Winter Is Upon Us

I am not a fan of the cold. I deal with it by avoiding the outdoors as much as possible this time of year. This year though, I’m forced to drag myself out there A) because I don’t own a treadmill, and B) because I cancelled my gym membership since I rarely used it. I’m kinda regretting that last decision, but I guess it’s worth the money saved which enables me to spend more on warm gear for the winter!

Truth be told though, I haven’t run much the last few weeks. Not because I’m being a pansy and trying to avoid the cold, but for actual health reasons. Two weeks ago I was starting to get sick. My ears were plugged up and my glands started swelling in my neck a bit. It never turned into much more than that though, which was strange since in the past, those were tell-tell signs for me of a full-blown cold coming on. After I got out and ran a few times, it eventually went away… How bout that!

On Friday I went to see an Orthopedic Specialist for this continual problem I’ve been having in my right ankle. Figured now’s the time to take care of it since it’s the “off-season”. Based on the spot of the injury, he was pretty sure that I had a stress fracture, so they took some X-Rays. Negative… not a stress fracture. So I was told to take it easy a little bit longer, then to start building up slowly again with the use of some inserts and see how things progress from there.

So that’s where I’m at and that’s why there hasn’t been much writing as of late. I’ve been doing a little bit of strength training during this downtime, but not much else. I’ll get back to running here in the next day or two. Hopefully by then the temp will be at least up in the 20’s or so. Cuz right now, I don’t know if I’d be running in these single digit temperatures, even if I was able to.

On a side-note, I’ve been working on a race schedule for 2010 the last few weeks. I put in for the Squaw Peak 50 last week. It sounds like they’ll probably end up doing a lottery so I’m not sure yet if I’m in. I’m also putting in for the Speedgoat 50K. My training is focused on the Buffalo Run 50 miler right now, though. That’s gonna be my first test to see where my fitness is at, and to see if I’m capable of performing well in the other races. Just a few more days before I kick things back into gear!

A Breath Of Fresh Air

Rarely is November greeted with early fall-like weather here in Salt Lake. This year however, we’ve been obliged with such; Shining sun, 60’s and 70’s, and generally mild weather for this time of year. I promise I’ll be the last to complain about it, though! I dread the winter every year, more so because of the cold than the snow, though I’m not a fan of either, really. With my first winter of running coming up, I’m being blessed (or cursed) with more than ideal conditions right now. I used the weekend to take full advantage.

I made it into the hills for the first time in weeks. Not my ideal training regime by any means, but time has been constrained as of late so I’ve been relegated to doing most of my running on the roads… Arrgghh! The whole daylight savings thing has thrown off my timing as well since it gets dark much earlier nowadays. Guess I’ll have to consider doing the bulk of my running in the morning. The weather was excellent though, albeit windy. That’s ok as I’d rather deal with some winds on the high ridges than rain and cold weather any day of the week! The point is, I got out there and did what I love doing for the first time in weeks. It felt good!

View to the south from Big Mountain

I decided to go up in the East Canyon area up near Big Mountain. The route I had planned was nice for a number of reasons… First, it’s a loop which makes life easy since I depart and finish in the same place. Second, I don’t go over the same trail twice as I would on an out-and-back. Finally, the area is familiar to me so I didn’t have to worry about taking a wrong turn somewhere. All in all I’d wind up doing about 15 miles with several thousand feet of elevation mixed in there.

So I started my morning near Affleck Park and ran the Old Trail that parallels the road. This trail eventually leads to Big Mountain Pass. From there I made my way up Big Mountain and circumvented the opposing valley in a counter-clockwise direction which dumps you off on the opposite side of the valley near Lookout Peak. From there it’s a 3 mile descent back into Affleck and another half mile or so to the car.

View of Salt Lake Valley from atop Big Mountain

For the most part, the run was very enjoyable. The wind on top of Big Mountain however, was unreal! At times I was leaning so far to my left that I would’ve fallen straight over had there been no opposing force from the wind. Once I was down off the ridge line though, only a slight breeze was present. It was quite nice as it aided in cooling me down a bit. I did run into snow in a few sections of northern facing slopes as well. Unfortunately, it was so slippery that I wasn’t able to run (let alone walk) most of the final mile up in the bowl before my long descent. Though I probably lost 15 minutes or so in this section alone, I’m not gonna lie, it made for a nice break.

Some of the snow covered slopes I passed through

All in all, it was a great day for running. Got my longest run in since the marathon (both time and distance) and got to spend a few hours up in the mountains breathing the crisp, cool air.

A Season of Change

It’s fall here in Salt Lake, my favorite time of the year (as I write it’s actually snowing). I love seeing the array of colors, each signifying a step in nature’s impending hibernation. The spectacle is something I look forward to each year, not only because it signifies the close of the current year, but because it brings me closer to the next. The beauty is serene, the air crisp and cool, and the atmosphere, tranquil.

I think I enjoy the season so much because of what it signifies: Change. Change has been the theme of my life over the course of the last year. Really though, it’s a natural tendency of thought with all the changes surrounding me – thoughts that I no longer shy away from – but embrace with open arms. I’ve gone from a lowly, depressed individual with lack of focus or motivation, to a being full of life, feeling as though I have something to offer the world. From that guy on the couch, to that guy who’s always out there running. Change has made a significant impact on my life!

I’m not gonna lie, the first two weeks following the marathon were quite unfocused for me. I felt the self-satisfaction of completing a goal, but didn’t have a new focus. I was tending toward my old ways. I noticed I was sleeping a little longer, wasting a little more time, and finding myself being bored more often. It wasn’t fulfilling. So what’s the cure? Run. Get back out there with a purpose and just run. So that’s what I’ve been doing. The thing I loved about training for the marathon was the feeling of working towards something, and getting in shape in the process. I had a purpose and a goal to work towards. But for me, a marathon didn’t really push me. It was definitely a stretch to find the time and the will. I trained diligently, but never at any point did I feel like I was giving everything I had in me. There were a select few times when I noticed some self-doubt creeping in. Not once though, did I get to a point when I felt like my body would not respond or my mind would not overcome the obstacle.

I know I’m probably just asking for it with these types of admissions, but I’d like to really test myself. With a marathon under my belt, I can now focus on something to test me further. So rather than bore myself with running a faster marathon (which I’m sure I’ll go after at some point), I’ve decided to venture into the world of the ultramarathon. It’s something I’ve become obsessed with - reading about the adventures of others almost daily - but something with which I have zero experience. It will afford me the opportunity to be out there in nature more often – where I truly love being – rather than pounding out all the miles on pavement. Since I first heard about it many years ago, it’s something that’s always intrigued me, but wasn’t something I ever thought I could do.

So, with 5 months to train and what appears to be a long winter in front of me (I hate the cold!), a 50 miler sounds like a good test for this boy. Hey, what better way to kick off the first year in my thirties!

2009 St. George Marathon

Now that I’ve had a week to digest the events of the marathon weekend, I thought I’d give a quick report of what happened. So here we go…

After a seemingly quick drive, we arrive in St. George. We get to the hotel and check in, hit the grocery store to grab a few quick weekend necessities, and head out for a bite to eat before hitting the expo. The expo is a mad house... Hundreds of people waiting in line for their race info and numbers, and retailers offering all the last minute goodies for everyone. Luckily, we came well-prepared to avoid that mess.

The remainder of the evening is a blur. At this point I still haven't decided which shoes I'm wearing (the old ones with 600 miles on 'em, or the new ones with less than 40 miles?). I remember setting out my gear, trying to read a book with no focus whatsoever, then trying to fall sleep. I probably got 3 good hours of sleep with a couple more restless hours mixed in there too.

The alarm goes off at 3:30. I'm basically awake already, just holding out ‘til the watch goes off. Get up, shower, get dressed, eat the morning peanut butter on toast and get ready to head out the door. I'm still agonizing about shoe selection, but I end up going with the new ones. After the long bus ride out to the start, we arrive to a 40 degree morning in the desert and an hour and a half to kill before the gun goes off. Luckily, there are some bonfires going to keep us warm.

The next 90 minutes are spent in almost a trance. I don’t remember what was being said, don’t remember being cold, and certainly don’t remember how I was feeling. My focus was just so intense that I basically blocked everything else out and was lost in the flicker of the fire. Suddenly, everyone starts peeling off their outer layers. I put mine in my bag, walk up to the truck and throw it in the bed. Before I knew it, they announce that the wheelchairs were off. At this point I’m power walking to get back to my dad and sister to say goodbye. I meet them, my dad tells me good luck, and points to the starting line since the race has begun. The long line is now shifting to the start line.

Suddenly, I’m jogging. Luckily, I’m fairly close to the 3:30 pacer (although I never see them) so I figured I was ok to be boxed in for a bit. Before I know it, we pass Mile 1… 7:59. Then another mile clicks off, and another. Finally I have some breathing room and I decide to get clear of a few of these people around me. The next mile clicks off… 6:59. Whoa, ease up there buddy! It still hasn't really registered at this point that I'm running. What is goin' on?

Before I know it I’m at Veyo and staring at the uphill climb. The hill is dreaded by many, but my training put me in front of beasts much more looming than this little guy. So I power my way up, passing people left and right. At the top my body finally tells my mind that I’m running (for the first time in the race) and I ease back into my stride.

Right around Mile 10, the sun starts peaking up over the mountains. I’m locked into a gear and my iPod is setting the tone for the luminescent scenery that’s unfolding. Have you ever had that perfect song come on, at the perfect time, in the perfect setting? That’s what happens here. I can’t describe it, but I’m flooded with emotions. The next 2 miles pass as though I merely blinked and had arrived.

At Mile 12 I start to question myself. Can I really make it another 14 miles? How will my body hold up on these questionable shoes? Can I really run the whole 26.2? Am I going to hit the wall? How much will I have to suffer to get to the finish? Eventually I get a hold of myself, and continue until I hit the half way mark. I pass it as the course clock reads 1:45:00 exactly.

The next 11 miles or so are pretty uneventful. I’m enjoying myself and trying to keep a smile on my face as I push along. I start taking gels, drinking the highly concentrated Gatorade to replenish salts, push through stiff hamstrings, and work through a slight foot issue. The downhills from Mile 20 on are good to me - thanks to diligent training in the mountains - and I feel great upon arrival into the city. Crowds are starting to get larger and I eventually decide to ditch the headphones to savor the moment.

The last 1.2 miles is the longest 1.2 miles I’ve run to date. Guess it makes up for the relatively quick 25 miles that preceded it! I start thinking about the finish, about when I’ll see my wife and my family, and just the thought alone nearly brings me to tears. Eventually, I make it to where they’re standing and I can’t force myself to look at them.

I give them two raised arms and a quick sprint to the finish… And I’m done! 3:25:12 is my official time, accomplishing my goal of a 3:30 finish. If you count the 2 minutes 12 seconds it took me to get to the line, I actually ended up running a negative split by 12 seconds or so. Not bad! I actually felt like I had something in the tank at the end too. That’s definitely some motivation to push me to higher goals.

The race itself was amazing! After putting this on for 30+ years, they’ve definitely got it down. The volunteers were awesome. My wife was a major key to my success and I thank her for her undying support! Thanks to my family, and especially to my dad for encouraging me to do this, and my sister who pushed on when the going got tough. You are both an inspiration to me!

I couldn’t have been more pleased with the way things worked out. Hindsight is always 20/20, but there are very few things I would’ve changed. Nothing major, that’s for sure. For now, it’s back to running. I’m looking forward to the next challenge that presents itself!

Looking Back

Since I’ve been “clean”, obviously running has become a huge part of my life. I wish I could run more quite honestly, but I’ve realized now that I need to listen to my body and try not to go too overboard on the mileage. I plan on continuing to build up after the marathon is over.

Since I’ve finally made it through my training and I’m now tapering for the race, I’m able to reflect back on a few things that have helped me over the last few months. I’ve pinned it down to a few things that I did right and a few things I did wrong.

So let’s start with what I did wrong...

I’ve repeatedly mentioned it throughout my posts, but the biggest mistake I’ve made is increasing my mileage too quickly. This is not some esoteric finding either. Every piece of advice out there lets you in on this secret. Apparently I’m an exception to this rule, though, or so I thought! Turns out trying to follow an advanced training plan when you’re a mere beginner spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e. Start increasing mileage by more than 10% over multiple weeks and it’s a recipe for disaster. “Hey, I could do it as a kid though” was not being very realistic with myself, as much as I wanted to believe it.

The second mistake I made was regarding speed work. I do understand that it’s not a vital part of training for the beginning runner. However, I had very little of it in my training from the get go, which has made it that much harder to incorporate it now that I’m in the final minutes of the game. My short, fast runs of late have been very beneficial to say the least. They’ve sure taught me a lot about pushing hard.

The third mistake I made was not listening to my body. I recall on numerous occasions going out the day after a tough run because the schedule told me to. My body was nowhere near recovered, yet I thought I had to follow the schedule to reach my full potential. Come to find out that it did much more harm than good for me.

Of course there were some positives though…

First and foremost, my goal was to find a positive addiction. Everyone around me will agree that this addiction is much better than my last. End of story.

Second, I’m in great shape! I wouldn’t have dreamt I’d be in this position six months ago. I can run around for hours and not get tired. I can spend an entire weekend working on projects rather than sitting on the couch (although I still enjoy relaxing when needed). I sleep better, I work harder, my mind is more focused and I’m more positive. All good things, right?

Third, I’m a goal seeker. I’m not quite where I’d like to be, but if I didn’t have goals there’s no need to keep pushing, right? So I’ve set some lofty goals for myself over the course of the next year, hoping that continually having something to strive for will push me to new heights!

Since I figured there should be one more positive than negative, the final positive is that I’m content. Of course I’ve still got those goals pushing me, but I no longer sit around and think about what I could be doing. I’m going out there and doing it, every single day. That, in and of itself, is reason enough to continue doing what I’m doing and make this a lifelong pursuit.

Lack of Motivation = Lack of Skills

Lately I’ve been struggling with some motivation. Throughout my training, motivation hasn’t really been a problem. It felt like a routine for awhile, actually. I had a busy summer too... Took trips to Bear Lake, Tahoe, St.George, a few camping trips, and two hunting trips. Throughout all that time though, I never experienced problems with getting up and getting out there, even if it meant finding a random road or trail to run on (except when I was hunting; I was doing enough miles hiking). The past few weeks however, have not been so good to me. Somewhere along the way, I lost that motivation and got out of the routine. I believe it has something to do with the fact that now I’m on the downside of my training schedule. The Taper! I realized that the lack of motivation started the week after my longest training week. Coincidence? Doubtful. Since that time I’ve been lucky to get out 3 or 4 times a week, where as at my peak I was doing 5 or 6 days a week, no problem.

Luckily, I don’t feel like I’ve lost much in the endurance category. I’m just running a bit sloppier now. It’s like I just jumped off the teacups at Disneyland; arms flailing, hunched over and wobbly on my legs (so I’m a little dramatic). I’ve also put on a couple pounds since I’m not running as much, which definitely doesn’t help my cause. My leg turnover isn’t as fast and I’m disgusted just about every minute I run. Throw in some heat and you’ll catch me cursing under my breath, wondering why I would choose to torture myself in such ways.

I still desire to continue running, though. I read about running and I think about it all day. Those are positives to come away with, for sure. My guess is once the marathon is over (15 days, but who’s counting?), I’ll get my motivation back. I’ll have another goal to shoot for and a new training schedule to begin. Being on the down-slope isn’t much fun, but eventually I gotta learn how to get over this ‘dark side depression’. Hopefully the skills will then follow suit.

When It Feels Right...

...you just go for it. And that's what I did on Saturday! I've been sick of all the downtime the last month or so, so I finally just went for it and finished my 20 miler on Saturday. I decided to do a couple shorter out-and-back routes so that if something went wrong, I wouldn't be too far away from the car.

Turns out things went great! I completed my run just 1 minute 22 seconds over my goal, which isn't bad considering this is the first time I've really had to deal with any bonking at all. I was actually under my goal by about 15 seconds until the last 3 miles where I started to lose about 30 seconds per mile or so. I just couldn't go any faster! But hey, at least now I can say that I've been there, done that, and dealt with the adversity. It was really more of a mental game than a physical one, though. Gives me a greater respect for the guys/gals that have to deal with this type of mental toughness on a regular basis. Really though, the lesson I've learned over the course of the last few weeks, is that I need to listen to my body, instead of my head. My head, I've decided, is the devil's advocate!

When I woke up on Saturday I felt good. As my run went along I began feeling stronger. My head told me to stop once I hit mile 12 (turnaround point when I was back at the car), but I didn't. My sinus was burning at mile 15 when I choked on a Shot Blok, then coughed a chunk up the back of my throat and into my nasal cavity. My mind was telling me no, but my body was telling me yes! (for you R. Kelly fans out there, lol). My body was pissed that I had depleted it of energy by mile 18, and my head was telling me to stop... My legs wanted to keep going though, and so I did.

At the end of it all, I was a little sore, sure. No major pains however, and the mental high I was on more than made up for minor aches in my body! Can't wait to do it again! Just with more gels instead of Shot Bloks next time ;)

What A Difference Training Makes

My training has been up & down since I began earlier this year. The last few weeks, however, have been an anamoly of sorts. First, after months and months of gradual (painfully slow) increase, I nearly hit my first 50 mile week. The very next day I suffered my first major setback that basically sidelined me for a month. I was able to run a few short runs here and there, but I was lucky to hit 8 or 10 miles a week. I went on a few vacations and just started working back up to my scheduled training last week.

I have a sickness. Once I'm wrapped up in something, I go all out and my brain tells me I can recover like I'm still 12 years old or something. Reality taught me the hard way this year! Approaching 30 and trying to increase my mileage too quickly has been entirely too much. After my most recent (major) setback, I decided to do some research. I've been doing some focused strength training to get my knee back to running form and it's helped immensely! That training, coupled with a great hunting trip last week have left my leg feeling stronger than ever. Not once during the steep-graded, bushwacking downhills, nor during the camp-off-your-back-with-a-50-pound-pack (hey, I rhymed) hiking did my knee bother me either. It only got stronger!

Which leads me up to this week... Thus far, I've had 3 very successful runs this week, including a back-to-back. No pain anywhere. My schedule calls for a 20 miler tomorrow. Of course I'd love to hit 20, but the reality is that I don't think I'm quite there yet. We'll see how the run goes, but if I feel even the slightest tweak or any major fatigue in my body, I'm calling it quits! I cannot afford to take anymore chances. With the marathon only 5 weeks away and my first ultra 3 weeks after that, there's no more messin' around with this guy! Time to put the hammer down.

Too Much Downtime

The last few weeks have been a bit lax in my running world. The desire continues to burn bright, but my body is just not quite on par with my wants. I want to run further but my body won't let me. I want to run faster but my body won't let me. I want to get stronger but my body won't let me. Actually, my body WILL let me, but at a much slower pace than I'm used to.

A little over two weeks ago I was just finishing a great week in running. I had logged about 46 miles (just under the 50 I was shooting for) and had done my Saturday long run under my goal pace. Then Sunday as I'm sitting down watching Dexter with Lydia, I begin to notice a slight ache in my knee. No pop, no major pain, still able to walk just fine. Thought nothing of it. Until Monday that is... I head out for an 8 miler on the usual route. Immediately I feel a bit of aching, which is nothing unusual at the start of a run. After about a mile into it though, I begin feeling sharp pain shooting up my leg, originating from my knee. I begin clenching my teeth and try my hardest to run through it, but the pain is too unbearable. I had to stop! I end up walking back to the car and calling it a day.

Two and half weeks later here I sit. Since that day I've run maybe 25 miles, no back-to-back days (until yesterday) and nothing more than 4 miles per run (with the exception of Monday; 6.5 miles). Frustrated doesn't begin to describe how I feel! Yet I haven't given up. I've been slowly knocking out longer runs and finally did a back-to-back Monday & Tuesday. I actually feel pretty good. I've been doing some strengthening exercises which I believe help. Most of all though, I haven't given up!

On a lighter note, we went to Tahoe last weekend and I was able to take in some beautiful scenery! Even though I wasn't able to get my scheduled 20 miler in, I was able to relax, kick my legs up and not worry about anything for a few days. I did go running for about 45 minutes one day too.

Today I'm heading up to the mountains after work to go bowhunting. We're scheduled to be out until Saturday. This will get me some great time on my legs (average about 10 miles a day) and some good strength training since we usually end up scaling some ridiculous mountainsides! I'm excited, well rested, and ready to get going. Now I just gotta make it through the rest of the day at work... Argghh!

Blood, Sweat & Tears

...OK, so there haven't been any tears yet. Over the last few weeks though, I've been putting in quite a few miles and had plenty of sweat to go around. I'm getting really bored with running on the busy roads though, so I try to limit that type of running to about once a week. Here's what a pretty normal week has been looking like as of late:

Monday: Head down to the Jordan Parkway for a semi-long run
Tuesday: Hit the gym and get my ass handed to me on a treadmill
Wednesday: Usually try to get a mountain run in right after work
Thursday: Been resting, but looking at more Parkway miles
Friday: Hit the streets with my posse (ok, so it's usually just me)
Saturday: Anywhere I can get in mass amounts of miles
Sunday: Rest Rest Rest

I've been trying to heat-acclimate lately so I've been doing some running in 90+ degree heat. I will say though, that I don't sweat nearly as much doing that as I do at the gym! It's always so muggy and humid in there. And why they keep the heat up beats me! Maybe it gives people the feeling that they're getting a good workout when they sweat off 5 pounds of water weight? Who knows really.

My legs were hurting pretty badly on Tuesday night after doing some leg presses and running on the treadmill. I didn't know how my legs would feel last night after that debacle (BTW, I will never do leg weights and long running on the same day again). My run last night felt good though. No real pain in my legs, just in my lungs since I was doing some speed work... but that's a good thing! So I'm feeling good, cool down, walk in the door and sit down, relieved to be home and just relax the rest of the night. I pull off my shoes to let them air out and what do I see??? Oh, the aftermath...



I guess this came from a small blister I got on Saturday that's just progressively gotten worse. I decided to drain it on Tuesday so it wouldn't get worse, and it worked! Instead, it just decided to bleed all over the place. Lucky me!!! Time to invest in some 'moleskin' or something like that. I heard super glue works too?

Time To Enjoy The Great Outdoors

Due to a few hiccups in the planning for the guys' "Living off the land" trip, we weren't able to make it happen this past weekend. We're tentatively rescheduling for another weekend next month. So instead, Lydia and I decided to spend some time with her family up in the Spruces campground up Big Cottonwood. We left Thursday right after work and stayed til Sunday morning (with only a few trips back down to the valley).

So instead of putting my miles in on the road over the weekend, I decided to take it to the trails instead. Friday consisted of a few separate hikes, totaling about 6 miles for the day. My dad and I are trying to get some good hikes in to prep for hunting season, but I decided not to do anything too aggressive since I had a longer trail run planned out for Saturday. So instead, he and I went to a well known area and did a little scouting. Later in the day, Lyd and I went on a couple shorter hikes as well.

And then there's Saturday... I did a little research and thought I had the total mileage for my run pinned down. Turns out I was off by 3 miles or so! I awoke Saturday morning, drove down to the Mill B North trailhead and proceeded to make my way up the trail. It had rained the night before, so the vegetation was really wet. Needless to say, I was soaked once I hit the thick stuff about a mile and a half into it and stayed that way until the end of the run. I made it to the Porter Fork junction in about 1 hour 25 minutes or so; my best time to date.

I proceeded into Mill A Basin along the Desolation Trail and stopped to watch some deer feed. No big bucks though! I moved along around Mill A at a pretty decent clip, only falling once! The overgrowth on the trails was starting to get a little annoying though as my shins were getting trashed, not to mention I was now soaked up to my chest.

I eventually hit the junction for Butler Fork and continued along the Desolation Trail. This section was a mystery to me; I couldn't find anything on the web about the distance, and I'd only hiked it twice before in my life, the most recent being about 4 years ago. So I guessed it at around 2 miles. Turns out it was probably closer to 4! And the overgrowth was unreal!!! There were points where I couldn't even see the trail and I'd have to stop and walk it to avoid snapping one of my limbs. Good times! After nearly 50 brutal minutes, I made it to Dog Lake.

I've been to Dog Lake a few times over the years, but always on an out-and-back. So when I got there, I had no idea where to go since I was going on a through route. I followed my instincts and made my way down a trail. After about 10 minutes though, I realized I was not going the right way and was most likely heading down into Millcreek. Turned around and went down another way... Dead end! By this point I'd lost about 20 minutes, so I finally asked someone who pointed me in the direction I was looking for... Mill D. I flew down the .6 mile section in about 3 and a half minutes, then turned up the steep incline towards Desolation Lake.

I've spent plenty of time on this section so I knew what to expect, except for the mountain bikers. I think because it was the 24th holiday weekend, a larger number of people were out than usual. I saw at least 25 mountain bikers in that 1.9 mile section up to Desolation Lake. When I got to Desolation, I saw a few more and 15-20 people sitting at the lake, something I've never seen before.

The rest of my run was completely new to me. I knew I had to end up on the South ridge of the Desolation Lake cirque, but wasn't quite sure the best way to tackle it. I headed down the west side of the lake and noticed a small trail that went up in a southern direction. Turns out this was the right trail to take as it got me to the southern ridge, but I might as well have been scaling a mountain... It was steep! The views from above were worth it though (too bad my camera was out of commission).

Once at the top I dropped down into Beartrap Fork. I didn't know what to expect having never been here before, but the canyon was peaceful. The first third was steep, the second third was moderate, and the final section was a slight downhill. Since the canyon was still mostly in the shade though, I continued to get soaked (just as I was starting to dry off too). Could've done without that and the hoardes of nettle that pummeled my now open shin wounds... It felt amazing! (notice the sarcasm).

Once I hit the road it was another mile or so to The Spruces and I was finished. An estimated total of 17.5 miles which took me about 4 hours 45 minutes. The aftermath: two raw shins, one bloody heel, nettle stings, a few new blisters, wet drawers and a big smile! Onto my first 50 mile week!!!

Sometimes You Just Need A Good Break

Turns out my idea to tone it down a bit has worked out pretty well. Even though I probably shouldn't have, I actually ended up taking the weekend off. I figure that I'm 12 weeks out from the marathon and rather than continue with some ailments, I could sacrifice a few days to get healed up. And it seems to have worked! I'm feeling much better in just about every category so that's definitely a positive.

So after 3 full days off, I ran last night after work and felt pretty good. I did a 6.5 mile route in the 86 degree heat in 51:17 (including water breaks). Pretty good considering. Obviously not my best day, but it feels good when you don't have to run through pain. Tonight I plan on a speed workout so it should be pretty short and sweet. Then tomorrow I've got my mountain run scheduled so we'll see how the legs hold up after that. For now, all's good in the hood!

I also started keeping track of my food intake this past week. I'm trying to balance out what I'm eating daily which I'm hoping will yield results in my running. I'm averaging right around 3,000 calories a day with around a 55:25:20 ratio (carbs, fat, protein). I'll start tweaking this a bit as I find what works for me, but also as I continue to increase my mileage.

Totals since last post:

Wednesday: 5.0 mi
Thursday: 4.0 mi
Friday: off
Saturday: off
Sunday: off
Monday: 6.5 mi

And Just When It Starts Going Good...

...I experience a setback. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I haven't trained seriously for anything in the last 10 years? Maybe it's because I'm getting older? Whatever the case may be, I hate injuries! And I'm noticing a trend now that I'm actually writing all this stuff down... That I'm having to take a day off every week due to injury. So, it's time to pull back on the reins this week.

First of all, the injury I have is not debilitating, it's just something that I don't want to get worse. It's known as posterior tibial tendonitis. It's basically just an inflammation of the tendon that starts under my foot, runs behind my ankle and connects with a muscle under my calf. It doesn't hurt too bad walking on it, but the constant pounding of the pavement is not allowing it to get any better. So, I'm just gonna cut back on the miles for a few weeks, then build up a bit more slowly. I honestly think I just jumped into constant high mileage a little too quickly. Apparently, I'm not Superman like I thought.

So the plan for this week is to simply cut down on distance. Tonight I plan on hitting the eliptical at the gym to see how the ankle's doing. If all goes well, I'll head to the mountains on Wednesday for a nice short, flat trail run. Thursday is my day off, then I'll do an easy jog on Friday and a longer run on Saturday. Hopefully all goes well, but for now it's ibuprofen, ice, and ace wraps. Gotta love it!

Totals since last post:

Thursday: off
Friday: 4.5 mi
Saturday: 12.0 mi
Sunday: off
Monday: injury day

Slowly Building Up

After about 4 1/2 hours of sleep (partially due to the terrible pullout bed in the condo), I awoke around 5 am on Saturday for my longest run to date. Luckily I got it in early and in a new environment in Park City, so there wasn't the usual monotony associated with my weekday runs. I ended up doing a modified loop on a long outdoor trail they have up there. Temp was hovering around 45 degrees when I started, and it took about 40 of those first 50 minutes to warm up. Yikes! My pace was comfortable though and I finished the first 6.5 mile loop in just over 50 minutes. Then I met my dad and sister at the start of the loop where we ran the 6 mile version together in almost exactly an hour. Way to go Britt on your longest run ever! I honestly felt like I could go at least one more loop, but decided I should stop while I'm ahead.

Monday was a completely different story! You'd think that after taking Sunday off I would be back in top form. However, it took all of about 15 minutes for temperatures in the mid-90's to wipe that out! The schedule only called for 4 miles with a few sprints, but since I'm trying to increase my miles a bit, I decided to run half an hour out, and half an hour (or so) back. Ended up going about 28 minutes out and 31 back for a total of 59:18. More importantly though, I got some good training in the heat and a good sense of how much water I should be taking in.

I had trouble waking up Tuesday and felt a bit lethargic at work. However, I decided to head up the canyon for my weekly mountain run. The destination: Mill D trail in Big Cottonwood up to Desolation Lake and back. With a loop around the lake at the end, it's about 8 miles total. I struggled up to the lake in just over an hour, then pulled out the camera for some scenery, threw my pack on, then made my way around the lake and back down the trail. Total time was 1:37:40, of which 5 minutes was spent getting a bug out of my eye on the way down . Not too bad considering how I felt.


After my mountain run I started feeling some tightness in my ankle. After I woke up today it's just progressively gotten worse, so I decided I'm taking tonight off to ice up and rest up. Then I'm hoping to plow through some cross-training on Thursday, and some long Friday, and Saturday morning runs. But I'm tired now so it's off to bed...

Totals since last post:

Saturday: 12.5 mi
Sunday: off
Monday: 7.5 mi
Tuesday: 8.0 mi
Wednesday: injury day

Time For Some Fresh Air

The other day I decided it was time to get up in the mountains. Haven't spent much time up any of what I call "The Big 3" (Big, Little, Millcreek) this year due to the heavy snow, so I thought it was about time. I rushed out of work at about 4:30 and drove to the S-curve up Big Cottonwood Canyon and headed up the Mill B North trail. This is a trail that I've very familiar with as I usually make this hike a few times every year. Let me tell you though, this thing is a BEAST when you're running it as opposed to hiking it! It's something like 1,000 feet elevation gain per mile.

After struggling up the mountain, I finally made it to the sign where Mill B North meets up with Porter Fork. From here into Mill A Basin is pretty flat. I didn't have much time though, so I continued ahead another half mile or so before I had to turn around. After taking a short break and getting a little food in me, I made my way back and snapped a couple nice pics.

From the south side of Mt Raymond with Broad's Fork Twin Peaks ahead

Some nice scenery to the west (minus that beat-down guy in the foreground)

After I put the camera away, it was game on to see how fast I could get down the mountain! In all my stupidity though, I decided to start eating while I was running. Big mistake! Now, a lot of people experience stomach problems while eating on the run. Not me though; I can eat just about anything on the go and keep it down. That's not where the problem was, though. The problem was when I decided to try to get the last few bits of trail mix out of the bag by putting it up to my face. Even that action itself isn't too bad as long as my view isn't completely blocked. Add some big rocks and a small creek into the mix though, and it's a recipe for disaster! Sure enough, I step on the side of a large rock and just as I'm going to push off, my foot slips out from under me... BAM! All my weight bears down on the rock and now I'm sportin this lovely gem...

My new friend on the outside of my thigh

Lucky me. I guess it all comes with the territory though. Running around in God's country (as I like to call the mountains) is most definitely not always rosy, but it's definitely not boring! Anyways, I walked it off for a second and got my legs back under me again, then proceeded to run the rest of the way down the mountain. Total trip was about 2 hours 25 minutes, though it took less than 50 minutes to get down even with the mishap. I'm still pretty sore today and the swelling in my leg is probably at it's peak (not to mention the sweet bruise is starting to turn a nice blueish-purple), but at least it wasn't any more serious.

Miles so far this week:

Sunday: off
Monday: 4.0 mi
Tuesday: 8.0 mi
Wednesday: injury day
Thursday: off
Friday: 3.5 mi

Headin to Park City for the weekend so I'm hoping to get a nice long run in up there tomorrow, and maybe do some hiking later in the day or on Sunday. Should be good times!

Saturday, June 20th

Plan: 10 miles with hills
Actual: 10 miles with lots of hills ~ 1:28:40

The schedule called for 10 miles with hills, but my plan was to do about 13 miles on a trail up in the mountains. I probably could've followed through with my plan if it weren't for a few mishaps in the morning...

First of all I had a little bit of car trouble. Spent about 25 minutes fixing the issue. Second, it took me about 40 minutes to find the dirt road that leads to the trailhead I was after. A few miles into the trek down the dirt road, I hit a spot of snow about 2 1/2 feet deep and there was no way I could get my car through. Argghh! Thus, I never even made it to the trailhead. I was also in a bit of a time crunch so I had to cut my run short just a bit.

What I ended up doing was just running on the dirt road I was on. Was a bit more grueling than I had anticipated though (especially running on only 3 hours of sleep the night before). I took 5 miles up and 5 miles back. I would estimate that 80% of that first leg was uphill. Some steep, some grudual. But that also meant that 80% of the way back was downhill which was quite nice!

This was my first experience running more than a mile or two up in the mountains. It was an awesome experience for me! Didn't even bother using headphones since I was engulfed in the sights & sounds of nature. Saw a few deer, heard a symphony of frogs in a marsh I passed through, and saw some amazing views along the way. My legs felt pretty good throughout, and not once did I feel like I was obligated to get the miles in. Loved the experience and can't wait to do it again!!!

Friday, July 19th

Plan: 30-45 minutes, easy jog
Actual: 20 minutes, easy jog ~ 2.25 miles

Was planning to go at least 30 minutes this morning, but the legs weren't having it. That, coupled with the headache I woke up to, equaled one sluggish morning. You'd think I'd be ready to go since I took yesterday off!? The legs actually weren't terrible, but I started experiencing a little soreness for some reason. I decided to cut it short as my long run is tomorrow. Thought I should save the legs for that.

Lydia and I are heading up to the Uintahs today with Teams Dobbe, Bang, and Bishop, and staying the night in Cole & Nuria's cabin. Should be a lot of fun! I also plan on getting my long run done in the mountains between about 8500 & 10000 feet tomorrow morning. Should be a perfect challenge for me! I've got a nice trail picked out and I plan on doing closer to 13 miles or so, even though the schedule only calls for 10. We'll see how that goes. I'm hoping ice and ibuprofen will take care of the little bit of soreness I'm experiencing at the moment. Also plan on doing some light hiking later today with Lyd which I'm hoping will loosen up the legs a bit too. We'll see how it goes...

Wednesday, June 17th

Plan: 4 miles with 4 x 100 meter sprints
Actual: 2.33 miles with 3 x 100 meter sprints ~ 17:35

The legs were feeling tired today. I don't know if it was the weather, something I ate, or not enough sleep but I was definitely not on my C-game, let alone my A-game. I pushed through it though and ran 2.33 miles and did an extra 10 minutes cooldown just to get back to a normal temperature. I usually cool down much quicker. I was running hot today for some reason, even though it was only 5 degrees warmer this morning than it was yesterday. Go figure. Maybe that giant steak I ate last night at Texas Roadhouse was still sitting in my gut... It was worth it though! Luckily, tomorrow's a rest day and I can get my legs back under me (hopefully).

I was really excited for today though because I knew I'd be purchasing my first pair of trail running shoes. Yeehaw! I spent a little time running on trails last year with my road shoes, but never felt very comfortable in them because of the high sole. I was always afraid of rolling my ankles with any slight misstep. So after some reading and budget consideration, I decided to take the plunge and invest in a pair.

I went over to Wasatch Running Center and they were extremely helpful in helping me select the right shoe for me (as usual). I ended up getting a pair of La Sportiva Wildcats after trying on about six different pairs. Of course time will tell how they feel out on the trail, but I feel pretty pleased with my selection. We're heading to the Uintahs this weekend so that should be a good first trial run on these babies!

Tuesday, June 16th

So it’s just under 16 weeks til the St.George Marathon and today was my first day of actual training.

Plan: Run 4 miles at a cruise pace.
Actual: Ran 6 miles over an undulating course ~ 47:16

Since I took yesterday off for Lydia’s birthday, the legs felt really good this morning and I was able to run a few miles further than I had scheduled out. Feeling a little soreness in the legs, but I’m not overly tired and my mood is pretty good. I think most of the soreness is a result of a few moderate hills over the course of the run. Hills don’t normally bother me too much, but rather than slowly jog up them, I tried to stay on pace up them today. That was probably a mistake but it's a great workout for the lungs and the legs! Looking forward to the next run already.

Why I Run

Those of you close to me know that I’m training for a marathon. And for those that don’t - you guessed it - I’m training for a marathon!

So why in the world would I choose to run a marathon? Well, I’ve been a runner off and on my whole life. I think it all truly started when I saw my dad run his first marathon some 20 years ago. After seeing that, it prompted me to get out there and try it myself. For 4 or 5 years (I was around 8 or 9 when I started), I ran several miles a week with the peak of my running coming on the 24th of July for the annual 10K held in downtown Salt Lake City. The last year I ran I posted a 42:17 (going off memory here so the seconds may be off a bit). I believe I was 13 at the time.

Our family ended up moving in April of the following year and I didn’t do as much training. Then in July I fell some 30 feet out of a tree. I had a major concussion, broke my collar bone and first four ribs, punctured a lung and had to have my ear sewn back on. All in a days work! From that point on though, I stopped running. I stayed somewhat active by playing basketball and soccer for a few more years, played some ice hockey in high school, but never got back into running.

Fast forward 10 years or so… Coming off a 6 year addiction, I knew that I had an addictive personality (ya think?!). The best way to combat it was by finding something healthy that I could become addicted to. I tried writing, picking up my guitar again, hiking, hunting, and even tried picking up some side jobs too. I didn’t become “addicted" to any of it, though. I love each of those things still to this day, but running has been the only thing that’s physically triggered an addiction (although my wife will tell you that personal finance is an addiction for me too).

So there are my reasons behind distance running. In the future I’m hoping I’ll be able to add more distance to my resume, but first I gotta make it through 26.2. And I’m excited about it!

Now the reason for this blog is to keep myself accountable. I might share a story or two about other aspects of my life, but I have to track my progress and account for it and that's what I'm here to do. What better way of doing it than by telling the whole world how I’m doing! Can't be much more accountable than that, now can I?!