This Week in Running 1/7 - 1/20 - Plus Desert Run

Looking at the Virgin River, Mesquite, NV

Day	Mileage / Workout	Comments
Sunday	16	Tough long run
Monday	5	Easy run tonight
Tuesday	7	Medium paced run
Wednesday	5	Fairly easy run
Thursday	4	Medium paced run
Friday	Off	Off
Saturday	13	St George Half marathon
Sunday	9	Desert run in Mesquite Nevada
Monday	4	Easy
Tuesday	5	Medium effort with some speedy parts
Wednesday	5	2 miles in 16:05, rest easy
Thursday	9	Medium paced long run
Friday	Off	Off
Saturday	5	Snowy weather. Just logging miles
Weekly: ?? YTD: 115

Week's Summary

Well this past two weeks have been filled with running.  The mild winter continues here in Salt Lake and that has allowed me to continue a full round of training.

In winters past I had to limit my training or reduce the amount of miles because of icy or cold (which rarely stops me) conditions.  In fact, most days I can get away with a very light jacket, shorts and thin gloves.

This week also saw my inaugural race for 2018.  I felt there were a lot of positives but at the same time it was slower than last year.  So in that regard it was disappointing to me.  I had real hopes that somehow I'd be able to get the same or even slightly better than last year.  Hopefully this isn't a pattern for 2018.

My long run to start the two weeks wasn't the greatest either.  I started off full of enthusiasm but I really faded.  All my previous long runs have been pretty good, but this one, I was hurting midway through and it didn't leave me with much confidence.

I also didn't do a lot of speed work leading up to the half marathon.  For whatever reason, any "umpf" I had in my legs was absent.  I also felt like I was getting sick with a cold (there is a nasty bug going around that so far I've managed to dodge).  Luckily, it didn't seem to impact my race (much).

However, this past week I forced myself (I dislike speed work and would rather plod along) to get my usual 2 miles at 5K pace in.  It felt harder than it should but at least my time was reasonable and it counted as quality miles.

Desert Run

Last Sunday I decided to go on a run.  I was in Mesquite for the weekend and I wanted something to do.  I had just done the car show and sat in the jacuzzi and in my infinite wisdom I thought it would be a good time to go for a run (on half marathon dead legs no less).

So I made my way out of the hotel with 28 ounces of Gatorade and figured maybe I'd get 4 - 5 miles in.  I started off trying to find a new route I hadn't taken before and just wound up running a mile around a cookie-cutter subdivision.

I finally made my way out and found a familiar section of the Bunkerville Bike Trail.  I had done this trail before and it wasn't terribly exciting.  I did, however, see some cars coming off of a side road.  I wound up checking with some walkers and they said it was kind of a cool road that lead into the desert.

So I jumped on that.

What followed was a challenging but oh so delightful run along a dirt road.  I figured for sure I could make the Arizona State Line.  I ran 3 miles from that sign and figured I was officially in Arizona (I came to a split in the road).  Turns out, however, I was about a quarter mile shy of the official border.

None the less, it was a pretty interesting and scenic run.  A lot of the sports / desert vehicles were giving me a big wave.  I guess they don't get many runners way out in the middle of nowhere.  It also gave me a chance to go shirtless.

I barely made it back however.  Sitting in the jacuzzi and being in the sun (it wasn't super hot) got me dehydrated.  Once I hit 9 miles I walked the final half mile (or so) back to the Casablanca.  To make matters worse, I had the furthest possible room from where I was located.

I knew once I got to my room that I had a nice Coke to drink that would set me straight.  Unfortunately, my key card no longer worked.  So I had to walk all the way back to the front desk (at this point I was ready to be sick), and have security walk me back to my room since I didn't have ID with me.

To make a long story short, I didn't pass out, although for a while, I thought I was going to.  Dehydration sucks!

Here are the photos I took along the way:

Upcoming Races

Finally some races on the horizon!  They may be short (5Ks) but they are something to train and shoot for.  Definitely looking forward to them.

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)