Patience; the new endurance sport.

Hmm. Well I could have used a few extra days of February, but I don't think it works that way.   I'd also be pretty happy to bypass Monday and Tuesday, and just get to Wednesday or Sunday.... This morning I challenged myself to a 8:45 m/m on mile 5. I was really encouraged by Saturday's run.  I felt strong, and everthing feels 'in place'--no pain, no swelling. It's getting light by 6:20, but soon it will DSL which means it won't be light until 7:20 :(  Tommorrow's my Sarah day! Yay!

I think we ran 4. I should check Sarah's blog to see for sure. It was 58 degrees this morning at 6:00.  Sarah wore a short sleeved t shirt.  I wasn't that brave.  I hate March. I'm colder in March and April than any other month of the year.  I don't know why.  I just wish it would be snow, snow, snow and then Spring would start. It's so dull still, and unpredictable.  I'm just not satisfied with loosing the snow until the tulips and trees bloom. 

The theme for today is :Burley men and small dogs.  In the middle of the day, I took a lunch hour run and there was an inordinate number of large, manly men walking small dogs.  Not Miniature Scnuazer/English Terrier small, but Pomeranian/SchTzu/Teacup Poodle small.  First, was a gay couple proudly walking a tiny blond pomeranian wearing a sweater. But the there was a college student looking kid, hoody, ipod, and tiny SchTzu on a leash.  Then an older, middle age Swedish Farmer looking guy walking some thing like a poodle?  I'm serious. They say that people pick dogs that look like themselves/represent their personalities.  This idea gave me pause as I passed. I guess I should be glad that men can embrace their dainty side.  I mean, I can't even do that.  The run was hard.  I was tired by Noon and have had my energy sapped by 14 straight days of hard core pre-tax filing discussions about non-cash charitable contirbutions.  See, you're tired just reading that.

I'm going to try cycling the Fridays before my Saturday longer runs.  I cycled (according to the stationary read out) 19.5 miles.  Who knows really.  I rode for 55 minutes between 19-20 mph at a resistance level of 3-5 and then did all the same situp/pushups/planking I do every single day.  Man that works up a wicked sweat. All the while, enjoying pointless brain candy for breakfast by watching an episode and a half of Alias.  Whoever thought to combine Wonder Woman, 007, Borne Identity, and Days of Our lives into one show (Alias) was genius.  It's the post-modern soap opera.  Dexter will be my next cycling series.  Votes?

The worst run ever.  I was good the first 6, but then the temp dropped 10 degrees and I was underdressed (didn't even wear gloves), I lost my dog in the newly unfrozen marsh, and I got really sick to my stomach (hmmm, maybe that block of Velveta and 42 oz. Diet Pepsi wasn't such a good idea).  I forget also, that even at 27 degrees, you can get dehydrated.  The last 3 miles all I could dream about was getting home to drink a gallon of water.  My next runs will be shorter, higher intensity.  No more long runs until Moab.  After Moab, I'll reevealuate for the Ogden Marathon. Jeff and I passed each other a bunch of times doubling up portions of the trail for extra miles.  You know when someone is good at something when they make it look easy.  He makes running look effortless, he glides.  It's fun watching people do what they are good at. But it makes me wonder, do I make anything look effortless?  Am I that good at anything?  Probably just eating.

I had a really strong run in spite of Saturdays bad one.

 More snow here in Utah!  Hard to run on in the pitch dark daylight savings a.m.  I hate daylight savings.  I hate black ice.  300 sit ups, 40 push ups, ( 3)60 second plank--stretching, painful post seated travel stretching.

I ran after work.  Not fond of the  post work-day work out. But I pushed hard for two good miles (8:30's).  On mile 6 toward the end, I got a surprise call from Catherine!  I laid off inviting her to run since our  post SGM runs because I didn't want to tempt her to run when she was trying to get her thyroid thing in order. While we trained she lost like 15 pounds and was exahusted all the time, lost her hair, etc.  Then after the Marathon was diagnosed with Graves.  So now she's all juiced up on sythetic hormone, gained her weight and grew her hair back, and she's ready to rock.  Tricky little thing's been training for Moab behind my back.  We decided we'd do the Utah County Martahon in June.  I'm so excited!  It was weird I couldn't get myself to register for Ogden.  No Amanda, no Catehrine for Ogden so I was waffeling.  I guess it's time to run on my home turf for a change.  Yay Cath's back! 

I ran two of these miles so fast on a full lunch-time stomach I thought I'd die.  I had to rest for about 15 seconds after each one to catch my breath, but I still averaged 9:13 for the whole run.  I hate this time of year.  It's cold, bleak, and the color of depression.  How's that for an entry. 

I rode 19 miles on the stationary and did 300 sit ups, 40 push ups.  Later on couldn't resist being outside and ran 2 easy miles for lunch.  But also, I registered for the Utah Valley Marthon on June 13th.  If Marion and I are doing it, you all are doing it. So, as they say; Just Do It.

https://www.raceit.com/register/?event=201.php

Besides which 100% of the proceeds go to charity.  Now that's a race I can feel good about.

"Fast miles" is qualifed as anything sub 9:00.  Ran with Catherine this morning.  We haven't done a run over 5 since Fall.  She felt pretty strong....but she could be having a cardiac arrest and I would never know.  She just runs and never complains. Unlike me, I like to complain. And then I  stop to stretch the parts I complain about.  At the end of the trail Timpanogos had one trianglar section lit bright pink from behind as the sun hit the horizon in the East.  The whole imense mountain face stood cool, stark, and steely white, except this one angular section of pink where the sun kissed it good morning. This,  reflected with razor-edge precision in mirrored stillness of the lake.  It's like if a tree falls in the forest, can anyone hear it.  Does beauty exist in silent places across the earth even if there is no one there to witness it?.  Yes. The freakin answer is yes.  Just get out there and be the first one to see it in the morning.   The lake is now almost all the way unfrozen except around the reedy edges and the rocky pier.  The lake was so still, it shone the same breathtaking shade of silvery-blue-and-pink that filled the sky. What a gift to be filled with these silent beautiful moments, alone in the world, before anyone else is awake enough to ruin the view.

8:14/8:21/8:46/9:04/9:05  

It was not my intention to go fast, I was just in a hurry to get it done.  I got pain in a few familiar places, which I hate.  But it was a great run; Good effort, and I didn't die trying. Now, I've just got to tone it down for the next few days. The hay's in the barn. Nothing more I can do this week.

I got to be outside for this one.  Warm, and bright but milky skies. Everything, except the river, is still the color I hate (the color of nothing).  Next month we'll see some green.  I had to restrain the mileage, and keep it moderate.  I need to hold back the tiger for Saturday (or in my case, the house-cat).  I loved being outside, since it's started getting warmer, I'm overwhelmed with the bird chatter--thousands and thousands of birds and ducks celebrating the warm weather. Even an occasional pheasant screeching in the distance. I keep looking for my owls.  I felt so lucky to see them two years in a row. Last year while Amanda and I were on the trail about 6:30 a.m. and  I just stopped mid-step to stare at them, then Amanda stopped to see what I was looking at.  Then they spread their huge wings and floated away across the river.  Today, I saw a lot of fallen eggs.  That's strange because there hasn't been much wind lately. Ave. pace 8:48.

Ran a super easy, chatty 4 with my Sis who's visiting from DC for Moab.

Met Josse for a early morning run.  She totally kicked by butt by 7:00 a.m.  It was good to have a challenging run and to catch up.  

Hiked through Arches.  Spent lunch at Delicate Arch with my DC girls.  It was Awesome. The weather was perfect. Nice to be in the sun and eat dried mango and drink ice water from a Camelpack while hiking and enjoying the world with my sister.

I totally got one thousand three hundred eighty seventh place! Score!  OK, I'm being sarcastic. I got 68th place in my division. Ok, still sarcastic... but true nonetheless. (I guess out of 3,284 runners/ 229 in my division it's not too shabby). I actually did my personal best time for this course.  Two minutes better than 2007 and 7 minutes better than 2006 & 2008.  Catherine and Mindy drove down from Provo the morning of and it was so great to see them there!  Catherine and I ran about the first mile together, but she was excited to see what she could do in a half so I hung back while she sprinted on ahead. I never saw her after the race so I hope she did well.  It was an awesome run overall, a good effort on my part and I didn't re-injure.  So I'm happy.  I could have shaved another 3 minutes off my time if I didn't stop to use the port-a-potty on mile 8 (icky). Way more sun and heat that I'd anticipated so it got a little tough after mile 10 out into the city.  But what a gorgeous run.  My favorite part is when people shut up around mile 6 and all you can hear are pounding feet and breathing ecoing in the canyon. And then at mile 9 the drum ladies.  Those drums are amazing.  The river was so gorgeous. They've made a few improvements to the canyon (camp sights and a new bike trail to the side of the road). So that means I'll be coming back really soon to use that trail.  I always have them drop me off 10 miles up that canyon really early in the morning, but if you don't get before 7:00 you risk your life sharing the road with the bikers and the big trucks hauling their kayaks and rafts.  So now there's a bike trail right along the river's edge.  Can't wait to get back. I love Moab.  The whole experience was beyond words, just like the silent red-rock cliffs towering above the Green River Canyon.

Got up to run just 3 little miles with Sarah this morning.  We ran a different route, so it was not only a nice break from the regular grueling a.m. miles, but a change in the pitch-dark and depressing pre-dawn scenery :)  I can't wait until it starts getting lighter sooner. When we got back to the house Josse had shown up to run with the FRB a.m. team.  Whats with all the cute hair cuts you guys? Both Sarah and Josse have sassy new hair cuts. I'm jealous and just about ready to wack mine off. Anyway, Josse gave me back my favorite ear muff and can of mace I'd left in her car last week.  She said her son "discovered" the mace.....sorry Josse. Also, I got to meet fellow FRBlogger, "Carolyn from Colorado" who was proudly wearing her Moab cap from this weekend.  I wish I had more time this morning, I would have loved to go out with them but had to be back by 7:15. Some other time I hope.  I took it easy Sunday and Monday and today, better not to overdo it this week anyway. Will run another 3 in the afternoon just for fun now that it's lighter later, and the weather is mild but still cool. 

I usually get two migranes a year.  One in February, and one in September/October.  But last month I had a string of them (like 5 in as many days).  I had a mild one yesterday, and another one today that has not gone away since this morning.  It's not the headache-pain that bothers me.  It's the vision disturbance, light senstivity, and the nausea.  The first time I had one I was 20 and I thought I was going blind.  I never had any more until my 30's.  Then only twice a year.  But I have had 7 in less than a month. I won't make the mistake of taking Imetrex this time.  I think that's what made me have more than just one last time.  I just hope this is the last one until Fall. Anyway, I had to turn to my old frienemy the treadmill to get my running done today.  Boring.

No flashing/vibrating lines, nausea, or headache when I awoke.  But I could hear howling wind and pelting snow hit the window panes.  I went downstairs to wait for Josse while I stretched.  The rocking chairs on the front porch were rocking madly in the wind, and when Josse drove up, I could see the snow flying sideways in the headlights.  Here's what I love about running; it instantly qualifies your friends.  Will she, or won't she? ( in this weather).  When she says what you would say (which is: I got up, I'm here, I'm running) you know you got a keeper.  That plus she brought her own dog.  There are girls who run fast, and who win races -- but when talent is their only driving force-- those same girls are are often wimpy and lazy in other ways.  So there we were running with our three dogs, in sideways snow hitting our eyeballs, in the tall trees and pitch black pre-dawn.  It's nice to have a friend who will run in a blizzard with you, and also tell you interesting stories about life. I'm just sorry for her sake, I can't run any faster.     

So my daughter looks at me from the rear view mirror and announces that emotional and mental inflexiblity is a sign of mental illness--like Hitler or Mousolini.  "What do you mean?" I ask interested in avoiding mental illness at all cost.  "Well, we never eat french fries for example" she says as we're driving by Ripples.  "Watch this!" I said as I flip a U turn to the drive up window.  So for dinner Mommy gave her babies onion rings, french fries, and a pineapple rasberry shake.  My kids just laughed and laughed from the back seat.  When I asked how come they were laughing.  My son, shiny eyed and a mouth full of french fries looks right at me and says: "Sucker."    "Yeah?" I said "I just tricked you into thinking I'm sane."

Because if you really think about it, who tries to prove to their own children that they are not insane by feeding them french fries and ice cream for dinner. Who's the sucker now.

Granted, some Mondays are harder than other Mondays.  But when it dark, 29 degrees (or maybe 15 degrees considering windchill ), with cloudy skies, 2 inches of fresh powder on top of newly budded tree branches, and even the dogs don't want to leave their beds.....That my friends is MONDAY in all CAPS.  I can take a few days of the cold throwback weather.....but it's going to last ALL WEEK long.  Where's my St. John's Wort, Valerian Root, and Zanax when I need it?  Escaping winter feels, strangely like those last .2 of the race.... that long, never ending corridor before the finish line...you can see it, people are telling you 'you're almost there!',  but it's in a slow motion time warp that seems neverending).  So I got on the dreadmill and jogged slower than I care to admit and counted myself lucky to have a  DVD to watch (totally out of breath, inspiration, and engery by 7:00 a.m.). I'm sure the french fries on Friday and all the totally excellent Mexican Food (enjoyed at Mercado Mejicano on State Street in Orem) is to blame.  That and the most depressing Spring weather since 1994.

If I miss that first wave of sleepiness that hits around 9:00 p.m. I may never sleep after that.  I catch a second wind that will keep me awake all night long.  It's rough when that happens (again, I blame the Mexican food from Saturday. Why is it always the Mexican food with me?).  I got up to run with Sarah and was met at the door by Sasha who informed me that Sarah couldn't come out to play.  Not that I blame her, 6:00 a.m. isn't the most relaxing part of the day when you're still nursing a baby.....so I came home and ran the trail.  I ran pretty fast because I was in a hurry ( flat 9's and never stopped the whole run).  It was a good workout--or at least it felt that way once I was done.  This early spring weather feels colder than winter--maybe its because you're expecting it to be warmer. But it's the kind of cold that chills me to the bone and can only be cured by an overly hot 30 minute bath. It's chilly, but it's still better than trying to run in the late summer afternoon.