Relentless

AM - 15 Dirt Mile/Sand Hill. Twix and I got in around 4.5 this morning up in the dirt. Then for practice we went on our long run. Was a little worried about it with the quick turn around for the team (Many more people there on Mondays, so might as well put the most important run of the week when the most kiddos will be there), but they did great. They requested (Hell Raiser requested) Sand Hill from the City Wells side. First time up that beast for most of them. But it was a good run. Had a 10 minute pickup at the end and all survived. (Barefoot '15 13)(Riders 276.75)

RHR: 40 - after a 50 yesterday, I was glad to see it drop back down.

afternoon - 6 ND. Out a little earlier because I was just kind of sitting around bored. Timing was good, though, because a batch of clouds came in and kept over the sun for most of the run. Still over 100, but no direct sun really makes it so. Much more bearable. Wore the Gel Lyte's that I haven't worn in a long time. They felt pretty decent. It was different to be in a flatter shoe after wearing higher ones for so long with my achilles. (I guess the Kinvaras have a lower drop as well, but they have a little more to them than the Lyte33's.) (Lyte33 213)

AM - 17 Sullivan/Grass. Junk tempo this week. When I started off with Twix around the neighborhood for just a couple and on the way down to the loop, I felt yesterday and the last week in my legs and I was worried I wouldn't have anything. Starting off though, I actually was moving decent without much effort. Had a 6:09 ave at the corner (2 miles), which is an improvement from last week. But up the Dam Hill I totally sucked and I couldn't bring it back on the opposite side like last week. So I ended with a 6:23 ave. bummed that it was worse than last week, but I still think I am a better runner today than yesterday for having at least tried to tempo. Then to practice for some barefoot ing. It was a good recovery, but I was pretty slow on the striders. Probably will take the afternoon off; we'll see. (Barefoot '15 18.5)(Kinvara grey 37.25)

RHR: 40

AM - 14.5 Twix/Dirt Mile. Some miles with the dog and then practice. Hit the DM for a progressive pickup. We are really bumping our workouts back and focusing on different things this year. Guys and Girls stuck together very well all the way through 10-15 deep. Top guys went five as we went from 7:20-6:15. (Peg Black 77.25)(Barefoot '15 19)

RHR: 41

AM - 12 Lower Grapevine/ND. Just some easy running today. First with the dog and the. With the team up into the desert where connected onto Dino Tracks and then looped around back to the school. Finished up with some barefoot striders. (Barefoot '15 20.5)(Riders 287.25)

RHR: 39

afternoon - 6 ND. Just a hot run up through the desert. I actually feel pretty good. (Kinvara Green 349.25)

AM - 18 Parkway/BV/Sullivan. Got a longer run in today since the girls and I are going camping today. Hit the Parkway and extended it into Buena Vista and back around all the way to Kings Row - Twix's longest run ever and she totally owned it. Then for practice we went up from Sullivan and Hells Hole to the dump and down the Dam Rd. Not a bad morning of running. Temps at 70 are some much nicer than near 80 (or 105+ in the afternoon). (Peg 447.75)

RHR: 44 - went up a bit because I was thinking too much as I sat there trying to wake up a bit.

AM - 14.25 Mt. Logan. Took the girls camping out into my old fire fighting stomping grounds on th AZ Strip. We had a ton of fun; stopped off at the Trumbull Schoolhouse and Ice Caves yesterday and had a nice camp last night. I actually couldn't fall asleep for some reason until well after midnight and then Twix was antsy in the morning and got me up earlier than planned. So I just went out and ran. I took it pretty easy on a road (two track) that I hadn't ever been on before. Dropped off the front-side of Mt. Logan down toward Bundy Ranch. Saw a bunch of deer, an old-dead snag full of turkey vultures and about 20 turkeys walking around a meadow. Came back and got Rylee and did her 35 minute run with some fartleks with her and we saw more deer. Then when we got back, Laney didn't feel like going out with Pyper, so I ran 2 more with her and we saw some more deer and the bluest blue birds ever! Ended up 14.25 and Twix did all of it +, since she was unleashed the last section and was chasing everything through the forest. Probably 15 miles for her today! (Kinvara3 834.75). After cleaning up camp, we headed down to Nampaweap and hiked to the petroglyphs and then drove down to Toroweap. The girls hadn't ever been to the Grand Canyon and this is the grandest part of it all - 1 mile of sheer red rock canyon walls; it is intense. They weren't even scared, but we also very good about not messing around at the cliff. We also saw a condor fly right by us! Super cool.

Good week. Miles were solid. Got a long run in. Ran while camping. Not a very good tempo, however.

Goals for next week: may drop the miles just a touch as a recovery week (but I am not really sure where; I'm not hitting many double and the morning just kind of add up); definitely have a better tempo; and I had better get to see The Essence (my boy Mike Finch is home from his mission!)