My friend Marisa is running her first marathon (Top of Utah) this Saturday. When I saw her yesterday at a friend's house, she said she was nervous. At Hobble Creek she came in 12th (I think) in her age division. She runs 7:30's with some ease and will probably finish in 3 hours if she's on her game. I'm excited for her and hope she has a good experience in Logan. She asked me yesterday about ice baths. I hardly ever mention them here, but I do take them. It's just that I never have to make one up in the tub because I live on the river. When I feel like I need one at the end of a run, I take off my shoes and sit in my running clothes on a special flat piece of concrete that is along the river's edge. The retired folk always call down the bank to ask if I need help. Today, I was sitting waist deep on my mossy concrete slab thinking about how the pampa grass was turning yellow and dry along the trail and contemplating the end of summer. There was a warm mellow sunlight twinkeling down thorugh the tree branches. I was dreaming of all those lovely desert miles in St. George and hoping this year will be half as good as last year. I know there are more intersting places to live and run (Oregon/Washington come to mind), but I have lived here for 17 years now and I never get tired of what Utah has to offer.
Good luck Marisa! I'll be thinking of you this week. You're going to fly! | 