track fan

1:19:42 - not a bad run to City Creek Canyon and back home.  Not bad considering that despite my pleading with him not to Dean gave me this horrible cold that he has had since we got home from San Diego.  I am really tired, and the hills were a little harder than usual because I couldn't catch my breath.  I am bummed because I was planning on going over to some friends house for some black-eye peas and collard greens (Southern good luck meal) today, and I just really don't feel well.  I will continue to take my vitamin C, zinc and rest ... hopefully I will feel better tomorrow.

Happy New Year everyone. 

48:32 - run to Liberty park 1 3/4 laps and back.  I debated on whether to run today or not -- I am working from home because I feel pretty bad.  My throat hurts so bad it kept me up last night.   But, I hardly ever miss a run unless I am bed ridden, so I got out and ran.  It was about 15F and sunny.  I did not feel too bad while I was running, except that the uphills were a little more difficult than usual (maybe because of the temp, maybe because I can't breath out of my nose).  Good news was that it wasn't uncomfortable, and I sure did get rid of a lot of phlegm when I stopped running - I think that is a good thing, I definately don't need any more ;-).

It is supposed to be pretty miserable here in the valley by Friday, high winds and rain/snow ... be careful everyone!

I have decided not to run today - my cold is much worse, and I have decided (after a heated discussion with Dean) that I would rather take a day off and have some good days of running - then not and having a few more days of mediocre running.  Dean and I always approach running while sick differently, he takes time off whenever he is sick.  I usually run through sickness (when I can) - my colds last longer, but I have always thought it was worth it.  But today, I feel so bad, that I really don't want to wear myself down anymore.  I hope that I can salvage some of the day and get some work done, this is not a good time to be sick (work-wise)!  In a couple of weeks I am going to U of Arizona to give a seminar there, and I am not done with my talk yet.

 Run safe, have fun!
 

ok ... I told myself that as soon as I could eat again, I could run again.  Well, yesterday I almost ate two meals (I did not finish dinner but ate 3/4 of it).  It is not that my stomach as been upset - it is that my throat has been hurting so badly that I haven't been able to swallow.  Anyway, I got out to run - hoping beyond hope that I could even do a long run.  ha ha.  I was so tired within 20 mins that I wasn't even sure I would be able to run home. 

Hoping that I am still on the mend, and have not set myself back even further ... I hate getting sick.  And this time was one of the worst ever.  I did not even go into work 2 days last week (and I NEVER miss work, I was back at work 1/2 time a week after having major surgery last year).  

 Stay healthy bloggers.
 

Yippeee.  I still coughed for 10 mins while waiting for the light to turn at 400S, but overall I felt much better on my run today.  I would not say I am "well" - but I have managed to eat almost 2 meals/day (though I still can't taste them at all) over the past 3 days, and I worked over 12 hours yesterday, so I feel like I can try to run again.  Greg and I decided that I would just take it day-by-day this week and pick up on Sunday where I left off.  I will be travelling almost every week for the next few weeks, so it might be a bit of a challange to stay healthy, but I am planning on trying my very best!!

Hope all is well in bloggersville.

easy miles, still sick.  Dean just went to the doctor and got an antibiotic ... I might have to get on some too ... I am giving a talk tomorrow, and then next week I will be in Tucson visiting U of Arizona and then to visit my coach (and the Mcmillan elite team) in Flagstaff. 

I just want to run my long run this weekend!

Take care bloggers. 

another easy run.  I actually felt pretty good while I was running (hence why I went for 6 miles) ... but after I stopped running I coughed so hard and for so long that I threw up - wow, what is up with that.  I am hoping the antibiotics I am getting this afternoon are going to help. 

More snow is on its way -- probably it will snow until I leave for the desert next week!

a little faster today - about 8:50 pace.  Tried to take it easy, if the antibiotics start working, and I get enough rest today, I am hoping to actually run a little long tomorrow and start getting back to where I was before I got sick.  

1:10:02 -- yes, for the first time in almost two weeks a run where I felt good at the end (I only coughed for about 5 mins at the end)!   I really wanted to run 80` or even 90`, but I decided to take a more conservative tact and move my schedule around for the week to allow another day or two of antibiotics to do their thing.  So, I will try to do my long run on Thursday while in Tucson - I am giving an invited seminar on Wednesday at the U of Arizona, but Thursday will have a little time to do a run - in warmer weather, flatter terrain, and lower elevation ... how cool is that!  On Thursday I am heading up to Flagstaff to see Greg McMillan and the McMillanelite team ... after a tremendous showing today at the USATF 1/2 marathon championships I am sure they will be in good spirits. 
 

56:47 - two laps around Liberty Park + 8 x 100m strides.  Felt ok ... a little tired at the end, but better than I have felt in two weeks.

1:19:42 -- pretty run up city creek canyon.  When I started it was cold, with a strong headwind.  Started snowing when I turned around (about 41 mins into the run up the canyon) -- nice tailwind on the way back, snowing pretty heavy.  Very beautiful, not peaceful because of the wind, but beautiful nonetheless.  

I am leaving for Tucson (nice balmy 50F), and then to Flagstaff 7000ft, and about the same weather as here.  I will be getting quite a few flora/fauna changes over the next few days!

Happy running everyone. 

1:28:52, very nice run here in Tucson, about 75% of it was on my favorite running surface (for training, probably not for racing) -- hard packed sand.  Pretty flat, very beautiful.  I am actually heading back home tonight - my plans ended up changing and my trip to Flagstaff has been postponed.

Happy Thursday Bloggers.

1:02:51 (probably more like 7 and 1/4) - ran to Liberty Park and then ran a 30 min steady state run (about 2 and 3/4 laps until I hit 30 mins) about 10 secs faster on each subsequent lap (about 8:10 to 7:50 pace).  Felt good. Ran pretty slowly home ... all and all pretty good run.

51:28 - probably closer to 6, but not quite.  While many of the bloggers were running painfully fast today - I was running painfully slow.  My legs were a little sore, and mainly I wanted to make sure today's run was more for recovery - as I am planning on 12 miles tomorrow.  It was nice down at Liberty Park, for the first time in 3 months I could run on the outside loop - the snow had melted for about 3/4 of the loop.  Since there is a new snow storm heading in tonight, I thought I would do some grass running while I could!  With my tight achilles and PF problems it is debatable whether or not running on the grass helps (since it works the tiny stablizer muscles on the foot and ankle) - but it slows me down and the surface is much more forgiving so it seems easier on my legs overall.

Hope all the racing bloggers had a good day - so far the results look great - congratulations!

1:44:14 - Ran to Sugarhouse Park (3.1 miles) with Dean and then did 6 laps with Anna, and she drove me home (which would make it closer to 11.6 miles I think).  Felt pretty good, fair amount of hills which got harder near the end, but we did run the last lap faster (around 8:35-8:44 pace/lap and then ran 8:26 on the last one) so I guess I ran about the pace I should have been running.   This week should get me back to about where I should of been before I got sick, so I am happy.

Hope all the racing bloggers have a nice recovery day!

 

Somewhere between 56 and 60 mins. Why so slow? Well, there is about 9 or 10" of snow on the ground and because of the holiday the plows are slow. Dean had an appointment this morning at 8:30 - so I got out at 7 to shovel out our cars. Within 2 hours there was another 2-3".  So, Liberty park was great (there are two guys who do nothing else but plow the street and sidewalks there!) - so I did two laps around the park. The run home was a disaster - even with my traction spikes on I could not run uphill without slipping. It was tough, the first mile back was just slick, but the last 1/2 mile was worse than just slick because there was more traffic. I saw two cars spin out, and since we all were sharing the road, I actually had to stop when cars came downhill, for fear they would hit me by accident - I did not turn off my watch, and that dear friends, is why I don't know how long it actually too for me to get home, and why it was so slow ;-)

It was an adventure and I am glad I got a run in, albeit a slow one!!

1:23:18 ... probably a little longer than 9, but not by much.  11th to City Creek Canyon and 2 miles up.  It was about 9F when I started this morning with a pretty strong headwind out and up the canyon -- it took 14 mins until I could feel the fingers on one of my hands!!  I even wore my Nike long sleeve jacket ($9.99 from Ross a couple years ago) - the only time I have worn a long sleeve jacket on a run longer than 5 miles was when I was visiting my brother in Minnesota a few year ago (it was -10F that day ... brrrrr).  I had just the right gear though, I stayed pretty toasty without overheating.  It was BEAUTIFUL today!!  I did almost trip on my way down the canyon, I was trying to figure out the deer/moose tracks coming up from the creek ... they sure do a lot of criss-crossing down the mountain!

Happy Wednesday bloggers.

1:05:54 Ran to Liberty Park as wu then ran a 35` steady state run (3 laps around the park) pace was a little slower than I had hoped (averaged about 8:15 running each one about 10 secs faster than the last) but I was running by feel and there was snow and ice on about 75% of the loop. With the snowfall that is expected over the next week (the radio yesterday said, "this weekend's snowfall will be reported in feet not inches") it should be interesting! Next week I will be in New Orleans - so my training should improve slightly (although sleep and eating will be a little dicey).

Have a happy day bloggers.

1:26:50 -- easy run up Virginia to 11th and then up 1+ miles up City Creek Canyon.  Legs were pretty tired.  Good news was I did not feel any worse at the end than I did at the beginning!

Happy Friday! 

54:40 -- debated whether or not to take my watch today - but I am a creature of habit and put it on just before I left the house. I was dreading this run, I think because while I was doing my core workout and weights this morning I was SO tired I could just tell the run was going to be a struggle. My goal was to run as slowly as possible and just get "time on my feet". It ended up being better than I thought. The sun was out, it was not cold (about 24F or so) and all and all I felt lucky to be out on such a beautiful day. It did not feel "good" (as I was tired) - but if I absolutely had to, I could have gone out and run the loop again - so I will count today as a success! Especially since there is a big storm coming in and we might not see much sun for the next few days - though we will see lots of snow!

Happy weekend bloggers - this weekend (and then for 3 more weekends)  Dean and I are in our "winter bliss" as Track and Field fans - yes, it is the start of the indoor track season -- and there are 2 hours of T&F on TV for 4 weekends!!

1:49:18l; 30:52 (from my house to Sugarhouse Park + .5 miles in the park), 6 x 1.5 mile hilly loops (12:47, 12:18, 12:41, 12:27, 12:38, 12:34).  Felt better than last week (probably because last week we ran the last 2 much harder than today).  I still have 2 more days of fairly long distance  before I get a day off, plus I am traveling again, so today was exactly the right amount - both pace and mileage. 

 Nice day weather-wise, on the warm side (40F), but still lots of snow so the park was full of snowboarders and sledders ...

56:55, 6 miles + 12 x 100m strides.  I was a whimp bloggers, I meant to do half of my 100 meter strides into the wind and the other half with a tail wind - but once I got my warm-up done (into the wind) I just couldn't do it -- so, I did 4 into the wind and the other 8 with a tailwind.  

Fell about a 1/2 mile from home, the ice is super slick today, probably because of the rain last night.  Luckily - I fell on my backside (which has a lot of cush) and not on my wrist (which is still sore from when I broke it in September).  I am pretty sore though, and not looking forward to sitting on my bruise for 4 hours to New Orleans.  

I would like to express my condolences to all the LDS bloggers for loss of a great man, President Hinckely.  

1:15:33.  Wow, what a run.  Ran down St. Charles Street in New Orleans - from the French Quarter to Audobon Park (through the Garden District).  Nice because more than 75% of it was on a dirt trail - well, actually it was on the muddy area between the trolley tracks, but much nicer than sidewalks ... after about 25 mins I saw other runners (once I hit the Garden District) so I knew I had found a good route.

Tough day.  My flight was WAY delayed yesterday, so I got into New Orleans really late (about 6 hours later than scheduled, after about 12 hours of travel time for a 4 hour flight).  They lost my luggage, but thankfully got it to me by 6AM so I could still go on a run before I had to get to a meeting (and give my talk in my suit instead of my jeans which physicians seem to warrant).  Did not get much sleep (probably about 3 - 4  hours) - but I survived the day (my talk went well) and got my run in, so it was a success!

Oh, it was very hot and humid on my run today ... and I did not have to worry about falling on my already painful/bruised hind area (from my slip on the ice yesterday).

Run well bloggers.

1:09:50.  15` wu 40` steady state run and then back to hotel.  Basically ran the same route as Tuesday - but I felt MUCH better.  I got 6 hours sleep both Tuesday and Wednesday, not easy to do when the days start early and end late.  I wanted to run a little further today, but I needed to wait until the sun came up (I did not feel comfortable running in New Orleans in the dark), and I had to catch my plane ... 

I can't wait to get back to my healthy eating - not too much vegetarian fare in NO, and what there was too rich for me, I need some vegetables!

Keep warm!