Dare to be great!

I can almost start walking normal from running the Halloween Half last weekend.  My calves were destroyed from the downhill.  I punished my legs some more this morning with a 3 hour hike/run up little cottonwood canyon this morning.  Fresh snow, lots of deer, and some extreme vertical.  Beautiful morning.

Another hike/run up little cottonwood canyon.  I was all over the mountain, actually pretty nice weather.  Growing up in Florida, I sure love the mountains here.

Run with Chet this morning around the hood.  It was windy, snowy, and dark when we left, thank goodness for a training partner.  My legs were still very sore, my calves especially.  I treated it as a recovery run.  I signed up for the ogden marathon again, so now is the time to start training and watching my diet.  My weight right now is about 168, would like to get it back down into the low 150s.  Let the games begin.

Couple of miles on the treadmill after sitting all day in a training session.  Took it pretty easy, started out around 8:25 pace and gradually bumped it up every so often.  Probably averaged around 7:50 pace.  Hopefully my calves are shook out enough.  Got some new shoes over the weekend and they felt really good.

Hit the treadmill before training today.  1 mile warm up 8:57 pace then did half mile pick ups with a quarter mile recovery in between.  1st .5 in 6:27 pace, 2nd in 6:18 pace, 3rd 6:05 pace. finished with a cool down mile at 8:57 pace.  Hopefully I can begin working on some speed.

3 miles around liberty park with Blake.  1st lap 11:39, 2nd lap 11:15 - 22:54 total.  Legs felt really good, just took it easy, should have some really great runs in the next cople weeks.

3 easy miles with my wife around the neighborhood.  I had plans to run yesterday, but felt like I was coming down with something.  My throat is still a little sore, but I hope it is on the way out, I need a good run tomorrow.  I also updated my blog from last years records I kept.  Hopefully this year I can increase my mileage and times.

Great run this morning with the group from fleet feet.  Ran from the shop to the jrp then south to the flight park, then looped back using the back streets to the shop.  Miles were as follows: 9:07,8:23,8:08,8:06,8:10,8:11,7:55,7:52,7:52,7:47,8:15,7:38, last .5 7:01  I felt pretty good the whole run, I was worried due to the fact I am still battling a small cold.  I am excited to keep training and building up and reach my goals at the Ogden marathon in May. 

Planned on going for a nice recovery run around the neighborhood.  I shouldn't have read some blog entries earlier today because I was inspired and my legs felt good so I pushed it some.  I think I am almost over my cold, and am excited to get training again.  Miles were as follows 7:21,7:17,7:45,7:29,7:31,7:12, last .2 6:35  45:45total for 6.2 AP7:24.  There are a lot of hills were I live and tried to push it up the hills and coast the rest of the time.  This time last year this run would have killed me, I felt in control the whole run and tried to enjoy it. 

Due to work, my niece's concert, and my wife going to her zumba class till 10 PM.  I did not make it on a run tonight, however it is probably a good thing as I am almost over my cold and everytime I run lately I cough up a lung afterwards.  I did do some stablilty exercised, planks, pushups, pull-ups, sit ups, and dumbell excercise.

I got to run with my older brother who is staying with us today.  I have not ran with my brother in probably 20 years. 3 easy miles in our neighborhood. 

Nice run this morning with Chet.  I was worried with all the wind and snow last night.  We ran on the JRP, started at the iron bridge and headed north.  8 miles total. 8:14 AP.  The trail wasn't too bad, somewhat icy in parts, the roads in our neighborhood are covered in ice and snow.  Run felt nice and easy, I might try to talk the wife into running a couple miles with me this afternoon.  I got my first pair of running pants/tights yesterday.  I must admit they were pretty nice to run in today, sure beat by old sweat pants, and I got them for a smoking deal.  Now I need to get a windbreaker style jacket/ shell and I should be almost covered for winter running.  Anyone have any suggestions on which jacket to buy?

Ran with Laurel and extra 3 miles around the neighborhood, what a difference a couple hours make.  Sun was out, the roads were dry, it was great to be out.  The wife is getting a bit faster, it is nice to see her progress.

Went on another hike/run out in the mountains today. Started at the Orson Smith? trailhead in Draper, then headed up the cherry canyon trail. Got pretty high up in the snow, then turned around and came back. Other than the wind blowing like 90mph it was nice, sure beat being at work. I have no idea how far I went, but I'll say 3.

I guess yesterday's jaunt up in the mountains worked out my legs harder than I expected.  I did 3 laps around liberty park today.  I could tell during the first lap my legs felt a little heavy, so I just tried to let my legs dictate my pace.  1st lap 7:44 pace, 2nd 7:46, last 7:18, AP total 7:36.  I started to loosen up during the last lap, felt great to get out.  I was starting to get a headache at work, so I threw on my running clothes and took off.  With thanksgiving coming up I am grateful for a job where I can "take off" and go running.  I am also thankful to be able to run, expecially with all the delicious calories I plan to consume tomorrow. 

Went and played some turkey bowl football with the guys in the neighborhood.  Took the kids to the fleet feet 5k for the kids races.  Trenton won the race for the 5-6 year olds.  I was so proud of him.  I got to get that kid in some more races, he is fast.  I will try to get some more running in later.  I was supposed to go with my wife but she ditched me and went when I was playing football.  It was fun to sprint around the park and play some ball, especially since I didn't get hurt.  Now off to the in-laws for some more football and turkey.

Another run/hike up above Draper.  Started at the Orson Trailhead, went up to the shoreline trail, then north to the Trail of the Eagle.  Went up the trail quite a ways into the snow and around a big bowl.  Enjoyed the view then went down the way I came up.  I don't know how far I went but it took 5 hours and I was moving most of the time and my legs feel like they ran a marathon afterwards.

Fun run this morning with Chet.  We decided to run the trails in corner canyon, started below the Draper temple at the coyote hollow trail, then linked up with the clark trail and went to the road at the top, then ran around to the ghost falls trail and bombed back down until we got back to where we started.  I used to run this trail at least once a week when I worked close, but it has been at least a year and a half since I last ran it.  It is so much fun to fly down the hills and curves. It was about 4.6 miles round trip. Total time 43:52  Decided to stop at the JRP trail in bluffdale for some extra base miles on the way home.  Once we started running I could really feel my legs from the death hike/run yesterday, especially in my hips.  After a mile or so it felt much better, I should have eaten more than a bowl of cereal the night before, as I was feeling low on fuel. Ended up with about a 8:30 average.  Ended up doing 4.2 miles.  Beautiful morning to run and the trails were nice, no snow, and still frozen, so no mud.  I am going to be hurting in the morning.

Ran with the guys at work around Liberty Park. First 2 laps were at 7:48 pace, last lap 6:30 pace.  4.5 miles total.  Nice run...

In an attempt to build on some speed, I ran on the treadmill at the gym. 1 mile warm up @8:49 pace then 3 half mile repeats at 6:00 pace with a quarter mile recovery in between at 8:49 pace. Finished with a cool down mile at 8:49. Felt pretty good, hopefully with time I can make this my 5K pace.

Had a nice hike/run this morning. Started at the trailhead around the mouth of parley's canyon. Hiked up almost to the summit, then headed around a big bowl and looked down into the Millcreek side stopped when the snow was above my knees. Beautiful hike. Tried to jog/run when the terrain permitted. My legs were shaking pretty bad when I got done. No gps, I'll say 3 miles, felt like 15. Great sunrise and I beat the storm on the way out.