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

AM: This morning I got up a bit later than I planned and wanted to do 5 miles. I took a step outside and realized that wouldn't happen. It was already mid 80's a little after 8 am. I managed to go four miles. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/194868228 

AM: This morning we met at a new place. A parking lot at the North end of Wasatch Blvd. From here we took the trail that goes toward Tanner Park, but backwards. We basically did Thunderbird backwards from there. At the top of Hogle Zoo we hit four,and we turned there and headed. back. Before starting the run, we went out a half mile and back along Wasatch to add a bit and we finished with that as well. I felt okay. My hips are really sore. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/195221460

PM: This evening I went on an easy four mile run.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/195221454 

AM: Today we met at Sunnyside Park. Bill was running late, so we all did a loop around the park and got a mile in before he arrived. Once he arrived, he told some people their workouts, since some are racing tomorrow and others are not, and then we were off. Nat, Bill, and I went to the City Creek drinking fountain and back. To the cars it was 10.5 miles, and I just left it there because I had to go to the bathroom. Nat and Bill went to 11. Plus I have a nice 3.5 mile loop by my house for my afternoon run. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/195390870 

PM: I got out of work pretty late and I was wiped out, but I managed to get to my goal for the day which was 14.

 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/196349891

AM: A few of us weren't racing, so we decided to go up to Jeremy Ranch road and get in a run there. Dakota and Sarah B started a little before us, and as soon as Nat and I had satellite, the two of us and Bill started. The plan originally was to go to the road which at first was a little over six from the 5 mile turn around. Well, pretty soon we hit mile 7 and still no road. We had to add a little on the road to get to 7.5, and we headed back. I was a bit cranky on the way back, not because of the long run, but because I thought and had mentally prepared for a ten, not a fifteen. I think if I could know exactly how far the run is at the beginning, ehem, then I would enjoy the run more. Still, it was a great run. That entire run is full of rolling hills, and a gradual incline on the way out, and we still managed to maintain a 7:52. That's not half bad for a 15.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/196349885 

AM: Today has been a lazy day. I heard nothing about practice and probably wouldn't have gone if there was practice. I got to bed really late last night and was tired from a hard run and a long day of work. It was a perfect day to sleep in too, because it was nice and cloudy, and sprinkling a bit. I just did my four mile loop twice and got 8 miles. Since I still don't have my Garmin, I just ran with the Nike+ app on my phone. 

AM: The group met at the Park and Ride and we carpooled up to Pipeline. Once there, the group started immediately while Nat and I still needed satellite. So we waited until both of us had satellite and by the time we started, the rest of the group had been gone for maybe three minutes. Right from the beginning we sped up and sped up until we got a good pace going. We were doing about 7:10's on the way there, a solid pace for all the hills. We caught everyone except for Chris, who was headed back when Nat and I were nearly to the turn around. I led for the first maybe 2.5, then Nat took the lead. We decided we'd switch off again at the turn.

Instead of having to add on .7 at the end, Natalie and I decided we would go to five on one of the smaller trails the branch off of the turn around. That was a stupid idea. Now I see why we turn at that point of Pipeline. We took a trail that went right up the mountain. It didn't look that steep, but oh boy was it. We turned a little before five and headed back. I took the lead on the way back, and it took about a half mile to get back into the pace we were going. We eventually got into the 7:00 range, which was a bit faster than on the way out. We pushed consistently and had to add about .1 at the end to get to 10.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/196349866 

AM: This morning I got up on my own and decided to do the Magna Run for the ten that I needed. I went west along 3500 S to 8400 S, then south until I hit 4.5, then came back the same way and added a mile loop close to my house to get my to ten. I wasn't worried about pace or anything today, just to get the miles done at one time. It was a relaxed run. Averaged something like 7:20's.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/196722414 

PM: I decided to sleep in this morning so I didn't run until night. When it got cool enough I went out for 6 miles.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/197505355 

AM: This morning the guys met up at 6:30 to get in some miles before the girls. We got 5 miles in, and when we got back we waited for maybe five or ten minutes before we started on the main run. We were just doing the cemetery run. Some people were or weren't doing the lap inside the cemetery. I started a bit after everyone so it took me to about the right turn on 1700 E to catch the leaders which were Abigail and Kiley. I wasn't going too fast, but I was going at a nice steady pace. About 7:00 pace. I thought I would pass them both and never see them again, but to my surprise Kiley went with me and soon Abigail caught us. They both stayed with me for about a mile where Abigail had to slow down, and once we were in the cemetery Kiley lost me. That was a nice surprise, to have girls trying to push with me. It makes me appreciate having a girl who can push with me around! (ehem, Natalie) Anyway, I finished at 7 back to the cars, and added a half mile so I could do my 3.5 mile loop later.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/197505343 

PM: Went on an easy 3.5 miles on my own when it got cool enough.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/198322445 

AM: This morning we met up at the parking lot and did the same 10 mile run we did the time before. We went out a half mile on the road, then took the bike trails down to just above Hogle Zoo, then finished again with a mile on the road to get to 10. I felt like crap today. My stomach was not happy by the end of the run. It didn't help that Chris and I were pushing pretty hard for a large portion of this run. I could barely stay awake when I was driving home, and once I was home I had to force myself to drink my protein shake, then I passed out for almost 4 and a half hours. Once I woke I could tell my legs were dead, so I had a good lunch and took an ice bath. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/198322432

PM: After work I was absolutely exhausted but managed to get myself to do my standard 3.5 mile loop.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/198322420 

AM: Today is our annual Slurpee Run! We met at 6:30 am at Sunnyside Park. This was the first year that we did this run in the morning. Once Bill passed out the slips with all the 7-11's, we were off. I got to the first Sev at the same time as Bill and Dakota who had taken another route, and the guy told us that free Slurpees don't start until 11 am. So we didn't get one there and we headed off to the next one. I got to the one on 3rd Ave and 700 E first with Chris right behind and the guy was much nicer and let us take free Slurpees despite the rule. 

This run, scratch that, RACE, is different from any other because not necessarily the fastest or fittest person will win. It depends on how fast the person can chug a Slurpee, as well as how well the person can run on a stomach full of the cold treat. Fortunately, I can chug one of those things pretty fast, but I was nervous about how the stomach part would go since I felt horrible yesterday. Well as I chugged more and more of those things, I felt better and better. My stomach was feeling more stable with each Slurpee I had. Maybe that's a sign that I should eat something before going to practice in the mornings....

Anyway, after the second 7-11, I broke off from Chris, and the rest of the group. I was first to each Sev on the run, so ultimately I was the cue for the employees to bring out the free cups. Unfortunately, that also meant many of them would refuse to give me a free slurpee since they weren't prepared for the day. I ended up getting a Slurpee at only half of all the Sevs I hit. Bummer, I was actually really enjoying each Slurpee. 

Well I finished the run first to the fountain, then I started to loop back around between the fountain and the last Sev to see who I saw finishing. I actually maintained a pretty good pace. I averaged just under 6:40 when I finished the race. Once everyone finished, we ran the usually way back up to Sunnyside and I did a little extra to get to 11.

Whew, that was rant.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/198322411

PM: After work I again did my usual 3.5 mile loop. I felt pretty good too, considering a hard day of practice and work. I averaged just under 7 min pace.

 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/198322392

AM: Today we met at Wheeler Farm at 6:30. Trek started today so most of the team is gone. The people at workout were Kiley, Bill, Ethan, Chris, Megan, and I. We did a big loop warm up then jogged over to the small loop where we do intervals. We were at 2.5 warm up, then we started the Fartlek workout. 10 sets of 2 min on/1min off. For the first four Ethan was behind me, for the most part. He had to leave so I did the fifth by myself, and then Chris showed up and finished the rest with me. Afterwards we kept on jogging around the loop until Chris and Megan finished the Fartlek, and then we jogged two miles cool down to be at 11 for the day.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/198545380 

AM: This morning I couldn't get to practice, so I just decided to go on my own run. It was a cloudy day so it was perfect to sleep in :) I wanted 10-12 miles, so I took my 8 mile loop and added a loop I thought would be 4 miles. Well the extra loop turned out to be 4.5, so instead I did my 6.5 mile loop along with it and thought that if I felt good I could add a mile when I finished for twelve. Coming back along 3500 S, I saw my mom on her run, so I slowed down for a bit and ran her pace with her. She was going at just under 9 minute pace so that probably killed my average. Oh well. I ran with her for about .35 until she had to take her next walking break, then I continued along my pace. I was averaged in the 7 minute range the entire time. I was surprisingly really thirsty when I finished for such a humid day. I downed two water bottles without even blinking, then a few minutes later killed another. If I get off work early I will go for a run later.

 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/198794717

PM: I got off work a bit earlier than usual so I went out for an easy 4 miles.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/199505610 

AM: I needed 9 miles this morning to get to 85 for the week. So I just did a modified version of the new loop I created. It was a relaxed run. I averaged just under 7:20.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/199505557 

AM: This morning I wanted at least 6 miles. Once I was out the door I was feeling pretty good so I changed to a bigger loop and planned for 8. Around mile 6 I was still feeling pretty good so I decided to change to my big loop and get 10. I finished ten miles right to my door. It was a nice run. I wasn't focused on pace, just to get a run in. Despite not pushing, I averaged 7:09, so I must have been feeling good. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/199505533 

AM: Practice was at Sugarhouse Park today. I got there half an hour early and did about 3.25 miles before the group showed up. Once we were all ready we started on the Cemetery Loop. The varsity group was going two laps inside the cemetery. Once we got to the cemetery, Chris and I picked it up and held a fast pace back to Sugarhouse Park. I got some water at thecars, then went for another mile-ish to get 12.5.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/200325275

PM: Tonight I went for my regular night run. Did my 3.5 mile loop at a decent pace, then stretched a bit afterwards because my legs were a little stiff.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/200325255 

AM: This morning we met at the Park and Ride and carpooled up to the trail. Once we were there we waited for a few minutes meanwhile Natalie's Garmin got satellite, and we were off. We went a different route than usual. From the trail head we went up the canyon about 2.5 miles until we got to the exit/entrance of the switch backs side of Pipeline. We took that route so we wouldn't have to go up the switch backs and only down them. From there we got on the usual trail and went out about 3.5 miles to get to twelve back to the cars. I went a little further at the turn and decided to get 12.5. Chris and I were pushing the last 5 miles of this run pretty hard. Once back we waited for the others to finish. A few minutes after I finished, a bunch of Davis guys started coming off the trail and I assumed their team was here on a run too. Once Nat finished I added a half mile with her and got to 13. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/200325237 

PM: After work I went for a run. I was planning on my usual 3.5 mile route, but I changed it up and did a different loop to get 4 miles.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/200752369 

AM: This morning we met up at Cottonwood Complex. We did the usual warm up. One lap around the baseball fields, then a lap around that block for 3 miles warm up. Then we brought our water bottles over to the trees by the region finish and Bill told us the workout. We were doing 3 sets of different hills, four times each. First was Bessie, then the Rollercoaster, then Miranda. I brought my flats cause I knew we were doing some sort of faster work today, so I thought I could break them in a bit for Des News. I had them on and we started the hills. I didn't go off time or distance on each hill, only feel. I gave each one even effort and pushed all of them equally. My new flats feel really good. Then we did two laps around the baseball fields, a big lap around the block, and another lap around the baseball fields to get to 10 miles for the day.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/200752366

PM: After a long day of fun yet tiresome activities, I managed to get out the door for a run. This is my last day off work for the rest of the week, and I figured I should get at least 15 miles for the day. I did a 5.5 mile run around my block at a pretty slow pace considering how tired I was. Averaged like 7:45's.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/200752366 

AM: Today we met at Sunnyside Park for practice. I was feeling dead from yesterday's activities, and of course, today is one of the hardest days this week. We started with running to the gulley, three and a half laps, then back to the park for 2 sets of Flannigan. Then once we finished those we went over to the tables and did three sets of minute step-ups. After that people were told how far to go and we were off on our run. We were at 4 after the step-ups and I was thinking the max run we would do was 8. I was wrong. We went five miles straight up the canyon and back for ten miles. I was really dreading the way there; running for five miles straight uphill, but it ended up being a lot better than I thought. We were flying on the way back, and once back to the park I added another half mile to make up for yesterdays's half mile extra. I decided not to run at night not only because I worked late, but also because I was exhausted after practice. I slept for almost five hours straight later that day...

Oh, plus I forgot my Garmin today so no link. 

AM: Today we met at Liberty Park. I knew it would be some sort of faster work, but I was hoping it wouldn't be tempo. My fears came true. We did a lap around the wood chip trail for warm up, then ran over to the overall start. The workout was 2X2 mile tempo. Chris and I were to hit 5:45 splits in the first one, then 5:30 splits in the second. The first was easy. I was pushing, but was at a comfortable push. I didn't need to force myself into the pace. Chris and I finished the first in 11:13, so we were considerably fast. I was a little worried that we'd gone too fast at first, but then I thought about how hard I actually had to push and I knew I could hit a 5:30 pace or better. We jogged around the concrete of the park, stopped to "grab a swallow" of water, then continued back to the same start. I did better than I anticipated. I knew I would have to push harder, but I only really felt like I had to push the last half mile to maintain the pace. We were averaged about 5:25's the first mile and a half, then I think I felt the pace start to hit me with a half mile left, so I picked it up and actually overcompensated. The first mile was 5:26, and the second mile was 5:14. Our goal was an 11:00 two mile or better and I hit a 10:41. Chris was right on me the entire time, but in the last half mile I broke away by maybe fifteen or twenty meters. Afterwards we did just under four miles cool down to be at 11 for the day. Overall, a solid workout! I'm excited for Des News next week!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/201256126 

AM: I wasn't able to go for a run last night so I just did a long run this morning. I did the eleven miles on my traditional long route. Two months ago it seemed like going for even eight miles was nearly impossible by myself, but now ten miles in the morning is what starts my day. It's funny how your definition of a long run can change over time. Otherwise, it was an uneventful 11 miles. At least I had music with me. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/201501882 

AM: Starting a taper for Des News so I only went for six miles this morning. I slept in later than I expected, so it was hotter than I wanted, but oh well. It was a nice, relaxed six miles. Averaged 7:23. It took me about 3.5 miles to warm up though. Hooray for 75 miles this week!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/202021245 

AM: This morning practice was at Liberty Park. Once everyone had arrived we did a lap warm up, then got some water, then went right into firemen. It was a pretty fast paced firemen too, the slowest we were ever going was about 6:30's. After a lap of that, we went right into two miles cool down to get 5 for the day. This is the lowest mileage day I have hit in over two weeks! At least I know I will be rested for tomorrow! Bring on the 10k!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/202334611 

AM: This morning the group met up at the post office on Sunnyside just above Foothill. We all put on our numbers and chips, then waited for a bit for Natalie to get her East jersey. Once everyone was set we jogged from the post office to the start line, and I kept warming up in front of the start line, throwing in a stride every time I turned. I got at least ten strides in. Just as they called five minutes to start time, a deer came running right at the crowd and I thought it was going straight into the crowd, but it ended up veering off and jumping over the cemetery fence. That was exciting. After a few more strides we all squeezed right into the front of the pack. I was right on the line. We started and right away I found myself behind Brad. I knew there wasn't a chance I could stick on him for the whole race, but he went out at a very controlled, steady pace (for him anyway), so I stayed on him. There was probably 5-6 of us in the pack with Brad. I came in the first mile at 4:51 and was feeling great, but I knew that wouldn't last on this course. Whenever the pack made a move, I went with it and got right on the heels of Brad again. Mile two was a 4:55, which put my two mile split at 9:47. Two mile PR, yay! Just kidding. 

 Soon we got to South Temple and it was increasingly difficult to stay on the pack. When we turned onto South Temple I fell off a bit and from there they only broke away even more. The "downhill" on South Temple is my least favorite part of the course because when I'm racing it, it doesn't feel like downhill at all. And that stretch from 1300 E to 200 E, it should've been, seems to be an eternity. On that stretch I would say about 7 or 8 guys, all high school, caught and passed me.When we turned onto 300 E, I managed to pick up the pace a bit and started closing on the guys ahead of me, now about 40 meters away. All along 300 E I fought and managed to come close behind the guys I was trying to catch. I stayed behind them until we turned onto 600 E, where one kicked hard and got away, and I managed to pull away form the other guy. 

Overall, I'm neutral about this race. If it had been a full course I would have been in the 33:40 range, I think. Which is still good, but I could have raced a bit smarter. I should have stayed back a bit on the start and found the group of guys I knew I could push with, but since I was right on the line it would have been difficult to hold back so much as find the particular group of guys. If I would have done that, I know I would have been able to stick on those guys a lot longer, instead of just getting passed by them. Either way I can't be disappointed with the race. Really this was just a marker as to where I am fitness wise, and I think I am in a good place. With another few weeks of high mileage I think I can break a few more barriers. 

Afterwards the group went for a cool down backwards along the parade route, where we cut on 500 E so Bill could talk to and pace some of the marathon guys finishing. We got 4.5 miles cool down, then before leaving I took like ten more Hi-Chews and another Jamba!. 

....All this in flats. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/202719036 

AM: This morning we met at Sugarhouse Park. Everyone was really sore from yesterday, so it would be an easier day. We did a big grass lap warm up. Once we regrouped we did some core in the shade of the trees and afterwards we did the 5 mile loop on 2100 S to 2100 E, then over to 2700 S and under the freeway, and back along Alden to Sugarhouse Park. I added a bit at the end to get to 8 miles for the day. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/204000139

PM: After I got off work today I went for a run. I wanted a medium run since I didn't get too many miles in this morning. So I did six miles doing one and a half of my traditional loops.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/204000118 

AM: This morning the group met up at Shoreline Trail. We went up Emigration Canyon for a mile and turned back to add some before the trail. At our mile turn around Natalie and I screamed right into the faces of the people behind us and scared them>:) Once we were on the trail we went to the fountain, regrouped, then went up to Red Butte Gate, turned around and came back the same way. Once we were off the trail, Natalie, Bill, Chris and I added on four miles on the Thunderbird run to get 12 for the day.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/204000106 

AM: Today the team went up to Lava Hot Springs for the day! Once we arrived we went for a run on a six mile loop Bill told us about. This was definitely not one of my favorite runs. It is filled with big rolling hills for the first half, and the second half is always either slight uphill, or sharp downhill. Ben came up with us and joined us on his first day back to running in two months. He, Chris, and I were pushing for the first lap. I came in at a speedy 6:38 pace first lap, which is a really fast pace for the amount of hills. Once back onto Main st I turned toward the cars and ran to get some water. That detour added about 3/4 mile to the run, and when I got back to the start of the loop, Susannah and Ethan were just coming up. Running right next to them both was a small dog. They said it had been following them for a good 3 miles. They did the second loop with me. We named the dog Taylor RJ Ouibell beause it sprinted ahead, and then fell behind us the entire run. Susannah and I stopped once to try and carry it because it looked pretty tired and we were scared it would collapse, but it didn't want to be carried and it finished an entire loop with us. We were hoping it would go back to its home when we passed its house, and it did. The little dog had some stamina; it got through six miles. After another mile and a half Joann dropped Ben off with us and he finished the last couple miles with us. Overall a mentally and physically taxing run but I'm glad I got through the 12.5 miles.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/204000089 

After we finished that we all changed and picked up some tubes to go tubing:) We had a lot of fun tubing the river, I had one of the best bacon burgers I have ever had for lunch, we tubed some more, got in natural hot springs, then finished off a great day at the water park! A very successful team trip I'd say!

PM: Once I got home I went for a run. I surprisingly felt really good and zoomed through 5.5 miles.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/204000072

AM: This morning I slept in and awoke to a much hotter day than was forecasted. It was 8 am when I woke and already 80 degrees outside! So I hurried and got out the door for my run. It took me about 3 miles to warm up. I guess 18 miles and four hours in a car the day prior makes for some soreness. I only needed 7 miles to hit my mileage this week so I did a shorter version of my 10 mile loop. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/204000048 

AM This morning after fifteen minutes of talking myself out of it, I got out the door for a run. The last time I hit 85 I did 6 that Sunday and I liked how my mileage played out that week so I did 6 again this morning. I was really stiff and it took me a couple miles to warm up. It was a pretty slow run, but I don't care about pace on these types of runs. 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/204421362 

AM: Today is the first day of Hill Week! We met up at JCC for the infamous Hill Week workout here. We were going four miles out and back on the trail, but on the way back we had to do the monster hill 10 times. You'd think this workout would hurt less than years past because I'm in better shape now, but nope. Still hurts like I remember. Although, to be fair, I do feel like I recovered from this and other runs much faster now than I did a year ago. 

We picked up rocks at the beginning and dropped them off at the pile, then Chris and I went to the 4 mile turn and came back to the hill. When we got there another group had just started and we were the first to finish. Then we just headed back. I had cotton mouth for the last 5 hills, so the entire way back I was concentrated on breathing and conserving water. I hit eleven just past the cars. Day One is over with!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/204769007 

PM: It got cooler faster than I had anticipated and by 7 in the afternoon it was cool enough to run. So I decided to run and get it over with. I surprisingly felt great. Not sore at all. When I was finished six miles I was tempted to make it longer and possibly go 10, but I knew that it was the beginning of a hard week so I decided against it.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/205160178

AM: Day two of Hills Week. We met at the Park and Ride and carpooled up to Pipeline. Today's run was going to be running up the switchbacks, then going up the canyon three miles, then turning back for 12. So that's just what I did. Once I was on the flat trail after the switchbacks, I slowed down in the hopes that someone would catch me and I wouldn't have to run by myself, and Susannah did! Way to work Susannah! Ethan was close behind her. Once we were off the trail we still had to go 3 miles up the canyon. That sucked. Soon I broke away again and I spent the rest of the run by myself :( 

I got to the turn, paused for a minute to stretch, then headed back down. Soon I got back to the trail and I took that back to where we started to get 12. I later found out that some others went about another tenth up the canyon and got to the end where there is a parking lot, so they were at 12.5 when they got back. Oh well. I am running later anyway.

My legs are actually holding up pretty well; my quads aren't too horribly sore. What IS incredibly sore is my butt. I know what I'll be stretching later....

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/205160149 

PM: After work I went for a short run. I did my traditional loop and added a half mile to be at 4.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/205567262