Each Day Is a Gift

Talked to my sons today.  They're so excited to come home for Christmas and so happy to hear that we have snow for skiing.  They're jealous that I could still run outside.  Ice storm in Iowa and windy brutal winter in Chicago made it unsafe; so they have to run indoor.  

Tried out the Irongym tonight.  AARRGGHH!!!  Can't do it.  I have wimpy arms, trapeze and pecs!!!  MAJOR STINKS!!!  My husband did 2.  My sons did 10.  Not fair!!!  

Was going to run 9 with 4 at tempo pace.  Temp was in the high teens, windy.  The thought of my sons in the cold midwest made me appreciate Utah's winter.  Pulled on my trusty UnderArmour subzero mock turtleneck, insulator tights, therma fit jacket, headbands and gloves.  

The roads in the subdivision were not plowed so I stayed on the main roads.  Right away I abandoned the tempo run idea.  It was too windy and there were icy stretches.   Had to cut my run short because my fingers started to hurt.  Note to self:  wear mittens instead of gloves in this kinda weather.  It began to snow horizontally for the last two miles.  I think I got about 6 miles at marathon pace.

8.25 miles in 1:14:08.  Average pace:  8:59.  HR: 166.  Arthritis: 6.   Asthma: 3.  Splits: 9:39, 9:14, 8:50, 8:56, 8:43, 8:50, 8:55, 8:45, last 0.25 mi at 8:43.   

 Evening:  AM/PM Yoga 

AM.

"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!" my hubby was singing at 5:30 am.  I put on my shorts and shirts thinking it's a treadmill day.  Ate breakfast while looking out the window and saw that it's calm with light snow falling.  WooHoo! a winter wonderland, time to play!!! 

Quickly changed into my winter running gear.  So excited to try out my Boston jacket.  I have worn it, just not run in it .  I put on my yuckiest pair of shoes, no need to worry about cushioning, plenty of that today, sunglasses (snow shield for the eyes) and ski mittens (my fingers going to be toasty). 

The whole world is white, quiet and peaceful.  Even my footfalls are muffled.  Running on snow is like running at the beach on wet packed sand, well, a winter version.  It has quite a bit of give.  My joints love it although the pace is significantly slower.  Running on 1"-2" of powder is sheer fun.   

On the last mile home I made a mistake by running thru a semi-developed subdivisioin.  There were patches of black ice and snow drifts that I had to navigate.  I slipped a little but didn't fall.  Chunks of snow started to pack under my shoes making the soles a little icy and uneven.  What a fun run with no damage done, YAY!!!

6 miles in 1:02:29.  Average pace: 10:25.  HR: 165.  Arth: 6.

PM. 

Around the world core 25 reps

Around the clock 15 reps

Wall sit 3 x 15 sec.

Calf raises single and double 20 reps

Bicep and tricep wt lift 3 x 15 reps

0 pull up, 0 chin up on irongym bar, MAJOR STINKS, Teena!!! Help!!!

****** 

A sad note:  a dear dear friend of ours, my sister-in-law's sister-in-law, passed away during the wee hours today.  She battled with cancer for over two years.   She's one year younger than me, our children are the same age.  We will miss her terribly.  Will be heading down to California for the funeral in a few days.

15 degree cold has a way in aggrivating the arthritis.  But a good run always cures everything.  I'm still saving my new shoes for the new year.  So pick the pair with the least tread wear and put on two pairs of socks (my toes are gonna be toasty). 

With the lungs wheezing away, I ran up them hills and felt like a million bucks.  The soreness on the left quad muscle located at 4 o'clock from the knee and on the right calf muscle at 8'oclock behind the knee started to bother me on the hills.  They eased up after 8 miles and completely gone after the run.  See, I know it, a good run does cure everything.

A film of frost has formed on my shoulders.  Except for the north or shady side of my body, it melted after the sun came up.  Felt so great after the run I shoveled the 100m long driveway to cool down. 

10.5 miles in 1:43:39.  AP: 9:52.  HR: 156.  Arth: 6.  Asthma: 4

Recovery run 4.5 miles in 43:45.  AP: 9:40.  Arth: 6.  Same soreness on L quad & R calf (during run, none after workout)

Around the World core 25 reps

Bicep, tricep wt lifts 3 x 20 reps

Dips 2 sets 20 reps, 1 set with legs elevated

AM/PM Yoga 

REST today... if you could call vacuuming, washing five quilts and all the beddings, moving beds, shoveling snow, shopping for more gifts, grocery shopping, mailing, visiting the widows,  more laundry, taking a load to DI,... REST.  Oh, and praying for the safe arrival of my sons & company.  Whew!!!