Cheesey bottom crust

Club run on the Bloomington loop. Warm tonight. Started easy but everyone got some kind of lets speed up bug so off they went. Extended a bit at the end to make it 8.

4th Annual Steven Abraham Lincoln Pope Hooper 17.3 run.

Wasnt sure what to expect as Ive never run this route before, driven it several times but its been a few years.

It was nice an cool (even cold) at the start but once we got going the temps couldnt have been better. We started out really easy and I just sat back and listened to everyone talking. I was feeling really good so I jumped up in front and led for a while.

 The first big hill (2 miles up) was quite a climb but I stuck right next to Logan and we pushed up it pretty well. We waited for Steve and Dave who where right behind us and then started moving again. The next climb wasnt quite so long but it slowed me down a little. I stopped at the water Steve and Kendra had dropped and refilled my bottle and then took off at a sprint to try and catch Dave and Logan. They had started to move and I had to push down to mid 5s to catch them. Dave wasnt feeling good so he backed off and I caught up to him. I thought he might come with me as I had decided to try and really push down the last 5 miles but he waved me past. It was something to watch Logan just fly down that trail. He was trucking along and was kicking up dust he was going so fast. I new Id never catch him and the legs where starting to protest but I kept pushing and ended up hitting those last 5.24 very well (5:45, 5:51, 6:17, 6:16, 5:30, 5:38)

Dove right into the water at the end and after all the extremities froze to no feeling really enjoyed the icy water.

Treadmill today. The legs have been pretty sore and tight from Sat workout so today wasnt very hard or fast.

Mustang Pass. Went out on Main but came back by the elementary. Really tired and the legs are still sore from Sat. Went slow and tried to enjoy being out away from life.

Treasure Valley park. A little better run today but the quads are still sore and tired.

Greensprings. Warm but the overcast skys it wasnt quite as bad as the last few days. Ran into Dave and talked for a minute and when I started back up my legs felt like lead weights. Blah

Club run on the south parkway loop. I knew right from the start this was going to be an ugly run. Everyone else was going to do some progressive speed work in the middle but not me. The plan was to just try and make it through. Barely made it and Im glad this week of running is done.

City Wells. Took to long to get out and it was warm once I got going. Took a water bottle and was glad I did.

Since I ditched the club speed workout this morning I figured I had better try and get some in by myself. Put the kids in front of a movie ( is there a better parent in the world than me? I think not) and hit the treadmill. Joy.

2 mile warm up nice and easy and then hit 5 at 6:20. Ive never been a fan of trying to do speed on the treadmill. It always feels wrong and very forced but after several minutes I got into a groove and it didnt feel too off. The last .5 was forced so I didnt try for another mile of that pace. 3 miles cool down.

5 pretty bad miles on the treadmill after getting the kids to bed.

Did a nice 4 mile warm up with a bunch of guys(and Ruth) and then grabbed a drink before the start of the race. It was really warm and my legs where shot but I still wanted to run a decent time. At the start this really young girl took off like a shot and was in the lead for quite a ways. It was fun to see her go. I ran with Dustin for a bit and then once again was by myself for the rest of the run. It was funny as Dave, Clyde and Logan passed by the announcer on the finish of the first loop he says "here comes the first group of guys lets give them a hand." And then here I come a few seconds later and he wanted to say something but couldnt get anything coherent out. He might as well just have said " and then heres that other guy thats just not quite as fast as the real runners." It just struck me as funny. Anyway, that second lap was a battle to just keep the legs moving. I slowed a lot more than I would have liked but it just wasnt there so I wont loose any sleep over it. If I would have known I was so close to breaking 17 I would have tried to push more but oh well. This is the first 5k Ive actually raced in over 18 years so I didnt do too bad. It might actually be a pr, Im not sure my pr from the school days. Plus the high school kids where kind enough to let me beat them so I didnt feel like to much of an old man. Did another lap as a cool down.

Another bad day on the treadmill. Ive got to start getting up and out the door before it gets so hot otherwise im doomed to run on that thing. Didnt feel horrible but it was still a chore to even get that many miles in.

Club tempo day on the standard loop. Hit 7 between 6:20-6:25. Not bad but Im shot now.

More treadmilling tonight. Actually felt pretty good.

Barefoot miles this morning. Club this evening. Will anyone be around?

7 - Fell asleep way early yesterday evening (7pm) waiting for dinner to settle before getting an evening run in. So I ended up with 3 whole miles. Then I woke up at 11pm and couldnt fall back asleep until around 2am. Then I didnt wake up this morning until 9. What the heck? I guess thats what happens when you dont work and the house is empty of other people. Anywho, it was already hot so I just hit the treadmill and watched tv this morning. Maybe i'll go out tonight for more.

6 - Grapevine. Nothing like getting back out on the road after to much treadmill running. It takes so much less effort. Halfway through the run I stopped to get what I thought was a rock out of my shoe and it turned out to be a wasp! Go figure that one out cause he wasnt there when I put my shoe on.

This was supposed to be a long run of 18-20. Didnt even come close. I actually got up and started at 4:50 which was good but right from the get go the legs where completely dead. I thought that after a few miles they might warm up and then I could enjoy the run but it wasnt to be. I got out passed the distribution center and had had enough so I began the death march back home. I should get more tonight but I dont know how much benefit more miles on dead legs will be. We'll see what today brings.

Ran 7 this morning and then did 3 barefoot this evening. Still enjoying life without any family around. I could get used to it. Its quite and the house stays clean.

Club tempo workout. Did a little different route today. Went through the fields towards Washington and then down to the river trail to River Rd and then back to Clydes. 3 warmup then 8 at tempo (6:20) then 2 cool down. Hard, hard, hard today. Going through one of those cycles where the legs are shot and every workout is tough no matter the pace. Didnt feel like I was on pace during the run but the splits are right on so Im glad about that.

Ran around Pine Lake after getting camp set up. Ive never really felt that altitude had much effect on my but man I could sure tell I was up there on this run (over 8000 feet). It was so nice to not die of heat stroke and be able to enjoy being out running even though I felt like poopoo.

AM - 11.2 From camp down the dirt road back to the highway and back. Couldnt get going on this run either but it was still enjoyable. Had a slight shower every so often and I stopped a few times to check out the area. Walked off the road down to a stream and got a drink. Cant do that at home in the desert.

PM - 5 First run for me with the kids. Went up the road from camp towards the Powell Point trail. Nice steady climb on the way up. Took a few minutes to get in the groove but once I was going I felt like I could have gone for much longer.

Only one run today and that was plenty. Went down the road a little then headed north on a 4x4 trail. Went for a while then saw an old logging road that needed to be explored. This was a killer run going straight up the mountain. Beautiful pine and aspen trees and no people for miles. Just my kind of area. The road ended and I had to make my own trail to the top of the mountain but it was worth it. Got an incredible view of the area from 9200 feet. Not a very far run but it was hard work.

I had lots of time in the afternoon and Dave and the kids where busy with stuff so I decided to go mtn biking. Went out to the same area as in the morning but took several different trails up into the mountains. Saw several deer and lots of beautiful area. Got rained on and was beyond spent by the time I walked the bike into camp over 3 hours later.

I was so dead from everything Friday that I actually was in bed and asleep by 10pm. Thats rare for me. I wanted to get a long run in on Sat but hadnt decided if I would be able to when I went to bed so I decided to play it by ear.

Dave woke me up around 5:30am and asked if I wanted to do 18 with him and Clyde. What the heck, if I dont go now I'll talk myself out of it later.

The plan was to take a car 9 mile down the trail then run back to camp and then run back to the car with the varsity boys. Got 9 miles out and started off. It was not a pretty sight. Clyde seemed to be ok but I was so spent and Dave even seemed to be tired from all the work and play he was doing with the kids. I told Dave 9 might be all I could manage and that thought was what got me back to camp. We ran into the team going the other direction about .25 from camp. Stopped for a quick drink/potty break and then headed out to try and catch the team. I decided to try and see how far I could make it. Worse case is they pick me up as they are driving back to camp right? Started catching kids a lot sooner than I thought I would. Ran into Trevor and we started picking up the pace well beyond what I would have thought I could manage. Dropped him when we met up with the rest of the varsity boys and Vis and continued my "tempo" until I ran into Dave and Clyde who I assume had finished their tempo and where waiting for someone. Not me because I think I supprised them by being there. I suprised myself actually. After that I couldnt get moving again. Clyde wanted to pick it up the last few miles but I could barely manage 7:30 pace and I was really trying.

After I was so, so tired. After a marathon tired. But was able to get the trailer packed up just as the rest of the camp finished packing and made the very long 3 hour drive back home.

Had a really good time helping my dad cook (ok I really didnt do much up there but provide transport for some of the boys up and back but I like to think I helped) and watching the team bond and learn. 

Congrats to Dave for putting together such a great, well planned event for those kids. And to my pa for some incredibly good food. That man can cook mean camp grub.