Relentless

0 - Mental recovery day. Much needed after a long week and a lot of hard work with camp. Sure do love being up in the mountains though.

A very positive week. Could not ask for a better group of kids and coaches to work with. Whatever happens with the year is going to be good and the best it can be because we are really working toward a higher level of consciesness as a team - and individually.

Goals for next week: it will be a busy one with gearing up to school.

AM - 16.5 Twix/Prospector. Just some nice ol' running today. Up with the dog and the onto the trails with the team. Followed up with a good set of striders. (Barefoot '15 52.75)(Peg 546.5)

AM - 17.25 Sullivan/Grass. Pretty crappy bumma tempo this morning after taking both dogs out for a little. I actually had a decent attitude, but I was just to tired mentally and physically from last week. If James would have been there, it may have been a little better, but not much. Did add another mile (up the front side of Chipman's and back) to make 7, but it wasn't good at all. At practice we ran barefoot for 30 minutes and then finished up Kids Club. It was a good year of club, but I am happy it is done. (Barefoot '15 57)(Kinvara Grey 98.25)

afternoon - 4 Sunrise. Just a hot out and back. (Kinvara blue 252.25)

AM - 12 Mav/Bloom Hills. Ran a mile with both dogs, like yesterday. Then took Twix on the loop around Maverick and down the Parkway. Drove over to the Region Course where we were having our first time trial for practice, we usually use our home course for our time trials and it is a pretty good set up, but they are destroying all our fields for a new baseball field and vocational building. Set up the course and warmed up a bit. Then ran a short hill workout and striders and cool after. Kind of disjointed, but still sneaked in 12 miles in my new NB Vazee Pace. Really liked the feel of them today. Team ran amazing today. I don't know what teams we'll beat, but we are going to be the best we can and that is pretty dang good on both the boys and girls side. We had 10 boys under 11:05 (and another who will be when he get feeling better) on a way tougher course than our's where we had zero under that mark last year. And we had 8 girls (not including 1 potential varsity who wasn't there) faster than last year! (Pace 11)(Barefoot '15 58) Some more fun facts for my info... By our 3rd time trial last year only Nick and Paul had times faster than what 10 guys ran today! And no girls times from last year beat the times the top 7 posted today! Makes me excited. A lot of work and sticking to the plan still to do, though. Also, forgot to post my RHR on Monday and Tues. Had 38 and 40. Hadn't taken it for a few weeks, so I am trying to get back in the habit; even though I forgot to today.

AM - 11 DM/City Creek. Both dogs for 1 and then Twix up on the Dirt Mile for an awe inspiring sunrise. Then out to the City Creek trail for practice. Such a fun vibe around the team these days. Rejuvenates me. Fam finally comes home today. (Riders 391)

afternoon - 4 Sunrise. Little cloud cover today that made it a little more bearable. Then 15 mins of elliptical. (Ronin 528.75)

AM - 17.5 Fields/Temple Quarry. Decided it would be best to get a longer run in today. But although I got up early enough, I laid back down and fell back to sleep. Because of this I only got around 12.5 or so before practice. Took Twix the whole way with me while spotting a new tempo route for James and I, and she did great for a longer run for her. Then did the Quarry trail for practice. A storm moved in last night and it was super muggy. So I called for a downpour - and got It! But with it came lighting, and a couple of them were freaky close. But a fun run. (Peg Black 236.5)

afternoon - 4 Navajo Lake. Took the top 10'ish boys and girls up to Cedar Mountain for some running and team bonding. Stopped off at Navajo and hit a 30 minuter for our afternoon run. Then jumped in the lake - it was very cold. Felt the elevation for sure. After we went to Mammoth and explored the caves. They were pretty dope, hadn't ever been there before, so it was some fun new stuff. Also saw lots of deer and pronghorn up on top of the mountain. (VertK 511)

morning - 9.5 Brian Head. We crashed at Preston's GP's cabin last night and had a great time. Stopped off at Cedar Breaks, had Tasty pizza, dominated Risk, just had a great time. This morning's run was truly epic and one of the things that keeps me loving running. We drove up to the dirt road that goes to the top of Brian Head. But I hadn't ever been up there much except one week a few years ago when I was trapped at scout camp. Ran up the road and felt the 11000 ft elevation. The boys peeled off on the super sweet alpine trail that I thought would take us up to the top of the peak. But instead it looped around it and took us up to the top of the chair lifts. So we mountainered up this pretty vicious rock face to get to the top. Awesome views up in the clouds and super cold. Ran back the real trail/road and then up another trail toward some more peaks to get our minutes in. On the way back we moved in to our tempo and had a good push down the hill. It got me thinking about my running... Often I've thought about if I want to keep racing hard or who knows what. Here's what I truly want: be in shape enough to go jump into an awesome 30 mile trail adventure run with my buddies on a whim, run around on amazing adventures with some super quick high school kids, and push out some fast tempo style stuff with them when they get going hard. Right now I can still do all of those. So I guess I'm happy. After this weekend, I am. (Riders 400.5)

Even with a junky tempo on Tuesday, I enjoyed the week.

Goals for next week: summer's over. Seriously! I can't believe it. Back to school this coming week. So whatever happens, happens.

AM - 16.75 Twix/GS/Parkway. A good Monday morning. I like those Mondays where you actually feel rested from the weekend - they are few and far between. Didn't run quite as far with the dog, because I'll have an afternoon run today and I would like a decent tempo tomorrow. Practice was up into Green Springs on the Quail Ridge loop extended clear out on the Parkway ending with striders. Didn't get weights in because I was doing some coaching stuff. (Barefoot '15 59)(Peg 562.25)

afternoon - 4 Sunrise. You have awesome days when working with HS kids (anyone really) and bad days. This afternoon was a bad one, and the team made me very frustrated. I'll try not to kill some kids tomorrow, but it is going to be tough. The effort of those around you must be matched or it isn't worth it. We have a race tomorrow - and although it isn't life or death, the fact that 80% of the team wouldn't do their registration and won't be eligible has really made me frustrated, not to mention that over 1/2 the varsity team decided they had things more important to do than come to practice this afternoon. Did they get a run in? Most of them yes, but they showed me that maybe this team isn't as important as they say it is. Am I overreacting? Probably. But I sacrificed my last weekend with my family to be with them. I sacrificed my last day of summer to get to practice. I think it is fair to have expectations. Just getting it off my chest so I am not so bugged by tomorrow. But the run with those who were there was actually very good. Our best afternoon run this summer. So hooray for that! (Kinvara Lime 637.25)

AM - 13.25 Field Tempo.  Took Twix out for a warm up of just over two miles.  Then got James and went down to the Fields for out new tempo.  Starts at the bottom of Hell's Hole and then proceeds down the Sullivan trail, turning into the Fields, continuing out to the junction of Sandia, toward Pine View Estates, left onto some road that I don't know the name and out to the turn around.  When we go longer, we will loop it around by Riverside Elem.  7 mile tempo today.  Felt stronger and more fluid from the get-go and had a good tempo.  Went 5:46, :48, :48, :45, :46, :56, :57.  Didn't really feel tired at all (besides the good, I am working hard tired) until the last mile and a half back on the trail, which is really the hardest part.  Happy with how things went.  Didn't run at practice because by the time I got done tearing into them, I had teacher meetings to get to.  The meet should be fun tonight with the 17 kids out of 60 who get to go.  #obamma  (Pace 24.25)

AM - 11 Twix/Old Man's.  Took advantage of the snooze button on my last day before school starts tomorrow (I haven't even prepped one thing... I am a horrid teacher!).  Finally woke up and got 4 very slow miles with the dog.  Then did Old Man hills at a hard, but controlled, pace with the team.  They are in good spirits after a very solid run yesterday from both teams.  (Peg Black 247.25)

afternoon - 4 Sunrise.  Going to do this in a few minutes, but it is a safe bet that it will be very similar to all the other afternoon runs.  However, it will be last of it's kind for the year.  Switching off to easy 30 in the morning for the team with school starting.  (Kinvara blue 256.25)

AM - 5.25 Twix.  I maximized my effort with the snooze button today hoping that I could just sleep through the day and just miss the first day of school.  It didn't work.  It was a long evening mentally and I was drained this morning.  (Kinvara grey 103.5)

afternoon - 6.75 Damburg's.  Started off super hot, then a little bit of a storm started to move in and it felt a little better.  (Riders 407.25)

AM - 7.25 Twix/Sunrise.  Wow!  So super slow to start the morning.  I am really drained.  (Pace 31.5)

AM - 22 SGM. James and I did an Up and Down the course. We. Made wagers on how many, "You're going the wrong way!"'s that we would get. Surprisingly it was just 1. But did get to see a few people out that haven't seen in a bit. Saw Mike, Billy, Scott, Baggs and others. Run up was strong. Maybe one of the best I've had. Ave was 7:31 with a 168spm. I actually really like running up the course; down on the other hand was tough. Could tell right away that I haven't done any downhill work and that I am not in as great as shape as I would hope. So I turned it into 2 mile sets with 3 min recovery. Tried to go about MP. Even with the fatigue, I was hitting it pretty good. Hit around 5:30-5:40 pace for each set - even a very solid 5:42 mile up Winchester (anyone who has ever been around me on this mile knows it isn't my fave). It worked out that I could have had 1 last mile to push in, but I was tired and with no fuel for the run, I was right about to bonk, so I just ran it in with no push. Good workout. (Peg Black 269.25)

I guess a good week. Tempo was better, today's workout was okay. Made it through the first week of school (even if it was short).

Goals for next week: still in survival mode in many aspects of life. So, survive.

AM - 8 Twix/Sunrise. I should start trying to get up just a touch earlier and getting my morning to double digits. (Kinvara grey 111.5)

afternoon - 6.5 Fields. The struggle was real today with temps over 110. I actually felt fine, but hot. However a few of the kids hit some walls. Luckily, there were no major incidents. But it made for a long afternoon. Ended with 8xbarefoot striders. (Barefoot '15 60)(Peg 567.75)

AM - 12.5 Fields.  Seven mile tempo today.  I knew it wasn't going to be great because I was still a bit sore from the downhill on Saturday (as well as tired from it) and also a bit worn from yesterday afternoon's run on the sun.  Took Twix for just a couple and it was so slow.  Could tell as James and I got started that it wasn't going to be good.  First mile was over 6:00 (6:10 I think, as I write this days later).  Then started to scratch out something and dropped them to high 5:50's for the next four.  Mile 6 was tiring and I didn't really push the 2nd half and saw the time go back over 6:00, and then mile 7 was super weak.  Shouldn't even call it part of the tempo.  Drained.  Have got to get tougher mentally when the tiredness and weakness hits.  (Pace 44)

Nothing this afternoon as we were having the Desert Relays (a relay practice with the Hells; it was a lot of fun and the kids ran great).

AM - 10 Twix/Sunrise.  Still super hot out.  It shouldn't be over 80 at 5:30am.  (Kinvara silver 511.5)

afternoon - 4 Sandstone.  Ran over to the elementary and did some barefooting there.  The grass was quite accomodating.  (Ronin 529.5)(Barefoot '15 63.25)

AM - 8 Twix/Sunrise.  My morning runs have really pushed the limit on slowness lately.  Resting Heart Rate was pretty low this morning, though, and lower than the last couple days during the run.  I thought it would have been way high with all the heat and tiredness.  (Roning 415.25)

RHR: 38

AM - 14.25 Parkway/Washington/Sunrise. Did a little workout today with 3x10 mins at MP. Twix was a trooper and did a pretty good job, but the pace was a little tough for her on the second one and by the third she was tired. Luckily we ran into Al and she took her the rest of her run. Times and effort were solid. Still a touch of fatigue by the end, but glad I did something a little harder today. (Peg Black 283.5)

afternoon - 4 Shoe Run. Pretty tired this afternoon. A think a lot of us are pretty worn down this current heat wave.

AM - 10 Parkway/BV. Same route as yesterday with just a few small changes. Took the dog with me and we just put in a decent run to get the miles in before heading up to the meet. Girls ran very well at the meet (especially for the end of a long HOT week), the boys had some positives and some struggles - looking for some consistency from them. (Peg31 577.75)

Long first full week of school. Pretty glad it is over.

Goals for next week: get a couple good runs in on the tempo and big Saturday.

AM - 7.25 Twix/Sunrise.  My mornings are truly slow now-a-days.  I am not sure why.  (Peg 585)

afternoon - 7.75 Fields.  Took water out to the team again this week.  Only 108 today, and it felt significantly cooler than last week.  There was a little breeze, so it kept the air moving and attitudes were generally better.  Had a few pickups in the middle of the run which helped keep the legs moving as well.  Grabbed a final mile with the girls when I caught them as I drove back to school.  (Riders 423)

AM - Fields Tempo.  Up a touch earlier to get a little more with Twix and to get another mile in with the tempo.  Not a bad one.  Saw a great shooting star - always a positive sign.  Went 5:55, :47, :43, :41, :47, :51, :51, 6:10.  Extended down around Riverside to get the extra mile (plus a small extension around a church parking lot when I could tell that it wasn't going to be quite right).  Held in there better and did pretty decent.  Actually pushed the last mile pretty solid, but the time just wasn't there.  James and I have said the last few weeks that with as hard as the last mile, the first mile's time should be awesome.  But it never is.  Still a lot of work to do.  But I've got a few weeks.  (Pace 58.25)

afternoon - 4 Pine View MS.  Pretty much just swagged it for awhile on the tired legs and then we moved up to normal easy pace.  (Kinvara silver 515.5)

AM - 8 Twix/Sunrise.  Decent recovery run this morning.  My running heart rate has been sky high in the mornings.  As I think about my heinously slow paces (although today was a little better), that obviously has some corollation.  (Kinvara blue 269)

afternoon - 3 BHNP.  Ran around a bit setting up, taking down and measuring the course.  Team ran so well today.  (Lyte33 225.75)

AM - 8 Twix/Sunrise.  Basic morning stuff.  Life is not too shabby right now.  (Peg 593)

afternoon - 5.25 Prospector.  Fun run out on the trails with the team.  Both achilles are starting to give me a little more grief again.  (Riders 428.25)

AM - 8.25 Twix/Sunrise.  Such an amazing moon set this morning.  Glad that I was up just a couple minutes earlier to catch it.  A huge full moon glowing orange sat right on top of the Beaver Dam Mtns.  Twix and I just stopped running and watched it set.  As I watched, I thought about how awesome it is that I was literally watching the Earth move.  Just a cool way to start my b-day.  Funny thing about it... I thought I was already 38, so when Ally told the girls I was turning 38 today it was like I gained a year!  (Kinvara grey 119.75)

AM - 26.25 SGM. Nothing can replicate the pure suckiness of the end of a marathon like the end of a marathon! Up and down to the half mark. The moon set was another beauty over Snow Canyon. Run up was solid. Ave was 7:27 just like last week with 2 more miles (including the hardest - out of SC). Then down I tried to hold a decent pace. Plan was a 5-4-3 at around MP with .5 recovery. First 5 was pretty solid. Got tired in the middle of the 4 and cut it to 3. Kind of got on my own case and decided to push the last bit back to 4. Got close; by the last 1/3 of a mile I was spent and just jogged it in. Up in 1:37, back in 1:16; for a 2:53 mary. Last year's practice mary with The Circle was on the trails around town and the Fields and I got high 2:40's. So not too shabby. Had some good time to think on the run and I really enjoyed that. Figure I am probably going to run around 2:35 at SGM. Hopefully I feel decent and can take that down a little bit. (Pace 84.5)

Just spent 6 hours washing hundreds of cars, yelling at high school kids and cleaning up. Very tiring day. Week was good.

Goals for next week: I see myself chilling for most of the week. Probably won't tempo until later in the week. Busy again; this time with the run-a-thon.

AM - 8.5 DogTown/Sunrise. Really not as hammered as I thought I would be after Saturday. Took Twix around the neighborhoods of DogTown to mix it up a little. (Peg Black 292)

afternoon - 12.25 Nisson's/GS. Mixed up our long run direction today. Run was good, but felt a bit long because I was adding in stuff along the way since I knew we would be way short. Threw in a few pickups like last week. And I finally was able to get some striders in. I felt a bit worn down by the end; but really not as bad as I should feel. Hmmm? (Barefoot '15 67.25)(Kinvara white 454.25)