Old Man Still running

Tomorrow I go under the knife, getting a wisdom tooth hacked out.

In case I don't wake up, here is my runner last will and testament

To ScottW, I give my GPS, maps, emergency whistle, and signal mirror.  I know he will still get lost, but it might help.  At least he can use the whistle and mirror.

To Jun, I give me Pony Express 100 championship trophy.  This will be the only way he will get one...heh, heh.

To Kelli, I give my green flashlight so maybe she won't be afraid to run on trails at night

To Jon, I give all my old stinky shoes and socks with holes in them.  I'm sure he will find some good use for them.  They will smell even better in the humid south.

To JimKern I give all the runner schwag that I've received at races.  You might need to rent a u-haul to get it home.

To Smooth, I give my hot chocolate, oranges, and hammer gel.  Mix them all in a blender for your next run with the girls.  Then everyone has to raise their glasses full of it to toast me.

I write this wihile still be unsound in mind but able to run 187 miles.

Out the door a little before 4 a.m.  Ran six mile in the light drizzle before the storm and then went in to the treadmill.  Ran 6x7:30x5% and then backed off 5x8:00x3%.  Amazing what a three day rest does.  I felt very fast and strong.  The treadmill was much easier after that six mile warmup.    Friend at the clubhouse.  "Did you get in 11 miles?"  "Uh, actually 17, ran six in the rain before."  He just shakes his head.

There is one curious guy at the club house.  He come in almost every day and just does about a ten minute treadmill, runs fast for 30 seconds checking his heart rate and then walks, and repeats.  And he has to have the fan blasting on him (and me).  Not sure what he's accomplishing, wondered if he has a heart condition, but I don't think so.  I think he just trying to get his heart rate up for a few minutes each day and doesn't want to sweat doing it.  At least it is something I guess.

Crazy hills on the treadmill.   First a 6x7:53x15% (holding on to front with some step-offs).  That was good and tough.  Backed off to 5% for awhile and then ended off with a long 8:30x15%.  The machine thinks I climbed more than 6,000 feet.  I think that was the first time I've clicked those numbers past the 6,000 foot mark.  Quads felt nice and tired afterwards.  Looks like the weather is improving, I look forward to getting back outside.

Hit the pavement at 3 a.m. in the hazy moonlight, 28 degrees.  Didn't take a light.  Most of the icy spots are gone.  Ran the Jordon River Trail, streets in Lehi and Saratoga.   In a residential area, ran into a skunk.  It put its tail up at me, but I slowly went around and the tail went down.  Great Lehi wildlife.  Wildlife in Saratoga is a little classier. A few nights ago, the dog woke us up when we heard a strange sound out our window.  Finally I went down to see what it was.  A fox in in our back yard. 

After that went and ran 8 miles on the treadmill.  Usual crowd there.  I need to get some trail miles in before RR100.  Maybe I can dodge this next storm.

Pain in the jaw getting worse from the pulled tooth.  Hope it calms down soon.

Great fun running a 50K before sunrise.  I was out the door at 2 a.m. and ran a big 21+-mile loop around much of Lehi.  http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/27301148

There was light snow falling, just a dusting on the roads.  I ran into another skunk on the Jordan River trail.  It ran ahead of me for about 100 yards and then finally went into the woods.   It was nice and peaceful out on the roads, very little traffic.  I was going to do more, but was running low on water.  About 4 a.m., the skies cleared a little and a hazy moon brightened things up.

Returning home, I was done with the cold weather. I went to run the rest on the treadmill.  A guy I haven't seen before came in and pounded out two miles with really bad running form.  When he got done, he saw I was on 5 miles and he said, "wow, that is really good."   I knew he wouldn't understand if I told him the whole story.

Got in another ten miles before the sun came up.  Did some hills, climbing 3,000 feet. Not bad getting in 78 miles with just four running days this week.  I might do a little more later on today.   I'm feeling ready for RR100.

p.m. 3 miles with the dog

p.m. 6 more TM miles during Jazz game.