track fan

at least 8, probably a little longer.   1:14:44.  Ran very easy, it is extremely warm and my legs were a little tired (but thanks to my chiro my hips are even again, so not nearly as painful!).  

We have a faculty candidate in town ... so it is going to be a very busy day.

 HAPPY RUNNING DAY everyone!!!

AM: (8.5 miles, 1:12:40).  28:22wu/28:01cd.  10 x short hill repeats on steep hill (40 secs @ 5K pace).  

PM: easy 4 3.5

I hope you are all doing very well this week.  Nothing very exciting going on here ... or at least nothing new.   Glad to be running, glad to be alive.  

Have a great Thursday! 

1:06:xx.  Ran a little long because last night I had to cut my 2nd run short.  I talked to my Mom for a long time and by the time I got out the door it was already getting dark.  One of the "bad" things about where I live is once the sun goes down it is really no place to run (even with a headlamp).  No biggie, I just added on a 1/2 mile today.

Bad news on the Mom front.  I won't go into excruciating detail, suffice to say any treatment will be palliative  at this point.  I don't know how long, but probably not very long.  I am hopeful that it won't be as painful as it could be, but I am awaiting confirmation of this from one of my friends from the cancer center (I sent them the CT scan report).  

Happy trails bloggers.  On a more cheerful note, Prefontaine Classic track meet is this weekend, the 10K and 2 mile are the whose-who in distance running (in the world!).  You can watch some of it here. 

AM: 8 miles, 1:03:25.  

PM: easy 4

Last night was a great night for racing at the Pre Classic.  My favorite quote of the night: "well, as far as introductions let's start with world record holders and work our way down from there"  WOW.  27:10 10K was "middle of the pack".  They went through the 5K slower than they had hoped (13:25 -- they had two rabbits but neither were able to go as fast as the lead pack!!!!  can you imagine a race so quick that you couldn't find rabbits to pace?) - the goal was to hit the 5K in 13:18, as I think they were hoping to have the winner come in under 26:40.  Mo Farah (UK runner who trains with Salazar and the Oregon Track Club) won in a stunning 400m where he basically out sprinted the fastest 5K runner in the world right now (Merga).  Mo ran a 26:46 and there were 9 men under 27!!!  It was pretty amazing, they hit 8K in 21:35!!!  At one point the pack sort of slowed down (to a 4:20 pace) and there was a little jostling and two guys were talking like they were on a long run!!  Amazing.  More track and field today on NBC.

Take care bloggers. 

2:13:43 (1:08:58/1:04:16).  Thinking about doing 16 today, but today was the hottest day so far this summer and I did not get out as early as I had hoped.  Got started about 8:45AM, I did not look at the temp, because I really did not want to know.  By the time I finished it was 96F and sunny.  

 I spent some time yesterday getting a "curbside" consult with my friend that I worked with at Vanderbilt who is a lung cancer specialist.  At least I know what to expect next week, and I can prepare Mom as well.  

I hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday.  

AM: (8.5, 1:12:44)  27:50wu/28:12cd  10 x :35 very very fast up a 10% hill.  

PM: easy 4

On Sunday night Titus (the cat) came in from outside, talking the way he does when has caught something.  I jumped up (hoping to shoo him, and his new toy, back outside).  Well, he was laying on it (literally) and when I came into the kitchen he smiles (it seemed to me) and then got up.  A very alive, very active, mouse immediately started running all over the kitchen (including over my foot), I am ashamed to say that I screamed.  But, then I got myself together and ran for the tupperware drawer.  20 mins later the armoire that houses our TV was moved, the couch was moved, the two side chairs were moved,  and it sort of looked like we had been ransacked.  I caught him (the mouse) 2 times and each time he got away, and FINALLY, I was able to get him in a tupperware bowl and took him outside.  At one point Jake (the hound) *almost* had him ... but mainly it was Dean, Jake and I chasing the mouse all over while Titus (and Keiko the other dog) just sat and watched their favorite reality show in action ;-).  I love my animals!

Happy Tuesday bloggers!! 

long 8, probably close to 8.5.  1:14:35.

Have to run, leaving for the airport in an hour and I still have to pack and write a couple more emails for work.  

I may or may not be blogging while away, it is going to be a very tough few days.  I plan to run my usual ... but it sort of depends on how functional my Mom is.

Run safe bloggers, enjoy the week and the weekend.

AM: (8.5 miles, 1:14:46).  Drove to a park that had access to the Spring River Trail, a 7 mile trail.  Bummer is that many of the trails here are actually concrete (good for bikes, not so good for old legs).  Anyway -- it was pretty nice, although it was cold.  The night I got into town there was a HUGE thunderstorm (luckily it hit after I had made it to Fort Collins from Denver), there were hailstones and there were so many that on Thursday there were still "snowmounds" made of hail!!  My rental car has thousands of little dents in it from the hail ... So Thursday morning it wasn't really "raining" but it was misting and by the time I finished my run I was soaked from the mist -- well that and all the huge puddles and tall wet grass meant my shoes were "sloshing" -- they did look cleaner then when I started the run though ;-).  It was 48F and a little windy too, basically I am a cold wimp.

PM.  A little warmer ... nice trail near Mom's house, this one has a great gravel path next to the bike path -- it is just not very long (probably 2 - 3 miles total -- made for 4 miles out and back from my Mom's house).

Very long day at the oncologists office.  Good thing Mom likes her, she will be the one making her final days as painfree as possible.  Still don't have a timeline, she needs to have a pretty yucky biopsy procedure first.  Not curative, but we hope that some radiation will shrink the tumor enough that she can swallow and breath.  Radiologist appointment tomorrow.  

We spent the evening with my cousin ... it was nice.

I hope you are all doing well.

1:01:34.  Nice run - I drove to the Horsetooth area, I think by the Dixon resevoir, ran on the Foothills Trail -- now that's my kind of trail, singletrack dirt, did not see too many runners, saw a lot of bikers.  Had some problems with breathing up the very steep hills, but overall the extra 2500 ft hasn't been noticeable. 

I hope you are all doing well. 

I liked the radiation oncologist ...

AM: (8.5 miles, 1:14:54).  Ran on the same trail as yesterday, just a different branch.  Mom and her dog played at the dog park while I was running.

PM: 3.5 miles - maybe 4 if I feel good.  

Lots of prarie dogs out (real ones, not the ground squirrels that Burt calls prarie dogs), they were talking and it is pretty cool!

Happy Saturday bloggers. Tomorrow I will update you on NCAA track and field championships -- the two best races so far were the mens 800m which was one of the fastest in many many years, and the huge upset in the women's 5000 ... stay tuned. 

1:56:something.   (I already packed my watch).   It wasn't my best run, but it wasn't my worst either.  It was a little warm (but not by Tucson standards), but mainly I am sick.  I am fighting it, but I think the stress has left me a little immune compromised and the travel and lack of sleep is catching up to me.  To add insult to injury, I am so far behind in my work that I will need to work 90 hours this coming week to catch up (I am not complaining, just stating a fact).  

I hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday bloggers! 

I have been bery bery sick.  Monday was my day off (from running) and I felt like I had been hit by a bus, I worked about 11 hours and came home and went to bed.  I did not really get out of bed again until today.  I had to do some work (deadlines) yesterday, but I did it in bed and napped every 40 mins or so.  I don't feel right yet, but at least I can walk around without feeling like I am going to pass out.  I have to go into work for a meeting this afternoon, and I have to prepare for it this morning.  Since I couldn't walk, I did not even pretend I could run.  I think it may be the flu.  Anyway, I can't believe it has been a whole week and I have not been able to tell you all about the awesome NCAA track championships last week!  Now it is only one week until USA Champs!  Good month for racing.  

I hope you are all doing well!! 

Hello bloggers!!

Ahhhh.  So, I finally went to the doctors yesterday.  I should have gone in earlier, but I really felt so bad, I just did not want to drag myself to the doctor only to hear, "it is a virus, drink plenty of fluid and get some rest".    Well, I should have known, I have run through most colds, and have never missed work over a cold.   I had a severe sinus infection that spread everywhere, into my ears, my throat, even my eyes!  So, after just 1 day of super duper antibiotics I can finally swallow again and feel so much better!!  I am a little weak (probably from not eating for the past 5 days) but I can't believe how different just a day is!!  

I am going to take today off from running, but try to start jogging a little tomorrow.  It will all work out just fine, by the time I get to Flagstaff and acclimate to 7000ft I will be back to my normal mileage.  

I hope you are all doing well, next weekend are the USA track and field championships!! This year will be very good, because it is not only a championship race, but it also is the qualifying race for the world championship in Daegu, Korea, August 27- September 4.  So, the top 3 finalists (who all have to have made the A standard) get to go to Daegu -- if none of the top 3 have the A standard then the top athlete with the B standard gets to go.  There aren't many who have the standard yet in the distance events, so what this means it that the races will not be just tactical (with racers just trying to make the top 3) but it will necessarily be fast, because they will be chasing the A standard as well ... LOVE World Champs years!!  Summer track will be really fun this year!

Happy weekend bloggers! 

Waited until evening to run because it was hot and sunny when I finally got up (my antibiotics make me photosensitive).  Felt good to run again, coughed up a lung when I stopped, but I feel much better.

Have a great week bloggers! 

48:26. Up hill and dale.

very busy couple of days while I try to, again, make up for too much lost time at work.  I am on my way to DC on Wednesday and then next week we are on our way to Flagstaff.  Goal for the week: work up to more than 600 cals/day so I can have energy to run longer.

I miss my kitty, Titus, who is missing (up here in the mountains,  missing pretty much means the worst case).  It has been a tough month, I can't wait for July.

Have a wonderful day bloggers. 

1:04:23.  I was able to eat three almost normal-sized meals yesterday!  It showed on my run, I still ran very easy, but I felt pretty good.

I hope all is well bloggers! 

1:14:05.  Yes, still much slower than usual, but it is the hottest day of the year so far (projected 111F) and I am still feeling a little weak.  Just happy to be able to run at all.  I did also get to see Big Boy and CoCo today for the first time in 2 weeks.  They seemed happy to see me(carrots) too ...

Happy Wednesday bloggers.  I have to finish packing and get to the airport. 

1:00:35.   Got in last night at 11:30 EST, ironed my clothes and talked to Dean ... got up this morning at 5:45 to run.  It is humid, but it actually feels pretty good (mainly because the highs here are in the 90s and not 111!).   Tired, but at least I don't feel sick like last week.

Busy day!! 

59:27 ... same as yesterday, worked all day, went over to my friend house (their kids were disappointed I did not bring anything -- I usually do, but I am lame these days) for dinner.  Got up at the same time (5:45 EST = 2:45 Tucson Time).

Humid, but a cool 80F this morning.

Working all day, but the trip back to the west coast is easier -- leave at 5:30PM, arrive at 9:00!

Happy Friday bloggers! 

Took an easy day ... I want to run long tomorrow and with the travels and since I am still on antibiotics I decided to forgo my original 12 mile plan (usual Saturday).  Since it is so hot now (108 today) I will need to get up very very early to run tomorrow, but it will be worth it!!

Happy Saturday bloggers! 

2:04:20 (1:05:15/59:05).  Because summer is really here now I had to get up at 5 to get this run in before it got too hot.  It was still about 85F when I started, but at least it wasn't fully sunny yet, so it felt pretty good.  It was 97F when I finished, it did feel hot, but I was just happy to finally be running long again so I enjoyed it.  Well, plus I knew we were leaving for Flagstaff so I would not have to endure it for the next 4 weeks (even if I go to Fort Collins during this time it is much cooler there).  

We had a very uneventful drive, no real traffic and we made good time.  It is so funny to have it 108F when you leave and then a beautiful, cool 84F after just 4 brief hours of driving!!

Our house, for the next month, is very nice, and a huge 5 acre field from Greg McMillan, it is going to be a FUN month!!

Track was GREAT this weekend!!!  Galen Rupp had a spectacular 10K run for the championship win (Teg and Scotty Bauhs  rounding out the team).  It was a slow, tactical race with almost everyone in the race having the A standard, Rupp had an incredible last 800 meters, just shaking everyone else with a 4:07 last mile (1:52.5 last 800!!!!).  Shalane Flanagan dominated the women's race from the gun, with Kara Goucher close-by, and Jen Rhines added another Championship podium to her impressive record.  

The mens 1500 was SO slow, that the women had a faster split through the first 800!!!!  But it was an impressive last 400m by Matt Centrowitz a 21 year old college student from Oregon over Bernard Lagat!  The women's race was really exciting, especially since Christine Wurth-Thomas just blasted through the first 400 in 62.1!!!  Holy Cow, the first 800 was 2:08!  in the last lap Morgan Uceny just hit the gas pedal and gunned it for the win, Wurth-Thomas ended up in 4th, which I for one was really disappointed, she MADE the race, and just got out-kicked by the fresher runners the last lap (there is likely a lesson in there somewhere for all of us who tend to go out fast thinking we can "bank" time).  

I loved the men and women's 5K too ... they were fast races with Molly Huddle (current US record holder) the obvious winner on the women's side and Bernard Lagat (the stud) as the men's.  The men's race was more "thrilling" as it came down to the wire, and there were several guys that could have won that race (not quite as close as the men's 10K though).  Solinsky was working with Teg and kept the pace pretty honest through the last 3K -- and despite his tired legs from the night before Galen Rupp took 3rd.

Results are here ... I can't wait for the World Champs in Daegu, we are sending a GREAT team!! 

Happy Sunday bloggers!

I also can't wait until this week -- it will be so nice to run in the cool weather again!! 

AM: (at least 8 miles, 1:14:32).  Sucking wind at 7000+ft ... very good feeling!  Nice to be here.  It is dry up here too - so 4th of July will be fireworkless (probably for the whole state) ... but that is ok.  I was just happy to run in the cool pines.

PM: easy 4.

I hope you are all having a wonderful week!! 

1:08:49 ... pretty much downhill for 35 mins, then uphill for 33 - I guess I was feeling better than I realized.   Today I ran near the Snowbowl, I ran near the bottom of the mountain road, the sign said 7520ft.  It was brutally hilly, I huffed and I puffed and was glad when it was done ;-).

Happy Hump Day bloggers! 

AM: (9 miles, 1:19:43).  Ran on the Arizona trail today -- parked near Snowbowl again but instead of running on the forest service road I ran on the trail.  I did this primarily because it was SO windy today (30 mph gusts) I thought it would be better to be in the forest than on the exposed FS road.  I climbed a lot -- probably 800-900ft (8000ft +), but it was gradual, and really not as bad as yesterday.  All and all a very very pleasant run.

PM: easy 4.

Last night I looked outside and just started laughing.  From across this 10 acre field comes a tractor, and on the tractor sat Greg (McMillan) and his 3 year old son, Angus.  It was so cute.  Greg uses his tractor to help clear the roads during the winter (last winter they got 53 inches of snow and they live sort of out in the country, so there is no snow removal service). Mainly, I think it was his dream since he was Angus's age -- to have his very own tractor ;-).  This Sunday Greg and the owner of the house we are renting are having a tractor race ... boys will be boys ... sounds like fun (they are doing both a drag race and some sort of figure eight in the meadow).

Happy Thursday bloggers.