track fan

1:03:06.  Easy run to Liberty Park 2 laps on grass outside of the park +5 mins and home.

AM (43:25, 5 miles).  Liberty Park.  I am pre-blogging my PM run because we are on our way out the door and I will doing my next run in Loveland CO.  We are stopping in Loveland on our way to Denver so we can do our long run tomorrow around Boyle Lake ... the Cherry Creek trail through downtown Denver is ok ... but we will have many days to run it!  Next weekend we will running in the Colorado National Monument Park!

PM (3.5 miles, 30:12). Well, we got a rocky start ... we left town late and then got a very scary flat tire outside of Rock Springs -- there was not much shoulder to change the tire, and, of course, we had to unpack all the camping stuff in order to get to the spare tire!! Upshot was it was obvious we weren't going to make it to Loveland in time for me to run there - so I asked Dean to pull off the freeway at around 6:30 (outside of Rawlings) we found a dirt road that was used to either get to the cattle that were grazing on BLM land or to access the gas pipeline ... I changed clothes in the car and then went for a run - 16 mins out and 14 mins and change back! The out part was uphill into a very very stiff headwind. Funny, I told Dean I was going to tell you guys about how he waited until he saw a sign that said "strong winds possible, next 5 miles" then he pulls over!! It felt pretty hard core to do this, by the way ;-).

Have a good week bloggers ... I may or not be blogging every day, things will be busy at the conference, but I will be running and wishing you all happy days!

1:45:01.  Loveland Colorado.  Ran with Dean - we found what looked like a nice dirt path around Boyd Lake, that petered out about 2.5 miles into the run.  After running around a while we found a concrete bike path (I really depise concrete for running).  I ran along side the sidewalk for a while, then talked Dean into retracing our steps and running the last 50 mins on the dirt path in the opposite direction.  The only downside to the other direction was the lack of water and no cover at all from the sun.  I am pretty sure the last 4 miles of our run was in the mid 90's (even though it was pretty early in the morning).  Dean was talking about this pain in his hip (yes hip) that he gets when he runs with me on long runs - because the pace is so slow for him I am sure.  Because we were hot and needed to check out of our hotel room the last 2 miles of our run was pretty quick (likely sub 8 pace).  I felt pretty sick when we finished.

We are in Denver now, I have a 3 hour meeting tonight and will miss the opening mixer (7000 statisticians is a site to see, I tell you!). 

1:03:02 - very early morning run on the Cherry Creek bike path to the South Platte River greenway.  Legs were tired, mind was tired, many many meetings.  I am on two committees (associated with the organization that hosts this conference - called the American Statistical Association) - I am in meetings from about 7AM to 9PM every night.  Business meetings, council meetings, traveling course meetings, meetings about meetings ;-).

Hope all is well in Utah and beyond!

I am pre-blogging my afternoon run - I will have to sneak an extra 4 miles in between the conference and my PhD advisor's retirement party tonight.

AM: (7+ miles, 1:05:44) ran with Dean and a friend/colleague of ours that is at University of Alabama now ... very easy run.  The weather here is wonderful, it was pretty hot (100F+) on Sunday but now no warmer than high 80's.

PM: (4 miles, 32:47) ran in a thunderstorm ... did not have time to avoid it, the scary part was the lightening!  ran a bit harder than in the morning - mainly because I did not have much time and also because I wanted to get into some dry clothes!

1:01:27.  Out and back on the Cherry Creek bike path, 32 out 29 back (slightly downhill on the way back).  Tired today -- glad the conference is over.  Tonight we will be visiting my Mom and then tomorrow we will be hitting the road heading back to SLC, with a stop to camp for a couple nights along the way.  I will most likely need to do the 'stop along the way to do my PM run again' tomorrow.

Happy running bloggers.

AM: (6 miles, 52:50) ran with Dean in Fort Collins

PM: (3 + a bit, 27:35) ran at the campground at Colorado National Monument (almost dark by the time we got there)
 

1:02:47 ran up the road in the Monument area, beautiful (though pretty much uphill out and downhill back, though a long grade not steep).

More later -- whew hard run - 54:35 out 49:26 back!

AM: (1:06:54, 7.5 miles). Ran a hilly loop from my house up Virginia to 11th to City Creek Canyon then up 2nd. Felt really good today (a day off and sleeping in your own bed does wonders!). Just as I started my run these young guys from either Judge High or East High were running past my house. I ended up seeing them as I finished my run too - they were walking up one of the hills near my house and I past them. One of them decided to race me and sprinted by me! I laughed and said, "yes, but you had a rest!" - he said I needed to work on my sprint (I think that is what he said) -- this is probably true!

I have to run home today because Dean and I are having a string of bad luck and BOTH of our cars died last night!! Dean has some sort of electrical problem and my car overheated last night on the way home - it took me 1 1/2 hours to get 5 miles (because I would get 5 blocks and would have to stop and let it cool - then get 5 blocks ... etc.). I would have walked/ran home, but I had two dogs and groceries in the car. It was funny because I was upset with Dean for being unreachable - then I found out he had to run from work because his car wouldn't start (and this was after he had run 9 miles on the Dry Creek trail!). Anyway, I am not actually pre-blogging - but rather just estimating for myself how many miles I will need to run this evening!

PM: (30:36, 3.5 miles) - nice easy run home.   A little stiff at the beginning but felt pretty good at the end. 
 

Happy Tuesday Bloggers.

1:02:24 - this was actually longer than 7, I would guess 1/4 mile more ... but who knows, I just know it was longer than 7.  I think that most of the time lately I am under estimating my mileage ... but it is good for me, because I try really hard to run by feel and time and not by mileage and pace -- it keeps me healthier (as I don't try to push more than I should or run more than I should just to hit a mileage target).  Of course, when I run workouts (speed, tempo) then I will run on measured courses or the track -- but for the most part, I measure time on my feet and how I am feeling.  We'll see how that works next winter for my next target race - where I try to PR!!

My current running goals are to race as workouts until PF Chang's - where I hope to PR for the 1/2 marathon, then, next Spring I am running my first marathon -- The Napa Marathon!  Yippee, I think.  I will feel much better about my chances for running a good marathon if I can reach my goal pace for PF Chang's -- regardless, I need to run one marathon sometime, it might as well be when I am 46.

These are my ruminations -- inspired by Lybi's last week!
 

AM: (7+, 1:00:52). Same route as yesterday (so a little longer than 7). I was supposed to do the last 15` fast, but the last 5 mins crosses some pretty busy intersections. I timed the run to finish the fast part before I got to the major intersections. Overall, I was almost 2 mins faster than yesterday. I think my whole run was faster, but I would estimate I was running 7:35 for the fast part (uphill). It felt pretty good really ... I have been working on form and arm carriage and when I concentrate on how to hold my arms I can really improve my stride and relaxation.

PM: (10+, 1:32:03). OUCH -- I got lost and could not find the car place!! I am such a dork. I can not believe this. I was running around downtown for over an hour and a half while it got dark (not in the best of neighborhoods) -- in my jog bra and shorts ... so even though I was tired I was too embarassed to walk around, I had to keep running. I am so tired right now. I was supposed to run 40`!! I guess I will be cutting my run tomorrow a little bit short ... dork dork dork.  i am glad Greg is with his Olympic athletes this week, I am sure he would not be as kind as to call me "just" a dork.

46:16.  I did not feel as bad as I thought I would.  I thought I had run about 9 miles last night, but today I found that I ran about 10 (based on mapmyrun) - I tried to save the map so you guys could see my circuitous route, but I lost it and think I would rather just put the silly mess behind me.  Maybe I will post it later.  I guess it will all be ok ... same overall mileage for the week, just distributed a little different.  I am glad that, at least for now, I don't feel I did any major damage to my training.

Happy Friday bloggers.
 

AM: (4.5+, 42:38) - a little longer than 4.5 - probably 4.7 or so. I am pre-blogging because we have an open house today and we have to stay away most of the day.

PM: (3.5, 31:20).  Ran faster on the uphill home that the down hill out (though both were pretty slow!).  Glad when I was done running for the day -- it was a busy day and a busy week.

My car is leaking (even after a new radiator) -- I have to take it BACK on Monday - here is hoping I don't get lost again ;-).

Happy weekend bloggers.

1:44:10 (55:22/49:48, at least 8:18 on the way back depending on how long). 

at least 12 ... maybe a little longer.  Dean and I wanted to run up at Jeremy Ranch road, but I80 was closed and Dean wanted to double today and did not want to take the time to drive up East Canyon and come in the back way ... so we ended up going to run on the Jordan River Parkway.  We started at Redwood Park and I ran to 54:22 to Germania Park and then turned around (about 6 miles?) and ran back.  It was pretty easy since it was the flattest (and lowest elevation) run I have done in a couple months!  The coolest thing of all was that I ran into Brent and he was sweet enough to slow down and ride along side me for a mile or so!  I was really trying to run slowly on the way out, and it was easy to run slowly since my legs were a little tired, but when I turned around I just started picking it up.  I could not read the road markings well, and was suprised when I thought I was running 9 min pace or slower (because I was reading the wrong paint markers) - because it felt much faster than that!!  When I finally found the mile 2 mark I realized I was running about 8 min pace (it felt pretty easy, just faster than I thought 9 min pace should feel ;-) ) so I eased up a little.  All and all, I felt pretty strong today, I felt I could have run farther and faster, which was my target on how to run! yippee.  Much better than I would have felt up at Jeremy Ranch Road I am sure, but I think I have benefited a lot by the runs up there.

Happy Sunday bloggers. 

AM: (58:04, 7+ hilly miles). 5 laps on the road at Sugarhouse Park (1.4 miles each lap). Wanted to run easy since I ran a little harder on Sunday - but the problem with the day after a day off is that I am just not tired enough ;-). I really tried to slow down, but I seemed to go faster every lap, I am either in better shape that I thought, or just having a difficult time finding pace (which won't be good running a 1/2 marathon as a workout). Anyway, paces were (11:50 (8:27), 11:29 (8:12), 11:34 (8:15), 11:13 (8:00), 11:01 (7:52)) + ~ 100m in parking lot to and from car :26, :28

I am pre-blogging my PM run because it is likely to be pretty late by the time I get out - I am preparing for a course I am teaching in Chicago next week and it is due tonight.

PM: (4.5 miles, 41:23).  Felt pretty good!  3 x 1.5 mile laps on the grass at Liberty Park.

Happy Running bloggers

59:20 ... very slow recovery run today.  Yesterday was a good workout, but I was pretty tired today.  The good thing about running later in the evening (7:30 PM) is that it is cooler, the bad thing is I don't get as many hours recovery between runs.  Since I was running so slowly I am pretty sure I did not get 7 miles in the alloted 60 mins -- so I am estimating about 6.5.

AM: (7 hilly miles, 1:01:24). Ran up Virginia to 11th and to City Creek Canyon and back through the Avenues - kept it slow and controlled. I am pretty tired today (physically and mentally).

Pre-blogging my PM run, as it is a very very busy day today - especially since I will be leaving work early tomorrow to get to Logan in time to pick up race packets! Dean is going to run the race too, I think both of us are looking more to get a good workout in than to have particularly good races ... it will be our last race in Utah for a while (at least as residents).

PM: (4.5 miles, 41:53) - very easy run on the grass at Liberty Park.  Still a little tired.  Hoping to get a good night sleep tonight (and tomorrow)!

36:02 - easy run to Liberty Park, a little on the grass and home.  Hope my legs feel a little more "lively" tomorrow.

Great race, very nicely done, mile markers in the right place, water where they said, and more spectators than I had expected. They had more runners than in the past (I heard later) - which made the start a little rough (for me) - I started too far back and it took a while things to spread out. I was planning on taking the first few miles pretty easy anyway - so it wasn't too bad, but still a little frustrating. All and all I am excited about my middle miles - and in retrospect I wish I had pushed a little harder on the first downhill miles as I suspect I could have broken 1:39, but this race was more about checking my fitness than anything, and since I have not done any over-distance yet (my long runs have not been very long) I was worried about how I was going to do on the final miles - I was pleasantly suprised that the final miles weren't too bad after all!

1: 8:03 (lots o' people)

2: 7:49

3: 7:42

4: 7:42

5: 7:30 (had decided that I needed to start picking it up here, it was feeling really easy up to now)

6/7: 14:53 (water stop - there was one at 3 but I passed it up - I missed the mile 6 marker - 7:27 average for the two miles)

8: 7:26 (course flattens out, I started passing tons of people on this stretch)

9: 7:33

10: 7:25

11: 7:36 (start of gradual uphill climb)

12: 7:46 (suprised I was not slower here, I felt like I was crawling, but I was still passing people)

13.1: 7:52 - last mile was about 7:09, though it was pretty downhill I was still suprised. I couldn't really tell where the finish line was (even though I saw the lights, I thought it was a turn light thing like at Des News) - I saw Dean and he was yelling "250 meters to go" and I pushed it in.

I was pretty happy overall, I did better than I had expected even with the lax start. Next time I will know to take the hills a little harder!

I saw Sasha, Paul, Chad, and some other bloggers, it was a great day. I couldn't wait to get home and see how the rest of you did at Park City and Hobble Creek - Congratulations everyone!

40:30 (4.5 miles) ran to Liberty Park and then around the grass until I hit 20` or so and then ran home.  I resisted the temptation to run longer - and as I hit the hills on the way home I was glad I did, since my legs were pretty tired.  Not bad though, my legs don't feel nearly as trashed as they did after Des News.  

Happy Monday bloggers!  I am on my way the city of my birth, Chi-town, the windy city. 

54:36.  Nice run along Lakeshore Drive.  I really really really wanted to run longer today -- but today is still a recovery day.  I guess it is better to want to go farther/faster than drag through a run ;-).   All I have to do is put up with one more day of super easy then back to normal. 

The weather here is really nice - not too humid, about 65 - 70F and sunny.  I really do love this city.  Second to DC it is my favorite "big" city to run in.  I ran my first 5K race here a few years ago.

Happy Tuesday bloggers.  Hope everyone is recovering well.  

1:01:23.  Ran out 31:33 and then back on Lakeshore Drive ... I did not really realize I was picking it up until I stopped ... felt really good.  So good, I will most likely run a double tomorrow.

It was much warmer/humid today (even though I was out almost 1 1/2 hours earlier) - there were so many people out, it was very cool!  Both yesterday and today there were open water swimmers out - and I had visions of being a triathlete -- or maybe just a swimmer, mainly because they looked to me to be so much more comfortable ... but their 'uniforms' would hard for me to get used to, and I would have to get rid of my phobia about "yucky" bottoms of rivers and such (when I was young I was swimming in Minnesota and was covered in leeches -- I have been a little freaked out about fresh water swimming ever since).  Nice dreams anyway!

Happy running bloggers

AM: ( 1:02:18, 7 miles).  Ran along the Lakeshore path (again).  Still cool!

PM: (35:39, 4 miles).  I decided to run the other direction today -- the good part was that the path was along the marina, was not concrete (mixture between asphalt and grass).  The downside was goose poop and tiny black bugs ... tons of geese ... and the grass was covered.  If in the next week I end up really sick and the doctors can't tell what is wrong with me, please my blogger friends - just make sure you tell the doctor for me ... goose poop.

In all seriousness, I am glad I finally got my first double done since last week - I both was looking forward to getting back on my typical "schedule" and dreading how I would feel ... I felt pretty darn good.

Tomorrow I will be back home ...

57:29 - wow, Chicago lived up to its nickname today -- it was so windy on the way out that it felt like I was running uphill in sand.  I was tired anyway from the week of little sleep (probably 3 hours a night - I just couldn't sleep well), long days, and 11 miles yesterday, but man, it was a hard run today.  A lot of people who ran too hard (and passed me)  ended up walking about 3 miles into it (it was really really windy).  Even after I turned around the tailwind did not help as much as the headwind had hurt ... but, it was a pretty morning (really humid, but that is Chicago as well) and I enjoyed my last run there for a while.

Have a great weekend bloggers.

AM: (45:17, 5 miles).  Ran down to Liberty Park and ran one + .25 lap on the outside on the grass.  Still a little tired today!

PM: (33:39, 3.5+).  Another run to Liberty Park and a little in park and then home.  I was tired on the uphill, but it really wasn't too bad. 

Have a nice Sunday bloggers.

1:48:43.  Ran at Jeremy Ranch Road.  Did not actually keep track of my out versus back time because I ran with my friend Anna.  She was running 20 today and started at Big Canyon somewhere and ran to Jeremy Ranch Road from there - we met up 3.7 miles into her run (4.5 miles into mine).  I turned around at the 4.5 mile mark to run with her to the beginning of the road (where we had brought her some water) and then she and ran back out, me to the 1.5 mile mark (she ran a little further without me) and then back to the car (to make it 12 for me, and 12 for her - though she had 8 to go to get back to her car).  It was really nice to have company on this run - it was much easier with someone to talk to!  This was the easiest Jeremy Ranch Road run I have ever had!

Next week is going to be starting a new phase of training - and it should be interesting as I will be increasing volume slightly, and intensity too.

Happy Labor Day weekend bloggers.