Running For Trevor

7 miles in the orchards with Jen + strides, 7:10 pace.

6 miles on SF river trail with my sister, 8:46 pace.  Provo City Half Marathon tomorrow.  I'm pretty darn sure I'm not in as good of speed shape as I was last year for this one but I'm excited nonetheless.  It should be a fun day!

This was a really awesome 7 mile race for me...and a 6.1 mile progressive melt down.  The only thing consistent for me so far in 2014 is that I kind of consistently suck and I consistently start out at what I was capable of in 2013 instead of 2014.  This is a good lesson for me in realizing that I need to race where I'm at now instead of what I want.

 I most definitely started out too fast and ended up running exactly what I thought I was capable of this year (my pre-race projection was 1:22-1:23) but it was oh so very ugly.  I felt fantastic the first 7 miles of the race like wow maybe I swallowed some magic beans or something...it was all unicorns and glitter!  I ran behind Jen...knowing she is in much better shape than me right now...yet I stuck close to her anyway.  Maybe I was faster than I thought?  dun, dun, dun......I know this was dumb but I did feel really good.  My breathing was not labored, and I felt like maybe I could go even faster! hahaha!  Things started to get a little harder at mile 7 and then by mile 10 there wasn't a positive affirmation I could tell myself to get my body to move faster.  I am mentally strong but what happened Saturday was a complete physical bonk.  It was almost something I haven't really ever experienced in running to this degree...at least not in running just a half marathon.  I tried mile dedications, I tried every shiny mantra I could think of....but the bottom line is my legs quit working and there wasn't anything I could do about that.  When the legs quit working eventually the brain will follow and by mile 11 I was checked out.  My only goal became getting to those dang balloons that meant I could quit moving my body.  Eventually the end did come and I was ever so grateful!

Splits:  6:11, 5:59, 6:15, 6:02, 6:04, 6:09, 6:13, 6:21, 6:25, 6:28, 6:39, 6:33, 6:33...sprinted in at a whopping 6:18 pace!

Ran a 2 mile warm up and then a 4 mile cooldown with my sister.  I was planning on a super slow cool down but my sister wanted to jump in on the 5K and when Amber races she means business.  I trotted behind her and tried to keep up.  19 miles with zero fluids...I practically thought I was going to faint by the end and was so happy to see water I could have hugged a volunteer.

Lots to learn from this one but I'm still in the process of figuring that lesson out so I'll leave the report at this.  I love running and I love hanging out with runners but gosh I did not love this race!

6 miles in the orchards, windy!

7.5 with Jen & Amber in Salem, 7:59 pace....well not exactly with Jen--she took the hilly route because she felt good and wanted to push the hills and Amber and I took the flat route and included walking breaks.  Windy!

I think what I'm experiencing may be a bit of a hole....Jen wants to do 30 x 300's tomorrow.  Did we run the same race Saturday?

PM:  2.6 miles for my brother Trevor's 26th birthday! :(

7.5 miles with my sister on the river trail, 8:49 pace.  This week is going to be a total wash without any workouts.   I'm already feeling in a hole and pushing myself would only be burying myself deeper.  Good thing I really love my sister and her pace! :)  She's going to get in good shape this week.

7.5 with Josse & Rebecca in the rain, 8ish pace.  Running is a funny thing.  Last week I felt smooth, fast, and fit as a fiddle.  This week I feel out of breath and like an elephant that is dragging two large tree trunks behind me. :-)

11 miles looping from Payson - Santaquin - Genola - West Mountain - Payson, 7:40 pace.  Beauitful morning with some seriously sweet views up on the peak of the trail head in Genola.  I think the doctor is ordering at least 3 more easy days for this ole body of mine!

10 miles on SF river trail with my sister and Julia, 8:47 pace.  Today was Amber's new distance PR.  She rocked it and her last mile was her fastest. :)  It's been kind of fun to see her actually get a little excited about running.

13 miles with Julia in Provo Canyon, 8:14 pace.  Fun fun times with the bestest friend.  We took a little random hike in the middle of the run.

7.5 miles in the wind.  It was oh so very windy.

10.5 miles with strides with Mack, Jen, and Amber in Salem, 7:31 pace.  Saw a sign this morning that said "Watch for joggers".  I just love Salem! :)

AM:  6.5 mile wu and then 3 x 1 mile repeats on the track with Josse & Rebecca. 6:08, 6:09, 6:07 My goal for the workout was 6:10 but I was hoping it would feel easier.  The wind was really kind of awful and it probably messed with me more mentally that it should have.

PM:  My work conference got out early and after sitting and eating all day long I really needed to get outside.  4 miles on Pipeline, 8:35 pace.  Beautiful afternoon!

7.5 mile recovery with my sister, Jen & Amber on the SF river trail, 8:55 pace.

AM:  10 miles in Provo Canyon with Rebecca, 7:25 pace.  We did a 3 mile cutback starting at mile six 6:40, 6:26, 6:04.  I'm going to try and kick my mileage/intensity up a notch the next two weeks and see how my body responds.  I've been fairly uncomitted with this marathon training - I think a combination of lack of passion + lack of speed.  But I've got 2-3 weeks to pull it together so I'm going to do my best!

PM:  2.5 mile slog around my house.

7 with my sister, 9:04 pace.  Amber is pretty sick and I have a kind of awful ear infection that seems to have zapped my energy.  Together we were completely pathetic.  It was however a beautiful morning and we picked up a snail for my nephew on the trail. :)  In case you were wondering yes I did run with a snail in my hand for 1.5 miles and I kept it alive.  I'm so talented!

Good luck to everyone racing Ogden tomorrow!  I'll be up there running the first half relay style and look forward to cheering everyone in.

I had an absolute blast running the relay.

I paced my friend Amber for the first 7 miles of the relay.  Her goal was 6:50 and I believe we finished with a 6:55 AP.  I thought I might be able to make up some time in my leg but apparently I think I'm faster than I really am...  The course from mile 7-13 was a little tougher than I anticipated and I was completely tanked by the end.  All I remember thinking as I ran into the half way point was thank goodness I'm not running the full!  I did not restart my watch but I think my AP was probably around 6:35 for my portion.  I wanted a MP workout so this definitely served it's purpose but dang it felt about a million times harder than MP.  I'm super frustrated honestly that running fast feels so forced.  I feel like I'm putting in the workouts and training well but I'm just not feeling fluid at all.

That said this day was not about me.  It was about supporting my friends who were running the full and I had a blast running all of them in.  It was a really tough day for a lot of people and as I sat waiting for my friend Jen I was completely humbled by the peserverence of so many runners.  It was a hard day for a lot of people and as the time was approaching noon the heat was fairly defeating.  I cheered at mile 25 from about 11:30am until noon high fiving runners and just soaking it all in.  People can say what they want, and I realize this is open to criticism but in my opinion running a 5 hour marathon takes a whole heck of a lot of determination.  It is in no way shape or form easy to be on your feet for 5 hours.  I wont say it's easier to run a sub-3 hour marathon than a 5 hour marathon.  That is just like trying to compare trail running to road running.  But it definitely opened my eyes quite a bit and gave me a greater appreciation for running and how it brings so many people at different levels of the sport together all reaching for a common goal.  "We're all in this together."

Slogged through 6 miles, 8:36 pace.  Walked 1 mile to get home after 6 because I could not fathom the idea of running 1 more.  Slept all day!  Apparently cheering at the Ogden marathon all day really wiped me out.

10.5 with Jen in Salem + strides, 7:24 pace.

Jen gave me a good pep talk this morning and talked me off of my downward spiraling ledge.  Thank goodness for her for helping me to see the bigger picture and realize that this funk/sub-par streak of performances will pass as long as I stay consistent.  She reminded me of when she went through a similar funk last Summer and how she see's it in her track/XC runners often.  As long as I'm not injured or overtraining which I don't think I am I should come out of it.  I just need to focus on my mental game and stay consistent.  I'm going to get some routine blood work done this week just to rule out anything major being off.

PM:  3 miles easy on SF river trail, 8:14 pace

5 mile tempo + 5 x 1 min on/off in the orchards with Jen, Amber, and Melissa.

2.25 mi wu

6:40, 6:39, 6:30, 6:14, 6:03, about 10 min easy and then 5 x 1 min on/off just effort based.  cool down back to my house.  11 total....hard workout and I felt wrecked by the end.  Still feeling off but I'm just going to trust the process and keep going through the motions.  Lots of hard workouts on top of high mileage so part of it is probably somewhat normal...or at least thats what I'm telling myself. :)  Going to keep on keeping on!

9.5 miles with Julia on Murdock, 8:17 pace.  I don't feel like I was pushing the pace at all but glad to see that she's recovering from Ogden Marathon well.

PM:  4 miles with strides, 7:51 pace.  Ran to the city building to drop off my power bill and back home.

7 mile hilly route in Salem, we really pushed the hills + 1 mile marathon pace 6:31 + 4 x 400's 200 recovery in between.  I didn't time the 400's I just kept my watch going with overall time.  I've realized that timing them gets in my head and I run just as fast and smarter when I don't time them.  Jen did time hers and hit 83-85 and I was probably ~5 seconds behind her so right where I wanted to be.  I felt really strong today...that was a rare and nice feeling!  10.5 total, 7:18 pace

Friday Fun Run!  8 miles on SF River trail with Lily, Jen, Amber, Julia, and my sister.  8:46 pace.

UVM course starting in Wallsburg and finishing at Kneaders in Provo, 7:10 pace.  Lost Melissa towards the end and ended up running about a mile backwards trying to find her.  I did some tempo miles in there and only stopped once for water and half a gu.  Not a bad run but I just never really felt great either.  Feet were ridiculous by the end and I had to rip my shoes off.  Waah, waah, waah!

7 easy on murdock, slow pace.

Ran with my sister because my legs were still completely trashed from the UVM course Saturday and this 10k course is hard.  And to be completely honest the last thing I really needed was one more failed race to further deplete the small semblance of confidence I'm currently retaining.  Anyway, after the first 4 miles I did manage a 2 mile tempo 6:16, 5:58.  I did not feel awesome but was glad I got something out of the race.  Amber was also feeling pretty off yesterday and I do not think this race reflects her current fitness.  She has had a respiratory illness for 2 weeks and just couldn't breathe well.

We had a good time and this race is always a fun tradition.  Jen ran 37 minutes which to those that know this course is just completely outstanding.  I may or may not be booking a ticket to MN to watch that girl go after her dream!

10 miles in the orchards with Jen, Amber, & Melissa, 7:38 pace.  I am not recovering from workouts and I pulled my left groin somehow.  meh

7 miles easy (felt hard) with Julia & Amber on SF River Trail, 8:21 pace.

PM:  3 mi on the SF River Trail, 8:10 pace.  Groin muscle hurt so bad and had me worried.

8 mile hilly route in Salem with Jen and Amber, 7:33 pace.

11 with Jen in the orchards.  Pretty much a failed workout for me.  waah, waah, waah.  Plan was to do 5 miles easy and then 4 x 1 mi repeats with 1-2 min rest in between.  After one I could just tell that I didn't have it.  Oh well.  6:04 mile, 1 mile steady 7:23, 2 mile tempo 6:35, 6:17.  And that was all she wrote...I considered asking a farmer on a tractor for a ride home but I somehow managed to dig deep and jog it in!

13.5 miles, 8:06 pace.  Ran the UV half marathon course with Julia, Ericka, and Amber.  Totally off week and I knew it would be dumb to try and get a quality LR+workout in so I just took it easy and really enjoyed catching up with Julia.  Really needed this run.  The sad thing is even the 8:06 pace did not necessarily feel easy.  Tried the Brooks Pure Flow to see if they would be better on my feet....nope I was aching by the end.  Glad I tried them out before the marathon.