12 miles

I heard a person at the courthouse (I work with the municipal court and have a cubicle there even though I don't work for the city) talk about The Bridge of the Gods run over the Washington/Oregon border, then the next day someone I know on facebook said they were going to do it.  So now I'm thinking about it.  However, it's on August 12th, which is my Mom's birthday.  I have been planning on spending that weekend with my Dad at his house, but I talked to him and he's going to look into campsites for his 5th wheel and maybe we'll spend my Mom's birthday there.  It may be a good distraction.  Besides, (this is super selfish) it's really hard to spend time at my parents' house nowadays. 

Well, I am continuing with marathon training.  I'm not sure if it's a great idea or not, but I'm doing it.

It's been very hot here (for western Washington).  We've had more above average days in July than in recorded history, and the last week has been 85 degrees and above (yesterday was 90 and above).  The average for this time of year is 77 degrees.  It makes it hard to go run.  I've been telling myself I'll run in the morning, but then I don't drag myself out of bed.  Last week I did do a run on Tuesday in the evening, but then couldn't get the gumption to go on Thursday.  I did go on Friday, but it was a late run.  I think I started at 8:30pm.  Saturday I ran on the treadmill.  That's been my Saturday normal lately.  Chris and Damian both work Saturdays now and I don't want to wait till they get home.  I set up 2 fans facing me, turn the airconditioner on and the ceiling fan, and it hasn't been too horrible.  Well, the treadmill is inherently horrible, but not too hot. 

Sunday remains my long run day.  2 weeks ago I ran 8 miles and was up really early, just woke up, :and was out the door by am.  Last week I ran 10 miles but didn't leave till 9am.  I don't think it was as hot last sunday as it was yesterday.  I wanted to get up early yesterday, but when my eyes opened at 5:15, I couldn't drag myself out of bed.  I didn't get up until 6:15, then I have to drink coffee and water and eat, so again it was almost 9 before I left.  By the time I got back my shirt felt like I had soaked it in a sink, it was so hot. 

But it was a good run. 

 Do you remember 3 years ago when I was chased by bees?  Well, I went on a new-to-me road yesterday and found that I was running next to a bunch of hives.  I calmly stopped (to take a picture) then started running again, saying outloud "I'm not here to hurt me, don't fly into me, please!"  Thankfully I did not get stung or "swarmed."

I have a (slightly irrational) fear of stepping on manholes and other covers on the sidewalk or road.  I passed this one, and thought, yep, that's why I don't step on them.  I'm afraid the lid won't be on tightly and I'll either fall into one or break my ankle. . . People laugh at me when I go for walks with them, but I'll be the one laughing if they fall through.  ; )

I am not doing good on pace runs.  In fact, the farthest pace run (under 9.09 min/mile average) is only 3 miles, and I'm supposed to be doing 6 miles.  I guess I just need to try one, but I know I'm slow and I'm scared of failing.  Last week I did 3 miles at an average of 9.03 min/mile and it just about killed me.  I'd rather do hills, but I'm not doing that either . . . If I want to break a 4 hour marathon I need to be working on speed.  =/  My 12 miler yesterday was actually spot on for a long run, but without the speed work, I won't get faster than that.  Last year, my last run in July (13 miles) averaged 9.28 min/mile and my 6 mile pace runs were under 9 min/miles (closer to 8:30 min/miles), but then I took 2 weeks off to heal my hip (who would have guessed it was arthritis) and never got back into the swing of marathon training, so became super slow. 

I guess we'll see how my August goes.  I should do a pace run this Saturday . . .

It's been awhile.

I haven't written anything in awhile.  I guess I haven't felt like I have anything to say.  Should I write just to put words down?  I don't know.  The last that I wrote talked about the arthritis in my hip and Pars Defect, well, it turns out I do not have Pars defect.  After my second x-ray I got a call from my doctor's office came back with different results.  I have a slight narrowing between two of my vertebrae that is natural aging, and no pars defect at all.  So that is good news.  Although, I really thought that the ache in my leg was due to a pinched nerve and the pars defect fit that nicely, but it's likely from the osteoarthritis forming in my hip.  =| 

I have been extremely unhappy with the doctor's office, they tell me I have a degenerative disease, that from everything I've read, can be slowed down with proper care, and yet they haven't told me anything about what I should do to receive "proper care."

I've been running, not as much as I should be if I'm going to run my last marathon this year, but I am working on it.  And I'm slow.  So slow.  I'm averaging close to 10 min miles even on my short runs, I would like to achieve an under 4 hour marathon before giving it up, but at this rate, it's not going to happen. 

I also had an epiphany a couple weeks ago.  Ragnar was happening, and it just so happens to run through my town (right by my old house), and I was at the store when it was going on and I saw several vans that were obviously part of it.  I thought, that is something I've wanted to do for years, so I need to do it.  I'm gonna have to quit doing the really long distance thing sooner or later (probably sooner than I'd like) so I my goal is to do it next year.  I know several people that have run it, so hopefully it won't be too hard to get into a group.

I've been plugging away at school.  I think that is probably a big reason I haven't written much.  I'm writing a lot for school.  I'm in my 3rd class (the first one being a short one that was an "Intro to Grad studies" type of class). 

We went on vacation the first week of July, which I'm sorta sad about because it's already over. 

We visited my Mom's grave, the first time Maddox was there,
on the way to the Lake.

Schoolwork on vacation sucks

My dad visited while we were there, his head
was getting sunburned so I put my hat on him

We were there over the 4th of July

Immediately after we came home I got sick.  I took some new antibiotics and those made me even sicker.  A week after coming home from vacation I went to Utah for a work conference.  It was fun, but not very relaxing.

I went on one hike while I was there.

I visited the Salt Lake on my last day.

Don't put your feet in really salty water if you
have a cut.  My toe hurt for hours afterwards

And I visited the Mormon temple

I also ordered custom decals for my car and my family.  I love it.  This is a tattoo that I got with 2 of my sisters and my Mom, so it now has even more meaning to me.

And that's the extent of my July.