Every Race is an Adventure!

8 miles @ 9:27/mi - 11:10, 10:13, 8:55, 8:55, 8:58, 9:07, 9:30, 8:42

It was great to have the gang together again - Larry, Jolene, Wayne, Kevin, and me. We ran the new canal trail. It's great to have such a nice trail so close by. We still prefer some of the features of the Provo Canyon trail...trees, river, headwind & uphill at the beginning of the run instead of at the end.

We were pushing hard at the end of the run when Kevin's dog Dash clipped my heel and I dropped to the road. My right elbow hurts a little, but I came out pretty much unscathed. Note to self: Don't race against someone with a dog on a leash.

I know we could use some precipitation, but this mild weather has been nice. I went golfing with my sons and a friend again on Thursday. Golfing on Nov 29 in Utah. Nice. I even shot a 43, a new PR for me.

My plan to only run 3 days a week seems to be working. I'm getting a little faster, but mostly my chronic pains seem to be getting a little better (less), too. Sometimes I don't feel any pain at all, a rare state for most runners, especially at my age. 

4.7 miles @ 9:07/mi. A couple of miles were at 8:40 and 8:48 early on, but I ran out of gas the last couple of miles. I'm still slowly improving, however, without aggravating injuries so I'm pleased. I'm surprised how little it bothers me when Kevin and Wayne can't hold back any longer and gradually pull away. I'm still hopeful to be back even (or ahead) of them someday. I just hope it's me getting faster and not them getting slower.

4.3 @ 10:22/mi with Larry.
4.3 @ 9:23/mi solo.

Easy runs up Provo Canyon. 

5.5 miles @ 9:36/mi

Solo run on canal trail towards Cascade golf course. First time under the tunnel at 800 E. What a blessing the new trail is.

I know politicians get criticized often, and often rightly so. You can't please everyone all of the time, and we don't all share the same values and priorities. But in my opinion they have managed to accomplish some pretty good things around here, in the past and recently. Some examples that come to mind: Provo River Parkway, canal trail, Trax, FrontRunner, Orem city street lamps, many road projects including Pioneer Crossing and the new I-15 through Utah County. Credit should be given where credit is due. Thanks.

6 miles @ 10:02/mi

Wayne and I didn't let a few inches of new snow, and still falling, stop us and went ahead with our run up Provo Canyon. We ran what would normally be an easy pace, but it wasn't all that easy. I  felt like I'd run 8-10 miles at 9:30 pace instead of 6 miles at 10:00. We commented about how runs like these separate the weak from the strong, or more importantly, how they help us move from weaker to stronger. We both enjoyed and felt good about the run.

6 miles @ 9:27/mi