Here we go again~

Met up with the Heidi's this morning for the 5 mile square.  JaNae ended up meeting up with us too a little after mile 1 so it was fun to have a bunch of us out this morning.  After the weekend that I had, and the menu that came with it (Halloween, Date night, plus Sunday dinner) I should have ran 20 miles, but there isn't enough time for that on week mornings so I am just going to have to settle with 5 for today.  I felt really good this morning though and I love the weather.  There were leaves all over the ground and a chill in the air, so another beautiful fall morning.  Finished it up with a few lunges and stretches when I got home.  What a great way to start a new week and a new month. 

Avg Pace: 8:51. 

Yea!! I made it over 20 miles this week, what an accomplishment for me.  And, I ran more than 7 miles, which is the longest since the marathon.  We (Ty and I) met up with Kelli and her hubby Scott for our date morning (rather then date night) for a nice run out on the trail behind Thanksgiving Point.  This is the first time I have ran this trail and enjoyed it very much despite the hills ( I do not do hills well) and Kelli kicked my trash.  She just blew up those hills like they were nothing while I huffed and puffed my way up them. I was tired when we got done but feel awesome now that I am done, oh and after eating the pumpkin muffin tops that Kelli brought, yummy!! I said to Kelli "Wow I could get used to this, running with good company and then goodies at the end", she spoiled us!  It was a beautiful course and great start to a Saturday morning and again, very fun to run with Kelli (Yes, our speedy hubbies left us).  Thanks for the run and the conversation Kelli :) We will have to plan another 'date morning' run here soon~

Avg Pace: 8:16

Oh, I am so glad that I got up and ran this morning for a few reasons, let me share:

1).  I only got about 4 1/2 -5 hours of sleep Saturday night so I was very tired this morning and didn't want to get up, but I did, YEA!!.

2.) After realizing how much weight I have gained since the marathon, I am taking on a whole new motto with my running, diet, etc. "I am not young anymore, I have to work hard if I want to see results".

3.) About 45 minutes after I got home, it started pouring rain outside and while I was running it was beautiful (lucked out).

4.) Now, I am sitting here at work and it just feels good knowing that I have gotten my exercise in for the day so I don't have to feel guilty.

5.) I got to visit with "the Heidi's" for almost an hour which is enough to get anyones day started off on the right foot. 

6.) All of my boys cooperated this morning which resulted in a happy mom, happy boys and a good feeling to get my day started. 

See, all of this was made possible just because I got up and ran!!  What a great way to start my day!   

I met up with Michelle and Ali this morning for a nice little run.  It is always so much fun running with these girls, we have a lot of good conversation and the miles just seem to fly by.  It was also nice getting out on a longer mid-week run to start off my day off.  The weather was perfect and again, the company was excellent.

Avg Pace: 8:16

Oh, by the way, Cute hair cut michelle.  I meant to tell you that about 20 times while we were running but we were so caught up in other conversations I got a little side tracked.  Thanks for the fun morning!

Speed workout down at the track with JaNae and Heidi.  Lindsay also joined us for the first time to start running with us!

Heidi came over this morning so that we could do some strength training because Tyler went to do some speed work so I had to be at my house.  It has been a VERY long time since I have focused on strength training and it felt very good to work muscles in my body that I forgot existed.  We did a video that worked pretty much every area of our bodies followed up by some good stretching at the end.  Again, it was nice to mix things up a bit.  For running as often as I try and for as long as I have, you would think I would be a little stronger (especially in my legs) but this workout proved that I have a very long way to go in the form of strength.  I look forward to doing this a little more often so that I can try to firm up my muscles.  

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!

I have tried to make my Thanksgiving run a tradition over the past few years and seem to enjoy it more and more each year.  Today, the Heidis and I met up for a 10 mile thanksgiving run.  The weather was perfect, a beautiful fall morning and we had a really really fun time.  It sure makes it nice to know that I can eat those extra pieces of turkey, sweet potatoes,  slivers of pie and a few extra rolls without having to feel too remorseful, ha ha!!  Who am I kidding?  However, I am so darned sore after my strength training workout with Heidi yesterday that I have had a little harder time recovering today.  I felt fine while running but the longer and longer the day goes on, I am literally starting to hobble (not gobble) around.  Oh well, at least it's proof that I in fact, worked my muscles yesterday, I should have known I would feel like this today!!  It has been a great Thanksgiving.  I hope everyone had a very Happy Holiday! 

It's mornings like today that bring the joy of running to it's peak.  Running is very personal but it is sure nice when you get to meet up with fellow runners and meet new people and also put faces with names to those that you have talked to, etc,  it makes it feel like more of a group effort :)  This morning Michelle met with us and we carpooled up to Lehi to meet with a group from the blog.  Kyle and JaNae follwed us up as well. Thank you Kelli for putting this morning together and for all of your efforts and hard work that went into this morning.  There were several runners who went 20-22 miles, some who went 14, 13, and 10 miles.  JaNae and I ran the first 10 together but then she had to leave so Smooth and I finished up another 4 miles and called it a day.  It was a pretty casual run but a lot of fun meeting so many new people.  Hello out there to Smooth, Alan, Eric, Jose, Scott, Kelli, Tarzan, Jon, Kyle, JaNae, Michelle and the 2 friends of Kelli's from the gym (I know one of your names were Rachel, but I am sorry I can't remember the other one :( , sorry if I missed anyone.  It was so nice running with all of you today.  Thanks to kelli again for the yummy "breakfast" as the end, it sure topped the whole morning off.