Trail Running Granny

I am finally back running again, and it feels great.  It has been 9 days since Red Mountain, I ran a nice slow 4 miles on the beach.  I ran down by the water where the sand is hard, it was a perfect way to get my legs moving again  and scenery I don't get in SLC!  I am excited to get focused again on my running when I get back home.  I have missed running with all my running friends!

Rain, taking the day off!

This morning part of our marathon training group, "the running chics" got together for a 3 mile power walk, it was raining so we went to the Cottownwood Heights Rec center to walk. We wanted to take it easy because we are doing our long run tomorrow (9 miles). Desiree, Jenny, Lisa and Erica are training for their first marathon and I am their Mother Hen, showing them the way! It has been so much fun with these younger girls, I think that training with them is going to improve my time and I will  be a better runner by trying to keep up with these gals who are 10 and 20 years younger than me.  Our little group is very dedicated and we have more fun than we should be allowed to have on these long runs, time zips by, lots of laughs and great conversation! I can't wait for 5:00a tomorrow, we are going to run to Mimi's and have breakfast, now that school is out and young moms don't have to get their kids out the door.

This morning our running group got out on the road at 5:00am and did a nine mile route weaving thru Cottonwood Heights and ending up at Mimi's in Murray. It was one of those perfect runs, great weather, great company and feeling the thrill of being pushed just a little harder than normal and yet feeling strong at the finish.  Our average pace was 11:55. 

I was planning on taking a day off of running after my 9 miler yesterday, but after a email message from Laurie and Sasha mentioning the 6 day a week running program, I went out for a little 2 mile run. Usually after a 9 mile run I am fine, but my run with my friends was at a pace a little faster than my normal training run and I felt some tenderness in my knees. I hope that as I continue to run at this pace my knees will get used to it, I would really like to improve my time. So today makes 3 days of running in a row, only 3 more to go. I need to go check out Lauri's blog and see if she made it.