I'm not crazy...I'm just bored!!

Nice easy long run with Kelli, Wendy and Scott. Got out before it got too hot, but I need to start bringing water with me on these warmer runs. Summer has kind of jumped down our throats and I forget how much the heat dehydrates you. Thankfully, Kelli and Wendy carried water and I bummed some off of them and drinking fountains at the lake and city hall saved me :)

AP: 9:24 splits: 9:42, 9:57, 9:15, 9:21, 9:05, 8:58, 9:07, 9:35, 9:14, 9:23, 9:29, 9:38, 9:22

I'd like to say the pace felt easy, but there were times it certainly did not. I just keep wondering when my 8:30's and 8:40 long run paces are going to come back! These legs have to recover and remember how fun it is to run soon, right?

Thanks to all for letting me tag along, it was a wonderful summer run :) I love group runs, they are SO much nicer than going alone. Running is my social hour! Thanks as well to my hubby to stayed home an extra hour so that I could get the 'long' run done on Friday so I can run the 10K tomorrow with my sister and not have to worry about getting more miles done in the HEAT. I have to be to a baptism at 9:15, so 11:00 is just too late/hot to run, and 4AM is too early!

Anybody have any good early morning runs planned for July 4th? I'd like to do 10-12, but need to be home by 8ish to get to parade land.

What a wonderful race!!! Sometimes it's not so much about the end time, but the journey you make while getting there. 

Got a call last night that my niece wanted to do the fun run. She wanted to know if Lauren (my 10 yr old) want to do it with her while the moms ran the 10K. Lauren was game. I was excited to have her up and racing with me. She was a perfect angel to get up early and get to the park to get registered.

*traditional honey bucket pre-race photo. Mom's and girls.

Met up with bye-wing and did the normal pop stop and then went to line up. We started at the front (off to the side), but waited for the majority of runners to pass before we joined in the crowd. Didn't want to get trampled! The fun run and 10K run the same route at the start, so we got to hang with the girls for a while, but then they turned and we still had a 4 mile loop left :)

bye-wing did a great job! Coming from sea-level running to Utah running is difficult, but she handled it in stride and kept her breathing steady and even the whole time. There are a few good uphill portions of the race, but it is nice to be able to see the top of the hill and push to the crest then recover. Explained the ROOLS to her so she would know why you must pick up the pace on the hills and you couldn't whine.

I like the course because there is one section of out/back so you can see all the leaders at their 3.5ish (well, that is where we crossed them). I had a great time encouraging all the lead runners and everyone that followed as we crossed. Those BBK's are stinkin' fast! All in the lead.

Around mile 4 we started leap-frogging a lady who was prego (5mo) and we got to chatting (yeah, I know...can you imagine? me? chatting in a race? hahaha) she remembered my shirt from last year at Ogden when I was running prego! How funny! What a small world. That is why I love to wear a good shirt. Totally worth it when people remember and talk about it afterward.

My favorite moment was when we passed mile 5 marker. Bye-wing said "oh! YES! FIVE! That is just what I needed to see." With the hills behind us and only 1.2 left, she knew she'd made it and hearing that in her voice made me smile. We pushed through to the end and the prego lady was in front of us. I told Bye-wing "go catch her...you can't let the pregnant lady beat you" (this was probably more for me than her :) ), but true to her good nature she said "maybe she needs the confidence boost more than I do." I told her she was too nice, and that in a race you can't be nice! She just simply replied "this isn't a race for me, just a run". Dang it! Can't argue with that logic.

However..... about 100 yds later we turned the corner to the finish line and had a 1/4 mile or so left. Well, the race finally got to the runner. Bye-wing opened things up and shot towards that finish line like nobody's business. What the heck? Where you been hiding all this speed girl? I looked at the Garmin and she was at a sub 7:30! Now I KNOW she's been holding back on me. I think it is time for this girl to get some speed going. Easily passed prego and nearly caught the other 3 people waaayyy in front of prego. That finish line always inspires quite well :)

(I'm in the back with the pink visor stopping the garmin. Bye-wing is the happy finisher...yeah, she beat me. But, I let her win :) ).

I was SO proud of the work bye-wing did in the race, good consistent push and a nice finish to cap it all off. I think she will surprise herself at Des-news! Had a great chat with the gaggle of runners at the finish line, and some good snacks as well. Our daughters were there at the finish and they had both finished 2.2 miles in just over 28 minutes. My daughter said she felt like she could've run the whole way, but wanted to wait for her cousin when she got a side cramp. I think this comment came as a result of me telling her that I wanted her to push and try to run the whole way since it was a race (that we PAID for) and not just walk. Either way, I think she did a great job and I am SO proud of her! It was fun to have her there and to see how proud she was to join 'the runners' at the finish line (and the snack table). I think I need to find a 5K for her to run with me this summer.

Overall, a great race and a wonderful morning! It is SO fun at local races to see all the familiar faces (especially as they get their awards) and to chat afterward (yeah, yeah...I know, me and chatting). Happy 4th of July everyone!!!

AP: 10:47 splits: 10:48, 10:24, 10:57, 11:19, 11:18, 10:40, 8:48 (SEE?!? This girl is holding back on me! last .34)

A beautiful overcast early morning run with Becca. It's been a long time since I've gotten to run with her! Now that her fiance is out of town she can date me again :)

Just out to the lake and back, and man alive I really thought I was going SO much faster. Someday these legs will recover...someday. Either way, I had a wonderful run and got back just in time to get off to the parade. Got there just as the flags were coming! Couldn't have timed it more perfectly if I'd tried. 

Slower than usual, but honestly I'm past the point of caring right now about pace. I had a great run and my body/injuries didn't feel achy when I started and that right there is a victory in and of itself. I really need to start running with water. I've never had such a dry mouth! AND we stopped for water just 2 miles from home. Yuck!

Onward and upward to the next challenge...getting something done in my house this week.

AP: 9:28 splits: 9:25, 9:21, 9:21, 9:05, 9:17, 9:21, 9:40, 9:21, 9:24, 10:01, 9:52

Got to be late last night...along with the rest of everyone! So, getting up early to go run with the BBK's wasn't an easy task, but I just kept telling myself I could come home and go back to bed. 

We did 1.5 warm-up, but I'd forgotten to turn on my Garmin before I got there, so I missed the first .4 - I was off the grid! :) Then we hit the track. 

The same mile warm-up as last time: 100 rest, 100 push X4, then the next 2 laps 200 rest, 200 push. Then we waited and re-grouped to start some 800's. Did 4 Yasso 800's and looking at my garmin chart it looks like they were just under 4:00, which seems about right for what my legs have been giving me lately. So, the question becomes - what does it mean when your marathon time is FASTER than your 800's?!? I need some rest...

Then we did a cool down in the neighborhood and I finished back at the parking lot at 6.6 (I had run with Kris and she had .4 further than me for the warm-up) so since I was at a nice even 7, I called it good.

I came home and crashed. I had no where to go, so I figured I would just wait for the kids to wake me up. Took until 10:30ish for them to get up! Nice! Almost a full nights rest after a morning nap :)

I was going to do the shred, but I just need to get on with the day today, so I'm calling it good.

AP: 9:02 splits: 9:59, 8:56, 8:37, 8:33, 8:27, 9:43, 8:57

crazy side pain kept me home, but I'm tired of dealing with pain for no reason. I'm perfectly normal and healthy...so the doctors say. 

Ran with the BBK's, but knew I'd need to take it slow and easy. Thankfully some of the more dedicated members came and were willing to run slow with me. Had a great chat with Debbie and Shimelle, just following the lead group as they faded from sight. Did a final 5K loop with Debbie to even things up to 8 and despite a rocky start, felt much better at the end.

AP: 9:45 splits: 9:57, 9:36, 9:53, 9:39, 9:38, 9:54, 9:57, 9:26

Got home and poor Lucy has been neglected due to me running with BBK's and not at home, so I jumped on the bike and took her on a run. Since she has to sprint with me on the bike I could tell she was tired after about a mile, so we headed home and only did about 1.5ish. At least she is now sufficiently tired and happy. Worst part? I let her out back before leaving to do her dooty :) while I got some things done inside and got my bike, but she stopped on the run to do it! Blech! I, of course, thought she'd accomplished what she needed to before we left so I didn't bring any bags. I am one of the FEW responsible dog owners that won't let their dog poo on other people's lawns and then leave it there, but there was some guy sitting on his porch next door to the house she decided to stop at. Man...really?!? So I felt like an idiot having to pedal away without picking it up (I did ask him if he had a bag and he said NO). I took Lucy home then drove back with a few bags to get it picked up and packaged up to take home and throw away. Grossest thing I've had to do in a while. I prefer to do it at home with the pooper scooper. 

Packed up the kids and went to yoga. I wish it was as wonderful as normal, but I was pretty unhappy during it all. At least I got some good yoga time in...I love yoga!

An early morning long run with Becca and Annette. Bye-Wing met at my house as well, but opted for the bike to/from the lake and just did the 5K loop around the lake with us running. 

A beautiful morning run with some wonderful people. I can't believe how cool it's been! It is so nice...just not the humidity, which bye-wing asked "is it humid?" um yeah!! For me anyway it is.

Had to do the long run today, because we're now taking off to go camping for the weekend. Lots of hiking involved...hopefully.

My AP was pitiful (9:37), but I got the miles in. I don't have my Garmin and it's time to start taking off, so I'll have to post it all later.

Good 5+ miles of hiking with the family. Nice easy, but beautiful trails at Heber Valley Camp. Only panic was when my 4 year old disappeared from camp for about 20 minutes. Just VERY glad there wasn't any water around - stinker of a brother ditched him while they were playing with cousins and he got lost.

I'm tired of having my schedule mixed up. I'm doing everything for everyone else...a time and season I guess. So, since I'm working 7-9 then babysitting from 9-12 the gym is out of the question and I had to get up early if I wanted to run. Only nice thing was the sunrise, totally worth getting up early for. Sorry the pic is blurry, but I think the lens on my phone was all fogged over from being in my pocket and I couldn't tell on my phone screen :) It really is a pretty run along the top road on the foothills overlooking the valley as the sun peaks over the Wasatch. 

Took my uphill both ways route around Herriman. Only problem was that I had planned on stopping at about mile 6 at the park for water. Dumb thing didn't work! Figured I'd stop at Walgreens in another mile - closed! Okay, skate park in another 1/2 - not one there! Really?!? I had dry mouth and was hot and wanted a drink. Ahead were some sprinklers going over the sidewalk - oh yeah baby. For about 200 yds I just kept running through the sprinklers! I was soaking wet by the time I got through, but felt SO much better. Finally about .2 before my house I stopped at the church pavilion and got a drink...sweet water! Not really worth it at that point, but I was running right by it anyway. 

So, now I'm at home hanging out and working or babysitting all morning and have to skip the gym. STINK! Fit class is my favorite all week, I don't think these people realize the sacrifices I'm making for them. But do people ever?

My legs did feel a lot better today, but now my issue is breathing. It really hurts to breathe deep. I've had this stupid side/back pain going on a week now! I'm sick of it, but there is nothing wrong with me...I'm perfectly healthy, so I just have to suck it up and deal with it. It was nice to not feel like lead legs though! The speed might just come back by October :)

AP: 9:17 splits: 9:37, 8:53, 9:03, 9:28, 8:27, 9:01, 9:45, 9:52, 9:29, 7:14 (last 20 feet garmin recorded...see I did push a little speed at the end :) ).

I think all week my life is just going to be crazy busy and turned on its head. 

Met the BBK's for miles this morning and was brave enough to get up at 4:30 to make the 5:15 early miles...sooooo tired.....

Garmin had turned itself on yesterday and as such was out of batteries when I tried to turn it on this morning - STINK. Oh well, I guess  I needed a garminless run. However, the way I've been running lately I really don't care about pace, just getting the miles in.

Did a 3 mile warm up and was SO happy Kelli came this morning. I love that girl. For the workout they were doing a 4 mile tempo and then hills. Shimelle and I decided that after the first 4 mile loop we'd be the dissenters and just continue on and complete one more loop instead of hills. That was enough for both of us.

Pretty uneventful run, just got there had a good visit with a few people, got the miles in and got out. Working again this morning and then I'm off for an out and back to Logan. Feel like I'm in Allie's commute-a-thon days! :) It's worth it though for $10 Lagoon tickets.

I.am.so.tired.

I think I almost fell asleep on my run this morning, if the run didn't feel so hard, like I was going to faint and keel over of exhaustion, I just might have fallen asleep. Found a nice patch of grass and laid down....

Best part? It is NOT getting any better until Sunday. Sigh. I may just have to take tomorrow off.

I did my Mirabella UP route in honor of Allie getting to do Sunnyside UP after a long hiatus. I'm not used to running this route in reverse, but it always seems easier afterward than I psych myself up for beforehand.

Pace was a little faster today, but still nowhere near where it was back in Feb/March. My back/side is still bugging me, my hip flexor is worse than its been in a month due to slipping on the pool deck Monday and jarring it funny and I'm just tired and achy all over. I think half of my push on the pace was that I was racing the clock. Trying to get home before my neighbor came over to drop off my 'work' this morning. Beautiful views of the sunrise going out and coming home today.

AP: 9:09 splits: 9:08, 8:46, 9:10, 9:40, 9:33, 8:36 (7:00 pace for the last 20 feet over 6 miles. I love it when I get a fast finish like that...even if for just 20 feet :)).

Now I'm off to drag 4 kids around Lagoon all day by myself. Luckily, bye-wing will be there with me to help divide and conquer with 2 of her children as well. Hot, standing in line, sticky sugar at every corner, no where to sit, grouchy kids from not sleeping for the last 4 nights, getting home at 11PM then getting up to run in the morning....yeah. I'm really excited.

I think I need a little cheese with my whine this morning....

or just some sleep!

Nothing...ab.so.lutely nothing! (if you can name that movie without google help you will be my best friend and gain all my respect!).

Yup. Got home and in bed at 12:30AM from Lagoon and there was no way in heaven (or the devil's home) that I was going to get up to go to running group...or run at all for that matter. I was tired and sore and I just wanted to sleep. So I did! Miles, schmiles. If I fall short of my goal this week...oh well. Enjoying running and being happy and healthy are bigger priorities, right?

I still had to work at 7, but the nice thing about my work is I can do it in my pj's :) so, alarm was set for 7AM. Ninety minutes later I got all three kids I was watching loaded in the car with baby (all the other kids were still sleeping, but I had to take him so he got early wake up too) and turned the key...nothin'. Ugghhhhh.....

Lets just say the next 8 hours of my life were spent dealing with a car that wouldn't start. Luckily a very generous neighbor helped me jump the car (which didn't work) and then drive all the kids to their parks. Later I did get a jump to work, so I drove the car to the dealership - needed oil change and em/insp anyway- while they checked it out (we still have a warranty, so we have to take it there). 4 hours and $450 later I got to go home.

4 kids + waiting room + 4 hours = disaster!

I finally got home at 4:30 ready to shower and get the day started, yeah PM. Just in time for work to show up again at 5:15...lovely. She asked why the car worked now. I told her "because the whole time you were off playing today I was sitting in a dealership waiting for the car to get fixed!" She just laughed.

Needless to say, nothing else happened today. I came home and flopped. Someone must've known that in order to get me to rest I needed to be pushed off the edge. The rest day was nice and I actually feel like getting up tomorrow morning to run. That hasn't happened in a while :)

Wanted to get out today, but wanted to sleep too. So, I hit the TM at home. What? You didn't think I had one? Au contrair mo frair! 

The street that runs on the side of my house (I live on the corner of a circle) is down and back a 1 mile loop, so when I want/need to leave kids at home and save a drive to the gym I do my TM loop :) It's slightly better than a TM...just slightly. I come by the house every 5-7 minutes and so they can just wait outside if they need me, but I do carry my phone as well. 

I had to work early again today, so when I got back from dropping them off I got changed and hit the pseudo TM outside. There really is something horribly wrong with me. I really shouldn't be feeling SO exhausted and breathing so hard running a simiple 9:30-10:00mm. It just isn't me. It just doesn't feel right, but I don't know what to do about it. I'm going to throw a little extra iron into the mix and see how that goes, but I'm not holding my breath. I've had this side/back pain that has ruled my life for 10+ days now and all I get from the doc and tests is that I'm perfectly healthy and everything is normal. Sigh...I don't know what to do. All I know is that I'm tired of feeling like crap and running slow, but it feels like 5K pace!

Anyway...I digress. Lucy got to do the first few loops with me, but then she tired out and I dropped her off and grabbed a drink, it was 10:30 by then and a little warm. I went and finished up, but at the end of my 5th loop I saw my neighbors dog about a 1/4 mile away and they never let him out. I tried to get him to run home with me, but he wouldn't. I ran home and got Lucy's leash and went out looking for him. I spent the last mile+ trying to track him down, but couldn't find him (why I went .4 longer than expected). True to dog fashion after I'd gone home told the kids at home and offered to drive them to go find Dex, guess who comes trotting around the corner? yup...Dex.

It was a nice run besides feeling like crap and things did get feeling a bit better after 4 miles, but I was still slow as sludge and it felt HARD. Afterward came home packed up the fam and went to Cowabunga Bay and had a fun afternoon in the sun and water. What a great water park!

AP: 9:35 splits: 9:19, 9:44, 9:46, 9:34, 9:29, 9:30, 9:59 (looking for Dex and not really thinking about pace).

Don't forget RHPC tomorrow!!! YAY!!!!

I look forward to this race every year and this year did NOT disappoint. When we lined up, I knew there would be some tough competition, but I was prepared for a fight. I finally quit smoking so that my lungs didn't hold me back - time to show 'em the guns! I took off like nobody's business and you'd almost say no one knew I was even around. There were a few people ahead of me at the turn around, but I caught Merri and the race was on! Merri and I were neck and neck all the way down the canyon with Lily just ahead. She didn't know how close we were because she was plugged into her ipod. Must have been some really inspirational tunes, she surged and was gone. In the last 100M to the finish I was able to out sprint Merri to the finish and crossed the mat before she did. Lily took home the Rooster, but she better watch out, because next year I'm stealing her playlist! 

***okay, so I wasn't 2nd place, but it sure makes for a good story, eh?***

My sister bye-wing wasn't sure last night if she would come or not, but I was happy to see her text that she would meet me and we could carpool down. Even if I was running 10+ min late. She drove, because the plan was for her to run her 10K long run then bike up the canyon. Well, the best laid plans....

Got to the park just in time to say some hellos before we were off. I ran with bye-wing to the 10K turn around, but then she surprised me and said she wanted to do a couple more K...uh huh, the endurance running bug has bit! She made it to Vivian Park (bathrooms and water, good place to turn!) and when she saw she was so close to 5 decided to go to 5 and make it an even 10..MILES! If she was still feeling so good going uphill, I knew she'd be okay going down.  I left her there to finish off my last 1.5 miles until the turn around. It was fun seeing all the other runners as they were heading down. I tried convincing them to do a few more to run with me, but no one bit. dang. Until poor Merri came along. She didn't know what she was in for! :)

I went to the turn around and it was nice to finally be heading down the canyon. It was SO nice to have Merri there. I may have spontaneously combusted if I didn't have someone to whine at on the way back. I was also glad to have someone 'pulling' me down the canyon and keeping my legs moving. Stopped for a GU back at Vivian and a drink at the eternal flow fountain. Merri, thanks again for such a great run and for sticking out the slow slogging miles with me. I should've warned you what a whiner I've been lately before you agreed to run with me. I remember why I love to run now, because I love hanging out with wonderful people like YOU!

About 1.5 from the end bye-wing called and had gotten lost on the way down and missed the turn off. I'm glad she called! So, her 10 miler ended up 10.5 or more. I am SO proud of how well she did. I couldn't have gone from 6 miles to 10!! NO WAY! The first time I ran 10 miles I came home and barfed. I knew that was my limit! But she just carried on and finished it out despite running extra. SO amazing! I love my sisters, they are both a huge inspiration to me. I was pleased with the pace I was able to keep with Merri on the way down, it's been a long time since I've seen that many 8's. Maybe there is something left in this body after all.

When we finished the run we sat around like usual and had a great chatting fest (as my husband would say...a lot of clucking going on). I can't even begin to name all the wonderful people I got to hang with, chat with, stretch with and best part?!? EAT with!!! I had such a wonderful time being with all you amazing ladies! (and Twinkies and Eric :) ).

AP: 9:40 splits: 11:14, 11:40, 11:38, 11:10, 11:17, 9:18, 8:47, 8:27, 8:35, 8:24, 8:26, 8:29, 8:27, 8:42(last .3)

It was great to see and chat with SO many of my favorite runners today. Marion and all others - thank you SO much for the time/effort/money you put into doing this every year. It is the run I look forward to every year and wouldn't miss for the world. THANK YOU for making it wonderful!!!

Now I'm off to a wonderful day hanging out with the family for my oldest son's birthday! The big SEVEN. Man, I'm getting old - maybe I need a cane.

Ugghhh...and so begins another sleepless week. Hubby's phone rang at 2:30 this morning. Some stupid guy in India that needed to know an answer to a question that very well could've waited till normal business hours for us. Well, that was just the beginning. My 4 year old was then up for the next 3 hours...up, down, in my bed, out of my bed, in the middle of my bed, on the couch...finally he said "mom, my ear hurts" blech! He had a fever Sat night, but was fine Sunday so I figured it was a fluke. At least now I know....back to the docs we go. 

I did get up at 6 and get out the door to get a nice, easy 6 miler in. Nothing exciting, just the regular ol' route and the regular ol' stuff. Did get to see a few people out walking or working in the yard. Always fun to say hi. 

AP: 9:12 splits:  9:54, 8:51, 8:27, 9:10, 9:36, 9:16, 6:09 (last 30 feet over 6 miles. I love when I get to post #'s like that...even if it is for just 30 feet!)

Got home in time to get started with work...again. After dropping work off at the park this morning the plan is to go and do 4 miles on the TM and then FIT class, but I may have to see how the little one is doing first. Happy Monday!!

**************************************

Okay, so when the little one got up he was happy as a bug in a rug, so off to the gym I went...well, a huge side trip to the park (10+ miles away) then back home because some idiot forgot to turn in her time cards by 8AM and it was already 9:15! Blech! Anyway, got to the gym just in time to do my FIT class! YAY!!! I really do love that class. Plus, since I wasn't there at my normal time I got to do the full class. Good times, and a good workout I haven't had in a while.

Then I went to the TM to get those last few miles in. I followed Lily's advice and went for some speed work (kind of slow speed work, but still..) to hopefully get something back in these legs. I did a 10 min warm up @ 8:57 pace, then did 10 repeats of 1 min on 1 min off (speed at 8:00 and rest at 8:57). Honestly, it didn't feel too bad. Better than I may have expected. By the time I was done I was at 3.4ish miles...I think, so I put the TM on a decline and did a little more speed (after a little 8:57 pace). 2% decline and I started at 8:20 and went progressively faster till the end from there. Can't remember what I finished at. AP for the run was 8:32...not too shabby for me lately.

Thanks for the advice Lily. I may have to work this one in a little more often (and hopefully a little faster) to re-teach myself what is going on with the legs! :)

I'm falling asleep as I type this... So, I hope the grammar police have the day off!

Early miles with the BBK's (my 4yr old did get up, but I learned my lesson! Gave him tylenol and he's been asleep since). The warm up was nice and easy, which doesn't always happen with these speedsters! Then we went to the track for speed work. I, of course, still have no relative speed in my legs, but pushed through anyway.

400's with a 200 recovery. I have no idea how fast anything was, except my miles were AP at about 8:30ish. So, a lot slower than it should've been, but whatever.

The everyone else did a tempo mile, but I just went out and back, then did a repeat with the group afterward. Only planned on 9 miles, but ended with 10 - peer pressure!

AP:  9:13 splits: 9:42, 9:12, 9:39, 9:26, 8:35, 8:43, 8:37, 9:19, 9:32, 9:23, 6:32 (last 22 feet :) ).

Working my way back, slowly, but surely. I think I'm so tired I just may be done for the day....

I've been SO horribly tired for SO long that when I got news last night that I didn't have to work in the morning I was happily relieved! I could sleep in and still get a good six in. 

Well, alarm went off and I decided I needed sleep more than a run. I even got up and started getting ready, but knowing I'm starting to get shin splints and I've been so exhausted, I figured my body could use sleep more than miles. I went back to bed until the kids woke me up around 8:45ish. 

We got off to the gym and I swam this morning. It was a beautiful swimming morning and I swear the temp of the water at Lifetime is perfect for lap swimming. The lovely Becca joined me and lapped me (she's speedy on land and in water!) for 40 laps (she did more, I had to deal with daycare in/out as well while she swam), then I played with the kids for a bit after Becca left, then my daughter and I did 12 more laps (I don't think she did that many, but she did a few). Ended with 52 laps on a beautiful morning swim! (2600M - they said it was a 25M pool, not yards, but I don't know the difference)

Now I'm off for the day and feel rested enough to not drag through the afternoon/evening and hopefully I'll get a few things done then be able to get up in time for more early miles with the BBKs tomorrow.

Anyone have Saturday plans? I want to do 17 and was thinking about the JRP....any takers? I do have to go early so I can get home for a ward breakfast.

Well, a couple of nice things happened today. First, I got up. Second I had a longer run with an AP under a 9mm...that hasn't happened for a LONG time. I will blame it on the 3.5 miles of downhill and trying to push tempo, but I'm still just happy to see it. Legs don't feel too trashed either. These are all good signs for how cruddy I've been feeling lately!

Met the BBK's for early miles and was happy to see Cal had made it out as well. I always love those early morning runs at a nice easy pace. I had fun chatting with Dean and Kelli as well. Dean gave me some clothing advice for the tri, which I desperately need. 

Then we were off for the tempo - up and back on 9800S to 4800W. Nice uphill there and then you turn and get to come home downhill - something I don't get to do often when I run from home! I would've liked to have been able to keep a better pace uphill, but I need to remember baby steps...baby steps. I was able to keep up with Cal (or he was being nice and staying with me) which was also nice to not run alone, which has been the case lately at BBK's because of my lack of speed. We tacked on a little bit at the turn around to run to a drinking fountain at the park, but it made my miles nice and even returning back to the start at exactly 10, a 7 mile 'tempo'.

The best thing about this run was that the last mile felt okay, not as horrible as I would've imagined it. This gives me hope that I might be able to beat my 1 month post-pregnancy time at Des News this year. With the way I've been running I really wasn't holding out much hope, but with this good sign I may just try :) Not for a PR - ha, yeah right! But I might be able to hit 47-48 minutes...we shall see.

AP: 8:50 splits: 9:46, 8:53, 8:28, 9:17, 9:33, 9:21, 9:03, 8:33, 8:00, 7:30, 5:01 (last 33 feet -still love that fast short finish :)

I had to miss yoga this morning, because my little 4 year old (the one that wouldn't sleep earlier in the week?) came home last night with dad and had blood coming out of his ear. Scared the crap out of me, but I guess we now know why he wasn't sleeping well. NO mention of pain at all! Just a 10 hour fever Saturday then not sleeping well. Turns out he had an ear infection so bad they can't even tell if the ear drum is ruptured because of the mess in there :( It looks as if it is, but they have to wait a week for it to clear out to see (he had tubes at 1 yr old, so it may be the tube was just pushed out). Poor guy. I seriously can NOT believe that pain tolerance...not even a mention of a hurt ear! Oh, and the other ear is infected as well, not nearly as bad, just a normal one, but still. Dang kid!! I'm sorry.

Spin class - that is all. Well, okay, I did her 'stretch' afterward and boy oh boy, I really need to start stretching more regularly...again. Oh, and it was a bugger of a hill climb, I don't think we ever got flat road once the whole hour!

Here is the plan for tomorrow for any interested parties:

JRP in Lehi (1500 N by the steel bridge - PM me if you don't know where I'm talking about) at 5:30AM - bright and early! Okay, it won't be bright, but it will be early and hopefully we'll beat the heat from the hottest forecasted day of the year. The trail goes 5.5ish out South, then you can go North or South again; I am planning on 17. Let me know if you are planning on being there and I will make sure we hang out and gather everyone before heading off. You can do as much or as little, as fast or as slow as you'd like! Hope to see you there.

Well, another early morning. It is really nice to get out in the early morning coolness, but not so cool to get up in the 4 o'clock hour. 

Met Toby and Smooth at Lehi and the temp was perfect - just a tad chilly before the sun came up. There were some hot/humid spots along the river, but overall a nice run. I couldn't believe that the underpass at Lehi Main St was still blocked! There is a good 6 feet or more of water just sitting there in the tunnel. Next time maybe I'll wear my tri stuff and just swim through - yuck!

I already think Smooth is an amazing woman, but I am even more convinced now! She told some wonderful, miraculous stories to Toby and I as the miles flew by. Before we knew it we had our morningside and 13.5 miles in the bag. I seriously had just a wonderfully PERFECT run this morning. Thanks for making it all worth it ladies! After Toby took off Smooth and I finished up another 3.5 to round things out at 17 miles for the day. I made sure to end a tad early so that we could get a little cool down walk in, that always helps soreness for me.

AP: 9:24 splits:  9:48, 9:25, 9:33, 9:31, 9:26, 9:30, 9:30, 9:16, 9:09, 9:12, 9:12, 9:03, 9:03, 9:44, 9:35, 9:25, 9:26 7:28 (last 28 feet - now lookey there!).

Came home and did the Ward breakfast then got everyone ready to swim and headed off to meet bye-wing and family at the pool. I got some pointers on swimming from my personal coaches and they even had some good drills for me to do as well! All in all I got 1600M (one mile) completed. Also got to play, visit and have a good time! I did my last 7 laps in 6:30, I won't admit that was with some nice speedy fins on, but I felt like I was cruising and had a great time!

Caught a 30 min nap this afternoon while the two youngest slept, it was MUCH needed! I might just make it to 9:00 now :) Hubby has to work 8PM-1AM for some stupid change window thing at work, so since I don't have anyone to hang out with after the kids' bedtime, I think I'll just go to bed early. I know, I live a crazy life.

Ahhh, early moring! I hate setting the alarm clock starting with a 3! However, things went very smoothly and kids got dropped off in the right places and bye-wing, her son and I got to the race on time and got to visit with Carolyn as well before the start! Perfect! Oh, and since Quiet Pirate was the only sibling missing, bye-wing and I made QP signs for our backs and pinned them on so she could be there too! I was a little concerned about the drag from the paper, but after threats of getting my pony tail cut off if I complained about it I shut up :)

The race was on! I really didn't think I would do much better than 47-48 minutes, the way my legs have been running lately that was an honest prediction. Barely under my 51 min from last year when I ran 4 weeks postpartum. 

The first mile was weaving all over tarnation trying to get around the walkers and joggers at the start. This is such a BIG race, but that is part of what makes it so fun too. I saw the mile 1 split at 7:12 and thought...all right, there was your speedy mile, now just try to hang on as best as you can for another 5.

The rest of the race was rather uneventful and I didn't stop at aid stations, just grabbed a cup of water, threw it in my mouth/face and hoped for the best :) Not pretty, but I don't profess to be so! I was encouraged when as I neared the finish I could still see a 46 on the clock! I knew I was over a minute back from the start, so I knew I'd done okay. Better than expected, and I felt exhausted. Now that it is all said and done with I think I could've run faster...but don't we always?!? I was about 90 seconds from a PR, so I blew all hope of that one, but like I said, I knew my body wasn't in that great of shape lately and I didn't really expect it. Honestly, I'm impressed with my legs for giving me a 45! I guess I need to pick up the pace on that speed work now...or just run it downhill :)

AP: 7:21 splits:  7;12, 6:55, 7:26, 7:16, 7:23, 7:51, 7:38 (last .21) I was impressed that my 2nd mile was the fastest and that NO miles were over 8! Even that last 1.2ish of uphill after the screaming downhill.

After I finished I ran back on the course and got to see Matt and chat about his race and then as I saw Carolyn coming in I ran with her in, walked back and ran in with bye-wing, then ran back on the course almost a mile to run my kids in who were doing the 5K with bye-wing's family and grandma. My 10 year old was out in front and I ran almost the last mile with her, and I must say for her first 5K she did AWESOME! She had to walk a bit, but we would go just the length of the intersection (white line to white line) and she would pick it back up again. I could tell from her face she was exhausted, but I just kept encouraging her! By the time we'd finished and I was ready to go back and grab my 7 yr old son, he was practically finished, so I cheered him on to a fast finish to just beat out his 'twin' cousin. Funny thing was that the 10K/Marathon finish line looked much more grand than the 5K finish, so he kept on running into the corral until we finally got him to come back. The last ones left were my 4 year old and baby Fartlek in the stroller with Grandma. I had to go back almost a 1/2 mile to pick them up and I got my 4 year old out of the stroller and he ran the whole way into the finish with me!! What a trooper! He got the most cheers and I had the biggest grin holding his hand and running with him :) I then turned back the 100 yards or so to grab baby and run him in...just like last year. Grandma sure was a trooper to push them most of the way! I got almost 3 miles in running back and forth - fastest (time flying by...not literally fastest) and happiest 3 miles I think I've ever had! Love those kids and all the work they put in!!

Then I made my kids stay and cheer in marathoners until about 4 hours. I did get to chat with James, Allie and Rossy after their finish, and rode the bus back (Tradition!) with JeffL, Kelli and Wendy (Kelli and Wendy got stuck with me and the kids cheering in finishers as well). Man those guys are fast and amazing!! I love cheering at the finish and watching the different athletes as they come in! SO inspiring!! Congrats to all who raced today, it was a perfectly lovely day to run with a few hundred of our closest running pals :)

Have to update just a bit. Saw results and I finished 10th in my AG!! I can't believe it! Top 100 in overall females and 10th in my cruddy age group. Nice! :) A PR would've gotten me 5th...but, bygones be bygones. Next year!

No running this morning...it really was a mess of a night. Didn't get to bed until 11:30 due to party and fireworks, then my baby woke up at 4:30 screaming and crying and it took about an hour to get him back to bed. I think he was in pain. He'd gotten his big toe shut in the door (on the hinge side) and the door was completely closed with it in there earlier that evening. I gave him some tylenol and then it was just a matter of time before he went back to sleep. Poor kid!

So, I knew due to sore quads from the race I was going to pass on speed work with BBK's this morning, so I was planning on a loop by myself, but when the alarm went off I decided to bag it and sleep. First day of school for the 2 older kiddos - yay for year round school! Got them off and then bye-wing came and we did a nice bike ride on the road. I used the mtn bike with the baby seat on back and she got my new bike. We rode up to the reservoir (holy hills batman!) then the tri course to Butterfield Canyon and home - 15 miles, more uphill than expected, glad I did a trial run. Averaged about 12mph, and I figure with the first hills and the baby bike out of the factor on Saturday I should be able to do closer to 14-16 during the race....maybe, well, hopefully.

Grabbed the kids and then went to Club Hollywood (the gym) to swim. I love how fast bye-wing swims. She could do 12-13 laps to my 10! I'm just a lazy swimmer :) She then had us do some drills. I've never done stuff like that before in the water and I kind of liked it. Best part was I could swim faster than bye-wing on the speed work! Okay, so I had fins on, but still! Finished up a mile of swimming (32 laps, assuming this is a 25M pool and not 25 yds) and from my timing it looks like I swim about a 12min 500M in the pool, so I think Saturday I may get away with a 15 min swim time...maybe, well, hopefully.

When I picked the kids up from chuck-a-child at the gym my baby looked like he'd been mauled! Scratches ALL over his face and some pretty deep. I asked what happened and all I got were bewildered looks. NO ONE knew anything about it! What the heck?!? Really?!? c'mon people! I thought you were supposed to watch these kids. I know it is an inherent risk of dropping your kids off there, but I just assumed there would be adequate supervision and that the child responsible would be monitored...or they would at least let me know what happened. Oh man, I just need to stop. Anytime I look at my poor baby it just makes me mad. Toe smashed yesterday, face mauled today...and I get to take him to the doctor for a 'well child' visit tomorrow. Shall we just write up the DCFS report now? Sigh. Poor little guy :(

Anyway, I feel pretty good about Saturday, but any and all tri tips would be GREATLY appreciated! Transition areas, what to bring, how to set it all up...these are the things I'm mostly worried about. The actual physical parts not so much :)

I'm getting lazy...always tired. I think I need to be better about taking my multi-vitamins and iron! 

Slept in, but knew I could go to the gym (even though I wanted to put baby in a bubble when I dropped him off due to yesterday's craziness!). So, off to the TM I went. My goal was to finish 7 miles in 60 min. I now know my legs will handle the speed, so they better take it and stop complaining!!

I started at 8:57 pace for the first 1.3 and was surprised how easy my breathing was, that hasn't happened for a while. So, I upped it to 8:41 and stayed there for the next few. I don't remember when I increased it again, but went progressive and for mile 6 I kept it 8:12 or less the entire mile. Impressive for me lately - especially with a gentle incline. Mile 7 I decided I needed to go a little downhill, since I'd been going up for 6 miles it was only fair, right? :) I had 8:00 exactly left to finish the mile and so I went to 7:30 and just pushed through the last bit. As usual, I started just wanting it done so I increased the speed a little at a time and finished the last .15 at 6:58.

I felt SO good when I finished and even had 40 seconds left to hit an hour. Legs are still tired, but my breathing and HR felt under control which hasn't been the case in quite some time. AP for the entire seven: 8:30.

Finished up with my PT/core work and tried out Allie/Bonnie's heel/toe walking and I too think I'm going to add it to the regular routine. I really feel my 'shin splint' muscles working and I think it will help them in the future. Stretched the last 15 minutes and picked up kids - no maulings today.

I did talk to a lady there that I feel really comfortable with that had even asked what  happened to Adam when she saw him. She filled out an incident report and it sounds like Adam's situation may be getting to the ears of management quickly. I just want to know he'll be safe and supervised when I drop him off.

Early morning BBK run. Met up and did the warm-up miles and then a 5 mile 'tempo' quads said NO though, so tempo isn't quite the right word for it. Anyway, had a good chat with Cal and Debbie as I sludged along the parkway and tried not to eat too many bugs. 

My legs were yelling at me something fierce and the plan WAS to do my long run early Friday morning (just 15 miles - because I have the tri on Saturday) but, I may have to reconsider. Okay, I think I'm a fool and I'm finally coming to my senses. My legs need some recovery if I'm going to try and compete at all on Saturday, so Friday is going to become a rest day. 

AP: 9:16 splits: 8:58, 9:04, 9:07, 9:07, 9:33, 9:00, 9:20, 9:06, 9:41, 9:38 I think it's rather sad when your fastest mile is your first 'warm up' mile in a tempo run!!!

Went to yoga at the gym afterward, I do love that class! But, alas. I cancelled my membership (not effective until Sept). Went to pick up baby Fartlek and despite all the craziness on Tuesday and reporting it on Wednesday, he had blood on his face and shirt. I think one of the scabs just got ripped off, but really?!? if a baby has blood all over his face and shirt wouldn't you maybe pick him up and see where it was coming from?!? No one had any idea what had happened, again. Plus, it was all dried and crusty so it had been there for a while, which to me means no one had looked at my baby for quite some time and/or no one cared about my baby. Either way, I'm done. If I can't feel like I'm leaving my child in a safe area - I'm not leaving them and I'll find somewhere else to go!

Rest and some good carb loading with Smooth and Lowell for lunch! Can't wait to hear about the Sogonopmit tomorrow!!!

So, the first tri is in the bag and I tell you - it feels SO different. I feel like I worked hard, but I don't have sore creaky legs like after a hard run. Probably because I didn't run hard :)

Got set up at the park, met Brent and Becca and rode up to the reservoir. Blech, getting there late was yucky. Had to rack the bike Waaaay back on the beach which meant pushing it across the sand nearly the whole length for transition. That really stunk! But, I got a good spot next to the wall to be able to sit and put my shoes on.

Started in the 5th wave, so 15 min after the 'start' with my AG gals in the water. It wasn't so bad in the open water and I didn't mind it at all, except I was so nervous about the race I was hyperventilating and couldn't get my breathing under control (this was happening all morning, it just became horribly apparent in the water). So, I pretty much dog paddled :) I was keeping up with and passing others doing free-style so it wasn't so bad, and I would free-style when my breathing felt under control too. Without seeing times I'm sure I was probably one of the last ones out of the water for my AG - definitely the slowest part for me. Legs felt like rubber as I tried to stand and run the last bit out of the water.

Got back to the bike and grabbed my shoes and put my helmet on and threw the rest of the crap in the bag (like a bag drop for a race, but you just leave it there). Then, right behind me was bye-wing! Holy Moly she swims fast! She started 3 min behind me in the next wave and got out maybe 30 seconds or less after me. Yeah...swimming isn't my strong suit. I decided to take my shoes/socks to the asphalt and put them on which meant kind of 2 transitions for me, but I didn't want sand in the clips or shoes (ha!) so I thought I was being smart. Well, I couldn't get the sand off my feet (left my towel in the bag) and I wanted to just get going on the bike so I threw my socks on over my sandy feet and just hoped for the best.

Well, after finally getting on the bike it was awesome! Great downhill for about 3-4 miles until we hit the uphill section. blech! When I run this route I call it my hill of despair, and it is about the same on a bike. I felt strong though and passed quite a few people! Even on my cheap ol' hybrid bike. The best part was passing guys that had started 6-9 minutes ahead of me :) The hill up to Kennecott was a bugger, but I just kept thinking "this is MY road!" I run it so often and it is SO close to home (I got to see my house a few times) I had to take the home field advantage and push through! Then, the downhill - wheee! THIS is why I cuss out bikers as cheaters when they pass me. Runners still have to work on the down hill, but when your bike is going 35mph and shaking like crazy, you aren't doing much work - just along for the ride, thanks gravity! The uphill back to the park from the HS wasn't as bad as I had imagined it, thank goodness. I also got to see my cute family waiting for me and cheering me on! Lifted my spirits a TON. I saw Brent on the run as I was finishing up the bike and warned him I was out to get him :) On the last stretch to the park I saw Becca in front of me. I couldn't believe I'd caught her on the bike. I knew she'd smoke me on the run, so it was nice to see her and say hi. Dismount out of the clips was nice and easy! Then running in bike shoes to my transition rack was a little strange, but still fast.

Threw those running shoes on SO fast, grabbed my visor and I was off. I even forgot to put on my shorts to cover my thunder thighs on the run. I don't want to see the pictures! Legs felt fatigued and a little off balance for probably the first mile, but I just kept pushing through. FINALLY just before I got to see my family again they started feeling normal. Still no speed, but felt normal. Oh, and in that first mile I think I passed everyone that had passed me on the bike - or at least that I remember passing me. I knew I just had to wait for the run :)

I never got passed in the run and over took a ton of people. I kept Becca in sight, but she was a good minute or so in front. We had a last uphill push to the park on finishing the run and I was finally feeling some life come back into my legs and I was ready to pour on the speed, but then I turned and well...there was the finish line. Stink. Oh well. A slow 5K, but at least I got done. There was only one other woman clear up by Becca that I could see as a potential to catch, so I honestly kind of wish I would've had a little more motivation to push that last mile or so, but I just didn't have anyone around me.

Finished in a good time of 1:35:21 - good enough for 10th in AG (out of 40+ I think) and 36th in females (out of 250ish?). About 20 minutes after finishing I was ready to go run some more :) You feel tired, but your legs feel fresh! I really wish there was a 10 miler at the end of the bike, I might be able to catch some more people :) Chatted with Becca and Brent (never caught him dang it!) and then went to wait for bye-wing to come in. She had her usual amazing sprint to the finish and was looking strong!

Saw some people I'd met in the process of getting ready for all this then waited for awards. Bye-wing took 3rd in her AG when she thought she was 4th, so we had a nice celebration about that! Then waited for Brent to get his award as well and cheered extra loud for the people that had left :) Then we got to see Kelli who was at the park for football and got a GREAT recap on her race. It was SO fun!! Plus, I don't feel exhausted like I usually do after a long run :)

Swim time: no idea...I'll have to wait for them to post *11:10 swim - a lot better than I had originally thought! I was 17th in AG on the swim out of 39...not horrible.

T1 time: 3:43 - yikes! was this a race or a nap time? :)

Bike time: garmin said 52 minutes for 14 miles -so avg 16.2mph (just checked splits and I am happy with my uphill times! Kept them about 10mph, which is MUCH faster than I anticipated). **52:49 official time. 11th in AG on bike - right on the $ practically with placing. Interesting, but I think this is honestly where the race is won/lost.

T2 time: 1:24 - not too bad, but the people that know what they are doing are under a minute here!

Run time: 26:09 - ha! see, slow run on jelloish legs (AP: 8:20 splits: 8:11, 8:38, 8:11, 8:08 - last .15) **26:18 is official run time and I was 4th in my AG on the run....yeah, uh huh...I think this is my strength :)

Overall, in hindsight, I feel really good about this. I wish I could've gone just a liiiittle bit faster (3rd place in my AG was 1:31:35) and I feel like I have it in me - better transition time from swim to bike and better swim time. Now I want to 'tri' it again :) I guess maybe it's just the novelty of it as well right now. Too bad I don't have the money to buy all the expensive fancy stuff to help me go faster as well. But, I really did have an amazing time and a wonderful morning!!!