Seeking a better country...

I finally got outside.  The thermostat said it was around 40, but it felt colder, since the sun was obscured by spillover clouds.

 I've been pretty bent about my perceived difference between the treadmill and the road.  I was gratified to learn today that running 8.5 miles outside took 62 minutes, opposed to running only 6-6.5 on the treadmill.

Hooray.  I guess it's not a waste of time, and the time off hasn't been such a huge problem.

I need to figure out how to make it happen mentally.  I had a chance at that bq last May, but made some critical mistakes, namely,  I didn't leave myself anything to run for in the final 8-10 miles.  By the time I hit that juncture in the race, I was spent.  I went out to fast, I didn't eat well enough in the morning.  I will fix those things, and run the first half much slower this year.  At mile 21, I was even with my splits, and had 5.2 miles left to run at a 7:28 pace.  That wasn't going to happen, so I quit.  I started walking, and quit trying.  If I can hit that juncture needing to run 5.2 miles in an 8:30 pace, then I'll get it done. 

That's what was on my mind today on the run.  Of course, I'll try to train to do better than that.   

7:16, 7:34, 7:26, 7:33, 7:32, 7:24, 7:25, 7:10, 7:08 

1 hour on grandma's treadmill.  Not much to write home about.  One episode of the Office and 2 of Jeopardy.  I totally nailed the Boston RedSox category.

4 marathon pace miles.  25 degrees outside, very little traffic to smoot park and back.  I settled on 2 marathon training plans today.  I'll bounce back and forth between the two, depending on the schedule and snowfall.  Incubus is definitely great running music.

7:24, 7:30, 7:31, 7:11 

4 more miles; Ricks creek and back,  around 30 degrees.  I was a bit slower, and my gps died.  Probably 8 minute pace.  I had no dinner tonight because of choir, so now I'm having chocolate milk and Oh's.  Air quality is poor, and my throat feels funny.  I guess it's back inside until the air clears.

4 more on the treadmill.  No TV.  I ran the first two at the usual treadmill pace, then pushed it up to 8.1 mph for the final two.  It didn't seem too bad, which surprises me, since my treadmill and road results seem so different most of the time.

 It's pretty warm outside, for January, and I'm disgusted to live in a place where the air pollution is so bad that I am compelled to exercise indoors.   That said, it's a huge blessing to feel great and run, inside or out.

I went to meet the RoadRunners.  They didn't show up.  My quest for a running buddy continues.  Despite the poor air quality and low temps (20), I got 10 miles in.  I looped Davis Blvd, up 400 E to Bntfl Blvd, and back down in a roundabout way to get 10.  I saw 2 deer cross the road, and a nasty roadkill bird.  And some people.  

8:34, 7:52, 7:54, 8:33, 10:29 (steep climb, lazy walking), 8:20, 8:11, 7:37, 7:22, 7:07.

 Last year I religiously followed my marathon training guide.  I put in the miles, but I never ran hard and fast for the long runs.  They tell you not to.  How are you supposed to prepare for a race by not running in your training like you are hoping to run in the race?  I'm shooting for a 3:10, (really a 3:16).  It's no problem to do the 4-6 mile runs at a 7 minute pace.  But the long ones?   

Worst air quality in the nation!!!  At least we are number 1 at something.  Off to the treadmill.  All the new year's resolutions are enjoying machines, but not late in the evening.  I stared at the brick wall while listening to Muse and watching ESPN talk about Big Mac's steroid admission...high quality gym time.  Weather has a storm coming on Wednesday & Thursday.  I hope it's true.  I want to get outside.  I want to see the valley.

I had a running dream last night.  I was running a marathon, chip timed.  For some reason, I waited about an hour after the race started to begin running.  I was alone until about mile 11 or 12, when I started catching people.  The people at the aid stations were confused why I was so behind the pack, but running relatively fast.  By mile 13, I was getting pretty tired, and DW's voice from the tv in the other room woke me up. 

I think this dream indicates some ambivalence about participating in the Ogden Marathon.  Not so much that, but completing the requisite training...Or I shouldn't have eated that bowl of Oh's at 12:30 in the morning.

TM miles.  Hills, level 6.  Lots of fun.  Air quality looks good this morning....

4 tm miles.  Hills, level 6, 7.5 mph.  My son shot hoops the whole time, but really stood around chatting people up. 

AQ was good enough for an outside run.  I skipped work today, so I didn't even have to run in the dark.  I'm typing from my new keyboard...Ah,  all the gratification today. 

Mueller Canyon to North Canyon via Rudy Flats.  The trail was nice, except for the middle section between Elephant Rock and Rudy Flats.  What a brutal slog, sinking in to the knee or thigh on frequent random steps.  Those miles were at a 25 minute pace.  Overall run time was 2:40, I'm told, since I was too stupid to push the button on my GPS.  Good times I hope to never repeat, at least until trail conditions improve.  Thanks to Matt for the invite, I think...

After finishing all the driveways with my boys, I ran to the end of Centerville and back.  I didn't really want the extra .4, but there it is.  My muscles are still sore from the Saturday run.  I'm coming down with something, but feel better today than I did yesterday.  I wish work wasn't so busy, and I could take some days to relax with the kids.

Ran the first 4 miles with my son.  He set the pace, around 8:15 for the 4 miles.  After he quit, I ran one more at 7:09.  We went in the dark, breathing clean air and enjoying 40 degree temperatures.  I felt like I was stealing, the conditions were so nice.  It was great to have my son along.  He runs pretty well, he just needs to keep doing it.  I told my kids I'd give them a hundred bucks if they ran a hundred miles in 2 months.  I figured that might be enough to get them hooked, then I'd have running buddies to choose from.

I spent the afternoon using the SEM at the U.  Since I was in the vicinity, I ran up City Creek.  The view along 11th Ave. demystifies the crappy, stagnant air over the last few weeks.  This valley is a huge bowl.  

Lunch at La Hacienda was way too much cheese and beans and Dr. Pepper for this run to feel very good.  I side-ached most of the second half, but managed 8 minute miles overall. My old shoes felt fine, and my brother in law's pants didn't fit.

It was snowing.  We went out to eat.  It was a long week at work.  It was 9:30.  I went anyway.  7:55, 7:57, 7:56, 7:36, 7:44.  Consistently slow.  The meatball sandwich was making it's presence known every step of the way.  

 I'm sure these miles count for something, if not physically then definitely mentally.   

I hurt my neck today doing snow earlier.   I spent 1.5 hrs at the chiropractor trying to get it straightened out.  Maybe I should have skipped the run.  10 grinding treadmill miles.   The Jazz were up by 30, and BYU was at halftime.  

Now I'm waiting for pizza to be ready.  I'm starving! 

I'm coming down with some intestinal bug.  Yuck.  Went running anyway.  7:00-7:30 pace.  I'm calling that fast for today.

4 post-choir TM miles.  8:00 pace on hill program.  I got sweaty.  I heard the announcement: "The building will close in 10 minutes."   Three more 4 mile runs and a 15er this weekend.

4 tm miles.  My son told me I was slow, and bragged about his 6:30 miles on the running track.  I think we are going to have to have a race, and settle this once and for all. 

My rt foot 2nd toenail is starting to go.  This is normal, right?  Or would it be possible to find shoes that are more gentle?  Too bad #2 is longer than #1.  I guess it takes a bit of a beating.

Last Sat. on the 10 mile treadfest, I had around 40 oz of sports drink during the run.  I bring this up, because subsequently, I felt no soreness.  The other variable was I ran pretty easy, never pushing it on the mill over 6.5.  Was it the easy pace or the beverage?

4 TM miles

This was x country skiing in Logan Canyon.  We went from the summit, up and over down to some trailhead.  It was slow going, and we needed to recruit a snowmobiler to "rescue" a kid that was dragging along.  5 hours on the trail, with many more stops than I would have preferred.  I never cross country skied before.  I'd like to figure out how to do it more often, without falling over dozens of times for no discernible reason.

I know this wasn't a run, but it was definitely a workout. 

After driveways, I had some time and my shoes, so I did a hard run on Bntfl. Blvd.  That road has plenty of hills.  I pushed hard the whole time, and got the miles in in 68 minutes.  That's a 7:15 pace, overall.  I'll count them as fast, since that pace is under my goal marathon pace.

I've got the week from hell coming up at work (preceded by two other weeks from hell), so I wanted to be sure to get a good run in before they start eating up 16 hours of my day. 

No ipod.  No garmin.  It was weird to listen to my scraping shoes and hard breathing for that long.  The temp was great, low 40's.  Air quality was pristine.  Too bad the valley view was mostly obstructed by poorly designed McMansions.