Let's do this!

Ran 8.75 on the paved trail that runs along the Santa Clara river here in St. George. AP 7:49 I felt like I was chasing jack rabbits the whole time. They're all over that trail. The sunrise was very beautiful. My legs felt sore-ish but I was still able to run decently. Yesterday I got a lot of miles on my legs. I had run 7.5 in the morning with 8x200 pick ups intermingled. Then I hiked to Angels landing in Zion natl park, also hiked to the Emerald pool. I was toast last night. My only regret was not being able to come to the red mountain 50k and see Juney-Jun finish.

I have been getting 8 hrs of sleep the past several nights. I am feeling better, hooray!! I'm going to try and keep this up without boring my Husband to much. I think starting up my multi-vitamin is helping as well. I am going to go get some iron supplement too. It can't hurt.

My legs are still tired from vacation but I still got up and out today. Ran 7 miles on the trail. 7:41 avg pace. I am really noticing how much lighter it is outside. I left at 5:50 am and by about 1.5 in it was starting to lighten a bit. By 3 miles it was light enough to see everything. I brisk walked a mile cool down after running the 7, I used to do that all the time last summer. I enjoy it. Weights and plyo's at home afterwards.

I'm on a mission. I swear! Going to drop the 12 lbs I've put on since the Saint George marathon. I've been to relaxed since about January. It WILL COME OFF.

Hiking up to Angels Landing Saturday. Sweaty betty, I was sweating so bad my shirt and shorts stretched out and were literally hanging on me. I felt gross!

Track day! 1.5 mile warm up, then sprinted 4x200, then 2x400, then 6x200. I still feel like I am lacking something when I sprint. I cannot put my finger on it. I know there is always some wind resistance here. hmmm. I don't really know if my pace in a 5k will have changed much yet. I'm just not sure.

I ran a half mile cool down jog.

My right calf muscle is still bothering me. Strained perhaps? Not sure if I should go see the Dr. or tone things down. I don't know these days. 

Elliptical for 46 minutes after. 

6 miles ran on the river trail. I can tell my fitness is improving. It is hard to explain in words. I know you all have felt the same thing. When things begin to feel like they are clicking. Turnovers get smoother, you feel more light on your feet, like your barely skiffing the ground. Lungs feel like they can expand a ton, your not out of breath easily. Your recovery pace starts to drop as you get better. But it still feels like a recovery. I am starting to feel this. It seems to be just the beginning so I know there is more to come with smart and correct training. I seriously love running.

Weights afterwards at home. Plyo's too.

I did some weights at the gym, sorta. I felt really tired and probably talked a lot and screwed around for no reason? 

Came home and ran on the trail. 7 miles. 7:43 avg. back to feeling tired. oh bother.

I wasn't feeling it today. Only ran 3 miles. 37 minutes on the elliptical.

5k shenanigans tomorrow. This will be interesting. How will it all digest with me and my fatigue problems and a hurting calf muscle. Interesting indeed...

Had a fun time today. Lot's of us FRB people were at Thanksgiving point today. I love the camaraderie of this blog!

Race start I spot Melody. It was good to see her. Knew right away that I wouldn't be keeping up with Melody, she's peaked and quicker than quick right now.

With some advice from Jake, I decided to be conservative the first 2 miles. But my problem was what is conservative for me at this time? Haven't run a race since Saint George, weight trained all winter, ran very randomly with no training until March 1st. I have been fatigued a lot. My calf hurts. That's why I call it 5k shenanigans!

1st mile- Way to conservative 7:04 split. I didn't look at my watch at all in the first mile. I just ran on feel of conservative.This was steady incline. Not easy running at all. But I felt good. Well no wonder! I wasn't running that quick sheeesh! 

2nd mile, a few meters back I had been caught up to by a bigger gal. No offense but I was like okay, what pace am I running here, this should not be happening. I looked at my watch and had a bit of a wake up call. What am I doing!?!?!?!?! This is way conservative, kick into gear! Just in time for more hills. Split: 6:38 not to shabby of a split for the amount of hill work and twists and turns and garden exploring. Wow. Just wow.

3rd mile I gave it some kick.  Split was 6:10, As I turned the corner to head to the finish I could feel what the track work has just begun to do for me. I had plenty left in the tank (thanks to over conservative first mile) and my pace was in the low 5:50's with plenty of breath left and I am pretty sure, more kick. I know this is not my fastest time in a 5k obviously, but for the amount of incline and hill, I feel like I did okay. I am not unhappy and it rekindled the racing fire in my heart.

Afterwards I was talking to Walter and Melody about my hurting calf. They helped me figure out that is probably a shin splint. I've never had shin splints in my 10 years of running. This is totally new to me. Any advice anyone wants to offer I will take and consider! I don't want this to become an ongoing problem this summer.I had to warm up significantly for it not to hurt today. That's how it's been most mornings. 

I had a great time visiting with all of our fast running blog group. I am so amazed at them. I love the warmness of everyone. We are each others biggest fans and cheerleaders. I love seeing everyone do well and meet goals and feel good. 

 Last thoughts: how about those dead sexy Altra Maniacs?  They are total studs and crack me up. I love this blog.  :)  And..... this year....2012 marks 10 years ago this September that I began running. I have enjoyed every minute of it. I hope to be able to enjoy more years of running and running without injury. I hope I can do significant things this year in honor of my 10 year anniversary. Thanks for letting me blab!

4 miles cool down.