Relentless

evening - 4.5 Cali.  An easy shake-out after arriving in Cali for Footlocker West.  I guess I should have got up this morning.  (Rocket 182.5)

AM - 17 Cali.  Got up early with Logan and ran a good 17 miler down from the hotel down Diamond Bar Blvd. and back.  It was interesting watching the traffic and being so happy that I don't live here.  Woke up last night and my knee was swelling up.  It didn't hurt as I ran, but gave me trouble the rest of the day.  (Oregon 226.5)

mid-morning - 3 Cali.  Ran on the course - Mt. Sac.  A pretty neat course, if it only had more room.  Had to run in some old Stratus (blue) that I just wear around.  My knee didn't hurt while running, but didn't let up after.  (Stratus blue -3) 

AM - 8 Cali.  Ran down Diamond Bar again before heading over to the race.  (Rocket 192.5)

Week was good for recovery.  My shin feels back to normal and my hip is feeling no issues at all, but this new thing with my knee has me worried.

Goals for next week: I'll see what my knee will let me do.  I had wanted to hit good mileage and doubles throughout, but probably not.

afternoon - 13 River Trail.  Headed out on the River Trail today ended with Molly's Mile.  Nothing great.  But the knee felt quite a bit better than over the weekend.  (Hyper Speed 131)

afternoon - 13 River Run/home.  Went on the River Run loop and hit 2xSunrisers, then ran home and Molly's Mile.  Trying to get some more hill work stuff in.  (Free 551.45)

afternoon - 13 Roller Coaster/home.  Went out to Shinob Kibe and then hit the roller coaster - ran it back and forth 2x's full.  That was kind of cool. Molly's Mile at the end.  (Kinvara 512.15) 

mid-morning - 11 Green Springs/Track.  Sneaked out around lunch and hit a warmup of 6 up to GS and then got 3xmile on the track.  Didn't time it, probably a good thing.  But it was good to go a little quicker.  Then a little cool.  (Rocket 201.5)

afternoon - 4 home.  Just ran home after school.  First double this week and knee felt fine.  Ended with Molly's Mile.  (Rocket 205.5)

AM - 10 Wendy's.  Ry has a swim meet tonight, so I headed out early and got some miles in.  Felt flat and tired from the miles the other day, but not too bad.  (Oregon 236.5)

afternoon - 4 home.  Easy run home and Molly's Mile.  (Altra 305)

AM - 22 Jem/Gould's Trails.  Went out with Logan to see some of the terrain for the Zion 50/100 and had a great run.  It is absolutely amazing out there.  I would highly suggest this race to anyone who loves trails.  A lot of fun - even though we got off track of the course - and even dealt with the bitter cold at the first.  And any trail run that ends without me eating it is a good one.  Trails are very runnable but also have a little challenge in them - we hit just over 2:40 for the whole run without even pushing any sections.  Also, way cool lunar eclipse over the mountain this morning - looked awesome.  (NB 101 335.2)

Not a bad week for mostly singles.  Knee is feeling better, so is shin, and even the hip for that matter.

Goals for next week: Try and get out on a few doubles but nothing off the wall.  Keep the runs a bit longer like this past week to have solid mileage and wear and tear on the legs and mind. 

afternoon - 14 River Trail/home.  Ran the trail today and then home.  Really wanted to wake up this morning and get 8 or so in, but I am just so drained in the mornings now.  I used to be able to wake up pretty good on Mondays, but not now.  (Triumph silver 632.05)

afternoon - 10.5 Old Man Hills.  Out a little later today because of a track meeting which made it so I didn't get as many miles in.  Did 3x1/2 mile hills.  Didnt' time them, but I pushed pretty decent.  Then ran home and Molly's Mile with the girls.  (Rocket 216)

AM - 10 Clyde's Loop.  Finally woke up.  Jeep finally worked.  And it all led to a good morning run with Clyde and Logan.  A bit chilly out and we saw like 10 shooting stars... pretty neat stuff.  (Boston 777.5)

afternoon - 13 Fields.  Pretty slow and junk feeling run through the Fields this afternoon.  Ended with Molly's Mile.  Lately Laney hasn't been wanting to ride her bike with me, so today I pushed her in the stroller - a little different pushing a 5 year old compared to an 18 month old up a hill!  (Oregon 249.5)

afternoon - 15 River Trail Loop.  Tried a little bit of a tempo in the run today.  Didn't have a watch, so the old Hawk-o-meter had to do.  For about 3 miles I was in pickup toward tempo pace (probably between 6:30 down to 6:00) and then around 3 miles of about 5:45 pace.  Felt fine, just not super strong.  Molly's Mile.  (Stratus grey 886.85)

afternoon - 18 Fields/Hell's Hole.  A big loop/figure 8 through the Fields and then back up the Dam Road, crossing the bridge and on the Hell's Hole Trail (up the side trail), over the top of Highland and back to school; finishing up with Molly's Mile.  Never really pushed anything, but I actually felt pretty decent although it was a long run.  (Stratus black 895.7)

AM - 20.5 St. George Half Course.  Ran the proposed course with the guys; it is a tough one and won't produce any record breaking times (especially out of the likes of a guy like me!).  And then even though I was spent - and I think everyone else - we pushed around the inner loop on the DC trail again to get our mileage up to 20.  Despite being worn, we were able to push the pace in good and hit 6:30'ish pretty much the last 5 miles which is something I wouldn't have done on my own for sure.  (Mana 138.75)

First time hitting 100 in who knows how long (I think it is only the 2nd time all year actually, which is way crazy compared to my last 4 or 5 years).  And I did it in only 7 runs (just one double), that's where I felt the fatigue hit... runs of 13-15+ miles really add up on your legs.  But hopefully I am regaining that strong base that used to be one of my strengths.

Goals for next week:  Kind of an unstructured week.  I guess I have about the same goals, but I might pull in doubles for the 2nd half of the week just to give my legs a little bit of a break and try and be solid the next week.

afternoon - 13 Hot Nails/River Run.  The team is off their break, so I joined them for an easy three into Washington and then extended out on the River Run.  Ran in some new Asics Neo that were given to me.  the sizing is off a little and that makes them even more bulky.  But as far as a shoe to get some good mileage in, they are not bad.  Probably nothing I would buy, however; but now-a-days I would only by light quick shoes anyway.  Ended with Molly's Mile.  (Neo 13)

afternoon - 13 AC/River Run.  Nothing exceptional about this run.  Just getting things done.  Ended with Molly's Mile like usual.  (Kinvara 524.15)

AM - 10 Clyde's.  Some loop of Clyde's.  As usual, pretty chilly out this morning.  Clyde got Logan rolling toward the end and we had a good little push, but it was better for them than me.  My hips were acting up a little and I wasn't in the mood to try and push through it too much.  (Hyper Speed 141)

afternoon - 11 GS/Shinob Kibe.  Green Springs with the team, then I extended down to Shinob Kibe.  The run up was pretty good and the run down was energizing!  I will try and throw this hill in once every couple weeks to work on both the tough climb and downhill running.  Molly's Mile.  Wore a new pair of New Balance 110's that Steven lent me to take for a test drive.  (NB 110 -11)

morning - 10.5 Sand Hill.  Went up into the desert and had a decent run on the Sand Hill from the Grapevine side.  Then brought it home by way of the dirt parkway - I would love it if it never got paved or developed up there (the dirt parkway area), but I am sure it is only a matter of a year or two.  Like the NB 110's.  They have a little different feel on the forefoot, but I remember the 101's took my foot a few runs to get used to as well.  And these actually don't give the foot the pounding that the 101's do when you are on the road working up to the trail (a little softer).  (NB 110 -10.5)

afternoon - 11 Mustang Pass.  One of my favorite trails.  But I am getting a little tired, so I couldn't enjoy it quite as much.  Still fun to hit, especially since I haven't in a while.  (NB 101 346.25)

morning - 15 Icehouse.  One of those runs that was just junk.  I was excited to hit Icehouse since it has been a while since I've been up the trail, but I could tell right away that I was tired.  Then add to that not eating before going out and not being hydrated enough in the last couple days led to a long and hideous death march.  I get those every once in a while, but it is always a bummer when I do.  At least I didn't eat it on the trail - which is something I often do on this one, but I was close a couple times.  Now... try and rest up the rest of the day and get feeling better for a more productive run tomorrow.  (NB 110 -15)

AM - 16.5 Prospector.  To say I had to drag myself out of bed this morning was an understatement.  But I got up and got the run in early so we could do our traditional Christmas Eve breakfast.  Run started off much better than yesterday's, but by the end I was pretty spent again.  Always nice to run on Prospector though.  (NB 110 -16.5)

Week was good for mileage and a good test of running on tired legs.  Also a good test week of the NB 110's.  Put 50+ miles on them this week and am sure I will get myself a pair.

Goals for next week:  Coming week will be a recovery week after two straight 100's.  And since I have a 30 miler on the Zion course on Saturday, I guess I will just get 10's in every other day of the week.  Hopefully that zings the legs a little.

afternoon - 10.5 SLC.  Ran Wasatch.  Pretty easy and felt like junk for about 6 miles of it and then things slowly started to flow a little better.  Hopefully I'll have something in the legs tomorrow or Weds. for a temp session.  I have a pretty hideous cough that has developed the last few days, but I don't feel bad at all.  (Hyper Speed 151.5)

morning - 10.5 SLC.  Wasatch again.  Wanted to get a little tempo push in.  Even though I guess I have a little different focus now, I still like to run pretty quick and be able to turn in a decent half or marathon once in a while.  So with that in mind I wanted a progression for 6 miles with 2 at a Tinman effort - that went very well; then 2 at around a marathon effort (5:45) - pretty solid here also; and then 2 more at half pace (5:30) - hit a couple hard hills here, but still did okay.  Not quite the pace I wanted but okay I guess.  (Last Ohana 263)

morning - 11 Wasatch.  Last run in SLC for now.  Ran Wasatch again, but in the opposite direction (including a pit stop to look for a bathroom at a park).  Pretty tough run in this direction.  Ran in a pair of new Adidas F50.  I would compare them to the Kinvara, except I think I will be able to run in them longer because they aren't as soft (after 10 or so miles I really start to feel everything in the Kinvara's because they are so soft).  (F50 11)  

afternoon - 10 Junction.  Wore my new Hyper Speeds.  Ran out to the Coral Canyon junction.  Just kind of a "go out and do it" run.  Molly's Mile.  (Hyper Speed 2 10)

morning - 8.5 Gooseberry.  Lame one.  LAME ONE.  Got off to a little later start than I wanted, and Logan missed his alarm so I was on my own.  When I got out there, I couldn't find the trail again (this seems to be a theme every time I go out there).  But finally settled on a nice area to run.  Unfortunately, I just wasn't into it at all.  My mind was just like, be done.  And I really had to convince myself to even run at all.  Then I found what I thought to be the right trail, so I got back to the car and then decided to drive to it.  That was a bad idea... Once I got in the car, that was it.  I just drove back home.  (NB 101 354.75)

Just took the day off today.  I need to mentally recharge - and maybe a bit physically too.  Did go for a hike with the older 3 girls on the Dino Tracks trail.  It actually turned out to be more of a run and we ran probably a good mile.  They loved the single track - I may have some trail runners here!

Well the week was kind of a bust.  But I am content saying that maybe it needed to be.  Once in awhile it happens and needs to happen.  Now just to bounce back.

A pretty decent year for 2011.  Got some good running in and had some fun doing it.  Got a little more mileage than last year (so it was my 3rd highest year ever), but I did it with hardly any 100 mile weeks - just consistent running throughout.  I was a little bummed that I didn't take St. George a little more seriously, because I think that I could have done pretty well (but still not to bad... at least for 20 miles!).  And despite the last two days, I am happy with my decision to make a transition in my running to some longer stuff, but I will be still putting in some 1/2's and St. George (I may just have to adjust my goals on those a little).  Here's to a fun and healthy 2012!