Patience; the new endurance sport.

I drove out to Payson, met Marion & Kelly. We jogged over, met Smooth, Rad & Michelle. Michelle showed us how to crumple our number before pinning it to our shirt like the professional runners do.  She said they did it in college to keep it from catching the wind, and could save a whole second or two on time....Awesome.  I can use every second I can get, although I could really use about 10 minutes.  But hey.  The race course was really beautiful farmland, out toward the Oquirrah Mountains through pasture contry.  I ran 7:37/7:43 and then the Kellies past me (Pinked!).  I knew I was slowing to the 8's then.  Where the course turned South after 3 miles, I noted how far down the road the fastest runners were and how they were flying. Intead of feeling inspired to run faster, I got a little bummed.  I   I tried to pick it up a bit but only mustered 8:11/8:17.  Mile 4 had been slightly up hill with the sun rising directly into my face and eyes.  I could hardly see.  I was slow on mile 5 and only ran an 8:55.  I had to drink again ( I should have had more to drink the day before,  I was really dry).  Ran the last mile pretty strong at 8:30.  I had the course pretty much to myself those last 3 miles.  Everyone was either ahead of or behind me.  It was a solid effort--not my very best, but not bad.  I loved the finisher's corridor.  They had a nice big clock and half if the other Red Hot Pink Chick's were there cheering for me.  It felt great to be the 15th to finish.  Smooth, who thought she'd only muster 9's because of Saturday's race came in right behind me.  We came back to join the RHPC at the finish line and cheered Michelle as she crossed.  She looked so strong finishing. She had walked 3 of the miles fast, and still finished in an hour.  I was dissapointed at the awards ceremony to learn I hadn't really won 2nd place like my race card said I had at the finish. 1st and 2nd place winners got a Lady Liberty Silver dollar.  Someone in my division had mis registered (and beat me).  So they got the coin, and I got a lousy medal (although it was ingraved 3rd Place).  Nothing is worse than coming in second, except coming in third.  If I had known the prizes were those silver dollar coins I would have pushed harder.  I love coins.  Smooth got one and I was envious.  After the race, the whole stinky RHPC crew and their families went to Marion's to eat pancakes, sausage, eggs, and fruit.  Thanks Marion for sharing your BigAss Grill. Or is it Big Gas Grill?  Either way, those pankcakes and buttermilk syrup were killer.

Had some sore tendons and a tough time getting warmed up today.  I passed Marsha and totally forgot that today was Tuesday (we were supposed to run together).  Shoot.  I forgot about labor day.  I had such a great afternoon yesterday and relaxed to a degree that I forgot all about my first two commitments/appointments of the day.  Instead, I meandered down the trail feeling the coolness in the late summer air, noticing the number of dead leaves gathering on the trail, watching the cows watch me run while they chewed their cud, and listening to the waves crash on the lake shore.  I took it very easy and thought about the things I'd asked Michelle about yesterday: pushing beyond comfort level, interval training, tempo running, high miles vs. pure talent.  I take only a mild interest in actual training.  I put much of my true running experience behind me after high school X-Country-- mostly because I have enjoy the unadultered pleasure of "jogging".  But every once in a while I think I just ought to be a little bit better at it after having done it for so many years.  But that would require running uncomfortably 2-3 times a week.  I also would be angry if I became injured while running uncomfortably.  Last year at SGM when I literally thought I'd broken my hip during the race, the only thing I could think of was out there, hypothermic in the rain was:  And now I'm never going to run again because I got vain and wanted to qualify for Boston.  I wonder if bio-mechanically I can push my body beyond it's comfort zone in combination with higher weekly mileage without injury. So far, the only ones I've ever seen do this is Smooth and Sasha.  Who as we all know, are hardly mortal.

9:40/8:39/8:54/8:58/8:32/8:38/9:23/8:29/9:43/9:03

I guess I only have 3 gears:  Slow, quick-er, and a tiny bit faster than quick-er.  The effort to achieve quick-er is incredibly uncomfortable.  Unfortunately the difference between the gears is so negligible it's discouraging.  I ran quick-er for several intervals (up to a mile) which only resulted in a few moderate returns.  I started out running along the sides of the trail on the dirt, and then down the jetti to save some pounding for the first 3-4 miles.  I got some better times once I hit pavement again.  But at some points between 4-6 I was pushing 7:40's--but the average m/m were just so unimpressive that I stopped trying very hard.  Mile 8 was easy because I used the triangles (slow, fast, faster every three).  Using the triangles on the trail makes it easy to run faster because I know I'll get a break every fourth one.  Anyway, I did this kind of interval running for most of the10 miles which makes me feel good.  I just hope that after Saturday's long run, Monday's race, and today's 10, I can hack the 22 on Saturday.   I have to have a good 20 miler or mentally I'm trapped.  I just keep thining about the taper weeks afterwards.  Will I be ready, did I do enough?  Did I push hard enough? Will my hamstrings & piriformis cooperate? 

9:37/8:32/8:44/8:58/8:30/9:10 

Met Marsha early.  I thought it would be a 'recovery run' slow and easy.  But then she started telling me more about herself and her family. She has an insane Uncle, who I won't name, who is one of richest men in America (let alone Utah).  She has had personal and family trauma, and tales of overcoming that took my breath away.  Suddenly, running side by side in the dark, we were deep into the heart of road therapy.  Anyone who runs with me knows, that nothing thrills and inspires me more, than you telling me your family history.  I always assume everyone else in the world is normal particularly when they themselves appear unassuming, unaffected, and natural (as she does).  I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this quiet stay-at-home mother of 8, who I have seen off and on for years at soccer games, had a pretty serious personal story.  It was like finding gold. I always feel so liberated when people can verbalize to me how they learned to get by, and move ahead of their family history/self-destructive tendencies.  I have a deep honor and respect for those who have had to dig themselves out of the dirt (even if the dirt doesn't seem so dirty because of money, it's still dirt).  Her youngest is 12, and now Marsha is on the verge of reinventing herself at the age of 44.  Raising kids can be such an isolating, thankless job.  But she has great genes, she's strong, and she's ready.  She's never run (except track in high school) and has no idea how much running can give to her at this stage in her life.  And I get to come along for some of the ride.

I used to not run at all the Friday before a long run.  It did make a difference in my energy level for the next day.  I've been doing 4 on Fridays, but decided to cut it back even further to a short jaunt in the park to see if it will help me tomorrow.  I've got so much going on this weekend for work (starting this minute) and I'm a little worried about whether or not I've worked my way up to 22 since I completely ruined the 17 miler two weeks ago.  If I can just get to SG whole and somewhat prepared to avert total disaster at this point.

9:42 Ave.  Catherine, Smooth, RAD, Kelli, Scott, Mark, Mark's wife, and SMOOTH came to run a variety of distances in our own Provo Canyon.  Catherine, Rad and I took off a little ahead because those two girls had to be back early.  Those poor girls ran 7 10:00 minute miles with me (of course, they were up hill against gales of headwind, but never the less).  Thanks girls, Mommy needed her cane this morning. Further along, Cath turned around at 10 and I followed Kelli up the canyon till we hit 12, and then ran back down South Fork with her to  Vivians (8:57/8:46 etc).  Met up with Smooth so she could babysit me the rest of the run.  She told me all her secrets, efficient running form, recovery, tempo/interval training. She also told me how she got to be such an amazing person :) Another one straight out of the refiner's fire.  That lady, I tell you what....On mile 21 when I was trying to maintain 9:09 she would run a little ahead and say "Can't be tired at the finish! Gotta look good!  Dig it up from deep inside you--show me what you're made of!"  To which my mind went completely blank  "What am I made of Smooth?"  She turned around waving her arms in the air and said "Gold!Titanium!Diamonds!"  So that is my new mantra, I am made of titanium and diamonds!  She also assured me that the pain of running is only temporary, but pride lasts forever.  She said "no one ever died because of the pain of running".  I wanted to tell her a lady died of a heart attack at the Moab Half Marathon....but you get the point!  I will not die of pain!  I am made of titanium!  I have advised Smooth to begin her book and to hire herself out as a personal trainer.  P.S.  She comes with a gallon of chocolate milk.  Thanks girls (and boys) for the beautiful morning.  Goin' back to Kidney Kamp now that I'm showered.  I'll tell you what, skip the Gatorade for milk.  I feel 100% right now (stretching, walking, ice bathing too).  But I really think the milk was a great recovery tool.  Love you guys!