Every Race is an Adventure!

I got up early to run this morning but I had the impression that I should just run at noon. The impression was inspired by the new snowfall, icy roads, and gusty wind.

It turned out to be a good impression. Tom was on the treadmill as I entered the fitness center and asked if I was headed out. He seem relieved when I said I was. He finished four miles on the treadmill then did another four with me. Because of the wind I decided to wear my jacket, but I ended up taking it off after I got warmed up. There was a cold wind from the southwest, but it was tolerable running into it even without the jacket.

I wanted to get a few more miles in so after dropping Tom off I looped around the streets in East Bay. I ended up running another 4.25 miles. I guess the 0.25 miles is significant because I just checked Tom's blog and he only ran 8.0 miles today. Since today is Monday, my 8.25 miles will put me ahead of him for this week on the mileage board. Never mind that he is tapering, and that he is still 50 miles ahead of me for March.

Seriously, I feel pretty good about my mileage. I've averaged about 48.5 miles per week for the past six weeks, with three of the last four weeks being 50+, while managing to not aggravate any of the injuries I nursed during the winter.

Splits for today:
With Tom: 7:59, 8:15, 7:30, 7:44
Alone: 7:50, 8:09, 8:25, 8:23, 8:12/mi for 0.25

Overall: 8.25 miles in 1:06:20 (8:03/mi)

I think someone must be playing an April Fool's joke. It felt more like January 1st than April 1st this morning. When it gets this cold Larry refers to it as being "stupid cold", which I think refers to the intelligence level of people who go out and run when it's this cold. Both of his thermometers said it was 18 degrees. Seasoned runner that he is, he came out anyway, although if I hadn't of showed up I think he may have went back in.

We had a nice easy, if frigid, run wandering through the neighborhood streets and talking. We only went 5.2 miles at around a 10:00 pace, but I still think we earned at least a couple of commando points.

Speaking of April Fool's jokes, as we came home we saw our neighbor moving his son's car around the corner of the block. He said it was an April Fool's prank on his son to make him think his car was stolen. I believe that what goes around comes around, so I'm kind of boring in the prank department. I hope my wife and children don't mind.

Larry thought he might make it out this morning, but no luck. I decided to try out my new Saucony Tangents this morning in preparation for using them in the Provo City 5K on Saturday. I couldn't decide where I wanted to run, so I just ran 1/2 mile laps around my neighborhood. I ended up running 6 miles, avg. pace 9:00/mi. I threw in non-easy mile and ran mile 4 in 7:05. These Tangents aren't quite as comfortable as the Tangents they are replacing...my lucky shoes that I've worn in nearly every race I've run in the past 3 years...but I think they'll do.

I ended up running alone at noon as well. I started the Lake View route then remembered that I wanted to explore the 5K race route a little bit so I headed under the freeway at 920 South and over and up to the Provo Tabernacle. I ended up averaging 8:37/mi for 6.5 miles.

The 5K starts at the Provo Tabernacle, heads south to the Provo Towne Centre mall, then returns to the tabernacle. The slight downgrade heading south will be great, but the upgrade the second half of the race will be a little challenging. I'm not sure what to expect from myself. I'd like to break 20 minutes (6:27/mi). I managed that pace at the Spectrum 10K a couple of weeks ago, but it had a lot of downhill and was at a lower elevation. I ran a 1/4 mile fartlek down part of 200 West today to test my speed and ran it in 1:31 (6:03/mi). That was after running 10+ miles today. This isn't a key race for me. I'll take it easy on Friday and then just go for it on Saturday and see what happens. Every race is an adventure!

I almost forgot to blog that I ran 3.5 easy miles this morning, with a few striders tossed in.

I didn't forget to blog yesterday. I didn't get a run in. It was a busy work day. In addition, I had to do something that was about as much fun as getting a root canal...I got a root canal.

At least my legs should be rested for the race tomorrow. 

I met Larry and Jolene at their house then we picked up Wayne and headed to the Provo City Half Marathon and 5K. Larry and Wayne ran the half. Jolene and I ran the 5K. I kept wishing I could run the half, but with a marathon planned for next week I think I chose wisely to just race the 5K. After the 5K I recovered a bit then ran the 1/2 marathon course backwards until I found Larry and Wayne and got in another 7.8 miles.

There was a delay in getting the timing chips out to everyone so the races started about 15 minutes or so late. There was a cold wind so I was reluctant to take my jacket off. I finally did shortly before the half marathon started. I then warmed up for a mile or so trying to get the blood flowing.

I lined up right at the starting line near the left side. Since there was a left hand turn one block into the race I had good inside position. As I started and ran the first block I couldn't see anyone in front of me or in my peripheral vision until the turn. This was a little unnerving. Shortly after the turn a half a dozen younger runners pulled a head of me. One young woman pulled ahead early and went on to win the race and beat me by about two minutes I think. I hung within striking distance of the rest of the pack through the remainder of the race.

The first mile was a downgrade with the wind to our backs. I chose not to look at my watch and just run. I ran the first mile in 6:05. I knew the next two miles would be slower. The second mile looped around the parking lot at the mall then headed back north, with the headwind and the upgrade. It also included climbing the overpass on University Ave over the railroad tracks. I ran the second mile in 6:50. We then continued north, up and into the wind. I thought I was maintaining my pace but ran mile 3 in 7:05. During this mile an old man passed me (old like me). I passed him back, but then he passed me again. I decided to save my next attempt for near the finish, but as we approached 100 East and the final loop around the block he deliberately left the course and stopped running. He didn't seem to be in distress. I can only guess he was a bandit. On the last block north, just before the left hand turn and sprint to the finish, I passed the three young men that had been in front of me for a while. After the turn, one of them (a tall one with long legs) sprinted past me again.

I finished in 20:15. I was hoping for sub-20:00, but the upgrade and the headwind the second half of the course got the best of me. I was still very pleased. I won my age division, and the official results had me 4th overall. The age categories of those ahead of me were F 25-29, M Under 19, and M 20-24, and then there was me M 45-49. There was a M 50-54 not far behind me. They didn't have an official masters category, but it felt good to be the fastest old guy. I don't think I've ever done that before.

As much as I enjoyed the 5K, I think I enjoyed running back to find Larry and Wayne more. I ran a couple of miles before I saw the leader, a Japanese (I think) runner. He was running well. Sasha turned the corner behind him just after he was out of sight. I told Sasha the leader was only about a block ahead of him. He never caught him, but I could tell Sasha was giving it all he had. It seemed like the gap between Sasha and the 3rd place runner was about a mile. I then started seeing more and more runners. It was kind of fun to greet and cheer them on. It was great to see how friendly everyone was. I saw MichelleL from the blog among the front runners. I was looking for Lybi, who I'd seen at Fazzoli's the night before, but I must have missed her.

I came across Wayne first. He was running well. I ran with him for a while then headed back to look for Larry. I found him a little farther back and ran the rest of the way back in with him. I really enjoyed it. I thought he was running well (he was as talkative as ever), but he didn't like how slow he was running (8:57 avg overall) and voiced a commitment to start running more and running faster.

Much to his surprise, Wayne won the silver medal for his age division in the half. Larry's wife Jolene and I each won our age divisions in the 5K and received gold medals. Larry joked about being the only one in the car who didn't win a medal, but after nearly 20 marathons and numerous other races, he well understands that it's not all about the medals.

It was a great morning! As I told Larry and Jolene as they dropped me off, the best part about running is sharing the experience with great running buddies. This race day was yet another awesome adventure!