As we run, we become!

I hadn't run along the Jordan River Trail in Midvale for almost 10 years.  It's funny how going back to an old route can bring back memories.  It was cold outside and I had to go to the bathroom, but I pushed the pace and finished the out portion in 27 minutes.  I was happy to get back in only 28 minutes.  With my change in office location, I'm sure it's a route that I will get reacquainted with.

I swam 2500 yards at the Gene Fullmer Rec Center (GFRC) next to my office.  I noticed the chemicals in the water a lot more than I do at the pool in Lehi, but it was nice to get my final swim of the week done before the end of the work week.  I was a little bit slow, but I took my goggles off to speak with the lifeguard when it became apparent that a bunch of kids were getting into the lap pool.  That was a bad idea because they fogged up and leaked for the second half of my swim.  I got a headache too.  Just wasn't my best day in the pool.

I ran 3 slow miles on the treadmill in 24:00.  I was trying to take it easy to recover from yesterday and to make sure I have the energy to go long tomorrow.

I ran the Suncrest Loop with a great group from the blog.  I had my reservations about completing the 18 mile loop, but I managed my nutrition well today and I felt great at the finish.  I was a little bummed by my total time of 2:27 (8:10 pace), but when I logged into Garmin and saw that the course covered a 2,000 foot ascent/descent I was really satisfied. Then I looked at my splits and saw that I was as fast at 18 as I was at 10.  That really made my day.  I struggled so much last week over 16 miles on a flat course that I really focused on getting calories in early today and it made all the difference.  

Road my bike to work for the first time today.  I think it was about 35 miles roundtrip, but the wind and the hill by Camp Williams made it feel a lot more difficult.  I was dressed way to warm for the temp, which came as quite a surprise.  I thought my hand and feet would freeze , but I was plenty warm.

I decided to skip a run today and take this week easy to recover from the the last 3 weeks of increased mileage, as well as Saturday's monster run.

 I swam 2500 yards tonight and felt really good in the water.  My time was just under 47 minutes, but I still had a lot left in the tank. 

I thought I would take it easy tonight by running on the treadmill, but my left knee flared up around 3 miles, so I finished the 4th mile and did some weightlifting.  Then I ran 2 fast miles on the indoor track and my knee never bothered me at all.  I think I have a much harder time maintaining my form/stride while on the treadmill.

I ran at lunch today on the treadmill.  I finished the 6 miles in 41 minutes.  I felt a lot better than I did yesterday.  Maybe running slow on the treadmill is what causes me to have problems.  Haven't quite figured it out yet. 

I didn't exercise today at all.  I have a mild cold, but when I went upstairs to change for my workout I got light-headed.  I had to remind myself that this is supposed to be an easy week.  So I stayed home and relaxed.  I am going to take tomorrow off.  Maybe I will feel good enough to get a good workout in tomorrow.