Two Weeks To Park City Marathon

Monday, August 2nd 2010: 5 miles total. I ran the first 2.5 miles @ 13:47 per mile with Jackson, then did another 2.5 mile loop at 10:04 per mile.

Tuesday, August 3rd 2010: 5 miles @ 11:02 per mile pace with Mel in the morning. Then 4 miles @ 9:39 per mile pace by myself in the evening.

It was dark when I ran in the evening, but still hot outside. I stopped at the Main Street park to get a drink from the drinking fountain. It tasted like drinking warm bath water. Ugh. I got a mouth full of water, then bent down to touch my toes and stretch. Apparently this was NOT a good idea to be breathing heavy, and bend over with a mouth full of water. Immediately the warm bath water came out of my nose. Gross. And ouch. It felt like I had been huffing battery acid.

Wednesday, August 4th 2010: 5 miles @ 10:14 per mile pace. I went to the Desert Reserve for my weekly jaunt through the hills. When I left for the early morning run, there were some cool clouds in the sky that I figured might make for a cool sunrise so I went back inside to grab my camera for the run. This is what I got:


Thursday, August 5th 2010: 5 miles @ 10:37 per mile pace. I stayed up too late the night before and woke up too early. My legs felt like Laffy Taffy. In retrospect, maybe I should have filled up my water bottle with Red Bull.

Friday, August 6th 2010: Rest

Saturday, August 7th 2010: 20 miles @ 10:36 per mile pace! We went to do our first training run of the year on the St. George Marathon course. FYI: you never, EVER want to see this on the alarm clock when you wake up to run:


A group of 11 friends piled in the SUV like clowns at a circus and headed to the start of the course. Mel and I took a little bit slower pace which allowed me to take a bunch of pictures along the way (Mel is running in the distance):


About mile 7 we reached the Veyo Hill. I was not tremendously thrilled.


The weather during the whole run was absolutely perfect. You couldn't have asked for better. It was overcast, a little cooler, and we even had a few sprinkles toward the end.


I had been a little concerned about how Mel would do on the run. This was the farthest she had ever gone. But I figured she must be doing fine when she still had the energy to dance to Beyonce at mile 14.

Another glorious thing happened at mile 14. Right on our path we came across a baggie of bite-size candy bars! It wasn't on the side of the road where other runners leave their water and supplies. It was right on the road. To me it reaffirmed the fact that God answers prayers. With the Divine placement of candy bars right on our path, I thought it would be disrespectful to pass by the gracious offering without partaking. So I had one bite-size Butterfinger. It was possibly the most delicious candy bar that has ever crossed my lips.

We planned to do 17 miles and ended feeling pretty good. Well, as good as you can feel after running 17 miles. We were still in good enough shape for the traditional self-portrait.


When I got home I was still feeling okay so I did a 3 mile loop to bring my total to 20 miles for the day. But I'm even more proud of my weekly total: 44 miles! That is by far the most I have ever run in a week. I love the sense of accomplishment I get from running. I also appreciate the justification to eat Butterfingers.

Of all the races, there is no better stage for heroism than a marathon.
Dr. George Sheehan