track fan

1:51:36.  12:39 to Buffalo Park, 5 x 2 mile loops, 17:23, 17:17, 17:29, 17:28, 17:11, 12:06 from Buffalo Park.  I wanted to do some of the really cool trail runs (although none of this run was on the road, only the first and last 1.5 miles is actually on "trail" - the rest is just dirt road) -- but this was my first long run at altitude and ALL of the other trail runs are up mountains, most of them climbing from 500 - 1000ft (from 7100 where I am to ~8200 and some even higher).  I decided to acclimate before I tried any of those.  Plus, I did not want to worry about water (the altitude makes me thirsty).  So, I ended up running the boring, but probably the smarter, course.  The hills were a little tough, but I just slowed down and made sure I ran super easy at the beginning ... you could tell where I started to get tired of not having enough oxygen :-) - but then I rallied. 

I hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July!

AM: (9 miles, 1:18:52). Beautiful run, from the Easy Oldham Trail to Fat Man's Loop on the Pipeline/Forces of Nature Trail.  It was an easy trail, not too rocky and not too much elevation gain (maybe 500ft overall). 

PM: (easy 4).

Down to the wire with my grant -- just one more day ....

I hope you are all having a wonderful July!!

1:04:32 (31:29/33:02).  Pipeline Trail to Fat Mans Trail and back.   Not sure, but I think the overall net elevation gain was around 600 ft (starting at 7100 and going up to 7700) - most of it on the way back (as you can see from my spits).  All and all I was pretty much equal effort for both the out and back portions, it was a great run.

Final grant sections for the day include the introduction to the resubmission (where I get to point out to the reviewers how much their tearing my grant apart last time made this one so much better -- which is true actually), and final finishing touches to my research plan.  This submission is very much improved from last year.  Then I have a month to rewrite it a little to submit as a different type of grant in August.  One of these will get funded, of that I am positive.  There are pluses and minuses to each type of funding mechanism  .... either way though, it will be all good, and make a significant contribution to GI Cancer research! yippee.

Have a wonderful day bloggers, hope you are just warm enough to feel happy!

I forgot to tell you about the BBQ at Coach Greg's house the other night, it was really fun.  I got to talk to Ian Torrance about his most recent (of 7 I believe) Western States race, Brett Gotcher about his training in general and a whole bunch of new faces on the McMillan Elite team -- it is going to be a good year for them, they have really got a bunch of superstars!!

AM: (10.5, 1:29:34).  Ran up the Lower Oldham trail to Buffalo Park.  Ran one loop, was very slow, 18:13.  I was debating what to do today, Greg wanted me to take it easy this week and try to acclimate to the altitude, but I have been feeling good (other than not being able to breath going uphill) - so I was thinking maybe I would just run some 200s. But after seeing that pathetic first lap (after running 5 of those on Sunday almost 45 secs faster) - I decided to just push it a little.  I guess I ended up running a improptu Steady State run - albeit 25-35 secs/2 miles slower than my usual ones would be.  I ran a 16:04, 16:01 (~8:02/8:00 pace), not bad for 7100+ ft I guess.  It felt ok, not hard, but not as easy as my 18:13 did ;-).

PM: (4 miles easy).

We drove down to Phoenix to see the miracle worker (John), we drove down with Haim.  Haim is an Israeli elite athlete who has been training up here with Greg and his group for a few months now.  He is a very funny guy and the 2 hours went by very fast!  On the way home it got late so Dean stopped on the side of the road and waited for Haim and I to run our afternoon run.  Haim was sweet and ran with me the whole time, even though I was running way too slowly for him! We almost drove Alicia Shay (nee Cragg) too, which would have been awesome, I have been dying to know when she will be racing again.  Anyway, she wanted to get down before 2PM so she drove on her own.  We did see her there (John saw us all at his house!! what a doctor!).  Pretty cool, Alicia looks fit and hopefully we will see some fast 10Ks this fall!!

 My grant was sent off to the bean counters at the U of A yesterday - they will be electronically submitting it this afternoon (I hope) and then -- I can forget about it for 6 months until the reviews come back! yippeee~

1:10:06.  Could have been 8, so I am splitting the difference.  OUCH.  I decided not to take the easy trail today and instead climbed up (and I do mean up) the Rocky Ridge Trail (the name says it all) toward the Schultz Creek Trail.  My legs are fried, my lungs are fried.  I am just plan ole fried.  Life is good.

Happy Friday blogger friends!

AM: (8.5 miles, 1:16:48).  Yikes ... I tried to take it easy today, but the hills are everywhere and it is hard to find any trails that don't climb.  Today I went to almost 8000ft - it was gradual, but it was hard.  I was having such a hard time the last 10` of the run that I am either going to not run my 2nd run today or only run 90` tomorrow.  I am just not recovering the way I should.  I really want to try some workouts next week, and I think I might sacrifice some mileage to ensure I can get some faster stuff in next week.  

Another weekend, another BBQ ... this one is a going away BBQ for Haim and Dafi - who are heading back to Israel next week.  We have a very special guest coming into town tomorrow -- you guys know her, we'll see if you can guess who she is ... she (and her children) will be staying with us for a week while she trails with the McMillan Elite and other fast runners up here!

If I run later, it will be ~3.5 miles ...

Have a very nice weekend bloggers!!