Tuesday, July 10th 2012: 5 miles @ 10:38 minutes per mile. I may have been asleep for this one also.
Wednesday, July 11th 2012: 10 miles @ 11:08 minutes per mile. I remembered that I am not madly in love with the idea of waking up early enough to run 10 miles before work. (Although I was madly in love with the fat cinnamon roll I ate for lunch. Unshockingly, I bonked at work around 3:00pm when the sugar wore off.)
Thursday, July 12th 2012: Nada
Friday, July 13th 2012: 22 miles @ 13:02 minutes per mile. I ran to the top of Smith Mesa and got to the rim right in time for one of the most incredible sunrises I've seen all year:
I sat on a rock for about 15 minutes to watch the sun rise and try to get the lava out of my lungs. There was a total of 3,636 feet climbing during the run, with some very steep sections that are lung-burning on the way up and knee-crunching on the way down. I was more than willing to take a little break at the top.
The clouds were rolling all over the place and some areas looked like an ocean flowing across the sky.
The only other time I have run up here was during the Zion 100. I got goosebumps seeing some of the same scenery that I saw during that race. That was one of the most difficult and rewarding experiences of my life.
My pace for this run is not at all accurate. I stopped my watch when I stopped to take pictures. And, ladies and gentlemen, I took more than 100 pictures. Whoops. This area was so beautiful that I couldn't help myself. I didn't cross any fences that I shouldn't have.
I don't think too many people go up this direction. I only saw one solitary soul over those five hours running. It was a very senior citizen who stopped to ask if I needed a ride. (Remember that line from Dumb and Dumber: "Senior citizens, although slow and dangerous behind the wheel, can serve a purpose!") I appreciated her concern. I passed some cows who seemed just as surprised to see someone up there:
I was feeling overheated by the end, but thankfully we had a cold spell come through so it was only in the 90's. (I'm serious. That is a cold spell here.) The clouds gave some much-appreciated shelter from the sun for most of those 5+ hours. I will definitely be running up here again.
Saturday, July 14th 2012: 3 miles @ 13:17 minutes per mile. I ran with Mel and this was the first time she's been out running for a few months. We had a good time. And in summary, I'll leave you with this awesome quote by John Bingham:
"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get in. You just run."
I LOVE that quote! I work with some of the high school cross country kids and sometimes I hear, "I'm not a real runner...." I'll have to remember this quote :).
ReplyDeleteGreat week you had - no, incredible week! You must get to go to work late on Fridays :). I don't know how you run in that heat - even the cold spells. I'm spent after 4 miles in that stuff. So happy to see you didn't cross any fences, too :).
I appreciate that quote because although I've been running not quite 2 years yet I STILL question if I can call myself a runner yet or not. Maybe one day it will click. Your photos are beautiful as always and you know how to get such vibrant contrasting colors in every photo. Love it!
ReplyDeleteJust thought I would let you know that Draper Hills is hosting an ultra event- a 25K and 50K in August. Would be fun if you want to come up and run. Here's the link www.ccutr.org
What a beautiful sunrise!!!! Great training this week, even if you did bonk at work. ;)
ReplyDeletethat quote always makes me smile! love it so much! i definitely think i am asleep for a good portion of my runs lately. haha! the views from your runs are always gorgeous but wow...that sunrise is just beyond incredible!
ReplyDeleteLove it all! I often can't remember large parts of my runs at all. Beautiful photos as well! Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe weather in the 90s is a cool front! Running in the heat takes so much out of you, just think how awesome you're going to feel this winter after all this hot weather training!
ReplyDeleteWOW those photos!!
ReplyDeleteAs always, awesome job and beautiful pics!!
ReplyDeleteYou take the best pictures. Great training, like always!
ReplyDeleteI will never get sick of your amazing landscape pictures! The area you run in is so different than anything here!
ReplyDeleteIt's worth getting up that early to get photos that are just that beautiful. It's worth it to me anyway.
ReplyDeleteTotally with you on the "cool" 90's. I completely seriously celebrated on facebook yesterday that our high temps were over and it was "only" 96 for volleyball yesterday.
ReplyDeleteRunning while sleeping would be awesome!
What a beautiful place to run, thanks for sharing some of those 100 photos for the 'flat landers' amongst us! ps I have a feeling 'bonking' means something entirely different here than in the UK, if not then you really ought to elaborate ;D
ReplyDeleteLove that quote! Nice job on your runs!
ReplyDeleteI gagged a little when I read 90's is a cold spell. When we get 90's up here in Washington people start dying. No joke. Most people don't have air conditioners. It's crazy.
ReplyDeleteThose pictures are so beautiful! You are so good at enjoying the scenery around you when you run, I need to slow down and start appreciating more!