Each Day Is a Gift

Ran to Oatley Park, sunny and hot.  This is my favorite running path inside the park, almost always shady, no cars allowed, gentle incline/decline.  There are markings on the pavement every 100m.  

Total miles ran in 2013 (5 months only, was called to serve mission in Feb and pretty much did not run from mid June on for the next 12 months) 

Half & Full Marathons ran in 2013

It's been three months since my last blog entry.  Life's been crazy busy.  It is summer here in Sydney with temperatures in the 70s-90s F and super humid.  I have not given up running yet. Some mornings I get up early and run on the TM for 30 min.  On the weeks that we have airport arrivals and departures, we leave home very early which means no running on those days. On Christmas and New Year, I ran to Como Leisure Ground.  Most Saturdays I run to Oatley Park.  I think my pace is 12mm these days :( But like I said I haven't given up yet.:)

On a bright note, our little swimming pool has taken 6 months to be fixed and cleaned, JUST IN TIME!!! We swam last Sat. and today.  It is a VERY tiny pool! :) :) :)

I have gained a LOT of weight - 12 lbs!!!  Aaaagh!!!  This has got to stop because my clothes don't fit me any more.  Hubby said it's cheaper to loose weight than to buy new clothes! :) :) :) Besides, I don't have time to shop for clothes!  I just need to eat less!  So hard though, because the food here is SO so SO delicious and SO many varieties and SO abundance. Also, I need to learn how to read the food labels...instead of calories, it's "energy" in some metric units.  Does anyone know how many calories is in an average size mango?!

Here's to a healthy, happy, fantastic new year!  Cheers!!!! :)

Oatley Park

TM

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Oatley Park

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Como Pleasure Grounds

Como Pleasure Grounds. 70F Partly sunny.

68F cloudy. Como Pleasure Grounds with Pres. :)

68F 60% humidity sunny blue sky.  Oatley Park.  

Melting waterbottle ice chunk made rattling noise on the way home causing lotsa head-turns from pedestrians/bikers!  sheberight'mate!  :)

Como Pleasure Ground

No run.  Parramatta/Fairfield Zone Conference.
 

No run.  Ingleburn/Liverpool Zone Conference.

Como Pleasure Ground.

Got up super early for the 3 hr drive to Canberra for Zone Conference.  Nearly forgot that today was Valentine's Day if not for the beautiful long-stem rose given anonymously by a missionary whom I found out later was Elder Grant.

Late Valentine's dinner at 8:30 after a long day of ZC and interviews in the Pavilion Hotel restaurant.  I had jumbo Aussie Prawns fettucine in a vodka creme sauce, salad, garden vegetables and herb bread.  Yummm!

Interviews all morning.  Quick TM run on the hotel TM after lunch before afternoon meeting and evening Canberra Stake Conference.
 

I ordered a new pair of shoes from Amazon a few weeks ago and it arrived at the Mission office over the weekend while I was gone.  Tried them on this morning on the TM.  I really lik'em, well worth the $130, most I've ever paid for running shoes. :)
 

Quick TM run.

Special day!!!  Drove up to Bulkham Hill at 3pm.  Had dinner with Sister and Elder R. M. Nelson, Sister and Elder Hamula, Sister and Elder O'Riordan.  Wonderful meeting! :)

No running.  Got up dark and early at 4am.  Morning commute traffic in Sydney is horrific.  Made it to Bulkham Hills Chapel at 7:15am.  Special special day for our missionaries as each and every single one of them got a chance to shake the hands of Elder Nelson.  Wonderful messages spoken in this historical combined Sydney South and North Missions Conference.

TM.

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Oatley Park.  68F 70% humidity.  Calm, cloudy sky.  Lotsa walkers and cyclists. 

I freeze a bottle of water for my Sat. run.  It makes for nice cold drinking water as it melts.  Sometimes I'd top it off at the fountains (by the Castle or upper park).  When I don't top it off, the ice chunk would make rattling noise...ya, heads turning to see what da racus!  Sheberight! :)

Early TM run.

Transfer Day!

No running. Early airport for missionaries departures! Always sad for me!

No running. Early morning airport arrivals of 14 new missionaries, 10 sisters, 4 elders! :). Always an exciting, long busy day! :)

TM. Lots of adminstrative stuffs and of course phone calls.

No running. Up at 5am and out the door by 6am for the 4 hours drive to Orange for Zone Conference, long busy day. Always great to be with the missionaries. After Zone Conference, Pres. had one-on-one interviews with the elders and I visited with the companions. Had a nice dinner at the hotel, lobster and swordfish.

Ran from the hotel on Coronation Dr up and back for 35 min. in steady rain. Temp was 58 F, 100% humidity but very pleasant. This is the first time I run in the rain since I've been in Australia. LOVE it!!! The road here in Orange is wide, unlike the roads in the suburbs of Sydney. Saw one girl running in the opposite side of the road.

Sometimes when it rains, it really pours, like a waterfall, and washes and drenches everything good. One time I was running in a mist like rain, it was so light and warm that it just makes your skin glistens.

TM

MLC this afternoon and night.

No running. Interviews for 18 missionaries in the Parramatta Zone.

Quick TM run. Interviews for 12 missionaries in District 1 and elders in District 2 of the Mortdale zone.

Airport departure for one elder in the afternoon.

No running. Interview for the 18 missionaries in the Ingleburn Zone.

No running. Interview for the 18 missionaries in the Liverpool Zone.

Oatley Park. 70F 90%humidity. Slow, hot, muggy, Topped the frozen water bottle twice. Not much runners out today. Kids ccricket games going on! :). G'day mate!

Como bridge and pleasure ground

Should've gone out with the 4 sisters but turned out they only went for a 15 min jog....it's all good! :)

Oatley Park.  66F 100% humidity, cloudy and misty light rain.  It's been raining every night and early morning every day for the last couple weeks.  I've been told that April is the wettest month in Australia.  We are heading into Fall with shorter daylight.  Lots of runners and walkers out this morning.  I don't consider myself a runner anymore.  My pace is ambarrassingly slow and I walk the hills.  I do enjoy my occasional jog outside whenever I get a chance.  Life of a mission president's wife is crazy busy.  It's all good.  I am on the Lord's errand and my time is a gift to me, precious and sacred.  I see God's hands in all things and experience immense gratitude and joy. :)

Bull river trail west with Eric. First run at home. Cloudy sky calm. temp 50s? Rained last night so humidity feels good. Slow conversational run. Got a bit winded running uphill so walked at the top. 6 miles TT:1:03:44. I need to loose this 10 lbs that I have gained on my mission!!!

Good to be home in familiar surrounding. However there is lots of construction going on, the field on center street is fenced off and is being prepared for construction of a new high school. Three stories high condo or apartment on the west side of center street. A business building, Traverse Ridge Center being built next to the bull river parkway. Exactware is up with other IT type campus also going up on the north side of Timp Hwy. I have mixed feelings about this rapid growth and loss of the natural beauty of the Lehi north bench.

Going to take a nap now before heading to IMC to receive my love from the JetCare team!

Same route as yesterday.

Met Eric at 1200 E on his return from running 8 miles to Highland on the Murdock Canal Trail. We ran up Suncrest Rd and turn east to get in a church for a drink. Eric had not had anything to eat or drink and we're at his mile 11.5 and my 3.5, so it was good thing someone was cleaning the building and let us in. He was pretty depleted on our return so he peeled off at 600 E to go home for 15 miles and I continued west to Center St for 7.25 total miles. This was the longest I've run since UVM last year. I walked quite a bit on the uphill. If it weren't for Eric running along side I would've walked a lot more. Gonna miss running with him...he goes home this afternoon. It has been so nice having him help me when he flew to Australia last week to be with us, and flew home with me on Wednesday, a day before Pres. Was medic-jetted to IMC. He and David have really lightened my burden. I am so blessed to have such wonderful children. :)

Jogged with Karen and Wendy

My Garmin's battery doesn't last any more so I am guessing my mileage. Walked jogged with Wendy.

Lowell got me an entry to the Ogden Half from the RD whom he's well acquainted with.  I would only do it if hubby was still in the hospital.  On Thursday, the doctor said that he'd still need to be in the hospital till next week.  So hubby insisted that I go and enjoy running with Lowell who was running the Full and I would wait for him at the Half start.

Drove to Lowell's son, Jason's house in downtown SL to drop off my car and he drove me up to Eden.  We left his house at 7:30.  RAD had given me the map and driving direction for the alternate route to Eden.  Between the map, my iPhone GPS and Jason's car's GPS, we only had to make couple of adjustments and U-turns.  Got to Eden Park at exactly 9am when Lowell called to say he's at mile 11.  Perfect! That gave me enough time to use the PoP and grab a gu, a piece of banana and water/gatorade, retie my shoes, cheer on the marathoners.

The Full started at 7:15 and the Half started at 6:45.  Lowell got there around 9:20.  He put the timing chip on my shoe while I put on the bib, not sure if the chip does any good since they probably already pulled up the half start mat.  We took a few pictures with father and son, and off we went.  Wendy loaned me her Garmin so I started it when we crossed the timing mat. 

Saw Rachelle and gave her a quick hug, she probably didn't recognize me!  But she was cheering just as enthusiastically as if we were her best buddies.  I started to feel winded and asthma coming on, so I took my inhaler, and the breathing was fine the rest of the run.  We were going to do the 4:1 thing since the most I've run was 7 miles last Sat. and am in no shape to run a half marathon.  But, we ended up walking through all the aid stations or stopped all together to take pictures.  We chatted and joked with fellow runners.   A lady in red singlet turned and said:  "Is that you, Susanna?  I recognize your voice!"  yes, she's my former neighbor from the early 80s.  It was awesome to see her again after 30+ years! 

We had a ton of fun running along and leap-frogging with the same people, we called out to them naming them based on colors of their tops or logos on their backs: gold and green girls, the ImPossible twins, pink ladies, red robyn, orange cutie....  At the uphill portion, a 24 yo girl was in quite a bit of pain having a side stitch and  abdominal pain. She was in tears.  So Lowell and I showed her how to do the deep abdominal breathing and we ran/walked with her for about half a mile then we took off.  She passed us just before turning onto Grant St. and said: "It works!!!  Thanks you!"  We shared our sun-screen with an older gentleman from St. George.  We took pictures for those who wanted a picture of themesleves and the waterfall.  We picked up some disgarded gloves, and fuel belt bottles which took up a bunch of minutes in trying to fasten them to my belt.  I ended on putting it in my short pocket...I'd do anything for Lowell!  :)

We passed the 4:45 pacer at mile 23.  Legs felt fine thru the canyon miles, but started to tire in the parkway.  Then wham!!! As soon as I got on the road out of the parkway, my nemesis aka "Ogden cramps" started attacking, first in the lower calves, then the shins then upper calfves behind the knees, then the entire lower legs.  I just kept putting one foot in front of the other, fighting off charlie horse, praying that I would get to the finish before the muscles ceased up on me, it was painful.  It felt as if I was at mile 25 or 26, struggling with the other marathoners.  But sadly I was only doing a Half, that is what I had expected for not having trained and have not run for nearly a year.  Lowell was running with the Mpossible boys abou 30 seconds ahead and would look back to make sure I hadn't collapsed.  I urged him to go on ahead and beat his Boston's time but he refused to leave me.  We held hands across the barricade that separated the Marathoners and Halfers all the way to the finish. I forgot to stop the Garmin until I walked over to the mist tent.  It showed my time at 2:36:39 and mileage at 13.31.   The official time on the website is 5:17:xx probably because when I started the timing mat for the half was aready shut off so it just take in clock time of start at 6:45 and finish at 12:02.  I'd say a 5:17 half is quite a PR! :)

RAD and Marcie waited for us at the finisher corral.  It was so great to hug them.  I immediately asked RAD if Toby got her BQ and was so sad and bummed for her.  RAD made sure I got all the post-race nourishment.  We took some pictures.  We didn't linger too long as Lowell had to check out of Motel 6 clear over at Riverdale.  He took me back to Jason's.  I made it back to the hospital around 2pm and was very happy and satisfied!!! :)  It feels so good to be back in the running world again! :) :) :)

Walked, jogged with Wendy.

Walked, jogged with Wendy.  Busy day.  Brought hubby home from hospital tonight.

Walked jogged with Karen & Wendy.

Within running the first quarter mile, I lost my footing at the edge of the sidewalk/planter strip, my left ankle twisted, then fell down superman style.  Both palms, knees and left elbow got some road burn, the right knee got a tiny cut.  Met up with Karen and Leslie and decided to walk around the block for 2 miles since Karen had a bike accident few days before and hurt her ribs.

Sat through most of the day in dialysis.  When I got home in the late afernoon, I started cooking something for hubby to eat.  The right knee started to hurt.  I removed the jeans and saw a goose egg size lump on the left side of the knee cap.  The swelling was quite diffuse over the entire knee.  Painful to bend or bear weight.  I ice it the rest of the evening.
 

Knee is swollen and pain with ROM.  No running.

No running.  Dialysis day.  Knee pain subsided.  Knee still swollen and stiff.

Swelling in knee is gone and no pain so I went for a run to test it.  Ran west to Center Street and on Murdock Canal Trail to the bathroom/drinking fountain at mile marker 17.25, got a drink; then turned back east to mile marker 15.5 and down trail access to 600 E.  I estimated mileage to be 5+ miles.  Knee felt fine, it was a nice easy run. 

Today is day 1 of my 18 weeks training for SGM. :)  I am slow these days; but not going to worry about it.  I am just very happy that I CAN run, no matter how slow! :)

Jogged up to MC trail and got a text from Karen just as I passed Jimmy John's so ran back to meet her at her house.  We ran thru the new neighborhood up onto MC trail to bathroom/drinking fountain.  Drank then turned back and when we reached tunnet at Center St. we walked to 600E trail access then south back to 2600 N then west to her house.  I ran from her house back to my house.  The chatting is as therapeutic as the jog/walk! :)
 

Ran 2 with Wendy to meet Karen.  Ran 1 with both then we walked 2 together.  Very windy going north and west.  But much cooler than the last couple days!

Long day at dialysis, doctor's visit and CPAS...lots of sitting around.

Walked one mile with hubby in the evening! :)

Ran 2 with Wendy and we walked 2 with Karen and her mom and the two dogs (Zeus and Sky).  Fun time.  I'm so so so out of shape, it's good thing Karen is nursing her foot and Wendy is willing to go whatever! :)

First 2 by my lonesome.  Left the house at 6:40, ran east on Highland Dr to 1200E, north to 3200 North, west to 600E, south 2600 N. and reached home for exactly 2 and met Wendy at exactly 7am as planned.  Told Wendy I need to do 6 more.  She was so accomodating.  We took Zeus with us.  Ran east to access MCT on 1200 E via the 26th Ward neighborhood.  West on MCT stopping at the drinking fountains and walked to put Zeus on the leash whenever there were cyclists coming by.  The trail was pretty busy today.  Perfect running weather.

Made it home in time to fix hubby breakfast, shower and off to dialysis.  Costco in the afternoon.  Helped Jeff and Jen move in he evening.  Good to feel useful again! :)

6 with Wendy and Zeus on MCT west all the way to freeway.  Saw the trail signs showing 1.9 miles west to JRP.  Wow!  We have so many parkways and trails to run around here...SO NICE! :)  Perffect running weather, low 60s, calm, sunny blue sky.

Trim, prune, cut some of the bushes in front of the house.  Boy, my arms are going to be sore! :)

Quick 3 with Wendy to Smith's and back.

The moving company guys said they would deliver our Australia shipment between 8:30-9:30.  By 10am, they hadn't come and I had to take hubby to dialysis so Wendy came over to wait for these guys.  I rushed back home after dropping hubby off and waited for the moving guys till 11:30, called the company who told me they would be there soon.  Well, they didn't come until 1:30!!!  And I had to go back to South Jordan to pick up hubby at 2!   Patience is really a virtue...I need to learn it quick! :)

6.5 solo run.  MCT west to 1600 W bathroom/fountain for drink, turned back east to 1200 E drinking fountain where I met and visited with someone who just had back surgery and walking with his dog.  Nice chat. 

Thoughts while running ~

1) Focus on running form: cadence and driving elbows back!

2) My running has come full circle.  When I started running in 2005, my goals then was to loose weight and become healthy so I could take care of my hubby whose life was spared after emergency MVR and AVR and post-op complication of cardiac tempanade in 2004.  Running has given me so much more than better health.  Over the years, I've met many wonderful friends in the running community who have blessed and enriched my life.  Last year I put running on hold to serve a mission with my hubby in what I thought would be 3 years.  As things turned out, exactly 10 years later, hubby again had another near-death medical crisis which ended our mission abruptly.  Now my return to running takes on similar goals as in 2005: to become physically, emotionally healthy so that I can help my hubby regain better health physically, emotionally and spiritually.  I don't know what lies ahead; but I do know each day, each run is a gift...I gratefully treasure!!!! :)

3) I have the BEST friends and neighbors, and MOST wonderful family...I am the luckiest woman!!! :) :) :)

4 with Wendy and Zeus! :)

10 by my lonesome.  Beautiful day!  Sunny blue sky.  Snow caped mountains!  Oh how I love our Utah mountains!  East to MCT access at tunnel behind Smiths, down Dry Creek, walked up Dry Creek to Highland side, drinking fountain there is not working.  Continued east for another mile or so and that drinking fountain works, a runner coming from opposite direction announced that the water was warm; that's better than not working! :)  Contined east and stopped at the fountain at the soccer park.  It was exactly 4 miles to the Highland Hwy tunnel.  Got out and ran north on the road to connect back on the MCT at turn off to Highland Glen Park.  Encountered lots of cyclists.  Decided to turn around at 4.5 thinking I'd run 9.  It was getting warm, should've started the run earlier.  When I reached the tunnel behind Smiths, I decided to continue east on MCT to the drinking fountain (~1000East) and cut off on Love Lane access to 600 E to home adding an extra mile.  I won't dwell on how slow I am running these days...but savor the fact that I CAN get out and put one foot in front of the other! :)

Thoughts for the day:  "Happiness in life is a decision!  Gratitue is a catalyst to all Christ-like atttributes!"

Wanted to run 3 this morning!  Texted Wendy and Karen who's back from Girls Camp thinking she'd be ready to run.  Nope, Karen slept in and wanted to bike with her hubby instead.  Wendy tried to protect me from injury and told me to take a rest day but she'd WALK with me!  So we walked for at least 4 miles meandering all over the hood and MCT.  When Karen and Mark caught up to us on their bikes,  I ran along side them for about 0.5 mile.  :)  Yep, Wendy is right, my legs are tired, my back hurts!  I'm really feeling my age! :)

Hubby drove himself to dialysis for the first time, freeing me up to do what needed done at home.  YAY!!!!  :)  Spent the rest of the day working in the yard, trimming shrubs, loping off branches.  With the help of kind Arnie and his son, Matt, we removed four overgrown bushes/shrubs.  My arms and back are so sore!  Did 5 baskets full of towels and beddings...still have 3 more to go.  Lots of house cleaning to do.  Fixed the vaccuum.  Unpacked 3 boxes of our shipment.  Picked up Rx for hubby and shopped for food after dinner!  Went to bed at midnight...happily exhausted! :)  So glad tomorrow is Sabbath, ahhh REST!  :)

5 with Karen, Leslie and Wendy. 

5 with Wendy.

Met Karen and Leslie at their street, ran down 3rd West to 2100 N, west to rail trail, north to MCT, drank at 1300 W fountain.  Had a hard time breathing, lotsa coughing and spitting up mucus, silly asthma.  Very kind of Karen and Leslie to walk the uphill with me! 

Ran with Wendy and Olga to Kneaders for breakfast.  We were supposed to run back but we just walked and talked instead.  It was so fun to meet Olga's new baby (well, he's 9 mos).  He is adorable. 

0.5 by myself to meet the ladies.  5.5 with Karen, Leslie and Wendy.  4 by my lonesome.  They only wanted to run 5-6 miles.  I need to do "longer run" today because tomorrow I am going down to Provo to cheer my friends at UVM!  :)

I need to have a better running/eating plan.  Every morning, I run without any breakfast, only drink water.  Today's 10 miler took 1:43 (AP of 10:21) with lots of water stops.  I get out of breath running any incline and so have to walk on the uphill.  I feel like a newbie.  It's been a month now since I return to running.  I have not lost any weight.  I was hoping to loose 2 pounds a month.  I desperately need to buy some new socks and get my Garmin fixed. 
 

FUN day spectating and cheering at UVM.  So proud of all our friends, Rachelle, Josse, Chad, my nephew, Alex (his first marathon), and LOWELL who smashed his BQ goal (4:25)!!!!  He ran 4:09:12,  easily WON his divison!!!!  :) :) :) :) :) :) It was a tough day out there with some strong headwind, RUNNERS ARE AWESOME!!!! :)

Week 4/18 to SGM

6 solo miles out and back on MCT to 1600 west.  Temp was in the high 50s, cloudy sky, slight breeze, PERFECT running weather!!!  Ate banana, water.

Lowell's UVM's time of 4:09 at nearly age 73 inspires me!!!  I know I am in no shape to run that fast.  I just wanted to see if I could run a 10mm pace.  Here's how it went today: 

Mile 1 - 10:41 

Mile 2 - 9:54

Mile 3 - 8:55  downhill

Mile 4 - 10:26   uphill  (took a potty break at 3.6)

Mile 5 - 9:36

Mile 6 - 9:11  started to wheeze

TT: 58:47  AP: 9:47 

Conclusion:  My pace was all over the place.  It is going to take some focus and effort to sustain a steady 10mm. 

Plan: 

1.  Add Core ST 3 times a week

2.  No walking on uphill

3.  Focus on form, cadence.

PM:  3 circuits of Pfitz's core stability exercise.  Myrtle.

Very nice of Elder and Sister Haleck to pay us a personal visit!  :)

Cool morning, low 50s, cloudy, breezy, wore long sleeve and capri. 

MCT west to 1300W fountain (2.3 mi.) east to 1000W fountain (4.3 mi.) east to Smith's tunnel (5 mi.) west to Love Ln access (6 mi.) south to home 7 miles.

Splits: 11:20, 10:57, 10:02, 9:44, 9:39, 9:36, 9:21   TT: 1:10:45   AP: 10:06
 

6 on MCT west to fountain, east to fountain, west to Love Ln access, around stake center.  Another cool morning, not as cold as yesterday.

10:45, 10:13, 9:25, 9:28, 9:20, 9:00   TT: 58:14   AP: 9:42

Last night when we came home, we discovered the basement bedrooms were flooded.  Rain water poured down into the window well from the rain gutter above where the down sprout was clotted up.  I climbed in the window well and bailed water out of there and hubby used a wood ramp to cover the window well.  We were soaked and chilled as it was still raining and temerature has dipped down to 41.  I was up til 2am using all the towels and blankets available to soak up the water. 

Met Karen and Leslie at Center St.  We ran east to Smith's tunnel, west to fountain, south through Perry Homes to my house.  My Garmin 305's battery is on the fritz.  It only lasts 45 min even when it's fully charged.  So I borrowed a friend's Garmin 220.  It's SO slim and light with large numbers!  I haven't figured how to do any setting yet.  So it was beeping at me with some sort of alert, perhaps when I ran too slow!  :)

After our run Karen, Leslie and Beth helped me move the bedroom furnitures out so I could pull off the wet carpet and pad and let the fan and portable heater blow them dry.  After they left, I was pulling up the carpet and wondering how I'm going to put everything back togehter.  Then the door bell rang...a friend showed up at the door.  (He didn't have our mobile numbers).  He was god-send.  He got up the roof to clean out the rain gutter and hose down the dirt and debri and de-clog the downsprout.  Then he came back in the afternoon to help me pull back the carpet and put the furnitures back.  So thankful for such wonderful friends! :)

Breakfast was 2 majai (Chinese version of rice krispie squares...greasy and sweet).  We have no banana or yogurt (what I used to eat before long run).  Out the door at 6:30 and texted Karen to let her know I'm on my way to our designated meeting place, Highland Glen Park, and I'll see her in 45 min.  This was to give me a 4 miles head start and she would run 10 with me (5 out-n-back on the MCT). 

The sun hasn't peeked over the mountains yet so it was a bit chilly which is perfect.  Walked part of the uphill climbing out of Dry Creek.  Stopped at mile 3+ drinking fountain.  Got to the Park at 4.65 miles.  (oops! miscalculated the distance)  Leslie and Karen had been waiting for 10 min. They had more confidence in me!  They were so good to go at my snail pace.  I could not for the life of me pick up the pace.  The view overlooking PG, Lindon, Utah Lake was spectacular.  The conversation was great!  I ate a Cliff Bar that I got from Ogden Half race packet at mile 9+.  I had to fight the urge to walk...I had lead legs and iron lungs! :)  When Karen's garmin reached mile 5, we turned around.  She encouraged me to keep going, pointing out that we're running downhill!  Gotta love Big lies! :) My legs were done, we stopped at every drinking fountain except for one.  This is the longest I've run in 12+ months.  I am so out of shape!!!

14.25 miles TT: 2:28:01  AP: 10:29  (10:52, 10:51, 10:35, 10:22, 10:23, 10:01, 9:56, 10:19, 10:31, 10:26, 10:29, 10:33, 10:26, 10:45) 

Eric surprised us with an early morning arrival after their across country drive.  So proud of all that he has accoplished.  So relieved that they made the trip safe and sound with three children, age 5, 2 and 7 mos. in a tiny car after late night packing of all their belongings into a 8x8 pod and cleaned their house late late Wed. night.

First 1.5 by myself, picked up Wendy, Karen and Leslie.  Wendy did 3.  We continued east down and up Dry Creek to soccer park drink at fountain, back through trail by SR 92 to Love Ln. Not sure about pace.  Karen said we were running in the 9's but I did have to walk some on the uphills.  

Fun day with my adorable grandkids Emi, Devin, Alina, and Skylar.  Also visited with their cousins Lucy, Hannah and Adam.  

No running. tending grandkids so their mom and dad can go to the temple. :)

no running.  send Eric off for his long solo drive to Tucson.

6.5 with Wendy.  3.5 by myself after running her home - west to 300 W north onto MCT at Jimmy Johns, east to new 810 E acess, west to 600 E to home.  Very grateful for clouds! :)

TT: 1:42:30  (10:23, 10:21, 10:06, 10:13, 10:28, 11:16, 10:12, 10:13, 9:49, 9:27) 

Ran to Highland Glen Park west parking lot (4.66 miles) to meet Karen and Leslie.  We ran the same route as last Friday but another mile further (about quarter mile past Battle Creek Dr in PG) before turned back so they got 12 miles and I got 16.75 total.  Beautiful morning, starting temp was in the high 50s and finishing temp was probably in the low 60s.  I had to really push it to keep up with them.  My legs could feel the 10 miles from yesterday.  

Drank some gatorade before heading out, water fountain every 2 miles or so, ate a cliff bar (gift from Wendy) at mile 10ish.  

TT: 2:49:49  (11:17, 11:21, 10:18, 10:04, 9:50, 9:48, 9:45, 9:56, 10:00, 10:05, 10:14, 9:50, 10:03, 10:05, 9:49, 10:06, 9:33)  AP: 10:08

4.5 easy recovery run by myself.  Clear blue sky.  Lotsa runners and cyclists out!  

Thinking about doing the Sogo for my 20+ mile training run....???

It was nice to be with all the families at Elder Takasaki's homecoming.  It made me happy to see hubby back in his element sitting on the stand with me, speaking to the wonderful folks and families in Sp. Fork about missionary work (during the combined RS/Priesthood meeting).  I really miss everyone and everything in our mission.  Today marks the one year anniversary of our arrival in Australia to begin our mission on July 1st.  It's a bittersweet day!  

Got up bright and early to pack up the car,  feed the kids and load up for our long drive to Tucson. Marianne's dad made hotel reservation in Henderson, NV.  I drove the entire way with first stop at Beaver for petrol, lunch at Wendy's.  That stop took an hour and 15 min.  Then we stopped again at a rest stop before Cedar City where Marianne nursed the baby.  Thanks to 80mph freeway speed, we got to Henderson in a little over 7 hours.  Went to dinner at Teriyaki Madness across from the hotel.  We were going to go swimming but the kids (age 5, 2 and 7 months) were pretty tired and the outside temp was 108 so we just hang out in the room.  My back was killing from sitting in the car.

Got up early again to get the kids ready and fed and packed up the car for our next leg of the drive to Tucson.  My back was still achy so I let Marianne drive the first stretch to Kingman.  It was neat to drive through Hoover Dam and reminsced when I ran the Hoover Dam Marathon and Running With Angel Marathon, both at Boulder City around Lake Mead!  Hwy 93 was not as boring as I thought although the mountains and landscapes were quite barren.  After a quick stop at Kingman to fill up the car, I drove the rest of the way with a lunch stop at Wickenburg Burger King and refuel the car, another bathroom stop at a rest stop just past Picacho Peak.   The speed limit range from 45 to 75 mph on a sometimes 2 lanes to 4 lanes hwy so it took a bit longer than yesterday.  So grateful Marianne's car's ac runs well as it was sweltering hot in triple digits the entire trip.  The only mishap we encountered was when I didn't see a shredded tire on the road and ran over it...I couldn't swerve to avoid it...luckily no damage done.  

We got to the house in Marana before Eric got home!  The entire drive took about 8 hours. The kids were so happy to see their toys which have been packed and shipped from Cleveland, OH.  Marianne and I were SO tired!  Thankfully Eric had some left over pizza and fried chicken for us for dinner.  :)  

Woke up with a gaganteous headache.  After breakfast, I started unpacking boxes and set up the kitchen stuff in between feeding and playing with the grandkids.  It was 103 degrees so no running today.

After breakfast, we went to the community swimming pool, mainly stayed in the kids' pool to play with Emi, Devin and Alina.  The pool is 2 ft deep with shade cover and we had the whole place to ourselves.  

Spent the rest of the day, unpacking more boxes, build the office desk and set up the "office" next to the kitchen/dinning area.  Really enjoy playing with the grandkids whose only jobs are eating and playing, and learning to adjust to their new environment.  :)

Ran from the house on Sikiyou to Carefree to Silverbell to the park by Kayote Trail Elementary.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that it lead to a trail/bike path.  Ran north for 2.5 miles turned around and south for another mile and got back to the house for 10K in 1:01:36 AP: 9:55.  

It was a nice solo "Freedom 10K" on a flat as pancake route (aside from running down and up couple of hwy tunnels and bridges).  Temp was a nice 82 (quite cool compare to the high of 106 yesterday).  However due to the rain last night and this morning, humidity was 90%, so it was very a muggy run.  There were lotsa dog-walkers, cyclists, insects and a few runners out.  There was a plaque describing the route following the Santa Cruz River and the surrounding mountains and valleys.  I imagine this is a nice place to live and run, just not during the three hot summer months! :)  I sympathize with those living in hot desert places.  

After the sweaty run, I stayed outside the house to weed the patch of backyard for nearly three hours.  My back and legs were screaming for me to stop, take a break, but I was determined to finish the job...it's the OCD in me!

After a nice long cool shower and lunch, I packed my bag (Emi kept hiding my stuff because she wanted me to stay there FOREVER, she didn't want me to leave! :)  Marianne and the kids took me to the airport (an easy 30 min drive).  The airport was rather quiet, not many people travel on the holiday, I guess.  The flight from Tucson to Phoenix was short (40 or so min.).  I had to wait for the valet bag check and walked at least a mile to my connecting flight gate.  The next flight was delayed so I was able to grab dinner before boading.

Landed at 7:45pm in SLC and hubby was there to pick me up.  Went to Smith's to pick up some GU and a few things.  Fireworks were going off everywhere in the valley and in our neighborhood.  If weren't for the fireworks, I would've forgotten that it was 4th of July, much like last year in Australia, it was not much of celebration.  I miss the grandkids already! 

Woke up feeling like I had been hit by a semi-truck, everything hurts, the back, the legs, the arms and fingers...and what's with all these tiny blisters under the skin on my lower legs???  I really didn't want to go for a run especially by myself.  Ate a yogurt and drank some water.  It was 8:52am by the time I got out the door.  Had no idea how many miles I'd be able to run today.  I carried one GU with me so I better run where there's water fountain.  Ran west on the MCT to the light at the freeway, drank at 1600 W fountain on the way out and back.  East to 820 E fountain, drank, continued east to Mitchell Hollow Park, drank and ate Gu (mile 7.5ish), continued east to road into Highland Glen Park (mile 9.5) turned around and drank at fountain and doused myself approx. every 2 miles.  

It was so so so hot!  I was slogging/wogging at a 11-12mm, very pathetic!  When you run alone, you get to think alot.  I thought about how I have done all that I've set out to do on my mission in Australia:  1. Love our missionaries unconditionally.  2.  Point them towards Christ.  3.  Help them see their devine potential.  4.  Bring souls unto Christ through teaching and example.  5.  Support my companion/husband in our sacred call.  I feel that my effort has been acceptable to the Lord.  I just don't know what the Lord would have me do now.  I wish so badly that my husband's health is better and that we can continue to serve the Lord and be useful and contributing members of society.  I know my heart is still in Australia, my perspective of things here is not the same.  When I was there, I missed my family terribly; but now I'm here I still miss them AND my missionaries too!  

Well, last week I signed up for the Timpanogos Marathon on the 19th.  Based on today's snail pace and painful run, I'm NOT ready in any shape or form to run 26.2 in two weeks!!! It is going to be a tough training run! :)

Ran to meet up with Karen. Temp was 68 at 7:10am, sunny blue sky.  Easy conversational pace.  MCT Center St to Mitchell Hollow Park, returned on 6400 W Highland and SR92 trail to MCT 1200 E to Center St to home.  

I found tiny blisters randomly dotting my lower legs again. I think they're sweat droplets trapped beneath the top layer of epidermis, given that I have no hair follicles on my legs! :-} Yes, my extremities are smooth...yep, I'm weird that way!!!  :)  

Happy Monday everyone!!! :) :) :)

Ran with Wendy and Karen.  Wendy peeled off after 3.  Karen did 5.5.  I finished with 6.58. Wanted more but out of time.  I need to either start earlier or run faster....but I'm enjoying the company of my good friends whose friendship I gratefully and dearly treasure!!! 

Ordered new shoes last night thru Amazon, it's coming from UK so won't arrive until August!  The pair I ordered while in Australia (arrived on Valentine's Day) now has 200 miles, and cost nearly twice as much.  

Ran with Wendy and Karen for 5.5 at conversational pace.  Last 1.75 by myself at 9:33.  

Core stability exercise:  3 circuits of Pfitz. and Myrtle.

SO SO SO SO Happy to meet up with Toby, Virginia (new running friend RAD hooked us up with), Karen, Leslie and RAD on the Lehi JRP for an 18 miler!!!!  Could NOT have done it without their company!!!  The miles just flew by!!! :) :) :)

When we got there at 6:30, Toby and Virginia have already done 2.  I quickly ate a banana and carried a bottle of Gatorade.  Plan was to run north and back to the car for 10 miles at which time (8:15) RAD would join us and helped pull me thru for 8 more miles.  We stopped at the drinking fountain (mile 2 to the north ) and bathroom on the top (mile 5), and Willow Park (mile 2 to the south).  I think I Gu'd at mile 7ish and 14ish.  

My cardiopulmonary system would NOT obey me on the uphill so I gave in and walked and everyone waited for me.  Toby wanted 17 and needed to be home for babysitter and Karen needed 15 so when they turned back RAD and I continued on till her Garmin reached 4.5 then we turned back for my 18.  So glad she did the math for me!!!  :) :) :)

I am SO grateful for overcast sky with temp 68-72, 94% humidity, beautiful trail along farms and pea-green-color river, hitch-hiking bugs, chased by a cat (that was a first, dogs yes but never cats), laughs, inspiring stories, sweet memories and above all my running friends!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

18.25 miles Total running time: 3:03:16  AP: 10:03.  Average cadence: 193.  

Thoughts and questions:  Is it reasonable to think that I can do 26.2 next week?  I've only been running or building base miles over the last 8 weeks.  Am I flirting with injury?  So far, no weird niggles...other than some skin issues such as rashes and "sweat blisters".

The Garmin 220 says that my average cadence is 193 and average stride length is 0.83m. I don't know what all that means, so I clicked on the Garmin's "running dynamics link", according to their data, I'm in the 95% or purple zone which is typical for more experienced or faster runners.  So, does that translate to running efficiency?  

Gotta go...hubby and I are hosting a family BBQ with 16 adults and about that many children coming! :) :) :) :) :) :)

4.5 with Wendy, Leslie, Michelle to MCT east. 4.5 by myself west to Freeway.  Temp in the 70s, sunny blue sky, calm.  TT: 1:27:50  AP: 9:45.  Splits: 10:02, 9:38, 9:21, 9:22, 9:17, 10:08, 10:42, 9:48, 9:30.  

Wendy, Karen, Leslie and I ran east on MCT down Dry Creek then turned and ran back up.  (I did not walk the uphill, YAY!!!)  Wendy and Karen peeled off at Center St. for their 5 miles.  Leslie and I continued west for couple more.  We started 15 min. earlier and found it a tad bit cooler with overcast sky.  

8 miles in 1:21:00  AP: 10:07.   I don't know what my marathon pace is now (used to be 9) so I am counting anything under 10 as mp...but no way will I be able to sustain a 9:30 pace for 26.2.  I will be happy to eek under 5 hours on Sat. 

Long day at dialysis and cardiology.  It's been exactly 3 months since hubby had an emergency craniotomy at the St. George Hospital in Kogarah, Australia.   We went out to dinner (for the first time since returning home) to celebrate his recovery at my favorite restaurant, Market Street Grill...YUM... I ate TOO MUCH!!!! :) :) :)

Temp was 68 cloudy, calm, at 6:15am.  Ran with Karen and Leslie down Center to 2100 N then west to access Rail Trail and up MCT.  I stink at running uphill...but I did not give in to walking.  I was surprised to see the mile splits later because when I glanced at the watch, my pace was @ 10:55 to 11:35.  I need to run this route at least once a week.  :)

6.25mi  TT: 1:02:05 AP: 9:56  Splits:  10:10, 9:38, 10:01, 10:20, 9:43, 9:41, 10:10

So glad Wendy was willing to go slow and easy with me today.  I am SO TIRED!!!! 

Debated whether to post this as race report since this was done as a long run.  But, I am pleased with how it turned out considering it's only been 8 weeks since my return to running.  I am still 8-10 lbs overweight.   I know it would be alot of work.  And yes, I'm S-L-O-W!!!!  My goal is to finish this thing under five hours to minimize the suffering and ill effect of the heat. 

Got up at 3:15.  JoEtte, Amanda and I were all ready to leave the house at 4:15 (a time agreed upon by Lowell last night) to catch the 4:30 bus.  But Lowell was NOT ready.  By the time we got to Lone Peak HS, the buses have already left and a huge line of Half runners were waiting for the returning bus.  The organizer chastised us for not getting there earlier when I asked if we could get on the bus (cut in line) when it finally arrived.  Needless to say, we got to the start with no time to spare.  The race was starting (5:30 sharp).  Lowell and I rushed to the start-arch and realized we still need to drop off our bags.  We walked back (too crowded and dark to run) looking for the clothing drop bus then ran back to the start mat (for the second time) and started the race all by ourselves.  It was quite comical except I was bummed about not able to see my brother-in-law, Gary and other friends.  We could see the blinking "fire-fly lights" that Lowell had clipped on Amanda's belt in the far distance.  We soon passed the Half walkers who started with the marathoners.  

It was still dark and temp was comfortable the first couple miles.  At the first aid station, mile 3ish, Lowell had to use the port-a-potty, while waiting for him, I visited with the volunteers (members of a High School Ballroom Dance).  When we resumed running, Lowell started to pull away talking to other runners, oblivious that I was trailing behind.  I was already sweating profusely and the make-shift-phone-holder was really bugging.  I texted Karen to let her know I just passed the mile 5 marker and again at the mile 6 marker.  The first Half runner came flying by.  He was blazing fast.  :)  Karen and Leslie were waiting (with Lowell) at the mouth of the canyon to run with me.  The trail was so narrow that we could not run more than two deep.  Pretty soon I lagged behind and started to wheeze on the first incline.  I pulled out the inhaler, only to find that it had separated from the mouth piece.  I messed around with it and managed to take a puff.  My pace slowed even more on the Cedar Hills trail.  Karen waited for me at the "farm roads".  I was feeling very tired!

I would've missed the turn off from the Half course if Karen and Leslie weren't there to guide me.  All sorts of negative thoughts crowded my mind:  "I am tired!!!!  My quads hurt! I am SO fat!  The fuel belt and phone become cumbersome! I am chaffing everywhere!  It is getting so hot! I am sweating profusely! My breathing is shallow!  I bite off more than I can chew!  I wanna quit!  I wanna go home!  I am so slow!  Why am I feeling this way at mile 10?  It's only going to get worse!"

I told Karen I was struggling so badly that may be I should quit as I walked up the Canyon Rd tunnel.  She said her car was parked close by and she can take my fuel belt and phone to the car.  So I removed everything off the belt (inhaler, salt caps, Gu, tissues and put them in my short pocket and pin the bib on my shirt.   After Karen ran my belt and phone to her car, I decided to take 2 salt caps with Leslie's water, took another puff and put the inhaler in my shirt's mp3 pocket.  Within couple minutes, I felt revived.  Soon Karen got back and the three of us started running like we've always done over the last three weeks.   

They kept me distracted by updating me on their kids' happenings.  I ran into some friends on their bikes.  One of them offered me his bike....if only I knew how to ride! :)  We started to see the leaders running on the opposite side of the trail so I cheered them on and began to look for Gary.  I started to worry when the top 10 guys and 2 girls have passed and no sign of Gary (who's a sub-3 marathoner).  Finally I saw him and he told us that he had missed a turn somewhere and ended up running all over Highland for extra four miles.  That stinks!!!  I can see how easily one would go off course as it was not well marked and there were no volunteers to direct the runners.  

We saw Lowell about half mile to the turn around.  We had to stop and take a selfie.  I saw a very cheerful smiling Filipino volunteer giving out Gu at the mile 17.5 aid station/turn around.  I yelled out:  "I know you...from BYU-Hawaii!"  "I'm Ruth!"  "Yes, Ruthie!  You look the same, still beautiful and radiant!"  WOW!!!  we haven't seen each other for almost 40 years!!!  So, of course we have to take pictures and exchange informations, where do you live, what's your married name, your husband, children...  What a joyful reunion moment!!!! :) :) :)

The first few miles after the turn around went by quickly.  Can't believe I made it to mile 20!!!  I started to worry how I'd be able to finish the last 5Ks knowing Karen and Leslie would leave me at mile 23 as they did not want to run more than 15 miles.  It was getting hot and the aid stations were running out of cups.  I asked to have water dumped on me...ouch! my skin sting all over!!!  After that I only wanted water on my head.  Karen was kind and smart to figure out how to run 1.5 more miles with me.  Leslie would take the car and drive it to the tunnel on Highland Dr. and meet Karen there which is at around mile 24.5.  Then they would drive to the mouth of the canyon to pick up Leslie's car.  That made me feel better.  I have such GREAT friends!!!

Soon after mile 23 we saw Lowell walking/running ahead.  We caught up to him and the three of us ran together, stopped at the aid station where Lowell insisted that I eat one of his bacon because my shins started to cramp.  I refused because I had consumed 4 Gu's which were just sitting in my guts making me sick.  I had also taken 2 more salt caps at mile 19.  Somehow stopping at the aid station to dump water on the head helped.  We also stopped to help a guy put his shoe back on and Lowell offered him a bacon which he ate.  Karen left us at the tunnel.  Then it was just Lowell and I running on the lonely stretch.  I had to ask some biker which way to go when we reached bunch of cones without direction.  Lowell called his son Jeremy at the mile 25 marker.  I could now see the high school so I picked up the pace.  I waited for Lowell just before entering the stadium so we could run around the track together.  As we entered the stadium, I could hear my sister-in-law shouting my name.  I saw Wendy, Lily, Jessie, Taylor, my mother-in-law cheering excitedly.  Then Jeremey and his son Ty were on the side of the track.  Lowell and I grabbed Ty's hands and ran together.  Then Amanda and JoEtte grabbed our hands with 100 ft to go and crossed the finish arch with our arms raised feeling like a million bucks while the announcer broadcasting:  "Here comes Lowell Hawkes, from Pocatello, Idaho, finishing his 98th marathon at the age of 74 (he's actually turning 72)! What an accomplishment!!!"  ALL SMILES!!!! :) :) :) :)  

We got a huge medal 6"x5" and a nice jacket.  I found out that I took 1st in the female 50-59 division.  There were only three of us and the fast ones must've stayed home! :)  Not bad for a training run on a HOT HOT day (the car showed temp at 90 when we finished).  After breakfast at McDonald's across the street, we drove home where we chilled, visited with families in the afternoon.  Hubby came home from dialysis and we all went out to dinner at Little America and the MoTab Pioneer Day Celebration concert.  FUN day! :)

It's been a rough week.  Hubby had a new Vascath put in (the one they put in Australia was not done right, the cuff was out instead of under the skin increasing chance of infection) on Tuesday.  He started hemmorhaging that evening and an ambulance was called in to take him to the ER at IMC.  The ER doc stopped the bleeding and sent us home at midnight.  He bled thru the night and we were back in the ER the very next morning.  They sent him to cath lab to temporarily put another suture in so he could go to dialysis (which he missed on Tue because of the Vascath surgery and his last dialysis was on Sat. so he needed it desperately).  Again, the cath site kept oozing and bleeding all Wed. night and Thur. morning back to the ER where a vascular surgeon put yet another new suture in.  Third time's the charm or that his INR dropped because we held his Warfarin for two days in a row; the bleeding finally subsided this morning.  So I did a quick run so I be back to take him to CPAS and to dialysis center to change the dressing.  Emotionally we were both a wrack.  

Karen picked me and Leslie up at 5:30 to meet Toby and Collette at Riverwoods to run the Provo River Trail.  Got a late message to have Luz join us.  I was SO SO SO SO happy to see Luz there.  I had not had much sleep this whole week due to hubby's bleeding episodes which were the worst at night when he's laying down.  Anyhoo, I was really dragging my feet.  Luz was so kind to stay with me all the way up.  I poured my heart out to her.  What an understanding and compassionate friend she is!!!  

At mile 6 or so, Luz needed to turn around.  The weather was so nice and cool in the BEAUTIFUL canyon, I decided to keep going and the others ran back to get me.  I was going SO SLOW up South Fork that I could not keep up with them.  Luckily Leslie only wanted to run 16 so she turned around and ran with me.  Running down was bothering Leslie's knee so we kept it nice and easy.  We saw Josse and Erica on their bikes and later Josse's mom and her friend on the trail.  When Leslie reached her 16 miles we were about a mile to the car, she decided to walk and I took off chasing Karen and Toby and they decided to run another mile so that was fine with me and I ended up with 17.5.  I originally thought I could do 14.   When we got back to the car,  Luz was still there waiting for us.  What a wonderful friend to wait for me!!!   I really needed a hug from her! :)

Toby brought a towel so we drove to the RHPC park (I don't know the name of that park but that's where RHPC's Half's start/finish, btw, did Marion and friends do the RHPC this year?) and found a place to get down to the river.  Soaking our legs in that cold cold river was heavenly!!!  SO grateful for wonderful friends!!!  :) :) :)

Distance:	17,50 mi
Time:	3:02:41
Avg Pace:	10:26 min/mi
Elevation Gain:	923 ft
Calories:	1.511 C

 

 

Details

 

 

Timing

Time:	3:02:41
Moving Time:	3:01:14
Elapsed Time:	3:25:49

Avg Pace:	10:26 min/mi
Avg Moving Pace:	10:21 min/mi
Best Pace:	8:02 min/mi

Speed

Pace

 

 

Elevation

Elevation Gain:	923 ft
Elevation Loss:	928 ft
Min Elevation:	4.734 ft
Max Elevation:	5.484 ft

 

 

Running Dynamics 

Avg Run Cadence:	191 spm
Max Run Cadence:	210 spm
Avg Stride Length:	0,81 m

 

 

Laps18

View Splits

Split Time Distance Avg Pace Summary 3:02:41.1 17,50 10:26 1 10:50.2 1,00 10:50 2 11:13.7 1,00 11:14 3 10:17.1 1,00 10:17 4 11:06.0 1,00 11:06 5 11:17.8 1,00 11:18 6 11:45.3 1,00 11:45 7 10:14.0 1,00 10:14 8 11:51.2 1,00 11:51 9 10:10.2 1,00 10:10 10 10:09.7 1,00 10:10 11 9:58.4 1,00 9:58 12 9:49.3 1,00 9:49 13 9:26.9 1,00 9:27 14 9:43.8 1,00 9:44 15 9:56.7 1,00 9:57 16 9:29.9 1,00 9:30 17 10:01.1 1,00 10:01 18 5:19.7 0,50 10:40

 

Weather

 

64°

Feels like 64°

3 mph ESE wind

Humidity 64%

Source: KPVU

 

Additional Information

Device:

Garmin Forerunner 220, 2.60.0.0

Elevation Corrections   :

Enabled

Summary Data:

Original

 

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Timing

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Elevation

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Cadence

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Only had time for a short run.  With Karen and Leslie.  Tried the new Altra I bought at the Timp Marathon Expo.  They are SO comfy.  I am told to transition in them gradually because of the zero drop.  I really like how roomy the toebox is and sushiony my footstrikes feel.  

Again only had time for a short one (had to make it home for the granite people who failed to show up yesterday and ended up showing up at 2pm.  I would've been so mad if I had skipped my run to wait for them this morning).  Ran with Karen and Leslie to the west portiuon of MCT.  Cooler but very humid this morning!  Tried my new Inspire 10, but the old socks gave me hot spots.

I think the temp was in the 60's this morning, cloudy sky.  Karen, Leslie and I made a mid-run decision to go farther because of the cooler weather.  We ran east to Smith's MCT access, down and up Dry Creek to the tunnel at Alpine Hwy then turned around.  Did some fartlek in the middle miles.  I thought I was running fast but the splits show otherwise.  But I did feel stronger and more fluid and no wheezing on the uphills.  We drank at every fountain but no gu.  I ran the ladies to their homes so I got an extra mile.  

Ran 3 miles prior to meeting Karen and Leslie at their house....but I goofed and missed them completely.   Ran 4 more around the same area trying to hook up with them.

No running today.  Should've gotten up when I woke at 3am.  Picked Maddi up at the airport then we went to breakfast at IHOP then shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond.  Then we made the pasta salad and other preparation for the shower.  Then we went to Salt Lake to have her bridle gown fitted.  Then we went to Jen's for dinner.  A fun busy day! :)  

Ran with Karen down 3rd West, up Rail Trail and MCT.  Good thing Karen was a little sore from hiking Timp yesterday or I wouldn't be able to keep up with her.