It ain't Chinese algebra!

AM: 15 miles around the hospital and then the HS cross country course.  I felt fantastic this morning, although a little hungry after missing a couple meals yesterday.  I plan on running a few more tonight before the Boise State/Virginia Tech game.

Cumulus (510)

PM: 7 miles on Ryan's loop.  Broke in a pair of new shoes; Nike LunarGlide.  I've used this model before and although I don't love them, I can get them for cost at the Nike employee store so it's worth it.

10 miles on Ryan's loop (most of it anyway). It's getting harder to get up in the morning as the clouds have started to roll in and the sun isn't seen until 7 or so. Blah.

13 miles on the Tigard HS loop, plus Home Depot.  The crisp morning felt good and my legs felt even better after rolling them out last night.  I hope the next few days of driving doesn't trash them to bits.  We'll see...

Brutal run.  Just brutal.  First off, I ate WAY too much last night for dinner. Ugh.  And like always, the food at Great Pacific is too salty, but I don't notice it until I'm hanging out in my hotel room and drinking cup after cup of water.  Secondly, I never seem to sleep good the first night in a hotel.  2nd night is no problem, but first is always a bit rough.

I was out the door at 5:30 to rain in Pendleton, OR.  Temps were fine though--mid 50's.  My gut still seemed to be full from dinner and I was wishing I hadn't eaten so much.  The first 6 miles were okay and I thought I'd pick up the pace for a while.  It didn't happen.  I felt like I was sprinting and I look at my watch and see 6:44/mile pace.  Not cool.  I found a bathroom after 7 miles and then ran mile 8 easy.  Picked up the pace (figurative term) for the next 2 miles and barely hit low 6:00's (6:12, 6:14).  My mind was telling my legs to go and nothing was happening.  Blah.  I gave up around mile 11 and settled in to a normal pace (7:00ish) for the remainder of the run.  So either my garmin was off...or I was.  I'm guessing the later.  I feel fine throughout the day, but then I go to run and my body just doesn't want to respond.  Who knows.  I keep telling myself 'just 3 more weeks' and then I can taper for Portland.  Hopefully I can put together some halfway decent training between now and then.

Anyway, 17 miles back to the hotel and then 3 miles on the treadmill to make it an even 20.  Lots of driving tomorrow and limited time on Saturday, hence the higher mileage today.

10 miles in La Grande.  Weather.com said it was going to be 43 degrees when I started and I hadn't packed clothing for cooler temps.  I started with my extra pair of socks as gloves that covered up to my forearms but I warmed up pretty quick and took them off after just a couple miles.  The last 3 miles took me around the campus of Eastern Oregon University.  I ran past the football field and track and was startled by 2 deer that scampered along side me.  I think I scared them as much as they startled me.  Always fun to run in a new town...

15 miles in Bountiful, Utah.  I arrived at my grandparents at 11:00 pm--after spending roughly 14 hours behind the wheel of my car.  Blah.  I got up at 6:00 and ran in Bountiful around my grandparents house; 6 by myself and then 6 more with my Dad.  After dropping him off I ran 3 more to make it an even 15.  Solid week.

Now it's off to watch Utah and UNLV and then eat In-N-Out for dinner. Does it get any better than that?