Each Day Is a Gift

Wendy called and wanted to know what my training plan was.  I am still figuring it out..  Meanwhile, I want to run at least an hour everyday, throw in one long run of 2 hrs and rest on Sunday.  I want to build my base miles up again before putting in any speedwork. 

I got the feeling she's all recovered and ready to bump up her training.  I figure this is a good time to see where her fitness is.  She ran a 5:08:xx at St. George.  I know she can run for an hour no problem.

I took her on a fairly flat 6 mile run.  Her 16 year old daughter joined us for the first 3.5 miles.  I kept us on a 10 min pace.  It was a nice easy run.  Other than the "numbing/tinkling" on the balls of her feet, she was doing great at that pace.  We've got to figure out what's wrong with her feet. 

6 miles in exactly 1:00 hour.  Will do some yoga tonight. 

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Did the core workout from www.beginnertriathlete.com link that Teena posted last week.  Thankfully no one was looking.  Great fun.  Does that make me a closet athlete? :)

Should have gone out early when it was calm.  By 8 am, it was cloudy, T in the low 40's, no problem..., but the WIND.  Holy Toleedo, I don't know what the wind knots or whatever you call the measurement...it must have been howling at 50 mph from the north.  For every 3 steps forward I was blown back one step.  I didn't have my sunglasses or beanie on.  I'm still trying to get sand/dirt out of all the oracles on my face: nose, ears, eyes, mouth, eck!!  Now I know what my sons in Iowa and Chicago face when they train in their windy "tornado alleys".

I had planned to run a progressive 6 miler.  It didn't happen.  I'm sure the "running head-on into an invisible wall" and the "trying to run straight with the sideway pushing cross wind" was equivalent effort to a fartlek workout.

5.25 miles in 47:50  Average pace 9:06  Splits: 9:23, 9:05, 9:08, 9:45 (slight uphill into a fierce northly headwind) 8:15 (aided by tailwind), 8:44.

Thought I give the 6 miler progressive run another try today.  Went to bed way late with teenage discussions (ok heated debate over football priority).  Anyway I woke up with arthritis pain, that can only mean one thing, the mercury outside must have dipped in the low 30's. 

First mile warm up took a lot slower than I wanted, 10:30, wondered if the cold's going to bring on the asthma.  Mile two was done in 9:40.  At mile 2.5 I saw Mary running towards me.  Mary is Wendy's soccer-mom-friend.  She used to coach my son's Jr. Jazz.  Anyway I have been trying to get her to train for a marathon.  She is running, woohoo!  She asked if she could join me.  Of course!  She has a million questions about marathoning and on juggling a busy life.  It was good therapy for us.  Mile 3 was 8:57.  Mile 4 did not go faster, as Mary was slowing and had to stop to adjust her shoe laces, split was 9:02.  Mile 5 was 8:55.  Mile 6 was done in 8:44.  Not bad for carrying on a conversation the whole time, and I could even think straight, and hadn't had breakfast yet. 

At mile 6, I told Mary I'm going to kick it in for the last 0.2 mile.  It's supposed to help me learn to finish strong.  Wow, she followed.  Garmin showed we did that in a 7:05 pace.  Finished that 10K run in 55:55.  Not my fastest...but I love that number, 5555 - I'm ALIVE!!!

We stopped right in front of Wendy's house.  Wouldn't you know it, Wendy was just coming out to run her 3 miler.  So, what did we do,  we ran together till Mary got to her car and I continued on with Wendy at our usual 10 min. pace for another 2.75 mile.  I love that I could be flexible with my training right now.

Am/Pm yoga 36 min. 

Core abs work out Around the World 10-15 reps .

Upper body weights 15 reps.

Around the Clock lunges 12 reps.

Wall sit 3x15 sec.

Calf raises single 15 reps, double 30 reps.

Another 6 maintenance miles today.  Wore l/s, jacket, gloves and tights. T- 32, no wind.  Had a yogurt and water before heading out.

Not only could I see my breathe this morning, I could hear it, wheezing my way up that hill before mile 3.  Don't want to use inhaler yet, my lungs will adjust.  Not sure why my sitting bone hurts, could be from yesterday's workout.  I'm sure that too will pass.  Arthritis: 3

Splits:  9:52, 9:42, 10:27, 9:17, 9:15, 8:38 

I was so excited about this Sat's run that I didn't sleep a wink.  Mark must have worried that I would sleep thru the alarm.  He called me twice before 5:25 am.  He's the most punctual guy I've known.  He had my seat all warmed up when he picked me up at the hotel.  THANKS Mark!!! for chaufering me around and the nice visit.

We got to the JRP and waited for the Chumps to arrive.  Met Lora, Gene, Rick, Darin (Teena's new bishop) and SO GOOD to see John (Teena's bro.) again.  We started off together at an easy conversation pace.  Teena, the future Olympic Female Athlete, got inpatient and took off with Mark.  I was happy running with John and Darin.  At around mile 3.75 Darin had to take a pit stop.  I was glad that John stayed with me 'cause I didn't like running in the dark by myself.  We were running around average 9:20 pace.  It was fun talking about his first marathon last year.  Darin never caught back with us. 

At mile 5 John wanted to turn around to make it a 10 miler.  I took a total of 14 oz. HEED.  I was surprised that John hadn't drank any.  At around mile 5.5, Teena and Mark caught up with us and we ran back together and found Darin with Tao.

While waiting for Rick, the Sub-for-Santa-5K organizer, I took a Gu.  Everyone was talking about how fast to run this 5K.  I wasn't going to run it 'cause I was having arthritis and tendonitis pain.  But standing, waiting and freezing was worse.  So at the last second, I had Rick put "Smooth" down on his clip board and off we went.

Teena went with the boys, Mark, Gene and Rick.  I kept an eye on them 'cause I didn't know the course.  After crossing the first bridge, the trail forked, I couldn't see the lead pack.  I took the right fork, turning back to ask if it was right, no reply.  When it dead-ended to a road, I realized my mistake and ran back.  I could see 5 or so runners with one girl in pink who had gained the advantage since I took the wrong turn.  There were also lots of people on the trail and not sure if they're in the race.  I had to stop to pick up the tickets the race organizers had dropped.  

I wanted to make up the lost time so I gradually reeled the runners in.  At the turn around, Rick was there to give out tickets, I had regained my lead.  It was fun side-fiving Mark, then Teena as they sped by.

At around mile 2 the trail forked in a sorta round about.  I took the left fork, remembering that was where we ran earlier in the dark.  WRONG one!!!  the right fork is shorter as I soon saw the girl in pink running there and ahead of me.  I wasn't going to let her had the advantage b/c of my own dumbness.  So I sped up and passed her for good.  Teena ran the last 0.25 mile in with me and told me I was 2nd woman in.  No need to guess who was the first woman winner.  I took 4th place overall, of course 1st in my AG.  I won a nice brown bag of goodies same as 30 other runners and 500 other walkers.  Thank goodness Darin, the bishop, didn't run this race.  And Teena's temple recommend is current for another 2 years.

It was a FANTASTICALLY FUN day!!!  THANK YOU Mark, Teena and John.  You are AWESOME!!!  I LOVE YOU!!!