Clyde's Comeback!

9.2 mile run this morning. Did the Powerline/Green Spring loop extended. I really felt good this morning for a Monday. It could be all mental knowing that this is a taper week and things should be pretty easy. Regardless I felt good and hope to sharpen a few things up this week with the rest and be ready to roll on Saturday morning.

7 mile run this evening. Up to powerline/ watertank and back down road. Pretty good run. The hill before the watertank gets me every time. It's pretty rocky, and straight up. I try and push it up but by the time I get to the top I'm almost walking.

8 mile run this morning. Green Spring loop extended. It felt really good this morning, like almost cool. Just a little faster pace than nice and easy. 6:50 pace for the run. Ran into Wild Bull just before I was done. Good to see him out early taking care of business.

7.2 mile run this evening. I went to do the Green Spring loop, but when I got up there the powerline was calling my name so I went up the trail and did that loop. Good thing I did because when I got up the hill to the powerline I saw a big turtle right in the trail. This is the second biggest one I've ever seen. I think seeing him tonight makes around 10 sightings of the protected guys. All of them have been right out in the open on the trail.

5-mile morning run. Had a lot to do early today so I didn’t make it to the track today for any 800’s. I just ran the Green Spring loop without a watch at a medium pace.

5-mile evening run. Decided to do my speed workout tonight in the form of a mini 2-mile tempo run. I did the same loop as this morning with a 2 mile warm up and then the 2 miles of tempo and a one-mile cool down.

Did the two miles in 10:29 with mile splits of 5:16 and 5:13 respectively. My goals going in were to run a good hard pace and get some turnover in the legs. I started and 800 meters into it I asked my self how the pace felt? I thought strong but not out of control- just focus on good form and stay in this gear. So with that I finished out at that pace never looking at the watch until the end.

It’s sad that these splits were faster than the splits of my 5k this last weekend. This course was a little easier, but not a freebie. It was probably a net loss in elevation but was pretty much rolling and flat.

Anyways not bad after working outside all day in the heat and then doing this at around 95 degrees.

2.6 miles this morning on the treadmill. I slept in and enjoyed a relaxing day at home. But by the time I was ready to run it was already 97 outside. So I just jumped on the old dog for a little icebreaker for the day.

5.5 mile easy run toinight with the STGRC. We hit up Dixie Red Hills golf course for three laps around the 9 holes. Good run, nice temp, and good company. We all got sprayed by the sprinklers. As we ran around the course I thought this would be a good place to have a little cross country DUAL with the Logan guys. 5 on 5 dual around our course. Or anyone else that wants to put a team together and come down and race us. But we are calling you guys out. The Logan Running Squad Vs. The St. George Running Club.... to be continued.

5 easy miles this morning. Just playing the game prior to our trip up north. Will do a few more in Orem this afternoon.

 2.5 more miles tonight in Orem. One mile barefoot on the grass at Timpanogas High School.  

Not the  most valiant effort today. Ran the first 7 or so good then got hung out to dry and just didn't go. PR'd on the course but also on hitting the #2 potty FIVE times before the race and over 15 for the day. I had some serious stomach issues going on. Why? Just some thoughtless food intake the day before. Bean dip? Fat Boy ice cream sandwich, Country time s(traight suger drink), cherry pie, cookies.... and on and on. I just left my brain in STG and ate whatever all the way up here. Then laid in bed all night with stomach cramps. Who knows sometimes. Things could have been better, but it was o.k. Missed my 1:08 for 2007 so I guess I have to keep running next year. Maybe not this race though. It is fast and downhill the first 7 or so but there is a lot of work to do from the golf course or mile 8 in.

Three warm-ups / then standing cool downs due to bus issues. This was maybe a good thing for me because it gave me more time to go potty. However I wouldn't suggest trying it.

1. 5:03

2. 5:05 - Really fast pace for me but feels o.k.

3. 5:16

4. 5:16

5. 5:16- Getting into a nice groove

6. 5:17

7. 5:37- Finish the downhill and start climbing out by the golf course. Here my legs have a hard time making the transition and I never really get it going again.

8. 5:29

9. 5:42- rolling hills on twisty trail

10 .5:41

11. 5:43- I just blew it through here. The rolling hills were hard to dial in and I could tell I wasn't going to catch the 2nd place guy, and that unless something bad happend I'd be o.k. from the pack so I just stayed here. Realisticly I couldn't push harder but wasn't tierd. I just couldn't go fast anymore.

12. 5:41

13. 5:47- Finished up just in time for some hard time in the Porta Jail!

I just sigh trying to explain this race. It's like I know I can run better but come race day I just choke. That is three half marathon's in a row that I've been unsatisfied with the results. In fact the only good race I've had all year was at Boston. Hopefully I can run STGM and just be happy with how I was able to run regardless of time or place. The last two weeks I've felt fantastic and have had some killer training runs, then I just blow it up on a race. Some of it was diet, but not all. Hopefully my theory of myself is true and that is that I'm a better marathon runner than short races.

On a lighter note it was fun to talk to Mike V. and the 2nd place guy (Harmon I think). Mike said he felt like he ran %100 today and way better than in Bryce. I asked him what he felt like the course was compared to Bryce on equal effort and he said maybe one min. The 2nd place guy who ran a 1:08 something said he plans on running a 2:22 at STGM... I guess we will see. I've just got to get some good weeks in and find a way to be under 2:30. You better believe that my diet is going to get cleaned up... starting tomorrow! J/K.