Patience; the new endurance sport.

What a beautiful day!  I feel good (maybe it was all the food over the weekend that got my strength back up).  Ran 9:15's which is getting back to 'normal'.  I ran some extra miles over the weekend, but slow, slow miles.  I've felt pretty ok since Friday.  And today felt fairly close to normal-nothing like last week.  We'll see how it goes this week throwing in some exta miles.  

8:40/9:13/8:43/9:55/9:37/8:58/9:58  I ran through a swarm of mosquitos/crane flies by the lake so dense that their high pitched moan could be heard for 50 feet in either direction.  It was creepy to be pelted by insects big enough to feel upon impact while the (naturally-occuring) soundtrack from the Excorcist played above my head.  Aside from the hot July sun, already burning by 6:30 a.m.-- today's effort was moderatly strenuous with little results.  It is a big improvement however, over last week.  I am not sure that I'm going to be running any races at all this month and will hopefully aim for a strong run at the Hobble Creek Half in late August.  I had no idea it would take me this long to recover-- and then try to regain what was lost.  I am so happy to be running!  And for the clear sunny July skies--however hot. 

9:25's.  I've added 2 miles a day to what I did last week.  Maybe that's too much a jump, but I'm a little behind for SG training.  I haven't been able to do one long run yet since UVM and "the illness".  So I'm a little panicked about when I will feel well enough to put a 9-12'er (and beyond) into the bank.  Last saturday I ran 5 in the a.m. and another 4 in the p.m. just to get 9 into the day.  But I really stuggled yesterday with 7.  Change of subject: I have to brag for Catherine.  She and I ran together a lot a few  years back and we have trained for SGM together for 3 years. She and I always sort of ran about the same 9 m/m pace.  Earlier this Spring her sister sort of one-upped-her by bragging about 7 minute miles she ran during a triatholon (I hope she doesn't mind me telling).  Ever since, Catherine's been on fire. In March she started to add speed training to her distance.  She's so funny because I think she started running marathons first at the age of 21 and then had run 5 SGM's before she ever ran any other kind of race.  This spring she ran the half in Moab and did pretty well (better m/m than any of ther marathons), and then, this Saturday, she finished the Freedom Run 10K in 47 minutes!   When she decided to ramp it up, she rocked the house. Her mental tenacity astonishes me.  I'm also really jealous I'm not 26 right now.  I've learned so much about running in the past 10 year, and now I'm too pooped out to do anything about it.  I think I also just lost my SGM buddy :)  But I think it's awesome.

One of the things I like about Utah is that the evening and morning air really cools down--not like East or West Coast where the humidity carries the swealtering heat into the night.  Last night the golden evening air was so tepid and perfect, I had to get out again. It felt almost like taking a dip in the ocean at sunset--it gave me that feeling of relaxation and release to be by the river at dusk. And then again, this morning, I stepped out the door and was met by an immediate wave of fresh, clean, dry, cool air.  Of course, it quickly heated up once the sun made its way over the mountains, but what a beautiful way to end and then start the day in perfect tranqulity. On the trail, some fisherman left a pile of bread by the riverside (for bait?).  Anyway, my dog ran toward it and scarfed it down like she was a stray, desperate and panicked.  It was probably about half a loaf.  Poor thing, we don't eat enough white bread at my house apparently :)  In spite of the gorgeous morning, the run was a struggle still. I keep running thinking that one of these days  it's going to feel like it used to feel (faster). 

I can't post fast miles yet because I'm still struggling to get from 10's back to 9/sub-9's.  Today was that day though.  I ran 9:05/9:47/9:03/9:15/9:04/8:47/8:43.  I stopped at mile 3.2 for a breather and a stretch-- but ran the other miles solid.  I can't tell you how hard it's been these past 14 days.  I was struggling to maintain 10's and 11's all last and this week.  I ran a few sub 9:00's but the effort was unlike anything I've ever felt.  So at least today was "normal".  I'm just going to tell myself that it took 2 weeks to break down muscle mass, and 2 weeks to build it back up.  I'm just thrilled that running 9's didn't kill me.  Cause if the running didn't kill me this morning, a slumberparty with 10 twelve year old girls tonight probably will.  

Last night a small group of neighborhood boys were suddenly skateboarding and 'hanging out' in front of my house around 8:00 p.m. (imagine that, my house, of all places!) .  Those were smart boys though. I had the cutest girls within a 5 mile radius under one roof.  Needless to say, I was awake the entire night listening to endless rounds of "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedignfiled, and watching Napoleon Dynamite, and trying to decide if I should put a limit on how many salt and vinegar chips should be eaten by any one girl.  Then up at 5:30 a.m. after ZERO sleep for a run in the canyon with the RHPC!  It was a mighty pink group, including a few of brave, brave men who also ran.  I drove a group to the start and ran back to my car, so I only ran 10 of the 13 (9:25/8:56/9:10/9:32/9:08/8:32/8:31/8:42/8:58/9:00).  I wasn't sure it would be a good idea to do 13 since I have not run more than 7 miles in almost a month. I did have a 40+ week though, so that's good I guess.  I'll work my way back the long runs in the next 2 weeks. I just am trying not to push it so I'll have some gas in the tank for Hobble Creek and St. George.   Anyway, it was absolutely awesome to see friends!  I ran 3 miles with Rachael, but was totally holding her back.  It was nice to be up the canyon, the weather was perfect until the end when it rained on our parade.  I got the pickled chicken feet prize from Smooth and am looking forward 'trying' them.  I wonder though what Rachael is gonna do with those pink fish-net gloves.....hmm.  So great to see everybody and finally meet some new faces.  I was home in time to serve waffles with whipped cream and strawberries and mitigate one last round of pictionary.  I'm beat.  Thanks Marion for all the "grown-up" fun this morning!!!