Chasing my Dreams

About 6.5 miles of this run was an easy fartlek where I would do about a minute hard.

I ran with Tanner and it was super cold. I should have worn something to keep my ears warm.

Just ran an easy five to taper in a sense before Foot Locker.

Ran most of the course at Mt. SAC for the west regional tomorrow. Hamstrings into the glutes feeling lifts yesterday. Legs probably a little sluggish from the bus ride. After going through the course I did drills and then four strides to get the legs moving fast for tomorrow.

The weather was cool for California, but was idea racing weather. I warmed up with Zach, Nick, Jeff, and Brady as they were the only ones in my race. We just had to jog back and forth as a warmup. I felt pretty good on the line, but was very calm. I got out well and was in around 30th through the mile. As I hit the hills I was able to power up them and that is where I would pass people. My legs felt really strong going up the hills. I had moved into 7th by the end. I was passed by two guys in the last 200 meters on the track. I was a little disappointed that I didn't have that closing leg speed. After the race it started to rain pretty hard. I changed into dry clothes and got in a cooldown.

I ran an easy 6.5 miles with Zach to work some of the crap out of the legs from travelling after a solid race effort. I went inside and did the rest inside and tried to do it at a normal training run pace.

I ran a six mile loop around West Point. I had to go to the bathroom and after the ones at the park weren't open I had to find a honey bucket. It was really cold against the wind. I ran around the school after that too to get my mileage.

I started out by running 5 miles with Jeff. We were going about 6:25 pace, so that was a good mix up. After that I continued running and ran in the neighborhood loop. I did my last half mile on the elliptical as a cooldown. We lifted pretty hard before running too.

My hamstrings were really feeling those circuits from lifting yesterday. I felt really sluggish over the first two and a half miles, which were run with Jeff. I ran the poop loop to mix things up, and it was a good thing because I had to stop at ice berg. After the loop I ran out and back about a half mile on 700 South. I then threw on my Kinvara's and did 4 strides in the hall.

Had my wisdom teeth out today so I won't be doing any running for a while.

I took things pretty easy even though I've been feeling well, because I'd much rather be safe than sorry. I did a total of 60 minutes worth of rotating between biking, running(jogging really), and the ellitical. The physical activity in general made my mouth ache a little, and the jogging made it worse. It wasn't unbearable. My first five minutes of running my left knee/ITB was hurting a bit, but it's most likely from not running for a few days and not warming up.

Coach Buhrley didn't think I should lift yet, and neither did I. So during 4th period I did my "running" workout. I did about the same thing as yesterday. I cross trained and ran for a total of 60 minutes, 20 of that was running on the treadmill. The mouth wasn't nearly as achy today, so that's good. I hope to be running full strength by the end of the week. I know the rest is important right now though.

I basically fully ran today, which was good because I had some stream and stress to blow off after see how poorly I did on my Stats test. I ran for a total of 40 minutes, and about 35 minutes was on the treadmill. I stopped after twenty minutes to use the restroom. My feet were bothering me on the treadmill, but felt fine when I was running in the hall. My legs also felt better then. I was going medium to easy pace, but was glad to run. After the 40 minutes I did some dynamic drills and then a brief cooldown on the elliptical. I missed the time trial today, and I hope I can do it some time next week, because I've been feeling pretty strong lately.

Finally out on the roads, I didn't care what the weather was like. It's so much better to actually run and be outside. I took things what felt pretty easy today. I ran out with Tanner and Jeff. I came back faster than we went out. I think I averaged about 7 flat pace. About 4 miles in I got soaked by a passing car, but I felt good. My "toe tendonitis" was acting up, but that isn't even a real thing.

I ran 5.5 with Zach and Rob. We averaged about 7:10 pace. My legs felt like they were going faster than we acutally were, and that was disappointing. They should come back to full strength soon hopefully. It was funny because Rob was dying. Zach was doing well though and I'm waiting for him to have a huge quantum leap. After I did a fast couple laps on the indoor track and then a few minutes easy on the bike.

I was feeling kinda tired and had pressure in my head beforehand, but I knew I just needed a good run. The weather felt great which was awesome, the roads were just a little wet. I was feeling really good, especially my breathing. My right IT band felt a little tight, but it didn't hinder me at all. I know that at 4 miles I was around 6:40 average so I think I really killed the last three miles downhill since I averaged 6:20 for the whole run. Excited to put in some great work after this rest week. Back on the grind!

Did 5 miles this morning. I was not feeling good at all. My breathing just didn't feel right and I had a headache. I also had a couple side stitches. I didn't fuel well beforehand so that might have played a big part. I'm going to try to be better about that for the rest of the week. I still managed to average 6:40 pace though..

I went out this afternoon and did 4 more miles. Things felt normal again, which is a relief because this morning was wacko. I ended up going back and forth on 4000 because I was trying to have Logan get some footage of me, which didn't go too well. I had some major gas pains a few times. I averaged 6:34 so I was happy because it felt pretty easy.

It was a beautiful morning to be running this morning. It was warm, about 40 outside. I was able to wear shorts which makes things ten times better. There was some wind, but the sun was out. I even saw some other runners which is odd this time of year. I was feeling really good. My nose wasn't cooperating, but it was still an awesome run. I started chasing a guy down with two miles to go, so that played a part in how fast I went. I averaged 6:16 and it didn't even feel too hard. I was just enjoying being a runner.

Merry Christmas running community! I've always loved Christmas runs. Today I did an easy ten miler. The goal was 7 flat pace but I think it was more like 6:50. I did throw in one mile in the middle that I wanted to be at tempo pace, but it was kinda uphill so a little slower than I wanted, it was a 5:37. My left hip flexor was bothering me most of the run. The legs also felt tired, which I think was from the really good run yesterday. Where I had tendonitis also was tender over the first couple miles.

On a side note I officially feel that I am a real runner because I did an easy ten miler.

For the most part it was a good run. Mom and Justin filmed me from the car during the first mile. Nothing hurt once I warmed up well. My body overall felt wiped out, I guess that's what holidays do though. Hopefully things will be feeling good tomorrow. Averaged just under 6:40's

I did three easy miles this morning just to get the legs moving. I also ran plugged in, which I haven't done in years. 

This afternoon the plan was to run the 4 mile time trial tempo since I missed it last week. I warmed up and my left knee felt kinda tight but nothing too bad. I started and could tell that my stomach was not happy that I couldn't run 4 miles hard without pooping, so I only did two miles of tempo/time trial. My first mile was 5:21 and the second one was 5:24. I am definitely in way better shape than a year ago, so hopefully I can run some good times once the season comes. I was also on pace to run just faster than Landon did, which I think would be the fastest ever by a Titan.. Oh well. I easy fartleked the last two miles and then did a half mile cooldown. I did run into Trace Fifield and talk to him for a few.

I think the huge gastrointestinal problems today was a combination of the holidays and the fact that I ate pasta last night along with lots of oranges and pistachios over the past few days.. 

My left knee was hurting me last night and I woke up to it swollen, but figured it might be good to run and use it. I did an easy 11 miler, about 6:44 average. The knee felt fine as long as it didn't go through the full range of motion that you do when running fast. I guess running fast on it hurting yesterday probably did it. It was really humid this morning so I had frost all over, which doesn't happen very often here in Utah. I did some jogging back home once I hit 11. I also could feel my ankle tendons were a little sore.

The knee still doesn't have full range of motion and hurts somewhat, but isn't nearly as swollen. I ran 4 easy miles on the treadmill, and it felt about the same as Saturday. Still not healthy though. I went to the school and did some strength work to mix it up and see if that might help a little too.

I'm having to try and get this knee healthy, so I biked for 65 minutes. The knee didn't hurt at all while biking. My abs were sore from working them yesterday but things felt fine on the bike. My knee still feels about the same as it has. Luckily this isn't the middle of a season. The goal is once I recover from this to remain healthy, no injury or illness, for the rest of the school year. I think if I go back to biking once a week it will make a big difference.