10:30 AM. P.C., mid 80's temp. Clarke/Glover lane loop.

Hot & slow.

So, it's been just over a year since I joined the blog. (I retro blogged my runs before August 1st. '08). I started blogging after lurking here for a while, and then when I felt ready to run 6 days a week, that's when I started blogging. In this one year, Aug. '08 through July '09, I ran 2,663.19 miles! I've gone from being a 10 min. per mile guy to 8:15 per mile for a half marathon! I won't know about my marathon pace until Sept 19th. Anyway, it's amazing to me how fast a year goes by. Life is so short!

I woke up with the alarm this morning but this little sinus infection/head cold thingy kept my head plastered to the pillow for another hour. Feel fine now though. Looking forward to a trail run later this afternoon. The temps are only expected to get to 98F or so. Muy caliente!

1:37:54 PM. Sun, 95F. 10 miles. Started at Kaysville Wilderness Park and ran North on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.

Oh my that was killer. Killer climbs and descents.  I didn't even care about the heat because I had to focus on staying upright and moving the whole time. It took me 2 hrs. to go 10 miles. 12 mins. per mile avg pace! My fastest mile was 10:35, my slowest 15:32. On the way back (I went out 5 miles), I couldn't speed up on the flats because my legs were so tired. I wanted to get one good trail run in before TOU marathon so I guess this will count. Good times!

So I decided to download the software that came with my Garmin...I've had this since last August. Cool info. I don't know how get the information from there to my blog so I'll just write out the elevation manually:

Total ascent - 2479  total descent - 2716 (not sure how that's possible, it might be because it wasn't strictly an out and back course, I did divert along the way a couple of times to follow streams alittle ways etc. and/or the garmin just isn't that accurate when it come to elevation tracking).

Mile         Gain/Loss

1              395/118

2              229/200

3              140/183

4              322/172

5              580/235

6              173/674

7              145/294

8              159/127

9              196/318

10            140/395

10:11:27 AM. Sunny, 86F. Bluff trail.

I got up with the alarm but I didn't get out early. Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

Edit:

We've got this "wildflower patch" in our yard and for weeks I've been watching this sunflower grow...and grow...it's crazy! It's at least 12 ft. tall and just about to bloom. There are several other sunflowers sprouting out there as well, but most of them are only like 6 ft. tall. The stem for the giant sunflower is 3 or 4 inches round, still, I put supports around it. It looks like there are about 15 or so blooms coming out of this one plant. What's more, it's a volunteer!

Early lunch run. Sun, 88F. Golden Ave/Davis High track loop.

Ran from the shop today. Urban assault! Actually, it's not that bad now that I'm getting more used to running on the roads. Concrete, asphalt, grass, and rubber.

Easy pace. 1/2 mile barefoot on grass at the high school.

Rest day. 

I seem to be dealing with some mental fatigue or something lately. My body feels fine (except for a nagging pain below my left knee, which I've been running through because it feels fine once warmed, but is stiff/sore in the mornings), but I can't seem to focus sharply enough to run any faster than a slogging shuffle. It's disappointing because last Spring the pace on most of my training runs was an effortless 8:40 or so, and now it's all I can do to beat the 9:00 mpm guy! So, I'm cutting back this week in hopes of putting in some high miles for the next 3 weeks before tapering for TOU.

I need a new drug.

6:06:44 AM. Clear, 55F. Hooray for mid-summer cold fronts. Clarke/Glovers lane loop.

Oh what a difference a day makes. Actually felt good on this morning's run. Must be all that spinach I ate yesterday. After warming up for 3 miles, I picked it up for the rest. Splits: 10:02, 9:19, 9:24, 8:42, 8:30, 8:36, 8:28, 8:03, 8:37, 9:17, 8:37.  Still not as fast as I'd like but at least I felt strong to the end.

SO, today I'm not dropping out of TOU, we'll see how I feel tomorrow. (just kidding).

1:37:37/8:52

No run for me today. I've had a real easy running week. Yesterday's run felt so good. This morning when I woke up, my left knee was smiling at me...it was such a cute smile, I decided my knee deserved another day off. Back at it tomorrow...

Congrats to all the racers this weekend!!