Relentless

AM - 6 2xAC.  The usual this morning.  And feeling good.  Got some sleep back from the long trip on Saturday.  (Altra 85)

afternoon - 13.25 Grass/2xDI.  Got out and did 8 barefoot on the grass.  It was wonderful.  The only wish it that we had a large grass park to run on, but I have said that before.  Then ran the warm up and cool down with the Varsity kids as they hit a track workout.  (Barefoot '11 43)(Landreth orange 905.35)

AM - 10.5 5xCemetery miles.  Tough to get up this morning - so tough.  But eventually dragged out of bed and tried any excuse I could to not do this workout, but I knew I had to.  Warmed up for just over 3 around Dog Town and then got into the intervals.  1-5:25; 2-5:24, and I felt solid, much better than a couple weeks ago; 3-5:22, decided to try and go sub '20 for the next two; 4-5:18, didn't think I had it, but must have pushed just enough; 5-5:18 was pretty tired and legs felt it during this one, but still pushed it out.  Only had time for 1 mile cool.  Now I am mad at myself for sleeping in those few extra minutes 'cause I am still way tired anyway and I didn't get the cool mileage I wanted to.  What an excellent morning though.  (Ohana racers 552.75)

AM - 6 2xAC.  Another good morning run.  Nice and pleasant.  Feeling pretty good.  (Free 448.45)

afternoon - 8 Green Springs.  A little tired and flat this afternoon.  Just kind of plodded along with the kids and got the run in.  A bit warmer this afternoon. 8xbarefoot striders.  (Barefoot '11 44)(Altra 92) 

AM - 13 2xMall/AC.  Nice mornings are still holding on.  Still a little flat this morning, so I am glad that I ran the miles on Tuesday so that by Saturday I should be feeling more sharp.  (Kinvara 355.15)

morning - 16 Provo.  Up at BYU for the Invite.  Ran 5 with Trev and Devin around BYU and then up University toward the Canyon for a bit.  Got back just in time to add a few more with the kids as they warmed up.  Then cooled down with them barefoot on the grass and talked about their races - Kaylee breaking her own school record again in the 3200 (11:08 - 6th place) and the poor races the boys had.  (Barefoot '11 46)(Boston 569.75)

evening - 6 Provo.  Went from the hotel (East Bay) south and toward Springville - although I guess I was still in Provo according to the signs.  Was a bit tight at first and then loosened up and felt good.  Saw a skunk in some bushes.  (Kinvara 361.15)

AM - 22 Provo Canyon.  Up early so I could relax and enjoy the meet.  Ran from East Bay up University toward the Canyon 11 miles.  Hit the turn around right near the top of a hill just past the falls - which were looking pretty cool by the way.  Was a little worried about running back down the Canyon on the road - especially since I wanted to be going with traffic, to be on the marathon course; but no close calls.  Started a tempo at the turn around.  Was a little worried about it, since I had just run 11 miles uphill - 4 in the Canyon with a major headwind to wear me out.  But the tempo was the best I've had in some time.  Plan was to go Tinman for a few and then pick it up.  Down the Canyon a Tinman effort was an easy 5:40 for most of it - need to remember that sections of the Canyon aren't that downhill and aren't that fast, but some are - then hit a GU right at the mouth of the Canyon and tried to work on MP for the next 6.  It was nice because there was a race (Provo Marathon?) getting ready so the whole lane was coned off just for my workout!  Hit a solid 5:35 average for the next 6 which ended about 1/2 mile past the new finish.  Then I eased the last mile back to the hotel.  Very positive workout.  (Boston 591.75)

Strong week.  Happy about the mile repeats.  Happy about Saturday's workout.  Happy about how I feel pretty strong at the end of the first 100 mile week of the year (I'm pretty sure).

Goals for next week:  No mid-week big workout, but I want a couple smaller workouts during the week.  And higher mileage again this week before taking it back a little next week because of State.

afternoon - 14 2xHarts/Hospital.  Warmed up and cooled down with team just up to Harts and then continued on into Hospital run which I took up Foremaster and then back toward school and up around DI.  Didn't feel like running this afternoon at first, but as I got going life was good.  Not really sore from Saturday which is nice.  Took this morning off trying to catch up on some sleep.  It may make it so I don't hit the mileage I had wanted for the week (since I will already have singles on Wed/Thurs due to track), but Ally said something that made me think - she told me to take the morning off, which I didn't want to, but when she mentioned that I was falling asleep every time I sat down for over 10 minutes I remembered my commitment to train smarter not harder and obviously my body needed some sleep.  (Stratus grey 779.6)

AM - 10 Green Springs/Warm Springs.  Didn't want to get up this morning, but glad I did - like usual, it isn't bad running, it is the getting up that sucks.  No hip pain!  Just a great temp morning run.  (Altra 102)

afternoon - 12 Grass/Shoe.  Barefoot for 7.  It was nice at first, but weather turned and it got cold, rainy and windy.  Team ran Shoe Run nice and easy.  (Barefoot 53)(Triumph 733.75)

AM - 12 Target.  Ran opposite direction of when I do a tempo session.  Legs are worn down.  Just kept telling myself to make it through today and through the week.  Hip is a bit iffy, not the sharp stabbing pain of a hard workout, but rather the dull ache of mileage.  (Stratus black 833.7)

AM - 3x8th/Parkway.  Slept in just a little today - had to keep reminding myself, train smarter not harder - and may have to keep reminding myself of that, as I was pretty mad at not getting up.  But this morning I needed to sleep (in? - if you call it that - I guess that is all relative).  Anyway... the run was actually way good.  I felt much better today than yesterday.  (Altra 110)

afternoon - 5 Grass.  Sneaked in 5 on the grass barefoot - including 8xbarefoot striders - before we headed up to Region.  I felt great and smooth this afternoon.  (Barefoot '11 58)

afternoon - 6 Fields.  Pretty hot out today and I just felt absolutely spent.  Wanted to get more after sleeping in (got home much to late from Region track to get up early), but I was just drained in every way.  (Triumph silver 563.8)

AM - 20.25 SGM.  Ran with Clyde, Dustin and Bill from about mile 3 of the course on down to the old store.  No real plan going in - just hit some solid tempo stuff and don't go to crazy with it.  Had a good strong run.  Getting into the tempo, I really wanted to make sure I didn't turn it into a race (last summer I think I pushed too hard down the course and used up a little of the good stuff at about the same time before the real race).  I felt kind of interesting - tired but good, weak but strong... Ended up with 8 at a solid tempo 5:25'ish ave.  Then 2 cool.  (Boston 612)

Week was a tough one to get through.  Running was okay, but I was so tired it cost me some mileage - but I think things will be fine still.  Finally hit the ice on Friday night, need to do that a few more times.

Goals for next week: not worry about mileage (will be busy with State), get some mile repeats in on Tuesday or Wednesday and have a little tempo session on Saturday morning.

AM - 8 Green Springs.  It was nice to wake up and be decently awake.  Temps were cooler again this morning - very nice.  A little soreness in quads, but calves felt fine.  (Altra 118)

afternoon - 11.5 Grass/2xHarts/laps.  Went and got 5 and half barefoot on the grass and tried to work out the kinks.  Then hit the warm ups and cool downs with the kids and some laps in between.  Finished up with Molly's Mile when I got home.  (Barefoot '11 63.5)(Landreth blue 631.65)

morning - 6 Trail to Nowhere.  Slept in this morning and caught my run starting at 7:00!  Ran from school on the trail to nowhere with a little extension.  Feeling decent.  After a little run this afternoon, should be ready to hit the miles tomorrow morning.  (Old Ohana -6)

afternoon - 8.25 Wendy's.  Good easy run with the team.  Last run from school for Corey, Trevor, and Ryan - kind of sad stuff; I'll miss those guys.  Then 8xbarefoot striders, followed Molly's Mile when I got home.  (Stratus grey 786.85)(Barefoot '11 64.5)

AM - 12 5xcemetary miles.  Crappy work out.  Warmed up a little bit more than the last couple times (made myself get up earlier so I could get a better warm up and cool in), so that was about 4.5 and then into my miles.  I felt tired and junk in the legs from Saturday still, but I have felt that way before and had it work out - so I hoped for the same.  1-5:27, felt like it was the first one, tired and a bit off, but I figured it was because it was first - and the time was okay, so I thought I would warm up into a solid workout.  2/3-5:27, Usually see an improvement here to lower 5:20's but nothing was loosening up.  Just felt warn down.  4/5-5:33, Upset at myself for the 4th one, letting it slip above 5:30, so I thought I would hammer down and bring the 5th one back to something a little better - nope.  Even though I felt I was really pushing, I could tell that it just tired legs today - instead of attacking and eating up ground, I was choppy and struggling to get even these times.  I am trying not to stress though.  All-in-all it is not the worst.  It is a tough loop, I am worn down, hard workout last Saturday, and higher mileage for a couple weeks.  (Last Ohana 120.5)

AM - 12 Junction.  Pretty chilly this morning - almost cold; could see breath, could have used gloves and long-sleeves.  Run was okay, but still a little tired.  (Altra 130)

afternoon - 3.5 Provo.  Ran from Provo HS back to the hotel.  (Boston 615.5) 

AM - 10 Provo.  Ran from the hotel out along University and back.  Pace was pretty decent as I think I am starting to get some legs back.  Rain was intense!  (Kinvara 371.15)

AM - 10 Provo.  Same run as yesterday.  On the way back I threw in 4xmile at 5:40 pace with 1 min. recovery.  Goal was to freshen up the legs with the cruise interval pace - felt pretty good and ready for two more good weeks.  (Kinvara 381.85)

Made it through State Track week (with some success and some failures for the team - and me!) 

Goals for next week:  Have a good strong week.  Mileage up around 90-95.  Keep hip feeling good.  Have a good attitude.  Strong workouts on the Upper Half and last long run on Saturday. 

AM - 7 Parkway/Warm Springs.  Nice Monday morning run; just getting the legs moving for the week.  (Free 453.45)

afternoon - 9.25 Target/2450.  A bit warmer today than last week, but I felt pretty good.  (Altra 139.25)

afternoon - 11 GS/PL/Midd.  One final run with Trev and Tyson for the year.  We were all pretty spent from our major victory in the PV Great Race and the thrashing we took in volleyball.  Ended with Molly's Desert Run and I felt the fatigue in my legs.  (NB 101 69.25)

AM - 8 Green Springs.  Man am I spent.  I need to push through the blues and fatigue of the end of a marathon training cycle for just another couple weeks.  Didn't help that legs are sore from yesterday's exploits and that my allergies are back pretty hard draining me out of everything.  (Landreth black 1019.85)

noon - 6 Foremaster.  Sneaked in a short one before graduation today.  Feeling a little better than the last couple days.  (Triumph 739.35)

morning - 12 Coral Canyon.  First day of summer, so I took advantage and slept in (until 7:30!).  Feeling a little stronger again.  Finally rolled my legs out for the first time this week - I have just been so busy and on a weird schedule, and that felt great.  (Stratus grey 798.85)

AM - 17.75 Upper Half.  Last major tempo session before Utah Valley and I wanted a strong run.  So Clyde agreed to run the Upper Half with me and make it as close to a half as possible - low and behold, Logan decided to crawl out of wherever he has been and joined in on the fun!  I haven't been feeling strong at all throughout the week.  In fact, it was only yesterday that I finally started to feel better than junk.  So I wasn't too excited about what might happen for this run - and I was right.  It was one of my worst runs ever, surely in recent memory.  Warmed up for 3+ up to the start and just felt slow and off.  Right from the get-go I knew it was going to be a long one.  Legs just felt absolutely dead.  Only for 2 brief 10 second moments did I think I was going to break through - and then it was gone.  So here are the splits for future reference.  1-5:30, Clyde had already gapped me by at 10 seconds but I tried to tell myself that I would get things going and it would be no biggie.  2-5:38, junk.  3-5:27, more junk.  4-5:32, alas... more junk.  5-5:33, here is where I felt good for such a brief time.  6-5:21, need I repeat it.  7-5:29, I just felt so spent.  The legs are feeling like the end of a marathon and it is hard to keep positive when I feel so terrible.  8-6:42, up Veyo; felt like walking.  9-6:07, thought I could get back on but could tell that wasn't happening.  Timed Clyde's lead just to reaffirm my struggles and it had grown from 1:30 at mile 7 in Veyo to 2:30 in just 2 miles... that hurts.  10-6:11.  11-6:16.  12-6:02, even on the tough Dammeron section those are some poor miles.  13-5:49, must have got a second wind!  (or something).  .1-6:16 pace, ironically enough I finished and saw a big pile of dog crap in the road - humm... a sign?  Total was 1:16:21 after going 1:14:5something last time - and that one wasn't even anything to write home about.  Cooled down for 1.5'ish with Clyde.  (Kinvara 398.8)

So...Just move on I guess.  Really it doesn't mean a lot other than I know my body is tired (which I already knew) and I need to freshen up and sharpen up with a good taper (which I also already knew).  But mentally I need to push this out of the way and move on.

AM - 20 Leeds.  Al took me up to Leeds and I ran up almost to Toquerville exit and then back home.  I really like running up there, it is a little cooler and there is no traffic, and it is different which is always nice.  Pace was comfortable throughout.  I didn't want to push anything with yesterday's poor workout and tired legs on me - even the distance today was probably pushing it, but at least I didn't go the 23 I had planned earlier.  (Boston 632)

Weeks wasn't great.  Mileage was right were I wanted it.  But major workout (yesterday's) wasn't too good.  But I think I'll get back going.

Goals for next week: Number 1) get the legs back.  I do want a decent workout on Wednesday, but that is actually even secondary.  XC practice starts up this week on Wednesday and Summer Club on Thursday, so it would be nice to get those two things off to a good start.

AM - 11.5 Middleton.  Out and back into Middleton and stopped off at the ball fields and ran 3 barefoot including 8xbarefoot striders.  Felt okay, didn't push anything, but the striders seemed to loosen me up a bit.  (Barefoot '11 67.5)(Altra 147.75)

AM - 8 Green Springs.  A nice morning run.  The temps couldn't be more perfect - a nice little coolness to things.  Felt good this morning.  (Free 463.45)