Patrick's Blog

Since yesterday's workout was such a disaster today was really easy! I met up with Larry for a light track workout. I did 4x150 meter strides. Then we did a timed 1200. I did mine in 4:19 which isn't that bad..... Actually it's horrible! Then I did a lap recovery, then 2 laps of norman J's and we ended the workout with two more laps of backwards J's/

Met up with Ida today and did a big outside lap around sugarhouse park. Then we came in quickly got a drink of water and started immediately into our inside lap in the park. Then when we finished our inside lap we did a mile and a half around the river. We did what Highland calls 'Rivers' where you start on one side of the river and go up until the wooden bridge then go back across the street passed the basketball courts then we went around the river and came back the same way. Then we went half way around again. After this we went over to our stuff and went over to the river and took a 15 minute ice bath because of my race tomorrow. 

This morning I had the Joseph Smith Bicentennial 5K. It was a little over but i'm glad it was over because I saw my time and I was like..... OMG That Is Horrible!!! But I arrived to the race and did a half mile warm up then went over to the starting line and did strides till I was at a mile warm up. I stretched while I was waiting at the starting line.

They lined us up and after the usual walk through of the course, no elbowing, its a family event speech they shot the gun off and we were off. I got a pretty decent start, I had a group of guys of about 7 for the first 3/4 of a mile. We went through the mile mark in 6:48... Pretty slow but that course is literally all uphill except the last .1 and a .1 in the middle of the course.... By this point we had strung out with about 25 meter inbetween the guys. At the first water station I grabbed the water and that is when Joe Harris passed me. I didn't see my two mile time but my three mile time was 22:21 which is still really slow!!! That is how I know the course was mismarked. That, and my garmin got it at 3.2. I was dyeing by 2.5 miles and didn't know if I was going to be able to run the rest of the way. But I looked down and saw I only have a half mile till the finish so I toughed it out. I had a pretty strong kick, probably because it was downhill but I am glad I was able to muster up a kick.

This event was a really well organized event that I am really glad I ran this year! This is the first year that they did this and I think it was incredibly well planned out. I was talking to the race instructor after the race and he said they were expecting the first few guys to be coming through at about 17 minutes when in actuality the winner came through at 21:56 and he is a high 16 low 17 minute 5K runner. The officials and the runners were all surprised on the intensity and just the fact of how hard the course was.

After getting water and fruit at the finish line I got my medal and went home. I didn't do a cooldown... I probably should have! I will go on a run to finish out my miles later today. 

PM: 3.5 miles around my neighborhood at a very slow and relaxed pace. I was really sore from the crummy race that I ran this morning. But I did finish out my mileage for the week. 

AM: Half mile warm up then 3 400s with equal recovery with the weights. Then I cooled down around the track until 3 miles.

PM: 4x150 meter strides then an 800 in 2:51 then a lap recovery. 1 mile of 1 lightpost on and 1 off then a hard 800 to come back to the start. Finished with an outside lap around the park. Felt great for this run except my knee hurt on the 800 on the track.

AM: 3.5 miles in the morning around my neighborhood.

PM: I did 8x150 meter strides as a warm up then an 800 pacing Ida and we did a 3:01. Then we got our stuff and went out to the road. We did one of those mile things where we go out 8 light posts doing 1 on 1 off like speed changes then on the way back we run the 8 hard. I had to go after that so I only got 2.5 in tonight.

This morning I woke up early with my dad to get my workout done before the Highland Football Team got there. I did a half mile warm up then my 3 400's with weights on then equal recovery. My calf's were killing me the whole time so I didn't do a cooldown because my calves hurt so bad, it even hurt to stand up. When I got home I am starting my core again, squats, calf raises (if my calf's allow it), crunches, push ups, side crunches and planks. 

PM: This afternoon before I went to Abigail's goodbye party I biked for an hour. I figure that counts for about 3.5 miles of running.  

This afternoon I met up with Larry and did a speed/strength workout. I didn't know it was a speed workout until after the 1200 so my 1200 time is just my average running time. But we did 4x150 meter strides as a warm up then we lined up and ran a 1200. I ran a 5:06 so like 6:45 pace I guess, then the rest of the workout was 800, 400, 200. I ran smooth with really good form and that was the purpose of the workout anywase. We did a lap in between each rep. My times went 3:05, 78, and 33. So my 800 time was slow but I got faster on each set. Then we took two laps around the track and did a road lap around the park. My calf's only hurt on the strides then I didn't feel them the rest of the workout. Did my core; push ups, crunches, side crunches, squats, planks and calf raises

AM: This morning I woke up early but I went to wake my dad up and he was sleeping like a rock and he had the keys so I couldn't take the car. I went and got weights and did leg weights like moving leg weight kind of things for a mile. Until I had did weights for a mile like I did some things with a leg band where is strengthens the inside on your legs, weighted strides, and stuff like that. Then I cooled down three miles.

When I was done and done eating breakfast, I did my core: crunches, push ups, squats, side crunches, planks and calf raises. 

PM: This afternoon I met up with Larry for a light workout. We started with 10x150 meter strides then 2 200s with a jogging 200 as recovery. My times were 33 and 31. Then we did a lap recovery then an 800 in 3:08 another lap recovery, a 400 in 78 I think. It might have been faster. Then another lap and that was all. My legs were so sore the whole time and on the 200's my calfs started hurting again.  

AM: This morning I met up with Ida at the Highland Marquee for a long run. We went slow because two days ago Ida sprained her ankle and I didn't know how my calf's would hold up. We decided on doing the cemetery run that I would run in high school. I forgot this run a bit but I found my way eventually. We were originally planning on going 7 but my calf's wouldn't handle a lap in the cemetery or a lap at the park. I made it about a mile and a half until I was limping and whimpering like a little puppy so we stopped and stretched my calf's and walked a bit. Then we alternated walking like a 400 then running a mile the rest of the run.... This run was the most painful and miserable of them all. I really want to know what is wrong with my calf's! Then I came home and stretched it out and iced it. I may or may not finish out my mileage for the week depending on how my calf feels. I think I may just take the rest of the day today and tomorrow off and see if time off helps it out any. 

AM: Half mile warm up on the grass then 2x400 with the weights with equal recovery.My calfs really hurt throughout the whole thing. Its not really my calfs that hurt but more my shins and really lower calfs. I might have Shin Splints?? Then  mile cooldown

PM: I went to the Salt Lake Running Company and bought two of those compression socks. Neon Green and Neon Orange!!! AWESOME COLORS!!! So I met up with Larry at the Highland Track. I saw a lot of people I or Larry knew there, Allie, Vuong, Gio, and some guy that used to race Larry in college. So we went out to the road for a workout. We did a half mile warm up and my shins weren't hurting at all! So I did a timed lap in 9:15, still slower than a few years ago but 22 seconds faster than a few weeks ago before I got injured! My socks make my legs feel amazing! Then we took 5 minutes recovery then a timed mile. Halfway into the mile it started raining, of course it started at the END of my workout but I did my mile from the cars up the big hill passed the gait and down the big downhill and into that weird inlet by the pond. I ran the mile in 5:19 with HILLS! It was exactly .95 of a mile so more like a 5:30 mile but still that is really good for coming off of an injury! I love my socks!!! Then I had to go home but I did two miles on the bike for cooldown. 

This afternoon I went over to practice but no one was there.... But since today was the East High School Cross Country Fun Run I decided to run with some East kids:) I did a lap on the road with Vuong, when I finished that I saw Ellie and she didn't know where to go so I walked her over to the team while catching up with her, then I stretched with her and the team catching up.... High School Kids HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Then I ran a warm up mile with Eleanor and Sarah S! Taking about summer with them, we ran a mile around the park on the grass for Sarah's foot. Then I stopped at the start, picked up Vuong then Vuong and I ran 1.5 miles around the park cheering for the High School kids on their fun run! I came home and took a 15 minute ice bath and am now currently icing my shins.

AM: This morning I got up with my dad, put on my compression socks and was out the door. I did a half mile warm up on the grass and my shin splints hurt but they didn't progressively get worse so I put on my weights and did my 3x400 with the weights with equal recovery, then a mile and a half cooldown. My legs hurt but nothing like it has and it didn't get worse as the run went on. It stayed consistent throughout the whole thing.

PM: This afternoon I met up with Sarah and Larry at Sugarhouse park for a workout. We did 3x1 mile of doing a half mile of speed changes then running the second 800 hard. We did them in the park so we got hills in also. Sarah did really well for it being her second day back running from having a baby! Then I did a few laps around the field in the park. I came home and biked the equivalence of a mile and a half cooldown to get to 5.

This afternoon I met up with Larry at Sugarhouse Park. I had a very light and easy workout! I did 8 light posts out doing speed changes then I ran the 8 light posts back. Then I ran with larry on the first two miles of the state course to keep him pushing and to keep him running. He did really well! Then I did an outside lap around the park and came home and iced my shins.

This afternoon I met up with larry to do a light workout before the 10k tomorrow. I started with 2 100 meter strides and then I did 8 light posts out and 8 back doing speed changes..... Larry and I then did a timed mile. We went around Sugar House park the way with the not as steep hills then around the pond and down that inlet thing to the finish. That was is a little over a mile. It is roundly 1.1 miles. I did that in 5:59. Then I did a lap warm up and  a little more to get to 4 miles. Then I came home stretched a lot and did another lap around my neighborhood. Came home and took an ice bath and iced my shins.

This morning I got up super early because I was racing the Porters Half Marathon and 10K. I obviously ran the 10K. We showed up at Draper park at 6:30 because we thought the race started at 6:45 but it actually started at 7:15. Then we found out the starting line was not at Draper Park but it was a half mile or so up the road. I would have ran to the start line as a warm up but I had no idea where I was going so I had to walk with the group. I got to the start then jogged around a little and did strides expecting to start at 7:15 but they were behind so we didn't start until 7:35 so I stretched at stuff but I lost all of my warm up.

The race finally started and I got a good start, I started out in fourth place and was feeling really good! The start was really fast because it was a steady-steep downhill for the first quarter of a mile. I had never ran a 10k so I didn't know how to pace myself. But I went through the first mile inbetween 5:40-5:45 I didn't look at the mile mark exactly. But I felt like I wasn't pushing at all. I went through the 5k time in 19:20ish..... The course is really easy, mostly flat except for the downhill start and a tiny bit of uphill. But I really died and my shins started to really hurt. I had to walk at the 5k mark to give my shins a rest, then I had to again at the 5 mile mark. I walked for about 200 meters each time. When I finished I was really  tired and exhausted and was so happy that I was done!

I didn't do a cooldown, I just stretched waiting for awards. I went and got my medal and since I got first place in my age division they gave me a belt buckle that says first place:)

This afternoon I went over to sugarhouse park for a workout. I did a half mile warm up then a mile of J's. I then went out and did an inside road lap then a mile on the grass then waiting for my mom I did another mile going out and back every quarter of a mile.

This afternoon I met up with a bug group. I met up with Sarah, Larry, Andrea and Tim. I did 8 strides with Larry the stretched while waiting for Andrea and Sarah to finish their strides. Then we did an 800. I hit 2:55 then we did 4 more strides. My shins are absolutely killing right now because I wanted to try to run with out my socks. Then I did another 800 in 3:02 then I did a lap around the road in the park with Andrea talking about races and things

this morning in honor of the first day of school for the high schoolers I ran out 2.5 miles past east then back. I made it to just about the cemetery then I ran back. As I was running back the High Schoolers were just arriving at East.... #memories. Oh the good ole days of high school running!1

Did my core when I got home.

I went for my run at about 2:20 in the afternoon because I had to go to a training at 5. So I ran down to sugarhouse park and when I got there Highland was just getting out for their first day of school so they all cheered me on... and liked my socks! Good thing I didn't wear an East Cross Country shirt! But when I got to Highland I immediately went into doing an outer grass lap then I went in the park, ditched the shirt then measured a 400 going up the hill at about 150-200 meters so that way I would have about 200 meters after the hill to really push. I did in on the downhill on the state course at about mile 2 but I went up the hill on the road. I found it was exactly 4 light poles out so they are each about 100 meters long because it was like .27 to the light pole so I just went to the pole. I did 2 going up the hill with recovery running back down the hill. I was going to do 3 of them but after the second I was feeling like I was going to puke, probably because of the heat or I haven't done hills all summer... or both! Then I did a mile cooldown then took an ice bath in the river. It didn't really work because I am still sore!! 3 miles warm up...

This afternoon I met up with Larry at Sugarhouse park but to our surprise it was the Highland Invitational.... So I jogged around cheering on my friends that were running, I missed the Varsity Boys but I made it in time for the JV Boys and the Varsity Girls. It was way cool seeing Nate. I wish I could have seen who I did but I'm glad that's all I saw. I spent the rest of the time dodging from seeing people because I wouldn't want to ruin their day by seeing me... So I did a grass lap, cheered on the Varsity girls for another mile and dodging some people then I did another mile then got zupas for dinner. I love still being on summer vacation!!

This afternoon I ran over to sugarhouse park and did an outer lap around the park. Went inside the park and did 2x400 on the poker hill that we ran in high school. With equal recovery. I first measured out the 400. Then I ran a cooldown to 5.5 miles home. When I got home I did my core and weights then ran a .8 mile cooldown.

Early Afternoon: this afternoon when it started pooring rain I couldn't resist going out for a short run. I just went four miles around my neighborhood in the rain... IT WAS AWESOME!!!

3 more miles around my neighborhood'

today was my first official day of college!!!! So at my fitness class we ran around campus for 2 miles. We were supposed to stay as a group and just go for a 20 minute jog and since the whole class was a beginner runner so we ran slow.

PM: when I got home I ran around my neighborhood for four miles and then I came home and did my leg weights. No core today because I need to get to bed. I LOVE COLLEGE!!!!!

AM: This morning I finally got out the door again and ran with my weights. I did a half mile wam up then ran 4x200 with my weights to ease into the weights again. I had less recovery on each, 1 minute, 30 seconds then 15 seconds. Then I did a mile cooldown.

PM: this afternoon I met up with Larry on his 50th Bithday! Andrea and Tim for a fartlek workout. We started by doing a mile of speed changes on the road by alternating lightposts just like on the track. Then we ran 3 miles of the state course with 10x1 with equal recovery. We were on on every up hill! After each hill Andrea, Tim and I all spread out so Tim and I had to go back and get Andrea so we could stay as a group. Then we did a mile cooldown and I iced my shins. They hurt really bad after this workout. 

Second Day of College complete!

AM: This morning in my fitness class we had a time trial of a mile. I ran a half mile warm up around the University of Utah's track then immediately lined up. I needed more warm up and stretching and strides. I ran a 6:24. Oh well, how we pass the class is we have to beat that time at the end of the semester so I am good. I was never planning on going all out I was just expecting to at least get under 6... Oh well, I lapped most of the class. Then I did a half mile cooldown in the heat. THAT TRACK IS SO HOT!!!!

PM: I met up with Larry for an incredibly light workout. I did a lap on the road with larry and I forgot my socks so my shins were absolutely killing me. I was only able to muster up another lap around the park because by the end of it I was basically walking because I couldn't stand the pain.. I came home and iced my shins.

When I got home from class before I started the never ending amount of homework I got and before I went to the Football Game, I managed to get out the door for a measely two miles.

AM: This morning I slept in till about 8 in the morning because I don't have class until 1:25... I LOVE COLLEGE!!! Even though it is a ton more work than high school! So I drove over to Sugarhouse Park and ran perimeter laps barefoot until I got 5 miles. At about 3 miles I stopped and stretched my shins and everything for about 10 minutes then I did another lap. Time for Tanning and Studying before class!!!

PM: I went over to sugarhouse park, did a half mile on the road then an outer lap around the park and an inner lap around the park. Then I put on my weights and ran an 800 with the weights. Cooled down a half mile then back to homework.

This morning I ran the Foam Fest 5k. It is like the Dirty Dash but with mostly foamy water instead of mud. I arrived at This is the Place Park and did a mile warm up and stretched a lot because I am not wearing my socks so my shins are going to hurt.... I lined up, stretched and did some drills then the announcer went over the course and the obstacles and we were off. I got out pretty well, in second place. I stayed in second place through the first obstacle which was the mud crawl. You crawl under then wires that are electric and if they touch you they shock you. It's not a really painful shock but it still hurts and it was really surprising that they really did shock you. Then I got out of that covered in mud and took the lead. The next obstacle was you run over this mat that is floating on the water but it sinks when you step on it. I got through that one really fast because I was the only person on it, it didn't sink as much. Then came an obstacle that you just run through a pond of soapy water being sprayed with water. The pond was only a foot deep but it was nice to get the mud all washed off of myself. From the first obstacle on, I was alone the rest of the race. The next obstacle was an 8 foot tall wall that had foot holes that you climbed over. That one hurt my hips..... After the wall came an 80 foot long water slide! I slid about half of the way then stopped so I had to push my way through the rest of it. After the slide came the spider web where you climb through all of these wires. It is pretty much like climbing through a spider web! After the web came the trip wire where they have wires that are the same color of the ground that are different heights that trip you. I stumbled a few times because I didn't have my glasses so I couldn't see the wires. Then came a 5 foot wall to climb over. The hardest obstacle was next. The dreaded cargo climb! This is a roap ladder that is about 20 feet wide and 30 feet high that you need to climb up and over. That one freaked me out because there was no net under it. If you fell.... OUCH! I lost some time at this area. Then we had the lemon water thing where they had a mat on the water pit that you ran over with GIANT hanging lemons that were supposed to knock you down. Since I was the only one on the obstacle, I didn't have a problem getting through this. The final obstacle was a 30 foot water slide and I was sprinting to the finish the dove to the slide and went shooting off the other end! After I got my medal and shirt, I went home because I was a soapy, muddy mess. GREATEST RACE EVER!!!!!!