Catch me if you can

I planned on 8, but my head hurt and I had no energy.  I cut it short.  Avg. pace 8:54.

Taylor and I started at the Equestrian Park in Draper and ran the BST going North.  We did an out and back.  I felt ok.  I was breathing way too hard again on the uphill parts. Average pace 9:13.

Michelle and I shuttled up to Copperton so we could run downhill to my house.  At about 6 miles I left Michelle at the Daybreak Lake and ran the 5 miles home to get my car.  I tried to pick up pace the last 5 miles so she wouldn't be waiting for me too long.  

I rode the stationary bike at work for 30 minutes.

This was the closest I've came to speed work in quite some time.  I started at the trail head and ran out 4 and back.  My splits were: 9:17, 8:05, 8:11, 8:16, 7:44, 7:45, 7:44 and 7:53. 

The plan was to run my 20 miler today.  I had originally planned to take my grandpa to his brother's 95th birthday in Idaho for the weekend.  I work Friday and knew this would be my only chance to get it in.  Taylor was going to run the first 10 with me.  Right from the beginning I didn't feel good and had zero energy.  I called it quits at mile 9.  Average pace 8:56.

6 miles before work.  Average pace 9:14

At the last minute Michelle couldn't make it.  I headed out on my own at 6:00 AM.  I ran uphill most of the 5 miles to the lake.  Then I circled the lake for 3 miles and ran up 11400 and turned North on to the Mountain View Corridor trail until I hit 10 miles.  Then I turned around and ran the same way back home.  It was a decent run, but 20 miles is hard to run by yourself. 

9 miles before work.  Slow and still no energy.

3.5 miles at 9:00 AM.  It was too hot.

Graduation at work today so I ran at home before.  I ran 4 easy miles, but I had to pee the whole time which made it kind of miserable. Legs are just heavy. YUK

I also walked a mile during lunch.  With the challenge at work every little bit counts. 

This was a fun race.  Neither my ankle or my knee bothered me at all.  My goal was to run 1:40 or faster.  I wish it was faster, but I haven't done any speed work.  

The first mile was crazy.  It was tough trying to weave around the slower runners.  I tried staying with Curt, but after about 2 miles he pulled ahead.  I carried my bottle with Gatorade for the first 6 miles.  I didn't stop at the first aid station.  I like doing that at marathons, but I don't think I'll do that at a half marathon again.  I had GUs at miles 6 and 10.

 I felt pretty tired the last few miles and wanted to walk.  I told Alex before he left for his mission that I was going to dedicate my races to him.  So I kept reminding myself that "I can do hard things".  The last mile I tried to pick up the pace to make sure I didn't go over 1:40.  

I didn't have any stomach issues.  Yeah.  I had a banana and a poptart for breakfast.   

My splits were: 7:40, 7:27, 7:35, 7:31, 7:41, 7:37, 7:45, 7:58, 7:37, 7:55, 8:26, 7:48 and 7:39 (.97). 

Legs were tired and heavy.

I met the BBKs at the church on 9800th and 2200.  We warmed up for 2 miles.  Then we ran a 5 mile tempo run.  2.5 miles up to 4000 w. (mostly through the neighborhoods) and then back down.  I ran with Becky.  Then I got to work and ran 3 more miles.

4 slow miles.  My legs were way tight.

4 miles running before work and 20 minutes of walking during lunch.

The plan was for Michelle to pick me up at then meet Angela at Porcupine Grill at 6:10.  Michelle called at 5:40 to let me know her car had been stolen from her garage and she couldn't go.  I felt so bad for her.  :(

I picked up Angela at Porcupine and we drove 14 miles up Big Cottonwood to the Brighton store. I had planned on running 20, but without Michelle I just couldn't talk myself into it.  

Angela and I kept a pretty good pace.  I had a bad side stitch on my left side for about a mile.  That was painful.  I still felt fatigued from running Hobble Creek last week so maybe it was good I didn't run the full 20.  That means I will most likely run 20 next week. 

I actually ran the 13 miles today faster than I ran Hobble Creek.  My time for the 14 miles was 1:46.  Average pace 7:35.  I'm hoping if I run 20-30 seconds per mile slower for the Big Cottonwood Marathon the last 12 won't be too miserable. 

To Austin's football game at the SJ park.

I warned Lisa that this would be a slow one for me and it was.  My legs are still tired and sore from the 14 miles down the canyon on Friday.  It was nice to visit with Lisa.

6.5 miles before work.  Old SJ 5k course.

I met the BBKs at 9800 and 2200 again.  We warmed up for 1/2 mile then started the 6 mile tempo run.  3 miles uphill and 3 miles downhill.  I tried to push hard, but my times weren't all that fast.  I think I averaged about an 8:00 mile.  I cooled down for another mile and then went to work and ran on the treadmill until I hit 10 miles for the day.  It was a miserably hot day at work.  Second day in a row without air conditioning.

4 miles at work at 9:00 AM.  HOT!

7 slow miles from work.  It was the 4th day of no air at work.  It was so draining.

20 very long miles.  I knew this was going to be tough and it was.  The air conditioning has been out all week at work.  Last night when I got home, my calves, ankles and feet were so swollen and they just hurt.  I was way dehydrated.  I put my compression socks on and they were so tight it was painful.  Anyway, I didn't want to back out on Angela, so I stuck to the plan.  I ran 14 miles on the trail.  Angela wanted downhill so she ran from Suncrest and we met on 12600 and ran 6 more miles together.  I'm so glad that is over.  I don't know if I have really been running enough to taper, but I think I will.