Relentless

AM - 11.5 Mall/2xAC/laps.  Didn't get quite as much in as usual as I had to get ready for the day at school.  Felt solid and woke up okay, even after having trouble sleeping all night.  Could order up those morning temps for the rest of the year!  (Stratus black 276.1)

afternoon - 13 River Trail.  Not a bad little run, a little fatigued toward the mid-end.  Took Molly around block while Ry rode her bike.  (Cumulus gold 310.65)

afternoon - 10 Foremaster/2450.  Pretty warm out today.  Easy run again with boys.  Took dog around while Ry rode.  (Landreth black 545.85)

PM - 6 Treadmill.  Got 6 more in at an easy pace as I watched a video on Vietnam.  (Landreth 723.75) 

AM - 10.5 GS/ACx2/laps.  Didn't get as much as I should have this morning as I slept in a few minutes.  Won't be able to get another run in with meet tonight - but maybe that will freshen up the legs (not that they have been bad, but I do worry a bit with this high mileage that I have been hitting that I'll get hurt - so I'll take the rest this afternoon).  (Stratus grey 76.1)

AM - 10 Middleton.  Not a bad little morning - things felt solid, life is good.  Took dog around.  (Cumulus white 621.6)

afternoon - 10.5 barefoot/shoe run.  Started off with 3.5 barefoot; it felt good to get out there again, but there were so many stickers I just couldn't take anymore of it.  So I put shoes back on and finished with a couple big loops.  Then the team went out on the Shoe Run, but didn't find any shoes today.  Finished off the day by lifting.  (Stratus bee 597.65)

AM - 8 2xAC and some laps.  Slept in a little.  Long run this afternoon, so we'll see how that goes.  (Landreth orange 91.25)

afternoon-PM - 50 Strip.  Went up to out to the AZ Strip for a 50 miler this afternoon.  Parked at the top of Quai Hill and used that for the base for three legs out in different directions.  Leg 1 Mokiac-18 miles: This was a lot of fun.  More climbing that I thought, and I made this the 9 miler out and back which dropped me off the pass further than expected so I ended up climbing app. 2600 ft. during this section.  But I was moving really well and enjoying being out in a new place.  Leg 2 Quail Hill-16 miles: Got a drink and food and called Al to tell her I was alive and headed back down the main dirt road onto the Stipoff Quail Hill.  Right away I wasn't having too much fun.  The pace was easy because of the huge drop, but I wasn't looking forward to coming back up; however, I was happy that I had chosen to run this 2nd and not last, as the 8 back up were looking brutal.  Sure enough 2000+ feet of climbing back up for a constant 8 mile was hienous.  I did not enjoy it at all.  The toughtest part of the run was the mental aspect - as my body felt fine, but my mind was all over the place.  I kept thinking how hard it was and my mind just kept going back to it over and over.  Then I just got mad at myself over my pity party - Losing muscle control in your face mid-sentence and having your wife look at you with tears in her eyes wondering if you are going to die and not being able to answer - that's hard; trying to consol your wife while you stare at an ultrasound machine with a picture of your dead baby - that's hard; this was not hard - just a challenge.  So I sucked it up and kept going.  Leg 3 Seegmiller Mt- 16 miles: I thought that when I finally made the ascent and started on the last section of the run I would be feeling better.  My goal was to make it up the last climb, a 1000 footer in 1.5 miles and just enjoy the 8 on top.  But the sun went down and it got very dark and my mind was just all over the place.  I finally hit the 8 mile turnaround and headed back.  The only thing I could do to try and take my mind off the unending run was sing hymns, so I sang/hummed loudly for the next hour or so, until I finally got back to the Jeep.  I was never so happy to see that thing, and even happier when it started!  50 miles - I'll take my hat off to anyone that can finish that after having gone through that.  But my legs felt great and the run was solid - 6:59:37 and 6000 ft of climbing.  I may never do that again.  (Landreth 773.75)

morning - 6 Parkway.  Dog was antsy, so I took her around the block and then ran Parkway.  It was nice with a little drizzle throughout.  Felt pretty good, just not a lot in the legs obviously.  (Landreth black 551.85)

A decent week; missed a few miles here and there that I need to get out of bed for, but okay.

Goals for next week:  the next two weeks will be filled with track meets so the mileage will be way down - maybe around 90, but I am hesitant to even put a number on that.  Keep in the weight room and keep working on core muscles as lower/deep abs are a just a little sore today and need further strengthening.