Patience; the new endurance sport.

8:14/8:21/8:46/9:04/9:05  

It was not my intention to go fast, I was just in a hurry to get it done.  I got pain in a few familiar places, which I hate.  But it was a great run; Good effort, and I didn't die trying. Now, I've just got to tone it down for the next few days. The hay's in the barn. Nothing more I can do this week.

I got to be outside for this one.  Warm, and bright but milky skies. Everything, except the river, is still the color I hate (the color of nothing).  Next month we'll see some green.  I had to restrain the mileage, and keep it moderate.  I need to hold back the tiger for Saturday (or in my case, the house-cat).  I loved being outside, since it's started getting warmer, I'm overwhelmed with the bird chatter--thousands and thousands of birds and ducks celebrating the warm weather. Even an occasional pheasant screeching in the distance. I keep looking for my owls.  I felt so lucky to see them two years in a row. Last year while Amanda and I were on the trail about 6:30 a.m. and  I just stopped mid-step to stare at them, then Amanda stopped to see what I was looking at.  Then they spread their huge wings and floated away across the river.  Today, I saw a lot of fallen eggs.  That's strange because there hasn't been much wind lately. Ave. pace 8:48.

Ran a super easy, chatty 4 with my Sis who's visiting from DC for Moab.

Met Josse for a early morning run.  She totally kicked by butt by 7:00 a.m.  It was good to have a challenging run and to catch up.  

Hiked through Arches.  Spent lunch at Delicate Arch with my DC girls.  It was Awesome. The weather was perfect. Nice to be in the sun and eat dried mango and drink ice water from a Camelpack while hiking and enjoying the world with my sister.

I totally got one thousand three hundred eighty seventh place! Score!  OK, I'm being sarcastic. I got 68th place in my division. Ok, still sarcastic... but true nonetheless. (I guess out of 3,284 runners/ 229 in my division it's not too shabby). I actually did my personal best time for this course.  Two minutes better than 2007 and 7 minutes better than 2006 & 2008.  Catherine and Mindy drove down from Provo the morning of and it was so great to see them there!  Catherine and I ran about the first mile together, but she was excited to see what she could do in a half so I hung back while she sprinted on ahead. I never saw her after the race so I hope she did well.  It was an awesome run overall, a good effort on my part and I didn't re-injure.  So I'm happy.  I could have shaved another 3 minutes off my time if I didn't stop to use the port-a-potty on mile 8 (icky). Way more sun and heat that I'd anticipated so it got a little tough after mile 10 out into the city.  But what a gorgeous run.  My favorite part is when people shut up around mile 6 and all you can hear are pounding feet and breathing ecoing in the canyon. And then at mile 9 the drum ladies.  Those drums are amazing.  The river was so gorgeous. They've made a few improvements to the canyon (camp sights and a new bike trail to the side of the road). So that means I'll be coming back really soon to use that trail.  I always have them drop me off 10 miles up that canyon really early in the morning, but if you don't get before 7:00 you risk your life sharing the road with the bikers and the big trucks hauling their kayaks and rafts.  So now there's a bike trail right along the river's edge.  Can't wait to get back. I love Moab.  The whole experience was beyond words, just like the silent red-rock cliffs towering above the Green River Canyon.