Step by step, mile by mile

Long run in the desert. It's been a while since I did a long run. The hills and more technical parts of the trail hurt, but it was a fun time.

AM - 7 miles. First mile kept speeding up and went sub 6. I was surprised how much I could speed up by because it didn't feel hard. Felt tired until the last two miles where I felt good again. Apparently Clayton(Uintah's #1 400-1600 guy) wants to race me in a mile next Monday. I bet he could beat me right now, but I'm trying to get him to race me in a root beer mile instead because that's my true race. Did a 400m on the treadmill in 69 that didn't feel too hard, then stretched and did core.

PM - shakeout on Gov w/ strides. Mileage is starting to add up, I don't feel like I got hit by a train every morning(now like a smart car or dune buggy) and the occasional knee or Achilles tightness is fading away too. This should be the last week before I hit my normal weekly base mileage(90mpw). Less than I did last year, but this time I'll have some quality mixed in with the quantity.

AM - 3x800's all in 2:32. They were on the treadmill so in all actuality a few seconds slower. My legs did not want to move today, I think it's because I only warmed up a mile. 

PM - Ran up to the peak of the overlook dirt road(1.56 miles) in 11:45, and figured I'd TRY to come down in under 10 minutes. I emphasize try only because there was a 20mph tailwind going up, and it was in my face the entire time the way down. Dug deep and came down in about 8:20-30, so mid 5 minute pace. Was happy with it because my legs felt like lead going up, I felt super tired, and the wind was just brutal. Maybe one day I'll go all out down it and try to break 7(and shorten it to 1.50 so it can be done). Iced after. Managed to get in to knee level this time. I was going to do a 2 mile tempo in the AM and some speed in the PM on Friday, but since this went down I'll dial it back a notch and take out the tempo. Jogged around to hit 11 for the day.

AM - 4. Cold out, but I overdressed. I really can't handle heat at all. Came back to find that my dog had run off so had to spend the next 10 minutes looking for her. 

PM -  Went to Uintah's track practice and had a long talk with Clayton about the 800, How he'll have to run it to break the school record, etc. After getting one spot short of state in xc, he trained his rear off and he's running 2:00 for the 800 in the open and medley, and 50/51 in the open/4x400... At the same meets. I really hope he breaks the record, only problem is he's running 4 events at state, and 3 have prelims so he'll probably have raced 5 times by the time he runs the 800. 3 miles after. Wanted more but conditions were awful. I saw a bird flying into the wind and she wasn't even moving forward.

AM - Jackalope. If Hell was a single trail, this would be it. You gain about over 1000ft in the 3.8 mile ascent of nothing but loose rock, extremely steep hills, and overgrowth everywhere. I've ran probably near 7,500 miles in Vernal, and I'd rate this the most difficult path I've traversed. And in the next two miles you lose nearly all the elevation you gained in a trail so treacherous that attempting even normal easy run pace would guarantee broken ankles. On top of all that, windy and snowing! I make it sound terrible, but at the same time I love it. The view at the peak, looking at all of the mountain ranges below you, it's astounding. I'll make an effort to do this every week because it's a great workout. It took me 34 minutes to run up the 3.8 miles, and the 4.2 miles back took 25 minutes. The only reason the descent was that quick was because I hit a semi flat single trail with less sharp turns than usual, so I just kept speeding up and split a 5:20 for the third mile. I was happy with that because it wasn't downhill at all, and I hit a 2:48 at the half mile so the next half mile was 2:32. Kept the momentum going and jogged a mile at the corral. My heart rate never got above 148 so maybe I'm starting to get fit.

PM - easy 3.

AM - 7 easy. Windy and cold. Legs felt tight in places but felt better by the end.

PM - 4 easy.

Noon - 8 miles. The first mile felt like hours, so I knew this would be a mental battle. Very tired from hanging with friends last night. Did Gov and ran on the roads until 6.5, then drove back up to my house and ran down to the creek where I iced, and climbed back up to my house. Coach Galley pulled up next to me at the end of the run where I was actually starting to feel better, always nice to talk to him.

PM - 2 miles WU, strides, jogged until I hit 4. I averaged 28.7. I did faster 200's 2 weeks ago, but I was at half the mileage so I'm not too worried. Right now I'm not supposed to be focusing on closing in sub 60 400's, I'm working on the strength to run the other 2600, or 4600, or 9600m. Longboarded with Syree after. There were others there, but they ditched us because we were going slow.

3rd on the weekly mileage board!! Been a long while since I even cracked top 10.