It ain't Chinese algebra!

21 miles around GP.  Started out a little rough--needed a bathroom stop after just one mile but I was nowhere near one and had to last until mile 2.  Quick stop at the jeep park, felt better and then I was on my way west of town and then returning back on Redwood Ave.  It was 7 miles by the time I made it to downtown and stopped a 2nd time for a bathroom break at the farmers market.  Continued up Highland Ave to Anderson Dental, then ANOTHER bathroom break (what's the deal?!) right at 10 miles.  First 10 in 1:09:45--6:59/average while running comfortably.  

Started a tempo with hopes of hitting around 6:00/mile for 10 miles.  3 separate climbs/drops (down Hawthorne and up 6th; down 7th and up 10th, down Beacon and home via Redwood Highway).  Pace felt comfortable although I had to push it a little on the uphills to keep within goal.  Miles were 5:59, 5:52, 6:02, 5:56, 5:49, 5:56, 5:50, 5:45, 5:41, 5:57.  10 miles in 58:51 (5:54/mile).  Decided to see how my body would respond with 1 final mile so I pushed the pace some to Albertson's and then home.  11th mile in 5:25 with a slight uphill on Allen Creek.  Felt really good throughout the run, minus the bathroom stops.  Hope that doesn't happen on race day...

Very tired after a busy morning.  I got up and headed for the pear orchard and picked for just over three hours.  Then headed home and went for a run with Ryan.  It was hot out and I was pretty tired/hungry when I started to it was a little bit of a struggle.  We ended up running 10 miles west of town with a couple stops along the way (bathroom, drinking fountain).  Another day in the books.

Ran through Fruitdale (6 miles) and then to the HS to run barefoot on the football field.  Managed to run 3 miles while watching all the Freshman be walked through high school orientation.  The all looked thrilled to be back in school...

Then I made my way home with a few detours in-between.  A car nearly ran me off the road while I was crossing Savage St in the crosswalk.  He called me 'names' so I changed course and followed him.  He got way ahead of me but I guess correctly which street he turned on--turns out he was dropping his kid off at a church daycare while sucking back on cigarettes the entire time.  Real winner, that one.  I stopped and asked him if he wanted to say anything else to me.  We exchanged a few ideas.  I complimented him on being father of the year and a few things of that nature, then we went our separate ways.  Probably shouldn't have but some mornings I can't help myself...

12 miles this morning with a 5 mile tempo to finish off the morning. I ran west to the intersection of Redwood Highway and Jerome Prarie which was 5 miles. I turned around and after 1 more mile, started a 5 mile tempo. 5:47, 5:52, 5:34, 5:28, and 5:10. Not as fast as Jake but not many people are. ;-) 1 more mile easy to the house and then called it a morning. Back to the grind tomorrow. These 2 weeks have been awesome being home. Pure awesomeness...

10 miles in Springfield.  I ran from the hotel to Costco, then looped back via Coburg Rd and the mall.  Felt good but it was a little rough running in the dark. :)  First time I've done that in a couple weeks.  And sadly, life is back to normal...

6 miles in Springfield, around the hospital and the mall.  Easy peazy...

13 miles around GP after dropping my car off to get serviced. I ran west to all sports park, then looped back past th HS and Walmart before returning to pick up my car. I discovered a new street/section of town behind Walmart and M street. I thought after living here for 19 months and running 5,000 miles, I had run on just about all of them. Pleasant surprise to find a new one.

As for the run, pretty much felt blah the whole way. Not tired, sore, hurt, painful, etc. Just blah.

10 miles in GP.  I ran west of town and zig-zagged my way home while all the poor high school kids stood around waiting for the bus.  Suckers...

AM: 7 miles around Fruitdale on a nice, crisp, dark morning. Slept good last night. Can't remember the last time I can say that happened. I had a dream last night that I ran a 2:28 this weekend. I'd take that.

PM: 3 miles on Pre's Trail in Eugene.

6 miles on Pre's Trail in Eugene. Had to wear gloves for the first time this year. After dreaming of running a 2:28 on Minday night, last night I dreamed that when I showed up for the marathon, it turned outto be a trail marathon instead. And then for some reason it took all day to run it, so much so that all participants had to camp out on the trail at night and finish the next day. Strange dream and strange to having running dreams 2 nights in a row. I never dream about running...

Nothing. Long day of driving for a breakfast display in Roseburg, then on to Eugene and eventually Boise.

Made it to Boise last night.  Slept ok and ran 3 miles around the hotel.  47 degrees here is WAY colder than 47 in Oregon.  Hope I brought the right clothes for tomorrow!

Worst. Race. Ever. :-)

------------

Cliff Notes version of TOU 2012.  It sucked.  Or more accurately, I sucked.

I suppose I could write a little more than that, but I'll try to keep it brief as there really isn't much to say.  No idea what I did to bring it on, but I had major stomach issues Thursday PM through Sunday night as I write this.  Many many many trips to the bathroom and no ability to eat as it made me nauseous.  Dinner on Thursday?  Carrot sticks.  Awesome.  Friday breakfast and lunch?  1/2 cup oatmeal and half a sandwich.  I tried to force myself to eat and it just wasn't happening.  Felt nauseous and if it didn't come out that end, it inevitably came out the other...  Not my finest moment and not ideal carbo-loading.

Friday night I started to feel better and put down some pancakes and a banana, but Saturday morning I felt sick again and forced down some oatmeal and a little banana.  I can count on one hand how many times I've thrown up in my life (4, if your curious, and the second time it was because I was choking on a Gobstopper but I'll save that for another entry).  On the bus ride to the start, I thought I was going to vomit for sure.  My stomach was jacked and even water was causing me issues.  It wasn't nerves--that's not how my body reacts to pre-race jitters.  Anyway, suffice it to say, I wasn't feeling 100%.

So what did I do?  Lined up to start the race thinking everything would be fine.  Figured I could work through it and eventually I'd get on track.  Not so much.  I struggled from the first mile and my stomach never cooperated.  I caught Sasha about mile 8 and we ran together in 7-8 place until mile 18 when he left me.  I hit 13.1 in 1:14:10, so a little slower than last year, but I hadn't been able to drink more than a sip or two and I'd taken in zero carbs.  Combo that with my lack of eating on Thursday/Friday and that spells disaster in a marathon.  The wall presented itself with authority at mile 18.5.  Honestly, I was surprised it took so long...

Lots of jogging, walking, even slower walking, and watching people pass me again and again.  Highlight of the run was when my dad jumped along side me and pulled me along from miles 21-24.  It was everything I could do to keep up with him as we set the street of Logan on fire, cruising along at 8:30/mile pace.  And I'm serious--prior to him running with me I ran a couple in the 9:00/mile range.  He really helped out or else I would have dropped to the 11-12:00/mile pace for sure.  It sucked.  But on the bright side, I loved the company and I wouldn't want help from anyone else.  We talked Utah football and how if the BYU was to beat Utah tonight and if In N Out screwed up my order (if I could handle eating any time soon) this weekend would be a TOTAL bust.

I hit main street and told myself to run the rest of the way.  That lasted about 3 city blocks.  2 more guys passed me.  Then the lead motorcycles with the 1st place female approached.  I ran again and tried to hang with her.  That lasted about 10 meters (probably more like 4-5) and then she was off.  The last mile was rough.

But....all good things come to an end.  Bad things too.  I finished.  I crossed the line and drank some chocolate milk.  Nearly threw up.  Everything hurt and it was my 2nd slowest marathon ever.  Nice.  I quickly grabbed my gear and headed for the exits so I could go shower and puke in privacy (if needed).

About 2pm I went to In N Out Burger and forced down a cheeseburger and fries just to show my body who was boss.  Then after a quick nap, I went to one of my favorite places on earth--Rice Eccles Stadium, and screamed for four straight hours.  All those false starts by BYU right before halftime that pushed them back into their own endzone?  That was b/c of me and the rest of that section.  Loudest I've ever heard that stadium.  That atmosphere was incredible.  So, moral of the story; don't run a marathon on an empty tank, In N Out is delicious even when you feel like puking, the holy war shouldn't die, and the drive from Utah to Oregon is painfully long.  If there is a next year, I'm flying for sure.

Nothing.  Still feeling sick and my legs are sore.  Not a good combination.

Zero

Nothing.  I'm loving sleeping in for a change.  

Nope

Early work

5 miles pushing Ryan in the stroller. My legs felt good for the first couple, then a little tired after that. I'll be ready to go by Monday I think, both physically and mentally.

6 miles around GP.  I ate too many cookies last night (and too much ice cream last week for that matter).  I think I'm 5 lbs heavier than 8-9 days ago.  Rough...

AM: 9 miles around GP to the west of town. Best my legs have felt since the disaster of TOU.

PM: 6 miles on Pre's Trail in Eugene, then sushi for dinner.  I enjoyed the sushi more than the run. 

AM: 6 miles around the streets of Eugene.  Got a little lost for a second off of Coburg Rd but it all worked out.  I ran past Fetlock Dr and a tear came to my eye for the Walkers (kidding about the tear, serious about thinking of the Walkers).

PM: 9 miles on Pre's Trail, then to Cafe Yumm for dinner.  Their customer service is lacking... 

3 miles in Eugene.  After two nights of sleeping like junk, it was all I could do to get out of bed this morning.  Better than nothing (I guess?).

7 miles around GP.  I ran into east and then back home.  Easy.

15 miles this morning when I ran to Walmart, then up Beacon and past Club NW, then home via 6th st.  Grabbed a drink and then went to clean the church, then ran a few more before coming home.