Each Day Is a Gift

May 04, 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
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
23.000.000.000.0023.00

Awaken every hour through the night, perhaps fretting over this long run.  Legs are definitely not fresh (with 30 total miles in the last consecutive 4 days).  Out of bed at 6:15am, 41F, cloudy, 5mphSSE.  Wore shorts, compression sleeve, l/s shirt and green Boston jacket that has zip off sleeves, and pockets to hold flask of water and Gu's.  Nearly full bright moon to the west.  Ran 2.25 miles before meeting Karen at her house.  Plan was to run east up to Alpine then south to AF/Highland for a 20 mile loop back to her house then a mile home to make 23 miles!

Beautiful morning, bright full moon to the west, sunrise illuminating the clouds in pink and orange to the east, snowcapped mountains against gorgeous crisp blue sky and bright white fluffy clouds.  We ran up north on Suncrest Dr. then traverse east to Alpine Park where we gu'ed and drank from the everflowing fountain (7+miles).  Then ran south to SR92 and east up to the mouth of AF Canyon.  Happiest surprise of the day was when Toby honked and stopped to talk with us on her way up AF Canyon where she would grab some vertical miles! :)  Just love that girl and so very proud of her! :)

After saying goodbye to Toby we continued on SR92 to the trail head by Canyon Rd.  The golf course trail was abruptly closed for some construction (possibly to bury some pipes).  We climbed up the hill side to find a more accessible spot to cross the construction site without success so we hiked back down and found a lower dirt pile to cross.  All the drinking fountains and bathrooms along the Cedar Hills trails were closed.  We got on the MCT and continue east to the parking lot/bathroom by Canyon Rd.  We gu'ed and drank (mile 15ish).  By now it was getting warm and I could tell I had not kept up with my hydration.  Karen shed her l/s shirt.  I tried taking the jacket off to tie around my waist but the water flask flapping bugged me so I zip the sleeves off and put them in the other pocket of my jacket (now a vest).  That works well especially when the wind started to pick up and my wet shirt didn't chill me!

I started to bonk in the 17th mile.  Now Karen was doing the talking while I listened and tried to ignore the pain on my feet.  We stopped at the bathroom south of Lone Peak HS to drink.  The next 2-3 miles were painful.  It was also getting very windy.  We stopped at Mitch Hollow Park bathroom and when I reached for the sink to get some water I got very light headed and dizzy.  So I put my head down and got my heart rate to settle a bit, gu'ed and drank.  I was so depleted that I had forgotten to restart my watch from the last stop.  After running Karen home (her watch read 20 miles), I ran home (which is almost a mile from her house) to make 23ish miles.  That last mile was a crawling 11:15-12:00 pace with a stiff headwind.  Feet and shins were hurting very bad. 

Got in the house and could not find any recovery drink so I mixed a pack of instant breakfast with milk and gulped that down in seconds.  I was so dehydrated I think I drank less than 18oz of water and 3 Gu.  For breakfast I had 6 oz OJ and a yogurt.  This 23 miler zapped me like a marathon except I had lots of stops; and my left foot arch and shin and heel are killing me!  So glad for a 3 weeks taper and hopefully I will recover.  No fun getting old and slow!

Altra Torin Miles: 23.00
Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00Weight: 0.00
Comments
From flatlander on Sat, Feb 07, 2015 at 16:52:48 from 76.31.29.220

This is a really good run. The harder it is at the end the more good it did, in my opinion. I forgot, you are coming here for Woodlands, correct? Wade and I are running the half that day, but I won't be properly trained, as it is in the middle of the Boston cycle -- he will probably be faster than me that day. Hope to see you then, and be sure to take a nice taper so your left foot and shin can recover.

From Nancy on Sun, Feb 08, 2015 at 07:10:44 from 24.10.168.18

Just reading your blog makes me tired. You are one tough runner. Hope you can have a nice break over the weekend.

From Toby on Sun, Feb 08, 2015 at 12:47:47 from 66.29.191.104

Oh Smooth... I just love your report! I love your honesty....that sometimes it isn't just rainbows and unicorns. I'm sorry it wasn't easy and that you were hurting. But you did it and therefore you are stronger because of it. You CAN do hard thing!

Seeing you guys was the only highlight of my run :)

From Tom Slick on Sun, Feb 08, 2015 at 14:22:02 from 69.171.160.117

Way to tough it out Ms. Smooth... Remember, if it was easy, everybody would do it.

From Rhett on Sun, Feb 08, 2015 at 15:54:06 from 199.117.154.54

I love running with a full moon. It sounds like it got tough on you latter in the run though..and you survived upright! Toughing out this run is going to make your marathon possible. You are going to be so much better off in 3 weeks when you are tapered and carb loaded and hydrated…and never forget, Race Day Magic IS REAL!!!!!

From The Quiet Pirate on Mon, Feb 09, 2015 at 22:05:39 from 71.50.79.3

Smooth,

How are your arch,heel & shin doing? Hopefully they are better and you've recovered from your long run.

I love the picture you painted of the sunrise. You're one tough cookie and I'm sure you'll do great at your upcoming marathon.

-QP

From Smooth on Wed, Feb 11, 2015 at 11:11:39 from 71.219.132.183

Flat ~ hope I get to see you at the start of Woodlands. The half will be great tune up race for your Boston!

Toby ~ thanks for your encouragement. And seeing you was my highlight. I'm so proud of you!

Slick ~ true, and not every runner is fast and injury free either!

Rhett ~ you're inspiring! I tell my running partner, Karen, about your awesome training and we both live your "speedy awesomeness" vicariously! :)

QP ~ HELLO there! So good to hear from you! Thank you for your kind words. My arch and shin are somewhat better, but the heels still hurt, even to walk on. It just takes time for the inflammation to settle down! Hopefully I won't be limping too much for the marathon.

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