Shoot for the Stars

ARSHS. Early a.m. It was freezing this morning! I had to scrape the frost off my car windows. I wore gloves, short sleeve, long sleeve, and a light jacket. I wore it the whole time too. The track was frosty and glistened in the light. It took about 1 mile to really start to warm up some. It was hard the first 2 laps. I did my usual route. R ankle bothering me at start but went away as I kept running. There was the goal post in the middle of the track on the far side that I had to go around. Overall, felt good.

Lakeland Hills. Met at Starbucks area at 5:30 a.m. First time meeting with running group on a week day. So great to have some ladies who go running in the morning before work. There were 5 of us. Angela, Niki, Janet, Michelle, and I. We did a route that I am not sure how to say. But we ran throughout the neighborhood near the elementary school. We ran up 2 hills and in and out through the homes. It was a nice run. It helped to have others to run with when doing my semi long run for the week. I felt good, except kinda had to use the restroom. What a great way to start my birthday with a nice run in the morning and have it out of the way. I feel great now as I am eating my cheese bagel and grapes:)

Lakeland Hills. Starbucks at 5:30 a.m. It was a lot warmer than Wed. run. We all got fairly hot afterwards. I ended up with my tank top. Felt okay today but semi tired from staying up late the night before with my friend Claudia for my bday. Hard to wake up at 5 a.m. I rode with Angela up there. Ladies there: Angela, Janet, Lindsey, Niki, and Mishael. We did same route again which included 2 hills but the hills didn't seem as bad this time. It was a little harder for Niki this time though. Good run and good company.

Enumclaw Starbucks. 7 a.m. Ran with June, Niki, and Mishael for extra mileage before the regular group. We started a little late because Mishael thought we were meeting at June's house. June took us the usual route loop going towards the main St. going into Enumclaw and on some side streets back to Starbucks. On the wetland area about mile 4-5 I turned around and did that extra wetland stretch again to get a full 5+ miles in. Then when I went back towards starbucks the group met me at the light. Runners: June, Niki, Mishael, Angela, Anna, Sunny, Shannon, Janet, Lindsey. We did the same route past wetlands on bike trail back along the farm land. I started to really go at a descent speed trying to keep with Angela and Anna...they were booking it and about that point on mile 7-10 I was starting to get tired. It pushed me a lot though. Weather wasn't bad, just misty and not too cold. Great run! Got my full 10 plus some mileage in.

Auburn-Sheri Fletchers home off of Cooper's corner turn. Drove on some back Rds to get to her house. 5:15 a.m. It was VERY hard to get up this morning due to the fact I went to bed at 11:30 p.m. and got up a little before 5 p.m. Why do I do this to myself? It was neat to run with Sheri this time as one of the meeting places. It was some back rds we ran on. There was only 1 hill involved. It was just Sheri, Mishel, and me. They had lights on their hats and reflector vests. I was tired and we did a slow pace but that was fine for this morning. Nice weather, not too cold at all and clear skies. (even though very dark to see)

Lakeland Hills. 5:30 a.m. Met up with the ladies: Niki, Janet, Lindsey, and Angela. Angela and I carpooled. Very tired this morning. I would say this was one of my hardest runs because of being so tired form the week and lack of sleep. The hill really got to me and doin the last couple of miles was so hard. I definetly wouldn't have ran so far if I was running by myself. It helped to have someone so early in the morning to help push me. We did regular loop then one the end part did some different loops that made me so confused. Glad to have the run done.

Lakeland Hills. 5:30 a.m. I was going to carpool with Angela this morning but she overslept and called to say she wouldn't be able to make it. I drove up there fast and was still able to run with the group. I felt pretty good this morning. We did our usual. Left from starbucks, turned L at the first left after we cross the street and did our loop, with a couple hills, but turned R this time. Runners: Janet, Lindsay, Mishel, Niki.

June's house in Enumclaw. 7:00 a.m. Lisa drove to my house from hers and we carpooled from here. First time trying out the Sat. a.m. small group. She actually lived closer than I thought she did. We didn't go into the main town of Enumclaw but just turned L on 400th street SE. I had trouble figuring out what house it was but finally got it. We waiting in her home until Anna got there. It was just Lisa, me, June, and Anna today. It was not too cold out but wore my jacket and gloves just in case. We started out down her Road then took a L on the main Rd then headed up a Steep gradual hill. That killed Lisa and me! We couldn't keep up with the other 2 girls. It was a great work out there! And I am still sore as of right now, 6:30 p.m. We ran along some back roads past horses and cows. We had an amazing view at the top of the hill! It was so picture perfect! It wasn't rainning, weather was good, and we could see Mt. Rainier as we ran! What a early Saturday morning blessing. I ran with Lisa the whole time and had good conversation. Anna and June ran together a little ahead of us. Then when we did the loop back to June's house Lisa and I ran almost to the stop sign and back so we could get a full 7 miles in. Great run!! Great job Lisa!!!!! (even with that annoying sportsbra that was bugging you!)

ARSHS. Early early a.m. It has been awhile since I've ran here solo but kinda looking forward to a time for me to think. It seemed yucky when I woke up but it was actually just barely sprinkling. When I got to the track it was so delightful to see it all lite up and the gate open. It was goregous! All the big football lights were on. I was thinking, "Thank you, God, is this your way of saying good morning to me?" It was just inspiring to not be running in the dark. And boy was it fully lite! Everything felt different. A little tired this morning but pushed myself to run at a fast speed today. Did fine. Lane 5, 11 laps, switching directions. Again it was just so nice to have the light on the track!!! No pains.

Lakeland hills. 5:30 a.m. Confusion with whether or not there would be people running this morning. Niki had to bail due to cramps, then we thought Janet was bailing because of Niki and also Lindsey not going. Then Janet heard Mishel and I were planning to go so she wanted to still run. Mishel and I were just going to run together but heard about Janet. Mishel picked me up from the parking lot in front of our place and met at same place in Lakeland hills. It was just us 3: Janet, Mishel, and I. It was actually kind of nice just having 3 of us. It made it more intimate. Felt great this morning! Chilly due to ice on my car so wore gloves. Gorgeous morning for a run. There was a full moon earlier. We ran the longer route today.

Lakeland Hills. 5:30 a.m. Felt pretty good this morning. Slightly tired from the Japense food Nick and I had the night before at Tokyo's resturant. Food moon this morning! Ladies there: Janet, Lindsey, and Niki. I was a few min. late because I spent so much time scraping the frost off my car this morning so it was atleast 32 degrees while running. There was a little puddle of water still frozen that the dogs like to drink out of that go on our run. Regular route but turned L up hill instead of right, so it would be a little shorter route near the end. It was nice to do a little under 5 miles this morning but it was also hard because it made for an extra hill! I'm getting better at the hills though:) Felt so nice to be done! My next run will be a long run this weekend! (Sunday)

June's home in Enumclaw. 6:20 a.m. Some of us met at June's home a little before 6:30 and ran from there on the back streets that parallel 164 to Starbucks in Enumclaw. It was SO cold in the morning! I had to scrap frost off my car again so it took me a bit to get going and thought I was going to be late again. It was 21 degrees I found out. I should have worn a jacket but I hate carring too much extra stuff when doing my long run. I wore long sleeve on top of tank plus gloves. The only area I was a bit uncomfortable were my ears. I thought they were gonna fall off. It took a couple of miles to start feeling better and not so stiff. Burr!!!! Ladies there: June, Mishel, Anna, and me. It was a little under 4 miles to get to starbucks from her place. Then I found out that the other ladies met us at 7 a.m. to join in a 10 mile loop around outskirts of Enumclaw. We went way out on some farm land then cut back around, past Sue's house-Mary Kay director, then back to the starbucks. The ladies who joined our group from starbucks: Lindsay, Janet, Sunny, Shannon, and Lindsay's dog Mia. It was a PERFECT day for a run! Despite the bitter cold, the sun was shinning and it was so clear out!!!! The blue skies, sunshine, farmland, moutains, etc. made for the most goregous run!!!! I am so glad I did it! Some of the ladies pushed so we could get almost 14 miles in. I wasn't quite up to doing all that at first but ended up doing okay. Then next week I won't have to run as long! I'm so happy with the results! Keeping under 10 min was also a good goal. :) I ran mainly with Anna and Mishel after we got to starbucks. Mishel did awesome! Felt good. Just got some rubbing on the bottom of my foot and slight chaffing under arms. I did have anti chaff which does help but still get it....

Flaming Geyser. 8 a.m. This is my first run back after I had been sick with the flu/cold all week. I carpooled with Angela to Sunny's, from there to the intersection before Flaming Geyser park. Lisa met up with us there but we got a little lost with where to meet her. We drove and caught up with her at the park. She just had to drive in the park to find a bathroom. It ended up working out just fine. Angela was great on getting us all to start at the same time. Ladies there: Angela, Mishel, Niki, June, Cheri, Anna, Sunny, Lisa, me. It was a nice group of us today! Even though the weather wasn't so great.(lightly rainning) We started out at the bottom of the hill but didn't realize the how long of a hill we had to run up. I accidently didn't restart my Garmin before I ran and so it was adding to my last run a week ago. I had to estimate from the last week and add to what I had from this week. I stayed near the back with Lisa. She walked some but it worked out good for me because as we got a few miles into the run my L knee was bothering me for some reason. Almost like IT band symptoms, I hate to admit. We walked ran a lot near the end. We did a long gradual incline on the hill. It was nice when it started to level off because Lisa and I were both really tired! When we got to the Rd at top we got to turn around and the rest was downhill!. Great run though! We couldn't quite catch to Sunny, Angela, and Niki who were behind as well. We didn't mind just running slower. I am still recovering after my cold and my knee kept bothering me. We tried running on different sides of the Road. It helped some but kept coming back, but the walk breaks helped. When we were done everyone was waiting in their cars because of the yucky weather. Everyone enjoyed seeing Lisa again or meeting her for the first time! Great run despite the leg pain. The hill was hard but great trainning!