Is that all you've got?

While this week was about getting back to training it was a heartbreaking week to do so as well. I got back out for my first run of the week on Wednesday. The endless bombardment of James' doctor appointments that a 4 month birthday brings us kept me from running Monday or Tuesday. Wednesday I went back to Apex to run the first trail I ever ran with Rob. Needless to say it was not my best run. Every corner I turned I remembered something else we had chatted about in that very spot, just weeks before. Remembering all the upcoming races we chatted about. I slogged through that run and am sure I'm a better runner and person for it. I've always said no matter how hard I may be crying when I start a run the tears are always gone at the end. If they aren't you just haven't run far enough. Dan made a comment after he went running on Tuesday how he channeled his "Rob legs". Well I made a point that from now on I would do just that. And low and behold I found out that maybe there was something to it. 

View from the lower portion of Baldy

Saturday I went out for a short run at Meyers park. I pushed those uphills like never before. But at the same time my legs didn't feel tired or sore, I just kept pushing and trying to enjoy it. And turns out I PRed by almost 2 minutes. Sunday I channeled those same "Rob legs" while I was out on a 18 mile long run in Buffalo Creek. The same route I have run numerous times over the past few months. This time I felt amazing! My legs just turned over and kept going and going. As I came flying down the Gashouse downhill there was a large group of mountain bikers getting ready to head up the Baldy uphill with me. As I turned off Gashouse onto Baldy one guy yelled at me "Is that all you've got?". And I thought, he's right, if I'm going to be out here I needed to give it all I've got. So I smiled and turned it up a notch. This section is fairly ridable if you're a good mountain biker so I struggled to stay ahead of the stronger riders. Every time I started to slow down though I just remembered how I told Rob I wanted to be paced. I told him if he went in front and just kept moving I would follow at any cost. I did just that, I followed those mountain bikers until they finally stopped on the side of the trail and I just kept going. At the top I realized I would be close to breaking 3 hours, I knew it would be a stretch (7 min miles for the last 3 miles), so I kicked it into high gear and kept running. I finished in a 3:02, not quite breaking 3 hours, but pretty darn close and a huge PR for me, over 30 minutes off my best time. I know not every run will continue to feel this good, but I know I'm capable of good runs and hopefully that will translate to a fantastic performance next June. If I'm going to have the run of my life at the Leadville Marathon next summer I'll definitely need to be channeling my "Rob legs".

This week I also decided I couldn't wait until next summer for redemption on Leadville. I signed up for the Glacial Trail 50 Miler in October. I distinctly remember telling myself I would never run in the Midwest again, but alas running 50 miles on the Ice Age trail seemed too good to pass up.

Week August 26 - September 2

Miles Running: 37.5

Hours Running and Hiking: 7