Blah, Blah, Blah

"Peak Week". It is the height of our training. Last week we did close to 50 miles. It was a grueling week with a Wednesday run of ten miles. (That is hard to do before going to work and being on your feet all day. Not to mention my job involves vomiting, tired, sick children. All day I was thinking "move over in the bed- I want to lay down, throw up, and cry too," not my best empathy day.) The weeks mileage culminated in a 23 mile run. K and I were nervous the whole week. We were hoping that her foot, my shin, and our friendship would hold up!

Fix me Lisa!!!!

That Suzy- she only had 8- what a complete slacker. So she hit peak week 2 weeks ago- Who doesn't always want to to do another 20 miler? Huh? Nobody? Oh- well- you're all slackers too. Seriously- we NEED Suzy. We need her funny I-have-kids stories, and her wholesome niceness when we wish to die.

That 18 miler we mentioned a few weeks ago- NOT pretty.

Here are the girls on a talk... oh I mean WALK break!

I depleted my glycogen stores EARLY. I hit the wall the first few miles in. Good little Suzy and Kristin just chirped away. Suzy told us every detail of the new school socks she just bought her girls. We especially liked the details of the "Terrific Tuesday" socks, and the ingenious "Rainbow Anyday" socks. I was just plain mean by mile 13 or so. I decided in order to not lose friends, best to keep the trap shut and let my running buddies pull me along. By mile 15 I was crying. I wanted to sit down on the trail. I barely finished. So, now when one of us is struggling, we have a code- "Talk to me about the Tuesday socks!" It means, I'll shut up- but you must think of things to distract me by talking non-stop. Who knew socks were so key in marathon training? Maybe it will be the next new chapter in Jeff's book- "Training and the Terrific Tuesday socks." Sounds like an after school program that would include "Blossom".

THE socks that saved the run!

The next week Suzy chose her husband to run with- Imagine! That Zany girl. We came up on the trail mid-run and saw Rick running in place- Where was Suzy--- The bathroom you silly rabbit- where else? K and I snuck up to the door and started yelling- "lady- come on, you've been in there 20 minutes!" "Get out!" "Hey whats the problem in there?" We rattled the handle and banged on the door. By that point we were laughing uncontrollably which gave us away. Suzy came bursting out the door seconds later yelling- "Good thing I was already in the bathroom!" We laughed like hyenas until it looked like other runners were scared.
And- while we are on that subject- THE ONLY people on the trail at Quarter to Vicky on a Saturday are: drug dealers, or runners. Both are looking for THE HIGH. One morn we saw a suspicious car that kept circling and going slowly, scoping out the neighborhood. No fear Murrayites- the vigilante team of D and K armed with squirt bottles of gatorade followed them. 2 minutes later they got out of the car in full running gear with their own gatorade firing bottles. Boring! We were sure by that time we where about to save the city. We'd already planned the headlines " Team 'She runs like a girl' keeps city safe while wearing ridiculously cute running outfits" So, that didn't turn out right.

S0- back to Peak week. I read up on a method of using energy bars in conjunction with our regular "gu" to keep from hitting the wall. It was pure genius! That Jeff- Someone should tell him to be a famous runner- he is GOOD! K and I ran and ran and ran. Here we are at the END of this portion of the parkway---- notice the signs for highway 201!?!

This was after running south 8 miles, turning around and running North- (had to drop off that lazy Suzy.) We kept saying- I can't believe how good I still feel! When we ran out of cheerleaders, we started telling random people on the trail- "hey- we've run 20 miles already!" They looked at us- saw the lunatic in our eyes, and then gave us what we wanted- totally solicited- "Wow"s and "Great job"s! Hey- when your mom isn't around and you need a cheerleader, even strangers understand that. We did 23! Let me say that again- you didn't react enough dear reader- WE DID 23!!! WAAAHOOO! I think we just may pull this off! What do you think of that Larry Payne! We did lose some brain cells though. After the run we had prepared to do an ICE BATH. It is supposed to help with recovery, swelling, muscle repair, blah, blah, blah. It's meant for suckers who will try whatever they read. The 23 was nothin' compared to making yourself get into a cold bathtub with floating ice chunks- 20 pounds of ice chunks! K and I stood looking at the bath tub in our swimming suits for A WHILE. Finally I decided to just get in--fast- but only if K promised she wouldn't then chicken out. I stepped in and thought I'd died. Then I sat down. Excruciating! Then I quickly buried myself to my neck. Pain! I couldn't even catch my breath it was so shocking. This is the point I began manically gesturing for Kristin to get in. She watched all this and said no, NO, no. I somehow indicated through my verbal non-skills, that all my close friends and family know I have, that her best choice currently, was to get in, so she did. She sat down and screamed at the top of her lungs for 5 seconds straight. It was so cold Kristin went blue around her mouth for almost the entire time. The idea of the TWO of us in the tub- WITH 20 POUNDS OF ICE,and feeling the post long run unreasonableness became dizzyingly hilarious. We laughed so hard I hoped the tub wouldn't fall through the floor. It was my first bath in my new bath tub- What a way to start! We stayed in for close to 15 minutes. Adam knew we had lost it- he went outside to putter around- away from the crazy. Now that the run and weirdness was completed, Suzy went back in our minds from lazy to nice. She cooked us a big celebration pancake breakfast. It was so GOOD. What a great way to celebrate peak week! K and I kept commenting how amazing we felt. We didn't even nap- ok, well, at least I thought I hadn't napped. I was innocently sitting on the porch watching Adam wash his motorcycle, his mistress. When he woke me up laughing.
Like all good husbands of marathoners- he snapped a picture of all things funny-
So much for dignity and presence! My poor neighbors. They lost the neighbor lottery when we moved in. I think they're beginning to SEE that.

I love cross-training in Utah (when it's outdoors!). We have the best recreation nation-wide, and year-round. It is a dream! My mom and my sister Carrie Lyn hike the trail to Timpanogas Cave almost every day it is open during the summer. It can be a grueling little hike, but it is spectacular. I try to go with them for cross-training on Mondays. My mom has done it over 55 times THIS SUMMER. My sister doesn't even keep track! They are die-hards. In the summer I hike with my mom. In the winter, we ski. Mondays are so, so fun with my mom- BUT it does not matter the sport, if you are going with her- be ready to get left in the dust. She is where my maniac came from, and it's only murky water compared to hers. She is faster hiking up, skiing down, or just plain running. Utah is beautiful. My Super-Dad and I before the hike. IF I have any athletic ability it is from him. He is amazing. Ask me sometime- I have stories.
My mom and I at "picture rock" We had our family pictures taken here a couple of years ago. See the end of this post!
Adam has come with me as I have needed to cross-train at the gym. I can not possibly explain how supportive and great he has been. All of our husbands are secretly WAITING for this crazy thing to be over. It is incredibly time consuming. If we aren't all running together, we are on the phone talking about the run. We no longer cook dinner, clean, or even bother being very nice. All of the husbands deserve an 'I put up with a marathoner' medal at the end. Adam has stashed food and water for us miles ahead- even at o-dark-thirty. He picks us up. He rotates ice-packs. He does laundry and dishes. He has tried countless energy gu's and bars with us. He rides his bike next to me for HOURS when I need to run alone in the dark. He helps make sure I get to bed early so I get enough sleep. He even puts on a great act when I am totally unreasonable and crying from fatigue- he makes me think all my feelings are valid and understandable. When I wake up more rational and say sorry or "that was crazy talk"! He shrugs and says something like "Marathons take a lot of work, I'm here to help you." I love him and I COULD NOT do this with out him.

He is such a babe!

It is 3:30 AM as I write this. I can't sleep. Today Suzy runs. I am so excited and nervous for her, that I can't get back to sleep. K and I leave in about an hour to go up and surprise her by cheering her on. We are so proud of her and her husband. Go Suzy! You can do it!

I doubt anyone will even read this far- this post is too long, but I have something actually important to say. This past week my family told me they are coming down to see me run. That is about 18 people that are able to come, my friends. They are paying for hotels, food, gas. All to see me run. My niece Afton wondered why I couldn't just run past her house- why drive to St George to watch me run by? Good question Afton. But I wanted to say that this is one of the kindest acts of service and support I have ever received. When they told me, I sobbed. I still cry, even as I write about it. Thank you. This means more to me than I could ever write here. I love you.