Summit junkie!

Jun and I went for a sweet run for lunch today. We started at Alta by the guard shack and ran up the road to the Catherine Pass trailhead, where we continued up to the pass. The weather was perfect and the trail wasn't as crowded as the last time we were up here. It is a really good trail to run and Jun got out in front of me while I worked on some ipod issues, but I caught up to him before the pass.

From the pass we headed up to Mount Tuscarora, where we stopped for a quick break. I had a Hammer gel and then we decided to tag Mt. Wolverine because it is too close to pass up. There are a lot of rocks on the saddle between the two peaks, so it is difficult to run, but we ran where we could. On the summit (1:04) we were greeted by 6-7 ladies that were lounging on top and they probably thought we were weirdos as we did some peak jumping for the camera.

We made much better time on the way down. We went back over Tuscarora and back down to the pass, and then ran fast all the way to the bottom. Actually, Jun ran REALLY fast and I was told by a hiker that I was getting beat (duh). For some reason people love to tell me that on this trail.

Once back to the trailhead we ran fast back to the car. My watch never went over 7:40 and at one point we were running a 5:50 mile pace. It was a lot of fun and the perfect way to spend our lunch break. Back to work.

I had a really good lifting session at the gym this morning. I worked my upper body and then hopped on the elliptical to stretch my legs. Everything feels really good.

I wanted to rest my legs today because I will probably be running Timp again tomorrow, so I did 50 minutes of ab work. My kids were really entertained listening to me grunt and teased me for the last 20 minutes. My 10 year old daughter told me "Dad, working out isn't supposed to be hard". ha. She has a lot to learn.

40 minutes of saturated fat

75 minutes of calories

38 minutes of greasy meat

41 minutes of refined sugar

28 minutes of high fructose corn syrup.

33 minutes of artificial flavors

40 minutes of elliptical

Missed my Monday workout at the gym, so I went tonight ant lifted (chest, shoulders, lats, tri's, bi's).  for 45 minutes. I had a really good session and everything feels really good.

Also, due to some unforeseen circumstances, my wife will be going in for surgery next Monday and will need several weeks of recovery. Because of this I don't think I can run in the TOU marathon on the 18th. So, if anyone wants to go qualify me for Boston at the TOU let me know... haha. Kidding. Seriously, if you're interested in running it let me know.

We ended up cancelling our climb of the South Ridge of Mt. Superior this mroning because of the threat of lightning. That is one place you wouldn't want to be csaught in a storm. No place to hide and nowhere to bail. Totally exposed. I think we made the right decision.

I still wanted to get in some miles, so after the kids went to bed I went to the gym to run the TM. I wanted to do at least 5 and possibly do some speed work if I felt good. I started out at a 9:00 pace, but after two minutes I pushed it to 8:00 and I was feeling really good, so I went to 7:40. I finished the first mile a little over an 8:00 pace. Miles 2 and 3 were 7:40 and I was feeling so good that I cranked it up to 6:20. After mile 4 I couldn't believe how good I felt, so I pushed it to 6:10 and the TM wouldn't go any higher. I did mile 5 at 6:10 and finished 5 miles in 35:30. That is the fastest 5 mile time I have ever had, so I was pretty happy about that. I know I need a lot of work before St. George.

I had a really busy day, but after the kids went to bed I did manage to sneak away and get 3.5 on the TM. Not a super fast pace, but good enough to stretch my legs.

I went out for a run this morning before work on the pavement. The temps were a bit cool at first, but perfect for running. I had a really fun run and kept up a pretty decent pace the whole time. Total time: 1:08.

Today was a really busy day. I won't be able to lift on Monday like I usually do, so I made sure to hit the gym this morning before everything got too crazy. 40 minutes of upper body work, some sweat and then off to the first of three soccer games.

50 minutes on the elliptical while watching football.

What a day! I spent the entire day at the hospital with my wife today while she recovers from surgery. Everything went really well. I did sneak out to the gym after the kids were in bed and ran 3.1 in 23:03.

Don't ask me how I found the time to hit the gym today, but I did manage to get over there for a 45 minute lifting session and I had a really good work out. I have been taking care of my wife and everything else since Monday, and I am completely exhausted.

What a day! I started at 7:00 am and just sat down for the first time at 10:00 pm. Here are some of the fun activities I got to participate in today: Laundry, grocery shopping, making and cleaning up all of the meals, fetching medication, soccer games, soccer practice, mowing the lawn, running kids to school, picking them up :) and many more. Ha. I kinda want to go back to work so I can have a break.

 I also got my new Saucony Kinvara's and I had 45 minutes of free time before I had to pick up my kids from school, so I went on a run in my new shoes. 5 miles in 42:10 and it was so HOT! I tried to keep up a good pace but the sun just sapped my energy, so the last two miles were slow. I also got a stitch in my side that didn't help. The shoes are incredible. I love 'em.

I also found out something that might explain my slower time descending on the Quest for Kings Marathon. I talked to my wife's nurse today and she mentioned that the anti-nausea medication she was taking would knock her out. Well, it is the same thing I took on the summit when I felt some nausea coming on. No wonder I lost my energy around Dollar Lake. I won't do that next year. 3:50 up to the summit and 4:39 going down.

I wanted to go for a longer run today and my Mother-in-law was over to help with my wife, so I decided to get out. The only problem was my run was right during the heat of the day, but I was ok with that.

I turned on my Garmin and my dog started freaking out because usually when I take her out I have it on and she knows what that means, so after a few minutes I decided to take her out for a few miles to warm up. The problem is she shot out of the house like a cannon and it took me a mile just to slow her down. Not only did she want to run fast, but she wanted to chase everything. I think I need to give her a valium before I take her out. After two miles I felt like I had run 4. I was already tired. I took her back home, got a drink and picked up my hand held water bottle and a few gels.

I ran from my house to the Alpine Highway, and then all the way to American Fork Canyon. I stopped at the intersection of the Highland/Alpine Hwy to have a gel and it was HOT. I was sweating so much. Burt would have been proud. The only problem is it slowed me down a lot and I also had a stitch in my side again. I think it is from running about 40 minutes after I ate my lunch. It would come and go and it bothered me the whole way.

The run up to the canyon was fun, but I had a pretty big headwind and it was tough to get any speed at all. I pretty much resigned myself to the fact that this run was not going to be fast, but I was ok with that because I just wanted to get in some good miles on the pavement. At the canyon I turned around and ran back to the Chevron where I had a cold Coke and another gel. I sat in the shade to cool off and it felt great.

I made a detour on the way back to pick up another mile and the last mile ended up being up hill and it almost killed me. SLOW!  I was a sweaty mess when I finished, but everything felt great.

No miles today. It was really busy day, so I settled for 40 minutes of ab work on my ball after the kids were in bed. Actually, the two oldest came in during my work out. Probably to make fun of me. GRUNT!

I had an awesome morning running Timp with Jun. I love this run. It has to be one of the best trail runs along the Wasatch Front, and I really wanted to get a peak in with some elevation, so I was glad Jun also wanted to do it again. We had to get an early start so that I could get home to get my kids to school, so we met at 2:30 AM at Kohlers in Apline.

We were on the trail before 3:00 and our splits were almost identical to the last time we did it, even though I felt like I was pushing harder. Maybe it was because my calves were a touch sore. They didn't feel sore before the run, but I really felt them on the steep trail going up.

The weather was nearly perfect and I wasn't sweating much at all and it was just an enjoyable pace up to the saddle. The only negative was I felt like I was going to throw up for the first 90 minutes. I ate more breakfast than I usually do, and the boiled egg really wanted to come back up, but I faught the puking urge and luckily after I took a Hammer gel I felt better.

We got blasted by wind at the saddle and it was much colder up there, so I put on my extra shirt and gloves and Jun took off fast. It took me about 25 minutes to reach the summit and it was in the exact time as our last trip. We hung out a bit on top, taking some pics and checking out the views, but we got cold, so we decided to get down quick. Once again Jun was fast to the saddle and I tried to make good time, but I took it easier on all of the steeper sections.

From the saddle down to the cirque was kind of slower, but once we got down there I took a gel (Hammer espresso, not my fav but I wanted the caffeine) and I took off one of my shirts and then we ran down the rest of the way. I was much faster this time and took 15 minutes off of my descent.

Once the sun came up the views were just incredible with all of the Fall colors out and we got back to the car in just over 4 hours total time. It was an incredible morning and worth the lack of sleep. Now I know how Kelli feels and I am not quite sure how she does it every day. Tired!

First time to the Lehi Legacy Center because AF Fitness Center is closed for the week. Lifted for 50 minutes (upper body).

This week has been much easier than last, as my wife is feeling better every day. I'm kind of getting used to this stay at home mom thing. :)

I went out for a run after I put the kids in bed. I ran from my house down to AF Main St. all the way to In N Out and then back the other way to Albertsons. Just before Albertsons I hit mile 3 in 23:00. Then I turned North up the Apline Hwy. The hill going up here was by far the most difficult section of the run because it is all up hill for over a mile and it gets really steep. It slowed me down a lot, but I pushed where I could.

I worked on my speed the whole run. Every mile I spent at least two minutes pushing it as hard as I could. Once I reached the top of the hill (1120 N.) I ran a 7:20 on the last mile. It was a really fun run.

Total time: 45:58

I did one hour on the elliptical after I got the kids to bed. It felt really good to stretch out my legs and it was a great cardio workout. I did the last 40 minutes on the max setting. My shirt was soaked in sweat when I finished and I felt so much like Burt I almost took a pic and posted it.

I went to the gym to lift and had a good session working my upper body. After 40 minutes I decided to get in a few miles on the TM since I was already there.

First 30-40 seconds I walked because I was messing with the new TV remote and then I settled into a nice pace. Finished the first mile in 8:20 and then pushed it to a 7:20 pace for the second. After two miles I was feeling good, so I figured I would see what I would do a 5K in and I pushed hard and finished in 21:45. That seems fast to me, but I wasn't even trying for a fast time and the first half I didn't even run hard. I don't remember doing a 5K any faster than that ever.

Here are some pics from our Timp run from this week.  An odd form of peak jumping.

I ran the same route (down to In N Out) that I did on Wed, although I changed it up slightly. I tried to keep a good pace the whole time and on the steep hill I pushed where I could. It was a really good run and I felt good the whole time. Total time was 47:48

I wanted to give my legs a bit of a break today, but I still wanted some cardio, so I did 40 minutes on the elliptical. I also did 30 minutes of core work with my ball. I guess I am now tapering for St. George, although compared to a lot of you on this blog I am always tapering.

My bib # for SGM is 1885. Hopefully I'll get to see some FRB's. I'm really excited for this race.

Lifting at the gym for 50 minutes. I wanted a good session because I don't plan on lifting for the rest of the week. I worked everything above the waist hard.

I had to laugh when I left because there was this cute young female fitness trainer trying to convince a rather large unkempt fellow that he needed to take Zumba classes. I was eaves dropping on the conversation and when she said it is mostly women that do it he said "Oh I think this is for me". I love to see great sales skills in action.

This was my last run before the marathon on Sat. I may get out and stretch my legs for a few miles a few more times, but that is it. I am getting really excited for the race, but also pretty nervous.

Quick and easy 2.5 to stretch my legs. I was tempted to keep going, but I want my legs to be fresh on Saturday, so I resisted the urge. I am totally stoked for St. George. I can't wait. I hope to see some of you bloggers down there.