Rob Murphy

Easy run around Liberty Park on the trail to spare my aging legs.

Last year I ran 20 miles on Christmas. Considerably more wimpy this year. 

Epic failure so far today. I planned to get up early and get in a nice 12-15 mile run. Instead, while sitting downstairs drinking my coffee and eating my bowl of Wheaties, I stumbled upon the Band of Brothers marathon on Spike. Been sitting here ever since.

I love this movie. 

Finally overcame my sloth and did a nice 16 mile run - or 15.5 plus a few fast striders at the end to see if I could run fast on tired legs. Started at my house, around  Sugarhouse Park a couple times, dropped down to Liberty Park and around there a few times. Ann and the kids met me there and drove me home.

I made it onto page one of the annual mileage board for the first time this year! 

Plan for the rest of the day...

1. Sit in the hot tub for a while. I know some people prefer ice baths, but I like hot tubs. Call me crazy. 

2. Watch more Band of Brothers marathon.

3. Accomplish something. 

4.25 easy miles on the treadmill - out the door, no less than four ya know.

Also about 45 minutes of lifting at the gym which is rapidly filling up with New Year's Resolution people.

Nine on the treadmill at an easy 8.2 average pace while watching the Air Force - Toledo game. Toledo won 42-41 after AF botched a two point conversion. Bummer.

Can't decide whether to go long tomorrow or do a brutal threshold run. Maybe threshold run in the morning, long run in the evening?

AM: Easy 4.25 miles on the treadmill. Planning on a lot more later with Steve Anderson. Should be a big mileage day.

Interesting article on the Running Times website about Americans over 40 who have qualified for the marathon trials. 22 people total, 21 women and 1 man (Mbarak Hussein). Clearly we over 40 men need to get on the ball and stop being such slackers. 

PM: Met up with Steve around 4:30 and did a fairly leisurely 16.25 miles around Sugarhouse, up to Foothill and past the zoo, along Wasatch and back to Sugarhouse Park for a couple loops. Ran the uphills at close to max effort. Always good conversation with Steve - he's much smarter than he looks.

AM: Got to the gym at 6 am ahead of our trip to St. George for the weekend. 2.5 mile warm-up on the treadmill plus weights/strength training. More later?

60 degrees here in Salt Lake today! 

PM: 8.25 miles around St. George - just exploring the town. For someone who has lived in Utah for ten years, I know very little about this town. Did quite a few laps around the track at Dixie College. There has to be better places to run around here and I know I'm probably missing some great trail running. I checked out the St. George Running Center website thinking that they might have a guide to some great local runs like the Salt Lake Running Co. website does. No luck. 

11.5 pretty stunning miles through Zion National Park.