Patience; the new endurance sport.

Let's just say I just crashed and burned the past 4 days.  Utah Valley Marathon, should it be undertaken or finished should be a real adventure.

I forgot-on-purpose to bring my Garmin.  I know I'm running slowly--I don't really need to know how slow.  My nose is still snotty and I can still feel my achilles tendon a bit in the beginning.  I hoped the rest in the past few days would ease it up, but from my experience with tendonitis (every major tendon I have, has had it at some time or another) it takes 6-10 months to heal (with or without rest).  I guess that's just me. It was hurting a little since before Boston from the hill repeats I did so frequently to train.  I should have taken those first two weeks after Boston slower.  It takes a lot of discipline to get that much training done, run a good race, and then bring it down a notch for 2-3 weeks just so you can start again with equal intensity. It's much easier to keep up the momentum--but then stuff starts falling apart (your immune system, your tendons, your energy level, etc).  Today--since it was overcast, I thought I'd run up Rock Canyon again, but as soon as I stepped out the door and felt how warm it was, I immediately changed my route to run to my favorite water fountain at the mouth of the Canyon.  I didn't bring a hand held water bottle with me today, and I was thirsty from about the second I left my office.  It was a nice easy run.  I stopped and stretched at the traffice lights, I drank at my fountain--washed my red, overheated face, ran slowly downhill, looked at trees, felt the breeze blowing up off the river.  It felt like 12 minute miles.  Thouroughly enjoyable. 

It finally felt like a morning in May--balmy, yet still cool.  The river is much lower now, they must have plugged up Deer Creek Dam already this year.  I was going pretty slowly at first, but then I started really thinking about a couple of business ideas, and a bunch of ideas for work.  I got very excited about it and ran home fast so I could get home and outline it.  Some of the best ideas I've had in a long time.  I credit 5 days of no running to increased brain activity and improved energy-- seriously.  I think I hit the wall back there.

5 miles 9:30 ap.

Leafy trees filled with yellow headed black birds chriping a chorus, tiny orangefinches hiding and hopping in the branches, the smell of fresh cut grass, hard pregnant fat rose hips on the verge of bursting with ludicrous gawdy bloom, 20 baby calves standing wobbly legged and glassy eyed in the fields, clear blue skies as far as the horizon, fresh, cool air blowing up from the rushing river, and snowy mountains shouldering the entire valley.  There are a few weeks in May and October that light my fire and make life worth living.   I live and breath waiting 364 days a year, for just one like today.  Or maybe I'm just really, really happy not to be on an airplane this weekend.

Luckily, I had lots of good company today. Cause if I didn't, I might have skipped a whole 'nother weekend. Ran the first 8 miles with Ericka, 6 more together with Cath, and then 5 more w/ just Cath. By the end I was literally wretching I was so tired.  That's never happened before. In retropect, the trip to DC was stressful. It's been a very transformative week in general.  When my brain works too hard it sucks the life out of me.  It will be an interesting experience to do these two marathons so close to each other.  Particularly since my long run was 2 weeks out instead of 3.  I don't know if doing it this way is better or worse than skipping it all together and winging it the day of UVM.  I guess it's an experiement in running.  I can't bear the thought of bombing Utah Valley again, but I have made a pact that I will enjoy it, which for me means, chatting, looking at the scenery, crossing the finish with my kids & their friends.  I really did have a fun experience last year.  I want a repeat.  But that means I have to swallow my pride and run easy.  Preserving my body is more important that having a good race time right now.  So glad to at least the big one under my belt so I can enjoy the rest of my weekend.....starting right now.