My run training is coming along well; I haven't yet started swimming for tri season.  Anyway, I completed the 9.32 mile option on Sunday of the Shamrock Run.  I was quite pleased with the results - I ran average 8:05 miles and it was a super hilly course!  I held together well until about the last 1.5 miles.  Then my quads starting screaming, but I still kept a fairly good pace.

I focused all the way on my arm swing, keeping it consistent with my stride, keeping my arm swing as vertical as possible.  Then I sprinted for the last 1000 yards, as I usually do; I like to save just enough to fly through the finish.  There were plenty of competitors in my race and a total of 16,000 over all.

So Monday and Tuesday, my legs were really sore.  But by today, I'm nearly back to "normal."  What an awesome race it was; lots of bagpipes!!!

I felt pretty much felt like crap today; I had planned a 12-mile run for today.  When I checked the weather, it was 30 degrees in Portland.  I felt great for the first mile, and then my right calf cramped.  Perfect; one mile in and my leg cramps!!!  But, I am used to pain and discomfort, so I continued on my journey.

Dang, it takes a long time to run 6 miles when you're only doing a 10min/mile pace!  I finally made it to my planned 6-mile turnaround and took a break.  It had taken me 0:58 to reach this point.  I ate a Snickers bar, drank Gatorade and got ready to head home.  I was hoping to make it back in roughly the same time, but I wasn't sure how I was going to manage.  Mile 7 and 8 went fairly quick, although my hands were numb from the break and I had to stuff both hands in my arm pits to warm up.  Kinda hard to run when you're hugging yourself?!

I felt okay on the return route, until I began to climb the I-5 bridge and my pace slowed considerably.  I just kept pushing and looking at my watch; I really wanted to come close to returning home in the same 0:58 min. time period.  I bike this route daily and it takes 10 minutes to ride it.  I only had 20 minutes to cover the same ground on foot.  As well, the last mile is a constant uphill, not excruciating, but it is still up.

As I reached downtown Vancouver, I had 10 minutes left to cover the last mile.  After almost 2 hours of discomfort, I remembered my last tri and knew I could push for another 10 minutes.  So I went nearly anaerobic and pushed all the way home.  As I rounded the corner and had two blocks left, my watch displayed "0:57"; "I can do it," I thought to myself.  I landed on the driveway of the house with a time of 59:30, only one and a half minutes slower than the first 6 miles!  I hurt badly, hardly able to walk straight but very satisfied with what I was able to push through!

Keep Pushing,

Steven