Relentless

AM - 7.15 Green Springs. Week started well with a very very slow easy run this morning. I wasn't really tired, but the whole run was just slow. That's okay, though, we all have some of those. (Cumulus red 397.3)

afternoon - 7.6 (3xmiles). Warm up out to Cemetery Loop from PVHS - 2.1 miles. Heading out, I doubted how well I was going to do on these miles; my mind wasn't into it and neither was my body - then I began to doubt if I even was going to do them, but I decided to just give it a shot and see what happened even if it meant having some slower repeats. Started off on the first one going pretty well. I didn't look at my watch until the corner that is about .75 into it and I was pleasantly surprised enough to keep pushing and ended up with a 5:24. Took a short jog recovery (2:00) and started out on the 2nd. Was even more surprised to find I was faster than the first at my check point. Ended up hitting 5:20 even though I thought I was going slower. Recovery jog again, and started on #3. Again I felt tired, and I just knew I was blowing it. But I kept trying to push and ended up with 5:24 again. Three very good times on this mile course - especially having not done any for a few months. Then jogged back to school. (Precision 123.9)

Weights - felt a little better than usual, even though, again I had to convince myself to do them. Then just a shorter cool down of 1 grass loop - .75 miles (Landreth 455.45)

AM - 5 Washington Loop. A bit sluggish - couldn't be from the pounds of candy I ate last night making gingerbread houses! (Paramount 317.95)

afternoon - 8.1 River Run.  Ran with Ruth and chatted about various running things.  Good easy pace, but I wanted to be done with a couple to go - heart wasn't fully there today.  (Cumulus silver 256.4) 

AM - 5 Washington Loop. I could run this loop in my sleep - and that's what I do most of the time! I do try to mix it up a bit with direction and when I add the extension (first or last), and I haven't been burned out with it yet. (Cumulus orange 412.3)

afternoon - 9 GS/PL/Midd reverse. Planned on going just 7, but I couldn't think of any good seven milers to go on. So I headed out toward Middleton, and I got tempted by the trails. They were nice and soft and compact from the recent rains.

a little later later in the afternoon/evening now - 2.7 PVHS to home. My POS Jeep wouldn't start. So I fought with it for awhile, tried to jump it, then just gave up and ran home. (Stratus 101.95)

afternoon - 11 River Trail.  Ran with Gooldilocks and had a very interesting discussion with him about religion of all topics.  Who knows, maybe he really is straightening things out - it would be very good for him.  The run was solid.  He hadn't run 11 in some time (he hadn't run in some time!), but he wouldn't turn around until I did.  He also wanted to push the pace down toward 6:20, but I kept him under control and kept it at 6:50.  On the way back he quit talking, and I could tell he was tired.  After trying to keep up, he finally just told me to keep going and he would finish eventually.  My ave. for the run was 6:56.  (Precision 134.9)

Weights - feeling a little stronger.

Then .75 cool down (Landreth 456.2) 

afternoon - 12.75 From PVHS out onto Coral Canyon paved trail exploring.  Good enjoyable run.  Once I got out to Coral Canyon, I hit some of their paved trails that go all-over.  The best/worst was Mt. Everest which is pretty much like its name - a monstrous climb up a bluff, at one point my Garmin was giving me a reading of over 40% for about 300 yards (peaking at 48%) holy crap!  It was fun to run with no real goal in mind for workout or course.  (Cumulus silver 269.15)

morning - 18 Painter's 1/2 course + 2.5 up and back on River Trail. Decided to go run the 1/2 course to get a feel for it again. Ran great - without even pushing or anything, the pace was consistently in the 6:30's give or take (I felt like Logan!). I think it was good to run the course, because I felt pretty antsy and as my mind went to the race (even though it is over a month away), I would find myself picking up. Ran the half in something like 1:25. Then went up trail with the thought in mind of doing a Tinman Finish for the last three. Right off the bat, I could tell I had put in a decent run as the finish was a little harder than planned. But kept pace good and hit a 6:01, 5:55, and 5:57. Happy with the run. (Stratus 119.95)

Good recovery week - hit solid miles, but let the body recover a bit.  PF started to hurt, but feels a little better; started to have some right knee IT band pain (which is a 1st), but it is minimal and feeling better.

Goals for next week:  Bring it back to 100!  But make sure I am keeping healthy first.  Solid Tempo run on Monday.  Hills  - get into it!