to SR92 (which is being widened).  That section of Bull River Rd is about 0.25 mi and totally accessible to the residents there.   As I got close to the SR92 access area, I noticed 2 guys w/ their truck and back hoe parked to the side.  As I ran past them, the guy in the backhoe yelled:  "Hey, this is a construction zone!  No thru traffic!"  Felt like yelling back:  HELLO!  Do I look like a car to you?  But I didn't, instead I made a U-turn which is what I would do anyway.  About a mile later, I heard some rumbling engine coming from behind me.  It was the orange back hoe!!!  I turned my head and saw the guy staring down at me.  His buddy was following him in the truck.  I picked up the pace and saw him ganging up on me.  I sprinted to the next intersection, crossed the road and turned down the street.  He was still waiting at the stop sign....whew!!!...never been chased by a backhoe before!!! 

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!

Today's 7 GA  was a big?  Slogged thru the first 3 miles wondering what in the world I was doing out there at 3 pm pretending to be a runner!!!  I now know what it feels like to move after a gynormous meal:  elephant legs and whale of a belly!  Between last night's huge dinner at the game and the humongous lunch at the baby shower, I ate enough food to feed a whole village in China.  Then tonight we had dinner with friends at the club.  I had coconut shrimp and lettuce wrap for appetizer, two dinner rolls, salad, seafood pasta (halibut, shrimp, clam and mussel in a tomato broth over linguini served with baquets) and bread pudding for dessert.  Food, glorious food, the reason to run glorious miles!!! :)

TT:  1:08:30  AP:  9:50.