Each Day Is a Gift

I survived! THANKS! KELLI!!!

I need to run a 1/2 mary before tapering for Boston. Didn't register for Moab and was considering Provo City 1/2 when I found out Riverton City is putting on a new 1/2 marathon. My concern was making wrong turns because I am VERY direction challenged. I even got lost running a 5K. So sweet Kelli said she would run the course with me and I jumped at the chance to run with her, who wouldn't want to...she's the BEST running partner!

We met at 9 to drop off her suburban at the finish and began our run at the start. Boy, they're not kidding when they said it's windy in Riverton. We encountered an invisible wall of headwind on an UPHILL. Kelli is queen of hills; while I huffed and puffed, she chat away like it's a walk in the park. I (we) had to walk at the top.

We made a quick pit stop at the park before getting on the JRP. I really like running on the trail. There's an uphill, then a very nice downhill where we practiced running fast. I shouldn't have done it though 'cause it came back to bite me later.

The next section of the route is off JRP. I didn't care for the narrow road on a two-lane hwy with poor road shoulder. Kelli assured me that there would be much less traffic on Sat. Then we turned into a rural neighborhood. There were some barking dogs in one house that would scare me bad if Kelli wasn't running with me. Then came the infamous "S" hill. I walked that while drinking. For some reason, (it could just be in my head), I could not pick up the pace after walking. That was around mile 8.5. My legs wanted to cramp up. I was glad Kelli was with me or I'd panic and call it quit.

We made it to Redwood Rd which wasn't as bad as I thought. The road shoulder was wide and we had a nice tail wind. We made a loop back to the park where my car was and it was very tempting to just stop and go home. I was so glad Kelli was there and we didn't call it quit. There was a nice downhill to the finish but my legs were trashed and I couldn't take advantage of it.

The last two miles to the finish would have been eternity if Kelli wasn't there to run with me. What a GREAT running partner and friend! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! After we said goodbye, I went to the city hall to register for the race. I had a fun time running with Kelli. I'm sure by March 28, I will have fresher legs and ready for more FUN!!!!

Here are the splits: 8:58, 8:59, 9:38, 9:09, 9:56, 9:44, 10:29, 9:59, 12:21, 9:49, 9:36, 9:46, 9:52. AP: 9:52

After I got home, showered, ate, I did the push up challenge final test. I was tired; but I wanted to show my 16 yr old that I could do it. I paused for 10 seconds after 60, again at 85, then with shaky arms made it to 100 and collapsed in a heap. I expected my son to applaud, but instead he said: "You didn't touch your nose to the floor." What nerve!!! He promptly showed me how it's supposed to be done. He didn't do 100 though, whether it's to save my ego or his, I didn't care 'cause I was too pooped to challenge him.

Each Day Is a Gift

Week starting Mar 15, 2009