Let's do this!

I  ran 6.25 on a trail near the Santa Clara river this morning in St. George. It was 53 degrees this morning when I headed out. So warmish and very beautiful outside. I saw roadrunners and jack rabbits all along the trail. This was my first outdoor run of 2011 and first outdoor run since November 26th 2010. I was followed up the trail by a hot air balloon. I looked up and they waved, so I threw out the 'seattle" sign a few times for good measure :) I noticed that I did not hurt in my injury area at all running outside this morning. Nothing hurt. It was slightly hard because of a lack of outside fitness, but I was very impressed with how I felt. So, I have concluded that I need to get outside from now on as I return back home to Utah Valley today. I need to build up my outdoor endurance -and it's that time of year.  

Great run, great vacation, spending time with family is always fun.  Good times!

Ran 10.50 this morning.  A progression run for the first 30 minutes, 30-60 minutes were 1 min on/offs 7:30 to a 6:58 pace. Then 20 minutes at a 7:10 pace. Good workout. 

Ran 8.50 this morning. Today was my 10th run since coming back from injury. I did some speed on/offs again today -7:27 to 6:52. I am quite shocked that I am hitting the 6:50's already so soon into injury comeback. But it makes me happy!  I also did 22 minutes of elliptical hell. 

Gold's gym is crawling with people earlier and earlier in the morning. It's just as bad as the new years resolutions overcrowding. I got there at 4:35 and there were more people than usual. They are figuring out my secret. Early bird not only gets the worm, but the choice of the best worm. But I'm competitive, so I'll become the even earlier bird from now on until it's light enough to run outside.  :)

Oh and easter candy be gone! Those sly dogs at the grocery store know what they're doing putting it out in plain sight. Fatty McGee you're the fatest.

Ran 7:50 and I hit a 6:48 pace today. I will sound like a broken record but I am shocked at how quickly and easily I am moving on up in speed after this injury!This is weird!

Nothing else really special to note about my run. An older lady, who is very kind by the way, -she just can't get enough talking to me. If you've done true speed work, you know how HARD it is to try and carry on a conversation while doing it. Well she didn't get the hint. So first chance she got distracted I threw my headphones on and turned up loud fast music and I couldn't hear her even if she tried to get my attention again. I'm sure she asked me a few questions after that, but she got no responses. :)  I self-inflicted deafness. 

30 minutes of elliptical hell with Julie. I will forever call it that. It is hell. Boring!

PS- poor Julie's butt! We are strangely alike in so many ways. Same hurt in the same area in the same year. Julie needs to stop following my footsteps! ..and driving grand ams  :)

This morning I passed on the stinky gym and slept in a little. I woke up at 5:45, dressed, found my garmin, pepper spray, headphones and gloves and walked outside my door and hit the river trail for the first time this year. It was kind of dark when I left but not to bad. I passed a neighbor (Crystal) who was out walking so that made me feel better to know other peeps were out as well. 

I started running into the wind, which made my first mile and a half really slow. But I also am out of shape in my running, so I really suck right now. I am not as quick at all.  I had mixed emotions as I was running because on the one hand I am so elated to be running at all and outside! I love running outdoors. On the other hand my fitness is not what it was and that is a hard pill for me to swallow. Miles 3-6 were better than the first two. I ran the river trail loop, but didn't finish the first loop all the way around, I turned around before the last .50 of the first loop and ran it in reverse. So I am missing .50 If I run the full loop twice, it's 7 miles altogether...if that makes sense? The last mile I saw a man way up ahead of me. It looked like Julie's husband Adam. Well the competitive drive in me came alive! I came within yards of catching him. It was either him or Kyle Q.  I couldn't tell. Either way, it felt good to try to catch up to someone outside again :)  

Yesterday I got an email from a person who will remain unnamed :)  This person was worried about the speed work I have been doing already. They were concerned that I was doing to much to soon.I appreciated the caring email and took it to heart today. I didn't push speed. In fact, I averaged an 8:20 pace  the whole run until the last 1.5 were I upped it to a 7:50 pace.

pm run*** ran 3 miles at the high school track. I always have fun on the track :)

Happy 311 day! In honor of this day I am going to share one of my favorite 311 songs. It's so good. Have a listen here. 

I ran 4 miles, then I jumped on the elliptical with Julie and Kira for 30 minutes. I didn't accomplish a lot back there because I talk a lot :) I lifted for about 15 minutes annnnd.....I didn't accomplish a lot over there either. I was talking to people again. 

So I went back on the tm for 3 more miles. I hit a 6:42 today. I felt good

I ran 8 miles this morning and it felt great! I slowly progressed the first 30 minutes. After 30 minutes I upped my speed to a 6:50, then the last 3 miles I was at a 6:34. It felt so good. It's been well over 10 weeks since I've hit a speed like that. (tho I was doing even quicker paces than that pre-injury). Life is good,and cheesy as it may sound, I feel like God heard my prayers for being healed,and answered them in the way that I needed them to be answered.