Running For Trevor

7 mi recovery run in Provo Canyon.  So so much recovery!  Slept, ate, slept, watched tv, ate, slept.  Ultimate laziest recovery day of my life.

AM:  8 miles recovery, most of it with Josse in Orem.  8:22 pace.

PM:  3.5 easy, 8:00 pace.  Felt better than I normally do in the afternoon.

9.5 mile orchard loop with Jen, 7:11 pace.  12 x 1 min with 30 second recovery.  It was dark so I have no idea what paces we were hitting but I would guess around 5:30-5:45.  The effort was there.

Planks/pushups

I had an opportunity to run TOU this weekend and my heart really really wanted and still wants too. :(  I've been waffling back and forth since Friday and went to the most logical person I know (My Dad) for advice.  He helped to reconfirm what I already knew that it would be a pretty irrational thing to do.  I'm physically feeling really healthy right now for the first time really since TOU last year and it is just not worth the risk of derailing the work I have done to get to where I am.  My feet have been much better since I started wearing hokas for 70% of my runs and quit doing any workouts longer than 90 minutes.  I think I might be ready to expiriment with my feet and start adding some longer tempos but a full marathon is probably not a wise choice at this point.

That said I absolutely need something to focus on this Fall because I'm completely losing motivation.  So I think I will do Sojo half and possibly Snow Canyon half as well.  Sorry for the dear dear diary entry but I just needed to document this so I do not change my mind!

8 miles recovery in Provo canyon with the JJJ's Josse, Janice, & Janae.  No watch.  Surprisingly perfect weather this morning despite the crazy winds all night.  Planks/pushups

I really liked this article in Running Times about training to PR in the marathon.  No matter what level your training at I thought this was a good overall review.  So many take aways from the article but I think the main one is that every element of marathon training serves a purpose and you really can't neglect any of them if you want to improve your time.  Also liked this:

I've noticed that for me personally I perform much better, feel less burnt out/fatigued, and seem to absorb workouts better when I slow down (way down!) on my recovery days.  I was racing my best (May-July) when I was doing my recovery jogs with my sister at a 8:45-9:30 pace.  I need my sister to move back!

Gloves, long sleeves, & a head cold -- it must be fall!  15.2 mile tour of 4 cities, 7:16 pace. Salem + Harry's Hill + Climb up, up, up to Woodland hills + woodland hills canyon (lots of deer) + cross up and over into Elk Ridge + golf course round-a-bout extension with a drop into Payson + gallivant through the peach/apple orchards + cross back to Elk Ridge + drop back into Salem.  Very hard and honest long run route that had amazing views!  Mack & Amber joined us for the first hour which was awesome and made time fly by.  Plus they had headlamps so that was a nice bonus!  Started the tempo on an uphill at mile 8 7:00, 6:18, 6:24, 6:16, 6:21, 5:53.

No water, no fuel, no stopping -- I guess you could call it a depletion run...or just poor planning.  If my watch was fancy and told me how much elevation we gained I'd brag about it....but it's not so trust me that it was an insanely hard course and I have no idea how we ran that 5:53 because the first half was uphill.  When your hungry, want to be done, and am chasing after a mountain goat apparently you can run fast....

Jen is ready for the marathon and I am ready for a nap!

Planks/pushups/weights

7 lovely recovery miles around Orem with Josse, 8:44 pace.  My legs feel really good and it was a great run with good conversation.

12 mile out & back in Provo Canyon with Julia, 8:10 pace.  Perfect morning for an awesome run with a great friend.  I helped pace her for a tempo on the way back.  She is very ready for a breakthrough at SGM!

I've had an absolute blast training with so many good friends for SGM and I'm really looking forward to being down there as a spectator and cheerleader!