Well I didn't think I'd make it this far....

Today we met at Liberty at 8. We did a lap warm up, then jogged over to the start and did 2 eight hundreds. My first was 2:34. I would have run it faster but I rolled my ankle over the edge of the pavement and that hurt for about ten seconds. The second eight hundred was a 2:31. I felt pretty good overall except for my ankle, which isn't bugging me to awfully much but it does hurt a bit. Here's the link for my Garmin stats:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/96076463 

No team practice today. I was camping in Bear Lake this weekend and I really meant to get up and run in the morning but I was really tired:( And I just sort of forgot about running until about 10:30 at night when I was about to shower, so I quickly changed and ran my 1.5 miles to make my mileage even this week. I was really proud of myself for running that late despite my procrastination. But hey, at least I got it done. Here is my Garmin link to PROVE that I did my mileage:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/96646393 

Just did a shake out run for the race tomorrow. Went out about five minutes on the trail (I believe its called the Fox Trail). Then I came to a grassy clearing and did eight strides. I didn't count the strides on my mileage. Then after I was at like .6 so I decided to go to 2 miles. I got home, stretched, did my core, and ate. Here's my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/96690204 

Today was the Murray 5k. I really wasn't expecting much seeing as this is just a place marker to see where I'm at, but my ultimate goal for the race was just to beat Bill, and try and stick with Natalie. Well I was doing well up until about 2.5 miles in when Nat caught up to me. I tried to stick with her but she just kept picking up the pace and passing people. When Nat was about 20 feet ahead of me Taylor came up behind me and eventually caught up to Natalie, though I'm pretty sure she out kicked him. My goal at this point was just not to let Natalie and Taylor get any farther ahead of me, but then along comes Bill. In my mind I scream "Damn it," cause I know that now Bill has caught up to me and he expects me to kick with him, but he was going super fast and he kicked from far away and just kept going faster and faster and I lost him. I finished with a time of 19:18 and I did a cooldown with the team and hit nine for the day. I will try to get some more mileage in later, but I really doubt I will be able to. All my splits and stuff are on Garmin Connect. Here's the link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/96923693

My warm up and cooldown are on another page, but I'm lazy so wont post the link. Either way they really dont matter. 

AM: We met at Sunnyside Park today a bit later than usual, around 7:30. We did the firestation loop except that we need to go out four so we went up to Foothill and around back to Gaurdsman, then continue along the route for the firestation, but pass it a little to reach the four mile mark, and then back. I was feeling fine the entire run. Not soar, hurting, and the only reason I was a bit tired was because I got so little sleep last night because it was the fourth of July. Even after the run I felt good, just SUPER hungry. On the last mile though, Ben and Natalie decided to pick it up quite a bit and I am positive I could have stuck with them and even pushed the pace, but I really, really, really had to go to the bathroom and I had to slow down or the unthinkable would happen....... hehe. Here's my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/97056163 

PM: I need to hit twelve most days this week to hit my mileage so I went out two and back two miles to give me four and put me at twelve for the day. I initially planned to run it pretty easy, about 7:30 pace, but it was about 6:30 in the afternoon and still hot out so I picked it up to finish faster. I think i averaged like a 7:05 pace or something like that. Here is my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/97164233

AM: Well today I had a morning adventure. I was on time to arrive at practice but then I realized I left my phone on the bus and started chasing it. I chased it along 13th to 48th south, then all the way up tp holladay blvd. I stilll didn't catch it. So then a lot of stuff happened and I ended up at Fireclave ave trax were I talked to a UTA surpervisor and then I went to Millcreek trax and the bus that I left it on had changed routes and was now there. Then I walked over to the driver and asked her if she found a phone and she smiled and gave it to me. By this time it was about 8:30 and I decided to go to practice anyway. I showed up right as they were finishing hills and started the cooldown. We ran the region course as a cooldown.

PM: I still had six miles to do to get my mileage for the day so I went out at about 8:40 and did them. I was alone so planned to run it relatively slow. About a 7:30 pace. On the three miles out I felt good so I averaged about a 6:53 pace. On the way back I felt even better and not tired at all so I picked it up a bit to about a 6:45 pace. I ended up averaging like a 6:50 pace or something like that. Feel great and stretched and did core when I got home. Here's my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/97386802 

Today we met at Pipeline. We ran the ten miler. I started out running with Taylor and Scott and Ben and we were going SUPER slow. At about mile 3 is where we really picked it up and then Ben and I broke off from the pack. You can see all my splits and shtuff on Garmin Connect. Here's the link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/97487448

AM: I couldn't make the morning workout or run on my own in the morning because I was with my mom until like four or five yesterday doing several things.

PM: I did recovery speed similar to what the team did this morning. Warm up, twenty sec on forty sec off, then cooldown. I felt good and I took the workout pretty easily, using the 40s to recover well and then doing a fast tempo on the 20s on. I had already passed the five mile mark long before I got home so I just went to 5.5. Here is my Garmin link: 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/97779084 

PM: Didn't run in the am, thought it would be better to run in the pm when I had my new shoes. When I got to the store I found the ones I wanted and also found some on sale so I got those too. I ran in my Nike's. It felt like I was running on plywood. By the end of the run my feet hurt and I felt tired even though I only ran 4.5. Of course they are new and are a different type of shoe than my old Asics. They are much lighter and also flatter on the bottom, although they don't necessarily have less padding, they have less of a rounded shape on the edges of the sole. That might have been the problem but no way to be sure other that to run in them more. I think I will go for a small run tomorrow...

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/98026628 

Woke up around eight and decided to go run. It would also give me a chance to try out my Mizunos. I went out two and came back the same way. The Mizunos definitely felt better than the Nike Lunarlites. They still felt weird, but that's because they are new and I just have to break them in. That's how I always feel when I get new shoes. The reason they felt better, I think, is because they have a more curved design along the sole of the foot, where as the Nikes have a straight, flat sole. I tend to land on the outer back edge of my foot and roll in and I think the Mizunos just help my feet move more naturally, rather than force me to land flatter like the Nikes. Still, I will run in the Nikes some more and see if I can get used to them.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/98146723 

Today was our annual 7-11 Slurpee run. My only goal for this was not to throw up. And I didn't:) I was running with a group of the fast guys at first, then Scott and I broke off. We were together for most of the run, good job pushing today Scott!! At about the third Sev Emily and Susannah started running with us even though they weren't drinking the slurpees.  Emily pushed me up until the run back from the Sev on 8th and West Temple, where I realized that Bill was a little ahead of me, and I didn't want to lose to him, seeing as he told me NEVER to let me beat him again, and I picked it up. I reached the Sev by Liberty while I was still ahead of Emily, and got my Slurpee. When I was walking out I saw her running towards the fountain, so she had caught up towards the end. I slowed down a lot, to about a 7:10 pace, towards the end of the long haul from the Sev on 8th and WT to Liberty, partially because I was a little tired of the fast pace, but mostly because at this point I had consumed 42 oz of Slurpee. As I was finishing my Slurpee and about to head to the drinking fountain I saw Bill running towards the Sev so I just ran over to the fountain. Pretty fun run, despite the Slurpees. After that a few advanced did two laps around Liberty and then ran back up to Sunnyside and I added about a half mile more to get 13 for the day. Did my core when I got home. Maybe I'll go for a stretch out run, my calves are a little tight. Here is my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/98531659

P.S: I ran in my Lunarlites today. They felt pretty comfortable. MUCH better than the other day. They are nice and light but I feel like they have enough padding to go longer distances in them. I'm starting to really like those shoes.... 

AM:Met at Wheeler Farm today. Did three miles warm up, then 10 1 min on/1 min off intervals. Right at the end of those I hit 3.2 and then I jogged over to the place where we were going to do relay strides. Four relay strides, I didn't start my Garmin for two of them, so it is .1 behind. Then about a 3.5 miles cooldown. I ran until I hit 9.9 and then we did leg lifts and arm swings at the tables and I did core at home. Here is my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/98718792 

Looking at my splits for the intervals, I was actually pretty consistent. I covered almost the exact same distance on the on every time. And you're right Bill, the map does look crazy. I looked at the player, and I did eight laps around the loop, when I thought I did like 5 or 6.

PM: Felt good and my legs were a bit stiff so I went for a small shake out run. 1.5 out and back. Ran it in my Nike, they were also kinda stiff at first, but I loosened up towards the end and now I feel a lot better. Here is my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/98795326 

AM: We met (haha... get it?) at JCC to run up Dry Creek trail, even though it wasn't dry at all. Yesterday I pushed it on the intervals so today was just a recovery run for me. We went four out and four back. Super easy. I didn't push the pace at all. I just let myself go at whatever pace felt good. For the first two miles or so Mike ran with me. Then he turned around and I was on my own until the four mile mark. When I got there I waited a bit and soon Bill showed up followed by Patrick (good job today!) and Chris. Then I ran with Bill on the way back. Like I said super easy. We were chit-chatting the entire four miles. Overall it was a nice run and an excellent way to start my day. Did core right after the run. Here is my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/98906791 

PM: Feeling lazy and had a busy day so no running for me:) Either way I'm still on track to hit my mileage this week.  

AM: Met at Sugarhouse Park today. Did on outside grass lap, then played 21 on the 400 meter state hill. I lost track of how many 400's we did but after Patrick won (Good job pushing today!), we started doing 200 meter hills and we did either five or six of the 200 meter hill. Taylor won that round because he was the first back that was under 21. After we did one big lap cool down and I hit eight. I will run some more later. Here is my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/99118970 

PM: Needed four miles so I just ran around the neighborhood. I wore the heart rate monitor just to try it out. Its pretty cool. It wasn't quite dark yet, but there was no sun, which was nice. It was also cool and there was as slight breeze. Perfect running conditions. Here is my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/99226405 

Ran one lap warm up, one lap fireman, then about two laps cooldown. My Garmin was being stupid today and not measuring very accurately so I probably did about .3 more than six, but whatever. Easy day and my legs feel pretty good, although I'm a bit tired cause I haven't been getting much sleep lately. Here is my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/99332557 

ONLY FOUR MORE MILES! 

I just needed four miles to hit 60 for the week. I felt really sluggish, even though I averaged a 7:16, although I would have averaged something even faster if I hadn't been forced to start and stop so much by traffic lights. Just about every single one was red. And I probably felt sluggish because I ran like twenty minutes after dinner. I know I should have waited more but I wanted to get it over with. And for the cherry on top they were home made burgers and fries! (lol) Anyway, yeah here is my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/99644636 

I wasn't originally planning on running today, but my day just felt weird without it... So I waited until it was a bit cooler and then went for a nice easy run. Didn't pay attention to pace or any of that, I just ran four miles. I felt really good, TONS better than yesterday, probably cause I ran like three hours after dinner. Anyways here is my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/99973776 

We met at Sugarhouse park today. We did the cemetery loop with two laps inside the cemetery. For the first two miles there was a group running, but once we got into the cemetery Emily and I broke off. Then we started hauling. Emily is a beast. Our splits are on my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/100091836

I also had this pain in my left foot right on the side and slightly behind my pinky toe. Bill said to ice it and take ibuprofen all day so that's what I will do. I did my core when I got home.

PM: I iced my the part of my foot that was hurting for about an hour right after practice and I have been taking Ibuprofen every four hours. I will ice my foot for another hour before I go to bed. I was proud of myself today for staying on Emily. She was hauling and I hit that point where I started talking myself out of pushing and giving myself a reason for slowing down right out of the cemetery running along Melbourne St but I just stayed on her, and I was able to lengthen my stride and start to push the pace along with Emily once we hit the small downhill along 2700 S. It was once we hit Sugarhouse park that my foot started killing me and she stopped because she had run four miles before practice that I slowed down. But today I was reminded of what I can do when I set my mind to it and how much I can really handle. I am super excited for this season and I can't wait to start kickin' some ass!! 

Today we met at Sunnyside Park and ran the flag pole/thunderbird run. My foot still hurt a little when I touched it, but felt a lot better. I wore my Mizunos today in hopes that the softer shoe would help my foot. It did help. My foot did hurt but very little, it was towards the end of the run. I will keep icing it all week and taking Ibuprofen like a Susannah (hehe). I started running with the advanced group and we were going at a pretty slow pace so about half way up to the zoo Bill and I picked it up and the group followed. Eventually everyone broke off and it was me and Ben running as usual. At mile three, I unknowingly picked up the pace, I guess it was the downhills. I was pretty confident that I wouldn't be able to hold that pace for the rest of the run, but what do you know I actually had negative splits. There were no breaks. If a light stopped us, we would pick it up fast. I averaged a 6:51 pace, and that was including the first mile and a half, I was surprised at the rest of my splits. Overall a good day for a run. Here is my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/100314965 

Today I am in Moab with the family so I get to workout on my on for the rest of the week. I did the exact same thing the group did. 2.25 warm up, 6 strides, the ladders, and then a cooldown. I got to 3.3 during my ladders and I'm confident that if I had someone to push me I could have covered more. Very solemn run, although the scenery is beautiful. I counted strides in my mileage, so by the time warm, strides, and the ladders had gone by I covered about 6.1 so I just ran to 6.5 and tomorrow I will do four and a half instead. I am blogging from my iPod so there won't be any Garmin links until I get back home.

Today I mountain biked like crazy. Eighteen miles on the bike has to count for at least four and a half miles running.

Bill told me not to run, so I guess no running:)

Small shakeout run before the Des News 10k. .5 miles warm up, then 6 strides, then 1.5 cooldown.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/101715656 

AM: Two-ish miles warm up. Did some strides and some stretching too. The race was over six so that brings my mileage pretty even. I went out super fast, just like Bill told me, and gradually slowed down over the whole race. The downhills make running this course a bit tricky. Next year I will dominate this course. I guess it wasn't bad for my first 10k ever. I wore my Nike's for the race, and that proved to be the wrong choice. I had a few blister on my feet, and the pain in my foot came back. I guess i just can't switch on and off shoes, because when I wore the Nike's for four days straight, they didn't hurt my feet. I will just wear the Mizuno's. Here is my race Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/101715638 

My hip also hurt just a bit. I couldn't stand for very long without feeling like a tight knot in my right hip. I massaged it and I will take a nap and see if it goes away. 

PM: I was still super sore. My hip pain went away and now my left "gluteus maximus" is way sore. I will foam roller it later. My foot pain also went away for the most part. I will ice and massage that as well as take some ibuprofen. This run felt really good. Just an easy three miles. It was also on/off raining and it was getting dark so they were good running conditions. Looks like my body is piecing back together from this morning. Here is my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/101811082 

AM: Super easy day today at fairmont. Just 1.7 warm up, then the group talked about their race while we all stretched, then ran a cooldown to get four. I will run another four later. A garmin link seems a bit relentless so no link.

PM: Utah is having some really weird weather, as usual. I went out for a run around five thirty just in the neighborhood and then it started raining and a huge thunder storm broke out so i ran back inside. I was at about 2.5 miles by now. It  broke around seven thirty, but Wipeout was on so I said I would run at eight. Then i saw that masterchef was on and postponed my run until nine. But anyway I FINALLY got my run in. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/102042326

(that's the link for my own run, not the one with the team)

AM: Met at Sunnyside today. Ran 2.8 warm up in the gulley, then some dynamic stretching and some drills, then a cool down to hit four miles. I will get another two in later.

PM: Ran two more miles in the afternoon.  Pretty easy pace, about a 8:20. Too lazy to post a Garmin link for a pointless run.

Today we ran the Dry Creek trail by JCC. I just went out three miles and back. The uphills were as tough as usual, although I stepped on a few rocks that threw me off balance sometimes and hurt the part of my foot that has been bugging me these past few weeks. I will ice it later. Bill said to do a long run this Saturday so no running in the afternoon today. 

Today we met at Liberty for some speed work. One lap warm up, then four 800's with equal recovery, then a cool down to get us to 7 miles for the day. I was as consistent as I could have hoped for today. 2:27, 2:29, 2:33, 2:32. I pushed to not fall too far off Ben, and I guess I managed. Here is my Garmin link:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/102579067 

Today a few elite met at some random Chevron in Magna to run what I thought would eventually turn into a trail run but it turned out to be entirely road:( I originally planned to run ten and be at an even fifty for the week, but once Nat, Ben, and I hit the five mile mark Natalie kept going because she needed to go out seven and I was just going to head back, but then Bill was passing by and whadda you know I ended up doing the fifteen miler. This was the longest continuous run I've ever done and I felt pretty good at the five mile turn around so I kept going. Overall good but boring run. Just fifteen miles of solitude. I don't feel too horribly wiped out and surprisingly a lot better than some of the times I have run a ten. Probably because I didn't push hard on this one. I ran it in a total of two hours exactly, and I averaged an 8:00 mile pace exactly. At the turn around I was averaging like an 8:30 pace, and I pushed and split at about 7:20-ish miles on the way back so my pace dropped. I wanted my pace to get under eight minute pace but whatever:/ I'm not really hurting, apart from the normal soreness and my foot is hurting a little. I will try and ice bath later and I did core when I got home. Here is my Garmin link;

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/102783097 

I was going to do a small run like I do every Sunday, but taking into consideration yesterday's run, I thought I deserved a break. So no running today. I took a fifteen minute ice bath because I didn't get the chance yesterday. It was semi-cold, although it was no where near as cold as the ice baths that we do at the track. I did core right after.