Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 46 miles
7/22/12 - 7/28/12

Sun: 10 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.19.09, Avg. Pace: 7.55
-  The best I have felt in weeks!!! Might be because of the two days I took off prior. I hope my body is starting to come around. Wasn't too hot out either. Great day!

Mon: Off
Time: , Avg. Pace:
- Had to work all day, and was worn out and didn't feel like running at night.

Tues: 10 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.18.11, Avg. Pace: 7.49
- Felt even better than I did on Sunday. It was hot outside but I somehow just felt the love today which has been rare these past few months due to the heat. Also, I did an hour SUP Boarding on the Tennessee River today. I would like to do this at least one day out of the week. It's a great workout for my weak upper body! It's also preety fun and relaxing also. It is just a nice break from running all the time.

Wed: 7 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 58.43, Avg. Pace: 8.23
- Much cooler today but my body is still not feeling this running stuff. Hopefully tomorrow I will feel the love.

Thur: Off
Time:  Avg. Pace:
- Was a Warped Tour all day

Fri: 6 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: Avg. Pace:
- Walked instead of running, but hey it's still something and not sitting doing nothing.

Sat:  13 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time:  Avg. Pace:
- Felt aweful today had to break it up into 2 runs and I lost my info on it

Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 41 miles
7/15/12 - 7/21/12

Sun: 12 miles (Chattanooga Riverwalk) (walking)
Time: , Avg. Pace:
-  Spent most of the day with a friend and ended up walking the Riverwalk. Also, I barefooted at least 50% of it due to my Chacos giving me a blister, and let me say I got a workout my just walking barefoot. Need to do it more often.

Mon: 5 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 41.04, Avg. Pace: 8.12
- Ran with my younger brother today and wasn't feeling it. I was bloated from eating an hour early and it felt like that I had a slight fever due to the fact I got sun burnt.

Tues: Off
- Got to try some stand up paddle boarding this afternoon. I really enjoyed it and can see myself getting into it if I could come up with the funds to buy a board. It's nice to take a break from trail running so much. Try it out at L2 Boards, the people there are great!

Wed: 16 miles (Raisin Woods)
AM - Time: 1.20.13, Avg. Pace: 8.01 (10)
- Since I didn't get a run in yesterday I decided to run this morning and will try to later this evening. Felt pretty good today, hoping to keep this train a going.
PM - Time: 49.41, Avg. Pace: 8.16 (6)
- Talkative easy pace with an old friend. Body felt great.

Thur: 8 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.04.56 Avg. Pace: 8.07
- Felt ok. Had to use the restroom half of the time so I couldn't get a great pace today, but overall I think I'm starting to come around.

Fri: off
Time: Avg. Pace:
- 

Sat: off
Time:  Avg. Pace:
-

Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 45 miles, 40 miles running
7/09/12 - 7/14/12

Sun: 7 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 58.20, Avg. Pace: 8.20
-  Not necessarily feeling it today.

Mon: 8 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.04.49, Avg. Pace: 8.06
- Today I didn't eat any meat or animal based products, trying to flirt with a plant based whole grain diet. I have to say that I felt fine running if not a little better. However it is still hot outside, but I know it is supposed to a little cooler. Only time will tell how my body will react to this diet. Go is try to do it for a week.

Tues: Off
-tired and sore

Wed: 7 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 59.42, Avg. Pace: 7.32
- Much cooler today but my body is still not feeling this running stuff. Hopefully tomorrow I will feel the love.

Thur: 8 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.08.00 Avg. Pace: 8.30
- 75 degrees outside, and cloudy brings some good running weather. If only my legs and body felt better today. Just had to cruise because I was sore.

Fri: 5 miles (Dalton)
Time:  Avg. Pace:
-  Walked instead of running, but hey it's still something and not sitting doing nothing.

Sat:  10 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.23.46 Avg. Pace: 8.23
-

Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 37 miles
7/01/12 - 7/08/12

Sun: 7 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 59.11, Avg. Pace:
- 

Mon: 7 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 58.23, Avg. Pace: 
-

Tues: 7 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 56.35, Avg. Pace:
-

Wed: 7 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 56.11, Avg. Pace:
-
Thur: 4 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 29.56 Avg. Pace: 
- Got caught in a wind storm. Almost had a tree fall on top of me, my dad, and brother. Let's just say we had to end the run early due to stormy conditions coming in.

Fri: 5 (Raisin Woods)
Time: 40.15 Avg. Pace:
-  Too hot outside, had to end early again.

Sat: off


Overall for the week I am getting really frustrated with my running and how my body is feeling. I don't feel that I am getting good recovery in and my body just aches in the morning when I wake up. I can hardly walk barefoot in the mornings, and it's not like I have been putting in any kind of major miles at all. I am hoping that it is just this heat that is bothering me too much, and hopefully is will subside here a least a little. The dog days of summer is upon us. So ready for Fall weather. I'm just struggling to survive on my runs. I need to focus because I have 3 training weeks and 1 down week until my next race which is only a half marathon.

Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 32 miles
6/24/12 - 6/30/12

Sun: 7 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.01.48, Avg. Pace: 8.50
-  My plan was to run slower than usual to see how the top of my foot reacts. To my surprise, I really didn't bother me at all with the exception of the normal aches and pains. However, even though I was tempted to pick the pace up I did not to play it say. I plan on "playing it safe" for the whole week, and then it will be time to pick it up and log in the miles once again! I really don't have a plan to how much mileage I will put in this week. I guess I will have to wait and see! It's an all week based on feel type of approach.

Mon: 5 miles (Cloudland Canyon)
Time: ?, Avg. Pace:  ?
- No running just hiking. At least I was still moving around. Had a friend text me today and we decided to head over to Cloudland Canyon State Park and hike around since we have no been there in a while. I was also in the hunt for some new trails to run. However, I would have to make a special trip since it's longer than just a short drive over there. Had a great time. Enjoy the pictures at the bottom. Mainly work my chacos then switched over to my minimus shoes due to the fact I was starting to get blisters.

Tues: 7 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.00.47, Avg. Pace: 8.41
- Another nice and easy slow planned slow run. Ran with an old high school friend today. It was nice to catch up with him. Hoping he will take me and some other friends down the Ocoee this Saturday. Also, ended up getting burnt today outside by the pool today by accident. This fair skin can't take much of it!!

Wed: 8 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.06.37, Avg. Pace: 8.20
- Nice and easy run. Legs are feeling great along with the top of my foot. I plan on picking the pace up next week. Who knows, maybe I will tomorrow. I almost ran 10 today but decided against it at the last second. I have pleantly of time before my next serious race.

Thur: 5 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: ? Avg. Pace:  ?
- Felt aweful today and it wasn't because of the heat! My legs and body just didn't want to go. I stopped my watch after about the 5th time that I had to stop and walk. Just didn't have it at all today. Hoping tomorrow will be better. On a lighter note I am going to a cencert tonight to see Saving Abel!

Fri: off
-  Dissappointed in myself for not running today. Luckly it isn't the end of the world or anything. The dog days of summer are in full force and it's hard to get out there. Just have to overcome it and show how bad I want it!

Sat: off

Cloudland Canyon

Brandon's idea not mine

The Pack

Bummer that there was hardly and water

Everyone has a Chaco picture

January:
Total Mileage: 177 miles

February:
Total Mileage: 193 miles

March:
Total Mileage: 190 miles

April:
Total Mileage: 269 miles

May:
Total Mileage: 234 miles

June:
Total Mileage: 176



2012 Mileage: 1239 Miles

Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 30 miles
6/17/12 -  6/23/12

Sun: 20 miles (Signal Mountain, Day 3 Stage Race)
- See Race Recap

Mon: off

Tues: off

Wed: off

Thur: off

Fri: 10 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.22.12 Avg. Pace:  8.14
- Decided I should try and get back into the game again. I thought that I would have felt better since I had taken 4 days off, but apparently my body was still tight and sore and recovery is not over just quite yet. Also, the top of my left foot was hurting. It is probably due to the fact that I ran so many miles so close together. So I will be watching and icing it because I do not want a stress fracture in the future. That could set me way back. My plan is to maybe take a few more days off and slowly run get back into it. I have some time before my next race the StumpJump 50K, and in between that a new race called the Still Hollow Half Marathon.

Sat: off

Chattanooga Mountains Stage Race

60 Miles in 3 Days

Raccoon Mountain
Day 1 - 18 Miles

Time: 2.23.03

Avg. Pace: 7.56 mi

Place: 22nd

Woke up at 4:40 this morning to eat breakfast and to make sure that I wouldn't be late to the race since I had no support crew a.k.a my dad (family is heading to Florida for the whole week). This was the first race I have gone to by myself. On the way over I realized this race was lower key than the others since there were not as many people but the runners are way more serious. People that were here have done this before and I could tell it from my lower ranking on Ultrasignup.

Started off pretty fast and that's when I realized that these runners meant business. I eventually settled into a pack until the aid station at mile 8 to refill my bottle. Before the aid station at mile 6, I was "chicked" (From Eat and Run - Girl catches you in an ultra) and I couldn't believe it happened so fast and she was hauling!!! After I left the aid station, I ran to catch up with Rock Creek Race Team Member Lance Steele. I cruised with him for the rest of the race until probably about 2 miles left when I let him go on. The exciting part happened at mile 15 when I "unchicked" myself and passed the leading female to retain my manhood which is hard to keep in these long races. I finished smooth and strong around the time expected.

The true test will come tomorrow and definitely Sunday since the trails will be longer and a lot tougher. Overall the legs are currently a little tired and sore. I'm just hoping to survive tomorrow, taking it day by day; it's all I can really do!

Miles Lookout Mountain/Lula Lake Land Trust
Day 2 - 22 Miles

Time: 2.48.35

Avg. Pace: 7.40

Place: 19th

Overall Place: 18th

The alarm went off this morning and I thought to myself "what am I doing?" I was sore and stiff. However, once I got to the race I started to loosen up and started to feel normal. I was just hoping that once I started I wouldn't feel like crap.

Once the countdown hit zero we were off. I started off slower than yesterday and I cruised until the aid station around mile 10. Within the 1st mile, there is a rope that you have to hold onto while climbing up the side of the mountain, and on the way back I took it a bit slow going down it. For the first 6 miles, 2 female runners were ahead of me. I passed the 2nd place female around mile 6ish and caught up to Rock Creek Race Team Member John Wiygul. I followed him until probably a little before the 15 mile aid station and he went on. At mile 10, I picked up the pace along with Wiygul and we headed back down the mountain. The nice easy pace was over and it was race time! Once I hit the last aid station around mile 15 ish I passed right through it and started up the other side of the ridge and did not walk at all going up. I ended up passing the 1st female (wooo, just don't choke tomorrow!) and caught up to Rock Creek Race Team Member Lance Steele and passed him also. Once I ran through the creek that was knee high deep, I ran strong to the finish. Once I finished, I made a B line to get my chocolate milk from my car and headed to the creek and laid in it for 20 minutes (nice and cold).

I honestly cannot believe that I felt so good today. One of the big factors had to be the temperature. It was way cooler in the higher elevation. Also my plan to take the first 10 miles easy (training run pace) worked to perfection for me. I was even more in cue with taking my fluids. I basically felt like a machine out on the trail today, I was just so in tune and focus that it was almost ridiculous. Every person I passed I was feeding off of their energy. My only hope is that it continues tomorrow. I am feeling great and confident about tomorrow!!! Bring it!

 Signal Mountain

Day 3 - 20 Miles

Time: 3.17.34

Avg. Pace: 9.53

Place: 16th

Overall Place: 17th

The third and final day is over with! No more waking up at 4:40 in the morning. I woke up and realized that all the excitement of running really well yesterday was gone. I was a little sore and stiff but not too bad, but it was my ankle that was really stiff from rolling it the day before. Basically just had the aches and pains of running 40 miles and to my surprise it wasn't all that bad.

With the countdown hitting zero I only had 20 miles to go and it would all be over with. The first 6 miles I took pretty slow at 28th place(I know because the first 3 miles were out and back) and once I got back to Mushroom Rock I started to pick the pace up. I ended up catching the lead female rather quickly and stayed behind her until around mile 10. I wanted to get around her before, but it ended up working in my advantage that I stayed because the trail would get very technical soon after I passed her. Once I got to the top of Signal Point I got my second wind but it would not last too long because of more rocks and roots to come. Once I hit the aid station around mile 15ish the trail opened up and I started to push the pace (it was nice to finally get a rhythm going). I finished really strong all the way to the finish.

All I can say is that if the first 40 miles do not kill you, the last 20 will! The trail today was so technical it almost wasn't fun at certain points. It was a good feeling to cross the finish line today. The weather was not as cool today and for some reason I decided I would wear a shirt. My plan worked well and I'm very pleased how my body felt. No cramps at all!!! Just a sore ankle is about it after putting in work in today. Overall great day!

For the race overall it was awesome. I definitely plan on doing it again next year if my life will allow (honestly I’m hoping to be in PT school next summer). I am extremely pleased of how I felt considering I hadn't ran as much 3 weeks prior and was fighting lack of motivation. This race really pumped me up. I can honestly say I won't be running for the next several days, oh recovery! Great race, great weather, and great people make for one GREAT trail race. I am also very pleased with my results since it was my first time doing this race. Each day I raced, I improved my ranking which I am very proud of. I highly recommend this race. It is very achievable to do this race and the volunteers are top notch!