Marathon Top 10 Finishes: 7 Bridges ('15), Utah Valley ('13), Salt Lake City ('08), Top of Utah ('07), and St. Louis ('04). Ran around the equator (24901.55) in 4,388 days.
And my largest challenge to date, raise $20,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of my cancer survivorship and in memory of those lost to blood cancer...
DONE! $26,403.70
Grew up outside Chicago and joined the blog while I lived in Salt Lake City. Now living outside Birmingham. I am married with two daughters. Wife thinks I'm crazy for doing marathons. And yes I am crazy I'm a scientist for a living...
AM: Repeat of the Beacons’ Hike. This time we decided to try
and beat our time from last weekend. It was just hiking on the way up but no
stopping this time. On the way down the back side we ran it. I have to get used
to this trail running if I’m going to break Jon’s streak J…
Just kidding it will be a few years until I’m ready for that. However, I did do
a lot better than last week and even kept up the running for over two mile 5.65
mi (2 running).
PM: Planned on running with my daughter but it was too hot
and the day slipped away so we played in the kiddie pool and sprinkler while I
grilled dinner. After bedtime drove over to City Creek and ran up to the water
treatment plant and back (from the overlook). 8 mi 1hr exact! Avg. 7:36 HR 139
Have to get this fog out of my head. The morning was fine.
Last night I got a decent amount of sleep but… Into lab early and then I was out
the door. The moon was just above the mountain range and during the first half
mile I was running directly toward it. It is amazing how quickly things move.
By the time I hit my turn the moon was completely behind the mountains, nice to
watch. Then during the next mile or so I swear there was a dove on each block
cooing its head off. Finally got to Memory Grove and was just jogging along.
Turned up to head out and got a rock in my shoe. As I stopped to take the rock
out a guy I see relatively regularly going in the opposite direction caught me
as I was starting to run again. We happened to be going at not too different of
paces so I just started alongside him. However, he was not talkative (though I
see him about once a week) and I just kept going. At this a younger guy passes
by going at a good pace. I was said hi fairly loudly and no reply from him
either. Now is it just me or is there some type of runner’s code? I try and acknowledge
others braving the elements and hitting the pavement or trails with me. Even in
a hard workout I will try and give at least a nod. In any case I wasn’t sure what
I was going to do so I tucked in about 20 ft feet behind him so as not to crowd
him. Then my competitive side got the better of me and I decided to pull along
and say hi, maybe I’m too eager to meet other runners… He was going at a good clip
and we were running the FireHouse mile in reverse (up) at this point. I pulled
up and just went with him. There seemed to be a couple surges. We hit the mile
in 6:26 and I was about to find out who he was, how far he was going, introduce
myself, whatever, and he turned back to head back down the mile. So I had one
hardish mile with mystery guy. I’m 90% sure I’ve seen him going the other
direction before as well. I think this is enough procrastination. Now on to
work…Avg. 9:00
Yesterday must have been a fluke. Today everyone was saying hi. Even the first guy from yesterday gave a node. I didn't see the second guy though. In hind sight he probably just wanted to do his workout and not have some unknown factor come up and push the pace on him... Also today the birds were out in first. I saw three birds of prey, two hawks and a falcon. Two hummingbirds and my quails. I know I've said this before but every time I see a quail run I have to laugh. The run was slow and I am tired but otherwise it was a nice morning run from home to Memory Grove to Lab... Avg. 9:50
Today was a slow day but not bad. I’ve taken a new outlook
on life and am trying to keep to it. I went for my run after the girls went
down. Plan was an easy home loop. Got to thinking about speed about the time I
was passing the East High track and decided I was going to do a 1600m time
trial. Ran onto the track and started immediately. There were a few other
people on the track two runners doing workouts (1/4s I think). I did my 1600
and continued off the track and on with my home loop with a modified return
from SugarHouse.
Continued with the “speed” theme and broke out my flats. Two
goals: 1. See that they still feel fine and break them in; 2. Get in some fast
downhill miles as practice for Des News. The weather was perfect, upper 50s low
60s.
Ran to the FireHouse mile and hit it.
5:00.11 HR 170
descent 209ft slight crosswind
Then I continued down into City Creek and up into the
canyon. The sun coming up was perfect. There is a clearing where the sun just
opened up and there were three hummingbirds playing in the light. It looked
like I was in a magic kingdom watching fairies fly around.
I turned around and
did the City Creek Gate mile.
4:50.00 HR 177
descent 234ft slight tailwind
Overall the run was great. My efforts on the miles were
about 90% of mile effort (as can be seen by the HR).
The good news is that my knee was no worse for the wear after the hard downhill miles yesterday. The run this morning was sluggish but fine. I have to work today so I got in and set-up stuff for about an 1.5 hr and then out the door for a modified Memory Grove/City Creek run. The hummingbirds from yesterday were there again but it was later so the sun/shade effect was lost. Also ran into Albert and stopped to talk briefly. His training is going very well. I'm eager to see how well he does at Des 10K. Hopefully this time next year I'll be able to give him a run for his money but this year I'll be happy to see the back of his head during the last long straight away... Avg. 8:06 HR 137
