Old Man Still running

Out the door at 2:30 a.m.  The dog was standing there with sad eyes, with her leash in her mouth.   "No, not this morning, I'm going too far for you."  I again ran out to Eagle Mountain city center and made a big loop that included the Ranches.  About 2/3rd was dirt, the rest pavement.   I ran into another runner in Cedar Valley with dogs about 4:45.  That is unusual.  I never see anyone up that early out that far.

322 miles this month!  That is my second-highest month every.   Two 300+ mile months in a row.   I'm still 41 miles behind last year at this point.

The alarm clock rang, but the bed won today.  What a slacker.

Plans are pretty much all set for Wasatch 100 in 9 days.  I have four pacers lined up for the last 60 miles.  It will be nice to have some company.   I've had mixed results using pacers and don't usually use them often, but this group has some good experience.   Pacers can actually distract my concentration.   I also tend to worry about them.  But this group is pretty self-sufficient and won't be offended if I don't talk much.   I enjoy trying to "drop" my pacers.  "Dropping" means when you run too fast for your pacer and leave him behind.   To me, that is great fun if the pacers don't care.   At Leadville 2007 I dropped my pacers twice and was running alone for almost a couple hours.  They both eventually caught up, but it is very embarassing to the pacer.   I doubt I'll be able to do this at Wastach.   With four pacers, they will be on fresh legs.  Downhills are my best bet.  Jun will need to watch out on the downhill into Lambs.  David will be in danger on the downhill into Millcreek.  Brad needs to watch the downhill into Brighton and Mark has to watch out for my kick during the last seven miles going into Midway.  Heh, heh, I'll have to make sure I eat well going up the hills before those section.   I've also learned how to shut up a pacer who is nagging on you too much.  You get a nice rest and the kick it into gear big-time on an uphill.  The poor pacer is gasping for breath so much that they can no longer say anything.  They also learn that prodding me too much means pain for them.   Ha, ha.  It is a great sport to abuse pacers. 

Out the door at 2:20 a.m.   This morning I again ran a huge loop around Eagle Mountain City.  This time I did it counter-clockwise, first running across the Church farm.  The full moon was out so I didn't need the flash light much.   It was a great morning working.

My work location moved this week from downtown Salt Lake City to Riverton, in what used to be the Intel building off of Bangerter Hwy.   I no longer ride the bus and my commute is now only 25 minutes one-way.   But the best news, it that it is within running distance.  This morning I ran into work, about 14.5 miles.   I ran up Redwood Road which is under construction, but now very wide with lanes closed down.   So there is plenty of room to run without traffic bothering me.   Once up to Camp Williams, I leave the road and jump on the Provo Reservoir Canal that swings around to the west of Buffdale.  Once I get to 134th South, I just run down the road to my building.

The morning run was wonderful.   I started at 4:30 a.m. The full moon was out and I really didn't need to use the flashlight.   Running on the canal road it great because there is plenty to see as it goes around ranches, developments, fields, etc.  The canal was full and flowing like a river.   Horses, cows, and dogs noticed me going by, but no humans.   I arrived at work a little before 7:00 a.m.   I plan to run home in the afternoon.  That will put me over 2,000 miles for 2009.

P.M.

Ran back home from work in 90+ degrees.  Especially warm on the new black pavement laid down a few days ago on Redwood Road.   It was good heat training.  It worked me pretty well.   I was going to go up Timp early in the morning, but I might instead just start tapering for Wasatch.