Relentless

AM - 12 Clyde's/grass. Tempo on Clyde's loop this morning. Wasn't really that great. I told the guys that I could feel the flatness from Saturday today and they agreed too. Started off 40 seconds slower than last week, so I told myself not to look at my watch again and to just run as best I could. Ended up with better miles on 2-5 (I guess, since the average came down), but was still only at 5:54 total after 5:39 (I think) last week. I was kind of bummed at myself though because I am sick of Clyde and Logan just killing me in workouts. Not that I am upset at them - they are both running strong and at is sweet - but it sucks to get killed every run together. So I was getting down on myself a bit. Then I thought back to how I was talking to the team about finding positives, so I tried to do that a bit. Overall, I am doing well on my running right now, mileage is way up, feeling mostly healthy, I am just going to commit to be a little braver on some of the workouts and not succumb to just falling back. Finished with a little on the grass and kids club. (Barefoot '14 36)(Lyte33 56.5)

afternoon - 6 ND. 6 hot ones up in the North Desert. Took all the way up to one step below full-heat mode today. Ice in soaked hat (which conveniently got some air conditioning holes in it after Twix, our new puppy, decided to chew on it this morning), of course ice-packed water bottle, and the reason I was a step below all out was shirt just half soaked (from hose run-off from soaking my head - have to save 1 more thing at least for when it is over 110 (108 just isn't hot enough). Big thunderheads out on the Strip (above Trumbull) and up on Cedar Mountain, but nothing coming our way. Watching the weather made me think of a lot of stories from wildfire fighting - good times that I don't miss at all! (Free 938.7)

AM - 11.25 Parkway/Grass. Not a great morning if you look at my pace, but it was just kind of a get out and run morning. It started with an amazing sunrise though. One of the greatest I have ever seen. (Barefoot '14 41.75)(Oregon 789.25)

afternoon - 6 ND. Hit the usual afternoon run inthe heat. I probably don't need to say it is hot anymore; it just always is. Had a great session of yoga this morning after a good one yesterday too. Hopefully I can loosen up a bit. (Kinvara 979.65)

AM - 16 Middleton/Grass. Ran pretty slow out into Middleton, but by mile 7 I found myself actually feeling good and starting to move. Then for practice I ran with the girls as they did 2 sets of short cruise intervals. It was a very good workout for those that were there and they did a very good job. Then ran home. (Barefoot '14 42.5)(Kinvara white 248.25)

Sandy Classic 5K 16:27

AM - 14 Sandy. Ran down to the race about 4.5 miles and then a little more warm up with Ry. The last time I ran this race was when I was just getting into running again, and I got thrown down on by a 15 or so year old kid. I advised him that he was pretty dang decent and should stick with this running thing. Luckily he turned out to be Kyle Perry, national champ for BYU, so I don't look too bad now! Anyway... The course was much different this time with a figure 8 kind of thing that had some rolling hills and a decent wind going on for a bit. Started off and let all the Youngbloods take off like usual. By mile 1 I had worked up through them all and was working on the lead pack of 3. Went through the mile at 5:12. I was much too comfortable for a 5K - that was the main reason for running this, trying to make myself hurt a bit. On the 2nd mile, we were working back in to the wind the whole time. I worked to get up to the lead group so I wouldn't have to break the wind on my own. When I finally caught them (on the parkway thing there by the mall), I was feeling decent and had a decision to make. I decided to sit with them for a minute and regain some strength before a push in the final mile. Unfortunately this slowed me down and I couldn't sit in there with them comfortably. And after clipping each of them a couple times and trying to find a good spot, I just decided it was better to break out and take over the race. Mile 2 was 5:27 on my watch (and a little far gps-wise). I think between trying to sit back for a few hundred meters and then the wind on my own, I lost about 15 seconds on this mile. Thinking back, I should have just flat blasted by them. In the third mile, we circled around the mall, so there was a little hilly climb on the south side of the mall and a little drop back to the parkway. I gave a couple quick glances to make sure I was okay and pushed pretty good. Didn't have a 3rd mile marker, but based on finish time (the course measure a good 5K distance of 3.15 on watch) was probably through mile 3 around 5:10'ish. Felt pretty good about it. Didn't really tap into a higher end gear like you need to to tear up a 5K, so hopefully this will get me ready for the next one in just over a week. Ran back and helped Rylee finish. She did well and kicked to 5th woman and 1st in her age. Then we ran back to Ally who ran well and took 4th in her age. The younger girls did well also - Pyper won the 1 mile race in a 6:30 or so (everything in the kids race was kind of messed up, so she was a bit frustrated). Some kids took an early turn, so they finished before her and took the glory out of her win! One of those was Laney. So she probably ran about a 3/4 mile and took 2nd there - getting out leaned by a boy at the end! After regrouping, I ran back up to the in-laws via Sego Lily. Lots of comments and looks for the flag shorts. (Rocket 2 87.75)

morning - 13 Wasatch. Did an out and back on Wasatch instead of the normal loop - just because it is pretty up there and I like running next to the mountains. Kind of a wierd run though. I slept in a bit because of the fireworks going all night up here (I have never heard fireworks go so long - from 9:00 to 11:45 straight with no breaks. Made for a pretty poor sleep). Finally got going and felt pretty good at first and even entertained the idea of making a bit of a tempo, but when I turned around at that park where Wasatch drops down to Draper I just was suddenly spent. No energy and just kind of limped in back in. I think it was mostly because I didn't treat yesterday right. In my mind it was kind of like yesterday was Saturday and I didn't prepare myself for another day of running. It was cool at that park though; someone put a huge American flag somehow suspended like a kite on wires from way up high on the rock ledges between to canyons and the wind was really stretching it way out high like it was just suspended and flying up there - looked cool. (Kinvara Green 55)

Week was okay I guess - nothing great, just kind of made it through it.

Goals for next week: might be up kind of wierd in that I probably won't get a double in Mon or Tues, so we'll see what that does to me mileage wise. Hopefully bounce back a bit from today's poor run with some fresher legs on Mon.

AM - Sandy. No real rhyme or reason to this run. Just wanted to get a longer one in since it will be my only run today. Started off going down Newcastle and down to Fort Union. Then up Creek Rd and over around Cottonwood Heights. then finished coming back up Wasatch and through Granite. At first I was pretty flat and had to really avoid looking at the watch to see only 1 mile go by. After about 7 or so, though, I just relaxed and tried to enjoy it a bit. (Kinvara White 266.25)

morning - 10.25 Wasatch. Did the same thing as Sat without the extras. Although I was wiped out from Lagoon yesterday and getting out a bit later, the run was pretty good. Last day of my recovery week - which stretched between the end of last week and the start of this week. Hopefully I'll end the week solid. (Kinvara Green 66.25)

morning - 11.5 Coral Canyon. Pretty unmotivated to run. But got out and just kind of went with it. It was nice not to have a watch on and just run - especially knowing that I wasn't going very quick. (Kinvara3 716.25)

afternoon - 7 ND. Hoped a storm would develop, but nothing. Still the clouds were very nice and a little breeze made the afternoon much nicer than other times. After a couple days of the achilles feeling decent, it has been poor today. (F50 686.5)

morning - 13 Middleton/Parkway. Kind of a guess on the distance. Slow dragging myself out again this morning, but once I got going a few rain drops slipped down and kind of got me pumped about being out and I just kept going. If we're lucky maybe we'll actually get a rain storm. (Ronin 405.25)

afternoon - 9 City Wells. Just an absolutely beautiful run. Timed the run to get in the rain that was attempting to develop. For almost the entire run up and back in the desert, there was a constant sprinkle going. Nothing crazy, but really cooled the temps and made the desert smell alive. Could have gone all day (slowly!). (Landreth Blue 1121.9)

AM - 12 Mustang Pass. Finally up early enough to watch a sunrise, and it was a beaut. Beautiful morning in the desert. Could have just hiked around all morning - hiked, because I am pretty tired. Got back and Ry had just started her run, so I jumped in with her for a little. (Stratus black 1120.45)

afternoon - 6 ND. Waited for a bit to see if any storms were going to develop' but nothing. So headed out on the usual. Not too killer hot though. (Boston 1106.75)

AM - 19.25 Quail. Glad the week of running is done. It seemed like every run this week was a chore, especially this morning. Had to drag myself out of bed after a strange dream that made it seem like I was never even asleep. The had to run on my own since the lads are out of town. I was supremely slow for the first five plus miles, but then was able to get to a normal pace. At least it is way pretty out by the lake. (Kinvara Silver 433.75)

Not my favorite week of running. But I got some runs in,

Goals for next week: get to some workouts and make running more enjoyable.

AM - Parkway/Dirt Mile. Back to the usual, which is good- I do better with routine. Ran about 6.5 before practice and then we did some tempo on the Dirt Mile. First ran 15 with the youngsters at a nice clip. Then jumped in for 13 with the top girls and got them going to where they should be. Then finished with a mile with the top guys. Still a lot of room for improvement, so hopefully we will get there. (Barefoot '14 42.75)(Lyte33 71.5)

afternoon - 6.25 DI/Starbucks. Hot afternoon run and then easy weights for the first time back in them in awhile. (Kinvara 985.9)

AM - 15.5 Tempo Loop. So hot and humid. And I really didn't feel like being there. But did it anyway. Started off better than the last few times and tried to just hang in there. I never felt to bad, just a lack of confidence added in with the tremendous loss of water had the times just slip throughout the 7 miles of tempo. Hit a little more warming and cooling with the team. (Hyper Speed 2 517)

Chelsi's Run 16:24

PM - 6 St. James. Got over to the race just a touch later than planned, but still bumped into the guys from the team that were running and did a 1 lap warm up (the course is two laps around a neighborhood). Although I actually really like this course (other than being short) and it is kind of fun to race later in the night (even though it makes it tough next morning), I really didn't feel like running. On the way over, I had to convince myself to not go home. Even while warming (interesting to say when it is 95 degrees), I wanted to just stop. Since there wasn't any competition, I decided to use it as an opportunity to run with some of my middle/lower Varsity-upper JV guys who were there and try and teach them to race a little better. So I didn't go out nearly as hard as in the past and went though the lap in 8:13. Then the guys had kind of fallen off, so I pushed a little more. Instead of fighting the crowds, I just stayed to the outside and didn't hit any tangents (which made for the extra .05, since the lap is 1.5). Ran decent and hit a 8:11 2nd lap even with kind of chilling in to the finish. Okay race for how I was feeling about running and life. I really wish they would treat this run more like a race and then maybe some competition would show and I could run a fast time. It was basically a 3 mile tempo - never left a comfort zone and didn't strain at all, which is bad because I need to start daring to go more, but good because I have been struggling so much lately on tempos. (Rocket 2 93.75)

AM - 13.25 Hell's Hole/Grass. So tired and worn down this morning. Not only did I get to sleep way late because of the race, my ankle hurt so bad that I couldn't sleep well. But dragged myself for a little before practice and then a bunch on the grass nice and easy (but with shoes on because of the achilles pain).

afternoon - 6 ND. Easy 6 into the desert after a day at the lake. I need a nap, but won't get one. (F50 692.5)

AM - 15.75 DogTown/Grass. Still pretty haggard in the morning, but better than yesterday. Ran around Washington and extended up the Parkway. Then over to practice and 4x6:00 cruisers. Sometimes things surprise. Started practice. Little bummed because so many kids are gone, but then it turned out to be the best workout of the year - too bad more members of the team weren't there to benefit from it. Ave paces for the sets were 5:57, :45(?), :39, :36. (Kinvara3 732)

afternoon - 6 DI/GS. Got in a little before practice and then up into GReen Springs. A little slow (but needed) despite the timely cloud cover that kept it around 104. Weights after and, of course, icing up the achilles and ankle. (Oregon 795.25)

morning - 16 Fields. Met out at Pine View Park for practice and we ran a nice loop out into Little Valley and around Stone Cliff and back. Then I finished by running home. Nice easy recovery pace. Actually felt decent this morning. I'm not a big pill taker, but I took some ibuprofen to take the edge off my achilles and take down some of the inflammation (probably should have been doing this awhile ago), and it helped a bit. Probably take the afternoon off - I think I've earned it this week. (Kinvara Green 81.25)

AM - 21 MTL. Good end of the week run with nothing crazy, just some decent running with Clyde and James. Felt pretty decent for the end of a long week. Probably couldn't have killed anything today, so after getting to Clyde's (about 7'ish) we picked it up to around maybe 6:30. (Kinvara White 287.25)

At times this week I wasn't too sure I would make it through in one piece, but ended up surviving. Most miles in a couple years.

Goals for next week: mileage around 110'ish, feel pretty decent on the tempo and get it going a little more, and push a bit more on the 10k (try and find that higher gear, it is there somewhere).

AM - 17 Parkway/Dirt Mile. Did and out and back on the Parkway in the reverse direction. Then did tempo with the groups on the Dirt Mile. Their paces are a nice warm up for the week for me. Started with around 20 at 7:15 and ended with 15 at around 6:05 a decent Tinman, but not stressful. Finally had the team kind of there today; that was nice. Temps were just quite nice today. I will take 75 in the summer anytime. (Hyper Speed 476)

afternoon - 6.5 DI/2450. Both had some extensions. Then ended with weights. (Landreth blue 1128.4)

AM - 14 Parkway/Grass. Just a so-so run. Pretty worn down after feeling pretty good yesterday. Tuesdays are always just long with club and such. (Kinvara White 301.25)

afternoon - 6 ND. Kind of the same old. Started with the same attitude I had this morning, but it ended up being a positive run. Nothing great (the afternoons rarely are), but just felt decent about life. (Stratus black 1128.45)

AM - 16.5 Hell's Hole/Highland loop. Not too shabby this morning, but my achilles was aching a bit more again. Didn't take ibo since Sat, so that is the problem - I'll take some before this afternoon's run. (Lyte33 88)

afternoon - 6.75 DI/Sullivan's. Hit gold old DI with some extension before practice and led that right into Sullivan's. It was very hot today - back over 110. (Ronin 412)

Hurricane Pioneer Day 5K. 16:06

AM - 6.5 Middleton. Got up and got a few in before heading over to the race. Wore my Adios to decide if I need to start hunting down a new marathon shoe or not. They felt great and have at least one more race in them even if I use them for a workout or two before St. George. (Adios 187)

morning - 6 race. Got the kiddos ready and the family headed over to Hurricane. Had planned earlier on running the Enterprise 10K, but he girls wanted to run too, and is just too much money to pay for every race. So this one was just a 5K, but it was only a couple of cans of food - I can afford 8 cans entry fee. Warmed up just a little with the girls and then started off. No competition which was a real bummer. Last year Hurricane's top runner, Nephi, ran, so I hoped he could push me for at least a bit, and I hoped a few of my guys who weren't at Enterprise would show up - but none did. So anyway, another solo effort. Course was an honest loop with a very gentle upgrade on the way out and the opposite on the way back; marked well, so I didn't get lost at all for the first time running it; had a dirt/gravel section for 1/4, but not bad; measured correctly; had a lot of turns though. Used the race markings for splits, and they seemed pretty honest. 1-4:59, kind of fun, I didn't think I was running that fast. Was actually kind of blah and felt like a 5:20's effort. 2-5:11, 3-5:15. Kind of relaxed a little too much on these two. And when I saw I wasn't going to break 16:00 on the homestretch I kind of eased it in. Feel better about this effort than either of the two earlier summer 5K's, but I still can't seem to get into that next gear - although what do I expect, I am not doing any speed training at all so... But I really think I could have held today's average for a full 10K pretty solidly and even stretched it toward a 10 miler. Some progress.

Went back and cheered on the girls. Rylee ran with Pyper. Which was nice, but kind of a pain. Rylee is really good and coaching your own high-level kid seems to have its ups and downs. So I tried not to push her too much today when she said she only wanted to run with Pyper. Pyper is not too shabby herself and has a huge upside with her determination once she really gets training. I found Laney further back than she should have been. She seemed to just kind of be poking along and walking quite a bit until I got to her. But I was proud that she went almost two all by herself until I got to her. Then we jogged it on in, trying to encourage her and make it fun for her along the way. (Rocket 2 99.75)

afternoon - 6 ND. Just the usual afternoon in the heat. These midweek races are tough on me mentally - my body thinks a race means the end of the week and wants to shut it down for a bit. (F50 698.5)

morning - 10 Vernon Worthen. Well... Such a crappy day. Drove over to practice and got everyone going in their groups. We headed up the marathon course, using the paved trail instead of the highway (after a big talk on safety with traffic). The run was actually great. Some of the guys fell off, but I just cruised with Nick and Preston and we were having a great and tough run. It was a bit warm, so I was a little blah about running home. But since The Circle was out of the loop this weekend, I decided to make this my long run and just run home from practice, adding in 8-10 miles with tempo and then just posting an easy 15 tomorrow and I would have another solid 120 week fall in my lap. To run home, I had Ally (and her friend came along with her) run over to the park and pick up the car and Rylee since she would be done so much earlier than the boys and I. Just as we came down Diagonal and were going to start moving into the fast finish for the boys, I saw two cops get out of their car. They kind of walked toward a driveway, so I about said to the guys that we were going to see a domestic dispute - because that's how cops usually approach them. But then they stopped and looked at me and asked if I was Dave. Just like that my heart dropped. Why did they know my name? My mind raced; has one of the kids been hurt? They said, "There has been an accident." Time kind of slowed down. I didn't know what to think. Then they said, "Do you know Teri?" And I just freaked in my mind... ally was running with Teri (her best buddy, or next door neighbor, parent to past/present/future kids I have coached and taught and worked with in church, mom of one of my girls' best and longest friend). They said she had been in a very bad accident, had been hit by a car and I needed to get to the hospital. They offered me and ride and we got going. I asked about Allyson since they didn't tell me anything about her or what had happened. They told me she was physically fine, but mentally a mess. They told me what they knew and such. She had been hit by a mirror of a truck basically right in the head/chest. Ally was only feet in front of her and somehow hadn't been touched. Of course this made for a ver tough and long day at the hospital. Teri passed away with no brain function - they are arranging the donation of every organ the can, so she is still being supported. The situation was a mess. It is something no one, no family should ever have to go through. Allyson is having a very tough time basically holding her destroyed friend as she died. But she is so crazy tough. She called a man who was the first driver on scene to tell him thanks, and he couldn't stop telling me how great she did being there for her. My emotions are just all over. I couldn't feel more hurt for her sweet family. It is, I don't even know the word, to see your spouse covered blood (even after the er cleaned her up), and just thinking how wasn't it her? I feel okay for a bit, but then I get pretty sad. I'm pretty emotional already, so this kind of throws me. (Kinvara lime 487)

0 - nothing today. A lot more stuff going on for our friends. And of course life goes on too for the rest of the world - that is such a weird feeling. I remember after my stroke, we were driving home from the neurologist, and I kept thinking my life and family's just totally changed and none of these people know anything, they just keep on doing what they do. And that's how I felt the last two days. Life has changed so drastically for us, and indescribably for our friends, but for most of the world life just keeps doing what it does. The kids went with the rest of the family to the air show, which was a bummer to miss because it really is cool. But... Also, I have been trying to get ready for XC camp next week. Friday was to be shopping day and all sorts of stuff to get ready. Of course none of that happened, so I tried to get what I could of that done today. You know one thing about all that life just keeps going talk is that there are so many amazing people that can help out and are willing to do anything to ease the burdens and strengthen you in any way possible. Such great people around.

Running wise, just such a bummer end to what was turning out to be a good week. I hadn't planned on a super big week, but it was happening and I felt better than last week. I was also looking forward to next week being a recovery week at camp and not having to stress about mileage (I'll still stick to that plan though... Camp isn't a week to try and kill oneself). Hopefully I'll just have the mental energy to get it going a bit again (of course I will, but it just seems kind of less-relavant now).

morning - 15.25 Pine Lake. Great run with James down to the road and a bit to the north and then back. I didn't feel great, but we had a great talk and it made the run go by very nice. Ended at the lake for a quick dip. (F50 713.75)

morning - 15 Pine Lake. Same run as yesterday, but didn't go up to the lake. It was raining pretty hard and after last night's lightning strike I decided I didn't want to risk it too much. Story: last evening a huge storm came through and a huge lightning/thunder simultaneously hit a tree less than a 100 yards away from our camp and blew huge pieces of the tree all over the place over 100 feet. (Stratus black 1143.45)

AM - 15 Fields. We came home yesterday to participate in funeral things last night and today, so I got a little run in on my own at home. It was kind of tough to get going. The legs were sore and tight and my brain was not into it at all either, but it wasn't too bad as I got going. Headed back up to camp this evening. (Kinvara silver 448.75)

AM - 14 Pine Lake. Ran up toward the lookout and then a 60 minute run with the team up the mountain. We ran up higher than we ever had with a total gain of 1500 feet in the 33 mins up. (Kinvara Lime 501)

afternoon - 3.75 Pine Lake. We drove to the top of the mountain and ran toward the Powell Point lookout. I wanted to get all the way out to the point, but the road is was too tight for the suburbans and we only had a 30 minute run (seven though we stretched that a little hoping to get there). Still super pretty and up at 10500 elevation. (VertK 331)