Dare to be great!

Lunchtime run on the Porter Rockwell trail in Draper.  Started out in a snowstorm, with snow pellets the size of nerds candy.  Lasted for about the first 2 miles then stopped.  Felt pretty good the first 5 miles then I turned around and noticed the headwind, no wonder.  Didn't push the pace at all and hopefully I can salvage a tempo run tomorrow.  I was meaning to get this run in yesterday but had too much going on.  AP 8:06

Early solo run on the JRP starting at the Iron Bridge.  2 mile warm-up to Willow Park 8:14,8:16, then 8 mile marathon pace tempo 7:09,7:07,7:10,7:08,7:08,7:04,7:08,7:02, AP for the run 7:21.  Tried to keep all the tempo miles in between 7:08-7:12.  I like doing tempo runs there as it is honest course as it is an out an back and some rollers but not too crazy.  Run felt comfortable hard.  Left leg below my calf got a little tight the last couple miles.  Hopefully just a minor little tweak. 

Easy jog with the dog in the fields, left calf has been tight since yesterday trying to see if it would loosen up.

Went with my wife down to inlet park, out and back on the JRP.  My wife did six then got on the bike and met me to ride with me for the rest of my run.  I was trying to get a feel on how my calf would react and cut it short if needed.  I was tight the first little bit, but my 7:50 pace felt like I was running 8:30 pace so kept going, pretty much was a non factor for most of the run. 

Felt pretty good for most of the run, ended up with a 7:47 AP without pushing it too hard.  Wanted to do 20 but I was glad I cut it short, got on the bike and rode home and my wife drove our car.  So an extra 10 miles on the mountain bike into the wind.  So at least my legs got a good workout without all the extra pounding.  I can already tell I got too much sun out there...

Couple early morning miles from the house this morning. Just nice and easy enjoyable morning. 8:25 AP. Glad to get this one in as it will be a long day at work (14 hrs) and I usually have no motivation by the time it is done.

Went for a lunchtime run today in Draper. Parked at the corner of 1300 East and Highland Drive. I was hoping for 10 today and thought the parking lot was farther from the equestrian park, nope only .30 miles. Oh well...  had a fun run solo, and got to hit the trails to break up the work day.

Did the same route up corner canyon which I did with Neasts and the gang last week.  Had a moderate effort on the way up and just floated down.  AP for the run 9:29, total time 1:09:15 just for my reference if I do it again.  Was going to add some miles at the end but once I hit the car I did not want to go any further on the paved trail.  Legs felt fine during the run so that's good.

Met up with a large group(9) of other crazy runners for a early morning trail run. My wife saw what time I was setting the alarm for and she said it was "ludicrous" I had never even been up Millcreek canyon before so it was nice exploring somewhere new.

I was planning on only doing one lap, but the legs felt ok and the miles flew by with the other runners so I decided to add another lap. I really love to run on the trails and have spent a lot of time up in the mountains but this was probably the longest trail run I have done. Hopefully after the Utah Valley Marathon I can take a respite from hard training and spend some more time up in God's Country.

Got to meet some more people from the blog and had a great time...

Woke up and my legs were pretty tight and I have been neglecting my puppy so I grabbed her to have a nice jaunt through the fields by the house. She had a blast running, chasing birds, and swimming in the canal. I just enjoyed the morning, my legs loosened up after about the first quarter mile, don't want to do any tempo work today but will try to add some extra miles in this afternoon.

Have the day off so got the kiddos off to school, then headed out from the house for a easy run to hopefully get the soreness out.  Ran into Drew about a mile in and ran with him for a bit to finish up his run.  Hopefully I can do some tempo work with him in the future to be able to push myself.  Continued on solo and just enjoyed the morning.  AP 8:09

Went down to the JRP for my standard Sat. long run, started at the Inlet Park.  Had some fairly tired legs at the start, ran the first 9 averaging 7:56, and feeling fairly smooth.  Wanted to get some marathon pace miles on tired legs hopefully without doing any damage. Ran the last six at MP - 7:12,7:04,7:07,7:06,7:07:7:11, felt pretty good about those miles, did not run with a GPS, just my watch and the mile markers on the trail, so I am hoping the pace is getting locked into my legs.  AP for the total run 7:37

Got some good advice from Sasha concerning the upcoming Utah Valley Marathon and how to properly pace it.  Thanks!

Recovery run from the house this morning, ran to the canal trail then up the dirt road up past the quarry till I hit 3 then came back home. Legs and body were really sore this morning, just took it really easy, like averaged 9:30 pace. Planning on some more easy miles this afternoon on the grass.

PM: Headed to the park with my middle boy, he rode his bike the half mile there then ran a mile on the grass around the park with me, he played at the park while I did another mile, then joined my for the last mile, then we ran/rode home together.  It was very nice to spend some one and one time with him and spend the afternoon together.  He is so fluid when he runs, if he ever gets serious about running he will do some great things.

Nice morning for a run, went south from the house until the Jr. High school road, then went west up the hill into the Ranches.  Cruised along the road until 6.55, then turned around.

Moderate effort for the morning especially with the hills, but still tried to keep something left in the legs for the rest of the week.  AP 8:05

AM: short jaunt with the pup in the fields behind the house. Lot of work to do today, needed to clear the head before heading into work.

PM: Went with Spencer to his favorite lizard catching spot, he rode his bike while I ran along.  Kicked around the quarry a bit then ran back to the park and met the rest of the family.  I ran around the outside of the park in the grass with the pup until I hit 8 for the day then relaxed on the park bench with the wife while the kiddos played.  Feeling some tweaks here and there so I took it really easy.  Lots of mileage for me the past bit and this is the last heavy week until the taper begins. 

Thought I might struggle a bit on this run but it ended up pretty good. Just ran from the house then up the hills from the half then back home to hit 10. Kept the pace around base pace, and tried to save the legs some for the planned 20 miler tomorrow morning. AP 8:04

Glad to get this run in this morning.  There was a stiff breeze this morning so I ran the first 10 into the wind, from Inlet Park to Camp Williams on the JRP, then back the way I came.  I kept the pace fairly easy the first 14 or so then had a moderate push at the end, and finished the last mile at marathon pace 7:06.  Should be the last 20 miller before the marathon.  AP for the run 8:06.

We are going to the father and son's campout tonight and of course it is calling for rain.  I will try to sneak away on a trail run in the morning to hit 70 miles this week.

Woke up bright and early and got out on the dirt road up Wanroads in Diamond Fork Canyon.  Ran out to the main road then headed back to camp.  Started to rain on the way back.  Good hill training and my legs are pretty tired. 6 miles

PM: after a nice nap which was very much needed, I was acting like a diva, headed out with my wife on the dirt roads up past the water towers, legs feel so much better after a rest.  3.1 miles easy

Woke up early yesterday, saw it storming outside and just went back to sleep. Felt bad all day about not making it out. Run this morning was a the Ranches loop from the house, went south then up the hills and looped back around to SR-73, then back home.

It was a harder run for me this morning.  I was having a bit of a time getting going.  There were a lot of hills for most of the run.  I tried to keep a decent pace up the steepest hills.  My legs were feeling pretty fatigued by the end of the run.  AP 8:06, but felt like I was giving an 7:35 effort.

It's my wife's birthday today so I waited until my lunch time to run so I could get the kiddos up and off to school and make her breakfast this morning.

I was torn on what workout to do today. I ended up with a migrane last night and have been feeling super tired lately so I did not end up going running just tried to get to bed earlier. 

Decided on a 10 mile goal marathon pace run today.  Went to the Porter Rockwell trail in Draper.  Started at the Draper Park and did an out and back.  There is a fair amount of hills in the run, so I just tried to keep the effort even and see how it felt. 

Miles were as follows: 7:06,7:15,7:13,7:15,7:22,7:03,7:05,7:14,7:09,7:07  AP 7:11

I was shooting to hit between 7:10-7:14 so I was pleased.  Didn't red line but it was not exactly a walk in the park (which I did do once my run was done.)  If nothing else I did my first double digit marathon pace tempo for the year.

Another long run on the JRP starting at the Inlet Park.  I was planning on 17, but ran into a friend after 14 and ran a bit with him.  Probably added another .5 with him until I convinced him to go the other way with me.  No GPS just watch, just tried to keep the pace comfortable and not injure anything.  I was averaging 8:05 per mile up to 14 then the little add on messed up my mile tracking.  Kept it pretty much the same the last few miles.  Run felt ok this morning, not crazy fresh legs or anything but ok.

I was proud of my wife as she finished 11 as I did my run.  She will be good to go for the half.

Really need to start going to bed earlier and catch up on my rest.  Got home from work and the pup was itching to get out.  Ran with her for 4.5, in the rain, felt really good, ran up the dirt road to the new water tower, then back looped around in the fields and had a blast chasing the dog through the sage brush in the rain, soaking wet and wooping  her up.

Little more than a week and a half until Utah Valley then it is fun run time.  Longing for some mountain time.

Standard 8 from the house.  AP 8:15,

Weaved around the roads in the hood with my wife and dog until the time was up and had to get the kiddos off for the last day of school.  Easy recovery pace.

6 easy around the different roads in the hood.  Just enjoyed the morning and got some easy miles on my legs before I had to head home to mow the lawn and finish all the other chores.  AP 8:34