Monday, February 28, 2011

just an easy run

We had an easy run on the Liberty loop. Nothing much to crow about except that the sky was already getting light as we walked out the door at 6:30, the clouds were pink and orange at about the halfway point, and the sun was just peeking over the mountains as we finished. It's going to be a beautiful day.
Stats: 4.5 miles in 47:36 for a 10:35mpm pace

Friday, February 25, 2011

Yes! sub-10 after yesterday's hills!

Yes! I was tired for this entire run, but it was the downtown loop, so I just had to try for speed. I was by myself and thought of almost nothing but maintaining my pace and form. It was a good run to just get out my frustrations, and I have plenty of them right now. Oddly, I didn't think about them, but I do feel better about them. The concentration paid off in a great pace!
Stats: 5.46 miles in 53:35 for a 9:49mpm pace!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

pushed the hills and the pace

I just ran the Sugarhouse loop at a sub-11 pace! Yay! I had a solo run this morning, so I decided to do hills. I just tried to maintain a consistent pace up and through the park. Once I was headed back to work, I realized that I had a bit of gas left in the tank, so I decided to push it a bit. I'm very happy with my results today.
Stats: 5.5 miles in 56:50 for a 10:20mpm pace
(740 calories)

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Stylish Blogger (that's the only part of me that's remotely stylish)

The sweet Yankee over at MidWestern Exposure recently tagged me for the Stylish Blogger Award. Honestly, I’ve been blogging for a couple of years now, and I’ve jealously coveted all of these shnazzy little blogging recognition moments, and I got all teary eyed when I found out that I had actually been chosen! Someone reads my blog(s) enough to spread the joy? (Is that what I’m spreading? Hmmm…. Smells of …..)

Appreciation is best shared; it’s what makes the blogging community a community, after all. To this end, the Stylish Blogger is modeled on a chain-letter, with the following (optional) obligations:

1. Thank the person who recognized you. (I’ve done this on her blog, but I will do again here: THANKS! You really made my day.)

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Recognize 15 other bloggers (or however many you like, if you don’t read that many blogs) whom you admire by passing the award along to them.

Seven Things About Me

Unless I’m running in a crowd of thousands, I will go out of my way to avoid stepping on street or sidewalk hole covers. They creep me out. If I’m in a huge crowd (Race for the Cure, Honolulu marathon, etc.) I cringe and my stomach is in momentary knots when I realize that I can’t avoid stepping on one.
I became a mom for the first and second times at the age of 37 when many of my counterparts were becoming grandparents. No, I’m not kidding. We get started early in these parts.
I spent my entire youth astride a horse. I miss it SO much.
When I actually have time to read for pleasure, I try to alternate a fiction with a non-fiction. I think that I prefer fiction, but I’m always worried that I’m not well-rounded enough.
I have Meniere’s Disease which is not really a disease, but rather a dis-ease or a syndrome or “episodes.” When I use the term “episode,” I feel like I’m 80 years old.
I’m going to be really pissed off if I don’t actually live to be 80+. Now that I’m of “ma’am” age (40), I’ve decided that eighty is the new 60.
I will try ANYTHING twice. I don’t think that once is enough because the first time (good or bad) may have been a fluke. This applies to experiences (running a marathon, bungee jumping, etc.) as well as food (although I’m still trying to muster up the desire to stomach oysters on the half-shell again – I will do it, I’m just not sure when).


Bloggers I Admire

I admire just about anyone who is willing to publicly put pen to paper (metaphorically speaking) and open themselves up to critique. It’s a pretty vulnerable place to be in if you’re doing it right. Well, it is for me. Maybe that’s a personal problem. Maybe I’m not doing it right? 1-800-THERAPY, anyone? Wait! Maybe YOU’RE not doing it right? Ha!

Regardless, I love reading these particular blogs (and not necessarily in this order) because they provide me with a laugh, a cry, a sigh of relief, an update on local politics that COMPLETELY impact my life, and a belief that good things can happen to good people.



1. Nicole at Arctic Garden Studio. I love how bright and cheery and beautiful her blog photos are. I’m impressed that she manages to find and/or create sunshine in one of the coldest parts of the country.

2. I recently discovered Briggsy over at Oh, Briggsy, and I must say that she cracks me up. She is so much more clever than I am, and if she were typing this, she would probably write something that Phil from Modern Family might say like “She’s the shizz that busts my chops, yo!” (See? Even then I can’t make it work) and then make some obscure but hilarious reference to DJ Jazzy Jeff or Air Supply.

3. Dooce’s Heather absolutely makes my day. Wait. Daily Chuck makes my day. No. It’s the way that she describes her husband’s responses to anything that she says. Ehhh – it’s Coco. Heather, you had me at “my dog eats her own poop.”

4. Baba makes Lesbian Dad a true joy to read, and her kids are ADORABLE. She is very active in her community, and is creating the type of family that has been around for years but only recently respectfully recognized – and even then, not everywhere (read: right where I’m standing).

5. Indispensible to gay Utahns, Eric has the cajones to take on the locally wicked Sutherland Institute and, frankly, the whole of “the church” as it’s known in these parts. Pride in Utah is one of the fastest links to local politics that we have. Eric, you’re a pig, and we’re lucky to have you amongst us!

6. Hysterical in a PPMD way is Role Playing with Kids’ K. She says things that the rest of us think, and you gotta’ respect people who have multiple multiples, especially this close together. And, by the way, these kids are so stinking cute. Really – check out their smiles! Mine are a smidge cuter, but not by much!

7. In addition to the usual blogger fodder, Kyla has the ability to write very profound posts when the topic is just right. Besides, the regular “fodder” in her life is pretty dang interesting which makes Turtlefly Adventures something that I look forward to checking on a regular basis. It’s rumored that she’s a blast to hang out with, and I find it shameful that we haven’t yet. I smell a BBQ in the making.

8. It was a happy day that I stumbled across The Pioneer Woman, and now I not-so-secretly wish to live her life (minus the goateed hubby, although I must admit that he is very attractive) because I believe I was meant to be a farmer with a basset hound.

9. After experiencing the first of eight horribly wrong recent court decisions, Keri has managed to keep her dignity intact. She’s become an activist, and her new (almost 2!) baby is completely precious, but she will never give up her hope that she will be reunited with her first child. Pieces of Gray is the place to read this story of hope and persistence.

10. With a name like Whiskey in my Sippy Cup, this blogger can’t help but be awesome. Mr. Lady is honest and actually made me cry once.

11. Second only to Dooce, RBR’s protagonist makes me choke on my morning beverage with almost every post. Love it! Love her!

12. My coworker, and fellow reasonable human being, Nate mixes triathlon training, techie crap, a dad’s perspective on multiples, and hockey into an enjoyable little read. His techie updates are waaaaay over my head, but his race reports are awesome – like the time he likened his swim to a zebra being taken down by an alligator? Only at The Bloody Toe.

13. Tigress’ 2010 Can Jam jolted me out of the sweet spread doldrums that I was unwittingly languishing in. The challenge, documented on Tigress In a Jam, inspired me to make things like Key Lime Pie Martini jelly and Onion Rosemary confiturra and O3 jam. Oh, and she’s a clever writer, to boot!

14. The people who were brave enough to employ me from ages 18-20 can be found here. Ah, I miss those days of sunshine, sea air, and the nights of partying like only under-aged kids can. And, the pizza. THE PIZZA!!! Oh, I wish I was 20 again - minus the hangover.

15. Besides the fact that she seems to be able to grow anything, Gayla at You Grow Girl has the most fantastic photos. She could find a flower growing in a gravel pit and make it look beautiful.

bitch and moan and bitch some more

After a five day break (unintended, of course), Carol and I had a good run this morning. I had a horrible weekend, so I had plenty to complain about. As usual, she listened and listened and listened and then made me feel better about everything. Great friends are the best. I'm lucky to have her!
Stats: 4.5 miles in 48:14 for 10:44mpm pace

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Snowy sunrise in Liberty

Solo run today. Mother Nature gave us a little blast of snow last night, and the roads/sidewalks were slippery. It was a nice run anyway. There weren't many people in the park, and since I left an hour later than normal, the sun was coming up and shining through the snowy trees. It was a really pretty run.
Stats: 4.5 miles in 46:43 for a 10:23mpm pace

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

sluggish - blame it on V-Day

It was a nice run this morning except that both of us felt a bit sluggish. We are both blaming water intake for this problem. I'm also placing part of the blame on the champagne that I drank last night. What? It was Valentine's Day for hell's sake. Bub had to twist my arm. I swear! Even though we felt sluggish, our time was sub-11!
Stats: 5.78 miles in 1:02:54 for a 10:53mpm pace

Friday, February 11, 2011

Longest run since September's marathon!

YAY! This was my longest run since October (I think)! Carol and I did a long loop from work --> downtown --> the U --> 21st --> work. Ten miles! TEN! At a decent pace! There you go. Marathon training is officially on track. It felt good - even on the uphill - AND it was a negative split! I am tired now, and my achilles is bugging me again. (Note to self: I've got to do some exercises on it!) However, I'm not so tired that I couldn't have done another couple of miles. I would have slowed, but I could do two more! Feeling great - mental hurdle cleared!
Stats: 10 miles in 1:53:45 for a 11:23mpm

Thursday, February 10, 2011

sub-11 for 3rd day!

It was an easy run on the Liberty loop again. (By the time winter is over, I will be totally over that route!) We chatted. We laughed. We ran a sub-11 again.
Yay!
Stats: 4.5 miles in 49:11 for a 10:56mpm pace

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Carol and I had a nice run this morning! She had a few things to vent about, well - I did, too - so the time seemed to fly by. We were getting tired at the end of the run. Could have gone a couple miles more at the same pace, though!
6.03 miles in 1:04:19 for a 10:40mpm pace

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

I needed to run

not running for four days and then running 2.5 miles into the wind makes for a hard run. Liberty loop. Chilly.
4.9 miles in 53:05 minutes for a 10:38mpm pace

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Egypt - I just don't get it...

We ran the Sugarhouse loop this morning. There was only one other person in the park. 9*. She was as crazy as us, but much faster..... Main topic of discussion today: Egypt. I really don't understand who the "crowd" expects to step into power. Without someone ready to take over, I think the entire place is going to fall into chaos.
Stats: 5.5 miles in 1:01:33 for a 11:12mpm pace

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

It's too cold? Not for me anymore!

Excuses suck, and I'm learning that they don't really pan out. It was 9* today. 9*! I've never run in 9*! To make matters worse, the wind chill made it feel like 0*. Really. Me in 0* weather. It's insanity. And it was one of the best runs I've had in a while. Our pace was slower this morning than my last two runs, but I just felt good the whole time. Of course, I'm just now getting feeling back in all four of my cheeks, but it was worth it.
Stats: 4.89 miles in 53:53 for 11:02mpm pace