In search of old age PRs

AM: 7 miles.  Snow run to Sugar House park!  So much better than rain.

PM: 3.5 miles.  Warm run to the gym.  The sun peaked out for a few minutes.  A little more core/upper body intensity planned this month.

Great turn out for a group run this morning at Wheeler Farm.  It was windy at my house, but nice in Murray.  A couple of good tempo miles thrown into the mix.

Quick evening gym run after a day of travel.

AM: 11.0 Tanner Park loop early this morning.  It was windy, but the moon was huge!

PM: 3.5 Gym run with core and upper body work out.

AM: 7 miles.  Early morning run to Sugar House Park.  The weather was perfect for running.  It felt like Spring.

PM: 3.5 miles.  Drove up to Idaho Falls and the Spring weather changed to snow after Malad summit.  Treadmill miles--suck.

Ran the Striders 5K today.  I thought I would run sub 17:45, but then I warmed up on the course...killer!  After dying running the warm-up (in about 26 minutes!), I thought sub 20:00 would be good.  

Mile 1: 6:05.  Started out conservative and knew this would be about power hill hiking.  I was in the top ten and could see Albert and Ben up front.  The first mile begins with a very short downhill then gradually uphill and finishes steeply uphill.  By the first mile I had moved from 10th to 4th and could still easily see Albert and Ben (strange).  I also saw I guy cut a corner off the course (i.e. run through a neighbors yard/grass instead of the left turn on the road).  I reminded him to stay on the road/course.

Mile 2: 6:20.  Big hill continues then some good downhill before hitting the second major uphill.  I had moved to 3rd by this point and was feeling too comfortable.  Once I saw my split, I could tell why!

Mile 3: 5:36.  Good downhill to the finish.  As I made the turn into the events center, I could see a runner closing in.  Was able to pick up the pace to 5:00 last 1/4.

I feel like I could have run it faster, but was intimidated with the warm-up lap.  Still, nice to place in top 3.  Albert and Ben are elites, so the fact that I could see them the entire race was motivating.  I estimated that I am probably in 17:45 flat 5K shape.  After the race, Albert told me the 10k and 10 miler are harder...thanks!  Something to look forward too!

Did another loop on the course for a cool down and cheered in some walkers.

Great weather today and a well organized event!

I had a 9:45 AM flight to Philly today, so early morning run in the rain...but I beat the snow!  It was actually pleasant running weather.

AM: 3.0 miles.  Quick treadmill run before heading to work.  I have to catch a flight later today to Seattle, so this may be it for the day!

PM: Late night Seattle hotel treadmill running

AM:3.0 miles. More Seattle hotel treadmill running

PM: 7.0 miles.  Treadmill running at a 24-hour fitness

PM: 6.5 miles.  Hotel treadmill

AM: 8.7 miles.  Group run on Wasatch.  I drove the sag this morning.

AM: 7.0 miles.  Sugar House park morning run.  It was cold, but nice to now see the sun during the run! 

Saturday, I ducked underneath a tree for a quick running pit stop and hit a small branch below my left eye.  Today, it looks like I've been in a fight.  The tree got revenge for all the other greenery I have had to visit while running!

PM: 3.5 miles.  Chilly run to the gym for core work-out.  Today, I told my boss I was resigning and taking a new job, but it did not go over so well.  I have to work up at USU tomorrow, then I'm sure it will be a long evening meeting with executive team.

AM: 7.05 miles.  Warm morning!  Nice run to Sugar House Park and home.

AM: 7.05 miles.  Sugar House park loop

PM: 3.5 miles.  Gym for core work-out.  Off to Seattle again tomorrow.

AM: 7.05 miles.  Sugar House loop before heading to the airport for a morning flight to Seattle.  I drove the Striders 10K course the other day...ouch, its going to hurt Saturday!

Showed up early enough to run the full 10K course.  Confirmed another brutal Striders Ogden race!

Mile 1: 5:57.  Started conservative in about 10th or 12th place.    First 1/2 is uphill then screaming downhill.

Mile 2: 5:33.  More downhill with a few small uphills.  I move into 9th place and happy with the pace. 

Mile 3: 6:07. Good climb then nice gradual downhill.  I was able to move up to 8th place although the split was slow.

5K split: 18:15.  Nice split considering all the work coming up!

Mile 4: 6:19.  Start the climbing.  I was able to move up into 6th during this section.  The wind is swirling and it begins to shift from the South to the North...YES!

Mile 5: 6:56.  Huge hill.  It felt like I was walking, but was able move up to number 5 and can now see the 4th place guy.

Mile 6: 6:42.  Trying to survive up the hill.  The wind is actually behind us know...weird. 

Last 0.22:  5:32/1:10 pace.  Was able to get moving again and pulled within 5-10 seconds of the 4th place runner...too little too late.  Overall, pretty happy.  These courses are tough.  Your really run against the competition and not the clock.

Last 5K split: 20:25!  Wow, that's so slow!

At the finish was able to visit with some other bloggers and do a cool down with some friends (another lap on the course).  Way to go Tara--1st Female!

AM: 7.0 Miles.  Sugar House loop.  South winds made it warm.  Feels like Spring.

PM: 3.5 Miles.  Gym with core. 

AM: 7.05 miles.  Snowy morning run to Sugar House park.  I'm ready for Spring!

PM: 3.5 miles.  Core at gym.  Sun briefly came out.  Tempo work tomorrow at the park.

AM: 11 miles.  Tempo workout at Sugar House park this morning.  3 x 2 mile repeats with warm up and cool down.  Breezy conditions this morning, so it was hard getting out of bed this morning.  Garmin died during the first tempo.  I estimate it was about a 6:15 pace.  I'll take it for February.  Got home and began to sneeze my head off.  The walnut tree in our back yard is beginning to bud for Spring.  Allergy season has begun!