Relentless

AM - 20 (10&10) Junction for first ten at an easier pace.  Then a 5 minute break and Wendy's loop trying to get as close to 6:00 as possible.  At first it wasn't happening well.  Then I had to do a "bio" break.  Finally, I started to run a little better right toward the end.  11-6:59, 12-6:43, 13-6:42, 14-6:25, 15-6:48, 16-6:49, 17-6:30, 18-6:19, 19-back up the hill to my house 6:50, 20-6:38.  Mixed reviews on the run.  Happy that I didn't let last few miles slip too much, but really didn't hit the goal times I was going for.  A little tired.  And a lot sleepy.  (Landreth 356.5) 

morning - 8.45 around FireStation desert. Then I headed back and did 8x100 barefoot grass striders. I really needed the striders. I was slow and slower throughout the run, but the striders kind of got me going again. The feeling of putting my shoes back on and finishing the .5 miles back to my house is such a strange one. (Cumulus red 246.6)

PM - 5 Washington Parkway. Nice run out on the Parkway. Pushed the pace a little coming down the Parkway. (Glycerin 468.95)

AM - 7 Green Springs.  Very nice temps this morning.  Trying to get my body on a schedule that will fit with the race.  (Cumulus orange 286.25)

afternoon - 7.45 mall run from PVHS and then Bank run from PVHS with team.  A little hot running right in the afternoon, but at least its not 115.  (Glycerin 476.40)
 

AM - 7 DogPound with Trail and 11th extensions both ways. Nice morning run. I think the legs are responding well to the shorter mileage this week. Hopefully they will be nice and fresh for Saturday. (Landreth 363.5)

noon -5 Sandberg's Pond.  Sneaked out during lunch and got my 5 in.  No big deal, just warm.  (Cumulus red 251.6)

AM-5 out and back to Grapevine Springs.  Nice easy run.  Left Plantar/Spur hurting a bit more the last few days.  Right ach. and left outside ankle that had been hurting earlier in the week have no pain in them.  (Cumulus orange 291.25) 

PM - 4.85 Sego Lily loop in Sandy.  Easy run to shake the legs out.  Things should go well tomorrow.  (Cumulus orange 296.1)

warmup of probably about .6 miles. Met up with Sasha and Ted at the start of the race and Sasha talked about sharing the lead for 1/4's. I agreed with a little bit of hesitation. (Although I feel good about running fast, it is still a bit intimidating.) 1-5:02 start off strong and feel good about it all. 2-5:14 sharing the lead is working out well. 3-5:03 I think it was around here or so that we were joined by Mike Dudley and he joins the rotation. 4-5:36 still doing well. 5-5:19 the pace seems very manageable and I am feeling positive. 6-5:07 Take a Gu around here sometime and hit a little drink of water. 7-5:52 The uphill and wind on this mile is pretty tough, but I see why Sasha said he didn't want to be alone here. The group is really helping. 8-5:11 Get back into the groove as we make the turn back down the canyon. 9-5:19 I am feeling a bit tired, but am thinking of how well it is all going and thinking if I can just keep up to take my turn, I won't have a lot left. 10-5:55 I am not really sure why this mile dropped so much, but right at the end of it came my turn and I surged up but couldn't hold anything and Mike and Sasha pull away. Keep positive and stick with it, is all I am thinking. 11-5:21 I recover pretty quick and stick right at the same distance from Sasha. 12-5:24 Try a few little surges to work back to Sasha, but everytime I do, it seems like he just keeps the same distance. It's okay though, because I am not settling in. 13- My watch ended it at 12.98 and the pace here was 5:42. Didn't dare look at my overall on the watch because I didn't want to be disappointed with the time. I just thought keep pushing with all you have and it is what it is. Now as I think about it, if I would have looked, I might have been able to dig out that little bit to go under 1:10.

Finished with a 4.3 cooldown.

Overall, I am very happy. This might be my best run ever. I held it together good throughout. Recovered quickly when I started to lose it. And finished strong. I am really please with what happened today and where it is going to take me. Thanks Sasha and Mike for pulling me along. (Ohana 105.4))