Stroller pushin in Texas

8 gross TM miles.  

Quality miles today!  BBK day!  

I got to Bingham high about 5:12 am and immediately jumped out of my car and started to run.  Last night I could not sleep due to the fear of sleeping in and missing the workout.

3 warm-up miles at about a 8:20 pace

2 mile tempo

6 sets of Yasso 800's with a 400 rest in between each.  I did not time myself on the Yasso's, and I am regretting it now. 

2.5 evening miles on TM.  I was trying to motivate my friend at the gym.  He kept dying, panting, and slamming his feet on the TM.  Time will teach him...

Evening YOGA

TM miles tonight.  I waited an hour longer to hit the gym and my stomach still killed by the last two miles!  I ate 7 hours before my run.  Hard effort workout with gradual speed and incline increases. 

Tried to do YOGA, but the down dogs sent me in a "dog zone."  I made it 30 minutes through the class.  So much for cross training!

BBK day. I was pooped, and I still am.  This sickness (cold/flu thing) needs to stop!  I suffered through 8 miles.  Went to school and ripped up the Dance Co. with lunges, push ups, and abs.  My students are the new cross training devices!   I told them our goal is to have 6-pack abs by November. 

I am headed down to the land of the RED ROCKS for a relay.  I am not really sure I know what to expect.  Should be fun. 

I finished my first relay!!!  RED ROCK RELAY.   To tell you the honest truth, I have mixed feelings about this race.  I will make a list of the positives and negatives

Positives:  1) Beautiful, breath taking views of southern Utah.  Brianhead Resort, Cedar Breaks, Kolob Mountain, Zions, and Snow Canyon. WOW!  I have never enjoyed the scenery of a race course like I did this one.  2) Relay with friends, need I say more?  3) Good timing in the year for this race.  4)  Not too many teams (50), so it was personal. 4)  Great adventure.

Negatives:  1)  Crappy shirt.  2) I hate the idea that your team supplies everything.  3)  Course was not marked well.  Sometimes I didn't know if I was running in the right direction.  4)  Race bible completely inaccurate as far as level of difficulty.  5)  Driving directions were confusing.  6)  Finish line very drab. 7)  I never saw race officials or even volunteers. 

This was the first year of the race, so there is always room for improvement.  I hope the race director takes suggestions from participants and improves the event for next year.  This race has a lot of potential if the director sticks with it. 

My first leg.... I was runner 6, so I was last to go in my van.  My course was completely down a canyon, and I kicked trash!  I flew down the canyon passing 3 teams, running by myself most of the time.  AP 6:39  I will list my splits because I am proud.  7:56 (up hill and I felt like I was breathing through a straw), 6:40, 6:44, 6:26, 6:18, 6:11, .6 6:04.  I love down!

Started this leg at 10:23 p.m. in the evening.  Felt pretty ill as I ran, I was struggling breathing due to a severe cold.    This part of the race was coming out of the canyon that goes up toward Zions.  I had to fight traffic on a busy highway.  Temperatures were also high.  7:30 AP. 

My third leg was 5.5 miles long.  I started at 6:34 A.M. after having ZERO rest.  I was so unaware as to where I was now, somewhere near Santa Clara.  As I stepped out of the car to run, and my main goal was to run and just finish this route.  Once I started running, I felt better than I expected.  AP at the end was 8:05 or something, I forgot to start the Garmin. While I was running, there was a another race using the same route.  I was a little confused when I saw runners coming toward me in the opposite direction. I guess there was a half marathon going on...

The end of the race went out onto the SGM route.  I was a little sad as we drove down the route because I don't get to run my favorite marathon in a few weeks.  It was fun to see a lot of runners out running the course as a training run.  

I had a good time doing this race, my team made it a great experience.  I don't know if I will be doing the Red Rock Relay again, but for sure I want to do WBR next year!