Run fast

Met Nate, Josh and Cameron at Liberty Park for the last solid workout before CIM. Warmed up 5 then did 5 at 5:13,5:18,5:17,5:21,5:07. It definitely felt like a workout but the pace felt semi-comfortable especially compared to where I was at a few months ago. The week before SGM I did 3 miles at a slightly slower pace and that felt much harder. So it's nice to see that my fitness has improved since then.  Lucked out again on the weather.  The upcoming storms and cold weather might actually make this taper easier to manage.

Day off and busy Cyber Monday at work

Ran up to the U and back and I was pelted with salt by the snow truck.  

Rather cold and icey outside so I ran at the gym on the TM.  3x1mile with 1% incline at 5:13,5:07,4:58.  Finished with 1x400. 

Ran up through Research Park. Only a few close calls on the ice.

Short run on the TM, trip to Dunkin' Donuts then off to the airport. The storm is waiting for me to leave, obviously.

Congrats to Jake with a new PR and to Nate for running a solid 2:23.

The picture below and the splits basically tell the story for me. I was in good shape going in, better than before SGM, but it turned out to be probably my worst marathon ever. Bonked extremely hard at mile 19ish and dizzyly wobbled and walked my way in. I was happy to see the finish, to say the least :) I felt pretty numb by mile 18 so I couldn't tell if nutrition or just the cold was the issue. 

First half with Nate & Jake 1:09:31 (5:18 pace), felt ok

Miles 14 to 20 (5:16,5:18,5:16,5:19,5:30,5:32,5:38)

Here is where it gets good: 6:05, 6:16, 6:50, 7:43, 8:00, 7:53. I figured I was running 10 minute miles at the end so this actually isn't as bad as I thought. It's also good to see that I negative split that last mile as compared to mile 25. That's always a good sign.

I think the only thing I want to remember about this race is the few people saying I looked great at mile 23. 

Feeling refreshed after yesterday.  Probably because I didn't/couldn't run hard the last 6 miles. Instead of shoveling today I used my gas blower and it worked perfectly. Why I haven't I been using that forever? Now I get to use my power tools in the winter too.  Bring on the snow.

20 minutes on the bike at the gym.

First run since Sunday with Jake, Andrea, Allie, James and Josh.  Nothing is broken, I think. We ran through the smog and didn't die.

3.25 up a long hill and back down near Lava Hot Springs, ID. It's a fun place to visit because of the super hot hot springs and a few fun forms of gambling, i.e. bingo and pull tabs.

Ran up to the U's track and back.  I thought for a minute it might be clear to run on but apparently snow doesn't melt when it is less than 30 degrees.  Two faster miles on the way back.

Ran with Josh up to Huntsman, through Research Park and Sugarhouse and back to Memory Grove.  I only stepped in one puddle.

Ran from Highland with Adam and Josh up to the bottom of Millcreek Canyon and back.

Ran with Josh from Highland to the mouth of Big Cottonwood and back along Wasatch.  The roads were a bit too slick for the Kinvaras today.

Ran up to Foothill Drive so I could experience crossing that road with little to no traffic. It was pleasant.

Merry Christmas!

Ran around the gated community near Palm Springs in the SUN. I hopped up on a few curbs so total elevation gain was about 2ft.

Ran to the gym, 10 mins on TM, 50 minute boot camp workout with sister and brother in law then ran back home. It's really sunny outside.

10 miles around the golf community in 62 minutes.  Got down to 5:30.

Abbreviated workout on the stairmaster to give the achilles a day of rest.  The gym was hopping today. Better getting in a workout on the last day of the year than never.