run, run, run

Saint John, NB 6:00 am

I got lost again. I mapped out a course to a big park in town and took a few wrong turns getting there, but I finally found it. But once I was there I didn't know which entrance I had come in at and where I was going. There were a few signs with a park map on them, but they were completely unreadable and after a few miles I ended up right back where I started. So I worked my way back to where the hotel was and ran a loop around the downtown area. Lots of hills today.

Saint John, NB 5:00 pm

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/47317493

I planned on doing my fourth and final TOU long run after work on Friday, but there is a hurricane on its way, so I went out tonight. Weather was nice, but I made a couple of tragic errors in judgement that I think are contributing to the way I feel right now.

I mapped out a course on Google that turned out to be pretty good, but hilly. I only saw the roads on a map, didn't know anything about what was on them. I didn't bring any water with me. There was a drug store between miles 2 and 3, but I didn't stop because I was sure there would be something down a little further. There wasn't. So I ran out to this islandish thing called the Irving Nature Park (JD Irving pretty much owns this Province, including the paper I'm working at). It took about 6 miles to get there and it was about 3 miles around it, so I took two laps before heading back. So, except for a gel I choked down at mile 9, I didn't have anything to drink until mile 17 or so.

My second mistake was deciding to get clever and do some trail running on the island. The whole course was hilly, but the trails were especially so, with some parts needing stairs to go up and down. I only ran on the trails for a couple of miles, but it took a lot out of me.

But I survived and jumped in the hotel pool afterward. That really helps get the aching out of the legs.

Now I'm just hoping that Earl will change directions a bit and not make me stranded here on Saturday morning. I've got to get home in time to watch my Cougars put a beat down on the Huskies.

Saint John, NB 6:15 pm

After my long run yesterday, I planned on a short, easy run tonight. Then I mapped out a course along the Bay of Fundy (you can't say Bay of Fundy without Fun!) that ended up being medium length. Then when I got out there I was feeling good and decided to push it for the last few miles. Felt great by the end of the run and now I'm ready to leave this place -- as long as Hurricane Earl doesn't screw up my flight plans.

Eagle, ID 6:00 am

I friend from Utah was in town so we went for a morning run on the greenbelt. It was a really nice run, four miles out and then turned around. Everything going smoothly until just before mile 5 I turned my ankle. Hurt like a motha, but I went ahead and kept running. It kind of stopped hurting and we even increased the pace for the last three miles.

Then I got home and iced it and it really started hurting. Now I have a knot on my ankle the size of a tennis ball. Two weeks till Top Of Utah. I guess I'll start tapering now.

Boise, ID 11:30am

Finally went for a run after resting and icing my ankle for a week. Dropped the car off at the shop for an oil change and ran home.

I planned on taking it slow and easy, but I guess I had just been holding out for so long, I was at at sub 8mpm pace the whole way. The ankle felt stiff, but ok. I think I'll be fine. I'd better be fine.

Boise, ID 6:30am

Went out for a five-miler this morning. Ankle felt ok. Pace was good. One more run tomorrow and then it's Logan or bust.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Last run before Top of Utah. I'll take tomorrow off and travel down to Logan on Friday. The ankle isn't 100% yet, but I was able to maintain a decent pace and wasn't in pain at all -- just a little uncomfortable. What I don't know is how it will hold up over 26.2 miles. I guess I'll find that out on Saturday.

Finally, a marathon I feel really good about. Finally finished Top of Utah under four hours and bested my PR by more than 11 minutes.
I wasn't sure what to expect this time since the swelling in my ankle hadn't died down yet. But, I'm in better shape than I've been in before and my training was solid, so I decided to just go for it: to set my pace at 8 minutes per mile and see how long I could hold it. I also think I had a pretty good plan for hydrating and carbing up during the race.
The ankle held up nicely. I felt it the whole way and it hurt a few times, but it worked out and felt fine afterward.

Split Time Distance Avg Pace
1    00:08:24    1.00    08:24
Traffic spread out pretty quickly.
2    00:07:51    1.00    07:51
3    00:07:46    1.00    07:46
4    00:07:49    1.00    07:49
5    00:07:58    1.00    07:58
6    00:08:07    1.00    08:07
Worst aid station stop ever. It kind of snuck up on me and I struggled to get my long-sleeve shirt off. Tossed it into the box, then reached in my back pocket for some Gu. Ended up getting the ziploc bag with the ibuprofen. Put it back, got the Gu, put on my sunglasses, they fogged up and I couldn't see. Reaching blindly for the Gatorade. Put the glasses back on my head and got back into the race.
7    00:08:06    1.00    08:06
8    00:07:44    1.00    07:44
9    00:07:51    1.00    07:51
10    00:08:22    1.00    08:22
I had to pee.
11    00:07:49    1.00    07:49
12    00:07:46    1.00    07:46
13    00:07:51    1.00    07:51
14    00:08:09    1.00    08:09
Stopped to pee again. I was getting near the end of the canyon and I think it's impolite to pee in strangers' yards.
15    00:07:49    1.00    07:49
I ate a pack of Sports Beans over the next couple of miles. That was the only time in the race that my gut really hurt. I'm not eating Sports Beans from now on.
16    00:08:05    1.00    08:05
17    00:07:58    1.00    07:58
18    00:08:05    1.00    08:05
This is where it starts getting difficult.
19    00:08:11    1.00    08:11
20    00:08:32    1.00    08:32
21    00:08:10    1.00    08:10
22    00:08:27    1.00    08:27
23    00:09:01    1.00    09:01
The family was waiting for me. I ran with my daughter for a couple of blocks. She probably slowed me down a little bit, but it was worth it. I had an idea to have my wife make me a half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and give it to me on the course. I figured it would be easy on my stomach, more calories than Gu and might be something I could force myself to eat (peanut butter is one of the world's greatest foods). It worked out ok. I only ate half of it and it was easy on the stomach, but the peanut butter was kind of hard to swallow.
24    00:09:15    1.00    09:15
Starting to fade a bit.
25    00:08:59    1.00    08:59
Hanging on.
26    00:09:21    1.00    09:21
OK, this hurts now.
27    00:04:08    0.48    08:43
Euphoria.

After the race I felt awesome. Tired, of course, but not fall on the grass in the fetal position exhausted. But the real test was the Fat Boy ice cream sandwich. After the two previous TOU races I've taken one bite and threw it away. This time I finished it off and it was quite tasty.

Boise, ID 6:30am

I thought I was ready to run again after the marathon. I thought wrong. One mile into it I was feeling good. Two miles into it I stopped and walked home. I had some pain in my groin that wasn't real bad, but I didn't want to agrevate. It was a long, cold walk home. Maybe I'll wait until Friday to give it another go.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Made it five miles this morning. Still felt it in the groin, but it wasn't as bad as Wednesday. We'll see how it goes tomorrow.

The Dirty Dash, Soldier Hollow, UT

Today's lesson: Don't sign up for a 10k one week after a marathon, no matter how fun it looks.

It was fun, but I was worried going into it. My left ankle was feeling good, but I had been having groin pain when I ran. But I'd signed up for this mud run, so I had to do it.

Before the race I was feeling ok. Shortly into it, I wasn't. It started out with a big muddy hill. I took off too fast and started feeling it in my chest. The first half of the race was really rough. Very hilly and I couldn't get my heart rate down and had trouble breathing. Finally, I reminded myself that it was just a fun run and wasn't even timed (I couldn't even time myself because I didn't want to ruin my watch). So I slowed way down, even walked up one hill.

The worst part, I rolled my ankle again. But the right ankle this time. Not as bad as the other one, but it still hurt.

The first few obstacles weren't very fun. Leg hurt on the haybales, chest still hurting through the tunnels, but by the time I got to the walls you climb over I was feeling better.

I got a little muddy over the walls, got my wind and headed out towards the lake. Slogging through the lake was fun and I started feeling really good. I started running harder and passed a lot of people. When I got to the top of the final hill I took my shirt off and dove down the slip-and-slide. I think I lost a nipple going down that thing. Fun -- but gives you a rash.

Then I run down the hill and dive into the mud pit. It's deeper than I expected. I went completely under and even swam underwater for a few strokes. I crawl through the mud pit, over the mud hill and cross the finish line to get my picture taken with a stuffed pig.

Good times. The right ankle is still sore and my body is generally a mess, but I'll take it easy for a few weeks and be back at it soon.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Just a short, easy run to test out the legs. Felt pretty good. Started out slow and increased the speed each mile. Ankles are still a little tender, but I think I'm ready to work my way back into the regular routine.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Didn't run very fast this morning. Still working out the aches and pains from the last few weeks. Randy wasn't pushing it either. He said he was sore from playing ultimate frisbee. I just shook my head.

Meridian, ID 6:30 am

Ran on my own this morning. Getting cooler in the mornings. I wore gloves the whole time. I wanted to keep the pace to be a bit faster than it was, but it was ok. I kept pushing myself just a little past a comfortable pace, so it's all good.

It's getting to the point in the year where it is dark most of the run, so I don't check my watch as often.