You get out what you put in

tue - fr 9:30, on 36th, shorter games?, with good guard, won most games after w/u, 1.5m
wed - got schooled by bigger guy, posted me up once, probably thought that was too easy, made a 3 and a running layup, I noticed he went left and defended that but he smartly went right and made the game-ender mid-range, no wins, was missing my shots, 1.5m
thu - above average, then played 3 on 3 with Kev, we won against shooter and Tongan, 1.5m
Sat - biked to park, 2m

 

mon - w/ Nate our to JRP, loop around pond park and back, 4.5 m


Tue - 2 on 2 on 7th, made my shots, easy to look good when courts open, 1m
Wed - ran 3m w/ Phin on bike, found Ayden's house, couldn't win, but played pretty well, got down quick at first and was 0 for 4, guys left, then played a long last game where taller black guy pushed off on a layup ag. Jersey guy, then they made 3 2s and black guy made a short-range over me, "And 1." ;-(  1.5m
Thu - feeling tired, sore, disc golf, lost first game to Kevin and smarter players, then sat out and won one where I hustled down low, and young brothers overcame their passing polarization and made some shots, 1.5m
Fri - counseling, rest, work thru evening
 

DG, w P, shot a little with some kids who wanted to play, also with a Publisher from MN (?) 1.5

 

Sun - bike, DG, bike to Nate's 3.5
Tue - w/ quick skinny guy who fast breaks and finishes well at rim w/o backboard, lost, won, lost; guarded younger bro (?) who played smart, long, mid, short, played in spurts last game conserving energy so he didn't defend a lot but he got the best of me. 1.5
Wed - LLL, couldn't figure out top-heavy Hispanic guy who had quick first step, had one good thru the leg fast break thru Jersey guy to OC layup, need to play well and make my team better, can't remember how last game ended, I've typed this 3 times, had more left at end, shot around and chatted about b-ball after, 1.5
Thu - didn't sleep really well, showed up early to shoot and chat w Steve, lost first game when played zone ag Steve and Shooter Joe, won second when played man, then played long game 4 on 4 w bros and Kevin, haven't played so long in a while, we couldn't put it together quite cuz easy pass to me posting was neglected over highlite cut to basket pass, but we weren't cutting being tired. 2m
Fri - easy DG, 1m
 

SLC Half marathon, missed 6:40 trax so showed up late to race, ran through to long zone of passing people, was 30 at 3 miles (long downhill where cruised by people), figure was 10 minutes off, passed 2:45 thru to 2:00 pacers. Was 51 at 7 miles, missed Temptation Station, think I would have taken a shot if I knew what it was, a little after 8 miles cut across to Liberty park and ran there. Went from passing droves to sparsely being passed by maybe 10. Figure, 8 1/4 plus 3/4 plus 1=10. Got to my truck at 8:30 so 1:20 for 10? Ran to my truck and then to Bible Study. My dad biked the course and said he was severely cold with gloves not thick enough, people laying on side in the cold. Mark ran 1:42, great job, always bragging about being 217, not 265.

Mon - biked to DG, played softball practice w/ 2 guys, good to throw and hit, 2m
Tue - still some soreness from running along half, ball w/ good guard, LWW?, when we play within ourselves and smart we have it, had some hustle, made game-winner 3 from left-side below backboard, DG?, 1.5m
Wed - ran to DG, met 2 guys who've moved here, gave some tips to Nick, other guy threw beyond basket 12, biked back, was too tired to ball, 4m
Thu - windy DG, ball w Steve at new 70th/62nd ward, was ready to not play hard, Cody showed up w/ Kevin and 2 bros, Kev played for W.Jordan, 1st old guys ag. young guys, but didn't have the speed to keep up, Kev had quick drives, when we matched teams up I played w Cody and shooter bro who could guard his brother well, Steve was missing but Kev had unstoppable 3s, I kept our team in it w/ shootouts, but we couldn't do it, lost 2 sets, 2m + 1.5
 

Slow w/u, saw some hs boys I thought would take it, also a flourescent green shirt (Daniel) who ran on toes who looked fast. Feeling like needed miles just to wake up body.

At start along narrow asphalt trail was a young runner in blue shorts who quickly put the race away. Started uphill and quickly saw that I could keep up with the gang, latched on passing going from 10th to 5th. Had headwind so I was tagging behind boys, Daniel wouldn't let me draft so drafted off other guy, 1st place was killing it, he's from ME and ran 17:30, no challengers. Was feeling good, 1st mile in 6:29, surprised w/ hill was so fast, didn't feel like I was stretching it but quickly started to in 2nd mile, Daniel went w/ me but not for long. Was on long boxed stretch along road, felt like I was pushing it, felt heavy but pushed through, at top left corner of course wasn't ready to turn left, was second-guessing course, but we ran around and turned back into the asphalt trail. At 2 miles was 13:20?, not sure, Daniel was closer than I thought 10 seconds back. Enjoyed the downhill into the park, then thru tunnel to mile 3, 19:24, finish at 20:16. Good cheering at end, had a cruise sprint, bagels and bananas.

Met hs guy who was 3rd, faded to 7th, from Recovery ranch in Mapleton, finish was away from the park, had raffle and award for first. Definitely have some soreness in legs, gave a good effort. If I actually get some training miles in should run 2 minutes faster? ;-)

Race was for a great cause too. Talked to some people afterwards, there's something to having a support group and "Fighting like Dragons." We are always battling the good vs. the best and the good twisted into bad.
We are imago dei marred by sin, Christ died to crush the serpent and to take away sin, but until he is finally defeated we have the struggle.

Race results

Photo finish
 

Matt's wedding in Vegas. Ran once with Nate to UNLV track where he did a speed workout and I watched. Severe lack of motivation. Saw wrestling team doing a workout. Ran back on the strip, where was dodging people, then inside a casino for a drink. Fun to run then but Vegas basically depresses me, the pomp, the fakeness, the humanity relishing that which is temporary and dulling. Could I have know that I was about to enter doldrums for a year?