Seeking a better country...

I started at memory grove, and ran 5.3 miles up city creek.  I came back down and met my sister, and we ran to Pioneer Park, followed by Liberty Park, then back to her house in Federal Heights.  There were lots of uphill miles.  This run was rugged.  I skipped the gu, just to try and simulate late stages of the marathon without running that many miles.  Ugh.  I'm glad to be done running long for a couple weeks.  I need to relax and get my head right for May 15th.  I'd post how many feet of elevation change, but I'm too tired to walk into the other room and sync up the GPS.  Overall pace was 8:20. (added later...3400' of climb)

5 grinders around the soccer fields. All the family came out and played frisbee, baseball, and the make a bird nest out of dead grass game.  What a gorgeous night.

From home to parrish to legacy.  The first mile felt pretty good, so I decided to make it a 5k.  20:50.  Then I walked to the trailhead, stretched, and ran home.  The first three miles were 6:46 pace, the last 3 were 7:46 pace.

Now the bad news.  My left calf twinged a bit.  I kept going, easier, and it didn't seem too bad.  Then I got home, and the thing is totally locking up on me.  This timing blows.  I'm pretty sure it'll feel better on it's own in a day or two, but man, I've been painless for 5 months, and now a week before the marathon, this flares up.  I blame my mom.  She came by the other day, and was saying, "I hope you've done enough downhill miles for this race.  You'd hate for your calves to cramp up."  It's like she jinxed me. 

Like I said, I'm sure it'll clear up.  Even if not, it wasn't so bad I couldn't run on it.  How it might feel after a lot of miles is another question...

Other than that, it was a gorgeous run under a moody sky after sunset. 

This is somewhat of a dubious milestone.  I tried to run last night, but the calf said no.  I thought, "I'll see how it feels after a mile."  "Then you'll have to walk home for a mile."  I turned around to come home.  "No, I'm not going home.  I got dressed, I found gloves, it's getting late, I need to get this run in."  I turned around and headed out again.  "No, don't be stupid.  It's too late for this run to help, and it could really hurt.  You've got a marathon next week, so give it another day.  Go home."  I went home.  Watching Office reruns was little comfort.  I hope to run an easy 5-6 tonight.  The calf feels better.  Not right, but better.

After Thursday's abortive attempt, I had to give it another shot today.  I saddled up and ran to Ricks creek, taking things nice and easy.  My calf felt okay on the run, but I can still feel something going on in there.  It's weird.  It's a bit stiff right now, and I'm still concerned about how it will do over 26 miles.  I'm going to get in for some a-stim or massage, and hope for the best.  I can't believe there's less than a week to go.

I mowed lawns with the boys for 5 hours, then ran home from the last three, stopped to get keys and went to pick up my car.  I had on old shoes, dirty socks, long, filthy shorts and a hawt looking t-shirt.  The babes were flocking to my side and trying to take me home.  I just buried my head while maintaining proper form and finished my run.