Update

8 July: rest
9 July: 2 mi at lunch, mtn bike 2+ hrs
10 July: rest
11 July: ??
12 July: 7 miles + Gate-to-Gate 10K
13-15 July: Vegas!!
16 July: 45 min run
17 July 3 mi EZ
18 July: rest
19 July: XTERRA Antelope Island 12K

Mtn Biking--Wheeler Canyon is insanely fun, but I am taking a break from mtn biking for a little bit while my hand heals up. My disk breaks squeek horribly. I don't know how to fix that.

Gate-to-Gate 10K--It was 5K out (downhill) and 5K back (up). I ran 21:00 for the first half and then 26:03 on the way back! OUCH! It was uphill and into the wind on the way back, and I had already run over 11 miles by that point. 2nd overall woman though.

Vegas--Holy cow, one of the best weekends of my LIFE! A friend and his girlfriend flew in from FL to meet me there. We took the first part to the Certified Health Physics exam, which is a story in itself... I didn't even bring my running shoes with me!

XTERRA--I started in the back of the pack again. It's hard to judge these things. The first 3-4 miles was slightly uphill in sand. Then it was 3+ miles downhill to the finish. I was dogging it during those first few miles, but then I just tried to pick it up little by little, and I ended up finishing as 1st woman overall. I didn't even know! My only goal in this series was to finish all of the races! I won a new pair of trail shoes. Pretty neat. Almost every running picture of me includes me getting crushed by an old man.

Running in the Mountains

6 July: 2 mi WU, 2x400, 800, 1000, cool down (2 mi + 6000m total)

400 in 83 sec
400 in 84 sec
800 in 3:06
1000 in 4:00

7 July: 15+ mile run on Maples Loop. It took me about 2:30, ouch! But it was about ~2000 ft of climbing up to Snowbasin and back.

Work--I told myself yesterday that this was going to be the best week of work I have ever had. Nothing is going to get in my way! I just love smiling at people who get on my case and micromanage me. :-)

Injury--I fell off my mtn bike SPOOKY back in June, and my hand has been bothering me for a while. I went to the clinic, and it turns out I have trigger finger. GROSS!

Trying to handle life

23-27 June: nothing at all
28 June: XTERRA 8K at Snowbird and 13 mi mtn bike
29 June-1 July: zip
2 July: run 2 mi
3 July: PT test (1.5 mi, pushups, sit-ups)
4 July: run 30 min at Wheeler Creek
5 July: mtn bike (~4 hrs) at Snowbasin

Training in general--I had to work 12-hr PM shifts, which really messed with my sleeping and eating schedule. Hopefully things get straightened out.

Work--is killing me. I loathe and dread Mondays, and I often wonder why I am in the job I'm in. I leave everyday so absolutely stressed, angry, pressured. I had to leave work twice last week during lunch just to cry in my car to blow off steam. I think it'll get better though. I do have pride in the work I do, and I will always try my best though.

Balance--I am disappointed in this area too. I am finding it incredibly difficult to balance work, sports, fun time, and my fiance who lives in FL. I think we need to set boundaries regarding our time. A project for this week...

Fun--Mtn biking at Snowbasin was really fun. I went with a friend, and it was his first time mtn biking. I hope we go back. XTERRA 8K was absolutely fantastic! It was 100x easier than Wolf Mtn, and I can't wait for the others in the series!!!