The Rainbow Connection

Today I got up a bit late to start my 18 mi run. I figured it wouldn't be too hot though because this past week it's been a bit cool in the morning. I knew I was wrong the minute I stepped out the door. I used to be so good about checking the weather. Bah!

Whatever, I was going to run those 18 mi no matter what. It didn't take too long for my stomache to start hurting. I knew I hadn't eaten right last night (cheetos around 5, baked squash with nutritional yeast aroun 9:30 -- so good btw), so I ate some dried pineapple (pure sugar). I've been using dried gatorade. It starts off too sweet, but I get a refill bottle of water about half way through, so I figure it balances everything out.

So then my plan is to run two loops that go from 4500 to 5100 feet. Why is it that I was dying by mile 9? So I was going to quit, but I was thinking this is the 3rd week in a row that I should have made 18 and haven't. I should be to 22 by now. I'm beginning to compromise the marathon. If I turn around it's over. I turned around.

But after walking a minute I thought, hey, maybe if I don't try to run half way up a mountain I could pull off the next 9 mi. 9 mi - that's nothing. So off I went feeling good --
for about a mile. Then I felt nausiated. crap. So I start heading home. But in between bending over to dry heave, walking, sitting and jogging, I come to the conclusion, I'm going to go home and get refueled and finish off my miles this evening.

So I did. I rested a while. Took a cat nap with the cat. Ate a frozen pizza. Went to Walmart. Jumped around my bedroom saying, "energy, energy, Energy!" It actually helped. Then I went out for a run, right as a thunderstorm was coming in. Whatever, I have no fear of sissy desert rain.

But the lightening is another matter. I ran a ways and it felt great. I was enjoying the storm roll in. But here's the thing, I don't want to end up in one of those Darwin Award books.
One day a young (still young!) went out for a run in a thunderstorm. The wind was blowing like crazy. And like her paternal great father before her, she was struck by lightening and died. Her browsing histroy actually shows that she checked weather.com before leaving home. (True about the grandfather).

So I decided to head home and evaluate the weather when I got closer. My Darwin Award theory was confirmed when a woman asked me if I needed a ride because of the lightening.

Shortly after that I noticed the most amazing rainbow I have ever seen. It was huge, high in the sky and vivid the whole length. There was also a second bow above it that was faded. Kids were out jumping in the yard. When I got to my apartment there were people standing outside gawking. I wanted to keep running, but a big rumble behind me, sent me running for my camera instead.


I'll post the pics later. For now, I have hope for my marathon and a new plan. I need to get up earlier, eat better before runs, and try some long runs on flatter terraine. I won't have a chance to attempt 18 again until week after next. Until then, I'm going to alter my weekdays to include more mid distance ~10 mi runs. I'm starting right now by getting ready for bed at 8:47.

Wasatch Back Relay

I'm a complete YouTube kick tonight. I know -- so behind the curve. Anyways, here's one on the Wasatch Back Relay that I mentioned a little while ago. I don't see where I mentioned it. Maybe I just thought about it.
The Kenyan Within wrote about it in her blog. It's a relay from Logan to Park City. Anyways, I want to do this next year.




Shorter video

Injury Strikes Back

Squats may not be a good idea when you are recoverying from a hamstring injury. I've set myself back weeks. I went out for an easy 6 mi today and managed 4. I could have pulled off 6, but I'm not sure what that would have done to me. For one thing, it's so much more draining to run when in pain. Bah!

Tonight maybe more swimming and definitely yoga. I think when I go back to strength training, I'll stick to the upper body for a while. I don't know enough about what I'm doing to know if I'd hurt myself again.

Bah! Strength Training Woes

For the second week in a row I've ruined my speed work out with strength training. I decided I would start strength training two weeks ago on a Sunday. I figured the soreness last week was just from not having done it for a while. So I did it again on this Sunday.

By the end of yesterday I was feeling pretty sore. I did some yoga last night, but it wasn't enough to repair the damage. I was suposed to run 4 x1600 at 10k pace with 3 min jog recovery. I got through a warm up lap and then 800 m at slower than 10 min/mi.

I think I'll just go swim laps tonight and let the run today go. I'd like to keep up the strength training, but I have to keep it at a level that won't kill me two days out. Or maybe I could do my speed work out on Monday, since two days out seems to be the worst.

Week 2

We'll I recovered from my second long run much better than the first. I ran 16 mi on Saturday and I think I've found myself a rather nice long run loop in my new town. I ran from my place to the Island Trail, up Canyon Rd to the Bonneville Shore Line Trail. I'm going to run it in reverse next weekend to get a better view of the Wellsvilles by heading south along the Wasatch.

I took it quite slow, averaging 12 min miles. Perhaps speed will come with time. For now I'm happy to get through the distance. My hamstring is hurting just a little bit. Check out the elevation profile. That's quite a climb at mile 4.



People keep telling me that I'll be acclimated by now, but with altitude like this and last week's, starting at 4500 and 6000 feet, I think it could take a bit longer to get use to it.

*GASP*

I was just reading a Runner's World message board thread. It was titled Drinking While Running. I was hoping for tips on how to balance alcohol consumption with marathon training -- no such luck. It's a typical thread about how to carry water. Zzzzz.
Anyways, the person who started the thread is "Running Vicugna", complete with picture of a vicugna/vicuna. I have a thing for llama-like creatures. Vicuna are the cutest of them all.

Back in the Saddle

So it turns out theinjury I have is actually in my hamstrings. It's not a huge surprise, I've known that my hamstrings are tight for a while.


I went to the doctor, who showed me some exercises. He recommended physical therapy, but the exercises and doing yoga a couple times a week seem to be working, so I think I'll by pass that.


In the mean time, I've been able to start a marathon training. I'm adopting the Runner's World veteran plan. It's a bit of a stretch to call myself a veteran, but with a couple modifications (e.g. slower long runs, atleast to start) I think it makes sense for me.


My first week was last week. I managed to get in the long run on Sat while on a family minibreak to a lake cabin. What I didn't realize was that the elevation of where we were staying was at 6000 feet. I've been adjusting to 4500 in my new home. That and a bug that was going through some of the fam had me wiped out at the beginning of the week.


My pace has generally been slower since ramping up in Logan. I figure it's a combination of injury, the time off I took while moving and first injured, and elevation.