Kerry's Running Blog

Met up with Richard this morning for our weekly get-together (so far, I

haven't been able to talk anybody else into joining us). The wind was

really howling during the middle of the night and I thought that we might have to end up bagging it this morning, but the wind died down and the rain stopped and it turned into a fairly decent morning (windchill when I left the house was 29, but it felt pretty comfortable by the time I finished). For some reason, I didn't feel quite so strong going up the big hill, but I wasn't hurting or anything. Except for the fact that we didn't make the St. George lottery. Laureen was reluctant to do the Runner's Series because I was out of work at the time and the thought of committing to two trips to St. George (at an average cost of $200/trip) just wasn't a serious consideration. She's more inclined to look at it in the future, but it looks like we're going to have to sit this one out.

Clear, beautiful, cold morning (37 degrees). One of those mornings that just make you glad to be alive. Started out a bit sluggish, but gradually picked up the pace -- partially just to get warm, but mostly just because the air was so clear and refreshing that you just wanted to drink it in. Pushed it a little harder today on mile six (which includes 292 feet of ascent and 429 feet of descent) and finished it in 7:58. I find myself braking a bit on the steeper sections to avoid falling on my face, so the faster sections are on the flats after the hill. Cooled down the last third of a mile. Overall average was 8:27.

Much warmer this morning that yesterday (47 under overcast skies). I ran an easier pace today as I seemed to have a few lingering aches and pains (inside left knee, right calf, slightly sore Achilles). Didn't really notice anything after a couple of miles. What I did notice was lots of little bunnies in the park -- must be that time of year :)

Warmer this morning under mostly cloudy skies (temperature 53 degrees). I still wore long pants out of habit, but I had to take off my pullover half way through the run. Lots of people out this morning, walking, jogging and one lady even doing hill repeats. Saw Richard coming down the path towards the pond and chatted with him briefly. He said he's starting to see some improvement. Almost ran into a deer standing in the middle of the trail. She saw me coming and just stared for a few seconds before trotting off into the brush. When I got home, our dog Drake had somehow gotten word that it was a warm, pleasant morning and pleaded his case as if his life and family honor were at stake. Even though my Thursday morning schedule is fairly tight, I figured I could be a little late if it could bring him so much pleasure.

Walking, cross-training day. Worked on pulling out a tree stump for good measure.

Had a great run up Provo Canyon this morning with Paul, Nathan, Wayne and Larry. A bit of a headwind heading up, but pleasant conditions over all. It was so nice running with my buddies. The pace up and back was just about perfect for my first long run since St. George -- not too easy and not too hard. I felt a little tightness in my right calf by the time we finished and a little soreness in my left foot, but it quickly went away.  Average pace for the whole run was 8:18. Total ascent 1781, total descent the same.