Rec Runner

Goal was MP -10 fast warm up then hit 6:16, 5:57, 5:53, 5:52, 6:00, 5:56, 5:50, 6:10 overall felt really good to much rest with the missed days need to keep the edge of my legs.

Nice easy stroller miles at 7 min pace just trying to do enough to keep my legs from getting too sharp too early

Easy tread run 7:15 pace skipped yesterday with an upset stomach

Wanted to run outside but they are harvesting the sugar beets and there are tons of huge tricks spilling beets onto the road in the dark figured better to be safe so treadmill tempo 7 miles averaging 6:30's got down to 6 min pace felt really easy the entire run finished with .2 at 5 min pace more than anything trying to take the edge off my legs not enough miles this week with the girl's waking up at 6 also trying to get more sleep. Pretty excited for the race

Nice easy 9 mile run lots of wind just visualizing the race

7 at 7 min pace nice and easy just trying to visualize my race

7 min pace except for 1/2 mile at MP felt really good I will definitely be rested.feels good to peak just not nearly as sharp as college. Just need to stay mentally focused and show up

I haven't really wanted to relive this experience but it was a good serving of humble pie. Apart from a long drive the night before complicated by an hour long traffic jam and a 1 am bed time things went well was hydrated and carbo loaded. I did miss a shake out run as well but didn't really stress about any of it. Weather was good maybe a little warm if anything. Got to the start fine and did a short half mile warm up with strides. T-bake hooked me up with the garmin which provided awesome data and splits. The race started out great opening mile we were on 6:40 pace and I was running with a small group of 3 which included the women's winner. It felt too easy and I wanted to be at 6:10 pace at least so I went to the front and then Jason came up along side me and we started to clip. I stayed side-by-side for about 3 miles and after a pair of 5:45's decided it was too quick and let him go on the big hill. Hit 10k in goal time for a low 2:40. T-bake got me my first bottle and I actually caught back up with Howe on the down hill and just let my legs go with the decline until mile 10. I started to notice a little pain and tried to ease up a bit as 3rd place was way back. I hit halfway in 1:22 but could tell the opening downhill had taken its toll. It was damage control time but I didn't panick yet. By mile 15 it was over. I couldn't keep it under 7 min pace and had to stop or vomit. I limped on for another couple of miles near 7 min pace but the quads were shot and I had a bad pain in my R glute that didn't feel right. I was passing half marathoners at this point and was embarrassed to be in second place jogging 8 min pace and stopping every half mile. I finally called it as I could hardly walk my legs were super trashed and with 4 miles left I was looking at 40 min of walking and possible injury. Never DNF'ed before but I think I made the right call. Still really frusturating as second place ran just over 3 hrs. I could have jogged 7 min pace from the gun and collected $200. Jason was 2:40 flat and there was no way I was going to beat him today.

Splits 6:11, 5:42, 5:55, 6:16, 6:33, 7:23, 6:17, 5:52, 6:04, 6:03, 6:21, 6:20, 6:14 for 1:21:17 for 13 miles

6:47, 6:55, 7:11, 8:17, 7:06, 7:04, 7:55, 9:09, 9:22 f or mile 22 

I don't feel like I was overly ambitious I knew the distance was hard and my training sub par. I had gone sub 1:20 on half the milage. I had run a solid 18 miler at 6:30 pace with a stroller and felt good at the end of the run. I felt I could keep things under 7 min pace for the last 8 even though I realized they would hurt a lot. I just don't think my muscles were ready for the downhill. I have always had calf pain with the half but the full absolutely shredded my quads and glutes as well. I don't have any nearby hills to run on so all my flat land training might have done me in. The pace was still the biggest problem and I learned that the hard way. Definately want to tackle one in the future but we will see if time allows. 

Finally felt like running again finished the rest of the distance I missed from my DNF. Just nice easy jog on my B-day on the canal. Even though I hate the distance I am planning on taking another stab at a marathon. I will never have an optimal run by time the kids are old enough to put in the milage I will be past my prime. Not sure if I really have the desire to do it either. As it was I'm 10 lbs over my lowest college weight and don't have near the intensity in workouts as back then. 

Thinking about the race somewhat removed I am glad I went out hard and didn't just sit at 7 min pace trying to lock up 2nd place I went after it. I thought my sub 1:20 with the nearly doubling of milage would allow me to keep roughly the same pace but I was overly optimistic. I should have shot for 6:20-6:30 pace. After reciting multiple times in my mind that I wasn't going to run any miles under 6 min pace for the first half and guess what I did...that was on me. I still would have died horribly but probably would have finished if those opening miles were 6:20 or so. 

I don't know why my muslces got shredded so bad. I have had serious calf soreness in both my half marathons and don't think it is due to form. I am sure some of it is normal but I wonder if running slower paces with the stroller hurt me. I also subconciously lean on the stroller which helps control it but might diminish impact. Finally all my training was pancake flat there are no hills nearby to have long up or downhill tempos to get my legs used to the beating. I would probably have less problems on a flat course instead of the utah 1,000 ft + drop. 

All said I still love running and quite enjoy the longer distances. I have been reminiscing of XC days of old and have always loved autumn because of such great memories. I think I was a better XC runner than a track guy and part of that is getting off the hamster wheel and team aspect.