Fuel SMART,Train HARD, Run FAST.

This race has been on the radar for a while since it was a good excuse to go up and visit my friend Doni in Idaho. The race name was changed for this year from "Just Cuz" to the sponsor, Moinelli Jewelers Half. Since this race is focused on a different theme every year, it made since to have it sponsored by a jewelry store for its Gold Rush theme. 

After SGM I really wanted to take a break from racing. I've had some pain in my right outer foot area and have not quite come back to 100% health wise for the past 6 weeks. I ended up telling my friend that I wasn't coming after all, shortly before I was expected to leave. I went to a Dr. appointment later in the day and was given some steroidal medication for my throat/cough. I changed my mind and decided to go since I really just wanted to visit and I had the free entry. 

I had no real time goal going into the race, except that it would be nice to beat my time from last year and/or win. The only catch was that I didn't want to fight too hard for either one of them (I know that sounds very naughty to say.) I didn't plan my splits and decided to just run it.

Friday night I ate the equivelent of two Thanksgiving dinners. For the first time in a long time,  I finally had a good appetite. Too bad it came on when I was a guest in someone's home! We spent the night playing family games and catching up. We went to bed around 1:00AM and neither one of us cared since the start was at 10AM.

We drove up to the park to load the busses. IT WAS SO COLD OUTSIDE! We even debated wearing our warmups for the race. The temps were in the 30's but the wind was absolutely freezing and strong. It wasn't until 5 mins before that we both agreed to strip down and run in our original planned attire. Everyone was dressed in gold for the theme. We sprayed our hair with gold glitter and looked very rich as a result.

The race started and everyone went out fast, including myself. The first two miles are the steepest of the entire race. Lots of rolling hills and winding roads made up the rest. The course was beautiful and the sun started to shine. Two girls were ahead for the first two miles. I caught second place and stayed 10-15 seconds from  first place.  At times I wondered if I was going to surge ahead or stay behind and not put forth the effort. It's easy to go for the latter when you don't feel mentally into it. I'm glad I refocused myself and continued to look ahead. 

 I hit the 10k in 39:24. Mile 6 had a decent hill that I pushed well.  I stopped at the aid station to grab a water. I'm not quiet certain why I actually stopped, but it was only for a few seconds. I took a GU then looked ahead and noticed she had gained quiet a bit of ground ahead of me, ~20+.  We approached mile 9 where the biggest hill of the race was coming up. I was close behind at this point and decided to make my surge on the hill.  I was prepared for her to come with me, but she didn't.  I knew the last three miles to the finish were not going to be as fun after coming out of the canyon and facing some heavy wind. I started to slow down, especially the last mile.  I crossed the finish and was third overall. The first guy was way ahead of everyone else, the second guy was in sight for most of the race, but pulled away in the final miles.  My friend Doni placed third at the sacrifice of her two big toe nails!  We were awarded gift certificates for placing.

 We made our way to the mining activity afterwards where we mined for treasures. We had a great time and walked away with some nice things. Moinelli's was great. Wish they could celebrate their new store opening every year:)

Splits: 5:52, 6:06, 6:41, 6:31, 6:27, 6:29, 6:53, 6:27, 6:50, 6:35, 6:57, 7:08, 7:27

5:15AM- Last minute invite to run to Ave Twin Peaks with Scott W this morning. We met up later with the other part of the group due to an earlier start. Nice group. 

 I figured it was going to be super cold, but it ended up being warmer than expected. Head lamps were a must and very helpful. I kept my head down and focused on not tripping. The pace was perfect. We walked several of the steeper/slicker areas to stay upright. The footing became more difficult for me as we reached the first summit, due to ice and snow. Really, I needed  trail shoes with spikes!

Mid run, Scott pointed out the two peaks we were running to (I thought we were almost done at that point:). I would have never tried to climb them on my own. I didn't know people did! Ha! This was my first summit and it did not disappoint. The views of the city lights were remarkable. 10 miles in 2:03:00.

I went into the run with sore legs, and finished the run even more sore.  I expect He-Man legs, shortly. It must be the throat steroids.

6:00AM- Felt colder this morning. Met with Andy on LPT for 8 miles. I was breathing hard for some reason, maybe becuase I wouldn't stop talking. Legs are less sore today, but tired.

Suggested cross training for the rest of the week:

 https://showyou.com//v/h-Uh0Gh3PS7k7fodnC/this-aerobic-video-wins-everything?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=timeline

I have really been taking it easy lately. It's been nice to not have any important races looming over my mind. I plan to take it pretty easy until the new year, then begin another stretch until the end of fall. The training season can be pretty long otherwise! I have a couple of fun 5k's planned this month, one on Saturday and another on Thanksgiving.

I went to work early this morning and had a great day. I returned home and was invited to go on a trail run with a friend who is training for a 10k for Thanksgiving. She really wanted to see if we could cover 4 miles together on the the trail, so we headed off to BST and finished with 4.25. At the half way point she asked what our AP was, I told her 11:15. That frustrated her so we picked up the pace to 10:00 on the way back. Beautiful weather and good company.

5 on BST.

6:00 at LPT with Andy. 8 miles. We picked it up a litte at the end, around hmp. Started watch half way throgh,  7:30 ap.

Firehouse workout. Tough stuff, but not as bad as the first time. Half way done with the program. Woot.

6am- 4 miles on the elliptical while watching The Fugitive. I wanted to do some sprints but got too caught up in the moive. Had to leave to work, oh well.

I woke up at 4am with nothing to do, so I drove to Gold's Gym for some inpiration. I jumped on the TM for a couple easy miles, then threw in a few intervals to make it interesting.

3X400 @ 6:00, 5:47, 5:25

3x200 @ 5:15, 5:00, 4:52,

3X100@ 5:00, 4:41, 4:17

Equal active rest @7:30 pace

6 miles total

Then I drove over to Firehouse for the 6:30 boot camp class. Lots of core stuff + throwing around a bunch of tires. I never made it to the sludge hammer station. This included a couple runs too, 2.25 miles total.

I got pulled over on the way home becuase I took my hair out of a pony tail. I  swerved into the left turning lane for a sec and was caught on the spot for crazy driving. I had a lot of explaining to do in regards to who's car I was driving. It's a long story. He got bored, so cut me off and let me go with a never-do-my-hair-while-driving-again warning.  #neverdomyhairwhiledrivingagainwarning

I pretty much toed the line for a local 5k this morning- but ended up turning around and jumping in my car and driving home instead. Two weeks ago,  I hurt the outside of my foot during a Tempo Tuesday run. I'm not even really sure how it happened. It was cold and raining and suddenly my foot had a sharp pain below the outside of my little toe. Now, anytime I wear any fitted shoes, it hurts. I have exactly one pair of boat-like shoes that does not irritate it. They are fine for training, but not speed work or racing. In fact, I was forced to wear them for the last half marathon I did earlier this month which made me feel clumsy. I'm not sure if it is a bunion issue, nerve or bone spur.  It only took me .5 mi into the warm up to see that it was going to start screaming if I ran much more on it. I debated going home and running on the TM, but decided to rest instead.

After two weeks, I think I'll just drop by the podiatrist for a quick check. Hopefully the day doesn't turn out as bad as it did the last time I visited his office.

5AM- 8 miles at Gold's on the TM. My body did not want to go even after 2.5 miles. I almost talked myself into getting on the elliptical but Instead I turned down the incline to 1.5-2.0 and made myself run another 5.5 miles . Picked up the last 3 miles @ 6:30 pace.

Afterwards, I drove to FireHouse Fitness for the 6:30 class. My legs felt tight and tired, but feeling improvements overall in strength.

No foot pain due to wearing the boats.

8 miles on LPT with Kam and Andy. Nice morning, sore buns.

6AM- FireHouse Fitness workout- 45 mins. So tired today.

Much needed day off. Total house cleaning day.

6:30- FireHouse cross fit workout. The strong winds kept us from running outside Getting stronger !

Strong winds kept me inside. I had plans to get on the TM, but somehow without a race in sight, that didn't make the priority list today. 

I know it's been too long since I have caught you all Burt and Allie up on the latest regarding my cough...

Well, it's gone wild. Coughed all day at work-more than usual. For once, my patients were more worried about me. What a distraction.

"Hack hack! Sorry, I'm not sick- *hack cough* I just have this.... tiiiickle in my throat. *nose blow* I'm fine. How are you? Cough, cough cough..

Hyperlinks.

I've got another annoying cold. Still functional, but low energy and the cough is still here! Going on 8 weeks with this thing, and it appears to let up for a day, then points its mean finger in my face and throws down the hammer. Okay, maybe not that extreme. Those Rx throat steroids really let me down. Aside from a kid, a smoker and someone with a lung disease, who has one this long?

Regardless, I made myself crawl to FireHouse and went through the motions for today's workout. It made my throat burn and I may have gave slightly less effort than I needed to. I talked to the trainer too much and found excuses to take breaks, that I didn't really need. I didn't feel to bad though, anything was better than staying in bed, which is what I really wanted to do this morning:) Superstar.

Little desire to run lately. Anyone else?

6am- 8 miles on LPT with Andy.  Cold.

0630- Firehouse workout