Another run home from work. This time I wanted to take my bike route so I could get 17 and change. I wanted to do this to determine whether or not I would do the Mesquite Marathon. I really started to crash towards the end. I know some of it was because it was dark, but still I was cramping up pretty bad. I don't think I'm ready for a marathon, but I haven't ruled out the half marathon. The marathon only costs $55, and the half marathon costs $45. It seems silly not to pay the extra $10 and not do the marathon, doesn't it? Such a bargain price. Actually $55 is a steal for a marathon. I don't know of any cheaper. And $45 for a half is pretty reasonable. But I know there are a handful of bloggers that will be there, so I'd like to go. I wanted to try Hammer Gels out on the run home tonight, but I forgot to go to Sports Chalet. On the way to work I swung by, but they don't open up 'til 10am! I planned on eating pasta for lunch to carb up, but my friends Brad and Stefani took me out to lunch. We had delicioso Mexican food. Thanks guys! I stopped at Fresh and Easy on the way back to the office to see if they had any Gels. All they had was Power Bars, so I bought two of them, chocolate and cookies & cream. At 4pm I shut 'er down at the office and went to change. Problem. I accidently packed two Body Armor shirts instead of my Performance Underwear. Dang it! Well, I guess I'd have to go commando and hope my shorts weren't too see through. My saving grace would be that it's getting dark shortly after 6pm. (Why on earth would I tell the world that I wasn't wearing any underwear? My grandkids are going to read this someday.) I took off with the plan to stop every four miles, eat half a bar, and drink a quarter of my 32 oz. Gatorade. It was 64 degrees when I left, and I wondered if my Gatorade would actually unthaw. Around mile two it seemed like it might actually melt. However, my hands were frozen. I stuck to the game plan with the exception of eating on the run and stopping only to swig down my Gatorade. When I got to the halfway point I tried to text my wife "half way." Texting while running is a talent I lack. It wasn't until I got home that I realized I texted "hale yax." Now it was starting to get dark. I was running on the dirt with the traffic, but when it was too dark I crossed the street and ran against the traffic in the bike lane. I didn't like that. The posted speed limit on Ellsworth Road is 45mph, but the average speed is 60mph. Then when the bike lane ended, I went up and ran on the farm road, and that's when my times really slowed down. I got to the round-about which means 0.4 miles to go. I called my wife again so she could talk me in. My son ran the last 0.15 miles with me. I was dead. Dead tired that is. I didn't have the energy to go upstairs and shower right away. Dinner was almost ready, so I opted not to shower but made sure to keep my distance from everyone because I stink bad. My home teachers came over at 8pm. I had to sit in an isolated chair with my legs together. Time - 2:51:25 (avg. pace 9:51) Splits - 8:41, 8:56, 9:00, 9:04, 9:05, 9:09, 8:42, 9:05, 9:27, 9:24, 9:51, 10:07, 10:40, 10:52, 11:26, 11:27, 11:32, 4:59 for 0.41 (12:00 avg.) 
| 