Category Archives: running

Happy Feet…

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These are the new running shoes. I purchased them on Saturday at the Runner’s Corner in Orem–a new favorite store.

I’ve been meaning to get new running shoes for a long time and I’ve wanted to go to this store ever since it was recommended by another runner, but I was so intimidated because, truthfully, I don’t really look like I can pound out 13.1 miles.
But the girl helping me was great. She watched me run to see how my step is (my left foot is balanced, my right supinates) and then she just brought out the shoes and I compared them until I put these on. It was like walking on pillows, except that I imagine that walking on pillows takes quite a bit of effort, and these made walking (and running) feel effortless. They’re a random brand I have never heard of, Pearl Izumi, but they feel good and the store has an amazing return policy. They want you to love your shoes.
I didn’t get a chance to really try them out until yesterday, but considering that on my first run I put 6.6 miles on them without a blister, hot spot or new callous, I’d say it was a job well done.
Needless to say, I’m a happy runner with happy feet–and I love that now, with my Nike+ (the black thing on my left foot is the chip that I’ve attached to the outside–I refuse to buy a pair of Nike’s that I won’t like just so I can put the chip inside), I will know exactly how many miles I have logged on these shoes…9.7 and counting.

Winter Saturdays…

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Today, being Saturday and being that I am still in training for this half-marathon, I headed down to the track to meet Dianne and Ruth, my running partners on the days that I feel I can keep up. Well, the track and I had a bit of a disagreement. I think that running should be enjoyable…the track does not. So, after running a mile with Ruth and Dianne, I had to go. I would rather run on a treadmill for two hours than around a track 77 times (11 miles on the short track…the long track was closed). It’s a beautiful day here in Provo, so rather than heading to the gym, I decided to head to the Provo River Trail and see how it went.

There’s something that feels so hard-core about running outside when it’s 25 degrees and your feet are crunching over snow on the trail. The run was great (well, the first 8 miles). The river was beautiful. The air was clear. The sun was shining. The trail wasn’t crowded. I loved it. It reminded me of a perfect day I spent in Spokane, Washington about two years ago. If you ever have a reason to go to Spokane, do it. It’s a beautiful city with a great river.

Anyway, as I was saying, my run was great, except for the part where I forgot that there wouldn’t be a drinking fountain and didn’t bring water with me. And the part where, at the end of the run, as I was cooling down, I ate it on black ice. Good times! And yes, there were witnesses. Thankfully, most people out on a trail in the winter time have fallen at least once, or at least that’s what they told me to make me feel better.

I haven’t run outside for about two months. And, having lived in Provo 5+ years during college, I was glad to have finally made it down the south end of the Provo River. It’s amazing. There are big trees and there was a section where the stripped brush was coated in ice. And in someone’s backyard, there was a little hose spraying a small stream of water, and this little bit of water, over time, has turned into this amazing sort of ice sculpture. I wish that I had a camera with me, but I’m sure the picture (given my skills) would not have done justice to it. There was a small sign posted asking people not to break of icicles becaue the sculpture was not stable, but I broke one off anyway (a small one) and ate it–hey, I was thirsty. Whether running or walking or biking, being outside is amazing. There are so many things we don’t see when we are driving around and there are so many places that cars won’t go.

And to top off my great morning, when I finally finished my run and headed home (hand throbbing, knees hurting, completely dehydrate – yes it’s worth it), I was driving up the hill to my house and I passed my cute grandma coming down the hill with her neighbor. He’s almost blind and very old and she takes him shopping every Saturday. My 82-year-old grandma (her birthday’s next week) taking her neighbor shopping because he can’t do it on his own. If that isn’t enough to make you smile, I’m sad for you. You must be a very depressed person.

And now, my morning is over and it’s time to take a shower, clean and do some homework. And life rolls on…

running…

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First of all, I think you should all be impressed because I ran nine miles today. That’s right, nine! Okay, well, to be totally honest I ran 7.5 and walked 1.5. Last week I ran the full eight, but this week I didn’t quite do that, although even with walking, my average pace was pretty good…I love my iPod and Nike+…fabulous purchases. In any case, it felt good.

So, I love this new running thing. Who knew it would be so great? (Actually, I did run for a while in college, but it was all about losing weight and I hated it.) I went to lunch with my friend, Allison, today and she happens to be quite the runner. When I met her as a new roommate around seven years ago, she wasn’t a runner. I don’t remember when it started, but I do remember that it started with her training for the St. George Marathon and a runner was born. When she came to visit me in Hawaii, she got up early on Saturday to run the 14 miles she needed to run as part of training (for her fourth or fifth marathon). I remember thinking that she was crazy. But now, as I am training for the Canyonlands Half-Marathon, I’m starting to understand. It is totally addictive and I am loving it. I love that, because of this goal, I workout everyday and rather than being super concerned about what I look like, I’m more concerned about training results. I lift weights because I know that stronger muscles mean better, faster runs. I love that I’m motivated to eat healthy food because I know that shedding some weight will help my knees.

I’m starting to understand people who don’t feel like their day is complete without a run…granted, in training, running every day is not the ideal, so I’m following a training schedule…but I’m starting to feel that way. There’s something very therapeutic about it. And the best part is all I need to do it are a pair of running shoes and workout clothes…and an iPod. Apple should be paying me for the marketing I do for them. 🙂

And next week, I’m up to ten miles…hopefully this week will be a great training week and I’ll be able to run all ten miles. I’m already looking forward to it!

the new me…

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Life is truly good right now. It’s relatively balanced and I’m just happy. I’m so glad to be back at this point in my life. I have great friends who love me, a great job, a great family and some great goals that I am reaching. It’s busy, and every minute is scheduled, but it feels good.

So, the new me? Well, the new me is really just the same me, but it’s the way I view myself. We are all labeled throughout our lives. For some reason, I was labeled as lazy and truth be told, the label was given for a reason–when I was twelve. The tough thing with labels is that, even when they no longer apply, the sticky residue is hard to get rid of, like on a picture frame where someone idiotically puts the price tag on the glass (whoever thought that was a good idea should be shot–okay, well not shot, but really, who thought of that?). Anyway, back to my point, over the past few years I have proven that I am anything but lazy, although the past six months have really solidified that. Not only am I not lazy, but I’m an assertive, fun, hard worker. And, over these past three weeks of being in school, again, I’ve realized that I’m no longer a procrastinator or class skipper.

It feels so good the shed those labels and start to work away at the residue. Unfortunately, those people who have known me a long time don’t necessarily know how to allow me to remove the residue. It’s not intentional but, to them, I am this particular person. That’s the person they’ve always known and loved and change is not always comfortable. So, there are some growing pains to be endured. I have to assert myself (which is one of my talents now) and kindly ask those individuals to please refrain from teasing me about certain things because such comments are a) hurtful and b) no longer true. Not the easiest adjustment to make, but well worth making.

Oh, and the fact that I’m training for a half-marathon and ran eight miles last Saturday, get up at 4:00 am to go to the gym and will be running another eight miles tomorrow also aids in the removal of the residue.

Yes, life is good!

friday night confessions…sarah style

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My friend, Sarah, has a blog (see the link to the left) called “Confessions of a Twenty-Something Drama Queen” where she “confesses”, usually in lists of 10. And I like it, so I’m copying her today.

1. Work has been super busy this last week as I have been down two (sometimes three) employees over the last two weeks (I only have three) and, while it has been busy, I have been enjoying the fact that I was able to go it alone and I am loving the praises of me that are being sung. It’s true…I love being good at my job.

2. I went and saw Freedom Writers tonight and I really enjoyed it. Anytime I watch those types of inspirational movies (kids make it out of gangs to succeed) it makes me want to do something like that with my life…then I think about how long it would take me to get my teaching certificate, what it would cost and what I would make…and, well, I change my mind. But I do volunteer…or I’m trying to.

3. The cd exchange (you can read about that chez Sarah as well) is one of the best ideas ever. I came home to a new cd tonight (I’m listening to it right now) and it was such a happy surprise. I love music.

4. One of my student employees got back from her extended break today and I was so excited. As much as I love being praised, I like being able to get all of my job done even more. Plus, she’s just a fabulous employee…and she brought me gifts and who doesn’t love anything from Marks & Spencer, seriously?

5. I’m supposed to run 7 miles tomorrow, but I don’t really want to. I was using my consulting class as an excuse not to (we were going to meet tomorrow), but now we’re not meeting tomorrow, so I really have no excuse.

6. I’m addicted to Veronica Mars and can’t wait for the new episode on Tuesday. And I’m excited that I’m hooking other people. It’s a very clever show.

7. I love my accounting class. It’s how my mind works. I think business is the way to go for me.

8. I am loving my new haircut and color (pics coming soon). It is so fun. I’m figuring out all of the different ways I can style it. Today it was diffused with some barrel curls–super sassy, and who doesn’t love a sassy blond…and I don’t just mean the hair?

9. We are covering poetry in my English class and I am less than excited. I wish that I would have just taken the final the first go around of this class…although I do love my professor, so that helps.

10. I’m so excited to sleep in tomorrow. I can’t sleep super late because I have hours of homework and I’m going out tomorrow night, but I will love not hearing an alarm at 5:30. Happy, happy thoughts…and on that note, I’m off to bed.