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!!!!
A new day, new week, new month!!! :) :) :) Wish my legs felt renewed. Quads are tight. Had to go sideway down the stairs. Walked a mile in the morning with hubby. Then dialysis in the afternoon. Went for another walk with hubby in the evening. Hope everyone had a happy Labor Day! :)
Hubby and I went to meet Wendy for a walk. Hubby could only walk a mile, so Wendy and I continued on; I tried to run but the quads were tight. We walked up to MCT where we saw Karen and Leslie running. Due to short on time, we walked home instead of joining them.
Went to see Dr. Blatter, the intervention radilogist to discuss and consult on the procedure to put in a percutaenous peritoneal dialysis catheter in hubby. We're convinced that PD is the route to go for permanent dialysis. Will stop Warfarin this Sat. and Sun. and be admitted to the hospital next Monday after dialysis. Then he will be bridged over on Heparin IV drip and prep for the surgery on Wed. Hopefully no complications and that the PD works for him.
One of our missionaries, Elder Wan, came to see us this evening. He's in school at BYU-Hawaii taking a week break to visit Utah. It's so great to see him. We took him to BYU and had dinner at Zupas. Sure love and miss our missionaries.
Walked around the small block with hubby after we got home. It was a hot day!
Very slow and easy run with Wendy on the MCT from 800E access to 1500 W. Quads was a little tight but loosened up after couple miles. Sunny and very warm!
Core stability exercise.
Sad to find out the Spanish Fork Half is discontinued. I heard that the RD's brother-in-law passed away and he's spending more time helping his sister and her young children. I really like him and have enjoyed running his SF Half in the past, an honest course and tune up race for SGM. Guess I'll concentrate on recovering well and get ready for TOU, my last long run before SGM.
Does anyone know if a 10th SGM (already run 9) is a guarantee entry that count towards a 10 year club; or do you have to have run 10 SGMs first?
7 easy solo miles on the MCT, Center St. access west to 1500 W. Lori caught up to me so I ran a mile with her. Turned east to Smith's tunnel and back. Cooler morning, blue sunny sky with wind coming from the west. Listened to Book of Mormon from my phone. When I was in Australia, if I didn't have to be out early for meetings, conferences, I'd get up early and run on the treadmill reading Book of Mormon on the iPad and listen to MoTab overhead. On some Saturdays, if we have no Stake Conference or morning baptism, I'd go for a 5-6 miler to the Oatley Park listening to BoM from my phone. Today brought back memories of those morning runs!
Went to temple with hubby after lunch. It about wore him out. Two weeks ago today, we were in the Mesa Temple where our son David was married to his new bride. I love feeling the spirit in the temple.
Karen picked us (Amanda and me) to Lifetime Fitness's where Leslie has membership and guest passes. We swam for 90 min. I mostly practiced breathing tips that Leslie (she swam for BYU, awesome swimmer) taught me and struggled big time working on proper leg motion for breast stroke. SO FUN! My legs loved the hot tub jets afterwards. That place is amazing! It's not your typical gym, WOW, fancy like a spa, not that I've been to a spa! :) :) :) I am SO LUCKY to have such great friends!!! :) :) :) :)
Sunny blue sky, calm, sun was just rising so still cool. Ran with Wendy, Stephanie to meet Karen and Leslie on Center St. We ran up on MCT, east to SR92, north up to Suncrest. Exactly 4 miles to the church where we went in to get a drink. A man there asked me: "Are you here to clean the church?" "No, just getting a drink." "Well, that fountain was cleaned!" "Ok, I'll wipe it off." I got some paper towels from the cleaning supply room just across from the fountains, wiped the fountains clean, not once, but three times after each of my running buddies got a drink. That man was very rude! He was clearly not cleaning the church, just stood there texting away or playing with his phone. I asked if they're holding a baptism later on. He didn't know. Another man sitting on the couch said they aren't having a baptism. So I said pleasantly: "No? why not?" "Well...The missionaries need to find someone!" I said with a smile: "No, the missionaries are to teach. Members are to find. The Holy Ghost converts." He was silent! Typical man...thinking that "someone else need to do the job". If I had been a person of other faith walking in that church for a drink and met by such rudeness, I would never step foot in that church again. Now off my soap box.
We practiced downhill running. Wendy & Stephanie peeled off to get 8. Feeling pretty good...so ran with Karen and Leslie to their house. Karen wanted only 9 cause she's running Big Cottonwood next week. Ran home without stopping for a total 10 miles. Legs felt great. Drank at mile 1.5, 4, 6.5. Femished when I got home.
After getting hubby all settled in his dialysis session at South Mountain Dialysis Center, I changed into running clothes and went out on the JRP which is a few hundred meters from the dialysis center. There were swarms of flying nets everywhere! Ran south into some headwind. Got to the park at 12300 South (finish area of RAD's 31K birthday run last year) at mile 2, perfect to get a drink. Continued south for another mile and turned back to the same park for drink, back to dialysis center for a total 6 in 57:24. Splits: 11:23 (took a long time to get warm up) 10:43 (batting swarms of nets and tried not to inhale any), 9:30, 8:55, 8:17. Pushed hard that last mile, breathing was out of control. Sadly I used to be able to run some high 7s. But am grateful for any 8s I can get these days! Back to the center, cleaned up and changed. After dialysis, will take hubby to the hospital to be admitted for a procedure this week.
Ran with Wendy, Karen and Leslie on MCT east in between down pours. Legs felt good, great conversation while dodging around rain puddles and snails...heaps of snails...much better than swarms of gnats! 5 miles in 47:44 (9:57,9:36,9:15,9:21,9:30). Wanted to run more but everyone including me were short on time. Spending the rest of the day in the hospital with hubby.
Went to the hospital dark and early. Hubby were all prep'ed for surgery (insertion of peritoneal dialysis catheter). To angiocath lab at 9:30, out of surgery at 11. The surgery went well. Stayed with him in recovery then back in the room. He was groggy the first four hours, then was very sore. Had dialysis in room. I was going to go run while he had dialysis but he wanted me to stay. After dialysis, he had dinner and I ate with him (beef stroganoff, carrots and green beans, salad, dinner roll, strawberry cream cake). Then he said I should go run before it gets dark. I had plotted out a route to go on JRP. In order to save day light, I drove west on Vine St. from the hospital to the JRP. I seldom run after eating a full dinner so wonder how I'd do.
Plan is to run south on JRP to 3 miles and turn back for 6 miles within an hour before it gets dark. It was 7:17p. It's been a long long time since I last ran here. Right as I started, I got a text from Teena! What a serendipity moment! Here I am running on Teena's old stomping ground. How I miss her! My phone kept dinging with texts between her and Lowell, made me laugh! I would've joined in the chats if I wasn't running to beat the sunset.
Got to the tunnel by Winchester Park at 3 miles, perfect! Took a drink then picked up the pace on the way back. Hubby was so worried that there would be no one on the trail. No need to worry, there were SO many people on the trail, walkers, runners, dogs, scooters and youth playing baseball using zucchini as bats, nice night out for families and love birds! :).
6 miles in 55:14 AP: 9:12 (10:11, 9:43, 9:10, 8:45, 8:40, 8:39)
Got back to the hospital a little after 8p. Helped hubby got ready for bed. He was hurting and a little concern about bleeding and getting up in the middle of the night so he asked me to stay overnight. Needless to say I had a sleepless night.
The hospital night staff came in to check on hubby and do blood draws every two hours all night long, so I hardly slept and was so tired when the morning shift nurse came in. Helped hubby up and breakfast. I had a huge juicy peach, boiled egg and a carton of milk. Hubby suggested I go run! I wasn't planning on it. So put on the same running clothes I had on 13 hours earlier..eek! Instead of driving to JRP, I ran from the hospital on Vine St west to the trail. Morning traffic was steady, crossing the trax lines and the frontrunner rail took some caution as well as running past an industrial section. Sunny sky but still cool. Got to the trail at about a mile. Ran south as last evening's run. Not nearly as many people on the trail as last night. Ran nice and easy. Stopped to use the bathroom and drink at Winchester Park. On the way back, I was so zoned out that I ran past the Vine St access. I found myself running on some boardwalks and bridge. Thought may be I just took the wetland route instead so kept going. Then after going under a tunnel it turned on the trail with the river on the right. I recognized this section of the trail when I used to run with Teena and would go 5-6 from Winchester. I stopped and asked a biker where about we were! He said I am far away from the hospital which is on 5300 and we are at 4800. So I ran back the same way, stopped for a drink from a fountain after passing the 4800 tunnel and boardwalk, bridge and voila, there's the fence at Vine St. So looks like I ran an extra mile. It got pretty warm on the way back, glad I took a drink! Not as much traffic and no train going by, good thing!
9 miles in 1:28:37
Got back and showered in the hospital. Walked with hubby in the hall before lunch. Looks like he will need to stay for at least two more days. Another long day in the hospital.
Ran/walked with Karen and Leslie. So excited for Karen running BC tomorrow. Was hoping I could run the last 11 miles with her; but looks like I might need to be at the hospital in the morning to bring hubby home which is good!
Shins hurting after the run! I think I need to so some stretch, foam roll and have a serious taper! :)
Happy Friday all and GOOD LUCK to those running BC tomorrow!!!!! GO BIG!!! :)
Made a frenzy of phone calls to find out what hubby's INR was and if I needed to be at the hospital for discharge and whether to run with Wendy locally or try to make it to Big Cottonwood Marathon to run Karen in. I was at Wendy's doorstep ready to run with her when hubby called at 8:15 that his INR was still at 2.2 (actually dropped 0.1)...so had to stay in the hospital. It was sad for hubby and he apologized. I quickly phoned Leslie and she has already left and on her way to BC. So I told Wendy to grab water bottle and I ran home to get a change of clothes and come back to pick her up for a FAST drive to BC. Plan B was to park at the mouth of the canyon (mile 15) and wait for Karen at 9am. The race was supposed to start at 7am.
Had no idea how to get to the mouth of the canyon with road closures, miracously as if my car was guided, I drove straight to the finish, on 1300 E and north side of Fort Union Blvd. and parked on the one available spot in front of a laundromat. Wendy and I grabbed our water bottles and my phone, calling Leslie (no answer) while we ran on the course backward UP UP UP, all the while cheering the Half marathoners as they ran towards the finish. I asked the runners what time the Half started, same time as the Marathon at 7 and I could see the 1:40 pacer running past. We started our run at 8:49am , I worried we may miss Karen by the time we get there. Saw Andy, Becky, Julie, Karen T, Susannah and Jacob running fast and strong to the finish! :) Thought it strange to see boxes of Gu's at the mile 24 aid station, isn't it too late in the race to be taking Gu?
We got to the mouth of the Canyon while Wendy went looking for Leslie, I ran alongside some runners and asked them what their watch said (2:04) and if the race started on time (NO, nearly 25 min. late). So I ran back to find Wendy and Leslie standing at the road island cheering. Lucky for us that the race started late, Karen came into sight within couple minutes. She has hooked up with a gal named Teresa, a member of the Bells on Temple Square (was great listening to her story of Boston 2012). Wendy got chicken out by the uphill on Wasatch so she stayed to wait for us there. The four of us (Leslie, Karen, Teresa and me) ran together on the out-n-back of the course. Karen was right on pace in front of the 4:00 group. She said her calves were hurting. She was still going strong after 15 miles of downhill pounding and now running on the out-n-back rollers, more up than down I think. We were running in the low 9s. When we got to about mile 17.5 I saw the Mile 20 marker on the opposing lane, I told Karen I'd wait there to run them back cause I only wanted to do 10 or 11 miles (with TOU coming up next week). I had run 6.5 then. While waiting in the shade, I cheered on runners on both sides, saw Rachelle pacing the 3:40 (I think) and a few FRBs.
I phoned Lowell and found that he was at mile 17.25. Sure enough, he helped push a stroller up Wasatch Blvd and not far behind the 4:10 group. He was so happy to see me. I ran with him and told him Karen was having calf issues. True to his hero nature, he pulled out a baggie of bacon to give to Karen as she runs by on the way down. Saw RAD and we hugged, somehow never saw Marcie. Instead of running down with Karen who has Leslie to run with, I decided to stay with Lowell who is struggling to keep pace...so what's 4 more miles to help a friend?
Lowell getting super power from Darth after the turn-around! :)
Lowell passing out his "secret weapon" to "live long and PR" (aka bacon) :)
He started to take more walk breaks and checked his watch at each mile marker to compare the pace band he had purchased at the Expo from Andy. At mile 20 he said he was 4 min. behind. I told him we need to stay in the low 9s and only let him walk 20-30 seconds....told lotsa lies, sang songs, befriended fellow runners, enjoyed the beautiful Salt Lake Valley and Watsatch mountains scenery. It was indeed a beautiful morning to run, calm, sunny blue sky, temp has barely climbed up to the high 60s. Sometimes I found myself running a bit ahead while talking to other runners, so I'd run back to get him. Since we missed his 4:10 goal, now our focus is to get his BQ (4:25). He had already qualified and signed up for Boston 2015 on Wed. He did not know that today's race is the starting qualifying date for Boston 2016! I know because I checked! :) :) :) Cool that BC is good for two BQs!!!!
Lowell running by the church he used to attend when he lived in the area many many years ago. Check out his form even in the late stage of the race in the 24th mile!
No matter how many marathons you've run (this is Lowell's 102nd, his 101 was two weeks ago), the last 5Ks are still the hardest and it is still a thrill and joy to cross that finish! He finished in 4:22:22!!! Hooray!!!
We immediately went over to the fence where Karen and her husband Mark, Wendy and Leslie are waiting. Karen finished in 3:58 (3 min shy of a BQ). I felt bad I didn't run with her to the finish. But am so proud of her AWESOME performance. She got injured just before Ogden so she DNS there and started training back up when I got home from Australia. Consisdering that her highest mileage week was 45, she did outstanding today! Love, friendship, joy, support on a beautiful Sept morning captured at the end of a 26.2 journey!
After bidding everyone goodbye. I drove straight to the hospital to be with hubby. Showered and ate a big salad there. Went home in the evening for the Saturday Stake Conference Mtg. Both shins started to bug during the meeting. Hope they heal up before next Sat. TOU, my last long long run before SGM! :)
Got up dark and early to drive hubby to dialysis. After getting him settled in; I changed into running clothes at the dialysis center bathroom and headed out on the JRP with a heavy heart. First mile was slow, sluggish, battling swarms of gnats...wanted to find a secluded spot to sit and cry! Once out of the park-like area and passed the 11400 S. bridge, I began to pour my heart out to my Heavenly Father... tears flowed freely as I ran south under cool breeze and the sun hidden behind a big fluffy cloud!
It's been 5 months since that eventful day of April 15 when hubby had an emergency craniotomy at the prime of our mission service in Sydney! I asked not why, what, nor how...only pleaded with the Lord to strengthen us through this trial. At times it was hard to feel God's love; yet I felt many times the power of faithful prayers from family and friends sustaining me and comforting me. I felt helpless and wanted desperately for my husband to be made whole, to be healed completely. It is heart-wrenching to watch him deterioate, withering before my eyes! He has gone through and is still going through so much!
I pleaded to feel God's love and approval as I trudged along with heavy heart and tear streaked face. Then in my mind's eyes, I saw the suffering of the Savior in Gathsemane; how much more heart-wrenching and painful it was for the Father to watch His only begotten Son suffered and died for us. I then was filled with immense gratitude and instantly engulfed by His love. I thanked Him for His tender mercy, kindness and love. I thanked Him for granting me life, yes even the very breath that I take. I thank Him for His Son's sacrifice, for giving me a wonderful eternal companion and family, for dear friends and loved ones, for the ability to run, for the very earth that I run on. As I looked yonder at the cat-tails marshland and meandering river, the amber alfalfa fields and South Mountains ahead, the song "Lilies of the Field" flooded my mind:
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, how they grow.
Consider the birds in the sky, how they fly, how they fly.
He clothes the lilies of the fields. He feeds the birds in the sky.
And He will feed those who trust Him, and guide them with His eye.
Consider the sheep of His fold,
How they follow where He leads.
Though the path may wind across the mountains.
He knows the meadows where they feed.
He clothes the lilies of the field.
He feeds the birds in the sky.
And He will feed those who trust Him,
And guide them with His eye.
Consider the sweet, tender children
Who must suffer on this earth.
The pains of all of them He carried
From the day of His birth.
He clothes the lilies of the field.
He feeds the lambs in His fold.
And He will heal those who trust Him,
And make their hearts as gold.
He clothes the lilies of the field.
He feeds the lambs in His fold.
And He will heal those who trust Him,
And make their hearts as gold.
Oh, these comforting words lifted my heavy heart and feet. I saw these words painted on the pavement: "Triathlon Mom Turn Around" then looked at my watch to see that I've gone 3.5 miles so I turned around and headed back with much smoother and lighter strides. I now know what I need to do! I will have more courage to do His will. I will be kinder, be more loving and patient. I will be more grateful. I will not mumur but sing praises to Him whom I trust and depend on. I will listen more. I will ponder and search the scriptures for daily guidance. I will serve with pure heart and hands. I will cherish the time I have with my husband, take care of him and love him more deeply. I will go to the temple often. I will cling to the sacred covenants I've made. Then I saw a man on a motorized wheelchair and his small canine companion, I greeted him with a smile...I will lift others' heavy hearts and cast my own burden on the Lord.
Today's run reminded me of my first run some 25 years ago when I "ran away" from home. I was suffering from post-partum depression after the birth of our 5th child; my husband was called to be the bishop; my mother had died from complications of diabetes in HK. I felt alone, trapped, the burden of caring for 5 children under the age of 10 was too much. I wanted to run away after I put the babies to bed. I kept running and running until I reached the edge of Utah Lake where I knelt among the tall cat-tails and poured my heart out to God. Again I felt God's encircling love; and with gratitude got up and ran home to my five sleeping children who to this day remain a source of joy and blessings in my life. It wasn't until 15 more years later after that "running away", that I picked up this sport of running when the children grew up and I needed to take better care of my body so that I can take care of my husband who suffered a near death heart valves replacement surgeries. I will run and pray for as long as I live!!! :)
Wendy and I ran around the hood to tape invitations door to door while Karen and Leslie walked along. Then took hubby to AF Hospital for transfusion. Then walked to do visiting teaching.
Got very little sleep last night...hubby's PD cather exit site was bleeding...a few dressing changes...he was restless and paced the floor. Nights are so hard for him.
Did a short run on MCT west to 1500W and back. 4.8 mi. TT: 45:13 AP: 9:24 (10:38, 9:33, 9:00, 8:53, 8:50)
After the run, I changed into some jeans and long sleeves top to mow the lawn. It's my first time learning to use a riding lawn mower...it was scary at first...but I got the hang of it and felt so proud that I could mow our humongous lawn all myself! :) :) :) The only "injury" was my forehead got scraped up by a tree branch.
Babysitting Skylar tonight....I love her...she brings me such joy and delight! :)
Spent the morning getting hubby ready for dialysis and prepared food for him. Then quickly packed an overnight bag with race gear.
Tobby picked me up at 2pm and off we went to Logan. We got there before the Expo was opened so we drove to the mouth of the canyon and traced the course by following the pink arrows and orange mooses from Hyrum to the finish so Toby got a pre-view of the many twists and turns of the last 12.2 miles of the course. Didn't realize there were so many darn hills! :) We both wondered out loud, how in the world did Allie run this crazy thing and won it so many times!!! :)
We got back just as the Expo was opened and picked up our packet/bib. Then went next door to the Firehouse Pizzaria for dinner...yummy!!! Then drove to the hotel and talked and talked till time for bed!!! I just love Toby and her darling family! :)
Top of Utah Marathon (26.2 Miles) 04:18:33, Place in age division: 4
Easy Miles
Marathon Pace Miles
Threshold Miles
VO2 Max Miles
Total Distance
0.00
26.20
0.00
0.00
26.20
51st marathon, 4th TOU!
Did not sleep well worrying about hubby during the night! Got out of bed before the alarm at 4:05am. Went through the motion of getting ready and felt rather fuzzy minded. Good thing I had Toby there to keep me alert and ready to go! :) Toby and I talked about our "goals" for the day. I felt SO relieved when she told me last night that 2015 Boston's registration was closed, that means the pressure of trying to run a 2015 BQ (sub 4:10) is lifted. Now I can focus on the attainable goal of a 2016 BQ (sub 4:25). Yep, I will be 60 years old for Boston 2016 which gives me an extra 15 min!!! :) :) In reality, I've only been back to running since middle of May; four months is simply not sufficient time to train for a BQ.
In 2011 and 2012, I ran TOU 5 min. faster than Pocatello (4:06:07 and 4:01:07; 4:24:19 and 4:18:50). So based on my 4:28:34 finish time in Pocatello three weeks ago, I felt confident that I can run in the 4:23 neighborhood! :) I printed out a 4:20 course specific pace band, but the numbers are so small that I decided I wouldn't be able to read it anyway. So instead I wrote down the elapsed times on the odd miles (aid stations miles) and taped it to the bottom of my bib. We took the 5am shuttle to the Park and got on one of the earlier buses! I ate a yogurt, small blueberry muffin and banana on the bus ride and drank about 20 oz. of sport drink. Toby got a little car sick because of the many turns in the canyon! We had sufficient time to use the p-o-p twice. Got in the tent to stay warm. Saw Sasha and congratulated him on his new baby. Then it was time for bag dropoff and walk to the start. We high-fived Allie and wished her luck! To me TOU and Allie are one and the same! Both home-grown Utah pride with world class caliber. I always feel her awesomeness as I run in her "footsteps"!
A quick selfie before the start! :) Isn't Toby a beautiful girl!!!
The mountain men fired their riffles and the speedies took off. Toby jumped in after the 3:55 pace group ran past and I wished her a good run. Then the rifle fired again as I jumped in between the 4:15 and 4:30 groups. I said to a fella next to me: "I hope no one got shot! :)" It was pleasantly cold, clear sky and no wind! I reminded myself of my motto: "SMOOTHFASTRONG", run SMOOTH in the canyon miles, run FAST thru the small town miles and finish STRONG in the Logan miles.
What a beautiful Fall day with the gorgeous red, pink, orange, yellow and green gracing the canyon. I ran with a nice girl, Tami Asbell, from Pleasant Grove and her husband, an ultra runner who just ran Wasatch 100. It was fun chatting with them. I checked my splits around mile 5 and told them that we're running a bit faster than I should so I bid them a good run and let them go. (I later passed them at the 22nd mile and finished 3 min. ahead.) Most of the runners around me had someone to run with, a boy/girl friend, husband/wife, or had ear buds on so I didn't strike up any conversation with them. I encounter something I've never seen before, a big girl smoking cigarette while running a marathon. I smelled it when I ran past her and then when she passed me I saw her exhale a billow of smoke...eeek...so I passed her for good!
I focused on smooth strides, quick cadence on the downhills and doing the tangents, lots of crossing the road. I think I must've annoyed the motorcycle cops! :) My Garmin's mile is at constant 0.04 ahead of the course mile markers. My elapsed time would come in couple minutes ahead of the pace band so I'd walk and take my time to hydrate adequately at each aid station. Came through the half in 2:07:35 (pace band is 2:08 at mile 13). I drank gatorade at every station, Gu'ed with water at mile 7, 13, 17 and 21.
As we exited the canyon onto Hallow Rd, my mind was flooded with memories of years past when I'd wait there to run with friends to the finish. So great to have spectators here to cheer us! I really miss my hubby who isn't able to come to any of my marathons since we came home in May. Saw a guy in red polo and kaki and pretended it was hubby cheering me and gave him a high five! :)
Loved the occasional cooling breeze and shady trees through Hyrum, Nibley, Melville and Providence. I had to stay focus to not get lazy. I thought I was running fast but the mile splits showed otherwise. But I was still on target or couple min. ahead the elapsed times taped on my bib! I took two ibuprofen and a salt cap at mile 17. I only walked once at mile 19 to take couple puff of inhaler! My quads were getting a bit tight on the incline and my shins were vascillating on the decline so I'd change my strides a bit. I concentrated on reeling people in. It wasn't hard as there were quite a few people walking. At the mile 24 aid station, a lady looked at me cheering and said: "Look at you... still smiling, and still has your lipsticks on!" Ummm! smiling yes, but lipsticks no, I don't wear lipsticks, it must be the gatorade! :) The uphill on Main street to 300N. is not as long as I remembered, still a bugger though with inhaling the motor's exhaust fumes. When I got to the top, I gave a thumbs up and said thank you to the traffic cop. At the last aid station, I took a cup of water and dumped it on my head. With one mile to go, I figured a sub 4:20 is possible if I don't cramp up and stay above 11mm.
This year the finish is moved to the east side of the park so we had to run one more block before turning north; but then the finish line is within sight, 0.2 mile ahead. I was so happy to see my watch ticking away at 4:15:xx and 4:20 is well within my reach. I finished in 4:18:33; 10 minutes faster than Pocatello; good enough to take a mini moose home to keep the other mini moose company!!! :)
Toby waited for me at the finish with a huge smile...only I had to keep jogging around! I forgot to warn her that's what I do to keep charlie horse from sudden attack. I called hubby immediately and found out that he's been changing bloody dressings and putting compression on the PD cath exit site. I felt so bad. He was happy to hear that I had a good run! After gathering our bags, we sat on the grass and waited forever for the shuttle bus to take us back to the hotel. The hotel shower felt heavenly! We had lunch at Cafe Rio. We both had a fun time and great run; did not feel any dark moments nor any issues at all. Toby is such a wonderful friend, great driver and travel companion; not to mention an AWESOME mother, wife and daughter! :) :) :)
So glad they let me pick up my moose before the award ceremony! :)
One last selfie while waiting for the shuttle! THANKS Toby for a GREAT TOU weekend! You're the best!
I'm pretty proud of how well I ran the tangent with my garmin showing 26.23 miles! :)
Ran with Wendy, Karen and Leslie on MCT. Wendy only wanted 3 because she's running Huntsville Half on Sat. so I ran her home while Karen and Leslie ran to Highland for more miles. AP: 10:05. Legs feeling fine! :) Such beautiful running weather! :) Tomorrow I'll run on the JRP at 10900 S. (by dialysis center).
Hubby was up every couple hours through the night. When he woke me at 5:30, we were both super tired. He was too drowsy to drive. I managed to get us to dialysis center by 6:30 and waited a bit to get in. After getting him settled in, I ate my yogurt, checked mail and cleared his iPad; then changed into running clothes. By the time I headed out it was 8:45. As usual there were swarms of gnats and a good stiff headwind going south on the JRP. Saw the same usual runners, walkers and the gentleman in the motorized wheelchair with his little canine companion.
My legs felt surprisingly good. Today's the final run for the Humpday Fitness Event so I decided to give a little extra effort. I got a bit winded on the 4th mile so stopped and walked the remainder 0.5 mile back to the dialysis center.
4 miles TT: 34:32 AP: 8:36 Splits: 9:23, 8:51, 8:13, 8:04. Very pleased with today's run. Would've run longer but short on time...may be tomorrow! :)
After dialysis, drove hubby to the West Jordan Liberty dialysis center where Karen, the PD nurse flushed his PD catheter. The fluid drain out was light amber with couple of clots. The surgical wound and exit site looks good and the bruisings have decreased significantly. Dressing was dry and new one applied. Will see Karen on Oct 7 to begin PD training. We're glad it's after SGM so we don't have to stress over that too! :)
Hubby has developed a bit of a cough for nearly 2 weeks now; so on the way home, I stopped at the pharmacy and bought him some cough med. He is so wiped out! I wish there was something I could do to help him.
Clear blue sunny sky; gorgeous morning. Ran with Karen and Leslie east to SR92 to Highland trail; drank at Highland park by Mountain Ridge JHS and turned back west to MCT drank at 800 N. Nice conversational pace. Legs felt fine; got a little winded on the steeper uphill on SR92 westbound; so walked for 10 sec. Exactly 8.5 miles to my house; normally I'd run them home and back for extra couple miles...but, I refrained today since I did not eat anything pre-run...plus I should taper for SGM! :) :) :) TT: 1:24:00 AP: 9:53.
Core stability. I think we'll go swimming tomorrow morning since rain and colder temp is forecast.
Ran with Wendy, Amanda, Karen and Leslie. 46F, partly cloudly, calm, pleasant morning, we all wore capris and long sleeve tops. :) Easy conversation warm up miles. After Wendy and Amanda peeled off (they only wanted 3 miles), we picked up the pace a tad and continued to chat away, legs felt great. I wish they were running SGM with me. TT: 57:57 AP: 9:39 (10:12, 10:01, 9:25, 9:23, 9:30, 9:23)
I ordered two pairs of Mizuno Inspire 10 and a bottle of saltstick caps; should've done it couple months ago. I emailed SoJo and enquired about the possibility of honoring the free entry I won in 2012. Will see what they say.
50F, partly cloudy, calm; perfect running weather. Wish the weather would be like this on Sat. Ran with Karen and Leslie on MCT via Center St to 1400 E turn home via 800 E. TT: 42:59 AP: 9:33 (10:05, 9:36, 9:22, 9:22, 9:09)
Got a reply from SoJo today. They will not honor the free entry request. They did give me a 10% discount code. The draw for me to run SoJo is the proximity to home which makes it easier for me to be gone from hubby. But I don't particulary care for the course plus it's always windy there... I'll wait until after SGM to decide.
Love, friendship, joy, support on a beautiful Sept morning captured at the end of a 26.2 journey! 
