The Mongoose

8.5 easy this morning out in the desert. Kinda sucked. I think I just felt flat from the workout last night and I felt dehydrated. 8x100m barefoot strides afterwards. 

More in the evening to break out the new shoes. I decided to get the new Nike Pegasus shoes because my Kinvaras are starting to wear out. They are pretty sweet. It was a little cooler outside during my run and there was a little lightning storm out in the distance so it was a good run.

Tempo run again today out in Warner Valley. Warmed up 3.5 miles out on the dirt road and did the tempo back. We went 18 minutes this time so 3 minutes longer than last week. Averaged 5:47 for the 18 minutes while staying pretty relaxed. Good run from the guys today. Short cool down afterwards. 

3 before work in the afternoon. Very hot, 104 according to my iPod.

7 miles out on the Zen trail with Riley and Darian this morning. Felt pretty good, but I have some blisters that formed on Monday's tempo that were sort of bugging me a bit. Nothing bad. 

3 more later when I got off work. Some of my neighbors were lighting off fireworks which made for a pretty neat run.

Crazy busy day and I couldn't get the workout in, so I ended up doing 3 miles around midnight. I had planned for 7 today but I will do more tomorrow.

Only had 5 planned for today but I added 4 more becaused I had to shorten it yesterday. 9 total with a fartlek in the middle.

First day at BYU xc camp. We did a threshold run in the evening to put us into our running groups. It went okay, but I think I ate too much at dinner (which was at 4, super early right?) so my stomach didn't feel fantastic. 

Second day of camp. This morning I ran with group 1 for our fartlek run at Kiwanis Park (5,3,2,1 with equal recovery). I felt really good and stayed with the front of the pack for the workout. Glad that I could keep up and push with this talented group of guys. 6.25 including warm up and cool down.

In the afternoon we did an out and back on the Provo River Trail, 6 miles total. I ran with a Adam Haynes from Bingham and we talked about lots of running stuff, he is pretty cool. It was fun and it felt pretty easy even though it was pretty hot. Good day, and I think I am adjusting to the altitude well. 

Third day of camp. In the morning we did an out and back on the Bonneville shoreline trail, 3.65 miles total. I felt pretty good. 

In the afternoon we drove up Provo canyon and ran on the Stewart Falls trail. It was way fun but it was pretty hot. About 4.6 total.

Last day of BYU xc camp! No morning run because of the race later. In the past we usually have the track meet at the BYU track and runners have the option of an 800, 1600, or 2 mile xc race, but this year everyone did the xc race at Kiwanis Park. Not a big deal though because I planned on running the xc race anyways. We walked about a mile over to the park around 10 and they gave the girls about 30 minutes to warm up before their race. I started to warm up when the girls started racing. Miah from Davis won the girls race. On my warm up my legs felt really sluggish from a hard week of running and I couldn't really think about the race, so I just decided it wasn't a big deal so I would just run the first mile conservative and if I felt good I would pick up the pace on the second lap. We started and Chad Stevens from Washington took the lead early about 20 meters ahead of the chase pack. I was hanging off the chase pack a little but I felt fine and I felt good about the pace so I stayed there for the first mile. We went through in 5:20 and my legs felt surprisingly good so I started to surge and passed everyone in the next quarter mile except Chad who now had about 30 meters on me. I worked on closing the gap little by little and finally caught him with about 500m to go. We exchanged leads a few times but he finally pulled away with 50m left and I didn't pass him again and finished 2nd. I was a little bummed out that he out kicked me, but I was talking to him afterwards and he has PRs of 4:17 for 1600 and 9:18 for 3200! I wasn't sure at first but I checked out his times and they were legit. This was a big confidence booster for me. Later, Coach Eyestone gave me the 'Wayne Pinto' award (long story) which was pretty sweet. I think it was a successful camp and I'm glad I came.

5 easy this morning around my grandma's neighborhood in Sandy. Today was my brother's birthday so we spent most of the day doing stuff up north before coming home. 

Got in another 3 when I got home at night to try and get the mileage for the week.

7.25 easy around noon with Darian. I did the shortened ridge loop from my house. It was hot but I felt pretty good. Darian, on the other hand, was struggling so we stopped at Hidden Valley to get some water. 

3 more later so I could get the total mileage for the week. 

Workout today behind the school. We did 5x500m dirt hill repeats w/equal recovery. I felt good and we were hitting pretty fast times. Good workout today.

7.5 miles easy out on the trails behind the school this morning. I kind of felt a little tired and flat, but it wasn't that bad. 8x100m strides on the turf afterwards then kids camp.

VO2 max test today. Felt pretty good, although I think I went out a little fast. I think I could've done better, but I just didn't have it in me today like I did at BYU for some reason.

10 up at Navajo Lake for our adventure run today. Pretty run and I felt good.

3 easy around my grandma's neighborhood in Sandy later in the evening.

SPEEDGOAT!!! Super tough but I had a blast. The first ascent (8.3 miles to Hidden Peak aid station) flew by. Josh and I got to the top in about 2 hours so we were doing pretty good, and it actually didn't feel too bad, we were keeping conversation the whole way up. Then Riley hopped in with us on the descent to the Pacific Mine aid station at mile 14.8. This downhill section was pretty tough on my quads and they were cramping up when we got to the bottom. Josh headed out but I stayed with Riley for a few more minutes to stretch and get some electrolytes in before heading out. Riley and I took it real easy for the next ascent before hitting the downhill to the Mineral Basin aid station (mile 19.4). Riley rode the tram up from here, and I took a little extra time at this station too to make sure I was ready for the tough ascent up to "the Tunnel" (mile 22.3). I felt pretty good on this part and passed quite a bit of people. After that it was another downhill section for about 2 miles before a tough climb back up to Hidden Peak (mile 26), and finally about 6 miles downhill to the finish. My quads were pretty toast after the Tunnel, and I think I probably felt better on the uphills for the majority of the race. It was a cool experience, and fun to get to run with Josh again, even if it was only for half the race. I think I could've had a better race if I would have done better nutrition-wise, but it was a learning experience. I'm glad that I can look back on this and say that I finished. Fun time, and something to consider doing again in the future, but for now I will focus on 5ks instead of 50ks, haha. 

3.5 miles in the morning. Just taking it easy so I don't rush back into it.

Felt good today so I went the full 7 with the guys. Legs weren't too sore.

2.5 warm up then I jogged around for the first half of the 20 minute tempo on the track, then paced some of the guys for the last 10 minutes. Felt pretty good, still a little tight though. 2 mile cool down.

8 miles on the Barrel Roll trail in Santa Clara with the team. Felt pretty good, still tight in some places though so I will have to roll out later.

Workout at the region course this morning. 3x3:00, 4x:30, 3x3:00 w/ equal recovery. Good workout, starting to feel more recovered from Speedgoat. Short barefoot cool down afterwards.

10.25 out by Little Black Mountain. Felt a little tired from the workout or something, I don't know. 

Another fartlek-type workout at the high school today. 1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1 w/equal recovery. We did our last minute on the track and Spencer and I came through at 57ish for 400m. Nice to know that the speed is still sort of there. Short cool down afterwards. Good workout today, good push from all the guys. 3 more later. 

6.5 easy behind the school with 8x100m strides and another mile at kids camp afterwards. A little tired but okay. 3 later in the afternoon.

Met out at Warner Valley for the tempo this morning. 2 mile warm up, 30 minute tempo, cool down. My legs felt pretty trashed from Monday, so it was a little slower than usual, but not too bad. 

Later we drove up to Eagle Point for our team cross country camp. We got settled in then did an easy 3 on the Monarch Loop. I felt pretty good considering the elevation change. 

In the evening we heard from Coach Madsen and Coach Powell. They shared some of their running experiences and it was fun to hear from them.

Day 2 of team camp. In the morning we ran around Puffer Lake, a little under 7 miles. There weren't many flat sections, but it was still quite an enjoyable run. After that we sat in the lake for a nice, natural ice bath.

Monarch Loop in the afternoon again. This time we ran on the road back to the lodge instead of waiting for the cars, so it ended up being just a little under 4. 

Later in the evening we heard from Coach Fielding and Coach Thatcher about their different experiences with running. I am blessed to have the coaches that I have!