It ain't Chinese algebra!

Mill Plain to 205, Choklova, and back via Evergreen HS. I haven't worn these shoes in 6 months and they tore up my right achilles. I had to call Andrea from Starbucks and have her come pick me up after 10 miles because I didn't want to cause serious problems.

Fishers Landing, Big Al's and Movie Theater. 

Around the neighborhood, to Costco, and Westeidge then home. Didn't run until 12:30 after helping scouts all morning. 

Dog Park, Timbers, Home. 

Around Big Al's, movies, and Mill Plain.  My watch died halfway through and I thought I had gone further.  Oh well.

MVHS and north of Target, then home. 

Fishers Landing and Big Al's, then home. 

Mill plain to Choklov, north and around Evergreen HS, Timbers and home. Got poured on so the final 6 miles were miserable. Saw an awesome double rainbow which is pretty rare around here. Final 2 miles were quickish (5:27, 5:25). 

TVC Tech Center, Dog Park, Timbers. The usual Monday....

MVHS, movie theater and back around the field to the east of my house. 

Ran to Union HS, Skyridge MS, and home.

North Target

Fishers Landing. In surprised at how many people still have Christmas lights/decorations still on their house. 

Around Camas Meadows, then back to Target and home via Fred Meyer. 

In Dallas. From the hotel, I ran north past American Airlines Arena and into a city trail for 5 miles. At the end was SMU so I ran around campus for a bit (basically just the stadium and Doak Walker statue) before returning on the same path.

Zig zag around downtown Dallas.

Around Dalls some more, then up the trail north of the basketball arena, then back. Too much BBQ last night...

4 miles on the hotel treadmill. Too much rain to bother with. Plus didn't want to pack wet clothes in my luggage. 

Fishers Landing. 

Big loop around Timbers, north to 164th and 136th, down to Evergreen HS and Mill Plain, then home. Final mile in 5:25. Rust buster...

Dog Park, Timbers, and home. 

Movie theater, Walmart, home. 

Union HS, Camas golf course, and home.

North of Target, Dog Park, Timbers and home. Picked up the pace the last 2 miles so I wasn't late for a mandatory work call. Made it just in time. 

Fishers Landing. 

Big loop to the NW around Evergreen HS and home via McGilveray.  Easy 12 miles, then final 4 in 5:56, 5:55, 5:54, and 5:42.  Sadly, I was pushing it.  This used to be a "cruise" pace but now it takes some work.  So it goes...

Dog Park, Timbers, home. Otherwise known as Monday.

I ran through a grass field at the school between Dog Park and Timbers and it turned out to be a horrible decision. Just a sloppy, sloshy, muddy mess. 

Random streets in the rain.

Camas Loop

Target North.

Fishers Landing

Longest run since Seattle RnR in June of 2013. Guess it's time to up the mileage a bit if I want to run a few ultras this year. There's a 50k next week I'd like to run, provided the rains stop midweek. Otherwise it'll be a sloppy mess and I'll pass. Anyway, after 20 today, I think I'll manage 31 next week ;)

Dog Park, Timbers, home. No soreness from Saturday, which surprised me.

Around Union HS and home. 

Around the movie theater and home. Easy 4 then final mile in 5:08.

Loop to Les Schwab, Fred Meyer, and Walmart. 

Around the neighborhood. 

I've been interested in doing this run since 2011 but it's called the Hagg Lake mud run for a reason. Portland in February makes for some sloppy trails. No thanks. This year has been dry so I figured if I was ever going to do it, this was my chance. Registration closed Wednesday at midnight and I waited until just a couple hours prior to register, after checking the weather forecast throughout the week.

The weather was perfect and the trail was decent. Two laps around the lake and the first wasn't too bad except for miles 14-16, known as the 'pig pen' because of the sloppy, muddy, mess that you ran through. I felt good one lap in and out in my ear buds after mile 19 or so. 2nd lap was noticeably muddier and just tore up single track from the other 200 runners.

Still felt decent until 22, then just okay until about. Ike 28-29. Pretty tired, lightheaded and just wanted to be done. My lack of training caught up to me big time. I think I've only ran one 20 mile run since July of last year so needless to say, 31 miles was probably a bit much. Anyway, the final 2 miles were a struggle to say the least. Lots of walking in the mud and.....I didn't enjoy it. Finished the race and immediately ate the finish line food (2 cookies, a hot dog, 4 cups of Coke, and 2 more cookies. Immediately wanted to vomit. Fun times. Walked myself directly into the lake for an impromptu ice bath. Felt good on my legs and hopefully prevents soreness. Home by 2:00 for a much needed shower.

Never say never, but i think I'm done with ultras. And marathons don't excite me at the moment. So what's a guy to do? Still want to run, but not sure what to do with it these days.

By the way, aid stations in ultra ate the best. Just a selection of M&Ms, gummy bears, Fritos, pb&j, gu, water, Gatorade, coke, trail mix, etc. And the volunteers are so awesome. Love the trail running environment.

Very sore

Calf and hamstring muscles are fine, but my quads are in constant pain.

Down to Big Al's and back. Felt good for two miles and then legs hurt the last mile. Mentally, I needed it though...  

To HP, the movie theater, and home.

Around Bend, Oregon. Chilly but sunny. Legs still a bit sore and tight, but progressing...

To I-205 and back past Evergreen HS.

Dog Park, Timbers, home. 

PM: 3.6 miles. Half mile with kids then a few by myself. 

Timber, Camas Meadows, and home. 

Costco and Wells Loop. 

To 34th and 162nd, then looped past HP and Walmart, the home. 

Neighborhood 

What is becoming my standard Saturday loop.  Mill Plain to I-205, then up and around to Evergreen HS and home via Dog Park and Timbers.  Random foot and lower leg pains today that would come and go.  Not sure what that's all about.

Monday: HP, Dog Park, Timbers.

HP, movie theater, Walmart. Ran 1 mile in 5:11 after a 4 mile warm up. Felt ok. 

HP, Union HS, home. 

Target North

Fishers Landing to HP and home.

4 mile warm up. Felt blah. 

Race: immediately in 3rd place from the gun. Fast 1st mile downhill (4:59) and similar 2nd mile (5:06). Ran into downtown GP and then made way back up Hillcrest around mile 2.5. I caught 2nd place just after mile 3 (5:34). Was proud that I caught him as I thought I was destined for 3rd overall. Knew that I had to make up ground from miles 3-5 as they were uphill and that's a strength of mine. Mile 4 was incline the entire way (5:35) and mile 5 was just brutal uphill (5:55). Just steep as can be and so obviously my slowest mile. Turned around at the top of Vine St to absolutely fly back downhill to the start/finish line (5:00) and 51 seconds for final .2. 

One of the toughest 10ks I've ever ran. But honest because start/finish at the same spot. $1,000 was on the line for the winner but David Laney from Ashland came and smoked me. He ran 31:something but he's a 2:18 marathoner so it goes to show what a difficult course it was. 3rd place guy is a 1:10 half marathoner and he ran 35:something. I got $75 for second place.  Bummer.

2.2 mile cool down, then Human Bean and Cary's Toffee.  Decent post race refreshments! 

Ran to HP and back, then around Illahee and home.  Slight soreness from Saturday's race, but nothing like a marathon or 50k.  Felt good to use the legs.  Guts were not happy from the binge eating on the drive home yesterday.

HP and Timbers. 

Around the church and MVHS. In the rain. 

HP, Dog park, Timbers. 

Neighborhood and HP

HP, Evergreen HS, Dog Park, Timbers, Union HS and home. Ran the final 2 miles in 5:31 and 5:15. 

Horrible sleep last night, missed my run this morning.  But nearly 70 degrees tonight so ran after work.  3 with the boys on their bikes, then just over 6 more solo around Camas Meadows.

HP, Dog Park, Timbers. 

Union HS, Grass Valley loop. 

MVHS and Target north.

HP and Fishers Landing. 

Mill Plain to I-205, then Evergreen HS back to 164th. Did a 3 mile tempo on miles 13-15 in 5:50, 5:45, and 5:25.

HP, Dog Park, Timbers, home. 

I developed a pretty bad blister on my left achilles yesterday morning and when I tried to run this morning, it was too painful to run.

Union HS and Grass Valley loop.

Target North and Timbers

Fishers Landing.

8.5 miles solo: HP, Dog Park, Timbers.

8 with Dad up Dorthy Fox and back around to Costco and home. 

HP, Dog Park, Timbers.

HP, Mill Plain, loop to the east. 

Union HS, Grass Valley, then to Meyer and home. 

Target North after MVHS. 

Fishers Landing

Timbers and back, then south to Highway 14 and up the backside loop to Dorthy Fox, up to the stake center, then back home via Wells. Ran miles 12 and 13 in 5:23 & 5:10.

Miserable run. Too much junk food over the weekend.

Early run before St V GR. Hopefully more later. 

Timbers and back. This week has been garbage.

HP and Mill Plain, then home. Busy week makes for a tough week for running. 

Fishers Landing. 

Ran to I-205 and back via Mill Plain. Found the usual bottles, as well as a $5 bill. Good run. Miles 12-15 were ran in 5:34, 5:29, 5:26.

HP, Dog Park, Timbers. 

New shoes. I've ran in this model before and don't really love them, but they've been sitting in my closet for a couple years so I guess I better just get it over with...

Camas Meadows

MVHS, Target North. 

PM: 3 miles with kids on bikes, then 2.5 miles while the oldest 2 were at swimming lessons. 

Fishers Landing and back to HP, them home.

Bend

HP, dog park, Timbers. 

PM: 3.7 miles to the bank and back. Hot (81 degrees!!!)

Same course as yesterday, in reverse. 

Union HS, then Wells and Prune Hill loop in reverse. 

Ran tonight while the boys were at swimming lessons. 5 before, and 3 during.

My neighborhood. Felt good through 8 but then tired. 

Mill Plain to I-205 then a Union HS and home. 11 miles easy and then 4 mile tempo (5:40, 5:34, 5:35, 5:24).

HP, Dog Park, Timbers. 

sick

Still sick 

Timbers, Union HS. Very weak...

Sick still! This is pathetic.

HP, south to 34th, then home via 172nd and 20th. Still feel like junk. Ran the last .25 with my wife.

Typical Monday, in reverse. 

HP and back. Still feeling the effects of sickness. 

Timbers and Union HS. 

Timbers, Target North. 

Timbers and back, then around Fishers Landing. 

PM: 4 miles. 

Camp Alpine. 

Timbers, dog park, HP. Still sick. It's been 2 full weeks. 

Timbers and home. 

Union HS, Skyview MS and home.

Sunriver

Fishers Landing. 

Timbers, Evergreen HS, Choklov, and home via Mill Plain and MVHS. Final mile in 5:57 but the rest was slow. I'm still sick and can't take a deap breath. This is brutal. 3 weeks.....

Timbers, Dog Park, HP. 

Same as yesterday. In the rain. 

Timbers, Camas Valley GC, Skyridge MS and home via Wells.

1 mile. 1 stinkin mile. After 3+ weeks of being sick, I'm finally giving in and going to the Dr today. 

First run in a week. Cough nearly gone and ribs mostly healed. I hope anyway...

Felt ok. Still have rib pain. 

Camp Alpine. 

Timbers, Dog Park, HP. Rained all run, which was awesome. Made my allergies go away after three days of torture. 

HP, Target and Mill Plain. 

Union HS

North Target

My neighborhood

Evergreen HS and 205 interchange. Home via mill plain. 

Timbers, skate park, HP. 

Timbers

Timbers 

Target north. 

Nothing. Drive to Boise last night. On to Provo this morning. Is there a worst place on earth?

I signed up for this race in April, then got the flu the following day. That lasted 4 days, followed by a cough that lasted 5 weeks. Bruised my ribs from coughing so much and only ran one training run of 20 miles. Needless to say, I've never been so unprepared for a race.

Ran with a buddy in hopes of helping him qualify for Boston. Paced him for 22 miles and then he hit the wall and after struggling the final 4 miles, he missed the mark by 6 minutes.

Had a fun trip anyway, ate some good food, and enjoyed the weekend.

Mill Plain to Target, then home via 20th.

Timbers and back. 

Around the neighborhood. Slept like junk. Low motivation. 

Around Target and home, then a mile with the kids. 

HP, Dog Park, Timbers. 

South to 34th, north to HP and home via Mill Plain. 

Fishers Landing Loop

Timbers and home. 

Timbers and HP, then just a bit with Andrea. 

To church and home via Mill Plain. 

Early. Better than nothing. 

Target North. 

My neighborhood plus Big Al's. 

Camp Alpine. A few hikes afterwards. 

Timbers, Dog Park, HP. 

Around Target and the movies, then home.

Grass Valley Loop. 

MVHS and Target North. 

Fishers Landing and Highway 14 for a bit.

Loop around Dorthy Fox and back down by Kyocera. Then up the hill and modified Wells loop to Grass Valley golf course and home via Union HS. Then 1 mile with the boys in their bikes. 

Timbers, Dog Park, HP. 

Timbers, Union HS.

Grass Valley Loop

Timbers, Dog Park, Target North. Too much cake last night and too much junk food....this year. Really need to clean up my food intake. 

Fishers Landing. I'm tired...

Out and back beyond Camas Meadows, then 2 miles with boys on their bikes.

Timbers, dog park. 

Union HS

Wells Loop. 

MVHS and Target North. 

Fishers Landing and HP, home via Mill Plain. 

Mill Plain to I-205 and back. Ran in rain for the first time in over a month. 

Timbers, Dog Park, HP. 

Around Fred Meyer/Target/Home Depot. 

Timbers and back. 

North Target and Dog Park. 

My neighborhood, then around the elementary school and a little with the family. 

Mill Plain to 205, around Walmart and home via 1st st and Winco.

Timbers, Dog Park, then home. Then just over 1 mile with Ryan. 

To Les Schwab, 164th, Mill Plain, Costco, home. Then 1.5 with the kids. 

Grass Valley Loop. 

7.6 miles around MVHS and Target, then the family drove to Illahee so Ryan could run 1 mile. He's been asking to do this for about a week, not exactly sure why. Anyway, he's 6 and ran the whole way, finishing with 9:19. How about them apples?! Stud. 

To Fred Meyer and back, then Walmart and back.

Mill Plain to I-205 and back.

HP, Dog Park, Timbers. 

I ate too much ice cream last night....

Fred Meyer as Target, then home. 

Costco and Wells loop.

Target Notth and Dog Park. 

Neighborhood to Bug Al's and back. 

Roseburg Oregon

Ran .9 mile warm up, then a 13.1 mile 'race,' followed by a 3 mile cool-down. It might be the slowest half marathon I've ever ran. I'm not that fit these days. So it goes....

Timbers, Dog Park, HP. 

PM: 4.4 miles and it was 90 degrees. Blah...

Fred Meyer, Target, Home Depot and home. 

Grass Valley loop.

Sandy, Utah for the night/morning. My right knee started bothering me yesterday, so I took it easy and cut the run short.

Nothing. Early morning drive home from Utah.

7.8 miles around Fred Meyer and the movie theater. Then .7 miles with the boys. Hopefully more tonight.

Timbers, Dog Park, home.

Target North and West. 

Costco, Grass Valley Loop. 

Around Fred Meyer and Target, then HP and home. 1 mile with Ryan. 

Fishers Landng. Feeling tired and kinda blah.

Mill Plain to I-205 and back. Windy and a little rain. Fall is here.

Timbers, Dog Park, HP. I don't love running in the dark anymore. 

Sick

Fred Meyer and back. 

Target North

Fishers Landing south, then to church/Safeway and back. Best I've felt in a LONG time. 

Mill Plain to I-205 and back, then 1 with the boys. 

Fred Meyer and back solo, then to Timbers and back with my Dad.

Around TVC Tech Center, Target, home. 

Past Union HS and Camas Meadows, then return. 

Movie theater and Target, then home. 

To Big Al's and back, then around the neighborhood with the boys. 

Mill plain to I-205, my standard Saturday run these days. Miles 10-14 were tempo-ish (6.05, 5:45, 536, 5:44). Then 2 with boys on bikes. 

Timbers, Dog Park, HP. 

AM: Target North.

PM: 4 miles to Union HS and back

Fred Meyer and back. 

MVHS, Target North, then Fred Meyer and home. Lots of rain this morning. It had begun...

McGilvery to church and back. 

Highway 14 frontage road to 205, then Mill Plain home. Felt great. Mile 16 in 5:26.

Timbers, Dog Park, HP. 

Movie theater and then HP to Costco and back. 

Movie theater and Fred Meyer. 

Timbers, dog park, north target. 

My 'hood. 

Mill Plain to 205. 10 miles easy, then 4 mile tempo. 5:45, 5:40, 5:45, 5:27. Felt ok. I need to cut out the junk food....

Timbers, dog park, HP. 

Movie theater. 

Grass Valley Loop. 

MVHS, North Target. 

Church and back. 

10.5 miles to 205 and back, then 2 mile tempo (5:22, 5:14), and then just under 1 mile easy. 

Timbers, Dog Park. 

Fred Meyer, Movie, home via Mill Plain.

Grass Valley Loop

A fantastic run. Early morning in Bend OR. Just an incredible run under the stars. So peaceful and refreshing. 

Bend. Another excellent run. 

Last run in Bend. Not as nice as the last two, but still pretty good. 

Timbers, Dog Park, HP.

Around the movies and Fred Meyer. 

Grass Valley Loop. 

Las Vegas. Started at the Venetian and later left the strip and ran around UNLV. This city is garbage. 

Nothing. Late night last night, plus the thought of running in Vegas again this morning left me with little morivation to get up early enough.

2.5 mile warm up

Race

1 mile cool down.

I signed up for this race last year, but then was injured all September 2014 so I couldn't race. Decided to try again this year. A week in Vegas isn't an indeal pre-race activity. But so it goes.... Got home late last night and then got up earlyl this morning to make the drive. The family joined me, which is rare, so that was nice. Arrived at the start with 1 hour to spare. Ran a couple miles to warm up, then headed to the starting line. There were 5-6 others that looked quick and after the gun went off, there were 4 of us leading the race. After the first mile, it was basically me and one other guy (a recent D3 college track/xc runner from Indiana) that lead the race for the next 4 miles. He ran the 1500 and 5k in college, so in my mind I figured I'd need to try and leave him before the final 2-3 miles or else he would dust me for sure. 

About mile 6 I picked up the pace and took the lead for good. Ran the final 7 miles in the lead, with miles 9-11 in some heavy-ish rain. It was awesome. A course similar to Grants Pass; country roads, next to a river, fall colors, light rain, flat course, etc. Had an enjoyable race. Frankly, a little surprised with the time. My last half two months ago was my worst ever (1:21) and I haven't done anything to try and get better. In addition, my diet has been HORRIBLE the last month. My lungs and legs felt fine, but my body felt anything but sharp and fit. I suppose I should do something abou that...

Anyway, had a good time and I won a free entry for next years race, so I'll probably return. 

I ran! Just a combination of busy work, travel, soreness, and low motivation this week. Getting back on the wagon come Monday morning. 

Union HS and back. 

North Target and HP. 

Union HS and past Grass Valley trail, then back. 

MVHS and Target North. 

Movie theater and back. 

Mill Plain to 205 and back. First 12 easy, then a 5:24 to finish off the run.

Timbers, Dog Park, HP. 

Target north, movie theater. 

Union HS, Grass Valley loop.

Prune Hill Loop. 

My neighborhood, Big Al's, then home. 

Movie theater and target north, then home via Home Depot.

Las Vegas, from the Venitian to Stratosphere and back. 

Vegas, past Mandaly Bay and back. Saw two homeless guys fighting, so there's that...

I left the strip and ran around UNLV. Better choice than yesterday and Monday. Only one more run in this horrible place. 

Final Vegas run. This is a good thing. 

To church and back. 

Movie theater and target north.

HP, Timbers, home.

Union HS and Timbers. 

Fred Meyer and back. 

My neighborhood to Big Al's and back.

Target and back. First bitter cold run of winter. 

Target north and movie theater. 

To church and back on Mill Plain. 

To Safeway and home via McGillvery. 

To Chucks, around 7-11 on 164th and then North Target & HP. 

Around Big Al's and tvc tech center. Chilly out this morning. Had to bust out the pants. Found $6.20 in coins (dimes and nickels) at New Seasons.

Fred Meyer, movies, Lowes. 

Typical Monday, in reverse. Hp, dog park, Timbers. 

Red Robin and back.

Movies, Target north.

New Orleans. Ran from the hotel along St. Charles for 4 miles, then turned around and returned via a street just four blocks north. It was crazy... Multi-million dollar homes on St Charles and I felt as safe as can be. On the return trip, just four block behind these homes, was sketchy as can be. I felt fine until the final mile and then I quickly relaized I was in an area I didn't belong. Anyway, all's well that ends well. 

HP and Kohls, then home via Walmart.