Turn your rut into a groove.

am--6.75 It was supposed to be rain or snow, but we got wind instead. No matter. It all seems to go away once a body gets going. 

pm--9.75 I ran from my In-Laws up through Santa Clara to the Canyons and back around by SCHS at a pretty stout pace. Averaged about 7:40ish. 

am--18.25 Headed out for a long run on Gooseberry Mesa w/ the RD from the Zion 100 and few other local ultra folks. It was a nice run. If anyone is looking for a magnificent ultra to run the Zion 100 might be it. The vistas are unreal. 

pm --7 Somedays are harder to get motivated than others. I took yesterday easy because of family stuff, and, besides, the quads were still beat from the weekend. Tonight, I did the usual morning route w/ a little extension at the end. Felt pretty good once I got into a groove. 

pm--6.75 I resorted to the tready tonight, not because it was cold but because I had to process some things. I watched part of "The Power of Myth" w/ Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers. It's pretty dang fascinating. 

am--7.25 Solo morning run on the usual route w/ a tad of an extension. This was the coldest morning yet that I ventured out the door. It was actually therapeutic. 

pm--3 A few tready miles starting at 1.5% and increasing to 5.5%. 

pm--9 I went out and hit Barrel Roll w/ the Sidewinder extension. I eased into it for a mile or so and gave it more effort the rest of the run. Finished in around 1:16. Decent pace for a loop w/ nearly 1,000 ft. of climbing. While I was out, I started thinking about the trail v. road debate. 

There are folks who think road is a swear word, and others don't ever want to get their shoes dirty. Although I know I've been on both sides of this row at one time or another, right now, I'm smack dab in the middle.

I love the road for its accessibility. I love it for the smooth ride and the way it lends itself to a steady tempo and faster running. I also love it for the street lights at o'dark thirty. Finally, it's great that one doesn't have to devote half a day to a longer run, grunting down the bitumen. 

In contrast, I love the trails for the varied terrain, the ups and downs, and the beautiful vistas. Changing gears is refreshing, and the quick light steps, coupled with a hyper-awareness of footfall, lends itself to an engaging time. I've also heard that the trails are good for the core. Plus, some of the greatest places in the world are accessible mostly by trail. 

In the end, I love both, probably equally. It's probably not the terrain as much as the activity itself that keeps me going.  

pm--11 Went out on the highway to Ivins and then back around Snow Canyon Parkway and home. The run felt smooth, and there isn't much more beautiful than the desert during/after a light rain. 

am--6.5 Regular morning route w/ 10 x 100m strides in the middle. 

pm--12 I ran out to the Cove Wash trailhead and took a stroll up the Sidewinder and back. There is roughly 1000 feet of climbing in this. Came back cold in spots. Total time was 105 minutes. 

am--7 A nice run around the neighborhood, over the frost-encrusted earth. 

pm--7.5 Out-and-back w/ a 1:15 negative split. The back was more difficult than the out regardless of the pace. Pace ended up being ~7:20. Pretty stout for this old boy. I guess I'll call that a tempo. 

pm--8 The Rim trails w/ Tom. Not quite  as much as I would've liked, but he needed to get back, and I was driving. We had a good chat as always. 

pm--12.5  I ran up onto the Heights and into Ivins and then back home. I really eased into this run and enjoyed it. 

am--7 A nice solo morning run w/ 10 x 100 meter striders in the middle w/ equal distance recovery. 

pm--5 The body said, "Take it easy." So I did. A few on the tready while I watched the Jazz squeak past the Blazers.

am--14.75 I headed out towards Ivins and looped around into Dixie Downs and back home to meet a buddy in town for the holidays. We added a few miles to the whole thing. It was a nice morning. 

am--7 Around Santa Clara w/ a couple good ol' friends in town for the holidays. 

am--11.25 A run in 2 parts. I hit the Sidewinder w/ my out-of-town buddies and Anasazi w/ Tom. On Anasazi, I tried to negative split the out-and-back and made it happen. It wasn't @ an earth-shattering speed, but there was definitely a push on the trails. Nice beginning to an exciting day. 

pm--7 I thought about hitting my long run today but bailed to run a nice out-and-back tempo. 7:22 overall pace, which is, like I've said before, stout, with my best mile @ 6:53. It always feels good to stretch out the legs.

am--14.5 This is my long run for the week. I headed out from my house to run the Rim trails. Of the 14.5 miles, a little less than 4 miles are on the road. The rest is dirt w/ some decent climbing. On the Rim trails, I hit the northeast mesa loop twice, once w/ the scenic extension. I didn't take any fuel or water, so, by the end, I was pretty hammered. Overall, this was a nice way to start the day. 

pm--5.5 Recovery run on the Hammer-Church loop. Felt pretty sluggish.

am--10.75 A nice morning run on my new favorite route up past the cemetery and around into Dixie Downs and back home. For the most part, it's a run to the rising sun. 

am--7.5 I went up the old Swiss Days route and extended over to the highway and back home along Canyon View. I did 10 x 100 meter strides in the middle w/ about 30 seconds rest. 

am--9 Barrel Roll and Sidewinder w/ Tom. I thought it would be cold but ended up being warm after we got going. Nice last run for the year.

Some 2011 stats: This was my highest mileage year by over 50 miles. December was my highest mileage month of the year. I had 7 months over 200 miles this year. That equals the 200-mile months in my previous highest mileage year--2009. I also feel like I'm in pretty good shape, but there were no PRs to prove it. I guess there's always something to look forward to.