You've got to want it to win it

Late this morning I finally was able to get going on my run after spending the morning in the car driving to cemeteries.  I ran up 1300s to Wasatch Drive, and over to Thunderbird.  I had to stop and stretch my calves because they were way tight!  They still hurt but I kept running anyway.  I went down to Foothill and then ran up past the flagpole and the drinking fountain onto the paved part of Shoreline Trail.  I forgot how long this trail really is, I haven't run it in a while!  And how uphill!  Finally I made it over the second overpass and to a downhill portion.  I guess this part of the trail is called Parley's bike trail.  I ran down to 2700e and crossed, then went over to 2700s and down to 2100e and then over to Stratford down to 1700e to 2100s and home along 1500e and 1400e.  It was a nice loop, I'll have to do it again soon.

This morning after getting up at 6 to run with my sister, I couldn't get back to sleep when my sister refused to get up :(  So I just took advantage of being up to get my run done early and then to get to lifting early too.  I ran along 1500e to Sugarhouse, then did a clockwise lap, went up to 1900e all the way over to Sunnyside.  I threw in a lap at the park since I knew I would be short if I went home, then I made the way home longer by going up to the crosswalk and then along the street that comes down by the gully and then home along 1500e.  I barely missed the bus to lifting but then was spared waiting half hour for the next one because my mom forgot her cell phone and had to come home and get it, so she dropped me off at lifting :)  I started the summer lifts over since I skipped my second lift last week.  Then I barely caught the bus home!

In the evening I went for an easy run to get a few more miles in.  I am going to try and start doing 2 runs a day on my days off work so I can bring my mileage up but still have the option limited to only a few days a week so I don't go crazy.  I ran up 1300s to Wasatch Drive, saw Scotty drive by, ran all the way to the zoo, then down Sunnyside to Military Drive where Natalie drove by me, and then I finished at RJ's house where my sister was doing homework.  It was a nice 5 miles, and I have no clue what my time or pace was but that is how it should be I decided :)   

This morning I warmed up with Amanda for our workouts.  We ran up to the usual spot and back, adding a lap on the track since we started from the parking lot.  We did our strides and drills, and as we were getting close to finishing those we were wondering where Kep was...  We changed our shoes and he still wasn't there, so we thought about maybe doing some 200s beforehand, but I kinda just wanted to get started so I made up my own workout, or at least the start of one because I hoped I could jinx the situation to make him come by starting on a workout.  I did a 1000 in 3:31, then took a lap recovery, then started a second one.  With about 300 meters to go Kep showed up and I wasn't sure whether or not to finish, but I just went for it and hit 3:25, and took a lap recovery before going to talk to Kep.  I told him what I had done so far and I lucked out on this one because he would have had me doing 1200s!  Also since I hit even splits (about 83-84 for the first and about 82 for the second 1000) at a bit slower than 80s that's what Kep had wanted on the 1200s so it worked out.  Next he had me do a 400 and then another 1000.  I hit 1:18 and 3:29.  200 recovery on the 4 and a lap for the 1000.  Then he had me finish with another 1000, a 400, and a 1000.  My times were 3:28, 1:21, 3:34 (43s for all the 200s so at least it was even!).  Then Amanda and I changed shoes and did a 2 mile cooldown, followed by a 15 minute ice bath in the training room.

In the evening I finally decided to bring my new shoes out of their box that they've been sitting in for a week in my room.  I ran along 1300e to 900s, down to 900e, over to 2100s, back up to 13th and then home.  My feet hurt from breaking in the shoes (I know it probably would have been a good idea to walk around in them first for a bit) but they'll get used to it quick. 

This morning I decided to get my lift done first, so after eating breakfast I went and got that done.  I did squats with the bar for the first time since October, but my back doesn't hurt so I think I'm finally ready to slowly ease back into it.  Also I had to learn barbell abs today, I struggled at first but towards the end I got the hang of it!  Coach Madelone had to help me with the bus drivers every time since the bar is too heavy for me to do alone, but hopefully I'll get better as I keep doing them throughout the summer.  For my run I started at my house and ran up 1300s to 1700e, then over to 900s and up to 1900e.  Then I ran all the way to 2100s and cut down to 1700e to do 2 clockwise laps at the park before going home.  My new shoes were a lot better (I wore them to lifting too) and I'm glad I was able to wear them on the grass so I could break them in on some good terrain rather than just flat pavement.

This morning I went down to Liberty Park for a workout.  I started with a lap warmup, then out a quarter and back to get to 2 miles so I could be by my shoes and the drinking fountain.  I incorporated strides into the extra half and then did my drills.  I changed to my flats and then got started.  It was a tempo run, and rather than do 10 12 10 with recoveries, I just did 30 minutes solid.  I averaged about 6:25 pace, not quite as fast as I wanted but at least I was consistent.  And for working alone I feel pretty good about it.  At the end of 30 minutes I was at about 4 and had just started a third lap.  I recovered back to the drinking fountain, and then I did strides and changed back to my trainers for cooldown.  I did a lap on the outer perimeter and then a little more to get to 9 for the day.  Also, today Bill pointed out to me that this is my 4th anniversary on the blog!!  And I'm happy to say that the whole 4 years I have blogged my every workout and run and even my cross training injury days!  :)

This morning I took my iPod for a long run.  I think that when I'm by myself, I run faster when I have my iPod.  I started down 1300e over to South Temple, then I did zig zag hills through the Avenues up until I reached 11th.  I was thinking about possibly taking the same way back, but then someone asked me for directions to a yard sale and I told them which way I thought it was, but then a block later realized I had told them the wrong way... So I decided I would think up a different route back :P  Once I made it to 11th, I enjoyed the nice downhill into City Creek.  I made it to the locked gate and was very happy to find that the drinking fountain was finally on!  Then I needed almost a mile to get to 6 so I could turn, so I kept running up the canyon.  It was so nice up there, and the trees made great shade from the heat!  It was not the best day to wear a white sports bra... but I figured out a way to stay cool by tying the bottom corners of the shirt together.  At 6 miles I turned around, and was happy to pass by the drinking fountain again on the way down the canyon.  For the amount of water I drank, I am surprised it didn't hurt.  I guess I must have been really thirsty and close to dehydration?  I dunno but at least there was water when I needed it :)  I decided to head back home on 11th Avenue, and to hit the drinking fountain across from the cemetery on the way.  I turned down Virginia Street and stayed on it all the way to 500s, then cut down to 1300e and home.  My average pace at the turnaround was 8, and when I finished I had brought it down to 7:50.  I liked this run and I think I will do it again sometime soon.