Every Race is an Adventure!

With the steady rain falling at 5:30 this morning I suspected Wayne but come to pick me up. I gave him a call and confirmed that he preferred to run at the fitness center later to getting soaking wet. I didn't want to pay to run at the fitness center, so I was going to go out in the rain. But then I decided to go give the fieldhouse at BYU a try. I ran many miles there in 1982 training for my first two marathons, but it has probably been 25+ years since I've trained there. Kevin J. and I tried once a year or two ago but there was a high school track meet going on.

I got there a little before 6:00am. No track meet this morning. At first there was mostly just a few senior citizens walking around or jogging. The numbers slowly increased and got younger as the morning went on. The big loop was closed this morning.

I had originally planned on 16-18 miles for today, but with 7 1/7 laps per miles, I didn't think my sanity would last that long. I decided to just start running and see how long I lasted.

Keeping track of laps was the hard part. I would count three laps on my right hand, then three laps on my left hand, then one lap not counting on either hand. Every 7 miles I ran an extra lap. I ended up doing this twice for a total of 14 miles. I didn't realize until afterwards that (7x7)+1 = 50, and 50x2 = 100, so I ran exactly 100 laps. That's a new record for me. In high school I once ran 10 miles in 80 laps on an 1/8 mile indoor basement track (no windows, just concrete).

This morning I averaged about 8:10/mi the first 7 miles and 8:30/mi the second 7 miles for an overall average of about 8:20/mi for the 14 miles. Not bad for running uphill into a strong headwind. OK, it was on an indoor track...level with no wind...but I still feel pretty good about the run. It was kind of fun passing people over and over again. I only got passed a few times, generally by people doing speed work or kicking at the end of their run. It reminded me (a little) of 1982 when I was 22 years old and in sub-3:00 marathon shape.

Driving home I passed a runner we see out most Saturdays, and other days when we run to Provo Canyon. He was soaking wet and it didn't look very fun. I don't mind running in light or intermittent rain, but with the steady rain this morning I was glad I decided to try the field house.

I ran the 2000 N hill route with Larry and Wayne. After missing yesterday, it felt really good to be out running. I really enjoyed the fresh morning air, exercise, and good company.

Lindon loop with Larry and Wayne. I threw in a couple of miles ahead of time and later ran a fartlek mile at 7:02 pace in the middle of our run. It was a beautiful morning and I felt great. What an awesome way to start the day.

Ran the Cascade golf course route with Larry and Wayne. Another beautiful morning! My hip was a little sore, probably from too much Danish ball at a wedding-related family canyon party up South Fork last night. It's been passed down in my wife's family for generations. It was a lot of fun, as it always is. I'd try to explain how we play, but I've never known anyone to understand how to play without playing it. I've also never known anyone to play it and not really enjoy it. It's kind of a cross between baseball, dodge ball, and ultimate frisbee.

Larry didn't make it out this morning, but I had an enjoyable run on the Lindon loop with Wayne and Kevin. Kevin and Larry have other commitments tomorrow morning, but Wayne and I are planning to run Provo Canyon from the mouth to Vivian and back at 5:30am tomorrow. We've really enjoyed getting out early for our Saturday runs. Only a week to the Ogden marathon.

Wayne and I ran Provo Canyon from the mouth to a little past Vivian Park and back for a total of 12 miles. We started a little after 5:30am, and the sun was just rising over the horizon as we finished a little before 7:30am. It was another beautiful morning and a nearly perfect run.

Our mile splits were 9:33, 9:00, 9:11, 8:54, 8:38, 8:25, 8:25, 8:05, 7:50, 7:41, 7:34, 7:34. Even though we only averaged 8:24/mi and we're hoping to average sub-8:00/mi at Ogden next week, I'm still counting these miles as marathon pace. Those first 6 miles uphill were into a pretty strong headwind. We actually held about the same effort level the entire run, except maybe for the first mile warming up. If felt good to finish with a couple of 7:34 miles without really picking up the effort level much.

I've never run the Ogden marathon before. I'm running it this year for the scenery. I've heard it's  a beautiful run. Wayne and I aren't going for PRs. We're planning to not push at the beginning, enjoy the scenery, and hopefully feel good enough to maybe start pushing the pace coming down Ogden Canyon and in to the finish. I'm looking forward to it.

Lindon loop with Wayne. Beautiful morning. Feeling good. Looking forward to Ogden on Saturday.

2000 N route with Larry and Wayne. Easy pace. I'll probably only run 3 or 4 miles tomorrow as I taper for Ogden on Saturday.

Larry wanted to run the neighborhood 5K course this morning in preparation for the annual neighborhood 5K run this Saturday. When I signed up for the Ogden marathon I didn't note the conflict. I'm really going to miss running the 5K.

A couple of miles into the run my left knee started hurting so I stopped running and walked for a bit. It hurt a little while walking and actually felt better when I started running again. I was only running about a 9:00 pace at the time it started hurting. I haven't done anything to injure it recently, no hard training or long miles.

It was windy and cooler this morning, and that reminded me that this is my weather knee, the knee that sometimes hurts when low pressure systems move in. I came home and checked the weather maps and sure enough there is a low pressure system over Utah. It looks like there is a high pressure system moving in, and the forecast is for warmer weather this weekend, so I'm optimistic the knee will be fine for the marathon on Saturday.

The course was beautiful, the weather was beautiful, my performance was...so so.

The day started with getting up at 2:00am (after 4 hours of sleep), leaving at 3:00am, driving to Ogden from Orem with Wayne, and loading onto a bus between 4:45 and 5:00am. Everything went smoothly until we got on the bus. We thought it was leaving, but it only pulled a block up the street then parked on the side of the street with a couple of other buses. Other buses were passing us and apparently going on up to the start, but we just sat there for what seemed like a long time. We eventually left, but our bus (and a couple in front of it) took a wrong turn heading up the canyon and had to turn around when they hit a locked gate. We finally got to the start, and after some delay getting off the bus (which we were relieved to do), we finally hit the porta johns and hung out around the fires. Personally, I think this race could easily start at 6:30am or 6:45am instead of 7:00am. It's plenty light. The sun was actually all the way up over the horizon before the race started.

Wayne and I stuck pretty close to our plan to average 8:00/mi for the first 10 miles. Our mile splits were: 7:43, 7:51, 7:47, 7:48, 7:48, 7:46, 7:51, 7:56, 7:58, 7:54 = 1:18:22 (7:50/mi). We exceeded our goal a little, but I never felt like we were pressing the pace. We ran with a 14 year old young man named Abe for some of these miles. He seemed like a great young man. I kidded him that I had a cute 13 year old daughter that maybe he could date when they were both old enough. Abe eventually pulled on ahead of us.

The next 4 miles (11-14) north and west around the top end of the lake. These were gradual uphill miles and, although I felt we kept our effort the same, our pace slowed. Splits: 8:14, 8:14, 8:22, 8:17. We ran most of these miles with a runner named Matt. We stopped for water once when he didn't and he got a bit ahead of us, then slowly pulled away.

Mile 15 includes a half mile climb. Split: 8:50. I began to feel some pain on the top of my left foot at this point. It gradually got worse and I ended up with a pretty raw sore there by the end of the race.

Miles 16 & 17 (and half of 18) are slight downhill miles over to the mouth of Ogden Canyon. Splits: 8:27, 8:27. Our pace was consistent, but a little slower as we were beginning to tire.

I welcomed the downhill of Ogden Canyon (miles 18 to 22) and tried to let off the brakes and pick up the pace. Wayne didn't come with me. I managed to pick up the pace for a couple of miles or so (I passed Matt here), but then I began to run out of gas and wished I had Wayne's company again. Splits: 7:50, 7:38, 7:59, 8:35, 8:38. At this point I realized the next 4.2 miles weren't going to come easy.

Miles 23 to 25 followed the Ogden River Parkway. I was just hanging on. Splits: 8:25, 8:37, 9:30. Yep, the wheels were officially off at this point. The interesting thing was how few people were passing me, mostly young female runners two to three decades younger than me.

The last mile or so runs down Grant Avenue to 25th Street and the finish. I managed to pick up the pace to 9:12/mi for mile 26, and it was odd to me that it was enough to keep hardly anyone from passing me, although the people I was running near had all averaged 8:10 to 8:15/mi for the rest of the course. It seems this course somehow seems to beat people into submission by the end of the race. It may have been during this mile I passed Abe.

I did manage to put together a bit of a kick and average 7:35/mi for the 0.2 miles (0.3 on my watch). There was a group of runners in front of me and I simply willed myself to be in front of them. I could have passed a few more young women just before the finish, but I did that once and felt terrible later, so I was a gentleman and let them finish ahead of me rather than run my guts out to pass them.

My final time was 3:36 (unofficial), 8:12/mi. I was hoping for 3:30 or better, and it's my slowest marathon in the past few years, but it just wasn't in me today. I'm good with that.

I'll end as I began, the course was beautiful, the weather was beautiful, my performance was...so so...but I finished. As the announcer at the finish said, every runner that ran the marathon, half marathon, or 5K today got out there and lived life today. I wholeheartedly agree.

Official stats:  3:36:38 (8:16/mi), AD 21 of 116 (18%), Overall 272 of 1682 (16%)

Lindon loop with Larry and Kevin (if I remember right).

2000 N hill with Larry (if I remember right). Ran into Jeff Tulley and he ran with us for a couple of miles. I enjoyed catching up on things with him.

Cascade golf course route with Larry and Wayne. Legs are feeling good. I think this is the quickest I've recovered after a marathon. Getting excited about the Wasatch Back relay next month.

Wayne, Kevin, Kerry and I ran 12 miles this morning from the mouth of Provo Canyon up to a little past Vivian Park and back. We got started a little after 5:30am and were finished before 7:30am. I love running in the early morning. It was overcast with mild temperatures and a breeze. I loved running on the trail through the trees along the river. I saw a rabbit early on and some ducks on the river later. I commented on how lucky we are to be able to live and run here.

We didn't see many people on the way up, but met a lot more people coming up when we were heading back down, many of whom I knew, such as: Rich & Marci Lamoreaux (on a 4 hour training run getting ready for the Squaw Peak 50 in 2 weeks), Josse Tobiasson, Bryan Johnson, Kolby Wight, Lyle Brereton, Sasha Pachev, Dan Bachelder (BYU Cougar Band director when I was in it). These are all good people. There seems to be a high percentage of runners that are really good people. Are good people drawn to running? Or does running help make people good? Of course, I think most people are good people, so maybe it's as simple as some people run and some people don't. I overthink sometimes.

We averaged about 8:30/mi for the 12 miles. The mile splits going up were: 9:38, 9:15, 9:15, 9:15, 8:52, and 8:29. Coming back down they were: 8:41, 8:01, 7:52, 7:41, 7:02, and 7:53. At mile 11 my right hip was hurting a little. I've found it hurts less when I run faster so threw in a tempo mile. Wayne came with me as we pushed hard the last mile before the fountain at Timpanogos Park.

I really enjoyed the run this morning. Good place, good time, good weather, good people, good pace, good health. I've never felt this good this soon after a marathon. There's no shortage of adversity in life (I'll spare you the details), but there are also plenty of blessings. Counting them is a much better use of time than complaining. Life's good, enjoy it!

Due to the holiday today I ran alone. I slept in late, but not as late as I thought. I kept thinking I had slept in until 9:00am, and that it was going to be too warm, but just before I left to run I looked at the clock and was surprised to see that it wasn't 7:30am yet. I guess when you're used to getting up at 5:00am every day, sleeping in until 7:00am feels like sleeping in until 9:00am.

I normally run 6 miles on Monday, but thought maybe I'd go 8 or 10 this morning if I felt good. The morning was so beautiful, and great running weather, and I ended up going 14, to Bridal Veil Falls and back. I didn't run super fast, but I kept moving okay. I averaged 8:44/mi overall, and ran a couple of late miles at 7:45-ish pace.

Another beautiful morning! Larry, Wayne and I ran the 2000 N route. I didn't have much zip in my legs after yesterday's 14 miler. I enjoyed the run nonetheless.

With the prospect of Kent rejoining us (he got into St. George), Larry, Wayne and I decided to settle on a weekly running plan. We think Kent likes it better that way, and our route planning has been a little haphazard since Kent quit running with us. The tentative plan is: Mon: Lindon loop, Tue: 2000 N, Wed: water tank hills, Thu: towards the canyon, Fri: open, Sat: long run (usually Provo Canyon). The weekday runs are normally 6 miles, with 10-20 on Saturday. Those who want more mileage either get a mile or two in early or do two-a-days. This plan is very similar to what we've done for quite a few years.

Larry's the heart of this running group, the only member who's been at it consistently for about 20 years. He's my idol. He's never been the fastest runner in the group, and has yet to qualify for Boston, but he's held on the longest and has always been the most cheerful, positive, talkative, and encouraging to others. He got me back into running after 20+ years, and I honestly don't know if I'd still be running without him. Thanks, Larry!

Larry, Wayne and I ran the water tank hills this morning. I thought Kevin and Kent might join us but Larry forgot to invite Kent and Kevin didn't make it out. We started with a detour to the baseball field at Timpanogos High School. Larry's crew had planted some Arbivida bushes and he wanted to check them out.

Once we hit the hills Wayne and I pushed up ahead. We both realized we're not in hill shape, but we did okay. It will be good to run these hills regularly again. On the way down we passed Josse and her dog. She got my name right today (jk). Larry's dog Ozzie was with us and the two dogs greeted each other with a little sniffing and then, to our surprise, a litte growling. This is unusual for Ozzie, and it didn't last long.

Wayne and I pushed again the last mile home (from the old WordPerfect buildings down 1600 North), running it in 6:49. It felt good to go fast. I've done very little speed work so far this year. It's good to know my legs can still move that fast.

Larry, Wayne, Kevin and I ran toward the canyon this morning. Great weather again. At the 3 mile turn around point Kevin wanted to loop down to Wil's gas station and back up the 800 N hill and Wayne and I went with him. It took us quite a while to catch back up to Larry. With about a mile to go Wayne had started to pull ahead of us. I asked Kevin and Larry which one of them was going to go catch him, but Larry said it was my job. I closed the gap to 20 or 30 yards, but once Wayne heard me he picked up the pace and I never did catch him. We ran that last mile at about 7:10 pace, much of which was gradual uphill. I really enjoyed the run.

Kevin and I ran the 6 mile Lindon loop this morning, average pace 8:36/mi. Another beautiful morning. The weather has been awesome this week. I'm looking forward to running with some of the guys from the relay team tomorrow (6:30am, Provo Canyon). Kevin and I are going for sure. I hope some of the others show up. Wayne is busy tomorrow and is doing 20 miles today. Larry is running the Sojourner's "Gruesome Grizzly" run.

I picked up Kevin then we met up with Ryan, Nathan and Kyle at the mouth of Provo Canyon. It was pretty windy, but still a beautiful morning.

It was great seeing Ryan, Nathan and Kyle. We ran together for the first few miles. Nathan stopped at the bathroom at Nunns Park and then turned back after 5 miles with Kyle so I didn't get to run with him as much as I would have liked. Ryan and I pulled a little ahead of Kevin and Kyle. When we got to Vivian, Kevin's wife was waiting with his 16 year old daughter who ran back down with Kevin.

Ryan and I ran with Kevin and his daughter for a mile or two then pulled ahead. At Nunns Park we pushed the two miles to Timpanogos Park at about 7:00/mi pace. We ended up averaging 7:59/mi for the 12 miles. That's the fastest I remember running that route in a long time. We passed a guy during this stretch who said, "Young guys suck!" as we passed him. I turn 50 next year and enjoyed being called a young guy.

Nathan was headed back out for more when Ryan had less than a mile to go. He ended up going past Kevin and his daughter, too. I don't know how far he ended up going.

Another beautiful morning, another enjoyable run!