You get out what you put in

Sun - shakeout (?) disc golf, pick out, 2m
Tues - once downtown, from Salt Palace W thru Gateway to industry, RR, and back 3m, missed ball, door locked
Wed - quick group, don't remember much, 2m
Thu - snow, ball felt hard to win, w Cody, police quick guard, soccer hustle spaz, shooting amateur guard against Tongan, Asian, white tall skinny guy, right foot 3pt bomber, and block-out strength guy, did win barely, I need to take over more
Sat - BS, music practice, work

Sun - quick from homestead around b/w 27/3200 neighborhoods, felt great, 45m, at dusk, thru Bennion Jr, ran there 30 years ago!, God has great things in store, He will provide for the years the locusts have eaten, Joel 2:25, 5m
Tues - counseling, against new quick guards, leapers, could guard jacket guy, played w guy who played college Ball in CO, we ran the court a little, but then played off my guard and was asked to switch up, didn't guard slow white shooter on switch
Wed - ran to park, disc golf, good shooting, ran from hole 17 to hood and around back home, 4m, evening old General playing 3 on 3, kicked out other guys?, so just some practice shooting,
Thu - skiing at Alta, good powder, non-stop til hands and feet were freezing, skied Supreme in the morning, Collins and a little Sugarloaf in afternoon, kickin it old school Olins, I'd look twice as good with fatties, 24 runs, could have made 2 more, but 36K vertical feet, at 10 ^angle that's 41 miles; ball in evening, got with 2 HI footballers, easy wins, then worked it w one of them and Cody, guarded right foot shooter well, overplayed his right, perhaps need to go straight up to mix it up with him
Fri - minimal disc w/ P, jogged to beautiful Xmas house lights, 

Mon - Had to have run, right? Just can't remember. Seems like I did a short route.
Tue - Ball with big boys off 7th, Got on a former CO college player's team but we didn't win, he took off. Getting into the swing of things, guarded guards, 24 yr old Tongan, speedy with jump shot, 2m
Wed - New group, 2700, "Presbyterian," showed a little bit but forced the rhythm a bit, played with black guy who was a level above, quick win but then he's gonna be a black hole with game on the line, lost at end when skilled players lack effort, 2m
Th - Playing from strength position, made a through the leg layup move, got on a team that could win every time if we play, different being short role player on T, mid to upper level on W and then All Star on Th, 2m
Fri - run w/ Ben. Can't imagine we only ran once but can't think of t'other. After Ben had framed the kitchen shelves thru "new" neighborhoods from 'stead, out by Bennion up to cross 62 and around asphalt, darkening nite, was hungry and pushing, loop around back thru by Zoggs, "Hi John," canal road pushing pace, 40 minutes, 5.5 m
 

Sat - post run shakeout? golfing? C'mon, somthing. 1.5m
Tue - off 7th, played w/ Sparky, all Sport young Tongan w 1 on 3 abilities, lost one but then we wear them down with conditioning, I put 'em up quick but they go in, could lead more, 2m
Th - Wed, rest, 25 min. run up to overlook, figuring out what I'll race on Sat. Have bad habit of sleeping on couch and then mid-nite wake-up. Also been sick with voice and throat issues so I'm 80%? 3 m
Fri - shakeout to Home Depot where met dad, just warming up muscles, 2m

W/u to curve, didn't seem like it'd be too much snow on course, also was a lot of wind on the way back, but with continued snow the course was snowy, but surprisingly no wind on the way back.

Started on 6th row, probably sh have gotten farther forward. Phin was watching the start, waved to him, then did the weave for the first 150. Felt like we were running fast (not a lot of speed work) but I knew it was a good pace. Got in a group of about 6 but my pace was a bit faster, ran side by side with a girl thru 1m, 6:36, then picked up the effort, probably passed 5 the first mile, but felt like no-man's land. Was just catching up the 2nd. At the turnaround was with two people, slippery around cone. Had been cheering the top guys and slctrack girl who was great. Was surprised by how many were ahead of me, but there's a big difference b/w 19m and 20m.

Bill ahead, Dale behind. From halfway to 2m worked to catch girl in yellow (Amy Cook?). She was tough, came up on her twice but couldn't pass. Finally did, and then set my eyes on tall, green and purple. Was working hard, or at least as hard as I'm used to, I know there are still mental barriers I haven't hit. 2nd mile in 6:40. Was just pushing to the 3m, caught up with purple guy (short, stocky, glasses) and took 2 times to pass him. Had good self-talk, relaxing my way, opening my stride, mentally prepared to push. As we were opening up the slip on the snow was noticeable. Best track was on the snow, not the slush. Started the sprint and skinny green responded, he pulled me but I knew there was more I could give, let off a little when it was just me and him, but had a good push. Pain at the end, bent over, hands on sign, wow this hurts, but know it's good. 7.17 last 1.1 so 6.37 last mile.

Now to manage to race a good 10k, race of truth in training, and the truth is my training is spotty.

Afterwards cooled down, ran a teen girl in, looked over the Lake with P, won a roller in the raffle, got my coffee on, chatted with friends. Another good memory.

May the God of all grace comfort you, may His love show the way, may the grace of Christ enlighten, may the fellowship of the Holy Spirit satisfy.

Sun - disc golf run to park, 1m

Mon - shakeout, quick before work, 20 min, hill workout on Christy Ann, 4 reps, 1.5m
Tues - ball on 7th, goofing around, guy guarding me was Tongan and a joker, a few games but hardly a workout, on some fast breaks guarded brilliant skinny ace guy who couldn't be stopped, his moves had moves, 1m
Wed - ran from Capitol around lane to 11th Ave and down to Cityview mausoleum, bathroom, remodeling, ran back to truck to load up on goods. 1hr, 6m. Ball after music practice, crowded but got on smart team, had 3s and lay-ups, played strong, 2m
Th - worked with dad, needed some rest, easy good ball, game clock, won 52-46, 1.5m
Fri - ran to park w/ P, then ran home to get truck to rake find discs in snow, fail, 3m

Sat - some discing, found, lost, found, lost yellow Boss. Goodness gracious. 1m

Bronchitis, chest congestion, seasonal affective disorder, whatever, it simply means I'm not a runner. Had the itch to play ball but not the energy. Stoked the fires a little for running, but also embers dying.

T/W/Th - ball, getting back into it, fitness ok, "You're a good man, Jesse." Run, shoot, pass, score; Jordan w/ me for mast people ever seen, got on team w/ him, great player, guarded best opponent, we won most games; Th after league we had 4 on 4, easy wins, guarding strong Tongan who pushes off, fadeaways, rolls right, winning by double points, 4.5m

Disc golf, ran around grassy area, 2m, jog on Strawberry reservoir, ran to homestead, 2m

Sun - ran to homestead, only took canal from Bennion on. 2.2

Tue - ball w big boys, was missing stuff early on, pushing it, not letting it come. Was on superstar's team so we always won until they started goofing around playing horse not ball so it was over for me. 1.5

Wed - somewhat tired, throat cold, rested
Thu - moved some furniture w dad, up to Wanship
Fri - great run w new friend Eric from Big Ranch Lodge downhill 2.3 miles, along road to make 3 and back up 965 feet. Walked a lot on the steep uphill, but a good hour-long workout, then snowshoeing to lakebed, lost yellow disc, found next day. Sore from the downhill and uphill, good stuff

Sat - ran to park, disced and back. What do I call this? DGW? Disc golf workout? 4.5m

Mon - disc golf? 1.5
Tues - new ward, top of 36th, made 4 quick points and defended hard, 2
Wed - DGW 4.5
Th - Ball, one good driving lay-up, passed it off, good overall but not top, 2m
Fri - sledding for Brighton lunch meet-up
Sat - Slim workout, painting
 

DGW, some beautiful Birdies incuding 2 on 13, 4.5

tues - sluggish, let my guy score some 3s, have to play to potential
wed - good, ran into big guy so hard got whiplash, establishing defense
th - at new ward farther w off 54th, tongans and asian guard, warmed up great but then was more a passer and hustler, some good times back and forth, young jr. high kid was our star
Disc golf,

tue - 3 on 3? off 32nd, jumped straight up more and made a block, mostly won, also gave up a few steals
wed - couldn't win even though was playing hard on good teams, small black guy just lit it up, there was no stopping him
th - ran enuf that new short hispanic guy asked me my age, 34 backwards. enjoyable, lots of layups, breakaways
fri - ran down to field and around, said hi to legacy solitaire players, around school, chin-ups, ran home, I am a runner. 6m
sat - w/ B &P, park, had to go in the forest, enjoy being good at golfing, 1m

sun - great day, easter and b-day, golf at roots, drove into a middle-aged beer group, good birdies and P played with aerobie with me, very enjoyable, 1.5
mon - w Nate, from his house loop to s of 70th Parkway to Gardner, 37 min, felt prickly, good push, 6 m; then ball, had to warm up but 3 games, 15, 15, 21, w good hard guard, getting the kinks out. 1m
tue - w Nate canal loop, pumpkin field to other canal on 47th and up to ours. 4.5m
 

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?