A clydesdale no more!

Really struggled at Firehouse today.  I wonder if the flu is still lingering a little and affecting my body.  Felt like passing out a few times and really struggled on the 2 short runs.

Treadmill run at work.  Started at 8 min/mile for the first 2 miles then ran 7:30 min/mile for the next 3.  Started the last mile at 7 min/mile and progressed to 6 min/mile.  The time seemed to go by much faster this time.  I forgot my headphones so I had to read the subtitles on the tv which probably helped pass the time. 

Much better day at Firehouse.  Put in a good effort but didn't feel like I was going to die this time.  Included two short runs.

Ran the New Year's half marathon in Pleasant Grove.  Becky was sick and probably shouldn't have run so we kept the pace super slow.  Finished in 1:59:00 and it seemed like it took forever. 

Relatively light day at Firehouse including one 0.9 mile run.

Getting more accustomed to the treadmill at work.  Kept the pace more manageable this time.  Two miles at 8 min/mi, two at 7:45 min/mi, two at 7:30 min/mi and finished the last averaging 6:50 min/mi. 

Came down with a head cold so I took it easy on the treadmill today.  Five miles in about 38 minutes.  On top of being sick the last few weeks, I am having kidney pains so I think I may have a stone forming.  This should be fun.

Not a lot of miles but they were definitely quality miles.  Met Tara at Davis Blvd. for an early morning run.  Clean air and temps were not bad (other than frozen hands because of misplaced gloves).  There was definitely a disconnect between the effort we were putting in and the pace that was registering on our watches.  Overall average pace was 8:00/mile and it felt hard.  Not a good sign for my 1:45 pacing duty next Saturday.  The slight upgrades killed me and the slight downgrades felt great.  Wonder if the treadmill running is making the variable elevations of a real run more difficult to handle.

Crazy week.  First chance I have had to run.  I did go to the gym a couple of times but that was only a little running.  Met Tara at Davis Blvd. for a duplication of Saturday's run.  Kept pretty close to the same pace (7:59/mile) but it felt a lot better than Saturday.  We added a little bit at the end to get to 8. 

Paced the 1:45 group at the St. George half marathon with RAD.  Maintained a nice 8:00/mile effort from start to finish.  It's a pretty easy pace to lock in.  We had a few people who stayed with us the entire time which was nice.  Nice to get a good run in at a lower elevation and nice weather.  Kind of a reminder of how enjoyable running can be.

Decent run on the treadmill at work.  Started slow and gradually increased the speed.  Not sure if making every treadmill run a progression run is a good idea but it is what I have to do to get through it.  Added an unplanned cool down mile because as I was finishing up the run, I noticed the "naked guy" at the gym was just finishing.  I wanted to avoid that awkward encounter in the locker room. 
 

Chilly run with Tara on Davis Blvd.  We backed off the pace a little and it felt a lot better. 

Dropped the kids off at soccer practice at 6:30 am and went for a run while they practiced. Was planning on running on the LPT but it is not cleared in Farmington. Ran on Main Street for a few miles, turned around and headed back. Very cold and the air was not great. Could definitely taste it after the run. 

Good all around workout at Firehouse.  Included one 6 minute run at about 7:00/mile.  Felt like I pushed myself more at the gym instead of just going through the motions.  Of course, it helped that I was put in a group with people who have not been going very long.  Comparisons are killing me.  I'm not running enough to be a good runner and don't go to the gym enough to be as fit as others.  Kind of stuck in the middle. 

Hit Firehouse in the morning which included three 0.5 mile runs in addition to the usual stuff.  Good all around workout - spent time on all the muscles. 

Decided to do a little treadmill run at work.  Figured I may as well add some purpose to the run instead of just slogging through a few miles.  Warmed up with 2 miles at 8:00/mile then ran 2 miles at 6:40/mile then 1 mile at 7:45 to cool down.  Had a hard time getting used to the faster turnover at first but then was able to get in a groove and felt good pushing the pace.  I have a LONG ways to go if I want to get faster (still not sure I want to).

Feeling a little worn out this week so, even though I packed my gym clothes, I skipped yesterday's planned lunch time treadmill run.  Since Tara asked to run 8 on Davis Blvd. this morning, I didn't feel too bad about missing yesterday's run.  Run felt good this morning.  Averaged 7:58/mile and did not feel like it took as much effort.  Not saying that I want to run any faster.  The effort was comfortable but was still a good push. 

Becky and I met a big group at Pelican Bay to run across Utah Lake. Figured it was one of those things to do just to say you did it. It was a lot of work. The ice had a layer of frozen, crunchy snow on top that was tough to run on. We were running 9:30-10:00 minute miles and it felt like 8:00 effort. The east side of the lake was less cold so it didn't have the layer of snow on top to help with traction. Thought it would be fun to try to skate and ended up falling. Banged up my knee pretty bad. It was a fun run and definitely worth doing. 

Relatively light day at Firehouse.  There were two 6 1/2 minute runs.  Got close to a mile on the first and took it a little easier on the second.

I haven't raced a race in a very long time.  On the way to the race I decided that I would use this as a fitness test.  I devised a pacing plan but forgot my watch so had to just run by feel.  This is a fairly non-competitive race so as we started I was up towards the front.  The lead pack was within sight the entire time.  I tried to maintain a comfortably hard pace throughout the race.  At 2 mile mark, I started to push a little harder and had a small taste of what 5k's are supposed to feel like.  Didn't really push as hard as I could but it wasn't comfortable.  Finished in 20:35 which is my slowest 5k.  Winner was 19:40 so this was a very winnable race.  I was 2 minutes slower than I usually run this course.  I am 15 pounds over my ideal race weight which accounts for 1:30 and the other 0:30 is from not being in race mode.  The time is exactly where I thought it would be - just not where I wanted it to be. 

Eight miles with Tara on the LPT.  Leisurely pace on the way out. Gradually picked it up on the way back.  Not a lot of conversation the last 2 miles.  The pace wasn't impressive but the effort was. 

Cardio day at Firehouse.  Supposed to be a 19 minute run but by the time I get to the run section, there was only 10 minutes left. 

Eight miles at 7:55/mile on Davis Blvd. with Tara.  Running is so much more enjoyable when the weather is nice.  I used to be able to push through any weather but this year I have really struggled with motiviation through the winter.  I have put some weight on this winter but am still 30 pounds lighter than I was last year at this time.  Hopefully I can get back into a good running routine and get in decent shape this summer.

Met Kam for a good run that ended up being longer than either one of us should be running right now.  He suggested a 14 mile loop that I was leery of but figured I could gut it out.  The first few miles were on the BST.  It was nice being away from the traffic and city noises.  Dropped down Farmington canyon and made a pit stop at the gas station.  Gave Becky a call to see where she was on her long run.  She was close so we ran to the LPT to meet her.  Unfortunately, the mileage back to Kam's was much more that I thought it was.  Our 14 miler turned into 17.  I felt really bad making Kam go a little longer than he wanted and keeping him from home for an extra half hour.  On the other hand, I was glad I could make it through 17 miles with no fuel and feel alright. 

20 minute run at Firehouse. 

Met Tara for a run on Davis.  She was having shoe issues so turned back after a mile.  I am very tired so I wouldn't have been able to run as fast as she would have wanted to anyway.  I have no idea what my pace was but I felt very lazy during the run so I'm sure it was pretty slow.

Long run with Becky. My legs started rebelling at mile 13. Was by Kams house and thought of asking for a ride but I assumed he was still mad at me for making him run so far last week. Cut the run short and let Becky finish her run on her own. 

7.3 with Tara on Davis Blvd.  A little quicker pace this time.  I'm definitely starting to notice the effects of my lack of consistent running. 

Started the run at 2:00 pm which had me a bit concerned because I didn't eat much beforehard.  The run ended up being one of my more effortless runs.  The pace was on the slow side (8:30 - 9:00) but still a decent effort.

Nice and easy run around the neighborhood. 

A few 5 minute runs while at Firehouse.
 

Nice head clearing run to Elephant Rock.  There is more snow on the trail than I expected but it is still runnable.

Two 3 minute runs at Firehouse.

Met Tara at Davis Blvd.  I was not expecting the snow so I only wore shorts and a long sleeve shirt.  Luckily I had an extra jacket and gloves in my car.  Run felt good only because Tara was willing to run slow. 

One 10 minute run at Firehouse. 

Nine miles on the LPT in 72 minutes with Tara.

Early morning run with Tara on LPT. 

20 minute run at Firehouse.

Short run at Firehouse.

Met Tara at 5:30 for a run on the LPT to Farmington and back.  Still a little chilly but decent running weather.  Felt good for most of the run.  Miles 11 and 12 were a bit of a struggle.  Fortunately, this was the time that Tara was explaining Maslow's heirarchy of needs (can't remember what she called it but pretty sure this is the same thing) so all I had to do was listen and try to put one foot in front of the other.  Averaged 8:03/mile according to her watch.  We discovered that my Garmin has a hard time with the tunnel which causes me to lose time and distance.  I lose more time than distance so my average pace is a few seconds faster than reality. 

Woke up early and was able to convince myself to get out the door instead of laying around like I have been lately.  Just a nice lazy run on one of my old regular loops.  Legs felt dead for the first half then started to wake up towards the end. 

I'm now two weeks with no soda.  I didn't expect immediate results but the belly fat seems to be getting worse.  I think I have been over-compensating the loss of sugar from the soda with too many treats.  I do feel better despite the Budha belly.

One mile at Firehouse.  I am dead tired today. 

Ran from home to the Temple and back again with Becky.  Good effort going up.  More relaxed coming down.  There was a quarter mile stretch going up that I wasn't sure that I was going to be able to keep up with her.  I eventually relaxed and the rest of the run felt a lot better.  I think it was just my body getting used to the uphill (haven't done it in quite awhile). 
 

One mile at Firehouse.

Three short runs at Firehouse.

Regular 8 mile loop. Felt sluggish and slow for the first half.  Legs felt dead for some reason.  Second half felt a lot better.

Ran with Becky on her last 20 miler as she is preparing for Boston.  Started off running 2.5 miles to the LPT Pages Lane trailhead to meet Tara and Kam.  Ran alnong the LPT then connected to the rail trail.  Even though it is only 1/4 mile from the LPT it felt nice to be running somewhere other than the same old route.  The wind was at our back on the way out which made coming back tough.  We averaged 8:50/mile for the run.  I felt good the entire way.  Really not sure how I am able to run 20 milers right now since my running has been all over the place.

One mile at Firehouse.

Met Tara at Davis Blvd.  Felt super tired during the run. I was able to keep up for the first half but really started to wear out the second.  We usually have a good push the last mile but I wasn't feeling it so I let her go and just cruised to the end. 

Becky had just started her run when I got home so thought I would run her birthday run with her.  Only made it a half mile before I realized it wasn't going to happen so I turned back and headed home.

One mile run at Firehouse.  Had absolutely no energy during the workout today.
 

Two separate runs at Firehouse.  Running motion feels very forced and unnatural.

Firehouse run.

Played in a dads vs. daughters soccer game Friday night and had major blisters on both feet.  My feet are not accustomed to that much lateral motion. 

Met Tara for a run that started with a nasty climb to BST.  Ran a long BST for a few miles and headed back along Main Street.  Got lost on BST but stumbled upon the Centerville waterfall.  Last 2 miles felt like a good push.  No watch so not sure what the pace was.

One run at Firehouse.  Pushed a little harder than usual.  There is a guy there that seems to be quite fast so I just tried to stay a step ahead of him. 

Met Tara at the LPT.  Effort felt very good this morning.  Last two miles were a little quicker but never felt forced.  A good hard effort that didn't kill me.

Two miles at Firehouse.  Decent effort on the first, a little lazy on the second.

**Repost - Accidentally entered it on the wrong day**

Met Tara at the LPT at 5:30 for a long run.  Legs felt very heavy at the start of the run (lots of squats at the gym yesterday).  Nice and easy on the way out.  Naturally picked up the pace on the way back.  Last 5 or 6 miles were 7:30-7:40 per mile.  Averaged 8:04ish for the entire run. 

Decided at the last minute to run the Herriman Half.  Since I ran 14 miles on Friday and am nowhere near race shape, my plan was to just maintain a consistent effort the entire run.  I wanted to keep the effort as possible so I could test the course weighting methods that I use for the pacebands.  The course is hilly so I thought 1:35 would be a comfortably hard effort.  The race started and I settled into a good effort.  Kept it steady throughout the run.  It is a small race in it's first year so I ran solo the entire time (somewhere around 6th or 7th place).  Even though I did not run all out, I'm not sure I could have run it a lot faster.  I was feeling pretty tired toward the end.  My pace weights were a little off for miles 10 and 11 which is a bit disappointing.  I need to figure out if the map didn't pick up enough elevation change or if my formulas need to be modified.

Two miles at Firehouse. Felt really nauseous so kept the pace relatively easy.

Met Tara at the LPT.  I keep thinking it will be warmer and end up under dressed.  At some point it has to start getting warmer.  I don't think either one of us wanted to push the pace today so it was just a nice general aerobic run.  Averaged 8:06/mile.

One mile at Firehouse.

Woke up at 2, worked for a few hours then decided I was too tired to go for my planned run so I took a little nap before getting up for the day.  This week has not been a good week for running.  Heading to Boston tomorrow morning so may not have a chance to run.  Hoping to get some good runs in on Sunday and Monday in Boston.

Staying in Hull, MA at the Nantasket beach resort (20 miles outside of Boston).  We have done the touristy stuff in the past so wanted to stay somewhere a little more quiet.  Went for an early morning run so I could watch the sunrise.  A little chilly but really enjoyed the run.  Feeling good towards the end so picked up the pace.  Ran 7:15, 7:15 and 6:30 for the last 3 miles.

Planned an epic run around Boston while I waiting for the runners to start coming through the finish.  My first stop was going to be at Fenway Park.  After 5 miles I realized that I had somehow run in a giant circle and was right back where I started.  I am extremely directionally challenged.  Decided to just run the Freedom Trail instead (including the 294 steps to the top of the Bunker Hill monument) and bag the rest of the run.  I wanted to make sure I got a decent spot to watch the race.  Finished the run at Mike's Pastry (overrated in my opinion).

Found a spot on Hereford to watch the marathon.  Missed almost everybody that I was hoping to see but was able to see Becky (thankfully). 

One mile at Firehouse.

Met Tara at the LPT.  Started out and a comfortable pace (8:00-8:30ish). Ran the last 5 miles at 7:20/mile.  I was starting to feel kind of yucky before we picked up the pace.  Once the pace quickened, I felt a little better.

I've been looking at training plans for a fall marathon so I guess that means I will probably be running one this year.  Most likely not St. George.  I'm kind of tired of paying for hotels so I will either run Big Cottonwood or Huntsville.

Had a couple of hours between my girls soccer games at a torun ament in Meridian, Id so I went for a little run. It is cold and windy but no rain. Felt pretty good as I started out so I thought I would maintain the quicker pace as long as I could. Was able to hold it at 7:15 for the entire run. Very happy with how well the run went. 

One 6:45 run at Firehouse.

Eight miles on the LPT with Tara at 7:51/mile.  That seems to be our standard average pace for that run. 

1 mile during the workout at Firehouse then ran 2.5 miles home after the workout.  I'm currently running 3 days/week and going to the gym 3 or 4 days per week.  Trying to see if I can incorporate running into a couple of the other days.  Considering using the FIRST marathon training program (http://www.wu.ece.ufl.edu/marathon%20training-first%20marathon.pdf) which is 3 days of focused running and 3 days of cross training. 
 

Didn't exercise at all yesterday because: my knee was bothering me, had an early morning ortho appt for my kids, chaperoned a field trip, busy with work, soccer game, orchestra concert, etc.  Figured that my list of excuses was big enough that I could justify a day off.  I have made a lot of poor food choices this week which has left me feeling very heavy and bloated.  DIdn't think I would be able to keep up with Tara this morning.  Did the usual LPT run and we were both quite surprised to see that the average pace was 7:42/mile.  I guess that's a good sign. 

One of the most unevenbtful pacing jobs I've had.  I didn't have anybody run with me for the entire race.  Makes me wonder if it really even happened.  My first mile was a liitel fast.  That gave me a 15 second cushion that I held for most of the race.  The 7th mile contains the "sprintosaurus" which is a special award for the fastest half mile. Since I wasn't running with anybody I decided to push the pace.  DIdn't go all out but it was close.  Ran the half mile in 2:30.  At the end of this stretch, I stopped and waited 90 seconds to get back on track.  From here to the end I was within a couple of seconds of where I was supposesd to be at every mile marker.  Ran the last mile a little faster so I would have a bufferr in case the course didn't measure correctly.
 

Worked until 2 am then was up at 5 to start again.  I was utterly exhausted.  Went to the gym and puttered around.  Not my best effort.  I figured half ***** was better than no *****. 

Met Tara and Kam at the LPT.  Run included a loop around Bountiful pond then a few miles on the LPT. 

A mile run at Firehouse.

One run plus some sprints at Firehouse.

Warmed up by running 2 miles to the LPT then ran 6 repeats of 1 minute on and 3 minutes off.  Averaged 5:35/mile for the "on" minute.  A little faster than I should have run it but figured I should push the pace since it was so short and I was getting full recovery.  This was just a way to let my body know that it is time to get out of the lolly gagging rut.

Good total body workout at Firehouse including one run.

Tough run today.  Met Tara at LPT and it was chilly.  It has to warm up to shorts and short sleeve shirt running weather eventually.  First 2 miles were a little faster than we usually start (8:00/mile) and it took way too much effort.  The pace got progressively faster throughout the run.  I think we had a 7:30, 7:20 a couple of 7:10's and a 7:00.  It was at that point that Tara decided to make it interesting.  Last 2 miles were around 6:40/mile.  She dropped the hammer with 1/2 mile to go and I was unable to respond.  I held it around 6:40ish but she must have been around 6:20ish. Finsihed with 9 miles at 7:15/mile pace.  This is the exact type of run that I need to start doing in order to get used to the quicker pace again.

Mostly cardio work at Firehouse including 2 runs.  Decent push during the first, not so much during the second.

Met Tara at the LPT for a long run.  Despite the questions regarding it's accuracy, I broke down and bough a Garmin 620. Debated between the 910 and 620 and decided that the features on the 620 were more my style.  It has a lot of "gee whiz" stats that I will probably never use but really drew me in since I am a numbers guy.  The only issue during the run was that the auto-pause went haywire halfway into the run.  This kind of messed up my total distance compared to what Tara had.  Checked the route on Garmin Connect and was happy to see that my path followed the trail and road perfectly.  The run itself was very good.  We started at 8:00/mile and progressively got faster.  Last mile was 7:00/mile and the overall average was 7:45/mile (I think). 

The answer to the question during the run is: "a piece of legislation enacted by a municipal authority."

Met Kam and one of his daughters at the LPT. He was running to liberty park and I was going to join him for a few miles. Thought that if I felt good I would run to downtown SLC and take the front runner back home and if I didn't feel well then I would just put a few in. Pace felt surprisingly good. He was running a little faster than I expected but it still felt great. Pace was a little faster on the trail and slowed once started meandering through town. Averaged 7:55 for 11.8 miles. Took the train back home and had to run 2.2 miles from the train station to my car. Averaged 7:40 for the bonus miles. 

Warmed up by running 2 miles to the LPT then ran 6 repeats of 1 minute on and 2 minutes off.  The "on" miles ranged from 5:29/mile to 5:38/mile with an average of 5:34.  Not as consistent as I would like but a good run nonetheless.

The GPS on my watch didn't track very well during the first mile but was fine the rest of the run.  This run provided a good comparison of the running efficiency numbers for the high end and low end of my pace range.

One mile at Firehouse.  Feeling some tightness in my shins from a few too many miles last week.  I've always thought I was too good for the 10% rule. 

Met Tara at the LPT for the usual tempo Tuesday run. We decided that we would run our normal pace for the first few miles then finish with 2 miles at tempo pace.  She suggested 6:30 and I thought there was no way I could approach that speed.  Our first "fast"mile was 6:43 according to my watch and 6:39 according to hers.  The discrepancy is due to the tunnel and I don't know whose is correct.  The last mile was 6:28.  I started to feel it towards the end and I inadvertently abruptly stopped as soon as I hit the mile marker.  Tara continued on to finish the full nine miles.  Happy with the effort and pace.

Good workout at Firehouse included a 1 mile run.  I think I am coming down with something.  A little feverish and feeling wiped out.

3 short runs at Firehouse.  I think I overdid it a little last week between the running and gym so am not pushing as hard this week.  I forget that I need to be patient when increasing mileage and intensity.

My original plan was to run the downhill miles of this race hard then coast the last 4 miles to the finish.  Still not in race shape but wanted some harder miles.  Plans changed when one of the pacers dropped out.  Considered running the 1:40 for the girls race but thought it would be better to have only ladies pacing the ladies race.  I ended up pacing the 2 hour group.  It was a super small race with separate start times for the guys and girls so I ended up running solo again.  There probably weren't more than 50 guys running.  I think I spent a total of 2 minutes with another runner.  I was a minute early because the course was 0.1 short due to the start line being moved (shocking for a On Hill race).

A rare morning where neither Becky or I had our kids so we did the elephant rock run. She was still a little worn out from the race yesterday so we got separated halfway to the rock. Overall effort was decent but I didn't kill myself. 

One mile at Firehouse.

Met Tara at the LPT.  We both had a weekend full of home improvement projects so neither one of us were feeling up to any tempo miles.  As usual, the run turned into a progressive run.  Started at 8:15/mile and finished at 7:20/mile for an overall average of 7:45. 

I never get allergies but I've been battling them the last few days so I took yesterday off.  Thought I would experiment with running and going to the gym the same morning.  Drove to the LPT and warmed up with a mile then ran 4X1/2 mile at 5k pace with 1/4 mile jog in between.  Splits were: 3:00, 2:57, 2:58, 2:59.  Last one was a struggle but I guess it is supposed to be. Ran 1 mile cool down then drove home, changed my clothes and went to Firehouse.  Fortunatley, today's exercises were focused on strength so I didn't have to kill myself cardiovascularly.  The workout did include 2 runs which I tood relatively easy.

15 miles on the LPT with Tara.  Well, not all of the miles were on the LPT and not all of them were with Tara.  I ran out of gas with 2 miles to go and sent her on her way.  Averaged 8:00/mile for the entire run.  The runs are getting long enough and it is getting warm enough outside that I need to start taking fuel with me. 

Epic failure at the track. Intent was 12x400 but only got half of it in. Warmed up 1 mile then started the workout. First one was 80 seconds and they got progressively worse. Ran the last in 89 and I was done. Rested for a minute and thought about restarting but gave up and went home. Obviously VO2 is my major weakness. That and a the complete inability to push through any hint of discomfort. 

One run during the workouts at Firehouse.  Very tired today.  My weight is down a few pounds so I think I may be operating in a state of dehydration.

Eight on the LPT.  Averaged 8:00/mile on the way out and 7:10/mile on the way back with the last mile in 6:48. I'm so tired that I took a power nap when I got home before heading to work.

Cardio day at Firehouse including a 13 minute run. 

Four miles uphill then four miles downhill.  Kept the effort as easy as possible on the way up and pushed a little coming down.  Averaged 6:38/mile for the 4 downhill miles.

Gym was unavailable this morning so I just went on an easy run.  Averaged 8:00/mile on the regular 5 mile loop.

Got a little later start than I hoped for so it was a little warm.  Ran to Bountiful pond with the intent of runnng around Farmington bay.  Unfortunately, it is closed and there is no way around the gate so I just headed back to the LPT.  Held a steady pace the entire run (7:43/mile). 

6 x 1/2 mile repeats on the LPT.  I was a little smarter this time and picked a more reasonable pace.  Targeted 6:10-6:15/mile which is probably still a little faster than my 5k pace.  Splits were: 3:02, 3:07, 3:08, 3:05, 3:07, 3:04.  Good, solid effort but didn't kill myself.

One mile at firehouse. Feeling very overweight. 

A couple of slow runs at Firehouse. 

Feeling incredibly tired.  Really didn't want to run this morning but I eventually got myself out the door - 2 hours after I planned.  Started with an easy mile then ran 5 miles at tempo pace.  Since I was so tired, I was only shooting for anything under 7:00/mile.  Really struggled on the first one but was able to get into a groove and ended up averaging 6:47/mile.  Splits were: 6:50, 6:48, 6:45, 6:44, 6:46.

Sixteen minutes of running at Firehouse.

Took the family to Yellowstone and paced the half marathon with Becky.  We picked the 2 hoiur time slot thinking we would have a nice and easy run and be able to enjoy the rest of the weekend.  The course ended up being a lot tougher than we thought.  First 4 miles were through West Yellowstone and on some dirt roads but were very runnable.  Started to get tough during the 5th mile.  Mile 6 was a tough uphill.  It continued halfway through the 7th mile then there was some downhill.  The only problem was it was all on trail and was very technical.  A few runners ended up going down.  We finished right on time.  It was a lot tougher than we expected.  The 9:09 pace felt like 8:00/mile effort.

Went on a short Father's day run with Gracie in Island Park.

10 minute run at Firehouse.

8 on the LPT with Tara.  Easy on the way out.  Picked the pace up on the way back to low 7's with the last mile in 6:30. 

Two runs at Firehouse.  First time I have felt decent at the gym in a long time.

Finally decided to take the plunge and actually race a race.  Since I got a free entry from work, I was considering backing out up until I picked up my packet.  Once I got my bib, racing actually sounded a little fun.  We got to the bus loading right at the cut off time.  I had to make a pit stop and Becky had to run back to her car to get her bib so we missed the last bus.  Luckily, there were 50 people who were unable to load so they had to send an extra bus to pick us up.  Got to the starting line with just enough time to do the usual pre race routine.

My goal for the race was anything under 1:30.  The start of the decline in my running was the Timp 1/2 in 2011.  The course is very similar to this one (first 9 miles identical) and I barely snuck under 1:30.  This race would give me a good idea as to where my fitness is.  Started out at a very controlled pace.  My focus was to maintain this effort the entire run.  I used a 1:30 paceband as a guide and I was consistently 10-15 seconds ahead of pace.  I knew that the real test started at mile 9 once we were out of the canyon.  I was still feeling good and was able to maintain a good pace.  Mile 10 was a bit tough mentally but I was able to get through it.  Once I got to the top of the short hill during the 11th mile, I knew I was home free.  Maintained the effort and was able to pass a few runners during the last 2 miles.  Finishing 3 minutes faster than I did in 2011 was very satisfying.

I still need to work on the mental toughness aspect of running.  I put in a good effort but konw it was not as uncomfortable as it should have been.  I'm curiLuckily, there were 50 people who were unable to load so they had to send an extra bus to pick us up.  Got to the starting line with just enough time to do the usual pre race routine.

My goal for the race was anything under 1:30.  The start of the decline in my running was the Timp 1/2 in 2011.  The course is very similar to this one (first 9 miles identical) and I barely snuck under 1:30.  This race would give me a good idea as to where my fitness is.  Started out at a very controlled pace.  My focus was to maintain this effort the entire run.  I used a 1:30 paceband as a guide and I was consistently 10-15 seconds ahead of pace.  I knew that the real test started at mile 9 once we were out of the canyon.  I was still feeling good and was able to maintain a good pace.  Mile 10 was a bit tough mentally but I was able to get through it.  Once I got to the top of the short hill during the 11th mile, I knew I was home free.  Maintained the effort and was able to pass a few runners during the last 2 miles.  Finishing 3 minutes faster than I did in 2011 was very satisfying.

I still need to work on the mental toughness aspect of running.  I put in a good effort but konw it was not as uncomfortable as it should have been.  I'm curiLuckily, there were 50 people who were unable to load so they had to send an extra bus to pick us up.  Got to the starting line with just enough time to do the usual pre race routine.

Heavy cardio day at Firehouse including 3 runs.

Eight miles on the LPT with Tara.  She was nice enough to let us go easier today as I am still a little sore from the race.  8:00/mile on the way out and 7:30/mile on the way back.

13 minutes of running at Firehouse.  Ran most of it with Becky.

Ran to the top of 1800 S. and back home.  Very slow today compared to the last time I ran it.  I had no energy so just took it easy. 

Two runs at Firehouse. 
 

Dropped my girls off at soccer practice then hit the Rio Grand trail. Their practice was 2 hours long so my plan was to run 15 miles and keep the pace just under 8:00/mile.  First 10 miles felt great.  I started to really wear out the last 4 miles.  Couldn't find my hydration belt so there was probably an issue with fuel.  Averaged 7:50/mile for the run.

Started the morning with a mile warm up then 5 times 2 minutes on and 2 minutes.  The "on" time was a little disappointing.  Averaged 6:05/mile pace which is a bit slow for that short amount of time.  Since it was a light speed session, I went home after the run and changed my clothes then went to Firehouse.  Good total body workout today,  Included a couple of runs which I took super slow. 

8 mile progression run on the LPT with Tara.  Seems to be the standard Tuesday run. Averaged 7:51/mile on the way out and 7:08/mile on the way back with the last mile in 6:50.  My lower right leg was quite painful as we started but it seemed to feel better after a couple of miles. 

One run while at Firehouse.

Ran an easy mile to warm up then ran 4 miles at half marathon pace then an easy mile to cool down.  Ran the first 2 miles at 6:50/mile and they felt good.  Third mile was a struggle for some reason.  As I approached the mile marker, I was screaming in my head to push through and not take a break.  FInished that mile in 6:54 and couldn't resist the urge to take a walking break.  Totally weak minded.  After a few seconds I started back up.  Ran the last mile in 6:41 to make up for the walking break.  I really have no idea what happened during the third mile. 

Got about 10 steps into my planned long run and turned around and went home.  My right tibia was hurting too much.  Decided to not waste the morning and went to the gym.  Probalby not the greatest idea as there was a little more running than usual.  Pain subsided after it warmed up so I probably could have run if I would have toughed it out longer.  Being a little cautious probably wasn't too bad of a decision.

Tuesday run on the LPT with Tara.  We took it a little easier today.  Averaged 7:30is/mile for the run.  My leg didn't hurt but it did not feel normal.  Stumbled upon somebody sleeping on the side of the trail covered in a blanket.  Tara was concerned that he was dead and wanted to check on him.  Fortunately, she was less afraid than I was and was able to get close enough to see that he was breathing.  I would have just thrown a rock at him or poked him with a stick.
 

Paced 1:50 at the Legacy Midnight half. Pretty much just another run on the LPT with Tara. The race is getting to be pretty big so the start was very congested. We were 15 seconds behind after the first mile because of the congestion. Took another 3 miles to get back on track. Held a good consistent pace the rest of the way. It felt a lot faster than it should have. Felt nauseous from mile 7-9. Seems to be common for this race. Apparently a couple other pacers were throwing up. Had a runner stick with us for the last 5 miles. Glad to actually have somebody run with us. I haven't run withy anybody during my last few pacing gigs. 

Three short runs at Firehouse. 

Tara - Here is what I was trying to explain about the paces on Garmin Connect.  "Moving Time" is what is calculated based on the GPS track.  I still say we always go with the faster time.

Changed it up a bit and met Tara at Davis Blvd.  We wanted to deviate from the usual flat LPT run.  The first half of the run felt fine but I knew that I didn't have the energy necessary to push the pace on the way back.  We hit a couple of 7:15's after then turn around then I was done.  Out pace naturally slowed to 7:30.  I felt bad that I was holding us back so I suggested to Tara that she go on ahead.  She hung around for another mile before pressing the pace for the last mile.  Averaged 7:30/mile for the entire run which is a decent pace for that route.

No running just a hard workout at Firehouse.

I don't know how to post pictures in a comment so will have to explain the Garmin Connect question from Monday here.

These are the total time and average pace elements on Garmin Connect.  The average pace is based on the total time we spent running (total time we were on the trail less the time we spent stretching).  There were 15 data points accounting for 47 seconds that had incomplete information so Garmin Connect threw them out of the calculation of the moving time and average moving pace.  The records with missing data occurred at miles 1.1 and 6.99 which is the location of the tunnel.  It all comes back to the tunnel.  The confusion is in how Garmin Connect labels the fields.  Moving time and average moving pace really do not make sense.

Wanted to go to the gym but also needed to get a run in.  In order to solve the dilemna I ended up doing both.  Drove to the LPT at 5 am for a mini speed workout.  Warmed up a mile then ran 4X1/2 mile repeats with 1/4 mile jog in between .  Splits for the faster 1/2 miles were: 3:07, 3:07, 3:05, 3:07.  Nothing spectacular but I wasn't really feeling like I could push myself (I'm in a major slump). 

Drove home, changed my clothes and went to Firehouse.  Much more cardio and higher reps than I was hoping for but I made it through the workout.  I did cut the run at the end a little short because I had already gotten a good run in. 

One short run at Firehosue.  Not sure if it is worth recording a measley 0.3 mile.  I guess if I don't enter it into the blog then it never really happened.

Becky and I paced the 1:40 spot at the Timp half today.  We got up at 2:45 so we could make it to the 4 am bus pickup.  That is way too early and makes me question this crazy hobby.  We held a good even effort the entire run.  There were several runners that stayed with us for a lot of the run.  We were within 15 seconds of our target time at every mile until we got to mile 11.  For the first time, my Garmin beeped before the mlie marker and we were 15 secondsd behind according to the mile marker.  I ran mile 12 eight seconds fast to make up the difference but when I hit the marker I was even further behind.  I ended up pushing a little harder during the last mile than I would have liked.  As it turns out, miles 11 and 12 were mis-marked and I ended up crossing the finish line 30 seconds early.  Several runners thanked me for pushing them the last mile so I feel good about how things went.

Met Tara at the LPT for the usual Tuesday run.  We kept the pace easier today than we have in the past.  My lower legs are really bothering me.  Hoping some new shoes will be the miracle cure.

The answer to the major question from the run can be found here: http://www.allaboutexotics.com/exotic-species/four-horned-sheep/

One run at Firehouse.

The South Davis Rec Center decided to add pacers to their half marathon at the last minute.   Becky was going to run with her friend and I had no running plans so we decided to help with the 1:45 and 2:00 spots.  The course is mostly flat with the exception of a couple of hills during the 8th mile and a slight elevation gain during the last mile.  This made the pacing a lot easier.  I was within a couple of seconds of my goal time at every mile.  I usually like to have a 20 second cushion so this made things a little stressful.  I had a decent sized group with me for the first 8 miles until we got to the top of Glover Lane.  A few runners dropped back and I just had 2 with me for the next 3 miles.  They eventually fell back but I was able to pick one up during the last mile.  I always feel bad when the runners drop off but understand that there is nothing that I can do about it.

Becky had a much more adventurous race.  At the 5 mile mark, she noticed a girl on the side of the road having an asthma attack.  Being a nurse, she felt obligated to stop and help her.  She gave her pacing sign to her friend and told her she would catch up.  She was able to call the girls mom and once a police officer stopped to help, she was on her way again.  She ran hard for the next 3 miles trying to make up the 5 minutes she lost.  Still crossed the line at exactly 2 hours.

Two runs at Firehouse.  I was completely wiped out and had a real hard time getting through the workout.  Not sure if it is from the "race" yesterday.

Long run while at Bear Lake.  Started in Garden City and ran a little past Fish Haven (6 mile mark after Idaho border).  Not really excited about the run.  I think I have now lost all motivation to run or exercise.  Amazing what some unflattering pictures at the beach can do to one's self esteem.  Contemplating dropping from the Big Cottonwood full to the half.  My heart just isn't in the training.  I may just run the marathon super slow just to run it.

Ran up 1800 South and back home to get some experience on the hills.  Knew it was a bad idea with how my lower right legs are feeling but did it anyway.  Decent effort going up and pushed the pace on the first 2 miles coming down (6:30's).  Right achilles started to act up so I settled into a more comfortable pace for the last 2 miles (7:30's).  

One run at Firehouse.  I really struggled today.  Everybody finished quite a bit sooner than me which really hard for me.

The first Saturday in August has always been a cursed day for me.  I have no idea why but I always have bad runs on this day.  Started way too late for a long run but thought if I took it slow I would be alright.  Other than some right achilles pain, I felt fine physically.  Mentally was a completely different story.  I had absolutely no desire to run.  After 11 miles, I gave in and sent an SOS to Becky.  I was able to get in 2 more miles before she got to me.  

The usual 8 with Tara on the LPT.  32 minutes on the way out and 30 minutes on the way back. My watch didn't track any mileage for the first 1.5 miles.  It did the same thing last week.  Hopefully it is just a temporary bug.

Two runs at Firehouse.

One 20 minute run at Firehouse. 

Ran from home to the LPT then continued to the South end of the trail and back home again.  Just wanted to keep the pace under 8:00/mile.  Kind of sad that I actually have to focus on that.  It should feel a lot more natural.  Averaged 7:50/mile for the run.  Lower right leg still is still acting up.  The pain seems to move from the calf to the tibia then to the achilles throughout the run.  

Met Tara at the LPT for the usual Tuesday morning run.  First 4 miles in 31:30.  We were indecisive on what we should do on the way back.  Decided to start at 7:00/mile then see how things would go from there.  Ran 6:58, 6:52, 6:47, 6:47 on the way back.  Tara pushed a little harder the last mile and finished 15-20 seconds ahead of me.  I was content holding the pace at 6:50.  

Met Kam at the mouth of Big Cottonwood and drove to Brighton so we could run the first 15 miles of the marathon course.  Ran the first 3 miles with Becky and a couple of her friends then Kam and I picked up the pace for the rest of the run. Ran a few at 7:30 then the last 9 at 6:50-7:10.   Pace felt very comfortable because of the downhill.  After we finished I ran back up a mile to finish with the ladies.  They tacked on another 5 miles to get to 20 while I drove the car to where they finished.  Had to stop every couple of miles to make sure we would end up at the same place.  Kind of felt like Ragnar.  

This was a very good run and made me think for half a second that I could actually do the marathon.  I have to remember that, just as a bad run during training doesn't mean that you can't run perform well in a marathon, a good run while you are not training properly does not mean you should run one.  

One short run at Firehouse.

Tornado Tuesday with Kam and Tara on the LPT.  We ran into the wind on the way out so we would have the wind at our backs on the way back.  Unfortunately, the wind died down once we turned around.  Pace was slow but effort was high.

One mile at Firehouse.  Pushed the pace the second half.

Five incredibly slow miles.  Body just did not want to move this morning.  

Paced the 1:45 group at the Top of Utah half with Becky.  A little chilly at the start and there were some threatening clouds but the weather turned out to be perfect.  The start was incredibly congested.  It was impossible to settle into the right pace until the second mile.  We were 15 seconds in the hole after the first mile.  Made up the difference during miles 2 and 3 and then held it steady the rest of the way.  A few runners felt like we were going way too fast coming down the canyon so we had to convince them that we knew what we were doing and we were running exactly how we should.  Obviously, they didn't know who I was.  We were within 5 seconds of our total elapsed goal time for most of the run which made Becky very nervous.  She thought that was cutting it too close and we should have a bigger cushion.  Obviously, she doesn't know who I am.  

One short run at Firehouse.

LPT run with Tara.  I was very low on energy.  Can't decide if it is physical or mental.  I officially dropped from the full to the half at Big Cottonwood.  

Short run at Firehouse.

Ten painfully slow miles to Mueller Park canyon and back.  Finished in exactly 90 minutes.

Terrible day at the gym.  Had zero energy and had a really hard time getting through the workout.  Ran 2.5 miles after the workout.

Still struggling with my energy levels.  Was feeling pretty out of it last night and considered cancelling the run this morning but needed a test run to make sure that I can pace 1:40 at Nebo this weekend.  Warned Tara that we may be in for a very slow run.  First mile was a little slow but then we fell into our standard progression routine.  Averaged 7:57 on the way out and 7:24 on the way back with the last mile in 7:11.  I felt a lot better than expected.  It was the only time that I have felt like I have had much energy in the last week.  Makes me think that this is more mental than physical.

I've been bad about blogging.  Pretty sure this was an easy 5.  

Pace the 1:40 group with Becky.  We may not be able to pace with eachother any more.  I tinkered with the pacebands the day before the race which I shouldn't have done.  It had me second guessing everything the entire run.  We were getting a 10 second cushion every mile which I wasn't comfortable with.  Becky made a pit stop at mile 7 and I took this opportunity to help at the unmanned aid station and give back the cushion we had built.  She caught back up and when we hit the 8 mile marker and she realized what I had done a little argument ensued.  I like to cut it too close and it makes her nervous.  In hindsight, the bigger cushion would have been nice once the course flattened out but I like to cut it close.  We ended up finishing right on time and had one guy with us the entire time that was very happy.  

A short run at Firehouse.

Met Tara at the LPT.  We ran in between major rain storms.  It started coming down a little on our way back but nothing too severe.  I had no pep in my legs at all.  Started out slow and it felt like it was too much work.  splits going out were: 8:20, 7:52, 7:49 and 7:33 (according to my watch which is usually more generous than Tara's).  Our plan was to run low 7's on the way back but I knew there was no way I was up to the challenge.  Splits on the way back were 7:08, 7:16, 7:26 and 7:02.  Looking at the data after the run I thought my heart rate would be out of control but it was close to what it always is.  I think I was just being a baby today.

An easy five.

Skipped the gym and went for an easy run instead.  Thinking about bagging the gym altogether and just focus on running again.  Not seeing the results from the gym that I wanted.  I know it is my fault because of my sugar addiction but I would still expect to see a little muscle tone.

I originally signed up for the full marathon hoping that it would kick start my desire to run again.  After the first couple weeks of training, I let life get in the way and adequate training just didn't happen.  This has happened too many times to me over the last few years.  Switched to the half but knew that I still wasn't in very good shape to turn in the performance that I expect.  Worked the expo the day before the race so my pre-race nutrition probably wasn't the best.  I'll try to think of a few more excuses before the end of the report.

On the morning of the race we got to the bus pickup at a decent time (5:20) but had to wait for over an hour for the first round of buses to come back back down the canyon to get us.  Because of the bus issues, the race started 25 minutes late.  Not a big deal for me since I was waiting down the canyon where it was warmer.  We only had to be in the freezing cold for 15 minutes.  I printed off a 1:25 paceband knowing it was a bit aggressive but I wanted to beat my AF half time (1:26:4x).  First mile was 10 seconds slower than projected pace.  Was hoping it was just because I had to get into a flow but the next few miles were also 10 seconds over projected pace.  Was content with maintaining that effort and coming in at 1:27.  The steep sections of the canyon were too steep. I couldn't get into a good rhythm and found myself falling behind the other runners.  As we made our way out of the canyon and the course flattened out (with a slight incline to start) I began moving past a lot of people.  Desparately needed an energy gel at the halfway point but they only had water and Gatorade at the aid stations (I inadvetently left mine in my drop bag).  Never did push myself as hard as I could but felt like I still put in a really good effort.  Finished in 1:27:20.  Kind of disappointing because the course is so aided but it is a true indication of where I am running wise.  Hoping that I can somehow find the desire to run again, drop 15 pounds and be able to put in a decent performance.  

Standard LPT run with Tara (7:53 on the way out, 7:20 on the way back).  I was still a little sore from the race and she was tired from trying to be the fastest person on every Strava segment in Bountiful.

Stayed up late working last night so I was exhausted this morning.  Forced myself out the door for an easy paced run.  

Ate too much yesterday and felt bloated and fat today.  Easy miles to the golf course and back.  

Ran one of my old standard loops.  One of the loops that I ran regularly when I regularly ran.  Trying to find a way to get back in the habit and thought going back to what I used to do would be a good start.  First 7 miles felt good but really struggled during the last 3.  Was still able to keep the pace under 8:00/mile which was the goal for the day.

Wanted to do something a little different today so I drove to the BST trailhead in NSL and headed towards the towers.  I wore a headlamp because it was so dark but I still had trouble with the footing.  The trail was wet from the rain yesterday so getting good traction was difficult.  Once I got to the towers I kept heading up.  There were a few forks in the trail that ended up causing me a lot of issues on the way back.  I missed the first turn and realized that I was heading in the wrong direction after 1/2 mile of super steep downhill.  Tried to figure out a way to cut across the gully but there was no way so I had to climb back up.  Thought I was on the right track again but looked over and realized the towers I was supposed to be going towards were on the other side of another gully.  Once again, I trudged up another very steep hill.  Eventually found my way back to the car after being out for much longer than I anticipated.  My pace was embarassingly slow but that's not what this run was about.  I learned that I am definitely not a trail runner.  Not sure if that is a skill that you can develop or if I should just be content being a roadie.  

LPT with Tara.  A little bit slower today but it felt good.  

Just an easy run around the block.

Cold and rainy morning.  Layton is a mostly flat course and running 1:45 means 8:00/mile which makes pacing very easy.  Just had to hit 8:00 every mile and calculating elapsed time was easy.  Really no need for the paceband.  Race started and I immediately locked in 8:00/mile pace.  First few miles were on the causeway and the bugs were horrible.  Everybody around me started hacking because of all of the bugs they were swallowing.  Had 3 or 4 people with me from the beginning and most of them hung on for the entire run.  I was able to hit 8:00 plus or minus a couple of seconds every mile.  Unfortunately, I made a huge mistake in my calculation.  They had mile markers for the marathon which included the 0.9 marker for the half.  My watch was showing a full mile at each marker.  Stupidly, this registered in my mind as the course being short by my watch instead of 0.1 long.  Realized this the last couple of miles but was unable to make up the entire deficit.  Ended up coming in 15 seconds late.  Stupid mistake but still a decent run.

Intended to go 8 today but my left hamstring is very sore so I cut the run short.  I started to run yesterday but only got 0.1 before turning back home because it was bothering me so much.  Picked up the pace for the last 2 miles finishing with a 7:10 and 6:54.  

Went to the gym.  Exercises included 2 runs.  Left hamstring was on fire during the first run.  My last cycle was another run so I thought I would try to get a couple of extra miles in by running home.  Hamstring was bothering me so when Becky drove by, I flagged her down and got a ride the rest of the way home.  

Run to the golf course and back.  Nice and easy.

Put in a few miles while driving the support vehicle for Becky and Shantell's long run.  They wanted to run 20+ miles and I wasn't comfortable leaving them out there without support.  Dropped them off at the bottom of little moountain then drove 5 miles down the canyon.  Ran up 2 miles then back to the car while waiting.  Hamstring was bothering me on the way up and groin was a problem on the way down.  I am a mess.  They fueled up then I went down 10 miles to 11th Ave.  Ran to the capitol and back to the car (6 miles).  Had now energy so I called it quits at that point.  I think I'm starting to get a chest cold.  It's been feeling funny for a couple of weeks and is finally making is presence known.  Feels like I am completely falling apart both physically and mentally.  

Usual 5 mile loop.  A little faster finish so my body doesn't forget what the quicker pace feels like.  

Eight on the LPT with Tara.  We went North instead of South this time and neither one of us had our Garmin's which made it a whole new experience.  Since there were no timing devices to say otherwise, I'm sure that every mile was under 7:00.  In reality, average pace was probably around 7:50 for the entire run with the last 2 a little quicker.  My hamstring is still bothering me.  Not a ton of pain but not strong enough to push off effectively which makes the overall running effort higher.

Just a run around the block.

Becky is in Vegas for a nursing conference so I met her down there to run a half marathon.  Neither one of us wanted to race so we just ran at a leisurely pace.  First half was uphill with a gradual downhill during the second half.  We finished in 1:51 ish.  A little slow but it was a decent run.  I pushed the pace during one of the miles to play catch up and the fast pace felt good.  

Met Tara at the LPT for the usual Tuesday run.  My right foot started bothering me yestrerday which made the run today a little more difficult.  We were a little slower on the way out most likely because of my poor effort.  Effort was a little better on the way back (7:28, 7:39, 7:32, 7:06) but felt much harder than it should have.  Foot is still a little achey.  Not sure if it is from my age or extra weight but these constant nagging injuries are getting really annoying.

Eight minute run at Firehouse.  I've been taking a bit of a break from the gym and it really showed today.  Really struggled with some of the exercises.

Just wanted a nice a slow run today.  Didn't make the slightest effort to push the pace.  My foot felt totally fine which is strange since I have struggled to even walk on it the past few days.  Hamstring is still burning.

Three short runs at Firehouse.

Paced the 1:35 group at the Haunted Half.  Well, I guess I should say that I helped pace the first 10 miles.  I had my doubts going into this race based on how I have felt the last couple of weeks.  I tried convincing myself that I would be fine since I ran 1:27 at Cottonwood and this course isn't that much slower.  I also had a pacing partner so knew that if I couldn't finish, the job would still get done.  The race started and I felt fine.  We kept the pace at 7:00/mile coming down the canyon so we could give some back going uphill through Research Park and the U.  As we got towards the bottom of the canyon, the pace wasn't as conversational and I knew I was in trouble.  The first hill was too hard and we were too slow.  After getting to the top of the second hill we lost our entire cushion and I told my pacing partner that I was done and he would have to finish without me.  I stood there for 30 seconds deciding what I should do.  Should I wait for Becky and run with her or just finish as well as I could.  I decided that I want to stop being a quitter so I started running again.  The last climb was tough but once I got to the top and the course started going down again I was able to get back down to the low 7's.  Not happy about the race and where my fitness is.  I need to find a way to get motivated again.  I have been in a funk for almost 4 years.  

Met Tara at the LPT.  Not a good run for me at all.  Left hamstring was bothering me which made it difficult to push off properly.  Had a decent headwind on the way back which made it a slow pace/high effort run.  One of those days where you don't feel like a runner at all.  

One mile at Firehouse.  

Becky and I were assigned the 1:55 spot for the Howloween half marathon.  It started and 6 p.m. so she thought it would be fun to pace the Haunted half in the morning also.  I had no such desire because I had soccer games to watch and I am not insane.  She had been sick all week so I had a feeling that the second race would not go well.  We dressed up as Jack and Sally Skellington.  The race started and we were about 25 seconds ahead of our goal time after 2 miles.  This is the ideal cushion.  After mile 3 she started to feel the earlier race so I told her to drop back.  I actually was hoping that she would just go back to the start because I was worried about her pushing too hard while her body is recovering.  I was pretty much on my own so I decided to try to hit exactly 8:46 every mile for the rest of the way to keep myself entertained.  Each mile was within a second or 2 of my goal.  I picked up a couple of runners during the last 2 miles and I let some of my cushion go so that I was not pushing them too hard.  Turned the last corner and my watch read 12.6 miles which made me come in almost 3 minutes early.  There were no mile markers on the course so I had no idea if my Garmin was accurate or not.  Becky came in about 10 minutes after me (too stubborn to quit).  We ended up winning the costume contest which made the night somewhat of a success.

Just getting out the door felt like a victory.  An easy five around the usual loop.