run, run, run

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:13

Pretty uneventful morning run. Kept a decent pace most of the time, but had to poo towards the end, so the last mile was a bit slower and a lot more uncomfortable. 

Boise, ID 7:45 am

Pace: 8:39

Went out on my regular 10-mile course. Cloverdale, Emerald, Maple Grove, McMillan, Cloverdale. Had trouble getting motivated to get out running this morning. Planned on being out by 7. Actual departure time was closer to 8.

My wife had me make some tomato cages for the garden yesterday (she doesn't like "those whimpy ones they sell at Lowes"). I'm pretty handy, but kind of clumsy. So I scratched up my hands and arms and legs. Didn't think much of it until I went out running this morning and started to sweat in each of the cuts. That wasn't fun. But the tomato plants look great.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:10

The usual 6.5 mile morning course. Randy was in the mood to run a bit faster this morning and I picked up the pace for the last half mile. A good run. Just past the comfortable point most of the time.
 

Meridian, ID 7:30 am

Pace: 8:36

Took off in the direction of Meridian today. Ustick, Linder, Pine, Cloverdale. I went on a greenbelt path that I thought would cut through to Linder Rd. It didn't. I ended up crossing over an irrigation ditch on a pipe and running through a construction site where they are building a new subdivision.

I'm going to take tomorrow off and then run a half marathon on Saturday.

9pm: Aaaaargh! I pulled a hamstring playing softball this evening. I can't believe this. The half marathon on Saturday is looking very unlikely at this point. The only consolation is that I pulled it running the bases after a sweet hit -- but still not worth it.

While I ice my hamstring and feel sorry for myself, I thought I would post something that I put up on a message board last month before I was on this running blog. This occurred on June 7th:

My 10 year old daughter has run in the Capitol kids race in Boise the last two years. It is a one mile race from the old Boise depot to the State Capitol building. But last October she developed a mysterious neurological condition that severely limits her control of her right arm and leg. So she now wears a leg brace and walks with a limp. She's been seen by doctors here and specialists in San Francisco but they still haven't been able to come up with a diagnosis or treatment.

One of the goals she set in her physical therapy was to complete the race again this year. So Saturday morning while a couple thousand other kids were running in the race, she walked. I walked with her, holding her hand to keep her steady. It was difficult for her, but she did it. At one point she said to me "I don't care if it hurts, I just want to finish."

With about a quarter mile to go the BSU mascot came and held her other hand and the three of us finished the race -- dead last. As we approached the finish line family, volunteers and spectators were cheering, and crying. It was incredible.

I've run three marathons in the past 13 months, but none of them even came close to the thrill of seeing my little girl walk that one mile. It takes a lot of guts to enter a race knowing that you will finish in last place.