Each Day Is a Gift

9 TM miles watching Monk to avoid the wind which wasn't anywhere near as bad as that in Davis County.  

Anyone knows anything about repair of the acetabular labral tear?

Ran with Wendy and Carolyn to Highland for a change of scenery.  Nice sunny run.  Ran into EmilyH.  It was nice to run with Emily a little.  Found out  she and her hubby, Brian, Wendy & MattC are doing the Grand Slam next year. :)

Went to the Ocean Market w/ hubby, cleaned house, cooked a nice dinner for some old friends whom we haven't seen for a long time.  They stayed and visited 'till 10.  Good day! :)

Ate a bowl of cereal while cleaning up the kitchen and boiling a pot of potatoes, then dashed out for a cold morning run.  First 7.5 mi. on canal trail route.  Slow warm up.  Nice and toasty in 3 layers of clothes. :)

Second 7 mi on bench loop route.  Shed the middle fleece layer.  Ate a pkg Shot blocs.  Ran progressively faster...had to hurry home before heading to the Stake Center for a baptism (where Elder Cook presided and spoke) of 5 beautiful children! :)

Barely had time to finish making the cheesy potato after the baptism and rushed off to the Celebration of Christmas Concert at the Y.  Barely had time to rush back for the Ward Christmas party.  So glad I was able to get everything done today! :)

My eating has been really bad these days.  I'm a big tub of lard! 

6.5 with Wendy, 4.5 by myself.  Brrrr!!! especially w/ the headwind from the north!!!  The sun was nice though.

2 circuits CSE.

Temp was in the high teens!!!  Ran with Carolyn, Wendy and Karen.  *Hearts warm when friends meet*!!!  :) :) :)  2 pairs of socks and ski mittens kept my digits happy! :)  NO wind! NICE conversations!!!  Can't ask for more! :) :) :)

It was a stinky run!  Not the run itself, but the SMELLS!!!!  The first encounter was at the crossing on 600 E where a Timpanogos Sewage Treatment truck passed me.  Then a mile down the road that truck was working on a manhole pumping up who-knows-what.  That stench made me gag!!!

The second encounter was at the bottom of Dry Creek.  I ran to the light east of Smith Market Place and saw a graded trail paralell to SR92.  Was curious how far it would lead, so I ran down the trail to the border of Highland/Lehi to the bottom of Dry Creek.  They had constructed a bridge over the creek where a most disgusting smelly steam was billowing out of a culvert under that bridge.  PeeeUUU!!!  I turned around to run back up only to come face to face with a big backhoe which was followed by a huge dump truck bearing down.  yikes!  I jumped out of the way and expected to be yelled at by the workers.  But, they were very kind.  The trail crews are such nice men, unlike the road crews.  Over the last few weeks, I have run on the canal dirt trail where the workers were doing a lot of back filling, earth moving and grading and they have said hi to me or waited for me to pass.  I need to go tell Bro. Miner (who's in charge of the project) how nice his crews are.  It's been fun to watch the progress of the trail. 

Ran west all the way to the end of the trail.  Couple of guys were putting up a road sign and they said hello to me and commented how nice it was to see me run by everyday!  :)  Turned south and saw my hawks, Faith and Hope, perched on two lone trees in the fields by the rail road.  I have not seen them in the fields closer to my home due to all that road constructions and clearing off of trees and filling of the canal.  Faith and Hope have gotten quite big!  It was neat to see one of them spread her wings and soared high.

Third encounter of the stink was at the top of the hill on 3200N.  There's a mink farm that emitted the most disgusting stench which made my *having huffed up the hill* deflating! :)  However it made me speed up to get home sweet home where hubby promptly said:  "You smell like a runner!"  How nice of him to not say: I STINK! :)

Ran with Carolyn, Wendy, Karen (Sky) on a nice semi sunny morning.  Temp was a balmy 23F and calm!!!  :)  Feet and ankles are not liking the cold start...darn arthritis!  We ran thru the tunnel on the not yet finished trail by 1200W and heard a *hey! what are you guys doing?!!!* from above the tunnel.  It was Bro. Miner!  :) :) :)  He was teasing us!  :)

I'm going to sign up for a bunch of races before the end of the year.  I'm going to be BROKE!!! :)

Wendy, Karen (Sky) and I went trail exploring.  We ran beyond the bridge where I turned around due to the stench on Wednesday; but today there was no stinky steam. :) We got off the trail and turned south on the first road in Highland, then west on Mtn Ridge JrH road.  We saw another trail on the north side and decided to explore that. 

A black lab. came out of nowhere and wanted to play with Sky.  We kept yelling for her to go home.  We threw rocks at her and Karen even kicked her.  But she was very disobedient.  Wendy lead her a little ways back but she soon came running after us again.  We hiked down a ravine, crossed over the dry creek dam and back on the trail all the while trying to shoo that dog away. 

Got back on the south portion of dry creek trail and up on 3200N where the traffic seemed extra heavy.  It was hazardous to have a loose dog darting around us.  She followed us all the way home.  She was so playful and happy once we stopped running.  She parked herself on my front porch until another dog walker (also a black lab) came along.  Now she's roaming around my neighborhood.  We'll have to drive her back near where she found us and hopefully she could find her way home.  She has a collar with an electronic box on, probably a device to keep her in a fenceless yard.  Her owner would miss her!  The run was great other than that dumb dog getting in the way. 

Anyone one up for a long run tomorrow?  I need 16 but my weekday running friends aren't going that far. 

Ran on the JRP with Karen and Wendy.  Starting temp was 14F, calm and amazingly NO bad smell :).  We headed north so I could have their company for 8 miles and run the remaining solo miles on the south portion which may have other runners later.  The river is a frozen glass of green.  Just north of the 2100N bridge, the trail was broken up into heaps of giant mud clods.  I think they're in the process of moving the trail about 100' to the east off the river as the edge had started to slough off.  Wish they would at least grade it.  We had to walk/hike up the frozen mud clods.

We stopped to eat and drink at the 4 mile turnaround.  Instead of hiked down the frozen uneven giant mud clods we went thru the vinyl fence to run on the pathway and reconnect back to where the broken trail/mud clods were not as steep.  About 0.5 mile to the car, we heard a man hollering "excuse me!" from behind which startled us because we had not seen anyone on the trail other than couple of hunters heading opposite direction at the beginning.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was CHAD!!!!  He was running around the park as we ran past and now heading home.

Wendy and Karen were glad that I now had someone to run with and so was I.  They didn't want me to be out there alone.  It was so fun to run with Chad for 3.5 miles and got a call from RAD! :)  Bid Chad goodbye after visiting with him a little at the gate.  It was a little scary to run alone so I picked up the pace.  Encountered a stray dog which came onto the trail minding his own business.  The silence of the trail was interrupted by flocks of migrating geese.   Ran the last 3.25 miles at mp.  Ate 6 Powerbar chews; drank 8 oz. water and 21 oz gatorade.

Feel good to have the weekly mileage back in the 50s again.  Hope to stay there then taper for the week before and after Christmas and hopefully ready for the first marathon of 2012.

Ran west to meet Karen on a cloudy hazy morning, 25F.   We ran down on 3rd West, up on rail trail and east on canal trail. 

Coach Jay's 12 Build a Better myrtle exercises.

3 circuits of Pfitzinger's 6 core strengthening exercises.

25F snowing.  Had to wipe the snow off my sunglasses the first 4 miles.  Love running on fresh fallen snow...so soft and peaceful!  A closer look at my footprints show that my right foot points outward slightly compare to the left foot which points straight.

Ran east to Smith's then west to Center.  Saw Karen driving by on her way to the temple.  Got on dirt canal trail which was a whiteout so had to be careful with footings.  Got on paved trail connect to rail trail.  There was one set of footprints for about a mile.  Saw one of the hawks.  She took off as I got close.

As soon as I got off the rail trail onto 3rd west, a guy with a small plow came to clear the trail...talk about timing.! :)  Running up 3rd west was awesome!  I haven't run up that for awhile.  I need to do that more often during this training cycle.  Picked up the pace on the last mile, thankfully very little traffic as I had to dodge puddles and slushy snow. 

Air quality was horrible.  Felt a little light headed and some coughing when I got in the house.  Took a nice LONG hot shower...ahhhh!

Myrtle.

Yoga.

Biceps and triceps.

7.25 with Karen on a new route.  Ran down Center > trail south of the Woods > 900N > 1200E > 1100N > Center > back on trail > 2100N > 300W to Karen's.  Foggy, cloudy, light snow, 30F.  A few slippery spots where we'd walk it.  Pleasant easy run, nice chats! :)

6.75 by myself in 56:45 AP: 8:23.  My weight is up.  My fitness is down.  Winter training is tough with two As (asthma, arthritis).  But am grateful I can still run! :)

Myrtle.

Planks.

19F.  icky air.  But very fortunate to have the company of Wendy and Karen.  

Plan for Sat. is 18 miles on the JRP where Karen and Wendy will run 10 with me.  Y'all are welcome to join us!  :)

Went to bed very late last night...a wonderful MoTab OTS Christmas Concert! :)  The air quality was noticeable worse in Salt Lake vs Utah County.  Almost didn't go running.  Karen and I convinced Wendy that it's not that cold (25F) and quite peaceful (misty snowy w/ a skiff of snow on the road).  So glad she gave into peer pressure! :) :) :)  Ran nice and easy, great inspiring conversations! :)

Myrtle.

4 circuits of CSE.

We're running the Lehi JRP at 8am tomorrow.  We'd love your company!  :) :) :)

I was all bummed last night thinking I'd have to run 8 of my 18 miler alone this morning.  Thought about canceling the JRP plan and just run around the hood.  I was reading some scriptures and talks (in preparing for my Sunday's talk) at bed time.  The inspiring words gave me comfort and reassurance that I am NEVER alone! 

At 7:50am I drove myself down to the JRP as planned while Karen (Sky) and Wendy drove in separate car.  To my joy and delight, Maynard and Chad were there!!!  SO SO SO SO HAPPY to see them especially Maynard whom I haven't seen forever.  I was VERY excited to find out Chad's plan was to run 14!  YaHOOO!!!

Temp was 19F,  a whopping 5 degrees warmer than last Sat.  Seriously it felt much warmer to me;  perhaps it was the company of 4 great running friends...never underestimate the power of friends!  :)  I did not look at the watch once until we stopped to say goodbye to Chad's neighbor (who had joined us on his last 3 of a 10 miler).  That's when I realized I hadn't started my watch.  It was so much fun running and chatting that the miles just flew by.  Chad and I turned around at mile 5.3 while the rest of the group turned back at mile 5.  They waited for us and we ran the remaining 5 back to the car together.  Thanks all for making the run so fun!!! :)

After bidding Karen, Wendy and Maynard goodbye, Chad and I headed north for 4 more.  It was hard to get going after stopping plus we had a bit of uphill.  Those 4 miles just flew by like the migrating geese overhead.  There were a lot of hunters out today.  We saw two shot ducks on the side of the trail.  I saw a hunter walking from the river with a fat duck in his hand and a rifle in the other.  And heard many many gunshots.

THANKS Chad for running with me!  Bid him good bye, ate a gu and headed back south for 4 more.  Re-set the Garmin as suggested by Chad so I didn't need to do any math since I forgot to restart the thing earlier.  Didn't look at the watch until it beeped at mile 2 right in front of the pop at Willow Park.  Stopped to use the pop before running back to the car.  I was surprised how good my legs felt on the heel of a 63+ mile week that had one tempo and 3 hilly runs in it.  The only negative part was the air pollution.  My airway is definitely irritated.

Didn't look at the pace until I got home.  I'm surprised to see that the first 14 miles (9.5 of data) was run at 9:36 AP and the last 4 at 9:10 AP.  My last mile was 8:50 which felt easy.  I didn't want to push it because of the icky air. 

Have a question:  If the air outside is bad, wouldn't the air indoor bad too?  Granted that it is recirculated indoor air, but over time it's still outside air that's being recirculated, right? The last time I check, my furnace only filters dust and dirt, not the micro gunk that the EPA people warn us of.  What's an asthmatic runner to do?  Wish we'd get a nice storm to blow away this smog!!!

AM:  Ran to Karen's then to Becca's.  Nice conversational run down 3rd west to rail trail to canal trail.  THANKS Bec for the nice run!  :)

PM:  My SSF got me tested and assessed..worked on my quads good...and prescribed some exercises to strengthen what my hubby calls "TB"!  :)  Hopefully we'll have my tibia tuberosity happy again!  THANKS SSF!!!  :) :) :)

Christmas Eve Morning Party & Group Run!!!   We are considering 3 location options to meet and have post-run party at:  Lehi JRP, Smooth's house in northeast Lehi (2 miles east of I-15) or Kelly's house in Herriman.  Please give us your input or suggestion, THANKS!!!! :) :) :)

6.25 with Wendy and Karen.  Snowing lightly.  We had to avoid patches where tires have made it slippery.  6.75 by myself with 3 at tempo AP 8:34.

Myrtle.  

Crab walk 24' left & right 3X. 

David is driving home from AZ today...I'm so excited!!!  Time to go shopping! :) 

FINALLY we have blue sky and good air...BUT the darn stinkin' WIND!!!!  Between the wind chill and the slipperies  I wimp out and got on the TM with two episodes of Monk!  

✻  ❃  ❄ Christmas Eve Morning Run! ❄ ❃  ✻  

Where:  Lehi JRP at 1500N bridge parking lot

Time:  8:30

Distance:  Most are running 13 miles.  Feel free to run more or less as you please.

What:  We will have hot chocolate and muffins!!!  You may want to bring blankies, extra warm clothes, favorite treats, friends, etc. for the post-run fun!!!! :) :) :)  

Ran with Wendy under beautiful sunny blue sky, calm, 19F.  We ran on the paved trail next to SR 92 from 1200 E to Center then onto the unpaved trail to 1300W to paved trail south of Cabela's then turned south on rail trail and back up east on 3200N.  Saw my hawk on the same tree by rail trail.  She soar off when we got real close!  :)

Shopping in the afternoon.  Pizza/movie/game party at Wendy's home.  FUN TIME!!! :) 

Registered for 1 marathon today and 2 more before New Year's Eve.  :} 

Temp was 12F when I got to the Lehi JRP at 8:30.  My excitement of a Christmas Eve run was crushed when I saw RAD hobbled out of her car wearing crocs. Her right foot was clearly swollen.  Bless her sweet big heart...she braved the cold and a painful foot to bring us hot cocoa.  We (Karen, Maynard, Becca, David, Chad and his s-i-l Rachelle) felt so badly for her! :(  She was only 13 miles shy of 2011 miles for her 2011 goal and would've done that this Christmas Eve morning if it weren't for the unfortunate injured foot!

It was so fun to run with such cool friends that the cold didn't bother me and the miles flew by.  Since we started the run a little late and I had to be at the 11am movie with the family, I decided to turn around at mile 5.  Took advantage of the good air quality and picked up the pace the second half.  Splits: 9:25, 9:03, 9:07, 9:19, 9:30, 8:40, 8:36, 8:49, 8:43, 8:24  AP: 8:55.

Made it home in time to change into dry clothes and head to the movie, Mission Impossible.  Lunch at In-n-Out burger (don't know why my boys like that place so much). Then Bryan, hubby and I spent the afternoon putting together the elliptical and delivered Christmas to the neighbors.  A nice traditional Chinese hot-pot dinner at home.  

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!! :) :) :) 

A WONDERFUL Christmas day!  I LOVE that Christmas falls on a Sunday.  I was a little nervous about Sacrament Mtg. since my bishop asked me to be in charge of the program.  So so so grateful that everything fell into place.  It was not about me nor of one particular person nor song.  It's all about worshiping God and centering out thoughts on Christ.  We sang two songs and used the narration of the Christmas Cantata, Come to Bethlehem.  I substituted the Vocal Solo with a Primary song, "When Joseph Went to Bethlehem" sung by the Primary Children, Instrumental Solos still still still with "Away in a Manger" with David on the cello; the lullaby with Young Women singing "Little One" and added "With Wondering Awe" by the Young Men.  The choir finished with the last verse of O Come All Ye Faithful and the bishop addressed us before closing hymn of Silent Night.  The Spirit was there.  The Choir sounded so wonderful!  There were extra people visiting in the congregation among whom are some non-members and less active members of the Church. 

After sacrament we came home and my family helped me make the fixings that go with the turkey and ham already in the oven.  We finished eating around 1:30 and got on webcam to google+ with all the children and grandchildren who are in TX and OH.  While we were in the middle of web-cam chatting, Elder Steven Lew called from Taiwan.  It was as if we were all under the same roof visiting and talking about Christmas, about missionary work.  My heart was full.  

Went skiing bright and early.  We got to the ski resort half hour before the lifts open.  There was no crowd, bad sign!  The snow was adequate.  It got pretty warm in the afternoon.  We need a snow storm badly.  We left the resort early since we've had enough runs (I was able to do 21 green runs).  Had dinner early at Maple Garden.  Got home and took a 3 hr. nap!  Watched Jimmer played his first NBA game Sacrament Kings vs. L.A. Lakers.  Then hopped  on the Treadmill to run easy 10.25.  Perfect run to loosen up the legs!  

The family decided not to go skiing today because the snow condition was less than ideal.  Slept in and was so glad to get a text from Karen.  Ran a mile to meet her then we ran up to Highland crossing SR92.  We ran inside the Highland Cemetery where we stopped at the Veteran's memorial and looked at the stature: "Help for the Future" by Dennis Smith.  The story behind that stature is so AWESOME.  So glad Karen told me about it because there's no plague or description for it.  We then ran on the trail parallel SR92 and back to her home.  Perfect T with a little of sun and gentle breeze.  NICE run and chat about our Christmases.  

I sent in the registration for UVM. 

Slept in while the family went skiing.  I am very picky about my snow! :)  Met up with Wendy to run to Karen's.  Karen's sister, Jill, a marathoner visiting from Calif. and Karen's 21 yo son, a college athlete joined us.  We ran down 3rd west and Karen's daughter, Erin drove by and decided to join us.  We ran up on the rail trail and east on 3200N. So fun to run with the young adults! :) :) :)   

A scuffy man with a mustache in a red car drove past us 3 times.  Later on we found out he was following/stalking Erin and Jill who got the guy's license and reported to the police.  It appears the police has had dealings w/ him before.  The police is patrolling the area.  

Tried out the new elliptical for 2 miles.  

Myrtle.

3 circuits CSE. 

Ran 4.75 with Karen, her sister and bil up Bull River then down rail trail and back up 3200N to her home.  Then ran 5.25 by myself around the bench. 

PERFECT running weather, 35F, calm, cloudy w/ a little bit of sun, rain w/ a little bit of hail.   BEST part is the CLEAN air!!!  Hubby called me mid-run and reported that it's snowing at the resort! Hallelujah!  I will have better snow to ski tomorrow!  :) :) :)

Just checked my year mileage, may be able to make 2400 which is just right for me even though it's 370 miles less than last year.  2011 has been a good year! :)

Going to registered for Orphan Hope Marathon. 

ski all day with the family and extended family and friends.  Annual family NYE party at Asia Buffet.  This year's party theme was *funny trauma and re-runs*.  we did the count down at 8pm.  there were over 60 of us, some coming as far as D.C. 

Ran 7 miles on the TM at 9:30 watching the last part of Narnia and evening news.  Had MAJOR lephantitis legs! seriously they were so swollen from 5 hrs of skiing, 6 hrs of sitting, eating and partying.   I did it so that I would only need to run 10 miles in the morning before heading to a family wedding luncheon.   

went to bed around midnight only to be startled by a gaganteous hurricane howling wind storm!  It was disturbingly LOUD.  Didn't help that my knees were really sore!  Slept fretfully for a few hours.  Waited till 7:45 to text Karen hoping the wind would die down.  Luckily, she agreed to brave the wind. 

Ran 6.25 with Karen, her son and brother-in-law; 3.75 by myself.  Temp was probably in the low 30s but the wind chill made it feel like 20s.  Barely made it home in time to shower and go to the wedding luncheon.

Lots of family celebration, food and more food.  Said goodbye to David. :(  Picked up Jenn and Jeff from the airport and then to dinner at Tio...again more yummy food!

HAPPY NEW YEAR to y'all!!! :)