Summa Summa Summatime

Uff Da. The past two weeks have been a whirlwind with very little running, yet some nice activity to refresh the mind, body, and spirit.

I did not run a step between the time I crossed the Grandma's finish line and last Sunday the 26th. Julie and I were in Rapid City for a long weekend and on Sunday went for a 20 minute shag around her old neighborhood trails. I could tell two things on this run: 1. We were at a touch of altitude and 2. I lost some fitness during that week off.

The highlight of the trip was a the hike up Little Devil's Tower in Custer State Park. Just spectacular views of the Black Hills.

It was a perfect way to spend a Saturday in the summertime and topped off easily the best 4 week stretch of my life. Got married, ran a solid, solid marathon, was named head coach of the girls' cross country team at Edina HS, and turned 33. I have learned to not ride the highs too high or the lows to low, but it was tough to follow this philosophy over that month long period with so many good things happening.

I made it out two other times this past week for 20-30 minutes. I have biked a couple times. It has been a nice break from the daily grind, but it is time to get back to work with the main focus being the USA Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston on Jan. 14.

I can't wait for the buildup. Not sure what the races between now and then will be at this point, but I will be doing quite a few from 5k-halfmarathon in distance.

Grandma's Marahton mile splits:
1 515 (easing into it on purpose)
2 509
3 507
4 505
5502
6504
7/8 1009 for 2
9 506
10 457
11 506
12 505
13 505
14 453 (could feel a drop in pace and backed off)
15 500
16 502
17 505
18 507
19 458
20 512 (complete stop at water bottle station)
21 507
22 505
23 502
24 509
25 506
26 516 (into wind)
.2 64

I need to get out and enjoy the summer air in the meantime.