Trail Running Granny

I took a nice easy run this morning.  Great weather.  I am really getting excited about St. George.  Fun, family, friends, and I love Snow Canyon. It is always a good time.

I dropped 1.6 pounds!!!!  I am 2 1/2 pounds away from my TOU weight!

Is anyone out there looking forward to the debate tomorrow?  It is probably not a good idea to talk politics, I seem to get myself in trouble when ever I voice my opinion, so I will shut up right now.

Have a great day!!!

I decided to sleep in today.  My heels have been more sore than normal so I am sparing them the pounding.  I am doing  Vit. I 3 times a day until the marathon and am going to ice several times a day.   The weight stayed the same today, had I run it would have been down a bit, but I really need to work on my feet.  

Tomorrow we head off!! 

This was my 12th  St.  George marathon and it was CRAZY!!!  We got off the bus and it was raining and never stopped.  Maurine and I huddled together next to a fence clad in trash bags.  We took off together and stayed together for 7 miles.  I was struggling from the get go, as I did with TOU, my breathing was very labored from the get go, my heels and knees were sore, and the rain was relentless!  I had on 2 shirts and a parka and a trash bag, the trash bag was leaky, so I chucked that, then the parka was soaked and chucked that and then I chucked my long sleeve shirt and ran in my polar fleece pants that were saoking wet and my short sleeve running shirt.  The wind was blowing in my face and I was freezing.  Maurine took off up Veyo and I walked and felt like crap.  I kept plugging and sloshing along until about mile 12 1/2 and thought,  okay, this is nuts I am so cold and miserable, I am going to DNF at 13 and be done with it. 

At mile 13 I told the aid station I was dropping out and they put me in a warm car to wait for the next "wiennie bus".  There was another fellow in the car shivering cold, he was about 25 and looked like death warmed over, he  said he was running for his dad that was 73 years old and had passed away and was spreading his ashes along the way, he hadn't trained and  was a mess, he was in a pair of short shorts and a singlet.  I asked him if he wanted my polar fleece pants that I bought yesterday with Maurine ( we had matching Walmart pants we bought yesterday for the anticipated bad weather).  He was so grateful!  I was so happy to give the guy my pants, and felt like something good was coming out of this miserable day.

We got into the shuttle, it was packed with runners, we were sitting on each others laps.  As we drove down the course super slow with runners all over the road, runners would hit on the window of the car begging us for a ride,  it felt like some end of the world movie, it was pretty freaky.  The shuttle driver said that there was not enough ambulances to pick up all the runners with hypothermia. 

We got to the park and got dropped off, and after being in the warm van, I was SUPER cold and dripping wet looking for my husband, it was soooo pathetic. 

My ipod stopped working after 3 songs, my phone was completely messed up, the face of my garmin fell off, and for the first time in 12 St. George Marathons, my clothes bag was not in the retrival area. 

My hubby took me to In and Out for burgers, took me back to the condo, and I had a jetted hot bubble bath and then a fabulous massage and a nice long nap.

I felt good about dropping out, I think had I continued I could have had some serious problems, but now as I write this I am so glad I had the sense to drop and do a half marathon. 

I am excited to read all your blogs. For those of you that finished the marathon you are AMAZING!!!!

Now that my runs are done for the year, I am going to focus on getting these last few pounds off and following Sashas plan to run 4 miles 6 times a week.

I have been thinking a bit about my DNF in ST. George and I have decided it was really very liberating to think that I could drop out without feeling quilty, I think being 53 years old and all the marathons under my belt made it easy for me to say " okay, this one is  not working for me today, I'm done".  I had a great weekend with my husband, a fun story to tell, and am looking forward to my next run in the Spring. I think my Give a Damn got Busted and it was all Good!!!  Thanks Marion for introducing me to my new favorite song!!!

Today is the beginning of my new post marathon plan.  4 miles 6 days a week and following the core plan!  I am embaressed at the weight I have gained over these last 2 weeks with TOU and St. George.

My garmins face fell off  while running in St. George so I am guessing,  I think I did 4 miles in 46 min. I did exactly what Sasha recommended, no walking breaks, just a nice easy pace I could maintain for 4 miles.

Today I am 12.2 pounds away from my goal.  YIKES!!!  How did I let that happen????  I really feel it!!!

As far as stiffness, I feel pretty good, but then I only did a half a marathon....

Hope all you St. Georgers are taking it easy for a few days!!!!!

I did my 4 mile loop, the heels were tender, I was one minute slower today.  It took 47 min.  I need to do more cross training....   I need another hour or more of exersize.  I am trying to figure out how all you young moms get so many hours in  a day.  I think I need to get up earlier and stop being such a whimp!

Nutrition was good yesterday.

9.8 lbs away from my goal! (2.4 lb. loss from yesterday)

I ran with the chicks this morning. I did an honest 4 miles in 52 min.  My guessing  on Mon and Tue were off  a bit.  These chicks will keep me on the right track!  A great morning run, I am going to plan on going with them every Monday, I will enjoy having that to look forward to..

My nutrition was at about a 7 yesterday, too much diet coke and not enough water.

9.2 pounds away from my goal (  down .6 from yesterday)

The heels are sure acting up, but I am not going to stop running, I think I need to go get the plantar brace thing from Wasatch Running, my friend Ardath said it is helping her. I figure 4 miles a day can't hurt my feet, so I am not quitting. I have stopped taking Vit. I, I am trying to save that for long runs and races, my hubby is afraid it will ruin my stomach.   I will figure this out yet. 

I need to send my garmin in, I am not sure of my time this morning, forgot to look at the clock before I ran out the door.

My nutrition was good except for the pink cookie Jen brought me and my Cafe Rio Salad...okay, I guess my nutrition was pretty lame.... but I got away without gaining, today I will Nazi about my nutrition!

9.1 away from my goal  ( .1 down from yesterday)  Whew!  That was close!!

4 mile run up to the Canyon Raquet Club and back. 

Nutrition was pretty good yesterday, about an  8, but the scale didn't show me any love.....

9.0 to goal  ( .1 down from yesterday)

My big test is to see if I can get thru the weekend without blowing it.  I have a birthday party Sunday. 

I am looking forward to a chilly Breast Cancer run/walk tomorrow! 

Everyone have a great weekend!!

PS  I took my Vit. I and my heels felt much better, plus recommited to doing my exersizes!  I love doing the ice, so I am faithful about that.  I will get this taken care of!!

Yoohoo!   A fun morning with Marion, Maurine and Kelli at the Breast Cancer walk at Liberty park. It was fun to meet Kelli in real life!  We lucked out on the weather, it started raining just as we finished.   

Harold and I and Odee walked, while the other girls ran.  It was great, a lot of people came out to support Breast Cancer, it was fun to be a part of all the excitement. 

We loved the signs.... Bosom Buddies and Save Second Base, everyone sure had a positive attitude!

Thanks Marion for letting us be a part of the event! 

Harold and I just followed Kunfublondes instructions on inserting pictures. This is Paul in the hospital, with Bus the horse dog. 

This morning was my run with the chicks, Jen and Lisa and I.  They run a little faster than I do when I run solo, so I am panting like an old woman, it is good for me.  It was 36 degrees when we started.  I bundled up enough that it wasn't that bad.

I made it thru the weekend without gaining weight!  Yesterday was tough, because I wasn't the greatest Friday night (Iggys) and Sat. So on Sunday whent they passed around the chocolate in RS I passed it up, and then at the Birthday Party I took a 32 oz. diet coke to keep my mouth occupied.  It worked!

8.3 pounds away from goal (down .7 from Friday)

Oh, I have a private swim lesson today at noon, and then I am doing Zumba at 7:00pm, I am trying to do a class at the rec center every weeknight at 7:00  They have Zumba on Mon. and Wed. and Yoga on Tue. and Thur.  I am going to check out the yoga, if there are men in it, I am going to try and talk Harold into joining me. I am not sure he will go for it or not.

Okay, I am too depressed to do Zumba, I would die of embaressment if I started  panting in class.... BUT  I did go have my private swim lesson and the teacher said I was pretty good, she gave me a few tips on my form, so there is some good news.

This morning I did muscle up finally!  I haven't done it since Paul got injured.  I only had time afterwards for a 2 mile run, I took it real slow, but I am alittle nervous now with all the talk on my blog yesterday, it is all good though, I am glad you all are looking out for me.

The scale went up .7 pounds this morning,but I had a great day of healthy eating so I am not too concerned.

9 pounds away from my goal.

Now off to sit with Paul for the afternoon!  Thanks again for all your comments yesterday!  you guys are the best!!!

Did Yoga with Harold  in the evening, he really liked it!  We are going to try and do it twice a week together.

40 degrees when I went out, that felt perfect, funny for a winter hating California girl to say, but it did feel great.  I kept it slow and felt fine. 

Maurine and I are planning a 5K tempo run down Millcreek Sat., I am looking forward to that. Anyone interested?

8.4 pounds away from goal

I did muscle up this morning.  It feels good to get some strength training in, it is my weakness for sure. 

Tonight I am going to yoga again, I made Harold try it Tue. night and he really enjoyed it, so we are going to make it a part of our winter routine. 

Not sure I will get a run in today, but I do have my doctors appt today, I will be glad to get it over with.  Thank you my dear friends!

8.4 from goal (same as yesterday, but again, I had a great day of nutrition so I am okay with that)

Okay, I went to the doctor yesterday to check on my panting while running. They did blood work, which I haven't got the results to yet. They did a chest xray and a EKG and both of those looked great. I have a stress test scheduled next thur. at St. Marks, the doctor thinks everything is fine, and if the stress test is alright, she will give me  clean bill of health and I can do whatever I want.  I had a hunch it was a combination of the stress and worry over Paul and cutting back on my runs due to the PF.  I was up 6 pounds since my last doctor appt. afew months ago, so all of this contributed to my lack of energy and fatigue. I am glad that I had this check up, it is good to know this old girl is healthy just a little chubby and out of shape, nothing I can't take care of. So watch out!  I am going to work hard this winter and be ready for a great year of running come spring! Thanks girls for encouraging me to check things out, it has given me peace of mind!!! You are all such great friends!!

This morning I did 4 miles up to Wasatch Blvd and back, nice and easy.

Last night Harold and I went to yoga!  What a cute husband I have, and he is actually MUCH better at it than I am.

7.6 away from goal

Went on a great 4 mile hike with Kim S. on one of the new trails up Corner Canyon this afternoon, what a beautiful day!!! I think it was called Jacobs Ladder? Not sure...

Maurine and I did  our first Millcreek 5K.  Our time was  26.42  We drove up to Log Haven and ran down the canyon.  Maurine was a great pacer, she provided great motivational tips and music entertainment for my running pleasure.  She sang the Rocky Theme and  Stayin' Alive ( she was thinking she might have to do CPR since I was breathing so hard). Maurine stayed right by side the whole time and even got me to sprint at the end with a bribe of breakfast if I could pass her....almost!  We finished together.  That was great for my self esteem to think I could go that fast, the only time I ever ran that fast was with Maurine on the Antelope Island 50K, when I thought that a buffalo was chasing me. We are hoping to do the same route and try and keep shaving off our time.  It was SO much fun!! Hopefully we can get afew more of you to join us next time! Check out Tarzans blog, I am sure she will have the splits, my garmin is still in the shop.

7.3 from goal

Nice  easy run on my regular route to Wasatch Blvd and back. 53 mins. Felt easier than all my runs last week, maybe I am slowly coming back.

7.3 from goal

I had a great time in Misquite with my mom  and cousin, we played the penny slot machines and sat by the pool and read and had a pumpkin facial with cranberries!  Pretty festive!  A great girl trip and very relaxing.  I walked in the morning, but took a break from running.  It was wonderful.

This morning I did muscle up and will do yoga this evening.  I have a full day of catch up from being away. So I need to get busy!  At some point I will go check on all your blogs, but it may take a while to catch up. Hope you all are doing well!

8.9 from goal ( I enjoyed myself in Misquite!)

I got my garmin back!  I did a very slow 4 miles today, 2 miles up hill and 2 down. It took 55 minutes.   oh, my appt. just got here, you all have a great day.  Any fun Sat. runs planned?  I am hoping to run with Maurine.

9.1 from goal

Maurine and Odee and  I did a beautiful fall trail run on the Pipeline this morning.  I hope we can hang on to this great weather for a few weeks!  Check out Maurines blog, she did a fast one miler down the canyon. 

Did my regular route up to Wastach Blvd. and back. It felt easier than all my runs last week, maybe I am slowly coming back.

7.3 from goal

This morning I did muscle up and one mile on the treadmill.  I am off to walk Odee.

Tonight I am doing yoga.

7.5 from goal (CRAP!  I had such a good day yesterday and was up .2, that just frys me!  If I had done my 4 miles I probably would have been down, oh, well...)

I am going to see if I can do my early voting today!

4 slow miles today....gotta get to work.....have a  great day! 

I ran  along Danish Road today, decided to do 5 instead of 4, did a little walking.  Beautiful weather! It took 1:07

5.8 from goal! ( the scale finally made a move!) This is where it gets really hard, the last 5 freaking pounds. Help me help me, tonight is a girls night out at La Cocina!  I will be good, I will be good!!!!

I am really looking forward to Sat. to do our Day After Halloween 10 Miler!! What should I bring? I hear Marions bring hot chocolate and Keli muffins and Jon chocolate covered bacon ( yicks!!)

Beautiful Morning!  The skies were orange and pink, it was fun to watch the sun come up, and 4 deer ran across the road right in front of me.  I was listening to IZ on my ipod, it was great.  I cut off one minute doing the same route I did yesterday.  1:06

5.7 from goal   I was happy with that, only a .1 drop from yesterday, but at this point anything is good, not gaining is good.  I was super good last night at my girls night out, not one single chip entered my chubby little cheeks. Tonight is a Halloween party with the family and I will do the same thing!  I am feeling very optimistic.  I am so excited for tomorrows run!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!