cheryl

I just could not face the cold and wind outside today, so I ended up at the SJ Rec Center.  First, I did about 5 minutes on the stairmaster just to warm up, then I ran on the track.  I was planning just to do 3 to 4 miles, but ended up doing 5.  With about 10 laps being a mile, here are the splits:  8:05; 7:38; 7:25; 7:24 and 8:38.  39:12 for the 5 miles.  You can really hit the speed when you have no wind or hills or other obstacles to contend with.  Just people walking in the inside lanes, so you have to run around them.  I then got on the treadmill and spent 18 minutes on a 15% incline walking/running very slowly.  Wanted to go for 30 minutes, but I had to leave to pick up my daughter at Trax.

We had our first track workout at the Bingham track for this year. It's been a long time since I've run on the track, so it took some getting used to. We did a 1200, some 800s, some 400s. My best time for the 800 was 3:47, my best for the 400 was 1:43. I have a lot of work to do, because those times are well off my PRs for those distances. Though I am having doubts that I'll ever get back to those times, but I'll never know unless I try.

Later I did my latest favorite thing, walking/running on the treadmill on a 15% incline for 30 minutes at very slow speeds. This time I did more running than walking, usually it's been the other way around.

I once again did my latest favorite thing, the treadmill thing at 15% incline. Again, like yesterday, I did more running than walking. Then I rode the bike for about 15 minutes, then back to the treadmill to walk at 5.0mph and a 3% incline. Everything felt pretty good. When I've done that fast before walking, my hamstrings have hurt, but not today. I'll take that as a good sign.

The group met at the Tithing Hill area. There were a lot of us at first, then after the warm-up, there were just a few of us: Peggy, Rachel, Lisa and me. The others I guess thought it was going to be a tough hill workout and wanted to avoid running hills. Sounds like they're all tapering for Boston. Anyway, the four of us (actually Peggy had to leave early) ran about a 4 mile tempo, down to the Parkway Palisades hill up to 1300 W., then back. That way had the wind at our backs. These are the stats for that run: Time: 18:49; distance: 2.24; avg. pace: 8:25; best: 6:32

Then coming back, with the wind against us, and starting my Garmin a little late, here are the stats: Time: 14:23; distance: 1.67; avg. pace 8:37; best: 7:03

Lisa had to leave, so Rachel and I ran an easy extra 2.5 (at least that's what I did, she ran a little longer) just down to the trail, up the golf course hill and back. Stats: 24:49; 2.5 miles; avg. pace 9:48; best 7:21.

I did feel sick after the tempo run, so that tells me my thyroid is still not normal. I'm hoping in the next couple of weeks that will change.

I've decided all my hamstring, back and other issues have been caused by poor running form, and I think I've figured out (with the help of my chiropractor, Dr. Shane Watt in South Jordan, if anyone's looking for a good chiro) what I've been doing wrong. So today I concentrated on keeping the form good, though it's so easy to fall back into the way I'm used to running, so it's constantly thinking about doing things right. Anyway, I think it helped because I'm less sore and stiff after this run than usual.

I ran a little on the treadmill, then later I took  Tim to the SJ Rec Center pool and did some pool running.  That felt really good.  My legs and back felt as good as they have in forever after that.  I should hit the pool more often.

I keep wanting to join the group for the Saturday run, but first of all,  I get to bed too late on Fridays.  That's really not the best excuse, because I could get up if I really wanted to.   I guess the best reason is I don't quite want to run that many miles yet, plus I hate running in the cold and the snow.  So I had lots of excuses for not going this morning.  I ended up on the treadmill, first doing 30 minutes easy walking/running, then a fast 5K  on a decline.  That was fun, but boy my legs were sore after.   Downhill running does seem  to be hard on some leg muscle.  The rest of the day I spent in the cold and wind watching a track meet at Timpanogos  High.  It started getting nice just as the meet was ending.  The Bingham boys came in first place.  Maybe we should call them the Bingham Butt Kickers.