Relentless

0 - I look up at the mountains and just get mad that I could have been running in them all weekend instead of sitting on my butt.

AM - 8.75 Big Workout #16 (attempt #2) 6x1000's CV.  Hip hurt again last night and I was very discouraged and didn't want to get up.  So I slept in a little and decided I could try to do these with my boys (as they were doing 8x1000's, but on the grass).  Eventually got up and went and got my warm up in.  Hip had some soreness in it, but it did loosen up as I got into the 2 TM miles - even hit the pace on them, but almost threw up after the first.  Started off on the first and just hung behind Austin and Kimz.  I could tell this wasn't going to work as I would have lost breakfast if I had eaten anything.  So I hung it up again and decided I would just retire to coaching.  Took Molly around after getting back from practice.  (Stratus grey 238.1)

afternoon - 11 Big Workout #16 (attempt #3) 6x1000's CV.  Throughout the day I kept thinking about not completing this workout and how I had got on one of my runners for not sucking it up when it really gets tough and relying only on talent (and man is he talented!) and not hard work (those who know my team can probably guess who I am talking about).  My words kind of haunted me and I decided I need to suck it up.  So I went down into the inferno which is my basement (unfinished with no air, just a fan blowing on me) and jumped on the treadmill.  Ran 2 warm up in the Five Fingers and then took it down to TM pace (5:52) for two.  This was easily the fastest I have ever run in the Fingers, but it felt great and my hip wasn't bugging at all.  Switched into the old Ohanas and started cranking out the 1000's with 2 minutes rest at (2)5:13 pace (3:12'ish), (2)5:10 pace (3:11'ish), and the final 2 at 5:07 pace (3:10'ish).  I felt strong, and although it was tough and I nearly threw up near the end, I finally completed this dang workout!  Cooled down for two back in the Fingers.  (Five Fingers 37)(Old Ohana -5)

AM - 11.4 Tortoise Fence.  Molly's Mile and then barefoot on the grass before practice.  Ran with the girls up to Tortoise Fence and then 8xbarefoot striders. (Landreth orange 372.2)(Barefoot '09 134.15)

afternoon - 4 Treadmill.  Ran an easy four on the treadmill.  (Five Fingers 41)

AM - 11.3 Green Springs.  Molly's Mile then barefoot on grass before practice.  Ran with the boys around Green Springs and home.  (Stratus black 420.15)(Barefoot '09 137.15)

Holden's b-day.  What a tough day.

morning - 3.5 Little Valley.  Just ran the XC course for practice and then we did some maintenance on it to get it ready for next week's meet.  Nice to take the mind off things and enjoy the team.  (Five Fingers 44.5)

AM - Big Workout #15 8 TM.  SGM course.  Ran with a good group of Steven, James, and Logan; fun group of guys to run with, we have fun and enjoy it, chatted about "Born to Run" with Logan since I read it Weds and Thurs.  Kept it nice and chill as we enjoyed the cool temps up near Brookside.  Coming off the volcano we move it into tempo.  For the next 8 I hit 5:20's-5:50's (depending on the terrain) and worked on pushing off from the feet and keeping a quick, solid stride - to me it felt like running should really feel.  Even though I had some kinks, I felt very good for not having run much this week and the pace was very easy to come by without overdoing it.  Thoughts went to Holden for awhile as I  moved away from everyone; its fun to think about him, but way sad too.  Finished up and turned to go back and get everyone, and happily they were all just right on my tail; good runs for all.  (Triumph 203.8)

What a week.  Running couldn't have been more secondary this week, but it also was a wonderful release.  

Goals for next week:  Try and keep it focused during big workouts.  Get ready for the meet.  Get ready for school (Thursday, yikes).  And keep on dealing with it all.

noon - Big Workout #14 7xmile LT - 15.  Had no desire to every run again this morning.  Of course I knew this would pass, but it has become a very strong feeling for me lately - either I don't want to run at all or I just can't wait to get out and have the release.  So I didn't fight it and figured I would want to hit this run at some other point.  So I came home from school meetings to check on Ally and decided to run it on the treadmill.  Warmed up with 3 and then 2 TM - interrupted the 2nd TM to put my old Ohanas on.  I was a bit intimidated by this workout, especially since I didn't do it last year as I was tapering a little for Provo 1/2.  I really tried to only worry about the repeat I was on and not the many upcoming ones.  Pace was 5:27 for each of the first 6 and 5:24 for the last with a .15 recovery.  Then I cooled for 2 more.  Workout was tough, but not the most hideous thing I have ever attempted, although the girls did look strangely at me as I grunted through the last few.  (Five Fingers 49.1)(Old Ohanas -11.4)

AM - 12 Junction/CC.  Loved the temps this morning.  Actually had a coolness to it.  Hip was a little cranky due to not taking care of it properly yesterday - need to be consistent even when it starts feeling better.  Molly's Mile.  (Landreth blue 39.2)

afternoon - 4 Green Springs.  Hadn't really hit the afternoon heat for awhile, so this 4 was enough to wipe me out.  (Landreth black 719.85)

AM - 20 River Run/Dome.  Best day of the week to squeeze a long run in.  Started with 8 on River Run and got back to join the boys as we ran out into the Fields and ran along the top of the Dome.  Tough running up there, with major hills and very rocky trail stuff.  No carbs or electrolytes on the run made me pretty wiped by the end.  (Landreth orange 392.2)

afternoon - 4 Nisson's.  Ran with the boys in the heat again.  Very stiff and in the hip.  8xbarefoot striders to end. (Cumulus white 724.85)(Barefoot '09 138.15)

pool running - 5 min.

AM - 10 Middleton.  Based on yesterday's long run, I moved the BW to tomorrow and just went out on a run this morning.  Felt okay, just a bit tired.  Ended with Molly's Mile.  (Stratus black 430.15)

afternoon - 5 Mall Run.  5 hot miles with pretty much all of the top boys.  Survived the first day and the heat - double bonus.  (Stratus bee  740.95)

afternoon - 9 Big Loops/Starbucks.  Got a pair of Nike Free 3.0 from a teacher at school.  Even though they are Nikes, I can't beat free, so I decided to run in them today.  Really felt pretty good.  Have quite a natural flow - not really barefoot like they claim, but nice.  (Free 9)

PM/AM (?) - Big Workout #13 9TM.  15 miles Treadmill.  Yesterday was a tough one in the morning.  Some days I feel I have lost all desire to run - other days it is the best release there is.  After all that has happened I am having a tough time snapping out of it.  So anyway... I didn't get up yesterday to do this workout and didn't have time after school since we were getting ready for today's meet.  So after getting home last night, I just laid in bed.  I decided if I wasn't asleep by 11:00 I would get up and run instead of doing it super early.  So I came and got on the treadmill and got going.  Time actually went pretty well.  Warmed up for 4 and then got into TM at 5:52 for 9 miles - they felt okay, I was just a little tired.  Then cooled for just two, so I could get to bed.  But then I actually went out and went swimming for a few minutes at 1:00.  (Stratus grey 253.1)

Week had its ups and downs - still having times when running is just meaningless.  Busy, but got my workouts in.

Goals for next week: Hit about the same mileage and keep focused on getting at least my big workouts in and long run.

AM - Big Workout #12 8x1000 CV - 15 treadmill.  Woke up today - that's a step in the right direction.  Warmed up for 3 then 1TM in Five Fingers, switched shoes to old Ohanas and ran the other Tinman at 5:52 - felt a bit winded during these, worried me a little.  Got into the 1000's at 5:15 pace, 5:13 pace, 5:10 pace, 5:07 pace (2 each, with 2 minute recovery).  Was not very on this morning.  Not really tired or anything, just didn't run very strong.  Cooled down for just over 3.  (Five Fingers 53.1)(old Ohana -11)

afternoon - 2 DI Loop.  Just a little jog to shake out the legs with the boys after their workout.  (Landreth  943.4)

AM - 8 2xAC and laps.  First of many Arctic Circle runs.  Hip felt very good this morning.  (Landreth blue 47.2)

afternoon - 7.5 Grass/Part of Hospital.  Ran 4 on the ball fields barefoot, including 8xbarefoot striders.  Step on a bee and got stung right on my arch - hurt a lot.  Then took water out to the kids and ran a few with them.  (Barefoot '09 142.15)(Stratus bee 744.45)

AM - 12 DI/2xAC/laps.  Haven't ran with Molly for a few days as I try to figure out a decent schedule to run and still get everything in, so I took her right off the bat this morning and then went over and ran for practice.  Hip felt pretty good again; much better than yesterday afternoon.  Only run today with a meet this afternoon.  (Triumph 215.85)

AM - Big Workout #11. 2-1-2-1-2 miles LT.  16 treadmill.  Molly's Mile and then 4 more on the treadmill in the Five Fingers.  Did the workout with the 2 miles at 5:27 and the 1 miles at 5:24 with 2 minutes recovery between.  Pretty hard workout.  I was really spent by the end and my legs wanted no more of it.  Cooled down for a couple miles in the Frees and was done.  (Five Fingers 58.1)(old Ohana -9)(Free 11)

afternoon - 3 Green Springs.  Took water up to the top of Green Springs for practice (110 today) and ran a fwe miles with the kids.  (Cumulus white 725.85)

AM - 10 ACx2/laps.  Hips is feeling pretty good in the morning - the afternoon, however, takes a couple miles to get it warmed up.  (Stratus black 440.15)

afternoon - 4.5 AC ice cream run.  8xbarefoot striders and then over to AC for an ice cream run.  We couldn't have done much more, it was 112 degrees.  (Barefoot '09 143.15)(Cumulus gold 437.3)

AM - 21.5 Quail.  One of those super-early mornings, to get the run in before a meet.  Temps were still above 90 at 3am, but did finally cool off by Harrisburg with a little breeze off the mountain.  Ran okay, put a little pickup in to 6:30-45 for a few miles and down the hill (.75 miles) at 5:15-30 to work on some quicker downhill at the end of a long run.  Extended through Coral Canyon and my neighborhood, then ran Molly's Mile.  Hip didn't have one ounce of pain.  (Landreth orange 413.7)

Another strongish week.  I think my marathon speed is finally starting to come around, but it is going to take the full cycle up until SGM to be fully prepared.

Goals for next week:  next week should actually be a bit of a breather compared to this week (two meets, back-to-school night for the girls and for me, first full week of school, and workouts), so I think I'll just keep on trucking along - hit a couple good Big Workouts and a long run probably on Friday morning.

AM - Big Workout #10 7MP - 16 Buena Vista/Treadmill.  Started off warming up with the Buena Vista loop and Molly's Mile and one more on the treadmill.  Then ran the 7 miles at 5:33.  Really felt pretty comfortable with just a little effort.  Cooled for 2 more.  (Stratus grey 269.1)

afternoon - 5.5 Grass/DI.  Ran a few on the grass and then DI.  Hip felt decent today, just a few kinks.  (Barefoot '09 146.15)(Landreth 945.9)

AM - 10 ACx2/laps.  Molly's Mile, then over to school and Hart's and a couple AC runs with some laps.  I thought the hip might be in some major trouble today - was having a swimming race with Rylee and I felt a huge pop right where it has been hurting and a major shot of pain - but it felt about like the first of last week, some soreness nothing major.  (Stratus black 450.15)

afternoon - 5 DI/Dogpound.  Ran out with the Level 2 guys/girls as they did their AT.  Hip didn't have much pain, just a general ache and weakness.  (Landreth black 724.85)

AM - 6.5 Green Springs/AC/laps.  Not too much this morning as I had to ditch out on the second AC with so much to do to get ready for class today.  Hip had same feel as yesterday - weak, but not really any pain.  (Free 17.5)

afternoon - 10 grass/Lava Point.  Ran a bit barefoot on the grass and then took water out to the team and ran with them for a bit down by the river on the trail.  Hip still weak and achy.  (Barefoot '09 148.65)(Landreth blue 54.7)

AM - Big Workout #9 10x2 min CV/3 TM - treadmill.  Warmed up for 6 in the Five Fingers with no pain in the hip.  Then got into the 2 minute fartleks.  This isn't too bad a workout; each repeat is over before you realize it, even with only 1 minute recovery.  Enjoyed watching my final recording of the World Championships (5000, 800, women's marathon and 1500, 4x400's - all good races).  Had the pace at 5:10's for the first 8, then 5:07, and 5:05.  Then hit 3 miles at Tinman (5:52 for 2, ending with a 5:47).  Cooled down for 1 with Molly.  (old Ohanas -9)(Five Fingers 64.1)

afternoon - 5 Shoe Run.  The workers kind of got mad at us (and apparently even called the cops on us - but they caught the next group of boys behind us... sorry guys!), but we worked our way through the construction and then took a swim in the pond.  Pretty hot out.  (Cumulus gold  442.3)

AM - 22.5 Fields/Harts/2xAC/laps.  Up and at 'em early to get in the long run this week.  I just tied it in with practice this morning, so I ran the fields loop from school and threw in some quicker miles from 11-14.  Then ran AC a couple times to finish it up.  Have been really working on figuring out my hydration this past month.  I think I have developed a pretty good rotation. Hip only hurt for about 50 meters when I picked up the pace at first, but nothing else throughout the whole run.  (Triumph 238.3)

afternoon - 4.5 Starbucks.  Easy run out to Starbucks.  Plenty hot.  (Five Fingers 68.6)

AM - 10 Middleton.  Just a nice easy ten before the big race.  Molly's Mile.  Hip feeling great.  A very good run.  (Landreth orange 423.7)

A good solid week.  The workouts weren't bad and got some solid mileage in (first 100+ in a couple months I think).

Goals for next week:  Things should look about the same, don't go over 110 miles.  Keep taking care of hip, so it keeps feeling better.

AM - Big Workout #8 4/3/2/1 miles MP - 16 treadmill.  Another early morning.  Molly's Mile then treadmill for the rest.  Warmed up with 4 in Five Fingers then switched to Old Ohanas for the workout.  5:33 pace for first 3 sets then 5:30 pace on the last mile - 2 min recovery.  The pace is feeling right on, not hard but working it good.  The workout just gets tough at the end because of the first two sets are so long.  Absolutely no hip pain this morning; now if that can just translate to the afternoon too - then I know things are getting a lot better.  We are closing it on it!  (Old Ohana -14)(Five Fingers 72.6)

afternoon - 2 DI.  Just hit the cooldown with the boys.  No hip pain!  (Cumulus white 729.85)