Each Day Is a Gift

Didn't get up early enough for a run before the drive to Sun Valley Idaho.  The drive took 6.5 hours.  It normally takes us 5 hours.  But we took our time to stop for lunch plus there were a lot of road construction delays.

Got to Sun Valley, spent some time visiting the vendors for UBA, hope I win some sweet prize.  Wanted to run but had to get ready for the welcome BBQ dinner and evening events. 

Went for a walk with hubby before it got dark!  Such a beautiful place! :)

Had breakfast with hubby then went for a run while he attends the UBA Conference business sessions!  Ran an out and back first northward to Trail Creek Lodge/Cabin for 3.5 then south to Ketchum to 4th St bike path and hook onto Wood River Trail.  There is a drinking fountain on the trail about a mile from 4th St. So drank at mile 6 then turned around at mile 7.5 and drank from the same fountain (mi 9.15 since I took the wrong fork of the trail).  Got back in time to shower and head down to the last business session before lunch by the duck pond!  Very enjoyable run and morning.  Temp in the high 50s to low 60s, sunny blue sky!  :) 

Decided to sleep in rather than run the UBA 5K.  Sleep and health is more important to me now than the $25 gift card prize or even pride!  But hey, I did win $100 yesterday at the vendor's final prize drawing.  

Filled my handheld with the can of lemonade and small pack of jelly beans that I got at the vendors exhibit.  Headed out for a loop run.  I ran portions of this route as out-n-backs over the years I've been here.  With the help of Google Earth I figured a route for the loop.  Turned out to be perfect distance. 

Saw a fox just before I ran on the second bridge.  He probably took a drink from the river and was leaving when I ran by.  He turned to look at me then went back into the woods.   Saw couple elks on the hill side.  Stopped at the drinking fountain at the Elkhorn/Wood River junction but the pressure was too low.  Forgot to restart the garmin.  Drank and ate jelly beans at the fountain on Wood River, the same one I drank from yesterday, great tasting water! 

Only had time to do a short run.  Decided to do the hilly Dollar Mountain route.  Good bye beautiful Sun Valley! 

Nice lunch and visit at the Tateoka on the drive home.

Was I spoiled the last four days up at beautiful Sun Valley with nice cool temp, sunny blue sky, gorgeous mountains and river, luxurious room, fine dinning every night!  Bill Cosby was so stinkin' funny at last night's outdoor performance...I got a belly workout from laughing so hard! :)

Here I am back in Utah and looks like summer is finally here! 

6 circuits CSE, biceps, triceps, yoga!

I signed up for this race because 100% of the proceed goes to cancer patients who can't afford treatments.  It is the first year and possibly first race ever running down the American Fork Canyon.  Very impressed with its superb organization,  especially for a first year race.  We received 3 email reminders with pertinent information during the week.  Packet pickup was efficiently set up at the finish/bus pick up area at American Fork High School.  They gave out gender specific Nike tech shirt that is true to size, YAY!!!  The volunteers explained the course on a huge map and pointed out where the finishing chute was.   They had prize drawing that took place prior to or during the run so all you had to do is check the list at the finish for your name and claim the prize, no waiting around!  I won a free mammogram. 

Picked up Karen at 4am, got to AF HS in 15 min.  Saw Maynard and his two beautiful daughters on the bus so we sat by them! :) Couldn't have planned it better! :) The start staging was at Tibble Fork Reservoir, a beautiful setting surrounded by mountains.  The parking lot has plenty of room for pops, music, etc., no cow pies, muddy field or angry farmers! :)  We had plenty of time to do the pop twice.  The race started on time, may be even a min. early.   We lined up behind the 2:05 pacer but passed the 2:00 and 1:55 pacers within the first 1/4 mile. 

The river and run offs was so high that it spilled/washed over onto the road.  We got our feet wet right before the first mile marker, not too concerned.  I told Karen with the course huge elevation drop (1471' according to the race website), we could PR (sub 1:50 for me, sub-2 for Karen) even though I wasn't planning to race it.  I wanted to treat this as a training run and just ran with feel.

AF canyon is a winding 2-lanes road so I tried my best to do the tangents since we had to stay on the westbound lane.  The scenery was BEAUTIFUL, lush green mountains and roaring river!  I pointed out the rock formation to Karen.  Did anyone spotted Abe Lincoln's profile? 

Mile 1 - 8:28  (200' elevation drop)  EZ warm up while weaving around runners.

Mile 2 - 8:00 (~ 75')  Surprised by this but feeling good.

Mile 3 - 8:04 (~125')  Focused on downhill form and relaxed.

Mile 4 - 7:48 (~200')  Followed a boy w/ the UVM'09 shirt on. 

Mile 5 - 7:14 (~400') Biggest elevation drop of the course.  Passed UVM-boy.  Gu'd at this aid station.

Mile 6 ~ 7:39 (~225')  Started to cough (campfire smell?).  No inhaler, stink!

Mile 7 ~ 7:20 (~250')  Started to feel warm but saved by a canyon breeze. 

Mile 8 ~ 8:04 (~75')  Got onto the trail at the mouth of the canyon.  Legs started to feel the accumulative fatigue!

Mile 9 ~ 8:25 (~50')  Rolling and winding along the trail by Cedar Hills Golf Course.  Started to fade while Karen gradually pulling away.  She looked like she was just out on a Saturday long run, smooth & effortless!

Mile 10 ~ 8:48 (~50') Thought I was running in the 9's.  Feeling warm and tired.

Mile 11 ~ 8:59 (~50') Had to walk on the small incline, coughing! 

Mile 12 ~ 8:38  Course flattens out.  Dig deep to fight the urge to walk.  Passed lots of 5K walkers.

Mile 13 ~ 9:23  Saw Lucy Gull, a friend I met in Spanish Fork.  She was volunteering at the last aid station.  I wasn't going to take a drink.  But she handed me two cups and asked how I was doing.  I dumped the water on myself and walked to talk to her. 

0.17 ~ 1:30+ (8:36)  I stopped my Garmin (1:48:25) when I crossed over what I thought was a timing mat and jogged to the balloon arch (about 100 yards away) where I realized sat the REAL timing mat!  STINK!  The clock read 1:49:04.  The posted time at the finish was 1:49:10.  Will take the PR albeit on an aided course and the division award for 2 movie vouchers! :)

Walked around at the finish and found my neighbors, Wendy Clark, Emily & Brian Hansen who all placed in their divisions.  Karen ran a 1:47:48.  I am SO SO SO SO PROUD of her!!!  Heard they announced Walter's winning time!  Saw and visited with AlisaB, but never found Kelly & JonA.  Bummer!:(  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JonA!!! :)

It was a GREAT DAY (temp mid 50s-60s), beautiful downhill course, lots of food at the finish (french toast w/ honey butter, yogurt, grapes package, mini banana, chocolate milk, etc.)  Hubby missed seeing me come in as he was getting there late from attending the 6am temple session.  He found me in time to say goodbye as he had to be in the parade at 9.   Not complaining as he is so very supportive of my running!  I love him so much! ♥

Thoughts during the run:  Susan who died of pancreatic cancer.  AlisaB's mom who died recently of uterine & lung cancer.  My neighbor dying of brain cancer.  My nephew Alex, a great kid and runner, fighting Lymphoma.