June is in the books - not the book I wanted, but whatever

Lordy, it is hot out there! In order to get 100 miles for the month (still 23 shy of last month!), we had to run at least 7 miles today. Yes, 100 miles is arbitrary, but how stupid would it look to have 98.9 or something like that? Anyhooooo, Carol and I walked out and knew that it was going to be a difficult run because the temperature was 75* and 27% humidity. Sheesh! Being the brains of the operation, Carol suggested that we run someplace entirely new; that way, we wouldn't be longing for familiar landmarks. She is sooooo smart! We did a big loop from 21st and State up to 34th and Highland then back. 7.6 miles in 1:24:26 (11:07mpm)

On a side note, I just realized that my shoes have 300+ miles on them. They aren't going to carry me through the September marathon because I just realized that we have 40+ mile weeks ahead of us. Crap. Now I need to scrounge up some money for new shoes.

75* at 7am! Boy, oh boy!

I thought that after last night, I would be completely wiped out, but it wasn't really bad. Carol and I ran 6.17 miles in 1:09:12 (11:13mpm). Not blazing fast by any means, but it was also 75*! Sheesh - it's warming up really quickly. We had a fun time running around Sugarhouse and South Salt Lake, always trying to find the shadiest part of the street. It's only going to get hotter as July and August roll around, so we will just roll with it. What's that prayer thing? "Accept the things I cannot change...." (Geez - "that prayer thing".... Am I spiritual or what?)

In the genes

3.14 miles in 42 minutes (13:23mpm). Not bad considering I was pushing the boys in the jogger, and it was 80*! They are getting bigger and bigger which means I had better get stronger and stronger! They are a combined weight of 68 pounds plus the jog stroller (I still don't know how much that thing weighs). So, 13-ish minute miles are fine with me. We ran down to the track. I was thinking that they could just play in the grass and whatnot, but there were at least 20 people there getting their evening walks done. The boys ended up RUNNING 1/2 mile with me! They had a blast, and I was so proud! A 1/2 mile! They would have gone longer if I had let them. It was fun.

Red Butte Trail run

Carol and I planned to do a long run on trails today. Turns out that the trouble with this plan is that we aren't very familiar with the trails in the area, we either have to run 4 miles to get to them or drive. If we drive, we get there faster, but miss out on guaranteed miles. We chose to do that today. We thought for sure that we could make up the miles on the trail. NOT!

We hit Bonneville Shoreline right above Huntsman Cancer Institute and headed south. We took a few left turns while going up and down and up and down. Then, we were going up, up, up, up, up, and wait - a bit more up. We had to walk for a good two miles. UG! The trail was steep enough that we had to basically walk the down, too. We went left, we went right, we eventually found a road and Red Butte Creek. Finally, we decided that we had to get to work, so we headed down the road and ran through Fort Douglas and back to the car.

We only got 5.25 miles in at 15:33mpm (bummer), but they were quality miles, and a lot of fun. It was cool (especially by the creek), beautiful, and technical. My glutes, calves, and quads know that they have been worked. I'll have to get in some additional miles this weekend to make up for those that we missed today. Here is a view of the sun peeking over the mountains in Red Butte Canyon.

bouncing back!

I was tired today. Carol and I ran 7.05 miles in 1:16:55 (10:55mpm) which surprises the heck out of me! I'm still trying to recover from almost three days of fasting, and I forgot to drink any kind of electrolytes. PLUS, we ran (or tried to run) up a nasty hill on 8th South that really sapped my strength. At 6 miles, I was wiped out, but our last mile was still at an 11mpm pace. We really had to push it after the turn around point, but I'm happy that we did it.

Ragnar race reports to come shortly.

into it again

Back to the grind! We ran 5.5 miles today in 1:01:48 (11:15mpm). It was my first run since Ragnar over the weekend, and a run on very little energy since I had to fast from Saturday evening until Monday afternoon due to my first colonoscopy. So, I was running on a pretty empty tank, and I was pretty dehydrated, too. So, we took it easy, and by the end I was wiped out. I'm fasting again today because it's time to have my yearly blood work done.

I'm not going to be able to increase my monthly mileage again unless I do 52 more miles in the next seven days. It's just not going to happen. Last week was consumed with doctor's appointments and challenges at home, so I only ran 16 miles. I guess it's possible if I run 6.5 miles every day for the next eight days, but sadly, I don't think I'm going to find that kind of time.

sub-11 for 10-miles! (average pace)

The first 2-ish miles of our long run today weren't fun, but we eventually got into a groove. We had to stop for a porta-potty break about 1/2 through, but everything after that was good. Our pace in the first four miles was probably about 11:30, but the last four miles were much improved. We did 10.06 miles in 1:49:41 (10:55mpm pace!!!).

hot and humid!

We had a harder run this morning. I'm not sure why. It wasn't as bad as Monday, but it wasn't thoroughly enjoyable, either. 5.18 miles in 56:56 (11mpm) isn't horrible, though. We expected it to be a much worse pace. It's 65* out and 56% humidity which is astronomical in these parts!

MUCH better!

Today was everything that yesterday wasn't! We ran seven miles in 1:14:07 (10:36mpm). We both felt good; we ran the first two miles up to Sugarhouse a minute faster than normal; we ran longer after the hills; we ran longer coming down. Everything just seemed to fall into place. It was probably 10* cooler than yesterday, so that probably made a difference, too! It was just a good run.

YUCK! FRIGGIN' YUCK!

This run SUCKED! 5 miles in 54:10 which is a 10:48mpm pace. So, the pace was fine, although it felt like we were running 13s. We were both just not into it. I couldn't find a groove until mile 3, and then it wasn't much of a groove. It was hot. We were tired. It was just hard for some reason. Blah!

An almost long run

I say "almost" long run because I consider 10+ long. It's a personal (mental) thing, I guess. Carol and I ran together again today. It was nice to have the company again! We did 8.6 miles in 1:38:00 which is an 11:24mpm pace. Not great, but we were both tired, AND we ran up a hideous hill at 8th South. It was a decent run, but I swear this 63* feels so much hotter! I hope that I acclimate soon!

It's going to be a long summer

It is going to be tough for me to get used to the hot weather. 64* today, and it felt like 80*! I ran alone again today, one lap at Sugarhouse. 5.5 miles in 1:00:45 for 11:03mpm pace. The first two miles were really tough. I don't know if I'm still trying to recover from last Saturday, or what!

2-a-days

Bub was sick yesterday and just couldn't drive, so there was nobody to bring the truck back from the bus stop parking lot. So, after the boys finally went to sleep, I changed into my running clothes, put on my head lamp, leashed up Liz, and went for a run. 3.9 miles in 39:57 is a 10:15mpm pace. Not bad! I would have finished faster, but I literally had to slow down for the dog. It's been a long time since she has been running with me, and she got worn out at about three miles. It was a good run, though. It felt good even though it was my second of the day.

after two rest days, a decent sub-11

My quads are still sore from Saturday's "race," but after two days off - and a fall marathon looming - I decided that I had to get out today. I'm glad that I did. I ran alone and did one lap at Liberty. I probably should have done two laps, but I missed work on Friday and I don't want to get too far behind (well, any farther than I already am). 4.5 miles in 48:23, which is a 10:46mpm. It didn't feel that fast, but I really tried to push it - looks like I succeeded. Hills tomorrow.