track fan

2:44:34.  I ran a looped course down on the "flatter" trails.  I did multiple loops so I could evaluate how things were feeling -- Greg gave me a wide choice today (16-20 miles depending on how I felt).  I was sort of hoping to get 20, but my leg was so sore pretty much from the get-go, that I thought it was dumb to chase mileage.  I finished strong and, except for the stupid leg, I felt pretty good.  I am hoping John can fix me on Tuesday and I can have a strong 22 miler next weekend.

We had 15 people over last night for a pre-race meal!  I did not think our house would fit that many, but it was a perfect fit.  And FUN.  Maybe too much fun ;-).

So, woweee  Shalane Flanagan ran a 1:09:58 half today in Miami, according to the interview with Kara Goucher, all three of teammates (Shalane, Kara and Lisa Uhl -nee Kohl) trained through this race, with 120 miles last week, horrible flights into Miami, and no rest.  This is boding really well for my prediction that Shalane will win the womens race at the trials (Kara ran a 1:12:59 and Lisa ran a 1:15:24).  The men's winner ran a 1:05:38 (Simon Bairu) with Brent Vaughn a close second 1:05:41 (this is 3 minutes off his PR, btw) and then Tim Nelson rounded out the top three in 1:07:44 -- by the way, all three of these guys are also teammates training with Schumacher in Portland.  

Hope you are all doing well!! 

AM: (7.5 miles, 1:03:49).  12 x 1` w/1` recovery.  I was in a very big hurry this morning, I was on the schedule to give lab meeting, it was pouring (and 40F) ... and I just got a late start.  I would have liked to run 9 or 10, but in the end it was good.

This afternoon Dean and I went up to Phoenix to see John (it rained the whole way, yucky rain too).  It hurt like the dickens, but I think it is going to help a lot!  No fast people sightings, but we did plan our Houston meet-up - John is going out to help Ryan Hall (and all the McMillan folks probably) -- it is going to be so exciting to watch the trials, I can hardly wait (except I am scared witless about my own preparedness for the marathon) ...

PM: Easy 4.  By the time we got home it was way too dark to run outside (and still pouring, though I would have preferred that to the gym), so I went to the Y to run on the dreaded-dreadmill ... man, how can 4 miles feel like soooooo long?

I hope you are all doing ok, I am sure the snow is falling in Utah (or will be soon) - all you skiers are going to have a blast!!  Stay safe, have fun!! 

1:06:41 ... a little sore today, probably from treatment yesterday.  The best part was that I felt like I had full extension of my hip today, it feels better than it has for a long time.  I am going to see John every week from now until the marathon -- even if it does mean a long drive.  Planning on a very very hilly 22 miles this weekend, after fatiguing myself with a tempo run tomorrow ... we'll see how it goes.

It is beautiful here today -- snow on the mountains and drier than it has been in days.

Happy Wednesday bloggers! 

AM: (12 miles, 1:34:05).  28:18wu/30:18cd, 5 mile tempo run (target: 6:55-7:13).  

Splits: 7:10, 7:10, 7:05, 7:05, 6:57

I was VERY surprised with this run.  I was apprehensive of the new target times (based on my 1/2 marathon a couple of weeks ago), they just sounded so fast ... I had told myself that I should probably not be disappointed if I ran in the 7:15 or even the 7:20 range for most of the miles, and that if I could just finish at 7:12 pace it would be good (the last time I had done this particular workout was April 2010 and I had run 7:21, 7:18 7:16, 7:13, 7:08).  When I saw my first mile split I told myself to slow down, but somehow I didn't .. and then, inexplicably I somehow just kept speeding up?  wow.  Even the long 3 mile uphill felt good today.  I really do feel that John working on my hip and adductor has helped with my leg extension ... wow.  Now if I can just find MP and hold it ;-).

PM: easy 4.

I forgot to tell you about the pack of 7 coyotes I saw yesterday!!!  Seriously, a pack of 7 is quite an amazing sight ... I have to admit I was momentarily a little nervous, but then I wasn't ;-).

Happy Thursday bloggers! 

maybe a little longer than 7.5, but not quite 8 miles (1:08:15) ... ran very easy and stopped to feed carrots to Dover the draft horse ....

Happiest of Fridays to you all, bloggers! 

AM: (8.5? miles, 1:19:23).  I have a feeling this was longer than 8.5, but not quite 9, so I will call it 8.5 ... it was a very easy run. I am still trying to recover from Thursday, and I am doing a super hard 22 miles tomorrow (in the mountains).  

PM: 4 miles easy.

Getting ready for Dean's Mom and his son to get here (they will be here on Monday), and we had a work party last night to attend, and another tonight.  Tonight is a white elephant party - they are fun.  I have one "funny" gift (a venom sucker -- seriously) and one more serious, a pretty angel Christmas tree ornament.  

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!!