More Thoughts on Bonneville

This morning, I had an awesome 7-mile run up Bonneville.  I ran to the trail head and met Staci there.  We ran NONSTOP up that beast of a trail to the top.  It's a really weird feeling to be completely hyper and ecstatic while you're doubled over trying to catch your breath!  Luckily the natural high stays and the inability to breath/talk/move subsides after a minute!  We then ran nonstop all the way to Red Butte, where I usually turn to go home.  But today we kept going another few miles along the trails.  It was SO FUN!

Okay.  I know this is post #274 about how much I love being up there.  Expect about a gajillion more just like it.  Because as long as God allows my body to run, I will run!  And you will hear about it!

Aahh, there she is.  My baby.  Isn't it a beautiful run?  I have it broken down into 3 parts.  That first white section is from my place to the Zoo.  I call it 'breakfast' because it's kind of blah.  But I HAVE to run it.  I rarely enjoy eating breakfast, but I have to do it, right?  Then that green part is the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.  I call that the 'meat and potatoes' of the run.  That elevation profile isn't lying.  It is STEEP, but luckily it's pretty short.  It has taken me weeks (well, a year) to tackle it, but I can finally run that beast!  The 2nd white part is from Red Butte Gardens back to my house, through campus.  I call this "dessert" because look at it!  Cake!  ;)

Today I hung out with my oldest brother, Bill, for awhile.  He has run a few marathons and halfs, and we had a great chat about running.  He really boosted me up and made me feel awesome about my abilities as a runner.  Maybe I'll call him the night before my race!

I'm hesitant to discuss my pace (or lack of) on my blog.  I'm really proud of how far I've come with my running, especially lately.  According to my numbers on DailyMile, I have run more in May and June than I ever consistently have before.  I feel SO good and SO strong.  I'm still really slow compared to most runners, but I'm starting to see some results.  I can stay under 11:00 on flat and most uphill terrain (NOT counting that green section up above!) and for the first time EVER, I am starting to be able to keep a pace under 10:00 on the downhill stretches.  Even close to 9:00 and sometimes into the 8:40's if I'm really feeling good (especially that dessert section!).  This is UNHEARD OF, people!!  I can't really sustain that pace for very long, but that is my next "mountain" to tackle, since I finally tackled the literal mountain that is my Bonneville.

Like I said, today we kept going past Red Butte.  Here are a few pictures from those trails.  Sorry for the crappy lighting.

Staci is the coolest!

Me in my Happy Place! 

(A huge thanks to Staci for taking this pic and to my childhood friend Janelle for photo-shopping the lighting on it!)