Labor of Love

10 miles on deck for tomorrow's long run.  My goal is only 3 walk/GU/water breaks.  Its going to be hot, so I'm going to try to get out even earlier than normal.

I issued a challange to my non-runner friends to run a half marathon with me on October 15th.  So far only one person has said that they would do it.  My thoughts are along the lines of if I bring only one person into running "how great shall be my joy".

Right?  Isn't that the ultimate goal for all of us runners? To share our love of the sport and get our friends and loved ones and the fat people of the world out running?

Horsepower

I ran 8 miles on Saturday.  It was hot and I was sweaty.

... ... ...

Changing gears...

... ... ...

I grew up in a town that my boss lovingly refers to as "the armpit of Idaho".  And in that armpit, I rode horses.

I love horses.

We (being my parents and I) moved to Utah when I was 14 and about to start the 9th grade.  So in the last 12 years, the only time that I get to ride horses is when I pay an arm and a leg to go plodding along on a 20+ year old "trail horse" in places like, the Oregon Coast or Yellowstone.

Oregon Coast 2007

Yellowstone 2008

Star Valley, WY 2009

Anyway, the point that I'm getting to is that I got to go horseback riding last week.  At the same place where I had spent 9 of my first 14 years riding several times a week.

And Katie had her first horse ride.

And she loved it.



Like Mother:

Like Daughter:

2011 Riverton Country Mile 10K

I ran a 10K on Saturday morning (with my dad).

I didn't do as good as I had hoped.

In fact, I totally sucked (my slowest 10K yet!).

Stats:

1:01:07 (9:50 min/mi)

68th place overall

9th in women 25-29

Thorn Sweating + 5 Miles

The Boring Runner hosted a virtual 5K for Saturday morning.  I had 8 miles to run and planned to "race" my 5K the last 3.1 miles.

One thing I've learned in my years of running is that things don't always go according to plan on race day.

I finished my 8 miles in an hour and a half after stiff legging it to a gas station bathroom for three-quarters of a mile.  As I was using the facilities (I had a few minutes to ponder), I was trying to come up with a clever way to work it into my race report.  I wasn't getting much inspiration, so I got out (after peeling the toilet paper from my sweaty legs - you have to have a barrier, right?) and finished my run. 

I developed a blister after 4 miles, so I had that to help me home too.

You know you always wanted to see a picture of my foot.

So my plans to race home didn't work and I have to use my first three miles of my run.

Finish time for the Sweat Your Thorns Off Virtual 5K: 29:36.  Pretty weak.

Monte Cristo

Raise your hand if you love Monte Cristo sandwiches.

*raises hand*

I made them on Father's Day for the hubby.

(extra special note: I am NOT a food blogger and therefore have horrid pictures of the food that I make)

They were OH SO DELICIOUS.  And easy.  And on diet - which made them even better!

So this "diet" "thing" is going well so far.  Have I ever even told you what it is?  Its The Abs Diet. 

Oh, but I'm not losing weight yet.  I'm gaining it. 

For the moment, I'm okay with gaining.  I've been lifting weights for the last 2 weeks and am gaining back the muscle that I lost during my 6 months of lazing around after having Baby K.

But if I'm still gaining by this time next week, I might have to freak out.

You have all been warned.

P.S. I did "speedwork" last night.  And trying to do 400m repeats on anything other than a track is not easy or enjoyable.

On the Wagon

Our diet plan allows us a cheat on one day per week.  We get to eat whatever we have been craving during our week long dieting... and boy, do I ever cheat!

Getting back on the wagon is easier said than done the next day.  Week days are much easier to diet because I am working all day and don't have access to the temptations that call my name all weekend long.

... ... ... ... ... ... ...

I have a half marathon in less than 9 weeks.  And I haven't been running.  That changes TONIGHT.  I just printed off a training plan that I, Whitney, do ever so solemnly promise to stick to until I cross that finish line on August 20th. 

And then I will start it right back up again for the next race that I have on November 5.  I have PR-crushing-dreams/plans for this race.

It will be mine.  Oh yes, it will be mine.  (Name that movie.)

Post-Op

Katie's surgery went great and she did so well.  I couldn't get enough of her in her little gown.

She quickly charmed all of the staff and had many friends on her way out.

Diet related news - I had lost a pound, and then gained it back in 1.5 days stressing out about her surgery.  Yay for stress!