Denouement

Warmed up with Tom, dropping off water bottles on the river trail for about 1.5, then met up with Sasha, Jamie and Ted for the Uneventful 1/2 marathon.  We took it easier this time.  The middle miles were a similar pace, but our first couple of miles were slower and the final 4 miles didn't turn into a race like last time, so I was in a controlled long tempo which is just what I wanted to do.  I am so glad we put out water this time.  It made a big difference.  Thanks so much to Ted and Sasha for allowing us to tag along and even starting 1/2 hour early for us.  Also a big thanks to Paul who got the kids ready so I could run later in the morning.  He had to clean up a dry oatmeal spill all over the kitchen floor and more this morning.

1:34:25 for the 1/2 marathon portion

Mizuno

Ab workout in the evening.

Lupita - join the blog already.  Start by logging your walking, then walk-jog, and we will encourage you into running your first marathon in a couple of years!

Did easy SF run, started on my own since I woke up before my alarm went off, then was joined by Amber, then the whole group.  Tom, Jamie, Amber and Josse were there so it was quite a posse.  Did 6 strides which felt good. 

After the workout I did my weekly grocery shopping. I saw Jamie at Macey's, because she had some shopping to do too.  I am now frozen inside and out.

Asics

Ab workout: 40 leg lifts (first time at 40, it killed!), 10 count to 10 crunch&holds on each side and center, 90 sec elbow & toe hold - very hard to describe ab workouts but Pete's been asking me to elaborate ;)

Nice easy run with McKenzie.  We ran from Loafer Elem into SF, but I got confused and led us to that building by the freeway that has the lighted pictures shining on it (I know that building has a name but I don't know it), so we turned around and went to the ball park.  Great news!  The ballpark's water fountains are still on!  Please noone inform SF parks and rec that winter is coming.  Perhaps they don't plan on ever turning the water off.  That would be great because I start to feel it if I don't have water and I run more than 10 miles.

ave pace 8:16

Mizuno

Just say no to Turkey Day! -- I am getting stressed because we are headed up to Paul's parents house today and they have a whole closet dedicated to candy, let alone the holiday spread.  I will record weight to help me be accountable for my actions.  I have been losing since tax season (peaked at 153 - yeah that's bad) and my goal was to be 125 at Thanksgiving and 120 at the start of this tax season and be 125 at the end of tax season.

Ok so that sucked.  I just weighed myself and I am at 125, which is my goal but I have weighed 123 about five times in the last week, but the last couple of days I have been eating more, so now I have no leeway for the weekend.  Enough psychoanalysis on my weight. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Don't forget to get a run in tomorrow!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Being Thursday and all, I felt like I needed to get some speed in, and wanted to know what my 5k pace feels like (in the bitter cold, about 17F or so), so did three mile repeats.   This workout also happens to be the BYU try-outs workout. Back when I tried out, they had to be run at 6:00, but now its probably more like 5:40 or so, but I'll stick with the 6:00's.

I warmed up for about 3 miles, then hit the Smith's restroom, stretched my quad in the Smith's store (one quad wasn't cooperating with warming up) then ran another .5 and started the workout on 500W in Brigham City.  I remembered that street as being pretty flat, but it turns out it is sloped.

1 - 5:53, slightly downhill, was headed for a 5:40 something but started to hold back

.5 mile rest, 4:48

2 - 6:01, was the other direction, so slightly uphill, was headed for a 6:09 at .71 so I must have done about an 85 for the last quarter

.5 mile rest, 5:40, includes time gasping for breathe right after the second mile, feeling like I was going to keel over

3 - 5:58, other direction, but some uphill to start, then downhill, lost concentration in the middle, headed for 6:10 at half way, so had to negative split again.

Overall it was right about a 6:00 effort, and I am pretty pleased because it was so cold, and I had two shirts ear covers, gloves, etc on and no running buddies to help me out.  Also, the BYU mile repeats are on the track and in warm weather, and street miles are harder, so I feel like I am in the same shape as in BYU, though training for marathons instead of the 10K. 

Asics.

AM - easy run, by myself, 5.08 miles ave pace 8:45.  Freezing cold with lots of wind.  Felt like my face was getting freeze blasted off as I got closer to the mouth of Sardine Canyon.  Will run later with Paul.

ab workout.

AM (three hours later) Ran BY MYSELF.  Paul's family decided they were all going shopping, which sounds like a foolish endeavor on Black Friday, and we couldn't join because Paul hadn't run yet and I hadn't run enough, so our would-be babysitters were gone, so I set out again on my own.  I ran on highway 89 toward Willard.  It was much warmer (20's feels good after teens in the morning).  There was a bad headwind on the way back but not as cold. 6.84 miles, ave 8:00 pace.

I can tell I am in higher mileage territory because my quad which never warmed up yesterday still feels tight and I was feeling a small amount of soreness in one hip.  I seem to fall apart at around 70 mpw, but I am hoping staying in the 60's in the winter will make 70's feel easier in the summer and will enable me to make a stint into the 80's this summer.  We'll see.

Asics.

Ran with the SF group.

Weather: It was definitely a two pair of gloves day and I wore one pair of gloves. I drove through our normal Saturday route (along Zephyr road) and it was 7 degrees colder there (15F compared to 22F at the starting point) and knew we shouldn't go toward Zephyr, but we did anyway.

Company: Amber arrived at the 6am rendevous and I just cheered. We ran together the whole time, and had Hal, Pat and the Barneys, who were visiting from Colorado, as part-time running mates.  At Bishops (we have only run 2.5 miles at this point) Kevin Kuhni says we should bag the run and go to IHOP. Lots of people looked game, but its time for me to buckle down and try to forget my misdeeds from Thanksgiving past. Pat came upon Amber and I when we were about to go on tree line road and it was great to see that he had to huff and puff to get to us.  Nice feeling to make Pat work!  It was great to get to know Kelly and Jason Barney a little bit more.  I hope they come to visit for Christmas.

Thanksgiving report:  I will not divulge what I ate but I am now up to 126, and that is with a 72 mile week!  Bummer.  I will be good the rest of this weekend.  I will be good next week!  I can't start the downward spiral that often happens during the holidays. 

Body:  Legs feel good, no hip pain, and my quad got mostly loosened. 

 Mizuno.