Old Man Still running

Ran the Freedom Run again this year in Provo.  Chose the 5K this year because it was hot.  Three sons and my son-in-law also ran, so it was fun to have the guys there.  I hoped to get an age group place but knew 1st place would be tough because Gene Morehead was running.  I've never beat Gene, who runs tris and trains for these shorter distances.  But every race I'm getting closer and closer to him.

I warmed up by running a couple miles on the BYU campus bringing back lots of memories.  At the start, I spotted Gene.   He hit the chip timer ahead of me.   I passed him during the first quarter mile, knowing that he would later pass me.  If I could tuck in behind him to the finish that would beat his time.

It was hot!  About 80 degrees.  My first mile was about 6:00 but I slowed from there.  Gene passed me at mile 2 and I just couldn't keep stride, my breathing was just too hard.  So I cruised it in, about 30 seconds behind Gene to grab second place.

I guess the top 20 runners or so missed the final turn and ran an extra mile.  Can't see how that could have happened.  Some volunteers must have really messed up.  The cones looked  very obvious when I arrived.  So it took forever for them to get the results sorted out.

The boys finished about 5-6 minutes later.  They did great.

I got a nice crystal cube trophy, my third one from this event.  They look pretty cool.

I have a free hand again!  Whoohoo!  Doc says I'm ahead of schedule compared to most because I already have full range of motion.  I'll just need to keep it protected for the four week (no weight lifting, hauling furniture for moves, bringing in groceries, taking out the trash, making my own dinner, ha, ha).

Nice to be able to type again without any problem.

a.m 6 road including hill

p.m. 10 Rose Canyon, Yellow Fork

Thinking about friends in big races coming up.  Hardrock 100 tomorrow and Badwater on Monday.  Those are always fun races to follow online.

I'm starting to focus on Tahoe Rim 100 in nine days.  It will be my 5th time running it.  Looks like most of the snow is gone.  Hopefully there will still be some patches.  Long-range forcast looks good, a little cooler than normal, high of 70 at the lowest point of the course.

I really hope for a sub-24 finish.  I know it is possible but I'm not sure about my recent training.  Also, I'm timid on the trails because of the injured hand.  If I bump it, it can hurt bad.  I've got to figure out how to get over the fear.  At TRT100 you really have to blast down some trails.

Looks like it will be more competitive in my age group this year.  Usually I can contend for the top spot but there are three guys who should beat me.   If I do go sub-24, that should win the age group and get top 10 overall.  I'm shooting for 10:30 for the first 50-mile loop and then 13:30 for the last 50.  That should be possible.   Last year I did the first 50 in 10:52 but was delayed by gut issues and they had record high temperatures.

Last year I ran the first 15 miles in 3rd place before people started to catch up.  Turns out the two guys in front of me later DNFed.  I'll probably start out fast again, it worked out well.  I'll work on the sections later that I slowed down on.  Chafing was a major problem last year.  I'll avoid it this year.

Heat training.  Ran 2/3rds around Lake Mountain, 20 miles.  When I was a mile from home, I had had enough.  Somewhat dehydrated but good stress put on the body.

Heat, hills and speed.  Taper begins. I'm at race weight, so that is good.