Relentless

morning - 8 City Wells. Pretty blah today. Twix and I headed up into the desert above town. Even though this is off road, it really is pretty much a two-track and so it doesn't put pressure on my knee. Lots of people out today, hiking, biking, riding horses. Saw Ben Jarvis from old days CV out hiking with his fam. Stopped and just enjoyed the view a couple times. (Peg black 454.25)

As we start out a new year, I've often listed a few things about my running I would like to do for the coming year. I'm not too sure what I would list for this year. More and more, I think I would like the challenge of getting fast again - some shorter stuff like 5K's-1/2's. Even see if I could run a faster mile at the Panther Relays. So we'll see. It is good to have some direction, something to give you a little push or pull if needed; bu I am not sure what that is for me right now. Hmmm...

morning - 10.5 Junction. Cool sunrise. Glad I dragged out of bed to see it. Wasn't really tired, just kinda enjoying laying around. But that does make it hard to go running later. Big milage for Twix this week. (Riders 514.25)

Week was okay. Hopefully I cam kinda snap outta my funk next week.

Goals for next week: school will get going again. As much as I would rather just chill with life, I do much better with a schedule.

AM - 5.5 Parkway.  Back to school today (no kids at least - so hopefully I'll get some stuff done).  Hit the snooze a few times and then finally dragged out of bed and Twix and I hit the Parkway in a light sprinkle.  (Peg 716)

AM - 4 Twix.  Back at the usual schedule.  Good thing I slept well last night, because waking up was very difficult.  I forsee an early bed time tonight.  And now... bring on the Sophomores.  (Kinvara grey 142)

afternoon - 6 DogTown.  Into Washington and back with the team.  It was a little rainy, but nice to be back with the team.  (Peg blue 159.5)

AM - 4 Twix.  Just out easy with the dog as usual.  Biggest thing is that I am waking up... because it is really a time in life that I wouldn't care to at all.  (Kinvara blue 317.5)

afternoon - 4 Sunrise.  Another drizzly afternoon.  Followed up with weights.  (Riders 518.25)

AM - 4 Bank.  Out and back with the dog to Zion's.  Still a bit stormy out.  A little bit of soreness from weights yesterday.  (Peg black 458.25)

afternoon - 6.75 DI/GS.  Did our 6 min Test.  I got a little further than last time - 1890.  Some of the team did really well; others struggled a little.  To be expected with the first hard push in a month for them.  My achilles are on fire lately.  (Pace 238)

AM - 4 Bella Vista.  Out and back with Twix in another drizzly morning.  My knee seems to be feeling quite a bit better.  Four weeks removed, it has strengthed up pretty good with only occasional soreness and weakness this week.  Both achilles seem to be picking up the pain quite a bit though.  I have never had an injury linger as long as these dang things.  (Kinvara white 469.5)

morning - 15.5 Navajo Trail. Twix and I parked a Little Black Mountain and took the Navajo Trail road instead of he LBM loop. When we got out to the power line where the road turns, we continued straight and eventually came to this amazing canyon. So we ran the wash through the canyon for a few miles. It was so envigorating and beautiful. I didn't want to leave and hoped to run the whole canyon, but the miles were adding up and we still had to get back. Twix found some hideous dead animal and was wanting to chomp it, so I had to convince her that wasn't a good idea. Eventually, we found a spot where we could climb out of the canyon. On the way up, I found a decent little four point shed that had been washed down the rocks in a flash flood. Also saw lots of amazing cactus including barrel and cholla. Had to boonie crash for a couple miles until we found the road and started back toward he car. Twix didn't mind and was still hammering after everything that moved - I bet she put in at least 18 miles this morning. The roads were thawing and getting a bit muddy by the end, so it was super slick, but so awesome. The views of the desert were awesome and Pine Valley was maybe the most amazing I have ever seen it! Super glad I took the GoPro - I'll post some pics on fb or something. (VertK 581.75)

Week was up and down, but today was soul fulfilling and was really what running is all about. Probably the most fun I have had running since the Virgin Rim.

Goals for next week: keep strengthening the knee (felt decent most of the week, but did hurt a bit today when I was climbing out of the canyon - it is the steeper, unstable stuff that is causing the last bits of pain). Been working on both achilles for months, but gotta get those feeling better. Gonna try and do the workouts with the team this week; we'll see how that goes.

AM - 4 Zion's.  Out and back to the bank with Twix.  This run seems so chill, it is kinda nice to do in the morning and turn the brain off totally. (Peg 720)  

afternoon - 7.75 30/30.  Did our first vVo2Max workout with the team today.  Ran with the top group of guys.  Not too stressful.  Hit all 30 reps.  About 75% of the team did as well.  Good session of weights after.  (Pace 245.75)

AM - 4 Perry's.  (I think that's what I was calling this run...) With Twix up around the Perry's Landing area.  (Riders 522.25)

afternoon - 5.75 Church Rocks.  Achilles and knee were all giving me problems, so I couldn't really enjoy the run as much as I should have.  (Kinvara silver 539.5)

AM - 4 Twix.  A little cooler out these last few mornings.  Neither achilles really killed me this morning.  (Kinvara lime 654.75)

Afternoon off of running, but a solid session of yoga with Fiji.

AM - 4 Bella Vista.  Chilly.  Tired.  My workload may be getting the best of me right now.  (Peg blue 163.5)

afternoon - 6.25 Track.  Ran a DI warm and cool with a 15 min tempo with the girls in the middle.  They did a good job.  Ended with some dang solid lifting.  (Kinvara blue 323.75)

AM - 4 Perry's.  Run was nice.  (Kinvara grey 146)

St. George 5k 16:35

Morning - 13. Had thought I might do this race just for fun and so Steve got me in this week. Went over and got my bib and started warming up. Achilles felt a little better than yesterday. A couple miles in, I ran into Ben, so finished his warm and we had a good chat. Such a good guy. Then did a few more miles and watched the 1/2'ers get going. For the slightest second I thought it would have fun to join them. Got to my start and only saw Dallen there. Thought a few more of my guys might have jumped in (although Mitch joined in half way to pace Tiny D). Plan was to be kinda conservative and get out in 5:20 and then try and bring it down. First mile was okay. Hit 5:23. Felt a little tired and just kinda blah. Pulled away from Dallen at then of the mile, so I tried to push the second mile a little and see if I could gap him (he is a strong finisher). Marker was off by a bit, so GP's had me at 5:14. Felt okay and continued to try and push. That lasted for about another half. Not a bad effort for 2.5 miles, too bad it's a 5k. Gave a quick look and saw Dallen further back than I thought - felt like he was only 20 feet back and gaining. This was good for the W, but bad for time - as I was tired and now could relish in that a little and it probably cost me 10 secs, but I couldn't have gone much faster anyway. I was pretty spent. Low 5:30 split for the 3rd mile and cruised it in. Fun to run a race. We'll see if I can get in a little better shape and finish things off a little stronger some day. Then cooled with The boys and went around yelling for James. Jumped in with him he last 1.5 and helped him push in. I enjoy running with him, because he doesn't give up. It was a strong last mile. Fun being at a race and chatting with a lot of people. (Riders 532)(Rocket 2 109)

Not a bad week for running. Kinda bad week for life.

Goals for next week: try and keep a better attitude, don't let life get me down. Enjoy the longer weekend and find joy in life.

morning - 12.25 DM/Hurricane Rim. Took Twix up to get a short run in before heading out with the team. We met up and went over to the Hurricane Rim Trail. It was beast and we had a great time. We really tore it up for most of the run, especially on the way back. Hadn't run this trail in awhile, used to run it a bit when I taught out there - reminded me how much I like it. (VertK 594)

AM - 4 Perry's. It was morning and the dog and I ran. (Riders 536)

afternoon - 6.25 30/30. Ran a vV02 max workout with the girls. They did a great job. My achilles (both) are the worst. Another solid session of weights. (Kinvara Green 407.75)

AM - 4 Zion's.  To the bank and back.  Most of this run was done in intense pain.  I would love it if that went away. 

afternoon off.  Didn't even get in yoga as I was working my masterful sprint coaching skills.

AM - 4 Twix.  Spent a lot of time working on the legs last night.  In addition to the Strausburg sock, before bed I hooked up the e-stem and shocked myself a bit.  Left achilles saw a lot of improvement this morning.  Right seemed a bit better, but still a significant amount of pain.  (Peg black 470.5)

Pain is too much in my right achilles. Just going to have to take some time off. I think it might be a decent amount of time. Couldn't even walk around today 'cause I was in so much pain. So, I'll see ya when I see ya.