Fuel SMART,Train HARD, Run FAST.

Liberty Park loops- 7.6 miles, 7:48 AP

It's Mt. Wire! 

Gym- weights, Arc Glyder

Some speed!

Intervals, 3 mins on, half jog. 

6 mi, 6:56 ap, 41:38

7.5 total

Way to go, Tara.

Mt. Wire is my nemeses. Siri, how do you spell nemeses? seriously, how do you? Nemisis? Nemises? Whatever.

5.1 miles, 2,257 vert, 15:20 ap

I almost have a bad attidude, just from recalling the run. Get over it, Tara.

DRAAAAAGGGGING ON JRP. What's uppppp. 6 miles, 7:29AP . I had to be much slower than that. My watch is totally lying. Felt more like 8:00

7 miles @7:48 ap. Felt so good today:) Ran the last mile in 6:40 without much effort and felt like I was on top of the world for a moment. I cant wait to be 100% again!

4 mi warm up 8:33ap

Continuous change of pace workout

1,2,3,4,5,6,5,4,3,2,1 min @ 6:00-6:31 w/ half rest jog

Super stoked with how I did. TM's help with confidence, but I know it was much easier on here than the road. I'll take what I can get these days.

9.5 mi, 6:54 AP

13.5 miles total

GYMMMM

Ellipcital for 25 mins

Weights for 35 mins

I have the upper body strength of a toddler.

Cheering on runners at RUN UP FOR AIR (RUFA). Some running, some standing, but still got 6.5 miles and 1,900 vert, so boo-yah!

Tempo and speed work on the road. Ran down Pages to the Frontage road and back.

WU

2.5 mi tempo @ 7:10ish

6X1 min on/30 sec off@ 5:30-6:00

CD

8 mi, 7:57AP

This was a workout that I felt good about, but could tell I was struggling with air. Trying to get my iron up again has been extremely difficult! Iron 3X daily= upset stomach and the slowest return ever! Wish I could get infusions again instead. I've been convienced by my Doc this is a better route but I'm wondering. I need more patience.

Super fun morning up to the Twin peaks. 10.3 mi, 2:02:23, 11:48 AP

Loops around Libery Park and I loved it, except for the high-fiving clown. 8 miles, 7:55ap

Some normal looking guy kept running the opposite direction, but not really completing a full loop by cutting down the middle and then would give me a giant high five, twice per loop. "Hey, alright (clap clap clap) put it right there, oh yeahhhhh!" It was fun the first four times...

Afterwards I watched three goths dressed in Knight apparal play with foam swords and other foam weapons. They seemed experienced.

Guys, in the winter trail running is kinda limited, at least if you want to hit a peak. It's either Mt. Wire, Ave. Twins, or Grandeur- the bread and butter of winter running. It gets old, but the company never does, if you can find it. 

Today, Grandeur.  Basically a hike all the way up then run down. Lots of snow, it's never leaving. The end.

First time running on Antelope Island! I'm super sad I will be out of town for the Buffalo 50 miler in March. Had to get out there and get a taste of the course. I can't describe how beautiful and peaceful it was. Buffalo roaming and beautiful scenery in every direction. Perfect day, despite the wind. I cant believe I live this close and never go. Dumb Tara. Dumb!

19.5 miles, 3:27:10, 10:33 AP.

7 miles in slush, snow, mud and freezing puddle jumping up City Creek towards the Twins. Ran out of time before I could hit the peak and turned around. Flocked trees overlooking a city of lights. Beautiful.

I've been thinking about writing down my workouts again. I always find it so helpful leading up to a race for confidence.

Right now, I am running 50/50 trail and road miles. It's been hard to transistion to road workouts again, my body has changed so much and makes me think marathon speed will be almost impossible to get back.

This is the first year I am not running any road races, but sticking to the trails to build up for Wasatch 100 in September. Other than that, I am planning on Timp Trail marathon and hopefully a faster 50 miler out of state to hopefully get into the North Face Championships in November. That will just be for fun, my main focus will be W100 this fall.

Lately I have been running lower miles, in the 30's weekly, but have put in some good speed workouts and some okay vert training. Nothing amazing, but decent base training.

Today- Gym workout. Lots of hip exercises and lunges. Upper body weights for 30 mins and a pathetic 1 mile warm up on the elliptical while I answered back emails.

Hoping to pick up training with some quality days ahead!

7 miles around Liberty Park, 7:58 AP. I did a leg day yesterday so my legs were dead, but otherwise felt okay. I think i was breathing harder than normal. Maybe that's my new normal. I have an appointment next week to get my iron rechecked after taking a month of supplements. If my levels aren't high enough, I'm going to go fly a kite.

I went to bed at 2AM last night, which is about 3.5 hours later than I usually go to bed. Made for a tired morning, so I got a later start. 

5 miles of slogging up Grandeur in the snow. Saw lots of other runners, no one was making it up to the top. I wouldn't say this was the most fun I've had, but glad I got something in. 5 miles in 1:40:00 ish

Ultra Adventures puts on a quality, but gnarly marathon in the Tushar mountains of Utah. Runners embark on this rugged mountain race starting at nearly 10,500 feet elevation and hitting its highest point at Delano Peak, 12,175 feet. The climbs are steep and the drops are technical. It’s unlike any typical marathon around!

I was stoked to run today; I wanted to see where I was both from a mental and physical standpoint. Last August, on my last long run before Wasatch 100, I broke my knee and had to forfeit my spot in the race. I was devastated as I then watched my plans to also run the Boston Marathon slip out the window. I couldn’t regain my strength fast enough and my and rehab was long and difficult. I decided there was nothing to do but get to work and that’s what I did. Today was the day to see my progress!

Runners lined the start and we bolted at the sound of the gun. The first few miles were rough from a breathing standpoint, but after the 4^th mile, I felt well adjusted. We ran through the woods and followed the flags on and off the trails through muddy streams, swampy grasslands, and rocky climbs. In the months leading up to this race I daydreamed about winning and breaking my PR from the year before. Those were dreams, now I needed to let my expectations go and just run.

The climb up to Delano peak was extra difficult. I used my poles to help propel me up the steep climbs, but then found them to be annoying and carried them instead. Literally seconds later I would regret that decision and pull them out again. I made a mental note in the future to run more with my poles before racing with them!

I made my way to the summit and was greeted by friends who offered words of encouragement. The decent from Delano was a real quad burner. I had a difficult time moving down the terrain quickly and began to feel quite discouraged. From here on out, the race moved from a will of physical strength, to mental strength.  I worked to keep out of my head and repeated “You’re okay, Tara, keep going.” I replayed these words of encouragement over and over as I dug my poles in deep and kept moving.

The course continued to amaze me as I ran through abandoned mining ruins from the wild west and single track trails paved with flowers, divided by meandering creeks. I approached the last miles with will to stay positive and not let the ticking time discourage me. These miles were difficult as any miles are at the end of a race. I reached the last climb and picked up the pace to the finish with a smile on my face. I finished 5^th overall and was content.  Today I conquered my goals to test my limits and mental strength. It wasn’t about my place or finish, it was about getting back out again after disappointment and pressing forward. I’m always grateful for each day I am able to do what I love. I am looking forward to the next big adventure!