Each Day Is a Gift

 HELLO MARCH!!!!

A beautiful sunny day, perfect running weather!  Karen texted me before heading out the door.  My schedule calls for VO2 max of 5X1000m @5K race pace today.  Not feeling particularly speedy today (actually haven't felt speedy for the whole winter) I opted for a few 800s (1/2 mile) repeats and invited Karen to join in the *fun*!

We did 2.5 miles of warm up then started our 1st repeat just after crossing 1200 E.  Felt good to run at a faster (for me) pace @ 7:30ish.  Karen asked how many we're doing.  I thought *6* is a good number.   The first recovery took 0.5 mile as we were discussing where to run and the 5K race pace.  The second repeat was up on Bull River.  Took .25 mile recovery this time and thereafter.  Finished 3rd repeat right at the end of Bull River dead-end then turned around for the 4th and 5th.  Karen wanted to run only 7 miles so she stopped after the 5th repeats and jog the 0.25 mile home while I continued east with my 6th interval which came in at 3:55.  Recovered for 0.25 then ran the remainder 2.25 miles home at marathon pace.  

9.5 mi in 1:28:06.  AP: 9:16.  Splits: 10:25, 10:20, 8:44, 8:45, 9:03, 8:43, 9:08, 9:30, 9:00, 8:38. 

When I got in the house, Emi was ready to go outside and play.  Spent an hour playing with her on the playground and trampoline.  She is so fun...she won't let me rest though. :)  

Knee felt fine during the run.  The pubic symphysis was tight.  Now after sitting for awhile, both are sore.  Will do some stretching and yoga today! 

What happened to my body this morning?!!  Some old old old lady possessed it,,,everything ached!!!  Almost talked myself out of running.  Got up way late.  Ate breakfast with Emi & Marianne.  In no hurry when I'm with Emi...but she kept saying: "Nana running?" :)  Dragged the "old granny self" out the door only to turn around within 0.2 mile!  Whoa, some wind was chillin' my achy bones!  Got back in the house to put on a jacket.  Emi had a puzzled look then a big smile; then blew me a kiss goodbye, for the 2nd time! :)

The knee hurt during the first mile...should I be smart and go home or keep running to see if the pain goes away?!!  Can't go home to disappoint/confuse Emi!  Stopped at mile 1 to stretch the quads and calves.  Knee felt fine going up Suncrest.  It sure complained a lot going downhill though. :(

Stopped at Ridgeline Elementary for pit stop and drink before continuing on to Alpine.  Stopped at *fountain of youth* for another pit stop and drink.  Turned around at mile 6, again stopped at Ridgeline Elementary for pit stop and drink.  Saw Karen running up Suncrest as I was running down at my mile 9.35 and her mile 3ish.  She had a late start too! ;)  Seeing her brought a little sunshine to my otherwise cloudy/gloomy run! :)

Ran the last 3.5 home at mp with headwind!  Emi was so happy to see me! :)  She *tackled* me with a big hug then promptly said: "WET!" as she always does when I come home from running! :)  I'm gonna miss her SO much when she leaves! :(

12.5 in 2:01:06.  AP: 9:40  Splits:  10:50, 10:16, 10:17, 9:55, 10:10, 10:07, 9:32, 9:23, 9:40, 9:02, 8:42, 8:42, 8:42

Going to dinner and BYU vs NM game tonight!  FUN!!! :)  GO COUGS!!!!

6 miles w/ Karen down 3rd west up rail parkway in the rain/snow and 12mph wind!  AP: 9:55.  The rain/snow stopped just as we finished!  Mother nature is too funny in March! :)

Zero running nor exercise today!  Spent half a day playing with Emi while her parents packed and got the car ready for their long drive to Oregon.  I am going to miss Emi terribly! :(   Busy busy weekend with family stuff.  

Here's the invite for group run tomorrow if any of you are interested, meet at:  

1.  Place:  JRP in Lehi at 1500 North access.

2.  Time:  6am.  Early, I know!  Hey, what a great way to say goodbye to Winter, eh!!! ☺

Have a great weekend!  GOOD LUCK to Kathie and her team at the Lake2Lake tomorrow!  :)

Met four GREAT ladies: Toby (for the first time), Karen (& Sky), Rachel and Luz, at the Lehi JRP dark and early this morning for a great run!  PERFECT temp!  WONDERFUL WONDERFUL company!  Lots of CUTE CUTE baby calves!  The miles flew by!  I would have loved to run more or linger for visit...but had to high tail outa there to make it to a family's baby blessing in Orem!  I made it there in time!  Today's run re-affirms and reminds me why I LOVE LOVE LOVE to run! :) :) :) :)

THANKS girls for driving the distance in the wee hours to run with me!  I just love you all soooo much!!!  You are AWESOME!!!! 

15.5 miles AP: 9:38. 

Nice and EZ with Karen.  My knee was and is still bugging.  Karen's achilles was bugging.  STINK!!!  

Saw Wendy with a mile to go!  Took her home to find some ski boots and skis for her.  She and her honey are skiing on Wed.  I'm jealous! :) 

Spend the afternoon taking Steven to get his Typhoid immunization; then shopping for mission clothes and stuff.  We are now broke! :) 

16 MLR  TT: 2:22:47

3 mi warm up.  TT: 28:43 (AP: 9:34).   Ate 3 Powerbar chews & water (30 sec.)

4 mi hills.  TT: 38:29 (AP: 9:36).  Starting at 2%; finish at 10% (increase 0.5% every 1/4 mi); starting pace @ 9:40; finish @ 9:22.  Ate 3 Powerbar chews & water (45 sec.)

6.2 mi tempo.  TT: 51:04 (AP: 8:13)  Pace: 8:34, 8:27, 8:20, 8:13, 8:06, 8:00, last 0.2@7:03.

2.8 mi cool down at mp.  TT: 24:41 @ 8:34, 8:49, 8:57. 

****

Jeff came home mid morning sicker than a dog...chills, fever, aches.  Thought he got over it couple weeks ago.  Man, now Steven is home for Spring break, hope he doesn't get it, especially since he's on the expensive Typhoid vaccine. 

PM:  foam rolled the gnarly knots out of the legs!

Woke up to stiff achy body.  With a busy day and limited time, it's just easier to lace up the shoes and head out the door rather than drive to the LC to use the elliptical. 

36F, cloudy, breezy.  Both knees were complaining, right more than left.  Stopped couple times to stretch.  The SR92 express hwy construction is progressing along.  There was a huge machine making this loud pounding sound along the canal at the Center St. bridge, very annoying!  Wish I was running w/ music! 

Speaking at the L26 Ward R.S. birthday dinner tonight!  I am nervous!

The talk in the L26 ward RS last night went well.  I am so impressed with the whole event.  We used to be in the same ward years ago and I was the RS president.  Even though they live within 0.5 mile from me, I hardly ever see these sisters after our ward was split.  The love I have for them is still there even though I forgot some of their names!  :)  I am so grateful that I belong to this greatest, oldest women organization in the world, the Relief Society.  After the dinner/mtg. we lingered and visited! 

Wanted to run 12 miles this morning,  only had time for a quick 5 miler before heading to the temple, luncheon, picked up Steven's roommate, hemmed up Steven's temple pants, cooked soup for my ward RS birthday dinner...etc.etc.  My ward's RS dinner/mtg was very simple.  We worked on quilts afterward.  

Got home late last night.  Had a restless night.  Hubby woke me up with the sad news of the earth-quick in Japan and tsunami coming to Hawaii.  Laid in bed trying to sort out the sadness while taking stock of the body's aches and pain...sore throat, swollen glands, congested sinuses and very achy stiff joints.  Figured it would do me good to *run* it all off! 

My SSF called just as I was lacing up the shoes.  Should have taken the cue to stay in.  It was a miserable run...gusty, chillin' headwind.  The sun was deceiving...only wore a long sleeve shirt, wish I had a hoodie to cover my head/ears.  It was an hour of hacking, spitting (which I rarely do),  dodging tumbling weeds...so much for trying to *run it off*!!!

Frantically trying to call my relatives!  Hope my niece and her husband are okay in Hawaii!  Another busy day awaits!  

Woke up feeling like I was run over by a dump truck.  Could hardly breath.  Hubby tried to make me stay home.  I told him I've been planning this 20 miler with Karen for weeks.  I HAVE to run it.  I carb-loaded properly last night, ate my last bowl of noodles while watching BYU beat NM...YAHOO!!!!   So AWESOME to watch Jimmer broke his own record of 52 pts!!! :)

I was ready to go at 6:30am.  Waited till 7:30 to pick up Karen.  I felt chills so took a Tylenol and brought a blanket with me in case I couldn't finish the run then I could just stay in the car with the blankie! :)

Got to JRP at Winchester to meet Kathie, Matt, LuzyLew and Teena!  We took off at a much faster pace than my lungs could handle, wheezing away while Luz and Kathie did all the talking.  At mile 3, before turning around, my SSF let me use her inhaler.  I think it helped.  So glad the weather was nice!  Got back to the car, took another puff of the inhaler, gu'd and drank an entire 8 oz. water. 

From mile 7 on Karen ran w/ Matt looking so strong with Teena and Kathie leading the way.  Before mile 8, Karen turned back to run w/ us.  We used the rest room at the park.  When we got to around mile 11+ we kept looking for the others thinking they should have turned around already since they were planning on 18.  At mile 12.25ish Teena came running from behind,  I guess they had taken a detour.  Bid her goodbye while we went for another 0.75 before turning around.

We stopped at the turnaround (mile 13) to gu.  I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to finish and asked if anyone had any drugs.  Thankfully Luz had one Aleeve.  She graciously let me take it, saying I needed it worse than her.  THANKS Luz! :)  (So I was the drug-dealer on this part of the trail in West Valley, ha!)  Karen also let me drink her water b/c the gatorade just *burns* my throat. 

All the hydration (from feeling sick) made me need to pee bad.  I ran as fast as I could the next mile where there was a park.  Alas, the bathroom was locked, so onto the next park as fast as I could before the bladder explode.  Whadaya know, that bathroom was locked too.  It wasn't until we got to the park at mile 17 that the bathroom was open.  Thankfully the Salt Lake Running Company also had two coolers of fluid there.  I filled up one of my two flasks w/ gatorade. 

The knee and pelvis hurt the same whether I ran fast or slow.  So I took off hoping to finish strong w/ some MPs, thinking I would just run back at end of every mile to meet Luz and Karen.  I was getting into a good rhythm so I never did turn around.  I took off my fuel belt at the car and was going to go back for Luz and Karen; when I saw Teena driving up.  I felt bad that I didn't stay w/ them; but took comfort that they had each other to run with, sorta.  We stretched while drinking chocolate milk and slimfast to aid in recovery.  My only regret is that I didn't get to talk to Kathie at all.  I wanted to hear all about her Lake to Lake Relay.  And I never got any SSF time!  Stink!!!

Well, what I learned from this run is that I could never been able to finish without the company of Luz and Karen and the help of drugs!  :)  THANK YOU Luz and Karen!  You have no idea how much you helped me!  Just love you to pieces! :) :) :)

20 miles in 3:04:54.  AP: 9:14.  Splits: 9:28, 9:10, 9:03, 8:51, 9:00, 9:01, 9:23, 9:27, 9:29, 9:46, 9:47, 10:03, 9:54, 9:39, 9:05, 8:38, 8:50, 8:47, 8:43, 8:37.  Stopped at mile 6 & 13 to gu; mile 8 and 17 to void!   Drank a total of 21 oz gatorade, 16 oz. water on the run, a can of slimfast at finish.  Now icing the knee!  Going to veg in front of the TV watching BYU play SDS tonight! :)

Surprisingly there's no knee pain.  May be it's masked by the ibuprophen I've been taking for my sore throat and headache.

I went to church with my son and his roommates.  I'm glad I went even though I wasn't feeling well.  I wouldn't want to miss my friend's son's mission report.  His dad was our bishop.  He just returned from serving 2 years in Fiji.  He spoke on Obedience.  He is such a fine young man!!!  Then my son's former YM president spoke.  I can tell Steven was touched by the wonderful leaders who have taught him and helped us raise him over the years! :)

I was going to go home after sacrament.  But Valerie's excited and exuberant hug was irresistable.  She grabbed my hand and dragged me to Primary.  She kept patting my back and with sincere concern, "you sick?"  "you ok?"  "feel better."  "you my friend?"  "you my friend?"  "you my friend?"  "you my friend?"  "Sue-AnnaH, my friend!"  "watch Valerie?"  "Watch Valerie?"  "you my friend?"  "you my friend?"  for the entire 2 hours!  If that doesn't make one feel better, I don't know what! :)  Yes, Valerie, I'm your friend.  I LOVE YOU!  and I will always watch over you! :)

Then I went to Choir practice.  I'm the ward choir director.  I didn't bake any treats today.  Thankfully I had some Costco mini-cream-puffs.  The choir was a noisy bunch today.  Not paying attention to my directing or hoarse-talking-voice!  It didn't help that I had to keep covering my mouth while coughing.  I am very concerned as we are singing in two weeks and then singing two numbers on Easter which happens to be the day of Steven's *non-farewell*.

After giving Steven's roommate a haircut (he's a fine young man, recently return missionary serving in Ogden, a polite boy with a headfull of curly dark hair that most Latin Americans have), fed them a quick dinner, I bid them goodbye for the 2 hr drive back to USU.  The next time I see Steven will be on his brother's wedding on April 23 and Steven will speak at Sacrament on April 24, before leaving for his mission.  I did well holding back tears until after the car was out of sight, then the tears just flooded!

The evening's highlight was when Larissa got on web-cam and I got to see Baby Jett all sleepy eyed, dressed in his white blessing outfit.  It's bittersweet that I couldn't be there for his blessing.  It is so hard to have my grandchildren so far away.  I miss them terribly!

Hubby got home from attending a fireside.  He was bummed that he missed seeing Baby Jett.  He hasn't even met the baby in person yet.  Oh, the sacrifice he makes!

VERY SICK!!!!  I couldn't sleep last night so I took an ibuprophenPM just before midnight.  Wow!  That thing worked like a charm (err a nighty nightlight).  For some reason, drugs affect me quite powerfully.  Evidence of my ability to finish strong on Saturday's 20 miler, thanks to the aid of drugs! :)

Anyhoo, I slept like a log, vaguely remembered hubby kissed me goodbye (did he?).  I woke up to the sound of text message from Carolyn asking if I wanted to run with her!   Yikes, it's 8 and I was supposed to meet my sister-in-law at 8:45 at the Lehi Main St. interchange to drive to a family member's funeral in Tooele.   Quickly checked my emails and got dressed.  I called my SIL to alert her that I was running late...NO VOICE!!!  I have LOST my voice!!!!  How is it that I could cough non-stop producing barking noises and yet I couldn't speak?

At the funeral, I hid behind massive layers of tissue papers, coughing in between sobing!  I must have been quite a mess.  My brother-in-law who's a doctor took one look at me and ordered me to GO HOME, GO TO BED, and gave me a Zpac!

Hubby came to drive me home, I was freezing, yet the temp outside was in the high 50's.  I took the anti-biotic and crawled in bed.  Finally dozed off for half an hour when hubby came in to wake me up.  We're supposed to pick up our friends for dinner and Jazz game at 5pm.  Yikes, I had 15 min to get ready!  I took 2 ibuprophen and carried tons of cough drops.

HAPPY NEWS ~ Eric received formal posting that he's accepted to the Residency program in Cleveland, OH.  He will start on July 1st at the Cleveland Clinic, one of the country's biggest and innovative surgical hospital! 

Jen, Jeff's fiance, finally moved into the condo they bought...much much lesser commute time! YAY! 

Bryan is very happy with his $16000 viola (yes, we are very very very broke now!)  He will be performing a solo concerto with the Symphony on March 30.  He will leave on April 27 for a performance tour in China then stay in China to do internship in May/June, then to D.C. to be in the National Orchestral Institute in June, then spend a month in July in the Czech Republic in the International Music Academy.  All this means:  HUGE $$$ expenditure = investment in a child's musical carreer = future starving artist! :)

Jazz won at overtime! :)

I shouldn't have gone to the Jazz game feeling so sick. but hey, the ibuprophen kept the headache away.  I even ate good and thanks to the congested ears, I couldn't hear the NOISE in the Event Center.  And without a voice, I just clap!!! 

Anyhoo, couldn't sleep at all last night.  I didn't want to take another PM pill, don't want to get hooked, so I just took one ibuprophen and sat on the couch so I wouldn't wake up hubby with my coughs.

One thing about being sick and awake in the middle of the night is you get to read scriptures, you get to count your blessings.

Blessings:

1) I was the only one not as sick in the family when everyone was deathly ill the last 3 weeks!  Who would take care of them, otherwise?

2)  I got to run with Karen for her first 20 miler! :)  She is going to do AWESOME at SLC.

3)  I got to run with Emi while she was here in February on a few days when the weather was good, albeit a few yards at a time.  I have a feeling she's gonna be a great runner or gymnast!  I will be running my 4th Boston on her 2nd birthday!  I will finish the marathon even if I have to crawl!

4)  My family in Hawaii and Japan are safe!

5)  My children have grown up to be fine people.  They are kind, Christlike, humble, busily and anxiously engaged in good things.  I am very proud of them.  I love them soooo much!  I miss them terribly! 

6)  My sweet, kind, gentle husband is healthy.  He is loved and respected by all who know him.  I have learned to accept the fact (or through FAITH) that I must share him or his time with those he serves and works with. 

7)  I have met many wonderful friends like you through running!  What a great community of good good people who care deeply!  My association with many of you have greatly enriched my life!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!

Scripture:

Isaiah 40:31 ~ "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Yes, I need to *wait* upon the Lord daily! :) :) :)

13 in 2:05:45. 

4 mi warm up (5 - 6mph)

4 x 800 @ 8mph with 400 RI @ 6mph

6 mi cool down (6.5mph)

After 3 days of zero running and moping around the house, I had enough.  The antibiotic should be kicking in; but the chest was still tighter than a submarine.  Couldn't get any over the counter inhaler.  So decided to do some walking on the TM to see if I could loosen up the lungs. 

I sounded like a freight train during the initial miles.  Had to stop numerous times to drink, blow the nose, cough, cough, cough!!!  Gasping for air during the 800s so stopped with just four.  During the cool down, my knee really bugged.  I concluded that treadmill running is BAD for my knee. 

10.5 miles in 1:39:05.  AP: 9:26.  (10:20, 9:57, 9:38, 9:29, 9:29, 9:27, 9:14, 9:20, 8:57, 8:49, 8:50).

Headed out just before 1pm with no idea if the lungs would let me run.  Had one yogurt and EmergenC for breakfast.  So decided to carry a hand held 20oz bottle filled with Gatorade.  The chest congestion got loosened up about 30 min. into the run.  Legs felt fine after 6 miles so kept going and made it home in one piece! whew!

T was 41, a slight breeze, cloudy, could have used some gloves, my hands were cold the whole time w/ a hand held bottle!  It was worth it though since sipping gatorade helped so much w/ the cough and throat! 

♣ HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY!!! ♣

Didn't get much sleep...that's what happened when I talked to my kids on the phone late at night.  It's all good! :)  Carolyn and Wendy called to see if I wanted to run w/ them.  Ran w/ Wendy for 2.5.  Ran Carolyn home for 5.5.  She left her jacket on my porch, so ran it back to her for another mile.  Still a bit chilly, sun's out but hazy!  Forgot gloves again!  Mucous galore...I suppose it's good de-congestion therapy! :)

6.5 in 1:02:45.  AP: 9:39 (10:37, 10:09, 9:49, 9:35, 9:26, 8:56, 8:20)

Met Karen, Kelli and Scott at the Lehi JRP at 8.  I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE running with Kelli.  I think she should get free entry to every race by being a pacer! :) Not only can she run whatever pace and distance, she makes you feel like a million bucks running side by side her!!! :) :) :) WONDERFUL conversations! GREAT confidence booster!  TRUE friend thru and thru!!!!  THANK YOU SO SO SO SO MUCH, KELLI, FOR COMING ALL THE WAY TO RUN WITH ME every step of the way!  You're the BEST!!!!  You're gonna do FANTASTIC at Buffalo 50 miler next week! :)

It was a beautiful run except for ONE little minor thing, the WIND!!!  GOODNESS!!!  I think I actually felt the wind pushed me back a few steps.  I am very happy for Karen.  She stayed with us the whole time, plus she had Sky on a leash.  She is going to do GREAT at Salt Lake Marathon.  Today's run really boost her confidence!  We stopped only once at the car at mile 11.25 to drink and I gu'd.

After the brief stop at the car we continued north.  Then everyone turned back by the elementary school since they only wanted to do 12 but accompanied me for an extra mile for 13.  I couldn't do any math so they figured it out for me, I continued on 'till my Garmin hit 14.7, then turned back to make 18.  I tell ya, my last solo miles was a battle over fatigue & wind!!!  The thought that I might have forgotten to lock my car kept me going! :)  I am happy with my effort.  No potty breaks, only stopped once to gu.  Drank while running, a total of 14 oz and 1 gu.  I am now starving! :)

18 miles in 2:47:43.  AP; 9:19.  Splits:  9:39, 9:14, 9:16, 9:11, 9:22, 9:37 (drink),  9:09, 9:15, 9:18, 9:11, 9:08, 9:39 (said goodbye), 9:09, 9:18, 9:04, 9:21, 9:36 (major wind, got a text from RAD about hers and SSF's Spectrum time!  WOW!) 9:09.  The last 3 miles pace surprised me, especially the last mile, it was all headwind w/ some rolling hills, I thought I was running in the 10s. 

Side note:  An hour into the run I kept thinking about my SSF at Spectrum, calculating in my mind where she'd be on the course.  I even talked out loud, "GO Teena GO, PUSH it, you can do it!" when she had about a mile to go!!!  I sure hope all our friends did great at their races today.  Can't wait to read the reports. :)

Karen's text woke me up & asked if I was doing speed work!  Today's schedule calls for 11 mi w/ 6 x 1,000m @5K race pace.  Quickly got ready and Ran to Karen's and did our usual loop together (6 miles).  She only needed 5 miles.  After dropping her home I did not feel like doing speedwork so I ran down on 3rd West to the rail Trail and loop back up home. 

I wanted to run some hilly miles at marathon pace.  Mile 8 was downhill on which the knee held out okay.  The last 4 miles were all uphill.  Coughing a bit.  Did not have a single drop to drink or eat other than the EmergenC before leaving the house!  T was in the high 30s, partly cloudy with a slight breeze!  Felt really good about the run.

12.5 in 1:57:12.  AP: 9:21  Splits: 10:15, 10:21, 10:21, 9:55, 9:52, 9:52, 8:31, 8:26, 8:43, 8:44, 8:53, 8:59, 8:28

Gorgeous day!!! sunny blue sky with a good 6mph SSW breeze!  Ran with Carolyn for 5 around the 'hood; then by myself up to Alpine.   Turned around 1 mile shy of the fountain of youth to make it home in time to shower and go visit teaching.  The legs definitely felt the miles from the last two days, especially on the hills.  Had only EmergenC and 20 oz gatorade from the hand-held...somewhat glycogen depleted. 

14.75 in 2:20:35.  AP: 9:35 

Need to do yoga, stretch and foam roll later...I am very sleepy and tired at the moment!

Could never sleep well when hubby's out of town.  Spent the evening foam rolling the legs...TORTURE!...but oh SO GOOD! :) Surprisingly the legs felt OK this morning.  Ran about 0.2 mile; then abruptly turned back home.  The storm was rolling in, serious dark ominous clouds and wind approaching.  Karen picked me up within 5 min and off we went to the Legacy Center.  

LUCKY DAY...there were only two ellipticals open and they're next to each other!!!  Hallelujah!  We had a great workout chatting and sweating away.  Got really excited planning our 20+ miler on Sat., longest run before our marathons!  Yahoo!!! :) :) :)

Went to the temple then to Costco.  Getting ready to watch Jimmer and the Cougs make history tonight! :) :) :)

RISE N SHOUT!!!

Rather than brave the wind and snow this morning, Karen and I opted to save our legs for tomorrow's long run.  So we hit the LC again.  We also used some of the machines to work our abs, chest and oblique muscles for 30 min.   Then we drove the route that we plan to run tomorrow.  Hopefully there won't be much traffic and the storm clears out. 

It has been so fun planning these long runs with Karen.  I remember I used to train alone for my first couple marathons in 2005 and 2006, without Garmin, fuel belt, etc.  It is so much easier to have someone to train with.  I think I am more excited for Karen's first marathon than my upcomig Boston.  She is a GREAT runner and will do AWESOME on April 16.

GOOD LUCK and HAPPY RUNNIN' to y'all fellow bloggers running and racing tomorrow!  May the running gods smile upon all of us!!! :)

Longest run before Boston DONE...THANKS to the WONDERFUL company of Kathie, Kimmy and Karen!!!  :) :) :) :) :)  We ran from Lehi to Highland, American Fork, Pleasant Grove/Manila, Cedar Hills, Alpine.  A total of 20.75 very hilly miles in 3:18:38.  AP: 9:34.

Kathie drove Kimmy to my house dark and early to start our run at 6:30 am.  Karen ran halfway (0.5 mi) to meet us,  perfect timing!  We headed west, then south and east to Mt. Timpanogos Temple where Kimmy had dropped off her car earlier (mile 7.5).  My hands were frozen; thanks to Kimmy giving me her gloves, they were happy the rest of the run! THANKS!!! :)  We bid Kimmy goodbye then continued eastward for more uphill miles. 

We turned north on 900 West (Silo Rd).  From mile 7-12 is a steady climb along the foothills of PG, Manila and Cedar Hills to the mouth of AF Canyon.  Then we got a mile of nice gentle downgrade and canyon tailwind going west on SR 92.  That mile sure felt GREAT! :) :) :) 

We turned north, meaning more UPhills, on 4800 West Highland to Alpine.  As we approach a series of UPhills on Westfield Rd (around mile 15), Kathie's ankle started to throb.  She had twisted it earlier around mile 1 from a rock while running in the dark.  Dang!  I felt terrible and began to worry! :(   She had run 22 miles last Sat., such a STRONG AWESOME runner!!!  I don't think I could do back to back long runs!

My knee was behaving fine since we were running mostly uphill.  At the crest of the last uphill we turned south on Suncrest for 1.5 mile of downhill where I opened up a bit, paying attention to the knee.  Was relief that Kathie's ankle was fine on the downhill.  Pushed hard the last 3.75 miles home pretending to embrace the pain of the last 5K from Kenmore Square to Boylston! :)  This is a confidence builder that I will be able to finish Boston and Karen will do GREAT at SLC!!!!

Ate one package Powerbar chews and 8oz Gatorade!  My bad!!!  Immediately drank a huge glass of chocolate milk post run.  Ice-bath 15 min. before shower then lunch.  Now icing the knee.

Busy day getting ready for a big day tomorrow.  My choir is singing at Sacrament.  Bryan's Mission President and wife are coming to dinner after church!  Gotta clean house and go to the store!  Hope I get a nap in b/w reading fellow bloggers' race reports! :)

THANKS Kathie, Kimmy for driving all the way here to run with me!  YOU ARE the BEST!!!!  LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!! :) :) :)

 3 weeks 'till Boston

Warm up 5 miles with Karen. 

Then without pause, got right into 5 x half mile repeats @ 5K race pace w/ 1/4 mi jog between.  Running east and west on 3200N,  interval 1, 2, and 4 were with headwind...sucking wind and wheezing!!!  3 and 5 with tailwind...NICE!!!  Didn't get splits for the intervals except for the last one at 3:54.  

Cool down 1.25 mi @ mp.

10 in 1:34:24.  AP: 9:26  (10:18, 10:27, 9:59, 9:51, 9:55, 8:22, 8:32, 8:21, 8:33, 9:01)

So glad I got it done and beat the storm!!!  :)  It's a howling and snowing out there now!!! BUSY week doing wedding stuff, bridal shower for my future daughter-in-law, my boy has a concerto solo performance, etc. etc. etc.  :)

DEAD legs run, STINK!!!  Met Karen halfway between her house and mine.  We ran down 3rd West to get on the Rail trailhead.  Not sure what the temp was, but it was cold with frost still on the lawn.  My right knee was hurting.  Going up the trail seemed to help with the knee and warmed up nicely.  We got to the top/dead end of the trail (it will be nice when SR 92 construction is complete and the trail is connected all the way north to the point of the mountain), we turned around to head down to the Pheasant Pointe trail access towards Fox Hollow Elementary. 

When we reached 1200 West, instead of kept going east on 3200 North, Karen wanted to head north on 1200 West.  I haven't run that 0.3 mile (approx. 9% grade) uphill for awhile.  I used to run that to gauge my fitness keeping the pace under 10mm.   But today I felt like I was hauling boulders.  When we reached the top I was getting dizzy and a little out of breath.  We turned east on Bull River and within a quarter mile, instead of feeling recovered, I felt as if my heart was going to jump out of my throat.  I could feel my heart pounding under the skin of my chest.  I also felt nauseated.  I had never felt that way EVER before.  It was quite frightening.  I stopped running immediately and leaned on Karen in case I passed out.  Karen also could feel the pulsating heart in my chest with her hand.  My breathing was fine so I started to walk and got the heartbeat under control.  

When we reached Karen's house at mile 7.  I went inside to get a drink of gatorade.  After chatting a little, I went back for 5 more.  I should have just run the one mile home because by mile 8 both my knees had tightened up and hurting.  By mile 10 my legs were as if on fire.  Each step was painfully slow, like death march at the end of a marathon.   The wind has also picked up.  Never have I felt so relieved to make it home!

Took an ice bath as soon as I got in the house.  I am still puzzled by that arrhythmia episode.  I wonder if that is what a heart attack feels like???

12 in 2:03:21 AP: 10:22.  Stinkiest MLR EVER!!! :(

5 slow wheezing miles with Karen, Wendy!  Very fatigue!

7 slow slow slow miles to figure things out!  Still wheezy and fatigue.

Called the doc. office to ask for prescription.  Was instructed to go in and pick up a Symbicort inhaler, the same stuff doc. gave me couple years ago when I was diagnosed with cold/exercise induced asthma.  I only used that inhaler couple of times then. 

When I got to the doc. office, the receptionist saw how labored my breathing was; she insisted that I be seen by the doc.  I really didn't have time for that; but they said they could fit me in after the two patients he's seeing.  Bleh!

My O2 sat. was 82.  The doc. had me take the inhaler and it went up to 88.  I told him about Tuesday's scary tachycardia episode.  He did an EKG to make sure the heart fine.  The diagnosis:  asthma as a result of viral/bacterial bronchitis, allergens, etc.  Teena was right that the tachycardia was an acute reaction to the asthma attack causing a rapid dumping of adrenalin.  He sent me home with enough Symbicort to last a month and a prescription of Ventolin!  Blah!  He told me I must carry the Ventolin inhaler with me while running!  Stink!