You've got to want it to win it

Decided to do my long run today because sometimes it is easier on Monday (easier to push back if you don't feel like it) and to free up my Saturday run for Draper Days. I started at the institute parking garage and ran up campus and then over to Sunnyside so I could run Emigration canyon. The way up was challenging enough, and then the way down hurt. It was really hot by the time I was finishing. 7:48 average pace. Definitely could have gone better. At least I got the miles in though.

8 miles with the stroller today. I started at Sugarhouse and ran out of the park on the cemetery loop route. To add on, I went back down to Alden again after the stretch on Melbourne. 7:46 average. I felt better than yesterday but it was still late and pretty hot when I got started. Afterwards I went hiking with Giselle in City Creek canyon. I've been missing out on some good trails up there because I've never gone off the road. Something to explore on my next run up there without the stroller.

I officially registered for Draper Days last night so I had some motivation for my workout this morning. At Liberty Park I warmed up 2 miles and then did my strides and drills. The threshold for this week was three 8 minute reps with 2:15 rest (actually it didn't say rest on the schedule but I calculated it based off of the other weeks). I took the first one out slow since the workouts from the previous weeks were shorter, and I wanted to make sure I wasn't pushing too hard at the start. The mile split was 6:31 (too slow) and I covered 1.22 miles in the first set. I was able to use the recovery to get to the same starting point so that was nice to run the same leg every time. On the second one I came through the mile in 6:27 (still too slow but at least I picked it up a little bit) and covered 1.24 miles. On the final one I hit 6:18 for the mile and covered 1.28 miles. I think maybe a little longer warmup would probably help, and a few more strides before starting. But since this is longer than I've been doing I'm ok with it. I finished it up with four 20 second strides and then cooled down 2.4 miles to finish with 10 total.

This evening I took Ellie for a short run in the stroller. We went to the corner of 3600w and 4700s and back. 7:41 average, it was all uphill on the way out so all downhill on the way back.

This morning I started my run from Sugarhouse with the stroller. I ran a little bit past Olympus high and back. Right after I turned around, I got cut off in the crosswalk by a lady making a left hand turn. I was yelling at her and she was waving her hand at me, and then a police officer who was approaching the intersection turned on his lights and pulled her over right there! Sweet moment of victory. I don't know how many times I've almost been hit in the crosswalk, even with the driver watching, so it was nice to see someone get pulled over for it. Thank you police officer. Average pace 7:34.

7 miles this morning from campus. I did the Albertson's loop and then finished with strides and drills in the field by the institute garage. 7:26 average pace. Afterwards I went and met the new coach. Lot tally not what I expected from the way Kep described her, but I can already tell there will be a higher accountability for training and recovery runs this upcoming season. It's gonna be great!

This morning when my alarm went off at 5:15, I began to question my motives for signing up for this 7A.M. race.  But I dragged myself out of bed and started getting ready.  I squished 2 spiders before getting out the door, so I was fearless.  I got to Draper and started my warmup on the Porter Rockwell trail.  I took a bathroom break and then changed shoes for strides and drills.  On the starting line I was thinking about how nice it would be if deodorant were included in race packets, because when you're that close to a bunch of runners for a few minutes before the race starts it can be smelly.  When the race started I just went out at a pace that I felt I could hold, and when it got more spread out as the runners around me found their pace I just picked a few people to stick with and made that my pack.  There was a lead group in the front, and I ended up with 4 guys a little ways back from them.  I was disappointed that there wasn't anyone calling splits at the first mile, but I heard the other runner's watches beep at the mile marks.  Just past the first mile we caught up to someone who had fallen off the lead pack, and he looked several times when he realized he was being caught and passed by a lady.  I stayed with two of the guys for the second mile and let them do the leading, but when we got to the second mile mark I took off and didn't see them again.  The last mile felt long, but that might have been because I was by myself and no one had fallen far enough off the lead pack to catch.  I started to kick when I turned the final corner and could see the finish line in the distance.  It was a long stretch and felt endless.  I saw my parents and my dad called out the time at 17:35, I realized there was a chance I could break 18!  Which was awesome because I felt that my pace was more of threshold effort but it must have been faster based on that time.  I finished around 17:55 (waiting for results to be posted so I can be sure) and almost puked, but held it in.  I cooled down to finish with 10 total.  It is so nice to have this first race post-baby behind me!  I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I felt that I ran a smart race with the people around me and it was good preparation for what going back to racing in the fall will be like.