Going With The Flow

AM - Easy 10 miles at 8 min/mile pace. I love running on Sundays in SLC because it's so quiet and peaceful. The downhill towards the end of the run irritated my hamstring a little. I'm planning to take it easy the rest of the day - watch football, read a book, eat ice cream, etc.

PM - 4.7 mile bike ride with Jake to go get some milk at the grocery store.

AM - Hard to get up and going this morning, rainy gross this morning. 10 miles total - first mile was 9:20, managed to be in the low 8s until the last mile at 8:45. My legs aren't quite recovered from the 22 miler on Saturday. Hopefully one more day and I'll be ready to hit it hard again.Ā 

I'm planning an 8 mile tempo at 6:20 pace tomorrow afternoon at Jordan River Parkway. I would LOVE some company if anyone is interested.

PM - 2 miles around the track easy.

AM - 3.2 miles easy around the block. Legs felt better today - debating whether to do tempo this afternoon or tomorrow.

PM - 10 miles. 8 mile tempo at Frontage Road along I-80. 6:18, 6:16, 6:19, 6:14, 6:19, 6:15, 6:18, 6:12. The pace didn't feel that bad. It definitely took effort to maintain, but my breathing wasn't labored much and my legs felt fine. My hamstring is very sensitive - it didn't cramp up or anything, but I can still feel it. Maybe I'm just super sensitive to that area. Ice and massage now. Glad to get that over with!

Segment of an interview with Josh Cox -

Question: How do you keep going when you donā€™t feel like?

JOSH COX: If we only did things when we felt like it, we wouldnā€™t be very good at anything. I love running, writing, announcing on TV, and connecting with folks via social media but I donā€™t love them all the time. The professional world is competitive, no matter your discipline. Doing something only when you ā€œfeel like itā€ is a guaranteed formula for failure. Passion isnā€™t enough, talent isnā€™t enough; you have to commit to putting in the work. Somewhere, thereā€™s someone just as passionate and talented as you thatā€™s willing to hone their craft daily ā€“ theyā€™ll beat you on game day. Pursue your passion and be willing to put in the painstaking work it takes to succeed. Lots of folks want success without sacrifice but life doesnā€™t work that way. Marathon running is a great metaphor for life because in order to succeed you have to make daily deposits over a long period of time. Iā€™m a part of the Mammoth Track Club, our training group rivals any on the planet. We meet every morning at 8:30 and in the afternoons for gym work. Surrounding yourself with others who are working towards a common goal pays huge dividends and provides accountability. Even still, there are many days I donā€™t feel like getting out the door. Something that renowned childrenā€™s author Madeline Lā€™Engle said has always stuck with me, ā€œInspiration usually comes during work, rather than before it.ā€ Iā€™ve found this true in just about every area of life. In running, inspiration rarely finds you on the couch; it likes to wait around the first corner. On days when Iā€™m having trouble getting motivated, I shut my mind off, get dressed, lace ā€˜em up, and get out the door. Itā€™s not inspirationā€™s job to come find us, itā€™s our job to go find inspiration. The key to training, and life, is taking that first step. The first step is the best step; itā€™s where intent meets action. Donā€™t talk about it; be about it. When you donā€™t feel like doing what you know needs to be done, take the variable of ā€œthe choiceā€ out of the equation. Shut the mind off and just begin.

AM - 4.4 miles easy horsepark loop.

This is a great article about Janet Cherobon-Bawcom - she was given a chance and has really excelled. She's definitely a contender for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials ā€“ Marathon.

http://www.flotrack.org/article/7795-Athlete-Spotlight-Janet-Cherobon-Bawcom

PM - 5.6 miles easy around Sugarhouse.

AM - JAJA Run! 10.2 miles - the run was hillier than I remembered last time, must be tired from all the training.

PM - 2 Mile Tempo in 12:15, 2x200 in :45.

Definitely running on tired legs. The past 7 days I have run over 90 miles! That's a lot. Never thought I would run this much in a week until the last 3 months. Easy day tomorrow, and hopefully I'll be able to hit the Sat. long run hard.

Jake and I were asked to speak at the Utah LDR Circuit Banquet coming up. We agreed but have no idea what to talk about! I'm sure a lot of people on the blog will be there, so do you have any suggestions? Jake is an excellent speaker, by the way. Me - not so much :)

AM - 6 miles really easy, 8:30 pace. Tired legs! Marathon training is hard.

Looks like we'll have a nice crew for the long run tomorrow morning at Jordan River Parkway. Let me know if you want to join in. 

AM - Great long run this morning! Met up with James, Jake, Chad, Devra, Emily B, and May - what a great (and quite an elite) group. The first half of the run flew by with lots of conversation and fun times. THIS is why I love running. First 15 miles were at 7:02 pace. 

The last 5 miles were scheduled for marathon pace of 6:19. Devra, Emily, and I picked it up a little fast in 6:07. I decided that I could hold the pace for 4 more miles, so I averaged 6:06 for 5 miles. I think I finally hit that "the moment you know" that you can run a marathon (see Lauren Fleshman's blog).

I started to feel my hamstring tendon (pain near the insertion point on the fibula - knee area). I didn't have cramping, just a little discomfort. I can handle that in the marathon, although I hope it goes away by then.

I really hope these group runs continue. We hung around for a while afterwards and chatted more :)