Red Mountain 30K 2:19:25
AM - Headed over the race with James and our dad. Chatted with Logan a bit and got started. Didn't really know what to expect. Mainly hoped that the hammy would hold up on the trails and that I could run the distance. Probs shouldn't have ran, but it's my fav trails and I had to miss it last year; so. Started off just chilling up the big hill to the trails. But no one else wanted to push it, so I found myself in the lead with a group just behind me. A little downhill saw that group catch up and we just ran together. Hitting the single track I didn't want to hold anyone up - I could tell that I wouldn't be burning up anything on the trails - so Levi Hawks took the lead. A few Weber guys just fell in behind me. One was Trevor Ricks (he went on to win and break my course record by just over a minute, Bumma!). Another was his bro-in-law (I'll have to come back and put his name in) and we had a good chat for a few miles about college and recruiting and such. They were ready to slide by me midway through the Rim Trail loop. Grabbed a drink at the aid station and moved onto Barrel Roll. At times I felt good here and closed the gap; other times I was pretty slow and they really moved ahead of me. Hayden and what I thought were two 55k guys passed me during one such slow stretch. Toward the end of the Barrel Roll, I was able to look across the canyon and see James and Logan cruising along, looking good. Getting to the aid station, one of the Hayden guys was asking what trail was the 30 and he took off. I was a little bummed, I lost a place and didn't even know it. I didn't have a great finish on the Land Hill section. I'm just not in shape to push for that long, and the hammy was tight. But as I approached the park, saw that I could break 2:20 and thought that 9 minutes behind two years ago wasn't too shabby and was able to push a little to make sure that happened. (Sense 235.75)
Fun race put on by Steve and the St. George Running Center. I really like those trails. Glad I was able to run.
Week wasn't great for mileage or anything with trying to heal up the hammy.
Goals for next week: no real running goal; I'll just do what the leg lets me. Most of my goals include getting ready for our track meet in a few weeks. I want everything set before we leave for our trip. Also would like to see the team start strong this weekend.
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