Getting back in shape!

Did two on the treadmill then went and immediately did two more miles on a 13 lap indoor track. Both were terrible.

Survived through 5 miles on the treadmill then immediately went on a stationary bike for a little bit and than finished it off in the pool.

Braved the absolute freezing temperatures today. It was around 2 degrees Fahrenheit and I wanted to make the run longer because I was feeling good but it was just too cold. These 2160s are getting old and no longer have any grip on the ice, now to look for new training shoes.

Four on the treadmill.

Managed to get three in on the treadmill. Later went for some swimming.

Played two hours of basketball, rolled my ankle but I can still run.

4 miles on the treadmill. I usually go on speed nine which it says is a 6:39 mile pace but I do it comfortably and it must be off. I would say it is more around 7 minutes. 

Did some 400s today on the indoor track. It was a 13 lap for mile one so the many turns did make it difficult.

The weather is warmer and the I happen to not be one of those sensitive people that can't run on red air days. Had a side ache the first two miles but it went away for the rest of the run, probably a sign that I'm getting out of shape.

Ran a little, didn't have time for the run I wanted to do.

Just played some sports at the sports academy. I'll be doing the USU indoor track meet tomorrow. I've done it the last three years and usually no one is in shape for it, so I'll go with relatively little expectations for myself time wise, it should still be fun. Oh and I took Drew's offer to be an assistant track coach this spring, just couldn't completely leave something I helped build.

This was a local track meet that drew quite the competition form some pretty far away schools. I came into this more curious than anything else of where I was. I haven't been running as much as I would like to be doing and I knew these would not be good races.

The 1600 was first and I got in the fast heat, not really sure why, I was planning on going in the second heat but I made a quick decision at the moment. I wanted to start slow and I did but since I was in the fast heat I quickly found myself last. After a couple laps I started passing the people who went out to fast until I caught Mark. I know he has been doing speed work and more consistent training for this meet than me so I just wanted to stay with him. I wasn't feeling great but I wanted to out kick him the last lap. I couldn't though because I forgot what lap I was on and pretty I see the finish thinking I still have one more lap. He had a better 50 meter kick and I finished with a 5:02 with some gas left in the tank.

The 3200 was a few hours later and the field was smaller but still fast. I didn't start this race slow and went fast from the start. Mark was in this race too and he was right behind me until about the 4th lap. I than started speeding up a little and distancing away from him. I was running with a kid from rock springs and he had a good pace. I kept trying to gap him but he was a strong runner. I ran out of gas the last lap and just kinda held on know I would struggle those last few laps, since I'm not in perfect shape. Still did decent in both events and I'm happy with my races. I ran both races in my Asics Japan Thunder 3.

Foolishly tried to brave to brave the weather when the sun came out, and I even forgot gloves. Either way I managed not to get frostbite but do have a little cough. It was easy paced and I felt good the entire run. Even though it was way cold it's always easier to brave it when running with others and not by yourself.

Came down hard with the flu. Took an hour in the hot tub and another in the sauna for it to go away on top two bowls of chicken noodle soup. Got a bike sprints workout in too.

A nice easy run with a 5 minute T-pace run followed by a 2-3 minute e-pace rest, repeated it three times in row during the middle of the run. Did a little bit of lifting after.

Did some lifting and than ran 5 miles on the treadmill and added 2 more on the indoor track. 

Matched the distance I will be doing tomorrow on the bike. Tomorrow is the first Triathlon of the year for me, an indoor 300 yard, 5 mile bike and 2 mile run. Shouldn't be too hard and I want to do good to redeem myself from the last indoor triathlon I did. Did an easy 1 on the treadmill before I ran out of time and had to go home.

It's great to be back in the triathlon scene. It was a short, about half a sprint triathlon and I felt balanced on all sides. I registered late so I was put in the last heat. I was about third in my heat out of the pool, which has never really been my strength but it's a getting closer. After the swim we had to quickly dry off and run about 300 meters outside from the HPER building to the Nelson Fieldhouse, probably the fastest I've ran heading towards the Fieldhouse. On the bike some people had a two minute advantage on me but I was the first one out of the bike. The bike was on stationary bikes in the middle of the indoor track. The resistance didn't help you go faster so everyone had it on the easiest resistance, thus I averaged about 40 mph the whole five miles, talk about inflation. The run was two miles on the indoor track at the nelson Fieldhouse and I was familiar with it, having done it this past Saturday. A little side ache on the run but nothing that really made much of a difference. I finished third behind Paul and some other guy. They were in other heats and just owned me in the transitions and swim. I plan to improve on both of those, one being an easy fix, the other I'll have to spend some time on. Results haven't been posted yet but I was somewhere in the 27s and as far as I know, third.

Did some lifting at the Rec center. Later I went to the sports academy and ran on the good ol treadmill. Ran a mile of warm up and then proceeded to run 5 miles at about T-Pace. Did it in around 32 minutes. Then I wrapped things up with a mile cool down on the indoor track.

The weather is going in the right direction and it was around 25 degrees today. Went 4 miles on the usual run to USU.

Some speed work, and some time on the bike. Was going to do more buy got caught up watching an NBA game.

Spent some quality time on the indoor bike. Was really tempted to bike outside with the temperature above my 35 degree limit but the fog was too much so I settled on the spin machine. Then went and did some fast laps in the pool and later ran up to and around USU.

The snow made it felt like I ran 8 miles instead of six.

Went on a nice hilly run with Mark and Johnny. Haven't been on of those types of run in a long time. We gradually sped up the pace and then brought it down the last two miles. Later I got some time on the bike and some strength training.

Went out with Johnny for and e-pace run. Found and ran with Josh about a mile into it and went on a really snowy trail that really tired me out. Once back at the school me and Josh found Mark and I went with them another mile and half.

Been having the coughs and a few fevers this weekend but now I think I'm back.  I felt alright for most the run with my forehead burning a few times though. The pace was easy but I couldn't get rid of a pesky cough. Hopefully it goes away soon.

Went out on a pretty tough workout with Jerrell today. It was 70 minutes total today compared to 100+ minutes yesterday, and we went farther. It went 10 E-pace than 10 T-pace, 5E 20T 5E 10T 10E. I felt good until the the last 10 minutes of T-pace where my lack of endurance showed. Still went T-pace, it just did not feel good. Jerrell went faster on the T-paces but came back around for the E-pace so he got some more mileage in. Nice to get a good workout in, it's been a while.

We drove up to the base of Green Canyon for our run today. It was uphill for the first 36 minutes until we turned around. The whole way up and down I kept sinking in a little into the snow, making the run a lot harder than the pace we were going at. Finished the run in an hour and I'm thinking a recovery run for tomorrow before a long one on friday.

Ran on the treadmill because by the time I wanted to run outside it got really cold. Just a quick recovery run.

I would've liked to have gone farther but it was snowing pretty bad. I felt good on the entire run and really wanted to go at least an extra three miles, oh well. Later I did some strength training at the Sports Academy

I went on a four mile fartlek today. I tried to make it hard but I was feeling really good for all of it so I didn't push it much. I'm looking forward to race at Simplot Thursday.

10 E 18 T 10 E. Wasn't tired but it was really cold. Tomorrow I'll take the day off and then do something Wednesday for Simplot on Thursday.

Went on a 6 mile run with Jerrell in preparation for Simplot tomorrow. I felt really good on this run which leaves me feeling optimistic for tomorrow.

I drove up to Simplot with Jerrell. We got there pretty early, about two hours before Jerrell's race. I was expecting the track to be kinda like BYUs but I was surprised to discover it was wood. This led to me having to resort to my cross country flats. I was put in the 4th of five heats. I was ranked like 12th in that heat. I knew my competition would be Zan who was also in my heat, I was hoping I could stay with him for most of the race.This was probably my last high school race as I am not running track this season.

So the Race starts and I cut in from the outside wave. I was at a good position and slowed down a little. After a lead pack passed me I tried to hang on with them. Zan was leading it. We crossed the mile mark at around 5 flat which surprised me since I ran a 5:02 at the USU indoor invitational. At around lap 11-12 Zan started pulling away with the lead pack and I started falling back a little. The last two of the sixteen laps seemed to go on forever but I hung on. I was 3 seconds off my PR from last year's outdoor season which I am pleased with but I feel like I had the endurance in this race just not the speed, which was something I was expecting. Zan won the heat with a 10:08 and I was 22 seconds back.

It feels great to end my track career with a good performance at a pretty big meet and so now I look forward to longer distances, Triathlons and biking. I would like to thank my coaches Drew and Coach Reeder, for helping me be not only a better runner but a better person. Coach Reeder has been pushing me since I was a freshman. We were both driven by the same strong motive of making the Logan High cross country team a team that could qualify for state and further. We worked well together to make it possible and in the end I believe we were successful. Now we both leave behind a cross country team that we left in a good place with competitive runners. Hopefully if will stand strong for years to come. This season without coach Reeder I strived for team unity, something we had until as of late. Due to this Jerrell and I are really the only ones in my grade who made the entire the trek of four seasons of cross country with great amount of dedication. Jerrell has been a great friend and teammate. He's kept me working and I have great respect for him. Jesse Dunn has been my inspiration for my high school running career, he motivated me to become a faster runner through hard work, showing me by example. Drew helped me mature with his brutally hard workouts and his demeanor. He made me fast and also got me into biking. I hope to help him continue making other people fast this track season as an assistant coach.

Nice run around campus.

Ran up to USU and around the quad.

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.

I was planning on going to TNR but during the thirty minutes leading up to it, everything that could go wrong did. I had to fix a flat, found out I was out of tubes, had to get the other bike ready, had to find the pump, had to switch the cleats on my shoes, and in the end I forgot to take my water bottle. Either way it was the my debut of the Pinarello. I ended going on my own ride. I went to Newton and then down to Mendon and then back to Logan. It was easier than I wanted but still a fun ride.

Morning: I ran to the track and did a quick speed workout, 4,4,2,2, and then continued on the run and looped back home. 

I went out and participated in the Mens C category in the collegiate conference championships for road cycling.  Since I'm no a collegiate rider yet I was put in the slowest category. I now know I'am definitely out of shape and out of touch with my usual racing tactics. For starters, I totally blew the start. We had a neutral lap and I just kinda cruised in the back and missed the initial take off. A Criterium works kinda like Nascar. You have thirty minutes on a short loop course with many sharp turns and little climbs.Depending on your place on the last lap, is how you'll place when you finish. There are bell laps, but since I wasn't collegiate I wasn't eligible for those. So the first 5-7 laps I rode in the last tow places. I started catching the people who went out too fast. There was a group of three or four ahead of me and they were going the exact same pace I was so I couldn't catch up. I only caught the people who fell off. Through out the race the group narrowed down to 3 and that was when I started making progress. Two of those guys attacked and I did too. Didn't catch the two guys but I did catch the third one, a rider from SUU. Overall not bad for my current fitness and my second crit. I did have some left in the tank after the race and with a few more laps I feel like I could've caught those other two guys, who were from USU.

Nice afternoon run with a lot of climbing from the Sports academy to green canyon and then an out and back on the shoreline trail.

Went running with my brother, just went for time and didn't keep track of how far we went. I've been a little lazy on the blog so I'm sure I missed a few runs last week.

Felt good throughout the entire run. I ran to canyon road and looped onto the highway back to campus where I looped the cemetery and headed home. I did feel a lot better towards the end of the run but that could just be cause I stuffed a sandwich right before I left for the run.

Haven't been here awhile, but now that AP exams are over, I can finally dedicate more time to the things that really matter like running haha. I got new shoes last week, the Asics Gel Noosa tri 7 and they look like a very comfortable summer shoe with big air holes and nice cooling while still having all the support I need.

I was sore all day and had trouble even getting up stairs. I attribute this to the increase in lifting that I've been doing this past week. Just took a day off for tomorrow.

Today was the bear Lake classic Hill climb. It was just about ready to rain but it never did. It was a Individual time trial from Garden City to the lookout at the top of the hill. It was 3.5 miles. I ended doing everything wrong for this race which started with not being able to clip in the first 15 meters. After I finally clipped in, I charged too hard I cramped afterwards. I had to sit the whole way not being able to stand due to being cramped. Passed a few people up (1 minute starting time intervals) and was stuck on a really low gear. A little more than halfway past, I shifted up a few gears and realized that I could hold it and go a lot faster than I was going. I finished at around 15:50 which ended up being a far better time than I was expecting. Tanner killed everyone with a 13 something but lost by a bit to a pro rider.

I went to my brother's soccer game in Pleasant Groove and went another 10 minutes south to Provo to watch the 3200 of the Utah High State Championships, Good Job Conner! Afterwards, I went on a run around the BYU campus. It was pretty cool and had some neat looking buildings but I felt a little trapped in there. Found may out by finding a tunnel and the run ended up being around 4 miles. Later int eh day I ran up to old main and did some hill and stair repeats to and another four miles. 

For the bike, I had to detour from my usual route (airport road) due to some slow road work. I got on the road to Smithfield and headed to Amalga on 100 North. I had some tailwind every now and then but that was the only time on the whole ride. From here until Little Mountain, I had to go against the wind. I took it hard on the two miles of uphill that is Little Mountain and that seemed to pull out a part of me. I ended up feeling better and riding faster after the uphill than I was before, weird. It was gradually uphill to Clarkston and then a good size hill of of the town and it was all downhill from there. I looped to benson and headed back home.

Later I went on an easy six miles. The Gel Noosas seem to give me the support I need and also are very light allowing me to keep a good cadence. 

Short recovery ride around Hyrum and blacksmith. 

Took the good old titanium bike up Logan Canyon to ricks spring where I refueld on water and headed back. Felt pretty good until just coming out of the canyon, recovered quickly though. I felt strong on the run later in the day and I kept a good pace surprisingly for most of it.

Rode with my buddy Josh down to Porcupine. I did most of the pulling and it was pretty windy going there and back. We made good progress though and kept a good pace. Josh made note of my lack of shifting and that is something that I think helps me in training. I like to keep it on the highest gear and leave it there the whole ride, regardless of hill or not, just a helpful quirk I guess. 

May have bit more than I could handle on my long ride up blacksmith fork to Hardware ranch. I wanted to get a run in later in the day but my legs were fried. I was out for three weeks on vacation to the homeland (Lima, Peru) and did hardly anything Cardio related at all haha. I plan on slowly easing back up to it again. 

My quads were still really sore from the bike on sunday and they were really acting up on the run today, but that could also just be cause my run was uphill from the sports academy to green canyon. Got so swimming in today too to compensate for the short run.

Today was the Gran Fondo. My friend Josh somehow convinced me to the 100 instead of the 50 and so I did. I had adjusted my seat before the race because it was too slow but forgot to ride the bike after adjusting it. At the the start and within the first few mile I noticed that my seat was really up high. Long story short, I passed three aid stations adjusting my seat until I got to Malad, ID where Wayne and his crew were and finally had it adjusted to the right height. On top of wasting energy there, I suffered through 4 bloody noses that just completely drained the energy out of me and forced me to ride solo from about the halfway point to the finish, at a snails pace. Some other riders who knew me encouraged me to the drop out of the race seeing as I probably lost a good amount of blood and was feeling light headed. I waited about 30 minutes on the side of the road for a support vehicle that never came so I just decided to the finish the last 24 miles. After the race I slept and ate the rest of the day and Sunday.

Took it nice and slow up to Old Main.

Nice exploration ride with Jerrell in the afternoon, I was really dehydrated for some reason.

Four miles, most of it barefoot. Usually I hide in fear from the idea of running bear due to my flat feet but it was a surprisingly pleasant experience. 

I can back to Logan for the weekend and decided to do the popular Founders day run in Wellsville. There is always a good variation of competition here and I looked forward to being pushed after not training much this summer. In years past I've done the 10K on this course but I didn't think that was a good idea with my current fitness. The 5K started by the sound of a cannon and the mass of runners proceeded to an intersection where a right turn was made. I sat at around 10th or 15th and hanged around that lead pack. I saw my old longtime friend Russell running the race at around this point and talked with him for a bit. He was on the cross country team in high school when I first started and was one of my main motivatiors that helped me train for cross country, fitting that I meet him at a time when I need more motivation to run more.

       The course was mostly flat and I proceeded to catch all the people who started out to fast the first mile, most of them high school kids. It started to rain at some point durring the race but I didn't notice until after I finished when I realized I was completely soaked. I'm content with the time I got but I'm interested to see what I could with more consistent training. I am going to try to start and keep a running now in college and hopefully get back into shape. This race gave me a taste of racing and it has left me hungry for more.

Ran to the U of U's track and did a nice workout their, I strated with an 800 warm up followed by 4X400 at R-pace effort, finished by an 800 cooldown. The track was really nice (best I've ever ran on) and  then I ran around campus for some more mileage. First race tomorrow for me in Salt Lake City, hopefully all goes well.
 

My first race in my new home, Salt Lake City! The U was putting on a 5K as one of the homecoming activities. I decided to participate. I was surprised by the huge turnout for the race, bigger than any 5K in Logan.

The race started fast, swoop the hawk sprinted as fast as he could the firs 100 meters and some people decided to chase him. After about 500 meters, swoop was gone, but there was a pack of 5, about 500 meters ahead of me. I tried catching them but they were going the exact same pace I was so I made no progress for the first two miles. At this point, two runners in the group made their move and the others died. I caught two of them quickly, but the thrid placer maintained his speed. Nick (the third placer and a cross country runner from Idaho) kept about 50 meters ahead of me. I got closer at times but also further at times durring the last mile of the race. I ended up never getting him, and finished about 30 seconds behind him.

I'm glad I dropped my time from the Wellsville founders day run. The course was a loop around campus and was pretty hilly and the start and towards the finish. It was all on sidewalk and road. The race was fun and their were alot of prizes, though my bad luck (or Karma) prevented me from winning anything. Either way, I'm satisified with this race and got myself a new running buddy (nick.)

Today I did a race at Wheeler farms in Murray (I think.) It was a last second descion and I did not make any sort of preparation for it whatsoever, I could make a long list of the things I did that you're not suppose to do before a race that I did, ah what the heck. I woke up really early and underdressed for the weather. I was lost on my way their and stopped at a gas station for info. While there I was tempeted by a couple cream filled doughnuts and a bottle of choclate whole milk. I then found the place but arrived about 40 minutes early. I decided to hide from the cold in my car and I got a little to comfortable and relaxed. I had no idea on how and where the course went at the starting line.

The race started and it was a two loop course. I decided to follow second place for the first lap (she looked like she knew where she was going) and I did end up doing just that. I was going below race pace for that first lap though and I got really cold really fast. So after comleteing the first lap, in an effort to warm myself up I picked up the pace and left the second placer behind. I remembered the course and I finished the second lap, but one thing, the end of the second lap wasn't the finish. I had no idea what to do so I just kind of stood and walked around for a while until second place caught back up with me. She let me know that you have to continue on a ways and I just followed her. We finished together and I didn't do any sprint at the end, since there were mens and womens prizes for first place. In the end it was a fun race and I ha great time my relative Scott and some other welll dressed runners, though there was a low turnout.

I forgot to cool down and just went to my car to warm up after the race was done. Later in the day I decided to go on an exploration run around the hills behind the U. I ran to the top of Mt. Van Cott and explored some of the surrounding canyons. I did get quite an adreniline rush when I ran into a homeless person's tent in a canyon and rolled my ankle. It got better quick but I'm now going to be more cautious in those areas. In the end though it was a wonderful run and I much enjoyed it.
 

Today was the annual first dam run. It is usually a very popular race but this year there was a noticeable lower turnout for the race. This could have been do to the recent colder temperatures or the construction occuring around the site. I signed up for this race on the spur of the moment and made the trip back up to logan for the night before.

The morining of the race was very cold and I decided to wear my tights for the race along with a long sleve shirt on top of my running shirt. There were a lot of familiar faces at the race and I had a great time catching up with people. This was also the first year I did not do the 10K at this race and chickend out of it due to my recent lack of fitness. I did not warm up for the race. I decided to be very passive on the start since there were a lot of high school kids in the race who I knew would want to start with Conner, starting out too fast. There were two packs and I was at the back of the second at the start. I stayed there for about 600 meters until I got motivated to just go faster. I picked up my pace but not substanially, just enough to slowly start passing people. After passing most of the eager beavers, I was at a gap between me and three other runners. The gap was probably around 200 meters. I worked to close the gap wihtout changing my pace but I was just slightly going faster than they were. I caught them with about 700 meters to go and one of them reacted with a surge of their own. I took the surge head on and he faltered first. I earned myself a little gap on the for my efforts but I ran out of gas the last 100 meters and almost got passed by one of them. I was happy for my time and the effort I put into it, besideds eating a couple doughnuts for breakfast and not warming up and starting too slow. I did end up cooling down and in the process got my shoes a little dirty while running through a canal. I won my age group (only one other person was in it) and I called it a morning. I didn't do anything later and overall I was satisfied and surprised with my result. I hope to start getting more mileage in soon.