Have a little faith

An easy run to test the new shoes.

I had much too fast 1/2 split @1:28:36, but with the only drop in elevation, 1400', coming in the first half, I needed to bank a few minutes. I knew I'd slow down in the second half. My only real goal was to reach the 10K runners before they started, which I did with 3 minutes to spare. There at the 10K start my wife and three sons were waiting to start.  My boys commented afterwards how stiff legged I run; pushing off with my left leg and hitting hard with my right. Rosalie said she could see it was me running toward them by how awkward I held myself, the way I held my right arm stiff. I broke my arm four weeks ago and still find it hard to swing.  And my right leg never extends fully due to two screws in my knee. My right stride is 5" shorter than my left.  What can I say...? If I had two good legs I could break 3 hours again. Mayby that won't ever happen again.

The last two miles were good. I could have kept up this pace for another mile after the finish. That's what I wanted, to feel like there was still more to give. At 52 years old and with permanent injuries, I'm happy with the run. Nice too coming two weeks after Park City, where I ran 3:45. I knew I had to do better.  Park City was a little delusional for me this year, 2 weeks after a steel plate and screws into my right arm. I didn't even care to know the clock. Didn't take a watch. At Pocatello, however, I checked it nearly every mile or two, something I rarely do.

Lessons learned: keep the half pace at or a little above 1:30.

A slow run / walk, trying to stretch out the legs.

I was able to run 3 around the S-curve loop without walking.

Feeling better but still stiff and a little slow. Hit the tanks at Eastwood and around to stretch it to 5.

Went for an 11 mile bike ride with Ryan. Pushed it hard. I'll call it a 5 mile equivalent run. It took us about 50 minutes.

Feeling back on my feet after Pocatello. Got out at 6:00 AM for the run to Sugarhouse and up through Parleys. Good time: 1:20:12. Still a little sore.

This run is to lookout up rattlesnake. The snake climbs about 600 feet in 1/2 mile. Todd rode his bike. I made it in 39:34, which is pretty good. I slowed going down, in 34 minutes.

Tried to not go running this morning, but had a desire and needed to oblige. After the run up rattlesnake last night, I was still feeling like some hills, so I ran the monster, in 53 minutes, hitting the top at 27:30.

Slow going from the start. Down around Gepetto's in Holladay. Cut it short 3 miles due to the slow and stiffness I felt in my legs. I was glad to get out though.

Nice and easy up to elbow fork in 1:06 with a head wind. Then I got onto the trail that leads to Terraces, which was longer than I remember 30 years ago. It probably took me 45 mintues to get back to the gate, whereas I can run down the road to the gate in 12 minutes. Maybe it was longer than an extra mile, but I'm counting it as an added mile.  Then home. Ryan and Wesley were at the gate on their bikes. I caught up with a woman and her dog, and we ran together for a few miles. She's Mike Dunn's sister-in-law, who was attacked by a griz at Jackson Hole. She ascented the peak last week. Recommends it to anyone.  Then I reset my watch at the gate and ran home in 41 minutes.

This was a warm afternoon run, up to the Lookout at front of Mt. Granduer. Only one person on the trail this time, so it was peaceful. Hit the lookout at 38:32. And back down in 35:30. What an awsome run. Want to do it again and again, in afternoon when the sun is setting. 

After dropping off the car at the mechanics, I ran up and north to 13th South, and along Wasatch Drive across Parleys. I felt sore from my climb to lookout.

A new Thursday group, with Burke, Lee and Kim, and Lee's dog Casper.

A run north on 23rd, up to and through Tanner Park, above Eastwood, up Milcreek and down. Feeling refreshed from Pocatello marathon. Felt like I could run the route again without problem.

An afternoon run up the monster, and return, in 50:15 (good time!) Top of Gilead was 25:10. Sweet run. I didn't feel like I'd pushed that hard. Hopefully this is a good omen for St. George on Sat.

With high councilman Craig Romrell. We did our typical run on Wednesday before a Saturday marathon. Starting at his pad in holiday, 1 mile warm up, stop and stretch. Then a timed 1-mile run out to Cotton Bottom, in 6:20.  Retun with a negative split of 5:53 for the mile. Craig pulled away going up the hill and finished 10 seconds ahead.  Then a mile cool down jog. Used the DS trainers. They feel good.