Every Race is an Adventure!

I ran the normal Monday morning run with Larry. I then ran it again (with my golden retriever Skittles on a leash), and added a little more to add up to a half marathon distance (13.1 miles).

I averaged around a 9:10 pace the first 6 miles, 8:40 for the second 6 miles, and 8:10 for the last 1.1 miles. The overall time was 1:55:49, average pace 8:50.

Standard Tuesday morning run with Kevin. We were both a little tired from hard runs on Monday, and it was pretty cold. Average pace about 8:30.

Ran standard Wednesday morning hill run alone. My legs felt a little tired from Mon and Tue runs. It was cold (upper 20's).

5.29 miles, 50:22, avg pace 9:31

Details:

Home to 1st hill, gradual uphill, 1.25 mi, 12:18, 9:52 pace

1st hill, very steep uphill, .27 mi, 4:03, 15:11 pace

recovery, level, .19 mi, 1:40, 8:45 pace

2nd hill, moderate uphill, .22 mi, 2:40, 12:01 pace

recovery, level, .10 mi, 0:56, 9:23 pace

3rd hill, steep rocky uphill, .17 mi, 2:10, 12:40 pace

recovery, level, .12 mi, 1:15, 10:34 pace

4th hill, moderate rocky uphill, .19 mi, 1:59, 10:39 pace

recovery, level, 175 ft, 0:21, 10:44 pace

5th hill, steep rocky uphill, .12 mi, 1:14, 10:08 pace

TURN AROUND (DOWNHILL)

Top to 2nd hill, steep rocky downhill, .44 mi, 3:38, 8:17 pace

2nd hill, moderate downhill, .48 mi, 4:20, 8:57 pace

recovery, level, .19 mi, 1:31, 8:03 pace

1st hill, very steep downhill, .30 mi, 2:18, 7:34 pace

1st hill to 800 E, rolling hills, .59 mi, 4:53, 8:18 pace

800 E to home, gradual downhill, .62 mi, 4:56, 7:59 pace

Standard Thursday morning run with Larry. Easy pace. I got in a little extra work carrying a large puppy back a block or so and trying to keep it from following us.

I didn't really do track work today, but I did get some "speed work"...sort of. I played basketball for 1.5 hours in the morning and Ultimate Frisbee for an hour or so at a family gathering in the evening. It seems I ought to get some credit for all that running and for getting as tired as I did :-).

Kevin, Kent, Larry, Wayne, and I ran from the mouth of Provo Canyon to a little past Vivian Park and back this morning. It was a great run. There was a stiff head wind running up, but it made for a nice tail wind coming down.

I ran an 8:41 pace against the head wind up to the broken off mile 13 marker just above Bridal Veil Falls Park. I then increased to hold an 8:06 pace for the next 2 miles to Vivian Park. Having Kevin there pushing the pace really helped.

I had planned to push the pace the last couple of miles coming back down, but Kevin and Kent decided to push the pace as soon as we started down. I ended up averaging a 7:35 pace for 5 miles followed by a 7:20 pace for the last mile. I added another 1.1 miles of cool down just so I could say I ran two half marathon distances in the same week. The overall time for the 13.1 miles was 1:47:09, average pace 8:10.

I won't add any miles for it, but immediately after the run (before going home) I helped a friend move for 3 hours. All those trips up and down the stairs in the old house and the new have to count for something. I hope the benefit manifests itself as I'm struggling up Guardsmen Pass in June on my 3rd leg of the WBR, the "You Gotta Be Kidding Me" leg. I'll just imagine myself carrying one more 50 lb. bag of wheat up the stairs...and then one more.

I'm exhausted...but it feels so good!