Novice or Expert? Eh, I run

Note to self: don't try to run hard when you're dehydrated and it's warmer than you anticipated. We'll just leave it at that.

I wish this thing had a box for "medium"-paced miles. I do too many medium miles. Had a number of those today.

Intervals today. Nice long warm-up and cool down with five 1-mile repeats. I would have done more but I didn't have the time. I did the repeats on a canal road by my parents' house in South Jordan. Run out a mile, then back. I was caged in by busy streets at either end, so back and forth I went. Kept passing the same people walking their dogs. I think one lady was a bit perturbed because she had to put her dog on the leash  instead of let it run free.

 I must admit that I was a bit disappointed in myself. I was trying to run hard and push against the wind and breathe through the wheezing and get a good workout, but I just wasn't tired enough when I finished my last interval and had to head home.

It doesn't happen very often: I felt like running on a treadmill. It was even nice outside; I was quite perplexed at the notion because I generally dread running in place or in a pool. But, I decided to go with the whim because I have an inability to run easy on a treadmill and felt like I haven't been working hard enough lately, so I hopped on there and pushed the increase speed button a few times. 'Twas a grand run.

So I know I'm going to have two easy days in a row. But I don't care. Slow and long is what I want today. Yeah!

I ran with people today! First time in....hmmm, do I count a little jaunt around the "block" with roommates? I had a good time. Easy trail run. I only biffed it once (sorry I disobeyed the decree of no falling on the way down).  We ran into a few hunters who asked where our guns were. I pointed at my bicepsl, but no one noticed, which was a good thing since like many runners, I don't have superfluous arm muscles.

 It's funny, the amount of nothing that can take place during a 12 mile trail run (say that 27 times fast. Twelve mile trail run, twelve mile trail run. Ok, maybe not). Anywho, I had a thoroughly enjoyable time listening for shots, chatting about races, being jealous that I was a bit behind on the way down and didn't get to see the deer, almost dropping to the ground when we startled a few birds wo then startled us and wondering how that Range Rover got high-centered on the edge of the road without rolling off and tumbling down the cliff.

 At any rate, I'm new to this blog, but I think I'll like it. Maybe not as much as I like running but it's blogging isn't the only thing that's lower on my list. 

Good run today. 2 mile warm up. 4 hard (about 6 min pace), 2 easy (with 4x30sec hard just for fun), 4 hard (6-6:30-ish, i think), 2.25 cool down (w/ 4.30sec hard for good measure).

I bought a watch this morning. Lost my last one in the summer of 2006 (I think it feel out of my bag as I was rowing a little boat around a lake in Versaille. Either that or a French pick pocket picked my watch instead of money). It's been a little while since I've caged my left wrist with a time-keeping device and I didn't like it much at first, though I did find it useful in monitoring my pace and timing out 30 second intervals for me. Though I must admit the reason I waited so long to buy another watch...(no, it's not because I'm cheap). I find that I get really negative if I think I'm running slower than I should be. I've been able to plead ignorance for a long time, but I thought I should take some responsibility for my own training and keep track of myself, and today I did. Well, for half the time. I stopped the watch a half mile into my second tempo because although I was on pace, I was afraid that I wouldn't be in a while and that it would be too much to handle both the mental struggle with time and the burning in my legs as I pushed through the tempo.

 Maybe next tempo run  I can make time my friend. 

Ah, today was beautiful. What a better day to jaunt around and look at the leaves. Yeah! Fall is hanging on.

 Just a nice easy day to recover from yesterday, prepare for tomorrow. Just building with a few miles. 

Glad I invested in more pepper spray. Had to spray the same dog twice. One of my roommates thinks I'm cruel to run with pepper spray and use it, but she's not been bitten, nor chased as much as I have. I feel bad to admit it, but I hate dogs when I'm running (or biking). Love 'em otherwise, but people should either chain or train their pets. I passed an Australian shepherd (I think) that just lay there watching me run.  There are other dogs I have come to "trust" too, but those who come out and chase and bark, and curl their lips back in anticipation of biting me deserve to be maced. (call me mean, but I just don't want to take time off to recover from a dog bite).

 But, today's run was ok. warm up, long tempo, cool down. I think I'm not eating right because I'm just tired in the middle of my runs when I shouldn't be. Not running tired but tired tired like I've used up all my reserves.  

Lovely morning run with people with a nice brisk wind coming out of the canyon. Met both Paul and Ruthie and look forward to logging a few miles here and there with them. Ruthie and I saw a few deer, but I think the boys (Cody, Paul and Joe) missed them. 

This afternoon was warm and gorgeous. I took a rejuvenating run up the Logan River Trail and wandered into the haiku that I promised Paul.

Halo of dry leaves

With the dusk light outlining,

My fall run was heav'n 

Yeah, I know. Two easy days in a row. Lazy, lazy girl. I was headed out on my warm up before a ten mile tempo, legs felt ready and such, and suddenly I had a desire to run in the First Dam 10k (or maybe 5k) tomorrow. So I took it easy and ran up Smithfield Canyon, rather ran in Smithfield Canyon because there's almost no "up" (or down for that matter). 

Anyway, it was a lovely run, still felt like fall--with bright yellow leaves still on the trees. I turned a corner and a breeze stole leaves from a not-yet-barren tree and they didn't dance or rain or float down but swirled and let the wind carry them, much like the bit of downhill was carrying me down the canyon.  Okay, that was cheesy, I'll admit it but it was a perfect running day. Overcast so I didn't have to wake up early, quiet road lined with trees. 'Twas lovely.