Relentless

0 - Wasn't sure how I would get my run in before heading up to watch Ry run her race in Richfield.  But with being sick it didn't matter - no run.  Ry ran okay, but you could see the effects of her sickness on her.  When she made a strong move to get into 2nd (a state qualifying position) at the beginning of the 2nd lap, she had nothing to dig to when a couple girls challenged her - she ended up 4th (just off 3rd) and with a much slower time than a few weeks ago.  Her 2:42 would have gotten her to the next level, but it just wasn't meant to be today.  She ran great though and really showed a lot of heart.

Week was a bummer in the way that it ended.  But you can't control getting sick other than trying to live a healthy, clean life.

Goals for next week: Hopefully feel better, get my mileage up (kind of hit a bump in the road with the two zeroes finishing off this week), hopefully feel well enough and be recovered enough to get a good workout in on Tuesday.  And XC starts!  So that will be fun.

AM - 12 Parkway/Turtle Creek. Ran the Parkway before practice. I injured my heel somehow last night and could barely walk this morning (bruised it somehow), but the pain was less during the run. Grabbed my clipboards and ran over to practice. We had a great turnout of younger/new kids. Hopefully they stick around. A few kids that should be around that weren't, so hopefully they get their brains on. One other bit of news that was a little disturbing; hopefully that works out in our favor... please. Finished up the run and ran home and added a little over a mile with the dog to get the 12 for the morning. (Kinvara Lime 1254.5)(Barefoot '13 53)

AM - 10. Failed workout. Got up to go run some mile reps on the dirt mile. Was going to run the Parkway for a 5 warm up, but my foot has a new a horrid pain - on the bottom of the heel, basically like PF, but not the same. I don't know what it is, but I kind of am thinking that my tendonitis has travel to there (if that is possible). It was wretched, and by 1/2 mile I couldn't take the pain anymore and started walking home. Walked for a little and then very gingerly jogged back. Iced my foot up good and then switched shoes to something with a bigger heel and eased into the Parkway run before practice. I could feel it for all of the run, but it slowly warmed up. Then for practice we ran up to Maverick. (Barefoot '13 53.5)(rocket 677)(Boston 1014.75)

afternoon - 6 North Desert. Later in the day I was bored and foot was feeling a little better, so I decided to go out. Run went so well that I was tempted to try my missed workout, but knew that wouldn't be smart in the heat. (Landreth blue 956.65)

AM - 14.5 Clyde's. Good Circle run if my foot wasn't so jacked. I really would like to get training, but my body just won't let me. Woke up earlier to ice, wore the Strausburg all night (which I have been doing for almost three weeks now), took some ib, and walked around a little before we started to try and stretch it out. Run was okay, but there is just a lot of pain. Ran out Telegraph for practice. Will take this afternoon off to try and rest it - maybe either swim or pool run. (Barefoot '13 54.5)(Kinvara3 398.5)

afternoon - 1 hour of pool time. Spent 45 minutes pool running (pretty much the same time it would take to run 6 miles easy out in the heat) - 5 minutes hard and 1 minute easy - good workout. Finished up with 15 minutes of swimming - felt very good on my swim. If I can't run at least I'll try and get some sort of workout in.

AM - 11 Parkway/Grass. Ran around the Parkway with some extensions. Then a decent bit of grass running with the team. (Barefoot '13 58)(F50 493.25)

afternoon - 6 North Desert. Got out in the heat - hottest day yet, 106. Foot stuff felt a little better today, just a touch. Great to end the run by jumping in the pool. (Stratus Grey 1134.85)

AM - 13 Hell Hole/Shinob Kibe. Ran down to practice at the Sullivan Park by way of Hell Hole/Dam Rd. Running by the river was great because the flies weren't out yet. Then after warm up with the team we ran along the trail at the base of Shinob Kibe - great first week of practice for XC, it is going to be a very fun year. Finished by running home and then around Molly's Mile. Another day of a little improvement with all the leg pains. (Barefoot '13 58.5)(Mana 380.5)

afternoon - 30 minutes of swimming. Swimming is pretty nice. But in my pool it is kind of like a treadmill; I wouldn't mind getting over to a lake and just going for awhile.

AM - 19 Quail. A good solo run out to the lake. All the stuff in the leg is progressing, but still present. The lake looked amazing, fullest i have seen it it years -I don't know how because there wasn't much snow, but it's a good sign as we enter the hot season. After resting the for take road hill, I felt like seeing if there was anything in the legs. So I just kind of creeped into Tinman and just kind of went with it. Went decent at that pace for 7 miles. The end of the run, I could feel the miles and pool work of the week in my legs. (Kinvara silver 40)

Moved the mileage up, saw progress in the Achilles and heel - good week despite not getting too much harder running in.

Goals for next week: get up around 100 and get some solid paced running in; which means the right leg has to keep progressing this weekend.

AM - 12 PV/Turtle. Ran over to the school to get some paperwork. Got a couple extra laps on the grass before practice; then we went up into the desert almost to the tortoise fence. Continued improvement on the foot. (barefoot '13 60)(Oregon 646)

afternoon - 6.5 North Desert. Not nearly as hot and a bit windy kept it so much better than last week. Ran in The Purples... 'nuff said! (Boston 1021.5) 15 minute swim after.

AM - 15 3xDirt Mile. Didn't plan my time right, so I had to cut my warm to 4 instead of 5 on the Parkway (but no big). Then did 2 at Tinman on the loop to get the legs moving - hit the pace for that pretty easy, which is how it is supposed to go. Then the miles were 5:29,:27,:20. Was aiming for 5:30 for 3, so I hit the workout I am in shape for and now I can move it up next week. Finished with Maverick for practice and then a little more running around at Summer Club. (Barefoot '13 60.5)(Mana 395)

afternoon - 5 Grapevine. Five cheese miles out in the dirt. My legs are a bit tired. I'll probably make tomorrow a single to keep mileage from getting too high too quick. (Kinvara 846.5)

AM - 16 Clyde's/Sandberg's. Circle run with some good convo and then Sandberg's for practice. Jumping in the pond was nice. Could tell the legs were a bit worn out today by the end. (Barefoot '13 61)(Kinvara Silver 55.5)

AM - 11.5 BV/Grass. 6 super slow miles into Buena Vista and then one with the dog. Threw in 5x10sec hill bursts that were more like blahs. Then 3 barefoot on the grass for practice with 8xbarefoot striders. (Connect 553)(Barefoot '13 65.5)

afternoon - 5 Grapevine. Glad I got out. The legs were pretty junky for the first mile and then I actually started to run pretty decent. Maybe tomorrow will be better than today. (Landreth blue 961.65)

AM - 10.25 Bloomington Hills. ram was running at the South Course, so I ran just about 7 before down by the river. Temps were nicer this morning and by the river it was pretty decent. Then ran the course for practice. Good Friday turnout for a change. Just a single today. (Kinvara Lime 134.25)(Barefoot '13 66)

AM - 20 Logan's Loop. Circle run from Logan's around the west side of town. Threw in 5 miles at attempted Tempo - boy, I am out of shape. Ave for the tempo was 5:40 but included a too fast 2nd mile and way too slow 5th. But a good run nonetheless. D enjoy running with the lads. (Kinvara3 418.5)

Best week I've had in a couple months: good mileage, two workouts, good practice runs and good Circle runs.

Goals for next week: survival. I've got scout camp week ALL WEEK - what a hideous adventure it will be. So I will try and get as much running in as I can. Blah, I hated scout camp as a kid (except being with my buddies) and I really hate it now!

AM - 10 Wendy's. Got up early to beta run in before leaving to Scout camp. It was SO nice; the first few steps had no pain at all. it has been a long time since my right achilles or heel hasn't hurt. Not sure how much I will be able run up there. My goal will be around 60. (Kinvara Lime 144.25)

afternoon - 5 Little Thunder. Up at camp and go the boys off to their classes and stuff set up. Then went for a short jaunt down to the lake, which was about the least impressive alpine lake I've ever seen as far as coolness (which is a guy's way of saying pretty). Then up another trail that I will explore further. (VertK 133.75)

morning - 15 Brian Head. Ran up the trail to Hendrickson Lake - an amazing lake. Then worked my way up various trails all the way to the top of Brian Head. I ended up taking the trail to the top of Sydney Peak at maxed out at 11,102 feet and about 3500 feet of climbing. Had much better trail legs than yesterday, but still way off of where I was when I was training for Squaw last year (especially on the downhill). The run was awesome. The view from the top of the mountain was epic, gave me some ideas for places to run to the rest of the week. Saw a couple deer and a snake on the trail. (VertK 148.75)

morning - 18 Brian Head. Felt pretty tired from the trails yesterday, so I wanted to stay on the road and try and get a few more miles. So I ran down from camp (2.25 miles of dirt switchback) and then up the road to Brian Head. Got a lot of strange looks as I ran up the canyon. Got past town and then a little up the dirt road toward the top of the peak - wished I had about 20 more minutes to peak out, but after being a hour late getting back yesterday, I decided not to push the limit. Planned on running back down the mountain hard, but my legs would have nothing of it and I couldn't even get below 6 minute pace. Then finished with the 1000 ft climb back up to camp. 3500 ft of gain again today. (Triumph silver 887.3)

morning - 15 Yankee Meadow Res. Had seen this lake from the top of the mountain on Tuesday, and decided to try and figure out how to get to it. Ran up past Hendrickson Lake and then down the Dark Hollow Trail. Tis was the coolest place I had been all week. The trail was amazing - stream crossings, little wooden bridges, plank crossings, tree crossings, jump crossings, deer, tons of awesome stuff. Then came on a dirt road that took me to the lake. When I popped out of the forest the fisherman where like, "What the...". On the way back, I took an ice dip in the stream. It was so cold I couldn't get in for even a minute, but it was great. Tired, tired legs by the end though. The Vertical K's are the best trail shoe I have ever worn. (VertK 163.75)

AM - 12 Dry Lakes. Had to get up pretty early because we were doing a rope course thing that I wanted to do. So, decided to stay off the trails since it would be dark. Once I got down the switchbacks I continued down the mountain for a little, then up a side road to Dry Lakes. I didn't have time to make it all the way to the lakes though. Ended up with nearly 3000 ft climbing again. I have had a ton of climbing this week. (Triumph silver 899.3)

AM - 5 Switchbacks. Up early again so we could go home! Only had time to go five, so I just went down the mountain and back up. Still ends up being over 1000 ft climbing in just over 2 miles. All the climbing made me think of Corey and how his massive quads would have eaten this week up, but I am toast. (Triumph silver 904.3)

Week was so much better than I had thought it would be. Got way more mileage than I thought I could get, saw tons of amazing places on my runs, loved hitting the trails again, and had a ton of climbing all at between 8000-11,000+ ft). Even camp itself wasn't too bad - and I didn't kill any kids!

Goals for next week: back to the heat and workouts.

AM - 14.5 Wendy's. Over in to town this morning and then around a bit with the team as they did a VO2 max test. Felt decent, but the quads feel pretty beat up. (Barefoot '13 66.5)(Oregon 660)

afternoon - 7 North Desert. Temps were so nice today that I went just a little extra. I could really use that every afternoon, but forecast shows it won't be around long. Ice bath after to hopefully give something back to the legs. (Zero 201.75)

AM - 15 3xDirt Mile. Ran the Parkway for warm. Then did 2 miles at Tinman - the fact that I only ran these at 6:10 pace really worried me for the workout, but I decided to just give it a shot and hopefully something would come of it. 1-5:36, 2-:34, 3-:22. Ended up being better than I thought I had in me today, but still a long way to go. Then cooled a little and a little at practice. The team did an amazing workout today. And kids club was race day... Epic! (Hyper speed 296.25)

afternoon - 6 ND. The same usual afternoon run. It's not bad though because I know exactly what I need for water and stuff to survive the heat (which is back). (Kinvara 850.4)

AM - 18.5 Clyde's/grass. Circle run with Tyson joining in. Then on the grass for practice including 8xbarefoot striders. I was pretty spent by the end, but when I got home Pyper wanted me to join her for her run. So I hit 2 with her. Glad to be done; will take the afternoon off. (Barefoot '13 72)(F50 506.75)

afternoon - 20 minutes lap swim. Nice to do something a little different and give the legs a little break. Spent a little extra time on my yoga and core stuff as well. Thought about running a little, but my legs just rent up to it - I'll wait until its 115 later this week!

AM - 14 Highland/2xParkway Loops. Kind of a hill running morning (but nothing like last week). Ran up to the top of Highland before practice. aw Clyde biking; found $.10, a pair of scissors and a remote - the money and scissors were useful, remote... not so much. Then we ran 2xParkway loops for practice. Some solid running there. (Barefoot '13 72.5)(Kinvara silver 69)

afternoon - 4.75 Dirt Mile. A lot of time for a short run. Went up to the Dirt Mile and measured out and made a trail for 1k repeats on Monday. People on the freeway were probably wondering what the idiot in the short shorts was doing in the 110 temps raking in the desert. Because it took so long, I only had time to get in just under 5(well, I had time, but it was much too hot to be out running/working for over an hour). (Connect 457.75)

AM - 10 Mustang Pass. Practice was up,at GS today, so I ran a few before and then 7 with the boys. As keeping with the trend, it was heinous to see more of the desert being plowed under by greedy developers and city managers. Where I need to be for the week (for Friday), so I'll probably take the afternoon off. (NB 101 650.75)(Barefoot '13 73)

noon - 4.25 6min vVO2max test. Had wanted to do this test lately, but didn't plan on it today. Then about noon I just decided to go for a run and that I might as well do this. The temps weren't super hot yet (105), so I just took the usual precautions of wet hat, wet shirt and water bottle. Warmed up by King's Row and over to the ball fields. Then got a little drink and resoaked. Wasn't sure what to expect, but it was pretty good I think. Coved 1,867 meters - 1.16 miles. Hit the mile at 5:11; so not too bad in the grass. So with that, my 30/30 is 156 meters. Now I am done for the day... T the pool for some fun swimming. (Zero 206)

AM - 20 Leeds. From Tpquerville exit down, with an extension up the Parkway and into GS a little bit. No hard pushes, but just good consistent running led to a sub 6:30 ave. Just kind of steady state stuff which was all I could really muster this morning. Left quads were especially tight this morning - felt like something was about to snap. And not a lot it he legs on the hills either. But it has been a long week so I'll take it. (Kinvara lime 164.25)

Most mileage this week in around 1/2 year. So that was good. Starting to feel stronger.

Goals for next week: going to be kind of a mess with vacation. I think I'll try my workout Monday morning before we go. Then I'll just have to accept it as a short mileage and junk week and try to come out of it physically ready to handle the rest of the summer.