I drove to Riverwoods and warmed up pretty slowly. The first 4 miles, although up hill and against the wind, went pretty fast (I've got a lot on my mind I guess). I was averaging 9:23's which sure beat last week's 10's. Ran .5 past vivian park and decided I really like to run up hill. I have plenty of quad to spare, it's the hamstring/glutes I need to build and protect. I got to mile 7 and hit stop for a second to breath. I had run pretty well, and continuted to average 9:17's even up hill. I wanted to really work the downhill, focus on form and speed and I was determined not to look at my garmin until the last waterfountain before the mouth of the canyon. I wanted 5 good tempo miles. So I hit it, focused downhill and did my best forward leaning, cross-country skiing' quick step. The few times I lost concentration I began to slow down, but I could feel my hams and shins burn so I knew I was working. I lost concentration again when two young men (around 16) drafted behind me for about half a mile. They never talked, they just stayed on my tail. It was making me crazy to have them behind me so I did let them pass because I was so close to the bathroom I'd been dreaming about for 2 miles. So at the moment of triumph, when I looked to my Garmin to reveal that I'd run straight 8's for 5 miles I realized I never hit 'resume' at the top of the canyon. Maybe it's better I not know so I can imagine that downhill I hit the 7:40's as I often do for a few miles at the beginning of a race. I spent a lot of time on this run imagining getting the first 20 of St. George behind me and focusing my thoughts on the last 6.2. You sure could tell how many people had been training for TOU today--it was a St. George or bust crowd today. | 