Training for Top of Utah 2011

Got up early...ate leftover popcorn for breakfast...then went on my run at 9:45 a.m. 

Windy but mid 60 degree weather was so nice! Gorgeous day for a run! Ran the hills of Snoqualmie Ridge and did not avoid them at all but tried to embrace them...

Surprisingly I did quite well...although I ran out of gas at about 9 miles though and headed home to fuel up and then just finished on the tread.

Legs felt really good even after the 20 miler on Sat.

Just noticed that my buddy Sommer(Sean Sundwall's sister) killed Boston(marathon) and ran a 7:27 pace for a 3:15! I will be happy to run a 7:30 pace for my upcoming half.

Also very happy to see that TeenaMarie was able to run and finish as well...

Target pace: 8:40    Actual pace: 8:40  

Crazy Rain this a.m.! Decided not to run my speedworkout in this stuff...instead looks like I will add it into Saturday's long run...that should be interesting!

Easy run at the ridge with plenty of hills. My schedule was flexible so was able to go later than normal and not have quite so much rain.

Pace 8:38

Not enough time for a run this a.m. so it's a rare evening run...ate lunch at 2:30 and went for the run @ 6. I did something that I normally don't do...drank a Dr. Pepper just to see if the caffeine would help at all 4 hours later...don't know if it was the caffeine but the run went very well. Lots of hills and the top of the parkway and into Eaglepoint a new subdivision at the top of the parkway...I've heard rumors that our new church may be built up there...that would be Awesome! Already have 33 miles this week and an 11 and 10 miler back to back which is very rare for me to do big miles right after each other. Sun was out but it was a bit chilly wearing just a thin short sleeve tech shirt toward the end. Temple open house tomorrow in Canada and then up early for 16 miler Saturday with 4 X 1 mile speed workout...not sure if I should run up the hill/beast after the workout or not.

*My 16 year old daughter has been running(happy about this) 4 times a week for about a month in training for an 8K...she uses my garmin and sometimes forgets to turn it off(not so happy about this) so garmin died at 7.5 miles. No pace but it was easy and probably close to 8:45ish.

Last night was a carbo load dinner at La Fogata Mex. restaurant in Snoqualmie. Knocked out a full combo...2 enchiladas with rice and beans and more than my fair share of chips and salsa...baby decided to wake up super early...5:55...and I knew my wife needed some sleep so once 8:00 rolled around I knew running was not an option this a.m...

Ate a bowl of grape nuts and that was it as I don't run well with anything in my stomach...got out to run at about 1:45. Bad news right when I walked out my door it started to rain! Than about 1.5 miles in it started to hail and got windy. Down the parkway and around mill pond over to centennial park where it was pouring down very hard! Went to the bathroom and took off both shirts and rung out the water and then dried them out a little with the hand drying machine. Hat was soaked through, shoes waterlogged. Shorts were hanging in there OK for now. Then off to the high school track for the speedwork that didn't get done Wednesday due to rain. 4X1mile @ 6:50 pace....which was nothing but Hard Work. Lungs were fine but my legs were tired...probably due to the uptick in miles and running hills all week. Last mile came in @ 6:45...I was trying to get around the track before another storm cloud burst over me...didn't make it and because I had taken my hat off my glasses got pretty spotted up with water.

Then off to riverview park and hit the pavillion there to stretch and wait out another downpour. And finally back up the parkway...feeling sluggish after the brief layover there. As I was just starting up the parkway a car pulled over and asked me if I could provide directions to the casino...I wonder if he saw that I was wearing a BYU hat? Yeah, I'm not a fan of casinos and won't even go near one.

Powered(okay, hobbled may be a better description) up the parkway and did not stop for water at the midway point....just kept plugging. Saw my buddy Timothy Tree coming down the parkway and I thought...lucky! He's fresh and going downhill and with the wind. Made it back and last mile was an 8:31 despite 3/4ths of it being uphill. Overall pace ended up being 8:20 with speedwork included.

Walked for about a quarter mile and then when I got home immediately ate 3 waffles and drank 32 ounces of accelerade. Now off to a hot shower. 

One week until the Half Marathon here in Snoqualmie...