Relentless

AM - 12.75 Parkway.  Ran a few on the treadmill before practice while Ally was out running.  Then for practice we did Parkway and Corey and I added a couple more.  Then a little with my girls.  Felt pretty good today except my left knee which decided to start aching over the weekend - kind of the stiff, puffy ache that just won't go away - it bugged me just a little on the run.  (Barefoot '11 98)(Altra 170)

lap swim: 10 mins.  Felt good on the swim this morning.  Could have done more quite easily, but have a double run today, so no need to push anything.

afternoon - 6 Lower Grapevine.  Put on a soaked hat and kept my shirt on to see if it would help it feel cooler.  It actually worked - even though it was 104, it didn't feel a bit over 102.  Felt good.  Pushed up the hill pretty hard.  (Triumph silver 576.8)

AM - 10 Buena Vista.  Went to get on the tready for a couple before practice, but the girls all started getting up.  So I took Elin in the stroller and we ran around the neighborhood, then over to practice where we ran with the girls on the Buena Vista loop, then we finished with a couple more around Dogtown.  It ended up being quite awhile on the feet for just a 10 miler, but it was fun to push her around, and it is fun to run with the girls team.  (Free 480.45) 

lap swim: 15 mins.  Getting pretty decent at this swim stuff - at least from where I was at.

AM - 15.5 Dirt.  Got up a little earlier and went up to the Dirt Mile to run some 400's with 1 min. rest.  Hadn't done anything quick for awhile and this was the first workout since UVM, so I didn't want to do too much.  Warmed up for 2 then hit 1:20, 17, 18, 11, 14.  Felt pretty good.  The first few I was just warming up and getting used to the type of speed again.  Next week I'll add a few more in and hopefully keep the times down a little more.  Then over to practice and went back to the Dirt Mile for some laps to work on pacing with the team.  Finished with 8xbarefoot striders. (Barefoot '11 95.5)(NB 101 129.5)

lap swim: 10 mins.

afternoon - 8 Parkway/Hell's Hole.  Elin wouldn't sleep, and it was a little overcast and cooler than the last couple days, so I took her out on the run.  It was pretty dang windy, but that with the clouds made a nice temp (comparatively), so I decided to extend down Hell's Hole and see the damage the floods this past winter did to the trail - not bad except in one place where it is totally washed out.  E like the run and slept for only about 30 mins.  Took my hip about a mile to warm up - I hate going out in the summer afternoons because of that hip pain, but usually after 1-2 miles it loosens up good and life goes okay.  (Kinvara 416.65)

morning - 3.5 Grass.  Not much this morning as it was pretty busy.  I had to get all the stuff ready for the Kids' Summer Running Club's race and get ready for a stinking coaches meeting at the District.  So that limited my running a bit.  Okay though, since I hit a big day yesterday and will get a good run in this evening at Club.  (Barefoot '11 99)

lap swim: 10 mins.

evening - 10 Club Run.  Good solid pace throughout.  Not nearly as hot as last week and that helped significantly.  (Rocket 27)

AM - 10 Coral Canyon.  Ran a little on the tready before practice.  Met at Coral Canyon and ran their paved trails up and down and looped across Highland then I added a couple more to hit the 10 for the day.  A little tired in the legs, so I really didn't mind the easier pace.  But not feeling too bad overall.  (Barefoot '11 99.5)(Boston 657)

Hurricane River Trail Run 23:50

AM - 13.5.  Went over with Steve to this little trail race in Hurricane.  Hadn't planned on doing it until last night, so I wasn't too geared up - but figured it might be fun.  We got over there and ran the course and then a couple more miles to warm up.  Then signed up for the race.

Really didn't figure there would be too much competition; but you never know, so I tried to get myself ready for a hard race (besides it was just 4 miles, so I wanted to make myself push pretty hard).  The start was a little loop around the park (to gain the mileage that the trail didn't give us) and about .75 on road - some of that was dirt road.  At the start my mind wanted to go, but my legs didn't and I almost fell (it was like someone tripped me, but no one was around - it was no move in the legs - kind of weird).  Nobody went out too hard and I quickly established a lead.  Then we entered the Confluence Trail area and dropped off a big hill.  It was so steep and rocky that it was hard to run fast on.  The bottom of the trail, by the river, was neat and a cool place to run.  I had seen Steven in 2nd on one of the turns and just tried to keep in mind that he is running well and would push me if I backed off.  That kept me pretty solid.  And then up the big climb out of the river I felt pretty strong and moved up the thing pretty good.  At the 3rd mile I actually hit the water (all over my head and one quick drink) since it was pretty warm.  Then ran it on in at a decent pace.  We then finished up with a few more miles with Dustin.  Not a bad little race and a moderately challenging course with the temps, the trail, and the big climb out of the canyon.  (NB 101 143)

Week was pretty solid.  Mileage felt good.  Keep battling with the hip and seem to be not winning but at least holding on in a positive way.

Goals for next week: historically this is a pretty high mileage week for me as I hit a longer run Monday (and maybe a double) and then a good run on Saturday too.  So if the body is willing... it seems like the mind is.