Well here goes

Holly cow Matt. That's huge mileage this week! What are you training for?

Enjoy your rest day tomorrow. You sure earned it!

I agree with Fly - you've had a huge week. I'm really jealous. Have you just been up in WA running your brains out? Sounds like most of this was done at a track? How did you like running long miles around a track?

I'm off my foot for a couple days letting it heal, but then we should tag up for some runs. We could maybe do some runs after work?? Sounds like you'll have a lot of free time after the 18th.

This week was a little huge but with not having to work for a week and hanging out at the In-laws I had a lot of time. I love running at Sea Level and the soft track makes it easy. Cameron running on a Night might work well so I will have to give you a call how about a Tuesday night or Thursday. You have to promise to go easy on me though.

As far as running on a track I love it. But then again I usually run 70% of my miles a tread mill. I turned to ther track because it is so much softer and I was a little worried about the shock to my joints. I have a liftime membership at Bally's and if it ever hurt I was going to head to the Gym but with the weather being so great and no pain I never had to.

I also really like measuring my splits cause I feel it motivates me and my polar does a lousy job for 200 and 400 meters.

Not training for anything to close I am planning on Painters on the 17th of Jan. I am entering the lottery for Moab Canyonlands March 21st and then Boston April 20th. The next three weeks will be a little more normal but I am still trying to get the milage up there.

Fly I wouldn't mind running the Avenues I will just need to find a time to get out there.

Uh...What the? Sorry, but I did not post that earlier. Changed my pw just in case.

Matt, Do you have a goal time for Painters? I'm signed up and would like to run sub 1:30 but don't think I'm there yet.

Will this be your 1st Boston? I ran it last year and it was just incredible!! My family went with me and we spent the week after on Cape Cod.

Let me know if you find the time to make it up this way. My favorite routes are up City Creek and on the Bonneville Shoreline Trial.

I can also occasionally head south on Fridays if you have any Friday runs on which you'd like company.

Fly,

I am planning on Sub 1:30 but as always I will have to wait and see. I ran a 1:27 at Hobble Creek this summer which was the easiest course I have ever run at any distance. Two weeks before I ran the Provo River 1/2 in 1:32 a forgiving course but a little hill climbing and a decent descend. In Provo I got a huge cramp about two miles before the finish which added an extra minute a mile before the end. In hobble my Achilles was just starting too really but me so I never pushed it. I feel like I am in way better shape now and although I probably don’t train as intense as I should I am a gamer and I figure that will help. So in Sasha words I have increased cardio fitness but lack a strong neural drive, except on game day. I also tend to be injury prone so who knows until right before and I usually don’t have a good feel until I am about 10 minutes into a race. I have also heard that the Painters course is short that it is closer to 13 miles than 13.1 so that obviously has some effect as well. I probably won’t taper but hopefully I will still run strong. But based on your estimates and mine I am guessing we will be pretty close.

It is my first Boston, St. George did it for me and I registered the Monday after. I have been to Boston six times in the last three years on business I cover a lot of territory with my job. The city itself is cool but having been to that area so many times there isn’t much mystique left. I am bringing my wife and I think we are taking my oldest daughter as well. I am a huge fan of the race and I watch it every year. It is kind of a lifelong dream to actually race it so I am really stoked.

I am sure we will find a time to run together.

Warmest Regards

Matt