Rise from the Ashes

A relaxed but tough run up Butterfield Canyon, this time with the team. There was a lot of people there, but out of the Big V boys there wasnt many. Me, Alex and Nolan pounded it to the top of the switchbacks. While we were running we saw Copper Hills cross country team up there doing, something... haha, Jaymin was there but hung back with Coach Barnes, he moved the cone they were supposed to run to, it was pretty hilarious. My hip still hurts quite a bit, so Ill be taking it really really easy the rest of the week, just trying to mend it.

Took the bike out on Backus Highway this morning. It was a beautiful morning just below the Oquirrh Mountains, and it felt good to get back on the bike. I havent cycled for a LONG time, so I wasnt super fast and didnt go very far. 17 miles

an easy 4 on the soft canals. the hip is no good, hard lifting

Slept in, and skipped all of the 5 and 10ks and did some real running! Headed up Millcreek and parked below the gate (im a cheap skate). Headed up Rattlesnake Gulch, then onto the Pipeline. Just a Georgous run @ about 11 am. @ the Junction I hopped on the Granduer Peak trail, making it about halfway up. I forgot my water bottle and was suffering from dehydration, so I turned around @ 4 and 1/2. The hip was fine for everything but the last mile and half. Like coach said, just keep babying it. It felt good to go long and do some good climbing on the singletrack! My dad couldnt come with this time unfortunately, yesterday he ran 5+ hours to the top of Lowe Peak in the Oquirrhs. In rememberance of him I soaked my feat in the stream after.

A.M.  a fun 7 with all the guys out to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple and back. Did a little indian file on the way up and back. good times.

P.M.  I had my VO2 Max test as well today @ 1:30.  I did it on a bike with all of the chords hooked up as well as with a large breathing tube, which I found to be really annoying.  Every 30 seconds they increased the watts (or difficulty), so at first it was super easy. After about 15 minutes I was hurting pretty bad, trying to keep it between the targeted 60-70 rpms... They pulled me off @ 18 minutes, then I cooled down. It felt good and I rode really hard. They are now sending the results to some doctor that is @ University Hospital as well. "supposedly my VO2 Max is 64..." dunno if thats good or bad, who cares really... :) 

A soft 5 out to Bangerter Wall and back on the canals. Everybody there today except for Kenny "the Jet" Smith, still recovering dangit. Pushed that last mile pretty hard with a group of about 7 or 8 of us. After the run Barnes had us do some killer lifting and Lunges. Yellow Fork tomorrow, theres going to be a lot of sore people tomorrow. Finally the Hip didnt bug me too much today.

Woke up and missed the team by about an hour, stupid alarm clock. Anyhow, I headed up the West Singletrack of Yellow Fork to make it one of the top ridges. Near the end I was kindly greeted by a 1200 ft monster climb. haha fun run but a little nerveracking because of getting lost. Overall, A very tough run but a great one to think and get and stay focused.

the hip was good for the most part today

An easy 5 with just about everybody. We went on two of the East and West canals, then played a fun game of ultimate frisbee. Afterwards, Me, Nolan and Jenica went out to Dunfords Donuts and stocked up.

Ran the Gulley with boys today. An awesome strength run through the hills and deep sand. We started out @ a 9 minute mile and worked down to a 5 flat @ the end. I really like doing this run, and Im excited for XC Camp with the boys next week!

This morning I drove out to Daybreak Lake and ran around on the walkways. I was hoping for 7.5 but was short on time and was constantly pounding the pace. The run was a lot of fun, and it was a beautiful overcast morning. Im not worrying too much about my mileage, just getting healthy and building up to when it really counts. XC Camp @ Lava Hot Springs on Monday!

A.M.  We parked 4 miles and 1500 ft below Coach Barnes cabin to begin the run. Because of all the nerves and excitedness everyone took off. The fact that coach said it would be a climb was a HUGE understatement. Me, Alex, Dillon and Nick hung tough together with Isaac, Jaymin and Bryce not too far back. We arrived @ the cabin in 33 minutes 36 seconds.

P.M.  Later that evening we ran an easy 5 out to the very top near the cabin. Nice and slow for a preview of the Mornin Mile.

A.M.  This morning we ran up the road one mile from the cabin as a warmup for the Mile race. Everyone was nervous but super excited, as the entire thing was a on a downhill. Dillon and Alex hung tough with me for 800 but we thinned shortly after.

P.M.  9 miles+90 degrees=redeem time. That evening after being frustrated with our mile, we took this run out H A R D. The run went from Barnes' cabin all the down into Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, dropping over 2000 ft, with most of it coming within 3 miles. Me, Barnes Alex and Dillon pounded the pace the whole way, with an average of 6:20's per mile. Alex was the stud today, beating us all to the famous Olympic Pool in Lava. The boys became men on this run, with all of the guys finishing in the next ten minutes or so! 32 foot diving platforms!

A.M.  An easy 2 with the team to get the lactic acid outta da legs.

P.M.  After we had gotten all packed up we warmed up to do a relay about a mile from the cabin. We ran the 1.5 mile loop twice, consisting of long on rolling hills up above Lava. This was a blast, something new for a lot of the guys.

P.M.  finally got the run done today, just went easy to get the lactic acid out of the legs. It was about 90 degrees when I finally got out from my house down the neighborhood and up a mile long dirt road back to the top of the hood. Took it way easy and enjoyed the run, keeping myself healthy and ready to rock.

A.M.  An easy 6.5 with the wolfpack down to the golf course on the canals. Now off to work the entire day!

A.M.  Met with Coach Barnes, Alex's, and Aubree @ the Smiths in H-town. We headed up into Rosecrest and around Fort Herriman Middle School. At the peak of our run we got up to the new Blackridge Reservoir @ the very top of Herriman, then back down Juniper Crest. Well, Im headed out to Snowflake Arizona for the next ten days, the hardest part is going to be running without the Team, but Ill get in some incredible running down there, is an running paradise.