Patience; the new endurance sport.

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!

I am so disgusted with my run today I don't even want to blog about it.  I am overwhelmed with negative thoughts in this moment.  So I think I'll skip it.  At least the weather is clear and beautiful.  And my overall health is good enough to be outside doing something physical in comfortable weather. I can, I can, I can, can, can-- maybe not today though.

I'm not sure if running on the treadmill counts as real running or not.  But I feel like my legs and lower back need a break.  They are not injured or in real pain, as much as fatigued.  I've been bouncing back fairly well from the long runs-- that is until this one on Saturday.  It did me in.  I took it easy on Monday, but had such a terrible run yesterday, I settled on the treadmill today hoping it will leave me feeling fresh.  Josse told me that it uses different muscles and changes your gait --which right now may be a good thing.  But I do like  forcing myself into/holding a specific pace.  I remembered today that for me, I always peak 2 months into training. I remembered how in Cross Country,  I  had to be careful that my level of fitness/training peaked around the same time as regionals/state.  One year, I was so excited for the season, I started training early, and peaked mid-season and ended with shin splints. But that was almost 25 years ago and I've forgotten about all that.  I probably shouldn't have tried to so hard this summer and should have focused on peaking in October.  I just took for granted that I'd get better, and better.  But hey, I did get a gold medal on Pioneer Day! I may not win anything again until, by process of elimination I take the 80-85 age division by storm. 

I spent a lot of time whining out loud as I tried to keep an 8:36 m/m pace (a 7 setting) for 5 straight miles.  I jumped onto the the sides of the treadmill (10second at a time to catchmybreath) more times than I'd like to admit here.  And, I sure sweat up a crazy storm.  Isn't that a pretty image?  An out of breath, sweaty mess, crying on the treadmill. I'm a true champion.  Scraping anyone?  Geeze, I am such a baby.   But hey, on the bright side, I felt I got a really good work out without all the impact.  So that part feels good. Tommorrow I think I'll hit the ground  and see what I can do for a few miles. But I'm focusing on a great 14 miles on Saturday.  I have to say, the treadmill has made a big difference to my overall level of fatigue....and then I noticed the tiny tear in the belt.  If that thing tears before Oct. 4th I'm going ballistic. 

I don't know what's with the sleeping.  Sometimes it just doesn't come.  I had no time today at all, and so I did this  run as quick as I could.  My shirt kept brushing my Garmin and I forgot to lock the bezel, so it kept shutting it off.  Why does that always happen when I'm making record time on a run!  Happy Friday!  Can't wait for "ONLY" 14 miles tommorrow!

At least I slept well, but both Catherine and I were still feeling wobbely and stiff every time we had to stop (drink, tie shoes, etc).  I really hope my legs get back to feeling as strong as they did before all the abductor, hip flexor, hamstring, hip and psychdrama began.  But running 14 today, despite the effort it took, felt pretty strong.  It's nice not to have to 'recover' from a Saturday run.  It's been too many Saturdays in a row running hard.  So right now I'm feeling fresh as a daisy.  Keep it coming.