Each Day Is a Gift

 40F 9mph SW, partly cloudy, real feel 35F.  Went out at 10:15 when John and Wendy happened to walk by.  Walked with them to just past 600E and realized my watch battery was totally dead and it was so cold that I was underdressed.  So turned back to home to charge the watch to 50% and put on headband and a light jacket. 

Decided to access MCT on 400E trail head. East to 600E, north to 3200N > MCT 400E trailhead > west to ~0.15 mile past Triump Blvd tunnel then turned around back same route to home.  Stopped at 1600W trailhead restroom on the way back to drink and found terrible graffiti inside the women's bathroom walls.  This makes me mad and sad.

TT: 1:09:07  AP: 11:20  Splits: 12:48, 11:19, 10:31, 12:14, 10:36, 10:42
 

Too tired to run.  Didn't sleep well last night.

39F feels like 35F 7mph S wind, partly cloudy.  Felt like winter has returned.  Left feet was numb then achy during the first warm up mile.  West on MCT via Center.  Stopped at mile 3 Rail Trail junction where there was a construction crew laying pipes trail side so I had to run around them on the grass.  Quads were feeling tight running down so stopped to stretch and didn't realize I had not pause the watch for the 2.5 min I spent stretching until it was time to resume the return run back up the trail.  Stopped at 1600W restroom to drink.  Glad to see that the graffiti I saw in there on Tue has now been painted over. 

Adjusted TT: 1:08:10  AP: 11:25  Splits: 12:23, 11:12, 10:29, 12:10, 11:10, 10:50

48F cloudy, perfect weather.  Today would've been SLC Marathon if not for Covid-19. Had a yogurt, carried 2 Gu and 1 pack of Chews (that has peanut butter in the center). Head west to access MCT from Center St. then east on MTC to 800 N Orem, turn right (west) to 800E and back to 1100 E and waited for Larry to pick me up.

Took it easy today since I ran yesterday.  Stopped at all the restrooms for drink, the drinking fountains by bathrooms are all turned on so I didn't need to go inside.  Saw a guy running down Mitch Hollow Park with two bikers and a child biker following him.  Then realized he was turning toward his finish line which was held up by family members greeting him with balloons and cheers.  I ran past on the grass and congratulated him on his finish asking "Salt Lake City Marathon?" as he had a SLC race shirt on.  "What was your time?" "3:20" "Wow!!! Way to go! U Da Man!" 

At Lone Peak rest stop, saw two ladies with SLC Running shirts on and I asked if they were doing their virtual race while I ate a Gu.  They said nope they had run 14 miles and could've done the SLC Half virtual.  They wished me luck as I continued on my long run.

At Canyon Rd rest stop, I ate one chews and drank.  Visited with a lady who had Boston 2019 shirt on.  Visited with a lady whom I've been leepfroging.  She had a tiny black poodle type dog running/walking with her.  I commented that her dog with little legs sure could run fast.  She tried to feed the dog some water unsuccessfully and was worried that she might've worn it out.  She said she's 5 miles from home on her 11 miler. 

Ate the second Gu at the Lindon rest stop (with 4 more miles to go).  None of the trailside drinking fountains were turned on...should've brought a flask to fill up.  Anyhow, drank as much as possible.  At around mile 16+  I ran past a fellow whome I've passed couple times, the first time being on Alpine Hwy and he was talking on the phone and heard him say something like sorry... can I push it to 3pm.  Anyhow when I passed him I asked, "how many miles today?"  "26.2"  "Yay, congrats!"  "Thanks, but I'm only at 24."  "You're almost done! Way to finish a marathon!"  "You too, I've seen you a few times.  You just keep running and running!"  I was too tired to reply as I left him realizing I have about 1.5 more to go.  Garmin read 17.22 at the end of MCT on 800N, so I turned right to go west towards the 800E light where I turned right (north) for another 0.1 mile then turned back around and ran up east on 800N.  Got back to trail head exactly 18 miles and didn't see Larry's car.  I took a picture of my watch and texted Lowell with a message of my 18 lonely miles and missed him terribly.  Then called Larry who was only couple minutes away.  The trail was super crowded today with bazillion bikers, runners, dogwalkers.  It was awesome to see two guys running their virtual SLC Marathon.  I could've done the same if I had prepared better with hydration and not run yesterday.  I think I will do a virtual Utah Valley Marathon if it was cancelled and they offered that option.  I feel like I have missed out on two marathons, the Sand Hollow in March and SLC in April.  

TT: 3:38:55  AP: 12:10  Splits: 12:17, 11:45, 11:10, 12:30, 12:08, 12:38, 12:06, 12:20, 11:54, 11:57, 11:45, 11:44, 12:09, 12:24, 12:41, 12:28, 12:37, 12:21