Every Race is an Adventure!

Nobody else showed this morning so I ran to the track alone. I decided on a 4 mile tempo run. It wasn't all out; I decided to just try to keep each mile under 8:00. My mile splits were 7:56, 7:49, 7:51 and 7:30.

Larry, Wayne and Kent all showed up this morning. We ran the 2000 N hill route. Running up the big 2000 N hill I was content to stay near the back and converse. As the group of bikers that we often see on this run started to pass us, I felt the urge to race them (again) to the top of the hill. One biker had passed. As the second approached, I couldn't resist any longer and started to push up the hill. When I caught up to Wayne and Kent, Wayne decided to come with me. We were farther from the top than we at first thought, but we hung pretty strong to the end. I passed the lead biker, got passed back, then passed him again near the top. However, in the meantime, their best uphiller, who had been farther down the hill, caught us and easily beat all of us to the top of the hill.

The sprint up the hill was a fun diversion, but I felt its effects a little for the remainder of the run. We ran and talked and ran and talked. Good stuff.

As we made the turn for home at 200 W and 1600 N, with about 1/4 mile to go, Kent said it was gazelle time, referring to Larry's story of long-legged Grant sprinting that stretch once looking much like a gazelle. I took off with Wayne and Kent close behind. I couldn't tell how far back they were, but I could tell it wasn't far and I suspected long-legged Kent was going to make a final kick. He did, but I found a little more speed and managed to barely hold him off. What fun. I'm just glad I didn't pull anything.

Larry and I ran the water tank hills this morning. We talked all the way up the hills. On the way down I couldn't even remember running up. I put the last of my six new heel lifts in my trail shoes. Just like the other 5, they fit the shoes well and felt great. I'm feeling like the heel lifts may have been an inspired purchase. My hip is feeling better and I'm beginning to feel like a runner again.

Larry had to run short this morning. Kent's knee hurt so we went short with him. I continued the full Cascade route on my own. It seems hard to just run 9:00 pace lately. I pushed one mile at 8:18 but it shouldn't be as hard as it was. I hope it's just the cold.

Wayne, Kevin and I ran up Provo Canyon. We figured we might not have many opportunities left to do so before the snow falls. Wayne and I thought maybe we had overdressed, but with the wind it was cold the whole run.

Once again it felt harder than it should to average a 9:00/mi pace. I managed a couple of miles at sub-8:00 pace, but Wayne still pulled away from me on those miles.

I plan to just keep running 5 or 6 times a week as I continue to adjust to my new heel lifts and rebuild my fitness. I don't have a race until the St. George half marathon in January. Hopefully I'll be ready to race by then.

I ran the Lindon loop with Larry, Kent and Kevin. We ran our usual mostly easy cold morning pace of 9:15 to 9:45/mi. As we turned to head south on a long stretch near the middle of the run I decided I needed to push hard and run fast for a while. I let out a grunt/shout and took off. I only managed about a 7:10/mi pace for the next mile or so to Lindon Park, but that was 2:00/mi faster than the current pace. It felt more like 6:30 pace effort, and it felt good to be able to expend that kind of effort. I'm obviously not in top race condition, but I feel like I'm beginning to make progress back in that direction.

I ran the 2000 N route with Kent and Kevin. We expected both Larry and Wayne this morning, but they didn't show. It's nice having Kevin back out again. This was three consecutive runs for him.

We ran a slightly faster pace this morning, but still at an easy pace, about 9:00 to 9:15/mi on the flat sections. A couple of times I felt the urge to maybe push for a while, but I was just tired enough to resist the urge. I decided to save myself and maybe give a good push up the water tank hills tomorrow.

I ran the water tank hills with Kent today. We expected Larry, Wayne and Kevin today. What's up? That's two days in a row that Larry and Wayne have been no shows.

We had a good run anyway. I pushed hard up the hills in16:29, not a PR but satisfactory. I pushed the last "fast half mile" at 6:34/mi pace. Again not a PR, but good enough.

After two weeks or so of taking naproxen twice a day as an anti-inflammatory to treat my sore hip, I stopped taking it yesterday to see how I'd be without it. I'm a little hesitant to take it for too long. My hip was a little more sore than it has been for the past two weeks, but I still ran pretty well and the pain wasn't debilitating. I think I'll see how things go the rest of the week. If it remains sore, I may go back on the anti-inflammatories for a while longer.

I ran the Cascade route with Kent. It's good Kent started running again or I would have run alone most of this week.

We ran the 2000 N route in the reverse direction this morning. Larry had to be back early so we left at 5:45am and only ran a short route. We had a pretty good snowfall during most of the run. There was about an inch of snow sticking to the road at the top of 2000 N.

When we realized we hadn't told Wayne about the swtich to 5:45am, we suspected he might show up at 7:00am. Larry and I talked after the run while we waited for him, but fortunately he didn't show up. I would have went with him, but after standing in the cold for a while my body was happy just to get home and be warm again.

I wasn't mentally prepared to see 16° on the thermometer this morning. I wimped out. Instead of running in the dark and cold I ended up running at noon, when it was sunny and 38°. Much better. I enjoyed my run along the canal. I didn't run really fast but got a little faster every mile (8:52, 8:32, 8:23, 8:19, 8:04) and averaged 8:25/mi overall.

I expected others but ended up running the 2000 N hill route alone. At least the bikers we always see came by. I didn't chase any of them up the hill, but at least I got out and ran.

I ran the water tank hills alone in the cold and dark this morning. Just me and my headlamp. I'll be honest, I was a little nervous about coming upon some glowy eyed predator alone in the dark.

It was great to not run alone again this morning. Both Wayne and Kent were there and Kevin caught up to us shortly after we started. We were only missing Larry, who I hope has been running on the beaches in Cancun this week. We didn't run fast (9:31/mi average) but ran steady, getting a little faster each mile.

My goal is just to maintain a 30+ mile per week base and try to get/stay healthy between now and the end of the year, run a respectable time at the St. George half marathon in January, begin to add miles and a little speed, run a good time at the Spectrum 10K in March, and then continue adding miles to get ready for the Squaw Peak 50 in June (hopefully I get in).

I ran 10 miles on the canal road with Larry, Wayne and Kevin. After running alone a few times this week, it was nice having company.

The temperature was in the low 30's. I wore shorts in hopes that I could run a little faster without tights. It's been a little frustrating running in the cold. The same effort seems to produce a significantly slower pace than in warmer weather. We did manage to get in one mile in just under 8:00 pace, but we were working harder than we thought we should have to. At least it was hard for all of us. Misery loves company.

Lindon loop with Kent, easy pace.

2000 N hill route with Larry, Wayne and Kevin. I pushed the last mile a little because I was running late; the rest of the run was a social run. I've been feeling lately like I've been doing more social running and less focused training. I still like pushing up a long hill or running a fast mile or two now and then, but right now, especially in the dark and cold, I'm content with just getting some miles in and spending time with my buddies. The social aspects of running contribute every bit as much, if not more, to my happiness as running fast.

Kent and I ran the water tank hills this morning. We thought Larry and Kevin were coming out, but I guess not. It was only 19°, but that was 3° warmer than yesterday. Kent and I enjoyed our run up the hills, or at least having the run done. We didn't set any speed records, but got in a good workout.

I've learned a little about work as my life has gone on. Like most kids, and many adults, I used to hate and dread hard work. I still do at times. Why would anyone ever want to do anything that took hard physical or mental effort if it could be avoided? Wouldn't the ideal be to spend every moment doing things that look, sound, feel, smell or taste good?

My running buddies and I often say we like to run because it feels so good when we stop. While it does feel very good to stop, it isn't the being stopped that feels so good as the satisfaction of having attempted something difficult and accomplished it. And the bonus is that afterwards we enjoy the pleasurable times even more...things seem to look, sound, feel, smell and taste better.

I believe this principle applies not only to running, but to any type of meaningful work. Since I've discovered the blessing of work, it's made work easier. Sometimes the hardest part of work is just getting started, and then having a bad attitude about it makes the work even harder. Viewing work as a blessing makes it easier to jump in and get started. Also, I've found that, beyond it feeling good to stop working, with a good attitude I can actually enjoy the work while I'm doing it.

I still enjoy putting up my feet, eating pie, and watching a good movie or sporting event, but I've also learned to enjoy doing the laundry, taking out the trash, and making my legs burn pushing up a long hard hill. I'm grateful to have the ability to do all these things and so many more. Life is a wonderful adventure.

I trotted with some turkeys this morning...no wait...that's not true. We may have trotted like turkeys, but Larry, Kevin and Nick are definitely not turkeys. We just trotted along and conversed at an easy pace.We ran the Cascade route. Kevin and I ran the extended loop down to Wil's. We managed 7:45 for that mile, but only averaged 9:40/mi overall.

Near the end of the run our conversation led to how blessed we are...an appropriate topic for today. Nick quoted some studies that put Utah and Utah County at or near the top of the list for quality of life. I made the statement that I can't think of many people whose quality of life is higher than mine, and it has very little to do with money or possessions. Besides the blessings of living where I live are the blessings of the people I get to live with and the true principles of happiness I'm privileged to have learned and am free to choose to live by.

I am of all men most blessed.

Wil's Pit Stop loop with (as I recall a week later) Larry, Wayne and Kent.

Solo run on the Orem library route. Boy it was hard to get moving on this cold morning. I barely broke 10:00 for an average pace.