Every Race is an Adventure!

Today's running was much more encouraging than Saturday's. Larry, Kent and I ran to the THS track for interval training at 7:15am. Kent and I did five 1/2 mile intervals with a 1/4 mile rest in between. Larry did 1/4 mile intervals.

My 1/2 mile splits were 3:17, 3:26, 3:30, 3:29, and 3:15. We always try to make our last interval the fastest. When I went too fast on the first interval (first lap was 1:30) I was concerned I wouldn't be able to do it, but on the last interval I managed to pull out enough of a kick on the last straightaway to make it.

I would prefer my splits to be closer to 3:00 than 3:30, but last Monday, after a week of no running, I was so stiff and sore I couldn't even get down to a 9:00/mi pace when I tried to push the pace (at the track, but I wasn't doing intervals). On Saturday's 16 miler I only averaged 9:39/mi and again felt stiff and sore. Getting a few intervals in at 6:30/mi to 7:00/mi pace, relatively pain free, was encouraging. It's not so much where you are on the path that matters, but the direction you are heading and that you just keep moving forward.

I ran the reverse 2000 N hill route with Larry, Kent, Wayne, and (a little late coming) Kevin. I felt pretty strong, especially pushing up the big 2000 N hill near the end. I tried to pick up the pace just a little on the downhill to work on my foot speed a little, but my body didn't like it too much, mostly my right heel and right hip.

I can't seem to shake the pain in my heel and my hip. My left knee is also still bothering me a little, but it's bothered me most of my life and it doesn't have me too concerned. I tried playing tennis with my family on Monday. My hip was pretty stiff, and whenever I tried to change direction quickly from right to left my right heel hurt pretty badly. I still managed to beat my two young adult sons, but I it hurt so much I decided not to run the next morning.

I was in a 4-man best ball company golf tournament early Wednesday morning so I didn't run that morning either. I play golf and tennis about once a year whether I need to or not, and it shows. I used to do both more regularly, so there is some muscle memory, but I'm mostly not so good...but I have fun.

Kent's wife Melinda drove us up to Trefoil then Larry, Kent and I ran home from there. It was a beautiful morning for a run.

Just as we started I decided I'd better visit the nearby portapotty so Kent and Larry went on ahead. My goal today was to push the pace a little the 10 miles from Trefoil to the mouth of the canyon, so having to chase them at the beginning gave me a little extra motivation.

I caught them between about 2 miles down South Fork. I was cruising at around a 7:00/mi pace so I decided to keep going. I ended up averaging 7:02/mi for the 4.3 miles from Trefoil to Vivian. It was by no means a PR, but the pace was about twice as fast as that same stretch at the end of the Squaw Peak 50 last month. It felt good to be able to generate a little speed again.

After a quick drink of water I decided to continue on down towards the mouth of the canyon. I back off the pace just a little to try to avoid running 10 minute miles at the end like last week. I ran the first mile after Vivian at 8:11. I knew the following miles were a little faster so I set my goal at averaging 8:00/mi or faster the 5-ish miles down to the fountain at Timpanogos Park. I ended up averaging 07:54/mi.

I decided to visit the restroom at the park. When I got back to the fountain Kent was just arriving. I told him I wanted to run 7:30 pace or faster the last 3/4 mile stretch to the mouth. I averaged 7:14/mi. Overall, I averaged about 7:30/mi for the 10 miles from Trefoil to the mouth. Again, it is not a PR, but for how slowly I've been running of late, I was feeling quite pleased.

It didn't last. I told Kent I was going to jog back until I met Larry, but it didn't take me long to change my mind. My hip had tightened up and I couldn't generate any speed at all. My feet also felt tired and I felt the beginning of a blister on the ball of my left foot. We still had 3 miles to go to get home, so I slogged back to the mouth of the canyon to wait for Larry. I didn't have to wait long, but it was long enough. My hip was so stiff and sore that the last 3 miles home were very hard and very slow.

I was struggling to keep up with Kent and Larry anyway, but then they started talking politics and pulled away. Even taking the diagonal shortcut past the high school I still finished well behind them. I was just glad to be finished. After averaging 7:30/mi for 10 miles, my splits for the last 3 miles were 11:32, 9:52, and 10:25. Part of its probably fitness, but I think a large part is my dang right hip (inflammation, arthritis?) and right heel (PF pain). When they decide they've had enough they seem to put the brakes on and I feel like I'm running through drying concrete. The hip has been hurting off and on for almost two years now, the PF pain in the heel off and on since January. Enough already. I'm seeking inspiration on how to proceed forward, but I'm optimistic that sooner or later this too shall pass.