Kerry's Running Blog

After getting back from a short family vacation (during which -- despite my best intentions -- I was unable to get out even once :), it's time to get serious again. I had planned on running the first couple of miles with Richard, but he has been having trouble with his knee and didn't show up (he got his foot caught during a cave dive and wrenched his knee trying to get it loose). I wasn't sure how far I'd go this morning, but was happy to find that my legs had some spring in them and that there was no lingering aches or pains. I ran the Highland Loop and then headed up North Cottonwood to Canyon Road and from there, a little ways up American Fork Canyon (against a fairly stiff headwind). Then it was back down along the golf course and back along the creek trail. There were quite a few people out this morning, most notably a group of about a dozen women that were coming the other way on the golf course trail. It was a great morning for a run. Average pace was 8:36 with just over a thousand feet of elevation gain and loss.

Felt pretty good this morning (after yesterday's unplanned day off). I wanted to get some mileage in, but not push the pace too much. I wasn't entirely sure where I was going to go this morning, but seeing that the north part of the creek trail was closed because of resurfacing, made me decide on the American Fork loop. I mostly ran a steady pace unless I saw somebody up ahead that I had any chance of catching. Overall, it was a nice relaxing run (except for the climb up the temple hill). Average pace was 8:45.

Was in a dead sleep when the alarm went off this morning and was really dragging for about fifteen minutes or so. I don't think I was fully awake until about two miles into the run, which was about the time I realized that I needed to find a bathroom. Decided that I would pass on the very disgusting bathrooms in Highland Glen park and stop at the Chevron station instead (almost five miles into the run). Although I was in a fair amount of distress by then, I arrived safely and felt much, much, better. The last three miles felt great (and not just because they were mostly downhill). My legs are feeling pretty good with no major aches or pains to speak of.

Somewhat leisurely noon-time run, if running in the heat can ever be considered so. I took the mp3 player today for a little company, to distract me a bit, if possible. It worked, more of less, the Bach violin concertoes helped me worked out some programming issues and when La Traviata started just after the third mile, I was ready to let me mind wander a bit. I thought about the French leisure class of the 19th Century and about my father-in-law who enjoys that opera above all others. It was nice to listen to as I ran the last half mile in the shade along the creek.

Ran the Temple Loop this morning. After the long climb to the top of Canyon Road, ran down to the mouth of American Fork Canyon and then most of the way up to Timpanogos Cave. Felt really good most of the run, but suddenly felt sick and depleted just before turning around to run down the canyon. Even running downhill with the wind at my back didn't seem to help that much. It was a struggle to get back home. Felt a lot better after I showered and had something to eat, but may be coming down with a bug.