Going With The Flow

AM -Progression run 12 miles Springdale to Virgin on SR-9. Slight downhill course with drop of 390 ft : 6:30, 6:41, 6:32, 6:31, 6:35, 6:14, 6:24, 6:20, 6:18, 6:07, 6:02. Took a very short hour break. Then hiked 21.2 miles on the West Rim Trail in Zion! Absolutely exhausted by the end. Then got to eat lots of pizza and ice cream!

Ran around Sand Hollow State Park reservoir. Great run on gravel roads and I wore a bathing suit running because it was so warm! I felt tired, but not too bad. Easy day lounging on the beach and relaxing.

AM - Ran to Sugarhouse w/ Jake and back home. My legs and back are still tired from the active weekend. It felt like a shock back to reality with 45 degrees and raining again. 

PM - Ran around Sugarhouse for 4 miles. Easy.

AM - Horsepark loop 4.5 miles. Workout this afternoon.

Interesting comparison of energy gels - http://www.blackpoolcreative.com/blog/infographic-comparison-of-energy-gels-and-fuels/

PM - Workout 4-8-4-8-4-8-4 w/ 200 jog in between. 400s at 5k pace, 800s at 10k pace (1:24, 2:54, 1:25, 2:53, 1:24, 2:53, 1:23). 1.8 mile warm up, mile cool down. Felt great - as if I could have done more, but I'll save it for the 10k on Saturday!

Easy 6.1 miles this morning...took a while to get the legs moving this morning, but it's nice to only have one run today!

AM - Easy horsepark loop. Trying to relax and not get nervous for the race tomorrow.

I woke up this morning and found out that my uncle Stacy passed away. He had been battling cancer for about a year and a half. He was a great guy, and I loved him very much. Every time I talked to Stacy, he told me to have more fun and enjoy life more. And I feel like I have really done that since I graduated college. I’m really going to miss him, but I’m relieved that he’s not suffering anymore.

That being said, I wasn’t really feeling pumped up about the race this morning. I know that Stacy would think I was chickening out by not doing it, so I decided to just do the best that I could today. Running has always been my way to gain some perspective anyway.

I have never run a 10k before. After this race I have to say - it is a hard distance. I’m definitely not used to running so fast for that long. My goal was to run 5:54/mile with very even splits (that is what McMillan calculator said I could run based on the Provo Half). I came in the first mile at 6:00 and then hit a headwind and uphill for mile 2. My watch said 6:25, and I really got discouraged. Mile 3 was nice with a little downhill, but when the watch said 5:10 I realized that the mile markers were completely off. Quick rant – this is a major issue for me. Mile markers need to be a top priority for race directors and misplaced ones can really make or break participants. If they aren’t going to be correct, there is no point in even putting them out on the course! Anyway, miles 4 and 5 were pretty uneventful – I was trying to stick with Emily and was definitely feeling the pace at this point. She seemed to slow a bit a mile 5 so I took over and just tried to push through. The last 1.2 seemed LONG. I finished in 37:10, so I was a little disappointed with my time. I know that I ran hard and did the best that I could today. I honestly thought there was a girl ahead of me for the entire race. I was surprised and excited to find out that I had won!

Now I’m heading to Tennessee to see my family for the next few days. Although it is only at 1000 ft or so, the temperature is going to be in the mid-90s and humid! That will definitely be a shock for running. But I’m excited to see everyone back home.