A Balance, Redefined

Very full morning. Met up with Steve A. at the zoo. We went up Emigration and down the other side almost to the golf course and back. The run went very well. We were both looking for some LSD and found it more or less. Most of the run we were just content to focus on a very good discussion. But we both opted to sprinkle in a little pepper the last couple miles. They are just the perfect grade. Our mile 20 was a 5:32, and that was only after I had looked down at a 4:58 pace and we decided to back off... I'm obviously tired after the effort but otherwise happy with it. I had wanted a 2:30 hour run and we finished in 2:30.34 so pretty spot on. After the run I had just enough to time shower before hopping in the car with the family to zip off to church. This afternoon I actually have to deal with some work (meeting tomorrow) but overall glad for a nice end to a good week. Avg. 7:31 HR 149

For those non-locals. This run goes up for 8 mi then we went down for 2 mi then back the same way. The total ascent over the course of the run is 2406 ft... Granted the last 8 mi are down but those two down/up in the middle sure make it interesting.

AM?: Not sure if I'll do a second run today. My legs feel surprisingly good.  Don't get me wrong they are sore and my knee is tight but considering last week was only my second week this year at 70 miles and yesterday was my longest run since St. George I'm happy with how they feel. I'm continuing to focus on sleep and have been averaging 1-2 additional hours per night. However, the loss of awake time sure crunches what you can get accomplished in a week. My talk went well this morning and now on to finishing up my revisions on the review... Commute run in plus some looping around campus for the even 3mi. I know, I know I should watch the crazy morning mileage. Sometimes I can't control myself :)... Avg. 9:30

PM: Just a blah day. Never really got moving mentally. So far today is a little better. I just did the home loop after the girls went down for the night and then relaxed.

Planned day off. At least that is what I decided last night. Today is Sandra's birthday so I slept in to see everyone in the morning. Then tonight we have plans. Good cumulative sleep hours. Legs sore from last week and knee is a little tight but nothing not to be expected...

AM: Starting the day off right. First time in a while that I was up at "normal" time. Dinner and relaxation last night helped some. After setting some things up in lab I was off towards City Creek. Then up and back via the trails to Dry Creek. Some how I've become a super clutz. I've fallen more times this year than all other years running combined. Today was pretty funny. I was on a downhill section and my toe caught a rock. I went over, rolled, and continued running. I didn't even stop. I was embarrassed more than hurt but only wish someone had seen it because it had to have looked funny. After getting back to lab all I had was a small cut on my palm and a bruise on my shoulder. Trail running is hazardous to your health... At least when your head is in the clouds and not on the rocks in front of you. Avg. 9:12

PM: Much better today overall. I had been in a funk for about two weeks (on and off this year actually) but the last two weeks even more so. Today was much better. Still running behind but I felt like I made some progress today. I've been trying to read Born to Run when I get a few spare momments and there was this section about Vigil and how children love to run and we have to get back to that to fix all of societies woes (big paraphrase there). But that was the message I took from it and really that can be applied to so many things. I'll keep working at it. However it was so true after dinner my daugter just wanted to run circles in our back yard holding my hand. It was  a lot of fun. After they went down I came back into lab to set something up for tomorrow and go for a second run. I did the MG overlook with a FireHouse mile 4:57.79. I am a lot stiffer than I thought I would be from my tumble this morning but obviously not too bad. Let's see what the morning brings. Avg. 8:00 (I love the even numbered pace race)...

AM: TOF recovery run. Very tired this morning but still out the door at a good time. Commute run in with a lot of zig-zag on campus. Avg. 11:21

PM: Harder run. Another good day but tiring. Altered home loop 1 easy, 4 hard, 1 easy, 2 medium. It was very warm and my hip was a little sore from the fall. Otherwise good deal. Avg. 6:48

Single: Slept in a little extra and then stayed around to keep my daughter occupied so my wife could get a little sleep. Then after setting up something in lab did the work loop to Memory Grove. On my way out, I think it was the State Capital Building, was chiming My Country, 'Tis of Thee. Overall a good run. My right calf was tight. Probably because of the hip yesterday. But since the hip is better I think "it" is making its way out of my body... Glad I got my run in this morning. Supposed to hit 100F today (sorry to you down in St. George, I saw 108F for the high). Have a great weekend. Avg. 8:36

Early AM: Up early to go on a hike with a friend from work. We headed over to Mt. Olympus and headed up. To my surprise there were already a good number of cars in the parking lot. We passed a good number of people on the way up. Just to find a group of about a dozen kids aged 12-19 that had started up at 3:45am! Total climb was only to 9050 ft by Garmin, official 9026 ft. We made the ~3mi ascent in under two hours for a total of  ~4500 ft. It was a great hike. Not as scenic as Grandeur Peak a few weeks ago but good in other ways. Even more people heading up on our way down. I was surprised it was 70F when we started and is supposed to hit record highs today.

Single: After I got home I grabbed a quick snack and then packed up my older daughter to take her on a run around the park. It was pretty warm by the time we headed back. In fact the slides were too hot for sliding :(... Avg. 9:18