2 Long Runs

Can I just say that I LOVE long runs, like a lot!  Ever since I started training for my first marathon long run Saturdays have always been my absolute favorite run of the week!  People always wonder what we're training for but we just love to run!  I love the preparation and planning the day before a long run.  I love running in a group or with my RBFF Steph. We run, talk, laugh, cry and share so much in those hours of running.  It is so much fun!  Whether I'm feeling great or having a hard run nothing quite beats the feeling of accomplishment after pushing your body beyond what you thought possible both physically and mentally!

 

 We did a big group run and ran the Thankful 13 course.  We got lost for a minute and the rest of the group turned around, but Steph, Josh and I stuck it out and had a great 14 mile run in the snow!

 

Last Saturday Jorge, Josh, Steph and I drove up the right hand fork of Hobble Creek Canyon and ran down the canyon, then into Mapleton and made our way home!  We dedicated that run as our virtual 5k x 5 for the Philippines, it was an awesome run!  Our long run will be this Thursday when we pace the Thankful 13 1/2 Marathon.  What better way to earn your turkey on Thanksgiving!

17.5 Beautiful Fall Miles

I so look forward to running in the fall all year long, it is my absolute favorite time of year to run.  Its chilly at the start and warms up at the end.  Since it gets light so late in the morning my week day runs have been on the treadmill for the last few weeks, I'm a wimp, I dislike running in the dark and cold!  Saturdays are extra exciting because that usually means a long run, later start and running OUTSIDE!!! Yesterday Stephanie and I headed out at 7 with no real plan in mind other then a long, slower run.  Both of us had very tired and sore legs so we just needed to take it easy.  On Friday I took a drive up Hobble Creek Canyon and was pleasantly surprised to see that they had fixed and repaved the running trail so we decided to head up that way.

 We just cruised along and enjoyed the beautiful morning and chatted away. I kept saying how much I loved it and how beautiful the morning was! Its so nice to have a close friend to run and talk with, the miles just flew by!

 Can you tell we've missed our beautiful canyon and running trail!? We took turns kissing the beloved trail that we have looked forward to running on for months!  A little strange, I know!

I don't quite know why this wrecking ball is painted like a jack o lantern but it sure made our day and if Steph had been a little taller she would have jumped right on that thing!!! We decided that whoever owns this wrecking ball needs to paint it for each holiday...turkey, Santa, cupid, you get the idea! 

I hate posing, I feel like a dork, but had to show off my fancy PRO Compression socks and arm sleeves! The arm sleeves are a new product and once it warmed up and I had to take off my jacket they kept my arms nice and warm!

We ended up running 17.5 miles which is the most we have ran on a long run, at our pace, in months. It felt good to push through what we thought was possible at the end to get those last miles in.  The last few months we trained our boys to run the Haunted Half Marathon, you can check out Steph's awesome race recap on her blog runlilmamarun of the adventure of the day and how our boys did!  We would go run 10-12 miles on our own then hurry home to get the boys to do their long run.  We both have LOVED running with our boys, they decided that their little bodies needed some time off for a little while. So yesterday it was so fun to set out without a plan and just run all over Springville and Mapleton until our legs said they were done!  It is amazing what our bodies can do and I'm so grateful to be able to run and to have Steph be such an amazing friend and running buddy to me!  I am feeling truly blessed today!  I know not everyone runs or has a desire to run but it is what I love to do and it has enriched my life so much!  I have met some of my closest friends through running that I wouldn't have met otherwise and I am so grateful for that!  I am looking forward to blogging more and sharing more fun adventures and some healthy recipes in the weeks to come!