Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

December 21, 2024

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Location:

Fort Collins,CO,

Member Since:

May 15, 2003

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Local Elite

Running Accomplishments:

Unaided PR's:
5K: 14:48 (Track - 2001)
10K: 30:45 (Track - 2001)
10K: 31:32 (Bolder Boulder - 2013)
Half Marathon: 1:06:09 (Duluth - 2013)
Marathon: 2:17:54 (Grandma's) - 2014)
Marathon: 2:19:47 (Indianapolis Monumental - 2013)
Marathon: 2:19:49 (Indianapolis Monumental - 2010)

Aided PR's:
10K: 29:38 (Des News - 2011)
Half Marathon: 1:05:30 (TOU Half - 2011)
Marathon: 2:18:09 (St George - 2007)
Marathon: 2:17:35 (Boston - 2011)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis in June of 2008. Started taking Enbrel in March, 2009.

Run as much as I can, and race as well as I can. Make the most of however much time I have left as an able-bodied runner.

Training for the 2018 Colorado Marathon

Long-Term Running Goals:

  Run until I'm old, and then run some more. Stand tall.

Personal:

1 wife, 2 kids. 1 cat. Work as a GIS Specialist/Map Geek

Endure and persist; this pain will turn to your good. - Ovid

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. - Romans 5:1-5

 

 

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Saucony Trail Shoe Lifetime Miles: 247.50
Hoka Clifton Lifetime Miles: 491.50
Saucony Type A6 Lifetime Miles: 186.50
Saucony Zealot Lifetime Miles: 478.75
Saucony Kinvara 6 Lifetime Miles: 433.50
Saucony Kinvara 6-2 Lifetime Miles: 358.75
Brooks Pure Connect Blue Lifetime Miles: 337.25
New Balance Trainers Lifetime Miles: 314.50
New Balance 1400 Racers Lifetime Miles: 65.00
Brook Pureflow Lifetime Miles: 99.50
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesCrosstraining milesTotal Miles
1.500.000.000.000.001.50

This makes my trip to Denver that much sweeter:

Packers 19, Denver 13

A little YouTube clip for everyone's enjoyment:

On to running. I'll try to give a little bit more detail to what I'm doing and thinking over these next several days. This afternoon my boss and I are flying to Denver for a meeting tomorrow. Obviously traveling like this before a big race is not ideal, but Denver is a very easy flight (1-hr), plus I will not have to do any driving, so can just sit back and nap.

I am essentially taking today "off". I slept in until almost 8AM, then jogged around the block with the dog this morning, and will jog another mile or so this evening in Denver, just to shake out the flight. Wednesday will be 8-9 miles, Thursday will be 5-6 miles, and Friday will be 3 miles.

I get back to SLC from Denver around 6PM tomorrow (unless we catch an earlier flight). Rather than waste time and energy driving home (1.5 hours), and then driving back to SLC in the morning, Stacy is going to pick me up at the airport, and we will be staying with Mike K for the night. This makes our 9AM flight on Thursday very very easy, plus I will be able to get a run in before I leave without having to get up early. I think with proper napping, hydration, and diet, the travel will not take much out of me. I think most of "travel fatigue" may just be related to dehydration and poor eating. I've run well after business trips in the past, so am not too concerned.

The hardest part about Trials isn't just the race, but also the logistics. There is sooo much to do: check-in, chiropractic, massage, pick up per diem money, technical meetings, fluid bottle drop-off, course tours, shuttle around to and fro, etc., not to mention getting in my nap! I ended up making an hour-by-hour daily schedule spreadsheet that lays out when and where I need to be places. Doing this made my head stop spinning, and definitely made me feel a lot better and more organized going into this big weekend in a huge, unfamiliar city. I suppose if I could run 6 or 8 minutes faster, I would have an agent doing all this for me, but now it's up to me!

PM - ate dinner, and got into our hotel a little bit before 9PM. I went for an easy 1 mile run in the dark, just to shake the legs out. Felt pretty good. It is a very warm night here in Denver. Shorts and a t-shirt were comfortable.

Comments
From ArmyRunner on Tue, Oct 30, 2007 at 11:51:31

Paul,

It looks like you have a pretty good plan. Just in case you are too busy to blog for awhile I just want to wish you the best. I hope you enjoy the experience and have a blast. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. I know I will be excited to hear the results and read your blog when you get back.

From jtshad on Tue, Oct 30, 2007 at 12:11:11

I want to echo Ted's note above and wish you the best of luck and most of all hope you have the time of your life!

From Sean on Tue, Oct 30, 2007 at 12:43:35

Paul,

A group of guys from the Northwest are getting together Friday morning to do one 5-mile loop around central park. Nothing fast. Just a normal easy run, but let me know if you or Logan or anyone else would like to join us. It will be good to get a feel for the loop. Cell phone is 425-922-5844.

Hope to see you in NYC.

From Jon on Tue, Oct 30, 2007 at 18:28:45

Ya know, I've been happy for you each week as the Packers have won. But not this week. I can't believe my Broncos lost last night. First the Rockies, now the Broncos. Is there no love in the world???

Go kick some major elite butt in NYC! And we expect a blog race report within 30 minutes of when you finish! (just kidding)

From Cody on Tue, Oct 30, 2007 at 22:29:48

I have complete faith in your ability to execute. You have paid your dues and you are ready to roll. I will be watching every moment of the race from the luxury of my house, but just know that the blog (especially the Logan chapter) is cheering for you.

Wow, that was kind of mushy. Very uncharacteristic of me. Errr. 'Grunt' 'Burp' 'scratch'

Thats better.

From Bethany on Tue, Oct 30, 2007 at 23:05:42

Another good luck cheer from the Draper household. We will be glued to the TV/internet. You can do it!!!

PS, So it takes making it to the Olympic trials to get some love from Cody...good to know.

From Dustin on Tue, Oct 30, 2007 at 23:17:15

I'm with Jon on this one as another Colorado native it has been a tough sports week.

But more importantly best of luck at the trails. You have really been an inspiration for many of us on the blog.

I'm confident you will have a great race and a great time.

From Clay on Wed, Oct 31, 2007 at 14:00:44

Best of luck paul, you are inspiration to me and alot of other runners, and I look for you to do very well at the race.

Take care.

From Mik'L on Wed, Oct 31, 2007 at 20:04:40

Good luck Paul! You already made it and that's amazing enough, but I know you'll do great. Enjoy it and remember everything so you can post the longest race report ever since half the guys on the blog will be living vicariously through you on Saturday!

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