Relentless

morning - 17 Target loop, then mall run, then home. I guess it was morning, although it seemed like I should have called it AM because of the time change. A decent run. (Cumulus blue 107.35

evening - 5 Washington Parkway reverse. Ran the opposite way so I would have enough light on the dirt, but the sunlight just kept lingering and it was light almost the whole way. A pretty tired run. A lot of pain and fatigue in the lower abductors. It's could be a tough one tomorrow. (Cumulus orange 492.75)

morning - 17.1 Target loop, then Mall run (modified), and home by way of DogPound. Well it was a crapper, for sure. Very wiped out. I am glad it is finished. Miles will be cut back a bit now this week (to 15/day or so). (Stratus red 229.25)

evening - 5 Parkway w/ James. Felt much better this evening. Nothing too quick, but a nice enjoyable run. (Precision 338.2)

morning - 10.35 to PVHS, GS 5 w/ team, home. Felt a bit stronger this morning, but still not ready to race. (Stratus 338.5)

evening - 5 Parkway. Still feeling like I need a few days before I will be able to even attempt to run fast and race. (Cumulus silver 440.15)

morning - 8 to PVHS and then Staheli Hill and home. Cut out from the team and just headed home during the run since I will get 7 tonight. Still not feeling sharp at all. (Stratus red 237.25)

evening - 9.75 Club run on Spectrum course and to Mike's house. It was nice to run the course; not nice to run the 4 miles after. I was only planning/wanting/needing to run 7 tonight, and my body didn't think that the extra was necessarily a good thing. In fact when most everybody else decided to go get 10, I just sat there like a lump on a log. Hopefully I can get something in my legs for Saturday, or it's going to be a disappointment. Also, this is holding me back from getting mentally ready - I know it's not the most important race ever, but I would like to run well and test where my fitness actually is going into the last month before SL. (Stratus 346.25)

morning - 7.25 to PVHS then Sandberg's Pond w/ team and home.  Had a very fun run around the desert and the pond.  Found a frisbee and let the throwing of that lead us around for awhile.  Willy never caught any cows, but he did land in a nice pile of fresh cow crap when he tripped trying to catch the frisbee (we all had to stop we were laughing so hard!).  Broke in a new pair of Landreth 4's.  They felt pretty good.  I really like the cushioning for now.  It seems that the forefoot is a little wider - good for some people, but I didn't need the extra room.  (Landreth 7.25) 

1 mile warm up at the race finish. Then caught one of the last buses up. (Precision 339.2)

At the start line, warmed up just a little more (.3) and got ready to go. All the usual suspects were around and Clyde told me that a strong UVSC runner was around who had just run 15 flat 5000 on the track last week. We took off and Nick, UVSC, Clyde and I settled into a strong pace and worked around Jose, who was doing his usual thing, after a few minutes. I wanted a 4:40 first mile and hoped I could hold onto to something after that. 1-4:40, exactly what I wanted. Although it didn't seem like I was working hard, it was fast and my legs and mind started to pay on the second mile. 2-5:10, This mile was exactly where I wanted it as well, but Clyde tested me and pulled away by about 5 seconds or so here (Kind of unusual for him to push it hard after a hard mile 1). 3-5:10 again. I knew the third mile had to pick back up to sub 5, but I don't know I just didn't feel like it was all there. I did notice nick break the UVSC guy and thought that we would actually go around him, but he ended up settling back in and running solid. Clyde gained another few seconds here. 4-5:24 Up through the first neighborhood. I needed a 5:16 here and I lost a few. I tried to gain a few seconds on Clyde, but then he regained them on the down out of the neighborhood. I kind of resigned myself to the thought that I wouldn't catch him. 5-5:32 This should have been where I caught Clyde, but I think we were both in hard cruise/survive mode for this mile. At the end of this mile Nick and UVSC missed a turn and ended up cutting 2/3's? a mile off the race, which was kind of a bummer. 6-5:27 I had a little surge that gained me a second or two on Clyde, but then I lost the feel for it and settled again. But on the downhill out of the second neighborhood, I decided to try and give it one more push. As I did, I quickly began eating up ground on Clyde. 6.2-1:10 (5:58 pace) Coming off the roundabout, I was only 2 seconds behind him, but just then at about the mile marker, Clyde surged it and I didn't have it go with him and I just let him pull back away and I had a very slow finish.

I went back and cooled down for 3.05 as I ran back to Ally and ran in with her. This was her first 10K and she did great!

I don't know what to take from this race. I felt that it was a good workout and a decent run, but I don't feel any more ready for Salt Lake than I had before. I don't feel fast at all and am a little disappointed with the time. I guess I just need to stick to the plan and let the mileage be at 100 and no more, and get some solid 800's and 1200's in over the next few weeks. Maybe that will get the leg turnover going and some positive things moving for me. (Ohana -9.05 - these shoes are shot. They have been great, but they are done. I got a rock in my shoe right at the start, and it developed a very strong blister by the end of the race.