Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured

Not a good day.   I do not know what I was thinking but I thought I could meet at 5:15 and still get all my miles in - NOPE!   We warmed up and my legs are still very fatigued and I am getting frustrated.   We did a 2 mile tempo and then went to do Yasso 800's.   I did the first in 3:45 - to slow and the second in 3:43 - still to slow.  I had some tugging in my right knee so I left the track and went and ran 2 more miles on my own.

I am taking tomorrow off because I am traveling and going to sleep in until 5 am.   I am hoping that a day of rest will be what my legs need and I can get it back together for Thursday.  At this point I am not even sure what to expect for SGM.  I am not training the way I should and my legs are not recovering at all so I am trying to have a good attitude but if this continues it could be ugly.  I am not sure if I continue to push through and hope the taper is enough or do I try to rest this week and push the next two..........

Ave Pace 8:58

Happy Running!

Today was one of my favorite workouts  - 5K repeats.  We met at 5:00 am and  I had a plan for the workout already.  1st 5K easy; 2nd 5K moderate hard pace; 3rd 5K push hard.   I was tired from yesterday's travel but got up and felt good during the warm up and 2nd 5K.  with about 1.25 miles left during the second, Dean and Nancy came along and said they were going to run with me but it was more like dragging me along.  I really appreciate them pushing me even though it didn't go right with my plan.  Sometimes I just need a nudge.   Third 5K - my legs were very tired starting but felt better than I thought and I caught Nancy, and she and I stayed together the rest of the way.  Cooled down with Mike and Peggy.   I felt so much better than I have which is great but I am still far from where I was prior to my India trip and that is frustrating.   

1st 5K - 27:41

2nd 5K - 23:36, ave pace 7:53

3rd 5K - 22:32, ave pace 7:33

Work Out Ave Pace: 8:26

Happy Running!

Met Paula to run and the legs were very trashed from yesterday.   We got about 2 miles out and she wasn't feeling well and we took a couple of walk breaks and then she decided that she was done.  I ran her back home and then added 3 more on my own.   Tried to remember that it was a recovery day and to not pick up the pace.  My auto lap was turned off so I didn't get to see the first two miles which were probably close to 11 min miles but the last few were probably around 8:50 - 9:00 min miles.  

Ave Pace:  9:32

Happy Running!

Garrett and Marcie are in town and staying down at our family's cabin in Provo Canyon so we invited ourselves along.  Jay is working at UVU today and Marcie and I wanted to run together.   We decided to run down the canyon from Vivian and then continue on and have Jay come and pick us up.  We started out with a warm up mile and then Marcie took it easy and I did some MP miles.   Once we hit 6.5 I realized I was unsure of where to go so we decided to head back up.   We turned around and there was a really good head wind.  Marcie pulled away early on and then I stopped at about 8.5 to GU and get a drink and told her to go on ahead and I would see her at Vivian.   Mile 10 was incredibly rough but I managed to push through, something I have not been able to do the last few weeks.  My left hip had a strange popping in the first couple of miles and then was a little painful and then nothing really the remaining miles but it is very, very painful tonight.  Not quite sure what is going on but will stretch good.   Lots of runners out today, saw Jeff L and Scott and Kelli.

Splits:  9:23 (warm up), 8:09, 7:55, 7:54, 7:56, 7:52, 8:11, 8:42 (bathroom stop), 8:17, 8:32, 8:36, 8:16, 8:28.

Ave Pace 8:19

Happy Running!

This is my big week, I am hoping to peak at 70 miles prior to SGM and this is the week.    I am traveling most the week so I am changing my normal routine up a little.  Mondays are usually recovery days but with the holiday I had a chance to get some mileage in.   The original plan was to warm up, do some tempo and then cool down, but with my hip I decided to do easy miles.   The hip is much better today do to plenty of massage yesterday but it took a few miles for the tightness to wear off.   I ran with Paula for the first 8 and we did a very nice job staying just around 9 min miles with the first mile slow because of the warm up.  Stopped back at my house for a gu and drink and then went to finish.  I was able to keep it slow for a few miles but it didn't last long and I started picking up the pace and my splits for the second half were 8:43 (1.25 miles up hill), 8:37, 8:14, 7:57, 8:05, 7:42, 8:06.  Not quite so good at taking it easy but the hip held up nicely.   We had started late, 7:00 am, so that I could get some "heat" training in and I seemed to do okay but after about 5 miles into the second half of the run I could have used some water.  

Ave Pace:  8:45

Happy Running!

Nice easy recovery run in San Diego.  Hip felt good.  

Ave Pace 9:23

Still in San Diego.  I warmed up for 2 miles and then was planning on doing a progressive run with some rolling hills, but at 2.5 miles I fell.   Scrapped my hands, shoulder and right knee (very badly).  Got up and collected myself and decided to continue with the run.  I was slow going until I got passed by a girl going up the hill.  Pick it up and ended up passing her and running 1.25 miles at a 7:45 pace.  She must have turned off because when I hit the turn around point she was gone.  Recovered and then did another fast mile.  Hip is getting tighter.

Ave Pace 8:4

Last morning in San Diego.  Nice easy paced run but I was very tentive due to yesterdays fall.  Hip worse.

Ave Pace 9:05

Good to be back home.  Ran with Paula and the hip hurt.  Had to stop and stretch a couple of times.  Lots of stretching and massage tonight.  Very tired, but glad it is done.  Still very tentative. 

Ave Pace 9:55

Happy Running!

Met Cheris, Julie, both Michelle's, Angela, Melanie and Annette at Dimple Dell and to run Wasatch Blvd.   I have been a little scared to do this run all week because I know how hilly it is.  

Good Things

It is over and I didn't die.  Today marks the start of the taper.

I ran with a great group of people today

I was stronger as the run went on with some of my fastest miles on the last couple, which were flat.

It is almost the same exact pace as last years 22 miler, however that was a much easier course

Met my goal for the week, even when I had plenty of reasons to not.

Bad Thing

I walked twice.  This is a first for me in a long training run.  Both were up steep hills - but booo!

Lessons Learned

My concerns on whether I was losing fitness or just extremely exhausted are no more.  I am completely exhausted.    I am not sore at all now, just so tired that all I want to do is lay down.   All the travel has taken it's toll along with all the eating out, my diet is terrible.    The good thing is I can fix this.  I have no scheduled travel between now and the SGM and I will be getting plenty of rest.

On race day I need to stick to my own plan and not get caught up in all the excitement.  

There you have it.   Glad I did it.  Actually want to do it again because I know that I am stronger than what I was today, but glad it will not be for a while.

Ave Pace:  8:54

Happy Running!

Nice easy run with Paula.

Today was BBK work out.  We warmed up for 3 miles and then ran another over to SkyPark.  We then did 2x1.5 mile repeats at tempo pace and then did some hill sprints.  I finally felt like I was able to get some speed in and feel good even though I was far behind everyone else.  

Ave Pace 8:32

Happy Running!

I had to be at work early today so I drove over and then ran around the office - love that we now have showers!!   Nice easy pace and felt relaxed through out the run and I have not felt that way for a long time.  Hip was a little sore and tight due to yesterday's work out.   I am also short on mileage because I had to write a work email on my phone to address an urgent issue and that set me back 10 min - bummer.

Ave Pace 8:57

Happy Running!

Okay - here is the deal.

Hip hurt, was not getting better despite pushing through and thinking that something might change.  Apparently I am a little stubborn.  Went and had a massage last Wednesday and no significant improvement, even with rest.  So I went to Dr. Toronto on Monday and was diagnosed with bursitis in the hip, not really surprised by that, and put on prednisone.  The hip is feeling much better but there is some residual soreness in the glute, hip flexor, quad and hamstring.  Lots of little specific trigger points.  He said that I should be able to run on Saturday and not due any further damage so that is the plan.  I am completely unsure of what Saturday will bring, other than the fact I am very well rested.    At this point I am not quite sure of what my goals are, I would still like to run well if possible but having a great experience will take presidence this time.   

 GOOD LUCK TO ALL RUNNING SGM!