Trails!

PM: 5 slow miles on the Treadmill too soon after dinner.  

I came down with a head cold today, but I dont think it affected me that much.

Warning, the following is PG rated....

In other news, I went to the doc today to discuss my diverticulitis I had last year and to discuss why I have the squirts so much lately too.  I get it pretty bad 2-3 times a week with it getting worse with stress or a difficult run.  The general theory is that since it is mostly running induced it could be something simple, like being dehydrated in the mornings before and during my runs causing my blood flow to drop and leave the intestines lacking.  A low thyroid could do this too.  I ran some blood work and hopefully that will tell us something when we get the results back.  Another theory is that I have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and that is causing the problem.  Some stool samples (yet to be taken) will rule out giardia or parasites or things like that.  Other theories needed further testing (read Colonoscopy) before diagnosing it.  I got some meds for the IBS so I can experiment with that to see what happens.  Tomorrow, I will try the hydration theory first.  Needless, to say, my runs have been eventful for a few months now (even since TOU) and its time to figure it out.  What a crappy deal....

Small Workout

Providence and Millville Hills loop.  I decided to go out and just give it a solid effort on both the ups and the downs.  I only had 3 miles sub 6:30, but I still felt pretty strong.  I had to make only one #2 break so that was nice.  I drank probably 12 oz of water right before leaving the house but had nothing on the run.  I mean really, who wants to carry around a water bottle in the snow?  It was actually snowing today too.  

T- 1:16:00 (6:55) 160 ave

8 really slow miles.  My cold must have caught up with me and it didn't want to run.  The 8 min guy embarrassed me pretty good. 

T-67:00 (8:22) 138

-I took a pill today and had 0 stops.

PM: Basketball.  I played much better today and avoided the blisters as well. (5 miles)

Didn't get out until the evening today.  Work turned me into a stress-case so I hit the road to clear my head at about 8:15.  Just me and my Ipod (Muse and Franz Ferdinand) and the smothering smog.  I climbed up into the tops of Providence to try and escape the gunk, but I couldn't quite get out of its grasp.  What a dreadful day.  The winter inversion depression.  The run was nice though and I just ran without even thinking about my pace.  Ended up with 1:20:20 for 11 miles (7:18) 155 ave.

-0 pit stops and no pill (I am sure running in the evening helped)

* Oh, and the Doc (actually the nurse) and I guess the only red flag raised from the blood work I had done was a high bilirubin count.  About the only common issue with this wold be a blockage to the bile ducts.  Possible but tough to believe as the root of the problem.  The doc wants to do an ultrasound to be sure of no blockage, but I am not convinced yet. 

It just didn't happen today.

Long run - 

The inversion very nearly has made me suicidal and I think Paul was worse off, so we headed up Blacksmith Fork Canyon to try and escape it.  Before we left, I made it to my church basketball game.  I played hard and scored 8 points so that has to be worth 2 cross-training miles, right?

I drove up the canyon a bit before Paul so I could get in 4 extra miles.  I started at the Hydro Park and ran down to Left Hand Fork.  I headed up the snow packed road until I hit Leatham Hollow.  I ran a few feet on what would the Bear 100 course just so I could say to Jon that I have run more of the course than him this year.  Ha.  I got back to the car just in time for Paul to show up and together we blasted up the canyon.  He was pushing the pace nicely and I suffered  the whole time.  We were rewarded with mostly sunny sky's and no inversion.  The warmth of the sun was sweet.  The only drawback was that there were 10 people for every elk that were at the elk refuge at Hardware Ranch.  Lots of people everywhere.  The run down the canyon was nice until I bonked and hit the cold headwind filled with smog coming from the valley up the canyon.  I gave it everything I had for the last 5K and arrived at the car shaking and completely frozen and exhausted.  6:36 then 6:20 for the final 2 miles just about killed me.  Paul finished a good 20 seconds ahead just jogging.  A very solid run with lots of hills even just barely tying the 7 min/mile guy at the end. 

T- 2:20:00 (20 miles) (7:00) 164 ave 176 max