Millcreek Makes me Happy!

Millcreek canyon is awesome!  It so close and so beautiful.  The pipeline is my go to trail when I need to cruise and stay away from vert to give the knees a rest.  I love it!  Thursday I wasn't planning on speed work, but it just so happened I felt amazing and kicked ass!

These pictures can't touch the majesty of these mountains.  Standing in this spot is a hundred times more beautiful and amazing!

Some bikers don't happen to know trail etiquette.  Most are quite friendly and pull over, but the occasional biker threatens to throw me off the trail by zooming past!

Yes, you're seeing that right!  Six miles in under an hour!

6 miles 

59:15

9:52 average pace!!!

See this smile?  It's there because that may well have been my fastest trail run ever!  

Just so you know...

I am not a sissy.  Just so you know.  I realized this on my second run of the day on Tuesday, the day after heavy leg day at the gym.

Tuesday morning I got up early and did a small road run with Jeff.  Then, I came home, got kids off to school and hit the trails.  At first, it was a brutal slog.  After all, I murdered my legs only the day before.  Despite feeling like I would call it early, I ended up pushing through and had an absolutely amazing run and even ended up being fast!  I went out Ann's to the Bonneville Shoreline and did one big loop.  It was outstanding!

Oh, how I love you Corner Canyon!

Spring!!!

#trailandultra

My first trail jump selfie, inspired than none other than Fast Cory!

Hello Mr. Bunny!

2.34 road miles

28:57

12:21 average pace

8.25 trail miles

1:34

11:28 average pace

(p.s. the last 3.6 miles were at a 10:40 average pace!  Word.)

10.59 total miles

Daily Mile & Lift

Monday I kicked ass on an early morning five mile run up Viscounti. Then I hit the gym and did legs.  Jeff tagged along to the gym as my personal motivator and pushed me to do an awesome leg workout that I am still feeling two days later!  

Leg extensions

Hamstring curls

Squats

Leg press

Standing calf raise

Donkey calf raise

That five o'clock alarm sure comes quick!  But, I do love that early morning peacefulness.  

Run complete. My furry bud and I. (FARF?)

5 miles

49:15

9:51 average pace!!!

Lap 1

2.5 miles

28:17

11:19 average pace

Lap 2

2.5 miles

20:57

8:23 average pace!!!  Did someone call me Mo?

Proof!  BOOM!

Daily Mile & Lift

Thursday I went to the University of Utah Runner's clinic to participate in a study about runner's knee.  It was pretty cool, but I will have to do another post about that later.  After the study I ran over to the gym for a quick leg day workout.  

Then, in the afternoon, when Katherine came over to teach my girl's flute lessons my wonderful, awesome son watched all the kids for us so we could get in a run!  We did the classic Viscounti out and back, and I felt fantastic!  This may or may not have been a PR for that run!  If not, it's darn close!  It usually takes at least 55 minutes for that route.  Go us!

.9 mile treadmill run (knee study)

Leg extensions

Box squats (PR 135#)

Angled leg press (PR 180# added to sled)

Leg curl

Donkey calf raises

Russian twists

Leg raises

Crunches

Hanging oblique raises

Hanging leg raises

Grow quads grow!

BOOM!  Full plates!

Making myself a stronger, better runner!  

Can you believe I didn't take one single picture on our run!?  We were cruising and chatting and it just didn't happen!  

5 miles

51:33

10:18 average pace 

Super Saturday!

First things first.  A shout out to my son, Kurtis, who watched four little kids this morning so Katherine and I could go for a trail run.  Thank you, Kurtis!

Bonneville Shoreline trail, oh how I've missed you.  I love this stretch of trail.  We started at Hidden Valley Park and headed south toward Corner Canyon.  The trail conditions were stellar, and there was even a good stretch of dirt.  That's right, folks, dirt.  We were both feeling really good and happy to be running.  I was feeling in top form and was cruising uphills like I never have before.  I can tell that all my leg work is paying off on those uphills.  The entire run was great!  Then we headed back to my house and did a bit of an ab workout and some stretching before Katherine gathered her yard apes and went on home.  A good time was had by all!

Whaaaat!?  Dirt!?

I have no idea how Katherine managed this epic photo bomb, but it is outstanding!

The halfway point.  Sunshine and dirt.  What more could a girl want?

It's days like this that I remember why I love running so much.  My entire day is better on days like this!

7 miles of bliss

1:32

13:08 pace (that may sound slow, but on this trail in these conditions, let me assure you it is not!)

Sunday Fun-day

This morning Zach and I headed up to the pipeline in Millcreek.  I wanted to go up out of the bad air we've been having.  It was a beautiful morning, and not too cold.  I was feeling really good and pretty speedy, as well!  Zach is faster than me, so I thinking knowing this helped light a little fire under my ass.  Zoom!  Zoom!

Look at the sky!  It was just amazing!

Say cheese, Zach!

The clouds were stunning!

Hello Pipeline!  I love you!

8.45 miles

1:31

10:46 pace