Elite Jogging For Dummies

Family run with Jack and Heather.  We had Jack quite bundled up as it was pretty cold. While out running, we ran into a high school friend of mine who was out running and pushing her twins! We chatted for a bit, then went home, dressed, and had a big breakfast at Avenues Bakery. nice morning.

Extended Ensign Elementary loop.  Surprise . . . it snowed again last night. As a result, the run was again slow. I feel like I have not run fast in weeks. I am certainly not ready to race yet, I need at least three weeks of consistent training.  Hopefully I can get in 50-60 miles over the next few weeks with a little speed mixed in and some consistency. January was a tough month for running for me.

A cold run with the Black Sheep. There were only about 7-8 of us. The temperature was very cold.  We started out running on Bonneville Golf Course, but the snow was too cold and we were post-holing.  So back to the roads and over to This is the Place for some hill repeats, then a run back to Steiner.  Josh and I pushed the hills nicely. 

Met up with Josh and Megan at 5:45. We ran up to City Creek, up to the one mile mark and back down.  We saw Adam right at the mouth of the canyon, moving at a good clip. We didn't see any animals like he always does.  I added one more mile after dropping Josh and Megan at their place.  It was really snowing hard by the time I was finishing my run. 

Radda run. I showed up ten minutes early and ran a mile on my own before connecting with the group.  A handful of us opted for a modified Mansion tour.  We started a 3 mile tempo at mile 4 into the run.  However, the first mile crossed the field of an elementary school and involved much trudging through snow for a quarter mile, so the split was 7:25. (I really can only count that mile as .5 of tempo considering we couldn't really run hard).  Then two miles in earnest along the wandering hills of Wander Lane, 6:11 and 6:07.  These times are fine for this time of year on these rollers.  I would like to get down to an even 6 minutes though. Lisa Madsen was about 45 seconds behind me, looking strong. 

I ran from home up through This is the Place and to the Donner Party monument in Emigration Canyon.  A stunning morning for running, cold but clear.  I saw two moose (cows, no bulls) at the base of This is the Place. They were just hanging out, staring at me.  I get a little nervous any time I'm within 100 feet of a moose, but this was fine.  The coolest image of the morning was watching these two horses corralled at the stables at This is the Place, both with long blond manes (basically twins), running around and playing in the snow with the sunrise and mountains in the background. 

Run from 15th/15th with a group of 8 or so.  I hooked up early with Jan and Lisa and we ran 3 miles (seemingly all uphill) before circling back to meet up with the 10 mile group at 6am.  We ran through campus to Federal Heights/Avenues/Firehouse.  Return via Fort Douglas.  Added a couple of spicy miles on the return (some nice downhill) at about 5:40+ pace.  I think this was my longest run this year.

Heather is representing our family in the SLC Track Club series. She ran 49:48, which is great, just under 8 minute miles.  I think I'll be ready to jump into a race within a few weeks.  I'm still working out some winter kinks.