Second Wind

Rest.

Finally got back out on the road again today and felt pretty good.  Tried out the new running tights although according to the tag they are golfing pants.....what the???  Anyway, they kept me nice and toasty and I loved running in them much more than my baggy old sweats.  Took it pretty easy today and will continue to do so until everything feels better.  After the run today Meg and I did the PM version of the AM/PM Yoga disc.  This was my second time doing it since we got the disc for Christmas.  I would like to make it a twice a day thing, we'll see how that goes.  No real results to post about how yoga is helping me or not helping me, need to give it a couple of weeks to see how it goes.  I have enjoyed it both times I have done it and I like the way it makes me feel.  I am not very flexible at all so I hope to see some improvement in that area as a result.  Christmas was good, the break from running was good, now it is time to get back to work again.  Temp was 34 today and no wind, pretty dang good running conditions.

Time:  51:04  8:31/mile

Another 6 miles and another session of Yoga this morning.  I like the fact that it's only about a 20 minute session of yoga, still leaves me plenty of time to get ready for work.  I am finding out just how tight I really am when I do these yoga session.  I really can't stretch like the instructor, maybe someday.  Temp was warmer than yesterday at 40^o with a slight breeze from the north.  Had to shed the stocking cap for the last couple of miles cause it was too warm. 

Time:  50:18  8:23/mile

Last run of 2008!  Happy New Year everyone!  Hope you all have a great new year celebration and more importantly a great new year of running with new goals and lots of new PRs. 

Last day of 2008 was a beautiful day for a run, temp was 38^o and there was no wind.  One house in our neighborhood has the music and lights display and they have had it going the last couple of mornings.  I guess they went to bed and forgot to unplug the lights.  I wonder what the neighbors think with the music and lights going all night.  Anyway, it was kinda fun to run past the house several times with Christmas tunes going and lights a flashin.  Only a few more days of this Christmasy stuff, so enjoy it while it lasts I guess.  Meg and I did 5-6 striders of about .1 miles each at about 7:15 pace.  Felt pretty good to stretch out the legs a bit and push the old body again.  Came home and did the PM yoga workout again.  That makes 3 days in a row.....woo hoo!!  I still don't think there is ever a chance that I will be able to bend over and rest my head on my shin.......ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!

Man I have packed on the weight this holiday season.  Unfortuantely I will have to make weight loss one of my new years resolutions.....again.  I really need to shed 15-20 pounds of belly fat that I can never seem to shake.  My goal weight would be 165 and I am at 180 now so......here we go again.  Unfortunately for me, this won't stop me from eating all the good new years eve food tonight, I am so weak.

Time:  49:02  8:10/mile

First run of the new year and it was pretty much par for the course.  Added in a couple of faster miles at the end just to start the year off with a little bit of a bang.  Other than that it was a pretty average run.  Didn't get out running until around 8:00 due to staying up late on New Year's and having to go pick up the boys at their church activiry.  By the time I did get up my daughters were ready and waiting to go with me on their bikes.  Meg had already ran since she went to bed at a decent hour, so it was nice to have the company of the girls.  Somewhere in the first mile Jamie lost a peddle on her bike and so I sent them home to switch out the bike with another one while I continued around the loop.  They met me as I passed back by the house for the next loop and to my surprise Jamie had found a 4GB Ipod Nano in the gutter.  Was able to find the name of the nano and asked the one kid in the neighborhood we know with that name but it wasn't his.  I guess it's a lucky day for Jamie.  Sure wish I knew who it belonged to, I would really hate to lose one of those myself.  Did yoga after the run and then did yoga again in the PM.  I really like doing the PM session on my new yoga DVD, it's got some great stretching and is very relaxing at the end.

Time:  49:10  8:12/mile

Another standard 6 miles with Meg.  We were both having a hard time this morning with fatigue issues.  My legs felt kinda like lead.  I guess that's what happens when you have a belly full of jelly.  I've got some serious work to do this year to shed several pounds and get into good running shape again.  At least there was no wind today and the temp was a bearable 37^o.

Time:  52:22  8:44/mile

Finally logged a long run today.  This is my first long run since running the Las Vegas Marathon.  Ran the first 8 miles with Megan and then went out the Arbor View HS to run 6 miles with my Ragnar team.  Only 4 people showed up and we ran pretty slow, which was really good for me.  We were running just under 10:00/mile and it was uphill and into the wind on our return trip.  Temp was 47 this morning when we started out but it sure didn't feel like it with the wind coming from the north.  It was about a 15-20 mph wind with some pretty good gusts in there and when you were running into it it was chilly but when you were running away from it it was almost too warm.  Will probably do about the same number of miles next week leading up to Painter's and then take it easy the week of the race.  Not looking to PR at Painter's this year, just run with Meg again and maybe pace her to a strong race, we'll see.

Almost forgot to mention........the UTES ROCK!!!  What an awesome game.  I loved seeing all the stunned Bama fans that they kept showing on the camera.  Awesome for Utah, the state and the Mountain West.

Time:  2:06:30  9:02/mile