A clydesdale no more!

Wasn't sure if I would remember how to run.  I don't even have an explanation for what happened last week.  I wasn't sick or injured.  I just didn't want to run.  I'm trying to recommit myself to running.  I feel like I am overweight and woefully out of shape but understand that it is all relative.  There are only 3 more weeks until training for Boston starts and I do not feel like I am where I need to be.  If I can create the habit of running again I will be fine.  The morning runs are becoming a battle.  One possible option is to join the gym at work and start running on the treadmill during the day.  After 8 years of doing the exact same thing, a little shake up of the routine may be what I need.

Wow, two days in a row.  First 7 miles were a little slow but I picked it up the last mile just for fun.

It has become a tradition for the family to run the turkey trot at the South Davis Rec Center.  I wasn't sure if I would race it or run it with the kids.  A couple of days ago, Gracie told me she wanted to run on her own so I decided to race it.  With the 20 extra pounds that I am lugging around I knew it would be a little slower than what I would like but I am fine with it.  Woke up and ran an easy 3 miles to get the muscles warmed up.  It was surprisingly warm.  It was a perfect racing temperature.  After a late start (which has become the norm for races at the SDRC) we were off.  My race plan was to run the first mile in 6:00 and then the last 2 at 6:30 (worst case scenario) and come in around 19:30.  First mile was 5:55 and the next 2 came in at 6:30 as expected.  I didn't feel like I slowed as much as I did.  There is an elevation gain during the last 2 miles but not enough to cost 30 seconds per mile.  I stayed even with the runners ahead of me until the last 1/2 mile when they pulled away. 

After the race, I ran back to find the kids. First came across Emma and told her I would check on the others.  Ashton and Gracie were about 1 minute behind (he was a good big brother to stay back with his sister).  I then ran back up to Emma.  She ended up 1st in her age group and Gracie was 2nd.  Becky took 2nd in her age group (23 minutes) so we ended up winning 4 pies.

Backing off the last 2 miles actually is a good thing because I am running another 5k tomorrow morning.  It is more of a fun run where everybody dresses up in a Santa suit.  Should be interesting.

Ran this race with no expectations.  I warmed up with 2 miles and felt decent but not great.  My legs were just a little dead from yesterday's race.  Knew that I had a good chance of placing because of the low turnout.  The race was at the Valley Fair mall and was a double out and back course.  When the race started I moved to the front and held that position for the first 1/2 mile.  A guy passed me and gapped me by about 10 yards.  He maintained his lead until 1.25 miles.  He started coming back and I passed him a little before we finished the first out and back.  On the second out and back I just tried to maintain a decent pace for the rest of the run.  After the last turnaround, it took 20 seconds to get to the next runner meaning I had a 40 second lead with 3/4 mile to go.  Put it in cruise control and coasted to the finish.  I held a steady 6:25 pace for most of the race and got to the 5K mark just under 20 minutes.  The course ended up being long and I finished about 40 seconds ahead of second place.  Won a cool little Santa trophy.  Fun to win a race even if it was a very slow time.