A.M. - Long run in the UC with Clyde, Matt, Nate, Jeff, Chad, and a couple others (sorry terrible with names). Utah, Salt Lake, and Washington County bloggers represented! Picked up Clyde in Draper at little after 5 and drove down to Nate's in American Fork. Matt and Nate were planning on doing a long run with tempo that involved some easy miles to start, then 3 marathon pace (~5:30), ~8 moderate (~6:15-6:30), and another 3 MP. Clyde and I weren't too keen about joining them for the tempo sections having just come off the half marathon on Thursday, but we decided to assess how we felt when we got there. My body was feeling good today. No real soreness to speak of, just heaviness in the legs and the usual post race energy levels.
The route was a big loop that headed west under the freeway then out to about Thanksgiving point and back south through Lehi, then back. First 6 miles were at chill pace. The group took a couple quick potty breaks. When it came time to tempo, Clyde and I decided to give it a whirl since it was only 3 miles. I took back seat and held on with them through about 1.25. I felt like I was working pretty hard from the start. Then I fell back a few seconds. Maintained about a 6 second gap through about 1.5 then Clyde backed off and him and I ran together. Felt stronger during the 3rd mile, which had a little more down. Finished maybe 10-12 seconds back from Nate and Matt which I'll take this day. I think Clyde and I averaged ~5:33 for that section. The next 8 miles were at a conversational working pace. Stopped at the (Lehi?) high school for one last potty stop. At 17, it was tempo time #2 for Matt and Nate. Clyde and I wished them well and him and I continued through the end at about the same pace. I think the last 11 were at around 6:22 ish.
Very fun morning. Nice temps. Happy with today's effort. It was definitely more quality than I otherwise would have gotten had I just done my own Saturday morning long run. Grateful to the UC group for letting Clyde and I crash their party this morning. Nate and Matt are looking like juggernauts right now, so everyone better watch out!
It was great to have Clyde to run with. Him and I were ready to put in about the same level of effort this morning. He's going to be ready to kill it at SGM.
P.M. - Awesome 65.5 mile double canyon ride: Big Cottonwood-Guardsman Pass/Little Cottonwood. ~9,250 of vertical.
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