Why we haven't run or blogged

It's Kristin.

I haven't run since Monday, and haven't blogged in a week. My life has been crazy! I got called as YW president (in my church) which has suddenly taken over my life in a major way. Hopefully it will settle back down soon, but it's been very very busy. Danna got asked to go on a volunteer mission to Haiti with one days notice, further rocking my world. Then she was told nevermind. Then again, yes we need you. Then again- no nevermind we miscalculated our numbers. So you can imagine she's been busy in a crazy way too! See her on the news HERE. She's in several shots- can you spot her? It's like Where's Waldo! How about "Donde's Danna?" I like it.

My work stuff is really busy right now too. I have a relatively new student which can be a lot of help or a lot of extra time depending on the situation. Also, Matt's 30th Bday is coming up and I've been doing "30 Days of Birthday Surprises" for him each night. Like "30 Cupcakes," or "$30 to spend on ebay" or "Look- I organized the fridge" since the fridge being packed and messy drives him nuts. I think that may have been one of his favorites. It's been so fun to see Matt get so excited. Should I throw him a party too? A funny over-the-hill party? Or a traditional one? I'm so indecisive.

And now, running. Ah running- I need you right now! I need to run off some stress, and I need to be with Danna. You know that feeling where you're about to part with someone super close to you for a month or a summer? And it's right when you really need them and you feel all desperate and selfish ("Haiti?! What about ME?!")? And you realize your reaction to their news is not right, but you feel like your tongue has a mind of its own ("Ok, so I know you're leaving for Haiti tomorrow and it's 1 am and you are going to be camping on the ground, debriding wounds, comforting orphans, and eating 2 granola bars and an MRE as you hike 12 miles to the city each day?" **Note: these details are all true!** "Well, what are some other things that I need to put on my presidency meeting agenda? I need help, sister! I'm stressed!")? Well, I've been there this week. Missing Danna already, and now she and her 25 lb. backpack aren't even going to have to leave me afterall! I'm so sad for Haiti, cuz homegirl is a FABULOUS nurse and a dedicated hard worker like you've never seen!! And so's her mama, who almost went too!

K, don't be offended of my seemingly light treatment of the Haiti theme. I really feel so sorry about the pain and suffering going on there and would gladly give up Danna and lots of other stuff to help them out. I donated here if you wanna join me. 100% of the money goes to the people themselves for their needs and care. I just did a tiny bit of inward whining about being without her for so long in such a crazy time. Suzy's not able to run for a while either due to some health issues, so I'd be out there on the trail. Just me and the guy in the bushes (and the cops). :)

Anyway, this weekend is my trip to Iowa- it's a business trip, but I get to stay in my own hotel room for the first time in my life! I'm totally psyched, and you will most definitely be receiving a blog entry summing up the sweet experience. And get this- the concierge has located a fun river pathway I can run on! Cool, eh? My boss said he would run with me. Not sure that's gonna work. 1)I'm super slow compared to most athletic men. 2)Awkward? 3)What if I want a walk break? "Um boss? Can we walk for a minute? You can run on ahead if you don't wanna walk with me..." I dunno.

Well, blog readers. Thanks for being faithful and asking for new posts. We feel loved and needed. And remember- this is the year to run!

This weekend's training (from Galloway's "Novice" schedule):

SLC, UT 1/2 Marathoners
Saturday: 3 Miles


Ogden, UT 1/2 Marathoners
Saturday: 4 Miles

Buffy- I wanna learn the foot taping method you mentioned in your comment! I wanna buy clogs too. I think I also wanna buy one of those ties or boots that stretches your calf and plantar fascia all night.

XOXO
~K

you asked for it...

Hi- It's Danna! Well, I have been asked a lot about my crazy family since my last post. So, I thought you might like a couple pics. These are from last Easter:

Matt and K found the coveted chocolate bunny. Notice Ksenia in the background.
The easter egg hunt is CUT THROAT! Small children are pushed aside, and "adults" throw hissy fits over things like, "that was my chocolate bunny! give it back....." Lowering of standards would be entered about at this point.


The official lighting platform for each person's rocket. The police were not here yet at this point.
Notice all the sane people standing BACK at a safe distace.


It takes A LOT of concentration ok? Devan is a ring leader.

The big one. Notice it's propped up with duct tape. typical




Houston- we have lift-off! It's officially a holiday with Danna's family.

Working on the blog, working on the bod

Hey, it's Kristin.

Browsing around and reading other people's blogs has become my favorite hobby lately. And not just runners' blogs (though I do enjoy those quite often). I like blogs full of eye candy and ideas, blogs about moms' lives (even though I don't have kids yet), and blogs about my friends and family. Blogs are so cool! You can read about people's lives, and ideas, and creations, and advice- all for free! It's crazy. And I love the novelty of them. I like thinking about things to blog about, and reading people's comments. Ok, I'll stop being blogsessed now.

Today D and I went for a run. It's been a bizarre running week for us. One day the ground was slick with new snow and slush and we couldn't run cuz we were sliding all over the place. Out of kindness, D didn't wear her Yaktrax (so we could be equals) and we forged the trail together. Instead of running we walked up and down a hill we call "glute hill" for it's tendency to work our bums. We must've walked up and down that thing for over an hour. Then yesterday the mad howling wind scared me back to bed (Danna will run in anything though. She was probably disappointed). I could just imagine coming home all face-chafed and frazzled after trying to run in that insane wind. And my bed's comfy-ness didn't help. I probably should've stayed up and done a work-out video, but...I didn't occur to me since I was part zombie still. PS: Runners- do you run in crazy wind? Advice?


Today we finally got in a good run. It was an afternoon/evening run. (Suzy's kind of out of commission for a bit right now and that's why we haven't run with her lately.) I love night runs. Totally different that AM runs. That ethereal fog and moonlight are so cool in the mornings! But at night the city is alive, and the air is warmer. So refreshing. Anyway, we just did 5 miles, but it was fun and a nice way to end our crazy work weeks. Our bodies really needed that run too! After skipping too many days we can really feel the lost conditioning!

Side note: I called the cops on a guy on the trail whom I saw sitting in the bushes. I actually call the local police quite often. I think they must roll their eyes when they look at the caller ID: "It's her again!" I call them when there are suspicious lurkers in the bushes (tonight), or obnoxious drunk people on the train, or people trying to start fights, or teens with illegal substances, or even people without a leash whose dogs are running (and pooping) rampant all over the parkway! Yes, I'm that lady. And proud of it, darn it!

Oh!! This week I'm going on a business trip to Coralville Iowa. We're checking out the nearby hospital and tring to implement some of their technology. I'm definitely going to have to find a cool place to run. Anyone know the area?! Running trails? Cool spots?

XOXO
~K

Ski free- and stuff you'll wish you didn't know

Hey - It's Danna! Ok, I'll be honest, before there was 'run like a girl' there was 'ski like a girl'. In fact, a little trivia point for you here- we came up with the 'she runs like a girl' name from a playlist I have on my I-pod- ski like a girl. I ski with my mom during the winter about once a week. We have a riot. Of course, all I see of her is the snow she is kicking up in my face, but cest la vie right?

Notice my cool helmet! It has speakers in the ears, so I had to have a ski play-list. Actually the helmet came to be because I have these brothers that are super crazy insane.

Case and Point(s): We snorkled in Florida- they were reprimanded by the captain of our boat for "hasseling the sharks". They have installed a zip-line from the top of my parent's property to the back, and then when new babies are born in the family, they have contests to see who can get the youngest kid down on it. Preferably alive. They build home-made rockets and light them off scaring neighbors and police alike every Easter. They rock climb stuff that pro's wouldn't. These are the examples I can think of on a whim. Back to the helmet... They are the kind of skiers that you only see as they fly off the cliff above you. They break new skis every year, get kicked out of resorts, and break legs as a general practice. Ask me sometime about the calls I get at all hours...
Misc brother: "hey"
Me: "hey. do you know what time it is?"
Misc brother: "he, he yeah, so uh, whats up?"
Me: "what now?"
Misc brother: "so I was just wondering what you think I should do, cause I think I can see the
bone almost through the skin on my leg"
Me:" well, I think I would see a doctor"
Misc brother:" yeah, well, I'm kinda in the middle of the mountian. (insert painful little laugh)
Me:" so get patrol to pull you out on a tobaggan"
Misc brother:"Well, I think I'll try to ski down on one leg, uh, what do you think?"
Me: "Sounds stupid, but whatever."
Misc brother "ok, thanks, talk to ya later"

And then he really does ski down.

S0- the norm in our family is slightly off-kelter. When I skiied with them 2 years ago- I was stupid enough to try to keep up with them, long story short- went off an unmarked drop-off, LANDED IT(!) then quickly tried to not meet some trees close up, and the end result was two very injured thumbs. Adam then insisted on the helmet. Hence the ski play list!!!! Long story to explain a play-list right? These two really are the ones responsible for all the craziness. It's their fault. We all agree on that.

We do, as a side note, pick up strays too. Ksenia- you've seen her on the site, she is training for the SLC Half with us. We got her from Russia- and we kept her. She is my sister now.
We also have "the hobo" he just moved in downstairs one day, and we kept him too. He is now one of the crazy brothers referred to in the above stories.

So, I am skiing with my mom and dad for cross-training. Something else you should know about us- we don't pay for anything you don't have to. So here is the ultimate FREE cross training tip of the year- Ski Alta. You can ski every day there after 3pm for free. Yep- free. The lifts are limited, but hey- it's free. Most Utah ski resorts have some variant of this program, but Alta is the only one who does it every day, the same way. We love it- free skiing. That is our kind of sport.

So while we are on the subject of family- we received this question from my sister Buffy: she has her own brand of craziness, but it translates into 7 minute miles, so... why didn't that speed demon kind of crazy happen to me is the real question here. But here it is:

"Ok, She Runs Like a Girl Runners, I need some help and advice... I have BAD feet! I have always had bad feet, but now that I am long distance running, my feet really hurt and I need to baby them NOW and prevent major damage, so I can keep running. Does the tennis ball theory work? Should I soak them in cold epsom salt after runs? Should I take Ibuprofen??? Any other ideas? Thanks for your help!"

So, this is my answer. Yes- ice. Kinda yes- Ibuprofen. Yes- Epsom salts. Sure- try the tennis ball. NOTHING will make the difference that wearing Dansko clogs will. Nothing. I'd like to bear my testimony of clogs. (ha ha, but not really) All the girls in the fam have bad feet. I tried all those things, plus cutom fit VERY expensive orthotics, Designer drug prescription anti-inflammatories, and anything else I could think of. Nothing actaully FIXED the problem until I started wearing clogs most days. I still wear stillettos and wedges and boots with a great heel etc, but for my day to day shoes, it's the clogs. I actually think they look really cute and I can be on my feet all day, and my feet don't even twinge any more- ever. Clogs will FIX your feet. We can shop for them when you come out to visit!

Does anybody else have some ideas for foot pain? Let's hear what you all think!

Don't forget to get a run in today!

Tuesday Night Musings

Kristin again.

Ahh, the rest day. Yes I love to run, but I love my rest days!

Poor Matt. Now that I'm training for some half marathons, he's back to the duty of going up and down the stairs to get things for me when I'm trying to "lay off the feet." I also ask for a "mini massage" every night as part of the whole tucking me in process. YES, I make my husband tuck me in. I highly recommend it. He's always hovering over his laptop while I do my get ready for bed process. This involved many things, from heating my pj's up in the towel spa D gave me as a gift for finishing the Marathon, to reading my scriptures, and goofing around until he starts nagging me to get to bed. Even though he stays up, I like that he makes me go to bed. Otherwise I dilly dally for hours, and play around on the blog, FB, and nieniedialogues. I start "over grooming," like touching up toenail polish, and looking at every one of my pores in the mirror.

I have decided not to run the Wasatch Back, but I feel a bit of anti-buyer's remorse. Krissy, have you run it? I'm scared of the intense hills! All the people on their website said it was the hardest (and most fun!) race of their lives. Harder than a marathon! If only you didn't have to stay up all night and then some!

This week, I have decided that it's time for me to start icing my foot again after runs. It's not so bad if you are wondering. I get cold really easily, but for some reason, icing always becomes very tolerable and almost comfy very fast! Must be the numbing effect.

I also really want to work on my running form this week. Short strides, pushing off with the toes, keeping my feet parallel (an issue of mine), and keeping my chest up and out so I'm never leaning forward. It's time to start getting ready to rock the Spring races!! I'm excited to run with so many friends in the races this year.

XOXO
-K

To race or not to race.

Happy Birthday to Danna! Here we are with a few friends at Dear Lizzie!

It's Kristin here.

This last week's medium run we did 7 miles. (Suz wasn't with us- refusing to subject her lungs to the nasty inverted air quality of last week. I don't blame her.) It was a fantastic run for me! I felt great the whole run- just relishing that runner's high, and the feeling of catharsis that comes with a good long run. This was the first run in months that wasn't a struggle. To be honest, I've been in a bit of a funk. Lately running has been so...grueling for me. I've tried to keep up with D and S, but my body's clearly not in as good of shape as theirs lately. This whole foot injury resting thing has taken me backward big time. Sometimes I hate to admit this, knowing people may hear it and think, "You struggled for months until you got back into the groove? No thanks- running's not for me." But it's worth it! The company was worth it, and the feeling after the run, the caloric burning, the sense of discipline and accomplishment, the fellowship with other runners. Anyway, Iw as so happy to finally be feeling great again! Hang in there new runners, it's so worth it.

On our long run we ran a different trail- one we haven't run in a while. We talked about work, family, cute husbands, running itself (as always), blogging, future races. Danna's really interested in running the Wasatch Back this year- a killer 2-day relay race through the mountain passes that is a blast. Anyone done it? I'm so tempted, bu THE HILLS! I'm so not a hill person. We are also considering the San Francisco Nike women's marathon in the fall (also very hilly of course- San Francisco) where you get a Tiffany Necklace at the end as your medal, served on a silver platter by the local firemen dressed in tuxes. How can a girl resist. Oh hills, why must you torment me? But for the little robin's egg blue box, I think I just might. Suzy, wanna come?


I say run while you can! What if next year you're pregnant? Or have a (non-running-induced) injury? Or what if the air quality makes running impossible? Or... You just never know.

I was totally inspired by this video I found this morning. This guy video taped his Disneyworld Marathon. The nostalgia actually brought tears to my eyes- especially watching the starting line (warning: hand-held camera=shaky running footage), seeing the other runners, the crowd, the whole marathon atmosphere. Can't wait to do it again.



Ksenia left a question on our last post:
Great resolutions! Sorry I couldn't make it for the run with you guys this week. I did about 6 miles today! I feel great. There is nothing better than that feeling of achievement when I finish my run. I agree with you that I really start enjoying it fully only after mile 3!

If I run in the morning, at around 8-9, do I need to eat breakfast? My stomach seems to deal with the run better if I don't. What is the official runner's doctrine on that?

Thanks! You guys are my inspiration!

My thoughts are as follows: We 3 think eating before the race is a good idea, as it settles your stomach. Gels and Gatorade are hard on the stomach. However if you are going to do this you need to practice on the long training runs. We liked a half or full piece of (dry) toast, (D likes a hard-boiled egg), and 1/2 a banana. We also practiced with bananas and pretzels mid-run since that's what the aid stations hand out. Avoid fatty foods, dairy, too much protein, too much fiber/roughage. Also, drink liquids (6-8 oz) as soon as you get up, then 6-8 oz/hour (Galloway's Book on Running p. 90) before you run. I have never been able to eat before a run until I started practicing. I had to put the toast in the toaster the second I got up so I wasn't eating too close to the run.

XOXO

~K

i love running

Hey friends, it's Danna. ANY TIME the three of us are together and not sweaty- we take 900 pictures to prove to you all that we are not always in buns and mutiple sweat-wicking layers.

How is your training going? So, for the Salt Lake half and the Ogden half, this week you need to run Mon and Wed for 30 minutes. Thursday go for a walk. Your weekend mileage is, SL- run 6.5 miles. For Ogdeners- Run 3. These are such do-able mileages- Just get out there and knock the miles out! Every day you run or work-out you are getting stronger and leaner.

I am reading a book called "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall. I'm not really that far into it, but I am loving it! It's hard to reccommend a book I'm not sure what is to come, but the book is like having a cool, new running partner that has all new stories and insights, and awesome things to talk about. This week I called K at work just to read her a paragraph from it.

He talks about the primal way running is built into us. Here he is talking about a book, "The world accoding to Garp" Which I have not read, but he says,

"I keep thinking back to the way Garp would burst out his door in the middle of a workday for a five mile run. There's something so universal about that sensation, the way running unites our two most primal impulses, fear and pleasure. We run when we're scared, we run when we're ecstatic, we run away from our problems, and we run around for a good time. And when things look worst, we run the most. Three times, America has seen distance-running skyrocket, and it's always in the midst of a national crisis. The first boom came during the Great Depression, when more that two hundered runners set the trend by racing fourty miles a day across the country in the Great American Footrace. Running then went dormant, only to catch fire again in the early '70s, when we were struggling to recover from Vietnam, the Cold War, race riots, a criminal president, and the murders of three beloved leaders. And the third distance boom? One year after the September 11 attacks, trail-running suddenly became the fastest growing outdoor sport in the country. Maybe it was a coincidence. Or maybe there's a trigger in the human psyche, a coded response that activates our first and greatest survival skill when we sense the raptors approaching. In terms of stress relief and sensual pleasure, running is what you have in your life before you have sex. The equipment and desire come factory installed; all you have to do is let 'er rip and hang on for the ride."

This describes how I feel when I run. I love to run when I feel the world is out-running me. When I feel like life is out of control, I run. He is right, there is something primal in getting out and pounding your feet into the pavement until you don't feel the need to pound anymore. I love how running helps me to experience every season of the year. I love the newness and the green feeling of Spring running. I love the hot lolling days of summer running. Autumn is my favorite. The crispness of the season and the way the sun shines orange. Winter running is about quiet, and stillness, and intropection. Running is what makes life livable and even beautiful. It's presence in my everyday is evidence of God's merciful, guiding hands.

Roger Bannister was the first man to break the 4 minute mile. He once was quoted, "Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle- when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."
Have a great run today everybody!