The Workshop
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Personal Briefing

🌅Personal Briefing - Thursday, April 30, 2026

Good morning. Here's your personal read.

🏃Training

🏃Today's Plan

🎯 5K - 2026-05-02 (2 days out) Phase: race → recovery starts 2026-05-02 (2 days) This week: Race day - trust the training. Next week: Back to base building. Why today: Pre-race shakeout - stay loose, don't dig in. After this: 10K on 2026-06-20 (50 days out)

🏃 Today (Thursday): 10-min easy run, very relaxed · 10-min abs · 5-min stretch Target pace: 9:45–10:15/mi (very easy) Last run before race day. Easy and short.

Best window: Lunch - 66°F, sunny, wind 4 mph

📊This Week

Fri: FULL REST - no run today · abs optional · 8–10 min stretch - Race eve. Hydrate, eat well, sleep well. Trust the work. Sat - 🏁 5K RACE DAY (3.1 mi) Target: Sub-24 (7:43/mi avg) · stretch goal sub-23 (7:24/mi avg) Strategy: Go out 7:30–7:40/mi for mile 1, settle in, push at mile 2 if feeling good. Trust the training. Go get it.

This week: 3 runs · 4.6 mi · 39 min Zone check: 25% in pace-Z2 (race target ≥80%). Recent easy paces: 10:11/mi, 8:49/mi. If those feel conversational, they may be fine - pace zones are proxies. HR data from the COROS will clarify your true zones once it's set up.

Recent runs:

  • Thu 04-23 · 1.1 mi · 9 min · 8:19/mi (Z3)
  • Sat 04-25 · 3.2 mi · 32 min · 10:11/mi (easy)
  • Mon 04-27 · 0.8 mi · 6 min · 7:22/mi (Z4)
  • Tue 04-28 · 1.2 mi · 10 min · 8:20/mi (Z3)
  • Wed 04-29 · 2.6 mi · 23 min · 8:49/mi (easy)

✓ 2 family walks this week - keep it up, those matter too.

☘️Notre Dame Sports

🏈Football

No news to report! Here's recent information in case you missed a previous newsletter:

The story of the offseason is still 2027 four-star safety Zayden Gamble's Saturday commit over Miami and Ohio State - the 10th 2027 commit and the fourth defensive back in the class. Carryover line is the Blue-Gold Game (Blue 41, Gold 40) drawing 45,308 fans, the second-largest spring crowd in program history: CJ Carr cemented as QB1, Blake Hebert ahead of Noah Grubbs in the backup race, Devin Fitzgerald the breakout receiver (3 catches, 54 yards, a 28-yard TD), and Jaylen Sneed flashing on defense (4 tackles, INT). Pass rush generated three sacks and five TFLs - Armel Mukam and Loghan Thomas the names worth tracking.

NFL draft tail: TE Eli Raridon went third round to New England (keeping the 20-year ND TE1 streak alive); Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price were both first-rounders, with Price No. 32 to Seattle - first program ever to have its top two RBs both go in Round 1.

Upcoming:

  • Sun Sep 6 - vs. Wisconsin, Shamrock Series at Lambeau Field (season opener)

Last Result: Blue-Gold Game - Blue 41, Gold 40 (Sat Apr 25)

🏀Women's Basketball

No news to report! Here's recent information in case you missed a previous newsletter:

Monday's headline was still KK Bransford transferring to UCLA. Bransford, the 2022 McDonald's All-American out of Cincinnati, leaves Notre Dame after averaging 7.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.1 spg as a senior; she becomes Cori Close's fifth and final transfer addition for the defending champs. With Cassandre Prosper (WNBA Draft), Vanessa De Jesus (graduation), Iyana Moore (graduation), and Malaya Cowles (graduation) also gone, ND lost four of five starters from 2025-26.

The 2026-27 roster is essentially set: portal additions Anaya Hardy (Louisville, signed Apr 17 - 4.9 ppg / 4.2 rpg as a Sweet 16 starter sophomore) and Madison St. Rose (Princeton - career 13.2 ppg, two-time All-Ivy) plus the No. 1 high school class headlined by McDonald's All-Americans Jacy Abii and Jenica Lewis. Niele Ivey is also coaching Team USA's U18 squad at the FIBA AmeriCup June 8-14.

Upcoming: Summer workouts begin in late May.

🥍Lacrosse

Tomorrow is the day. No. 1 Notre Dame men (10-1, 3-1 ACC) face No. 4 seed Virginia (8-6) in the ACC Tournament semifinal at 5 p.m. ET on ACC Network at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte. The Cavaliers are the only team to beat the Irish this season - an 11-9 result on March 28 in Charlottesville. ND has seven ranked wins on the résumé, including No. 3 Richmond, No. 5 North Carolina, and last Saturday's 16-11 over No. 6 Syracuse to claim the outright ACC regular-season title for the third straight year. Championship game is Sunday at noon if the Irish advance - likely against either No. 2 North Carolina or No. 3 Syracuse.

Women's lacrosse continues to wait. The Irish (12-5, 6-4 ACC) sit out of the ACC tournament after the 12-9 quarterfinal loss to Clemson on April 23. Their NCAA case rests on body-of-work strength against an uncomfortable RPI (29th) and non-conference SOS (37th); the NCAA Selection Show is Sunday May 3 at 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPNU. A bid is still expected, but seeding will be tight.

Upcoming:

  • Men: Fri May 1 - vs. No. 4 Virginia, ACC Tournament Semifinal, 5:00 p.m. ET (ACC Network), Charlotte
  • Men (if advance): Sun May 3 - ACC Championship, 12:00 p.m. ET, Charlotte
  • Women: Sun May 3 - NCAA Selection Show, 9:00 p.m. ET (ESPNU)

Last Result:

  • Men: Beat Syracuse 16-11 (Sat Apr 25)
  • Women: Lost to Clemson 12-9 in ACC Quarterfinals (Thu Apr 23)

📋Around the Program

  • Baseball blew out Milwaukee 16-2 in seven innings at Frank Eck last night - a run-rule win in the second of the midweek pair (after Tuesday's 5-3 over Central Michigan). Five wins in seven games heading into the regular-season finishing kick.
  • Softball walked off DePaul 9-8 at Melissa Cook last night - a dramatic comeback win that runs the streak to six straight. Coming on the heels of Tuesday's 13-5 (5) run-rule over UIC, the Irish are surging into the ACC Tournament May 6-9 at Virginia. Lily Hagan (ACC Freshman of the Week) and Sydny Poeck have been carrying the bats; the team is now 25-27 (11-13 ACC).
  • Men's tennis NCAA opener tomorrow: Fri May 1 at 4:00 p.m. ET in Champaign - No. 23 overall seed Notre Dame (21-7) vs. No. 24 Vanderbilt (17-12) in the first round. Coach Ryan Sachire's first NCAA appearance since 2022.

🔴Utah Utes

🏈Football

No news to report! Here's recent information in case you missed a previous newsletter:

Monday's headline remains director of football sports performance Greg Argust resigning months after his January 7 promotion, with Steve Saunders (formerly of the Baltimore Ravens) elevated to the role. Spring practice closed without a spring game - Morgan Scalley made that official last week. Devon Dampier's command of new OC Kevin McGiven's offense is the most-watched offseason variable, and the rebuilt offensive line under coach Jordan Gross is the ceiling-defining unknown for 2026. The Sept. 26 game at Iowa State already shapes up as the tone-setter for Big 12 play.

Recent transfer-portal additions worth flagging: Tanner Cragun is back from UTEP, Will Monney is in from Oklahoma State, and Noah Bennee (23 catches, 264 yards at Weber State in 2025) joins receiver Braeden Pegan as the depth boost the wideout room needed.

Upcoming:

  • Sept. 3 - vs. Idaho (season opener, Rice-Eccles)

🤸Gymnastics

No news to report! Here's recent information in case you missed a previous newsletter:

Tuesday's 2026 Final Analysis closed the books on the season that ended one-eighth of a point short of the program's 50th consecutive National Championship appearance - the streak finally snapped at the Corvallis Regional Final. The honors that came in: Avery Neff was named WCGA North Central Region Gymnast of the Year, Big 12 Gymnast of the Year, and team MVP, with 27 wins this season alone (35 career) and back-to-back regional all-around crowns. Ana Padurariu was Big 12 Specialist of the Year. Neff and Ella Zirbes earned four total NCAA All-America honors as individuals at the National Championship Semifinals on April 16, where Neff finished fourth on floor and seventh in the all-around.

The 2027 reset rests on the full-team return of three All-Americans (Makenna Smith, Avery Neff, Ella Zirbes) plus regular-season All-American Camie Winger, with five-star Bailey Stroud headlining the incoming class and 2027 verbal commits Gabrielle Black, Ayla Miller, Madison Denlinger, and Emma Howells in the pipeline.

Upcoming: 2027 season begins in January.

📋Around the Program

  • Softball senior weekend opens tonight - the Utes (33-18-1) host No. 19/20 Arizona Friday at 5:00 p.m. MT, Saturday at 12:00 p.m., and Sunday at 12:00 p.m. on ESPN+ to close the regular season. Last Friday's 8-4 win over Utah Valley (Shonty Passi grand slam, Raci Miranda lockdown relief) was the springboard.
  • Men's basketball roster nearly set. Craig Smith's offseason rebuild now has four transfers - Malek Gomma (Weber State), TJ Burch (Wright State), Taison Chatman (Ohio State), Jackson Holcombe (Utah Valley) - plus international additions Noam Yaacov (Israel), Alec Anigbata (Germany), and Fynn Schott (Austria) joining returners Lucas Langarita and Babacar Faye.

🌰Ohio State Buckeyes

🏈Football

No news to report! Here's recent information in case you missed a previous newsletter:

The most recent commit remains 2027 four-star OL Davis Seaman - the 6-foot-5, 285-pound Bishop Watterson (Columbus) interior lineman ranked No. 21 nationally at IOL by 247Sports composite, who chose Ohio State over Penn State, Auburn, and Tennessee. He's the 11th 2027 commit and the fifth offensive lineman in the class. Tyler Bowen's recruiting run continues to look like one of the more durable wins of the post-draft cycle.

The credential keeps building elsewhere: 25 NFL picks across 2025-26 (tied all-time with Georgia), four picks in the first 11 in 2026 (first time in 59 years), and the Buckeyes joined Alabama as the only schools ever to put seven players in the first two rounds in back-to-back drafts. Sayin and Smith return as two of the top offensive players in college football, plus four of five starting OL and RB Bo Jackson (1,000+ yards as a true freshman). The replacement project is on defense - eight starters out, including three top-11 picks (Reese, Styles, Downs).

Upcoming:

  • Aug 30 - season opener (Week 1, opponent TBD on schedule)

📋Around the Program

  • Softball heads home for the regular-season finale. After last weekend's series loss at No. 14 Oregon (13-6 Saturday loss, 8-0 run-rule on Sunday), the Buckeyes host Washington May 1-3 in Columbus before the Big Ten Tournament May 6-9 in College Park, MD.
  • Recruiting note for ND fans: Saturday's Zayden Gamble pledge to the Irish was a Buckeyes loss - Ohio State was one of the four finalists.

🏔️Treasure Valley

🍽️Food & Drink

The headline this week is downtown losing a long-running staple: Whiskey Bar is closing Saturday, May 2 - owner announced via Instagram on Sunday. The last day coincides with the bar's annual Kentucky Derby party, which will double as the goodbye. No public word yet on what's next for the space.

The 2026 pipeline still in motion in the background:

  • The Boise Post rooftop atop the AC/Element on Grove tracking for spring.
  • Boise Thai Noodle House at 908 W. Main targeting spring.
  • Hemlock steakhouse moving into the old Richard's space.
  • Coa Cantina in Barber Valley, Cán Coctelería speakeasy above Amano, Bobby's Cafe in the old Original Sunrise space, and Idaho Burrito all opening this spring.
  • Handel's Ice Cream first Idaho location, late spring/early summer at 1581 E. State Street, Eagle.
  • Village at Meridian expansion - Apple, Pottery Barn, Tecovas, Tempur-Pedic, Gorjana, Culinary Dropout, The Capital Grille, Paris Baguette, and Flower Child all confirmed in the pipeline.

🎉Events & Things to Do

  • Tonight (Thu Apr 30): Built to Spill at the Ballroom at Shrine Social Club, 7 p.m. (with LOOLOWNINGEN and Braided Waves). Dead Meadow at the Basement, 7:30 p.m. Griffin House at the Sapphire Room (Riverside Hotel). Drunk Shakespeare at the Morrison Center, 5 p.m. Nick Griffin at the Comedy Lounge, 7 p.m.
  • Fri May 1: First Friday Art Walk, 4–7 p.m. across downtown galleries - this month's theme is "We are Family!" Mersiv at Knitting Factory, 8:30 p.m. Sidepiece at Treefort Music Hall, 8 p.m. Shaun Johnson at the Egyptian, 7:30 p.m. Whiskey Bar Kentucky Derby party / final night if you want to send it off properly.
  • Sat May 2 - 🏁 Race day for the 5K. Capital City Public Market continues its Saturday season at The Grove, 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Music in the Park at the Gene Harris Bandshell (Julia Davis), 3:30–8:00 p.m. Boise Philharmonic: Sailing with Soft Rock Hits with Eric Garcia at the Morrison Center, 7:30 p.m. Karrin Allyson at the Egyptian, 7:30 p.m. El Ten Eleven at Neurolux, 8 p.m. Tech N9ne & E-40 at Revolution, 8 p.m. Dry Creek Historic Society opens for the season, 12:30–4:30 p.m.
  • Race-day weather (Sat May 2): Cool and showery - high 61°F, overnight low 43°F, ~87% chance of passing showers, wind ~11 mph. Plan for a light layer at the start; pack a dry shirt for after.

📰Local Headlines

  • Boise State's blue turf becomes a Jeanty/Moore tribute. As the program installs its new field at Albertsons Stadium ahead of its first Pac-12 season, BSU is making the iconic blue turf a permanent monument to Ashton Jeanty and Kellen Moore - two of the most influential players in program history.
  • ITD director Scott Stokes retiring June 30 after nearly 35 years with the Idaho Transportation Department. He was named director in May 2022 after 15 years as chief deputy.
  • Medical cannabis initiative deadline today. Supporters are racing to turn in signatures to the Secretary of State's Office by April 30 to qualify for the ballot.
  • Carryover reminders: First Thursdays moves to Cherie Buckner-Webb Park starting May 7. Boise County water-safety advisory remains in effect - early recreation season, rivers warming. Apple permit filings at the Village at Meridian still pending an opening date. Former Gov. Dirk Kempthorne memorial details still pending; flags remain at half-staff.

🔗Worth Reading

Generated on Thursday, April 30, 2026

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