Rainy Day Schedule

Turns out Jeff didn't have to work today, so first thing he and I headed to the gym for a chest (and hips for me) workout.  It felt great!  I am getting stronger.  For the first time ever I was able to add weight to the bench press bar!  I added 14 lbs, for a total of 59 lbs!  That is huge since when I started lifting in Fall I couldn't even do the 45 lb bar! 

In the afternoon Katherine and I had a little Bonneville Shoreline Trail love planned.  It had been raining all day and even had some snow mix, so I planned accordingly.  

Gear* all laid out. 

Ready for the rain!

There were a few puddles, but nothing we couldn't easily skirt.

Katherine was insane in her short sleeved shirt.  She was mostly okay, but would pay for the choice when we turned around and had a strong headwind.

The valley was really beautiful.

Snow up top.

The winding trail you see there is my favorite part of this run.

We made it to Corner Canyon and then turned around.

On the way back Katherine was a bit cold and ran with her arms in her vest.  As Katherine put it, she was the chicken runner!  

It was really quite a fun run.  Don't ever skip an adventure because of bad weather.  Sometimes bad weather is what makes the adventure!  

6.2 miles 

1 hr 28 min

14:12 pace

*My gear worked out perfectly.  I was warm, but not too hot and dry for the most part.  It was about 38 degrees out and raining very steadily.  We encountered very minimal snow/rain mix.  Here is what I wore:

Lightweight long sleeve

Lightweight rain coat

Leggings

Ankle gaiters

Visor

Clear lenses in my Tifosi's

Ear warmer headband

Gloves

Lightweight wool socks

Early Morning Love

This morning I headed out at 6am and ran to Meghan's house where met up with her for a lovely morning run.  We headed up through the neighborhood and to a short bit of trail nearby.  Then we decided to run up to La Caille, a very swanky restaurant that keep birds and other animals on theirs grounds.  We saw lots of animals and had a very nice run together.  It was just the right temperature and Ozzy was very happy to get out and run.  I hadn't taken him out since before the race!

My little visitors came along too.

This is where my girlfriend Paula used to live, right around the corner from me.  I run by her old place all the time.  Sure wish she still lived here.

Small stretch of trail about four miles from my house.

The entrance to La Caille.

My beautiful running buddy!

We saw four deer,

Two peacocks,

and a bunny (directly to the right of the green bridge.)  There were also lots of geese, ducks and some swans.

The restaurant.

The run felt good.  My right leg is a bugging me a bit now, but not too bad.  I'm still sore from yoga yesterday!  It's nice to be out running in the warmth of Spring.  I love these early morning runs!  And Jeff and the girls were even still in bed when I got home.  

12 miles

2 hrs 30 min

12:30 pace

Yoga

Today I went to yoga class at the gym again.  I'll tell you what, this was no sissy yoga class.  We did more push ups than I have ever done in any yoga class, and after doing as many push ups as possible last night, I was cursing the instructor!  Plus we did loads of plank and lunges.  At one point she was giving the class a pep talk, "You feel like you want to give up, like you can't do any more, but you can!"  I found it humorous, because however much I was cursing her (not only did I do push ups last night, you may remember that Jeff and I did biceps/triceps on Wednesday) the thought of quitting never entered my head.  "Of course I can do eight more push ups," I thought.  I guess when one trains for endurance sports one does not simply quit because it's hard.  Rather, we do these things because they're hard.  I thoroughly enjoyed class and am planning on trying to make it to ass-kicking (or maybe I should say arm-kicking) yoga much more regularly!

Ouch!

Yesterday was non-stop.  Jeff and I spent nearly two hours at the gym in the morning doing a biceps and triceps workout, plus I did abs.  Then we spent the afternoon doing demolition/construction and shoveling.  (We're building a new run for our chicken coop.)  Then there is always house work, cooking, etc. But between the gym workout and the construction work I'm sore.  My goal for the next couple of months is to have at least one weight lifting session per week and one cross training day per week, plus running when I can and want to.  Now, to go take some glutamine, a hot shower and possibly some ibuprofen!

Ultra Cool!

Lookie lookie!  I'm in the bottom photo, center, yellow shirt and visor (of course!)

Teach me how to Jurek

Today Scott Jurek was at my local running store, Wasatch Running Center.  He did a group run, then talked about his book, answered questions and did a book signing.  I was so very excited to be there!  He was a very nice guy and made it a point to run a little bit with everyone in the group.  I told him that I read his book and about my first ultra.  We talked a bit about the Antelope Island runs and he asked me if I was going to do another ultra.  I told him I was going to and that I felt good afterward.  He commented that that meant I did my training right!

In from the run and geeked as ever.

Poor Katherine was having a fight with asthma today and asthma was telling her who is boss.  She just came for the book signing.







At the end of his talk he did a few give always.  I knew that the person in his book who said "Be somebody" was Dusty!  I got a package of kinesiology tape.  I've never used tape before, but hey, I have the chance to try it now.

Waiting in line.









My turn!  What a nice guy.  He was very humble and appreciative to everyone.  It was a pleasure to meet him!



Katherine and Scott

Yes, Scott Jurek, I will!



Oh, and don't forget the awesome buttons that Katherine made us and he signed!  You know this is going on my hydration pack!!!


Miles with Scott Jurek* 4.14
Time with Scott Jurek* 44:29
Pace with Scott Jurek* 10:44
*A lot of the other runners actually made it a little farther than me, because you know I was at the back of the pack.  But, hey I don't care.  I got to run with Scott Jurek!

Balance

I'm feeling a bit of guilt over the uneven balance of things in my life. I've spent so much of the past ten months completely and totally focused on running, that a lot of other things have taken a back seat. I keep reminding myself that now is the time to focus on the things that need my attention. Don't think I'm going to stop running, because that's not going to happen. However, I think the next couple of months I need to let go a little. Today Katherine and I had planned a trail run, but last minute she couldn't go so I came back home. I've spent the morning cuddling with my youngest and now I think a little attention to my disaster of a house. I am looking forward to a cleaner house, kids who aren't disappointed that I'm always off on half day long runs, and maybe even finishing some half done projects. Summer will come soon enough and I'll be thinking of my next training plan. I've pretty much decided that I'm going to do the Antelope Island 50k in October. Not surprised, are you?