Patrick's Blog

Met up with Nathan and took Wilson on a run. No pain in my foot. Felt good. 

Biked for an hour. Foot was hurting, had to wear the boot on the bike.

Met up with Nathan again to take Wilson. Went from my house, up south Temple to Virginia Street. Turned north up Virginia street and ran up to 11th avenue. Ran across 11th avenue, through city creek, back to south temple and home. Felt great! No foot pain. I wore my compression socks, so maybe that helped? It's fun having a training partner for this marathon. 

Nathan and I ran up South temple to 1100 east, took that to 600 south, ran up to 1200 east, over to 800 south, then pretty much just zigzagged back to my place to pick up wilson so he could run the last mile with us. I'm so glad my dog loves running! No foot pain! Definitely am getting stronger. Did weights and core when I got back to my apartment. 

Met up with Nathan for our long run. Ran from my house, up South Temple to 1300 east, across 1300 east until we got to SHP. We were at 5 miles here. Met up with Sarah! It was so fun to catch up with her. We did 2 inner laps with Sarah! It was so nice running and talking with her again. From SHP, we took 1500 east to 800 south, down to 1300 east, back to 100 south, and then ran until we hit 13.1. Finished a half block from my building, so we walked that. This is the longest I have ran at 1 time AND I had no foot pain! I think I'm finally done with this stupid broken foot! But amazing run. Stretche and rolled when we got home. I'll take an ice bath this evening. 

Legs at the gym. Super sore achilles from yesterday so Nathan and I biked 30 minutes on the stationary bike and then stretched out. Iced after. Felt good.

AM: Upper body at the gym. I can tell I am getting stronger.

PM: Met up with Nathan after work. We ran from my house, up South Temple until Virginia Street. Ran north up Virginia Street until we got to 11th avenue. 11th avenue through city creek canyon and home. Took Wilson on the run. He got the zoomies about a mile in to it so it took us a while to get him going again. Gotta love running with a puppy! Achilles hurt for the first part, but warmed up afer about 5 miles. Stretched when we got home.

Met up with Nathan for a lunchtime run. It was warm enough that Wilson was able to come also! Started at my house, ran up South Temple to 900 east. Took 900 east until 9th and 9th, then ran up to 1100 east, took that to 1300 east, down to Liberty Park and did a lap and a half inside the park, then ran back to my house along 600 east. Finished1 block from my place, so we walked the last block. Today was mentally tough because of the funeral this morning. But I am glad I got out and did the run. No foot pain and no achilles pain. After, I went to the gym and did lower body weights today. Stretched after. Good workout. 

AM: Went to the gym this morning for upper body before work. I felt very tired, but am definitely getting stronger. Slow and steady!

Took wilson on a lunch run to see how my foot feels. Felt great! No pain! Did legs at the gym. 

Did the first 6 miles of the marathon course with Nathan. Felt okay but my lunch wasn't settling well in my stomach, felt like I was going to throw up. Otherwise good run. 

Long run with Nathan. Did miles 5-20 of the marathon course. Felt great! Was getting tired by miles 13 and 14. Longest run I've ever done at once. I think this marathon training is paying off! When we got home, stretched a ton and am going to demolish a burger for dinner haha. At about mile 10, I had a weird sort of cramp in my calf? It felt like someone was stabbing my calf. Tried to stretch it out, but that hurt a ton, so we walked for about a half mile trying to just let it relax. It relaxed, then we continued, but every time we stopped at a light or something, it would take a block or so to warm back up. I am unsure if it was dehydration? Or if I need some potassium? But very weird and painful feeling. 

Took Wilson on the Sunday shakeout run with Nathan. Just ran east up south temple until 1.25 miles and then home. It was rainy :) my legs were not as tired and sore as I thought they would be! 

Met with Nathan at my house and we took Wilson on an edited 11th ave to city creek run. Instead of turning and going down City Creek Canyon, we just turned down B street and went back to my house. I have been sick for the past day and a half and today I felt well enough to run. Slow and steady run to see how I felt. Felt good during the run. Not the best now but I will be fine. When we finished, we did 7 strides to loosen up the legs and then stretched inside. 

Long run around my parents house this morning. I hate being sick. Definitely did not get my mileage for the week, but was able to get a solid effort this morning. I'm feeling more and more like myself 

Woke up this morning and was supposed to run with Nathan, but my achilles was really hurting still. So I decided to opt out of running and hit the bike. Biked for an hour. Was supposed to run 6 miles, so I did the same on the bike. Time to drive down to St. George. 

Work trip in St. George this week. I had a 3 hour lunch break, so I decided to get my run in. I was near Kayenta, Utah and it was pouring rain; it made for quite the adventure run! I started at some bed and breakfast parking lot, then I ran along a trail for about 0.75 of a mile, until the trail ended. I tried to stay on roads because of the rain, the dirt trails were pure mud. I turned around, ran back toward the car, turned on another road and ran up that until I was at like 2.5 or so? came back the same way. When I passed the car I was at 4, so I ran passed the car the opposite direction a mile and came back. It was a wet and soggy run, but it was so beautiful seeing the redrock with the rain. Minor acchilles pain, but it never got worse. I can still tell I am getting over being sick, slight headache and congested, but otherwise I feel great!

Had a 2 hour break between my classes today. I started at the school, then ran on a paved trail near the school for 3 miles out and back. It was a painful run. My achilles really was hurting. It took about 5 miles to warm up. Stretched and rolled it out a lot after then I jumped rope for a bit, trying to strengthen my calves and achilles. 

Tried new shoes on todays medium/lomg run to see if that helps with the achilles pain. New shoes worked great! No achilles pain! Nathan and I did 11.5 miles of the SLC Half Marathon course. Fun run, but it was so cold! I am so ready for warmer running weather. Now I am home trying to warm up while eating some home made soup. We stretched when we got home.

6 on the treadmill. Super sore achilles but otherwise was great! Stretched after. 

7 with Wilson and Nathan. We did the first 7 miles of the course. I took ibuprofen and wore my compression socks for my achilles and I think that is the secret formula... NO PAIN! Today was the first run in a long time without pain. Averaged 7:30. Wilson was wiped! Wahoo! Gotta love tiring out a 1 year old Great Dane puppy! 

Day off. Did legsat the gym.

Started at my house, ran a half mile, then Nathan texted me saying he got off of work, so I ran home to meet him. Then started from my house and ran on south Temple until Virginia Street. At this point it was blizzardinf and I was so tired. I don't think I ate enough because running up VS I had to stop to catch my breath and walk. I was sooooo wiped. Then took 11th Ave to city creek, through city creek to state street, down to south temple, then finished until 9. After VS, I was able to get in a groove and we were doing 7:40's, but south Temple and Virginia street we were doing 10 minute pace. I really need to work on my fuel before running. I'm glad I got out there and we had a good effort this evening. Stretched when we got home. 

Really did not want to go running today. I was not in the mindset, was super tired from a late evening last night, and just had so much to do for my work trip tomorrow, but Nathan convinced me to go for a medium long run. Started at my house, ran to the trax station, took that up to the U, then ran to the museum so I could pick up my work car and stuff I need for my work trip, then drove the van back to my place, continued the run after. That little detour took much longer than I thought it would... but after we started again at my house and ran to SHP, did a lap around, ran down to 1100 east, took that a while, then ran down to 900 east, ran that a while, then down to 800 east and ran that home. These long runs are getting easier. I'm so glad Nathan got me out the door. I wish we could've gone further, but it was already 7:30 at this point and I still have stuff I need to do before I leave tomorrow morning at 5am. 

Last long run before the marathon! Met up with Nathan on this beautiful Easter morning for our last long run of training. We basically did miles 5-26 of the Marathon course and then finished the last mile running back to my house. I am surprised how good I felt? I did not get much running in last week due to the work trip. We brought 4 gu's on the run and the stopped at mile 8 and roughly 18 for water at gas stations that we ran by. The last 4 miles my legs were getting pretty tired, but they felt good! Took Wilson on a couple of walks throughout the day to hopefully work some of the lactic acid out, stretched after the run, and elevated my legs after the run. 13 days until the marathon!

Took Wilson and Nathan on a lunch time run. We started at NHMU, then ran the shriners run from high school, hopped on 11th avenue and took that home. It was really fun running through the U with my dog, he was so intrigued by all of the people. No achilles or knee pain! I officially have marathon legs, they did not warm up until mile 5. Going to yoga tonight to stretch them out. 

Last long run before the marathon! Nathan and I went on an adventure run, we zigzagged through the avenues, then took the shriners run and then did the foothill loop, up passed the zoo and then in the foothills, then took sugarhouse back to my place. This was the hilliest run we have done and it felt really good! No foot pain, no achilles or knee pain. We even through in some 7:30's the last 3-4 miles. We are feeling ready for the marathon!

Last run before the marathon. Nathan and I took Wilson out 2 miles along South Temple and back. Super easy, felt great! We are ready!

Marathon day! After an incredibly stressful previous 48 hours, it is time to race. Nathan and I showed up at the starting line ready to go. We hopped on the 3:50 pacer right at the start. The first 4-5 miles just flew by. It ws so nice. The pace was feeling great and it was feeling easy. By mile 6-7 I am still smiling, speaking with the crowd, having a great conversation with the pacer and Natha. Mile 9 we took our first gu and grabbed 2 more from the aid station. The half marathoners split off from here. As we were going up Garfield, I could tell my legs were getting a smidge tired, but still felt great. At this point we had a good group of 6 guys all going for sub 3:50. We make the lap around sugarhouse park. At mile 11 someone yells "you are almost there" and the pacer goes "no we are not, do not let that get in your head. We still have a lot of miles to go" and that just made me laugh. At mile 12 we took our second gu. Going through the halfway point, Nathan needs the restroom, so we stop for him to use the bathroom. Starting again, my legs were tired but still on pace. By mile 15 or 16, I got this pinch in my shoulder, something I have never felt before. I tried stretching it while running, massaging it, nothing would work. It is hurting so bad. My parents were at mile 18 and that gave us a boost of energy to keep going. Mile 19 we take our third gu. We walked up the hill at mile 20 on Highland Drive trying to massage out my shoulder. Still, nothing is working. Going down 2700 south, I knew we were getting close, but I just couldnt move my left arm. At this point, I am just running while holding on to my shoulder. When we finally get to Liberty Park, I see Kayla and Jay cheering for us which helped so much! Then we turned down to the finish line, and we started sprinting just to be done. I saw that 4 hour mark pass and I was super bummed, but again, I did just finish my first marathon!

A few things I would have done different! 

1. I wish we did 2 more 22 milers, I do not think we had enough miles under our legs. It was hard because for the first 6 weeks of training, I had to bike because of my broken foot.
2. I wish I strengthened my shoulder. Maybe have done some weighted arm swings? Any advice???
3. Do not waste as much energy in the early miles weaving in and out of people, just tuck behind the pacer and run.

Overall it was an amazing experience and I am excited to do it again!

First run post marathon. Met up with Nathan with Wilson and went on a lunch 3 mile run. It felt good to get out running again. Legs felt a bit heavy, but that is expected after taking some time off. Just went out 1.5 and back on South Temple. We are discussing our summer training schedule and racing schedule. Good things coming! Excited for some fast races.