alone but not lonely

Getting ready to go to St.George tomorrow.

Ran a couple miles today and was happy, despite my dry sore throat and congested head. Felt sleepy though. Hopefully the next 2 days will help me get rid of this cold.

I was thinking about this marathon and running in general. I'm sure people's running/fitness style changes as you learn and try new things...and get old. Four things runners are particular about: shoes, ipod or not, heart rate monitor or not, and food.

For this marathon I have trained alone and toward the last few weeks quit using my ipod. As with training for anything I got into a ritual before my long runs. I always ate the same thing (half a cinnamon raisin bagel with peanut butter and honey and a few bites of fruit) and wore the same thing-give or take a few layers depending on this crazy Utah weather. And yes, I train with a HR monitor. I drink gatorade and eat GU during my runs, maybe a few pieces of candy. I run in the Merrell Pace Glove...I'm testing to see if any of the "Born to Run" stuff is true :) I started about a year ago wearing minimalist shoes just to walk around in, then would go a few miles, and had to change my stride. I'm glad I did. I haven't had any injuries or persistent aches.

I was dreading training at first, but also looking forward to it, because the point of it all is to challenge myself. Can I really do it? So far, so good. Listening to something while I run can be motivating and nice to pass the time-but when I don't, I am much more aware of my body and what's going on around me. I've done this on purpose because I want to know that I can run on my own. I don't have to have music or a running partner to motivate me. And this may be my first and last marathon so I want to take it all in (at least that's what I'm telling myself).

We'll see how much good this all does me on Saturday!

this is a view of mile 8 going downhill, and mile 18 going up on the way back

these days

Mark shaved his head for Millie. I'm so thankful his hair is this short by choice.

I just read a friends blog who talked about getting old and I was thinking the same thing (that I can tell I'm getting older). My reasons?

Tomorrow is my birthday :)

I like cottage cheese and walnuts on my salad

My freckles are no longer freckles-more like 'sun spots'

I wore socks with sandals yesterday

I give people unsolicited advice at the grocery store

I have two kids in forward facing carseats

I prefer to eat dinner by 6pm

I just got a swim suit with a skirt bottom

I don't relate to 90% of the clothes that I see at the mall

I can't up-and-do a race like I used to. I have to really train.

Which leads me to what we've been doing the last few days. We went to St.George on Wednesday to play and primarily so I could do my longest training run yet. Friday I ran on the marathon course (it start in Hurricane and along the south end of Sand Hollow reservoir), mile 3-23. And I loved it! Sometimes my long runs are good, sometimes I ache, sometimes I just want to get them over with. But yesterday was perfect. Although I was so excited when I saw my car that I sprinted the last mile. I dropped off water/food for me at mile 7 and 14 and then drove to my starting point. It was calm, and quiet, and beautiful. It made me remember my love for the desert. I used to backpack and camp with my oldest sister in southern Utah. Yesterday the weather was perfect, slight breeze. I didn't even resort to using my iPod :) Around mile 17 a big guy on a bike passed by and gave me a high five that gave me the smile I needed.

My big birthday plans tomorrow are to go to church (I'm a nursery leader-so maybe we'll have some extra special snacks) and go to my Mom's for dinner. I'll probably spend time on the computer looking up paint colors, home decor, etc since we are getting closer to finding a house! Our offer has been accepted but we're still in the process so I'm waiting to call it ours. It will need to be completely updated, and the basement isn't even finished, but it has a lot of potential.

Janie fell face-first in the Alta parking lot. It was ouchie and oh so dirty.

I took Siri skiing on a beautiful warm day up at Alta. She hated it.

Sandy took her to Toy Story 3 on Ice. She loved it.