Speed only kills if you don't have it!

I met Jon, Cody, and Dan (yes Dan! He is alive and about 10lbs. heavier, but he is back) at the parking lot up Green Canyon. We ran up the single track and got on the brand new section of single track and took it into Naomi wilderness. We went up 6 miles and came back the same way. I had never been in that part of Green canyon before. The last couple of miles were pretty tricky with alot of brush, rocks and winding trail, we were going 10 to 12 minute pace. When we turned around it took a mile or so to get out of the thick crap and then we were able to pick up the pace to 6:30 or so. I'm sure Jon was going faster than that because he likes to sprint down those trails! Dan did good for not doing a lot for the last 6 weeks and ended up with a super quality run. I had a lot of fun tonight on that run, it was the kind of run that recharges the mind and body so you want to run more. I'm sure that it was mostly because I was running with my friends, the only one missing was Paul.

That is the main reason I am kind of bummed about moving next week, I will miss running with those guys all of the time. I will still try to run with them on Saturdays, and Monday afternoons I have a student teaching seminar that is at USU so I will be over for that. It took me two years up here to get to know a few guys and have some friends to train with and it has made all of the difference in the world with my training this year. It was a great and fun run tonight, and hopefully I can have many more of those. 1:45:22

(Hardrock- 57 miles)

AM-  Nice easy morning run.  I didn't feel good enough to go do any tempo this morning, like Cody was going to do, after that trail run last night.  I headed over to canal trail and ran into Drew, I hadn't seen him since WBR.  He is running pretty good right now, and said that his training has gotten bettter since WBR.  We ran upto the river trail together, saw Carson on the way up, and I turned around at the gate.  Drew kept going after we split up.  I was glad to run into some company, even if it was just for the first half of my run.  I ran back around 7 minute pace.  7.5 miles in 56:47

PM-  I went out this afternonn after work for another 5 miles.  I did my Lundstrom Park 5 mile loop backwards.  I sure didn't feel like running but was glad I did it, eventhough it wasn't much fun.  I got a nasty little side stitch or cramp that I couldn't get to go away, probably because I was hungry.  It was getting hot, plus I felt heavy in my legs.  Usually I feel better on my second run when I do two-a-days, but not today.  36:02

(Hurricane-427 miles)

Woke up a little later than I wanted to this morning, but still decided that I would head down to LHS track for a workout.  I ended up having to run around all of the cheer leaders and girl soccer players that never pay attention to what is going on around them, pretty annoying!  I did a 4x800 workout 400 meter recovery.  I threw in an extra 200 meter interval at the end just for fun.  My times were: 2:37, 2:37, 2:35, 2:32, and :31.  I didn't start off feeling to great, but felt a little better as I went along.  I got slowed down on every interval because I had to dodge High School girls, so next time I will get out of bed earlier so I don't have to deal with it.  Cooled down by running back home.  It was cooler this morning when I first started my run and felt quite nice.  1:05:13

(Adrenaline-298 miles)

Ran a loop out into Providence and back this morning.  I started at 8 minute pace and ended with 6:15 pace.  Although I finally got warmed up and going, I never really felt that good.  I am heading up to Idaho for my wife's family reunion today before I head down to Provo for the half.  I am looking forward to a couple nice relaxing days before things get crazy for me.  58:51

(Hurricane-435 miles)

Ran up on the ridge above Lava Hot Springs for an easy morning run. It was all on dirt road and very pretty. I did a couple of striders in the end of the run. No watch today. Hopefully I can run good tomorrow at Provo, it might be my only 1/2 for the rest of the year!

(Hardrock- 60 miles)

Interesting race today!  Curt called me last night at about 10:00pm and asked if I could help with busses in the morning, I said sure!  I went up with the first buss and showed them where to turn around, and then then stood up the canyon for an hour turning busses around.  It was actually pretty nice, because I was a mile away from the starting line, with a potty all to myself, and I just warmed up running down to the starting line.

I didn't feel like running today and actually wanted to stay at my wife's family reunion, but I was glad I ran.  I saw Chad at the start and wanted to run with him, but a mile into the race when I was all by myself I figured he had started late or something.  Dave and Sasha took off like crazy at the start, and Mike Dudley followed them.  Another guy was in between them and me.  I sat in 5th place the entire race and that is where I finished. 

The splits were off half of the time so I quit paying attention, especially after I saw four 6 mile markers (I think the third one was right).   When we turned up the road to Bridal Veil Falls the 4th place guys cut the turn around by a good half a block, I don't know if he knew that I saw him or not.  No one was there to keep people honest.  On the way down I saw someone turn around in front of me at the mile 7 marker, I was getting annoyed by now!  But that guy ended up being Steve Ashbaker, and he was running bandit, so it didn't matter.  I caught up to Steve and asked him to run with me since I had been running alone for most of the race, and he did.  Steve ran with me for just over a mile and a half, and told me some of his story for the last couple of months, glad he did.  Around mile 9 he dropped back and I was all alone again.  I cruised down the canyon feeling pretty good and knowing I was really close to my goal pace.

Everything went well until the last couple of miles where you run through a bunch of parking lots.  I went the wrong direction twice!  The first time I only lost about 10 seconds, but the second one just before 13 miles was the killer.  I came out of a parking lot and started running to the south where the old finish was, I got about 15 seconds in that direction and realized I had goofed.  I turned around and headed back, then started to doubt myself again.  Lucky for me Steve came along and was heading in the right direction, so I turned back around and headed into the finish area.  I was mad at first, but now it is rather funny!  At least I didn't get left behind at the start like Chad and Adam W.!  I finished with a time of 1:13:46.  My PR is 1:13:41, but if you cut out my screw ups I ran about 1:13:00ish, and I would have been right where I wanted to be for my goal.  Oh well, it was a good race for me.  I felt really strong and could have gone further, probably another half to make it a full.  Maybe it is the getting up at 4:00am thing, but I was in marathon mode today, and think I could have ran good in a full marathon this morning.  I ended up 5th overall and 1st in the age.  I was also pleased that I ran as fast or faster today, with my screw ups, as Sasha's winning time last year.  Good solid race for me!

(Tangent-168 miles)

Cooled down with Chad and Adam afterward.  Everyone ran well today, but especially Dave and Sasha.  Dave ran awesome, probably his best race ever, if I could be so bold!  And Sasha probably had one of his best, if not his best, performances in a half ever too.