Skimmed at least 5 minutes off!!

Alright! Just got back from the same 5 mile route I did on Monday and wow I feel almost like a new person! No major dehydration episode, and I skimmed at least five if not more minutes off my Monday time! I did about 9.4 minute miles... not bad for a middle distance runner, eh?

Today I didn't even open Pandora. I started off with Elder Bednar's talk about how to receive the Holy Ghost every day of your life from the Oct 2010 conference. Then I put on President Eyring's talk on giving service from the April 2011 conference. It was wonderful. When that was done, I spent the next 15 minutes or so talking to Heavenly Father. Talking about hopes and desires & asking for his help.

I am so blessed. I really am. To start out with, I have sweet Nicole to keep me company whenever I'm home. She is good entertainment too now that she's feeling much healthier than she has for the past 3 years or so. Interesting how she and I seem to parallel each other with health. But anyway, also first of all, I have Edwin. What a gem, he is my gift from Heaven.
Also first of all, I have a non-perfect but amazing family on all sides!

To continue, I am blessed with so much opportunity and life. Right now at our stage, Ed and I really could go just about anywhere and do just about anything! I LOVE that feeling! It is so exciting and invigorating!

Well, I need to start stretching before my heart beat slows down too much. Until next time!

Running is my Temple

Yesterday I told Ed that running is my temple.
I had another enlightening experience as I was running yesterday. At about 3 miles, I wasn't sure I could go any further. My legs still felt like water weights and every step took more energy than I swear I had left inside of me. (Why had I been feeling awfully drained of energy and legs full of heavy weights? I have my suspicions, but maybe later I will discuss them.)
Listening to music is always a good distraction for me while I run. It helped me will the energy to continue. At 4 miles, the music in my head stopped, what came from my earphones was only noise. Chills came and went up and down my legs and arms. The sun pierced straight through my skin boiling my blood. Lack of moisture left my mouth waxy and I had stopped sweating. I was extremely dehydrated. Was there anywhere I could stop use the restroom and get a drink? Just houses around and only 1 more mile to go!
I slowed to a walk. I never do that! I never walk because it makes me feel like a quitter, like the race today wasn't even worth waking up for. I worried about this as my heart beat slowed a bit and my step lingered a little under the shady spots. But I just could not urge myself to continue running! I felt utterly sick.
I began to pray. Heavenly Father, please help me make it home ok... please help me know what to do to make it home. A clear thought came to mind to turn off Pandora and turn on Mormon Channel. I never listen to the broadcast, so I started to go into Conference Talks as I always do but then had the thought to just listen to the broadcast. I took a step of faith in that inspiration and also in myself. As soon as I turned the Mormon Channel broadcast on, I began running again.
President Monson's voice led me all the way home. He spoke about how to make the most of your education, how we need to gain the skills of today in order to get the jobs of tomorrow and to not procrastinate. "It has been said that procrastination is a thief of time," he continued, "I would take that further and say that procrastination is a thief of self respect." His words were timely and exceptionally poignant to Ed's and my stage of life.
As soon as I got home I made myself a ice cold glass of water and lustfully drank it. Wow, it tasted sweet. I shared my experience with Ed while sipping on my water. As my body started to rehydrate, sweat began pouring down my head, arms, body and legs like massive droplets of sprinkler water. Amazing. What a special blessing it was to have that whole experience.
I find that when I get to a real pushing point in running when I really have to focus on breathing and putting one foot in front of another, my mind is the clearest. Normally I think about a hundred things at once and constantly have "inputs" coming to me from all over; music, computer, electronic appliances, TV, pictures, internet, phone messages, etc. I rarely if ever feel inspiration from on high unless my mind has been cleared with being surrounded my nature, or running (preferably in nature). So running is my temple. It is my flow.

It's been a long time since I've blogged or really written (rather than paraphrased) in my journal so please forgive the writing imperfections. It's just a wonder that I actually put this entry in. I'm going to try to do better from here on out. If anything, it's a good way to record special experiences such as these.

So... How's everyone doing with their exercise? These last few week's weather has definitely put a damper on my exercise. I've still enjoyed going running outside a few times, but the clouds, windchill and light flurries aren't very enjoyable.
Kristy told me last week that she's started running outside with Royce, way to go guys!!
So, let's all find a race to run together sometime in the future! In fact, would anyone be interested in creating our own family/summer fun-run up at the cabin? We could track a running trail that's 1 mile, 5 K, or even longer if anyone's interested. Let me know what you think!
Something I've noticed is that running out in nature is very distracting and a wonderful way to get your mind off of the tediousness (and sometimes pain) of running.

Hi everyone! It's been a long time since I've posted anything on here,... I don't have much to say other than that I went running this morning for about 40 minutes outside. It was great to get out, I'm so glad it's not freezing cold and that Spring is right around the corner!! :-)
I often get kind of stomach sick though during the day after I run,... maybe it's because I'm pushing myself too hard (?) Has anyone else experienced this or have this problem?

Take one a day....

So, somehow I need to get it through my brain and heart that exercise is not optional for me. It is an ESSENTIAL not a non-essential. So my new self-talk is "don't forget to take your medicine...EXERCISE"! I wanted to do a 5 K on Thanksgiving morning, but chickened out to do it alone. So I did my own walk/run 5 K around Liberty Park with Sol. :) It was great. Anyone want to join me for the future to make a Thanksgiving tradition of doing a 5 K in the morning? Its quite a great way to work up an appetite!

Fighting Against Depression and Addiction

I was doing a little bit of online research about running today and found that a few different places recommended running as great therapy to treat people with clinical depression and people coping with addiction.

A Chance to Meditate

One motivation that's been getting me to run is the opportunity it gives me to meditate and receive inspiration. If not inspiration, it at least gives me a fresh perspective on things and seems to clear the stage in my mind. It truly prepares me for my day ahead, that's why I've found much more satisfaction going in the morning verses in the middle of the day or at night.
This morning I ran all 40 minutes without my i-pod. There was one time, going up a hill where I thought it might be easier to get up here if I had some good beats to listen to, but other than that it was super refreshing. I'm happy to know that I can not only do the run, but still enjoy it, without listening to my i-pod.
Don't get me wrong though, there are some days when I definitely don't feel like going.
The recent weather has been a huge blessing and another motivation that has gotten me out in the morning. I just think about how we don't have very many days like this left, and that pushes me out the door.

I'm a Turtle

Just a confession I have to make. I haven't run in weeks. I've been thinking of starting up again -- but just can't seem to get my momentum going.

Run for women's freedom and empowerment!

I had a thought today while I was running. For anyone who would like to participate but are not sure what type of freedom to run for I have a suggestion!
Watch any or all of these videos below:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/08/20/magazine/kristof-audioss/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvee_dGl9yw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlIv55oLfsA

October 10, 5 K

So the run was great. Thank you Rachel! It was fun to see all the people in different costumes. They called us the Blue girls, because we were wearing our blue t-shirts (from the last race) over long sleeve shirts. We did a better time too - last one was completed in about 35 minutes. This one was completed in about 32 minutes. Just for the record, Rachel would've finished earlier but she is good enough to run with me.
The interesting thing about this 5K is that there was a "false" finish line. They had us run back through where we started and many, including myself, thought it was the end. I got a boost of energy thinking it was the end, a pair in front of us, sprinted through the cones and .....ooops...keep going! Some people just stopped and walked, I thought they might even end right there. It made me think of life - of getting different spurts of energy to get through something, and then when we find out that isn't the end, sometimes we want to give up. So my lesson - steady and constant finishes the run, and if I get energized in a season of life, great. Just don't let myself give up when that burst is gone and there is still the journey to continue.
May we all be constant, with sprints here and there, even when its not the end!

Hey Everyone! April & I are running a 5K tomorrow morning. Here's the link that explains the cause. http://utahlosetheshoes.com/costume-5k
It's for a local organization that fund raises for an NGO that works to promote HIV/AIDS awareness and education among African youth through their love of soccer.

Ok, I am going running tomorrow morning... this is my commitment, so hopefully it will happen!

P.S. I found workout programs that help you get in shape and ready to run a 5k, a 10k, a half marathon or a whole marathon. Check it out!

http://www.personalrunningtrainer.com/half-marathon.html