Turtle Runner

I wanted to try a back to back 25 mile run Friday and Saturday this week to see how well I could do before the Poney Express 50 miler. This was a fun run from Andy/Kevin's house in Reno along the Steamboat Ditch Trail way to the west of Reno up the canyon near where the Trucky River & I-80 come down the canyon before hitting Reno.

Not so good today. I wasn't too sore and made a good start. Ernie was determined to run with me but he was hungry so we changed our route to go by a food place and towards the end of the afternoon the wind picked up and I was freezing. Ernie made some jokes about now being ready to start the race after eating and after my run yesterday and being so cold, I was not in a joking mood and told him I would probably have to quit early. It was a lovely run and if the weather had been nicer I'm sure we would have continued until after dark... Another time I guess.

Ran around the airport field with Lela and then back to the gas station to rent a DVD (old Sylvester Stalone movie). Its getting colder!

Around the airport field with Lela again. I have to remember not to eat peanut butter sandwiches before running as it creates gas and bloating in my stomach that is uncomfortable with running. Also it gets so dark so early now that I need to dress warmer and try to get out during daylight hours instead of running at night (which was refreshing during the summer. I guess it helps to be flexible and have multiple options for running. I kind of hope perhaps I will be back in California in January as I'm not looking forward to the Utah winter.

Stopped to get an ink cartridge at the office supply store and then continued around the airfield with Lela.

Took our friends Lee and Ruben for a walk around temple square. Ruben found four documents about his uncle in Puerto Rico at the genealogy library and enjoyed seeing views from the top of the church office building. The tour guide asked me if I was Mormon since I said my mom was on a mission at temple square. I told her I was raised Mormon but wasn't anymore. I didn't tell her I did a mission for the church, graduated Ph.D. from BYU's marriage and family program, and was now married to a husband. I think it might have given her a heart attack.

Did a walk around the airfield with our guest Ruben who is 70 and visiting from Los Angeles. Then tonight he and another visiting friend Lee and Ernie & Justin (Ernie's son) all did a hike to the Pipeline Trail (Grandier Peak Trail) and west to the mouth of the canyon. The guests went down at rattlesnake gulch and Ernie & I ran back to the car and picked them up on our way down the canyon.

Took our guests to the Timpanogous Caves tour (3 1/2 miles) and the boardwalk at Cascade Springs while we went around the Alpine Loop.

Walked downtown from parking to Tabernacle for Sunday broadcast and toured the Conference Center downtown SLC (2 miles) and then walked over to Walmart and back to get some sleeping pills since I couldn't sleep (2 miles). The pills did the trick wonderfully! Taking it easy otherwise this week as we have a 50 miler scheduled for Friday.

Did the Pony Express 50 miler yesterday. I hadn't slept the night before and we started at 6am and finished at 7:30pm. It was so awesome!!! Jana, our support person would drive 1-3 miles ahead of us and give us water, food, or whatever we needed and lots of positive encouragement. Leslie, my super-girl girlfriend runner buddy took off after her son Chris started encouraging her and zipped ahead of me and past the finish line! Her son is really cool and her awesome two daughters and son-in-law Paul were great support.

The weather was perfect. I think it was my funnest run yet since there was a pretty constant cool breeze and the sun shone all day making it awesome fall temperature. It wasn't too cold at the beginning/end and it wasn't too hot during the early afternoon and I've learned to moderate on the sweets, sugar, chocolate, and peanut butter so no stomach problems at all.

The real surprise and biggest thing to report though was about my "pacer" Ernie who was going to run with me. He hadn't done any training and has never run a marathon and yet he wanted to see if he could run with us for about a marathon length. I thought he would probably start to fade out about mile 13-18, but when he found he had already run 15 miles, he became more determined than ever. Then he thought he would run at least a 50K length (31 miles), and after passing that marker decided he just had to run 40 miles. He finished his 40 miles about 10 minutes after I finished. He was awesome. We have both been convelescing all day today. It has been fun waddling around the house together. Pretty amazing experience!!! Thanks Leslie and your kids for making this unforgetable event possible and memorable.

Ran around the airport in the rain with Lela. Got one bag of garbage along the north side. It was fun to stretch the legs again and helped me get a good sleep. Now I need to quit procrastinating and get back to my statistical work.

Did a hike with Ernie & Lorraine Horstmanshoff up at Albion Bason. It was beautiful while the sun was up and got super cold once the sun went down but then we went to the Cliff Spa and spent a few hours enjoying jacoosi, steam room, etc. It was awesome. Only $10 for locals and during the off season doesn't have many people there! Definitely need to trty this again as a reward after a good workout!

Did my service project for the day by picking up a dead cat that was full of maggots and stinky, and after putting it in two bags, carried it a mile to the gas station to dispose of it in their garbage. Did a trip around the airport and a little more as I had to run back home to get a video I was going to return on my way. Thinking I need to find a route that is 10 miles instead of 6 miles. Either that or do two 6 mile runs a day...

Sunday night run along the Jordan River with Ernie & Lela. It is sure getting cold. I'm not sure if I can make it through a Utah winter.