Have a little faith

I thought I'd go 18 to 20, but there was no way! After my 31 miler last Saturday, I must have thought I could go out and do anything. Wrong. Everything took work, from my lungs to my legs. I'm surprised it only took 1hr 35mn ~8:11 mpm. Could have used a few Tylenols. Plus it was cold and windy, but a snow front is moving in tonight, so I wanted to get the run in before it hit, so I went at 3:00 this afternoon. Guess I'll need to get in a 11 - 13 miler tomorrow or Sunday.

A beautiful Easter Morning run up Millcreek canyon. It had snowed very early, with a slush that froze on the road. There was a section that looked like a giant box of powdered sugar had spilled over.  Lots of deer prints in the frozen slush, and also coyote. They weren't dogs, because no one had been walking, and they disappeared into the mountain. Then running down, the sun came up through a gorgeous blue, its low angle streatching my shadow 30 feet ahead. 1hr 35min.

Ran the "monster", up Oakridge to the top of Gilead (26:05), over to Neffs (35:00) and home (53:00). This was a late afternoon run, after a Wendy's combo meal, and a few bites of my caramel Easter egg. My stomache felt a little fudgy.

Another run up "the Monster". It's a killer hill, but I topped at 26:15 (nothing great but always hard), then to Neff's in 8:30 (typical). However, I finished at 50:39. Don't know where I picked up the extra 2.5 minute, but no complaints. ~8.6 MPM 

Was good to meet up with Thursday group again after nearly two months. Needed the pace on the flat course. About 1:10, which is typical. Joanna is 6 mo's along, still going strong. Burke and Lisa there too. It was actually quite cold, at 32-degrees.

My last "long" before SL next Saturday. I hit the "monster" again, rimming out at 25:30. For some reason I believed my time was going to be a lot faster. NOT!  It's just a kill hill. When I reached Millcreek Canyon, I went up to rattlesnake. By then my legs were a little sore from almost 4 miles of steep up.  After a three minute rest, I embarked on a tempo: I run for 15 minutes up MCC, ending this time just past Millcreek Inn, which is 2 miles ~7.5 mpm. I walked for two minutes uphill, then turned and ran down, finishing back at rattlesnake in 13.5, or ~6.75 mpm. Then I settled down for a "relaxing" run home.  Total elevation gain 2000 ft.  I'm hoping that the "flat" of SL will feel easy and relaxing, so I can get in a groove and just run without crapping out anywhere. Hopefully my "monster" hill workouts will help me run strong up State Street.

Hit the "Monster", with a light rain in the afternoon. Wore the Lunaracer's as a test. Felt great, a little loose going down hill. Times were fast. Top of Gilead in 24:17. Finished in 47:17. I'm hoping I'll have that performance Saturday. Was planning the black sheep speed workout this morning, but awoke to 4" of snow.

Never done this before. I went out 4 miles in my heaviest shoes, Nimbus' at about 13 oz. Then I laced in some bolts (that's right, like 1/2" steel x 5" long bolts) to add another 4.5 oz per shoe. It was awkward for a while, but then they adjusted. I even had to look down to make sure they were still there. If nothing else, it proves the need to be "light on the feet". Train in the heavy's, run in the light's.  Went to water tower and back, 32:00 min.

Excellent weather.  Splits were 55:30 @ 8; 1:52:55 @ 16.  Half was 1:32:10. I knew I was in a little trouble with my knee. Caused me to limp a little, and loose my ~7 m.p.m pace. "Better life through chemistry" Tylenol helped; 1200 mg. Started slowing down 5th east until Liberty Park, then motivated again. A 3:15 was possible if I could just hold ~8 mpm . I came close with 3:16:35. At mile 23, Craig Romrell was willing to pace me up State Street, but I waved him off to help Burke Hills reach his 3:30. He missed it by 45 seconds.

Blisters were a thing, mostly on my right foot, which started to heat up way too early (like around 10 miles). The 5-toe socks were good. Will use them again.  I needed to run more tempo distances to toughen my feet up to "push-off and strike" at that pace. Recreation speed doesn't toughen up the feet.  Need a few 10-15 tempo runs at 7 mpm. 

My half time was 5 minutes faster than last year 2009, yet I finished 2.5 minutes slower overall. I didn't perform so well in the last half. Maybe I went out a little too fast. Should have held back some. Pete Petersen passed me at 17. He can  hold the pace consistently whereas my 2nd half time slows down about 10 minutes. 

Around the block - mixed in some walks to recover after Saturday.

Slow but  necessary to push through the stiffness I still feel from Saturday. Nice cool morning with a little rain.

The stiffness from last Saturday's marathon slowed me down as I attempted a 14 mile run up millcreek canyon this morning. I had to turn around after only 4 miles. But later this evening, I successfully kicked out 7 more miles in 56 minutes and felt much better. I ejoyed watching the sky change colors as the sun went down. Ogden Marathon is in three weeks. I need to focus on tempo runs. 

10 miles, 1hr & 19.5 min. The last 2.5 miles uphill were at ~7.25 pace. I could have kicked in earlier but my right ham string is just too darn tight. It's not all from the marathon, but is a recurring problem that may be related to my patela tendon and screws. The left leg is good. So, it's just one of those things to live with and do the best I can. That caramel cashew shake I had last night did not help me get going this morning.

Started out good, and progressively got slower & slower & slower still. I finished at ~ 7.8 mpm but It honestly felt like a crawl. Shouldn't have eaten that whole big chocolate bar last night. My right leg from the knee to the hip was in pain. Not that it had anything to do with chocolate, but it didn't help.  It snowed! I droped my truck off at the shop for inspection, ran 2 miles to where the Thursday group starts at 6:00 AM, but they had already left. Their time must have changed to 5:45. So I followed the route through holliday, as the full moon poked through large billowy clouds that were still dropping snow. None on the road, but 1 1/2 inches on the lawns and cars, providing some water for the run. So by the time I reached home after 10.8 miles, I climbed 600 feet.