Summit junkie!

After my run up Lake Mountain on Tues I played 18 holes of golf at Thanksgiving Pt. (I totally blew up out there and lost at least 25 balls). On about the 16th hole I noticed some sorenes in my left achilles. By time I got home it was hurting, so I took some ibuprofen and then it was still a touch sore on Wed, so I wanted to take it easy, so I just did 4 really easy miles on the TM. I planned on 3, but it felt ok so I did another mile.

Weights at the gym. I lifted for an hour and had a really good session. I worked my chest, arms, delts and lats.

I wanted to test out my achilles today, so I went up Mt. Wire after work. I took it easy and I was surprised at how good everything felt. The weather was perfect and I enjoyed the dry trails and wild flowers. I made it up in 44 minutes and there was a couple on the summit that were surprised to see me running up the summit ridge. They asked me my time and couldn't believe it. It took them two hours. We chatted for a few minutes and then I headed down.

The run down was fun and my achilles felt good. I had a smile on my face and my pace picked up. I finished in 1:11:11 and my achilles still felt good, so I was really happy about that, but it didn't last. By time I got home it was sore and it just got worse from there. I iced it which seemed to help, but it was really sore again after I woke up this morning (Sat) and after icing it a few more times today it is still sore. I guess I am injured and I'll probably be taking some time off to rest this so my whole summer isn't ruined.

My achilles is still sore, but it is getting better, so I don't think I will run this week, but I will be doing some cross training. I went to the gym and lifted for 90 minutes, which is about 30-40 more than I usually do. I spent the first hour by myself and then worked with my friend for the last 30 minutes.

30 minutes on the elliptical just to test things out and my achilles never hurt or got sore. I wanted to go longer, but I also don't want to rush anything. I want to make sure this is healed up before I push it at all.

Iced and stretched and no soreness after.

I went to the gym to try the bike and after 30 minutes my legs were burning, and I was starting to really sweat. I could tell I was working muscles that I wasn't used to using much. It hurt. Then I did 15 min on the elliptical. My achilles was a touch sore after, but not bad, so I iced it and then stretched and rolled my legs.

I'm hoping that another 3-4 days without running should really help this achilles to calm down. I'm also noticing some of my nagging running pains are going away which is good.

I have run once in the last 10 days and I still have some soreness in my achilles. This sucks! I did 35 min on the elliptical while watching the NBA finals. I thought I might do more, but I felt a twinge in the heel and stopped. If this doesn't get better in the next few days I'll probably go see a specialist. Any recommendations?

I ran for the first time since last Friday today. I went to the gym to lift this morning and after lifting for 45 minutes I decided to try running on the track because my achilles was feeling good. I figured I could always stop if it hurt. After walking a few laps to warm up I started out running easy and I didn't have any pain at all. On the turns I could feel that it was tight, but no pain. I went a mile and still felt good, so I picked up the pace and ran another one. After two miles I stopped, but I was feeling so good that I decided to run one more. The last mile I ran close to an 8:00 pace and felt good the whole way.

I got home and iced it and now 6 hours later I still feel great without much soreness, so I am pretty psyched, although I know I still need to be careful with this, so I'm not going to push it, but at least I can run.

I think I have finally turned the corner with this achilles soreness. I went out for a run today. I planned on doing 5, but I felt so good that I kept going. I ran from my house to the Alpine Highway and then headed North and ran all the way to Kohlers in Alpine and then back home. I felt solid the whole way and I just ran a comfortable pace, never pushing it hard. it felt so good to be out running again.

I went inside and took a quick break and my achilles felt great so I decided to run a little more. I ran back to the Alpine hwy and then back home for exactly 8 miles. I felt like I could have gone several more miles without any problem, so I don't think my fitness has suffered too much. I will still take it a little easier this week and won't do any hills or peaks just to make sure I don't have any setbacks.

Total time: 1:08

Easy TM miles to shake out some of the rust. No pain, but just a touch of soreness in my heel after I finished. Nothing to get worried about though.

Stay thirsty my friends:

I felt a little soreness in my heel today, but it went away and I wanted to do some easy TM miles to see how it felt. No pain at all while running, but it got a little stiff after which makes me worried. I'll probably go for a longer run tonight (Wed) to see where I am at.

I wanted to get out for a longer run, but I wasn't sure how far I could go with my achilles issues, so the plan was to run up Provo Canyon as far as I felt like I could. It was hot, but near the river it wasn't bad and I was in the shade a good portion of the time. I parked at the park at the bottom of the canyon and just started off at a nice easy pace.

The first few miles went by really fast. There were a lot of people out enjoying the trail, mostly bikers. I stopped at Nunn's Park just to make sure the water was running. I had my handheld and wasn't too worried, but I wanted to know what my options were because it was hot. Bridal Veil Falls was amazing, but there were so many people on the trail, so I didn't want to stop. After that the next 1/4 of a mile was in thick trees with a lot of hanging caterpillars and that got kind of annoying. I had them all over me and I had to keep brushing them off.

At Vivian Park I stopped to have a gel and take a quick break. There were a lot of people out. I was feeling good, but it was hot and I was a sweaty mess already. The run back down to the car was fun. I just cruised at a comfortable pace (between 8-8:30) all the way and I stopped for a quick second at the falls and then again at Nunn's to refill my water. I got back to the car in 1:20 (9.5 miles) and took a break. I had to re-apply glide, use the bathroom and had another gel and an S-cap. I wanted to keep going, so I headed back down the canyon this time. I stayed on the trail and ran past Riverwoods and then just after 12 miles I was getting low on energy. I hadn't eaten solid food in about 7 hours and I was feeling it, so I turned around and ran back to the car. The last two miles were pretty slow because of my energy issues. I would have liked a few more miles, but I would have bonked pretty hard, so I am ok with 15.

My achilles didn't hurt at all. I used some heel inserts and they seemed to really help. Hopefully I can resume my regular training soon.

Weights at the gym. I lifted for 60 minutes, working my upper body/core. I think I accidentally licked the pull up bar. SICK!

Jrp in Lehi with the FRB peeps. This was the perfect run to cap off a really good week of running for me. I met Chad, Maynard, Smooth, karen, RAD and Annette at 7:00 am. We set a nice casual pace that allowed for some good conversation and the miles flew by. When we got to Willow Park Chad helped us get around the flooded trail by taking us around a neighborhood that connected back to the trail.

At the flight park we went a little further on the trail until we hit 6 miles and then we turned around. By time we got back to Willow Park it was getting hot and a bit humid. I felt great the whole run and the achilles didn't bother me at all. The miles flew by. We had a great time. Thanks everyone.

Total time: 1:46

PM- volunteered at the Ragnar finish with my wife. I got stuck moving fences and picking up trash, while she got to hang out with the funny, cute announcer dude and chat the whole time. I think I got the short end of that one. Oh well, it was fun.

30 minutes of ab/core work using my ball.

50 minutes of lifting (upper body) at the gym. My core was very sore from my workout yesterday. I had an excellent session.

I was hoping to get outside for a run, but I was pretty busy with family stuff and by time I got a chance to run it was dark, so I did 4 on the TM while channel surfing- Nothing on!

I met Jun and two of his friends at the Pipeline trail in Millcreeek this morning for a sweet morning run. The weather was perfect and it was an incredible run. I love that trail. We had a nice easy pace and just chatted until Jun and Jason turned back at mile 2.5. After a nice slap on the butt from Jun (which of course I welcomed and enjoyed), Chris and I kept going to the point. The conversation was good and as always the views were amazing.

At the turnaround we stopped and took a quick break and I downed (gagged) a gel. The run back was just as good and I enjoyed every second. I didn't get my Garmin started until .3, so the last 9 were at 1:18. I have no clue about the first .3. My achilles is slightly tight, but no pain.

I will be lifting for an hour tonight at the gym.

My workout yesterday was spending 10 hours at Lagoon with my kids. Whoooooah! People watching, lots of bad tattoos, larger folks squeezed into very tight clothes, roller coasters with my 9 year old until I was on the verge of puking- Good times. I must have walked at least 5 miles out there. Sweat!!!

I'm also going to do a longer (13+ mile) run tomorrow. Not sure where yet, but if anyone is getting out let me know.

I wanted to do a longer run today, but I left a bit later than I had hoped, so it was already hot when I started, so I had my handheld bottle and a few gels. I ran north on the Alpine Hwy and then I turned east at Kohlers and headed up to the canyon. I had planned to turn around at the mouth, but I was feeling really good, so I just kept going. My legs felt strong and my achilles wasn't hurting at all. After about a mile I figured I would just go all the way to the Timpanogos Cave trailhead, so I could refill my bottle. The river was running full and fast and there are a few places where there isn't much room off the road. I was being very careful watching the cars and the road. I reached the trailhead and had a gel and a drink and then took off on a much faster pace down the canyon. This was my favorite paert of the run. It was shady and cool and I just cruised down. After I got to the bottom I ran back to the Chevron where I stopped and bought a 20 ounce Coke. That hit the spot. The last three miles back home were fun and I just enjoyed being out there running without pain. I was a sweaty mess by time I got home at noon. This run was just what I needed. Fun! 2:19 total time.

12 ounce steak and potato 90 minutes before your run = BAD move.

I just wanted to get out and stretch my legs, so I took off for the Alpine Hwy, which is becoming my new track since I have been only trying to do flat miles. Right from the start I knew I should have run before dinner. Ugh! Eating a big steak is just not wise before a run, even if it is only 4 miles. It felt like I had a ferret lodged into my throat the entire time and it was tough just to keep the pace under 9.

My legs felt incredible. Not even a hint of soreness from my 15 mile run yesterday, so that is encouraging.

AP 8:44

Weights at the gym for an hour. The last few weeks have been nice because it seems like only the hardcore folks come in the summer, so it isn't as hot and not very stinky. I worked my upper body and core and had a really good session.

I need to get in a long run this weekend, so if anyone wants to do anything let me know. My tentative plans are to run from my house up AF canyon, around the Alpine loop, down Provo Canyon and then back home (about 41 miles). Let me know if you are at all interested. I would rather not go alone. Right now I am thinking Sun or Mon.

After the sun went down I got out for a good quick run. I felt a lot better today, so after warming up for the first mile I kept it around an 8:00 pace for the rest of the run. I ran the Alpine Hwy again.

I did not want to get up when my alarm went off at 4:40, but I am glad I did. I met Matt in Millcreek Canyon and we ran the Pipeline trail, which is one of my favorite runs in the Wasatch. Matt started out FAST but after about a half mile we settled into a comfortable 8:40 pace.

We stopped to take the usual one mile break and the mosquitoes were horrible, but once we got moving again they weren't an issue. There was a pretty good wind that would really blow whenever we rounded a corner on the outsides of the canyon. At times it was really strong, but luckily it wasn't bad once we rounded the corners and ran back to the inside of the canyon.

We stopped at the lookout point to have a gel and then both of us put the headphones on and had a nice cruise back to the car. my legs felt a bit heavy today and my achilles was a touch tight, but no pain. Matt also took a little tumble at about mile 7. Nothing serious, just some hamburger hand. 9.3 miles 1:24 total time.