A clydesdale no more!

Was way too tired for as slow as I was running. Once again, lungs and heart felt great but legs had nothing in them. That is 2 weeks in a row with a bad long run. I'm starting to lose a little confidence which isn't good since Des News is only 3 weeks away. Both achilles tendons were pretty sore. Most likely due to putting too many miles on a pair of shoes then trying to adjust to a fresh pair.

Saw a deer running down the middle of the road not too far from where a moose got hit by a car last week. Wonder why they are coming down from the hills.

2.25 warm up miles then 6 X 1/2 mile at 5K pace with 1/4 mile rest. Splits were: 3:07, 3:05, 3:00, 3:00, 2:59, 3:00. The first couple felt a little out of control. Started to settle down towards the end. Cooled down with 2.50 easy miles. Achilles felt better but knee was a little sore.

Easy pace. Legs a little sore.

Ran from home to the Bountiful temple. Very hilly run. Felt like a pretty good effort today. Temperatures were cool but humidity was higher than normal.

Ran 7 miles at MP. Still a little fatigued from yesterday but felt good to push the pace a little. I can really feel the high humidity. My shirt felt like it weighed 5 lbs because it was so wet.

Easy run. Lower legs were a little tight to start but felt alright once they were warmed up.

Felt a lot better about today's run. Legs felt a little tired and heavy for a few of the middle miles. Picked up the pace the last 2 miles and felt a lot better.

7 miles at marathon pace. Other than a little twinge in the left knee and right tibia (site of previous injury) I am starting to feel better.

Very easy run. Lower right leg sore (mostly calf). This would not be a good time for an injury. If the pain continues, I will probably skip tomorrow's speed workout (the last scheduled hard run before Des News).

Decided last night that doing the last scheduled speed session before Des News would probably do more harm than good. Woke up this morning and legs felt better so decided to do the workout as planned (3 X 1 mile @ 5K pace). First repeat felt good (6:15). Felt really in control. Slight tail wind on second repeat (6:10). Last was into a slight headwind and finished going up an overpass (6:23). Left knee still sore and right calf tightened up a few times. Will most likely take tomorrow off.

Had an easy 5 scheduled but decided that I my legs needed a break. First missed scheduled run in quite a long time.

I've been thinking about my training and what I need to do to become a better marathoner. In order to achieve the goals that I have set, I need to bump my mileage up 15-20 miles per week and add an additional quality run (tempo or speed) each week. The problem is that I feel as though I am at my physical limit now. I have to decide if I want to continue running mediocre marathons with my current training or start focusing on shorter races.

Wife had to work early this morning so I didn't get out to run until 1:30. Temp was 95 degrees and it was HOT. I'm not used to running in the heat. I figured that it would be good for me psychologically to get a couple of runs in hot weather in preparation for Des News. Actually ran really well. Ran the first 5 miles at maratahon pace then backed off the last 2 miles as to not over do it. Achilles and calves were a little sore to start but felt better once they warmed up.

Feeling a little better about things. Still some aches and pains in the lower legs. Lower mileage for the week has helped me snap out of the funk that I've been in.

Sasha asked that I do a 100 meter time trial on a track. Stopped at the Viewmont High track about 4 miles into my run. Did 2 100 meter all out sprints. Completed the first in 15.5 sec. and the second in 15.75. Not used to the explosive speed so I may be able to improve on that with a little practice.

Achilles were sore for the first mile but felt good once I warmed up.

Just putting in the miles. Left 45 minutes later than usual and it felt a lot warmer. Legs feel like they are healing (as they should be during the final week of taper). Still a little calf and achilles soreness.

Ran 2 miles at MP -10. The pace felt good and not forced at all.

Stopped off at the Viewmont High track (about 4 miles into my run) for a 200 m time trial. Ran it in 31 seconds exactly (watch turned over to 31 right as I crossed the line). Based on McMillan's calculator, this is consistent with my 100 m at 15.5 that I ran last week. I assume that the next step is to test my 400 m time which should be 64.8 seconds. Will probably wait until a couple of weeks after Des News to test this.

Very easy pace. Back of both legs were a little tight.

Easy pace. Legs felt really good. The only part of the legs that are sore are both achilles. No pain at all in my knee and calves.

Intended to maintain an easy pace the entire run. Just before the start of last mile another runner passed me. I hate being passed. Tried to convince myself to let him go but couldn't. Kept pace with him then started to make up ground towards the end. Averaged 8:00 min/mile the first 4 and 6:40 the last. Actually felt better running that mile than I did the previous 4.

This is the 2nd of 5 marathons that I am running this year as part of the Utah Grand Slam. The last marathon I ran was the Ogden marathon 11 weeks ago. Since there was a good break between these two marathons, I figured that I would race this one all out. Followed Pfitz’s 12 weeks between marathons plan and, other than some lower leg soreness, was ready to go on marathon morning. The plan was to at least match my time at Ogden (3:15). A week before the marathon, I found out that they changed the course and removed the uphill sections between miles 16 and 18. This should make the course a little faster and I was hoping for good things.

Went to bed early on Sunday and was up at 2:00 a.m. (to thunder and a torrential down pour that lasted only 5 minutes). On the bus ride to the start, the bus driver looks back and starts asking for directions. Not a good sign. Got to the starting line and hit the port-o-potty. As I was trying to get out, the door was stuck. One of the stakes that holds the p.o.p. down came up and was blocking the door. Fortunately, somebody realized that I was having trouble and helped me out.

Suprisingly, this marathon actually started on time. The last couple of marathons have been delayed 30 minutes and I was expecting the same. The course starts at the top of Big Mountain in Emmigration canyon. The first 16 miles are in the canyon so despite the recent 100 degree temperatures, it didn’t feel too hot through the canyon.

Miles 1-5 (7:12 average pace)

The first 5 miles are a pretty drastic down hill. My plan was to hold a 7:20 pace as long as possible knowing that the first couple miles would be a little fast because of the downhill. I was passed by two large packs of runners while maintaining a 7:00 pace. It took everything that I had to hold back and not go with the packs. In one of the packs, there is a runner who I have a 1 second lead on in the Grand Slam series (William). I really wanted to keep up with him but decided to race my own race and held back.

Miles 6-10 (7:43 average pace)

Around mile 6, we started climbing up Little Mountain. I don’t know who named it Little Mountain but whoever it was is a liar. Going into the race, I underestimated the significance of this climb. Just as I thought that I was at the top of the hill, I looked up and there was another big climb ahead. Just focused on staying comfortable and in control. I passed a few people going up the hills.

Miles 11-15 (7:23 average pace)

It’s predominantly downhill to flat from here on out. My legs were feeling a little fatigued but I felt that I could maintain the pace for the remainder of the race. Hit the halfway point in 1:37:30 – right on target. During a small out and back section I found that William was 1:45 ahead of me. Probably not going to catch him.

Miles 16-20 (7:28 average pace)

Came out of the canyon around the 16th mile where my wife and mom were waiting. Seeing them gave me a boost of energy and I was feeling strong. Powered up a little hill and passed a couple of more runners. In hindsight, I may have hit this hill a little too hard. It really sapped my energy and my next mile really suffered. Was able to recover but I can tell that things are starting to fall apart. The streets were lined with trees so the course was still pretty well shaded. Although it was starting to warm up, it didn’t feel hot yet. Once we turned on to Foothill Blvd around mile 19 and entered the city I could start to feel the heat. See William a couple hundred yards ahead and start wondering if I can catch him. I am slowly gaining on him and decide to be patient and let him come to me. Get by him around the 20 mile marker and realize that my 1 second GS lead is safe.

Miles 21-25 (7:57 average pace)

My legs are fried so I decide that it is time to switch to survival mode and just hope to keep it under 8:00 min/mile to the end. There are some pretty good downhill sections through these miles but when your legs feel like jelly, it really doesn’t help. As slow as I was going, I was only passed by 2 runners. There was a pack of runners about ¼ mile ahead of me and I couldn’t see anybody behind me. Tried to surge a couple of times to catch up to the runners ahead but just couldn’t do it.

The last 1.2 (7:58 average pace)

Once I hit the 25 mile marker decided to push a little (emphasis on little). Started to move up on the pack ahead. Was able to work through them and had a clear path to the finish line the last 200 yards. Another runner caught back up to me and we were going all out to the end. He passed me, I passed him and we crossed the line together. According to the final results, he beat me by 1 second.

Final Time: 3:18:37

Overall Place: 35/548

Age Group Place: 10/49

I am a little disappointed with my time and performance. This race was a reality check for me. I feel as though I should be a better marathoner. I have to realize that this is just not the case. On the bright side, I did move from 9th place to 6th place in the overall standings of the Grand Slam.

Next up is the Park City marathon in 5 weeks. Will most likely use this as a training run.

Complete rest day for me today. I am more sore than normal after yesterday's marathon. I also have a sharp pain in my right calf. It has been bothering me for a few weeks. I hope that it is nothing serious. Will try to get in a couple of easy miles tomorrow.

Probably should have rested today because it is still painful to walk. Felt like putting in a couple of easy miles. Didn't take my watch so I have no idea what pace I ran but it was probably somewhere between 8:30 and 9:00. It actually hurts less to run than it does to walk. Right calf is hurting pretty bad. Can't decide if I should back off the rest of the week or just continue with a few easy runs.

Another easy 4. Soreness starting to subside but right calf still hurts. Stopped at each mile marker to stretch out the calf.

Decided to take today off. Right calf is still hurting. Hopefully, 1 more day off will help it heal.

Wanted to run a route with varied terrain to see how my body is recovering. Ran the long Orchard loop which has a little climbing followed by a little downhill. Everything feels really good except my right calf. There is a sharp pain everytime that I push off which made the uphill running painful. I actually think that it is not the calf that is hurting but the plantaris tendon. I am going to hold off on any speed work or hard running until the pain subsides. Still planning on putting in moderate miles.

Ran Pages Lane loop. First 6 miles felt good and was able to maintain MP. At the end of the 6th mile, my calf/hamstring really started to hurt. Backed off pace and just plodded my way home.