I'm not crazy...I'm just bored!!

I don't have much time to write, so I'll finish up later...but I was pleased that I set a course PR for myself today. With mediocre training I expected worse than last year when I was feeling fast and great! Kamakazie just seems to work well for me :) 6:48 first mile and an AP of 7:11? yeah... I just decided, why not? 

Family came and did the 5K. My little 8 yr old took 4th! SO close to placing!!

I had a great time visiting with Rachelle and thanks to all you speedy UT county ladies that stayed in bed this morning :) it was nice to place behind Jen Hughes for 2nd in my AG! She only beat me by like 6 min!!!

I did some cool down miles before awards and then waiting for the parade to start, so a total of 3.8 to round out to 10 for the day.

After Onion Days push yesterday, I wasn't sure my legs wouldn't turn to lead at the mere mention of hills, but I knew the Newtons would push me! So, I put together a hill workout for us...I asked NOT to be reminded that it was my idea if I started to whine :)

We did 1.3ish to the bottom of temple hill on 4000W (the road in front of Oquirrh Mtn Temple). Then we did hill repeats over the top and back - I've decided to call these crosswalk hills, because we go from crosswalk to crosswalk. You push the uphill (about 1/4 mile) then recover the downhill on the other side; turn and the crosswalk and repeat. A total of 6 repeats - or 3 out and backs. 

After that fun we ran easy to the top, around the temple and to the 'temple track' on the South side hill. We divided in groups (fastest and slowest together, then 2 middles together - so Chad got stuck with me and Paul and George teamed up). Each partner ran a different direction on the loop, so each way got done and then we raced to see who could win! Fun times. The 2nd time Paul and George came really close to redeeming their first round loss, but Chad pulled it out for our team. He always ran the anchor :)

Then we did another mile-ish out and back to recover, regrouped at the fire-hydrant by the temple for the last part of the workout. A tempo mile. Now that our legs were nice and tired you got to push out a tempo as fast as your legs would go. Last year when I did this with BBKs I did a 7:11 mile and was pretty impressed with myself. I was hoping to at least hit that today. Thank goodness I didn't! I hit a 6:51 mile!! Woot Woot!! Now, that made me happy. A 20 second improvement from last year, I can't really complain - especially with the race yesterday.

We then had 2.8 left to finish up 10 miles and just looped the inner island on the lake and headed back to the cars nice and easy. I was getting tired and felt like I needed fuel. Good thing we were done, because I sure was! Paul had brought donuts as his re-entry fee into the group after a long sabbatical, so we chatted and stretched and I got the inside scoop on his proposal :) I still wasn't ready to eat...if I did it would've ended up in the gutter!! But, I took one home for me and another for hubby (to bribe him since I was a little late) and I enjoyed it bit by bit through the day....mmmm, donuts!

Glad I got this workout in, I've wanted to hit hills hard for a while now...and I've got it in the bank. Tomorrow...I'm sleeping in!!

AP: 8:24 splits: 8:42, 8:14, 8:17, 8:35, 7:49, 8:52, 7:24, 8:32, 8:56, 9:03 - love to see lower splits on hill repeats! I will conquer them eventually.

Afterward went and spun the legs out at the gym on the bike for 45 minutes - good, consistent, but easy effort (comfortably hard). Then did side walks, lunges and planks (front/side/side 60/60/60)

Slept in. Heaven. 

Rode the bike with Adam down to the rec center.

Wanted to do just 4 miles, but I hate the TM. So, I did one mile on the TM (8:27) then one mile on the track with a good push (7:01), another one on the TM (8:20), and finished off with a speedier one on the track (6:51).

TT: 30:39  AP: 7:40

I would stop the TM, wipe my face and head right out to the track, so maybe 10 seconds recovery, but not too much. It was nice to see some good speed come out of the legs after a hard workout Mon and Tues. I'm not such an embarrassment to the running community anymore :)

Finished off with my 'runner helps' exercises. Band walking, big toe/little toe heel raises, lunges, weighted stability bridges alternating leg lifts. I would do one set, then sprint one lap around the track. Did a total of 4 sets and 4 sprints. Didn't add that to my mileage for the day, because .36 miles would just screw everything up! Gotta keep miles even.

Finished off with 10 min of good stretching on the machines.

Then I rode home the long way with Adam, probably about doubled the mileage home. So, about 9 miles on the bike total.

Urban Trail Loop. My legs are nice and heavy from pushing some good workouts this week and having 4 straight days of running in who knows how long! I've got to get them back for SGM though!! Only 4+ weeks left, which really means two. I can do this, I can do this!

I hung in the back with Paul and just kept a nice even effort. I was happy to see a little progression, especially on the uphills. The slower miles in the middle must have been the change in footing from trail to gravel etc. Only thing I can figure anyway. 

Chad had asked if I wanted to do 3 more afterward, but after my 8 I declined. I can tell that my legs aren't used to the pounding and I'm not injured, but I felt like if I continued on and did push more miles that I could possibly open things up to injury. So, I just went home to sleep. It was only 6:30 and the sun wasn't up. I got an hour of sleep before I had to wake up kids...blissful! Especially since I've turned into an old lady and went to bed at 9:30 last night too!

AP: 8:48 splits: 9:05, 9:00, 8:37, 8:25. 8:41, 8:42, 9:08, 8:48.

After kids got off to school I did P90X Yoga and wow, I forgot how hard it is (especially with at 2 year old crawling all over you)! BUT, it was so worth it afterward. I feel nice and stretched out and not tight and sore anymore. Perfect. Ready for an easy day tomorrow...then 18 on Saturday. Anyone want to let me tag along?

Finally felt confident enough in my foot (PF) to try out my Altras for a little run. I bought them at the DesNews expo, the day before my PF blow up! So, this was my maiden run and I have to say everything went well and felt great. Just some good TM miles chatting with a friend. 8:27AP 1% incline, as always.

Hit the pool for the remainder of my 1hr15min daycare time. Got a full 30 min of swim in with 20 min of straight pulling. It felt really weird to swim without the paddles after using them for so long. I got tired of counting, so I have no idea how far I swam.

Oh, and I rode the bike to/from the rec center with Adam - so kind of a mini sprint tri this morning.

Trying to psych myself up for an 18 miler tomorrow....

Whew, am I glad that is done! I always get lots of anxiety about long runs. Paul was kind enough to let me tag along and make him run 18 miles today. I knew I'd keep the pace honest trying to keep up with him! 

Met at Tiffany's booth at Gardener Village, and let me tell you! That girl is amazing! If you get the chance, swing by her booth there or Sundays at Wheeler Farm. BEAUTIFUL pictures and flowers! She puts the pics on cards, coasters and framed. I wish I had $1000 and I would redecorate my house with just her pictures! I love them!! Definitely a gifted artist.

We headed North and took a little detour to Paul's new house. They are currently renovating it before move-in time and he has done some really nice work himself. We didn't have keys so we just had to peek in windows, but I was impressed with all the work!

We passed the Never Bear and got to my old condo on 3900W and took a little detour past my old unit. They still have the curtains I put up with our new flooring and carpet in 2004. I guess they were timeless :) We finally hit 10 miles a bit after 3300S and turned around to head back. No detours home.

On the way back I was starting to get hot. We'd started at 9AM, so by now it was 10:30+ and I was feeling the sun and heat. I kept reminding myself it is better than SGM has been the last 2 years, so suck it up! But, I still made Paul stop 3 or 4 times to enjoy the free water put out by SL Running company. Every few miles they had complimentary coolers of water and Gatorade! I think I owe them a shoe purchase now.

Our stops were brief, because I wanted to do this without stopping...more race like, but I just had to get that water. I was hot. A couple times I stuck my head under the spigot or dumped a cup or water on my head. Felt good and kept me going.

Mile 16 my legs were done, I struggled here a bit mentally and physically, but Paul just kept truckin' along and I knew I had to get back somehow. Running is faster than walking, so I just wanted to get it over. I think that is what happened the last mile. I just kicked it in and got it over with! Almost hit a sub 8...SO close! But, a tempo mile at the end of an 18 when I'm struggling? yeah, I'll take it. Especially in light of my stellar training lately! HA!

We finished a little early and had a good cool down walk back to the market and it was then I really started to feel the heat. I needed some good heat training - that is certain! Stretched and recovered a bit in the booth and got to hear some good stories to go along with the awesome pictures. Good times!

Now, since my hubby's rock climbing partner cancelled on him I get to go rock-climbing this evening. I'm tired, but hey...he helped me out this morning so he deserves some time out.

I think this may be my fastest long run...I guess I can't complain too much. A flat, honest run and still keeping a decent pace. Maybe I can tackle SGM after all. 

AP: 8:27 splits: 8:37, 8:19, 8:24, 8:36, 8:22, 8:33, 8:27, 8:23, 8:24, 8:21, 8:16, 8:33, 8:28, 8:42, 8:34, 8:32, 8:35, 8:02