Each Day Is a Gift

The left middle toe and tibial tendon are feeling much better...no icing, just rest and light message over the weekend.  The left arch has a sore spot where I've been told by the podiatrist that I have an extra bone.  I think the toe and arch pain is from my wearing crocs to run on Friday.  The tendon was probably irritated from the way I tied my shoes to keep the shoe-heels snug around the ankles.  I'm wondering if I should try wearing neutral shoes sometimes.

This morning I didn't feel like doing any speed work even though schedule calls for a VO2 max workout (8 mi w/ 5x600m @ 5K race pace).   A storm is supposed to be coming...so got out to do the best with today's 8 miler.  After couple miles of warm up,  I decided to make it a tempo run and was pleasantly surprised by how good I felt through out the run under an overcast sky.  8 miles in 1:09:55.  AP: 8:44.  Splits:  9:56, 9:02, 8:35, 8:38, 8:35, 8:26, 8:26, 8:13.  

Will ice the left foot today.  Will do push up challenge of week 6 later.

Have a GREAT WEEK everyone!!!

The left tendon is still bothering me.  It hurts bad enough that I aborted the run 0.3 mile into what was supposed to be an 11 miler.  Did all four phases core conditioning exercises and the dynamic flexibility warm up from Brain Training.  That seemed to help, so I got on the treadmill and ran 6 miles at easy pace.  Tendon pain was 4/5 at the start, 2/5 during the run, 1/5 immediately after while I did the stretches from Brain Training and AM/PM Yoga.

6 miles in 54:24.  AP: 9:03

Did the pushup challenge last night: Wk 6 Day 1 Column 2: 40, 50, 25, 25, (52) not pretty!

I LOVE SUNSHINE and BLUE SKY even when it's brrr cold!!!  Laced up my shoes omitting the last two eyelets to give the tibial tendons more wiggle room.  After about couple miles of warm up, I didn't notice the pain as much.  I thought I'd run 11 miles today being the 11th.  I hit the hill first then ran the bench loop keeping it at marathon pace.  The right calf sent out some twitches...could it be the fast twitch muscles waking up? 

Took a cold water bath soak while siping warm milk with egg and honey.  The left quad right by the knee (at 4 o'clock) started to ache.  Will do some stretches and massage tonight after the push up challenge. 

My sweet 88 year old neighbor brought me some homemade fudge.  Her husband has terminal cancer.  She's not allowed to drive.  Yet here she was walking to my house (about 0.2 mile) all dolled up wearing a fur coat,  gym shoes and sunglasses.  What a special lady!!!  I want to be as graceful as her when I grow up!!!

11.75 miles in 1:44:25.  AP: 8:53

Did the PC last night, wk 6 day 2 column 2.  Boy, did it kick my patooty:  20, 20, 23, 23, 20, 20, 18, 18, k, here goes...60!!!  One more day of this boot-camp, I'll be done, YAY!

I tried stretching, rolling with "the stick", massaging; but my piriformis really hurt last night.  Between that and my hubby up all night,  I did not sleep well.  No time to sleep in with morning meetings.  Looking out the window (I get distracted at mtgs), I saw lotsa runners out enjoying the sun. 

Made a quick change after I got home and headed out for a run.  It felt like the day after running a marathon, every muscle in my legs hurt.  I barely eeked out a 10 mm.  I cut the run short before doing any more damage, wondering if I've made some training errors.  

No running tomorrow heading down to St. George.  I'm going to pray hard for a speedy recovery or it might be the slowest 10K I'll ever run.  On the bright side, I get to see my running friends and have a nice trip with hubby.  WooHoo!!! 

Last PC: 22, 22, 30, 30, 25, (was interrupted by a newly returning missionary who was to be released from his honorable mission in Boston, his mom is our Primary secretary, so I had to go and visit with the family while he was interviewed by my husband), reumed where I left off 25, 18, 18.....drum roll and it may not count because of the 15 min break....70!!!!  HOORAY, will do the final test after I get back.

Off to St. George right now!  WooHoo!!!!

There were still noticeable soreness in my legs Friday morning.  Went straight to packet pick up upon arriving at St. George; saw Neffo and her son Alex (a handsome boy) there.  I wanted to relax at the pool and do some yoga; but hubby wanted to do dinner and movie; so we went to Marv's (a 50's style diner) and saw "Race to Witch Mountain".  A movie with "race" in the title got to be cool, right?

Each time I stepped up or down I could feel tightness in my hip flexors.  It dawned on me that I had started doing something new:  a bunch of jumpings (from Brain Trainning) and must have stressed the muscles that I didn't know I had.  O well, at least it's not injury...yet!

I was awaken by my Iowa son's phone call at 5:00am, an hour before the alarm!!!  Couldn't muster up to go run; so took my time to shower and eat breakfast.  Got to the bus at 8:00 and saw Kodi.  I was so happy to finally meet him in person.  It made me miss Lowell.  I got on the same bus with Neffo and sat by Rob & Mindy.  It's always a delight to visit with them.  I saw Sweetiepie standing by the bus as we pulled away, taped the window to get her attention.  She looked but didn't see us.  I also looked for Huans32 with no luck.

At the bus drop,  I was so happy to see AlisaK whom I haven't seen since SF1/2 and BeMo.  It was wonderful to finally meet AmberG.  She's more beautiful in person than her pic.  She was gracious to take our group photo (Rob, Mindy, AlisaK, BeMo, JonA and Kelly).  Then it was time to do clothing drop off and head to the start.

Jon, Kelly and I stood shivering while waiting for two more buses to unload.  The race started 9+ min late.  We punched our Garmin with the count down.  Jon was off like a bullet.  I just wanted to get free of the congestion so I darted through holes like a crazy mouse.  Somewhere after mile 1, Huans32 came flying by.  I was so happy to see him.  He kindly cautioned that I was running too fast, 6:30 pace?  I took his word for it and slowed down a tad.  Soon after KellieS came up and put one arm around my shoulder (a running hug).  I didn't know she was running this and told her to chase down Jon.

What a beautiful sight, red cliff canyon, clear blue sky, crisp clean Spring air.  Soon we got to the Ivins neighborhood and the mind game began.  I passed five road kills on mile 4, three on mile 5.  Just before the mile 6 marker, I was passed by a fellow blogger who introduced himself as Shimelle's brother.  Very nice to meet you and good job!  I could feel myself fading and stopped to grab a drink.  Another fellow blogger said hello after the last turn.  I concentrated on reeling in road kill.  I was only able to pass one trim fit guy who turned out to be 60.  Then the most welcoming sight of hubby with camera in hand and Huans32 who ran in with me and encouraged me to push to finish in 47.  I wouldn't have been able to do it without him.  THANKS MARK!  YOU ARE ALWAYS THERE TO TAKE CARE OF US!!! 

My bib # was the second one drawn;  the first one drawn was a Garmin.  I got a free visit to a chiropractor, how exciting.  I'll probably need it when I get old.  We had to hurry back to Salt Lake for an event; so sorry I didn't get to meet everyone at the pizza party.  

Here are the splits:  6:59, 7:43, 7:18, 7:43, 8:11, 8:29, (0.2 @ 6:26)  WHAT A FUN RACE!!!