4-4-14 I run, and food is a reward after today's run

So today is day 2 of 3 in running back to back. I had some issues getting out earlier week and am feeling it right now. My legs are feeling weak, and I just want to sit here and stare off into space.

My run was was really good run, i remembered my watch so I was able to turn around at the right point. I should have pushed for 6 miles, then I would have gotten all of my fartleks in, as it stands I missed most of my 5th one. I like fartleks because I feel a little more alive after those runs. If you have never done them, try this out, run at your normal pace for your warm up, then after you warm up, run harder for 3 minutes, run slower for 2 minutes and repeat it a couple of times. You may hate me during the run for suggesting it, but if you are anything like me you will really like how you fill afterward.

2 Weeks until the SLC half, I'm almost there, I am looking forward to see how much training with someone has helped. I have a date with my wife now, so have a good night!

-Riley

4-3-14 Running at the gym

Went to the gym to bust out 5 miles, with increasing speed for miles 3 & 4. It was a good run and I realized why I don;t like the treadmill. Brace yourselves... there is no variety to the pace you run. So I set the pace to 4.8 mph and run at that pace, it gets tedious. I am going to run outside the next two days to make up for this tedium!

Thanks for reading this little rant today, and have a great night!

-Riley

3-31-14 Late post for a nice run

Today was a nice midday run. I went out at around 12:30 (which won't be a good idea in a month or so), but today it was perfect. I was at the end of my running clothes, so I need to do my laundry before I run tomorrow.

My run today was nice, it bordered on great, the border was because I was short .2 miles on it for 5 miles. I could have easily fixed by continuing to run into the Orem cemetery, but I didn't I wish I had a reason, like vicious chaffing, or the hills killing my knees, or something real, but it was just me, I couldn't make myself do it. I did make it home afterward for lunch with Silvia, and then out in time for my chiropractor appointment.

I have been seeing a chiropractor for just over a week, my back was all screwed up after my run last Monday. I think my camel bag is having a negative effect on me, I need to strengthen my back. But the time to do that is nigh impossible to find right now.

During this summer I was going to take off of school, but it looks like I will be doing two classes. Figure drawing (which I did last summer as well) and a Plein Air painting class (on site oil painting in nature). I was told today the reason I didn't get into my BFA program was because of my drawing, so one of the instructors I work with regularly said I should take it so I can keep drawing all summer. Then I have him for two more classes in the fall, both are drawing classes. I am praying I can get accepted to the program this fall, so I can graduate next year. Right now it looks lie I will be able to pass my classes, and that's refreshing. I will be doing double time painting and drawing for the first few weeks of the semester.

Wow, I am getting tired and need to do laundry, thanks for reading.

-Riley

3-29-14 Running Through a Race

Today was a nice run, I could have done it in a short sleeve shirt it was so nice out. The first mile was windy and nice. I had a small hill to do at the beginning. At mile three apparently I was struggling. I remember my form suffered, but I thought I was keeping pace with the rest of my runs. The last mile was fun, I encountered a 10k turn around point, and the first couple of people to get to it. Everyone who I saw running by there after, I smiled and waved to them. But I got to experience some of there race day magic and picked up speed. It was a cool feeling

21 days left until my race, one more week of training before my taper. I am looking forward to my next race. Next Saturday we are meeting at the beginning of where the race will be and doing our long run there. That will help a lot, having run the Provo Canyon trail multiple times made the Halloween Half Marathon a lot easier to run.

Last Monday beat the crap out of me, my back is still suffering from from it. My erectors are like re-bar, and need to be worked. My legs are still tired, but not to the extent of Wednesday. I figure my run on Monday was hillier than I expected, and that's what did some damage to me. I think a solid massage would help to fix a lot of my problems.

And about Ragnar, I was supposed to meet up with a couple of other people from my group this morning, but woke up a half hour later than I wanted to. But I did see Mike (team captain) doing his run this morning. Which was encouraging. It was nice to see someone I knew more than bumping into them as I start my Tuesday morning run.

I finished early, it was about 9:45 am when I finished. It was strange finishing that early, I came home got an early lunch at Which Wich. So I ate, then came home and here I am. I have an exciting day of drawing and painting ahead of me, so thanks for reading today, and if you have a run today, have fun with it, set a small reward at the end if you're having a hard time getting out.

-Riley

3-27-14 Meatballs in the Oven

So I did my run this evening and the weather was great, it was about 48 outside with a slight breeze, and a little moisture. The trail was almost empty, and I was able to run without my energy crapping out. My run Monday did a number on me, and that run Tuesday just didn't work. Even yesterday I was still sucking wind. But today I really felt good as I ran.

My day has been a lazy day where I went tot the chiropractor and made out budget for the next couple of weeks. So it's been a good day. I don't feel like I have furthered anything in regards to my education, but I am a little more stress free than I had been.

I have run out of time to write, so thanks for reading.

-Riley

3-26-14 Uncommonly Hard Run

My legs didn't want to cooperate with me today. Three miles felt like running with cement feet, and I wanted to keel over. It was such a pain in the butt. I did make it through though. I haven't wanted to swear while running like this for quite some time.

I could complain about how it seemed like I was running forever. But I finished and burned a few calories doing it. I did my run at the gym today, the overcast threat of rain with a cold breeze kept me from hitting the trail.

It's been a while since my run, and my legs aren't as hammered as they were. I guess that advice I used to give my karate students about repeating an exercise to get rid of the fatigue that the exercise had created when previously done was good advice.

My mind is empty right now and I need to get focused to finish a digital painting in the next three hours. So until tomorrow, thanks for reading.

-Riley

3-24-14 Long Run on a Monday?

So today I did my long run, right now I am 2 miles short of having the complete long run done. Not to go into the details, but chaffing stopped me from completing the last two. But After I get out of class tonight I have every intention of going and finishing those two miles at the gym, or by my house.

I didn't fuel right before I left for my run, a single banana right before hand, and two taquitos 4 hours earlier made it a difficult run energy wise. My had was down most of the run, which caused unneeded strain on my back and neck, and for some reason I wasn't able to keep my eyes looking forward. I did have two Salted Caramel Gu, and some Sports Beans. So it was a decent nutritional supply as I ran. I also finished most of my Camelpak. I was so spent after the run, my legs just didn't want to work anymore. My knees burned with every step, and I couldn't bring myself to walk the last 2 miles (regret is creeping in right now).

After my run I met up with my wife and went to Cafe Rio, a 1000 calorie burrito taste so much better after you have burned almost 3000 calories. So does ice cream, cup cakes, and Gatorade. But if you run only so you can eat... and it keeps you getting outside to run, keep it up (but you may want to find a little more solid of a reason to run, like it helps me sleep when I run a good run).

It's now the morning of the 25th, I didn't make it back out last night, my knees and chafed spots didn't allow it. I also haven't made it to my normal run this morning. I will be doing that later today when I get what distance it should be. It will be a bit slower, but I am going to get that done today. I have a portrait that I need to paint today and that will be my break at about 5:00 or 6:00 to go run for an hour.

During my last class yesterday I was sitting there and one of the guys asked me if I had been running, I was shocked because I hadn't really told anyone, and he quickly pointed out my sun burn. I am fairly burnt right now, my wife looked at my arms and laughed at how long my shirt was, because the sleeve almost went down to my elbows, so now I am going to be rocking a farmers sun burn for a while (until I get a sleeveless top to run in for the summer).

And the final thing, I was on pace to run close to the time it took me to run my half marathon last October. Isn't that exciting, especially for a training run.

Thanks for reading as always.

-Riley