El Burro Blanco

I got in a good nap this afternoon after church.  It was much needed.  I don't usually write on Sundays but I thought today might be worth it.  I haven't wanted to complain but after the Ogden Marathon muscle cramp incident my right hamstring has been really tight and it was a problem to really lengthen my stride.  I was thinking of getting a massage to see if it would help but I am too "cheap" to go and pay for one.  I finally gave in yesterday and by recommendation of all the St. George folk, I went too April here in town and was curious to see if she could help my leg out.  Wow!  She spent about half an hour on my hamstring and really dug the muscles out.  I could feel my muscles actually loosen up while she was digging into me.  She said it was the worst hamstring muscle cramp she has ever seen.  That is not what I wanted to hear.  Oh well!  She recommended going to see a chiropractor twice a year and then getting a massage at least once a month.  She said my leg could have much worse if I hadn't come in to see her.  The main reason I am writing today is to say I am a believer in the monthly massage now.  It was hard for me to swallow shelling out money each month to get a massage.  I am planning on doing it now and always going to April.  She is a runner and knows exactly what runners need taken care of.  If anyone is contemplating getting the monthly massage, go and do it.  It made me realize that the hamstring cramp could have been a lot worse at Ogden.  It was an high opener for me that I need to get the monthly massage as well as really focus on stretching more.  I didn't realize I was so tight. 

10 miles in the morning.

12 miles in the afternoon.

A great run in cooler temperatures.  I wanted to be safe with the hamstring so I took it nice and easy.  No real tightness in the leg.  It felt really good.  I went out towards Tuacahn and then back to the parent's house.  15 minutes of stretching afterwards.

I went and did an easy 7 miles out towards Ivins.  It wasn't too hot because of the slight breeze.  I hurried back and went over to DSC's track and did 8x200 with 200m recovery with Clyde.  It was really hot but we pushed each other.  We did a 2 mile warmup and then a 1 mile cooldown afterwards.  I hit between 29-31 sec. for each one.  The hamstring felt fine and it was nice to get this in.  Happy to start the week off with this kind of day. 

8 miles in the morning.

8 miles in the afternoon.

Another beautiful morning run.  I kept it nice and easy again.  Did 15 minutes of stretching afterwards.  That helps out so much.

I went out this afternoon and it was pretty darn hot.  The wind was blowing quite a bit also.  I had an alright run.  I didn't feel the hamstring at all today.  That is nice and encouraging.  Some kids were selling lemonade on the side of the road and hollered at me to stop.  They said I looked like I needed some lemonade.  I didn't have any money but they said business was slow so they gave me 2 cups for free.  It was very nice of them.  I asked them how much they had made today and they told me about $10.00.  Future millionaires!  Wanted to keep it fairly relaxed today.  My body needed it.

10 miles in the morning.

6 miles in the afternoon.

Nice run out along the Snow Canyon Parkway towards Red Mountain Spa and back.  I ran into Hayden and ran with him for a little bit.  Little windy but that is okay.  It keeps the temperature cooler.

I went out for a 6 miler this afternoon.  I did the first 3.5 fairly conservative and then did the last 2.5 with 30 second surges within it.  I would do 30 seconds at about 5:00/mile pace and then recover for 30 seconds.  I just wanted to see how the hamstring would hold up with the fast leg turnover.  It wasn't that bad.  I got home and then went on a nice walk with Katey up into Snow Canyon.  It was pretty just when the sun was going down.

8 miles in the morning.

The legs keep feeling better and better each day.  I went out along the parkway again.  I really need to find other routes to run.  I think the club run is on tonight?

My hamstring was still a little tight so I called April and went in to see her.  It was supposed to only be for a 15 minute ordeal but ended up being about and hour and 15 minutes.  She dug into the hamstring and really got into the muscles again.  She said this should take care of it.  I iced it and just went on a walk this evening with Katey in order to loosen it up.  I want to be cautious and not make it worse so I didn't do a second run this evening. 

6 miles in the morning.

I kept everything nice and easy today.  April said to jog on it just to loosen up the muscles in my leg.  No pain at all but it just trying to loosen it up.  I will be fine for Wasatch Back but I just want to be careful so I don't pull it again.  The leg felt good this morning though.  Stretching took place afterwards.  I will take it kind of easy tomorrow during the biathlon.  I was only planning on doing the run as a 5 mile tempo run.  I will see how my leg feels though.

I did the Cache Valley Biathlon with my father-in-law again.  I wanted to do at least 3 miles of the race at tempo pace and then see how my hamstring would feel.  I did a 2 mile warm-up to get everything going.  I went out with Neal Ferrin, Carson Campbell, and Mitch Zundel.  We stuck together for the first 3 miles and then we separated a little bit.  Here are the splits: 5:24, 5:16, 5:23, 6:08, 6:03.  My hamstring felt good but I didn't want to overdo it today because this wasn't the biggest race in the world.  I am saving a lot for next week.  I felt good the first 3 miles and then decided to slow down a bit because I was locked in for 3rd place on the running section and I also knew I was running back too Logan afterwards.  I came in and then my father-in-law took off on his recumbent bike.  We placed in the top 20 and took 1st place in our age division.  We were the only team in our age division but it doesn't matter.  I wanted my little blue ribbon!

I did a mile cooldown and then got some fluids in me and headed from Wellsville back into Logan too my in-laws' house.  I did 11.5 miles at 6:27/mile overall and then did a little bit of a cooldown in order to reach 20 miles for the day.  There were a couple nice uphills that hopefully will get me ready for next week.  My hamstring feels much better and didn't bother me at all today.  I wasn't down and out this week but I wanted to be cautious just to make sure the hamstring was okay.  Next week should be tons of fun!

Look out BYU!