Maybe I'll Blog, Maybe I Won't

Well, I only meant to go 12 today but I didn't realize it was 3 miles from my apartment to the Green Canyon trailhead instead of only 2 like I was thinking.  So I ended up running 14 today.  Felt really good though.  I went slow the first half because my calves were a little fatigued from all that climbing on saturday and it was all uphill going out but I got feeling pretty good near the top and decided to go hard coming back down.  Got some great speed going on the way back especially once I got back on the road and didn't have to worry about where to put my feet.  Last 3 miles or so were good pace for a hard tempo run.  It only felt like 12 instead of 14 but the course tool says otherwise.   Oh, and I just got a call from my dad and he says that I got a letter from SGM saying that they made a mistake and I ended up taking 4th in my age division instead of 5th!  So that is way cool...don't know if it's affecting my overall place but hey, they sent me a new brass plate to put on my little plaque so that is all cool.  Anyway, so good day, good mileage, beautiful weather, legs feel awesome...yeah, it's a good day.  :)

River Trail with Paul and Jon.  Just easy pace.  Ran from my apt and met them at the trailhead and then we went about 6 on the trail and I ran back to my place. (a little over 2 miles each way)  Felt really good and relaxed.  It got a little chilly towards the end and when my hands get cold I can't type so this is all I'm gonna write for now.  Good run today. 

8.6 very easy today.  Didnt' work hard at all...just got out and got in some slow miles.  Felt good to rest a bit from the last couple of days but my legs still feel pretty good considering.  I think I'm recovering pretty well.  Will take the rest of this week very easy, try to PR in the 10K on Saturday, and then get a good week with lots of miles in next week.  Oh, and I'm seriously considering running the Ogden Marathon...but I was wondering if that's a bad idea where I've only done one marathon, and that being 4 weeks ago...my legs feel fine and I feel like I could easily do it but I was just curious if anyone knows anything I don't about this recovery thing.  It would be a good goal to shoot for and give me motivation to get me through the winter here.  Just curious.

AM:  okay, well I'm about to fall asleep in class.  But it was a good run this morning, although it's the earliest I've gotten up for a run in a long time.  It was wierd, we had like 5 people there.  Went about 5 very easy.  Felt good since my legs are a little tired.  Probably do another  mile this evening to make 6.

PM:  mile jog around the blockish.  nothing exciting.

Just 4 very easy today around town.  Resting for the 10K tomorrow.  Legs feel great.  Going to stretch out good tonight and try to get some sleep even though I probably won't get a ton due to Aggie Basketball and the Howl.  Thank goodness the race isn't early like usual.  I'm excited for it.  Goals:  Break 35 min., and if possible win it.

Last night I went to bed at 2:15 AM.  Got up at 8:30 and didn't feel tired at all which was amazing.  Got ready and went down to the park to get warmed up etc.  Warmed up just jogging around and doing some small striders and stuff.  Legs feel pretty good.  A couple of small sore spots but nothing of concern.  

Started the race feeling like the pace was really easy.  Didn't bring my watch because a) I think I left it at home (in Hurricane) and b) I just wanted to run by feel anyway.  Legs felt fine for the first 2 miles and I was running with this guy who seemed very fast.  He said he knew some bloggers too.  We were way out in front.  One other guy was behind us a bit but no one for a long way after that.  He was going for under 35 too which was kinda what I was hoping for too so I determined to stick with him.  Unfortunately, those dreams were short lived.  I don't know whether it was the marathon still in my legs or excessive mileage earlier in the week but my legs just kinda shut off after about two miles and he pulled away and built up a big lead by the time I hit mile 3.   About mile 3 I got passed by the guy who was a bit behind us but I got my stuff together and stuck on him.  Still trailed by about 3-5 seconds but didn't let him build any lead to speak of.  He turned out to be a very good front runner.  I would surge to try and get him but by the time I would catch him my legs would be dead again and he would pick it up and get his lead back.  This happened 5 or 6 times the whole last half of the race.  Almost got him at 1.5 to go, but I wasn't as familiar with the course as I should have been and it just kept making turns and making turns and I was wondering when the heck it was going to end and my legs kept doing this surge-sputter thing.  Last .5 mile he has a good 15 second lead but I tried to kick it pretty hard and cut it down to about 9 or 10 seconds by the finish.  Ended up 3rd with 35:29:14, so I didn't get any of my goals but I did PR by over a minute (not counting USG) so I'm satisfied for now.  I think I kind of redeemed myself from the TOU 5k as well...felt much better about my time and mental state.  I didn't let the guy get away from me hardly at all and I was in the race the whole way.  Pretty happy about it.  Will probably jog a couple more miles today.  That later.