Running on Eddie: 2016

Monday, December 26, 2016

This Week in Running 12/18 - 12/24

The calm before the winter storm

Day	Mileage / Workout	Comments
Sunday	4	Medium paced workout
Monday	6	4 @ half marathon pace, plus strides. Solid effort
Tuesday	7	3 Miles hard, rest easy
Wednesday	5	All Easy
Thursday	6	4 @ .5M with .12M rest. 3:55. Felt slow
Friday	5	Medium to easy. Running in the rain.
Saturday	9	First 7 pretty fast. 2 miles easy with strides
Total miles for the week: 42; YTD: 2183.5

Week's Summary

Well another week of pretty solid training. The extended "soft" winter continues and I've been taking full advantage of being able to run in non-icy, relatively comfortable temperatures. I even managed to get in some quality workouts. On Thursday I ran some .5 mile repeats. My legs were not happy with the speed work and I felt heavy and slow. Some days are like that; your head tells you you want to run fast, but your body just says no. I did finish off the workout but instead of coming away positive, I came away discouraged. I used to run .5 mile repeats so much faster.

No long runs this week. I didn't really have time on Saturday and I still haven't figured out what I am doing -- marathon-wise. I am really starting to think it isn't going to be in the cards. Which is disappointing because I have time off and a few extra bucks to do a race. The races that are convenient are states I've already done. While I can certainly do them, I am actually trying to do the 50 states. I just haven't really been putting in the work to maintain my endurance.

Felt like a spring day on Saturday along the Jordan River

Weight Loss

I practically had a heart attack when I jumped on the scale this past Saturday. 185 pounds. Jesus. Highest ever. This holiday season can't end soon enough.

Nevada Trip

Totally not running related, but I did make another trip across the border for Christmas Eve (sort of sacrilegious I guess, but I am largely family obligation free) and spent the night gratis in Wendover for food, gaming and some Jacuzzi time.

I didn't run -- I was too lazy and I hadn't brought any super cold weather running stuff. But I did get an unexpected "gift" from the casinos.

They have a goofy spin and win game on Sundays. I've been there enough Sundays to know that at best I'll get $10 in free play. More often than not you'll get some (semi-worthless) slot points. But I spun on Sunday morning and was jazzed to see that I won a $300 free play voucher. I created quite a scene when I saw the wheel land on the coveted spot. Let's just say I had a lot of fun with that and made some extra moolah to fill my wallet.

Marathon Plans

As stated above, I am not sure my training indicates I am marathon ready. I still have some time to make up my mind, but with the weather turning colder and icier in Utah, it is going to get decidedly more challenging to log quality miles, especially long runs.

Right now I am focusing on trying to get some speed back in my legs for the St George Half. I am under no illusion that I'll place anywhere close in my age group for that race, but when I ran it earlier this year, it turned out to be my best race. We'll see what I've got.

Upcoming Races

My race calendar is filling up. Keep sending me nice coupons in the e-mail race directors, and I'll continue to sign up in advance.

01/14: St George Half Marathon - St George, UT (Confirmed)
02/11: Winter Striders Race Circuit 5K - Ogden UT (Confirmed)
02/25: Winter Striders Race Circuit 10K - Ogden UT (Confirmed)
03/04: Legacy Half Marathon - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)
03/18: Winter Striders Race Circuit 10 Mile - Ogden UT (Confirmed)
04/08: Winter Striders Race Circuit Half Marathon - Huntsville, UT (Confirmed)
04/15: Salt Lake City Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed) (2017)
04/29: Winter Striders Race Circuit 30K - Huntsville, UT (Confirmed)
06/24: Utah Midnight Half Marathon - Provo, UT (Confirmed)
07/07: Utah Midnight (Legacy) Half Marathon - Farmington, UT (Confirmed)
11/12: Las Vegas Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

This Week in Running 12/11 - 12/18

Awesome winter picture of the Jordan River Bike Trail

Day	Mileage / Workout	Comments
Sunday	9	Mock 5K race in about 25 minutes
Monday	6	Medium effort to easy
Tuesday	6	8 x .25M in roughly 1:50 each. Good speed workout, with 1 minute rest between reps
Wednesday	6	All Easy
Thursday	3	All easy
Friday	Off	Needed a rest day
Saturday	11	Hard to run in the cold.
Total miles for the week: 41; YTD: 2141.5

Week's Summary

Well this week I managed to get in two speed workouts. On Sunday, I felt like running fast. I figured I would go for a run of about half marathon pace. However, once I started running, I felt good. In fact real good.

The weather was perfect and I decided to run at about 5K pace -- for 5 kilometers. I got off to a bit slower start on account I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but once I made up my mind, I went for it. I was pretty gassed afterwards but it felt good to turn on the jets.

On Tuesday, I wanted to do some speed work as well, and I opted for some quarter mile repeats. My splits were a tiny bit better than the last time I did it. I remember I used to run them in 1:17's. Very frustrating.

Awesome winter picture of the Jordan River Bike Trail

Saturday brought some very cold weather. 25F is about my limit for shorts (depending upon what the wind is doing) and I bundled up. I had visions of doing 13 - 15 miles but the cold just sapped my motivation. Also my shoes are less pliable, so I could feel some shin splints and aches and pains building up. It was a terribly memorable run and I went out with not a lot of pre-run food in me. So naturally it left me humbled.

Otherwise, a good week. I hope to regain just a tiny bit of my speed.

Weight Loss

After my 11 mile run, I weighed myself. I was down around 180.5. Naturally, I was dehydrated and hadn't had anything to eat yet, so my weight was less than honest. I am guessing if I had woke up, weighed myself like I normally do, I would've come in at 182-ish. The holiday season continues to plague me.

Marathon Plans

I have some PTO I have to use at work and I am looking for a marathon to do in a new state. I still haven't zeroed in on something but Texas and Florida is on the radar. I'll keep you posted. Flights out of SLC airport aren't cheap, nor convenient. Worse comes to worse I may just do another one in Arizona or California.

Upcoming Races

My race calendar is filling up. Keep sending me nice coupons in the e-mail race directors, and I'll continue to sign up in advance.

Saturday, December 10, 2016

This Week in Running 12/4 - 12/10 - Plus Desert Run

Merry Christmas Everyone

Day	Mileage / Workout	Comments
Sunday	5	All easy today
Monday	6	8 x .25M in 1:53 with .07 mile jog.
Tuesday	Off	Another medium paced run with a few miles at tempo pace
Wednesday	7	All Easy
Thursday	6	Nice effort for a chilly night
Friday	Off	Easy on a cold night.
Saturday	8	Run through the icy desert
Total miles for the week: 32; YTD: 2101.5

Week's Summary

Despite not running a lot of miles I did get a few good workouts. On Monday, I wound up doing some speed work -- much needed. I remember being able to run quarters in about 1:20-ish. Now, I have to really work to go sub 1:50. Weight gain, age, altitude all play a factor as to why I can't do those numbers. Also, most of my training has been long distance specific, so speed hasn't been on my priority list.

Sunday morning sunrise

With the cooler weather, I also managed to put down several medium efforts -- or shall I see medium plus. They were definitely workouts and I was definitely pushing the pace. With no major marathons on the near, for-sure horizon, I can dial back the overall mileage (a bit) and try to get some quality workouts.

Desert Run

This past weekend, the fine folks in Wendover sent me a free hotel pass. Looking for something to do, we took them up on the effort and on Friday night we slipped off into the desert and did a night of gambling and eating. Yes, I did abuse myself at the buffet but how can you not when crab legs are involved?

Either way, I figured we'd be heading out west and I had been studying various trails using Google Maps (satellite) and figuring out where I could drive, park the car and not get myself into too much trouble. I've pretty much run through everything in the city limits and I wanted something new.

So on Saturday morning I groggily woke up early and decided I was going to find a trail out near Pilot Peak, which is a beautiful mountain that can't be missed when you approach Nevada Utah. The mountain itself is in Nevada.

I wound up driving about 12 miles west of Wendover and took the Pilot Peak Road exit. I had plans of driving about 8 miles north on the road. According to Google Maps I should've found an ATV trail that was 3 miles out and back to the base of the mountain.

Well, as soon I got off the freeway and made my turn onto Pilot Peak Road, my car spun out. I was not going fast at all but I realized the dirt road had a heavy sheet of ice on it. The Utah / Nevada border was foggy with no rain, but once I crossed into the Pacific Time Zone, it was like a whole other weather system.

I was NOT going to drive on that. I have crappy tires and I just didn't want to wind up in a ditch, on a cold, rainy, miserable day (I am pretty sure I still had cell connection, though).

There is a Nevada historical marker at the exit and I wound up parking my car in the lot there. I tried to run on the road, but even for running, the footing was awful. I wound up running about 4 miles out and back along the crest of the ditch. It was not easy going but it was fun and different.

The cows in the field certainly haven't seen humans before and as I approached them, even from a distance, they looked at me as if to say "WTF are you doing out here?" They scurried away like mice.

The road is lightly trafficked. I probably saw half a dozen cars. I waved at most and everyone gave me a look like, "Dude, what are you doing out here". It was raining, snowing, cold and here I am running along this crappy road that no one goes on.

I wish the views had been better. Pilot Peak is definitely worth checking out.

At the turn around I did come along a double-wide graveyard of sorts. People really abuse the desert and it is sort of sad. I probably saw at least 50 beer bottles just thrown into the weeds, tires, and other car parts. It just sort of marred the whole experience.

While this run may not have been spectacular, it was memorable. 99% of the time I run the same route -- day in and day out. Running something new -- even in miserable conditions -- can make a permanent memory.

Upcoming Races

My race calendar is filling up. Keep sending me nice coupons in the e-mail race directors, and I'll continue to sign up in advance.

Saturday, December 3, 2016

This Week in Running 11/27 - 12/3

Scene from my 17 mile run - cold, wet and snowy now

Day	Mileage / Workout	Comments
Sunday	13	Half marathon paced run.
Monday	5	Snowy run at medium pace
Tuesday	7	Another medium paced run with a few miles at tempo pace
Wednesday	5	All Easy
Thursday	7	Nice effort for a chilly night
Friday	4	Easy on a cold night.
Saturday	17	Saturday long run.
Total miles for the week: 58; YTD: 2069.5

Week's Summary

Well, this week was a high mileage week -- sort of by accident. I didn't run much on Saturday and on Sunday it was my birthday and I needed to log a few miles to burn off my buffet calories. Also, this Saturday I felt it was time to get in a long run. With chilly, but still ideal running weather, I managed to do a very nice long run. Anything about 25F is short's weather for me (mind the wind however).

It is amazing how much less water I go through now that the temperatures are very mild. I think that scares some people, as I've noticed a lot less people on the bike trail. It also is likely that people are taking some time off since the race scene here in Salt Lake is a bit on a hiatus.

Turning 47

Enjoying my free meal at Denny's on my Birthday

Last Sunday (the 27th) was my 47th birthday . I don't get too depressed over birthdays. I use them as milestones (isn't everything a milestone when you are a runner) to ascertain what I am doing is making myself happy.

I like to ask myself what I have accomplished in the past year? What are my goals? What goals have I abandoned? What is going to make myself happy? And what can I do t better my life and those in it?

For the most part I am happy. I am gainfully employed and more days than not, I enjoy going to work. That is important -- at least to me. I've been in situations where I am not happy at work and it tends to permeate the rest of one's life (this is especially true for men).

I like where I live and I am very fortunate to live near an awesome bike trail. I had worried a bit that running on the same route, day after day, would get old. I have heard from other people who find the bike trail to be dull. But I love it. One thing I do know about myself is that I like a routine.

Could I be happier? Could I be doing more? Most definitely. The plan is to identify areas that I need improvement in and execute a plan -- just like running. You figure out what you need to do to prepare to get yourself from Point A to Point B. It wasn't over night that I was able to run 5, 8 or even 13 miles. It took time, effort and patience.

Life is like that too. The key is though to not let it go to waste or to realize too late what truly makes one happy.

Sorry for philosophizing but hopefully my ramblings help someone.

Weight Loss

Sheepishly, I just jumped on the scale. All I can say is -- oops. The Thanksgiving / birthday week killed any progress I made. I usually count my weigh-in first thing in the morning, but as of this writing (in the middle of the afternoon) I am checking in at 185 (fully clothed). Nearly 5 pounds of gain since last week.

I suspect, though, as the holiday meals thin out, I'll get back on track.

Upcoming Races

I do have a bit of PTO (personal time off) from work I need to use by a certain deadline. It is either a use it or lose it scenario. So I am definitely shopping for a January or February marathon. Hopefully, I'll have something to report soon. I am trying to knock off another state.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

This Week in Running 11/19 - 11/26 - Plus Desert Running

Happy Thanksgiving!

Day	Mileage / Workout	Comments
Sunday	10	Marathon Pace / easy long run
Monday	Off	Off
Tuesday	7	Solid effort throughout
Wednesday	7	All Easy
Thursday	4	Thanksgiving Turkey Trot
Friday	5	Desert Run along I-93
Saturday	6	Run through the ATV Trails in Elko, NV
Total miles for the week: 29; YTD: 2011.5

Week's Summary

This week was primarily an easy week. Early on, I was still feeling the after effects of the Vegas marathon. So even on Sunday, my long run felt extremely sluggish. It wasn't until Tuesday that I started to feel better.

By then, though, I was starting to save my energy for Thursday's annual tradition of the Bountiful Turkey Trot.

So all in all, it was a recovery week.

On the plus side, we are receiving the benefits of an extended warm fall here in Salt Lake, so it is still shorts weather.

Also this week I cracked 2000 miles for the year. This is the second year in a row I've done that. I don't think all the extra mileage is helping me, but I certainly enjoy logging them.

Friday Run

Over the weekend I went to Wendover and I woke up on Saturday with some sort of plan to drive out to some place new, park the car and just see how far I could go. Then I discovered there was a race on Saturday morning in Elko, so I decided just to go easy -- just in case I decided I wanted to run the race in Elko. I wound up just taking a stroll down I-93, south of West Wendover. I only went a few miles and I am sure I got a few WTFs, because I-93 doesn't take you to another town for at least a 100 miles. Really nice running though:

Saturday's Run

On Saturday, I realized the Elko 5K wasn't going to fit into our plans. So despite it being 28 degrees out (it actually felt quite a bit warmer) I decided to go exploring.

I've run most of the roads around the Red Lion hotel, but this time, after studying a map, I found a road I hadn't run down yet.

As I made my way south of town I missed the road I wanted to turn on. So instead of back tracking, I kept going on the shoulder of the highway. I was studying my map on my phone and figured I'd catch the next street up.

Of course, I stumbled upon a trail and I remembered a person telling me that the trail system (unofficial from what I could tell) was a good place to run. It basically consists of several miles of ATV trails. So I decided to go exploring and I was really surprised at what I found. Highly runnable trails.

I only scratched the surface there and I suspect I could go a lot further, but it was nice to get out and snap some pictures, as well as see a bird's eye view of Elko.

Weight Loss Progress

My weight loss is coming along nicely. Nothing drastic, but I know I definitely blew it over Thanksgiving. I was in Nevada over the long weekend and that meant scoring free / discounted buffets and I definitely indulged. So you'll have to stay tuned... I need a week of eating clean again to get back on progress.

Upcoming Races

01/14: St George Half Marathon - St George, UT (probably - weather pending)
02/11: Winter Striders Race Circuit 5K - Ogden UT (Confirmed)
02/25: Winter Striders Race Circuit 10K - Ogden UT (Confirmed)
03/04: Legacy Half Marathon - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)
03/18: Winter Striders Race Circuit 10 Mile - Ogden UT (Confirmed)
04/08: Winter Striders Race Circuit Half Marathon - Huntsville, UT (Confirmed)
04/15: Salt Lake City Marathon - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed) (2017)
04/29: Winter Striders Race Circuit 30K - Huntsville, UT (Confirmed)
11/12: Las Vegas Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)

Thursday, November 24, 2016

2016 South Davis Recreation Center 5K Race Recap - Bountiful Utah

Official Time: 24:56
Placement: 2nd in age group
Results: Here
Race Website: Here
Weather: Upper 30's, no wind
Garmin Dump: Here

Mile	Time	Comments
1	7:47	Gentle downhill here. Hemmed in at the start
2	8:08	A bit of climbing
3	8:31	A grind up a slow hill. End can't come fast enough.
3.07	0:29	Sprint to the finish
Total Miles: 3.07 - 24:56

Introduction

One of my annual traditions, each Thanksgiving is to do the South Davis Recreation Center's 5K, located in Bountiful. They continue to put on a good race that is high on payoffs and low on price. For $20 you basically get a finisher's medal, an accurate course with professional timing, a t-shirt and usually a bunch of stuff in your swag bag. They also have your typical post race refreshments.

The biggest treat for me is that the 5K tends to be not super competitive (most runners do the 10K) and I can easily snag a Thanksgiving pie.

The Race

I rolled into the race just after 7 AM and grabbed my shirt. It was easy in and easy out -- well organized on all fronts. I wound up sitting around for a bit, attaching my bib and using the restroom.

Around 7:30 AM I decided to do my warm up. I felt super sluggish and I had a bit of panic: was this going to be a bad race?

Pre-race photo of mile #1

After a mile warmup I returned back to the warm confines of the recreation center and used the bathroom a final time.

The race started a little late -- as usual. Generally, this race does start a few minutes late and I had toyed with the idea of wearing a light running jacket to keep warm, but I decided to tough it out. I went in shorts, throw-away gloves and a long sleeved shirt. Turns out that was a fantastic choice.

The first mile was congested -- well at least the first 1/4 of a mile. The race starts off in the parking lot and it is fairly narrow path. Also add in a bunch of kids and slower runners who weren't instructed to line up according to pace and you have an accident sort of waiting to happen. However, after about a 100 yards the race opens up.

The first mile is also a gentle downhill, which helped me get what felt like a fairly easy 7:47.

After the 1st mile marker, the race goes uphill slightly and at that point it always gets hard. The hill that is usually around 1.33 didn't seem to materialize for me and I was still running what I felt like was strong. I was happy to see mile 2 come in at 8:10ish.

The last mile is a grind. It is a gentle climb. It is also at this point that you are running along a fairly busy road. Luckily there isn't much traffic but you do have to pay attention to some of the traffic lights.

I was still holding my pace pretty well but as usual working the hill got the best of me.

I still had plenty of gas left at the end but my top speed definitely wasn't there.

Conclusion

After the race, I wound up grabbing a drink and grabbing warmer clothes from my car (it is so nice to have a low stress 5K). I made my way back and waited (quite a while) for the awards. They had self-serve kiosks, so I was pretty happy to see I had placed 2nd in my age group.

I grabbed some food and wound up socializing a bit with some runners I knew. The 10K was very competitive so I am glad I opted for the 5K. I wound up snagging a cherry pie, a ribbon and of course a pretty sweet finisher's medal.

Overall, I felt like my time should've been better. I felt like my time was going to be slightly faster than last year's (24:30-ish), but alas it wasn't. Time for me to focus on dropping some weight and working on my speed work again.

All in all, I had a good time and definitely worth the $20.

Happy Thanksgiving!