Relentless

AM - 17 Factory Stores w/ James and then XC Green Spring 7 and through Cottonmill East to hit the 17.  Felt pretty solid.  Ready for a great week and had a lot of fun running w/ my Varsity boys.  (Cumulus white 53.25)

Pool Running - 20 min (1off/1on)

PM - 3xWebb Hill w/ Club (10).  Felt pretty solid heading over.  Took the first one w/o everyone else as they stretched and I ran maybe a little too conservative, but it helped me survive and get solid pushes on the next two.  Very happy about this workout.  1-8:01, 2-7:28, 3-7:31.  (Cumulus blue 297.9) 

AM - 13 Green Springs w/ James and then XC up to top of Highland w/ Stefani.  Not as sore or as tired from last night as I thought I might be (but it usual catches up to me two days after).  (Landreth 271.3)

afternoon - 6 Sienna Hills Park with some barefoot running.  Ran over 1.5 miles and then did 5x barefoot grass striders and finished off with 2 solid barefoot miles right at 7:00 pace (ususally go a bit slower barefoot, so I tried to actually keep running instead of the usual jog).  Then 1.5 home in the heat.  (Cumulus red 578.25)

Pool Running - 20 min (1off/1on)

AM - 14 I don't remember what James and I ran, but I am sure it was good.  Then XC and I ran dogpound w/ Ashley and ended with 5 barefoot grass striders (Stratus Bee 53.4)

afternoon - 6 Parkway with an extension.  (Stratus 512.8)

AM - 12.55 Again I don't remember what James and I ran (this is why you should blog everyday, or have a computer that will let you!).  Then XC Parkway nice and easy with most of the team running together.  (Stratus red 437.25)

PM - 10.2 Club run.  Good club run tonight.  The heat was on, but we kept it nice and cool and enjoyed it.  Quick turnaround for tomorrow as we head up to Enterprise down to Veyo on the dirt for the 4th of July. (63.45)

AM - 2nd Annual Steven Abraham Lincoln Hooper Memorial 17.35 Mile Fun Run -

Things really went well this year.  The race directors had pretty much everything right on the ball: the distance was dead on, the awards were spectacular, the hydration more plentiful, the minor adjustment in start time made a huge difference, and the oraganizers were able to arrange the temps to stay down just enough to the finish to make it enjoyable, and of course, the course is one of the most scenic and spectacular pieces of trailrunning in the western United States.  There were a few flaws as always:  in a Twilight Zone like moment, we traveled up into Enterprise twice while only leaving it once, Logan yelling out the window at rabbits to move and Bill sleeping at the wheel also added some intrigue.

Despite all this, the field was smaller than last year.  The WildBull's goal was to finish in one piece, Logan's goal was to avoid getting eaten by a mountain lion, and my goal, of course, was to crush the field like always and destroy any hope they may have had of taking home the crown.  The run moved uneventfully UP mountain passes, by amazing views, and near dead decaying cows until at mile 13 the Bull made a bold move to the lead.  Logan and I kept relaxed and pulled him in within the mile.  At this point, the race became an eery predecesour to the famous hotdog eating contest to follow later in the day.  The great Loganashy broke away and took a slim lead as we neared the final mile.  He would not be beat, he must gain the crown abdicated by Clyde "Superfly" Behunin.  Davey Holt stayed steady behind the intimidating Santa Claran and in the final 1/4 mile pulled a sneak attack to end dead even at the finish.  A monumental moment in the history of this race; a tie!  As Billy finished, we slid into our prize - 15 minutes soaking in the freezing tributary stream of the Santa Clara River. (Landreth 288.65) 

As the only 2 time finisher of this classic race, I am awarding myself with the Thomas Jefferson Lifetime Achievement Award for Dedication and Commitment to and the Love of Distance Running.  It is a very special award that I will hold very dear to my heart.

afternoon - 5.25 Parkway.  Had a very short turn around as it was getting hot quick and I wanted a good nap, so I went out and hit a quick 5er to round out the day.  (Cumulus silver 538.15)

AM - 20 SGM w/ Logan and Dustin. An amazing way to end the week. We dropped off Marcie and then James and started off on our 20. Both Logan and I didn't think we would be hitting anything too quick, but coming up Winchester I wanted to help Logan hit a solid hill like he has been working on, so we picked it up. Then he just kept going, so I went with him - but it wasn't racing, it was great training together. We hit 5 very solid miles at the end including a 5:08 mile 19 - at the end of a 130+ mile week. (Stratus Bee 73.4)

The whole week, including today has me stoked! I really feel that from last Saturday through to today, I have hit multiple workouts that have made me a much better runner.

Goals for next week:  I will hold back a bit and hit 120 miles next week (the 130 was great - It just kind of happened and I really didn't feel all that spent, just a tad this morning until we started moving better, but I need to make sure I don't get injured just going too nuts with it).  And I will look to continue to feel very positive with my running.