Rob Murphy

Three easy miles plus a strength/weight/core workout at the gym.

Seven miles on the treadmill with 5 x 1/4 mile harder efforts. 2 at marathon pace. 3 at 5:30 pace.

The new Foo Fighters album (that's right, I still say album) is really good. Also, The Smithereens have a new one out as well which sounds exactly like The Smithereens in the 80s so that's a good thing. Of course The Cars also have their first new album out in 20 something years but I've only listened to samples on I Tunes. I'll probably get it though since they were a staple of every single party I ever went to in college. I'm always hoping for a Replacements reunion but that will probably never happen.

Taper week so not much running to report on. Might ramble on about other topics.

Super fabulous 8 mile run in the gully. Felt great.

Heading back down to Sandy for the school board meeting to link arms with my union brothers and sisters to fight the power.

4 miles.

1st mile easy, next two in 11:45, last mile easy but with two accelerations up to 5 minute pace.

My standard day off two days before a marathon.

I'm coughing now. My family have all been sick all week and I have been able to avoid it. Now I'm worried. 

Easy treadmill run. Three and a quarter with three faster 1/4 mile efforts.

Sat in the sauna for a while after to try to sweat the crud out of my system. 

Had a hard time at the Ogden Marathon today. Right on pace through the half (1:19) then jogged the last half.

No fluid would absorb from my stomach. I would drink and it was just staying in my stomach sloshing around. Then I would throw it up (twice) and feel better for a while but I knew it's not a good thing to be throwing up in a marathon.This was a really hard race for me. I don't think one positive thought went through my mind the entire way.I need to assess my attitude and mental prep for a marathon.

Finished sixth overall and, because Steve Anderson finished second they gave me the masters. I ran alone the whole way. My goal the last ten miles was to run as slow as possible and still hang on to sixth place.

Steve and his kids are coming over to the Marriot to swim now. The $275 I won covers my entry fee and the hotel.

One more thing... I'm not sure why, but there was a pretty high drop out rate today. Durning the last 10 miles I passed three guys who had been running well into the top 10. They were all walking or standing by the side of the course rubbing their hamstrings. I was thinking if five more dropped out I could win with a 2:50!

Oh yeah... once again. the course was about a quarter mile long. Also, at one of the water stops I drained my cup and, on the run, did an around the back toss from about 10 feet and got my cup in the trash box on a really high, looping arc. Got a great round of applause from all the race workers. This may have been the highlight of my race.

Also, hats off to Fritz who easily won the whole thing. What a tough marathoner he is.