Here we Go

Slow paced run on the treadmill.  Roughly 30 minutes

Once again on the treadmill.  Boring, I know.  I ran for 30 minutes

After not running yesterday, I was really anxious to get out and run.  I set out to run for three miles, but about the 2 1/2 mile mark, I decided I had wind for five.  I did have the wind, but my feet decided they didn't want to go that far.  At 3 1/2 miles, I had a few blisters forming right on the middle of my foot pad.  I pushed it for another little while, and then decided, it was time to call it a day.  Gotta figure out how to beat the blisters.

Today was a nice easy run on the track at the Fieldhouse.  I have got some better socks and that really seemed to do the trick with the blisters.  Having the weekend to heal probably helped a lot as well.  My feet are starting to look like they belong on a runner.  I've got nasty calluses on the medial side of my foot as well as right behind the ball of my foot.  You gotta love it.

So this run was kinda tough today.  I was really winded throughout the run.  It probably has a lot to do with my diet, because I definitely could improve there.  Right now my pace is sitting at about the 10 minute mile if I intend to keep going for very long.  I want to get my pace down to sub 8 min, but I'm not sure the best way to speed up my pace.  I've been casually running for the past couple of years and my pace really hasn't gotten any quicker.  Any suggestions for improving times?

I had to back off a little bit today.  I started feeling the hot spots and decided not to trash my feet completely.  Today was a lot better pace than yesterday.  I think my food choice may have had a lot to do with how slow I ran yesterday.  Today's pace was hanging around 9.00/mile.  That is not where I want it, but it is much better.

Today was a good solid run.  I was on the track at the Fieldhouse again, but I think I'll run outside the next time I go.  I kept a nice pace throughout the time and picked it up for my last lap just to see what I had left in the tank.  It felt great, and I have so much more energy now.  

 One cool thing.  With the run today, I am having my first 15 mile week since 2004.  That is a pretty cool feeling.  My goal for now is to keep at least 15 miles per week for the next few months.  I would like to get it to 25, but we'll try 15 for now.

So today was kind of weird.  When I started off running, I had a few random moments when my left calf would all of a sudden lose all tension and my ankle would just buckle under my weight.  It happened three times in the first quarter mile, but then never again.  I had to stop again because I started to get some a blister right at the base of my second toe.  Painful.  

I enjoyed the run.  I actually ran at a pretty quick pace.  I think I may have to take a day off tomorrow though.  Yesterday I had a bit of pain in the top of my foot right after I finished my run.  It got worse as the day went on.  Today, it was feeling a little better, so I decided to try a short run just to see how it felt.  Now I can hardly walk.  Any suggestions?

Today was pretty good.  My feet are still hurting, but I really had to get out and do something.  I actually ran outside today and boy did it feel nice.

Good run today.  I was on the treadmill because it was snowing.  I could have gone farther, but considering that my foot is just allowing me to run, I figured that I'd better not push it.  No pain today at all when I run or walk.  It is sensitive to the touch on the top of my foot, so I can't tie my shoe too tight.  Considering the pathetic running week I had last week, I'm hoping to get back to 15 miles this week without the pain that prevents running next week.

Easy run today.  I wanted to get at least three, but I think my lunch was really slowing me down.

Easy run today. I only had twenty minutes to run, so I did as much as I could in that time.

The first couple of miles were really hard today.  I really didn't want to keep going, but I pushed through it and had a really good run.  It felt really good and I feel very energized.  No pain at all in my foot or hip.

 So I have been experimenting a little bit with forefoot striking when I run.  I'm  not sure if this is a better way to run or not, but I seem to be having less pain when I do so.

I didn't intent to go this far today.  I had decided on an easy three miles today, but when I got to three, I just kept going.  I love that feeling.  

Running more toward my mid-foot and toes is definitely helping the pain.  I can see the logic behind it, and it definitely works.  I'm a convert.

Great run this morning.  I was a little sore from yesterday, but overall it felt really good.  

Today was total pain.  I was very stiff from running the last two days and decided I would only do about two miles.  I went as far as I could before my legs refused to go any further.

Nice run today up through River Heights and back to my house.  You gotta love warm days.

River Heights loop again today.  Great run.  Can't wait to do it again.

River Heights loop again today.  Great weather except for the head wind.  

The loop again today.  Weather was beautiful for an outdoor run.

I was at the Fieldhouse again today.  I wanted to run outside, but due to my schedule, the only free time that I had was while I was on campus.  It was a good run nonetheless.  I planned to only run three, but I felt really good.  

Short run today.  I started running and didn't feel very well at all, so i decided it would be better to take the day off.

Great run today.  I hit the treadmill today because i was on campus with time to run.  Great run.  I had plenty left in the tank when I finished.

Nice quick run today.  I took it a little faster than normal, but it felt great.

Nice treadmill run today.  It felt great.  My right gastrocnemius is extremely tight, but it was before I went running too.  My pace during my run was 8:41/mile.  It's not where I want it yet, but it's getting a lot closer.  The goal is 8:00/mile by the time I start the push to 26.2.

Nice run today.  I probably took it a little bit too fast, because I was pretty worn out by the time I finished.  I took a breather at 3 miles and then finished up the rest strong.

I ran part of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail today.  That was quite a run.  I was really winded going up the steep hills at the beginning, but it was awesome going across the top.  It was also very quick coming back.

Great day today.  I decided to try running barefoot on the Hyper field and then a couple of miles on the track inside with my shoes.  It was a good run.  I still had a lot left, but I want to have a good long run tomorrow, so I decided not to push it too hard.

Nice easy run today in the Fieldhouse.

Great run today.  I took it at 8:57/mile.  It was tough until I hit about 2.5 miles, and then the endorphines kicked in.  After that it was a cakewalk.  It felt great, and I'm not at all sore.  that is a great sign.

Great run in the Fieldhouse today.  I was a little sore starting out, but it got better through the run.

Great run today.  I started off quite sore, but it felt a lot better as the run went on.  I wanted to keep going, but I decided to back off a bit to avoid getting even more sore tomorrow.

Great run today.  I was eager after having missed a day.

Great run today. 

Today was a great run.  I only planned to run about three, but I felt so good.  I decided to go a little further.  I still wanted to keeping going, but I had other things that I had to do.

Another great run.  I ran in the fieldhouse again today out of convenience.  Can't wait to consistently run outside.

I had a great run today. I planned to take it easy and do two miles, but i was having too much fun to quit.

Great run today.  I actually did a pretty quick pace overall.  I averaged 8:40/mile today.  I probably pushed it a little quicker than I should have, but I wanted to see what I could do.

Today was a great run.  I really didn't feel very good this morning and I only intended to run about three miles.  The first mile was terrible, but after that I couldn't stop.  I still had plenty of gas in the tank when I got done, but I had a lot of other things that I have to get done today.

Tough run today.  I was a little sore from yesterday, and I hadn't eaten in a long time.  Overall a good run though.

A little bit of speed work today.  I ran mile splits and then walked a bit.  My first mile was 8:43, the second was 8:28.

I had a great run today. I took it at a steady pace, but the last mile wa pretty close to 8:30.

My first 18 mile week.  I wanted it to be twenty, but I ran short on time.  Today's run was great.  I kept a good pace of around  8:30/mile.  I like this faster pace, it is a lot more gratifying than running 10s.  

Great run today.

Nice run today.  My foot is really hurting though, so I probably will end up backing off tomorrow.

I really had a nice run today.  I started off planning to go for around three miles, but once I got there I decided to go more.  I eventually ended up at 5.25 and decided I'd better call it before I got hurt.  

 It was a great fun though.  I feel awesome and can't wait to go again.

 On another note, my registration papers for the Top of Utah Marathon have officially been processed.  Bring it on.

Quick paced run today.  I didn't want to get too much distance after yesterday.  My mile splits were around 8:20/mile.

Today I really didn't want to run, and the first two miles was absolute torture.  After that it was great.  I had a great run and I feel awesome afterwards.

Today I felt terrible.  I started to run and got to about two blocks from my house before I about lost it.  I decided to take a day off since I obviously wasn't up to par.  I slept for a good portion of the afternoon.

Much better run today.  I started off running a quick 1 mile warmup then did a little weight training.  After I got done with the weights, I ran another 3.4 miles.  My pace was around 8:34/mile which is pretty nice.  I'd like to see it get down to 8:00 for the marathon, but we'll see.

Today's run was a little tough.  I'm very sore from yesterday's weight training and running.  I really want to go home and do an ice bath and down some Motrin.  I got some good mileage though, so that is great.

great run today. i wanted to go further but didn't have time.

Good run today.  I took it easy because I had a test right after my run, and I didn't want to be exhausted.  It felt great.

Today was a good day for exercise.  I went for a bike ride up the River Trail in Logan Canyon up and back totally 7 miles.  When I got done, I ran from first dam up the canyon until I hit the second mile marker.  My quads were burning by the time I got back down to my car.

I have decided I probably need to modify my training to run more downhill runs since that is what the marathon course will be.

Another great Logan Canyon run.  This time I took off from 1st Dam and headed up around 2nd Dam and back down the River Trail.  It was a great run and it was nice and warm.

Another Logan Canyon run today.  It was nice to get away from all of the people and traffic down in the valley.  I've got the beginnings of a tan coming now.

Today, I was down in Hurricane, so I did my old loop.  I forgot my good running shoes, so I just ran in what I had.  Big mistake.  By 3 miles in I was in a lot of pain and decided it would be better to try running without shoes than to continue with the shoes I had.  It actually wasn't bad at all unless I hit a rock.

 By the way, this is my first 20 mile week.  That is pretty awesome. 

So this week I was nursing an injury to my left foot.  Today was the first day that I was able to get out and run without incredible pain.  It felt good to get out.  Next week I start the 18 week climb to the TOU marathon.

Great run today.  I went up through River Heights and down into Providence.  I felt good overall, even if my feet were a little raw from Saturday's run.

River Heights run again.

Good run today.  I ran at 8:29/mile pace today.  Getting close to my target pace.

Today's run was down Logan canyon.  It was actually a little tougher than I anticipated.  If felt really good, and I have a ton of energy left after finishing.  However, I'm getting blisters in new places.

Running River Heights run today.  I went at about six this morning at the peak of today's rainfall.  I was pretty cold by the time I got back, but it was a lot of fun.

Nice Semi-long run today.  It is amazing how much more I hurt after a six mile run than a 4.5 mile run.

River Heights run in the rain.  I'm getting a bit tired of all this rain, especially when it only rains while I'm running.

So today was supposed to be an 8 mile run today, but I got really sick about a mile into it.  Thank heaven for 7-eleven, and Wheeler farm.  I ended up calling it good when I got halfway done because I wasn't willing to risk any more incidents.

Great run today.  It was a little bit cold, but actually quite comfortable.

So today may have not been a very good day for me.  About mile 4 I rolled my ankle pretty good.  It isn't swollen, but I couldn't run the rest of the way on it.  I'm really hoping that I didn't hurt it badly.  I guess we'll see tomorrow when I try to run the River Heights loop.

Today my ankle felt really good.  it was a little bit stiff when I first started, but I enjoyed the run quite a bit.

Nice run today.  It was a quick pace at around 8:30/mile.

So today was my first day back from my vacation.  I still don't have to work, so I went for a bit longer run than normal for a Wednesday.  It was awesome.  I went up the River Trail up to the top of the switchbacks.  It was a great run.  I'm thinking about doing the Jardine Juniper trail something in the next three days.  We'll see.

My plan today was to run the whole River Trail, but Mother Nature had other plans. I got about 3 miles up, and the weather got nasty. I didn't want it to get any worse, so I turned around.

I had a great run today down Logan canyon.  It was a little scary at one point though.  I actually ran a large stick through my running shoe and sock, but it didn't go into my foot.  That happened about mile 5.  I'm on track to do TOU.

River Heights run again today.  It was really nice and cool this morning.  It was perfect for a short run.  I actually ran today at 8:29/mile.  I was pretty happy with that pace, but it was tough.  I'll have to work to keep my pace there.  Right now I am sitting at about 9:00/mile on my long runs. 

Nice run up Logan Canyon.  I almost didn't make it today.  I was exhausted when I woke up today, so I slept through my normal time.  Luckily I was able to find an hour just before work.  

 The canyon is beautiful right now, and the water is lapping at the trail in places.  It is a little crazy.

Today's run was quite nice.  I ran down Logan canyon and had my wife give me water at Miles 5, 7.5, and 10.  I don't think I had enough in me before I started though.  I almost didn't make it through the first 5 miles.  Once I hit that point, I found my stride and just kept going.  I did it in good time.  The entire run took me 92 minutes, and that was including the short stops to drink water and talk with my wife.  I know I averaged right on 9:00/mile for the first five, and it looks like pretty close to that for the rest.

Right ankle was sore before, and my right knee is sore now.  Probably I was compensating when I ran, but it was a great run overall. 

I ran my River Heights/Providence run today, but I had to cut it a little short.  Nature's call has a way of doing that to you.  It was nice overall though.

Nice run up Green Canyon.  I passed the Forest Service Trail crew about half way up.  They are actually adding a new strip of trail on the east side of the road so that the 1/4 mile section that used to be on the road now has it's own trail.

It was a nice run overall.  It was quite warm, but shady most of the way.

Nice quick run up the River Trail today.  I was planning on doing three miles, but it felt great being out there.  That is one of my favorite trails to run.  It is so pretty right now, and the river is just fun to be around when it is this big.

Nice run down Logan Canyon today.  It was weird today because there was a headwind coming up the canyon during the morning. Usually it is the other way around.  I'm feeling quite good after the fun too.  Normally I feel pretty worn out after my long runs, but I guess seven miles isn't quite as long as it used to be.  Next week, it actually bumps up to 12 miles.  That should be interesting.

Shortened River Heights loop today.  

Great run over River Heights a few times and then around the Riverwoods complex a few times.  Kind of a boring course, but I knew the distances in a pinch.

River Heights loop again, but this time I did it backwords.  It was a nice change.  :)

29:30 for the run.   8:56/mile.

Nice run in Hurricane today.  I actually planned to run 12, and I thought I did, but I apparently overshot it by an even mile.  Not a bad run.

Nice run today.  I decided I would just take off running and run for an hour and see how far I got.  I was suprised that I almost got to First Dam from my house.  I thought it was farther away than that.  

Easy run today.  Since I won't be able to do my long run on Saturday, I'm moving it to Friday.  As such, I felt I should probably take it easy today after my run yesterday.  

Great run this morning.  Due to my busy schedule today, I had to go at 4:30 this morning.  I ran from my house to Logan Canyon and then up to the Bridger Campground just past Zanavoo then back.  It was awesome.  I didn't see any other runners until my 8 mile mark.  

One thing that I have noticed now that my long runs are breaking ten miles is that I feel like I'm running out of fuel.  I know that on race day I'll have Goo, but I'm not sure if I should use it on these runs or suck it up and push through it.  Any ideas? 

Nice relaxing run today, but I did it in a pretty nice pace.  I ran the River Heights loop I usually do, but my pace was around 8:38/mile.  That is quite a bit faster than my typical long run time of around 9:30/mile.

Today was a bit of an adventure.  First off I learned not to go to Texas Roadhouse the evening before a longer run.  It just makes it hard for about the first 4 miles.  

Also today disaster struck around mile 6.  I was running near Merlin Olsen Park when my ankle suddenly inverted badly and I went down.  It took me a few minutes to assess the damage and get up.  After walking home, I went to the Instacare and got a few X-rays.  Looks like i've got a nice sprain.  They said I should be okay to run on it now, but to take it easy for a few days.  I'm glad it isn't worse.  I'm within 10 weeks of the marathon.  I can't lose it now.

Back in the saddle again today.  I am trying to stay on schedule this coming week and do all of my normal training runs.  I think I will be just fine.  There is absolutely no pain in my ankle when I run, but it is extremely sensitive to the touch.  Kinda strange.  At least I can run and walk on it.  My pace didn't suffer at all.  I ran it in 8:48/mile pace.  That is about normal for me.

Nice run today except for a few new blisters.  The ankle brace that I have to run in really started to bother me after about 4 miles.  I've got some pretty nasty blisters to prove it.  Great run overall with a nice steady pace.

Today after a few days off, I couldn't take it any longer.  I had to get out running. I'm afraid that if I don't keep going my ankle is going to continue to get stiffer and more painful.  It always feels better after a run and gets worse after a few days off of it.

 Today was a big run though.  Today I eclipsed 400 miles this year. I'm pretty proud of that.

So the plan today was to run 8 miles, but I got attacked by a bathroom demon about mile 5 1/2, so I decided to pull out early and head for the house.  It was a great run today.  My ankle is still feeling good, but I definitely didn't fuel properly.  I've been feeling sick ever since I got home.  Hopefully that will go away soon.

Today's run was awesome.  I ran east on Center Street for quite a ways.  I was planning to go up Riverside drive, but instead decided to tackle the big hill on Center.  It was super tough, but the view at the top is totally worth the work.  It was awesome to see the mountains in the distance framing the Temple.  Great run.  

Injury report.  Ankle is still doing fine as long as I keep it working.  I'm planning on doing my 16 mile long run on Saturday.  I'm gonna get my wife to drive a support car just in case I have issues on the run. 

Today's run was supposed to be 16 miles, but I ran out of gas before I got all the way back.  I tried the Gu, but I honestly didn't notice any difference.  I think I would be better off with just Gatorade.  If anyone has any opinions on this, I would like to hear them.  

The run was pretty good though.  Time wasn't amazing, I ran in about 2 hours 10 minutes, but that was due to a lot of walking the last mile or so.  I gave it everything until every muscle in my body had tightened up.

 One cool thing, today marks the first time I have put in over 26.2 miles in a week.  It is also the highest week I have ever had.  It's been pretty good overall.

Nice run today,  Not super fast, but quicker than my pace has been for the past few weeks.  Ran 9:30/mile today.  I also took on a few hills today too.

Great run today.  I ran from my house up Logan Canyon a ways.  I took the route with the most hills possible to try and build up my lungs a bit more for the marathon.  I'm gonna try that route again soon because it was quite challenging.

Great run this morning.  I really didn't feel like running today, but I enjoyed it.  I ran up to campus and then hit Old Main hill hard for a while.  I did hill repeats for a while, and then headed home.  I need to do more hill training.  That is where I see to struggle the most right now.

Another run a little short of the plan.  I intended on 12 today, but I didn't fuel properly.  I'm starting to notice that if I don't eat well the day before a long run, there is no way that I will make it.  Yesterday's mistake was eggrolls.  Really tasty, but super greasy.  Not a good pre-run meal.

Nice run from my place up to campus.  Did some stairs and then headed home.  Almost didn't make it this morning because my alarm didn't go off this morning.  Luckily I woke up in time to go.  9:25/mile pace this morning.  Not great, but decent.

Great run this morning.  I ran two different loops up to campus.  The first loop was 5 miles, the second 4.  Beautiful morning this morning.  The stars are awesome at 5 AM.  Ankle did well, even with a slight roll at about 1 mile.  

Today was a great run.  I ran it in 49 minutes for five miles, and that included about half a mile of walking while I was doing hill repeats.  The hills are finally starting to get a little easier.  They were whipping me badly before.  

Tough run today.  I am not eating enough before my long runs.  Today I was pretty exhausted and ran out of gas at about mile 10.  I need to change something with my fueling strategy and also not run in the middle of the day in black clothes.  Not a good plan.

I went and ran from First Dam up Logan Canyon.  My goal was to run the River Trail, but it was closed for maintenance today.  The second entrance above the Stokes Nature Center was open though, so I followed it from there up to the point where it becomes single track.  

All in all it was a great run.  I was feeling pretty stiff from my run on Saturday and really needed a nice run to loosen me up.   9:15/mile today.  I'm pretty comfortable at that pace, and I hope I can keep that pace for marathon day.

Today's run was great.  I took off from First Dam and ran up the River Trail clear until the end.  It was quite fun because I ended up passing a guy on a mountain bike.  That will do a lot for your confidence.  I also tried to keep pace with another runner on my way back, but ended up getting smoked.  It was a lot of fun to see what I had left in the tank after that far though.

Although this trail doesn't get far away from the road ever, it is really pretty.  The view when you come up to the last dam is pretty cool.

Another River Run today.  I ran as far as the Single track again.  Today was a little tough.  I was really stiff when I started off and wasn't sure I was going to be able to make it.  After about half a mile though I loosened up and hit my stride.  

The way down was actually a little quicker than normal too.  I decided to push my pace to see what I could do.  I ended up running the back half in 8:08/mile.  I was quite pleased with that.  

Today's run was awesome.  I ended up exploring a lot of new territory.  I started from the parking for the Stokes Nature Center and headed up the River Trail.  When I hit Third Dam, I took the Riverside Nature Trail that goes up to the Guanava-Malibu Campground.  That section of trail is really quite pretty.  I ended up doing a few loops around the campground to get my mileage in.  There is some really cool stuff there.  Half of the campground is abandoned, and there is a really cool outdoor ampitheatre that is worth a look.

Impromptu run while hunting.

Today's run was quite nice, but a little bit further than I had anticipated.  The cool thing is that I now officially have a 100 mile month.  That is something that I wouldn't have thought possible for me a few months ago.  Even two months ago after my injury I was skeptical about whether I would be able to continue training.  It's a great feeling.

Today's run was pretty pathetic.  I only got a few blocks from my house when I really started to feel gross.  I decided that it was better to head for home than to keep going.  Not very happy about it, but I believe it was the best decision.  This week I've got a 20 miler to do and I have settled on Jardine Juniper to make it happen.  We'll see how that goes.

Today's run was supposed to be 20 miles, but I was out of time (and gas) after 16.  I started off by taking on the Jardine Juniper trail which was incredible.  The first couple miles were quite rough because I've slacked on my short runs this week and was a little stiff.  Once I hit the switchbacks though I did a lot better.  I still had to walk periodically, but this gave me a chance to take some cool pics with my phone.  I'd never been on this trail before.

After I finished the trail, I actually headed down the highway for some more road training.  This wasn't the best idea.  The road near the Jardine turnoff is super narrow.  There is no shoulder whatsoever, so passing trucks on turns is very intimidating.  Overall great run though.  I'm a little nervous for the marathon because I've still gotta go 10 miles further than today's run.  The injury a few weeks really set me back on these long runs.  That is where I see it. 

Great run today up a portion of the River Trail.  Today I just paid a lot of attention to my breathing and footstrike so that I could better assess how quick I could push myself.  I ended up running my entire time at around 8:30/mile.  I haven't had a 5 mile run like that for quite a while.  It felt awesome.  I really hit my stride around 4 miles and really felt like I had a lot left to give.  That is great with the marathon as close as it is.

Today's run was kinda pathetic.  I was supposed to run 8 miles, but my knee was really acting up.  There was a lot of pain, so I decided not to push it with the marathon as close as it is.  

Today's run was awesome, but very challenging.  I ran a loop that went up through River Heights over to 1000E in Providence and up to the top of the hill that connects with Center Street in Logan.  I actually ran to the bottom of that hill and then back up it again.  It was a pretty brutal hill and to do it down both sides and up both sides back to back was quite tough.  Loved it though.  

Great run down in Salt Lake today.  I ran a bunch of two mile loops, and it felt great.  Marathon here I come.

The tapering continues.  Today I had a nice run from my home to campus.  I did the hilly version to build my wind a little bit more for race day.  It was quite humid and a little rainy, but overall a really nice day for a run.

Nice run up to campus and around it a bit.  

Today's run was really nice, but quite warm.  I have been traveling for Medical School interviews the past few days so I was exhausted and didn't get out of bed until past nine.  Because of other commitments I didn't start running until 11:15.  I ran from my house to the parking area for the Stokes Nature Center in Logan Canyon.  It was a really nice run, but was a little tough due my missed run on Thursday. 

Today's run was just a nice easy run.  I started off with a pretty quick pace, but ended up having to detour to Maverick for a bathroom break.  That killed my time pretty quickly.  Still looking good for the marathon.  Both my knee and ankle seem to be doing fine.

Today's run was nice and easy.  I ran up to campus and back.  Pace was comfortable since I didn't want to push too hard with the marathon so close.  I have decided that after the marathon, I am retiring my current shoes.  Although they are still very comfortable on my feet, my knees are really starting to hurt when I run, even on short runs.  I probably shouldn't run the marathon with them, but I'm out of options this late in the game.

Today was the final pre-marathon run.  I can't believe it is here already.  I'm pretty nervous, but really excited.  I have worked really hard for this.

Today's run was a simple loop up through River Heights and providence.  I tried not to take it too quickly, but I ended up running it 9:05/mile.  Since my marathon pace is projected at around 10:00/mile, that was significantly quicker.  I'm shooting to hit a nice 4:20:00 on the marathon, but I guess we'll have to wait and see.  

Oh yeah.  Today I accomplished my goal of running a marathon.  I ran the Top of Utah Marathon here in Logan, UT.  The race was a lot of fun, and the canyon portion of the course was beautiful.  

The weather decided to really hand it to us today.  It rained all night last night and then was pouring right before we started.  Throughout the canyon portion we had downpouring rain and hail off and on.  It was quite an adventure.  

My time wasn't quite where I wanted it, but I am still very proud of it. 

So today was a first for many things.  It was my first run since the marathon, my first run in my new shoes, and my first run in months without the ankle brace.  It was a really  nice run overall and it really helped to get the stiffness out of my legs.  

Since the marathon, my right quad has been much worse than my left one.  Today I figured out why.  Because I was wearing the ankle brace on my left leg, I was having to compensate how I landed with my right leg.  Although I can do it fine, I am going to work to strengthen my left ankle.  It was obviously weaker today.  It is going to take some time to get back to 100%.

Today I also tried my first bit of interval training.  I started off with a quarter mile warm up and then put the hammer down for the rest of the mile.  I ended up finishing the first mile with a time of 7:11.  That is the fastest mile that I have ever ran.  If I had gone all out for the entire time, it may have been even quicker. From there I rotated quarter miles at 6:30 pace and 10:00 pace.   

Short run on the treadmill.  I have forgotten how much I absolutely hate treadmills.  I am not going to touch one again until I absolutely have to.  I would much rather run outside in the early mornings.  Once the snow flies, I'll consider it again. :)

Nice run up the River Trail today.  I didn't go all the way because I had to get back for homework, but it was nice to get out.  The leaves are really starting to change up Logan Canyon, and that was a lot of fun to see.

Today was actually pretty nice.  I didn't have much time, so I went for a short run only.  I felt like my body was really letting me down because I was out of breath the entire time.  However, I ended up running at a pace of 8:33/mile.  That was much faster than my marathon pace.  

Today's run was about 3.5 miles at 8:34/mile followed by a cool down for the rest of the mileage.  It was quick, but doable.

 In other news I'm developing a bad pain in my left foot.  It is right about where my tarsals connect to my metatarsals on the medial side of my foot.  I'm not sure if it is because of the marathon a few weeks ago or the fact that I'm not using the ankle brace.  My foot may have adjusted to the extra support through my arches.  It is getting to the point that I can hardly walk when I first get up in the morning.  It gets better through the day, but acts up when I run.  Any suggestions?

So this month has been poor for running so far, and this week especially.  My son was born on Monday afternoon, so I have been in the hospital with my wife and son all week.  

 Today's run was nice.  I did my time on a treadmill.  I am pushing a little too quickly right now.  I need to back off on my pace.  It is killing my distance.  

Nice run today at 8:58/mile pace. It was quite a nice run, but my calves are getting really sore now. I need to get my mileage back up so I'm not so sore.

Nice run up the River Trail from the Stokes Nature center parking.  First two miles were at 9:00/mile pace,  the back two miles were  8:30/mile.

Today I started with a one mile warm up followed by some interval training.  I did 200m repeats.  0:43, 0:35, 0:45, 0:45, 0:47, then a 0:15 100m to finish off.  

I completed my run with 1.25mile cool down.  It was a great run overall. 

Nice easy three mile run at around 9:00/mile

Great run up Logan canyon on the river trail.  Roughly 10:00/mile pace.

1.75 miles of running at 10:00/mile.  1 mile of interval training with 200m splits at about 0:45.  

quick run in the fieldhouse.  Roughly 30 minutes time for the run.

0.5 mile warmup with a 3 mile run after that.  

Today was a tough run.  I planned to go 3.5 miles, but my calves tightened up really badly at about 2.5 miles.  I tried to push through it, but couldn't go on after 2.75.  

Quick run in the Fieldhouse today.  Comfortable run for 3 miles, with a 200m sprint at the end.  I was a little stiff, but quite comfortable after the run.  Calves are doing much better today.

Today's was probably one of the craziest runs I've had.  We decided to go running up Green Canyon in the middle of a snow storm.  I went with my brother.  Our original plan was to go for about 3 miles up the canyon and then turn around.  We made it about one before we decided the snow was getting a little too crazy.  We didn't want to get stuck up there in some major snow storm.  

After we got back to town, it calmed down.  Isn't that how it usually works.   

Quick run in the Fieldhouse today.  

Hard run in the Fieldhouse today. 

I've got to start packing on a few more miles.  I'm gaining weight slowly even though my eating has not really changed.  I guess I got used to eating like a marathoner.  Gotta get back to some high mileage.  

Decided to go up the canyon and run the River Trail.  It was completely snow locked, but it was fun.  I only went from the Stokes parking area to the single track, but it felt a lot longer due to all the slipping I was doing.  Great run though.

Quick run in the fieldhouse to clear my mind.  Felt great and did it pretty quickly.  I ran it in about 8:40/mile.  

Quick run around the Fieldhouse.  Ran a fast half mile and then the rest pretty slowly i though.  It ended up being 8:00/mile.

Great run today.  Pretty comfortable pace.  I went a little bit faster than normal because there were a few people that I was trying to stay with.  I didn't end up doing very well at that goal, but it did help my pace to try.  Pace was hanging at around 8:17/mile.  Not bad for me.  

Nice quick run around the Fieldhouse followed by some flexibility training and some weights.  I really need to improve my flexibility if I expect my times to improve.  My muscles are always in a state of tension.

Nice run today on the Dreadmill.  I covered the screen with a magazine and then just tried to stay focused on how my breathing felt and how my fit hit the ground.  Set the timer for 32 minutes and then went at it.  It was one of the better runs I've had lately.  I felt great.

Quick run today.  I wanted to go further, but time was the limiting factor.  I ran that amount in 22 minutes.  Not bad.  

Nice quick run on the Treadmill again today.  It was a little bit too cold for my taste outside.  It was a little warmer than I wanted in the gym though.  

Today I needed a run.  I had a flat tire on Thursday afternoon and got it fixed yesterday.  Well today, it decided to get unfixed and our tire shop is closed until Monday.  I needed to de-stress pretty badly, so I hit one of my favorite courses.  I felt much better when I was done, but I was pretty cold throughout the run.  It was worth it though.

So today was running with the baby stroller day 2.  That thing is pretty nice except going down hills.  It really gets some momentum, a lot more than I am comfortable with.  I really had to work to slow us down because it doesn't do well at high speeds.

Nice run today with my little running buddy in the jogging stroller.  That thing is a pain up steep hills.  Great run today though.  Only planned on doing 1.8 miles, but it was beautiful and I couldn't seem to stop.  Took a completely new route that I really enjoyed.