Ravings and Blather

Supposedly the hottest start temperature in the 34 year history of this marathon.  This was a hard race.  I finished and told my wife that I need to come up with a new hobby.  It was great to share the day though with my two brothers and 2 sister in laws who also ran the race.  Suffer together.  I was prepared for a cold start with sweatshirt, pullover, and a blanket.  Turns out didnt really need all that stuff, within a mile of the start you could tell it was going to be a hot one.  I really didnt have any goals except to beat 3:50 if I could and push the downhill parts.

Started out slower than I thought once I looked at the splits

9:02,8:58,8:28,8:29,8:23 needed to go to bathroom fairly badly but didnt want to wait in porta line so just held on, time wise I am still new to this marathon business and didnt even look at splits because I just wanted to run with a feeling like I could finish

8:18,7:45(downhill and pushing it to the portajohn),10:24(2 minutes of this in the commode, couldnt get the new roll of TP to unfurl, finally just ripped the roll in half pretty much to get on the road again), felt great on the hill

8:43,8:49,9:00,8:37,8:17 Finished half in like 1:54...was hoping to be faster but... Passed Oreo somewhere around 6 then he passed me then I lost him, so I wasnt sure if he was ahead or behind, turns out the blast furnance was cooking him and we caught up at the end (Hades)

8:42, 7:55,7:52,8:17,8:27,9:05,8:55 twenty miles done and I am really hurting, back, pelvis, ribcage, etc..also loved the Kinvaras but fourth toe on left foot starting to kill at this point.  Passed hairdog in here somewhere which made me keep going because I didnt want him sneaking up on me at the end.

8:22,9:11 saw the wife and kids here, I was going to say something witty, but couldnt think of anything or even energy to talk at this point.  I also grabbed a sponge they were handing out at the aid station but it turned out to be a banana.  haha..losing it

9:09,8:40,9:15,9:25...just shuffling in, looking down, hardly could focus, really almost more physical pain than I have ever been in for a sustained period of time that last hour...happy that I didnt give into walk, because the rational part of me was sceaming for the last hour to stop this insanity and go chill with a cold Mountain Dew...

This may be my last venture in the road marathon distance, but we'll see, at least today I think I will still want to run trails...thats better than yesterday when I was just laying there unable to move for several hours post race...however given the amount I run and train I was proud and happy to have stuck with it.  My dad just told me I should start swimming.Haha...but he's nuts, so...

Watched my brother in law compete in the Hawaiian Ironman this last weekend. Inspiring athletes here. The winner for the Women ran around a 2:50 marathon(after a 2.4 mile swim and a 112 mile bike) while in 85 to 90 degree weather. So i ran a few this am just to keep the arteries open and it was a beautiful thing. Palm trees, clear blue skies and the amazing tropical air.

Ran from the condo down to the beach through the Mauna Kea resort area, about 2 miles from our place.  Beautiful grounds and temperature.  Pretty steady uphill on the route back.  Can tell there is  a lot of oxygen in the air at this altitude.  Fun day at Hapuna Beach following.

Just wanted to spin down the hill to the beach area and back then Anne and I did about another two just walking, looking at the wild goats, birds, ferrets etc...paradise to be sure here.  Would like to find a nice trail to run, but no runners in this group that want to do that sort of thing.  Thinking about doing the up and over.

Down to the beach and back. Another day getting cooked on the beach...rough life.  Actually, the main reason I am running is to continue to eat like a bandit. 

Barefoot miles baby!!  Ok they were on Hapuna Beach in the sand with a Ocean Breeze cooling me down in the morning sunrise hours...stunning.  I don't want to go home.

Felt like coming home today.  Made it back to the Pipeline trail.  Took Burch Hollow to Elbow Fork.  The kaleidoscope of leaves changing was a awesome and made me shed a tear of happiness.  I also ran shirtless which felt so free and perfect temp...though after having one woman mountain biker crash after passing I decided to put the shirt back on. Didnt push any of this except last mile, just happy to be there again.  avg around 10 per.  Walked a bit of the ups. 

One of the more fun runs all year.  Headed up Pipeline and put the tunes on some old time Iron Maiden because I wanted to rock out a bit...started at Burch Hollow and went to the Overlook and back.  The canyon is seriously stunning right now with the fall color changes.  Light drizzle most of the run. A lot of runners out today, about 80% women...hot women at that, and I say that with utter respect regardless of how anyone actually looks, trail running is sexy.  Lots of dogs too...Oreo would have been scared...I also passed they U of Utah cross country ski team doing some training...they all look like tall Nordic studs...they cross country roller bladed up the canyon road and ran pipeline down, nice,...got to the car just after the rains started coming down in earnest.  fun stuff, avg 8:52

Winter is here...back to the road...I swear this run felt like twice as many miles.  Cold and in the lower 40s with snow in the benches.

This race is deemed a 10 K but on my Garmin was short at 5.6 miles.  I ran this last year and  improved time by a minute.  First 2 plus miles is a steady climb from North Ogden "up and over" a trail next to North Ogden divide.  Then the trail dives to Ogden Valley and ends at Wolf Mountain ski resort.  Felt super crappy the first 2 miles, stomach cramps and very heavy legs.  Couldnt get wind like I normally can with a slow up hill pace and hooves couldnt turn over.  

The downhill was fun... just let it all loose in the mud and narrow tall grass lined trail.  Fast mile here was 6:32, which I was very happy with and passed a lot of people without taking a tumble.  The last road hill was slowish again, but wasnt so concerned with time at this point.  I could tell my body and mind is on a bit of a vacation after the St George Marathon.  Will have to do the steady build up again over time.  Overall fun trail run and nice finish with live band and chili.