Run that ye may Obtain

Went to FAC after Bre’s gymnastics class for a nice run on the treadmill.  I prefer to run outside 99.9% of the time, but the overnight 12″+ of snowfall and -5 degree low made the treadmill look quite enticing actually.  And I must admit, it was nice to run in shorts and a tank top because ‘cmon when was the last time I got to do that?…oh wait, just a couple of days ago I raced outside in shorts and a tank top.  Crazy Colorado weather changes.

Did an easy 8 with 7X30 second strides mixed into my run.  Felt GREAT!

After much demonstration and urging by my ART therapist, Richey as well as my husband, Aaron, I have finally gotten into the habit of doing a nice dynamic cool down routine after almost every run.  Its easier to do at FAC since they have this big stretching room with mats and a bar to hold on to while I do my hurdle trail leg moves and leg swings.  And I can leave the kids in child care the extra 10 minutes and get the routine done quickly.  At home it takes more discipline to get the routine in because it seems that whenever I walk in the door from a run I suddenly have three needy kids with urgent requests.  I must say though, dynamic stretching is FABULOUS for recovery and is WELL WORTH the extra investment of time. Here is a video of my friend Sara Vaughn doing the Cannonball Cool down.  GOOD STUFF.  Only problem is that watching this video is making me miss summertime in Boulder.

Had a nice run on the East Boulder creek path with the cows this morning.  I considered playing “the ground is lava and you have to step on the stepping stones to survive.”  You know, that awesome game we used to play with the couch cushions when we were kids?  I still play it with my kids sometimes.  But this would have been even MORE awesome.  I easily could have covered at least a mile of terrain using only cow pie stepping stones.  It would have been a record, I’m sure.  Surely there is a very mediocre, very beatable record in the Guinness book for this exact thing.

Well, not today….maybe another time.  Today I decided to receive a warm welcome back home by Aaron and the kids rather than being banished due to the stink.

Speaking of the kids, here’s what they were up to this morning….that trampoline was the best Christmas present ever!!  Thanks, Santa!!!

5 miles in 9:14 pace

I CAN RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Went out for an easy 5 miles this morning.  I just ran cautiously and let my legs set the pace.  My right hammy/bum was not restricting my form as long as I kept it nice and easy.  Ahhhh.  I’m SO grateful I can run again!!  Honestly, it makes such a HUGE difference for me to be able to get out every day and run.  The endorphins and fresh air are hugely therapeutic and mood boosting for me.  Without it, I get depressed and irritable.  I guess I’m addicted.

Of additional interest, I decided to wear my New Balance 790s running this morning.  Aaron recently purchased some of these shoes for himself since they are very lightweight and minimal.  They came in the mail and as he opened them, I told him I had a pair just like them already!  I purchased mine over two years ago and wear them all day a few times a week.  I bought them because I liked how they looked and they were comfy and lightweight.  I’ve never even thought of them as “running shoes.”  I don’t know why, I guess I already had other running shoes and was just looking for some comfy lightweight shoes to wear around.  Anyway, I really enjoyed running in them today.  They are definitely lightweight, neutral, and comfy.

9 miles in  7:53 pace

Nice and warm outside today.  Supposed to get up into the mid-50s!

Last night around 7 pm I was SOOO tired.  I could have gone to bed and slept 12 hours.  Aaron and I got the kids to bed early and did some calendar sync and family planning and resolved to go to bed early.  After the kids were in bed I seemed to get a second wind though.  Something about the peace and quiet of no kid responsibility rejuvinates me.  I did not feel tired again until almost 11 pm and finally fell asleep around midnight.  Then I ran at 6 am today because Aaron has jury duty and had to leave early.  Neither of us have ever had jury duty, so I guess the government is finally catching up with us.

Ali just climbed up on the kitchen table to get an orange out of the fruit basket.  She is now dangling her legs off the edge of the table and I just sent my 3 year old over to help her down.  Not working.  Better go.

10 miles in 7:54 pace.

Ran around Standley Lake.  It is SO nice out there today.  Very calm and a warm 34 F.  Quiet too.

Weird morning.  My kids all woke up around 4:30 a.m. today.  Why?  I have no idea.  I kept hearing them not realizing what the time was but feeling like I just wanted to stay in bed for longer, pretending like I was not hearing them.  Then finally at 5:15 a.m. I lifted my head to see what time it was and realized I’d better get them to go back to bed for another hour or two so they wouldn’t be zombies all day.  Breanne was already dressed for the day, ready to rock and roll.  Abe was still mulling around in his PJs, but starving for breakfast.  Ali was ready for some milk and more sleeping.  So I got Ali a milk and put her back in her crib, got Breanne a water and talked her into going back to bed, and got Abe a bowl of oatmeal and talked him into going back to bed too.  By 5:35 a.m. I had gotten them all back down to bed and I could have just gone running then but it was still dark and I was still tired, so I went back to bed too.  Woke up to Ali tugging on my sleeve again at 7:30 a.m. Can she climb out of her crib now?  Guess so.

10 miles in 7:50 pace

2 mile warm up, stretching 7X25 second strides.

It felt like Springtime here in CO this morning!  28 degrees is a massive heat wave compared to the negative temps I was acclimating to last week.  I was wearing tights and a long sleeve shirt and sweating big time.  Could have been more comfortable in shorts for sure.

My body is feeling kind-of sluggish because I started coming down with a sinus infection yesterday.  I’m pounding the Emergen-C and Airborne hoping this congestion goes away soon and doesn’t work its way down into my lungs.