Kerry's Running Blog

Slept in a bit this morning as I was really tired last night for some reason. Started off at a fairly easy base until I was in my second mile and saw a woman on the other side of the road that started running just about when I was ready to pass her. For a couple of hundred yards I stayed about the same distance behind her, but she then started to pull away a bit which made me speed up. I was a little surprised that she was able to keep up that pace until she suddenly stopped and started walking again. I guess she was doing repeats, but I was in a little faster running mode. I wanted to take it a little easier today before tomorrow's long run. I saw an unusual number of people out running and walking this morning, I guess because I got out a little later.

Long run with Lloyd this morning. We left right at 5:00 a.m. I was more than a little tired as our youngest daughter came into our room just after I'd fallen asleep to alert us to a dangerous situation that had developed involving a large moth. I pretended like I was still asleep for a few minutes, but that didn't buy me anything so I got up to investigate. I couldn't find anything, but our daughter insisted that she wasn't going to sleep in there knowing that this insect could attack at any time. So, I somewhat reluctantly agreed to sleep in her bed, but I was awake by that time and just tossed and turned for about an hour until I went downstairs to sleep on the couch. The dog, of course, wasn't too happy about being roused from his peaceful slumber, but there wasn't any reason that he shouldn't be suffering as well. In all, I probably managed three and a half or four hours of sleep.

I was hoping for a nice easy start to the run, but Lloyd was feeling like we needed to run much faster than on Monday and so we took at a pretty good clip. After about a mile and half he began to slow a bit and for the next few miles we ran at a comfortable pace. After looping around the Highland Glen pond we headed to the golf course trail and to the mouth of American Fork canyon. We then ran four miles up the canyon and back and then continued on our normal ten mile loop. I pushed a pretty hard pace coming down the canyon, but the rest of the run was at a very comfortable pace. It was nice to finish this long run without being sore or overly tired.

Ran Lloyd's Loop this morning. We got away a few minutes late as we stopped to help Michael Clarke get his car started (the battery was dead). Richard's knee is healing up and he said that he should be able to start running during the week again. A nice recovery day today after Saturday's long run. No aches or pains to speak of, although my Achilles was a bit sore on Saturday and Sunday after pushing the pace down the canyon for a few miles. I'm hoping I won't hurt it too bad during the race on Saturday. It'll be interesting to see what kind of shape I'm in. RHR yesterday was 38 (about where I like to be this time of year). Lloyd said that Bruce M. got in an accident on Saturday coming down AF canyon (he passed us on the way up). He apparently separated his shoulder, cracked his helmet and got a nasty case of road rash (Lloyd was going to take him some Rocky Road ice cream to cheer him up). I'll have to drop by and see him if I can.

Pressed for time today so I was just able to get in a short run. Probably a good thing as my left Achilles and left knee were a bit sore. Felt better after a mile and half or so. Hopefully it will go better tomorrow. 

Lone Peak Loop

As I haven't been running any races this summer, this race was a good indication of where I am in my training. I'd hoped that I'd do better (as I was about three minutes faster last year), but I wasn't overly surprised. I gave it my best effort for where I am in my training. I must have lost the signal on my Garmin as my mileage was off by more than a mile. I was quite a bit slower coming down the steep part than I expected. Only one of the miles was under 7:00 minute pace. I kept things in the seven minute range until the last couple of miles, when I started to get tired and didn't know how much further I had to go. K. Steadman (who ended up taking third in my age group passed me with about two miles to go) who caused me to refocus a bit. I passed him back and held him off for about a half mile, but he very slowly put some distance on me. I thought to myself that when I could see the finish, I could push myself hard the last quarter mile or so and pass him back. With the numerous turns I lost sight of him in the last half mile. I didn't know how much further it was to the finish as I never saw the 12 mile mark. He ended up beating me by about 25 seconds. I'm hoping I can do a bit better at Hobble Creek.

Had to cut it short this morning as my ankle got pretty sore. My calves were still fairly tight from Saturday's race and that must have caused me to alter my stride a bit. I'll try to rest it today and go longer tomorrow.

I was pleasantly surprised this morning to find that there was almost no soreness in my calves, ankle or knee. I was still a little stiff, but nothing was really hurting. I thought I'd try and do five, but I felt good enough that I ran the North Cottonwood stretch. I could feel my calves tightening up towards the end of the 9 percent grade, but I was still able to maintain a reasonable pace.

Temperatures were very pleasant this morning (57 and 50 RH). I think I'll try to do a ten miler tomorrow. 

Ran Lloyd's Loop this morning. Slept in a little because we stayed up so late watching the Olympics. Felt a little tightness in the calves this morning and slightly more achy, but I felt fine after a couple of miles. Average pace was 8:52.

It's nice to be in that routine where I just wake up, get dressed and head out the door -- because if I'd had time to think about this morning, I probably would have gone back to bed. Up late again last night watching the Olympics (or dozing off as Laureen and Amelia were watching the men's all-around gymnastics) and woke up with sinus congestion and a sore knee. Somehow none of that seemed to matter as I just got dressed anyway and headed out the door. It's just beautiful that time of day. I was happy to find that my aches and pains had disappeared by the time I started running (although my sinus congestion stuck around). All in all a good run even though it was all that far or all that fast.

Lunchtime run with Laureen along the creek trail and around the Highland Glen pond. Her Achilles tendon is getting better, but isn't quite healed. A nice day, not too hot.

Early morning run with Lloyd. Left Sunset Drive at 4:45 with a nearly full moon in the west. My throat felt a bit sore, but wasn't much of an issue during the run. As we were running along the golf course section of the trail north of the houses, we came across what appeared to be a big tarp stretched across the trail. As we stopped and examined it a little closer we were surprised to find that it was a couple of kids in sleeping bags. We told them that they  ought to move off the trail as as bikes and other runners would be sure to follow.

From the mouth of American Fork canyon we continued up the canyon a little past where the road splits. It was fairly cool at that altitude, but only really noticeable on the hands. Talked to a couple of other runners on the top that were also doing a 20 miler. Although my throat felt OK, I did feel a bit sickly on the way down. It passed and we finished up the run in good shape. A little bit of soreness in my left Achilles later in the day and on Sunday.

Felt really crummy this morning when the alarm went off. If I hadn't told Richard and Lloyd that I'd be there, I would have just continued to sleep. My throat was as sore as I can ever remember yesterday afternoon and evening. Nothing to seemed to help much. When I finally did get to sleep, I slept quite soundly.

Lloyd had recovered well from Saturday's run and Richard's knee is about healed, so they were both doing quite well. Richard was able to run the entire way to the flag pole! Lloyd continued on with a ten mile run and I accompanied Richard around the pond and back home.

Felt a lot better yesterday (after a miserable night). The sore throat was almost entirely gone and I only had an occasional cough. My daughter's YW activity was a Daddy/Daughter softball game and even though we arrived late (because of a soccer game that didn't get over until 7), we still had a chance to chase down a few fly balls. It felt good to run around. My legs and lungs were both in good shape. I only got once chance to bat and hit a line drive right to the shortstop.

 I'd planned to run at least five this morning and even got to bed early, but as soon as I laid down I started to cough. I'd sit up for a while longer and feel better, but as soon as I laid down again I'd start to cough. After repeating that cycle a few times, I knew I'd have to bag this morning's run. I know I won't be 100 percent for Saturday's race, but I should be able to finish.
 

Just a little run to see if the legs were still working. I'm still getting over a cold and the coughing and sore throat still bother me at times, but my legs felt good today and even had some extra bounce. The temperature at noon was fairly pleasant.

I slept fairly well before the race, but I woke up coughing again and went and slept on the couch so as not to disturb Laureen. I ended up having to take some medicine as I'd get too congested when I tried to lay down in a semi-reclining position. I was dragging a bit to eat and get out of the house, but started to feel a lot better on the ride down. I picked up my number and got on the bus sometime around 5:45. On the way up I sat next to a guy from Wyoming that was running his first half marathon. His dad (Gary Killpack, who is in my AG) has been running for a long time so he pretty much knew what to expect.

After walking up from the bus dropoff I was happy to run into Paul, Tom and Nathan. That's the fun part about any race -- seeing your buddies. I warmed up with Paul by running further up the road and then we saw Darin Cable just before the start. The race started close to 7:30 and I felt a little better than expected once we got underway. I had a few sharp pains in my left ankle that didn't really develop into anything. I averaged close to 7:00 minute pace on the downhill sections and more around 7:45 on the uphill sections. I never felt that tired during the race, but couldn't have run it much faster than I did. Kerry Steadman passed me around mile 9, but I just couldn't go after him today. He beat me by a couple of minutes. Even though I was slower this year, I somehow managed to finish in the top 100 men and got a medal for it. I was third place in my age group, but was unable to stay for the awards as I needed to get home and coach my daughter's soccer team. Paul, Tom, Nathan and Darin all did really well.

Richard had company in this weekend for his son's missionary homecoming, so he didn't make it out this morning. Lloyd had to fly out to Baltimore this morning so we had to cut it a bit short. He ran over 50 miles last week and is really starting to improve. We ran around the Highland Glen pond, along the golf course to the mouth of the canyon and then down to Cedar Hills Drive. We pushed the pace a bit up the big hill to pass a guy that'd passed us earlier and was walking. We pushed it even harder running downhill to our old stake center. We averaged 7:50 pace for the last mile and even ran some shorter stretches at 6:15 pace. I told Lloyd that we need to start training together earlier next year.

Kohler's Loop this morning. Dark and warm. A little sliver of a moon and Sirius just poking up over the mountain in the south east. A little slow getting going, but felt pretty good over all. Gradually picked up the pace until I was running half marathon pace the last couple of miles. I love this time of year. 

Early morning loop around Highland Glen pond and then a lunchtime run with Laureen (which included a bit of hiking and exploring).

Ran up to Cedar Ridge Junior High and back from the AF Rec Center.

Ran the HS loop in the AM. Golf course loop (plus two miles) with Laureen at noon.

Great run down Provo Canyon and out to the lake with my buddies. The weather was beautiful and the temperature was about perfect. A few minor aches and pains that would come and go, but nothing of any consequence. Twenty milers don't get any better than this. Especially appreciated the ice cold drink waiting for us at the end. Thanks, Paul!