Relentless

AM - 5 Buena Vista Loop.  Finally got out of bed.  Ran into the Bull.  (Free 68.2)

afternoon - 9 PV.  Ran around the area of 2450 Park trying to get a course mapped out for the fundraiser race on Dec. 19.  The kids decided they want to host a race and put all the proceeds to a family in need from the area - pretty cool... good kids.  Then did 8xbarefoot striders, weights, and Molly's Mile.  (Triumph 348.3)(Barefoot '09 185.9)(Five Fingers 96.85)

AM - 5 Buena Vista.  Same run as yesterday.  Felt a little better than yesterday (especially afternoon when I was so wiped out).  (Cumulus white 759.35)

afternoon - 7 Green Springs.  Easy run up to Green Springs with team.  Then Molly's Mile with Laney as usual.  (Stratus black 531.95)(Five Fingers 97.85)

AM - 5.5 Parkway.  Went out to run Warm Springs, but found that the Parkway was finished being paved, so I jumped on it.  It is a nice road, but I just wish it was still dirt.  Let the conquering of the desert continue... (Landreth 960.4)

evening - 11 Club.  Molly's Mile.  Club run up River Trail from DC.  Good to get out with the group again.  (Five Fingers 98.85)(Stratus grey 363.1)

afternoon - 15 Grass/GS/PL/Midd.  Ran 4 on the grass and 8xbarefoot striders.  Then up into the desert with a good group.  Legs were pretty trashed and made me worried for tomorrow.  Then finished with Molly's Mile.  Tried to lift, but something was burning in the weight room, so we evacuated the school and went home.  (Barefoot '09 190.9)(Five Fingers 99.85)(Landreth orange 516.2)

Ran this relay with Bill, James, Logan and Hayden.  Had sworn that I wouldn't do another relay, but this was pretty fun.  First leg was 7.3 down from Snow Canyon to the Bluff/Parkway corner.  A good drop, but since it was on the trail, it also had some tough climbs.  The hardest part were the killer drops though - so steep that it hurt my legs a lot.  Ran it pretty quick (went through 10K in about 33:30).  Cooled down a little and went on with the race.  The second leg was from the end of the Industrial Park down the new road to the Southern Corridor Freeway and along it to Sun River.  Ended up being just over 6 miles.  I didn't think things were going to work out as I warmed up.  My hip had tightened up so bad that I could barely walk.  But it slowly warmed up and allowed me to run, but it was a struggle.  Things were pretty much around 6 minute pace the whole way (give or take a little).  We easily won as a team and it was a good time.  (Cumulus gold 463.5)(Ohana 204.85)

Saw some improvements in the hip and some set backs this week.  I'll just keep working on it and try to keep it getting better.

Goals for next week:  Get up a few days/sleep a few days.  Keep mileage moderate.  Train hard a little and see how it feels.

AM - 5 Treadmill.  5 easy on the treadmill this morning.  Worked out a little of the pounding my legs took on Saturday.  (Five Fingers 104.85)

afternoon - 10 Sunrise Hills.  Team went out and did hills.  All those that did them did really well.  I hit 5.  Legs felt a little stronger at first, but like the last few times, I struggled on the last half.  Molly's Mile in the cold and sleet.  (Triumph 358.3)

afternoon - 11 Fields.  Took most of those still running out into the fields and groups cut off at a variety of places.  We went 9.  8xbarefoot striders.  Weights.  Molly's Mile.  (Landreth blue 177.5)(Barefoot '09 191.9)

AM - 5 Parkway.  Had to get up in the cold (20 degrees) this morning since I used a sleep in day yesterday (I figure 3 morning runs a week keeps me moving without overdoing it right now).  Hips have been feeling a little better this week.  (Free 73.2)

afternoon - 10 Town.  Ran into St. George and around for a little different direction than usual.  Mike and Wes - two Freshman - ran their first 10 with us and did very well.  Molly's Mile.  (Stratus grey 374.1)

AM - 5 Buena Vista.  The big chill is on.  Hips holding in there.  (Free 78.2)

evening - 9 Club run.  Head out down the trail and then went over to Bloomington Hills to check out some Christmas lights.  This house was absolutely amazing - I can't imagine how long it took to put them all up.  (Triumph silver 121.15)

afternoon - 11 River Trail.  Ran down on to the trail.  Got home and took Molly on her Desert Run for 2 miles.  (Landreth black 766.85) 

morning - 20.25 Utah Hill.  Went out to Utah Hill and ran the desert loop out there (loop section twice) with Logan, Clyde, and Paul.  The snow had laid a fresh blanket of cushioning that made the run very nice.  By the end, however, I was ready to be done.  It pretty much wiped me out.  Hips held up pretty good.  No real pain in either one, just some weakness.  Still really struggling on hills.  (Cumulus gold 483.75)

Week was pretty good again.  Hips had improvement.  Was able to rest a bit.

Goals for next week:  Have a good workout Monday and pretty much get the same as this week.  Miles betwee 80 and 85, run three morning, and pull off this fundraiser race that the team is hosting without too many major flaws.

AM - 5 Treadmill.  Started easy like usual, but it seemed hard; so I turned it down even more and just trudged my way through.  One good thing about the treadmill on a Monday is that I can jump off and stretch and get things moving easier that if I was out and about.  (Five Fingers 109.85)

afternoon - 9 Michigan.  Ran a controlled Michigan today with some of the boys.  Our "5K" sections were 6:00 and our "10K" sections were 6:30.  A solid workout.  I am trying to teach them to run this workout correctly and together and that will greatly benefit our team in the future - but it is hard when half of them don't show up.  Molly's Mile.  (Triumph silver 130.15)

Retired my Landreths and Stratus bees today.  Giving them to the shoe drive we've got going on in school.

afternoon - 10 Albino Run.  Went exploring and made up a new 8 miler up around Industrial Park and into the desert above the St. G. dogpound.  8xbarefoot striders.  Molly's Mile.  And weights.  (Stratus black 539.95)(Barefoot '09 192.9)(Five Fingers 110.85)

afternoon - 17 Grass/Lava Point.  Ran 5 barefoot then out to the river along the Lava Point trail for 10 more with the kids.  Finished with 2 on Molly's Desert Run.  A good run - especially in a week that my mileage is down since I haven't been getting up.  (Triumph 370.3)(Barefoot '09 197.9)

AM - 11.5 Club.  Molly's Mile and then club run from the DC around Stone Cliff.  Good to see Ruthie and a fun group run.  (Stratus grey 385.6)

AM - 5 Parkway.  Finally got up.  I don't know why I haven't been getting up, I just haven't.  (Free 83.2)

afternoon - 10 Midd/PL/GS.  Trail was very nice with the rains last week.  Weights.  Molly's Mile.  (Landreth blue 187.5)

AM - 6 Run4Santa course.  Ran the course backward and then marked it and did all that we needed to do to have the race.  Got to run the 1/2 mile kids race with Pyper.  Ry also ran and did good.  And even Laney ran!  Ran around a bit directing traffic and cleaning up.  Race went well (we raised over $700 for needy families in our area, and well over 100 pair of shoes - when I total them up I update this - over the week), and next year we will even get more people out! (Landreth orange 522.2) Though about going out and getting something in later, but I went and got a bunch of stuff done in the yard instead - what a beautiful day.

Not a big end to the week.  I figured it would be this way and that is why I needed to get up more this week.  But I didn't.  I did, however, make it through the semester at school and the hideous last day before break!

Goals for next week:  I am going to have some fun with running this week.  I can sleep in, run out in the desert, get pretty good mileage in and really enjoy it.  And of course, have a great Christmas with the family!

morning - 6 Treadmill.  Al was out doing stuff, so I had to run this morning on the treadmill.  Warmed up for a couple miles and then ran 3 around Tinman.  Finished with Molly's Mile.  (Five Fingers 113.85)(old Ohana -3)

afternoon - 11 Mustang Pass.  A nice run up Mill Creek and on my favorite trail close to my house.  Some deer had been up on the trail.  (Landreth black 777.85)

mid-morning - 12 Sand Hill/Dino Tracks.  Took Molly out for 1.75 and then up Mill Creek onto Sand Hill.  The light rains made the sand great and broke down the horse tracks a bit.  Started to sleet a bit up at the top.  Then connected onto Dino Tracks and back home.  Good trail running.  (Landreth orange 534.2)

morning - 5 Parkway.  Easy 5 on the Parkway.  Not too cold out, in fact wished I wouldn't have been so dolled up.  (Free 88.2)

 afternoon - 12 Prospector.  Molly's Desert Run; then out onto Prospector via Grapevine.  The trail was great - another one of my favorites - but my legs seem so spent (just so flat for the last few months) and my hip has seem to have been taking a step back the last couple days.  Kind of frustrating.  (Triumph 382.3)

noon - 20 Ice House.  Molly's Mile.  Ran up the Ice House trail via Mill Creek and Power Line.  Stayed on the Ice House instead of breaking off to Broken Mesa - hadn't ever gone this direction before.  It was a good trail, but not often used.  Took me up into the trees and into a little snow and a lot of mud.  On the way back my hip started killing and I had to walk for a bit.  At that point I thought about shutting it down for the year and just letting the hip heal.  But then I started up again and there was no pain and just minor tightness/fatigue.  (Landreth blue 207.5)

Took the day off and had a fun Christmas.

noon - 7 SLC.  Took Molly for two miles and then ran Sego Lily.  Didn't really want to go out today, but as usual, glad I did once I got going.  Hip had minor pains for the first two, but then ended up feeling great.  (Triumph silver 137.15)

Had a good week.  Enjoyed the trails, but tired of fighting my hip.  But I just can't bring myself to shut it down when it feels good.

Goals for next week: just enjoy another one.

late-morning - 7 SLC.  Took Molly out for a couple miles and then Sego Lily reverse.  Very cold out, but you warm up a little as you go.  Plan on keeping it very light this week to see if it helps the hip out.  (Triumph silver 144.15)

Finished up Again to Carthage this weekend.  I like the book, and of course liked the running aspect.  But I kept reading to get to the running; it needed more running.  Good book, Once a Runner much better.

late-morning - 7 SLC.  Did the same 7 as yesterday with Molly and then Sego Lily.  Snowing pretty good throughout the run.  Hip feeling moderate the last two days.  (Triumph silver 151.15)

afternoon - 7 Green Springs.  Dropped off the Jeep for inspection (hooray, it passed!) and ran up to Green Springs and home and then added 8th Ward with Molly (1.75).  Wore new Adidas Boston.  They felt pretty good, light and quick - but wore on one toe a little.  (Boston 7)

afternoon - 7 Parkway.  Ran Molly's Desert Run and then on the Parkway.  Weather was nice and legs felt pretty decent.  (Five Fingers 115.85)(Landreth blue 212.5)

2009 Year in Review:

4744.95.  That's the number that sums up the year.  In a way it had some negatives and some positives.  Of course, that's how many miles I ran this year.  Many of which were very fun, some in some very pretty places and on some runs that I will never forget and often with company that I really enjoyed.  It is the biggest mileage that I have ever run - by a long way - 400'ish more than last year.  I had some very big weeks... 150 miles; and some big months... 500+.  Although I did have the lower ab pain and this hip that has just annoyed me for awhile, I have stayed pretty healthy.  The miles helped me run and do well at Squaw (which is really my only high point racing this year), but they also cost me a little zip in my legs and kept me away from racing more, which is something I need to bring back.  St. George was a bummer; but I won't say it was because of anything really other than being sick that week.  It just took too much out of me to keep on the hammer, but something good came of it with being able to pace James in through his PR despite being spent.  Another thing... it really made me reflect on my running and has caused me to think about which direction I want to take things in the next while.  An up and down year; but in all reality, there were a lot of good things associated with running this year: fun runs, beautiful scenery, my team getting better and better and a lot of other things that I would never trade.  2010 Here I Come!