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Easy from home around downtown up H street to 11th ave around memory grove and home. Another perfect day. 52:05 with 550+ ft up. From H and S Temple to 11th ave is 370 ft in .85 miles.

Ran to meet Adam but he was held up. Decided to take a day off. I tweaked my hamstring last Friday sprinting down emigration and though there is no pain, I am thinking there is no harm in resting it a day or two with the half coming up Saturday.

Met Adam at lunch for a short tempo in anticipation of the Saltair Half on Saturday. Idea was 3 at 5:49.9 which is my target pace. We warmed up 3 and then did 5:48, 5:43 and 5:45 on Wasatch Blvd. There are some minor manageable small hills on this route but it is generally pretty honest. There was a bit of a headwind at the turnaround. At 2.5 I was really working to hold pace but I made it ok. I forgot to bring some faster shoes so I wore my brooks which are my back up pair at my offce. 1:07:33 total.

Not sure what to expect on Saturday. Still feeling pretty ho hum about running currently.

heebie jeebies - I know this spot well. She must've been playing with her phone.

Easy with Adam at lunch down BST and up emigration. The wind was freezing in shorts and a t. 1:03:56 with 850 ft up. Goodbye warm weather.

Easy with Adam at lunch. Went a little shorter and ran in a light sleet most of the way. 54:10 with 550 ft up.

Rather than a time goal, I am hoping for some attrition tomorrow to get me into 5th place to make my money back.

I was excited for this race six weeks ago but I think my body wanted a break and so I didn't do any preparation for the race like I had intended. I still got in some good long runs but I haven't done anything in the threshold range until Wednesday's 3 mile primer. Then with the weather predictions turning I no longer had any real desire to do the race. I think in the future I will make sure that November and December are truly an off season. I am going to treat the next six weeks this way other than taking what comes in terms of the weekend long runs.

I met Mickey on the warm up and he said he'd go my pace for a bit. Warm up was about 3.1. I worked with Mickey for the first 5 miles and they were the best miles. 5:47, 5:47, 5:46, 5:47 and 5:51. My breathing and legs felt great so I was encouraged by this at this pace.

When it became apparent that I was no longer going to run in the 5:40s, Mickey was gone. So, on my own for the rest of the race. The weather got worse as we ran with varying cross winds, head winds and precipitation. Sort of a cross between rain and sleet. I was not enjoying it at all but I fought the urge to give in altogether and coast. Next 5 were 5:57, 6:01, 6:09, 6:09, 6:10.

During the 11th mile, my legs got really numb and together with a soaked shirt I was freezing. I really let up on this mile - 6:33. The weather improved slightly going southwest back to saltair for the last 2.1 and I felt pretty good so I was able to stop the downward spiral. 6:16, 6:02 and 5:48 pace for the last .1. Little did I know that Walter had taken a bathroom break and was gaining ground on me. I held him off by not checking out luckily.

So a forgettable race. Cooled down alone 3.1 and I was so wet and cold. At the awards ceremony, I didn't get anything because my time didn't record. It was a $10 check and some goodies so not a big deal, but now I have to self report my time which is annoying. After being accused of covering my bib, he said it must've been the wet rain that did it. Oh well.

Now to settle down for a long winter's nap.