THOU SHALT BE A COMEBACK

8:05 AP--dirt roads.  Too gorgeous not to run today.

am.  8.32 at 8:30 AP.  Sluggish moonlit run.  Half asleep.  Long but great weekend!  Can't even type in full sentences. 

pm. 5 at 7:49 pace on the treadmill

7:41 AP.  4am again, but really beautiful, cold, moonlit morning.  No wind to speak of--the one nice thing about the wee hours.  I felt pretty decent after a while

am.  13.14 at 7:17 AP. It was dark and foggy and I couldn't see my watch which complicated things a bit trying to do 5x2 at MP.  

8:50 warm up, sets were 7:08, 7:03--6:55, 6:57--6:52, 7:01--7:03, 7:04--7:00, 6:52

7:26 AP.  Changed after work and went straight along the river path.  Can you believe it was over 60 degrees today?!  I wore shorts and a tank top.  It will be back to 20 degrees tomorrow.  Only in Kansas.....felt sluggish and tight at first but loosened up and then felt pretty good.

Happy New Year! Bear with me if this post gets windy. I am in need of shoes, so decided to try and win the resolution run 5k in El Dorado instead of doing the beer run part. I got off work and barely had time to get my running clothes on, drop the kids off at Grandma's and go to El Dorado. 1.12 mile warm up. It was cold and wicked windy and I knew a PR was pretty much a no go. I scoped out the competition and spotted my biggest threat, Molly, a high school track state champion from El Dorado who usually beats me. Before I knew it the gun was off. Molly took the lead for about the first 1/3rd mile, then I passed her and ran scared. There were a few icy bridges where I had to slow down because I could feel my feet losing traction. At every switchback and corner I could see her and she was right behind me, no more than a few seconds. In the third mile I had visions of her outkicking me on the home stretch with her track speed. The final half mile I decided I better push hard and make a gap or she would get me. It was windy and hard to push but I gave it what I had and was relieved to cross the line first. Time was 20:07, not a PR but I'll take it! I immediately ran to Darcy, grabbed the camera, and ran back down the course to get pictures of my husband and Tyson drinking beer and running. It was great! They did awesome! We drank some beer afterward! 1.13 mile cool down running along the course taking pictures. It was a good time! I talked to Molly a little afterward and she is so sweet and nice! Runners in general tend to be great folks!

It's been a wonderful year. There have been a lot of ups and downs, in life, in running, in general. I've made some great friends, and I appreciate the ones who have always been there for me. I have the most incredible husband and kids ever. I've left my beloved job as a paramedic and miss it dearly, but have discovered new opportunities in nursing. I've lost some loved ones, but they have left legacies and I can only hope that I am half the person they were. I've won one marathon, and staggered to a disappointing and painful finish in the other one. I am humbled almost daily by the amazing people in my life. God has blessed me far, far beyond what I deserve. Bring it on 2011!

7:28 AP.  Got up and ran 16 on the river to start the year and finish off the week.  It was 7 degrees when I started and I'm glad the skin on my face is still intact.  I felt super sluggish and tight at first but things loosened up after, oh, 10 miles and then I picked it up to get my average down.  Splits 7:53, 7:52, 7:45, 7:33, 7:36, 7:36, 7:28, 7:35, 7:36, 7:10, 7:16, 7:13, 7:09, 7:11, 7:14, 7:12.   Watched the frosty 5k today and got to see some tribe members I haven't seen in a while--Carlos(wassup my brother?!), Tex, Stephanie(nice talking to her Dad), and Eddy.  Got pics of everyone finishing and Lacy won with a new PR.  Now that I was thoroughly frozen I went home to defrost my hands and eat.