I Can Do Hard Things

I ran 1.5 miles to the gym.  Lifted lower legs for 30 minutes.  Ran 1.5 miles home. I am so flippin slow!

39:04

AP 9:17

10:00, 9:31, 8:56, 8:46, 1:51

It was a beautiful run outside (not that I was running beautiful, but the weather was nice).  It was raining and I found a new trail by a little stream...I was able to pick up a cool breeze off the water.

AP: 9:21

10:13, 9:43, 9:18, 8:58, 8:38, 1:06

I seem to be getting slower and slower by every run.  I'm having a hard time getting motivated to have hurting legs and slow runs.  CRAPTASTIC!

32:13 minutes

AP: 9:10 (9:23, 9:29, 9:16, 4:03)

This was a craptastic run  today!!  I was suppose to do 8 miles .......  We went to the Steel Days Parade, so I ended up running around noon.  TOO HOT, legs hurt, slow.  It is one step forward, two steps back!

I bought some new Nikes today.  I haven't worn Nikes since high school.  I hope they fix my stupid shin problem!

1.6 miles to the gym.  Lifted lower legs and core.  1.6 miles home.  

Like my new running shoes (Nike Vomeros) ...but I need to run farther to see if they are going to help with the shin splint issue!  

46:55 minutes

AP:  9:32

9:58, 9:44, 9:30, 8:54, 8:37

I felt like I had just fallen asleep when my alarm went off this morning.  I am finally done sewing for all my various "things".  7 weeks I've been up all night or up early mornings!  I had a "sample show" for my designer, the custom orders from the sample show and my own first craft boutique.  I'm heading to the post office to send off the last piece.  As much as I love sewing, I'm glad to have a week or so to get my house back in order (and get the laundry done).

I'm not sure how my run felt this morning.  During certain spots, my shins were bugging, but other places not.  I like my new shoes, but know only time will tell.  Do shin splints EVER go away?  They BUG!

Time:  37:09

AP: 9:14

10:09, 9:29, 8:57, 7:33

I remember how much I love to run in the early morning (it is just the getting up that is hard).  I didn't turn on my Ipod till the homeward stretch.  It is quite noisy without music.  Birds, running water, and lots of chickens.

My legs felt a lot better, but there is still some achiness.  My right hip/piraformis is really tight....I need to stretch a lot today. 

47:26

AP:9:12

9:47, 9:29, 9:15, 9:06, 8:24

I don't sleep super well when it is hot outside, so in the summer, I always feel like I just fell asleep when my alarm goes off.

It was a full moon this morning...so so so beautiful! I felt pretty good this morning.  Lower legs still a bit achy.  I kept thinking during my run if I was going to have enough time to train for this marathon in October.  I feel like I am so far behind in my training.  I just need to adjust my expectations of the race I guess!

I just got back from the chiropractor and had my hips adjusted.  I've had sore hips ever since I've had kids.  He also did some ART on my shins.  OUCH OUCH OUCH OUCH!!!!  I just iced them, so here's to hoping they get better!

9:46, 9:38, 9:43, 10:03, 9:31, 9:12, 8:45, 8:37, 7:49

AP: 9:16

1:23:00

I met my good buddy Sarah at the mouth of Provo Canyon.  It was SO SO SO cold standing in the parking lot.  I kept saying, "It is suppose to be the middle of July", but once we got past the bridge, the wind died down and we were warmed up.

I had really low expectations for the run considering my past few weeks of training.  I wanted to be at a conversational pace and that is what we did.  I love talking with runners...they just get it! 

I kept seeing all the RHPC signs and was hoping we would see them on the way down the canyon.  I was feeling tired around our halfway point.  The "doubting thomas" came out and I was hoping I could just finish the run.

But heading down that canyon makes it SO much easier!  We started seeing all the HOT PINK shirts and cheering for them!  It was so fun...next year, I am TOTALLY doing it! 

I had a lot of fun on this run.  My lower legs have really started bruising from ART yesterday.  So I am not sure if they are sore from that or from the run OR both!  We iced down in the river after....heavenly!  What a great run!  Thanks running bud!

I ran 1.6 to the gym.  I did squats, sits, planks, core and then calf stuff.  Rab 1.6 home from the gym.  My legs felt a big creaky.  I'm still very bruised from having ART done on my calves.  THEN, when running up Provo canyon, I tried to climb over this bridge to avoid a HUGE puddle.  I didn't do it very gracefully and got another HUGE bruise on my quad.  I totally look beat up.  

48:22

AP: 9:07

10:18, 9:40, 9:24, 8:47, 7:59, 2:11

It was SUPER dark this morning  because of all the cloud cover.  A little spooky!  I ran my favorite 5 mile loop backwards today - it was much more hilly!  I had a hard time getting my legs to move.  After 3/4 miles they woke up and I felt good.

Off to swimming lessons.....I had a screamer and kicker yesterday.  I hope there is no more drama today!

1 step forward, 2 steps back.  WHY in the world can I not get my act together with running?  WHY are my lower legs always achy?  When I went to the doctor in May, he said shin splints.  But I'm not sure if that is it.  I have one spot 3 inches above my ankle (on the inside) that hurts.  When I rub my thumb over the bone, it is a bit sore, but doesn't ache like a stress fracture.  When I rub the muscles, it BURNS!  Could it be tendonitis?  What is causing this?  I am feeling frustrated and defeated.

My run was ok.  We have a lot of construction going on by our house, so there are all these creepy construction guys around.  

55:38

AP: 8:56

9:44, 9:35, 9:29, 8:27, 8:19, 7:55

This is the best run I've had in awhile.  Hooray, it is about time!  I ran my 6 mile loop "backwards" so I could go up the 1.5 mile hill.  I'm doing more of these to hopefully become a stronger hill runner.  You can tell from my splits when the hills end!  Need to change that!

It was nice and cool this morning.  No major lower leg pain.  A great run over all. Iced.  Need to stretch out this afternoon.

2:03:00

AP:  9:15 ~ 9:50, 9:22, 9:33, 9:33, 9:27, 9:24, 9:38, 9:15, 9:09, 9:08, 9:06, 9:01, 8:15, 2:03

I met Rachel and Smooth at the JRP dark and early this morning.  It was extra stinky out there!  Not sure what was in the water, but it smelled!  This was the "perfect" run!  Smooth entranced us with stories for 2 hours.  WOW - is she amazing!  I'm not sure I could have done this distance without these two wonderful gals!  Thank you!

This was my longest training run this year.  I was/am worried on how my lower legs were going to handle it.  The verdict is still out!  About a mile from the finish, I was starting to get tired.  I just wanted to finish, so I took off because I was tired of running :)

Plus I needed to get home to get my yard work done, so I could take my kids to the pool, so I could host a BBQ in the afternoon.  But man alive, I am TIRED!

Good times!

My Monday morning run to the gym.  I lifted legs - lunges, wall sits, wall squats, hold bar and lift one leg up in the air, sit ups and planks x 3.  Run home.

TIRED!!!

47:39

AP 9:01

10:08, 9:27, 9:10, 8:40, 7L46, 1:26

I ran my 5 mile loop backwards (which may becoming the new forward).  It took me awhile to get  moving this morning.  I was tired and hot.  I'm ready for the heat to go away (even if it has been a mild summer).  My lower right leg started bugging again.  BLEH....

Off to swim lessons

2 mile warm up

5x400 with a 200 rest jog

1:41, 1:40, 1:40, 1:39, 1:35

Don't laugh at my slow times!  It's been a year and a half since I've been to the track for a real speed workout.  Obviously it shows. 

Speed workouts stress me out, but once I got there it wasn't as bad (isn't that always the case).  The dumb sprinklers were on and were shooting like jets.....I want a sprinkle, not a jet stream.

1 mile warm down.

56:55

My Garmin wouldn't turn on this morning...that can be a scary moment for a runner!  But I was running my 6 mile loop (so I knew my distance) so I just put on my old Timex and headed out.  

There is something wonderful about running before the sun comes up.  It is so quiet (except for the birds and chickens) and everything is still.  I love it!

But I felt big and clunkly today.  I had a hard time finding my stride and really struggled up the 1.5 mile hill.  But the workout is done and the miles are logged!

Taking my kids to the movies and then to the park for a picnic.  I need to wear them out so they maybe go to bed early.

2:27:00

AP: 9:59

10:35, 9:17, 9:13, 9:22, 10:21, 10:00, 10:06, 9:27, 9:18, 11:31, 11:00, 9:34, 9:49, 10:31, 10:10

What a craptastic run!  That was one official BAD BAD BAD run!  All my favorite running buddies were all occupied this Saturday morning.  So I decided to run with the Soujourners Running Club (Runner's Corner's club).  We met at 6:30am at the mouth of Provo Canyon and were going to carpool up to Solider Hollow and run down the canyon.  We didn't start running until 7:30am....frustrating!

We ran above the Heber Creeper railroad tracks on a dirt road.  It was SUPER FREAKIN' hilly.  It reminded me of my 2nd leg of Ragnar....climbing up and up and up.  You can tell from my mile splits the major hills.  My legs were starting to scream at me!  I was so grateful for those other runners - there is NO way I could have made it up those hills without them.

We made it to the dam and had water/gatoraide.  But we were less than halfway and my legs were spent.  We continued on through some private property and couldn't talk.  On previous run, they had gotten in trouble for being there.  GREAT - trespassing!  Then we hopped on the main road.

We made it to Vivian Park and I drank as much water as a camel!  But I was only at 13 miles.  I got a ride from Hawk and Cheryl to the mouth of the canyon.  Though my legs were on fire, I really wanted to get in 15.  So I dropped my water belt at my car and headed up to the water fountain. 

When I finished, I soaked in the river and almost lost my flip flop.  Both of my lower legs ache and are so sore.  I had two thoughts during my run:  1.  It can't get harder than this.  2.  This may be my last run EVER - for sure, I've done something to my muscles/legs/tendons!

I'm super tired and sore and hope I can still run on Monday morning!

This was my longest run EVER!