So, this is a picture of me (in pink) and my daughter-in-law Royall coming in to the finish line of the Top of Utah half marathon last August!  It was pretty amazing to run that race with her.  I loved it.  (See how happy we are.  See the dejected walkers behind us.  Illustrates perfectly the power of proper pacing in a race! )  This past Thursday, I ran a 10 mile long run.  It was awful.  My hip hurt. My knee started hurting.  But I kept going- and going- and finished the run.  But after, I had to ice pretty much my whole legs/hips/knees, and I haven't run since.  So was that smart or not?  I really don't know.  Not smart in that I am now injured and can't run for a few days and will need a couple of physio treatments.  But maybe OK because I discovered a weakness in my hips and glutes that needs to be addressed now rather than later in my training, closer to race day.  And maybe OK because it brought me down to earth a little and helped me realize that I do have limitations and pushing them doesn't always bring the results I want.  So, now I am wondering if I really can do this whole marathon training thing, or if it is beyond my body's capabilities right now. 10 miles is only half of 20, which will be my longest training run.  I have enlisted the help of an online running coach- Coach Jenny Hadfield, who I believe is the very best out there.  She will contact me tomorrow to discuss my training program.  She doesn't know I'm injured, at this point, but she will.  And I'm counting on her to help me through the next few months of marathon training- or not- (maybe it will turn into half marathon training if I don't heal up fast enough)_It iis good to know in either instance that I have someone to count on.  Someone to give me good training advice and encouragement.  But I know, too, that ultimately it will be me who will know what I can expect my body to do.  I have learned to listen.  To be gentle or to push.  To rest or to run.  John Bingham said that sometimes being a runner means not running and this week I am finding out all about that.  Water running.  Walking.  Stationary biking.  Swimming.Waiting.  I keep reminding myself when I get feeling down about it all that I am indeed in training still.  Just in a different way this week.  4 months.  We'll see!

New Year's Resolutions

Today, in Relief Society Sister Hatch gave a lesson on setting goals.  She talked about time management, prioritizing, and avoiding procrastination.  I needed that lesson!  I needed to be reminded of the importance of thinking about my goals for the future and writing them down so I can start making them happen.  I feel like I have more time than I ever have had, but I don't utilize it well. I think of how much I accomplished when I was a young mother, with seven children at home!  I wonder how I did it all.  And then I go back in my remote memory and remember how exhausted I was most nights as I fell into bed.  (But mostly in a good way)  And how much more I wished I could have done, but didn't.  Or how much I sometimes yearned for some unnterrupted quiet time to just ponder and think.  I have more of that kind of time now.  But sometimes a wide open afternoon or evening invites not only pondering and thinking but also time wasting.  It's like I'm lost without more structure to my day.  So, I'm going to change that.  I'm going to set aside time for not only the pondering and thinking and scripture reading and prayer, but also the home organzing, letter writing, cleaning, lesson preparation, and healthy meal preparation.  I've already set goals in the physical activity area of my life.  I'm training for a marathon!  Which sometimes takes over my brain (and body!) entirely and makes me a pretty unbalanced person.  So, my challenge will be to find the balance on most days.  I know my long run days will be mostly taken up with running, recovering, stretching, and napping.  But that isn't very many days.  The other days I will set aside time for each aspect of my life.  I will call someone just to cheer them up.  I will keep a cleaner, more organized home.  I will continue reading the scriptures, praying, studying, and pondering.  I will fulfill my church callings.  I will read an educational, interesting book. Balance.  I can do it!

Jan 2012

A brand new year!  It will be an eventful year, as I train for and run my first marathon!  I am so excited to be getting closer to actually reaching this goal.  Today, I ran 2 miles (25 min) in the water, and also did strength training at the gym after work.  My knees are a little creaky, so  I need to be extra careful of them.  I have been doing my hip strengthening exercises, so seem to be keeping trouble at bay.  It was wonderful to be down in Southern Alberta this past weekend, and actually be able to run outside! I ran 4 miles on Sat. around Henderson Lake, and then 4.5 miles on Monday down in the river valley on the amazing trail system.