Each Day Is a Gift

April 28, 2024

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Location:

UT,

Member Since:

Oct 14, 2008

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Age Division Winner

Running Accomplishments:

85 marathons, 5 times Utah Grand Slam finisher (division winner twice).

7 Bostons (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016).

Two 50Ks, one 50 miler (Pony Express).

A handful of AG wins in all distance races.

Marathon PR: 3:57:09 (Boston'08)

Half Marathon PR: 1:48:41 (Bryce Canyon '11)

10K PR: 47:50 (Spectrum 10K '09)

5K PR: 22:31 (Nestle 5K '08)

Short-Term Running Goals:

2017 Races:

June 10 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:13:43)

June 24 - Morgan Valley Marathon (5:49:01)

July 8 - Hobbler Half (2:19:37, 2nd AG)

July 24 - Temple to Temple 5K (27:43)

July 29 - Timp Half (2:08:01, 3rd AG)

Aug 26 - Mt. Nebo Marathon (5:16:16, 3rd AG)

Sep 16 - Huntsville Marathon (4:48:53)

Oct 7 - St. Geroge Marathon (4:57:11)

Nov 4 - Canyon City Marathon (5:30:07)

2018 Races:

Jan 13 - St. George Half (2:19:45, 3rd AG)

Mar 3 - The Woodlands Marathon (5:01:35)

Apr 6-7 - Ragnar So. California

June 1-2 - Ragnar Wasatch Back

June 9 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:19:22)

June 30 - Morgan Valley Half

Sep 1 - Pocatello Marathon (6:00:43)

Sep 15 - Huntsville Marathon (5:37:08)

Oct 6 - St. George Marathon (5:25:43)

Oct 20 - SoJo Marathon (5:29:23)

2019 Races:

June 1 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:44:24)

June 22 - Morgan Valley Marathon (6:15:13)

Aug 31 - Pocatello Marathon (5:38:47)

Sep 14 - Big Cottonwood Marathon (6:03:51)

Oct 5 - St. George Marathon (5:57:46)

Oct 12 - SoJo Marathon (5:55:45)

2020 Races:

Jan 18 - St. George Half (2:38:28)

Feb 15 - Sun Marathon (5:51:54)

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!!!!

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00
Saucony Guide ISO Wide Lifetime Miles:						311.91
Saucony Guide ISO Lifetime Miles:						313.31
Sacony Guide ISO (2) Lifetime Miles:						225.26
Altra Torin (sz 7) Lifetime Miles:						44.49
Saucony Guide 10 (2020) Lifetime Miles:						60.91

Wed, Dec 03, 2008

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
9.25	0.00	0.00	0.00	9.25

I want to do today's 9 mi General Aerobic run a little different. First off, this run is for Paul who's in the hospital recovering from brain surgery. I love to run with a purpose. It gives meanings and hearts to my run. Secondly, I want to divide this run in two. The first 2/3 (6 miles) will be run on hills. I will run south on the 300 W hill then west on the 1200 W hill. The last 1/3 (3 miles) will be eastward on gentle rolling terrain. Depending on how my legs and lungs feel after all the hills, I will run this at tempo pace to cruise home. Here goes:

Ran west for 0.3 mi at warm up pace before reaching the 1.5 mi of downhill which I ran easy not wanting to blow it. Turn around at mile 2.3 for the 2 mile uphill. It wasn't all out hard work. Was able to keep the wheezing at bay. During this stretch I thought of the struggle Paul, Leslie and her family are facing. It gave me courage to run strong.

At the top of the hill (mile 4) I turned west to run down another hill, time to practice downhill technique and let her fly. This is a good 0.5 mi downhill. Just before the road level out, I heard and saw an ugly pug barking and charging from a side road towards me from the left. I ran past the road keeping an eye on her. She kept coming and chasing me. I turned, while running backward, yelled for her to go home. She didn't back off. What to do? I slapped my hands, pumped my arms while kicking high with each stride. She finally got tired as the road began to go uphill, still barking and trotting now back on the sidewalk. It made me so mad that people would let their dogs out loose. With that I turned and attacked the uphill. My heart rate was already elevated by that stupid pug. I saw a group of mothers walking with their strollers, I warned them of the dog. The next 1.5 mi has an elevation gain of 183'. My goal was to run this at an even effort trying to keep it under 10:00.

Felt pretty good at the top of the hill (mile 6), so I picked up the pace going east. The mountains look spectacular today as always. The weather is perfect, partly sunny, temp at low 40's. I began to feel that Paul is going to be all right. A loving Heavenly Father will bless him. Finished the last 3 miles progressively. Jogged 0.25 mi for cool down. Stretched throughly while petting sweet little Serena.

9 miles in 1:23:23 Splits: 9:38, 9:11, 9:29, 9:50, 9:29, 10:00, 8:46, 8:38, 8:19. AP: 9:18, HR:159, Arthritis: 4

Inspire 3 Sz 6.5 Miles: 9.25

Night Sleep Time: 6.50	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 6.50	Weight: 0.00

Comments

From Kelli on Wed, Dec 03, 2008 at 14:35:17

Running with a purpose, good idea and it gave me chills! GREAT RUN.

From DonGardinero on Wed, Dec 03, 2008 at 14:49:43

Good Grief, Smooth!!! What a run you had today. Way to tell that dog!!! Motivational runs always seem to be the best, don't they?

Dale

From Kathie on Wed, Dec 03, 2008 at 17:00:19

Way to go smooth you are such a great lady!

The other day in church I thought I need a spiritual training program just like my running training. The next think I thought was I wonder is smooth would write it for me? You know some kind of intervals, long runs, tempo work etc. Think about it and tell me what you think.

From Smooth on Wed, Dec 03, 2008 at 17:33:37

Kelli -- Sorry to give you the chills. I was hoping for warm and fuzzy.

Dale -- Yep, the best runs aren't necessarily the fastest or strongest. My slowest marathon this year was SGM. But it was so satisfying to have finished a marathon and kept all my promises. Wouldn't trade the world for that experience.

Kathie -- Hmm! Interesting that you should ask. I just started to go back to my "spiritual training" program, mainly getting back to daily scripture study. How does this sound to you?

1) Maintenance - minimum 15 min. daily scripture study and prayer.

2) Tempo run - Family Home Evening, be creative and sustain the interests of all your teenagers.

3) Long run - Attend the temple.

4) Intervals - Speed read the Ensign.

5) Rest - Sabbath day.

Obviously do #1 daily, number 2-5 weekly if possible. Report in your journal like you would log your miles. Be consistent with your training and you will be a Spiritual Giant. :)

Oh, one more very important aspect of training:

6) Strength training - Service. You can't help but be strengthened when you strengthen others.

From Kelli on Wed, Dec 03, 2008 at 18:47:34

That is what I meant by the chills---goosebumps on the outside, warm and fuzzy on the inside.

From Teena on Wed, Dec 03, 2008 at 19:18:29

Smooth,

Seriously ... this is exactly why I want to be you! I honestly do not know how you do it all.

Everyone,

You all need to hear Smooth's conversion story. Talk about chills Kelli ... you will LOVE it!! Seriously, we all need to get together for a long run some time and have Smooth re-tell it. It is absolutely one of the best, probably the best, conversion story I have ever heard. (Smooth, have you started to write it down?) They need to insert a picture of Smooth in the Bible Dictionary under the topics, Faith, Courage, and Love. Seriously.

From Kelli on Wed, Dec 03, 2008 at 19:27:58

Ah, for the next Lehi run we have a story to keep our mind off of the hills!

From Smooth on Thu, Dec 04, 2008 at 00:12:19

Teena -- I DON'T do it all. You young mothers are the ones that amaze me with all you do.

As for telling story during long run... Umm, I'm a better listener than talker. Actually to be honest, I can barely breathe IF and WHEN I ever run with you.

I started to write one page: "Teena gave me this little journal, I'm going to write in it. " See what I mean? I DON'T do it all.

Kelli -- I need to tell you a rule about hills, we don't talk while running hills. We may chant, grunt, sing, answer yes and no, but no story telling.

From Kelli on Thu, Dec 04, 2008 at 10:37:51

I meant to keep our mind off of the hills BEFORE we get to them.

From Kathie on Thu, Dec 04, 2008 at 12:57:42

Thanks Smooth I knew you could give me just what I needed!

From Rhett on Thu, Dec 04, 2008 at 13:06:51

Smooth, great run! And I love all the details. Good thing you can out run a dog. I knew he would tire out before you did.

From leslie on Thu, Dec 04, 2008 at 14:56:48

Wow! I just read your blog Smooth and feel so honored to have you spend a run with Paul in your heart. Thank you so much. You all are such sweet girls, I am so glad I found this blog. Someday I would like to hear Smooths story!

From tarzan on Fri, Dec 05, 2008 at 13:14:59

Nice post, Smooth. Very interesting to read.

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