The Renegade

Good race today! I got there to the start line a bit later than I would've liked (15 minutes before start time) but it all worked out. First mile was a 5:23, which was insanely surprising because last year I opened in 6:43, and this felt pretty relaxed. The lead pack went out in 5:05 tho. I was running with Austin Hunt for a half mile (who is actually my second cousin) but then he slowed down more. For a couple miles I was in no man's land, and ran a 5:55 and 6:00. Seeing those splits, I kept telling myself to relax and maybe run a couple 6:20s, because I would've been happy to average that anyways. But it never happened, I just felt good. Pretty soon Eric Nelso caught me and passed me, and I spent about a mile 10-20 meters behind him. That was a 5:54. then we hit a larger downhill slope (the whole canyon is down) and I took advantage of it and let myself go and passed him again, then threw in another surge a little bit after. That mile was 5:40. Then I caught a college age guy that I had never seen before with a 5:47. At this point, six miles into the race, my heart rate surged and I started feeling more tired, and in the same mile the  downhill kind of levelled off into flatness. I was not looking forward to the hill at all (about 300m hill) and I sort of suffered going up it, running like 7:40 pace. Eric alread had passed me then. I hit 7 with a 6:10 mile. Then I got to the aid station at the top and had to walk for a few seconds, and the other guy passed me again. I really suffered on that road to McDonalds and ran a 7:17. The last full mile had more downhill but I only managed a 6:39 and got passed by four more guys. Tried to pick it up but it was reaaally hard to go any faster, but looking at my watch I new that I would definitely be under an hour so I was happy about that. the final time was over 4 minutes faster than last year, even with the terrible finish. Distance was longer than 15K by .1 miles, so my average was 6:07. My goal was to average around 6 so that was good, and if I was feeling decent at the end that I would have stuck with Eric and run a 55. I'm honestly thinking it's in my fitness to run a 55 but my heart kind of short-circuited. It's really a matter of making sure to get enough sleep and hydration several days out from the race, which I failed to do haha. Great day! I took 10th overall just like last year but this one was alot more competetive. 3rd in the AG. 

Easy run at night out to the river trail and I did the five mile loop. Body felt okay, but my calves still felt reeeaally sore and my ankle wasn't feeling crazy strong. 7:33 ap.

I was planning on running later today but I had my Eagle board of review so I drove up to Logan Canyon at about 4 and parked at the third gate. Looked like it would be overcast it the sun came out again a bit after I started so it was pretty hot. I was really not feeling good and my calves were still pretty sore. Because I parked where I did I took the upper trail and got to where there were aspen trees and wild flowers, which you don't see on any other part of that trail. Really pretty. It also felt cooler. Had some GPS probe though. Headed back down at ~6:30 pace. I don't know what he average was but probably like 7:40.

Met Kalin and Paul at the school at 8 in the morning but I didn't wanna run from the school so we drove to Ryan's because it is surrounded by good running spots. We ran to Von Baer (by center street in providence) and ran through there on the trail, then ran back down the curved hill road. Headed down 10th East and then turned at the cemetery and ran around the nature park a bunch. Then finished around Ryan's. 7:41 ap.

AM: I met up with Johnny Perez and Isaac and ran Logan Canyon, this time from the first gate. We actually had a pretty good pace the whole time. We went 5.8. 7:06 ap., with a 6:00 mile in there going down, which felt really relaxed. After that we drove to the grass area up the hill from first dam and did some good ol core. 

PM: Ran 2 miles on the dump road with my little brother on his bike. His tires were pretty flat so he wasn't able to keep up with me like he should've lol. 7:45 ap.

AM: I drove to Smithfield to run the canyon there. Unfortunately I couldn't get anyone to come with :( I parked at Mack Park and headed up the road. (This was at about 7:45, woulda gotten out there earlier) I wasn't feeling too good and I made my way up at high 7 minute pace (for ~100ft grade per mile). At first I was gonna make it a 12 mile run I didn't feel like it so turned around 4.5. Didn't push it at all goin down. When I got back and ran a mile exploring the park. Got a slurpy on the way home yum.

PM: 2 miles at around 9, again with my brother on a bike. Ran to the elementary and I jogged on the grass while he played, then did strides. Then we had an epic tetherball match and he beat me 2-1. Then headed home. Felt really good! I even did some core after.