Each Day Is a Gift

Not sure if it's burn out or just feeling lonely for my kids...dragged my achy legs out the door for a painfully slow run.   Ran down 26th N hill and up 12th W hill, then east w/o looking at the watch.  Lots on my mind during this short run.  Perfect temp and beautiful morning!

Ran an out and back down 3rd W hill to Frontage.  Turned around at Sego Lily Elementary which would be bustling with children tomorrow.  A dumb chihuahua came out of nowhere, yipping and about to nib my heel.  I turned and yelled at him.  A passing truck distracted him and he gave up chasing me.  

Easy pace and effort on the hill.  Same knee/quad pain after mile 3.  AP: 9:32

Talked to my daughter yesterday.  Can't wait to see my grandchildren in Texas after Thanksgiving.   It's been over a year since I've seen them...wonder if the baby remembers me.

School buses are out in full force this morning carrying all the excitement of 1st day back to school! 

Ran with Wendy, Mary, Stephanie, Carolyn and Sue.  They reported all the aches and pains after their longest run last Sat.  I congratulated them on the well earned blisters and black toe nails.  We're all excited about running SF1/2 together.   I better mail my registration today.   We wish Sue luck at Hobble and me at PC this Sat.  Boy, it's gonna be a hot one!

Just picked up he patio table and chairs...look fab.  Off to Park City now!  

GOOD LUCK to everyone running races tomorrow! 

SO EXCITED to SEE those at PCM!!!

This is the third year I have run Park City as part of the Grand Slam.   The things I like about this race:  1) No bus ride  2) Nice staging area at the start 3) Good long training run 6 weeks before SGM 4) Hubby can drive to various locations to cheer me along the course 5) Small town yet out of state feel (50 states runners make this a destination race) 6) The course is never boring.

This year hubby got the cabin for 3 days so we turned it into a mini vacation.   We went shopping Fri and Sat afternoons at the Outlet Mall; ate at great restaurants and even made it to 3 quarters of my son's game in Riverton Fri. night. 

RAD and Bec got to the cabin late Fri. night.  We went to bed about 11:40pm.  At 4:45am my cell phone rang.  Teena's chirpy voice asked:  "Are you on the bus?"  "No, I'm not on the bus?"  "Where are you?"  "I'm in the cabin."  "Did I wake you up?" 

RAD, Bec and I got to the Fieldhouse around 6:00am, saw AmberG and couple of friends.  This year they moved the start line over by the Newpark Hotel  instead of just right outside the Field house.  I lined up with Alan, Eric, Rob, RAD and Bec about mid pack.  No National Anthem this year, just GO and no one was in a hurry. 

The first five miles went by fast, RAD and I enjoyed the slow warm up and sunrise.  We stopped and walked thru every aid station.  We had fun chatting away.   Took my first gel around mile 6 while RAD used the porta-potty.  On the Rail Trail portion, a guy with loud slapping feet would run either right in front of us or right behind breathing down our necks.  It was very annoying.  We finally ditched him for good once the elevation started to climb around mile 12.   We were running a 9:45 average pace. 

We saw Leslie and Gary around mile 14 by the city park.  She was looking good and they seemed to be enjoying their run.   I like this portion as it's the only shady part of the course.  Bec was waiting at the open mall turnoff since she was cutting out the Deer Valley loop.  We spilled out of the trail onto a roundabout where my friend was volunteering as crossing guard.  We ran on the annoying slanted road/sidewalk up to Deer Valley watching runners come down.  Saw and side-fived my neighbor, Bruce.

Took my 3rd gel at the bottom of the Deer Valley loop and grabbed a washcloth which I would wet and kept with me the rest of the race.  By now the temp was getting hot.  We're at the top of the course just before mile 17 and the elevation would drop.  My legs felt great, no quad or ITB pain to speak of.  The only thing bugging was my left arch and bottom of the feet most likely from running on the dirt/rock trail and old shoes.  A stone has embedded itself in the bottom of my right shoe/heel for almost 20 miles.  Anyway we took the downhill easy as RAD was concerned about her ITB. 

We met Bec at the roundabout and ran thru the open mall and the skier bridge where hubby was cheering (his 4th of 6 cheering spots).  We then went up 8th street.  While RAD and Bec ran, I walked.  It's honorable to walk this uphill blip.  We followed the runners ahead who had turned too soon and ran down on the wrong street (Woodside Ave).  By the time we reached the Park City Ski resort we had to run up Empire St to the aid station, STINK! 

We "bumped" into Maurine in the Golf course neighborhood around mile 19.  She took our picture.  We stopped at the aid station before heading to the bike trail to look for tape for RAD's knee.  Maurine caught up to us and we had a volunteer took our picture.   Took my 4th gel. 

We walked/ran the next 3 miles as RAD's ITB was bugging.  We got to the McPolin Barn (mile 21) aid station where we couldn't find any tape.  RAD rubbed some ICY-HOT gel pack that I brought and took an advil.   I ate orange, banana and was surprised at how fresh my legs felt. 

We crossed the hwy tunnel and began my least favorite part of the course, never ending winding dirt trail.   I just wanted to get it done so I told RAD to keep me in sight and ran ahead.  I was able to run couple of miles at 8:45 passing many runners.  Then I made the mistake of stopping at the aid station by the soccer field.  My shins started to cramp up when I resume running.  I slowed and changed strides.  Then the muscles just behind the knees started to cramp up.  I walked to calm it down.  I knew if I stopped to stretch, I would not be able to run as this is what happened at Ogden where I had to walk the entire Grant St.  I would run as soon as the cramp ease up and walk when it showed up.   I prayed the entire last mile and half with fear of charlie horse ceasing me.  The spasms moved all over my lower legs.

SO so so  glad that the finish was right on the trail, meaning no hair pin turn onto the grass, and I could keep jogging once I crossed the finish.  I was very happy that charlie horse never ceased me.   I was surprised to see the last mile split was 10:08 and the 0.2 mile was 8:49.  My finish time was 4:23:22, a 10 min. PR from the last 2 years on a much hotter day.

I think not running DNews Marathon and Provo River 1/2 (which I did last year) might have helped.  But really, it is having RAD to run and chat with that made this so much easier and fun. 

THANK YOU Rachel for running with me!  YOU ROCK!

Me & Rachel at the finish.  What a fun run!!!

Post race celebration at Ruby Tuesday...YUM!  Making a "Smooth sandwitch" w/ two slender beauties, RAD & Bec!