Craig Hudman - Simply Live

Targhee with the kids. I skied with the 3 year old and 5 year old.

First of all no motivation today, none, zero, zilch. Did not want to run, not sure how I even made it out, let alone this distance.

Run recap.

2 hours trying to decide to go. (At least I have the luxury of when I take lunch)

First 4 miles MP, although at mile 2 I almost called someone to come and get me, so I slowed down.

Mile 6 almost puked up the greasy burrito I ate for lunch. Would've called but didn't know how to explain where I was at.

Mile 11....did I just pass the alternate route turn off and commit to 15 miles?

Mile 15 wow that sucked, how come I choose to do this to myself? 

Probably do it again tomorrow. I haven't felt very good lately.

Skiing yesterday was awesome I wouldn't trade the kid hill for anything. Just to watch my 5 year old mad because he can't beat his big brother down the hill and actually expect to beat him was priceless. And the baby standing strong at 3. She is going to rip like the rest of the kids in a couple years then I might get to hit intermediate runs.

WISH I HAD USED BODY LUBE TODAY. Unfortunately I left it home and I paid for it. Better motivation today but my legs felt really flat and had zero pop today. I struggled keeping a slow pace today.

Who would've thought shorts on the 4th of January??

I do need more sleep. I hope my kids will go to bed earlier tonight but that's probably not going to happen. 

Tale of two runs. I ran about 2 miles and got a call telling me I had a heifer having a calf that was having issues. So, I turned around and headed out to the farm to help pull a calf. I hope the mom takes it. Last one we pulled the mom kicked to death a week later.

Second half of the run was on a treadmill, didn't have time to go back outside. Ran some varied paces.

I think I more worried about building up miles this month versus much speed work so I have a base once I start marathon training for Utah Valley in February. It is a good thing because my legs feel flat.

Better day, I brought body lube. 

Starter running and quit early because I didn't feel good. Went home from work early and took a nap. Starting to feel better but we'll see tomorrow.

These weren't easy miles for me but I don't know what pace I had because my watch was left at home so I might update this post.

Jeff and Gray killed me this morning. I had ample opportunity to turn back but chose to keep running with them for a bit of a longer run than I've done in awhile. Group support helps out so much it pushed me farther than I thought was possible this morning. I'm still not feeling very good and they kept track of me pretty good. Last little bit of the run I had no kick, it was tough.

Great to meet up with Curt, Lynette and Trevor too. Nice to run with a big group. 

Still sick. This isn't going away.

10 miles in 1:03:28/6:21 still feel sick. I thought I was feeling better until the middle of the run and then I knew it wasn't going to be good. Still was able to do last 2 miles at 6:10 pace which really felt hard today. I wish I could shake this crap, going on almost 2 weeks.

AM. 3 mile warm up and then 2-11:58, 2-11:58, 2-11:59, 1-5:58. This was a portion of a Hanson Brothers Half Marathon Prep run I came acrossed. I could quite finish the last 2 mile rep and didn't have time for the cool down so it was incomplete. I wasn't hoping for much because I haven't been training for anything and I've been sick. I'm just barely starting to feel better. I've decided not to run outside early in the week no matter what the weather looks like to give my lungs a break from blowing that much cold air. Hopefully it will help.

PM. 5 mile shakeout at a relaxed pace. It's been awhile since I've done double and it was kinda tough but a good workout nonetheless. 

1 mile on a TM at night then decided to finish it outside so I bundled up and did a slow 5 mile progression run starting out around 7:05 and ending at 6:39. 

Must say, wearing the balaclava was great but you can't spit wearing one and this posed a bit of a problem because I am a habitual spitter when running. I was able to make it the full 5 miles without doing so but the desire was great.

Haven't ran outside all week and this night run felt great. I thought I may have over bundled but ended feeling rather comfy for 10 degrees. 

Easy 5 mile warmup with Nikki and then I repeated the loop at a faster but still relaxed pace. It was good to run outside this morning but I almost choked on my balaclava trying to breathe. These things are going to be the death of me.

Lunch speed work out. Heart rate was way high so pace was more conservative and I really didn't push it too hard. 8/51:17/6:25. I feel like the top of my foot is bruised?? Seems weird.

Started taking antibiotics a couple of days ago. I can still tell I'm not quite right when I run hard I can feel the infection in my teeth and nasal cavity. Energy is still low but it is improving. 

So, I wanted to see my marathon fitness level and where I'm at right now after a fairly heavy load yesterday. Hopped on the trusty TM and set the pace to what I would like to run, did not move pace until reset and last mile. First 4 miles I was wondering if I was going to make it very much longer. Pushed through it and settled in nicely around mile seven. From there on I upped the pace at reset and finished off last mile at 6:00 pace. Overall I ran 13.1/1:24:17/6:26 which is 2:30 faster than my fastest half I've ever ran. I know it was a TM and there were no outside weather or elevation factors (I did put a fan on me from behind, does that count as a tail wind?) but it made me feel good.

Energy level after the run is really good which means I must have eaten right. Still taking antibiotics but feeling much better.

My foot still hurts, has anyone ever had problems with the top of their foot? I really don't want to be developing a stress fracture and not realize it. wrapped my foot with KT tape to help. 

Easy recovery run for today. My wife was wanting to run outside until she actually walked out into the wind. I was thinking "this is why I have a gym membership"... we both ended up on treadmills. Looks as if it could be a nasty storm and we could be running in a lot of snow pretty quick.

So, I think I've been a bit of a princess with my foot. After Jeff's post to loosen my shoe I've been doing it and it seems to be getting better, that and I've been staying away from anything with laces other than running shoes the last couple of days. I think my problem starts with hearing so many injury stories that any little hint of something now throws me into princess mode and I panic. Just look at what the running culture is doing to me.

Today's boring TM run was the usual channel surfing, mind numbing event that I am now too used to. It was soccer, HGTV, ESPN Classics and anything in between. Legs are feeling pretty good ran 11 miles at 6:40-6:27 pace with out too much fatigue, 4 mile cool down.

I'm also looking for a body lube sponsorship after today. You'd think I would learn, but nope. So if anyone has connections I could do some testing. 

I've also decided to start eating like a horse at breakfast and it seems to be paying off with much better energy throughout the day. We'll see how it effects my weight :) ... Not that I care about a couple of pounds if I feel better. Although, weight watchers does have a special going on .... hmmmm. 

Never watch Man v. Food while running on a treadmill. It will make you want take off your shoe and eat it. 

Recovery run if you call 12 miles recovery. 

AM - This was a run full of surges and slow downs thanks to Hutch the pace husky.  Maybe it was the rain that did it but it was not fun. Had a couple of good miles but I haven't ran hills and the wind killed my. Didn't eat breakfast or anything before the run and hit a sugar low around 7 miles when I ran into my wife and her friends. I was told by all three that I looked like crap. 

PM - I had an obsession with 80 this week. Now I can sleep. 1 mile warm up, last 4 miles of the week at MP. Body still feels strong. I did actually eat before this run which helped tremendously, crazy how that's important. 

63.45 miles on a TM, that stinks. I really need to get outside more. 

Outside run, finally. My foot hurts after this one and I've decided that it's my shoes. My foot was starting to recover and I wore my Adrenalines today and my foot hurts really bad now. I'm guessing because this happened before that my shoes are shot. So I'm now in the market from some new shoes.

So I ended up ordering the Brooks Pure Flow with some gift certificates I had they are supposed to be in line with the Kinivara and Mirage and I know Brooks generally fit my feet pretty good so we will see how they work at the end of the week when they arrive. 

10 @ MP and 1 CD didn't feel very good today. Foot is still hurting from yesterday but different shoes felt much better. The pain was affecting my stride somewhat and I just felt "off" today (legs heavy, no energy) wondering if no supplements made much of a difference today (I left them at home). Easy run planned for tomorrow with my wife. Hopefully it will be decent in the morning so we can go.

First, my foot is starting to recover but everything else that comes with a bad foot is taking time to heal as well. I can't believe how a shoe can mess me up that quickly and how I'm so slow to realize it. Foot and ankle are still a little tender.

Second, I got my new shoes today right before I went running so I decided to take them on their initial test run. The PureFlow are supposed to be from their minimalist line and promote mid foot striking. I really couldn't tell much of a difference between these and my other shoes so the strike felt the same. I could tell they had a little more support than I'm used to on the outside of the insole  but were more or less neutral. Overall they felt good to run on and should be a good shoe. The big warning on them is slick surfaces so I'll make sure to keep them dry.

Today's run was just a pace run and I felt much better than Monday and Tuesday (foot probably made a difference) 9 @ 6:27 / 5 @ 6:17 for a total 14/1:29:54/6:25. I've hit and miss on feeling strong running this week. Legs were good throughout, energy a little down. 

Brutal wind today. These were not easy miles. I think this run was much harder than yesterday. It looked great outside but when I got into the exposed fields on this route I felt like I was getting stood up. Cut the run short and took quick route home.

Foot is still soft but doing much better now that I figured out the problem. It has left both ankles a little soft but they're coming back as well. 

Ran with the group this morning for 1/2 the other half was a blow myself sprint through SRL and man the wind killed me again. Seem to be the theme of the week. Another lack luster day. Legs felt really flat like yesterday and I went into a sugar low again this morning, like last Saturday, when I got back so it appears that I'm going to have to figure out my morning nutrition better before I run. Afternoons have been fine. Foot is starting to feel much better along with my ankles.

No time for a run today but I managed to squeeze one in between appointments. 1 mile warm up and then a 5 mile progression run starting at a fast MP 6:17 and ending at 5:49 overall 5/30:15/6:03. I felt great and probably could have continued had time permitted.

The AM run was thrown out the window due to no sleep and then taking an Ambien to sleep, sleeping in and being foggy when I woke up. I really hate that stuff but I was desperate last night. I think this building project at work is going to keep my up more than I want to admit right now. There are so many details and I'm not one to delegate and trust someone on the big decisions which seem to be numerous. I'll get through it....hopeful sane.

AM -4 miles. After not sleeping again, I got up early and went for a nice easy jog with my wife. It was a good run and a much needed easy pace to shake things out a little before this afternoon's run. Heard the coyotes howling like crazy about a 1/2 mile from home. I guess my wife has never paid much attention because it was the first time she'd heard them where they were at and it freaked her out a bit. I guess she would have offered me and the dog up for food had they gotten closer.

PM-13.16 I remember that one year when I wore shorts and the was no snow on the ground the last day of January. Oh yeah that was today. Is it freakishly good weather or what? Easy run a few miles at pace.

Outisde again. Great weather, ran the summer bench route which always has some wind coming out of the canyon and man it was cold but it wasn't too bad, much better than a TM. Ran a easy 5 mile warm up and then into a progression run ending at a 6:20 pace. I have been worried about how the speed workouts on a TM will translate to the outside so today I pushed it a bit and felt strong, a good reassurance.

The new shoes feel good although I could have gone 1/2 size smaller and probably been better off. I like that the heel only has a 4mm rise so it is almost flat. It seems to be helping insure a better mid foot strike for me. 

Decided to keep track of my dog miles. He will probably get in some unlogged miles with my wife but it will be good to see how much I drag him out this year. 

AM - 5 Miles with Nikki this morning. Why is it that when you have a kid in grade school sicknesses are passed along constantly? I'm starting to fight off a cold that has been through 3 of my kids in the last week. I hope the preloading with drugs helps out.

PM - After lamenting about not having outside gear in my bag today, I hopped on the TM and went right into a MP run. 8/51:56/6:29. Felt like I was just starting to warm up when I hopped off. Also feel like this cold is starting to come on stronger. Plan is to hydrate good, eat lots of oranges and drug up. 

AM - 7.86 Easy miles in 59:58 this morning. It was clear but a little cold. My dog wanted to go much faster but I had zero desire to run much of a pace this morning. Enjoyable.

PM - 6.25 The symptoms of the "cold" are definitely coming on strong. Loaded up on drugs and headed to the gym incase I needed an early bailout. Still tried, due to stupidity, to do a progression run. Didn't get too far before I quit touching the TM and just ran. Runs like this make me wonder why I push myself...still trying to figure that out.

Easy 8 mile run with my wife's friend Cheryl who needed more miles than my wife and her friends wanted to run. Ran the hill route then met up with the girl group. My wife had brought my dog at this point so I left the group and took off with him. I can always count on him to keep the pace honest. Finished out remainder of the run at or below pace with the last 1/2 mile at a 5:50.

I tried something different today and ate a bowl of grape nuts before, like 10 minutes, I went out. I felt good throughout and there were no ill effects from eating. I could tell that I was running out of gas towards the end. 

AM - 5 with Nikki this morning. She did better than she has in a while. I was even able to get her into a much faster than normal progression in the last mile. She didn't complain so I kept upping it slowly. Ended with her feeling great. Good way to start off the week.

PM - 6.71. Not what it was supposed to be. Today was the first day of my training schedule. I warmed up 3 miles at MP then into what was supposed to be 4 at HMP. 2 miles into HMP my foot started burning and my ankle really started hurting so I back it back down to MP then cranked it back up but I felt the blister forming and the ankle never loosened up. So now as I sit here my foot is still burning and my ankle is screaming at me. I thought after a break yesterday and the way it felt this morning I was good to go. Now I might spin for the rest of the week :( not sure what I'll do, might tape and keep running through it. Either way it's ice and not walking for the rest of the day.

After yesterday's ankle melt down I was playing today by feel. So when I woke up my ankle ached so I went back to bed and slept in. I went to the gym and decided to spin figuring that would be much better. I can now say that there is something more mind numbing than a TM. However, my ankle feels much better and I can say my body hasn't felt that good during or after a workout in quite awhile. Which leads to my next decision to spin for the next few days and start running on Friday tentatively and do a long run on Saturday. So I'm spinning for the same amount of time as my runs would take me and hope I can get something out of them but my mileage is going to be higher than normal.

10.5 on the bike in 32 min / 3.7 on the eliptical 33 min. Can't say as I like either that much. My rear is now saddle sore, don't know how bikers do it. I was tempted to run today but somehow managed to control myself and stick to my plan. Ankle still is really soft.

Last day of spinning, hopefully. Ankle is still not right but I'm going to try and run tomorrow AM with my wife at what should be a really soft pace and go from there. 20 miles of spinning does not equal 10 miles of running in effort. It always takes some time to work into the cardio and HR I'm looking for on a bike.

So my wife is still on her weight loss kick and she keeps asking me what to do and I always say run more. I found this quote which proves my point.

 If you run 100 miles a week, you can eat anything you want -- Why? Because

(a) you'll burn all the calories you consume,

(b) you deserve it, and

(c) you'll be injured soon and back on a restricted diet anyway,

-- Don Kardong

AM - 6.68 Easy run with Nikki trying to test the ankle out. It was good to run but I'm still concerned about my ankle. The first couple of miles loosened it up a bit but I still was feeling a "twinge" from my ankle that would shoot up to my knee occasionally. I'm going to run another soft run this afternoon before I decide what to do tomorrow.

PM - 5 Started off with an easy pace and after three miles my ankle loosened up a bit so I kicked it up to MP for one and into a progression for the last mile finishing the last .25 at 5:50. Now, the ankle still does not feel good and I'm really debating what I'm going to do tomorrow. I have a LR on the schedule and am thinking of doing loops so I can bail out at any time. Time to start drugging up and hoping. If not I'll be visiting my favorite neighbor. 

Woke up this morning with my ankle feeling better than it has in a couple of weeks so I decided to do my scheduled long run. I still wanted my option to bail out at about any time so I ran a mile from my house to do a 3 mile loop. The plan was 5x3m progressing each loop with the mile to and from my house as a warm up / cool down. 

1 - 20:46 (6:55)

2 - 20:28 (6:49) 

3 - 20:14 (6:45)

4 - 19:44 (6:35)

5 - 19:17 (6:25)

 Overall with wm/cd 17/1:55/6:45. Overall felt really good. Ankle held up although there still is a "twinge" but not like it has been. 

The only time my ankle feels good is when I'm laced on advil, which makes sense because I took some Friday night before I went to bed and some when I woke up Saturday. It hurt so bad this morning and yesterday that I didn't run this morning. Moving into a RV show today and almost puked because it hurt until I took advil.

The only way its going to get better is just let it heal instead of killing it daily. I may take the whole week off, probably not, I couldn't do that. Two days is killing me already. Still feels the same. This stinks.

One more rest day before I test the ankle again. Feeling a little better but I haven't really gone off the ibuprofen yet. All I know is it's messing up my stomach. 

Anterior Tibial Tendonitis...eat Ibuprofen like skittles, ice every night. I saw my neighbor/Doctor/Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Casey Huntsman. Good thing is running won't hurt it more, it will just hurt. Tracing this back to when it started. It probably can be attributed to running in minimalist shoes (Brooks PureFlow). He told me I need to wear shoes with better "support". SO I guess I deserve it and wasted money (they are officially out of the rotation now) Does anyone know of a good place with a knowledgeable staff that can hook me up with better shoes?......Internet shopping v. Local Running Company.......Yep my fault again.

Easy run with Nikki. Ankle is feeling a little better after the break. Still, I'm loading up on ibuprofen and icing. Planning on an evening run and a long run tomorrow. Might have to go and get some new shoes tonight.

Group run, had to loop back early due to ankle pain. This tendonitis sucks. Came home early iced, loaded on ibuprofen and went back to sleep.

Ankle ok at best. Kept the run short don't want to stress it too much. Iced and heated yesterday. Stayed off ibuprofen. After run a little tender now in a brace and will ice a couple times tonight. Might try a little longer run tomorrow AM and spin at lunch.

I've went back to spinning in order to give my ankle a break. Yesterday it felt ok, last night it hurt bad, today it is feeling ok and I haven't taken any ibuprofen. I just want this to go away and I'm having the hardest time resting it but I also feel like I'm going through a burnout phase so this rest might be happening at the right time.

Felt like I needed to get in some type of a quality speed workout today. So I warmed up a mile then went 1 M at MP then 3 at HMP then 4 at MP then a short cool down. 9/56:56/6:20. Would have liked to have done more at HMP but I am feeling the effects of not running much the last couple of weeks. Is seems like my endurance has gone into the tank. Heart rate was much higher than normal at these paces.

Talked with my wife about the whole burnout issue and she talked a little sense into me telling me nothing is fun when you're hurt...makes sense, I guess she is always right.

Ankle feeling a bit better, no ibuprofen yesterday, a little before the run today. It doesn't hurt so much to walk on but is very sensitive to touch (very painful) I can put any pressure on it without a ton of pain. Walking and run, not much pain.

Today's work got aborted. The plan was to spin 30 minutes then run 30 minutes. I barely had enough motivation to last the bike. Hit the TM only to last one mile. Ankle hurt some but what's new? I've ran through that before. Just didn't have it today. This is a day I wish I could go climb back into to bed and sleep 12 hours or so, wake up eat and go take a nap and somewhere in-between find motivation.

At least work has been good today. I usually run to take my mind off of work and today I'm enjoying work and hoping to forget about the workout.

AM - easy run with Nikki. It's been a while since I've ran with my wife, ankle and all. It was really good to get out and here the coyotes this morning.  ankle = better than usual, we'll see what this afternoon brings. 

Woke up to high winds, so I went to the gym. It was kind of nice because I slept in, took my time getting ready, ate breakfast and slowly found my way to the gym. Good, bad or ugly I preloaded with ibuprofen to make it through my run. Ankle felt surprisingly good and I got through the run without much pain. Slight twinge around 12 or 13. 

First 13 or so at slow MP then kicked it up to goal pace to finish off. Didn't have much left at the end, no surprise my fitness has taken a dive the last couple of weeks . 16/1:45:56/6:37

Today I found out I was accepted as a tester for Brooks. Not a real big deal but I'm excited. Maybe they'll send me an anti-chaff shirt to test out...haha.

I was way too lazy to get out of bed this morning and go running. I'm still debating on rather to do doubles or not this week. Today was the first day I have not wore an ankle brace. It is still very soft to the touch but is handling running and walking much better now. I did my run non-aided (no ibuprofen) for the first time in awhile and am still able to walk.  My attitude is doing a little better. I was pretty miserable the last couple weeks when I couldn't walk or run without pain. Almost normal again.

TM run. easy pace with 10x100 at VO2 Max thrown in. Trying to get back into my scheduled runs and program. 10.1/1:06:30 

Well, the dog was a little crazy this morning so we went out much faster than I wanted. My money is on the new snow invoked some sort of inner sled dog and he took off from the start. Before I realized it I had 3 miles at 6:15 pace. I knew it wasn't going to last and came back down to a 6:35 for 9.1 before I picked my wife up for another 5 at a much much slower pace, which felt refreshing.

Hills are now really kicking my butt. 

5 mile shakeout in 40 minutes at the gym. Heart rate was ok. Everything felt ok. Haven't really done a push like this in a while so I don't quite remember feeling this blown up. My body is pretty tired but I have an easy run planned again for tomorrow.

Ankle brace is back on. Shouldn't have left it home yesterday. Still drug free. I feel like I'm out of rehab.

I hate gossip. This week has been the worst, too many question I don't know, wouldn't tell or could care less about. People should worry about their own life and help people not talk about them. 

Rest day, hooray! Focused on being controlled and staying in form on this blustery Leap Day. Run felt really good and ankle is holding up :) 6.61/48:18

On a side note, my wife made corn cowder for dinner last night. The boys and I ate it up like you should whenever your wife tries something new and its not very good, you think you would be rewarded for doing this but nope, we were met this morning with upset stomachs. I think the skunks are going to leave the neighborhood.

Dear Winter,

I haven't missed you, so could you please go back to where you were?

Woke up this morning to go out for an easy run with Nikki. 100 yards into the run I was wondering about turning around. We somehow manage to keep our balance and footing for a solid 4 miles. The plan was a few more but we really didn't want to test our luck, plus we were putting in a solid pace that would've put us home way to late to help the kids get to school. So here's a pace to talk about 4/42:13/10:34...and I didn't fall.

PM - 12/1:20:12 on a TM, definitely a little harder than I expected. Ankle pretty soft afterwards. Not sure what to do tomorrow. Need to move my long run up due to skiing with the kids plan for Saturday. I may end up at the gym just in case I need an out. I'll see how I feel in the morning.

Not an easy run this morning. Really, really wanted to do this outside but somehow ended up at the gym and did this on a TM. Probably turned out better because I had a few issues during the run. Started off and by 5 miles I knew it wasn't going to be easy, somehow talked myself into easy and felt good until 13-14 when I started to develop a blister on the bottom of my foot. I could feel the fluid squish and release with each step until I finished up. It's about the size of a 50 cent piece right below the big toe on the inner bottom part of the foot. Not real good but I'm sure it will be ok. Last 5 miles were torturous I don't know if it was the TM or the distance but I was coming out of my skin, my mind was every where and I just wanted to quit but I managed to talk myself into keep going.

My fluid intake was very poor this morning and I could tell. Gel and perpetum got to my stomach this morning, hasn't bothered me before. Not a great dinner last night probably didn't eat enough. Funny how yo can get away with these mistakes on shorter runs but the long ones tune you up fast.

AM - 10. 5 solo/ 5 with Nikki. 1 warm up then 4 at HMP 6:08-6:10. The remaining miles were pretty easy. Joints are a little sore, wondering if the family sickness is catching up with me. This has almost been a ongoing problem all winter. Ankle started acting up again??  

Back from the land of the dead. We'll see if I run at all today. Feeling better but still sick....

Learned some things from today.

1 - I would rather run 70-80 miles per week than what this week has been. I hate being sick and trying to run. Today was tough.

2 - I can punt a Dauschund left footed mid stride about 4 feet without too much effort. I aimed for the sweater and just swung. Didn't even break stride too much. The car coming had to slow down a little more to avoid it....Now if I could just get rid of the big black dog on my other route...how can you carry a gun on a 10+ mile run and be comfortable....need to think about that some more....

3 - Habit takes over even when the rest of you says"no". I didn't want to run, it was hard, still don't feel good but I went anyway. 

Started out feeling strong then around mile 10-11 the wheels came off the bus. I think I probably took too much sodium which is still making me feel sick as I sit here. Thinking over this boring and what went wrong. I am thinking that the sodium is the biggest mistake, I haven't taken any since last year. Oh well learning experience.

AM - 4 miles with Nikki. Good to get out and shake the legs out. I can still tell I'm not feeling 100% yet. Dropped her off and the did another 1.69 (to the corner and back) at MP felt ok other than my dog decided to trip me at about 1 mile. He somehow managed to drop behind me and loop my leg with the leash. The only casualty were my gloves and a slight scrape on my knee, pants somehow held up. Now I have some nice raspberries on my palms.

PM - 10.52/1:17/7:18 I think I've officially de-tuned myself between being sick and hurting my ankle. Everything seems forced..pace, tempo, form, breathing..just having a rough spell. I'm not to concerned yet, I've still got plenty of time..hopefully it comes back. 

Still not fun, I'm missing the "fun" right now. A lot harder than it should have been, once again. I'm all jacked up in every which way, hoping habit is going to carry me through this week, we'll see how the schedule holds up, already modifying it today.....You know I just need some sleep, day off tomorrow that might help some.

First 5.5 with Nikki, then dropped her and the dog off and did a little over a mile and a half right around HMP. Felt better than it has, still trying to find the "fun". Nikki got me out this morning and it was pretty hard just to get warmed up the first few miles. Nice morning with a very light rain.

AM - Easy run with Hutch. Climbed the hill for the first time in awhile, pace still not quite coming back but I'm feeling better. Able to hit HMP for final mile which felt good.

PM - Decided to do a tempo run and see how I could manage my pace. Started at 6:39 and progressed each mile down to a 5:51 on my last mile. It was work but overall felt good to get down to a faster pace. I'm figuring I need a few quality speed workout a week to get back to where I need to be. 5/31:24/6:17 

AM - Slept in, felt great, then went for a short run to start the day off. Focused on driving the legs all the way through the stride and running more with my quads. After I got into the rhythm it felt a little better and pace picked up naturally.

My daughter also signed up for track yesterday. Now I have someone other than myself to experiment on :) 

PM - Why is it that the wind is always blowing in your face no matter which direction you run? Still focused on driving my legs all the way through.

Was able squeeze this in. Had someone call to look at our house 1st thing this moring so I had to change up my running plans. Locked in at slow MP for entire run.

Interval workout. 2@6:39, 2@5:56, 2@6:39, 2@5:56, 2@6:39, 1@5:56 mixed slow MP with HMP. It was a good workout and it leaves me wondering about tomorrow's run and how I'll recover by morning.

I was a bit of a pansy and did this on a TM because when I got up this morning the snow was blowing sideways and I went back to bed.

Going running gear shopping with my daughter tonight. 

AM - It was chilly this morning, headed out early then back after 4 to pick up my wife for her run. Ran 6.5 with her then dropped her and the dog off and finished up the run, last half mile at HMP (good to know I can get down there when I'm feeling trashed). For some reason I'm getting a lot of tension between my shoulders right below my neck when I run. It hurts pretty bad. I tried dropping my hands and shoulders, shaking out, leaning, standing up straighter, nothing was working. Not really recovered from yesterday yet so I'm going out on a limb here and thinking I'll be blown up all week.

PM - A bit better than expected. Legs feeling tried but better. Tendonitis stinks, I'm back in a brace. It's not even close to what it was just being precautionary.

Easy recovery run out in the wind. Only run of the day.

M - Hard to get up this morning, I was awoken from a great sleep. Checked the weather on my phone and got ready. Funny thing was my phone said 5 mph wind, went outside only to almost get blown over. Where in the world do these reports come from?? Not even accurate. Oh well, climbed the hill and workout in the wind.

To all who don't have kids, you stink...I wish I could get more than 6-7 hours of sleep a night. I hope to get 7 each night. 

PM - HOLY COW, it was warm this afternoon. Still windy but not as bad as this morning probably less miles in it or I was in town and a lot was blocked. Felt decent and pushed the last half down to MP finished 5.7 loop in right at 39:00/6:49. I'm feeling good this week and other than sleep training is going good. I always forget about base building and how much it takes out of me. 

Found this and it pretty much sums up Idaho right now. 

AM - 5 easy miles with Hutch. Got to sleep in a little which felt good. Seems like all I've been doing is wind resistance training. It's either been pushing me side to side or in my face. And the dog ran about his worst day ever. I was going slow and I still drug him half the time.

PM - 5.7 at a very relaxed pace. Legs feel fine but don't have much pep in them. Right now I'm trying to decide what route I'll run tomorrow. Thinking about doing a 3 mile loop route so I can stash water and gels so I don't have to pack them with me. Looking forward to spring break next week. I'll be in St. George for a couple of days and I might try to run part of the marathon course. I'm thinking around the starting line to somewhere in snow canyon. 

Was tempted to run the 10K in Idaho Falls today but thought that I wouldn't do very good so I just ran my 3 mile loop route. As it turned out my legs came alive around mile 3 and I was able to kick it down for about 8 miles and would've been able to run a decent but not fast 10K so I probably should of went. The weather was absolutely perfect and I could never of asked for more. My wife joined me for about 6 miles and ran a very fast pace for her. Not sure if it was because I was feeling so good of if she was feeling it too. Stomach was an absolute mess this morning, for the most part I was able to control it.

 Went with my daughter to get shoes last night and I think she surprised everyone. She ended up in Adidas Rockets which are racing flats (zero drop), even the Saucony Kinvara bugged her because of the 4mm drop. We watched her stride and it was beautiful, hardly even touches her heel, lands square mid-foot. Now we just need to work on her turn over.

iPhones allow you to enter mileage just not write a report.

4 mile progression run through a rolling St. George neighborhood. 3 miles or so with Nikki then a short finish up. 

St George has some great running trails, however, I don't know where any of them go or when they loop. Started out in Bloomington and ended up somewhere. I know one part of the trail said Mayor's Loop and I was by the convention center, other than that, it was a good early morning run. Warmed up with a slowish first mile and the started clicking. After a couple of miles I started moving and paced around 6:40. Figured I would just hold this pace as long as I could and I just Kept slowly rolling faster times down to around a 6:20 by mile 13 or so. Came through 13.1 at around a 1:27 which isn't too far off the marathon plan. Held strong all the way to the finish. 15.4/6:38 

The run really felt good and it really surprised me. Every mile I was expecting to be steady or a bit slower, especially after mile 10, but I kept gaining speed. This was a confidence booster and lets me know that the training is slowly starting to pay off.

This time of year I wish I could live in St George. Mornings are awesome and afternoons are great for swimming and playing with the kids. 

AM - 7.2 Back in Shelley, got buzzed by some idiot this morning. I'm assuming he was going about 70 and actually edged closer to me from a ways off. That really ticked me off. Other than that a easy run that had the word "discipline" as a theme. It was a keep it slower at all costs. Probably went a little too hard yesterday and need a good day tomorrow. 

PM - 5.7 Sometimes I have no desire to do doubles but know it will eat at me all day if I don't. Another easy run on what I am trying to think up a route name for. Maybe, lunch time loop or recovery loop. 

AM - 11.1 The last few miles felt like walking death on this one. Ended up aborting the speed portion of this workout and just trying to finish. Anything under a 7:00 felt really hard so to get a couple miles at HMP and a couple at MP was good for today. 

PM - 6 Still feeling "off" but better than this morning. Warmed up for a few miles then dropped to MP for last 3. HR was low, legs felt ok, so overall body is doing fine. I might have just eaten poorly last night and that could be what's done me in today. 

AM - 5 woke up really late so went with my afternoon run in the morning and will just flip flop them. Good to run with Nikki again.

PM - 7 Ran at the gym due to serious stomach problems and wind/rain. Turned out to be a good choice. Feeling better but the stomach bug has me feeling a bit week and with a big run planned tomorrow I wondering how well I'll hold up.

My dog has turned almost useless on runs lately. I'm wondering what's got into him, he still runs well but has been acting up and been a little distracted. I will probably just keep dragging him around and hope he gets better.

3 separate runs all grouped together this morning. Ran 4 with my wife which was a good warm up then off to meet the group in IF. Jeff turned the 12 I ran with him into a tempo run for me :) wasn't planning on that but it worked out and I felt pretty decent throughout. Cooled down quite a bit on the drive home then finished up with a pretty torturous 6 miles, I don't think it helped running the last mile directly into the wind.

AM - 6 Miles with Nikki and then 3.27 solo nice and warm with not much left so I hit MP then dropped to HMP for the last 2. Felt good, still feel some effects from Saturday's long run, but not too much. Might hit the track this afternoon.

PM - 5.16 Decided to hit the Shelley High School track at lunch time. I forgot how nice it really is, however, the are two place the wind even when its not windy really hits you there. I decided to do 1/2 mile repeats with a 1/4 mile float in-between.  2:46 (went out a little fast here), 2:50 (still to fast, knew I would pay for it), 2:57(finally where I wanted to be), 2:58, 2:55, 2:56. I was hoping to be closer to 2:55 on each one but this was my first track workout in a long time and I was a touch off on the first two and paid for it a little later on. Overall with my floats 5.16/32:07/6:14. 

AM - 4 miles solo then 7 with Nikki. I was nice and toasty after 4 but then slowed down with Nikki and almost froze to death. I was chilled to the bone, still not warming up yet. I was planning on doing a bit more but the cold got to me plus I wanted to see the kids before they left for school so I cut it a bit short and will just add the missed miles on to this afternoon and tomorrow morning. Legs recovered pretty good from yesterday, still feel a little burn which is becoming normal.

PM - 6 Easy Shelley loop. This run was more out of necessity than anything else. Work stress is officially through the roof as we try to push to get in the new building. Everybody seems on edge and all of us are snapping easily. My wife asked me last night why I was so grumpy and if I really liked my job. I couldn't say anything (I was really grumpy). Still grumpy. 

Daughter has decided to run the hurdles. Wants me to help her. I know nothing about the hurdles. Any suggestions? 

Recovery day so I took this easy, but still ran the hills by my house. I'm feeling extremely worn down today and the run was a bit tough. Now for a day of yard work.

AM - 13.2 I was prepared to run in snow and rain this morning after looking at the forecast last night and to my surprise a relatively nice morning. Ran 4 warm up then back to pick up Nikki. It's a good thing she was there otherwise I would have went back to bed. I coaxed her into running 8 with me. It was really good for me to have company this morning or I would not have got this one in. 1 mile finish up between MP and HMP. Legs feeling a lot better than yesterday.

PM - 6. I am now convinced that Shelley has the worst track program around. My daughter called me from the track so I headed over to see if I could help out. When I got there they were stretching so I ran a couple miles on the track watching the completely unsupervised high school kids do whatever they wanted (no coach anywhere). After a couple miles I figured my daughter was bound to come over soon so I sat down and tried to take care of some work off of my phone. 15 minutes later the coach or whoever still was talking to them. They had been done stretching for over 20 minutes at 4:15 I had to leave and go back to work. They still weren't on the track, track is over at 4:30. I guess they really don't run in Shelley. Bad thing is they have and 8th grader (boy) who is really fast and has no coaching, I'm pretty sure the kid would kill me in a 5K by minutes..enough ranting..It was good to get out, I seem to run faster on the track, last double of the week.  

AM - 1.25 yep that's how far I made it this morning. I actually went a little over a half a mile before I decided to call it quits and ran back home. The weather sucked and I couldn't think of any good reason why I needed to get pelted in the face by tiny ice pellets for at least 9 miles before I turned my back to the wind for the other 9. So I will be doing a long run on a TM today.

PM - 14 Tempo run. I was trying for 18 total but had to call it quits a little early just not enough left in the legs. It was supposed to be an easy day but had to switch up because of going out of town so with the lack of rest I'm not surprised. I did get in the miles at MP that I wanted. 14/1:31 flat/6:30  

 I eat way too much pizza. 

AM - 4 super soft miles with Nikki this morning. Great easy morning run.

PM - 10.55 Aerobic workout. Sat on a 7:05 pace which is really uneasy for me. I would rather go faster or slower so I figured this would be a good aerobic workout pace. Finished 10.55/1:14:10/7:04 right where I wanted. THis was also the first time this year I've really dehydrated myself running. 

It's an easy week for me and much needed both physically and mentally. I need a small break from the higher miles I've been doing, just to load up again for another 3-4 week of high mileage and hard work outs. I missed yesterday and went to my daughter's first track meet instead. She did ok but definately needs to run more. She had fun and it was fun watching and yelling for the kids I knew. Now I just need to find time to sneek over a couple days a week and help out.

Slept in again this morning, I actually got up let the dog out and decided I didn't want to run in the wind. Sleep and a little leg rest is the name of the game this week. 9 mile progression starting out slow MP pace down to fast MP. 9/58:28/6:30 with  a 2 mile c/d.

AM - 6.7 easy 5 loop with Nikki then kicked it up for a short finish. So yesterday I wouldn't run in the wind but the rain really didn't bug me this morning until it felt like little ice needles going into my face at the end of the run when it started coming down a little harder. My thighs just aren't recovering very good right now, they seem to always ache.

AM - 8.4  ran first couple solo then picked up Nikki for 6. After such a horrible week I've decided that I really need to pay more attention to taking my supplements and eating better. I've been in this cycle of not caring and not taking anything at all. I believe all of that led to my break down and body feeling really lousy.

Good Luck to all my friends running Boston. I've been watching this morning and it's more fun when you're watching people, with I was there with you.

PM - 5.7 Felt a little amped up after watching Boston so probably went a little harder than normal here. Progression run 6:28 (This is GMP so pretty fast for a starting mile for me), 6:17,6:15, 6:11, 6:15 (not sure what happened just fell off a touch) 6:12(finishing pace) 5.7/35:27/6:16. Good afternoon run, everything felt smooth and this is kind of an in-between pace for me.

AM - 10.3 Just me and the dog this morning. Cool and a little breezy. Had a really long day at work yesterday so I feel like I'm pretty tired still.

PM - 10.56 This felt like a death march as I walked out the door. I was totally shot and just was not in a good mood. Made it through miles 1 and 2 at that point I started to believe I was going to make it through the whole loop. As I got to the middle portion, very exposed (spud field both sides), I just took it by feel. Turned towards home as started to feel much better. Ended with last 2.5 at MP. I'm actually happy and in a much better mood than I've been all morning. I did know torture would be this good.... 

Quiet morning run with Nikki. I don't think she said a word until a couple miles into the run. Between kids busy schedules and staying up late to take care of the house it doesn't seem like we're getting much sleep this week. The easy pace felt good on my legs and I was looking forward to an easy day. Day off but I'll be in and out of work like usual today. Hope I can actually get something accompished.

AM - Started out this morning early and needed some HMP miles. I usually warm up a few then hit it but out of necessity I got 1 warm up and then went. It was very hard to get there and hurt quite a bit so I didn't get as many as I wanted. Picked Nikki up and ran the remaining 5.5 at an easy pace to finish off the morning. I'm pretty tired and dragging already this morning just trying to work through it.

Ankle felt real tender around mile 2 this morning. It did snap out of it but I'll watch it and maybe use different shoes for the rest of the week. I do like my Brooks PureFlow the best out of all my shoes so it might be hard. 

Horrible stress filled day. Woke up wanted to run, wife begged me to stay and not get up, work was riduculous busy, problems, lots of things I couldn't get done. Was promised I could run when I got home without getting in trouble, got home an hour late from work, got in trouble when I mentioned going, went anyway.....now doing better, more relaxed, surprisingly my wife is now fine. Big run tomorrow, longest I'll do before the race, running the bench route I haven't ran it in a long time should be fun. Feeling much better now.

Last big training run before Utah Valley. Set out early and had a beautiful morning run. Saw a few deer and did all the hills I haven't seen in quite a while. Met my wife at mile 19 to finish off. She was a wreck. I guess two dogs (they came after me earlier) came after her and our dog and bit him. She was pretty upset and crying when she got to me. I got her calmed down and we headed for home. A different dog, the one I wanted to kill last year came out after us. I raise a pretty good ruckus yelling at him and the owner actually came out and called him back. Then his wife drove down to catch up to us and ask us if we were ok. My wife is too nice so I held my tongue a little. As we approached where the other dogs live I got a couple of rocks in my hands. Both came out again, both got hit by rocks and I'm about half tempted to get my shotgun and kill all three. I hate people who don't take care of their dogs. Mine doesn't leave my yard without me and would never attack another dog or person. These dogs may die at some point during the summer or become seriously maimed.   

1800 feet of climbing in this run, right at 3 hrs, I felt  pretty good but it got tough when Nikki slowed me down for the last 5 I could tell my legs wanted to go faster. Did get a few a MP but really wasn't trying, tried more to hold back and be contained. No need to kill myself in training.

AM - Went out with Nikki after a late wake up. Started out and legs started feeling really good and it was a great conversation with my wife. At about mile 3 we ran into a dog that my friend has, who watches my dog when I go out of town. My dog went nuts so I ran the other dog home and left my wife for a bit. As excited as my dog was this turned into a 5:30ish mile, not what I planned on. Met my wife for her last mile then finished on a canal loop that I haven't done in a couple years. My dog loved cashing the ducks in the water and running off leash. I might have to make this more of a habit again.

PM - 6 at the high school track during Jr High practice. I coaxed one of the decent 8th graders to run one of my 5x600 with me. I did a 400m float in between. 1 - 2:07(5:30), 2- 2:07 (5:30), 3-2:12 (5:40), 4-2:12 (5:40), 5-2:13 (5:42). He then joined me up for another 1.25 cool down at around a 6:40 pace. It was fun to work with the kids. The local 8th grade stud who runs around a 5:05 mile wouldn't run with us. I know him and his dad well and I'll keep working on him when I go. I think I might sneak down more often to help out. 6/38:01/6:20 

AM - 14.3 Easy consistent pace. Starting to feel much better. I can feel my body starting to get stronger on these runs which is really encouraging right now felt like I was bonking around mile 9 but when I looked at my mile splits when I was done all were with 5 seconds, start to finish. I'm going to be a little tired today. Stayed up late folding clothes and stumbled into a show called Ridiculousness which is basically short video clips of people doing really stupid things and getting hurt. My wife was almost crying she was laughing so hard. Pretty funny for about 30 minutes then it starts to wear off. Still it was worth losing the 30 minutes of sleep.

PM - 6.2 First mile hurt then I loosened up and fell right into pace ended up hitting a few slow MP miles without any effort. I'm glad today is over running wise. Tuesdays seem to take a lot out of me in every aspect. I was soooo hungry I ate lunch at 11 today. I was eating anything I could get my hands on. I imagine thats not real good to let myself get that bad.

Wow, what a beautiful morning. Only problem was my wife was walking out the door without gloves so I followed suit and left mine on the table. Wasn't a real smart choice. Easy first 5 with Nikki then a fast canal loop to finish it off. Now yard work.

Only one run today because I had to fast this morning for a blood test and couldn't force myself to run on empty and then not eat for another couple of hours. So did some speed work. 8@ HMP pace. .5@MP and .6 WU/CD what I had timed was 8.5/50:54. I felt pretty strong throughout and know I couldn't have done this a month ago so I'm slowly getting there.

AM - 7.1 before the weather got really yucky. 5 easy with Nikki then 2.1 at MP solo. My wife had a good venting run and I had a good listening, not trying to solve anything run (at least I'm not the one she's upset with). 

PM - 6.1 Outside nice and easy. I had my shirt off Tuesday and wore a synthetic down jacket today...must live in Idaho. 

Well, let's see. I couldn't get out of bed, when I did I took forever getting ready, once I started I felt super slow for 5-6 miles. Kept thinking I should've stayed in bed. When I turned around at 9 I started feeling better ran about a 7 minute negative split on the way home. So the entire last half was right around MP. My dog tried to stop around mile 16-17 somehow got him back on track to finish off the entire run. Ran to Rattle Snake Transfer Site and back aka my summer bench route. It is so quiet and peaceful out there, hardly any cars.

PM - 5.07 No one home, so I went running. I decided early today that I would go for a shake out if I felt good. Started out feeling great, felt great throughout enitre run. Thought about going farther but decided to stop while I still felt good. 5.07/32:37/6:26 

I guess I need to re-up my gym membership. I had to beg my way in today because the person there couldn't take my money and I let it lapse. Felt lucky to get in because I did not want to run in the wind today. 13/1:25:56

AM - 12.25 4.5 at MP to start off the day then 6 real slow with Nikki and 1.75 to finish off the morning. I really hate the wind. If it keeps blowing like this I'll be inside again this afternoon. I'd rather do intervals on a track but due to being a pansy I'll probably be on a TM watching the trees lean out the window.

PM - 8 The hardest workout I've done 5x1000m @ 5K (5:30, not sure if this is accurate because I've never ran a 5K, all I know is it was hard as #$%%) 600m floats in between, mile warm up and some more to cool down. I was trying for 6 of these but couldn't do it. I think this weeks training program is to teach me how to run fast on trashed legs.

Recovery day so this one was soft, around 7:30 pace for entire run. Nikki didn't want to get up this morning so it was just me and the dog. The dog didn't even want to run this morning. My legs were stiff and flat, they had nothing in them after yesterday. I decided within the first mile not to push at all. The hard part was staying soft even after my legs loosened up.

Got my blood test back and I'm low in protein and triglycerides. The lab wrote a note telling me not to be on a low protein diet. I think I eat more meat than most people but now I have to get more of it into me I guess. All of the other stuff I have to look up since I have zero idea what any of them mean but they did tell me I was healthy. 

AM - 7 Woke up early then chose to go back to bed until 6 and get a little more sleep. Once I did get up I was out the door within 5 minutes and the first mile was pretty slow. Took about 3 miles to warm up but I'm still feeling Tuesday's workout a bit.

PM - 6 Unintentional progression run. 7:10, 6:59, 6:53, 6:38, 6:25, 6:06. Started feeling really good at the end and felt like I could keep dropping pace. I was surprised to feel energy and a little pep in my legs, they were heavy this morning. You have got to love the Idaho wind. My first 3 1/2 or so miles were pretty much straight in to it. Last one was straight into my side which made me feel like I was rocking back and forth with the gusts. 

Can I just say my blood test that said I was low in protein has been killing me the last few days. I eat a TON of meat, Saturday I ate 2 double cheese burgers and 4 hot dogs ....for lunch! I really don't want to add more to my diet. I may sound like a high school cheerleader but I really don't want to add protein and gain weight. Not sure what I'm supposed to do here. What about the advice to run a lot and eat like you're poor to get faster. Where can I get more protein? I drink shakes after every run, eat like a horse and take supplements. Now my wife is feeding me eggs every breakfast along with my normal food. Also low in tryglicerides don't even know where to start there. Me and google have a date tonight. I'm sure there's lots of junk out there for the semi-old man overly obsessed  runner, ha ha ha, that can break it down for me.

AM - 4 Slept in a bit ran real soft with Nikki. After I was done and the kids were off to school I climbed back in bed and fell asleep for 30 minutes.

PM - 8.14 Lunch loop plus I added the hill to work on driving through with my quads and lifting with my hamstrings (thanks Jeff) it seems sometimes I can make myself believe that a soft uphill is downhill. Pretty weird when its all going on I feel a touch light headed most of the time it happens. 

Easy, breezy 20 miler with Jeff. Great company, not so nice day. Felt pretty good throughout entire run. Tightened up a touch around 18 but was able to kick just a little last .25 or so. Went home and made sombrero pancakes for the kids. Lots of energy still. We'll see how it hold for the rest of the day. Good morning.

AM - 9.1 First 5.5 with Nikki then down to MP to finish off the run. Talk about a 180 degree turn around from Saturday. Got home a little late this morning no breakfast so it was 2 cake doughnuts and a chocolate milk from the grocery store, or should I say fun breakfast of champions.

PM - 5.58 8x600 workout. 2:07, 2:07, 2:04, 2:03, 2:04, 2:04, 2:03, 2:04 averaged out to 5:20ish pace. I could've kept going but really didn't want to push it too hard. Did most of the workout with my new 8th grade track buddy who runs track with my daughter. I was trying to keep him at 1:20 quarters then I would finish off the 600 solo. He did 5 with me and a mile cool down and 1/4 warm up. One of the coaches freaked out a little because he has districts tomorrow so I hope the 2.5 total miles he did with me doesn't hurt him. He asked me after we were done when I run at the track so he could hook up and run. I didn't know a kid that young would enjoy pain. At least I have a track buddy even if he's 14.

AM - 14.25 Went out feeling ok but leg turn over seemed good so I just tried to maintain. Was able to hold GMP or real close (within a few seconds) for almost entire run. Probably one of my last hard efforts until next weekend. I will now attempt to back off pace a bit but keep distance up. Wife was sick this morning so now I'm slightly freaked out and preloading on vitamin C and whatever else I can get my hands on. One day I will remember body lube, I swear this happens constantly.

PM - 6 Lunch loop, no shirt, awesome weather. That's where the awesomeness ends. I felt like absolute poop for this run. Leg turnover was still really good so easy ended up being slow MP. Not much of a consolation, I don't think there was another speed in my legs. I couldn't have forced myself faster or slower.  

Easy day. Legs weary from yesterday, really no punch felt like I was wearing cement shoes.

One good thing about a TM you can just set the pace and control yourself. Wind had me all flustered so I end to the gym. Legs still feeling flat. Not feeling real well today. 

AM - 7 Finally ran with Nikki which I haven't done it what seems like a while. My legs needed the easy pace and they're starting to come around. Nice hard sprint to finish which felt so good and smooth.

I was thinking today how most runners are either getting slower from running track in high school / college and moving on to longer distances or trying to get faster because they've never really ran but somehow both are meeting somewhere in the middle. I started running just last year and when I run with the younger kids it seems like their speed is just so easy and then us old guys talk of mile splits in a whole different reality. Ok, enough babbling, Bench route, rolling hills, I pushed flat and down hill tempo a bit more, took it way easy on the climbs. Overall good run. 18.6/2:06/6:45

 This is also my attempt at a lower week. It was a little  hard to lay off a couple afternoon runs but my body needed it. I went home from work last night and just crashed. I slept 9-10 hours for the first time in a long time. My wife was a little upset I didn't do anything but I just couldn't my body just gave up.

Track workout alternated 1:30 and 1:42 8 times warm up and cool down 2.2. It was hot today. I guess I deserved it for not get myself out of bed this morning but it worked out better because I needed a break from work. A lot of stress today. Tons of work, whining salesman and just plain too much to do in any one day and I was attempting to get caught up from Saturday. So I now sit behind a endless pile of paper work, titles and credit apps hoping to maybe get caught up by Wednesday....probably won't happen ...even if I sleep here.

AM - 10.25 Wonderful morning run. Nice and easy other than a couple miles at HMP on some slight down hills to test out the legs there was not much effort put forth. Bad day at work yesterday translated into bad evening at home. I was short with the kids and wife. Not a real good evening at the Hudman house. Today has to be better.

PM - 5.4 Today is much better so far. Easy run on a hot afternoon. 5.4/6:50 avg Starting to go through race paces in my head during every run. Hope my body can do this.

I'm putting down "easy miles" because of pace but they were not "easy". If there was a category for hard, mentally taxing, exhausting, wanting to quit miles they would fall under that category. Worst run I've had this year, my "strong" to borrow a Saucony term went and hid under a rock today. Legs felt like iron cement sticks. Tried to push a bit at the end to see if it would feel better but it felt worse and the pace was still miserably slow so I backed off in a hurry.

Good news, it happened today and not later in the week. I can't imagine any run being worse than this so at least its over. Still, not a great mentally boosting run. Now I'm wondering if I've overtrained a bit. 

Day off. Eat, rest, run tomorrow. Feeling better and have a little too much spunk today.

Would've liked to get out this morning but I slept in on accident. Legs feeling better did 5x100 to make sure legs had something. Getting nervous for tomorrow.

Coming into this race I was really nervous because I had a horrible week of running. Legs just never seemed to come around. Arrived in Ogden around 11PM last night to stay at my sister's friends house. They were very nice to leave the house unlocked and a blow up mattress on the floor for me. Slept great, got around 5:30 to get ready. Then the friends husband gave us aride to the starting line. Got there about 15 minutes before start time so I did a little warm up and got to the line.

Starting line

Now I've had problems here in the past because slow people tend to go where they shouldn't so I figured right on the line ought to be good. WELL a girl in some Vibram 5 Fingers and her friend step almost on top of me to get in front of me. HAD it been a girl that actually looked like she hadn't read Born to Run one to many times I might not have been upset. Within 5 yards of the starting line I just about threw her and her friend out of the way. Side note she didn't palce anywhere close to the top because she wasn't with anyone that did as I watched the finishers.

Miles 1-4

I was a little worried about starting out right and getting to the right pace fast, but a little group formed and hit first four 5:57, 6:04 (touch of an uphill), 5:58, 6:03. Group broke up around 3ish and a couple dropped pace a little faster and the rest dropped so I was in no man's land by myself for the rest of the race. Pace was feeling good at this point.

Miles 5-8

I knew I would need to get in a few faster miles here in case I had some trouble holding on. 5:41, 5:58, 6:00, 5:59. Turns out I was pretty locked into a pace and recovering on some of the down hill.

Miles 9-10

Last fast part of course and I needed to push it a bit, feeling the fatigue a little here. 5:42, 5:53

Mile 11

Blackest part of any run I've ever been on. It was really hard to get through this. I felt pace just sink here. Had to fight through it. 6:30

Miles 12-13.1

Holding on here just telling myself it would be over soon and to keep driving the legs.

6:12, 6:14, 1:23

Overall extremely happy with the results. I kept telling myself an A+ day would be anything under 1:20. I did it!! 

AM - 7 Easy run with Nikki. Legs are feeling much better. Nikki and I had a conversation about how most people feel like they should've run faster in their races. I reflected a little on that and I am still in a little shock that I ran that time. I might be able to argue over a few seconds here and there but I also ran a lot of miles faster than I had anticipated, so with that I think I put forth my best time based on where I am right now, which makes me pretty happy.

PM - 6.1 Picked tempo up a bit legs still sore but held pace pretty good finished up last mile at MP. Nice hot day. 6.1/41:20/6:47

The wind and all around nasty weather put me at the gym today. I decided to try and do a MP run and see how it went. It ended up being a touch difficult but manageable. Isn't that how it really will be?? Anyways I'm feeling pretty strong still after the half and with the reduction in miles I wanted to make sure I'm running some good quality runs. Warm up 1 mile at 7 min, MP 13 miles / 6:27 overall 14/1:31:01/6:30

Just the faithful running companion Hutch this morning. Nikki wouldn't get up so I probably ran this recovery run a touch too fast. 1 mile at HMP going down hill because the dog was acting like he was on crack this morning. I guess he was "feeling" it and so I had to ran faster than I wanted.

Didn't want to run today so I figured out I'd do a work out I wouldn't like anyways. Warm up / Cool Down to and from track, couldn't see the point driving. I also some how ended up wearing the heaviest shoes I have to the track. It felt like I was running in cement boots. I really don't like my Triumphs that much. They do provide good support but are just heavy and stiff. I know it wasn't that smart. Guess it was just the day.

Track workout

4x1200 4:34, 4:34, 4:35, 4:33 (1:00 rest)

4x800   2:58, 3:01, 3:02, 3:02 (1:15 rest)

4x400   1:26, 1:26, 1:25, 1:24  (1:30 rest) 

Yesterday was a rough one. I think I tried to sleep as much as I could. Just plain wore out. 

Ok, so this morning didn't go so well. The plan was to run with my wife. It ended up being my wife, her friend and two dogs. From the start the dogs were driving my crazy and then by mile 4 the pace fell so slow I was coming out of my skin. So I did what anyone else would do... I left them around mile 5. Now at this pint I was pretty ticked off so I ran fairly hard. I'm figuring by effort I was MP or below, might have even been HMP but since my garmin stopped (lost satellite signal) 1 mile into the run I'm not sure. As soon as I walked in the door the phone rang. It was my wife, asking me to run back and meet her to make sure the new neighbor great dane puppy, who's becoming increasingly aggressive, didn't bug her. So I put on a smile and ran back. Now this is where it gets a little bad. They started asking me why I left them and my mouth said (I think my brain just gave into it at this point) "because you guys slowed down so much I couldn't handle it, you're normally not that slow ". Now I'm in trouble and my wife is mad at me because I'm always grumpy. I'm thinking hey that will never happen again. If friends show up I'll go one way and let them go the other. Nikki runs soooo much better with out her friends. She's really a lot tougher and faster than she thinks but you get her with another woman and it just gets ridiculous for some one like me to run with in a group.

Early morning run with Jeff. The group was pretty much out in full force, except for Gray who wanted to meet at 6:30, guess he needed his beauty sleep this morning. I've had those days. Jeff and I needed a bit faster pace this morning so we left the group from the start. Started out good then started rolling along. Pace was pretty good, middle miles we were hitting a solid aerobic pace then we backed off a touch to see how we could finish the last three. So, we turned around and took off. 1st mile seemed pretty fast and I had to dial the second down (Jeff kept going strong) quite a bit and finished with a decent last mile. Jeff was really strong throughout. It was great to have someone to run this with. Good run and effort a couple weeks out.

AM - 5 Woke up a little late this morning so I only got in 5 with Nikki. Easy relaxed pace for me but Nikki was really struggling. I think she ran her high mileage week of the year last week and her legs have been hurting. I've been silently chuckling to myself each time she talks about it.

PM - 2 with Brytan 

Ran my Shelley half loop from my work. Figured this route out a while ago and it is almost a perfect half marathon. Went a little late so it was hotter than planned. Hit a few miles at pace but that was about it. Feeling fairly fatigued after the run.

Easy recovery day. Hill loop with Hutch. Legs tired and pace was a bit slower than normal but I'm now becoming a bit used to this after harder days/weeks. I was going to run last night but ended up shoveling and raking rocks for two hours so I figure that ought to count as cross training. Now more hard yard work today and some time with the family.

AM - Didn't sleep at all last night. Went from bed to sofa to bed, then I just got up and ran. Didn't know how it would go. First mile warm up ended up being almost at target pace then I kicked in a touch of speed work in the run. Next two miles at HMP then I backed off to MP and threw in fast and slow surges for the rest of the run. Overall 7.2/46:37/6:28

Feeling a bit drained from running right now. I think this 18 week schedule is a bit tough. More so mentally than physically. I'm breaking down a bit right now, body is feeling strong but having a tough time staying there mentally. The schedule is wearing my wife out and she's starting to get really short with me. I'm looking forward to a good race and a good break afterwards. Fishing, hiking and playing and still running but without any pressure. I seem to put too much of that on myself.

PM - Short run with the kids who now think it's fun to run a mile like Dad. It's becoming a daily thing. 

"The mind is always selling the body" 

The Perfect Mile.

Getting out has been tough this week. Seems like I have a million reasons not to run but once I get out I feel better. Slept through my alarm today, again. I swear 90 miles a week is easier than this. You just get in a groove and run but this is tough. 

Started out real easy then as I went along I just went by feel and slowly started picking up the pace until I was around MP for the entire last half of the run. Felt pretty strong throughout but I guess I should by now. The big dilemma for me right now is which shoes do I wear? The ones I was planning on, hurt my feet pretty bad last week and I'm not so sure about my ST5's which is why I've wore them the last two days. I'm leaning heavily towards them but still not sure. I think my PureFlow's are a bit too light and there's no way I'm wearing the Triumph's. This would be a whole lot easier if I only owned one pair of shoes

2 miles alone then back to pick up Nikki for 5. Easy run. Nikki was having some issues this morning. So I got to hear about calf, foot, knee and thigh pain the whole way. I'm taking her to get new shoes today.

I was sick all day yesterday and I'm marginal today. Loaded up on drugs and vitamin C. 

5.5 @ 6:58 , 2@6:22, .5@6:00. Easy run.

This week is starting much better than the last time I was preparing for a marathon. I might just sleep in every day this week and just run at lunch. Starting to feel better but still have a lot of mucus in my lungs.   

Couldn't have asked for a more perfect day, dead calm, sunny and cool. Started out soft and made myself stay that way. At the end the legs started to roll just a touch faster but I kept them in check. Focused on stride and relaxing this morning.

Got to Provo a little later than planned so I went right to sleep at the hotel without much thought of anything else. I was able to talk my wife into driving me to the bus and the going back to her pick up point at the mall which was right across from the hotel (she was very nice). I got on the bus shoved in my headphones and tried to get more sleep. The same was had at the starting line, just trying to relax, I did notice the wind but didn't think much of it. Now at the starting line, I could tell there were a bunch of really good runners. Someone asked Jon Kotter (last year's St George winner) what he was trying to run. He said he was planning on winning it but didn't know since three Kenyans had showed up (He ended up 3rd behind 2 of them). I thought it was pretty funny.

Miles 1-4 (6:07, 6:10, 6:14, 6:10) These miles seemed really easy. I had to hold myself back quite a bit here but I kept thinking these are a little too fast for me I need to slow down.

Miles 5-7 (6:22, 6:24, 6:21) Didn't need to worry about slowing down because I got a 20mph headwind right here. I tried to tuck in with a group and draft as much as possible for the next little while. Took a Gu at 7.

Miles 8-11 (6:45, 7:15, 6:30, 6:32) Headwind and hills. Still trading off drafting with the group. My stomach was really turning and I knew I couldn't last much longer.

Mile 12 (8:28) Pit stop. Dropped the group I knew I would be on my own from here on out.

Mile 13-13.1 (6:54, 1:24 --  1:28:04) I'm thinking here just hang on. I was feeling so weak from the stomach issue. I knew with the wind there was no way I would run what I was hoping for and decided to try and maintain 6:30-6:40 miles. Didn't think much more than this, just started hoping I would feel better at some point.

Miles 13.1 - 26.2 (6:41, 6:40 , 7:06, 6:51, 6:33, 6:37, 6:35, 6:38, 6:45, 6:45, 7:23, 6:44, 6:37, 1:01 -- 1:28:29) Started feeling better around 18 and knew I would need to take another Gu or probably run out of steam. Sucked it down around 20 and at 24 I had to walk through a water station and hoped to get a hold of my stomach. It worked and I was able to finish strong. The last couple of miles I was right behind the women's overall leader and there was a police escort for her. I just kind of hung back for a bit they were doing a pretty good job clearing the way. With about a mile left she started dying so I kicked it up and passed her. I talked to her afterwards and she looked dead. She said the whole thing was hard. I don't think I pushed myself that hard so I might have left some out there today. Came within 25 seconds of an even split. Take out the pit stop and it was a 2 minute positive split not too good.

Overall I felt ok. The wind took a lot out of me and stomach problems didn't help much. I'm learning more and more with each race. Today I learned a bunch. I can run a marathon and hold pace for this long. Need to work harder on tempo and speed workouts. The top 3 in my age group were a lot faster than me so I need to work hard if I'm going to be competitive in future races.

First couple miles around a 10:30 pace with Nikki, then she turned back and I went a few solo. I took some kind of wrong turn and ended up going farther than I wanted.

Back from vacation. Easy morning run with Nikki. Legs are feeling better. Nikki's calf is still really bugging her, wish we could figure it out.

UVM Race Report Finally have it entered.

PM - 6 lunch loop. Harder than I expected. Haven't done doubles in a couple of weeks and the body still is not recovered very well. Got down to 6:30 pace for a couple but I just couldn't hold it. Had to back off and finish slow. 

5.5 Took it easy this morning. Still having a hard time breathing (lungs burn). I've now had a nasal infection for a couple of weeks that just won't get better so I'm not feeling real well overall, still achey.

Reading in Runner's World a SLC man thinks he can break 2:00 in the marathon if the has time to train for 1 1/2 years. I'm guessing he just saw the advertisement for the Big Cottonwood Marathon 4000'+  drop.

PM 6 Lunch loop. Much better than yesterday. I actually enjoyed running for the first time in quite awhile. It didn't hurt or feel like I had to do it. I was giving myself the option of not going but am glad I did.

Decided to change things up and run in the hills today. Drove to the mouth of Wolverine Canyon and run up 7 miles and then back. Ended up being around a 1700' climb and then back down. Beautiful morning. Body is feeling OK. Hamstrings and ankle feeling a little weak. Not much energy. Still feeling pretty flat.

8 Mile progression run (6:27 avg) starting at slow MP and working down to fast MP 2 Mile cd. Would've like to have done all 10 in progression but legs just didn't have it today and HR was sky high during last couple miles so I shut it down. Calves are pretty sore but it felt good to run at a little faster pace again. Overall 10/1:05:36/6:34

AM - 5 Woke up late which is becoming a reoccurring theme. I just can't seem to get enough sleep. Last night when I got home I was just blasted, my whole body was just weak. Avg. pace 6:25 had to run faster so I could make it to work and still get in a short run. 

PM - 13 More or less an even paced effort with a pick up to MP the last 4.5. Ran at the gym today because I really hate the wind right now and I wanted to watch soccer. I figured this was the best way to accomplish both a medium long run and stay happy. I never thought running on a TM could achieve happiness but today it just worked. 

Easier pace today. Ran about half with Nikki and the rest solo. Good to just get out and talk. I'm lucky to have a wife who likes to run as well. Had a friend fall rock climbing on Saturday and he's pretty messed up. His heels are shattered and is pretty much guaranteed to have pain in them for the rest of his life. I was visiting him last night and the Doctor told him he wasn't ever going to be a runner. Made me think how really fragile and luck we are to be able to run and put in the miles we do.

AM - 6.1 1 mile warmup and then just naturally fell into a 6:27-6:30 pace. Didn't seem like much work so I just kept with it.

PM - 6 Lunch loop. I would never want to race on this route because no matter what I do I run it within 30 seconds of the same time almost always. I can start fast or slow. Today I got a nice break a 1/4 mile from ending by a train I had to wait for to cross the tracks. It was a little hotter than I'm used to, but a beautiful day. 

Didn't feel like running yesterday or this morning so I didn't. I can honestly say this is the first time in awhile I haven't felt guilty for not running. This is a huge step on my part. I know I need somewhat of a break but haven't been able to do it. I'm sure I'll run next week and start gearing up a bit but for right now I really just want to go fishing.

Quit running after three, almost puked. I just don't have any energy or desire to run.....

Well, I still hate running but my brother-in-law has been bugging me to do a track workout with him. I think it's going to be a once a week type of a deal for the next little while. He wants to get faster, so I met him at the track this morning. 2 mile warm up. I think he thought this was a little long for a warm up. 10 x 400 @ 5K pace 1:20 avg. Low lap was 1:19, high was 1:21 most were dead on 1:20. Then a 2 mile cool down at around slow MP. It did feel good to get in a workout this morning before the wind really came up. I might do a medium long run this afternoon. We'll see how I feel and motivation/energy level around lunch time. Trying to work out a quick fishing trip either Friday or Saturday night.

PM - 13.5 Just doing a little better. It was still a difficult run mentally. Really wanted to quit around 10 but was able to finish what I wanted to run. Slow progression run starting at 6:57 and finishing around 6:27. I think I'll push through a bit of this crap if I can so I don't lose much fitness. I can tell speed is already down a bit. Not real worried about that.

AM - 7 I'm a little erratic lately. I owe this morning's ambition to my wife who got me up and going. We went out a little late. I was figuring 4 was all we'd get but she coaxed me to 5 and then I started feeling better so I finished off 2 more with just the dog along the canal road. My motivation towards running is sooo low right now. I do feel better when I go but it's been real difficult.

 PM - 10.6 and 1 almost heart attack. Ran a loop I haven't done in awhile and wasn't paying attention when a red heeler almost took me out. Other animal news, kicked a wiener dog that was at my ankles for more than a few steps right in front of his owner but the wild animals seem like they've had a bit of bad luck dead skunk, porcupine and squirrel all within a couple mile stretch. Vanilla Bean Gu messes me up. I took it today and I was looking for a restroom 2 miles later. Lucky for me North Bingham County park was right there. I also took these at UVM so I think I've solved my stomach problem. Super hot day.

I finally did make it fishing (dry fly). Ended up at the family ranch pond. This is about the average sized fish in it. There are much, much bigger.

Here's the main jogging partner who made laps around the pond while I fished. I think he had the most fun of anyone. 

AM - 8.6 I finally had a bit of motivation this morning and was able to get up a bit earlier and run. Yesterday I just felt so much better after running early I knew I needed to do it again today. Hill route and canal loop all solo not even my dog (Nikki took him) very peaceful morning run.

PM - 6.1 Energy levels are getting better. My right knee is starting to feel a little "loose" not sure I like how it's feeling. I little worrisome. Eating Hershey's chocolate. It's pretty good stuff. Best of all I'm hitting the river tonight hopefully I'll get a few fish on dries.  

AM - 14.5 I need to get out of this only running 4 days a week rut I've been in. Seems like I run good 3 days a week and then fall off. That's ok because I've needed the break. Now I'll see if I can get in some kind of shape for the Idaho Falls Half I signed myself up for.

PM - 6.1 Lunch loop. New shoes. Super hot. Heading to Boise tomorrow night for the 4th. 

AM - 7 track work out 6x800 2:53 avg. not quite what I wanted but I'm feeling a touch fatigued from yesterday. Worked until late mowing and getting ready to leave.

PM - 7 5@MP (32:01) Warm up/ Cool Down. Decided to throw a tempo run on top of a track workout to see how I held up. Next few days should be at a much softer pace running with my wife. I like the new shoes so far. 

Had my son pace me out on a bike for the first 6 miles. One we got up to speed it was pretty good training with a lot of surges off and on around fast MP.

AM - nice slow recovery miles with Nikki.

Wanted to do much more but vacation and a sick kid wouldn't allow me. Most of the run I was just a few seconds off MP which I'll take due to the heat. I'm not one for running in hot weather 90 degrees when I finished this up.

Did I actually run 6 days this week?? Maybe I can put in some solid miles now.

AM - 11.5 Good to be home again. Was sleeping really good, probably because it was my own bed, so it was hard to get up but what a beautiful morning. Ran my hill loop got a few miles in around GMP. 

PM - 7.6 First good speed workout in awhile. Alternated between MP (recovery) and HMP (target) 1@6:22, 2@6:00, 1@6:22, 2@6:00, 1@6:22 7/43:16/6:10 warm up and cool down .3 to and from gym. A lot of road work going on in front of my work and all of the back roads I run on are busier than ever so I chose indoors today. Might make the gym a little more frequent with the great heat wave going on in the afternoons.  

Listened to a great podcast from Ben Greenfield about drinking too much fluids while exercising and sport drinks in general. Made me wonder how much I really need to take in.  Dr. Timothy Noakes talks a lot about drinking to thirst v. drinking a prescribed amount. It's really good.

AM - 7 track workout 8x600 w/200 float then 8x100. Went a little easier today and just paced out my brother in law on the 600's it was fun and just a relaxed morning. Nice and cool.

I guess I just need a 40lb weight vest in order to run faster than everyone one ... oh and someone to pay me for two years to implement Hobie Call's plan. Maybe some good supplements I probably wouldn't worry about legality for 2 years of said supplements for 2 years either. Maybe Balco could hook me up with a sponsorship.......

PM - 7 recovery pace. 

Easy day. I think the 100's yesterday had a little more effect than I thought they would. Upper thighs and hips pretty tight.

AM - 7 untimed miles. Still feeling pretty tight this morning. After a couple miles my hips loosened up and I was able to relax and run better. Very peaceful, I need to do these types of runs more.

Blew up my Saucony Triumphs today. The whole side ripped apart. I don't think I've ever been more disappointed in a pair of shoes, didn't even get 500 miles out of them before they fell apart (502 miles after the run, they fell apart mid run). It wasn't just one shoe either, both shoes were slowly ripping in the same spot and this morning the right one ripped along the whole outside arch area. Threw them in the trash right after the run. 

PM - 7 progression run 6:40-6:08 legs feeling pretty tight still but made it through.

Not much to say other than I ran today.

Great morning run although it was pretty humid for Idaho. Ran a hill loop and drug my dog pretty much the whole loop. He was running good but now has been a bit of a stinker on these last few. I think it may be the heat but if he doesn't run in the morning he turn into a turkey the rest of the day. After the loop I got in my car to meet Curt for another 8-10 we ended up going 9. It was good to run with him again. Also ran a touch with Lynette. Nice easy pace for most of this run although I was able to push it a couple times and get down into mid MP.

AM - 9.66 Tried to tempo this a bit and get down to low HMP on the down hills. Legs are overall pretty flat and tired it was real work getting in at least a few of these and then the legs just gave out so I cut the run short and will see how tonight goes up in Island Park. Had to drag the dog again. He really isn't doing very good these days, might have to keep the runs with him a bit shorter.

Boy scout camp run in Island Park. Slept on the ground and the first 10 miles felt horrible but then I started to warm up even though the last few were uphill they started rolling off pretty easy. Good to spend a night up here with my son.

4 super slow miles in the mountains. Woke up and felt like crap all around so kept this short. Up at West Piney Girls Camp slept horrible. Had a great day with the girls. Sometimes I feel like I really take for granted that I'm able to be so active. Started a hike with the girls, at 1/2 mile my wife had to turn around and take a girl back to camp I made it 1 1/2 miles before I had to take 2 girls back the rest only went up 1 mile further and half of them were mad because they wanted to go the full 7 up and back we had planned. Just goes to show the huge difference in girls. I was at least glad to see that my daughter was up with the faster ones and she was wanting more.

Back home easy loop this morning. Dog did much better. Legs feeling good before the race on Saturday. Trying to figure out what my plans and race strategy should be, go out super fast hope to hold on or be more conservative. Going out hard seems to be the main choice, but how hard not so sure.

A bit of a taper so just did a short easy run with Nikki. Went fishing last night and it stunk to say the least I guess the water has raised 2000+ cfs in the last couple of days. We we got to the truck, miscommunication ended up getting my keys locked inside (both sets) so we waited for a locksmith on the Menan boat ramp until 11:00. At least it was a beautiful night but I ended up sleeping in a bit later than I wanted...

Quick warmup then off to the starting line. 

Started out fast, probably too fast. Blew up around mile 7. If someone would've offered me a ride from here to the finish line I would have taken it. By all accounts an "F". the only thing good the "F" stands for is finished. Don't know how I did but I did.

Huge blister on my right heal. I felt it at mile 2 and knew I was in trouble. Pushed through it, hurts now and has three more friends on my foot.

Need to learn to race more within myself. I know I can run fast but the first few miles were well outside my parameters. I knew it after one and didn't have the sense to slow down.

I did take a huge risk on this race and I think I would've regretted not doing it.

Great support for this race. It was great to actually see and notice my family as I was running towards the finish. Jeff was great to grab me and make sure I was ok, I wasn't it was a character run today and it sucked. 

Just wasn't my day. 

Can you really be pissed off about a 1st place AG finish?

I'm still sick, close to puking at 1:30 

5 Mile bike ride with the kids. I pulled two of them in the bike cart. I feel horrible, can barely move today. Wasn't expecting this.

AM - 5 My thighs feel like hamburger, hips are super tight and calves are shot. I didn't feel this bad after St. George. The first mile was excruciating, second wasn't much better, third I started loosening up and the last two hurt. I'll see how I feel this afternoon I might or might not run. Blister on my heel really didn't bug me, probably because everything else hurt so bad.

Legs feel more like cube steak v hamburger today. I'm sure walking better. Took this morning off and enjoyed a nice sleep in. It was a good relaxing morning just laying in bed feeling the breeze in the fan and absolutely content not to go running.

7 mile progression run running last mile at HMP.