Getting back in shape!

Man, haven't been here a while. Went on a nice seven that included a pretty steep hill on 900 North. Felt really great throughout the whole run, even after being banged up from playing basketball.

Finally, the weather got warm and I was able to go on the first bike ride of the year. Only got in 14 miles and I'm pretty out of shape but I'm going to be putting a lot more time on the saddle this spring. My old pair glasses just snapped randomly in two while riding. I thought it was really weird and I'm not sure if I should take it as a good or bad sign. I'll probably take it as a good sign.

Well, the ride yesterday was not a good idea it turns out. I got really sick and had to leave school early. Staying in bed all day sucks.

I felt a LOT better today. I don't know if it was the 18 or so hours of sleep I got yesterday or the Umcka natural medicine jerrell told to me take but I felt great enough to go on a run today.

Speed workout, on a treadmill. Yeah I know I'm lame, but did some 400s and called it good after a long day.

Went on a hilly six miler. Finally starting to get back into shape.

I was reluctant yesterday but my brother wanted to prep for the shamrock shuffle so I ended up going to a small fundraising 5K at the Smithfield rec. It was warmer than I though it would be so I accidentally overdressed for the run. Jerrell and Conner made some agreement to go slow and so I ran with them for the entire race. I only struggled on a gradual climb in the last mile but after that it was easy cruising. I got talked into sprinting ahead of the two of them towards the end. I didn't really want to but they kept insisting so I sprinted a little bit ahead of them. I was in the low 19s and the were in the 19:30s. Overall it was a very fun run and my brother ran a good time for him after coming back from a stress fracture.

Went on a nice, nice afternoon run to center street and up to campus. I ran around the cemetery and looped back. I felt good, but a little heavy. Probably because I had just eaten three slice of pizza before the run.

I got caught up working on a video yesterday so I didn't have time to run. I did sneak in a nice seven miler. I think I'm finally back in running shape. Never felt this great in a while. I kept a nice fast pace even with two hard climbs. 

Weather was great so I got back on the saddle and went on a nice 25. I did struggle a little, but a few more rides should get rid of the rustiness. I rode on my Titanium bike and plan on riding on it for the first part of spring, at least until I get back into shape. Later in the day after a short nap, I went on a nice longer run. I felt good for the entire run, even better than last time. I don't know why but I tend to feel good on a run after a do a bike ride that same day, must be the triathlete in me.

Stuck around a good while after school to watch a track meet. It was fun  and afterwards I barely got enough time to get in 16 on the bike. Even in that little amount of mileage I felt way better than yesterday. I think I could get back to last year shape in matter of a few weeks and some longer rides. I felt the rides on my run later in the day and I overdressed, feeling uncomfortable for most the run, overall it was a crappy run so I could only get 6 miles in.

I rode down south past Paradise and Avon, almost getting to Porcupine but the road got pretty bad with lots of rocks and dirt. I had moments where I felt good and moments where I just felt like crap. It was still nice though. Didn't run today but did play a lot of basketball.

Barely got to the race in time due to my brother taking forever, During that time I ate a pretty full breakfast, I couldn't resist since I hadn't had breakfast all week. No time for a warm up and pretty much went from the car to the starting line. I saw that Zan and Connor where there and went to catch up with them. The race started and I might've started a little too fast on the uphill start even though I was trying not to. Zan caught up to me and we ran together and left the field except for Connor who had left us a while ago, that kid haha.  Anyway we ran together for the first mile and bit more until he gaped me on a turn. For a the rest of the race until the last 800 the gap was the same distance but then I just kinda gave up the last 800. Zan got a really good time and he's really been improving. The conditions were great, with lots of sunshine and warmth, it was really fun. It was a fun race overall and I'm not bummed about the time. I got to meet a lot of people and it was great to be back in touch with the local running scene.

Later in the day I went on a nice recovery ride on the bike up to third dam, in Logan Canyon.

I needed to get a long run in for the Buffalo run 25K on Saturday so I went on one today. Still not as long as I would have liked it to be, but I unexpectedly felt great the entire run. All the biking I've been doing really helped me on all the hills. I was using my quads more on the hills and I just cruised up them since my legs are now almost in biking shape. I kept a strong pace througout the whole run I'm confident I could've done the 3 more that I will do this Saturday so finishing is no longer a problem for me, phew haha. Now I just need to do it faster.

Went out on a ride with the club me and a friend started at the High School. It was fun and we averaged around 20 mph.

Felt like crap all day so I took a day off.

Last run before the Buffalo Run. I felt great going up the hills but I'll see what I really got myself into come race time.

The Race Director said it was longer than a true 25K so that's why I put 16.1. Woke up at 5:30 in the morning and survived the drive to Antelope Island. It was pretty cold once I got their but amazingly no snow. I saw my old my Old XC coach, Coach Wade and got to talk to him before the race. He said it was a pretty hard course but that it gets easier after the switchbacks so to hold off until then. He also told me he was happy to see one his runners get into longer distance and trail running and that really boosted my motivation and got rid of some of the nerves before the race.

So I took his advice and used the first mile as my warm up. There were probably around 20 people ahead of me at the start of the second mile. Short after I caught and passed a few eager beavers and pretty soon by the 4th mile I had crawled my way to 5th. I was now content with this position and the guys around me were running a good pace so I stayed 5th until the Aid Station. I got a little to hot for comfort while I was climbing the the first hill so I decided at the Aid Station to shed off a layer. It took longer than I thought and I ended up wasting about 5 minutes at the Aid station I saw a few people pass me but I'm not sure how many. Once I got back on the trail, Their were two guys a ways ahead. It was downhill for this stretch so I took advantage of that and I guess I also got a second wind here. My pace really picked up here and I caught one guy on the flat stretch and another towards the start of the switchbacks. I felt great during the switchbacks and from there till I got back to the Aid Station. I took a much shorter stop this time for some water and started to loose my fire the next couple of miles. It was really cold for this part and some of the hair on my head froze. The wind didn't help either. For this stretch my pace had gone down and I was getting lazy. The last miles of the race I had someone on closing in on me, later found out his name was Cody, and so I stopped cruising and picked up my pace. On the downhill to the finish my feet seemed like they were about ready to give out, especially my arch. I got a little worried but the end was close so I just finished the race. I finished strong and Cody was only 20 seconds behind me.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this race. This was probably the first race where I actually enjoyed the actual race and not just suffer through it. I really enjoyed the views of the lake and the few Buffalo on the course. There were parts where I was alone and it didn't even feel like I was racing, it was quite relaxing on the contrary. I don't think I can ever run another track race after doing a race like this. I was told I had broke 2 hours at the finish but on the official results it looks like I just missed it. Oh well, looks like I'll just have to do it again next year to redeem myself. I met some great people at the race and it was just a blast.

I was feeling a bit sore through the first four miles but things started to loosen up from there on. Flat run up canyon road to the mansion.

A late eight miles.

Six mile Fartlek, it ended up being a pretty good workout. Also had a nice, fast 17 miler on the bike around Benson.

Just a flat out crappy run today, did not feel good at all.

Not entirely sure on how far we went because my Google Earth isn't working but me and Jerrell went up blacksmith fork until I got flat. I rode on my rim to Drew's House and we got it patched and went for another round. The wind was not our friend and I was drained, had no energy in me whatsoever. I think a little break is in need haha. Either way I finished the ride and google maps has it as 56 for me though again I'm not sure. Tried to run a little later but my legs felt like stone, only got 2 miles.