The sun is up, the air is fresh, the stone is old

Bandaged up both knees and went for a long trail run crossing Logan peak.  I hit this trail hard today, needed a good outlet.  Pretty much stumbled back in, but way satisfied.  Nice to have the GPS again.

Just played away a summer day with the kids.  I'm going to pay a price for all this time wasting!

8 miles at 5:46 pace.  One of the first runs back on the GPS and at a good pace.

Spent the evening in Idaho Falls with family.  Totally unplanned trip since we changed plans from flying to Minnesota this week to driving up and spending a day in Yellowstone.  Ran 8 miles with my brother at 5 in the morning.  No wind at all, that's a first up here!

Two miles late in the evening after 10 hours of driving.  Did another mile of fast strides.  feel pretty strong really.

6 easy miles around Pike's lake, Minnesota. My two girls and I are staying with an amazing host family that Grandmas Marathon set up for us. Beautiful home right on the lake. We spent the night here and the day today hanging out in the backyard, riding bikes and paddleboats. We went into town only long enough to attend the elite luncheon, pick up race packets and our gift basket and head back in time to catch up with the Murphys for a bit.  One of the best pre race days I have had.

Still feeling dead legs from all the trail running this month and two marathons last month.  Trying to figure out in my head how to run the first 13 tomorrow.

Pretty strange race today.  Fourth marathon for me this year in six weeks and even though I felt I was recovering quick enough, I just couldn't get the legs to work as well as I wanted to today.  Overall I was way excited crossing the finish line since it was my best effort run this year.  I had talked to Rob yesterday about how to pace.  I felt that a 2:30 was a remote possibility but that a 2:35 was realistic.  So I decided to pace a 1:17 half and then drop some minutes on the second half.  The pace felt very nice but reaching 7 miles I could really feel the lack of leg strength.  I didn't seem that tired, but just could not get those suckers to work!  I came through the half at 1:17:23, pretty much right on pace and still feeling good except I could not increase speed.  I would increase the pace to 5:40 and hold it for half a mile and then my legs would just be dead and  would have to drop back to 6.  Then I would glance at the GPS when it would beep splits and they were slowing further into the sixes.  As the seconds kept adding up I knew it wasn't my race day but no way was I going to drop out since I got injured last year on this course and DNFd. 

This is the only marathon  have ever run that I finished after feeling dead legs at an early7 miles.  I crossed the finish line pretty happy with the run.  It is my best effort this year, just a crappy time.  I was pretty stoked about holding on for the whole thing and since I felt that I have not been a good mental runner, I am ready to get some rest and start getting in shape for Twin in October.

Aside from the race this has been the most incredible race treatment yet.  Three days at an amazing host family with my kids.  All the food you can eat and right on a sweet lake.  Elite lunches, packets, tour buses, and coaches for race morning.  I could get used to this!