Relentless

Steven Abraham Lincoln Hooper Pope Memorial Fun Run   2:04:30

AM - 17.25 Goldstrike.  Up at the buttcrack and on the road to Enterprise.  The run is growing larger (which may be good or bad - I don't know.  I did, however, get to ride the Elite Van with just Scott and I, which was the last to leave and last to arrive, plus a private bathroom in the back seat of the van!).  But as usual Clyde and Steve and I had a good time out running on one of my favorite runs.  This is the best I have ever felt on this run, and the temps were nice, which made it very worthwhile.  Clyde and I average just over 7 min/mile even though we never really pushed it - I don't think we could have if we tried; I know my legs felt okay at 6-6:15, but anything quicker would have quickly zapped them.  But I did feel strong on the hills, better than I ever have on those killers (I guess I earned the pink polka-dot jersey today).  Then of course the dip in the stream was as cold and pleasant as always!  (NB 101 160.25)

morning - 11.25 Lower Grapevine/Parkway.  Didn't sleep well last night, so I slept in until practice.  Luckily it was a little overcast this morning, but more humid, since I needed to run more after practice.  Felt pretty tight - especially in the hamstrings - and a bit worn down this morning.  (Barefoot '11 100)(Landreth blue 642.4)

lap swim: 15 mins.  Hadn't swam in a few days, but felt pretty solid in the pool today.

afternoon - 7 Lower Grapevine.  After holding out for a possibility of a storm, it was clear nothing was going to happen.  So I headed out around 3:30, but it was pretty nice out (compared to what it could be).  Took the lower hill and then dropped into Coral Canyon and ran back up that hill too - trying to run the hills stronger than the rest of the run.  Left hip warmed up quickly and didn't give too much trouble, but left hammy was super tight.  (Stratus grey 809.85)

morning - 10.25 Green Springs.  Still really burned out (just physically tired).  Should have gotten up to run 400's this morning, but I was just spent and with my hammy acting up so much I was also a little hesitant.  So ran over to practice and we ran up into GS and then 8xbarefoot striders, followed by the run home including up around the 5th ward.  Hammy felt better than yesterday - a little more loose.  (Barefoot '11 101.5)(Oregon 33.5)

afternoon - 8.5 Dirt Mile 10x400's.  Ran the tready for a few before Al got home from school.  Hip felt decent as did the hammy.  Moved it up to 6:00 for 1 1/2 miles and it seemed a bit harder than it should - but I figured it was the heat in the basement, being on the tready, and a bit tired overall (skipped swimming today because I didn't feel like it and thought maybe it would help me feel a little more energetic).  Anyway, after 3.5 headed up to the dirt mile for some 400's.  The storms didn't pan out again, but it was a little less hot and there was some breeze to help cool me off.  None of the 400's were that great.  Just didn't have a lot in the legs and didn't want to push to much with the heat (should obviously do workouts in the morning), but ended up all around 1:20 (some lower) for 10 and felt like I could have just kept hitting that pace for many more.  (Ohana Racers 561.25) 

morning - 5.5 Grass.  Barefooting for a bit today at practice and then running around a bit at kids' club.  Tweaked my hammy that had been feeling a little better when I dragged my toe a bit and a pain shot right up through that left hamstring; it kind of loosened back up a bit, but I need to really be careful with it.  (Barefoot '11 106)(Five Fingers 461.1)

lap swim: 10 mins. 

evening - 10 Club.  Strong club run despite the heat.  Never amped the pace up majorily, but a solid run throughout led to a good average pace.  (Mana 24.75)

morning - 10 Fields.  Wimped out on an earlier morning run with Clyde, but hit a solid run at practice.  We did a 5 mile loop out in the Fields and I just doubled it.  Felt surprisingly good until just after 8; then I just wanted to be done.  Hammy - seeing a little bit of improvement.  (Barefoot '11 106.5)(Kinvara 426.15)

lap swim: 10 mins.

AM - 15 DC/Bloomington.  Ran part of the SG half course and then took it down to Bloomington and looped it and back.  Didn't ever push the pace, but it worked itself out to be pretty good considering as we just ran and chatted and tried to end the week on a good note.  (Boston 672)

lap swim: 20 mins.  Longest swim.  Felt way good; actually thought about going 30, but the girls came out and wanted to swim, so I joined them.  It is kind of like running in the way that you just get in a groove and go.

Solid week for mileage.  400's weren't great, but Thursday tempo was good.  Didn't like the hamstring struggles though.

Goals for next week: Walking the tightrope a little - so keep/get healthy.  Also need to get a lot of planning done for XC camp coming up.