Kendall

I've been thinking about taking my 8 mi route weekday routine up to 10 prior to the longer Fri & Sat runs.

I like simple straight forward and even number routes. I'm close to the perfect 10 mile route going from work (Thanksgiving Point) to Redwood Road via JRPT (Jordan River Parkway Trail) up through the Jordan Narrows.

Today ran .2 short of 10 from my door (work) and ran around the parking lot until hitting 10. I think I know where I can find .2 without getting too cute.

Found my 10 mi route at work. Slightly over, may modify one hill section (up over the hill instead of around).

Hot, slow poor running day--low on energy and fuel. Didn't get into a rythme until around mile 6, ending up okay.

Nice evening run up in the hills. Met up with a guy named Ariel from Uruguay coming up the steep hill just up from the Orem cemetary. I caught up with Ariel and he asked how far I was going and as it turns out it was about the same distance. Ariel was (still is) an amazing runner in his day in Uruguay, bronze medalist in National Championships and narrowly missed Olympic qualifier. He's now 49, has a large family and works and resides in Orem. Just qualified for Boston and will be running UV Marathon in June.

So Ariel and I we went on a nice run up the hill to the fire road and north to the gate (4 mi). At this point, I asked Ariel if he was in for a bomber 2 mi loop down the dragon's back and up the other side. He was "in" so we went off. See-sawed with some novice mountain bikers. I was much fast downhill and he's a quick flat road guy so we went back and forth for the next few miles back on the fire road. Good tempo run with Ariel coming back from hippy meadow (Johnson's Meadow): 7:39, 7:19, 7:27, 7:39.

Ariel gave up the ghost in the last mile or so but we ran well together. He'd beat me on the flats for sure on a good day. (Ariel had also run 10 miles that morning and was bonking badly--neither of us had GU or water.)

Good to run with friends--even new friends. Hit 5, even 4:30 mm for a few brief moments flying down the hill.

Elevation Gain: 1,350

Thanksgiving Point 10 mile loop up through the Jordan Narrows via JRPT. VERY windy 20+ mph, slow run. I don't recall a more windy spring than we've had. It's always windy out here but even more so this year.

Dropped off in AF Canyon at the right fork gate. Gate is still closed so ran 1.5 mi up to Timpanooke trailhead--trail #56. I've never run this section of trail and was really excited to connect the dots from the Battlecreek/Grove Creek (GWT) sections around the west side of Timpanogos. It didn't disappoint--what a great run and HUGE meadow on the base of Timp (front side) that you'd never know was there looking at it from the valley. Good amount of snow still on trail in sections. Passed two dudes on mountain bikes coming down with skiis strapped to their backs--skiing the slides on the west side of Timp no doubt. Hit the crest and dove down #56 to Grove Creek spring. Filled up bottles and headed down. I've run up Grove Creek many times but this was my first time down. Amazing how different a trail looks just by changing direction. Obviously a lot of it was familiar and yet some sections I would swear I've never seen before--interesting. Timpanooke to bottom of Grove Creek 13 miles, 4,757 drop.

Best Conversation Overhead on Trail: Scout troop with packs heading up Grove Creek just .5 from parking lot.

Scout Master: "Well, we've gone half a mile!"

Scout: "Half mile left?" [no...3 miles straight up hill left, good luck with that]

I laughed out loud.

Got off the hill and hit the new canal road north (still mostly dirt) taking it most of the way  jumping on to the road and back to work (Thanksgiving Point), another 13 miles.

Tough road section today. Groin (I think, top of legs--inside) and stomach muscles are killing me. Slowed me down to an embarrassing ultra death march pace.

Saw first rattlesnake of the year!

Elevation Gain: 2,581 / Elevation Drop: 4,757 (it'd be a brutal run in reverse)

The human body baffles me. Yesterday's long run took a toll on me. Should have taken S-Caps with me...should have had more water...13 miles in the mountains followed by 13 miles through the streets--slow painful run. I suck.

Got home after midnight last night. Got to work early. Record sales day at the restaurant--retail, cafe, deli all slammed. 

Dog-tired, ornery, and draggin' at 7:30 (pm) with tired legs I ran. 15 miles later...my legs feel better than they've felt all day. I'm wide awake. Ran a negative split, getting faster as the miles climbed and feel human again.

I don't get it...but I like it.