Seeking a better country...

I ran with my son, sister and nephew up City Creek Canyon.  The young'ns stayed with us for 3+ miles, then turned around.  Shannon and I ran to the end of the road.  The canyon was beautiful, although we could have done without the pouring rain for the first 3 miles.  After it quit, we climbed and climbed and climbed...almost 2000 feet.  I'd rather run up than down.  None of us had a GPS, but we finished in 2 hours, for a pretty slow pace, but respectable considering the uphill miles.

7:53, 7:25, 7:48, 7:39, 8:06, 8:03, 6:49, 6:13 (.06)

Good morning, nice and cool.   

Jens and I loafed our way over to Viewmont track.  We hopped the fence.  (why is it locked?)  I ran 1 mile at 6:11.  Walked a lap.  The next one was 5:40.  I was gassed.  Walked a lap.  Ran one more at 6:12.  That one felt much better.  We clambered over the fence again and ran home.  This time, he ran harder.  Often I have to prod him along to keep under 10 minute pace, but I had a bit of a hard time keeping up.  I think I talked myself into being more tired.  

That middle mile was the fastest mile I've run in two years.  Previous best was 5:35.  I'm sure I could beat that.  My all time record was 22 years ago at sophomore region...a middle of the pack time of 5:05.  I've wanted to challenge that and at least get a time in the fours ONE TIME.  

Why the speedwork?  I don't know.  I'm running a municipal 5k on the 3rd.  I guess I have delusions about running it in the 18's.   

Now it's no more running till Friday p.m.--leg 10 of Ragnar.  We've got what could be loosely called a family team.  With my wife and son and self running, I'm already in it for almost $400, so we better have a helluva good time. 

Ragnar, leg 9.  A bit over a 5k on a pretty flat course.  6:51 pace.  2 guys passed me.  It was a bit hotter than I'm used to.  I ran most of the leg with a purple guy from a dodge-ball team.  A nice, easy start.  

Leg 21.  I ran at 2:30 a.m. Overall pace was 7:32.  2 guys passed me.  I passed over 40.  It was fun to watch the taillights get closer and closer, and then move past them to the next one.  I couldn't see much, but I think this leg was along echo reservoir for most of the time.  It also crossed under I-80 or I-84.  It was cold; in the low 40's and high 30's.  Great run.  It's just so fun to run the relay with so many people on the road.  It's lonely, but not like usual.

 Leg 33.  The first half of Guardsman pass.  The non-glorious leg that is just as tough, but .4 miles shorter than Ragnar.  I kept a  10:00 pace over the 1500 foot climb in 3.6 miles.  I've never run a section of road this gnarly that was this long.  My training definitely has some shortcomings, at least for this type of insanity.  I ran the first 1.8 miles with no stops.  I walked from 1.8 to 2.0, and passed 2 people.  It is that steep.  Then I ran, walked, ran, walked, and ran to the exchange.  It was hot & dusty.  At the exchange I bummed some grapes off a nice lady.  I've never had more tasty grapes.  One guy passed me.  I passed around 20 people.

Wasatch Back was a blast.  It was a lot better for me this year.  In 2009, I was still so hammered from Ogden, I ended up run/walking the second and third legs.  It wasn't a performance I was proud of.  But this year, I felt great.  Our van was fun, and it was great to include my son.  He finished the race for us, and did a great job, despite doing little specific running training.  It must be nice to be young.  

Next year I want to do a mixed ultra team.  This year the winning team took 30 hours.  Our family team did the thing in 29.5.  I'm sure with the right people, we could have won this year, handily.  I've got 3 definite guys and 2 strong maybe girls lined up, so...we'll see.