Little Buddha

Really didn't want to run today, but forced myself out of the house at 7:00 pm, after a long day of teaching and shopping for groceries, and running other errands after school. I figured I would just do an easy 3 or 4 miles and be fine with that. However, after about .75 miles running I came to the mile 12 marker on State Road 9 that runs through La Verkin. I just naturally picked up the pace and figured I would push it a little to marker 11 which is located on the bridge between Hurricane and La Verkin situated over a deep gorge where the Virgin River runs.

1 mile-6:22 This mile is slightly uphill, and I was not pushing too hard, but rather felt relaxed and it felt good, when I got to the mile marker I decided I would rest for a few minutes then run another mile back to where I had just come from. At this point I decided I would up the intensity and push this mile a little harder, I also had the thought to take off my shirt and leave it behind, that would force me to then run a third repeat back to this location to pick up my nice Boston shirt.

2 mile- 5:42 felt good with the slight downhill hard though to get in a real fast rhythm since it was getting dark and some traffic I was going back and forth from the road to the sidewalk.

3 mile- 5:50 started this one with the goal just to run faster than 6:22 which was my time on the first one going this direction back toward the gorge, uphill. I was really surprised I ran this one as fast as I did.

4 mile- 5:39 I really figured this last repeat would be slower, because I didn't feel that good from the start, but it turned out to be my fastest.

.75 cooldown

In the end I was pleased I had a good workout and was able to get out and run even though I really didn't feel like doing it earlier in the evening.

Really pressed for time today, only got in 4 miles.

Did a run similar to what I did last Tuesday, ironically I had similar weather conditions today as I did last week windy and a bit chilly. Anyway jogged from my house to mile marker 12-5:00

Then ran from 12 to marker 13- 7:39 (slower than last week-7:20)

Then took off on a trail for a few miles which put me above the green La Verkin water tank then continued the trail up to the top of the La Verkin Overlook, ran some more up on top.

Then came back down starting at mile marker 15

15 to marker 14- 6:55, last week 7:17

14 to marker 13- 6:14, last week 6:51

13 to marker 12- 6:11, last week 6:54

Easy jog home, interesting to see the times were a bit faster, beginning to feel like I am getting back to normal or pre-marathon form.

Ran with the club tonight, headed down to River Road then along the river trail up to Web Hill. I really pushed the hill and felt good going up, until the very end, then similar to Steve's post felt like I was over heating. I had a long sleeve shirt on and was burning up by the time we stopped at the top to catch our breath. I took it really slow going down the single track trail, I still really struggle with running and even walking/climbing over rocks. I think some of it might even be mental, but having had all the ankle injuries and problems I've had, I just am real cautious when running on many trails. However, once I hit the pavement again I was able to pick up the pace. I knew once we hit the Dixie Center, it would then be a dash back to the park. I hung around the back of the pack for awhile, then slowed down a bit, groin and hip hurting just a little, but mainly wasn't feeling that strong tonight at the end of the run so I just eased the body into the park and was happy to be finished for the night.

Longer run tonight. I headed out toward Hurricane Middle School, then went up over the 600 North trail to Sky Mountain Golf Course, 4 miles in I stopped for a drink on hole number 13, then decided instead of turning and heading back toward Hurricane, to continue on down 600 North to the fire station which is down by Canyon Ridge Subdivision. There are a few homes down there I have been looking at and getting some ideas if I was to ever build a new house. Anyway, by the time I got to the subdivision I had gone 6.5 miles, stopped for a bit and walked through one home, then headed back to La Verkin following the same route I had come on. I pushed the pace a little more on the way back, which was good considering the were a few good hill climbs. My time coming back was about 3 minutes faster, than going out. Overall, pretty good workout and nice afternoon/evening to be out along running and enjoying my ipod.

Tough run this afternoon. Went out around 2:00 pm, and it was surprisingly warm. Left from the house and ran to mile marker 4 just outside of Toquerville.

Here are the mile splits tried to push myself but my legs were a little tried from the longer run on Friday.

1-7:29 little slow warming up

.25 jog to state road 9 and next mile marker.

2-6:54 some down hill to the bottom of La Verkin Creek

3-7:43 major uphill heading toward Toquerville,body starting to warm up, when I finished this mile, had to stop and remove the shirt.

4-6:51 nice and easy into Toquerville

5-6:49 another good mile, with a little uphill at the end. Stopped and stretched and then turned around.

6-6:28 easy, back into Toquerville

7-6:37 hurting a little bit

8-6:11 pushing it down the major hill

9-8:52 Ouch! the wheels fell off the bus, gradual uphill climbing back into La Verkin, some reason I'm really struggling at this point and stop and walk for a bit, which I usually never do.

.25 jog to next mile marker

10-6:02 The horse sees the barn, feeling much better I push it home.

Overall, I was happy with the run and the last few days, pretty good week I meet my goal of 50 miles for the week, which was good considering I started the week out with some easier days and less milage.