Little Buddha

Basketball this morning.

Just got signed up for the St. George Marathon. Still thinking about possibly doing the Utah Grand Slam. I guess I'll see how Ogden goes. I've been more consistent this year, but still haven't hit enough longer runs. I really don't know what to expect at Ogden, but think I'm in good enough shape to at least break 3:00

Ran 6 miles tonight.  Went 3 miles out toward Toquerville, first mile downhill, then 1 mile climb, then 1 mile flat.  Ran out in 24:30 back in 24:30, just focused on keeping it easy.  I had some hip pain during the run along with the cough still.  I hope those two things aren't too bad tomorrow for the Hurricane Half Race.  I'm really hoping to just run faster than I did two years ago 1:19:55.

Well, today was the Hurricane Half. I knew going in that I would run better than last year, since I was still coming off a calf injury, however I was still concerned since I have been sick the last few weeks.

Did a two mile warm-up

1-5:59 Trying to stay relaxed running with Tyler. Dave Smith, a guy from Vegas, a guy from Provo, Mike Schramm, and Decker all started out ahead of me.

2-5:55 Catch the Provo guy and Decker

3-5:57 Picked up the pace a little on Tyler

4-6:10 Feeling pretty good

5-6:14 a couple of rollers through Virgin

6-6:29 took half of a chocolate Cliffshot then got the other half all over my hand, which then bugged me for the next 1.5 miles

7-6:36 By the top of the hill I was able to catch Mike Schramm and went by him feeling pretty good, I was now in 3rd place and really not too far from the leaders. Dave Smith was leading by about 30 second, the next guy had about 20 second on me

8-6:01 Start of the downhill and still feeling like the legs had a lot left in them

9-5:33 Doing good

10-5:47 another good mile

11-6:34 Coming through La Verkin I was feeling ok, still in 3rd place, but once I turned back onto the highway I started losing it mentally probably more than anything, but the legs and hip were cramping up a bit

12-7:52 I got to the aid station and just stopped took a Gatorade, drank the whole thing, and then a water which I dumped over my head. While stopped Mike and Nate passed me. I waited for Tyler and then took off with him, we ran together for a bit and then I encouraged him to continue pushing it.

13- 6:53 Just an easy mile to the finish

.25- 1:41

1:21:50 (6:20 average) 6th overall, 3rd age division

Did 3 miles with Bill and Cody back to La Verkin, to put me at 60 for the week.

So overall, just an average race. I was really feeling pretty good with everything until mile 12. Anyway, I'm not going to get too down, however I am a little concerned if I'm ready for a full marathon in two weeks in Ogden. I think for the Ogden the plan will be to just take it nice and easy the first half, enjoy it and then see what the second half brings.

	2009	2008	2007	2006
1	5:59	6:01	6:09	5:29
2	5:55	5:47	5:59	5:37
3	5:57	5:59	6:11	6:18
4	6:10	6:23	6:14	6:30
5	6:13	6:23	6:16	6:19
6	6:29	6:42	6:21	6:26
7	6:36	7:08	6:30	6:41
8	6:01	6:42	6:04	6:18
9	5:33	5:44	5:29	5:07
10	5:47	6:22	5:43	6:14
11	6:34	7:07	6:18	5:59
12	7:52	7:56	6:35	6:47
13	6:53	7:04	6:00	6:58
.1	1:41
Final Time	1:21:49	1:25:35	1:19:55	1:20:49

 
I thought it would be interesting to just put my splits in here over the last four years running this course.  I really wish they would spend a little time and get the course measured and marked better.  The last 3 years I've ran with my Garmin and feel like it has been more accurate than where they are putting out the mile markers.  It seems like the start line has changed a few times, and the first two miles are always off.

3 easy miles this morning. I just posted a table on my Hurricane Half Race Report with my splits for the Hurricane Half over the last four years. It seems this race always has the mile markers off.

Easy 3.5 miles tonight, legs still a little sore from the race Saturday.

Starting to think more about the Ogden Marathon.  My 18 week build up has been about the same as my 18 weeks last year leading up to St. George.  Overall mileage has been similar, I think some of my workouts have been a little better this spring, but the longer runs have not been as good.  Ogden will be my 6th marathon, so I've still got lots to learn about racing a marathon and training for one.  The main reason I wanted to do Ogden was to try a different marathon and one in the spring, which would help me build a good base of miles heading into the summer.  I am going to have a very busy summer, but I would really like to train harder for St. George this fall.

Looking back here are my different marathons

1st- St. George 2004- 3:07:30  Didn't really train for this marathon, longest training run was 13 miles, and I basically just ran for the experience.  Ran with the clif bar pacers the first 22 miles.

2nd- Boston 2006- 3:06:45  4 months of training and coming off ankle surgery.  This was more about having a good time and experience.  This is when I was just getting into running again and had joined the St. George Running Club

3rd- St. George 2006- 2:46:11 Big Breakthrough Race, this was after a good summer of training.

4th- St. George 2007- 2:44:59 A good race and my PR, but struggled with hip pain for much of the race.

5th- St. George 2008- 3:07:27 This is the one nobody wants to remember, cold, wind, rain, cramping, walking, and a big BUMMER race.

So I guess looking back on these marathons, I would expect to be anywhere between 2:40 to 3:10 come next Saturday.  Hopefully, closer to 2:40 than 3:10.

Easy 4.5 miles, it is back to being busy.  I just got called to be in the young men's again.  This time I'll be working with the 16 and 17 year olds.

Last Sunday, I got called to be over the Venturing Program, so now I'll be working with the Priest Quorum on Tuesday Nights. This should be a fun calling, but will keep me busy, just like when I was scoutmaster. Sunny got called to be the 2nd counselor in the Primary, so she'll be pretty busy also. Just hope to be able to fit it all in this summer.

1. 1 Utah Geography class a full week up in Salt Lake

2. 5 Computer Classes

3. Week long trip to Maui!

4. Week long trip to Colorado!

5. 4 day trip to California!

6. Driver's Education- got to pay for all the vacations rigth?

7. Train for a sub 2:40 marathon at St. George.

Easy 5 miles tonight, did 2 with Jarren in the stroller then 3 easy miles on the La Verkin 5K loop.  Right hip was bothering me again, not good.

It is my son Jansen's birthday today, so I got up early to do my workout, probably will not be at running club tonight. Anyway I did 3 easy miles up to the substation in Hurricane, then did a 2 mile tempo run, then 2 miles easy cool-down.

Tempo Overall  11:39 (5:49 average)

1-5:50 a little headwind

2-5:47 big time crosswind, running over the bridge

A few weeks ago I ran 5:34, 5:30 but was pushing the pace a lot harder and with no wind.  This morning I just felt pretty comfortable, which I guess is a good sign.  Another good sign is the weight is continuing to drop.  I think once summer rolls around and I increase the miles, the Little Buddha should drop down below 140.

Felt pretty good tonight, only a little hip pain did 8 miles easy over to Hurricane and around then back home average was 7:45 pace.

9 easy miles this morning with Mike, Bill, Clyde, and James.  We met at Brentwood and ran out to Sand Hollow, Clyde extended around the lake, but the rest of us cut over the dam and then came back on the road.  The place was very busy with the tri going on.  The run felt pretty good and little hip pain at the end.

Easy 3 miles tonight, the weight bounced back up over the weekend, hopefully it will drop again mid-week in time for the marathon.  Either way I'm feeling pretty good, the plan is to just keep it easy this week and make sure the legs feel good for Saturday.  I'm thinking I don't want to go out any faster than 1:25 for the first half.  My training has been decent, but I don't want to die the second half, I would like to be able to hit some good miles coming down the canyon, I guess we'll just see what happens.

Busy night, got home late from Young Men's, then decided to do one last hard workout to wake up the legs for Ogden.  I did 3 miles easy up to the substation then did my 2 mile tempo run back to La Verkin then 1 easy mile cool-down.  This is the 4th time I've done this workout and also the fastest. 

1st mile- 5:21 and at times down around 4:45 pace

2nd mile- 5:31 also dropped the pace below 5 min a few times

Everything felt really good tonight, so I just decided to push it a little harder, now the rest of the week will be very, very easy.

March 30- 5:50, 5:53

April 13- 5:30, 5:34 

May 7- 5:50, 5:47

May 12- 5:21, 5:31 

3 miles easy with Sunny, ran almost to the bridge and back.  I'm getting excited for the marathon.  I feel like I'm ready, just want it to be a better experience than my last marathon.  I don't think it could be much worse than freezing rain and wind for 26 miles.  My plan is to try to be conservative the first half and then try to run even or negative split the second half.  Hopefully, I can meet up with some people and work together.

Easy 4 mile loop around La Verkin.  Ran down through Overlook Subdivision, also extended over past Daybreak Subdivision then back on Main, good loop.  I missed the club run, but knew I only wanted to go 4 miles and take it easy.  I'm ready for the road trip tomorrow and the marathon.  It will actually be nice to drive 4 hours and be somewhere besides St. George still.  This past month I have logged over 53 hours of driver's education, and put almost 2000 miles on the driver's education car, this has been on top of my regular teaching day and trying to get ready for this marathon.  All I know is come next Friday I'll be more than ready for summer break.

No run today, drove up to Ogden with the Wildbull and got ready for the marathon

Well, the Ogden Marathon was a pretty good experience for me overall. When I signed up for Ogden the main goal was just to get my year started off with some good training. For the most part my weekly mileage was decent and should help me be able to transition into a good summer of training. I knew going into Ogden that I wasn't in good enough shape for a PR, but I figured I could be in the 2:50 to 2:55 range, which turned out to be correct. For me I really have had to find a balance between training, work, family and church time this spring. I've been working lots of extra hours trying to raise as much money as I can so our family can do some fun things this summer. Anyway on to the race.

The goal was to go out no faster than 1:25 for the half, and then hope to pick it up on the downhill miles later in the race.

Got up to the start and sat around the fire for an hour. I really wish they would start this race at 6 or 6:30.

1-6:29 Holding back

2-6:28 Still holding back, Wildbull is running with me

3-6:27 Feeling good and running with James

4-6:18

5-6:25

6-6:30

7-6:27

8-6:24 Start running with a guy I think his name was Dave, he just bought a second home in Ivins. James picks up the pace a little on me, which was fine. I knew he was going to have a great race, he has been training really good so I was excited for him.

9-6:17

10-6:32

11-6:59 Had a bathroom break here cost me about 40 seconds

12-6:14 Passed Bill Cobler and Bill Mandler here I think

13-6:29

Half 1:25:04 right on pace

14-6:26

15-6:51 this is the mile with the hill, but I did ok on it.

16-6:22

17-6:30

18-6:39 Think to myself ok I'm ready to really pick it up, however the legs just weren't responding

19-6:19 Body was actually feeling pretty good at this point.

20-6:27 (2:09:42) Still on sub 2:50 pace, so feeling pretty good about that

21-6:31 Not hitting the fast miles like I was hoping to

22-6:36 I think I met up with Sasha here at the aid station. He made sure I got some power aid and dumped me with water

23-6:33 (2:29:23) Still working on that sub 2:50 pace, but I really starting to heat up

24-7:19 least favorite part of the course the bike path weaving in and out of half marathoners

25-7:49 Worst mile, but didn't lose it completely mentally which was good

26-7:18 Felt like I was trying to pick it up, but nothing was happening

.3 on my Garmin 2:06

I kept looking at my watch and figured I could probably pull off a sub 2:54 if I pushed hard to the finish.

I was very surprised when the announcer said I was 11th overall, I had no idea what place I was in, especially running the first half behind so many people. It turns out I was actually 13th overall, which is still fine.

I guess the most disappointing thing about my race aside from the last three miles, was the fact I placed 4th in my age group and awards only went 3 deep. When I ran St. George in 2006 division awards went 10 deep and I finished 11th in my age group. In 2007 in St. George they changed awards to like 8 deep and I finished 9th, so I guess I should have known that would be my luck today.

Anyway overall a good experience. Bill ran great on a bad foot. James had a great new PR as did Scott. Mike also ran very good for only training for a few weeks. I'm glad I did the marathon, but now I'm ready to mainly focus on training until St. George. I plan on doing some more shorter races between now and then to try to increase my speed.

No run today, just letting the legs heal up a bit.  Actually not feeling too sore, which is a good thing.  I walked a mile last night which helped.

Legs feeling pretty good today, but will still probably not get a run in. I'm busy with Driver's Education tonight and then going to the temple with the Young Men. Hope to start back up easy tomorrow and then run with the club on Thursday night. What time are we meeting now? Friday, I'm heading to Colorado for the weekend.

Actually, ended up having time for an easy 3 mile run, if running in 100 degree weather is easy (I had to show off the Little Buddha today)I just did the La Verkin 5K loop. This is a good sign, after St. George this last year, I took a full week off, then only run like 13 miles the following week.  Here we are only 3 days removed from the marathon and I'm feeling pretty good, still some soreness.  I'm planning on playing some basketball in the morning, it has been almost 3 weeks since I've played. 

Played basketball for an hour and 20 minutes this morning, good workout this morning 4 on 4 full court.  Might run a few easy miles tonight.

Ran 4 slow easy miles with Bill and Brandon from the store down past the dog pound and back.  My left foot was hurting pretty bad, strange pain on the side of the foot, I've never experienced pain in that area before?

Played basketball this morning foot still a little sore as well as the quads.  Zazoosh posted the Ogden Pictures yesterday, I look pretty fat in each picture.  I think the Little Buddha might need a bigger race singlet.

Ran 4 miles tonight over to Hurricane Cemetery and back.  We got back this evening from Colorado, nice trip but I didn't get any running in, it rained much of the time we were out there.  I guess I kind of used this weekend to rest up and didn't worry about running.  I ate a bunch of junk food and ended up gaining about 5 pounds, but I should be able to work that off pretty quick.  I plan on taking this week pretty easy and then next week I'll start my 18 week training schedule for the St. George Marathon.

Basketball this morning. Easy 3 miles tonight, didn't feel very good.  My legs were feeling pretty sore.  Legs and feet have been bothering me still even though the marathon was like 10 days ago.

9 miles in 90 degree weather this a good way to lose some weight.  Ran out to my school and back.  Legs felt better once I got going, still feeling heavy though.  I'm still having some issues with my left foot, the pain is mainly on the outside.  The run today was pretty good average was 7:55.  I've liked my Glycerin shoes so far and I've been thinking about getting a pair of Brooks Defyance

No run today, slept in then went and drove for a few hours, went to the movie, then took Jansen on the father and son's campout.

7 miles out on 600 North Trail, saw a desert tortoise on the wrong side of the little fence so I moved him, hope that was ok.  He was heading off toward where they are building the new Hurricane Elementary School.  The run was ok, left foot felt better.