Every Race is an Adventure!

Standard Monday morning run with Kevin, Kent, and Larry. Kevin and I inserted a fartlek of around 0.6 miles at about a 6:30 pace, and Larry and I averaged about 7:30 for the last mile or so (Kent and Kevin were faster). The total overall average pace for me was about 8:30.

I found out last night that Kent made it into St. George, but Kevin, Kurt and I did not...bummer! Larry, of course, is in because of the 15 year club. It looks like Kerry and Tom and some of the other Novell runners are in, and some are not. I guess there is still a chance in the later lottery, but I'll have to start considering Top of Utah and maybe other options.

Standard Tuesday morning run with Larry with a slight variation. I overslept and was a few minutes late getting out. In my rush, I started up 180 W. to 2000 N. (Monday's course) instead of up Main St. I realized my error before I got to 2000 N. and then had to run a couple of extra blocks up 2000 N. I caught up with Larry near the top of the hill and found out I had started before him. Oh well, we had a nice easy run together. Average pace was about 9:00 for me.

I ran the normal Wednesday morning hill with a twist. I ran to and up and down the 5 hills alone, but at about hill 3 (I think) on the way down I passed Kevin on his way up. He had overslept and got a late start. When I got to the bottom of the hills I decided to run back up until I met up with Kevin. I was sure glad to see him as I started up hill 2 for the second time. Running hill 1 twice was enough. I was tired but we still managed to run the mile or so of gradual downhill back home from the base of the hills at about a 7:20 pace. I didn't really feel much like running when I started, but it ended up being a good workout that I quite enjoyed. Overall average pace was about 9:10.

At lunch time I ran the Lake View run (flat 5 miles out and back) with Nathan and Will. I managed to hang with Nathan and averaged a pace of about 8:00 out and 7:20 back, 7:40 overall.

Kevin and I started at 5:30am and ran a couple of quick miles (7:30 pace) before meeting up with Larry for the normal Thursday morning run. Larry and Kevin dropped off before the last climb up 2000 N (Larry for work, Kevin for biological reasons), so I ran it alone. As I neared home I passed Kevin, presumably heading back up to take on the hill after his bio break.

I gave my legs a rest yesterday because they told me to. My muscles were sore and tired. I think this was from the extra 1.5 miles of hills on Wed. and the extra 2 miles of tempo run on Thurs.

It was good I rested my legs, because this morning I ran about 12 miles in the hills with Kent, Larry, Wayne...and a group of Sojourners, including Hawk and Cheryl Harper. We started at the mouth of Provo Canyon and worked our way up to the road along the pipeline.

We then came to Grizzly, 3/4 mile up a very steep road. I think Hawk said the record is 4:15. Larry says if you can run up Grizzly without stopping you'll be able to run a 3:20 marathon or faster. I ran it in 6:57 without stopping. We'll have to see if Larry's prediction holds true.

We then ran back along the road to the top of Wednesday's big hill course (which they call the Steps). Some headed back down to the mouth of the canyon from there. Kent, Larry, Wayne and I decided to run down the Steps and on home. I then drove Kent and Wayne back to the mouth to pick up our cars.

I stepped on a rock and rolled my ankle about halfway into the run, but I ran through it and it's only a little sore now. The weather was good, the scenery was beautiful, it was fun running with some new people, and we kept up a pretty good pace. About 6 or 7 miles into the run I pushed hard for 3/4 mile or so to catch up with Wayne and it felt pretty good. Overall it was a very enjoyable and satisfying workout.