Relentless

AM - 5 Anaheim.  Same run as last time.  Back is still hurting a bit, but has started to relax its death grip.  (Landreth orange 337.6)

AM - 5 Anaheim.  Again the same run.  A crappy run.  Legs are pretty spent still.  (Landreth orange 342.6)

Decided to sleep in so I wouldn't fall asleep on the drive home.  Probably a good move since the drive was a beastly 10 hour marathon through the traffic, heat, and flat tires.

AM - 17.35 Steven Abraham Lincoln Hooper Memorial Run.  This year the run lost a lot of its luster.  I ran hideously; my stomach was twisting and the legs had nothing - truthfully one of the worst runs I have ever had.  I did enjoy the ice-bath in the stream at the end, however.  (Landreth 923)

The many, many, many hours on my feet at Disneyland didn't let me recover like I had hoped.  But I had fun, and it was nice to take a little break.

Goals for next week:  Hit my hard workouts good.  I've decided that to do this and because of the intense summer heat, I am going to have to let go of the big mileage and back down to 100-110's.  So that's what I'll be looking for.

AM - Big Workout #11 - 2m/1m/2m/1m/2m w/2 minute recovery jog.  Goal was to be at LT, I was nowhere near.  It was a pretty discouraging workout.  But I tried to keep calm about it by telling myself that it wasn't until after Bryce that I even started these workouts last year, so hopefully with cutting mileage a bit and having a bigger base, as well as getting a jump on the workouts things will turn out all right in the end.  For the workout, I ran down to Dog Pound for the three warm up and started into the first set just after leaving the industrial park heading down onto the River Trail (which meant the last mile was going to be uphill, but the first was going to be downhill - hopefully getting me started on the good foot).  But I only hit 5:40 for the first two miles and finished just about losing whatever was in my stomach.  (It is embarrassing to write out the times, but I guess I will for future reference.)  The next mile I hit only 5:50, then 2 6:00's, followed by a single 6:00, and ended with a 6:15 and worse on the last mile (I just can't bring myself to write that one out, it was ugly).  My hips really froze up on me.  Cooled for three back to practice and a couple with the kids as they started and headed home.  Did Molly's Mile; she did well considering she hadn't run in over a week.  (Stratus grey 229.35)(Barefoot '09 106.5)

afternoon - 5 Grapevine.  A true burner today.  I've decided that to allow myself to cut back mileage, pretty much all my second runs will just be 5 or so - hopefully that will help me get some legs for my Big Workouts over the next few months, but also keep a solid amount of mileage that is also important.  Feet got pretty hot in the Five Fingers; I thought I might get some blisters, but they held out okay. (Five Fingers 16.75)

pool running - 10 minutes

AM - 13.5 Parkway/Dino Tracks.  Was able to sleep in a little since I ran with the team.  Did Parkway and then moved into Dino Tracks with the boys' team.  Finished by taking Molly around.  I was pretty spent and this will be my only run today.  (Stratus black 397.6)(Barefoot '09 107)

AM - 9.3 Dogtown/Staheli Hill.  Took Molly out and then ran around Dogtown before practice.  For practice took boys down to Staheli Hill as they ran hills I ran 10x10 sec hills.  This is something I need to do more of - it is an easy way to work on the explosion, leg strength, and hill work without wiping myself out for my big workouts - so I will make sure I do them once a week for the next while.  Boys looked very strong on hills today - get Danny healthy and this team will be well on its way.  (Landreth black 689.05)(Barefoot '09 107.5)

pool running - 10 mins (easy/hard).  Although this isn't really long enough to kill me (which is actually what I want), I think the pool running helps my hips, so I am going to get this going a bit more as well.

afternoon - 5.25 Elem. Grass.  Ran over to Wash. Elem in five fingers and then ran 3 barefoot and 8xbarefoot striders.  Feel a little better the last two days, hopefully I can have a little better workout tomorrow.  (Five Fingers 18)(Barefoot '09 111.5)

AM - Big Workout #10 7m at MP - well kind of - actually turned into 8 pretty much at TM.  Warmed up with Molly's Mile and then around Dogtown; then headed into the Fields for the tempo stuff.  After some very poor efforts lately, I wasn't sure where this one was headed.  Although I didn't really hit Marathon Pace, instead hung out around Tinman (a couple miles lower and closer to MP, including the extra mile ran because my math brain is gone when I am trying to run hard).  Then came back up and ran an easy 4 as part of my cool down with the team for morning practice.  I think the legs are coming around a little.  The effort was pretty hard today, and although the times weren't MP, there were a few miles where I felt way off and the times didn't slip below TM.  So I am thinking/hoping that in a few more days they may be prepared the race.  (Triumph 162.1)(Barefoot '09 112)

evening - 8.2 Club Run/Fields.  A hot one with some stomach issues and a small crowd.  (Stratus bee 725.45)

Spent most of the night sick - not a bad day to have that happen, however, all-in-all. 

AM - 19.2 SGM Course/Snow Canyon.  Came down the course from Veyo and turned down SC.  Kept it pretty easy and under control.  Once hitting the Parkway, picked it up a little for the next 4-5.  Got home and took Molly for her mile.  (Landreth orange 356.8) 

Week was decent.  Started to feel like the legs were coming back, until I got sick.  But today I felt a little better (enough to run).

Goals for next week:  one solid Big Workout on Monday and then keep working on getting something back into my legs with some easy days, hoping to do well at Bryce.  Mileage will be quite controlled. 

Big Workout #9 - 2min @ CV/1min off; 3mTM - 15.  Warmed up with the 4.5 Dogtown loop; then moved onto the treadmill to do the workout (changed into Ohana racers since I haven't worn them since Jan.).  Went 2 minutes at 5:21 pace and then recovered for a minute x10.  Really felt good.  After, jumped right into the3 miles at Tinman (5:52).  The treadmill accomplished just what I wanted - I wouldn't have been able to maintain the correct pace out on my own, but on the treadmill it was very solid.  Cooled down with Molly's Mile and then to practice and back.  Only run today - glycogen depletion for the next 24 hours - boo! (Triumph 168.6)(Ohana 139.75)(Barefoot '09 112.5)

AM - 11.3 Dogtown/Parkway.  Ran Molly's Mile then Dogtown before practice.  Then we did Parkway nice and easy followed by 8xbarefoot striders.  Now a long day of draining and cleaning out the pool that just hasn't cleared up this year.  (Landreth black 698.85)(Barefoot '09 114)

PM - 4 Warm Springs.  Easy and stiff-legged run up through Warm Springs.  (Landreth 927)

AM - 11 Dogtown/Green Springs.  Just ran around Dogtown for a few before practice, including 10x10sec hills on Coke Store Hill.  For practice I ran with the girls as they did a fartlek workout and cool down with the boys.  Molly's Mile.  Today I will reap the benefits of all yesterday's work as I chill in a nice clean pool. (Stratus Bee 735.95)(Barefoot '09 114.5)

AM - Tortoise Fence.  Molly's Mile, then ran over to practice where we went up to Tortoise Fence.  (Cumulus white 721.85)(Barefoot '09 115)

PM - 8.75 Club Run.  Went from the store down to the river and ran in it from Washington bridge down to the skimboarding park.  Fun run once we resigned to the river running!  (Stratus black 406.35)

morning - 10 Little Valley.  Had practice out at the Little Valley Park.  Ran the XC course and then more out near the industrial area.  Joined for most of the run by XC our new team dog that decided to jump in and run with us!  (Cumulus gold 425.65) 

Bryce Canyon 1/2 Marathon - pretty frustrating and disappointing race.  Got up to the start in the morning and saw Nick M., Mike V., and Seth W.; also Theo and Shaun Martin.  I planned on going out with Mike (the last two years he held back a little on the downhill and got me around mile 6-7, so I thought I could hold back with him and see if it led to a stronger finishing 10K).  Started off okay, the lead group was up about 20 meters, so I worked up to them about .75 into it.  Went through mile 1 in pretty much the same as the last two years, but the pace seemed just too hot for me; so as Seth started to push the group, I just fell back (which put me all by myself for pretty much the whole race).  I also fell off the pace significantly for this mile and most of the downhill miles.  Here and there I would have a good section and then I would have plenty of bad ones.  Some of them were so poor I don't even know what I was doing.  I still had hopes of reeling people in as Seth continued to stretch out the group.  I eventually caught the high school kid that had tried to lead and the 6th place guy was only a couple hundred meters ahead of me (around mile 7).  Just then I come around a corner and see Vick coming out of a bathroom and now 5th and 6th are only barely up on me.  Then I fade dramatically.  Pass Vick as he hits another b-room break and start to try and real in 5th again only to have a major sick feeling hit me.  My youngest had been sick the night before and I think it hit me a little.  I felt way cold and flushed and just drained almost automatically.  As soon as that happened (at 10'ish) I gave up and another guy passed me, and I just jogged in.  Here are the splits from the last few years for comparison:

Mile	'07	'08	'09
1	5:38	5:24	5:23
2	5:32	5:24	5:33 (10:57)
3	4:47	4:46	4:44 (15:41)
4	5:03	4:54	5:25 (21:06)
5	5:06	4:57	5:23 (26:30)
6	5:08	5:03	4:54 (31:25)
7	5:18	5:18	5:20 (36:46)
8	5:31	5:27	5:33 (42:19)
9	5:48	5:44	5:26 (47:45)
10	5:33	5:39	5:49 (53:35)
11	5:39	5:46	5:43 (59:18)
12	5:51	5:58	5:56 (1:05:15)
13	5:38	5:35	5:57 (1:11:12)
13.1	(1:10:46)	(5:05 pace) (1:10:18)	:33 (1:11:45)

I really don't know what to say.  I thought I was in shape for a 1:08 (and if I would have gone after 5th that's what he got - I still think I could have got it but it just wasn't my day).  Some days it just doesn't click.  But I am pretty bummed about this.  I have been working so hard and I don't know if I have gained anything.  Is it even worth it?  I could probably just go out and run 60 miles/week and have less hard workouts and run only a few minutes slower, so I am just not sure where I am at with my running.  It is easy to tell others (friends, kids, etc..) to get back on and learn from the tough ones, but doing it yourself is a whole other story.  I guess I'll just see what I want to do when Monday morning comes around.  

AM - 11.25 Green Springs.  Ran over to practice early and ran barefoot for a few.  Then we ran into Green Springs and I went with the girls on their fartlek workout.  Molly's Mile.  Legs were a bit sore today - but do feel a little better after running.  After a long weekend seriously pondering my running future I guess the only thing to do after a disappointing race is to get back on my feet and try again; it just seemed like the thing to do when the alarm went off.  (Landreth orange 365.8)(Barefoot '09 117.25)

pool running - 15 min (1off/1on)

AM - 10.4 Middleton.  Molly's Mile then over to practice where I ran barefoot on the grass for a bit before the team got there.  Then we did an easy 5 out into Middleton.  Legs a little more tired than I felt yesterday.  Huge blister from the race popped yesterday but it didn't bug at all today.  Keeping it nice and easy.  (Cumulus gold 433.8)(Barefoot '09 119.5)

AM - 10.35 Lava Point.  Molly's Mile, then barefoot until practice.  Ran down on the Lava Point Trail and did 10x10 sec hills as team did their hill workout.  Came back and we all took a dip in the pool.  (Landreth blue 7.2 - new pair of Landreth III's)(Barefoot '09 122.65)

morning - 7 Sandberg's Pond.  Ran to practice and Sandberg's.  Finished with 8xbarefoot striders and a great game of ultimate with the team and came home and ran Molly's Mile.  (Stratus black 411.85)(Barefoot '09 124.15)

PM - Club Run/River Run.  Not many out tonight - we took the river run in reverse.  The weather was amazing; cool (90 when we finished) and overcast with a little breeze.  I would love that everyday.  (Landreth black 706.85)

AM - 11 Junction.  Out to the Junction this morning.  Left hammy was a little tight and hips were having a hangover from the ultimate.  Molly's Mile in the five fingers.  (Landreth blue 17.2)(Five Fingers 19)

AM - 11.4 Wet Sandy Trail.  Steve and I went up to the Wet Sandy Trailhead, just below Oak Grove.  I had never run this trail, but I wanted/needed one more trail fix before marathon training kicks in heavy and XC takes away all my weekends.  The first 5 of this trail was awesome!  Crossed streams, in ponderosa forest, fern covered meadows as we skirted the base of Pine Valley at 7000 ft.  But then the trail just went dead; we hacked around for awhile and tried to find it again, but it was very vague and just crashed through scrub oak and manzanita.  I had hoped (and thought) that it worked its way up to the top of the mountain and connected up with the Summit Trail (near the Whipple Trail), but if that is the case we missed it/lost it/or didn't go far enough.  So after getting torn up, we just turned and brought it back.  The streams were so nice and cold and tasted great.  Not really as much mileage as I wanted, but it was 3 hours and really neat until where we turned around - even the rattlesnake I almost stepped on (beautiful gold and tan colors highlighting the diamondback pattern).  (Landreth 938.4)

End to a very chill week.  I feel a bit better about things than last weekend and am ready to get to it next week.

AM - Big Workout #17. 7 TM.  Decided to start my workout sequence over again and see if I can't get it right this time.  Warmed up with Warm Springs 4.  Then came home and got on the treadmill for 7 Tinman miles.  Set the pace at 5:52 and it went great.  Moved the pace down to 5:49 for just the last .5 mile to work on having a stronger finish (but didn't want to overdo it).  Then cooled down around King's Row and to practice with Molly, .5 barefoot for team warm up and after timing some 1000's for the boys ran back home.  Hip flexor was a bit touchy to warm up today, but had absolutely no issues during the workout, then started to ache a bit on the cool down (after that weird pain attack on Sat. night).  (Triumph 183.1)(Barefoot '09 124.65)

afternoon - 4 Grapevine.  Hadn't done an afternoon run for a couple weeks (hadn't done an early morning workout in a couple for that matter), but heat didn't kill me.  Just took it easy and kept it short.  (Five Fingers 23)

AM - 11.5 Grapevine.  Molly's Mile, then around Washington to practice where the ladies and I ran Grapevine and 8xbarefoot striders.  Hip flexor a little more sore today and the left hammy was also a bit tight - wonder if they are related.  Spent a lot of time stretching and icing them after the run.  (Landreth blue 27.2)(Barefoot '09 126.15)

afternoon - 4 City Wells.  Waited for some rain but it never came, so I ran in the heat up toward City Wells.  Took it nice and easy, but didn't get far (wasn't planning on it) when hip started to hurt a little at 2 I turned around and brought it back.  (Five Fingers 27)

AM - 12 Washington/Little Valley.  Ran for a bit around Dogtown today; then headed over to Little Valley to run the XC course with Logan.  We made a change or two and I think it will work out good.  Ran a few barefoot as I waited for him.  (Landreth black 715.85)(Barefoot '09 129.15)

afternoon - 4 Grapevine.  Ran out in the Five Fingers.  Hip still a bit uncomfortable.  (Five Fingers 31)

AM - Big Workout #16 (attempt #1) 6x1000's CV pace.  Got out and did my warm up and hip just wasn't feeling good at all.  I thought I would try to get into the TM and see if the pain subsided.  It didn't.  I went back to bed very discouraged - even drove to practice.  Decided I will take the weekend off as we head to SLC.  Disappointing because I had some trail runs planned for up there, but maybe the few days off will get it better.  I figure it is an overuse injury and I don't want it to bug me all summer, so I need to get it better now.  (Landreth 941.4)(old Ohana -.3, planning on doing some of the quicker stuff this season in these to get a feel for racing in them better, but I don't know the mileage on them - maybe I'll go back and add it up, maybe not) 

0 - hip not feeling any better.  Mostly hurts at night.  When I move around in bed it wakes me up.