Rich's Running Blog

I felt pretty good at this race, the course wasn't easy but it was a fun race.

I felt pretty strong most of the way I was still slowing at the end but I hung on for the finish.

I had a pretty good race.  This course is flat so no real uphill or downhill advantage.

I felt pretty good until that last few miles.  Not quite good enough to break 3 hours.

I struggled with the hills in this race in the mid section.  I hung on to finish ok, but I still didn't feel good at the end.  I was dissappointed.

I started this race out way to fast, it was so steep downhill I didn't expect it.  I took off really fast and I think I did myself in.

Today my wife asked me to take her and a friend to the top of hobble creek to run down.  Pretty much the Hobble Creek half marathon course.  I dropped her off then went to the golf course and ran up.  I am still recouping from the Deseret news so I have been going pretty easy.  I felt pretty good and I ran up and I was running about 7:15 pace going up the canyon then I felt pretty good I was doing about 6:10 to 6:15 pace coming down.  I am feeling pretty good that I am feeling this good only about a week removed from the Marathon.

I felt so slow today, I just didn't have any speed in me.  At one point I thought I did a fast mile and looked down and I did a 7:50 mile.  I think I was just drained from a busy Sunday.

A little better run, sure was warm today

This was a really slow day.  Then I had to cut my run short to go to the bathroom. 

Didn't feel great. 

Pretty easy 5 mile run, I was up till 1:00 am the night before and I had to get to work early so I didn't have much time or energy to run.  I am really worried that I am not getting the miles I need for marathon preparation.

Nice easy 6 miles in preparation for the 1/2 marathon tomorrow.  I really wanted to run farther but I knew I shouldn't.  Part of my struggle is my weight has been up a few pounds this week and thats frustrating.

I am so excited, my goal today was to run a 1:22 and I thought I did it.  The clock showed 1:22:38 when I crossed the line but my watch showed 1:23 so I didn't know if it was a reality.  Unfortunately it wasn't real, oh well next time.  I just plugged along and put a bunch of 6 minute miles together and I felt great all the way in.  I struggled a little with the hill in the canyon but I kept my pace up.  I was frustrated and wasted probably 15-20 seconds on a turn around that wasn't manned by race officials.  I was also frustrated with the start there was no warning and no chip timing.  I will say this is probably the least organized I have seen a race.  I am thrilled with my time and I felt great during the race and after.  It's always fun to PR and it was by 3 to 4 minutes I will have to look it up, I can't remember. 

I had no intention of trying to push it today, but I wanted a long run.  I am going to try and do a big week as next week I will be out of town and I will be limited on how much I can run.

Nice Easy 12 miles, I felt pretty good.

I was just looking for a long confidence run in my marathon training.

Tried to pick up pace a little at the end and working toward breaking 100 mile week again.  

17 easy slow miles in the morning then at night a 13.1 fun race some friends came up with and I was thrilled to do a 1:22 half time.  Plus I reached my 100 mile mark on friday, great week and I feel good.

Just a nice easy 10 miles to reach my highest mile week.  I am thrilled and I will be lucky to hit 50 next week with a vacation out of town.

Easy 13 mile run before my vacation for a week.

Nice easy run in beautiful Steckborn Switzerland, wow it was beautiful.

Really slow 10 miles, I am really suffering from jet lag and from not running for a week.

Still really slow and sore from over 13 hours crammed in an airplane

A little better and faster today but still slow

I decided to go slow and short today and go for a long one on Saturday.  

I can't say the last 2 miles were really fast but much faster than the rest of my week.  I felt good about the end of my week.

I was planning a 20 this morning until I woke up to a pretty rainy morning.  Rain is one of my weaknesses, fortunately I don't live in Seattle because I wouldn't have a chance of reaching 3,000 miles there.  I have only had like 4 mornings this year that have had major rain.  This morning I did however make a pretty brave venture into the rain and stuck to my 6 mile course and I got pretty wet.  I would have done 3 or 4 more if my partner would have showed, but I felt good about 6 wet miles and my pace was decent even though I ran with my dog and she slows me a little.  

Easy training run just trying to build miles back.

Another day just trying to get the miles recorded on my body, still getting back in the groove after gaining 6 lbs on vacation and missing a week of solid running.

I am feeling stronger but still just taking the pace smoothly and not to hard.

Nice easy run I know tomorrow is race day so I had to take it nice and slow.

So I got up and did my usual early run with my dog which was a very smooth and easy run not fast at all.  Then my friends were planning to meet with me before the race to do what I thought would be 2 or 3 miles and it turns out to be almost 7.  I was very nervous about the race but I felt great in the race and felt good about my performance.  I hope it translates into success in Top of Utah and St George.  I don't really have lingering soreness or problems.

Easy run, I felt good today a little sore from Saturday but good. .

Slow run, I felt kinda tired and out of energy.  I was happy I was low on weight afterwards.

Just another nice easy training run, I felt good.

I am feeling like I am getting back to marathon strength.  The longer runs are getting easier.

We had a really fun run today down the Provo river trail starting at Treefoil ranch.  Nice easy training run, boy it was cold at the top.

Fun easy Saturday Training run with my partner.  It was good.  I guess easy wind down next week in preparation for Top of Utah.  I am excited.

Easy slow run

Another easy slow run, just trying to gear up for the weekend.

Last long run of the week, the rest is a wind down.  Nice and slow.

really slow and really short.

Nice easy run last day before marathon.  Here I come Top of Utah!!!

What a thrilling day for me to break 3 hours in a marathon, 5th time is the charm.  I am very excited to finally pull it off.  I had several hurdles on the day.  First early in the week my shoes that are barely 2 weeks old the rubber flapped loose and I took them back to the store I got them.  The store attended glued the rubber back on and assured me they would be fine or he would change them for new ones.  I told him I was nervous because of the Marathon, but he contended there would be no problem.  After 4 miles I could feel the rubber flapping and I didn't know what to do, I decided to just ignore the problem and I finally forgot about it.  Then at about mile 2 I was running through a neighborhood and I went the wrong way!! There were no other runners in sight ahead of me and I didn't notice any markings ahead of me, someone in a truck came by me and told me to turn around, I ran back and added about a 1/4  of a mile.  I was really discouraged for about a mile and that was my slowest mile of the race.   I also was ahead of the runner behind me by at least 100 yards when I made that mistake, when I came back he had me by more than that.  I hung on though to pull back mentally and finish pretty strong, I think I would have been close to 2:55 if I could have avoided that problem though.  I feel like 2:55 is a realistic goal for St George.  Overall what a great day, and talk about perfect weather for running.  Also I was impressed with the aid stations and the race overall.  I think I will be back in 2009.

If ultra slow was an option I would have to select that.  I felt pretty good today though.  This is probably the best I have ever felt post marathon.  I am keeping my fingers crossed, and continue to balance recovery and workouts.

Another nice slow recovery run.

I am just trying to hold on and keep the runs easy, slow and try not to go up to fast on mileage.

Pretty easy day, it was pretty warm today.

Today felt good and I went longer, I still feel I am in recovery, I would say I am about 60% of normal.

I felt really pretty normal today.  Still just a few twinges of soreness but not enough to worry me.  I am getting excited about St George.

Nice slow training run, now time to ease up

Just another easy slow training run.  I love the cool fall air.  I think I am back to near 100% after the marathon,  fastest recovery ever for me.  Can't wait till Saturday at St. George!

Felt a little tired today, two long days at work kind of got to me.  I am also going to start with extra carbs tomorrow.

Nice slow fun conversation run.

Just a slow fun run to stay loose.

I am very excited about this marathon finish and to set another PR.  One of my main goals was to finish under 2 hours in my last 2 marathons of the Grand Slam (done).  I really did have to slow down a lot on the hills resulting in 5 miles 7 plus minute miles.  I was happy though that I was able to have a negative split time by 2 minutes.  I just wish I could have pushed a little harder in the 1st half.  The weather was a challenge and I didn't know how it would be.  I wore a garbage bag for the 1st 8 miles and then took it off and finally ditched my hat and gloves at mile 18.  Overall what a great year of running though, it will be fun to go into a different age division next time  I race and see how I compare.

Nice easy run.  Certainly very slow.  I feel much better now than before the run.

Just another slow marathon recovery run.

Today I actually felt like I was about 80% of normal amazing only 4 days after marathon day.  I have just got to keep it going easy, but I am excited.  I only wish I knew I had another race I was looking forward to.  I am thinking about Snow Canyon 1/2 but I am not sure. 

Nice easy slow run

Brr!  What a cold day, this is a sign of what is to come.  Funny I remember running by the bank last year with the display showing between 1 - 4 degrees.  This morning I thought it was chilly at 40 degrees.   I had a pretty good run.  I have got to buy new shoes today or I am going to be in trouble.  I love the new asics speedsters but they only last about 2 1/2 weeks.  The running store replaced the 1st pair when they were gone in two weeks but I don't think they will again.  I am uncertain what to buy now.  I am feeling pretty good about my recovery, almost back to normal.

Just an easy 13 mile run on a beautiful Fall Saturday.

Pretty easy going 18 mile run.  It is weird to run in winter running gear it makes me feel even slower.

Even colder weather today.  I am not looking forward to another long winter.  The run went pretty well.  It is so hard to stand outside waiting for satellites.

5 Degrees warmer today but it felt about as cold as yesterday.  I felt pretty tired today but I gave blood last night, I knew I needed to cut back today.

Easy slow run.

Easy slow half marathon.

Another slow easy day.

Nice slow day, I think in preparation for a long day tomorrow.

Today was my Birthday so I thought I would run a marathon.  I wasn't very fast but it went pretty well, I started at Utah Lake and ran to Bridal Veil Falls and back.  I was pretty happy with a 3:15 on a training day and makes me feel okay about being 40 today.

Slow is an understatement on a definite recovery day.

another really slow recovery day.

I am definitely still going slow but I felt great today especially since I just ran 26 a few days ago.

A pretty slow pace although I felt pretty strong at times, a pretty great feeling run and I am happy to get back up to my longer runs by weeks end.

Boy I felt pretty groggy and slow today.  I want to go long tomorrow as I go out of town Tuesday and I don't know how much I can run while away.

Tried to get a decent long run as I am leaving town today.

A nice easy run through Fresno California, nearly got lost as I have never been there before.

At the Hotel in San Francisco and couldn't find any decent streets to run on.

I ran 8 miles on the tread mill then in the afternoon I had to opportunity to run in San Francisco.  I started at Fishermans Wharf and ran to the Golden Gate Bridge across and back (about 1.5 miles each way to the point I turned) then back to the Wharf ( 13.1 ).  It was so fun and perfect weather, I was slow but it was a blast.

A new record for me 11 miles on the Treadmill, I have been on marathons that seemed shorter, I hate the treadmill.

I had a good run and I hit a huge milestone, I hit 3,000 miles for the year so that is something beyond what I have ever done.  I have run a lot more miles this year and I feel better than ever physically.

Cold, Snowy, wet weather day.  My feet were wet and freezing the whole time it was a long 8 miles but I stuck it out, this is when you build your core strength.  Not looking forward to a long cold winter.

Still pretty cold but not as bad

24 Degrees, my toes were really cold, I have got to buy new socks.  It was a pretty good run though.  I remember seeing 2 or 4 degrees last winter I hope I get stronger on dealing with the cold soon.

Wow, 37 degrees today, that was really nice.  It was a fun easy run today.  I am excited about the Snow canyon 1/2 tomorrow.

I felt good about my race, it is not an easy course for me and I took 4 minutes off my time from last year.  I was disappointed that while trying to get gatorade in the last water stop, (they couldn't find it) I was passed by the masters division winner and lost by less than a minute to him.  I definitely would have been excited to get that.  Overall it was good for me, actually it was a little warm at the end which definitely is hard on me.

Nice easy short run, at least I went out I guess.

Another nice easy short run.

Another nice easy run, a little longer.

Feeling a little better, took a minute off of my mile times on 2 out of the last 3 miles.

backed off a little today, felt fine.

all slow miles but at least it was 15.

nice easy recovery day.

I went out with a plan for a normal long run and when I came home to meet my running partner after 5 miles the rain started pouring and he didn't show up so I called it a day.  As usual when I did 30 minutes later the weather was perfect.

made up for yesterday with a strong run today.

Nice easy run.

Nice easy shorter day.

Certainly a slow run but I was glad to see 20 again

nice run to start the week an easy slow 15.

Distance is coming back up which I am feeling pretty good about.

Still pretty slow but I did pick it up on the last couple of miles.

really slow easy run.

quick easy run with my dog, then get to work quick.

Got a better day after an off day yesterday.  I got a few miles in that were slightly better times.

Nice slow and easy run, weather was pretty nice today.

Another nice easy slow run, weather was even nicer today.

Today, my last 6 or seven miles really were not slow but not fast either.  I felt pretty strong today.

I felt slow and tired today, the weather was fine, I was just plain tired. 

Another nice slow long and COLD run.

Today was the coldest day of the week and my forehead really was aching when I got done.  I originally thought my head was hurting because of my light, but I took it off and it was below that point where my forehead was exposed.  I forget how cold 23 degrees is.  I felt ok after all this week.  I have been battling a pain on the front of my right leg, I think maybe my shin but I think higher.  I am not sure how to treat it because it hurts most for the first mile then slowly will go away.  

I wanted to finish the year strong with a long run.  It felt good.