I'm retired from racing. Really.

Went to bed planning on 7 hours sleep last night (which is a lot for me).  But then I woke up at 2 am and couldn't get back to sleep- this may be a long week if I wake up every night thinking about the marathon!  Finally fell asleep after 3:30 or so, then woke up when my alarm went off at 5.  So much for extra sleep.

Massage later today!

PM- 5 easy.

768- 305

AM- 2 easy miles in Provo with 4 striders. Lots of typical taper aches and pains.

PM- 2 easy miles in St. George.

Adrenaline- 175, Tangent 2- 78

Well, I guess everyone needs a bad race every now and then. Today was definitely mine, and probably the only one this year other than my Winter Series 1/2 marathon when I was sick. I've had a bunch of great races this year so can't complain too much. Lots of people struggled though a few pulled off great races.

Stayed near the starting line at Dustin's in-law's house- thanks Dustin. It was very windy all evening- I woke up at 2:30 am for a bathroom break and never fell asleep again due to the wind (plus some nerves). Did a warm up mile at 5 am and it was already raining. Got to the start at 6:15, did more warm up and a bathroom break. Chose not to wear my beanie but kept the gloves- singlet got soaked almost immediately. Temp was not too cold- probably 50 deg. Chilly when combined with the rain/wind. The race started into a strong headwind with a steady rain- my shoes were soaked within a few miles. I was with a big group of bloggers at the start but couldn't find Chad, whom I had intended to run the whole race. It ended up being a very costly mistake. Kory fell at the start and got trampled but hopped up- glad he didn't get hurt worse.

First mile was 6:00 pace, and I knew right away that time goals were out the window. It didn't feel near that slow. Walter and I stuck together through the bottom of Veyo- I kept trying to hook us up with a good pack to draft off but it was mainly single people- never provided much windbreak and served only to get extra water thrown on my shoes. The pace was much slower than it should have been but I didn't want to be alone already, especially with the wind. It was very steady. Met Greg Harris on the way up Veyo and we had a group of 4-5 headed up the hill, though we were strung out across the road and not helping each other much. I didn't want to break wind for the group and neither did anyone else- we gradually slowed down until eventually a huge FRB group caught us- Cody, James, etc. I felt fine this whole way- not tired, but the wind made going much faster very difficult. I tucked in behind them and it was SO MUCH easier for the next mile. So, up to mile 11 was stage 1 of the race- slow but fairly easy. Cody told me he never expected to see me at that point in the race and that I should quit lollygagging.

At mile 11 I decided that I had better pick up the pace if I was going to make anything of the race. I took off on my own and quickly built a lead on the group. The next 2 miles were 60 sec/mile faster than the previous ones- hit the half in about 1:21:15, a good 5-7 minutes slower than I wanted. Ugh- but I could still hope for a huge negative split, a PR, and maybe even sub-6:00 pace (2:37:12). I picked off 2 guys and felt real good till about mile 14, although I was definitely fighting the wind. Hit 14 with the huge downhill and found that the wind really picked up- I went all out and only hit a 5:40. The effort was more like a 5:15 pace, which should have been sub-5:00 on that downhill. I pushed on till mile 19 and the next moderate uphill. I glanced back and saw the FRB group strung out but not too far behind me, led by Walter and James. In other words, 8 miles of hard work only bought be about 30 seconds over Walter and James. I pushed up the hill and through mile 20- by this point I could barely manage 6:00 pace and knew 2:37 was gone. I even had to stop twice to try and pull up my soaking socks which were bunching up under my feet and slowing me down. Thus ends part 2 of the race.

For part 3, I decided to just finish the race and not kill myself. Once I hit 20 I was pretty tired. I didn't hit the wall, per se, but had spent my strength fighting the wind. I slowed up a bit so James and Walter could catch me and I could work with them- they finally caught me at mile 23. We ran thru 24 together, then James started pushing the pace. I didn't care anymore- he pulled away, then Walter started pulling away a bit. I finally turned the last corner and could see the finish but honestly didn't care, other than that it meant I could finally stop soon, get my clothes, and warm up. I jogged across the finish, not pushing at all, in 2:40:58. It was still good enough for 19th place, 6th in my age group.

Overall, I started way too slow but once I did, I didn't dare push off by myself going up Veyo. Then I choose a bad place to break off since the wind picked up and I was completely alone for 12 miles. I would have been better sticking with the group through 20, then making a hard push to at least PR.

It's a pretty disappointing result. I know I am in the best shape of my life and could run a sub-2:30, maybe even as fast as 2:27 in ideal conditions on this course (though I will admit that I don't think I had much more than low 2:30's in me today, even with no rain/wind). The wind and rain obviously ruined those plans right away, but I was still hoping for a good race. Instead, I made a few strategic mistakes that really hurt me by the end. Once any chance of an even decent race was gone, I really mailed it in and stopped pushing. Disappointing. The good news is that I am hardly sore and have no blisters, so should recover quickly. There is a lot less wear and tear on the body when you slow up at mile 20.

Some bloggers had great days- Joe was happy with his race, Andy was very happy, and lots of others.  Chad and Cody ran great, considering the weather.  Congrats to everyone for finishing in a very tough day. And to anyone who PR'ed today, you are the stud of the world!

Splits- for the record. 6:03, 5:57, 5:54, 5:51, 11:26, 5:46, 7:01, 6:50, 6:51, 6:51, 6:11, 5:50, 5:59, 5:40, 11:33, 5:51, 6:41, 6:41, 11:52, 6:01, 13:06, 5:26, 1:25

Tangent 2- 106

[Earlier quick report]

Well, I just took a shower and am going back for the awards. But I figured I would put a quick post for anyone out there looking for some results. Don't expect to see too many happy bloggers today. The weather was... horrible... for running. Strong head wind the WHOLE way that got increasingly worse as the race progressed. Rainy the whole time. I think the winning time was 2:22 for the guys, and then no one else till almost 2:30. I think just about everyone ran at least 6 and probably 10+ minutes slower than goal pace. Will put a real race report later, but that is the quick report.

Morning after update- slight tightness in hamstrings, no pain in calfs, quads, feet, etc.  I'll probably take a day or two easy, then jump back into it.  I walked up and down stairs with absolutely no pain or awkwardness, while laughing at the other people in my hotel as they limped around- we've all been there and know how it feels!

No run. I was actually dressed in my running clothes but the kids got real fussy- and Marci was gone, so I was going to have to take them.  Oh well.  Plus I have a cold, now (surprise, surprise).  I'll go running tomorrow.  It's nice to have a little break.

No run due to being sick, sick, sick.  Ugh.  Too bad, cause I had planned on a nice, easy trail run.  At least I didn't get sick last week.

No run- sick enough to stay home from work.  Blah.  Maybe I can go tomorrow!

Finally felt good enough to go running.  6 miles with Cody on the river trail in the wind and snow- a cold front was just moving in.  Was rather enjoyable, though, and not too cold.  Finished with a nice donut run.

I wore my brand new Soloman XT Wings that I won at MMM and they were great- couldn't feel the rocks and no bruising.  Legs felt fine, except for a tiny bit of tightness in my hamstrings. 

XT Wings- 6

I decided to try out my gym membership at Planet Fitness since I am planning to run there at 4:30 am many mornings this winter.  Only cost me $100 for a year.  6.5 miles on the treadmilll watching MNF, 7:30 pace.

Adrenaline- 181

It's my birthday today!  The big 3-0!  I can't believe I'm 30.  And no, I'm not running 30 miles today, although maybe this week.

Unfortunately, Adam and Holt are already in that age group, and Paul, Clyde, and James will turn 30 within a few months, so it's not like I'm moving into an easier age group or anything.  Cody should be the biggest beneficiary next year...

8 easy miles with Joe up Green Canyon.  It's getting cooler in the evenings.  They made some improvements to the trail, like knocking out the campground that the trail used to go thru such that there is no road there, only the trail.  Nice.

My head cold has moved into my chest a bit, so I've been trying to take it easy, like not running the past 2 days.  No need to make it worse.

XT Wings- 14

WARNING:  I do not advise eating a pound of swedish fish immediately before running.  It turns what would otherwise be a very easy 6 mile run with Cody into a rather uncomfortable, miserable, slow excursion.

767- 443

I first ran to Ephraim's grave 6 years ago.  Every summer, I plan to return but never have... until now.  Joe, Cody and I finally made it.  The run starts up Willow Creek trail, then we took the Ephraim's cutoff route.  We made it to the grave and enjoyed a few snacks.  Then some running on a dirt road followed by a fun decent down Steel Hollow trail, which is one of my favorite downhill routes.  We are glad Joe survived, as well, since he just about biffed it in a location where there was a big rock right ahead of him and a small cliff on his right. 

12 miles in all, 2800 feet climbing (per Cody's GPS), 8:57 avg pace (not too bad for that route, esp. considering we were at about 10-11 min avg pace before the last decent.  Had some sub-6:30's on the downhill parts).  It was an enjoyable, cool fall morning with some good views, a fair number of hunters, and even a little snow on parts of the trail.  We just enjoyed the run, even walking up a few of the steeper hills.  We are very lucky to live so near such beautiful mountains and trails.  Days like today are the reason I enjoy running.  Finished with a donut run.

XT Wings- 26

2.5 miles with McKinley in the stroller.  I had planned to run 4-5, but she got real excited when she saw the swings at the park and I couldn't say "no" to a 2-year old.  After all, this is my off season.  And, unlike Joe and Cody, I had absolutely no soreness from Saturday.  Wimps ;)

In other news, the Broncos apparently missed their plane to New England.  They didn't show up at the game.  At all.  It was a massacre and has me very worried for the rest of the season.  I even had both of my daughters in their Broncos clothes and it didn't help.

768- 307

Burned out.

Met Cody at Green Canyon where we ran the Beirdneau trail (I still think that is the strangest spelling ever for a word).  I haven't done it for probably 2 years- it's a fun, nice trail, but rough and steep.  And it was cold today- much colder than expected. 

First ran 1.75 miles up the canyon to the trailhead in just under 17:00, gaining less than 500 feet.  Then the climbing started- by the time we reached our turn around 2.2 miles later, we had gained an additional ~2000 feet- in other words, almost 20% grade up.  We ran pretty much all of it but weren't pushing the pace, carrying on a normal conversation the whole way.  Between the steep climb and the easy pace, we were moving at a screaming 16 min/mile.  Great views from the top.  Turned around and ran the 4 miles back in 31 minutes or so- the first 2 miles down were 8 min pace but 6 min/mile effort.  Had to put on the breaks most of the way down because of all the steep, plus lots of rocks, roots, and loose dirt.  In other words, a great trail!  Averaged 10:21 for the whole run.

I noticed a large stream of dried blood on my leg once I got home, completing the run.  I'm enjoying my "only trail running, not hard training" time of the year.

XT Wings- 34

4 easy miles with Marci and both kids in the jogging stroller.

767- 447

Trail run again!  Met Cody, Joe, and newcomer Lisa Paxton (4th place SGM finisher this year) at First Dam.  We intended to go up Logan canyon but apparently there was an accident somewhere up there with a huge traffic jam and ambulances.  So we went to Blacksmith Fork Canyon instead and did Leatham Hollow.  As we chug uphill, Lisa admits she doesn't run trails much and doesn't like hills- oops, not a good run to do today.  It was a gorgeous run, though- first 4 miles were singletrack, with 2 of them very nice, smooth, not too steep.  Then we hit a road at the top of Millville Canyon and ran on it for a few miles, passing a few hunters and a very stuck, high-centered Range Rover.  6 miles, 2700 ft up in 1:11 (11:50 pace- smoking!).  Then time for the downhill- rocky in places, but 2 or 3 very nice downhill miles.  We even saw one deer.  Down in 48 minutes (8:00 pace), 1:59 for the whole run. 

Nice run today with some great views.  The temperature was a lot warmer than we expected with warm winds blowing off the mountains.  Lisa did a good job putting up with all our banter and jabber, too, and Cody tried to recruit her to join the blog.  The best part is that the whole run is part of the Bear 100 course, helping me meet my goal of running the whole course in the next year.  Here is a map of our route today.  By the way, Cody, the topo map shows starting at 5200 feet and peaking around 8600 feet, so we actually did 3400 feet climbing!

By the way, even though my mileage has dropped drastically, I apparently have also lowered my food intake- I only weighed 133 today post-run, which is my lightest since high school, even lighter than this summer.

XT Wings- 46

6 easy miles with Paul and Joe on the River Trail.  Ran to the end of the singletrack and back.  Nice and easy, cool weather.  Good times.  And thanks to Sasha's new shoe tracker, I don't have to add up my shoe miles anymore.

2 easy miles with Marci and the 2 kids.  Planned on more but didn't have time due to a dentist appointment.  But no cavities!

Got stuck late at work so no run today.