C Mantz Run

Today was the annual Nog Jog at the Sky View track where you drink a cup of eggnog, then run a lap and repeat.  I didn't really think it would be a good start to winter training after Foot Locker, but I couldn't say no.  I ran to the track which was 2 miles, then went to Lee's and back to buy my entry (a carton of eggnog) which was another mile.  When I got there we stood around to wait for everybody else.  The sun was out, but then some fog came over and it was freezing.  Rachel and I went to her house to quickly grab some warmer stuff.  When we got back, they had already ran a lap, so we started.  I felt good until the fourth or fifth go.  I took my time drinking the eggnog, because I normally don't drink eggnog quickly.  I don't even drink much eggnog that often, usually a cup or two every once and a while. When we finished our sixth, I gave up.  I really hate throwing up, and I had fun just being a part of it.  I continued to run with Rachel who went nine or ten.  Our first mile was around eight minutes, but then we both slowed way down.  I had a ton of fun, and didn't throw up!  The Nog Jog was so much fun and I would definitely want to continue doing it every year.

When I woke up, I saw snow on the ground and HAD to go running, even though it was a tiny bit.  I was planning on starting my training next week, but I decided to get a few miles in this week.  The entire time it snowed, but it was super light and the sun was out, which was cool.  My miles were 1) 8:03 2) 8:51 3) 8:18 4)8:39.  I averaged under an 8:30 pace which was a really easy pace that felt really good.  My second mile was up the canyon and it was hard to see ice, so I slowed down.  I felt super good, though.
 

It was super snowy, but I was super pumped because I love snow.  I warmed up a mile, then I started my tempo run.  I did my favorite loop up Hillside.  I felt super good, too.  My first 3 mile times were: 1) 6:16 2) 6:40 3) 6:34.  The snow and wind was really stong, but I was so motivated nothing could stop me.  During the third mile, my throat had a bunch of crap in it from the cold, so I stopped for six seconds to spit (which I am really bad at).  The overall time ws 19:38.  I was feeling so great.  I took a three minute break to take off my jacket and spit some more, then I ran one more tempo mile.  It was all downhill, and I thought I was behind on my splits, so I sped up more.  The mile ended up being 6:16.  That means I ran four miles in 24:54 (excluding the 3 minute break) which made me super pumped.  I cooled down one more mile really slowly, because I was beat.

I was super beat from yesterday, and I had limited time to run after school, so I did a quick 5 miles running to SV and back.  My times were 1) 7:30 2) 7:22 3) 9:03 (coming back up 6th south)  4) 7:57 5) 7:49.  I felt good, but sore. 

In the evening, I had the chance to run a little more on the treadmill.  I ran 3 miles @ 8:00 pace. As I did these three, I watched Rudolph which was really fun.

It was super snowy, and I didn't have as much motivation to run in the snow as Monday.  I waited, and the snow got worse.  I did two slow miles outside, then decided to do my workout on the treadmill.  I warmed up a mile on the treadmill, so my lungs wouldn't die, then did 3 miles at tempo-ish pace.  They averaged around 6:40.  They felt good, so I would speed up and slow down.  After the first mile I took a 30 second break; after the second I took up to a three minute break, to get a drink. I found out that my treadmill only gets up to a 6:00 pace which is perfectly fine by me, that means I don't have to sprint on it. I then cooled down a mile on the treadmill.  While I did this tempo, I watched one of the Christmas classics on the TV with my little brother.

I was super busy all day after school, so in the evening I ran 7 miles on the treadmill.  I watched Youtube videos while I did so, because treadmill running is so BORING.  My pace averaged a little faster than 8:00 which was perfect, I was super tired. 
 

I warmed up a mile around the block, then began my tempo up the canyon.  I felt really good.  My first mile (which is really downhill) was a 6:07!  I was super pumped.  My other miles were: 2) 6:49 (has some uphill) and 3) 6:17.  I was hoping for a 6:45 average, but instead I hit a 6:25 average which was great. My total time was 19:15.  I had to push the last mile, so I jogged up the hill for 2:00.  Then, I hit the golf course hill (after the turn/from the bottom) hard to the top which was exactly a minute. Then I jogged to the half mile-marker which took 2:00, then, I ran the last half mile at tempo. It ended up being 3:21, which was good because it is a gradual uphill.  I felt really good.  It wasn't exactly a straight tempo, but it worked.  After a minute break, I cooled down a mile at 8:28.

I went up Smithfield Canyon with my dad which was super fun, I haven't ran with him in forever.  We went eight miles and averaged an 8:30 pace, which was really nice.  Sometimes he'd tell me to run to a mailbox or a mile-marker, then come back, so I may have ran a little further.  We had a lot of fun.  It's nice to go slow after running most of my miles around and 8:00.  8:00 miles aren't fast, but they're not easy, either. 

After we got home, I need three more miles to round off at 45 miles for the week, so Ruby (my dog) and I went 2 miles.  I noticed she was cold, and I was tired, so I ran my last mile on the treadmill.  I'm glad I got my goal mileage for my first week of winter training.

Rachel and I ran together which was really helpful.  It's hard to run alone. The roads were really icy, so we went really slow.  We ran up Smithfield Canyon which was way fun, then went up on Sunnyside.  We did slide around a lot from the ice, so our pace was around an 8:55 mile.  It felt good.
 

In the morning Rachel and I went runnimg again.  There was more snow packed down than yesterday, but it was much easier to run.  We did golf course and extended up Birch, but it was too snowy, so we turned around.  It was way fun.  We ended up getting in 5.75 miles at around an 8:54 pace which was okay. It was really hard running in the deep snow.

In the afternoon, I decided to get more miles in and noticed that I should do some tempo.  I warmed up a mile. It was around 3:00, and began to lightly snow. I didn't want to start, but did.  My first two mile times were 1) 6:19 and 2) 6:35.  In the middle of the third mile I had to stop and spit (which I'm not very good at) which took about 5 seconds. The third mile time ended up being a 6:34.  The total time was 19:29 which is perfect.  I really respect those who run in the morning, then do a workout in the afternoon.  I could feel it during my workout. I then did 1.25 for a cool down, to round out the mileage. It was fun, but cold.

In the morning I went about 4.5 with Rachel.  It was super snowy.  We did golf course backwards.  Our pace was slow because of the snow, 8:59 average pace.

I went xc skiing, but only 1.5 miles (I'm not including that in the mileage ). It was so much fun, though. After, I went to run on the treadmill, but it burned up, so I only got half a mile in.

I stayed the night at my grandma's in good ol' Preston Idaho.  I knew I wouldn't get a chance to run in the afternoon, so at 7:15am I ran. It was really cold, so I was bundled up.  I went from her house to the mortuary which was 1.75 out. I then turned around, but took a right onto a dirt road.  It was super steep and icy, so my pace slowed down.  I knew there was a loop, but I didn't know how long.  Yesterday, I was trying to play the song "Past the Point of no Return" from Phantom of the opera on the piano, and I had that song repeating in my head.  It was fun, though. When I looped back to my grandma's I had exactly 3.5 miles from 9, so I went out to the mortuary and back.  It was perfect.  Although it was cold, it was a wonderful Christmas Eve run.  It did warm up the last mile, which was nice.

I began running around 3:00 and it felt pretty warm, so I left my jacket at home.  I was hoping to do Russian Intervals, but I wasn't positive if the track would be cleared, so if it was covered in snow, I would do tempo.  After running the two miles there, it was covered in snow.  I then ran over to the start of church run which is a quarter mile away.  Going north, though, was FREEZING.  There was a really strong headwind.  I knew I should do some tempo, so I started.  It was so cold, but my times out weren't that bad.  1) 6:48 1.5) 3:37.  I knew that knowing my half mile would make a difference, due to the headwind, and it did.  When I turned around I felt wonderful, and not cold!  The second half of the second miles was a 3:01. My last mile I felt so motivated.  It was a 6:01.  I checked my watch the last half mile and realized I could still hit a sub-19:30, and I did! 19:28 was my time and I was so pumped!  I did run with my iPod, which helped.  I then ran home which was about 2.25.  I felt good because of my tempo run, but it was still cold.  I had to run a mile uphill, then over a mile with a freezing headwind.  Although I was wearing gloves, my fingers were freezing.  When I got home, I was so cold it hurt to get warm again, but it was a fun, memorable Christmas run.

I woke up around 5:45 to get my run in, but I didn't want to leave the warmth for 5 degree weather.  I decided to just go on the treadmill.  It was early and I was tired, so my mind wasn't thinking a ton as I ran.  I turned on the movie Christmas Vacation and ran all my miles.  I averaged an 8:00/mile pace which was perfect.  I did take a few breaks, but there was always atleast 2 miles in between.  Treadmill running is hard, but it is sometimes worth staying warm.

We were in Monticello, and I the roads were pretty snow covered, but my dad and I decided to still run.  It was cold, but really fun.  We went 8 miles at about an 8:49 pace.  We went up to the dam from my grandpa's which was really hard.  There waere a ton of hills. My dad was going slow, so he had me run ahead and run back.  It was fun, but I think my turning around so much slowed my pace down.  Sometimes it was slick, but we kept running.  I could also feel the elevation.  When we got back we needed about three more miles, so we ran to the temple which was really fun.  My dad took a picture of me running in front which turned out pretty cool.  We then looped back past the hospital which rounded out to 8 miles.  It was really fun.

We were in Monticello, still, and I didn't have a ton of motivation to run.  Once I did get the motivation, I ran to the dam, again.  When you turn off the main road, there is a huge hill.  I decided because I wasn't doing tempo, I would go hard up it. Two-thirds the way up I died.  My lungs were burning and my thighs were killing.  I slowed way down.  When I got to the top I stopped.  I brought my phone because I was alone and got a ton of messages.  After I checked them, I had to decide if I wanted to turn back or keep going.  I kind of felt sick, but knew I needed the mileage.  After a minute, I kept going. It got really warm, so I took off my jacket.  It was lightly snowing. I felt really good coming back down and sped up a ton.  I ended up doing 5.2 at an 8:25 pace.  When I got back to drop off my jacket, everybody was eating clam chowder.  I was hungry, and didn't finish my miles.  I was gonna go later, but I was too tired.  Hopefully, I can make up the mileage.  It was way fun, though.  I've never been in Monticello during the winter, and it's actually really pretty up in Blue Mountain.  It was way worth it.

My family had been driving home all day, so I ran on the treadmill.  To make up for yesterday, I ran 3.8 at about 8:00 pace. My brothers and I finished watching Big Hero 6 while I ran that.  After a break, we watched a 43 minute TV show and I ran 5 miles in that time at about 8:00 pace.  Because the end of the show was almost over, I sat down to take a break.  I then went upstairs to get a drink, and as I was coming down, my right achilles was acting up and popped.  It hurt, and it hadn't happened in a long time, so I decided not to do 4 more miles.  It was fun and fairly easy.

I warmed up a mile, around the block, then did 4 miles tempo... kinda.  I went up the canyon which is good for tempo 'cause of the hills.  My first mile was awesome, a 6:07.  My second mile was going great, then around 4:43 minutes into the mile, the crap in the back of my throat built up due to the cold.  I had to stop to spit because I was dry-heaving like crazy. It was a little  embarrassing because a lady pulled up in her driveway where I had been doing so.  I went back into my run when I saw her.  This took course in 17 seconds.  My mile ended up being a 7:15 mile including the break.  I took a minute break at the turn around to spit. My third mile was a 6:30 which was a good comeback.  My fourth mile, though, was similar to the second.  I ran to the top of the small hill in 1:10, then stopped for 45 seconds.  I went to the top of golf course hill in 1:07, then just decided to finish that half mile easy.  That took 2 minutes. I finished the fourth mile in 3:26 and it was good for the uphill.  Those four miles ended up taking 29:31, which wasn't the best.  I finished with a mile cool down.  I was really cold. After, I ran 2 miles on the treadmill.  It was a good New Year's Eve run, even with the tempo.