Gadgets

My cousin got an iTouch recently and stuck on an app (that's what you say to sound cool, like you know all about iPhones and applications and earbuds and scrolling and stuff). This particular app is called Map My Run. Have you heard of that? It's very magical. She had me try it out, but I'm only now reporting back to you - the team. Forgive my delinquency. Anyway, Hilary (that's her name) told me that the internal GPS would track my route, distance, pace, and interpret my thoughts.

I couldn't resist not pulling it out of my pocket to check where I was going during the run. It's one thing to watch my surroundings with my own eyes, but it's a totally 'nother thing to see it on an illuminated screen (truth told: the red line following me jigged and jagged all over - like the GPS was tracking a drunk person). For some reason the system stopped tracking me early on, tho' the clock kept ticking. So, basically, Map My Run was just a really fancy watch that day.

In my love-hate relationship with running, I can see how a functional Map My Run tool could motivate me to get out there. It would help the miles go by pleasantly. Plus, if I ran in WiFi zones I could check my email while I was running. But then I remember why I go running: to get away from the gadgets and gizmos and kiddos and calories and hope to observe the minute changes of nature in my neighborhood.

(this was really posted by Robin if you couldn't tell; I know the device is really called iPod Touch ;^) -Briton)

The Unofficial Nutcracker

I totally came in 3rd or 4th at the 5k this morning!!!

umm...well...let me explain:

So...I got up to go run the Nutcracker 5k this morning. I was excited when I left my house because it was so nice out this morning, overcast, not too cold, no wind etc. As I arrived at UVU I got a call from my friend Jill who was also planning to run, she called to tell me that she couldn't find where people were meeting to run. A few minutes later she called back to tell me that she found out that the 5k had been cancelled. :( We were very sad about it but after some consideration decided to run it anyway. Jill had done it in years past and knew the route. There were two other runners there that were going to run it as well, they took off about 5 minutes before us. So Jill and I ran together which was a lot of fun and very nice of Jill since she's a hardcore runner and can easily toast me. We finished it in almost exactly 30 minutes and never saw the other runners so that's why we assumed that we came in 3rd and 4th ;) I felt pretty good about my time...I think it helped a lot to have someone to run with for motivation and I did a much better job pacing myself on this 5k. Even though it wasn't official I'm still counting it as my second 5k ;) So on to the next one...we've found a new year's eve 5k, so we'll see ;)

Links to 5K Turkey Leg Official Photos & Stats

http://www.coachsingleton.com/sports/special/specialmenu.html

http://www.fatpackracing.com/2010-turkey-leg-results.html

Let the Training Begin!

So I've bee "running" about 3 times a week for the last three weeks. As you all know I ran my first 5K on Thanksgiving. I'm contemplating running a second this Saturday, I guess we'll see how excited I am about waking up early that morning huh?

Training has been interesting. When I run I go as soon as get home from work and use a route in my neighborhood. I go for about 5 miles or about an hour. I have 3 reasons for running outside.
1. It's convenient and cheap
2. It's more fun and interesting than running at a gym
3.This guy:

-Okay not this exact guy, but imagine his twin with a sweatshirt on and that's the guy. He runs every night in the same neighborhood as me and lets just say it's a good motivator to try to keep up with some cute old man that is easily in his 80's.

Tonight I was short on time and there was a lot of ice on the roads so I headed up to the indoor track on BYU campus. I think due to the flat track and warmer conditions I was able to run 3 miles in just under 30 minutes...I think it was 28 minutes to be exact.(it's nice that they have that huge digital clock on the track;) It was a good short run and it was nice to run on a track because I could pace myself better. I would run a lap, walk half a lap, and run a lap, walk half a lap etc. So I've gone from running a 1/3 of the time to about 2/3 in like two weeks. This is good!

My next big goal is to give up diet coke...I can't believe I just said that, but it will probably be good for me right? And just to clarify by "give up" I probably mean that I will only have one diet coke once a week. That seems pretty reasonable no?

Happy running to everyone!

The 5K Turkey Leg

Thanksgiving Day 2010 was different than any Turkey Day in the past! Autumn, Baron, Abram and Paula decided to make a memory and run the 5K Turkey Leg in Farmington. We were up pretty early (for a holiday morning) to eat a light breakfast. Autumn and Paula warmed up with 15 minutes of Yoga with Rodney Yee (DVD). Then it was off to Heritage Park/Oakridge Country Club for the race. Laur and Airie came along to take photos and cheer us on. It was COLD at 9:00am. The temperature was around 10 degrees, but there were plenty of idiots up and out and ready to burn a few calories before the big turkey dinner. The roads were pretty dry, but the park path at the end was a little icy and we cautiously slowed a bit. The route was pretty scenic along the golf course with views of the mountains, blue sky, a few misty clouds and several V's of geese flying overhead. We all completed in good times (considering our expectations). Of course you always think you could have done a little better if only........
There were donuts and bananas and water and hot chocolate, etc., at the end with flags waving and music playing. There was plenty of excitment in the air and we were proud of our accomplishments. (There were a few stiff body parts the next day!) Good start to the Thanksgiving and good training for Hood to Coast. Congrats to all and thanks for participating.
P.S. We donated cans of food for the Food Bank and about 200 cans were collected. Saw 2 friends from the Farmington 19th Ward...Ron Salisbury (said he thought I was smarter than this) and Scott Olgilvie.

These are the real runners starting the race.

See if you can find the 4 of us surging off at the gun.

Abram leading the pack.

Autumn smiling as she sails by.

Paula enjoying the last few seconds of the down hill part.

Baron in a classic pose, pretty proud of himself.

This is serious business for #58.

Maybe not too serious for #9.

This is definitely the fun part for #12, coming up to the finish line.

#10 showing off great form and looking like a pro.

Yes! We did it!!!

Back home, missions accomplished, sporting our T-shirts. It was fun to make this memory together.

All smiles......now.

Appropriate graphic...I felt like/looked like the drumstick plodding along.

New Recruit

I took Talmage to the community Kids Turkey Trot this afternoon. We found the stadium empty and a sign that said, "Turkey Trot Canceled due to Weather". C'mon, the website said rain or shine. Nevermind that the track was covered in snow. So T decided to have his own race. He burned around 4.5 laps (over a mile) in the snow!!! At a decent clip too, with only a few "pit stops". Go T!

(Here's his first start, before some equipment adjustments)

Snow hits Oregon

The kids got a kick out of watching falling last night. We woke up to white everywhere --well, an inch or so. Talmage and I enjoyed a cold run at lunch. A little slippin', slidin' and crunchn' through ice. Had to bust out the "other" running gear...

Fitness Center Turkey Trot

OK, I’ll share.
Today was the annual Turkey Trot at work (Salt Lake County), sponsored by Healthy Lifestyles. They manage the gym and provide the workout classes I regularly attend. This is a 2-mile “race” on the sidewalks around the county buildings that attracts some pretty decent runners and a good number of walkers. I wanted to do a jog/walk combo, but after the first block I resorted to walking as fast as I could because my Achilles tendons were in quite a lot of pain. It was a gray day with a pretty stiff wind from the south, but it was warm and dry. I walked with a lady from the Health Department and it was nice to make her acquaintance. There was a drawing for prizes…mostly water bottles and T-shirts, but also two $50 gift certificates to California Pizza Kitchen and two $25 gift certificates to Jamba Juice. I did not hold a lucky raffle ticket. There were lots of snacks at the finish line…string cheese, yogurt, bananas, gummy fruits, juice boxes, etc., and since there was no entrance fee, it was worth the walk just for the chocolate chip granola bar! There were only about 30 participants (maybe 20 guys and 10 girls) and 5 were from my office (Behavioral Health Services which only has about 25 employees!) Two guys from our office took 1st and 3rd! I was the 3rd woman to finish, but there wasn’t much competition. I managed the 2 miles, including the nasty finish (up 4 flights of stairs) in 29 minutes. I am now going to sit in front of the TV and ice my heels.

Prepare to fast forward....Fast Forward!

Hood to Coast 2011 here we come! I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm excited. Just for funsies I popped on to blogspot to see if I could secure this blog name, and sure enough it was still available. Thought this might be a simple and fun way to share our adventures as we train physically and mentally for what will surely be the event of a life time. I just want to take a quick moment and send a big Thank You to Briton & Robin for encouraging and inviting us to participate. Alright, LETS DO THIS!