The sun is up, the air is fresh, the stone is old

Last night heading up on our night hike I noticed a race crew setting up on the trailhead and remembered that President's weekend is always the Lost Dutchman Marathon. So when we got back I caught some sleep and headed up to the bus pick up to beg an entry. The race director was more than willing, a ton of marathoners had changed to the half because of the high temp forecast. He also said he had flown in a few Kenyans to break the record and drop the Leaderboard times a little. LDM has a rep as being a way friendly group but a slow course. Eight miles of trail, rolling hills along Apache Junction, and some suburb running with a 180 around a cone.

I had no goals for the race although a few weeks ago I did a Yasso 800 predictor set which came out indicating I could do a 2:47. So that's what I shot for. The pace went out slow, I didn't have a Garmin on today but it felt good. The lead guys started picking it and left me. They were gone. I then ran with a group of trail runners from Boston and North Carolina. Pretty neat guys heading up after the race for a R2R2R Tuesday. I could feel the heat a bit by five miles, not a good sign, and prepared for a long morning. By thirteen miles the pack fell apart and I ran with one of the ultra runners from New England until mile 18. We were totally alone and talked mostly the whole time about all the Canyon running stuff that I've been thinking about the past two weeks. The hills hit hard though at mile 19 and he pulled ahead. I was worried a lot about bonking with the heat and that I had no marathon training essentially, and was slowing way down to work the hills and pouring water on my head. I was regaining some energy though by the end and am so happy to have a decent race again in the pathetic shape I'm in!

Mokono Lamech was the Kenyan who won, now a US citizen with Phoenix as a home. He was the winner of Grandmas Marathon 2012 in 2:13 and Victoria in 2:12. He barely got the record running a 2:18. Just a way nice guy and I spent a few hours talking to him, and the two ultra runners that sandwiched me, Eric Ahorn and Robert Shaffer. Mocono's main goal this year is the course record at Grandmas, so I look forward to watching that race again. The record is 2:09.

Stoked by this run. In the groove and on pace. Good idea where I stand and how to improve. Not a squeak at all from the knee which I attribute to strengthened hips, glutes and core from snowshoeing.

And it is cool to get a third with a slow 2:50. :-)

The kids and I then spent the afternoon kayaking the Salt River, Tonto National Park.

No running unless you count about six miles of hiking and three hours of kayaking. Kayaked the Salt River north of Phoenix with the kids and headed up to Flagstaff. Hiked the North and South Lava Trails in Sunset Crater Volcano National Park, then visited Wupatki National Park to hike the various Pueblo Indian ruins. These are incredible sites and I had a hard time getting the kids away from each one. They don't affect me as much as the ancient ruins east of Moab, or the Grand Canyon. We then headed up to Lake Powell and kayaked Antelope Canyon up to the Petroglyphs. After that we loaded back up and rode horses from Lone Rock to Big Water.

That is all.

We came within 27 miles of the South Rim visitors center. I could not figure out how to fit it in.

1 mile swim @ 35:40, 30 minutes upper body lifting.

1 mile swim just under 36, 30 minute lifting upper body and core.

1,000 meter fast swim, 30 min lifting.

Quick report, more details later. Took a Cessna down to Grand Canyon Airport and joined a group of five for a canyon run. So nice to be there in two hours instead of seven. Low, cold overcast and had to do an instrument approach but the weather was showing consistent temps and clouds breaking up.

We ran from South Rim, Bright Angel Trail, the group was going R2R2R but I wanted a look at the section of Tonto towards Hermit so we split up at Indian Gardens. Very neat group and experienced. I took several ideas including carrying coconut water which one of them said helped stomach problems. Used a Camelback again and required no water stops from Indian Gardens back along the Tonto. Average temp though seemed around 52 degrees.

Rough climb back up with ridiculous sore quads from the marathon Saturday. Walked a few sections. Flew back, stopping only in Ceder City for a huge, greasy cheeseburger. Between Saturday and this morning I now only have one toenail left that is not black or in the process of falling off.

Spaghetti legs today. Good start but after a few miles had to back it off. Quickly discovered I could run about 6:05 today, any faster I started to crash, the legs just hurt. If I slowed down to 6:20 or so they recovered quick, so I tucked in just above 6 and waited for the finish. Rob passed me at 7 miles and wouldn't slow down to talk. Kassi chicked me. James flew by me. Great races today by Rob M and James Moore. Good to see Dennis pulling back from an injury too. I'm betting he will be setting a few new records by Fall. I had to bust out after the race quick to get my kids, not much time to say hi to anyone afterwards.