Each Day Is a Gift

Love all the talks at Regional/Stake Conference.  Hubby did a great job with his talk last night in the adult session of stake conference.  My legs were quite stiff while sitting thru conference last night and watching the BYU vs Utah game.   It was funny to hear someone commented this morning that the reason why BYU's PAT ball hit the goal post (after the Utes fans stormed the field celebrating their win twice) instead of making the goal to tie the game and play in overtime...well, it would've necessitated the Cougars to play on Sunday as the game ended at midnight.  At any rate, I was rather tired after running TOU in the morning, driving home in the afternoon, attending Stake Conference and watching BYU lost!  Ha!  :)

There is no noticeable soreness in my legs.  I wanted to play it safe and decide to go to the pool for aqua walking against current in the lazy river.  It was great "recovery".

Hubby showed me how to "front crawl" across the pool.  I made it about 2/3 of the way before getting too tired or choked on water.  I really need to learn how to breath while attempting to swim.  I am glad the pool is shallow and I can stand up when I get tired or tensed.  Will I ever get over the fright of drowning in deep water?!!!  :)  I hit my head at the edge of the pool when I fluttered across on the back.  Wish there was something in the ceiling that signal it's the end of the pool/lap! :)

Babysat my neighbor's 2 year old twin daughters.  I pushed them in a double stroller for a mile walk around the hood hunting for dandelion seeds, looking at horses, cows and chickens; then played for an hour in my backyard swing-set.  It was exhausting FUN!!!!  Then visit taught their grandma who is recovering well from her kidney/cancer surgery!  

Original plan was to go to water aerobics with Karen and practice swimming with Leslie.  But got a text from Diane about meeting Wendy and her sister, Beth (visiting from OR) at Park City for our Fall hike.  Figured I could always go to water aerobics whereas the Fall colors won't last plus wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to meet Beth as well as exploring a PC trail.  It was a good choice!

We met Wendy and Beth at Jeremy Ranch, then drove to the trail head (Colins Trail?) close to the Canyon ski resort. 

At the top of Colins Trail, just before it converge to Mid-Mountain Trail.  It was cool to see the Canyon Ski runs in the distant. 

I didn't know that the trail was runnable or I'd have worn shorts instead of Levis.  I did run most of the way up and hiked down to avoid rolling an ankle.  Definitely going to come back to run this or may be run the Mid-Mountain Marathon one of these years! :)

The Aspen has turned gold.   I think we heard an elk! :)

Wendy and her younger sister.  It was great so chat with Beth all the way down.  She's an avid cyclist having competed in the LotoJa many times.  She told me about her 52 yo friend, a triathlete who has A-fib...not good prognosis! :(

The beautiful Fall colors was worth the drive up to Park City.  Wendy treated us to lunch at Wasatch Bagel and Grill after the hike/run, it was fabulous!  :) 

After we got back, Diane and I went visiting teaching.  Then I got home to cook for our Youth Missionaries.  It was a great day! :)

Didn't get out until after 8.  I convinced hubby to run 5 with me using the gallow run 4 walk 1 min. method.  We ran west past Karen's house hoping to "run" into her.  We got on the Canal Trail and saw her running east with Sky on Bull River Rd.  She wadded thru the weeds and got up on the trail to run with us west 'till we reached our turn-around.  It was so great to talk and jog with her...it's been over a week since we've run together.   It was fun to hear about her 20 miler with Wendy last Thu.  We made plans to run 12 miles tomorrow since she's leaving town on Sat. and I have company Sat. morning.

No soreness to speak of.   :)

What's wrong with the Cougars!!!  Such a crazy embarrassing game against the Bronchos (Boise State) on their Smurf turf! 

After our house guests ate breakfast and left for their nephew's wedding in Salt Lake, hubby and I ran to meet Karen.  Hubby peeled off after 1.25 mile while Karen and I continued east on Canal Trail, down to the bottom of Dry Creek bridge where we saw DavidB.  We wanted to run 12 today and explore some trails.  He told us the canal trail in Highland isn't completely paved and dead-end after crossing Alpine Hwy.  We ran to where the trail dead-end then got on Alpine Hwy north to School Park Rd and accessed the trail to Highland Glen Park.  Stopped at the park where Karen used the facility and I ate 1/2 pkg of PowerBar energy chews.  My legs definitely felt the fatigue of the marathon 6 days ago.  Grateful that Karen didn't mind running slow today.

Continued northeast on the trail (Knight Ave) north of Lone Peak HS to LonePeak Pkwy (4800W) then west on SR 92 (Timpanogos Hwy) to Alpine Hwy.  We turned south on Alpine Hwy to 10700N (south of the Highland City Library) where we turned east to access the Highland trail system that runs behind some homes.  It is in the middle of the block between SR92 and 10,400N.  We exited the trail onto 6400W then ran south till we reach 10,400N and ran a little west to access the Canal Trail.  We stayed on the Canal Trail 'till we reached the non-fenced part of Ivory Ridge about 600E and got back onto 3200N.  It was fun exploring all the trail system.  Can't wait until the tunnel on Center St. is complete and the rest of the trail in Highland to be connected to Cedar Hills.  Very slow going today, walked on the uphill portion coming out of DryCreek. 

Legs quite stiff and sore from sitting for couple hours in the temple.  Went to visit grandma and took Bryan and his roommate out for dinner.

Slept in.  Made a nice breakfast for our house guests.  After they left, hubby and I went to the Legacy Center.  Aqua running on the lazy river for 10 min.  Then swam 6 laps alternating between front crawl (free style) and on back (flutter kick with occasional back stroke).  On the 5th lap I made it across without standing up.  Yep, the pool was only 3-4 ft deep!  :)  One of these days/months/years, I may graduate to the "grown-up" pool!  For now, I'm practicing how to breath in air, not water!!!  Hehehe!  :)

I have not done any speedwork for the last two years, I think!  I know my days of PR is over.  Just going to enjoy running for the sake of running.  I am very grateful that I was able to finish 3 full marathons and one half marathon in the span of last 4 weeks...strange way of training in most people's mind.  In two weeks I will run my 8th SGM, 40th marathon.  It's been a wonderful 7 years of running and meeting GREAT friends along the journey!  Thank you!!!! :) :) :)