BACK TO WORK

PM decided to go out with ruger again.  This time I rode out 20 minutes from bloomington mtn biking trail.  I dropped my bike there and ran the micro loop back to the bike.  Picked it up and rode back to the trail head.  It was good but I was a little rushed because we were taking the kids to the ice rink for FHE. 

Met the whole fam there for a little skate time.  Good fun. 

No run today.  Drove up with laur so she could coach the freshman team.  They looked terrible the first 1/2, but then come back.  Just lost in the final seconds.  It was as good as freshman girls b-ball gets.

PM ran the summit gym loop today, and then added a half mile cool down.  I decided after the first mile to run it hard for the six, since I missed tuesday.

7.09/6.53/7.10/6.52/6.46/7.02

I felt like I was really pushing on 4,5, & 6, but didn't speed up my time.  I am going to go back and see what my times were like during this time last year.  I am not feeling great right now.  It is not my IT band, but my left leg feels heavy.  Maybe mental! 

PM ran a warm up out to the tower hill.  Went 4Xtower hill with chad, then a cool down back.  I was trying to really push on the way up, so I could use it like my 1000M.  I felt pretty good today considering the tough workout.

AM Went out with chad on our usual tonaquint/bloomington loop.  It was possibly the nicest run I have had.  It was just so easy and smooth.  No struggles and no bad miles.  It was quite slow (8:10) but we talked and just enjoyed the weather.  Overcast but perfect 52 degrees.  

I am glad it went so well, since I didn't want to run and chad just hounded me to get up and get out.  At that pace, I think my long runs can move out to 15-18 in the next few weeks. 

PM had a huge nap which wasn't originally part of the plan.  I must be getting old, because I sat down and next thing I knew it was an hour and a half later.

Ran LV elem/bloomington hills loop today.  It was  a good relaxed run.  The ITB is completely healed at this point.  I haven't been on the road bike for over three weeks.  Hopefully, the last adjustment on the clipless pedals has stopped the problem.

PM Had to pick Suzy up from v-ball tonight.  I have to say, she is getting dang good.  She sets for the SUVA club team and they went up last week and won the tourney in  SLC.  I haven't had a chance to watch her since last year, but I did watch to last few minutes of practice tonight.  They are good!

Anyway, went from there to New Beginnings with her.  Laurie's freshman b-ball team is playing @ HHS, so I got to take suzy on my own.  It was quite fun.  We sat in the back and laughed at ourselves.

I decided I wouldn't take a day off as originally planned, but it was raining, so I went to the high school treadmill.  1st mile 8:15/2nd 6:48/3rd 6:21/4th 6:07/5th 7:40.  Nice fast miles in the middle as a small tempo. 

PM got out a little late and just as the sun was going down.  Ran St. James to trailhead and back on river road.  A ggod upbeat pace after the tempo yesterday.  (averaged 7:29) Felt decent except a little tightness in my calves and the beginnings of shin splints.  My yellow bostons have run out now.  That means I only have one pair of the old faithfuls left.  I haven't really found anything that I like as much as them.  I ordered some Brooks Uglies, so we'll see if they do the trick.  The Pearls are quite sloppy and I feel like they take away spring through my step.  I will wear them through the 400 miles, but won't buy them again. 

PM Track today for the kids.  Mark and Gianna showed.  They did striders, then out and back (30 Minutes) and core work.

I had to pick up Kire from guitar. 

Then my run on the track.  I did 800 intervals with 400 recovery today .  I was slow but I finished all four. 

1 mile @ 7:20

1st 800-3:06

2nd 800-3:04

3rd 800-3:01

4th 800-3:04

800 cool down

I got in "lock step" after #2 and could not push ahead.  I harp on not doing too many quality days (fast days) but I don't listen to my own advice.  I am going to get a nice easy 5 in tomorrow without a clock and just enjoy it.

PM Sisalee was going to go get a run in, and Laurie decided to join, so I jumped in at last minute for my long run.  I just went out alone, but it was nice to know they wre out on the trail somewhere.  I did the usual long course except I went off the trail at st. james and then ran home.  It was a nice run.  I was little faster than I normally go, (7:39 overall) but no problems.  Things are going good as a build up to the big race.

AM went out with chad.  He started at his house, but I met him at the dixie center.  We went over the tonaquint hill and the short route around the bloomington loop.  I finished back at the dixie center.  I feel okay.  It was a much bigger mileage week than the weeks before, so I think I will go back down to 25 including the stake 10K on saturday. 

Presidents day.  I slept in and loved it!  It ws 8:30 before I rolled my sorry butt outta bed.  Suzy and Kire had projects, so guess sho actually did them.  Can I just say I better not ever catch the guy that dreamed up the idea of pinewood derby.  I would rather hit myself with a hammer than do that again.  Suzy wanted to make a shelf for her bedroom, so we got working on it.  Next thing I know-she is gone, and I am sanding!

In the afternoon, Laurie wanted to plant a little in the garden.  I got roped into that as well.  Oh-what fun on a holiday!  She actually did most of it, so it was quite nice to work a little with her and saucy on the prep work. 

PM I took Ruger out to Bear Poppy this evening.  We ran up to the loop junction and back on the mtn bike trail.  It was really fast today.  I wore the Pearls and they are so sloppy that I got terrible blisters on the bottoms of my feet.  For trail shoes, they are pitiful.  I also must have twisted or jammed my knee, because I have some swelling tonight.  I wil hit it with some ice tomorrow and should be good to go.    

PM Eye apt, then went with the fam and put the new hurdles together for the school.  Laura and Monica met us there and helped.  Then Peter Brown and his family started helping us at the end as well.  They are great people. 

I told the kids I would take them out to eat for the help, so we ate a big Mexican dinner before my run.  Not smart.

I did and out and back to the LV park with 4 loops around the park in the middle.  I felt so slow, because of the dinner, but I got a few miles in. 

PM more kids showed for track than ever before.  I was getting very discouraged, and then I have a day like today.  It was great.  We had jumpers out, and sprinters and even a 1/2 dozen distance. 

I think we are getting closer, and today I am excited.  It is like going to mesquite and wasting $300 on the slots and then hitting a $350 jackpot right before going home.  Of course you have to go back next week!

Evening-chad and I did track work. 

800 warm up

1st 800-2:56

2nd 800-2:54

3rd 800-2:50

4th 800-2:54

5th 800-2:53

800 cool down

Took saucy over to dance and jumped on the treadmill @ WCCR for an easy 3.5, but I blew out the 2nd to last 800 @ 2:54 pace on the treadmill.   

PM Took Ruger out to Fort Pierce wash for a XC run.  started down a little wash and then come up on this place where they will eventually put in a ramp off of the future Southern Parkway.  Then I ran up on the ridge to the new airport and east back down to the dirt road on the south of warner flat.  I felt great.  It was perfect enjoy a nice natural pace around the greasewood and sage and over the cactus and gullies.  No injuries and no hurries.  I feel bad for those that don't like a good free run.   

DHHS b-ball beat ALA tonight and now goes up to UVU for the state tourney.

AM I was going to run in the stake 10K, but Bro. Andrus asked me to teach a merit badge this morning.  So while Kire and Laurie were running, I was teaching Citizenship in the Community.  (lucky me!)

Kire took 1st in the stake 5K.  Not in his age, but in the whole field.  It obviously wasn't too fast of a field, but he still ran right at 8:00/mile pace.  As a 8 year old that is dang good.  He was still bummed, because he only beat his PR by 10 seconds.  I don't think he understands the concept of PRs yet.  

Laurie was the 1st female.  She said it was just a "fun run" for the participants.  She was about 8:00/mile pace as well for the 10K.  She signed up for the UV marathon this summer, so she will be running more.

PM Laurie took the kids to hurricane so they could watch a movie and go to her b-ball game, so I rode over and ran from dad's out to Sand Hollow and back.  It was nice and cool.  It had rained in the AM and then right after I got back it rained again, so I got lucky.  My feet were tender the last couple miles.  I think these shoes aren't good.  Maybe I will get the 400 miles out of them and then out they go.

Shade is really sick.  He hasn't eaten for the last few days.  I am going to take him in to the vet tomorrow.  He is almost eleven, so it might be close to his time.  That really sucks.  I hope he can get better.  

PM  This is the closest thing to a journal I have, so I need to write some extra tonight.  We had to put down our chocolate lab, Shade, today.  He had stopped eating for the last few days and this morning he wouldn't get up before I went to work.  The ritual is that he gets up before I go and walks outside with me.  He was almost 11 years old and had been with us from the first few months in Georgia.  Before I left him in the clinic, so many great memories jumped into my mind.  Early morning trail runs, trips to the river, sitting by the desk, and a long road trip across the country to name a few.  The damn dog continually dug up my flowers trying to find a cool spot in the summer or pooped on the greenest spot of lawn!  He had a tail the width of a python and could really club the walls when he was happy.  It will be along time before I find a more comfortable foot rest.  Alexa is devastated and cried for an hour.  I loaded him in the truck, and she went out and sat with him for quite awhile until I left.  I will miss the ole' boy! 

After I got back from the clinic, I had a fast run.  (7:20 average)  I don't know if I was mad or choking down something in my throat or thinking about different things.  I did run the Flying J loop and when I hit the trail, Pine Valley was the only thing lit up since the sun was underneath the hill.  The clouds were just hunkered down on the mountain and it was beautiful.

PM started @ chad's and did the summit fitness center loop today.  We went counter clockwise and dealt with the hills.  This is only my 2nd run this week.  I haven't felt much like running this week.  I think a little is shade and a little is track starting up next week.  I have been pretty busy. 

I did a little google website for our track team on Tueday.  This is the link:

Desert Hills Track and Field

We are looking to get some participants for the Thunder Struck 5K.

Laurie and I drove up to Orem last night to watch DHHS play in the state tourney.  They won in a buzzer beater.  We then jumped in the car to make the South Sevier/South Summit game in Richfield.  It was a great game, but South Sevier lost.  They were 22-0 going into this game and they lost by 1 point.  It was devastating for Orion.  Anyway, we got home at 1:30 AM.

I got up in time to get to the merit badge pow-wow, but I felt like crap.  Laurie and I jumped in the car to run back to Richfield and watch South Sevier pummel Kanab.  They shot well, Orion had a decent last game of his high school career, and there were a 1/2 dozen dunks by bishoff and blackburn.  It was a shame they didn't play in the championship.  Justin Orton played pretty well for Kanab as well.

Needless to say, I didn't run again today.  I got to get running on Monday.  That was my lowest mileage week since the week of thanksgiving.