run, run, run

Colorado Springs, CO

Altitude, heat and a chest cold made for a rough run today. Ran 3 miles up Cheyenne Mtn. Blvd. and turned around. Not used to the heat yet either. Legs and feet felt good. Had trouble getting air in my lungs.

Colorado Springs, CO

Pace: 8:37

Still trying to shake this cold. Felt better today. Ran on Santa Fe Trail from Woodmen Rd. up into the Academy. Kept it at an easy pace. Planned on doing 8 miles but turned around at 3.5. Felt myself running out of gas. I think it is more my health than the altitude. Lack of sleep isn't helping much either. Not used to working nights.

At the turn-around I stopped and watched AFA Cadets on parachute training drops.

Colorado Springs, CO

Pace: 8:48

Much better today. Didn't sleep much last night, but I left a little earlier because I had to drive to Denver this morning. I ran the same route as Wednesday but this time it actually felt like a six mile run. Still took it kind of slow and easy today, saving up for tomorrow's 10k. Not as pessimistic about that prospect now.

I wore my Robie Creek shirt today. It is a good looking shirt that wicks moisture, but it isn't made from the smoothest fabric. I was wishing I'd broken out the little round band-aids if you know what I mean.

I saw a little snake on the edge of the sidewalk.

The race: A nice community fun run. This was the race's 30th anniversary, so they pretty much had it down. The course was relatively flat with only one significant hill at the end, but it was only about a block long. It was mostly shady and on city streets except for about a mile on a crushed gravel trail.

My race: I worked until midnight the night before and after fighting a cold for most of the week, I still wasn't 100% (excuses, excuses) but I didn't suck wind the way I had in some of my training runs earlier in the week. So that was good. This was only my second 10k, the first being the 2006 Speedy Spaniard. I had been running for less than a year at that point and finished in 55:56, so I was curious to see how much I would improve.

I didn't push myself real hard until the final stretch. The course made a U-turn just before mile 4 and it was encouraging to be able to see that I was not, in fact, in last place. The hill just before mile 6 didn't bother me much and I was able to use it to my advantage, passing a couple of my fellow runners. I finished pretty strong with a good final kick at the end.

All in all I enjoyed the run and felt good about my finishing time. I'll be trying another 10k race next Saturday in Idaho so I'll see if I can't improve in a lower altitude and a little more sleep.

 Funny thing -- I'm working at the Gazette tonight and one of the sports guys publishing the race results just complained to me that my name is too long to fit in the agate column.
 

Falcon Trail, Air Force Academy, CO

Pace: 9:15

A great run. The Falcon Trail is a 13 mile loop around the Air Force Academy campus. A beautiful and very hilly trail with great views of the valley, the academy chapel, and stadium (site of many a beating of the Falcons by my Cougars) but most of it is just a real nice run through the forest.
I forgot to bring my water bottle or belt on this trip, so I stashed a bottle of Gatorade at mile 8. I could have used it a lot sooner, but it all worked out.
Some of the hills were rough, but I have to remember that what goes up must come down and the downhill stretches were awesome. This is why I run. Pushing yourself over the hills then cruising though the woods really makes you feel alive.

Colorado Springs, CO

 Pace: 8:54

 Went back up Cheyenne Mtn. Blvd. Was dragging a bit going up the hill (go figure) but picked up the pace on the way down. A warm day, but not oppressively hot. An enjoyable, but pretty uneventful run.

 

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, CO

Pace: 9:17 

 Hot. I didn't get out running today until 11am. It's my last day in Colorado Springs, so I thought I would run in GOTG one more time. It was a warm day, but it's always a great run through there. I carried a bottle of Gatorade with me which got pretty warm by the time I finished it off.

Mmmm, who doesn't love warm Gatorade?
 

Meridian, ID

Pace: 8:30

I didn't run on Thursday. I traveled home from Colorado and had a softball game in the evening (I hit 3 for 4 in a losing effort). I thought I would put Friday morning's run here and save Friday's entry for the Main Street Mile race.

 I went out at 6:30 to maybe catch up with Randy (I forgot to call). He wasn't there so I went out on my own. A very pleasant run around the neighborhood. After two weeks of working nights, it was nice to get out early before the heat of the day sets in.

A new pair of running shoes arrived while I was gone, so I tried them out this morning. Felt really good. I was wearing 8.5s but kept getting black toenails. So my wife convinced me to try out a pair of 9s last time. They were ok, but I needed to wear two pair of socks to get them to feel right. I went back to 8.5 this time. I guess the black toes will be coming back soon.

The Main Street Mile is a one mile race in downtown Boise. Basically you run around the block twice.

I've wondered how fast I could run if I was only running one mile (not holding back for the rest of a longer race). I guess the answer is 6:05.

It was a really fun race. The short distance with so many people made for a fun atmosphere, and I got to see my wife cheering me on twice.

I ran in the geezer race (over 40) and placed 27th of 88. If I had run in the open race I would have finished 23rd. There are a lot of fast old people.

As I turned the final corner and saw the clock it read 5:40. I thought to myself "can I run this block in less than 20 seconds?" I couldn't. Even though it was a short distance, it was one of the most difficult races I've run. Good thing the pain didn't last long.

Under 6 minutes next year!

Just a small local fun run. The course was flat and the weather was perfect. I hoped I would do better than the 47 minutes I did in a 10k in Colorado a week ago. So 44:48 was good for me.

My wife's friends that she runs/walks with in the mornings talked her into running the 6k. She said she had fun and I enjoyed being able to talk about each other's races afterward.

One thing that was unique about this race is that they handed out gear bags instead of t-shirts. Nice for a change. You can only use so many race shirts.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:36

We added a new member to our running group this morning (I guess now it is a running group. Before it was two guys that run together.) It was nice to have someone new. We had already gone through everything I know about electrical engineering and everything Randy knows about newspapers.

Good to get out on a morning run before leaving on vacation. It will be interesting to see how many chances I get to go out and run this week between camping, the zoo, water slides and the big Hannah Montana concert (my daughters are a little more exited about that one than I am).

Bountiful, UT 9am

Pace: 9:00

It was nice to get out runing again after two nights of sleeping on the ground. I ran down Bountiful Blvd. and up Meuler Park Road until the pavement turned into a dirt road and the dirt road turned into a trail and the trail got so steep I was pretty much climbing. So I turned around.

Bountiful Blvd. is a nice road to run on. Good hill work and it is next to the mountain so it stays shaded early in the morning. At one point Bob Seger came on my iPod singing about the Hollywood hills and I thought how appropriate since Hollywood and Bountiful are kind of the same, don't you think? ;)

Now, off to the zoo.

Bountiful, UT 7:30 am

Pace: 8:50

I ran on Bountiful Blvd. again this morning. Just north of the temple the road started on a pretty steep downhill, and since I hadn't gone 5 miles yet, I kept going. Then I turned right and started going uphill. I ended up near the big B on the side of the mountain. Luckily, I found a trail that cut across and I didn't have to go back down and up again to get back to the road my car was on. A nice little adventure.

Boise, ID 9pm

Pace: 8:00 

I didn't run this morning because I was basking in the afterglow of the Hannah Montana concert -- or I was just tired.

After driving all day and eating like crap for a week, I really needed to get out and move so I went for a run at 9pm.  It was nice to be back home on a flat course around my neighborhood. After starting out a little sluggish (feeling pizza in my gut) I picked up the pace for the last half and finished pretty strong.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:13

Pretty uneventful morning run. Kept a decent pace most of the time, but had to poo towards the end, so the last mile was a bit slower and a lot more uncomfortable. 

Boise, ID 7:45 am

Pace: 8:39

Went out on my regular 10-mile course. Cloverdale, Emerald, Maple Grove, McMillan, Cloverdale. Had trouble getting motivated to get out running this morning. Planned on being out by 7. Actual departure time was closer to 8.

My wife had me make some tomato cages for the garden yesterday (she doesn't like "those whimpy ones they sell at Lowes"). I'm pretty handy, but kind of clumsy. So I scratched up my hands and arms and legs. Didn't think much of it until I went out running this morning and started to sweat in each of the cuts. That wasn't fun. But the tomato plants look great.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:10

The usual 6.5 mile morning course. Randy was in the mood to run a bit faster this morning and I picked up the pace for the last half mile. A good run. Just past the comfortable point most of the time.
 

Meridian, ID 7:30 am

Pace: 8:36

Took off in the direction of Meridian today. Ustick, Linder, Pine, Cloverdale. I went on a greenbelt path that I thought would cut through to Linder Rd. It didn't. I ended up crossing over an irrigation ditch on a pipe and running through a construction site where they are building a new subdivision.

I'm going to take tomorrow off and then run a half marathon on Saturday.

9pm: Aaaaargh! I pulled a hamstring playing softball this evening. I can't believe this. The half marathon on Saturday is looking very unlikely at this point. The only consolation is that I pulled it running the bases after a sweet hit -- but still not worth it.

While I ice my hamstring and feel sorry for myself, I thought I would post something that I put up on a message board last month before I was on this running blog. This occurred on June 7th:

My 10 year old daughter has run in the Capitol kids race in Boise the last two years. It is a one mile race from the old Boise depot to the State Capitol building. But last October she developed a mysterious neurological condition that severely limits her control of her right arm and leg. So she now wears a leg brace and walks with a limp. She's been seen by doctors here and specialists in San Francisco but they still haven't been able to come up with a diagnosis or treatment.

One of the goals she set in her physical therapy was to complete the race again this year. So Saturday morning while a couple thousand other kids were running in the race, she walked. I walked with her, holding her hand to keep her steady. It was difficult for her, but she did it. At one point she said to me "I don't care if it hurts, I just want to finish."

With about a quarter mile to go the BSU mascot came and held her other hand and the three of us finished the race -- dead last. As we approached the finish line family, volunteers and spectators were cheering, and crying. It was incredible.

I've run three marathons in the past 13 months, but none of them even came close to the thrill of seeing my little girl walk that one mile. It takes a lot of guts to enter a race knowing that you will finish in last place.

Houston, TX 6:00 am

Pace: 8:49

My first time out since the softball injury. I went for an easy 3.5 miler from the hotel around Reliant Stadium and the Astrodome. I could still feel the hamstring, but it never reached the point where I would call it pain. I'll continue to take it easy this week.

When I was 12 my family spent a summer in Rigby, Idaho waiting for my grandmother to die. On one afternoon I was particularly bored, so my mom took me to Idaho Falls and dropped me off at the movie theater so I could see Bad News Bears Breaking Training. I remember thinking how cool the Astrodome was and how I'd like to see it someday.

This morning as I was running around the Dome I felt like Tanner Boyle. I wanted to start chanting "Let them play, Let them play, Let them play." I tried to listen for the ghosts of Bum Phillips and Earl Campbell, but I had my iPod on and I'm pretty sure Earl Campbell isn't dead yet. 

Houston, TX 7:30pm

Pace: 8:39

I didn't get up in the morning so I went for an evening run down something called a Bray's Bayou. It's some kind of a cement river or canal -- or the place where the water goes when the locals flush their toilets. Haven't quite figured out which. But it has an asphalt path running along side it. It's relatively flat and goes on forever. I saw a purple big wheel floating upside down in the water.

The leg is almost 100% I think. The only time I even felt it was when I sped up to cross the street.

Houston, TX 6:30am

Pace: 8:34

Still taking it easy. I went along Bray's Bayou again. The other direction this time. A nice morning run.

It's humid here! Running in the early morning and evening isn't bad. At one point last night it even felt a little cool. But with the humidity it still feels like you're running in a laundromat.

Boise, ID 7:00am

Pace: 8:11

Planned on doing a 10-miler this morning but the speaker on my phone isn't working, so the alarm didn't go off. I had to leave for Twin Falls by 9, so I cut the run a little short. I pushed the pace a little more than I had during the week. It was nice to get out of the heat of Texas and back home where the mornings are cool and the air is dry. 

Meridian, ID 6:00 am

Pace: 9:02

My first pre-Pocatello long run. I went up Cloverdale to McMillian to McDermott to Pine to Cloverdale. I carried Gatorade on a belt, but finished it off by mile 16. It was getting really hot during the third hour. I bought a water at the convenience store at the corner of Eagle and Pine.

I'll probably find another route for my next long run because I was chased by a mean dog at the corner of McMillian and McDermott. 

Boise, ID 7:30 am

Pace: 8:30

Happy Pioneer Day.

A very nice morning for a run. Sunny with a very slight cool breeze. I went on my 10-mile course Cloverdale - Emerald - Maple Grove - McMillian - Cloverdale.

The side of my left knee started hurting a bit at about the halfway point. Well, not really hurting, more like I felt pressure, but it kind of freaked me out because my knees have been good for more than a year. I think it's ok, just one of those things. It felt fine by the end of the run. 

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8.08 

I ran the number of the beast this morning.

A bit quicker pace than usual. I felt like Randy was dragging me along most of the way, which is good I suppose. Another nice morning with a slight cool breeze blowing. Glad I got out early, it's supposed to be 99-degrees today.

I didn't feel anything in my knee this morning. I'm pretty sure what I felt yesterday was nothing. 

Boise, ID 8:00 am

Pace: 7:51

After a warmup mile I picked up the pace and tried to push myself a bit the rest of the way. A good morning run and finally got in my first 50-mile week since January.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:02

Varied the route a bit this morning. Added a lap and a half around the HP campus. kept a decent pace felt really good running this morning.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:30

Took my usual 10-mile route up Maple Grove. Kept it at a comfortable pace. There seemed to be a lot of garbage trucks out. Gotta love that stinky puff of wind as they drive past you.

Today is my daughter's birthday, so I need to get ready for a fun-filled day of bowling, swimming pinata smashing. 

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:10

I was really tired this morning. That's the good thing about running with another person. If it had been just me, I would have turned off the alarm and rolled over. But I was glad once I got out there. Then afterward I crashed for an hour or so. That felt really, really good.

Boise, ID 6:45 am

Pace: 7:52

Had a little trouble with the snooze alarm this morning. I checked the clock and it was almost 6:30 so I decided that since I had an appointment this morning, I would just turn off the alarm and skip running today. About ten minutes later the guilt set in and I took off on a shorter run than planned. But I kept the pace up and it turned out to be a good workout. 

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 7:45

 I spent most of yesterday shoveling dirt for a little landscaping project in my backyard. So I thought a nice easy (slow) run would be a good idea this morning. Randy had other plans. It was good to push myself to keep up. Now I'm kind of tired.

Meridian, ID 9:00 am

Pace: 7:14

Today is the day of my daughter's baptism, so with family over and everything I wasn't feeling like I had time to run. But since I also felt this irrational obsession with finishing the week over 40 miles I decided to do a short run really fast (fast for me).

I ran 5k in 22:30 which is better than all but my two most recent races. I just looped around an unfinished portion of my subdivision a few times. Just a lot of flat, empty roads. I really should do this more often. I've mostly just worried about mileage up to now. I'm feeling like I want to do more speed work in the future.

Houston, TX 8:00 pm

Pace: 8:31

I got bumped off of my flight yesterday so I spent the night in Salt Lake City. I got up at 4 am to catch a flight and then spent a very weird day at the Houston Chronicle. Since I didn't run this morning and with a hurricane on its way in, I really needed to get out there tonight.

It turned out to be a very nice run -- except for the hot and humid weather. The bank near the hotel said the temperature was 94 when I left. I took off down the Bayou and then took a loop around Rice University. It is a very nice campus.

I didn't look at my pace at all during the run. I just wanted to take off and try to push myself a bit but still have enough in the tank to make it in the heat. 

Houston, TX 7:00 am

Pace 8:24

I tried to get out this morning before Tropical Storm Eduard hit. It was rainy, but not much wind yet. It actually felt good to not be so hot.

I kept it at a comfortable pace most of the run. I didn't want to push it too much because the pavement was kind of slick. I did a couple of loops around the Astrodome. I thought it was a good idea to stay away from the waterway this morning. 

Houston, TX 7:45 pm

Pace: 8:46

Here's a tip. If you are training for a marathon, avoid spending August in Houston, Texas.

It was a very hot run. I went up along the Bayou and into some neighborhoods just west of Rice University. I have this rule (that I break a lot) of not running after dark in a neighborhood that I've never been in. Once I got out there though, I was less concerned with getting mugged as I was afraid of being picked up by the police for being rif-raf. Apparently I stumbled upon the headquarters of the intown Houston south side millionaire's club. It was a very nice neighborhood.

The heat and humidity were pretty bad. The thermometer on the bank read 85 when I finished around 9pm and my clothes could not have been wetter if I had jumped in a pool. 

Humble, TX 8:00 pm

Pace: 8:41

I'm staying in a hotel closer to the airport tonight. At work I mapped out a run that I thought would work, but the main road I chose was pretty busy and had no shoulder. So I did a few loops around the neighborhood behind the hotel.

It turned out to be a nice tree-lined neighborhood and apparently it's pretty safe because on one of the loops around I ran by three police cars lined up to tell a group of kids to take their dog home. The only bad thing (besides the weather) was a couple of houses. One smelled like a backed-up septic tank and the other smelled like a dead animal. And isn't it sad that I can tell the difference?

The run was pretty slow. Maybe I'm just a wus, but the heat and humidity down here are really wearing on me. It will be nice to go home for a few days. I'll take tomorrow off and then go out for a 20-miler on Saturday morning. Then back to the heat on Sunday. 

Boise, ID 6:00 am

Pace: 8:54

It was nice to get out of the heat and humidity of Texas, but putting in a 20-miler isn't exactly a break. I went up Cloverdale to McMillian to Maple Grove and down to the Greenbelt then turned around and went back when the iPod told me I was at mile 10. A good route. The only hill is at mile 16 and it really didn't bother me. The best part is that I am going East before sunup and as it gets later in the morning the sun is at my back.

It was an ok run, but I didn't really feel good about it. My legs felt good, but my insides were kind of churning. Last night I went to a party and ate a bunch of junk food.  I need this run to serve as a wake up call. With three weeks left before the Pocatello Marathon I have to stop eating so much garbage. I could stand to lose a few pounds, but that's probably not a practical goal while training for the marathon. What I need to do is just get the calories in but eat good food that makes me feel better.

So, there it is, I'm going back to Texas tomorrow and NO WHATABURGERS. I can do this.

One odd thing I saw along the greenbelt was a raccoon sitting there along the side of the trail. Staring at me. And I think he was pooing. You don't see that everyday -- at least I don't.

Houston, TX 6:00 am

Pace: ?

I planned on running longer this morning, but it just didn't happen. It seems like everything went wrong, except for the running part. My flight was delayed, so I got in really late last night and my iPod flaked out on me. I had to reset it before heading out and then it quit on my after 4.5 miles.

I felt really good running. I think my pace was probably about  8:10. The weather was a little better than in the evening -- but not much.

Houston, TX 5:45 am

Pace:?

Still can't get my iPod to read my sensor. I guess I need to go out and buy another one. I hate that.

A pretty good run this morning. Still hot and muggy but I think I'm getting a little more used to it. I stayed away from the Bayou this morning and that turned out good. It seems even more humid down there and I also have these concerns about getting stabbed.

I'm thinking about going to an Astros game tonight, so we'll have to see how that affects tomorrow morning's run. 

Houston, TX 7:00 pm

Pace: 8:30

 I've gotta get out of this place. I think I'm beginning to get used to it. Tonight's run actually felt good. Around mile 6 I was running under the canopy of trees around the perimeter of Rice University and felt a breeze and started thinking that I was comfortable. Then I remembered that back home I would consider it a miserable night. One more run and I'm out of here.

I took the same course I ran Tuesday morning. It is a really nice route. Flat with little traffic and a lot of trees. I'll probably do part of it again tomorrow morning.

Houston, TX 6:15 am

Pace: 8:34

I didn't sleep much at all last night. I don't know why. Probably had something to do with that Diet Pepsi I drank around 9:30. That was a bad idea.

Still I dragged my butt out of bed and went for a run before work. It was a relatively comfortable morning and I only went six easy miles.  If I do a ten-miler on Saturday morning at home I'll have 40 for the week.

I bought a headsweats visor last night. I was getting tired of sweat dripping into my eyes. It worked nicely this morning.

Boise, ID 7:30 am

Pace: 7:45

 I was going to put in a ten mile run this morning but my alarm didn't go off and I needed to be done by 8:30 so I only did seven. I kicked up the pace a little faster than normal for me and felt really good.

I stopped about half way through because I saw a baseball glove on the table at a garage sale. It was too small, so I kept running. I need to find a used glove for the few times a year that I play softball. One of these days someone is going to ask and I'll have to admit that the glove I've been using is my wife's.

Later in the morning I went out with my 8-year old daughter and did a mile around the neighborhood.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 7:59

A nice morning run. The air was cool and I could tell that the end of summer is nearing because it was darker when I left this morning.

We kept the pace under 8 min (barely) and I didn't feel like I was really pushing myself much at all. Tomorrow I'm planning on my last long run before Pocatello.

Boise, ID 6:00 am

Pace: 8:55

This was my third and final long run before Pocatello. I did more long runs before Ogden, but I think my runs have been a little more intense lately. We'll see how it plays out a week from Saturday. I think the benefit of these long runs is as much psychological as it is physiological. It helps remind me that I won't drop dead at mile 18 when race day comes.

 I fly to NC tomorrow and I'll get a couple more runs in this week, then I'll do my normal 6.5 mile morning runs on Monday and Wednesday next week. 

Youngsville, NC 5:15 am

Pace: 10:29, 7:47

My brother in law invited me to go out running with him this morning. I said sure before he told me that we have to run at 5:15 in the morning because his neighbor has to finish early enough to get to work. I asked if he realized that was 3:15 am in Idaho. He said we weren't in Idaho anymore. That was fine except that the neighbor didn't even show up.

We did a 3 mile loop around his subdivision. I let him set the pace, which was pretty slow. About the same pace a run with my eight year old daughter -- but I won't tell him that. Then I did another loop on my own. After running that slowly, a sub 8 minute pace felt like I was flying.

The weather was awesome. A little humid, but cool enough that it didn't bother me at all. When I finished I went back to sleep.

Youngsville, NC 8:15 am

Pace: 10:21, 8:19

Another slow 3-miler with Fred followed by a faster 5 miles on my own. I didn't have as much gas in the tank for the second run as I did yesterday. Part of it was that it was later and started getting warm, but mostly I was just feeling pooped. Good hill work though. I wish we had rolling hills like this in Idaho. It reminds me of the half marathon I did in Charlotte last year. I really liked the hills -- short up short down. I think it actually helped my pace better than a flat course would have.

One week and one day before the marathon.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 7:54

After taking Saturday and Sunday off, I felt really good this morning. We kept the pace under 8 minutes and with the cooler temperatures it was a great run. Hopefully I feel this good after two days rest on Saturday morning in Pocatello.

Boise, ID 6:45 am

Pace: 7:54

A very strange morning. I felt this odd sensation that I haven't felt in months -- I was actually cold. it was only 54 degrees when I took off this morning and felt chilly most of the way. It was a nice change from the heat of the summer. Of course in a couple of months I'll be complaining about having to go out and run in the cold.

Other than that it was a pretty uneventful run. I just did my usual five mile loop up Cloverdale across to 5-mile and back on McMillian.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 7:56

Last run before the marathon. A nice cool morning run. Felt really good and kept the pace under 8 minutes again.

Spent most of the run chatting about the layoffs at HP. Luckily the guy I run with still has a job. It would have been a really depressing run otherwise.
 

The good news: I ran one of the fastest half marathons of my life.

The bad news: I signed up for the full marathon.

Everyone said to make sure you don't push it too hard down the hill on the first half, but I went out and did it anyway. By the time I hit the 20 mile mark I was completely spent. So I slogged along watching my pre-race goals wither away. Then I watched my mid-race goals wither away. Finally I was down to just one goal: to finish the race without puking, or dying, or worse (it could be argued that there aren't many things worse than puking and dying, but I was seeing visions of all kinds of things those last few miles).

When I finally did finish, I felt like a complete failure and was pretty pissed off. Now, as I look back there are some positives I can take away.

- It actually was my second best marathon (out of four). I just had higher hopes for myself this time.

- I learned a lesson about managing myself in a long race that I can use in the future.

- I'll be able to use this race as motivation. While I had some serious thoughts about finding a new hobby (Video gaming was sounding like a really good idea around mile 23), I can't let this be my last marathon. I know I can do better than this.

So there it is. My feet, legs, hips and butt are still sore today, but give me a few days to rest up and I'll be back on this horse.

Provo, UT 7:00am

Pace: 8:24

I ran from the Provo Residence Inn up University Ave towards Will's Pit Stop where I met up with Matt and turned around. Then we went back down University, over to 9th East to State and then along the back roads to the office in Springville.

It was a nice run, a little on the chilly side, but after the long hot summer it was nice. I didn't really push myself much, just a nice comfortable run. This was my first run since the marathon and my legs were feeling it a bit, but it was nice to get back out there.

10.33 miles 

Spanish Fork, UT 7:15 am

Pace: 8:34

I ran from my old townhouse in Spanish up to Main Street Mapleton, over to Hobblecreek Canyon road and through Springville to the office.

Kept it comfortable. It was a little chilly this morning, but really nice for a run. I liked running through Mapleton. I hadn't been there since the Hobble Creek half in 2006. I might run back from work this afternoon too. I have to drive back to Boise tomorrow morning and then watch the Cougars beat up on the Huskies tomorrow afternoon.

6.09 miles 

Springville, UT 5:00 pm

Pace: 8:38

I decided to run back to Spanish Fork after work. About a mile into it I realized that I really didn't feel like running, but by then my ride had left. So I kept running. It was really nice weather and I'm glad I did it. I just wasn't feeling into it at the time.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 7:58

I nice brisk morning. This is a great time of year for running. It was nice to get back to running with someone faster than I am. Randy wasn't feeling very good this morning, so we didn't push it too much. I was feeling a little rumbly in my tumbly towards the end of the run but a final dash to my little porcelain friend and everything was good again. 

Boise, ID 8:30 am

Pace 8:29

I had a 7am conference call this morning, so I went out and ran afterward. I did my usual 10 mile course, but mixed it up a little by continuing on Maple Grove down to Chindin and then back up Mitchell to McMillian. I wanted to do add another mile today -- and I had to pee, so I stopped at the Jackson station at Maple Grove and Chindin.

I'm going to do another marathon this year. I'll be spending two weeks in Pittsburgh next month and the Saturday between is the Baltimore Marathon. So, I'm going to drive down after work on that Friday and run the race. After my disappointing showing in Pocatello, I'm a little reluctant but also anxious to get at it again. I probably wouldn't be doing it, but the registration deadline was the day of the Pocatello Marathon, so I signed up beforehand. I'm not sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

It should be a cool race. It goes around the harbor and finishes up with a run through Camden Yards. I'm not as concerned about my time on this one. I'll try to finish under four hours and enjoy the experience.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:06

The 7am meeting was extended to this morning. I got it delayed until 7:30 so I could get out and run and get back home in time for the call.

Nothing particularly eventful about this morning's run. Just a good run that felt good.

Meridian, ID 6:30 pm

Pace: 8:35

My wife was hosting a baby shower tonight, so I thought it was a really good time to get out of the house and go for a run. I decided to run towards Meridian this time Ustick to Meridian to Pine and back up Cloverdale.

It was a good run. I ate a bunch of junk today (wife baking for the baby shower, you know), so I kind of felt it, but overall not a bad run. 

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:08

I didn't check the thermometer before leaving this morning, but I can tell it's getting a little colder.

My legs felt a little heavy, but overall I felt pretty good. I leave for Utah this afternoon to watch the Y beat UCLA. I don't know if I'll get a chance to run tomorrow or not. 

Kaysville, UT 7:15 am

Pace: 8:28

This was a good day. I stayed at a friend's family's place in Kaysville on Friday night and went out for  a run first thing Saturday morning. I didn't know where I was going and wasn't even sure where I was, but I ended up finding a good route. I crossed over the freeway and ran down an access road to Shepherd Lane then to Main St. (Farmington, I think) and then took a dead-end road up to the edge of the mountain and turned back.

Later that morning we drove down to Provo and I found some friends who were tailgating and happened to have a lot of extra food -- brats, ribs and all kinds of stuff I shouldn't be eating, but ate anyway. Mmmm.

Then I went to the stadium and watched BYU give UCLA the beating of their lives. Every day should be this good. 

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:08

The usual morning run. It is nice to be out running when the sun rises. Weather was cool and comfortable. 

Boise, ID 7:30 am

Pace: 8:34

 I went on the same 10-mile course I did last week with the extra mile down to Chinden. It was a pretty good run except that my feet kind of felt a little heavy most of the way. I think it had to do with the fact that I was a lazy slug and slept in for an extra hour this morning -- and that cheeseburger that I had for dinner last night.
 

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 7:59

A decent morning run. It felt like I was going faster than I really was. It's a good thing I had a running parter to pull me along and keep the pace under 8 min (barely).

I'm still trying to decide what to do tomorrow. I'd like to get in one long run before Baltimore. I'm just having a hard time motivating myself to do it. 

Boise, ID 6:00 am

Pace: 9:06

I went out a little earlier this morning (Not jtshad from Idaho Falls early, but early for me) to get in a long run. I wanted to get one in before Baltimore and with my crazy schedule, this was really the only time to do it.

I kept it pretty slow and easy, not really pushing myself at all. That turned out to be a good thing, I think. I felt really good at the end (I never feel really good at the end of a 20 mile run) and I'm not shot for the rest of the day -- which is a good thing since I still have to work, cut the grass and plant some trees today.

This was a good prep for the upcoming race, if for no other reason than to get it back in my head that I can go long without bonking like I did in Pocatello. The problem I seem to have is that I always go out too fast. I need to get better at pacing myself. That it took me four marathons and how many training runs to realize that probably says something about my intelligence.  In the words of Homer Simpson, "Lord help me, I'm just not that bright."

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:18

This was a weird morning. I was so tired that I forgot to hit my snooze button. Then I went downstairs to take care of business and nothing happened. Maybe my butt knew that I was 10 minutes early. So there I was all dressed to run, dog tired, and 15 minutes early for my running appointment. I wasn't up for running around the block a few times, so the only thing I could think to do was set the alarm on my cell phone and lay down on the living room floor to sleep till 6:30.

When I did head out the door to meet up with Randy, I was groggy from just waking up and sore from yesterday's long run. We went a little slower this morning -- my fault, but that was all I had in me today. Actually, I expected the pace to be slower than 8:18 so I can't complain.

That's it for this week. I've got the whole famn damily coming into town for the weekend so I'll probably be up flipping pancakes at the crack of dawn Saturday morning. I could use a couple of rest days anyway.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:08

Actual pace might be a little better than 8:08. I think my IPod temporarily loses its signal sometimes. On the Nike+ graph it shows a big dip at mile six and I know I didn't slow down there.

I've been kind of dumb. Since I've been working at home, I haven't really been wearing shoes. I think I've only wore shoes running and to church in the past three weeks. Now my left heel dried out and has a big ole' crack in it. It hurt for about half of my run and then it was ok. I just need to wear shoes more. Luckily I'll be working in the office or on site for the two weeks before the race, so I should be ok.

I turned it on for the last half mile or so. I haven't really felt like speeding up at the end of a run for a long time. Must be a good sign. As I picked up the pace I let Randy know that I wasn't a silly old man with a notion in my head that I could beat him. Just picking up the pace a bit. He's younger and a lot faster than I am. Keeps me humble. 

Boise, ID 6:45 am

Pace: 8:32

It was cold this morning. 41 degrees when I left the house. I did my usual 10-mile route keeping it at a comfortable pace. Mostly an uneventful run except that I picked up the pace a bit for the last few miles. Not because I was feeling ambitious, but because nature was calling and the faster I ran the closer I got to the bathroom. Sometimes my runs just go that way.
 

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:00

It wasn't as cold as yesterday -- 48 degrees. I felt ok most of the run but didn't have the energy for the kick I had on Monday. A pretty average run. If I do ten tomorrow and 6-7 on Friday I will be at 40 miles for the week. Saturday I'll be in Kennewick, so running that morning will be iffy.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 7:57

I didn't run yesterday. I can say it is because I've started tapering for the marathon in two weeks, but let's be honest. It's because I was a lazy turd and stayed in bed telling myself I can make it up on Saturday. Then, as usually happens, I get a call from my sister telling me that I have a commitment first thing Saturday morning.

Today's run was good. They usually are after I've taken a day off. It was a little cooler, 45 degrees, and is staying dark longer. Pretty soon it will be dark at the end of my morning runs. 

Kennewick, WA

I truly made an effort to run today. I had an appointment at 7:30am, and family commitments all day, so I knew I had to get up early. When my alarm went off at 5am, being the hombre religioso that I am, I knelt down and said my morning prayers, asking God to keep me safe during my run. Not two minutes later, as I was changing into my running clothes, I hear noise in the other bathroom. My eight year old is puking her guts out, so I helped her out and didn't run. I can only conclude that God had answered my prayer and if I had run, I would have been plowed over by a milk truck and left for dead at the side of the road.

So, I didn't run, but I am still alive.

Boise, ID 6:30am

Pace: 7:57

Well, I made it out the door this morning without any puking kids stopping me. It was a good run. I felt good most of the way. Not much conversation. I think we were both just trying to get it done.

This was my last run in Boise before the race. I leave for Provo this afternoon. I'll get a few more runs in this week and then a couple of easy ones in Pittsburgh on marathon week.
 

Provo, UT 6:45 am

Pace: 8:24

I ran from the Provo Residence Inn down 9th East and State to work in Springville. I also added a detour around the temple to add a half mile or so. When I got to work I was about two miles short. I thought about continuing on, but the Springville Stink was really bad this morning, so I stopped. I was standing in the parking lot waiting for my wife who was bringing my clothes to work with her ad I saw one of my co-workers lifting himself out of his car into a wheelchair. At that point I looked down at my two perfectly good legs and decided that if that guy is stuck in a wheelchair, what kind of a whimp am I if I stop running because the air stinks. So I went and did a couple more.

Provo, UT 6:45 am

Pace: 8:21

I got new shoes yesterday. I had ordered them online and wasn't sure they would make it to Boise before I left, so I had them shipped here. But I left my old shoes, with the Nike+ sensor on them at the office. So, last night I looked through my backpack for an old sensor. I found the one from when my other iPod got ripped off and was able to sync it with the receiver on my iPod. I was very proud of myself. My wife said "yeah, you're a genius, now go to bed."

I ran from the Residence Inn up to Will's Pit Stop and during the first mile my left foot was hurting near the arch. That got me worried about my new shoes (they are the Brooks GTS8, I had been wearing GTS7s). But it went away pretty quickly and didn't come back. So all is good.

 The rest of the run was good. I met up with Matt at Will's and ran the usual Provo route down 9th East to State and in to work at Springville. When we arrived, my wife was already in the office with my work clothes and bagels for breakfast. How cool is that?

Provo, UT 6:45 am

Pace: 8:32

Pretty much the same run as yesterday. That will do it for me this week. I'll take three days off and then get a few short runs in Pittsburgh next week before the marathon.

Pittsburgh, PA 6:15am

Pace: 8:14

This was a really cool run this morning. I haven't been to Pittsburgh before, but we went downtown and walked around a bit yesterday, so I was able to get my bearings. My hotel is next to PNC Park where the Pirates play, so I left the hotel and crossed the 6th Street Bridge over the Allegheny and ran down the river around Point State Park. Then I went past the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (where I'm working this week) to the Smithfield Street Bridge over the Monogahala. I went along the shoreline to the West End Bridge (it was getting kind of scary down there in the dark) over the Ohio, around Heinz Field and back to the hotel.

I didn't really concentrate on my pace or anything else other than not getting lost or stabbed. I'll do a couple more 5-mileish runs tomorrow and Wednesday then take two days off before Saturday's marathon.

Pittsburgh, PA 6:15 am

Pace: 8:27

Same run as yesterday. The distance is a little more and the pace is a little slower because I took a wrong turn. I saw a path along the river that I thought I could run on and looked for an entrance. When I found the entrace, a sign said Danger! No Pedestrians or Bicycles! So I turned around. I didn't want to die today.

Pittsburgh, PA 6:10am

Pace: 8:32

I took the same route over the bridges this morning, but I shortened it by cutting through downtown instead of going around the riverfront. That made for a more interesting run, that's for sure. Downtown is pretty active that time of morning. A lot of stopping and starting messed up my pace, but I wasn't really worried about that.

That's it. My last run before the marathon. I'll rest up tomorrow and Friday mornings, then drive down to Baltimore Friday afternoon. Then Saturday morning I see how it goes. Ready or not, here I come.

This was a really cool race. I had wanted to do a big city marathon to see what it was like and I wasn't disappointed. All together there were more than 17,000 people participating between the 5k, Half, Relay and Marathon. The course was great. It started at the stadiums and passed by the harbor, Ft. McHenry, through a variety of neighborhoods, around a lake and ended up with a run through Camden Yards. We also ran past the USS Torsk, which was cool for me because my dad served on that submarine back in the day.

My time wasn't the best, but it was a tough course and I didn't want to relive my disappointment in Pocatello. With all of the hills, I knew I wasn't likely to make a PR, so I decided to take it at the best pace I could and enjoy the race.

I started out following the 3:40 pace group and hung with them through the first half and felt real comfortable. I fell back briefly when I had to make a pit stop at Ft. McHenry (mile 10), but caught up again by mile 12.

Mile 14 was awesome. I got to the halfway point right when the half marathon was starting. They started out on a parallel route to avoid congestion, but I ran past them as the gun was going off, the crowd was cheering and the confetti was flying. Then a short ways later I saw my wife at the side of the course so I ran over and gave her a kiss. Afterward some guy running behind me said "Boy, I sure hope you knew her."

I passed a guy in a BSU hat around mile 17 and gave him the Go BSU fist pump. He was also from Meridian, but then I broke his heart by telling him that I'm a BYU fan.

I slowed way down during the last 7 miles. The hills and the sun were getting to me. I had hoped to hang strong till the end, but I kept reminding myself that I was there to have a good time and I wasn't going to get uptight over my finishing time.

So, in the final analysis, I wasn't thrilled with my performance, but it was a great experience and a really fun weekend. At 4:14:54 only one of my previous four marathons was slower, but I still finished in front more 60% of the other racers and in the top half of my age group. I could have just staid in Pittsburgh over the weekend and watched TV in the hotel room. Instead I met the challenge of running 26.2 miles and had a great time doing it. Not a bad way to spend a weekend.

Pittsburgh, PA 6:30 am

Pace: 8:49

Slow and easy my first run after the marathon. I was going to go out on Wednesday morning, but I was just lazy. I don't know what my problem is. This is kind of a throw-away week for me. Eating crap, not running. I need to get home and get into a new routine. I'm going to try something different over the fall and winter. I need to get my overall fitness level up by eating better and having more rounded workouts. I hope it will work.

Pittsburgh, PA 6:40 am

Pace: 8:49

My last run in Pittsburgh until I return in January. It will be colder then. After staying up late watching that stupid football game last night I wasn't very motivated to get out and run this morning, but I'm glad I did. I was able to appreciate running in a cool city one more time before going back home. Although I am very anxious to get back to Boise.  It's been a long road trip.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:27

It's getting darker out there. I went up Cloverdale to Edna and Five Mile. I took the path next to the HP campus. It was really dark. It actually made that stretch of the run kind of exciting.

After three weeks on the road, it was nice to be home and running on my familiar routes again.

Boise, ID 8:00 am

Pace: 8:33

My wife's old car didn't pass emmisions inspection yesterday, so I took it to the shop this morning and ran home the long way. That poor car is so old it can vote. It is a blue car, so I suppose it will vote for Obama this time.

It was good to get out a little later and run when it was light out although it was quite a bit colder this morning. I went up Maple Grove and then ran on the trails in the wetland area at Maple Grove and McMillian then back up Mitchell and back home down Cloverdale.

Boise, ID 6:30 am

Pace: 8:12

29 degrees when I left this morning. This was the first sub-freezing run since last winter. I'm not really looking forward to the long, cold winter, but I guess I whined enough about the heat in Houston that I should just get over it. Maybe I'll break out the treadmill on some of the colder days this winter. But I doubt it. I hate that thing.

Randy came this morning, so it was my fastest run since the marathon. I needed someone to pull me along. I need to remember to eat something before I go out in the mornings. I've been cutting back on what I eat in the evenings, so I was feelling kind of depleted this morning.

Boise, ID 8:30 am

Pace: 8:13

Stupid car failed the inspection again. So I took it in to the shop this morning (again) and ran home. Took a shorter route since I got a later start. I might go out again later today. Maybe.

Boise, ID 5:15pm

Pace: 8:24

Apparently it's been getting too dark and cold in the morning for Randy, so he suggested that we run at 5:15 this evening. I said ok. Then he didn't show up. I guess he got busy at work, or just plain forgot. Either way, no worries. I just went out running on my own.

It's been a long time since I've run in the evening. I like mornings better. When I got home I ate a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie and I'm telling you, that thing could not have tasted better. Something about eating when I'm hungry after a run makes food taste so good.

Salt Lake City, UT 6:15 am

Pace: 8:40

My first (of likely many) run in Salt Lake City. I took off from the hotel through downtown and then took 3rd North up the the University of Utah and then back down 2nd South. I lucked out on the course. The run up the hill wasn't near as steep as the run back down. It was a nice run. A lot of the usual obstacles of running in an urban area, but before 7am it is pretty quiet.

With about a mile left to go I was really feeling the rumblies in my tumbly so I ducked into the Marriott and used the restroom. Life got much better after that.

There are a lot of places to run/explore here. Too bad, with the schedule I'm working, almost all of my runs will be in the dark.

Salt Lake City, UT 6:15 am

Pace: 8:57

I didn't run yesterday because I suck. I had one of those hotel nights where you can't sleep at all until about 4:30 then I woke up an hour later with a splitting headache. I even put on my running clothes and then decided that I couldn't do it, so I went back to bed.

This morning I went out back the Avenues, but this time when I got to the top of 3rd North I turned left on Virginia instead of turning south. Then I took 11th past the cemetery and down B Ave. That added another mile and a pretty significant hill to the run, but I liked it better. There was a great view of the city from up there.

Salt Lake City, UT 8:00 am

Pace: 8:54

I didn't have to be into work as early today, so I ran up City Creek Canyon. It was a great place to run, especially this time of year with all of the trees turning. It would have been an even better run if I had stayed on the pavement. I saw a trail and figured that it just went along the other side of the creek. I figured wrong. It went straight up the mountain. I followed it longer than a rational person probably would, but then I turned back and went up the pavement.

My pace was really slow going up the hill, of course, but I made up some time on the way down and through downtown.

Home tonight.

Boise, ID

Salt Lake City, UT 6:30 am

Pace: 8:48

I ran up 3rd North again and then up to 11th above the cemetery. It is nice to have a little more daylight. Cold weather coming in soon.

Salt Lake City, UT 6:10 am

Pace: 8:55

Same route as yesterday except that I turned down into City Creek Canyon instead of running down B Ave. It was a great run if for no other reason than the diversity. I start out downtown then run through neighborhoods and then down a quiet canyon path.

I expected it to be cold this morning. When I got up I checked the computer and it was 53 degrees. By the time I finished my run it was 49. When I got to work it was 43 and was snowing in the foothills. Good thing I went out early.

Salt Lake City, UT 7:30am

Pace: 8:45

I went up City Creek Canyon again today. It was a great run with snow on all of the trees but almost none on the pavement. It was kind of cold though. It was fine down in the city, but as the elevation rose, it got colder. Funny how it works that way.

Last night a friend talked me into going to dinner at one of those Brazilian meat on a stick places. So I was feeling a little sluggish this morning and I'll probably be pooing all day. You'd think I would learn.

Salt Lake City, UT 6:30 am

Pace: 8:50

Cold and rainy this morning. I didn't sleep well last night so I was feeling pretty sluggish during my run. It was about 42 degrees but I put on my grey running jacket with a long-sleeved shirt over it, gloves and long pants. After a mile or so, I was wondering if I'd over-dressed. Then, as I got wetter and wetter, I was starting to feel a chill. So I think I dressed about right.

Salt Lake City, UT 7:00 am

Pace: 8:53

I was getting tired of running through downtown, so I drove to City Creek and ran from there. It was a pretty good run, kind of cold. I don't really like driving to run because I feel like I'm wasting my time, but I did like avoiding all of the traffic lights.

Salt Lake City, UT 7:00 am

Pace 8:19

Not only have I been getting tired of running through downtown, I'm kind of tired of the hills too (I'm getting tired of a lot of things lately). So, I took off down 7th South to Liberty park and did three laps. The path was really squishy. Wood chips on top of what must be rubber. It was nice to run on, but when I hit the pavement again I felt like you do when you get off of a trampoline and then try to jump.

I got passed by a guy on my third lap. Then I passed him.

Salt Lake City, UT 7:00 am

Pace: 8:55

This has been a long week already. I'm ready to leave the Deseret News and go home for a while. So I wasn't very motivated this morning.

I drove over near City Creek, parked the car and ran up 3rd North and back down 11th North, but went across the canyon and ran around the State Capitol building. It made for a little different scenery, but was pretty hilly.

Meridian, ID 8:00 am

Pace: 8:30

After feelling guilty all day for skipping Friday's run, I decided to do a longer one on Saturday. I crossed Eagle and ran in Meridian this time. It is hard to dress this time of year. It was 28 degrees when I left, but was into the 40s by the time I finished, so I was getting a little warm.

Not a bad run. I just realized that I went out on an easy run with the same time that I finished my first half marathon two years ago. Not bad.

Boise, ID 4:30 pm

Pace: 8:13

A nice evening run through the neighborhoods. Pretty uneventful.

Boise, ID 7:00 am

Pace: 8:25

It was cold this morning. I know that I was just complaining about the heat in Texas a few months ago, but I'm not looking forward to the winter. It's just a pain in the butt to have to worry about how to dress and then do all that laundry.

Anyway. It was a good run. About half way through, I was running at an easy pace, kind of slow actually, and I passed up an old man who was walking along in a jogging suit. I gave a friendly wave as I went by and kept going. Then, about 100 yards further, I hear footsteps behind me and realize that the old man started running again and was trying to beat me! Well, I wasn't going to let that happen, so I picked up the pace and by the time I turned the corner he had either dropped back or turned down a different street. Nothing like a little challenge to get you going in the morning.

Meridian, ID Noon

Pace: 8:13

Boise, ID 7:00 am

Pace: 8:33

Meridian, ID 7:30 am

Pace: 8:20

Boise, ID Noon

Pace: 8:10

This was going to be my only chance to get an afternoon run in this week so I took advantage of it. Nice to run in the 40s instead of the 20s.

Boise, ID 7:30 am

Pace: 8:20

It was cold this morning, but I kind of enjoyed the brisk weather this time. Not a very eventful run this time. It seems like I'm just running to run these days. Trying to get through the winter. There are a couple of races I'm thinking of entering next month. Maybe that will help me to be more motivated to pick up the pace and do more training instead fo just running.

Boise, ID 7:00 am

Pace: 8:29

The temperature was the same as yesterday and I wore pretty much the same thing but boy was I cold this morning. I tried listening to an island music playlist on my iPod. That didn't help. I just kind of made me pissed off. But, every mile will help offset the terrible things I'll be doing to my body tomorrow. So I keep running.

Meridian, ID 9:30 am

Pace: 8:10

Seven miles burned me a few calories, but not even close to the number I'm pounding down today. Guess I'll run again tomorrow.

Boise, ID 7:00 am

Pace: 8:30

I didn't run yesterday. I was up late the night before and had the whole famn damily over and just wasn't able to get it done. The worst part about it was thinking about how I can get a run in all day and then finally giving up around 4pm. I would have rather just decided the night before and got it over with. But then I would have dealt with the guilt all day anyway. I guess I just can't win.

Today's run was pretty good. I'd planned on hoofing it one more time around the block to get up to 7 miles, but my little white porcelain friend was calling. So I dashed into the house and up the stairs without so much as a good morning to the various relatives that were hanging around in the kitchen.

After running we took the kids downtown to the Christmas Parade and froze my tail off. I ran wearing just two shirts and a pair of shorts and was just fine. Then I bundle up to go to the parade and shiver all morning. I couldn't wait for that thing to end. I haven't been that excited to see Santa since I was 8.

Boise, ID 9:00 am

Pace: 8:29

I finished reading "Once A Runner" yesterday and needed to return the book before leaving town tonight, so I decided to run it back. It only seemed appropriate. The library at Five Mile and Victory is 5 miles from my house, so it worked out well for a 10-miler.

I don't like leaving that late in the morning this time of year. When I left it was 32 so I wore a couple of layers, but by the time I got back it had gone up 10 degrees and I was feeling a little too warm.

Salt Lake City, UT 7:15pm

Pace: 8:54

I decided to run after work. The weather isn't that cold and I was able to leave from the Deseret News instead of from the hotel on 6th South. That allowed me to get out of downtown quicker and made for a more pleasant run.

As I was running up the hill in the avenues I started feeling funny. Kind of light-headed, so I decided to walk the last steep stretch up to 11th Ave. After the route leveled off it went away and I was able to enjoy the rest of the run.

Salt Lake City, UT 7:00 pm

Pace: 9:06

Salt Lake City, UT 7:00 pm

Pace: 9:04

I've been leaving from work at the Des News all week. Tonight I looked in my bag and discovered that I'd forgotten a crucial piece of workout gear. Let me just say that running comando at 30 degrees isn't fun. But you really didn't want to know that did you?

I took the same 7 mile route, but took it backwards, up the hill to the capitol and then across the canyon to the avenues. It was a nice change of pace.

Salt Lake City, UT 5:30 pm

Pace: 9:03

As much as I hate missing days running, it is nice to run on three day's rest. I had planned on going 7 miles, but I was having one of those runs when you feel like you could go forever, so I turned up City Creek road and added 3 more miles. It was a cold night and had been snowing all day, but the roads were mainly just slushy, but it did slow down my pace a bit. When I went up the canyon I got to the point where the snow had accumulated on the road. I went about a half mile in that and didn't think it was a problem until I turned around and was running down the hill. I slipped and fell on my butt three or four times.

The strangest thing was when I was running on the road across the canyon. It is a very dark road and I saw someone coming toward me. It looked like a bike but seemed to be riding more upright than most bike riders. When he got closer I realized that this guy was riding uphill in the dark on a slushy road while it was snowing -- on a unicycle. Not something you see every day.

Salt Lake City, UT 7:00 am

Pace: 8:25

Cold this morning. I started at the capitol and ran across the canyon to 11th North. I was feeling a little creaky in my bones from the cold and from last night's 10-miler, but it was a nice run anyway. I chased a rabbit over the last half mile and passed her just before I got  to the car. It was nice to finish strong. This course is good because I'm not finishing my run through downtown with all of the obstacles and red lights.

Salt Lake City, UT 7:00 am

Pace: 8:29

Same route as yesterday. Not as cold, only 27 this morning. I felt better than yesterday too. More rested and my butt isn't as sore from those falls on Monday night.

Salt Lake City, UT 7:30 am

Pace:  8:39

Salt Lake City, UT 12:19 pm

Pace: 8:33

Salt Lake City, UT 7:00 am

Pace: 8:38

Salt Lake City, UT 12:00 pm

Pace: 8:23

Salt Lake City, UT 6:15 am

Pace: 8:58

Boise, ID 12:00 pm

Pace: 8:32

I've still been running, just not blogging. I had some good runs last week. Ran at lunchtime with Matt and a couple of good morning runs.  All in the same area around the avenues and City Creek Canyon.

Today, when my wife saw that I was going out running in the snow she said "If something happens, you know who to call -- and that would be your sister because if you're stupid enough to go out in this weather, I'm not going to go pick up your dead carcas off the side of the road." But I know she would rather be married to a stupid runner than a smart fat guy.

It was a rough run today. Slogging through the snow and ice makes you concentrate on every step. Takes a lot out of you. It was a good time though and I only got slushed on by a passing SUV once. I think he did it on purpose.

Boise, ID 11:00 am

Pace: 8:19

Snow keeps piling up and I keep slogging through it. I tried listening to an island music playlist on my iPod today. I thought it might inspire warm thoughts. It didn't really help. I was still cold.

Boise, ID 2:00 pm

Pace: 8.22

Boise, ID 9:30 am

Pace: 8.23

Boise, ID 10:30 am

Pace: 8:29