run, run, run

Grand Junction, CO 4:45pm

Pace: slow

I flew into Grand Junction and spent about an hour and a half at the paper giving a brief demo and then had the afternoon off. So I got in the car, opened my running bag, closed my running bag, drove to Sports Authority and bought a new pair of running shorts. Of all the things to forget.

Then I drove up to the Colorado National Monument. In all of the weeks I worked here, I never actually went up there. I found a trail and started running. The trail ended up turning into little more than a mostly dried up creek bed. But I had a pretty good adventure. I ran, climbed rocks and cliffs, jumped over the creek more times than I could count.

Then I drove across the Monument and then got on the freeway and drove to Glenwood Springs.

Glenwood Springs, CO 8:30am

Pace: 8:46

Working the evening shift this week, so I had more time for running in the morning. Today I got on the trail behind the hotel and went the same way I went two weeks ago, but this time I kept going. Five miles up to the top of the mountain and then five back down. I wasn't too concerned about the up, but I wanted to work on the down since there will be some of that at Ogden.

Starting Elevation: 5,768 ft
Max Elevation:     7,564 ft

Glenwood Springs, CO 11am

Pace: 7:59

Planned on going longer today, but an ill-timed meeting messed with my schedule. It was probably better anyway because I felt like crap. It was a long, late workday last night.

Glenwood Springs, CO 9am

I went out for a nice little run along the river, not pushing myself too hard and not going too far. Planning on a long run tomorrow.

All went well until I got off of the greenbelt path by the funeral home. You have to go about 10 feet out of your way to go around the guardrail, or you can jump over it. I should have gone around. I think my foot hooked the rail because I went down on the sidewalk straight on my face. I got right up, knowing it was bad. A guy in a truck pulled over and gave me some paper towels and drove me to the hotel.

At the hotel I looked in the mirror and saw that my face was indeed a mess. I called my wife and she called the insurance company to find out where I should go for medical attention. I texted her a picture of my face -- probably a bad idea.

So I went to the clinic and they got me right in to see a doctor (that happens when you are bleeding). The doctor water-boarded me, cleaned up the wounds and gave me two or three stitches. I still look (and feel) like hell. My teeth are ok, my nose isn't broken and I think my head is fine, but my leg has a nasty bruise on it and my shin got ripped up.

Tomorrow's long run is cancelled. Now I'm tapering.

Oh, and if you want to see something gross, click here and here