Every Race is an Adventure!

Another beautiful morning! Lindon loop (6 miles) with Larry and Wayne. I pushed mile 4 in 7:04 but the remaining miles were at an easy pace.

Larry, Wayne, Kevin and I ran the 2000 N route this morning. Kevin was pushing the hill pretty hard and got ahead of us. I decided to try to catch him. I did, but it wasn't easy. It looks like he's still got his uphill running legs. I ran the rest of the run at an easy pace. Wayne and Kevin pushed ahead a couple of times and then waited for Larry and me.

Larry, Wayne and I ran the water tank hills this morning. It was another beautiful morning. The mountains seem unusually green this spring. I usually like to pushed hills and then push again the last mile home, but not today. I was content with an easy pace and conversation.

My left foot has been feeling a little weak this week, with some twinges of pain a couple of times on Monday. It hasn't bothered me while running, but I've decided to not press my luck this week and just keep the pace easy.

Larry, Wayne, and Kevin and I ran the route towards Provo Canyon. I kept wanting to run faster, but my left foot has been sending warning signals so I've been taking it easy. On the way back Wayne and I doubled back to wait for Kevin (who had stopped at a bathroom) and then we all pushed until we caught Larry at 800 E.

After we crossed 800 E on 1200 N (going west) Wayne started pulling ahead. I asked Kevin and Larry if either of them wanted to chase Wayne, but they left it to me. I pushed up to sub-7:00 pace and was closing the gap when Wayne stopped at 400 E and started walking back towards me. It turns out he was only planning to push to that point then rejoin us. I motioned for him to keep going and caught him as he got back up to speed. We then pushed the last mile or so home. My foot actually felt better running faster. I guess that makes sense...more efficient stride, less pounding...and gets the run done faster so less time on feet.

I got up early with the intent to run but I thought about some important things I needed to get done and felt impressed to do them instead and rest my foot for Saturday's run.

Larry, Wayne, Kevin and I ran the Provo Canyon to Vivian route, joined by Kerry and Nathan. We left around 5:30am. When Larry, Kevin and I arrived Wayne, Kerry, and Nathan were already there. As they got out of their cars Nathan's first words were, "You guys are crazy!", referring to the time of day. I tried to assure him he wouldn't regret it.

We all ran pretty much together at an easy pace the first 3 or 4 miles, then Kerry, Nathan and I pulled ahead a little. Mile splits going up were: 9:37, 9:34, 9:24, 9:35, 9:02, 8:44

After a bathroom stop, we started with Larry and Kevin on the way back. Wayne had turned back after 5 miles. He's tapering for the Teton Dam marathon next week and also had somewhere to be this morning. Nathan and Kerry start to pull ahead and Larry and Kevin told me to go ahead and run with them. I get to run with Larry and Kevin all the time.

Nathan, Kerry and I gradually increased to around a 7:25/mi pace. I told them about my recent pattern of pushing the two miles from Nunns to Timpanogos (and the fountain). As we rose out of Nunns the pace quickly quickened. I was thinking of pushing to about a 7:00/mi pace, but Nathan and I were soon running at a 6:30/mi pace. When we realized it he offered to back off a little but I said I'd like to hold it as long as I could. We finished the first mile in 6:36. Nathan was still cruising but I was slowing so I cut him loose. He ended up running the second mile in 6:15; I was please with my 6:52.

Mile splits coming back were: 8:42, 8:03, 7:28, 6:36, 6:52, 7:28

We ran back to meet Kerry who wasn't far behind. Nathan went on to meet Larry and Kevin while I ran in with Kerry. After chatting with him a bit, I headed back up the trail again. It wasn't long before I saw Larry, Kevin and Nathan coming. Colby Wight was a little ahead of them and stopped to talk to me about the UVM he's running next week (I ran it last year). I ended up running in with him just a little ahead of the other guys. Nathan head on down towards Wil's Pit Stop for some miles. He's sure running well...and I think he now better appreciates 5:30am runs. It was beautifully awesome this morning. I can't think of a better way to start the day...early morning, great weather, nature's beauty, good buddies, and an exhilirating run.

I retired my old Saucony Guides today at 530 miles. The heels are worn pretty badly. I ordered new ones a couple of weeks ago, but they haven't arrived yet. This morning I decided to try out the Saucony Guide TR trail shoes I bought a few weeks ago. I'd never run in trail shoes so I didn't know what to expect.

I didn't see anyone at either of the "meetin' corners" this morning. Maybe they didn't recognize me as I forgot my hat. I always run with a hat and I missed it...especially when it started raining a little and my glasses started getting wet.

Since I ended up running solo, I decided to try out the shoes on the canal road. I headed west to 400 W then north through Lindon until I got on the canal road and headed SE. I decided I had time and inclination to go a little farther than the normal 6 miles this morning so I went all the way down to 800 N on the canal road, then doubled back up to 2000 N then west down to 280 W and our normal route home from there...a total of 10 miles.

I didn't go very fast (about 9:25/mi overall). I liked the feel of the shoes...no pokey rocks...although they did feel a little heavier. I ran 10 miles then walked the dog, thinking about how comfortable the shoes were.

I ran the 2000 N route with Larry, Wayne and Kevin. I threw in a half mile or so fartlek section, but mostly just ran at an easy pace. It's always good getting out with the guys.

Larry, Kevin and I ran the water tank hills this morning. Since there was a chance I'd be running the marathon this Saturday I took it very easy and cut it a little short.

It was great to see Kent out this morning. He quit running a couple of years ago, but his daughter is training for the St. George marathon this year so he's back and is planning to run it with her.

Well, it looks like I'm in the Utah Valley Marathon. I got email confirmation last night and another packet pickup information email this morning. Lyle and Cory were 99% sure they could get me in through a sponsor entry, and I had also emailed Hyrum about his offer from many months ago to let me run for free as a training run. I'm not quite sure which of them got me in, but I'm in. [I just noticed Lyle left a voice mail last night confirming he had got me in.]

I'm really excited to run UVM again. I'm not quite sure why, since I went out way too fast last year and didn't enjoy the last 6 or 8 miles much at all. I think mostly it's the course calling me, especially with the changes this year (more canyon, no Timpview climb or airport dirt road). I'm also looking forward to running a relaxed marathon. With the relay next Friday, I plan to run an easy training pace at the marathon. The primary goal is to enjoy the marathon while beating up my body as little as possible so I have the best chance at being fully recovered for the relay.

I only went an easy 5K this morning with Larry and Kent before turning back. I guess now I need to focus on resting and eating carbs.

Some of you may question the wisdom of running a marathon 6 days before the Ragnar Relay. I know I do, which is why I wasn't planning to run UVM even through I really wanted to. As I think of why I decided at the last minute to do it, various thoughts come to mind: 1) faith over fear, 2) no guts, no glory, 3) you only live once, 4) Get Out And Live (GOAL - from Ogden marathon), and 5)  Vivir con miedo, es como vivir a medias! (A life lived in fear is a life half lived. - Strictly Ballroom). Some other sayings that also come to mind: 1) time will tell, 2) hindsight is 20-20, and 3) the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

NOTE (on pudding quote): "It is worth remembering that, as the phrase is quite old, the pudding wouldn't have been a sticky toffee pudding from the sweet trolley, but a potentially fatal savoury dish. ...THE OED describes the mediaeval pudding as 'the stomach or one of the entrails of a pig, sheep, or other animal, stuffed with a mixture of minced meat, suet, oatmeal, seasoning, etc., and boiled'. ...Mediaeval peasants, faced with a boiled up farmyard massacre, might have thought a taste test to have been a wise choice."

Comparing running a marathon six days before a 24 hour 180 mile relay race to eating a "potentially fatal boiled up farmyard massacre" may be a good analogy. I'm hoping for a delicious sausage breakfast.

Last year I ran the inaugural UVM in 3:30 and finished 13th overall and 2nd in my AD. This year I ran the UVM in 3:50 and finished 112th overall and 11th in my AD, and I'm happy about it.

As I mentioned in my blog earlier this week, on Tuesday I heard about a possible opportunity to get a free entry via a sponsor, and by Thursday I was in. I really wanted to run UVM again this year, but with the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay the following Friday/Saturday I didn't want to beat myself up too badly. The free entry allowed me the luxury of treating it as just a long training run...no pressure to run fast.

I'm happy about 3:50 because it shows that I kept to my plan to run the race at a slower pace. I won't mention that, like some other bloggers race reports described their last 5-8 miles, from roughly mile 20 on felt a little like a death march. In other words, I was no longer running a slower pace by choice.

I was running a slower pace by choice at the beginning. In fact, I decided to be one of the last runners to start and run from the back as a new experience. (I love chip timing.) I decided to make a last minute pit stop and the race actually started while I was still sitting in a portapotty. I wasn't worried. I finished up and just walked to the starting line. I almost delayed too long (2 minutes 45 seconds). Just before I crossed the start they yelled to a few runners behind me that they were about to pull up the timing mats.

I forgot to turn off the auto-pause on my watch, so the following splits do not include a 1+ minute potty break about mile 9 (ran into Canyon View park restrooms, much needed, wouldn't have made it much farther), and a stop to talk with Tom Lee at Geneva Rd. (he had to drop out because of a bad migraine...dang!...and he's been running so well...he can't seem to get a break in a marathon).

My mile splits were roughly: 9:20 (easy start, uphill), 7:59, 7:32, 7:54, (passing people, downhill), 8:39 (uphill), 8:04, 8:11, 8:04, (still passing people), 8:45 (pit stop), 7:56 (out of the canyon), 8:21, 8:41, 8:21, 8:21, 8:42, 8:44, 8:42, (slower on the level, but still a pretty steady pace), 8:52 (talked to Tom, met Larry on his bike who rode with me the rest of the way - unplanned, unexpected, much appreciated - as you can see from the following splits I was quickly running out of gas), 8:47, 8:54, 9:04, 9:12, 9:38, 9:36, 9:27, 9:44, 7:45/mi for 0.2 (I was pleased to have enough juice left for a decent kick; similar to Ogden last month I simply willed myself to the front of the group of 5 or 6 runners ahead of me - one still barely beat me).

I enjoyed talking with a number of friends/runners after the race...after I downed about 6 cups of Gatorade. The day seemed really humid, especially at the beginning. My glasses kept fogging up the first 8 or 9 miles. Although I hydrated well during the race, I think I was slightly dehydrated by the end.

My chief goal was to leave my body in good enough shape to recover in time for the Ragnar Relay on Friday/Saturday. I'm optimistic that I met that goal. I have a little soreness in my left foot/ankle (which has been there for many months), but I soaked my legs in our above ground backyard pool (which is still really cold since the weather hasn't been hot) and I feel pretty good...good enough to agree to some mall shopping with Karen and the girls this afternoon. I think Verdon (a relay teammate), who was watching his son in the marathon, was a little surprised to see me run by. He good naturedly (I think) yelled that I was supposed to be tapering for the relay. When I saw him at the finish and told him I ran 3:50, he seemed confident that I had not overdone and could recover. Like I said, I'm optimistic. I feel pretty good. I ran the Ogden marathon last month 14 minutes faster than today's marathon and felt like pushing my training again by the following Wednesday. Time will tell.

Last year I ran the 1st UVM because it is in my backyard, I wanted to support it, and I thought it would be cool to say 10 or 20 years from now that I had run every one of them since it started. The goal is still intact...2 down, many to go.

I ran the Tuesday 2000 N route with Larry, Wayne and Kevin this morning. Wayne and I had both run marathons on Saturday. We weren't fast, but for three days after a marathon I thought we ran pretty well.

My legs don't quite feel like running race pace yet, but I don't feel any stiffness or soreness from the marathon. I'm confident that by Friday evening I'll be ready for my first leg in the relay. I think I'll run a few easy miles tomorrow to keep my legs loose then take Thursday off.

My new Saucony Guide 2s finally arrived. I wore them walking around on Saturday but ran in them for the first time this morning. They feel great.

I ran part of the water tank hills route with Larry, Wayne and Kent this morning. I ran the 1.2 miles to the base of the first hill then walked up the hills while they ran then rejoined them on their way down.

Walking the hills alone in the early morning was nice. I enjoyed viewing the cloud-covered mountain peaks, the beautiful valley and lake, the unusually verdant (nice word, huh? - I think it means green) hillsides, and the colorful wildflowers.

On the way back I stopped to fix my shoe. As I sped up to catch up I decided to just keep going. I didn't push hard, but just tried to run efficiently and keep my momentum focused forward on the comfortable downhill from the old WordPerfect buildings down to Main Street. I was pleased to see I averaged 7:25/mi for that mile. I can tell my legs aren't quite 100% yet, but I felt no lingering aches or pains from Saturday's marathon. I don't plan to run tomorrow or on Friday before my first leg around 7:00pm. I'm confident that I'll be able to run at least the first two legs fairly well. The real test will be my third leg, the long gradual uphill around noon on Saturday...but then the third leg is always an adventure.

I'm looking forward to the relay!

I ran leg 8 of the Wasatch Back Relay about 7:00pm. It didn't seem overly warm until I started running, but with this cool spring I haven't done much heat running and with the temperature in the 70-80 range it quickly seemed quite warm.

This was a short 3.4 mile leg rated easy. It was level to slightly downhill for two miles then gained about 150 ft. in the last 1.5 miles of gradual uphill. My mile splits were: 6:48 (adrenalin), 7:11 (heat), 8:00 (uphill), 7:36/mi for last 0.4 (kick). I passed 10 other runners and was not passed.

I'll log my other two legs in tomorrow's entry.

Continuation of the Wasatch Back Relay...

After our first set of legs we went to Morgan High School, ate their spaghetti dinner, and tried to grab a little sleep on their wrestling mats.

Leg 20, 7.0 miles, Moderate, about 3:00am

The temperature was about 60' with a bit of a cool breeze. With no moon yet, it was dark and the stars were clearly visible. This was a downhill leg that dropped about 950 ft. over 6.5 miles with a slight uphill the last 0.5 mile.

I enjoyed every step of this leg from the very beginning. I commented to everyone of the 19 runners I passed, except maybe the last two as I was kicking for the exchange, on how beautiful the run was. Those who replied agreed.

Mile splits were: 6:40 (some stiffness in right hip), 6:14 (loosened up), 6:04 (too fast? but fun), 6:55 (leveling some), 6:39, 7:39 (leveling more, some fatigue), 7:48, 6:46/mi for last 0.1. I passed 19 runners and was not passed.

After this leg I ate a peanut butter sandwich and some other food I brought. After our second set of legs we headed to exchange 30 in Heber to await our final legs. There was some sporadic light rain that prevented sleeping on the grass, so we tried to get a little rest getting as comfortable as we could in the team van. I'm not sure I got much real sleep at all.

Karen and my two youngest daugthers were coming up to watch my third leg. As I talked to her on the phone she mentioned heavy wind and then heavy rain in the valley. We could see it coming, and during the leg before mine it hit pretty hard. During my leg it let up, but then it hit again during some of the later legs, and seemed to settle for good just after we finished. It rained very hard on the drive home.

Leg 32, 6.1 miles, Moderate

The best part of this leg was seeing Karen, Emily and Amy along the way. They weren't expecting so soon and weren't ready with the cameras when I first passed so they drove up ahead and tried again. This time all three of them were out of the car, one with a video camero and the other two with still cameras. I crossed the street to greet them and felt like a celebrity with the papperazi snapping photos.

This leg gradually climbs uphill the whole way, with the steepest climb right at the end. My mile splits were: 7:10 (Karen & the girls), 7:46, 8:08, 8:25, 8:34, 8:47, 7:10/mi for last 0.1. I was worried about this leg. With the last minute decision to run the marathon last Saturday, I was concerned that if I hadn't fully recovered this is where it would hit me hardest. Despite the gradually slowing splits on this leg, I actually felt fairly strong, and had enough for a brief kick at the end. I passed 32 other runners and was not passed.

So over the three legs, if I counted correctly, I passed 61 other runners and was not passed. I may have done better without the marathon the week before, but I really don't think so. My legs hurt less before leg three, and better during leg three, than they have in my previous 5 WBRs.

Over all I really enjoyed the relay again. The heavy rain at the end put a damper on things, but worse than that was the horrible parking arrangements at the finish. It took forever to get in and out. They really need to fix that. It left a really sour taste in my mouth after an otherwise delicious relay.

I forgot to set my alarm last night so I woke up late for running this morning. I went out about 30 minutes late and ran the Monday route in the reverse direction, figuring I'd meet up with whoever ran this morning. I ran two miles out and back alone.

I only averaged about a 10:15/mi pace this morning. My legs felt relatively good on Saturday after the relay, but Sunday my calves were a little tight and sore. I think the 4 mile jog this morning loosened them up again. Considering the marathon two weeks ago followed by the relay this past weekend my legs feel relatively good. With hopefully better weather on the way, I think maybe it's time to kick the training up a notch...as work/family schedules permit.

I ran the 2000 N route with Larry, Wayne, and Kent. Wayne and I pushed up the big hill. Later we double backed up the hill to find Larry's dog Ozzie then pushed a little to catch back up with Larry and Kent. The rest of the run was just at an easy pace.

What a beautiful time of year. The weather has been absolutely perfect the past couple of days. With the wet spring, everything is green and beautiful. I can't think of much that is better than an early morning run with good friends on a day like today.

It's Wednesday so Larry, Wayne, Kent and I ran the water tank hills. I'm trying to step things up a bit so I pushed up the hills, and Wayne wasn't far behind. I ran the hills in about 16:40. I consider anything sub-17 to be a fast ascent for me so I was pleased. We took it easy on the downhill until the last mile down 1600 North. As has become tradition, Wayne and I pushed this last mile pretty hard and ran it in 6:40. I was pleased as my legs felt like lead after pushing the uphill.

I'd like to up my weekly mileage, but there seem to be so many other things that take up my time. At least I can accelerate the pace here and there and maybe get in a little extra mileage. This is a great time of the year. Mostly I'm just going to enjoy it.

I ran the Thursday route with Larry and Kevin. I enjoyed the run even though my legs seemed pretty heavy.

Kent was there when we met but as we were waiting for Larry he decided to start and run the old Thursday route (Tuesday's route in reverse) so he could cut out the hill and run 4 instead of 6.

I ran the Orem library route solo this morning. My legs felt tired again, and it was pretty humid. I had to work a little to even average 9:00/mi mile. I hope it's still lingering effects from running UVM two weeks ago followed by the WBR last week.

It was great to have 5 regulars out on a Saturday run again. Larry, Wayne, Kevin, Kent and I met at 5:30am and drove to the mouth of Provo Canyon to run. The headwind made it a little cold on the way up, but it ended up being a beautiful morning.

Kent's just getting back into running so he and Larry turned back at 4 miles out. The rest of us went to 5.5 miles before starting back down.

My legs have felt pretty sluggish the past couple of days, and this morning started no differently. I was encouraged, however, that they felt okay as we picked up the pace later in the run. I decided to push the two miles from Nunns to Timpanogos again and was pleased to manage splits of 7:11 ans 7:12. Kevin was right with me and Wayne wasn't far behind. After a stop at the fountain I saw a runner up ahead in a yellow shirt that was running well and decided to push the last 1/2 mile and try to catch him before the parking lot. I didn't quite catch him, but ran a good pace and was just behind him. My watch showed the last 0.2 at 6:49/mi.

Well it looks like I'll be running the Redrock Relay in September. Larry's the team captain and has registered the team. It should be fun. Larry, Wayne, Kevin, and I are on the team (the old guys). The younger generation members include Stacia and Jeremy (Larry's daughter and her husband), Colin and Michael (sons of Larry's neighbors), Jessica and Angie (Larry's nieces), and Danette and Ally (Stacia's friends).

We have our final team party for our WBR relay team on Monday. I've been kind of looking forward to having the planning over for another year, but now Larry's asking to draw on my experience to help organize the Redrock relay team. Oh well, I guess that's what friends are for. Here we go again...

Today was my first day back on the track for quite a while. Since Kent has returned Monday has returned to being "speed work" day at the track. Kent and Larry were doing quarter repeats today to work on their leg speed. I'm not ready for short/fast speed work, so I just did mile repeats. Kevin came late and ran some with me and some with Kent and Larry.

 My "fast" miles weren't really fast, but faster than most of my training runs lately. I ran three one mile repeats at 7:25, 7:15, and 7:05. I've been in better shape in the last couple of years than I'm in right now, but at least I feel healthy and I'm headed in the right direction. I decided to finish with one quarter mile sprint and ran it in 1:24 (5:36/mi pace).

I'm still cautious about pushing too hard. It seems whenever I start to push my training hard I end up injured. It seems to be such a fine line to walk. I'm just grateful I'm running as well as I am and I'm enjoying running as much as ever. The weather has been awesome recently, if a little cooler and wetter than usual, and the world seems especially green and beautiful.

I got up early to help Karen get all the coolers loaded for girls camp. She's one of the ward cooks again this year, as well as now being a MIA Maid Advisor. With Brittany also being a 6th year YCL with many assignments, and Emily also going to camp, our house has been abuzz with pre-camp activity. Now Amy and I are left with cleaning up the mess they left behind and trying to survive until they get back.

I saw Wayne and Kent run by at the beginning of their run at the normal time as I was loading coolers at my house. I saw them again as they were finishing their run while I was loading additional coolers at another house. I saw Kevin later and he had also been helping to get his wife and daughters off to camp. I don't know where Larry was.

I finally got out for a solo run after 8:00am. It was already too warm, high 70's I think. I decided to race the virtual training partner on my watch - 6 miles at 8:00/mi pace. I knew this was aggressive for me right now, especially on the Lindon Loop which has some hills, but it was something to shoot for. I was about 300 ft behind after the first mile, but caught up and built about a 150 ft lead by the end of the downhill during mile 3. By the end of mile 4, after climbing out of Lindon Park, I was behind again for good. With a mile to go I was 0.12 miles behind, and I could barely crack 8:30 for the last mile. I finished in 49:28 (8:15/mi) - mile splits were 8:28 (warming up), 7:54 (on pace), 7:24 (good downhill), 8:29 (up out of park), 8:43 (gradual uphill - getting tired), 8:30 (working hard).

It's clear I'm not in as good as shape as the last couple of years, but this was another step in the right direction.