Highs and Lows from Last week- I Got Pretty Lucky

Highs and Lows

The short version

Highs
Watching the Boston Marathon live stream at work on Monday Morning.
Surprise weekend trip to Oxnard, CA.

Lows
I broke my phone
I lost a pair of running shoes.

The longer version

After getting wiped out by some sort of stomach bug the week before last, I ended up having to take a whole week off from running, and  I felt like I had to ease my way back into training.

 I was also bummed when I checked out the winning time for the 5k I was supposed to race.  The winning time was 22:00 even.   Hmph...  It's disappointing to know that I could have placed in the top three for a 5k.  But, there will be other races...

Monday 4/20-Rest, Can we back up and talk about the Boston Marathon?  Wow, Just Wow!!, is all I can say about Desiree Linden's performance last week.  It was so incredible to watch her set the pace for nearly 24 miles before she got dropped.  She still finished 4th overall and was the top American Runner besting Shalane Flanagan..

Photo Credit Boston Globe

Also on Monday, I dropped my cellphone and the screen shattered.  I'm eligible for an upgrade, and I honestly don't care about the latest and greatest Iphone/Galaxy S5.  I just want a basic smart phone.

Tuesday 4/21-  My first run, since I got sick.  I think I must have been really excited to go run,  and the first two miles were on a slight decline, because I did the exact opposite of a progression run, and I positive splitted the heck out of my six miler.  Here's the data. 

Wednesday 4/22 6 miles-  The weather was slightly cooler. (lol) and this run had a slight incline at the beginning with a downhill finish.  So my splits looked better today.  I ran along the Pittman Wash Trail and I love the fact that I didn't have to wait for any red lights.

After my run, I freshened up in a gas station bathroom.  Sometimes there isn't enough time to shower after my lunch time runs, so I make do with baby wipes and sink showers.  In my haste. I left my running shoes on the gas station bathroom floor..... I didn't realize it, until two days later.( I rotate my running shoes) so I wasn't looking for them until Friday....

Thursday  4/23- 3 miles is better than no miles.  Today was a very hectic day at work, and unfortunately I don't want to give out too many personal details about my place of employment.  I ended up taking my lunch break later than usual, I had to hurry up, run, and come back, But, I was happy to just get out  and get some fresh air.

Friday 4/24-Rest day, I was looking around for my Brooks Ravenna's and I couldn't find them anywhere.  Not in the closets, not at my desk at work, not in the car.  I wonder where they could be? I'm such a stooge. I was so certain that I left them in the shower room in the gym at my workplace.  By Friday evening I was going a little nutty trying to remember  where I left my shoes.  Also on Friday evening my husband decided that we should make a quick trip to Oxnard to visit family.

He didn't have to  twist my arm too badly.  I said "why not?"

Saturday 4/25- Rest- Road Trip to Oxnard- I'm from Ventura County and with good timing we can do the drive from Las Vegas to Oxnard in around 5 hours.  

We left at 8:30am, stopped for gas and snacks in Victorville and then we made it to our destination around 2:00pm.  We visited my husbands grandmother, mom, sister and her kids.  

After we left their home, we went to the beach to look at the ocean.  It was horribly windy and the kids hated having sand blown all over them. But, I really enjoyed it.  (I'm a bad blogger so I didn't get any pictures of the beach).  Here's one I found online of Oxnard Shores on a nice day.

Source

After the beach we went to my parents house for dinner and we spent the night.  It was so nice to see my parents, even for only a little bit of time.

Sunday  4/ 26  Rest- We got up early and got back into the car to head back to Las Vegas, I was hoping to squeeze a quick run in but, we were all pretty wiped out from all of that time spent in the car.  That night my son wasn't feeling to good, and he came down with a tummy bug.

Monday 4/27- 6 miles with some treadmill speed work thrown in.  I ended up staying home from work.  My kiddo wasn't feeling good.  When I got them both down for a nap.  I ran two miles to warm up and then I did 10 X 1 minute pick ups at 5k pace, with 1 minute active recovery.  My hard effort paces were between 9.0-9.2 (6:41-6:30) pace, and my recover efforts were ran at 6.4 (9:22 per mile ) pace.  I also set the treadmill on a 1% incline.  I wore my Brooks Pure Flows for the workout.  After the workout I threw on my ASICS GT-2000's and I ran a mile and a half to cool down.  I don't think I will be wearing my Pure Flows to race the 5k on Saturday.  I need a more supportive shoe.

Tuesday 4/28-  4 miles at recovery pace.-It was really hot, I also couldn't figure out how to play music on my new phone.  I also had a scare with a car going through a traffic circle.  They didn't see me- and I was lucky that I had enough time to run out of the way.  

Wednesday 4/29-Just a little over 3 miles, and a shoe update!   Over the weekend I finally realized that I left my shoes at the gas station.  I figured that they were long gone.   I wasn't going to head outside today because we are going to hit 93 degrees for the daytime high.  Anyway I decided to call the gas station and ask if they had a Lost and Found.  It turns out that they still had my shoes!!!  I use this gas station frequently to fill up on gas, but also to run, and freshen up in the bathroom. The clerk at the counter remembered me. and they held onto my shoes for me.  Talk about lucky!!

I promise to take better care of you.

Since I was already dressed to run, I ran a little over three miles and I just tried to ignore how warm it is getting.  I'm going to have to start bringing my hand held bottle with me on all of my runs now. :(

This  is kind of a weird taper week for me. I was hoping to get some longer runs in, but I want my legs to feel fresh for the 5k that I'm racing on Saturday morning.  I'm going to Race for the Cure.  I did this race in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012.  I also set a PR on this course, so I know that it's a fast course.  Race management has changed quite a bit over the years, and the turn out has gotten smaller.  I'm hoping for a competitive race.  

  I also hope I'm in good enough shape to break 22 minutes.  I don't think I'm quite ready to go under 21 minutes.  But, you never know.  

As always thank you for reading.

I really don't like signing up for races ahead of time.-Que Sera Sera

Well I was looking forward to racing a 5k tomorrow morning.....  But, I am 99% sure that I am not racing tomorrow.
 
In my last blog post I mentioned that my daughter was ill. She had the stomach flu (Gastroenteritis).  I  did everything in my power (short of wearing a Hazmat suit) to not catch the sickies.

I ran six miles on Monday, and on Tuesday morning I registered for that 5k


Tuesday on my lunch break I did a fully body strength training workout.   I worked out my upper and lower body doing circuit training.
For my first circuit I did the following exercises

•  Flat bench dumbbell  presses, 
•  One arm rows
•  Step ups with a knee lift on a bench,
•  Decline push ups
• Bulgarian split squats

For the next circuit I did the following exercises:

• Flat bench press with a barbell
• Back rows with a barbell
• Hamstring dead lifts
• Bicep curl with E-Z curl bar
• Shoulder raises with EZ curl bar

For my last circuit I did the following exercises:

• Romanian chair leg lifts 
• Push ups
• Mountain climbers
• Back extensions

I didn't do any cardio, and this workout kicked my butt.  Going into the workout I had a mild headache,  I figured that I was hungry, but after I worked out I didn't have much of an appetite and my headache was getting worse.  By the evening, my stomach was beginning to cramp  up and by Wednesday, this was me... So sorry for the TMI

I figured that this would be a 24-48 kind of bug, and by Saturday morning I would be fine.. It's Friday, and I'm doing somewhat better.  But, I haven't eaten much in the last few days, and I don't want to tax my already compromised immune system to race a 5k.   So I'm not going to race tomorrow... The only bummer about this 5k is that it is a fast course. I have missed out on racing this event in the past, because they usually host this event on Memorial Day weekend and this year they moved the race up a month. Que Sera Sera....

I think I will Race for the Cure instead in two weeks...

Thanks for reading, and sorry for the TMI.

Another week closer to marathon training-My Runner's High (Balancing Running for Fun and Staying Competitive)

Marathon training doesn't begin for another two months.  But, I'd be lying to you all, if I didn't admit that marathon training isn't  already starting to  take up space in my brain.  I'm starting to look at possible training plans, and in the next few weeks I will need to decide which plan to use. #Stripatnight

Last year I used Hal Higdon's training programs for the half marathon distance twice.  The first time was for the Mustang Half Marathon. The second time was for the Saints and Sinners Half Marathon.  I had great results with each training cycle.  I thought I would be able to piggy back a marathon off of the Saints ans Sinners Half.

I ran the Rock n Roll Las Vegas marathon six weeks after the Saints and Sinners half.  There just wasn't enough volume (miles) in my training for RNRLV and, I didn't do as well as I had hoped.

The Hal Higdon marathon programs look a little intimidating.  I'm worried about trying to fit in 50+ miles a week.

Another training program that I have also been eyeballing is the FIRST marathon method.  This program almost seems like a dream come true, with only running a few times a week.

I'm even thinking about going really old school and reusing the first marathon training program I ever used from a Running Times magazine.

My Runner's High Balancing Running for Fun and Staying Competitive

I am  a runner that craves that Runner's High.  You know that euphoric feeling when you finish running and you are buzzing with endorphins?  I sometimes feel dissappointed if I don't get to see Nirvana after every run.  For me the best way to achieve that feeling for me is to A) run really far or B) run really hard.  Sometimes it's not possible to do either.


I've been running for over 20 years, I'm sometimes torn, by wanting to have fun, and wanting to stay competitive.  Running is a wonderful stress reliever.  In fact yesterday, when I finished running, I jokingly told my husband, "Running is my favorite thing to do".   I also joked that maybe running simulates bouncing around in the womb, and my inner child loves the comfort of the bouncing around.... Yep that's enough rambling for me.



I think I'm going to race a 5k this weekend to see what kind of shape I'm in and to run it for fun.  I'm not expecting a PR- however, I am expecting to break 22 minutes, because that has always been a bench mark for me.  
I'm a competitive person, I think I always will be.   It's still fun to race small local events, see local runners, and toe the line.  I just don't like putting stress and pressure on myself to PR,
But, I don't think I will ever act like my times, don't matter.  #runnerproblems.


Two weeks ago, I was all about the progression run,  this past week-  I tried to dial it back a little and tried to just enjoy the run, while not focusing on the pace.   I think that with the temps warming up, it is making it easier to slow it down,  I know that once I'm carrying my hand held bottle on all of my runs, tempo pace is going to be harder to run.

-Last weeks runs-

Tuesday 4/7-Rest

Wednesday 4/8- Just under 3  miles at Sunset Park.  I wanted a change of scenery, so I drove over to Sunset Park on my lunch break.

Thursday- 4/9- 6 miles- I had the day off from work.  I took my kids to a play date, and then when my husband came home from work I ran a loop around the neighborhood.

Friday 4/10-Rest,  I took my son, to his first dentist appointment.  Right before we were getting ready to leave, my daughter got really sick..   She caught some sort of stomach virus.

Saturday 4/11- 4 miles on the treadmill-  I ran these in the afternoon-  The first mile was really sluggish,

Sunday 4/12- 7 miles at lunchtime-  I had planned on running first thing in the morning, but that didn't happen.  My little girl wasn't feeling so hot, and I didn't feel right leaving for a long run.  I waited until her  nap time.  I ran a flat loop course and it was a nice 81 degrees when I took off. I brought my trusty hand held bottle with me.

Monday 4/13- 6 miles on my lunch break. It was also a toasty 81 degrees.  I ran with my Garmin, but I set the watch to distance and time only.  I'm just trying to take it easy.  For now.

As always thank you for reading.

ETA: I make a really mean word salad.... I usually will come back here and notice all of my gramatic errors...Thank goodness I'm not getting paid to write this ;)

Because two 10's are better than one Am I right?

So my birthday run, didn't happen as planned. Life can get in the way, and in the grand scheme of things, running can wait.

I ended up running 10 miles on Saturday morning, and then again today on my lunch break.

Last weeks running updates

Monday 3/30- Two a days- Before work I did some strength training in my office gym, then at lunchtime I ran just a little over 4 miles. I ran these at recovery pace.

Tuesday 3/31-Rest- I worked through my lunch break.  I had to take me kid to the pediatrician that afternoon.
Wednesday 4/1-Ran 5 miles on my lunch break-This was a tempo progression run,  I didn't plan on it being a tempo progression run,  I ran 4 miles, and then I stopped my Garmin for the last mile, because I needed to cool down.  Here's the data

During the second mile, I had to stop in order to
cross the street safely. I didn't stop the Garmin though.

Thursday 4/2- Two miles on the treadmill, with some strength training in the office gym.

Friday-4/3-  I had been planning to run long, and I was looking forward to running at lunchtime earlier in the week.  My office work day was ending at 12pm, (we observe the Passover holiday), But, the night before, my son wasn't feeling well, and I don't want to get into all of the gory details(leave me a comment if you want to know the whole story, and I can shoot you an email)- I ended up having to take him to the Emergency room.   I erred on the side of caution, because I didn't want to underestimate how sick he was.   We were admitted and then discharged a few hours later.  He's going to be OK.  I ended up baking a cake and cuddling with the kids, and husband for the rest of the evening.

Saturday 4/4- 10.66 miles

 I wasn't sure how my weekend run was going to shake out-  But, my husband told me to "beat feet, go run 10" , almost as soon as I got the kids situated (breakfast & bathroom )  I wasn't going to turn him down,  I was so tired but, I threw on my clothes, grabbed my running belt, Garmin, phone, and a gel (great idea), and headed out for a run.  I decided to do a neighborhood loop, instead of an out and back, in case I had to come home early. My husband was on call this past weekend. I didn't eat breakfast before I left, but I ate a Banana Hammer Energy Gel, during mile 4, and it gave me a boost of energy.  Here's the data

Sunday 4/5-Rest

Monday 4/6-  10 miles..... Yeah, I really felt like running today.  The weather was shitty(windy), and somewhere in my little peanut brain, I felt cheated because I didn't get to run 10 miles on Friday.  I took my lunch break a little early and I went for it.  This route is a bit hilly and it makes for a great progression run.

I really love doing progression runs,  However I really need to remember that I'm running the risk for injury when I ramp up the pace.  My hips are feeling fine, but I think I'm getting a little plantar fasciitis in my right heel.  I only notice it when I wake up in the morning.  But, I'm going to start stretching a little more, and will try to wear shoes with more support in them when I"m not running.

Thank you for reading.

It's Birthday Week, Shoe Talk, My Hip Issue Mystery Solved?, and some training updates.

Hi everyone.  My birthday is coming up this weekend, and I"m looking forward to turning one year older and wiser.  Last week I was really torn on how I wanted to celebrate. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do a long run or find a local 5k to race.

Last week I also headed to my local running store and I asked to have my gait looked at, and to browse my shoe options.   My hip is still a little sore sometimes, and now my feet are feeling a little weird.

Birthday Run

 I usually try to run something long (10 miles and above is long for me) on my birthday.  Last year I had a wonderful 14 mile run.  The temperature was a lovely 60 degrees.  But this year it is a different story. It is getting hotter much earlier in the year for Las Vegas Valley. We just hit 93 for the daytime high on Sunday.   I was worried that  my Friday lunch time run wouldn't be very comfortable if the temps are going to be that hot.

 I started looking at 5k runs, and there were about six different events this past weekend.  But, none of them worked for my schedule..  I found a  few different 5k's but most of them started at 9am.  I prefer to race at 7am, so I can be home with the kids by 9am.

In a few years I will start bringing them with me to participate in the  kids fun runs, if they want to join mom.  I think it's still a little to early to try to force my hobby on them

As it turns out that the temps are only going to hit the high 70's on Friday, so that makes it doable for a long run, during the middle of the day.

I also found another 5k for later on this month that starts at 8am.

Shoe Talk

I could swear that I created this blog, just so I could talk about running shoes.  Ever since the Brooks Adrenaline stopped working for me, I have been open to trying different brands.  But, I keep circling back to ASICS and Brooks.

Earlier this year I purchased a pair of ASICS Gel KAYANOS 21's,

and for the first two weeks these shoes felt weird, They felt very springy, bulky, and I wasn't sure if I was going to be happy with them.  Well after running in them for about three months.  I am beyond pleased with this shoe! It cradles my foot (my heels are narrow) and it feels secure. I can also run tempo pace miles in this shoe and it doesn't feel heavy.   It even still feels like a brand new shoe three months later.   This shoe is a keeper.
The only downside to the ASICS Gel Kayano 21 is that it is a really expensive shoe.

I also purchased a pair of Brooks Ravenna 4's earlier this year as well.

 This shoe is much softer than the Kayano, and it is a good shoe, but I can tell that my foot pronates a bit more when I wear theses shoes. The soles of the shoe are much softer too.  I feel like this is a shoe that I could wear out really quickly once marathon training begins.  I like this shoe for shorter runs, and for the gym.

 I wanted to see what my other options were.

I headed to my local running store and I asked to have my gait looked at.  The folks at The Village Runner were really helpful.  Right way they told me that my arches are collapsing.... A few years ago I had one neutral foot, and one foot that pronates. Now I have two feet that pronate, and I need way more support than what I was running in before... Last year I had the opposite problem.  I was doing speed work in my regular running shoes, and that caused an injury.  Now I need more support. Go figure....
But, getting back to the shoes.  I wanted to try a different brand.  I tried on a pair of Nike's and I fell in love pretty fast.

This is the Nike Zoom Structure 18.  I tried it on and at first it felt really stiff, but then I took a short run in them, and I loved the way they felt.  I'm hoping this will become my other go to shoe besides the ASICS Gel-Kayano 21.  I put a deposit down on the shoes. I'm hoping to pick them up on Friday, as my birthday gift for myself.

I realise that I also need to find an alternative to ballet flats for work.  I wear flats all of the time, I used to love high heels. But, they just aren't practical with all of the kid hauling I have to do.  My arches are in need of a more supportive work shoe.  I'm such a cheapskate when it comes to purchasing shoes, that aren't running shoes.

Hip Issue Mystery Solved?

For the past few months I have noticed that my right hip, is much stronger than my left hip.  I thought that because I had been doing speed work on the track, and because speed work would usually aggravate my hip, but normal running didn't.  I thought that speed work had something to do with my hip problem.

  I have been running with the same form, for years, and this problem is not going to fix itself.  That was another reason why I wanted to get fitted for new shoes.

Well over the weekend I noticed my hip twinge,  and it happened when I wasn't even running.  I was carrying my daughter on my hip... Kind of like this.

For this picture I actually moved my daughter over to the left side, but the majority of the time I'm carrying her on my right hip.  She's two years old now, and she walks a lot more. But, there is still plenty of hip carrying a 25lb toddler.  NO WONDER MY RIGHT HIP IS STRONGER THAN the other leg......I have been unintentionally strength training the right side of my body without even realizing it!!! Are you freaking kidding me?!!!

To remedy this problem, I am doing a lot more strength training on my lower body. Exercises such as: single leg split squats, single leg lunges, and side Sumo Squats.  

I will also try to switch it up when I'm carrying my little kettle bell.  I was also carrying my son a lot on that hip as well, so I have about 4 years of damage to undo...

Training Updates

I had a few good workouts last week.  I also got to run a little bit of trail over the weekend. too.

Monday 3/23-  A quick three mile run before work.  I have a feeling, I'm going to be working out in the mornings more often now that the temps are heating up.

Tuesday 3/24-I went to the office gym before work, and did some circuit training.  I did the following exercises :flat bench bench press, single one arm rows, triceps dips on a flat bench, sit ups, lat pull downs, and some single leg lunges.

Wednesday 3/25- I ran a virtual 5k. #LVKICKOFFNIGHT  I did this as a progression tempo run on my lunch break last week, to kickoff my training for the RNRLV marathon, and to get a free shirt.  In reality I'm not going to really focus on the marathon, until at least June.

Progression 5k Data:

Thursday 3/26-  I ran a 4 mile loop on my lunch break, and then I did  a little bit of strength training.

I did  the following exercises: wide grip lat pull downs, Roman chair leg lifts, push ups, and some single leg split squats.

Friday 3/27- Rest day, and that's when I went shoe shopping.

Saturday 3/28- Another Rest Day.

 Sunday 3/29  I went out for an 8 mile run,  I told my husband that I would be back in an hour, and I kinda fudged the details.  I had to stop my watch twice.

The first time I stopped my watch was so that I could take pictures of the mountain, and the trail that I was running on.

I only ran a little less than a mile of trail, but it is really
starting to grow on me.

I have a thing for the mountains.

and then, the second time I stopped my watch, was because I encountered two dogs, that were running freely in their yard, without a fence to keep them in.   I just about crapped my pants here.  I stopped running, and I was hoping the two dogs wouldn't see me.  They saw me, and came charging toward me, and when they reached the parameter of their yard they stopped.  I almost wondered if they had electroshock collars on.  But, I wasn't going to get any closer to them.  I got really lucky that a neighbor was outside gardening.  She was able to distract the dogs for me, and then I was on my way.  I ran the last two miles quickly because they were downhill, and I knew that I was going over an hour on my time limit.

Well that's all I've got for now.

Thanks for reading :)

That Time I Tried to Summit Frenchmans Mountain

Holy Mole'! I ended up with one of the biggest adrenaline rushes of my life the other day, and it was all on a whim.  I set off on a 4 mile hike,  Two miles up, and two miles back down. It turns out I only made it about 1.3 miles up before I had to turn back around.

My apologies in advance for this being one of those rambling posts, I hope I remember all of the little details.

I will conquer you someday!!!

Before the Hike
Last week I took Friday off from work, as a personal/catch up day.  I dropped my kids off at daycare, and then I was heading over to the Pittman Wash Trail for a run.  I was talking to my run, BFF on the phone, and I told her "Debi, in a perfect world I would be headed over to Red Rock to run the loop, but I have to go home and clean the house"....

My husband and I share household chores pretty evenly. If anything he does the majority of the housework... He's amazing.  However, there are certain chores that he hates doing and that we can't do while the kids are home.  My favorite kind of chores involve ripping the closets apart to get rid of old toys and old clothes.  I can't throw away old junk without the kids wanting to save all the broken crayons and baby toys they don't play with anymore.  So about twice a year- I take a personal day to blitz the closets...

But getting back to running.... Red Rock Canyon Recreation Center gets all of the glory out here in the Las Vegas Valley-  I used to love to run the outer paved loop, and it is one hell of a workout.  But, I was really pressed for time.

I have lived in the Las Vegas Valley for over ten years, and almost four years ago I purchased a home near Sunrise/Frenchmans Mountain.  I see this mountain everyday, and it never stops being beautiful.

View from the neighborhood

View from across the street from my home on a rainy day.

I just discovered last year, that there is a hiking trail that goes all the way up to the top of Sunrise & Frenchman Mountains,  Here's a picture I borrowed from Bird & Hike to show you the two mountains.

In January the LVTC was hosting a 2 mile run up Frenchmans Mountain, but it didn't fit around my family time schedule so I didn't go to that event.  I was really intrigued because this is so close to where I live.

About two weekends ago,  my husband and I took the kids for a drive to check out Lake Mead.  There are several ways to get to Lake Mead, and we just discovered that the road behind Sunrise Mountain leads to Lake Mead, and that's where the trail head to Frenchmans Mountain begins...  During the drive  we noticed hikers along the trail.

The Hike  (Some of the pictures in this portion of the post are not my own)

After I got off the phone with my friend, I  decided to scrap doing a longish run along the Pitman Wash, and I wanted to see if I could make it up Frenchman's Mountain.  I assumed that it would be a tough hike, but I thought for sure that I would make it to the top.  Before I headed out to the trail head I stopped at a quicky mart for snacks (peanut butter pretzels & peach gummy candy) and a bottle of water.

This begining of the trail doesn't look so tough.

I parked my car at the trail head. Then I ate a handful of pretzels, stuffed some candy in my waist pack,  drank about half of my water and then I got started.  I also brought my Garmin with me for shits and giggles.  I knew this wouldn't be a fast run, but I was hoping to get an elevation profile for this event.

I made it up the first section of the trail and then I was no longer running.  I was walking up a steep section of trail, and I was barley half a mile into this hike.


I saw two women coming back down a steep rocky section of the trail.  I felt relief, to see other people climbing down,  I stopped them and asked them how far did I have to go.  They told me I had two options; the first summit, or the second one at the top.  At this time I also felt like a total n00b in my running shoes and hot pink shorts.  Hiking shoes and longer pants would have been a smart idea.

I kept on plugging along.   Did I mention that I have a fear of heights?  I don't mind being up in the air if I'm in a highrise building or with secure footing underneath me, but this was unreal!!!  I told myself that I would look at the ground when I reached the top.  I was also begining to wonder "how and the hell am I going to get down?"

I'm getting tired pretty fast.  At one point I leaned forward to rest, and I began to slide back down the trail.  I needed to keep moving forward if I was going to make it up the summit.  When I had a chance I snapped this picture.

I got to the first summit, or false summit as it's called.   I decided right then and there that I was done.  I really wanted to take a picture, but technology kept telling me to "screw off";  each time  I tried to take a picture of the false summit with my phone, my phone would freeze up and shut off on me.  Fortunately I found this really nice picture online

I borrowed this photo from Everytrail.com 

This picture is so misleading, Keep heading forward and this trail rockets down several hundred feet before the final assent to the real summit.  I had been climbing for close to 40 minutes,  I didn't have any water with me, and my legs were done.  I decided to throw in the towel and head back to my car.
This is where the real fun began.....

I thought that I would be able to run/walk slowly down the trail- But, I was sadly mistaken, I really had to ride this puppy down slowly and carefully.  I did my best to lean backward so that all of my body weight was in my butt/backside.  I really regretted wearing my running shoes.    I was really lucky I only fell once, and it was on my butt with my hands bracing me.

It's moments like this where I truly feel alive.  It was a dangerous and scary hike,  I'm glad I didn't get hurt.

Here's the data- I'm so mad that my Garmin didn't capture the elevation profile..  I think I climbed around 1200-1500 feet.

I'm hoping to attempt this hike again at a later date.  I definitely want to go back with my husband, and a better camera to capture the views.

As always thank you for reading- If you made it this far today- :)

I Forgot My Shoes, and Baked Bread

Today is an unplanned rest day for me.  I have plenty of running gear in my desk drawer, but I forgot to grab a pair of shoes on the way out the door this morning. Hmph...  I was really looking forward to running today,  It's a cloudy day and the temps are only going to hit the low 70's today.  Next week I'm staring straight faced into the mid to high 80's.   We don't get much snow in the winter  out here, but, on the flip side our summers in the Las Vegas Valley are pretty brutal.

Training updates, well sort of

This past weekend I also took the whole weekend off from running.   I ended up pulling weeds on Saturday, and that was a pretty good workout.  I actually really enjoy pulling weeds. I'm not the best housekeeper in the world, and pulling weeds is one of the chores where I can just zone out.  I enjoy the smell of the dirt too.

On Sunday I made my first batch of home made bolillo rolls.  A bolillo is the Mexican version of the crusty French baguette.   I started baking bread last year, and it has become a stress reliever.   I also enjoy eating the results.

I think I could have worked the dough a little bit more on
these.  They were not as light and fluffy as I had hoped.

On Monday I made a loaf of sandwich bread, but I'm a bad blogger and I didn't take any pictures,   The first loaf came out great.   Then later on in the week- I attempted to make the same loaf again, and my yeast didn't set properly and I ended up baking a brick in the oven :(.

*Now for the running updates*

Monday 3/16-  Just a little shy of 8 miles.  The weather was warm, and I ran a flat loop around a busy congested area.  The air quality was terrible.  My allergies are bugging me, but its too early in the year for full time treadmill running.

Tuesday 3/17- 3 mile run on the treadmill, with some circuit training at my workplace gym.  The gym was crowded.  I did mostly body weight exercises; Planks, push ups, body weight squats, crunches.

Wednesday 3/18-  I wrote the beginning of this blog post on Wednesday- Man the weather was nice that day too!

Thursday-3/19  5 miles with some tempo pace thrown in.I actually drove a few miles away from my work-  Sometimes running at lunchtime can be a real pain in the ass.  Everyone is in a hurry to leave the parking lot, and the surrounding roads are congested.  I usually have to run 2 miles of "ugly" (business parks & industrial areas) before I find a nice stretch of road.  I ran the first 3 miles up the hill, and then I was treated to two miles of downhill fun.  Here's the data and elevation profile.

Friday 3/20-  I'm going to head over to the gym, after work today.  I'm hoping to do a short run, and some weight training.