This Week in Running 12/31 - 1/6

Day	Mileage / Workout	Comments
Sunday	5	Solid run on the bike trail to wrap up the year -- at 10pm!
Monday	12	Solid 10 min / mile pace. Sore though.
Tuesday	4	Easy
Wednesday	Off
Thursday	8	4 at 8:30 min / mile tempo run. Speedwork!
Friday	Off	Off
Saturday	4	Easy because it was slushy and icy out
Weekly: 29 YTD: 24

Week's Summary

This past week was definitely a cut back week.  The past few weeks I had been running a lot and so this week there wasn't a lot left in the tank.  It was also the end of the #RWRUNSTREAK.  The streak is a challenge put on by the fine folks at Runners World Magazine.  The challenge is to run from Thanksgiving until New Year's Day -- every day -- and at least for one mile.

I successfully completed it this year.  In fact, I had started a little early and the shortest run I did was 3 miles.  It was such a relief (and also kind of hard) to stop the streak this week, but I do think streaks like this up your risk of injury and burnout.

I was scheduled to do a midnight 5K on New Years Eve.  I regret not doing it but a couple of things happened:

1. I got really anxious.  I couldn't hike, couldn't run and I was more or less resting for the race -- on the couch.  All day.  And that drives me absolutely bonkers.  
2. The race wasn't timed or recorded in any way.  Questions like "What's the point" ran through my mind.
3. I was falling asleep

Finally, around 9:30 I said screw it, threw on a pair of shorts and a light jacket and just did 5 miles on the bike trail.  It was such a relief to go out and exercise.  There wasn't another soul out on the bike trail and it felt "wrong" to be running that late but ultimately it was just what the doctor ordered for me.

I also did a bit of a different workout this week.  I wasn't "feeling" my normal 2 miles at 5K.  I felt like I could do a longer run with slightly less speed and that's what I did.  I suspect I had about another mile or two at that pace before it would've caught up with me but it felt incredibly awesome.

On a Side Note

I haven't reported too many gambling trips of late.  They really haven't been that noteworthy.  They have been fun, but nothing really happens that is too terribly exciting.

I did however have a short but very profitable run of luck this past weekend.

Shari and I went to Wendover -- we really weren't in the mood for it, but they had sent us a free room offer and I had booked it a few weeks ago on a whim.  I figured we could cancel at the last minute if we opted not to go.

I have a few trips planned in the next few weeks and I was worried about forking out more money and being in a deficit.  However, we pretty much eat for free out there so if lady luck wasn't on my side I figured I'd call it an early night.

So we arrived just shy of 6 PM and I dropped Shari off at the Montego Bay hotel so she could get us a table at the buffet (which usually gets busy on a Friday night).  My job was to quickly get us a room at the Peppermill hotel (about a mile down the road).  We usually like quieter rooms and your preference on a room is mostly on a first-come, first-serve basis.

So after I get the room keys, I opted to go into the casino and at least activate my player's club card.  So after doing that I saw a lone Fu Dao Le machine and figured what the hell.  I'll put $40 into it.

So I go through $40 in a few minutes and got some entertainment out of it.  I figured I'd better go to Shari who had gotten a seat at the buffet and was waiting for me.

I was like nah, another quick $20.

So I hit the machine pretty hard, opting to go for a few $2 bets.  Well one of them came in and I got a $250 bonus round.

I was pretty excited and I almost cashed out.  I was *really* hungry but I know Fu Dao Le can go on hot streaks.  So I wound up playing fast and hard again, this time going a little higher ($3.68 a spin).

I got another bonus round!

It started off innocently enough but then the babies came out -- basically an interstitial which indicates something good is about to happen.  And it did.

I didn't have time to get a picture but basically I got a 3x multiplier and the rest of the screen was filled with beautiful yellow Queens.  I figured I'd get maybe $800 - $900 for it.  No.  Try about $1600!

Let's just say I let out a 4-letter word of exclamation and I got really excited.

Again, I was hungry.  Like almost light-headed hungry.  Unfortunately, when you win over $1200 in a single pull you have to will out tax forms.  So after the bonus round finished I had to sit there for 15 minutes waiting for them to get me my paper work, and more importantly, my money.

After getting paid, I wound up trying to hit it again, to no avail.  The machine was pretty much dead.

The rest of the weekend I didn't have much luck, just the occasional $50 bonus round.  Just glad I came out ahead this trip.

Upcoming Races

01/13: St George Half Marathon - St George, UT (Confirmed)
02/03: South Davis Recreation Center Sweetheart's Day 5K - Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)
02/10: Candy Heart 5K - West Jordan, UT (Confirmed)
02/17: Saints and Sinners Half Marathon - Boulder City, NV (Maybe)

03/03: March Madness Half Marathon - West Bountiful, UT (Confirmed)
03/18: St Patrick's Day Half Marathon (6 Tunnels Half Marathon) - Las Vegas, NV (Unlikely)
04/21: Salt Lake City Marathon (Half) - Salt Lake City, UT (Confirmed (2018))
11/11: 2018 Las Vegas Marathon - Las Vegas, NV (Confirmed)