Dee's running blog

I ran the Tucson Marathon.  After running a 3:23 at St. George I had high hopes that I could qualify for Boston on this course.  I had two shots at it.  A 3:15 for 2008 or a 3:20 for 2009 when I'll be 40. It started off well and at the halfway point  I was at 1:38:24.  This course has a lot more uphill than they advertise and between miles 21 and 23 my legs cramped and the goal changed from boston qualifier to just finishing. 

My miles were as follows.

1. 7:17

2. 7:19

3. 7:29

4. 7:49

5. 7:23

6. 7:08

7. 7:15

8. 7:13

9. 7:10

10. 7:11

11. 8:08--There's some fairly steep rolling hills that begin here for the next four miles.

12. 8:39

13. 7:30

14. 8:10

15. 7:23

16. 7:49

17. 7:30

18. 7:47

19. 7:46

20. 8:35

21. 8:53-During mile 20 you begin a long gradual uphill that basically goes until right before mile 24

22. 8:48

23. 9:23

24. 9:53

25. 10:24

26. 10:43

.2  1:38.

This is a familiar pattern where I just can't maintain and in this case went into total meltdown the last few miles with cramps and dry heaves.  After I finished I swore that this was my last marathon.  (I'm already past that).  Anyway, I'm gonna take it easy for a month and then get serious in January training for Ogden.   

I ran a loop in my neighborhood.  This was my first run since the marathon and I just wanted to get out and loosen things up.  It was snowing and the roads were wet and still covered in a lot of snow.  There were times I was running in tire ruts.  It felt good to get back out on the road though.  I took it pretty easy.  Had a 9:25 pace.  My calves were pretty sore.  Everything else felt fine.

I was planning on running on the streets, but by the time I got out it was cold and the moisture on the street had frozen and it was pretty slick.  I decided to go up to the Club and run on a treadmill instead.  Ran four miles.  Worked up a good sweat, but was reminded of why I hate the treadmill.  Calves became sore towards the end.

I ran with Todd.  We left Peak Performance and went down to Old Post Road to the Dee Events Center.  At the Dee we turned West on 46th and went down to Glasmann.  Took Glasmann to Washington.  At Washington Todd turned and went back to Peak.  I turned North and ran to the Armory to watch my daughter play basketball.  We stayed in the 8:10 range until the Glasmann hill, slowed to 9 and then dropped to 7:30 down to the armory.

I ran with Sean today.  We left Peak Performance and did the Combe loop.  then crossed Harrison and went down to Artic Circle, crossed Washington, ran past Friendship park, crossed Washington again at the Armory and then down Burch Creek to Adams and down to my office at 25th and Washington.  It was cold.  20 degrees when we started.  22 when we finished.  Started out with a couple of nine minute miles and then maintained a pretty steady 8:30 pace.  The legs were a little sore throughout the run.  Got really sore the last half mile. 

Todd and I ran from Peak Performance to Ogden High via the Mt. Ogden area.    

I ran with Todd.  We left Peak Performance and did the Combe loop backwards.  Crossed Harrison and ran down to Artic Circle.  Crossed Washington and I ran to the Armory where my daughter had a basketball game.  The first two miles I was in the 7:35 range.  Felt like I pulled a muscle in my rear end and had to slow down to a 9 minute pace the last couple of miles. 

Sean and I did the toll road loop through lower Uintah and up Combe and back to Peak Performance.  Stretches of the road through lower Uintah were like an ice sheet so it was pretty slow going through a lot of the run.  At about mile 6 the side of my rear end started throbbing again and I had a difficult last three miles.  This was the third straight run it's given me problems.  I'm not sure if I've pulled something. I've been trying to take it easy to let my legs heal but so far it hasn't seemed to help.  Hopefully I won't need to take some extended time off.

Sean and I ran the Combe loop. The last mile and a half the snow storm started. It was coming down hard and fast.  This was one run I was glad to get over. My right calf was killing me.  My buttocks didn't give me any problems today though.

I went to the Ogden Athletic Club and went 4 miles on the treadmill.  Very boring.

I went to the club and ran 3.5 on the treadmill.  I increased the pace a little from the last couple of runs.  The legs are feeling a little better.  They're still a mess but are improving.  I'm going to stay with lower miles for the next week or two and see if that helps.

I went to the club again and ran on the treadmill.  I did a hill workout the first three miles and then worked on speed the last two.  The last half mile my right hip started aching again and was sore for the rest of the day.  I think I'm gonna take a few days off and see if it'll start to feel better.