Giddyup

Chilly morning bridge loop - great run.  Everyone was out this am - Me, D, T, I, E, & J. No one else is running SG though.

Was really looking for a sub-3 this year and didn't quite get it - that is really about the only story for this race.  

Made it to halfway in 1:31:33 which is right where I wanted to be to pull a negative split.  I even took the 12th mile quite easy since I knew I was going to be at the half in good time.  I kept it easy until after the photographers take your picture after the 14 mile mark.  I turned it up right after there and had about a 6:43 mile.  Had another strong 16th mile and then that was pretty much the end of it.  Both sides of my groin were very tight including my right hamstring and I just couldn't move my legs very fast.  Knew the sub-3 was out the window but was pleased to still hit 20 in 2:21.  However, it just slowed down some more from there.  Can't say I'm really disappointed though - I can really say I haven't done the kind of training you really need to do to go run fast there.  All my long runs were Ultra-type running which is on terrain not conducive to fast running and even includes walking in the really tough parts. 

Maybe next year - I probably won't do any Ultra's or if I do I'll do the more runnable ones.  I'll just focus on the marathon.

Not exactly sure how far this am -after taking off over a week I feel 15 lbs heavier.  Fortunately I'm not but I am probably up at least a pound or 2.  I do feel well recovered though.  Just an easy run out to the Big Willow bridge & back.

A bridge loop this am - weather has warmed back up a little.  Had a great pace this am, pushed it more than usual even got the lactic acid buildup feeling that we rarely bump into on these runs. Felt good.

Had a great ride after work - just 2 loops around 13th & fort.  Over-dressed just a little but it's hard to tell how chilly it will be once you get going.  Really felt so good to get out on the bike - wanted to go for an hour, but I'll take whatever I can get.  I really like this loop - you've always got a headwind & a tailwind at some point or another.

Morning loop just down to aqueduct road - Me, D & J.

Another easy bridge loop this am - a little warmer than yesterday.  Temps are perfect right now - a little chilly at the start, but by the time you get going it feels perfect.

Managed a nice proper bridge loop this am.  Went out at 6 instead of 545.  Temps are still quite pleasant.

Had one of the best training runs I've ever run today.  It was just such a perfect day for a run.  I really don't know exactly how far I went as my Garmin wouldn't turn on.  I charged the thing all night and it says charge complete and everything and then nothing.  Anyway I know for a fact I covered at least 16 miles and then a pretty good distance on top of that as well.  I wouldn't be surprised if it was really closer to 19 or 20.  I just didn't want to stop today - the weather was excellent, the trails were so much fun to run on, I felt very good, and I definitely wanted a long one.  We started out at 6 with 4 of us, 1 had to be home by 8 & the other 2 by 830.  I stayed out until 1030.  We ran out the shoreline then up ghost falls the up to clark's trailhead and down clark's.   Then once at the bottom, we stayed low and ran the trail that flanks the downside of the homes directly to the North of the Draper temple which funnelled us out back into the bottom of Corner Canyon.  From there we ran back up ghost falls a little bit before finally bushwhacking our way off the trail up to the main CC road and back down to Highland Dr.  At that point we were 11 miles.  I left out again to do the bridge loop which is about 5.35 more miles, but I took a hard right up the side of the mountain on the road that goes straight up the mountain and now looks like it has sutures going up it from the cuts made to divert any water/mudslides.  Probably about a mile straight up, it ends at a road high up there which I then ran down.  It switchbacks all the way down to the CC road and from there I ran back up to the ghost falls trailhead and down ghost.  Ghost was so much fun to run on - perfect single track running through the oaks which have covered the trail with a carpet of fall leaves.  It was definitely a great run - hopefully I'll get a chance to do it again soon so I can actually see how far it is.

Not really sure how far but I did get in a Mountain Bike loop up Corner Canyon tonight.  Got out kind of late and the dark snuck in on us.  Up Clark's from the equestrian center then down the new 'downhill' trail which is sort of a joke for a downhill mountain bike trail - running on it would be great but for biking there are just too many switchbacks.

Went North this am out to the Big Willow bridge and back.  Was the first real windy, blustery day with snow falling just before we finished.  Winter is coming and we probably won't get more than a couple weeks more if that of clear trails.

Early morning run with everyone out to the bridge & back.  Great run.  Saw 4 does & a small 2 point buck right in my neighborhood on the way home.

Run up Eagle in the am - bike on the trainer after work in the evening.

Almost the exact same run as last week - only left out the grunt.  On the 2nd loop just turned off at the main road.  We were much quicker today plus there were 9 of us although our group broke into 4 & 5 halfway through.