Terry's Running Blog

Morning run, little windy, temp. 50'

It was a wonderful temperature for running.  I took it very easy.  I was tired and it took my body about 3 miles to wake up and feel like it wanted to go.  I resisted the urge to push the pace the last 3 miles.  I think if I'd catch up on my sleep I'd be ready to run the relay.  My tendon-bum-itis felt much better than Saturday. 

Miles 6.0,  Time 46:55,  Mile Avg. 7:49

I then ran a mile with Dallas in 7:30

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Noon run, no wind, sunny, temp. 75'

I took it easy except for one mile.  I felt good.  All systems go for the relay.  I ran the 3rd mile in 6:05.

Miles 5.1, Time 38:48,  Mile Avg. 7.37

Noon run, sunny, breezy, temp. 90'

I felt pretty good today.  It was hot like it will be for the relay.  Verdon should require the relay runners in van #2 to bring something to sit on after there run to soak up the sweat.  I ran 2 faster miles in the middle of the run at 6:45 miles.

Time 54:40,  Mile Avg. - 7:36

Noon run, sunny, windy, temp 95'

I took the some of the youth to a pioneer handcart trek near Evanston, WY this morning.  It was fun to see them dressed up in pioneer clothing.  I got to drive by my 21st leg in the relay.  I wanted to get out and run it but I resisted the urge.   

I felt very good today dispite the heat.  I ran all the miles easy except at mile 5.5 I ran a fast mile in 5:55 wind aided.  I may run a mile with my son tomorrow but thats about it until the relay.

Time 54:30,  Mile Avg. - 7:34 

Morning run with Dallas, no wind, temp. 60'

Legs are ready for a relay.  If I could just get enough sleep.

Time 12:10,  Mile Avg. - 8.07

I ran the 9th leg of the race.  I was on the team "2 slow 2 win, 2 dumb 2 quit".  It was an awesome team.  I didn't know what to expect with the relay expericence because this was my 1st.  I was nervious that if I went to hard my legs would be dead for the last leg.  I threw caution to the wind and went out hard.  My predicted time was 6:14 miles and I ended up with 6:12 miles.  It was hard not having other people around to race against but knowing that I was on a team trying to do our best but still have fun I was able to push it.  I couldn't even see anyone in front of me until I'd run about a mile and a half.  I finally caught my only roadkill of the 1st leg with about a half mile to go.  He had on his headphones and didn't hear me coming and he about jumped out of his shorts when I passed him. 

I did enjoy hearing that comments give to me by my teamates.  The said that the volunteers when they saw me shoot out of the exchange said, "wow, he is going fast, can he keep that up the whole way?" in which my teamates said "we think he can". 

It was fun handing out water and watching the other guys run.  I enjoyed watching Verdons race againts two skinny women up the canyon.  He held them off on the way up the canyon but when he summited the mountain and headed down one of them caught him. 

See next day for the rest of the race

We finished our van assignment and drove to Rockport Resivour where we found the traffic jam that took us an extra 20 minutes.  Some of us headed over to get the Fazoli's pasta.  I was a little worried that it was only 3.5 hours until my next leg but it was good.  Then we put out our sleepings bags and tried to sleep for just over an hour.  I was supprised that I was able to go to sleep for part of the time with all the people milling around and the vans coming in and out. 

I was a little nervous about running in the dark on a country road with only a head lamp.  But the fisrt 2 runners got good times and seem fine with it.  I was supprised how well the headlamp worked.  I want one of those toys.  My predicted time was 40:40 and I ended up within seconds of that time.  The cool are was much nicer to run in than the heat of last evening.  My first two miles went by fast and I was feeling good, thinking I'd end up with a sub 40 minute run.  Then I started tasting Fazoli's and my stomach got a little quizzy.  I slowed down and soon I felt better so I sped back up and then I felt quizzy again so I slowed back down and did this the rest of the way.  I also want a garmin watch so I'll be cool like the other relay members and so I know how far I've gone since the only marker was the 1 mile to go marker.  I passed about 4 people on my second leg

We then went to Park City and showered and tried to sleep.  The shower felt good but the bed felt better.  If it wasn't for the drunk man we'd have gotten more sleep. 

Our last van assignment was the funnest in the fact that we got to pass many of the runners that started in the morning on Friday.  I think Tom won with 50+ passes.  My last leg didn't start so well.  I was 30 seconds late to the exchange zone.  My last leg was the "You've got to be kidding me" leg.  It was 3.6 miles with an elevation change of almost +1500 feet.  My predicted time was 31:40 and I ran a 34:40.  I was pushing hard but I wasn't mentally tough enough to get my predicted time.  It was difficult pushing youself hard and only going half the speed that that effort usually produces.  I know I didn't push hard enough because I was hardly sore on Sunday and not sore at all on Monday.  I probably pass about 20 runners with about half of them walking.  Verdon did a good job driving.  They gave me water to splash over my head several times. 

Will I do it again next year.  Yes!