my.daily.body

I slept until 8:10 today. I would've slept longer, but my son has already started school and I needed to get him ready and fed. After I dropped him off at school I went to our clubhouse and did 3 rounds of Spartacus. Jasmine joined me for the last bit of my workout and then offered to take my 2 little ones so I could get a run in outside. How could I turn that down? So in 92 degree windy weather I ran 5.5 miles. I didn't want to bring my watch because I let it dictate to me what my pace "should" be. I did want it just for tracking my miles though. So I brought it and kept it on my clock rather than my pace stats. It would beep every mile, so it kept me on track. I wanted to run easy. My legs enjoyed the pace and my breathing was easy. It was a good run to listen to music and think of my brother.

Average pace: 8:41 

Today's run started far too early for a Saturday. It's always good to get it over with before the sun has enough time to scorch me. Today is my husband's birthday!!YAY!!! Happy Birthday love!! My sister has my kids so after my run Tim was still in bed so I jumped in the bath to relax my legs. 

Anyway, today Jasmine, Dena, Tricia, and I ran to the Bountiful Temple. 7 miles up 7 miles down. It's a steady climb up 1500 South and then a great climb from Orchard to Bountiful Blvd. My goal today was to stay under 10:30 pace up the hill. It was a 10:17 for that mile. I was very happy with that. It's a good mountain climb! Once I got to the top of the hill I felt like I could've pushed a little harder, but was happy I reserved the energy for the rest of the run. The way home was nice!! It felt so good on my legs to just shake out the uphill. I better go get ready for Becky's daughter's baptism.

Ave pace: 8:40 

Drove to Becky's to start our run at 5 am. We ran an 11 mile loop and it was the hardest loop I've ran lately. We ran up 400 North. It was 5 miles to the top. B.R.U.T.A.L!!! We used the walk/run/shuffle method on the ridiculously steep parts. I know... I know... If I have to walk I started off too fast. You're right. I should have held back more in the beginning of our miles. Mile 5 was an awesome 12:44 pace. Not my best. Oh well... 400 North is now my enemy that I will conquer. :) That was a hard run today. Whew!!! Our overall pace was 8:47. 7 miles were really tough with hills while the last 4 were pretty nice and downhill. I'm just going to say it now... I'm nervous for tomorrow's tempo. It kicks me around, beats me up, chews me rough, spits me out, then stomps on me. It's the one workout I really dread. Whatever, I'll keep showing up in hopes one day my body will get it. 

I must have jinxed myself from my complaint yesterday about being nervous for today's tempo run... My patience, love, and parenthood was tested to his limit last night with my sick baby boy. Some people can go a few nights of crying children before their limit is tested. My limit hits quite quickly in a time span of 1 night. My sleep has always been my number 1 priority my entire life. I value my sleep above everything in this life. I was up from 12:30-6. I sat on the couch with an ill child from 12:30-3:40 and then put him in bed and climbed into my own bed and it wasn't 10 minutes till he started crying again. So, I returned to the couch and held him till we both fell asleep around 6. There was no way I would attempt a tempo run after that. I took him to the Dr. and he has a virus that has just wiped him out. :(

I thought about just not running at all today because I tore my house apart spraying everything with lysol, scrubbing walls, and washing everyone's bedding. All that cleaning can wear ya out! I was ready to crawl into bed at 6:30 when my husband told me that I should run if I want to be my best. With a challenge like that I was dressed and ready to run. Since it was still 94 degrees I drove where the trees are tall and shady, Bountiful Blvd. I love the rolling hills! I was not feeling it today. I had the worst "no sleep headache" and just plain tired, but I had to prove to myself that I could still perform after a sleepless night and busy day. There were bikers next to me climbing the hill and said to the kid lagging behind "Come on! You can't let a runner beat you!" That was it... I was going to run a steady good run because of that stupid comment. I maintained a great 7:31 average. I'm very happy about that after the crappy night and day I had. Now I'm off to my bed to prep for another sleepless night and 10 miler in the morning. tschuess! <-- sound that one out. (swiss german)

Man, sleepless nights mess me up! Last night I was on the couch again all night with the little man. I bailed again on my morning run. I was supposed to run 10 miles with Becky, but that didn't happen. I worked this morning and then sat on my couch all day with my little guy till he fell asleep and then I moved him to his bed and I returned to the couch. I got up to fix myself a salad, 10 oreos, and a king size kit kat. How could I not run after eating oreos, a kit kat, AND sitting on the couch all day? It's been a long time since I've binged like that, so I'm okay with it. Well, I'm okay with it now that I've ran some of the calories off. :) I was planning on 8ish miles at an 8:30 pace. I maintained that pace for the first 5 miles. I was quite proud of myself for sticking to that comfortable pace and letting the little legs enjoy the run. But then, my brother joined me in my thoughts. I let the thoughts flow. Song after song on my Pandora radio station fed my desire to see my brother. My last 3 miles were under 8:00 min/miles. I sometimes feel like I've gone a little crazy since my brother's passing. I get at the verge of tears when my sons laugh because I remember Aaron laughing a lot when we were children. I went to Lagoon the other day with my 7 year old and fought the tears the entire time, because his laughter triggered memories that are passed. I run and in the back of my thoughts I am thinking of him the entire time. He loved running. (I was never the runner). He loved to feel his heart beat fast, I was okay with not feeling that. I miss him so deeply. Life has taken some very surprising turns. All this running used to be my therapy, but it may be so that it's not enough. *sigh* Well, dang-it... Sorry for unloading. My run was great and the average pace was 8:08 (8 has always been my lucky #)

Today was a great workout day. I do love pure cross-training days. I went to the Gold's Gym with my sister and brother-in-law. We did 20 minutes cardio warm-up. I was highly against running, because that's all I've been doing lately, so while they ran I did the stair climber which got me sweaty. We then moved to the free weights and worked out our arms and shoulders. It was great, and I kind off miss the weights. At the end of our workout we had mini competitions. (who can do the most of certain workout moves) Always a great time with Barry and Charmaine! Now, if I could just get my husband on board. He doesn't know how fun working out is yet. ;) I do have to say that he is incredibly supportive of me and my hobbies! 

Becky, Andy, and I planned to run the last 14 miles of the Big Cottonwood marathon course. Once we were all in the same car we decided to add 2 more miles. 14, 16, what's the difference? Well, not much, but jump to 17 miles from 14 and then it gets a little tougher. It was so nice going down the canyon. Easy miles and they flew by. It was a great run until we hit a long stretch of a busy road. It smelt bad and it was UgLy! I felt pretty good for the run. I tried my new Saucony Kinvara's out and they were lovely! They gave me a couple of blisters, but they felt pretty good for the most part. The marathon is approaching quite fast now and I'm feeling quite nervous. Our average pace was just under 8:00. 

This was a great recovery run. Nice and slow. I ran with Becky and we were still pretty wiped out from the 17 we did on Saturday. I'm trying to figure out what a realistic goal is for me for the Big cottonwood marathon. It's a hard one to predict since I don't know how I'll feel on the day of the race. Hopefully the tapering will get me excited to actually run it... At this point I'm purely nervous!

Becky and I put in 6 easy miles. Still recovering from Saturday. ;) Reality is setting in for the both of us of what we actually signed up for. We have just one more week of high miles and then it's cut-back time. This is where I wonder if I've done enough... I think I have. I've not missed one long run and have put my entire heart into the training. It will be interesting to see where it gets me on race day. I will be able to evaluate myself better once the marathon is over and how to better train for the next one. I don't even know yet if there will be a next one. It's all based on my Cardiologist. He's only given me clearance for one. 

UPDATE:
 I was feeling like doing some weights, so I did 45 minutes of squats and lunges and a little shoulder work. Felt amazing! I love some good squatting. 

Spent all day thinking about doing a run today and finally did it with Becky tonight. It was an ugly run! The sky was ashy with the fire burning. I couldn't look straight ahead, because every time I did my eyes would be pounded with the ash falling from the sky. I have been sick the last few days and the air quality probably wasn't the best, but oh well... what's done is done. Tomorrow we leave for the Tetons to run our ultra relay. I'm nervous, but the group of girls I'm running with are incredible! Best bunch of ladies around. Marathon is 4.5 weeks away...

43 Minute leg workout. LOT'S OF WEIGHTED SQUATS. LOT'S OF WEIGHTED LUNGES!

10 mile evening run on Legacy Trailhead.  
First 5 miles were 8.22 average pace.
Last 5 miles were 7.47 average pace. 

5 mile treadmill run. I ran on the treadmill at the clubhouse since I needed to take my  kids with me while my husband replaced our water heater. It wasn't as enjoyable as most of my runs are. I watched them the entire time through glass windows as they fought, threw toys at each other, and cried. Those 5 miles were long and frustrating. 

3 miles @ 8:00/mile
1 mile @ 7:30/mile
1 mile @ 7:00/mile

Today was great to run with Becky. I feel like I haven't ran with her in a while with feeling sick and doing more night running lately. We started off at 5:30 am for our 10 miler. This was my recovery run so good thing Becky didn't push me to go any faster. I felt great to keep it at a nice honest recovery pace. I'm feeling tired now though. Next week is the beginning of tapering, and I'm looking forward to it. I hope that I've done enough. It's the best I could do, so I'm proud of that. Like Tony Horton on P90X always says "Do your best, forget the rest."

Average pace 8:49 

Ran this evening since I'm afraid to run in the dark in the morning by myself. It was a good thing I ate a (maybe I ate 2, but you will never know for sure.) donut, because donuts really motivate me to get my butt moving. ;) 

Average pace 7:41 

Today I ran the "Utah runner girls" half marathon course with Becky.  It was a pretty tough course. It was such a fun 20 miler run! I laughed a lot!! 

Now, my left hip is hurting me! It really killed me at the end of the run. I think I should figure something out to fix this. Anyway, the last high mile run was fantastic! 

8:37 average pace. 

40 minutes weighted squats and lunges. A lot of leg work. 

20 minutes kickboxing

60 minutes "Stretch X" from P90X

Ran with Becky today. It was nice to get a 5 miler over so early in the morning. I came home to sleeping bodies, so I did the 1 hour "Stretch X" from P90X. One hour of stretching really feels amazing!!!!! I'll be doing a lot of stretching these next 3 weeks. I don't feel ready to hit my goal, but I feel totally ready for a full marathon.

average pace: 8:25

mile 1: 8:45
mile 2: 8:36
mile 3: 8:33
mile 4: 8:21
mile 5: 7:54

My legs felt heavy today. I just couldn't get a good burst of energy. Becky had already ran her 8 miles, so she took one for the team and ran my 8 with me. I needed that push today. I find that when I'm emotionally drained that my physical level sinks with it for a while. I can usually climb out of it, but yesterday was particularly a sad day. Its why I run though... It turns a negative into a positive. It helps me realize that I am not responsible for anyone's happiness. I can't run their miles. They are on their own. I can only choose to change my life. I didn't eat my emotions yesterday, so YAY me!! I'm improving!

Oh man, I have lead legs! I just did want want to move them today. I ran 2 miles on the treadmill 8:00 min/miles, then 1 mile on the elliptical, then 2 more miles on the treadmill 8:00 min/miles. 

Update:

Ran 4 miles with Becky. I agreed on 3, but then when she got here it quickly turned to 4. That always seems to happen... I am now covered in mosquito bites. I'm counting this 4 mile run as my 4 miler I'm supposed to do tomorrow. I'm sticking to early morning pilates and resting before the Layton half marathon. 

Becky and I paced the 2:00 time slot at the Layton Half Marathon. It was so good for me to run slow. My hip is just killing me lately. I'm nervous about the marathon. I'm interested to see how I do, yet nervous about my hip acting up and bothering me during the run. I can do it, right? I keep telling myself that everyone running will be battling their own injuries and mental abilities. I'm not exception.