Tuesday, 10/13... Off

Wednesday, 10/14... 6 mile railtrail run, pace was mid 9:00's

Thursday, 10/15... no running, but made my appointments with Cardiologist and CT Scan.    Cardiologist went as expected, my heart's fine.   It'll be a few days before I hear back on the CT Scan, so we'll see.

Friday, 10/16... 7 mile railtrail run today, 9 minute pace after first mile warm-up.

Chantilly... yes, the Fall colors have been amazing this year and the railtrail's been a real treat to run on lately.

ray... the fungal infection was just a guess by me, but never verified by my Primary care.    She isn't concerned about why something's showed up on my lungs, only that we have to deal with it, whatever it is...lol    It was flagged as possibly malignant, but could be anything.

Art... your weather cracks me up, we had a frost last night and this Sunday night's low is forecast for 24 degrees.     Our temperature changes more than 110 degrees from the heat of summer to the dead of winter.    I dragged my snow blower outside the other day and did a little maintenance to make sure it's ready for what's coming...lol     I think there's drugs to take care of the fungal infection, but odds are it's now what I've got...

13 miles this morning getting ready for the half in two weeks. Figure another long run next weekend and then taper before the race. Then worked in the yard picking some weeds and transplanting some cucumber plants. Enjoyed cloudy skies, slight winds and cooler temps because of the storms around the area. Then watched some fireworks by the local church for a festival they were hosting.

Rich - Good news so far from the doc. Nice easy runs there.

Dan - That's cold weather there to run in. At least from my perspective here in Mesa. The goal is to finish. There's nothing wrong with saying you set a PR for this course. Hey, we need to take all the little victories we can.

I'm back in northern MN. So returned from AZ/NM/CO Thurs at 7:30 pm to homemade chicken noodle soup that DH made, yummy!  He had been sick all week so he was glad to see me! LOL!!  Had not run since Oct. 11 so ran 4 miles on TM at the gym on Friday, then 13 miles on paved/dirt trails in the state park on Saturday.  And, DH planned a weekend of ballroom dancing lessons on Sat and Sun, whew!!  Not sure if I would call Sun my 'rest day' LOL!!  Took another rest day on Mon.  Ran 6.5 miles yesterday, Wed.  Rest today. Plan to run 3-4 miles tomorrow.  Then driving down to Minneapolis to run the 25K trail race on Saturday, http://surfthemurph.org/

I changed from 50K to 25K instead as I didn't get in the needed long runs while in AZ. Was bummed about it but there will be other 50K runs.  It's pretty chilly here now, about 30s-40s at night and 50s/60s daytime, with cloud cover and some wind.  Just hoping for a clear day with no wind on Saturday.  My trail running buddy and a friend of hers are running the 50K, while another friend is running the 50 miler.

Durango Double race report, Oct 10 and Oct 11:  Both days were ideal in weather and temps! My brother drove me to & from NM to Durango, CO (about 50 min drive) both Sat and Sun.  He volunteered to bike the course and help pick up cones/flags after.  The trail course was pretty technical, lots of rocky areas, rutted and single trac, LONG hills and incredible views!!  Had my GoPro so stopped to take some photos and videos of the course! Around 7 miles was the STEEP LONG incline of the rock slate, that was unreal!!  But I made it to the top and down. From mile 8 to mile 10, the downhill was rocky and nice switchbacks but it was the most fun!!  Another female runner stayed right behind me as we both just flew down the trail, jumping over large rocks and passing other cautious runners.  Mile 10 aid station, I had some bananas and jumped over a small snake!!  Mile 11, I caught up with 4 younger runners who had passed me earlier, passed them on the downhill.  Then it leveled off as it got closer to the finish.  But I fell around mile 12.5 on a soft dirt spot that had a slight 'dip' I didn't see under the shadow of the tree where my eyes didn't make the adjustment from sun to the shadows.  Glad that I slowed to a jog to get a tissue so my 'fall' was not serious but my left calf was taken by surprise and began to cramp!! OH NO!! I got up quickly and stretched it out/massaged it deeply and continued my run.  I bruised my left pinky and ring finger while trying to catch my fall, both swollen but the icing post-run helped. It happens.  Elevation was around 5500 ft. Official time: 2:54:02. I placed 130 out of 223 runners.

The next day was the HM road. Feeling okay. About a mile in, we started to go UP, UP, UP on gradual incline for about a mile!! Level off, then another hill for about 1/2 mile, downhill, then another 1/2 mile up, up, up. The road course was mostly through the college campus so not much traffic and awesome views again because it overlooks the town. Each hill aggravated my left calf and felt like it would cramp anytime so I kept a decent consistent pace.  If I went any faster, I may not finish upright.  About mile 8, we finally get on the paved flat city trail along the creek. Passing other runners.  Heard the announcer at the finish line and sprinted the last 1/4 mile. Official time: 2:11:44.  I placed 107 out of 202 runners.  For the double, I placed 58 out of 101 runners who ran both races.  I think I could have cut my time by 10-15 minutes but overall, I'm satisfied with my time and effort.  It's another check off my bucket list which was to run back to back races. YAY!!

8 mile run this morning in cool, cloudy weather. It finally feels like fall. Run felt good but for some reason with about a half mile to go I had a burst of energy. Don't know where it came from but I picked up the pace. Now if that happens during the race I'll be happy. Last long run this Saturday before the race next weekend.

Rich - A two-wheeled walk behind tractor. I'll have to look that up. Hard to imagine a two-wheel tractor. Sounds like part of it is missing.

The race on Halloween morning is the inaugural event. This company puts on a lot of events in Utah. I think if they have a good turnout and reviews it might become an annual event. We'll see. I'm hoping for a good run. I just haven't been feeling it lately. But this mornings run was good.

AZ - Congrats on the Double results. Sounds like you had a good time. Hope all your bruises heal before the run.

AZ- those are great times, esp Day 2!  Good luck keeping at it in the cooler weather.  this is pretty ideal running weather, nice to have that before it really gets cold.

Ray- YES, we want to hear about the obstacle race!

Rich- glad to hear the good news. Run free!

slow week for running here, but hope to get in 9-10 miles tomorrow or Saturday morning.

Rich- that tractor does a nice job!  That one does a great job for the garden.  How large a garden do you plan for next year? 

What attachments do you have besides the snow plow?   You're right about the calm before the storm.  Although 'they say' that it's supposed to be warmer and drier this winter.  we will see if 'they' are right.

Colors here are past peak, but still beautiful.  More yellows and dark red/orange/brown.

9.3 this morning, windy with sl rain.  no problem keeping warm.  Got to see the sun rise (through the clouds) about half way through.

Some yard and garden work now, then to the clinic to do some 'day off' work. 

DW & I plan to go out for fish fry tonight, typical WI Friday night dinner.

You all have great weekends!

12 mile run this morning instead of yesterday. Body just wasn't in the mood for anything yesterday so it turned into a rest day.

Then spent some time in the garden. Have to get some new strawberry plants. The hot weather did the last bunch in, Started a few things in seed to transplant later. I'm sure the hot weather we have had is gone till next year.

Saturday, 10/24... 6 mile railtrail run, pace was mid to high 8's low 9's.

Sunday, 10/25...  all I had time for was a 4 miler and ran the railtrail again because the dern wind just keeps blowing around here...    Pace was almost identical to Saturday's.

Dan.... you're familiar with David Bradleys, eh?     Mine came with tire chains, wheel weights, snow plow, cultivator and garden plow.     I'd like to find a harrow for it, but don't know if that's possible, people collect them these days and parts can be hard to find.    Mine also needs a complete re-build from setting out in the weather for so long, but I'm almost ready for a trial run, just waiting on tubes for the new tires and new discs for the clutch.

I've got too many trees for a big garden, but have family members who could fit a big garden into their lawn if they could be talked into it...

Yeah, they say an El Nino year is supposed to produce a milder winter, but we'll see. lol

Art... here's a link to my tractor's owners manual... http://amigatec.net/files/David_Bradley/tractors/57561.pdf  I think these tractors pre-date today's rototiller and you'll see from the manual, came with all sorts of attachments.   My tractor's about 65 years old, but the design's so simple, it's still in great mechanical shape.    A few generations ago, these old tractors were feeding a lot of people.

Ray... what a build up to your next marathon, you're in shape to nail another one!    And yeah I'm just rolling along these days, not getting carried away, but fine tuning running form and maintaining fitness.    Any time I can run 8:30's on the railtrail like I've been doing lately, I'm doing ok...