Every Race is an Adventure!

Man, have my calves been tight and sore since the Hobble Creek half marathon on Saturday. I've been massaging them with The Stick, which has helped a little. I skipped my normal run this morning and ran at noon. I hoped walking around during the morning would loosen them up a little.

I ran (jogged) the Lake View course alone. It was a little warm, and I had to make an unplanned bio-stop at the park, but overall it was a pretty enjoyable run. My legs started out pretty stiff, but loosened up some during the run. I didn't set any speed records. I averaged a little over 9:30/mi out and around 9:00/mi back.

I did an easy run with Larry and Wayne this morning. I got confused on which course we were running and contributed to our turning at the wrong corner, resulting in us getting back to the neighborhood after only 4 miles instead of 6. We're all still recovering from Hobble Creek, so no one complained too much. My legs were feeling a little better but the right calf was still a little tight. I may go out again later today if my legs feel up to it.

I ran the Lake View course with Nathan at noon today. It was pretty warm, and I didn't feel like I wanted to run very fast, but it ended up being a pretty good run. We ran the 5.2 miles in 39:30 (7:36/mi), out in 20:37 (7:56/mi) and back in 18:54 (7:16/mi).

Larry, Wayne and I ran the big hill up 2000 N this morning. It was the first time I remember it feeling cool in the morning for a long time. There was a light rain as I walked to the corner. This was another easy pace run. My legs actually felt pretty good this morning, and I was tempted to do a couple of speedy fartleks, but I resisted the urge. I didn't want to risk pulling something for no good reason, and I'm still focusing on getting my legs recovered and ready for the 20-miler Saturday.

I ran up Provo Canyon with Kerry, Tom, Will, Wayne and Larry. A young woman named Sheena missed the Sojourners group that was running Hope to Hobble, so Will invited her to run with us. I think she was 24. My daughter is 22, and I couldn't imagine her hooking up with a group of six old men she didn't know for a 20 mile run. Half of us were more than twice her age. Sheena must be a good judge of character, because she couldn't have picked a better bunch of old guys to run with.

Larry didn't want to run the steeper run up to Trefoil so he and Wayne headed up to Deer Creek from Vivian Park. Sheena decided to go with them. Tom wasn't going 20 so he turned back at Vivian. Kerry, Will, and I continued on up South Fork. We ran together until Kerry and I stopped for water and Will continued on (he had to get back). We met up with Will again at the awesome water fountain 3/4 mile from the bottom. He was having some knee trouble which had slowed him down. We drank deeply, multiple times, from the fountain. It runs continuously, supplying delicious cool mountain water.

The weather and the canyons were beautiful, and the company was excellent. I really enjoyed the run, and finished the 20 miles feeling pretty good. I did feel a little tightness in my right calf near the end, but I don't think it is anything serious, probably just a carryover from the fast half marathon the previous weekend.

We finished in around 3:02, just over 9:00/mi average. It wasn't a PR for the course, but it was a pretty good run.