May 5 - Conquer Covid-19 Virtual Marathon (5:49:07)
May 16 - Clear Creek Canyon Half Marathon (2:32:15)
May 25 - Utah Valley Virtual Marathon (5:33:110
June 9 - Independence Run Virtual Marathon (5:55:22)
Long-Term Running Goals:
Run happy and healthy all the days of my life. Be an example and inspiration to my family.
Personal:
I'm 64, retired RN, happily married, nana to 14 beautiful grandchildren, mother to 6 children (1 daughter, 5 sons) who are kind, hardworking, caring, wonderful people! Wish they live closer!!! :) :) :)
Picked up running in 2005 at age 50, to stay healthy so I can take care of my husband who had endocarditis resulting in AVR and MVR in 2004, end stage renal failure in 2014, kidney transplant on Dec 30, 2015. Six months after the kidney transplant, we discovered that he has a rare auto-immune disease that was probably triggered in 2004 with then the undiagnosed infective endocarditis. The doctors had to make up a name for this rare disease, Monoclono Gammopathy with Renal Significance (MGRS). It is not curable. After desperately trying different chemotherapies, the doctor finally found one immuno-therapy, Daratumamab, that works to treat the MGRS. It is a miracle!!!
Grateful for the gift of life, blessings, dear friends and loved ones!!! Thankful for the ability to move, walk, jog, and yes run!!!!
Got up early again to get the kids ready and fed and packed up the car for our next leg of the drive to Tucson. My back was still achy so I let Marianne drive the first stretch to Kingman. It was neat to drive through Hoover Dam and reminsced when I ran the Hoover Dam Marathon and Running With Angel Marathon, both at Boulder City around Lake Mead! Hwy 93 was not as boring as I thought although the mountains and landscapes were quite barren. After a quick stop at Kingman to fill up the car, I drove the rest of the way with a lunch stop at Wickenburg Burger King and refuel the car, another bathroom stop at a rest stop just past Picacho Peak. The speed limit range from 45 to 75 mph on a sometimes 2 lanes to 4 lanes hwy so it took a bit longer than yesterday. So grateful Marianne's car's ac runs well as it was sweltering hot in triple digits the entire trip. The only mishap we encountered was when I didn't see a shredded tire on the road and ran over it...I couldn't swerve to avoid it...luckily no damage done.
We got to the house in Marana before Eric got home! The entire drive took about 8 hours. The kids were so happy to see their toys which have been packed and shipped from Cleveland, OH. Marianne and I were SO tired! Thankfully Eric had some left over pizza and fried chicken for us for dinner. :)
Woke up with a gaganteous headache. After breakfast, I started unpacking boxes and set up the kitchen stuff in between feeding and playing with the grandkids. It was 103 degrees so no running today.
After breakfast, we went to the community swimming pool, mainly stayed in the kids' pool to play with Emi, Devin and Alina. The pool is 2 ft deep with shade cover and we had the whole place to ourselves.
Spent the rest of the day, unpacking more boxes, build the office desk and set up the "office" next to the kitchen/dinning area. Really enjoy playing with the grandkids whose only jobs are eating and playing, and learning to adjust to their new environment. :)
Ran from the house on Sikiyou to Carefree to Silverbell to the park by Kayote Trail Elementary. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it lead to a trail/bike path. Ran north for 2.5 miles turned around and south for another mile and got back to the house for 10K in 1:01:36 AP: 9:55.
It was a nice solo "Freedom 10K" on a flat as pancake route (aside from running down and up couple of hwy tunnels and bridges). Temp was a nice 82 (quite cool compare to the high of 106 yesterday). However due to the rain last night and this morning, humidity was 90%, so it was very a muggy run. There were lotsa dog-walkers, cyclists, insects and a few runners out. There was a plaque describing the route following the Santa Cruz River and the surrounding mountains and valleys. I imagine this is a nice place to live and run, just not during the three hot summer months! :) I sympathize with those living in hot desert places.
After the sweaty run, I stayed outside the house to weed the patch of backyard for nearly three hours. My back and legs were screaming for me to stop, take a break, but I was determined to finish the job...it's the OCD in me!
After a nice long cool shower and lunch, I packed my bag (Emi kept hiding my stuff because she wanted me to stay there FOREVER, she didn't want me to leave! :) Marianne and the kids took me to the airport (an easy 30 min drive). The airport was rather quiet, not many people travel on the holiday, I guess. The flight from Tucson to Phoenix was short (40 or so min.). I had to wait for the valet bag check and walked at least a mile to my connecting flight gate. The next flight was delayed so I was able to grab dinner before boading.
Landed at 7:45pm in SLC and hubby was there to pick me up. Went to Smith's to pick up some GU and a few things. Fireworks were going off everywhere in the valley and in our neighborhood. If weren't for the fireworks, I would've forgotten that it was 4th of July, much like last year in Australia, it was not much of celebration. I miss the grandkids already!
Woke up feeling like I had been hit by a semi-truck, everything hurts, the back, the legs, the arms and fingers...and what's with all these tiny blisters under the skin on my lower legs??? I really didn't want to go for a run especially by myself. Ate a yogurt and drank some water. It was 8:52am by the time I got out the door. Had no idea how many miles I'd be able to run today. I carried one GU with me so I better run where there's water fountain. Ran west on the MCT to the light at the freeway, drank at 1600 W fountain on the way out and back. East to 820 E fountain, drank, continued east to Mitchell Hollow Park, drank and ate Gu (mile 7.5ish), continued east to road into Highland Glen Park (mile 9.5) turned around and drank at fountain and doused myself approx. every 2 miles.
It was so so so hot! I was slogging/wogging at a 11-12mm, very pathetic! When you run alone, you get to think alot. I thought about how I have done all that I've set out to do on my mission in Australia: 1. Love our missionaries unconditionally. 2. Point them towards Christ. 3. Help them see their devine potential. 4. Bring souls unto Christ through teaching and example. 5. Support my companion/husband in our sacred call. I feel that my effort has been acceptable to the Lord. I just don't know what the Lord would have me do now. I wish so badly that my husband's health is better and that we can continue to serve the Lord and be useful and contributing members of society. I know my heart is still in Australia, my perspective of things here is not the same. When I was there, I missed my family terribly; but now I'm here I still miss them AND my missionaries too!
Well, last week I signed up for the Timpanogos Marathon on the 19th. Based on today's snail pace and painful run, I'm NOT ready in any shape or form to run 26.2 in two weeks!!! It is going to be a tough training run! :)
Ran to meet up with Karen. Temp was 68 at 7:10am, sunny blue sky. Easy conversational pace. MCT Center St to Mitchell Hollow Park, returned on 6400 W Highland and SR92 trail to MCT 1200 E to Center St to home.
I found tiny blisters randomly dotting my lower legs again. I think they're sweat droplets trapped beneath the top layer of epidermis, given that I have no hair follicles on my legs! :-} Yes, my extremities are smooth...yep, I'm weird that way!!! :)
Ran with Wendy and Karen. Wendy peeled off after 3. Karen did 5.5. I finished with 6.58. Wanted more but out of time. I need to either start earlier or run faster....but I'm enjoying the company of my good friends whose friendship I gratefully and dearly treasure!!!
Ordered new shoes last night thru Amazon, it's coming from UK so won't arrive until August! The pair I ordered while in Australia (arrived on Valentine's Day) now has 200 miles, and cost nearly twice as much.
SO SO SO SO Happy to meet up with Toby, Virginia (new running friend RAD hooked us up with), Karen, Leslie and RAD on the Lehi JRP for an 18 miler!!!! Could NOT have done it without their company!!! The miles just flew by!!! :) :) :)
When we got there at 6:30, Toby and Virginia have already done 2. I quickly ate a banana and carried a bottle of Gatorade. Plan was to run north and back to the car for 10 miles at which time (8:15) RAD would join us and helped pull me thru for 8 more miles. We stopped at the drinking fountain (mile 2 to the north ) and bathroom on the top (mile 5), and Willow Park (mile 2 to the south). I think I Gu'd at mile 7ish and 14ish.
My cardiopulmonary system would NOT obey me on the uphill so I gave in and walked and everyone waited for me. Toby wanted 17 and needed to be home for babysitter and Karen needed 15 so when they turned back RAD and I continued on till her Garmin reached 4.5 then we turned back for my 18. So glad she did the math for me!!! :) :) :)
I am SO grateful for overcast sky with temp 68-72, 94% humidity, beautiful trail along farms and pea-green-color river, hitch-hiking bugs, chased by a cat (that was a first, dogs yes but never cats), laughs, inspiring stories, sweet memories and above all my running friends!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
18.25 miles Total running time: 3:03:16 AP: 10:03. Average cadence: 193.
Thoughts and questions: Is it reasonable to think that I can do 26.2 next week? I've only been running or building base miles over the last 8 weeks. Am I flirting with injury? So far, no weird niggles...other than some skin issues such as rashes and "sweat blisters".
The Garmin 220 says that my average cadence is 193 and average stride length is 0.83m. I don't know what all that means, so I clicked on the Garmin's "running dynamics link", according to their data, I'm in the 95% or purple zone which is typical for more experienced or faster runners. So, does that translate to running efficiency?
Gotta go...hubby and I are hosting a family BBQ with 16 adults and about that many children coming! :) :) :) :) :) :)
4.5 with Wendy, Leslie, Michelle to MCT east. 4.5 by myself west to Freeway. Temp in the 70s, sunny blue sky, calm. TT: 1:27:50 AP: 9:45. Splits: 10:02, 9:38, 9:21, 9:22, 9:17, 10:08, 10:42, 9:48, 9:30.
Wendy, Karen, Leslie and I ran east on MCT down Dry Creek then turned and ran back up. (I did not walk the uphill, YAY!!!) Wendy and Karen peeled off at Center St. for their 5 miles. Leslie and I continued west for couple more. We started 15 min. earlier and found it a tad bit cooler with overcast sky.
8 miles in 1:21:00 AP: 10:07. I don't know what my marathon pace is now (used to be 9) so I am counting anything under 10 as mp...but no way will I be able to sustain a 9:30 pace for 26.2. I will be happy to eek under 5 hours on Sat.
Long day at dialysis and cardiology. It's been exactly 3 months since hubby had an emergency craniotomy at the St. George Hospital in Kogarah, Australia. We went out to dinner (for the first time since returning home) to celebrate his recovery at my favorite restaurant, Market Street Grill...YUM... I ate TOO MUCH!!!! :) :) :)
Temp was 68 cloudy, calm, at 6:15am. Ran with Karen and Leslie down Center to 2100 N then west to access Rail Trail and up MCT. I stink at running uphill...but I did not give in to walking. I was surprised to see the mile splits later because when I glanced at the watch, my pace was @ 10:55 to 11:35. I need to run this route at least once a week. :)
Timp Marathon (26.2 Miles) 04:46:59, Place in age division: 1
Easy Miles
Marathon Pace Miles
Threshold Miles
VO2 Max Miles
Total Distance
26.20
0.00
0.00
0.00
26.20
Debated whether to post this as race report since this was done as a long run. But, I am pleased with how it turned out considering it's only been 8 weeks since my return to running. I am still 8-10 lbs overweight. I know it would be alot of work. And yes, I'm S-L-O-W!!!! My goal is to finish this thing under five hours to minimize the suffering and ill effect of the heat.
Got up at 3:15. JoEtte, Amanda and I were all ready to leave the house at 4:15 (a time agreed upon by Lowell last night) to catch the 4:30 bus. But Lowell was NOT ready. By the time we got to Lone Peak HS, the buses have already left and a huge line of Half runners were waiting for the returning bus. The organizer chastised us for not getting there earlier when I asked if we could get on the bus (cut in line) when it finally arrived. Needless to say, we got to the start with no time to spare. The race was starting (5:30 sharp). Lowell and I rushed to the start-arch and realized we still need to drop off our bags. We walked back (too crowded and dark to run) looking for the clothing drop bus then ran back to the start mat (for the second time) and started the race all by ourselves. It was quite comical except I was bummed about not able to see my brother-in-law, Gary and other friends. We could see the blinking "fire-fly lights" that Lowell had clipped on Amanda's belt in the far distance. We soon passed the Half walkers who started with the marathoners.
It was still dark and temp was comfortable the first couple miles. At the first aid station, mile 3ish, Lowell had to use the port-a-potty, while waiting for him, I visited with the volunteers (members of a High School Ballroom Dance). When we resumed running, Lowell started to pull away talking to other runners, oblivious that I was trailing behind. I was already sweating profusely and the make-shift-phone-holder was really bugging. I texted Karen to let her know I just passed the mile 5 marker and again at the mile 6 marker. The first Half runner came flying by. He was blazing fast. :) Karen and Leslie were waiting (with Lowell) at the mouth of the canyon to run with me. The trail was so narrow that we could not run more than two deep. Pretty soon I lagged behind and started to wheeze on the first incline. I pulled out the inhaler, only to find that it had separated from the mouth piece. I messed around with it and managed to take a puff. My pace slowed even more on the Cedar Hills trail. Karen waited for me at the "farm roads". I was feeling very tired!
I would've missed the turn off from the Half course if Karen and Leslie weren't there to guide me. All sorts of negative thoughts crowded my mind: "I am tired!!!! My quads hurt! I am SO fat! The fuel belt and phone become cumbersome! I am chaffing everywhere! It is getting so hot! I am sweating profusely! My breathing is shallow! I bite off more than I can chew! I wanna quit! I wanna go home! I am so slow! Why am I feeling this way at mile 10? It's only going to get worse!"
I told Karen I was struggling so badly that may be I should quit as I walked up the Canyon Rd tunnel. She said her car was parked close by and she can take my fuel belt and phone to the car. So I removed everything off the belt (inhaler, salt caps, Gu, tissues and put them in my short pocket and pin the bib on my shirt. After Karen ran my belt and phone to her car, I decided to take 2 salt caps with Leslie's water, took another puff and put the inhaler in my shirt's mp3 pocket. Within couple minutes, I felt revived. Soon Karen got back and the three of us started running like we've always done over the last three weeks.
They kept me distracted by updating me on their kids' happenings. I ran into some friends on their bikes. One of them offered me his bike....if only I knew how to ride! :) We started to see the leaders running on the opposite side of the trail so I cheered them on and began to look for Gary. I started to worry when the top 10 guys and 2 girls have passed and no sign of Gary (who's a sub-3 marathoner). Finally I saw him and he told us that he had missed a turn somewhere and ended up running all over Highland for extra four miles. That stinks!!! I can see how easily one would go off course as it was not well marked and there were no volunteers to direct the runners.
We saw Lowell about half mile to the turn around. We had to stop and take a selfie. I saw a very cheerful smiling Filipino volunteer giving out Gu at the mile 17.5 aid station/turn around. I yelled out: "I know you...from BYU-Hawaii!" "I'm Ruth!" "Yes, Ruthie! You look the same, still beautiful and radiant!" WOW!!! we haven't seen each other for almost 40 years!!! So, of course we have to take pictures and exchange informations, where do you live, what's your married name, your husband, children... What a joyful reunion moment!!!! :) :) :)
The first few miles after the turn around went by quickly. Can't believe I made it to mile 20!!! I started to worry how I'd be able to finish the last 5Ks knowing Karen and Leslie would leave me at mile 23 as they did not want to run more than 15 miles. It was getting hot and the aid stations were running out of cups. I asked to have water dumped on me...ouch! my skin sting all over!!! After that I only wanted water on my head. Karen was kind and smart to figure out how to run 1.5 more miles with me. Leslie would take the car and drive it to the tunnel on Highland Dr. and meet Karen there which is at around mile 24.5. Then they would drive to the mouth of the canyon to pick up Leslie's car. That made me feel better. I have such GREAT friends!!!
Soon after mile 23 we saw Lowell walking/running ahead. We caught up to him and the three of us ran together, stopped at the aid station where Lowell insisted that I eat one of his bacon because my shins started to cramp. I refused because I had consumed 4 Gu's which were just sitting in my guts making me sick. I had also taken 2 more salt caps at mile 19. Somehow stopping at the aid station to dump water on the head helped. We also stopped to help a guy put his shoe back on and Lowell offered him a bacon which he ate. Karen left us at the tunnel. Then it was just Lowell and I running on the lonely stretch. I had to ask some biker which way to go when we reached bunch of cones without direction. Lowell called his son Jeremy at the mile 25 marker. I could now see the high school so I picked up the pace. I waited for Lowell just before entering the stadium so we could run around the track together. As we entered the stadium, I could hear my sister-in-law shouting my name. I saw Wendy, Lily, Jessie, Taylor, my mother-in-law cheering excitedly. Then Jeremey and his son Ty were on the side of the track. Lowell and I grabbed Ty's hands and ran together. Then Amanda and JoEtte grabbed our hands with 100 ft to go and crossed the finish arch with our arms raised feeling like a million bucks while the announcer broadcasting: "Here comes Lowell Hawkes, from Pocatello, Idaho, finishing his 98th marathon at the age of 74 (he's actually turning 72)! What an accomplishment!!!" ALL SMILES!!!! :) :) :) :)
We got a huge medal 6"x5" and a nice jacket. I found out that I took 1st in the female 50-59 division. There were only three of us and the fast ones must've stayed home! :) Not bad for a training run on a HOT HOT day (the car showed temp at 90 when we finished). After breakfast at McDonald's across the street, we drove home where we chilled, visited with families in the afternoon. Hubby came home from dialysis and we all went out to dinner at Little America and the MoTab Pioneer Day Celebration concert. FUN day! :)
It's been a rough week. Hubby had a new Vascath put in (the one they put in Australia was not done right, the cuff was out instead of under the skin increasing chance of infection) on Tuesday. He started hemmorhaging that evening and an ambulance was called in to take him to the ER at IMC. The ER doc stopped the bleeding and sent us home at midnight. He bled thru the night and we were back in the ER the very next morning. They sent him to cath lab to temporarily put another suture in so he could go to dialysis (which he missed on Tue because of the Vascath surgery and his last dialysis was on Sat. so he needed it desperately). Again, the cath site kept oozing and bleeding all Wed. night and Thur. morning back to the ER where a vascular surgeon put yet another new suture in. Third time's the charm or that his INR dropped because we held his Warfarin for two days in a row; the bleeding finally subsided this morning. So I did a quick run so I be back to take him to CPAS and to dialysis center to change the dressing. Emotionally we were both a wrack.
Karen picked me and Leslie up at 5:30 to meet Toby and Collette at Riverwoods to run the Provo River Trail. Got a late message to have Luz join us. I was SO SO SO SO happy to see Luz there. I had not had much sleep this whole week due to hubby's bleeding episodes which were the worst at night when he's laying down. Anyhoo, I was really dragging my feet. Luz was so kind to stay with me all the way up. I poured my heart out to her. What an understanding and compassionate friend she is!!!
At mile 6 or so, Luz needed to turn around. The weather was so nice and cool in the BEAUTIFUL canyon, I decided to keep going and the others ran back to get me. I was going SO SLOW up South Fork that I could not keep up with them. Luckily Leslie only wanted to run 16 so she turned around and ran with me. Running down was bothering Leslie's knee so we kept it nice and easy. We saw Josse and Erica on their bikes and later Josse's mom and her friend on the trail. When Leslie reached her 16 miles we were about a mile to the car, she decided to walk and I took off chasing Karen and Toby and they decided to run another mile so that was fine with me and I ended up with 17.5. I originally thought I could do 14. When we got back to the car, Luz was still there waiting for us. What a wonderful friend to wait for me!!! I really needed a hug from her! :)
Toby brought a towel so we drove to the RHPC park (I don't know the name of that park but that's where RHPC's Half's start/finish, btw, did Marion and friends do the RHPC this year?) and found a place to get down to the river. Soaking our legs in that cold cold river was heavenly!!! SO grateful for wonderful friends!!! :) :) :)
Only had time for a short run. With Karen and Leslie. Tried the new Altra I bought at the Timp Marathon Expo. They are SO comfy. I am told to transition in them gradually because of the zero drop. I really like how roomy the toebox is and sushiony my footstrikes feel.
Again only had time for a short one (had to make it home for the granite people who failed to show up yesterday and ended up showing up at 2pm. I would've been so mad if I had skipped my run to wait for them this morning). Ran with Karen and Leslie to the west portiuon of MCT. Cooler but very humid this morning! Tried my new Inspire 10, but the old socks gave me hot spots.
I think the temp was in the 60's this morning, cloudy sky. Karen, Leslie and I made a mid-run decision to go farther because of the cooler weather. We ran east to Smith's MCT access, down and up Dry Creek to the tunnel at Alpine Hwy then turned around. Did some fartlek in the middle miles. I thought I was running fast but the splits show otherwise. But I did feel stronger and more fluid and no wheezing on the uphills. We drank at every fountain but no gu. I ran the ladies to their homes so I got an extra mile.
Ran 3 miles prior to meeting Karen and Leslie at their house....but I goofed and missed them completely. Ran 4 more around the same area trying to hook up with them.
