run, run, run

Cancun, Mexico 3:30 pm

Pace: 8:28

The running part of this vacation isn't off to a great start. We arrived last night and were at the hotel before I realized that I forgot to pick up my running bag at the airport. So it was sometime this afternoon before Delta delivered my gear to the hotel.

The run was kind of rough. I could tell that I'm not completely over the chest cold I've been dealing with, so during the run I started really feeling it. Coughing and having trouble getting enough air. Not quite used to the weather either, even though it wasn't really hot, in the mid-upper 70s.

Cancun, Mexico 8:12 am

Pace: 8:37

This morning's run was worse than yesterday's. Probably because it was first thing in the morning and I hadn't had a chance to clear out my lungs yet. A lot of coughing and hacking up that brown sticky stuff. I went out 3.5 miles and stopped. I waited a while to get my air back and took off again. Running back was a little better, except that somewhere along the way I got this bright idea to run on the beach. Within 100 yards I knew that it was a bad idea. So I cut through the Hilton and back to the road, completely missing the only significant downhill section of the route.

Cancun, Mexico 7:45 am

5.01 miles

Pace: 8:03

Felt really bad starting out again, but held on until I turned around at 2.5 miles and then started breathing a lot better and running stronger, finishing at a decent pace. Hopefully this means that I'm finally starting to shake this cold.

The best part of the run was the end, when I showered off at the beach showers and took a dip in the pool.

1:00 pm

3.03 miles

Pace: 9:41

Weather was kind of bad today, so we left the beach in late morning. After lunch I decided to go for a short run barefoot on the beach. It was fun, but challenging. Running in the sand is difficult and I had a head-wind. When I turned around and the wind was at my back, it was easier to run, but I then realized that the head-wind was the only thing keeping me cool.

The worst part was that the sand here isn't as pure as on some of the beaches I've been to in Hawaii and the Virgin Islands. There are a lot of small shells and shell fragments.

Apparently I stepped on one and my right big toe is now sore with a red spot on it. I'll find out tomorrow morning if it will affect my running the rest of the week.

 Cancun, Mexico 7:00 am

Pace: 7:53

Best run of the week. Still had to stop and hack a couple of times, but kept up a good pace and felt relatively good doing it. The only thing is that I think my chest cold has move northward and become a sinus problem. I had a bit of a headache right between the eyes.

The toe felt good though. I couldn't even feel it with my shoes on.

After the run I went straight to the beach (actually, I went straight to the can, then I went to the beach) and dove into the ocean. Then my wife and I hung out on the beach for a while before leaving for the airport. I wish I could have enjoyed the beach more this morning. I just kind of laid on the chair with a towel over my head hoping the headache would go away. It got kind of bad, I felt like I'd been punched in the face. Could be a long travel day.

Spanish Fork, UT 6:30 am

I ran in to work this morning. Still haven't shaken that cold. Felt really good running, when I wasn't coughing and hacking.

Boise, ID 9:30 am

Pace: 7:59

Not really feeling it this morning. I took yesterday off because I still had the cold and was considering going to the doctor. I didn't want to have to tell the doctor that I was sick, but had gone running anyway.

I didn't see a doctor and felt better today, but had a kind of sluggish run. I made Saturday morning pancakes with the kids (one bannana nut, one blueberry and one Captain Crunchberry). Usually pancakes make me run better (actually it's waffles, but isn't that the same thing?) but today they were draggin' me down. I picked up the pace a bit during the last mile to get the overall pace under 8 but never really felt good.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:09

Finally got in a run with Randy. My flight wasn't scheduled until 10:30, so I was able to get out before leaving town. Turned out to be a decent workout, but started out too slow to get the pace under 8. I think the cold is finally gone. It was the first run I've had without any coughing fits. Felt really good.

This week could be interesting. Not sure how much running I'm going to be able do do up in Canada.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada 8:30am

Pace: 8:04

I only made it as far as Toronto yesterday. My flight to Moncton was cancelled. But, it did allow me some time to go out for a run this morning -- a very cold run.

The temperature was 12 degrees American. Not sure what it was in kilos, or however they measure it here. The wind was blowing too. I thought my face would fall off in the first mile, but as I got around buildings, it got better. Then I found a nice greenbelt path that went on for several miles. I tried to stay on the snow. The pavement was really slick, but I stayed on my feet.

As my body warmed up I felt ok, but during the last few miles my hands got really cold, even with two pair of gloves and mittens on over them.

Now, maybe I'll make it to Moncton tonight.

Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada 8 pm

Pace: 8:25

After the trip from hell (24 hr. delay in Toronto, given some french guy's ticket, car rented out from under me and luggage left in Montreal) I got back from work and my bags had arrived, so I went out for a run. I found a trail along the river. It was pretty muddy and rain/sleet was falling most of the time, but it was nice to get out and move.

Moncton, NB, Canada 8 pm

Kind of a strange run. I went down to the river trail and ran the other direction. After about a mile there was a sign that said trail closed. If I was smart I would have turned at that point, but I'm not smart, so I kept going and when I got to the big construction pit I realized why they closed the trail. Then I cut through some softball fields and on to the road. I crossed the river, ran a bit further and turned back. Then I got lost.

I stopped at a drug store bought some cool Toronto Maple Leafs gloves and found out that I'd been running the wrong direction. Now I have to pack for my trip home. Hope I get home faster than I got here.

Boise, ID 10:15 am

Pace: 8:03

I took yesterday off. Needed to get into work early and then spent the rest of the day traveling. My trip home from Canada was much less eventful.

The ground was covered with snow during most of my run, but it was beginning to melt by the time I was finishing up. 8:03 wasn't a bad pace considering I had to slow down in a few spots because of the snow. Looking for a bigger week coming up. Finally spending a full week at home.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:20

It was pretty slick out this morning and that kept the pace down a bit. The run was fine right up to the end. I was on the home stretch heading down my street towards my house and I rolled my left ankle. I walked the rest of the way home.

When I got home I immediately prepared a bucket of ice water and soaked the foot for 20 minutes. It's still a little sore, but I don't think it will last long.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:05

I took yesterday off to heal up the sore ankle. I was going to rest today too, but I forgot to email Randy and tell him I couldn't run, so I ran anyway.

I'm glad I did because, after the first couple of miles, the ankle felt great and it turned into a pretty good run. It was cold (about 25) and slick in a few places, but the snow and ice was gone from the roads for the most part.

Meridian, ID 9 am

Pace: 7:58

Slept in this morning and then went out for a 10-miler. Kept up a pretty good pace the whole way. Started out at 8:18 and then kept every mile under 8 except for miles 4 and 5 which were uphill. Mile 10 was 7:45, so I was feeling good about that.

Ankle felt good. Weather was kind of cold, but I dressed for it, so it was a real nice run.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 7:56

Merry Christmas Eve!

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 7:57

I must have knocked the covers off last night because I woke up cold, was still cold when I started running and never really got warm. Felt pretty good running though. Good progression run, speeding up a bit every mile.

Boise, ID 10:45 am

Pace: 7:48

I almost didn't run today. It was pouring down rain this morning and I was going to go out and run at the same time as my wife. But she is one of those smart people who doesn't run when it's pouring down rain outside. So I just got up and had some oatmeal for breakfast and thought about running.

When I started out I felt pretty good and held a pretty good pace in the first mile (7:35) but slowed way down by mile 3. I finished pretty strong, but was kind of draggin most of the way. Maybe it was the oatmeal.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:28

Cold and rainy. The last mile was the worst.

Boise, ID 7:30 am

Pace: 8:12

Ccccccold.

I started out pretty slow just because I was cold and listening to talk on my ipod. For the last mile I decided to see if I could hold a pace under 7. I did. That gives me a little more confidence for Saturday's race.

It's supposed to be even colder tomorrow.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:06

Just barely above single digits this morning. Didn't seem like the wind was blowing, but it was noticably colder when we ran toward the west, so it had to be blowing some.

Cut it short this morning. Just too cold and I didn't want to overdo it before the race tomorrow.

During the last mile I noticed the strangest thing -- my butt was cold. My butt, my face and the backs of my hads were the coldest parts of my body.