Training in Montana

Oh my word, I am dragging. Got out to do 4 but I wasn't feeling it, so turned around early and did 3. Ugh. I need to up my mileage a bit.

On a much brighter note, GO KANSAS CITY!!! This is the first time my team has ever won a championship. I've been a KC fan since we moved there in 2001 and let me tell you, it was a hopeless cause. I'm not a good fan as I didn't know the team well, but I am not a fair-weather fan. I've only rooted for the Royals since 01. So mind-blowing to see them get to the World Series last year and lose in 7, then win the AL this year and take the WS in 5 this time. Incredible.

Seriously losing it. I tried to run on the TM this morning and I just didn't have it in me. After a mile I called it quits.

4 miles this morning after dropping boys off at seminary. The older son who has his license got in trouble with us so I'll be driving them for a while. A few fast-ish miles but I am not in good running shape. I couldn't maintain even a 7 minute mile for too long in a 10K. Sheesh.

4 miles in the cold morning air after dropping my boys off at seminary. 30F with 78% humidity and a slight breeze. I wore my winter tights, shirt, and wind-proof jacket and it was a good combo. I know I can go quite a bit colder in those clothes so that's good. I need to find me a new warm running hat as my old one got lost this summer.

4 TM miles at the Y after work, but it wasn't easy. Only ran 1.2 miles then walked a lot, then finished running.

6 TM miles at the Y after work. I can't believe how much I've let my fitness slide. I cannot run 6 miles on a TM without walking. I took a couple walk breaks in the middle of my run - sheesh. Oh well, I finished. I tried running a mile at 6:30 pace in the middle of it, but only managed 1/2 mile. I ran mostly at 8:30 pace which was pretty comfortable, but 0% incline as the last time I did 1 % it was brutal. MUST. REGAIN. FITNESS.

Boot Camp at Noon. It was tough. I've felt a cold coming on this week so I'm not sure how smart it was to push myself, but I did back off quite a bit from what I've normally done. I am not in great shape (round is a shape though, right?).

6 miles on a TM is currently very hard to do for me. I walked twice for 1/4 mile each time but was able to finish. At the Y at lunch. 

Finally hit double digits once again. Took my boys to a Scout merit badge day at a church in the Heights and ran from there. As it's a ways from home I've never run in that area so I consulted the Google maps and found a route. Surprisingly while running found a new running path for a couple miles. Didn't have food or water so planned on 6 but once I got going I felt well so planned on 8, but at mile 4 I just kept running. It was 50 degrees so water wasn't a need and I was powered by a donut earlier so that took care of my energy needs. 

AP: 8:40

Drove my 9th grader to seminary then ran my 2 mile out and back route. Fairly chilly, truck said 34F and my breath was in large plumes, but no frost anywhere. A good run, nothing great as my legs were still a bit sore from Saturday, but solid. The last 1/2 mile I tried to run a 6:30 pace but it was more like a 6:38.

AP: 7:50

This run is dedicated to all my woosie Southern friends. Bit of a brisk morning at 21F but not much wind so it wasn't bad. I've been slowly upgrading my winter gear the past couple years and I like the addition of a long sleeve New Balance 1/4 zip top. It's thin but is fuzzy inside and has thumbholes. It was perfect underneath my Brooks windproof thin jacket. Wore my neck warmer today which I haven't pulled out since last winter, and that was a life saver.

I had a great run today. First time I've felt good in a long time, and I think the cold temps had something to do with it. No ice, no snow, just cold, and it was refreshing. I had a little extra time today so I added another mile and it was nice. I was around an 8:00 the first couple miles, then picked it up a bit on the way back, around 7:30 for mile 4, lowered it a bit for the first 1/2 of mile 5, then dropped it the last 1/2 mile. My watch only shows the overall mile split, but I ended up at a 7:00 mile for mile 5 so I think I was in the 6:30s or lower the last 1/4 mile. It felt really good. I wouldn't say I'm "ready" for the Turkey Day 10K, but doing better than last week, that's for sure.

AP: 7:41

4 noon TM miles. Not fast or contiguous.

Early TM miles at the Y. Decent run, glad for the break yesterday. Warmed up 1/2 mile at 10:00, then next 4.5 miles at 8:34 (0%), 1/2 mile at 6:53, 1/4 mile at 5:59, last 1/4 at 5:31. I was surprised how well I was able to run at faster speeds. My fitness is slowly on the rebound.

6 miles outside at lunch time. Temps nice in the 40s, shorts and long-sleeve shirt. Legs not fast. The "race" will be an interesting jog (if I make it - big storm coming that we'll probably be driving through tomorrow night).

Ran a couple miles up Green canyon while in Utah at my in laws. Nice day, a bit chilly, no wind. On the way down the hill I was hitting 7:30s but I abruptly slowed down to save my legs for tomorrow's race.

Woke up at 5:55 and hit the road by 6:30 to drive from Smithfield to Bountiful for the Turkey Day race with Kam. I had Kam pick up my race packet last night just in case I hit bad roads and couldn't make it by 8:30. Turns out I had great roads and got there before 8:00. After changing clothes I went for a warmup outside. It was a bit chilly. Kam and his daughter showed up 10 minutes before 9:00 and I got my bib on and we headed out to start. The RD was more than 7 minutes late starting the race - ugh. We finally got going (28F and windy). My goal was 7:30s to start then slowly get faster. I essentially stuck to that plan except for the get faster part.

Ended up 1st in my age division, Kam 2nd, which surprised both of us with our pedestrian times. Turns out the two age groups above us both clocked faster times which is pretty funny. We happily each took home Costco pumpkin pies for our efforts.

The only good thing about waking up at 4:50 to take my son to early morning wrestling practice was a chance to be at the Y for a long time. I put in 6 miles but it took a looooong time to warm up. Did almost 3 miles at 10:00 pace then walked a bit then finally started feeling it and did a couple miles at 8:30 pace and faster. Did some at 7:19 pace which is amazing to think I tried to run a marathon at that pace, then thought a sub 3:00 pace is 6:59 so did that for a bit then went to my 5K pace at 6:30 then dropped the last .1 mile at 5:56 pace. At last year's turkey trot I ran a 5:40 mile. I couldn't come close to that this year. Got my miles in then did a little bit of weight lifting. Not much but it felt good.